Disclaimer: These are not Stephanie's vampires.
Chapter Five
Isabella Swan
The absolute first thing I do after my shift is sit down at the counter with a big plate of cheese-fries and a slice of Sue's apple pie. Sue is all too happy to load up my plate with slightly-bigger-than-normal portions. "Good girl," she says from across the counter, watching me with motherly eyes. "Eat up. Put some meat on those bones!"
I smile slightly, my mouth full of food, and roll my eyes. I ate a lot of meals at the diner and not only because Sue was wonderful company that gave me a huge – I mean, free – discount of the food. Before I worked here and before I met Victoria, I ate all of my meals alone in my dorm's dining hall.
I was a lot younger than all the other freshman and noticeably smaller, too. Being sixteen in college sounds all kinds of cool but really, it's not – I was automatically stigmatized by the upperclassmen by being freakishly smart and I was a runt to boot. I suppose I still am a runt, though I had grown up – literally, as I was several inches taller than most girls at five-seven. Still, people did tend to give me my space and when I did eat at my dorm and Victoria wasn't there, I was alone.
Being alone wasn't a burden or anything – I was used to it and I kind of liked the solitude. But I hated eating alone and if Sue was offering free meals and conversation, who was I to turn her down?
Sue comes by with a can of whipped cream and, without any preamble, loads up my pie with a well-rounded dollop. "There," she grins. "Extra calories!"
Sue's slight obsession with fruitlessly trying to fatten me up was something of a comfort. She always said that one day, it'll all go to my hips and I'll be a happy woman. I only sort of hoped she was right but I also knew that the better way to gain weight was through lots of protein and I wasn't all that excited about red meat, though fish and chicken were okay in my book.
"Thanks, Sue."
She pats my cheek as I finish the pie. "Of course, darling girl. We'll be seeing you tomorrow, right?"
"Afternoon shift," I nod, tightening the scarf around my neck and being so thankful that nobody saw the evidence Paul left on me – namely Edward, though I couldn't come up with a concrete reason to hide it from him.
Not that I was going to linger on thoughts of Edward, anyway.
My dorm has a no-smoking policy, but I honestly think that the smoking of pot was overlooked by everyone, even the RA's. Maybe even especially the RA's, because the girl who introduced herself as my floor's residence advisor had dreadlocks and the distinct smell of eau de weed wafting around her. She even did this dippy-nod thing with her head when she saw the old Converse shoebox on my bed. So, while cigarettes were strictly prohibited, everyone overlooked that singular odor that sometimes seeped from under the door cracks and into the hallway, as long as you did air out your room.
I don't waste time as I enter my room, my eyes shifting to the locked window, and I kneel down, fishing out the shoebox from under my bed. My pipe's name was aptly Daisy Duck because there was a single white, blue and yellow swirl that looked exactly like the cartoon character. Or, at least, it did when I was high.
"Hello Daisy," I say as I pack and light the pipe, holding the smoke in my lungs for a few seconds before letting it out.
The high is instantly calming.
I open my window just a crack, put the pipe down on my built-in desk and slip off my clothes, trading my sweater in for one of my oversized Navy shirts. I'd had some version of the shirt since I was a kid and though the letters were fading into the color of this particular shirt, it was still my favorite thing to sleep in. Mom always said it was the greatest honor to wear this shirt to sleep, because then our dreams will protect Daddy, too.
I guess she was right. Dad did come home safe and sound.
It was after he came home that was the problem.
I take another hit, holding it in for a slightly longer amount of time, before I put the pipe back carefully into the shoebox and tuck into bed. I revel in the hazy feeling the high brings as I set my alarm clock for the sharp hour of eight.
Morning comes too fast and my high has faded; but I wake up rested, having avoided the recurring nightmare. I munch on a granola bar as I gather my toiletries and make my way to the bathroom.
Twenty minutes later, I'm pulling on an oversized soft peach turtleneck, a pair of floral print skinny jeans and my boots, fixing my hair into a loose French braid and heading out the door. I'd even slicked on a pink-tinted beeswax chap-stick, belatedly realizing I'd done it because I knew I would be seeing Edward.
Not that I wanted to impress him.
Not that he needed impressing.
Because he didn't.
Edward is standing right where he said he would be and we walked into the building together after he held the door open for me. I'd paused, sort of surprised that he would do such a thing, then pulled it together. Nobody had ever held a door open for me.
As we walk towards his classroom, I fidget with a loose string on my sweater. "So, here's how it'll go," I say, tilting my head in his direction and infusing my voice with as much confidence as I'm able, even though his presence really threw me off. "We sit together in the back, the teacher hands out the test, you fill in your information and then pass it to me. I'll take your test and you flip through my blank one." I raise a brow at him. "Pretend to be busy. Most people forget that."
"Understood," he smirks.
