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Penname: Jburdick

Original or Derivative (fanfiction): Derivative

Rating/Warning(s)/Note(s): M

Disclaimer: All copyrights, trademarked items, or recognizable characters, plots, etc. mentioned herein belong to their respective owners. No copying or reproduction of this work is permitted without their express written authorization.

Prompt: Scenario: You're alone, driving down a stretch of country road. You drive by a young, male hitchhiker, but do not stop. After a few more miles, you come upon another hitchhiker, and you swear he was the same one you passed the first time.

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"Ugh, useless-useless-USELESS!" I growled, throwing my directions into the backseat of my car. I had been driving for god knows how long and should have reached my destination four hours ago. Mapquest is bullshit.

My parents owned a vacation type home in the middle of nowhere. The cabin was surrounded by trees and a lake and wildlife, and most importantly-no people. Which was exactly what I needed. To be alone, completely and utterly one hundred percent alone.

I turned the wheel slightly, heading around a curve and saw something out in the distance. A deer? No, too tall. I squinted my eyes and leaned forward, trying to make out what I was seeing. A bear? Too skinny….maybe it was Bigfoot! Hah, yea right.

"Is that a dude?" I asked myself. And sure enough, it was. I slowed down a tiny bit and looked at him as I passed. He was tall, maybe early twenties. He had on a pair of jeans and a black sweatshirt with the hood up, shielding the full view of his face from me. Creepy.

What the hell was he doing out here? Was he lost? But when I drove by, he didn't even look up…huh.

"Not my problem." I shrugged and continued on. A few miles later I had a sinking feeling that I wasn't really getting anywhere. Was it just me, or did these rocks and shrubs look familiar?

I reached over to grab my bottle of water, steering with my elbow as I opened it and took a drink. Just as I was setting it back down I saw it again…or him, rather. Was it seriously the same guy?

This one had reddish brown hair and ear buds in his ears, possibly listening to music. The clothes looked the same, and I could definitely tell he was in his early twenties now.

The question now is, what to do? Pull over and offer him a ride? Fuck, I mean…he didn't look creepy. Doesn't mean he wont chop off your toes, my inner voice warned me.

I slowed down a little bit, pulling to the shoulder. I stopped the car, making sure all door were locked and rolled down the passenger window about and inch.

The guy came walking over cautiously and pulled out his ear buds, leaning forward to look at me.

"You need help or something?" He asked. God damn he was pretty. But I fear he may be a little crazy too, I mean, why would I be the one needing help?

"Why are you asking me if I need help, when you're the one that's stranded?" I asked.

He laughed and shook his head. "Well, at least I'm not lost."

"What? I am not lost, why would you even say that?" I glared at him, leaning forward.

"Maybe because you've been circling the same area for over and hour now?" He laughed more, resting one arm on the roof of my car.

Nice. Well that explains why I saw him more than once…and why I haven't been getting anywhere. I scoffed, "It's not my fault these stupid mapquest directions arent worth shit."

"I'll make you a deal." He said, smiling widely at me.

"I don't make deals with strangers." I stated, staring at him. He stuck his pointer finger as far as he could through the window and wiggled it. "I'm Edward." He said with a grin.

I eyed his finger. "I'm Bella." I shook his finger and smiled.

"So, my deal?" He asked.

"I'm listening…" I said. Just because I knew his name didn't mean I could trust him.

"I'll give you directions, if you give me a ride. I know this area very well, and I could get you where you need to go…" He said, smiling widely.

"Why are you out here walking around?" I blurted, it was bugging me that I didn't know.

"My car broke down a couple miles where you came from, you probably drove right past it. My family has a vacation cabin that way, that's where I was headed."

I rolled the window down another few inches. "Where were you headed?" He asked me.

I sighed and stared at him for a minute. Really how harmful could he be? I reached back and grabbed the abandoned directions, handing then to him. "I don't know the house number but it's on that street. It's kind of…um, well it's a quiet neighborhood."

