CHAPTER 16 – DECISIONS AND SUSPICIONS

3 Doors Down - Here Without You

And when the last one falls
When it's all said and done
It gets hard but it won't take away my love

I'm here without you, baby
But you're still on my lonely mind

EPOV

She was different.

The moment I saw her, I knew there was something different about her.

Not just in her natural beauty though I couldn't deny that she was pretty –beautiful even.

Her complexion was almost as pale as a vampire and that's what had caught my attention at first but when I saw the large doe like brown eyes, I knew it couldn't be true. Plus she didn't acquire the vampire scent – instead she owned a unique scent of strawberries and freesias but what I couldn't comprehend was the dull smell of her blood – it was almost like she didn't have any but I could hear the way her heart drummed – slightly more erratic and I caught how the heartbeat would jump a little when I spoke to her.

Through the game, her heartbeat had remained steady - steadier than any human's should and her low breaths had been evened even as we watched her walk out with Angela.

She wasn't a common brunette as her mahogany tresses rolled down her back in waves, tainted with the burgundy highlights which would be more prominent under the florescent lights.

What I did like about her was that she didn't use any cosmetics like the rest of the girls did - not that Bella really needed any. Her creamy skin was flawless, her pink lips were full and plump with no need for lipstick and her long lashes were curved to perfection.

It was almost a captivating beauty – one that had not gone unnoticed to the male population of Forks High. Their lustful thoughts had plagued me for the past few days – annoying me to no end. Their vulgar imaginations angered me and it had seemed to be a constant battle to will myself to calm down.

Though if it hadn't been for their thoughts, I wouldn't have really paid attention to Bella Marie.

I noticed how she dressed differently to the other humans. Her style was unique – modest, almost in the traditional sense. With her long skirt that grazed her sandal clad feet and even when she wore a tank top, she added layers on top almost like she was being careful about exposing any skin- whether it was for the cold Forks weather or another reason – I didn't know.

At first I had thought that she was quiet with the way she hid under the large parka and avoided everyone's stares... She preferred to remain in the background and to be ignored. I had come to the conclusion that she didn't like attention like most humans craved for.

This was why it took me by great surprise when I saw the fire burn in her brown eyes as she defended me against Lauren Mallory. Although I was impressed and flattered over her new found courage, I did feel guilty because her words had now gained her two enemies.

When seeing Lauren push her, I had been blinded by the burning anger and the overwhelming urge to protect her rose but thankfully Emmett had held me back and I had to watch as Bella restrained herself.

It had reminded me of the time in cafeteria when the deadliest look had crossed her features. The dark glare had been filled with an inhuman hatred and her chocolate brown eyes had darkened into a soulless void. Her anger had transformed her into something darker.

After seeing her stumble back from Lauren's attack, I had tried to tell myself that I only wanted to help her because she helped me but I knew it was because of the pull that I felt around her. It felt like it was electric current would hum in the air between us that I could almost feel it burn through my skin.

Every move she made consumed me and when she challenged me in Biology, I was bewildered. The humans tended to stray from our paths and refuse to talk to any of us in a civilised manner but Bella was intelligent – her observations with the stages of mitosis had stunned me.

I'd felt it in Biology when I spoke to her but through the conversation. I could tell she was guarding herself with the way she gave vague replied but with each answer that I received only fascinated me further which was why I couldn't help but try and draw her into a conversation – feeling the strange need to know more about her. I felt drawn to her but I couldn't decipher why that was.

The intolerable creature that was Mike Newton annoyed me to no end especially when he thought it was perfectly fine to interfere with me and Bella - just as I wanted to ask if she needed help in finding her next lesson. His vile thoughts were obnoxious and too loud to ignore as I saw how he imagined claiming Bella as his own.

I was disgusted with him before, but seeing the wild fantasies roam around his twisted mind, I felt even more sickened by the mere thought of him.

Surely, Bella would be able to protect herself from Mike Newton. I was sure that she would realise she could find someone better than him or even Tyler and Eric...

Now as I watched her go away, I felt the tug on my chest and reached up instinctively to rub by chest. Alice had caught the movement and had swivelled her eyes to meet mine with a silent question.

How she ignited these feelings within me – I did not know. Everything about her seemed to call to me and I felt protective of her. I could not deny that I felt something for her but I could decide on what I would do about it. I still did not know.

Her whole manner intrigued me.

"Did that seriously happen?" Emmett asked, his impressed tone didn't falter.

"Yes" I gave in to the truth, "It did", I continued to look down at the exit she'd left in with a thoughtful expression while trying to calculate what was happening, "Well she isn't a vampire…", I commented and from the corner of my eye I saw Emmett nod in confirmation.

