Chapter 10

Nightmares. I never had that many as a kid, I was usually too tired to have bad dreams.

But tonight was different. Someone was trying to get me. I ran for miles on end, but I couldn't stop. She would get me. I felt an arm around my waist and I was whipped round. The crimson eyes stared me in the face while I screamed.

I woke up covered in sweat. My heart was racing and I tried to relax. The eyes haunted me. It was still pitch black so I turned on the light. I looked around the room, telling myself, that there is no such thing as the cold ones. Turns out that wouldn't work so I set about to prove it to myself. I switched on my laptop, waiting impatiently as it loaded. I tapped my fingernails against the keys while Google popped.

Hmm, what should I type in? I thought.

I went for 'the cold ones'.

Many results came up. I scanned through them, absorbing the vast amount of information.

Fast, strong, fangs, drink blood. They were all common terms in each site. My blood was running cold. Vampires.

And the most shocking thing was that a lot of people believed in them. I stumbled upon a forum about the blood drinkers, and many people have said that they have seen this in action. Hiding afar, as they watched in horror as a man held his face to the neck of a young victim. I didn't want to think about any of these stories so I closed the laptop and pushed it far away from me. I curled into a ball, using my covers as protection. I don't get scared easily, but this had chilled me to the bone.

The words from the websites turned over and over in my head. They sounded familiar, as if I had used them to describe someone. But my head wasn't thinking straight. It was reeling, and my stomach was churning violently. Soon I had to run to the bathroom to be violently sick. There was movement, and Charlie opened the door.

"Bells, are you ok?" He looked alarmed. "You are as pale as a ghost!"

Or a vampire, my mind said. I had to turn around again as any thought of the word seemed to bring up my dinner. By the time I was finished being sick, I was sure my breakfast was gone also.

"I think it was something I ate," I lied. How silly would it be to tell my dad that his 17 year old daughter was throwing up with fear of a story. A very stupid story, might I add. I sighed and sat back. I was done.

"Do you need to stay off school tomorrow?" He said, looking at me with a pitiful but also repulsed look. The smell of the sick was getting to me too.

"No, I can't," I sighed again. "If I'm doing the school thing then I need to stick to it. Even if it is only for two weeks this time." So he left me to it, as I brushed my teeth to get rid of the disgusting taste. I cleaned up, then retreated to my room. I had forgotten the 'thing' that made me sick, so I fell straight to sleep.

"Wake up now, Bells. You've overslept."

I bolted upright. Charlie was walking out of the room as I looked out my clothes and set them out. I practically ran to the shower. Once I was out, I decided to let my hair dry naturally, as I really didn't have enough time to bother with it. Clothes wise, I decided to go for cropped trousers and a tank top. It was sunny outside today, so I decided to make the most of it. I shoved flip-flops on my feet and ran downstairs to grab a slice of toast and head out. I was on my way to school on record time. I made it, with 5 minutes to spare. I headed over to where Jessica was sitting. She had her face tilting up so her face could catch the unusual sun for Forks.

"Hey," I smiled. She nearly fell off the bench, so I must have caught her by surprise.

"Oh hi. Hi!" She fixed herself and smiled back.

"Hello, Bella," said a girl next to Jess. She had long black hair and was really tall. She had slightly tanned skin and a pair of black-rimmed glasses on. ?Her name is Angela, a voice inside my head said. Thank god for that voice, or some of my conversations could be really awkward.

"Hey," I said back. I hadn't really seen her there, and my other hey was mainly directed at Jess, so I thought it was best if I repeated myself.

"We were just talking about going to Port Angeles tonight. The Winters prom is just a few weeks away and we need dresses!" she exclaimed. I totally understood. If I needed a dress, I would try and buy it a few months before, instead of a few weeks.

"Would you like to come with us?" Angela said, slightly whispering. I think that she is just shy, and she probably doesn't always talk like that.

"I would love to! I want a new dress, myself. It's been a while since I've had a shopping spree." We decided that Jessica would pick us up at 5 and we would browse the shops. Then we would go to dinner.

