Elijah drove me to school. His sister was apparently already gone; to her job or whatever. I hadn't even properly met her, yet I'd slept in the same room as her brother, under the same roof. Bizarre much?

But bizarre didn't even start to cover what was happening to me. It was going to be my second day in this world... the past... and I still had no exact idea about what was going on. All I had was the pocket watch, Elijah, and whatever fricken hope I had left over to straighten stuff out.

As we parked after a silent car-ride, I got out, nearly slipping on the stupid watery parking-lot (it rains here. Ever. Freaking. Day). Elijah noticed, and smirked.

"Don't fall, princess."

I scowled at him, slamming the door shut to his car, making sure it slammed a little harder than needed, to give his car a good rattle. He rolled his eyes and tucked his keys in his pocket, whistling and beginning to stroll up the side-walk. All around us, high-schoolers were coming in groups, buzzing and talking. I sighed. How had my mom lived in this place?

There came a sudden low roar of a car engine I knew had to be expensive, and I didn't turn around, but Elijah did. Under his soft blond hair, his gray eyes lit up, and he grinned crookedly, looking at me. "Your boyfriend's here."

I painted a painfully sarcastic smile on my face, turning around to narrow my eyes at the glossy Volvo passing over the hard pavement like it was Jesus walking on water. "Funny," I growled. Elijah coughed a snicker, and came to stand by me, putting his hands on his waist.

"Don't worry, girlfriend, I got you covered," he said in a high voice. I shoved him away, slamming my fist into his head. I momentarily forgot my strength, and Elijah stood, stunned, then collapsed, panting.

"Crap," I grumbled. People walked by, glancing at us, wondering what was going on, but no one cared enough to stop as I dropped down into a squat, anxiously looking at Elijah.

"Bitch," he gasped, trying in vain to touch his head, then dropping his hand back.

"Relax, Maley," I sighed, holding up three fingers. "Tell me how many fingers I'm holding up so I know you don't have any brain damage, and I don't have to take you to the hospital."

Elijah screwed up his eyes as he looked at my hand. "You... just socked me... in my face.. and you want me... to count- your fingers?" he panted, trying to sound furious but failing epically.

"I didn't mean to hurt you!" I protested.

"Abigail Bird," came a musical voice from behind me. I froze, my spine stiffening, barely containing the urge to start flat-out running.

I twisted around and glanced up; the stormy skies outlined the perfect head of my father, who gazed down at me, torn between amusement and puzzlement. I gaped at him: his eyes were dark, an inky black, and I almost fell backwards. Back in... my time... my father never let his eyes get so black. He always hunted often. Why was he letting himself get like this?

"Hello!" Elijah spat, coughing as he slowly sat up, rubbing his had. "I'm still here!"

I quickly glanced back at Elijah, sighing. I knew he was okay if he had his raw sense of humor back.

"I knew you were beautiful, Abigail Bird, but I didn't know your beauty knocked guys down dead," Edward purred, mouth twisted in amusement. In his fit of pain and annoyance, Elijah made a hacking noise that sounded suspiciously like incest.

I shot up, wishing I could kick both of them in the face so they'd leave me alone. Sadly, one was a vampire, and I couldn't really hurt him. And the second one was a frustrating companion, the only one I had here, and if I broke his face I'm guessing he wouldn't feel like helping me anymore.

"Yeah... you'd know all about being dead, right Edward?" I growled. I knew it was low to use the he's-a-dead-vampire card, but I was beyond caring. And I think it was the first time I said his name to his face. It was weird; I was so used to looking at this guy and calling him Dad.

Elijah was struggling up as Edward's amusement turned to annoyance. Before he said anything, I said in a low voice, "You aren't supposed to be here today!"

Edward cocked his head like a bird. "What do you mean?"

As Elijah, holding his head, looked between us, I struggled to explain what I meant. Based upon the stories I'd been told as a young girl- well, vampire, anyways- on the second day of my mom being at Forks High School, my dad went hunting, and came back in a great mood just in time to win my mom over. Well, okay it wasn't that simple, but still.