Alice stared back and forth, from me to Emmett before shrugging and concluding, "Maybe we're just overreacting", though her tone were nonchalant but I could read the underlying worry.

"Maybe" I sighed. She could be right – maybe I was blowing this out of proportion. I was known for my paranoia.

Interrupting us was the low vibrate of Emmett's phone. He pulled it out, read the text before slipping it back into his pocket. "Rose and Jasper are waiting for us" he informed me and Alice.

"We should go" Alice tugged at my shirt and I allowed her to drag me across the gym with her while Emmett trailed our steps.

Maybe we were all being paranoid.

-XxX-

After changing, we had met with our other two siblings in the deserted car park and we were now settled in the silver Volvo as I drove us back home although my mind was not present in their conversation as it had trailed back to the enigma that was Bella Marie.

Truth be told, I was impressed.

She had challenged me – something that was rare within the student body as most were clever enough to steer from us. Bella had even shown her anger when I had tried to be gentle with now, I could picture how she'd amused me with her snarl as she called me out on taking it easy on her - which I did, because I had underestimated her and she had proved me wrong. I could remember how her brown eyes had darkened with a new determination and excitement for the new challenge that faced her.

However, the memory that was burnt into my thoughts was the victorious smile she had sent to me and my siblings before strolling out of the gym. It had been different from the bland falsified smiles she gave to everyone else as that time. This time, her whole face lit up making her seem even more beautiful.

"What's wrong with Edward?" I heard Rose ask and pulled myself out of my subconscious to shake my head in answer to the question.

Emmett ignored me and intervened with a laugh, "A girl beat him in tennis"

Rose joined in on the laughter and I glared at her through the mirror."What?" she giggled happily and my grip tightened around the steering wheel, "What girl? Was it Jessica?" she questioned and I grimaced. I had had the chance to play with Jessica though she did not exactly play. Instead she'd crossed over the net to my side of the court and tried to talk to me. "Did you let her win?" Rose asked.

"No. It was the new girl, Bella" Alice informed her and the laughter immediately subdued. It seemed the girl had had a great impact onto this family. Their thoughts fell back on the strange new girl. Rose was impressed by her attitude for standing up to Lauren and Jessica.

"And I did not let her win" I added grimly making the atmosphere more tense.

For a few moments we stewed in that thought before Rosalie broke the silence and asked quietly, "Bella?" her thoughts grew suspicious.

Alice turned around to look at a confused looking Jasper and reminded him, "The one in our World History Class"

Realisation hit him as he nodded in understanding, "There is something about her" he replied but still deep in thought. Jasper had been wary for a while and had suggested that we keep her under our watch as there was the possibility of her being a threat to us and at first I had shrugged it off but now I was not so sure.

We all knew about what had happened in World History and how this mere human had taken on Jasper in a history quiz. Alice had told us about her not missing any question but also she filled us in on Bella's vast knowledge of the historical facts.

At first I found it amusing but now I knew that something was wrong.

Today had confirmed it.

There was something strange about her. Jasper had mentioned that he couldn't really read her emotions clearly, it was as if she wasn't even alive and Alice never saw her arrival neither could she draw up any clear visions including her – only grainy blurred images that fleeted. My power couldn't work on her either – I had hoped having her in my Biology class, I could hear her but every time I tried ignoring everyone and concentrating only on her mind – nothing. It was like she wasn't even there.

"I can't read her mind. Alice can't see he clearly and Jasper can't feel her emotions" I replayed the information that I was sure about.

"That is strange" Rosalie agreed and I could hear the apprehension rise in their thoughts. Maybe we should kill her… she added mentally and a growl rumbled in my chest that I had to bite down to prevent myself from releasing it out loud, and raising more questions that even I couldn't answer.

"What do you know about her?" Emmett asked and I was grateful for the distraction.

Sighing deeply, I ran my fingers through my messy locks, "Not much", I answered, "Just that her name is Bella Marie and that she's moved here from New York". I only knew this much about her because I had listened in on some of the humans' thoughts.

"What about her parents?" Jasper questioned.

I shook my head before answering sadly, "I don't think they're alive". It was not a certainty as I had only picked it out from Mrs. Cope's thoughts, although I doubt Bella's parents would be able to hide from a small town like Forks.

"Aw poor Bella" Alice cooed and I smiled at her caring attitude towards a stranger,"She lives alone?"

"We assume" Jasper filled in before I could answer.

Rosalie's suspicions grew and I knew she was drawing up a plan in order to ensure our security, "Well if we knew the address, maybe we could just look around. See if anything's suspicious" Rosalie suggested, her doubt settling into her thoughts.

Emmett's angered thoughts were filled with different ways of how we could fight back before voicing what he was thinking, "Has she been of any threat?" Just say the word… his mental voice trailed off as he brought his hands into fists.

Quickly I shook my head before I argued, "Not really", my fingers tightened around the steering wheel as I read the fury on Emmett's face. This shouldn't come to a fight – it won't.

"A shifter?" Emmett propositioned but both me and Alice both shook our heads. She couldn't be a shifter – I could have smelt the horrible stench that accompanied those dogs. Plus, if she was a shifter she wouldn't be coming to our school – she would've have probably attended the school on the reservation.

A crease formed on Jasper's forehead before he voiced what I had been thinking, "She doesn't smell like them"

"And you say she's not a vampire", Rosalie raised a questioning brow, growing more infuriated by the minute with the lack of information. I had learnt a long time ago that Rosalie liked to be in control – liked to be able to manage the situations and I knew this was enraging her.

I was careful when choosing my words, not wanting to trigger her impulsive side, "Not as far as we could tell. She hasn't got that scent either, she's got a human eye colour and I can hear her heartbeat"

Alice reached over to take my hand in hers with a smile sent my way, "Then you're all just exaggerating" she exclaimed, "If she does anything…we'll leave" she concluded in a deadpanned whisper.

"Or fight" Emmett smirked.

This time I couldn't stop the snarl that ripped through when my fingers tightened on Alice's hand making her wince but she still didn't pull away. I sent her an apologetic glance, ignoring the rest of my siblings' stares before turning back to the road.

This time Rosalie hesitated as she asked, "Should we tell Carlisle and Esme?"

After the game that she had played, I did consider the thought of going home and deliberating with Carlisle but I knew that it would only make things worse. Both he and Esme would worry and I didn't want to upset them – especially Esme.

"No" I decided. "Let's not worry them until we're sure"

I would continue to watch over Bella as would my family.

A/N: Hope you enjoyed having the Cullen side of the story. Love Emmett – he's so fun in both the book and the movie. Hope you liked reading what Edward is thinking. Thank you to all the reviews so far – we're close to 100!

Sorry for not replying to your comments. Here they are for both chapters 14 and 15.

cecilia4059 – First of all – welcome to my story – thank you for reading and reviewing and I'm glad you're liking the story so far. cecilia4059 – Hope you enjoyed EPOV. Now all the Cullens are going to be more cautious around Bella. Now you know that Edward does suspect something but that wasn't the only reason why he was talking to her in Biology. He was talking to her because he's interested in her but also he can't smell her blood as she is shielding herself so he feels more comfortable around her. Don't worry about Jacob – he won't be such a big problem. Who/What she is will be revealed soon. Thank you for the comments. Really happy that you're reading and reviewing.

Twilight Rocker – I thought Bella should get rid f some of the bottled up anger and frustration so I used tennis but in my case I prefer boxing. Glad you liked it. Thanks for the reviews. Bella is trying to deny the pull that she can feel towards our dear old Edward but she can't keep it at bay forever. Why she's fighting this attraction will be unveiled very soon.

IzzyPure - I am not good at tennis at all – I actually prefer boxing so I'm with you in punching those who deserve it. Bella is a genius but only because she's lived for a really long time (SPOILER ALERT). Bellamay seem all cute and sweet but there is something more…She has made mistakes before which is why she thinks of herself as this horrible monster.

Avery – Welcome to my sto0ry and I hope you're enjoying. No, Bella isn't a vampire but she is supernatural. She got into the truck because she'd used a lot of her power and couldn't continue on.

Pongu – I'm a huge fan of classics and Pride and Pejudice is one of my many favourites. It's easier for Edward to actually talk to her because she's shielding her scent. Let's wait and see when she removes the shield…Have to say that Edward may have some brooding moments. Edward is starting to feel protective over Bella and let's see how that plays out.

Valentine Rain – Sorry about the mix up – going to be extra careful now. Thanks for reading and reviewing and hope you love this chapter.

Holidai - Edward is suspicious as you may have just read. Right now Edward is calm around her as he's comfortable – not really worrying about the dangers of sinking his teeth into her because he can't smell her.

InLoveJA – Really happy that you liked the chapter. Went back and fixed my mistakes – sorry about that. Very grateful to your hawk eyes – always come in handy. Sorry to hear that you had a rough night – hope everything is sorted and I'm glad my story helped in some way.

– It's only a matter of time before the Cullens find out – they're already suspicious. Thank you for reading and reviewing this story.

sujari6 – As you've read, Cullens are suspicious now and are going to be more watchful. Thanks for your reviews and for reading.

maliciouspixie5 – Thank you for that comment – it's awesome knowing that you love the story. Hope you enjoyed seeing it in Edward's POV.

Kelly-Starfly – Thank you for the love to the chapter. Keeps me writing.