The day passed in a blur. I was extremely excited to be going shopping, so that was all I could think about. I did notice one thing though; Edward Cullen was not in school today.

I quizzed Jess about that when she picked me up.

"Oh, Dr Cullen pulls the kids out of class on a sunny day, and the go hill walking or whatever." She seemed totally uninterested in Edward. "By the way, has Mike said anything to you about the Prom? I want to know who he will ask." She tried to sound calm about it but her face betrayed her. She liked Mike, I was sure of it.

"Someone's got a cru-ush!" I sang playfully. She made a swipe at my head, but I ducked, laughing. Angela laughed with me, and soon we were all in hysterics, telling each other funny stories in our life.

"This one time, in band camp…" Angela started to speak but I interrupted.

"Did you really just start a story like that?" I giggled, and we could no longer speak. I had tears streaming down my face and an agonizing stitch in my side, but I just couldn't stop laughing.

"Cut it out!" Jess laughed. "I'm trying to drive here!"

We stopped, but it was only a few minutes away from getting parked. I had never been to Port Angeles before, and I stared out the car door in amazement. The shops were different from Forks, where there isn't any god clothes shops. Here was like a paradise.

We parked and I practically skipped everywhere, I was so happy. We passed a few dress shops, they were very elegant. I looked in the window and ooh'ed and ahh'ed at all the pretty clothes. Angela grabbed my hand and said,

"That's not within our price range, Bella."

I cringed, remembering they don't have the bank I do. But I had seen a very beautiful blue satin dress, and I wanted it, badly.

We arrived at the little shops that they wanted to go to and I couldn't help but notice the difference. The shop I had seen was huge inside, with bright lights and sales people. This one was small and only one woman working behind the counter.

"I hope you find something you like," she said to us. She must have really meant it, as she looked quite sad that we were the only customers in the shop. I felt really bad for her, but followed the other two into the dress area.

I scanned the racks for something acceptable. I found a black floaty skirt that I liked. I also seen a pair of vintage boots, I adored them. I wasn't used to shopping in shops like this, but I realised that I could get some unusual but lovely stuff here. However, I still really wanted to go back to that other shop.

"Guys, do you mind if I pay for these and go back to that other shop?" I said embarrassed.

"Sure," they said, slightly sad that I wanted to go to a more expensive shop. "We will meet you at the restaurant."

"Ok, and I love those dresses by the way!" I called out as I left the shop. I swung my bag, as happy as Larry. I managed to find my way to the shop, after stopping to ask for directions. I spent quite some time in the shop, gazing and admiring the dresses and shoes. I loved the material of the dresses and made a mental note to return here one day. When I finally parted from the shop, a few bags in tow, it was dark. There was hardly anyone walking in the streets as I started heading towards the restaurant. It was quite a walk to it, so I decided to cut down an alleyway to save time.

"Alright there, princess?" came a voice from the dark. I spun round and a gang of men appeared from the darkness.

"Hey, hey! Are you that Bella Swan girl, you know, from the movies?" one of the guys said in the back. The first man who talked looked like the leader, and he came closer to get a better look.

"It is!" he exclaimed, looking surprised. I thought that would make them back off, but it made them all come closer. I stood stuck to the spot, staring at them like a deer caught in the headlights.

"Where's your body guard tonight, Miss Swan? It's a shame he's not here, when you need him most." My face was white with terror. I started hyperventilating, thinking of what they would do.

"What do you want? Money? I'll give you money!" I pleaded.

"Nah, you don't have enough to satisfy what we want," he said, sliding closer. He reached his hand out and grabbed my arm and the rest swarmed round me. They pulled at my clothes and a few said "Take 'em off!" "Come here girly, girly!"

I screamed and sobbed, begging them to let me go. "I'll do anything!" I pleaded.

A car rounded the corner. It came speeding towards us, stopping only a few inches from the guy furthest to the back.

"You won't have to do anything, Isabella Swan," Edward Cullen said. "Your bodyguard service is right here."

A/N - Poor Bella, but she has a bigger shock in store for the next chapter. Hope you enjoyed that, please review! I like to hear what you think!