Entirely too attractive.
I shake my head. "I'll pass the test back to you when I'm done and fake a bathroom break. I'll meet you outside after you turn in your test."
Edward frowns. "I don't like you waiting outside," he says.
My mind flashes to the still-missing Paul because, hell, I didn't want to wait outside while that nut-job was still at large – but I wasn't about to change my routine for anyone and that included both Paul and Edward.
I shrug. "I'll be outside," I say again, firmly.
Edward sighs.
He might even roll his eyes.
Luckily for us, the professor has his back turned when we walk into the room – but I still keep my head down, hoping he doesn't recognize me as a non-student of his class. It had happened a couple of times in the past and it was less than fun to deal with.
I slouch towards the table when the professor begins handing out the tests.
And my heart stops when he stops in front of me for longer than necessary; out of the corner of my eye, I see Edward sitting up too straight and a distinct expression of alarm on his face.
"Are you supposed to be here-"
I look up at the professor, a man younger than most of his peers, and let my eyes make contact with his through his thick square lenses. Please, just move on. Don't give me a hard time, I think, willing myself to appear normal, making my brows scrunch together.
The professor blinks at me, confusion painted across his face, before he moves on, handing a test to Edward and wandering to the front of the room.
Edward looks at me sharply, but I shrug.
Things just…happen when people look at me.
Taking the test is easy; I quickly recall equations and functions and components and, as luck would have it, I don't have to work at copying Edward's flawless handwriting. Edward, on the other hand, seems to have to work hard to remain moving – like it's more in his nature to sit still. Once I'm done, I pass his test to him and duck out of the room.
Less than ten minutes later, Edward meanders outside with perfect posture and I notice how entirely odd he looks, trying to walk with a lazy slouch.
Where does this guy come from?
Most college boys have to work hard to remember to wear a belt to keep their pants up but not only does Edward wear his pants properly, he also acts proper – sophisticated way more than anybody in college should be. At least, anyone going to a state college should be.
He almost brings to life the images of Austen and Bronte – their male leads with the manners and movements that are unrealistic by today's standards.
It doesn't seem right.
Something about this guy isn't right.
I cross my arms over my chest, drawing myself up to my full height as Edward comes closer, and I feel my face go blank, my walls coming up nice and tightly.
Edward doesn't seem to notice the change in my body language, as he is smiling brightly, his eyes ghosting over my face with open and misplaced familiarity. "That was great! What did you do to the teacher, Isabella?"
"It's Bella," I say shortly. "And I didn't do anything."
"He walked away pretty quick," Edward observes.
"People walk quickly."
Bright, minty eyes study me and soon the smile softly drops off his face. Edward narrows his eyes at me. "What's with you today?"
I roll my eyes. "As opposed to what? My charming personality?"
Edward blinks at me, frowning. "You're not usually so-"
"There is no usually between us," I snipe, cutting him off. "I don't even know you."
Amazingly, his face wipes blank and I see a flicker of disappointment in his eyes.
I try not to feel bad.
There is something Edward is hiding and it makes his entire demeanor disarming – I'm not wrong in wanting to get away from him as soon as possible.
He could be dangerous.
At least, that's what I tell myself – on a deeper level, I'm remorseful that I'm suddenly acting like such a complete bitch towards him for no reason. I can only imagine the kind of mixed signals he's getting since I almost flirted with him yesterday.
"Right," he says eventually, his voice bland. Edward digs out his wallet and pulls out a small stack of money.
"Too much," I say automatically. "This wasn't even an exam. Small tests are just twenty."
"I insist," he tells me, trying to hand me the money again.
My arms don't move. "No. Twenty."
"Forty."
"Twenty."
"At least let me give you forty."
I level him a steady stare, letting my eyes bore into his. "Twenty."
Unlike most people, Edward barely seems affected – if anything, instead of becoming confused, a glint enters his eyes that I'm not comfortable with. I drop my gaze and he reluctantly hands me the twenty dollars.
"Thank you."
Edward puts his wallet back in his pocket. "Can I walk you anywhere?" he offers.
Except, instead of the question sounding innocent, it sounds like a desperate plea – and I just can't deal with it. His apparent interest in me just didn't match up with his increasingly odd behavior.
I shake my head once. "I have a shift at the diner," I tell him, leaving him no room to ask again. "Thanks again for the business."
"Business," he repeats slowly, to himself.
I nod and walk off.
The entire time, even when I'm across campus, I feel his eyes heavy on my back, searing into my body, and I just know that he stood there, watching me, until he couldn't see me any longer.
Sue notices that I'm a bit disturbed during my shift and tries to question me on it, but I wave her off, noting a false bad night of sleep.
Hours pass and I offer to pull a double shift until closing when Sue's youngest sister calls, announcing that this wonderful baby my goddamn husband put in me is on it's way. I assure her I can handle the diner and that Bill was still with me and she is out the door, not even bothering to take off her floral apron.
