*So, I'm going back to school tomorrow so I won't be able to get chapters out as quickly as I'd like to. So, I hope you like this Chapter…I have decided to throw in a little special something in this one! Reviews Pretty Please!*

Chapter 8: An Interesting Encounter

~The Truth Is Hiding in Your Eyes…It's Hanging On Your Tongue~

It had been two months. Two very interesting months I might add. School was going pretty well. Well, minus the lack of new friends I was making. I think a part of them were scared to talk to me because I was always under the constant protection of Edward, his eyes staring at whoever he thought was an acceptable person. Or, it could be that I was now really good friends with the allusive Jasper Hale. The person who, in his three years at this school "hardly spoke a word to no one…" He talked to me every chance he got. The most time we got was during our history class. He had even convinced the teacher to let him switch seats so he would sit beside me. It was a little uncomfortable at first since he was almost always staring at me. I'm sure that is why no-one hardly talked to me. Because they probably figured Jasper and I were dating. I'm sure that's what Jasper wished but I still wasn't too confident around him. Just when things would seem semi normal, Edward would remind me about how I had been imprinted on. Though, the way he said it made it sound like some disease. On the other hand, when Jasper said it, it was like it was the most wonderful thing to ever happen. I was confused. I wondered if one of them were lying to me?

"No, no none of that!" Edward snipped one day after school when Jasper met me outside of our class and walked me to Edward's car. He had playfully taken then beret I was wearing and held it high over my head and told me to jump. Well, that didn't work…he was so much taller than I was. His point became clear when I tried to reach again and he didn't move. The moment my hand swept across his forehead and into his hair…he dropped my hat and merely smiled. He had just wanted to feel my skin against his. Jasper happened to be a major flirt. Something that I'm sure most girls would kill for the attention he was always given me. There was a part of knew that felt like I should be jealous…but I wasn't. And, it sounded selfish but, even though I wasn't so sure about what was going between us, I knew that he would never look at them the way he looked at me. Destiny had chosen me, according to him.

"See you later Natalia." Jasper whispered in my ear and I felt Edward giving him the death glare. Sometimes, I really wish I could read Jasper's mind although..I'm not too sure if I'd want to know everything he was thinking.

"Really Natalia, do you have to play into his little games so easily?" my brother frowned as I got in the car and we drove away.

"That's just the way he is…and it's not like he's doing it with every girl around. Isn't that good that he only does it with me?" he just scoffed.

"I'd rather him toy with some other poor girl's emotions than with yours."

"That wasn't very nice Edward." I laughed. My poor brother…sometimes, I think he needed to get a girlfriend. There were plenty of nice girls at the school we went to…heck, Jasper's sister Rosalie would be perfect for him!

"Natalia stop that! I don't need anyone…" he mumbled.

"Yea, whatever you say." I smirked.

"Look, Carlisle is working late and Esme and I need to go hunt…are you going to be okay alone for awhile?"

"Yea..I should be. Would it be okay if I just wondered around over there?" I pointed towards where it looked like the forest started up.

"No, that wouldn't be smart." He eyed the area.

"Why? You think Jasper is going to pop up out of nowhere?"

"No, it's not him…" he whispered quickly that I didn't really catch it. "you know what? You're going to go anyways so just be careful…don't venture too far off." He eventually sighed and I smiled. I had actually won this one!

"Thanks!" I beamed as I hugged him, I was so excited.

"Yes, yes…you win this time." He chuckled as he made his way to meet Esme. I dropped my school bag off in the house and grabbed my cell phone, jacket and a snack in case I got hungry. I started walking away from the house, not really knowing where I was going. But, I had a pretty good sense of direction so I wasn't too worried. I just kept walking, my mind drifting to Jasper every so often. Mostly though, I thought about my mother and how so much had changed within the past year. I wondered if my mom had sensed something about Carlisle? Or she just thought he looked like a good person? My mother had always wanted what was best for me…to grow up and do whatever my heart had desired. My mind was so caught up in my thoughts that I didn't realize that I had ended up in a small clearing of somewhat.

"Oh, shoot." I mumbled and it dawned me that I was lost. Perfect. Unlike my mother, I had the tendency to freak out and have panic attacks when things got a little too much. I sat down in the grass and tried to focus on my breathing before I attempted to do anything else. My lips were trembling from fear.

"You can find your way back Natalia…just focus." I shut my eyes and tried to calm down. I went to stand back after some time when I heard something rustling in the trees. I prayed to God that it was my imagination or at the worst, a deer or something. Deer wouldn't hurt you right? My wish wasn't granted as I saw something gigantic begin to emerge from behind the tree. My eyes did a double take as I looked at it. Was that…a dog that had been mutated into some type of super dog?? I watched as it's gaze…yes, it's gaze lock on mine before it let out a scary sound. I tried to back away but fear had frozen me into place. Time stopped as this thing started to lunge and run towards me, looking as if it was about to eat me in about ten seconds. I closed my eyes and hoped that this would come past and wouldn't hurt too much. But, to my surprise, I felt a loud thud stop and I opened my eyes. I was dumfounded to find the large animal no more than five feet away from me. Why had it stopped? It looked like something was blocking him but what? It was just me standing there…and now that it was close to me, it was pretty amazing. This was something that happened in a weird sci-fi movie. I wanted to reach out and…and pet it but when I stuck my hand out…it cringed away from me. It had sniffed my hand quickly before it moved back slightly. I smelt my hand..it didn't smell like anything.