Realization began to crash over me as I saw the admiring glint in Edward's eyes, and horror made me stomach churn.

I was messing with Time. For some reason, I'd been tricked into this past. I'd caught Edward's eye instead of Bella Swan. He was here because he wanted to see me. But he was supposed to not be here because of Bella! God, this was so confusing...

"You are supposed to go hunting!" I flashed my eyes at him, silently telling him his eyes were dark as coal, and that meant he was very thirsty. Dangerously thirsty.

Would he hurt someone just because I was here?

My heart beginning to race, I tried to take a breath. Vampire or not... my father wasn't a monster. I don't think he'd give into his thirst and hurt someone. Carlisle had taught him too long to never hunt a human. But, still, this was wrong.

"It's my eyes, isn't it?" Edward murmured, gazing at his hands. "They're black."

"Yeah, dude," Elijah butted in at the very wrong time. "Really. Did you get contacts?"

Edward blinked coolly at Elijah (It was then I realized they both had the same first letter in their first name. Ironic). "No, I didn't. Who are you, again?"

"Elijah Maley. Not a pleasure," Elijah said obnoxiously, grinning at Edward. For someone who'd just been hit in the face, he seemed pretty good. I glowered at him, wondering if he had mild bipolar disorder. Seriously.

"Same," Edward chuckled, then gazed at me. "Elijah... could I have a moment alone? With Abigail?"

I shivered as he said my name- well, fake name, anyways. This situation was starting to become very wrong on a number of levels.

Elijah just snickered and limped away. I knew we'd probably be late for our first class, but I hardly cared. I wasn't about to go in there, anyways. I'd decided this morning that I was going to skip out on this school, whether
Elijah liked it or not.

"You're an idiot," I said through gritted teeth, not liking how close Edward had gotten. His steely black eyes bored into mine, and I blinked, firmly trying not to break away. "You could hurt someone."

"I'm not a monster," Edward whispered. "My father has taught my brothers, sisters and I to hunt..." He hesitated. "Animals. Instead of-" Stop. His eyes flashed, and I felt something tighten in my thighs. I was ready to run if he tried anything stupid. "But you already knew that, didn't you Abigail Bird?"

"Can you just call me Abigail? The two-name basis is making me nervous," I snapped.

"Didn't you?" he pressed.

I stared at him, and found myself unable to lie. "Yeah. I knew." I hesitated. "I know a lot about your... Clan."

He narrowed his eyes, then looked down. "Abigail... for a century, I've been alone. I've never had an interest in any girl."

As if Destiny herself had cued it, Bella Swan's red truck came grumbling into the high school parking-lot, and it shut off with a pout. The slender girl hopped out, and as I looked back at Edward, I found myself saying, "Any girl?"

"Any girl," he hissed. "But you.. you're very, very different. You're one of... us." He gazed at me with such intensity, I wondered if this was how he had talked to Bella. If so, I have no idea how it turned her on to him. It was plain terrifying. "And I like that. That's why I'm here today, acting like an idiot."

My heart pounded like crazy in my ears, and I slowly took two giant steps back. "Uhm... right." Bella Swan was passing by now; she was accompanied by what's-her-name... oh, Angela, right. They talked quietly as they passed us, but I saw Bella's eyes flicker to Edward, and then met mine. I froze, realization settling in.

By being here, with my supposed-to-be-father, I was unknowingly taking away the chances of Bella and Edward falling in love. And if they never fall in love, I never get born. That means I never exist.

Shock slapped me in the face. Crap. Crap. Crap.

I seriously needed to upgrade to some more appropriate swear words. Crap didn't quite cover the bill.

"I'll see you around!" I said quickly, rushing away from Edward's deep gaze, and slipping across the grass, quickly finding myself drawing up behind Angela and Bella. I took several deep breaths, trying to relax. This was not good. At all. Was it possible I was endangering my own existence? Wow, that sounded melodramatic. But... maybe. In a world where possible time-travel exists, why not that, too? Hell, vampires and werewolves already run
around. Let's throw in some time travelers to muck everything up.

