Bella

When I got home, I told Charlie I had a lot of homework to do and that I had already eaten at the beach. He mumbled an "okay" without looking up from the TV- there was a very important basketball game on. I rushed upstairs and locked my door behind me.

After spending the day with the sounds of laughter and waves, the sudden silence in my room felt eerie. I switched on my stereo and turned the volume all the way up. Then I sat at my desk and took out a notepad and a pencil. I started writing down everything I had seen, and everything Jacob had told me.

On my side I had written five words: speed, strength, cold-skinned, beauty, telepathic?

Jacob's column had four phrases: drink blood, wolf enemy, cold-skinned, immortal.

Underneath I wrote the single word Vampire?

I must be losing my mind. Was I actually considering the idea that Evie Cullen is a vampire? If so, then why was I still alive? She could have killed me any number of times since we met. In fact, hadn't she told me that she saved me from herself that first day? I pondered this for a while. Why would a vampire, who feeds on human blood, go out of their way to save a human's life? Then I remembered Jacob telling me that the Cullens didn't hunt humans. What did they drink then? I wondered. And still, even if they don't drink human blood, why risk exposure to save one human? I was thinking in circles now.

Then I suddenly remembered one glaring piece of information: vampires can't go out in the daylight. I laughed at myself. What had I been thinking? That vampires exist, and one of them saved my life and wants to be my friend? I was laughing hysterically now. It was a good thing my music was loud, otherwise Charlie would think I'd gone mad. Maybe I had gone mad; maybe Forks was making me crazy.

Frustrated and embarrassed, I switched off my lamp and crawled into bed, leaving my music blaring to help drown out the thoughts still swirling madly in my brain.

The next morning I awoke to sunshine once again streaming in through my window. I smiled and went to sit by the window, switching off the stereo as I passed it. A few minutes later I heard a loud knock on the door, and I crossed the room to unlock it.

"Thank god!" Charlie exclaimed. "I was afraid you were in here doing ritual animal sacrifices or something."

"Oh, sorry about the music Dad," I told him. "I couldn't sleep last night."

"Well that makes two of us," he retorted. Apparently he got really grumpy without sleep. "Anywho, your mom's on the phone." He shoved the phone into my hand and staggered back to his bedroom, shutting the door behind him.

"Mom?" I breathed into the phone while sudden fear gripped my heart.

"Bella! Oh honey it's so good to hear your voice!"

"Mom! How are you doing?"

"I'm fine sweetheart! This place has been so good for me. I've been able to work through a lot of my stuff here."

"So...you're not mad at me for leaving like that?"

"No, of course not! I mean at first I was, but my doctor here helped me realize that this is where I need to be, and that you helped me get here. Bella, I am so sorry that I fell apart like that. You need a mom, and I promise I will be there for you one hundred percent after this. You don't need to worry about me any more. I still have a lot of work to do, but I'm going to stay in the program when we get home. They already have a group for me to get in touch with back in Phoenix. Everything will be different this time. I can't wait to see you Bells."

I realized there were tears streaming down my face. I had missed my mom so much, it was like a part of me had been missing this whole time. "I can't wait to see you either, Mom." I sobbed in relief. I had expected anger, or at least a guilt trip for abandoning her. Maybe she really was getting better.

"I'll be home next week! Charlie said he would help me buy your ticket home. Better start packing!" My heart did a funny little lurch at the prospect of going back home to Phoenix. Wasn't this what I had been wanting all along? For my mom to get sober, and for life to go back to normal?

"Um…" I stammered, unsure what I wanted to say. "Shouldn't I at least finish up the school year?" There was a very long pause on the other end of the line.

"What are you talking about, Bella? Don't you want to come home? This is where you belong, here with me and Phil." I could hear a note of hysteria creeping into her voice. How could I begin to explain something I didn't even understand myself?

"It's just that, well, I just got settled here. I like my classes, they're small. And...I have friends here." As I spoke I realized the truth of my words. Jessica, Mike, Angela and the rest might not know everything about me, but they were the closest thing I'd ever had to friends before. And now I had Jacob too. I wasn't the invisible girl anymore.

"Look honey, I have to go my time's up. But we'll talk about this some more later, yes?"