"Oh not this again." I sighed. Why was everyone thinking I always smelled? I saw this thing looking at me, with a strange look in his eyes. As if it didn't comprehend what was going on. It looked at my face and my hand and then smelled. It was if the two didn't match because it kept shaking it's head.

"Um, I'm sorry…but I uh don't speak…dog." I laughed. It shook it's head back and forth, as if to indicate confusion maybe?

"Do you think I smell too? Because that's what my brother told me." I shrugged. That's what he told me when I met Jasper…that I smelt like him…a vampire! That was it and the animal let out a big howl that I cringed away time. I had figured it out! This thing thought I was a vampire…obviously not liking that idea.

"I assure you." I put my hands up "I'm not a vampire." I spoke softly. Yea, I was talking to a dog but what was even weirder, it understood me because it took a small step closer and put it's head closer to me. Its head was as big as my body. I gingerly placed my hand on top of it's head and watched as it enjoyed the fact that I had touched it so gently.

"You have really soft fur…are you really a dog?" I looked at it and it shook his head.

"Hmm…well you're something of the sort." I giggled as it licked my hand. Obviously, it had come to the conclusion that I wasn't a vampire…just a human. I started thinking…thinking about how it had wanted to attack me when it thought I was a vampire…and what danger would a vampire be to a dog? Wait a minute! A dog…I heard Edward's voice in my head that night he said that imprinting was something that only happened with 'those dogs.'

"Is imprinting something that only happens to you?" I asked it and it cocked its head to the side before nodding slowly.

"Really? Hmm…do you think that it's a good thing or a bad thing?" It didn't do anything for a moment…then it placed its head against my face and rubbed it gently.

"Is that supposed to mean a good thing?" I smiled and it did it again. There as my answer.

"Edward lied…." I smirked. It wouldn't be the first time. I stared into its eyes, knowing that as ridiculous and surreal this situation was, it was telling me the truth.

"Has it happened to you?" It lowered it's head…to signify a 'no.'

"Aw, well don't worry…" I gently touched it's head "I'm sure you'll find...find someone, or something I suppose." It was then that I remembered that I was lost and I wondered if it could help me find my way back.

"Um, I'm kind of lost…can you maybe help me find my way back. I just moved here…" I rambled. "I live about fifteen or twenty minutes from here…in a big house…maybe you've seen it." I said and jumped when it let out a growl. Obviously, he knew who lived there. But, regardless, it nodded it's head toward the right…showing me a path that I hadn't seen before.

"And I just follow that?" it nodded.

"Well…I hope." I frowned as rain began to fall on my face "that I will get to see you again one day." I smiled as it leaned it's head onto my forehead one last time before turning to run away. I quickly made my way down the path and sighed when I saw the house coming up. It wasn't raining too hard so hopefully I wouldn't get sick. I smiled as I thought about that had just happened. Maybe it was just all a dream? Maybe…maybe I was meant to stumble on this beautiful creature so it could give me some real insight into this whole imprinting thing. I finally grasped it now. At least, I thought I did. It wasn't meant to scare the living daylights out of you. It was meant to give you a peace of mind…knowing that you had found the one who was meant to be with you forever. Well, I wouldn't be with Jasper forever if we were to ever be together. He would stay the same and I would get older, living out a normal life. Maybe that's why Edward didn't want me involved with Jasper…because he was afraid of something happening to me. Would Jasper really be so enamored with me that he would actually change me so I could be with him forever? Like his sister Rosalie…like…like the young girl in Carlisle's story?? My heart dropped a little. I started to grow scared as I made my way into the house…before I opened my mouth…Edward flew to my side and gripped my shoulders, practically shaking the fear out of me. He went to say something when his nose crinkled in disgust.

"Why do you smell like a wet dog?" I winced.

"Natalia…"

"I got lost in the forest..and well, I met someone..well actually something. Some kind of huge animal. Oh Edward it was beautiful!" I smiled.

"Beautiful! Natalia have you lost your mind! That thing could've killed you!"

"I'm starting to think that's your excuse for everything. No…it didn't hurt me…it showed me though just how this whole imprinting thing is actually a good thing." I sighed.

"It what!" his voice boomed and I crouched back in fear and pain. His hands were still on shoulders. He was going to bruise me I knew it.

"Please Edward…you're hurting me." I whimpered in pain and his eyes widened and let me. I fell to the ground, grasping my arms in pain.

"You'll never stop will you?" I looked up at him and got up slowly "Why don't you want me to be happy?"

"Happy with what? With who…and please do NOT say Jasper!"

"And what if I do? What if we are truly meant to be together just like he said?"

"You have a chance for a normal life…that's what your mother wanted! She wouldn't want to know that he daughter was falling in love with vampires and having conversations with dogs! What do you think she's say about that!" he threw his hands up. That was a low blow.

"Don't bring my mother into this Edward…"I said, something stinging my eyes.

"What would she say?" he asked again.

"Stop…right now please…" I begged him not to say it.

"She'd be so disappointed in you Natalia…" he shook his head.

"Why?" I whispered, grabbing my things and running out the door. I ran down our driveway and down the long path way….until I reached the main road. Where was I going to go? Not like I had any friends here. I could call Rosalie. I pulled my phone out and started to dial numbers and kept walking when car pulled up beside me and the window rolled down.

"What are you doing out in the rain darlin'?" I heard a sweet voice call and I as bent down to see who it was, I couldn't help but smile…that peace of mind instantly coming over me. My getting lost in the forest had not been in vain…for it had given me such clear insight on the things I had been confused about. I opened the door and jumped in…

Yay, did you like it???