"Bella Swan?" I said suddenly. I didn't know why I wanted to talk to her; but she was in conversation with Angela, and hadn't noticed me yet. Maybe it was seeing her that reminded me of my mom, her, in years from now; a young mother, with many overwhelming miracles, and a pretty much crazy life. I loved her, and suddenly, with all the terrifying problems washing around me, I wanted nothing more than to confide in my mom, and have someone to talk to. Loneliness crept up on me, and I gazed sadly at Bella Swan as she stopped and turned around, brown eyes startled.

"Oh- hello," she said, somewhat uncertainly.

Angela glanced at me, then at Bella, and muttered something about getting to class right before she hurried off.

My mom and I stood there for a moment, and only then did I think of Edward. He'd been behind me just seconds ago, but now as I turned, I saw no one. Course. Vampire speed. He was probably sitting in class like a good little boy right now.

"You're new here, right?" Bella asked after I was quiet for a moment. She stepped towards me, eyes wide as she surveyed my features. I sighed, wishing I could tell her that one day, she'd be like this, too. One day, she'd be married to the guy who was unknowingly falling in love with the very wrong girl at the moment. One day, she could call me daughter.

But for now, we were just strangers, and I was just Abigail Bird. But I was not the new girl. "Uhm, no, actually. I just visited yesterday; I'm going to hang around town today," I quipped, sighing as I folded my arms. Bella gazed at me, quietly puzzled, and I knew she had no idea why I wanted to talk to her. She, and probably everyone else who'd noticed me, probably thought I was a new addition to the Cullen group. And, in a way, they were right.

Grabbed by sudden inspiration, I widened my eyes and said quietly, "You know that guy I was just, uh- talking to? Edward Cullen?"
Something brightened in Bella's eyes, and I couldn't help a stupid grin from growing on my face. Maybe I could fix this. If she liked Edward, then I had a chance to-

The lights in her eyes died abruptly as she shook her head quickly. "Not really. I mean, I just got here yesterday. There's a lot of strangers. I- I don't think he likes me," she added, almost talking to herself now.

Damn it.

"Listen, Bella- um, do me a favor."

She cocked her head, almost exactly like Edward had done, minutes ago. "Yeah?"

"In that one class- biology or whatever- sit next to him. Okay? Don't listen to that one teacher, just do it. You should get to know him," I told her assuringly, realizing how crazy I must sound, ordering her to do stuff when she didn't even know me. Not yet, anyways. I hesitated, then on a note of desperation, thew in, "I think he likes you." It came out convincing enough.

She smiled slightly. "You think so?"

I nodded. Take the bait, Mom. Come on. Just sit next to him...

"Alright."

I breathed in relief. I could still fix things; I had to keep trying.

She took a step back, jabbing a finger to the High School. "Well, I gotta go, Abigail. School, you know." Bella laughed awkwardly, and then nodded, turning around. "Right. Yeah. So, see ya."

Wow. Remind me again how she won over a gorgeous vampire? She's a freaking awkward-child.

Oh, crap. That reminds me.

"Oh, and Bella?" I called out as she began walking away.

Her straight, brown hair twirling with her as she turned again, I said quickly, "Don't sit too close to him. Don't put anything, ah, good-smelling on. And just..." I paused. "Try not to get... bitten." I smiled crookedly, trying to play off my painfully bizarre words with a playful smile. Bella just blinked, not realizing how serious I was. Edward was dead thirsty today, and I swear, if he eats Bella and then I really have no chance at getting born...

"Right. Bye."

I just offered my most charming smile and waved a hand. "Good luck, Mom," I said under my breath. And don't screw it up.

Vacation was great, but I missed the internet a LOT, so it's great to be back. Between hanging around on the beach, I wrote and watched nothing but "Twilight" (as I conveniently failed to bring any other good DVDs), so I'm Twilight-pumped now. And more than ready to see Eclipse in a few days. Anyone else attending a midnight showing? I'll be going to mine (:

And has anyone seen "Toy Story 3" yet? It sounds juvenile, but drop your pride and go see it. I saw it over vacation, and loved it. Ken is indeed a girl's toy.

Anyways, thanks for the reviews! They were a great treat to read after coming home(: