I kicked the sand idly, my feet bare. I loved the feeling of the sand against my toes, despite the fact that it was a bit chilly. Pausing to glance out over the ocean, I wiggled my toes happily, wrinkling my nose as I closed my eyes, tasting the salty wind as it swept around me. I knew I should be cold, but I couldn't bring myself to leave the beach. I had never been here before – my grandmother had always told me never to go near it and I had always obeyed. But it was so beautiful, the water dark and churning from the wind which was picking up. I tilted my head to the side, studying the waves. The beach was empty and it felt so wild and untamed. I wanted to run, to go crazy. Digging my feet into the sand, I closed my eyes and took off running.

I could feel the wind biting my face, cold and damp from the rain. It had stopped raining now, but the sand was still wet, making it easier to dig in and run faster. I had taken off my shoes before coming onto the beach and pulled off my socks. In nothing but my bare feet, jeans and a t-shirt (my sweatshirt had also been discarded at the start of the beach), I felt free. A smile spread over my lips and I tried to run faster, pushing myself as fast as I could. I was sadly out of shape, apparently, because I couldn't satisfy the desire to run even faster.

What happened next happened too fast to make sense at first.

I collided with something impossibly hard, yet soft at the same time. My eyes flashed open and I was vaguely aware of being spun to the side, literally swept off my feet to the side and then gently, oh so gently, set me down on my feet. It all happened in less then a second.

I stared up at him, eyes wide with surprise and complete confusion. He released me gently, taking a step back, looking down at me with wide, dark brown eyes. "You almost hit that rock."

Still trying to recover from the shock of being lifted so easily off my feet by some complete stranger, I glanced over my shoulder, eyes widening as I saw a large boulder – one of the many that dotted the beach – in the path of where I had been running. We were two feet away from it. Speaking of "we..."

I took a hesitant step back, staring up, up, up at my apparent rescuer. He was huge, first off. At least six and a half feet tall and probably more. Thick black hair; eyes so dark they appeared almost black; bare-chested (in this weather?) and possibly the most physically fit person I had ever seen. More so then Edward. Handsomer then Mr. Cullen too... While Edward was "perfect" looking, I had always found his features too hard and cold looking. But this guy seemed to radiate warmth and life – for the split second he had held me, I had felt a burning heat coming from him. Then I realized I was staring. Hurriedly glancing away from him, I muttered a, "Thanks."

I must have looked like a complete idiot. I looked up at his face, which currently had an expression I had never seen on anyone's face before. He looked startled, for one, but the main look was of wonder, like a deaf man hearing his beloved's voice for the first time. It was slightly uncomfortable, seeing as that look seemed to be directed at me. Maybe he picked up on this, because he started to back up, plowing one hand through that thick, unruly black hair, speaking in a feigned attempt at nonchalance, "I have to...to go. See you around?"

I nodded slowly, "Sure...but who are –"

It was too late. He was walking by me at a quick, clipped pace and disappeared around a turn in the beach before I could say another word. Staring off in the direction he had gone, I sank down onto the sand, not sure what on earth to do or say. I couldn't get his face out of my head; couldn't stop thinking about how easily he had lifted me; how strong he was. Shaking my head, I made an attempt to clear my mind. I had no idea what to make of what happened. One second I was running along the beach, entirely by myself. Then I'm being swept off my feet by some massive guy...and then he's gone.

I didn't know how long I sat on the beach, just staring at the waves. The memory of the tall, black-haired stranger faded away, leaving me quiet and thoughtful. Thinking about what? God knows. I just knew I was deep in thought when my phone went off, which startled me so much that I toppled over to the side with an embarrassing squeak of surprise. Once I had straightened myself out properly, I retrieved my cell phone (the one expensive thing I owned) and flipped it open without checking the caller ID. Stupid Amber...always check the caller ID.

"Amber!"

Alice's voice was obnoxiously smug and I thought for a moment about hanging up.

"Don't even think about hanging up."

Damn it.

"You should come over to the house. And don't roll your eyes at me."

So busted.

"Listen, I know you're mad about us keeping things a secret from you but –"

"– but nothing! I'm doing something right now anyway."

"What?"

"Uh..." Come on Amber...improvise. "Sitting on the beach." Oh yeah, real believable there, Amber. "And painting!"

"Uhuh. Now, you're coming over after dinner so don't forget to bring your homework. My parents can't wait to meet you."

"Alice..."

"Oh don't argue...it'll be fun. I'll even let you drive one of the cars."

She knew my weaknesses. I had heard about the Cullen's gorgeous cars.

"Um...I don't know, Alice...I mean, my grandma needs me and..."

"She'll be fine for an evening...she's fine while you're at school, isn't she?"

"Yes, but –"

"No but's."

I was fighting a losing battle, and we both knew it.

"Fine."

"Super! So come over at around six-ish. Bella will be here..."

"She's always there," I replied shortly, not in the mood for pleasant conversation seeing as I had just been weaseled into going over to a house I had sworn not to go to today.

"True. See you later!"

I wrinkled my nose, not too thrilled with this turn of events. Not that I hadn't wanted to go to the Cullen's house for awhile – I was a curious person, and that family practically stunk of secrets. It was just that I hated feeling manipulated...and I most certainly felt manipulated here. Glancing at the time on my cell phone, I sighed. Time to go home and give Jean her pills.

Standing up, I brushed the sand off of my jeans, glancing over my shoulder, wondering if that big guy was still around. Then, remembering that I had decided not to think about him, I started to walk down the beach, muttering various obscenities (most of them towards Alice, Edward, and the rest of the Cullens) and wondering how I had run so far down the beach without colliding into a rock. I must be more talented then I had originally thought.

As I made my way back up the beach, I sighed, remembering how much I disliked walking. Running was one thing – I loved the speed and the rush of adrenaline. But walking was boring. It was slow. When I finally made it back to my car, I sank into the front seat, turning it on and pulling out onto the main road...back to routine. Back to boredom. Oh, except one thing...today I was going to meet the rest of the mysterious Cullen family. Oh joy, oh rapture.