By the time I've locked up the diner and bid Bill a good-night, it's past midnight and I'm swaying on my feet.
The streets of Seattle around the University are quiet except for the competitive pulsing of party music of two Greek houses – who were, apparently, having a contest of who had the worst musical taste.
Stupidly – and because I'm so tired – I walk on the darker side of the street, right where a few alley ways are located between houses.
I should have been where the streetlights were.
I should have been more aware of the familiar feeling of eyes on my back.
Or the prickle of gooseflesh underneath my thick sweater that acted as a warning.
Instead, mid-yawn, two beefy hands pull me into an alley.
The putrid stench of three-day-old sweat, blood, dirt and bodily functions fills my nose and hot, sticky breath huffs onto my neck.
I open my mouth to scream, but his hand clamps over my mouth.
"Fucking bitch," Paul rasps, like something is wrong with his own throat. His hand that had held me against him slides down my torso and to the button of my jeans.
I thrash.
Somehow, it makes it easier for him to unzip my pants.
I feel tears leaking easily down my face and paralyzing, real fear – so much stronger than I ever thought fear could be – keeps my sobs silent. I can only think about how stupid I was to walk on this side of the street, alone, at night, knowing that Paul was somewhere out there.
"Didn't get you last time," he says. "Fucking guy ran me off. He had fucking fangs, do you believe that? Sucked the fucking blood right out me," he rambles, ripping at my sweater. "Left me in the fucking forest somewhere." Paul lets out a chilling chuckle. "But where's your savior now, huh bitch? Gone. And now I get to have you."
My eyes close and I hold my breath when Paul's hand pushing my pants and cotton underwear down my legs; I feel bile rise in my throat when I hear his zipper.
And just when I think it's too late and that my innocence is going to be tainted in the worst possible way, a thunderous, raging growl erupts in the alley.
Paul stops.
Relief floods me.
I look up, Paul's hand still on my face, over my mouth, and my eyes widen in disbelief.
Edward.
A/N: So, the super quick updates have stopped and classes have picked up. I'm going to try a twice-a-week update – probably Wednesday and sometime on the weekend. Also, I felt so, so guilty for not doing my way of reviewing last week that I'm reinstating it.
Have a problem with long author notes? Eh. Not my problemo.
Reviews!
lovestwilight2010 – Thank you!
radar1999 – Glad you're lovin' it!
Flavia Ribeiro – I flove it too!
solidae26 – Another lover! :D
ngosa95 – Everyone can write this well! It's five stories worth of practice lol
Sabrina – Glad your loving this!
Kimmie41 – Still not sure about EPOV lol
james3142 – Yeahh, Emmett's….well, Emmett lol Not the most subtle one.
Michangelina – Love that you're friggin' lovin' it!
Hermionebrowneyes – I'm happy you find this unique!
CdrIvanova – Yes and yes. My vampires can eat and they have normal colored eyes. Nice change of pace, huh?
sassygirl156 – Mmmmm, I don't know about blood slave for Bella. It's…more than that.
Maysnrs – LOL they are smiling like weirdos! Thanks for the *, too!
Princessnerra – Four days late is better than never again? Lol
sujari6 – Right? Those odd vamps.
albesca callimir – Right! The vamps usually keep to themselves for the most part.
Debslmac - :D
Headinthecloudsss – Ah, sharp eye. Alice and Jasper were not in the prologue and I don't know if they make it into this story. For now, not yet.
Cbmorefie – Thank ya, thank ya!
Merylin – Nope. You won't find any sparkling vampires in this story!
Muranda – Thank you!
Lilypad10 – That Rose, she is a character! French fries in French?! Ha!
host312 – Glad I have you hooked!
Twivampchick – Ah, vampire traits will be peppered in the story. Look out for the next chapter!
LunaDiSangue85 – Happy belated Birthday!
Tiffyboocullenjonas – Thank you!
vampyregirl86 – Emmett is so loveable lol
cullen freak8888 – In the dictionary, Emmett's picture is right next to suspicious lol
kaygou – Nah, I don't know who the bad guy is going to be yet…okay, I do, but I'm not saying lol
Twilight Rocker 12 – All Cullens are cute, even when they're being freakazoids lol
Edward's spouse – Thank you for reading!
krystalwinds1990 – If only Paul would stay gone!
SrslyGiGi – That's okay. I would marry my Vampward if I was able to lol
YesMyRealNameIsBella – Ah, she wouldn't be Bella if she didn't think she was ugly lol I love all those contestants on the XFactor!
And super special shout out to the first review of the last chapter, Valentine Rain – They are grinning loons, huh? Lol
Alright, off to scrounge up some dinner!
As always, be brutally honest. I can take it!
~cupcakeriot