He laughed. "It's pretty fucking deserted. I didn't know there were any other houses in the area, though. Huh…anyway, you gonna let me in?"

"I…I mean, I just….'cause you, ya know…" I swallowed thickly and looked him in the eye. "Look, I'm not stupid. I don't want to die, I don't want to regret giving you a chance. I want to help you and I want your help, but I'm going to be a girl and admit to you that I'm pretty fucking terrified right now." I finished, feeling strongly like I was going to cry.

"Bella. I promise I won't hurt you. You don't have to give me this ride. But I want to help you too. Will it make you feel better if you took a picture of my driver's license and sent it to a friend or something?" He asked. The idea didn't sound half bad, but it made me feel mental to even consider it.

"Maybe you could just…promise?" I laughed. God my father would have my head for even considering this. Crap.

"Cross my heart, Bella. I promise." He said sincerely.

I took one last deep breath and released the locks, letting him in. He opened the door slowly and sank into the seat. He groaned out loud and leaned back into the seat. "God damn that's good."

I giggled and started driving again. "How long have you been walking?"

"Uh, maybe about four hours? I lost track. My phone died about an hour before the car did. Not exactly a stellar day." He sighed, buckling his seat belt and stretching his legs.

We drove in companionable silence, the only time either of us spoke was when he gave directions and I nodded or mumbled in response. I was trying not to think about how attractive Edward was. Now that I had relaxed and wasn't afraid he was going to make me into Bella soup I noticed what he looked like. Me likey!

The closer we got I started to recognize the area. It brought back so many memories of summers here as a kid. Playing on the tire swing. Swimming in the river. Hide and seek with the other kids.

"Almost there." Edward said, sitting up straighter.

"I haven't been here in so long." I said, glancing at him.

"Yea, me too. I wonder who's is newer. I just don't really remember 'neighbors' you know?" He leaned forward, rubbing his hands together.

"Yea, I know, me either." I pulled around one more curve and there it was. Just like I remembered.

"There it is!"

"That's it!"

Edward and I said in unison, both pointing at the same exact house. Um. What?

"I'm sorry, what?" I asked.

"My thoughts exactly, you must be confused. This is my parent's place." He said, stepping out of the car.

"Yea right! This is my parent's place. I have the key right here! You must be misunderstood, it's dark out you just can't see it clearly." I argued.

"Oh, and you can? I'm sorry do you have some night vision I'm unaware of?" He said sarcastically.

He jogged up the steps, me hot on his heals. "Go ahead and try. The key won't fit!" I yelled.

"We'll see about that." He mumbled. Opening the fucking door. What the hell?

I grabbed his key out of his hand, matching the grooves to mine. They were exactly the same. Now I was seriously confused.

"What the hell is this about?" I asked no one in particular.

"I don't know." Edward said, walking around inside. "Who asked you?" I grumbled.

"Oh I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt your important conversation with yourself, Bella." He laughed, picking up a picture frame.

I flipped him the bird and went to investigate the opposite side of the room. "I just might, baby. I just might." He said under his breath.

I processed what he said and threw a throw pillow at him. "Pig."

He laughed out loud and walked toward me, holding the picture out.

"What is it?" I asked, taking the picture of a girl and boy, about six years old. She had a missing tooth and big brown eyes. He was lanky with large green ones, his skinny arms around the girl.

"Our history." He whispered.

"You know who I am?" I pointed at him.

He shrugged. "Why the hell didn't you say anything?" I yelled. Should I feel bad for not remembering him? Cause I kind of did.

He cringed and shoved his hands in his pockets. "I'm sorry. I was supposed to surprise you. Charlie told my dad you were coming."

"Charlie?" I screeched. "I don't even remember you. How do you remember me?"

He scoffed and shook his head. His hand reached out, his thumb grazing my chin. "Please, Bella. Like I could ever forget you."

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