"Okay. I love you mom!"

"Love you too Bells."

I sat back on my bed, rehashing our conversation. I had never expected to want to stay in Forks. I had always seen it as a sort of self-inflicted purgatory, a temporary exile until my life in Phoenix got back on track. How in the world had I gotten so comfortable here?

A voice in the back of my mind was screaming at me to start packing now, because there was danger here in Forks. I knew I should listen to it, but couldn't bring myself to feel afraid. Maybe it was the sunshine outside, or the camaraderie yesterday, but at this moment I felt content. Almost happy even. My mom was getting the help she needed and I...well if I was being completely honest with myself, I was still engrossed with the riddle posed by Evie Cullen. If I left now, I would never know the truth. Deep down, I knew that was the real reason I wanted to stay. I also knew that that made me insane, or at least lacking any self preservation instincts.

I did not necessarily believe that Evie was a vampire, but I did know that she was..something. Definitely not human. What I was going to do with this information, I had no idea. But tomorrow at school she was going to give me some answers. I was not going to back down.

I couldn't believe my luck when the next day dawned bright and sunny for the third time in a row. I practically skipped down the stairs to breakfast. Charlie was already at the table and eyed me warily. I guessed that my mood swings were getting on his nerves.

"Nice day out," he commented cautiously.

"Yeah!" I grinned at him.

"I suppose you'll be getting your things together this week? I'll let the school know that you are transferring out."

"No, Dad, I'm not leaving." I told him quickly. "I want to stay here with you. I mean, if that's okay?"

He answered me with a huge grin, his brown eyes crinkling. "Really? I just thought, I mean your mom said she's doing better now."

"Oh she is, and I'm really glad about that. Believe me, no one is more surprised about this than I am, but I actually like it here."

"Okay well, as long as you're sure," He was giving me one last out, but I could tell he was hoping I wouldn't take it.

"I'm sure." I answered, and I was. Now that my decision was made, I felt entirely comfortable with it. All that was left was to convince my mom, but I decided to worry about that later.

When I got to school I took a seat on one of the picnic benches outside and sat there soaking up the sun and daydreaming. I was rehearsing what I was going to say to Evie when I saw her. I wasn't going to let her evade my questions forever. My concentration was broken by a light tap on my shoulder, and I nearly jumped out of my skin. I wasn't ready to confront her yet!

But it was only Tyler. "Hey Bella," He greeted me.

"Oh, hey Tyler. How's it going?"

"Okay. So what'd you do yesterday?'

"Just hung around the house, worked on the Macbeth paper."

"That's cool. So are you dating that guy you met at the beach?"

I almost spit out the swig of water I'd just taken. I was not prepared for this today.

"Um, no."

"Oh. You just seemed kinda close at the beach, so I thought that maybe you were seeing him or something."

Here it was, my moment of truth. Just tell the truth Bella, come on. I took a deep breath. "Jacob and I go way back," Okay, that was kinda true. I did meet him when we were kids. "But no, we are not seeing each other."

Tyler brightened. "Really?"

I had to tell him, it was now or never. "Listen Tyler, I really like you a lot, as a friend." His smile faltered. "But I'm not looking to date anyone right now." Ok that was true, but it definitely wasn't the whole truth. I had chickened out. I guess now that I had actual friends, I wasn't willing to risk losing them.

"Oh. Okay then, that's cool." He walked off looking dejected but not angry. I exhaled; my hands were shaking a little. I had come so close to telling him the truth, but I just couldn't. I was so shaken up by the confrontation that English class was half over before I even realized that Evie wasn't in class today. She didn't show up for any of our morning classes. Where was she?

I had to force myself to walk at a normal pace to the cafeteria at lunch. I was filled with nervous energy. Would the rest of the Cullens be listening to my thoughts? What did they think of Evie's involvement in rescuing me from the van? Were they dangerous like Evie? When I entered, I immediately looked toward their table. It was completely empty. For a second I searched all the other tables to see if Evie was waiting for me like she had on Friday. No sign of her anywhere.

Jessica noticed me looking. "They're not here." She said.

"What?" Had I been that obvious?

