Hello readers!

I was going to post this earlier but my beloved football team lost out in the finals last night, so my household is officially in mourning :'(

Special thanks to LeelaCullen, Nutty17 & Dustykins for following, edlovesme & VioletDreams13 for reviewing, and to those who love reading this story as much as I do writing it.

The story is really going to pick up after this chapter (can't have them wandering aimlessly in the forest forever, can I?) and there will be a lot more clues about what's happening. As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts...

:-D

EPOV

"Why are you still here?" I ask. I'm not trying to be rude, I just don't know why they would choose me over their friends. Jasper, Alice and Bella I can understand, even Eric and Tyler, but I thought for sure that all the jocks and groupies would leave together. Isn't that an unspoken rule, that where one goes the rest have to follow.

I suppress a small giggle at the mental image of the other jocks following Emmett like ducklings behind a mother duck.

"Uh...because we're waiting for you to tell us where we're going," Laurent says slowly, possibly doubting my mental stability.

I know I am.

"Why didn't you go with Emmett?"

"Look," he sighs. "Emmett may be a lot of things but he's no leader. Why do you think he's not captain of our football team?"

I shrug. I have no experience with any sports, I don't know how they decide who will be the captain.

"Because he's too selfish," Laurent continues. "He's my friend, yeah, but everyone knows that Emmett only cares about Emmett. We need someone who'll think about what's best for all of us, not just himself."

"And you think that someone is me?" I ask doubtfully.

"Yeah I do, Cullen," he laughs. "You've always looked out for others. Remember when we were little and we went on that excursion to the candy factory?"

I nod my head. We were probably only six or seven and it was my first trip out of town without my parents.

"I ate so much candy I threw up on my shirt," he continues. "And you gave me your jumper to wear home even though it was freezing cold that day. Emmett would never have done that, he would've just laughed...I think he did laugh actually."

I did remember giving Laurent my jumper. At the time it didn't seem like a big deal but apparently it was to him.

"And you're always prepared for anything," Jessica pipes up. "You carry a first-aid kit and sunscreen and even that stupid waterproof poncho thing everyday."

She's right, I do. You never know what injuries can occur in a school day, so carrying a properly stocked first-aid kit is wise, and the weather in Forks can change quickly, it pays to be prepared.

I turn to Mike waiting to find out why he decided to join our group as opposed to Emmetts. He looks around, noticing everyone's eyes are now on him.

"What?" he shrugs. "I'm only here because Jess is."

Well...at least he's loyal to someone.

Deciding that now would be a good time to take a break, I tell everyone to quickly grab some lunch, reminding them to ration the food as we may not reach civilisation today. Everyone seems to take my advice seriously.

I walk up the road a few yards and sit at the edge of the tree-line. I need a few minutes by myself to think about what to do now. Earlier, my classmates followed me because they were told to and I had failed them. Now they are here by choice, they're choosing to put their chance of survival in my hands.

Pulling my thighs up to my chest, I rest my head on my knees and try to control my erratic breathing. How am I going to do this? What if I can't help them? They've put so much faith in me, what if I let them all down?

I'm not the leader they think I am, not even close. I only know what I've read in books, I've never done anything like this in real life. Yes, I have all the equipment that I need to survive until we're rescued or we find our way home, but what if I can't remember how to use it? Or what if it doesn't work?

I hear gravel crunching underfoot as someone approaches. I don't look up, I don't need to. I would know her scent anywhere.

"It's going to be okay, you know," she says, touching my arm softly.

"No it's really not, Bella," I cry, turning my head to face her. "You all seem to think that I know what to do...that I've got all these skills, but I don't. I'm not that kind of guy."

"Then you don't see yourself clearly, Edward," she smiles.

"What does that even mean?" Is she making fun of me? Maybe she thinks I'm delusional. I may have taken quite a knock to the head but I'm not crazy. I know who I am.

Bella just smiles and shrugs.

I don't know why the action angers me so much but it does. I've spent years wanting Bella to see me, to love me for who I am, and all that time she's been imaging that I'm someone else. That hurts more than my wounded ego is willing to admit.

But it also spurs me into action.

Because I don't want to be cowardly and weak. I don't want to be scared.

I don't want to be me anymore.

I want to be that guy, the one that Bella sees. I want to be the leader that they all expect me to be.

I want to be a hero.