"The Cullens aren't here. When the weather's nice their parents pull them out of school for camping and stuff."

I frowned, suddenly angry. Evie had told me they were going camping, but she didn't say anything about missing school this week! I was fuming. Then I realized Jessica was still talking to me.

"I know you're not going to the dance, I wish you were, but do you want to come dress shopping with me and Ang tonight?"

"I'll have to check with my dad. Where are you going?"

"Port Angeles. It's not too far, and they have way better stores. We're taking Angela's car."

"Sounds like fun," I smiled, happy to be included. I could also check out some bookstores while we were up there. I tried to put Evie out of my mind and focus on normal high school stuff.

That afternoon I got home and called Charlie right away to ask about the shopping trip.

"So are you going to the dance then?" he asked immediately.

"No I'm still not planning on going, but I want to go shopping with my friends anyway. Is that ok?"

"Is all your homework done?"

"Yes, Dad."

"And you'll be home by nine?"

"Yes, Dad."

"Then okay. Do you have money?"

"Yeah, I have some. Thanks Dad!"

"Be safe Bells, and have fun."

"Will do!"

As soon as we hung up I called Jessica to have tell her the good news. She and Angela came right over to pick me up, and we headed out of town. I felt my spirits lifting with each mile we put between us and Forks.

Evie

I paced the landing at the top of the stairs, staring out at the accursed sunlight streaming down through the trees. I could not remember ever feeling so trapped. I was like wild cat in a cage, stalking back and forth. This impatience was liable to drive me mad.

"Hey Ev, we're all heading up to the field tonight for some football!" Emmett was bounding up the steps. I growled at him.

"Geez, sorry! I'll just...leave you to your thoughts." He backed away slowly. I couldn't pinpoint the origin of my fury, but I knew it had everything to do with the girl. It had been three days now. Three entire days stuck indoors. I crushed glass vases between my palms just to give myself something to do with my hands. Then I made mental notes to replace them before Esme noticed.

Of course by now I was used to being confined indoors when the sun was out. I seemed to remember passing the time amicably with my family; playing games and music, reading and writing. But that was before I met Bella. That was before anyone outside of those living under this roof had held even a fraction of my attention.

It seemed an eternity passed while I did nothing but watch the shadows lengthen. My skin felt too small for the energy contained within my muscles. I crouched in front of my balcony doors, just out of reach of the last rays of daylight. The seconds ticked by and still I watched.

And then, finally, with movement so slow it would be imperceptible to any but my eyes, the shadows reached me. I flew from the balcony at top speed, reaching far beyond the open area that surrounded our house before touching ground. I ran without caring where I was going, just feeling the wind on my face.

I had been running for about twenty minutes when I realized I had arrived at the edge of the forest behind the Swan's house. Of course. There was no sound from inside the home. This was infuriating! Where was she? I was finally able to leave my house and now she was gone. I decided to run over to the police station to see if her father was still there.

I hid outside the building and listened for his thoughts. I skipped from mind to mind looking for him. Was he gone already? Or are his thoughts blocked from me as well? This thought concerned me. It was bad enough having one person I couldn't hear.

I gave up and went next to Jessica's house. She and Bella were friends, perhaps that's where Bella was this evening. No luck. I tried Angela's, struck out again. I was beginning to feel a tightness building up in my chest. It was something I had never felt before: panic.

In the end I resorted to stopping by Mike Newton's house. He and Bella seemed friendly at school, and he was dating Jessica. Finally, someone home! I listened to him playing video games for a while, and then my search was rewarded.

Wonder what kinda dress Jess is getting tonight. Bet she's gonna look hot! That Bella chick is kinda hot too, I bet they're helping each other get dressed…

I blocked his thoughts as soon as they turned vulgar, disgusted. But I had my answer now: Bella was with Jessica looking at dresses. Easy enough.

But when I stopped by the one department store in town they weren't there. Frustration was building as I hit another dead end. I finally broke down and called my sister.

"Why are you going to Port Angeles?" Alice asked without preamble as she answered the phone.

"Thanks for the help Al!" I hung up, already racing home to get my car.

I made the hour long drive to Port Angeles in under thirty minutes, and then began the task of locating one human in a population of twenty thousand.