Chapter Six

Bella

I left for school feeling rather deflated...it must have been a dream, but then I handed in my history homework and remembered the essay on my computer. I hadn't dreamed that. Edward was very cool today but I was so intrigued by my mystery correspondent that I hardly noticed.

"Bella what can I do?" he asked. Why are you avoiding me?

I wasn't really, I just hadn't thought about him which was a miracle because since I first saw him I'd thought of nothing else. I sat with the Cullens at lunch but hardly heard the conversation. Every time I looked up I saw Alice watching me. Edward gave up trying to get a coherent sentence from me in the end and I walked to English with him, hardly aware of his presence. We worked together on an English paper but he did most of the work.

"Bella can I come over?" He asked as we left class.

I remembered Alice's warning. "How about I come over to your place?" I suggested.

He wasn't ecstatic but he agreed.

I cooked Charlie dinner and left it ready along with a note explaining where I was going. Edward was waiting for me when I arrived and pulled me into a warm embrace. It was nice to see the others but then I remembered I hadn't checked my computer and I worried about what might be on it. In the end it drove me mad and I left the Cullens early, pleading homework commitments. Edward offered to come with me but then Alice asked him to go hunting with her and he agreed. As I left I gave a glance of thanks and she nodded.

Once home I ran straight upstairs so impatient to see if I had a message from my secret friend. The computer was on so someone had been here today. I moved the mouse and the screen lit up. On there was another picture. It was of me, sitting in class with Angela. It was so beautiful it looked like a photograph. So my secret admirer was watching me? It sounded creepy but I couldn't feel worried. As the picture faded like the others there was a message left in its place

YOU FASCINATE ME

Just those three words. Who was me? I thought about my reply as I showered. Charlie banged on the door "Phone Bella".

I wrapped a towel around me and went downstairs.

"Hello",

It was Jake and I gritted my teeth.

"Any idea who jumped up and down on my truck?" he said.

"No Jake".

"Well it was one of your leech friends".

"I don't think so".

"Then who?"

"Jake I have no idea. Was that all you wanted?"

"No Bella. I haven't spoken to you for ages. Will you come to the Res on Saturday? We're going to the beach".

I really didn't want to go and fished wildly for an excuse.

"I can't Jake. I have an essay to write and chores".

Charlie looked up "What chores? They can wait". I glared at him.

"I'll have to see Jake. I'll ring you tomorrow"

I cut him off before he could argue and went back upstairs. My computer screen was glowing again and I rushed over to see an e-mail from Renee asking for news. I sat down and sent a chatty reply which said nothing at all.

As I was about to switch it off I saw I had another message on an e-mail account I didn't recognise. I went to log in and it asked for a password. I looked around and suddenly smiled, I tried fascinate and I got in straight away. There was one message,

"Don't go Saturday. That was all.

I sent a reply "Why?"

And waited, I wondered if my mystery correspondent was sitting at the other end but I never got a reply. I turned the computer off and went to bed reading Jane Austen. As I turned a page a piece of paper fell out and floated to the bed cover, it was plain white and had a few words written on it in black ink.

Port Angeles Park, 12.30 Saturday.

Was it an invitation? If so, it was an odd one, but I knew I'd be there anyway. I was curious but I thought I might take some insurance. Angie was free so we arranged a day out in Port Angeles. I didn't tell her about my message but managed to organise it so we were at the park for lunchtime. It was sunny so we bought some sandwiches and drinks and sat on the grass enjoying the warmth. I got the feeling we were being watched although I couldn't see anyone.

As we lay sunbathing with our books I felt a shadow and opened my eyes. A young lad stood there a parcel in his hand.

"Miss Swan?"

I nodded and he handed over the parcel. I asked him who sent it.

"Some guy over in the trees gave me ten bucks to bring it to you".

He ran off and I looked towards the trees but I couldn't see anything.

Angie looked at me, "Do you have something to tell me?"

I explained about my secret correspondent. At first she seemed very wary but as I explained I'd got help with an essay and a couple of drawings she seemed as intrigued as me. I opened the parcel and saw it was tickets for a movie this afternoon. There were two so Angie and I decided to give it a try. It was the latest film about the Civil War. One I'd been intending to watch hoping to get some ideas for my essay, before the notes arrived from my mystery man, at least I assumed it was a man. Angie was happy too, she had the same essay and one of the films main stars was one of her favourites. We grabbed popcorn and drinks before taking our seats.

"Do you think your secret friend will be here watching you?" She whispered looking around at our neighbours. That hadn't occurred to me.

"I guess he might be, but how will I know?"

"Don't you have any idea? Could it be Edward trying to get back in your good books, or Jake?"

I spluttered as my soda went down the wrong way.

"Not Jake, I don't think he's that subtle. Besides he doesn't know any more than us about the Civil War". "Edward" she offered again.

"Why go to the trouble of all this secrecy? I've never seen him draw like the pictures on my computer. I don't think so. Anyway it doesn't seem flash enough for him. Edward is one for the grand gesture. He's more likely to give me a First Edition written by one of the Generals".

"Then who?"

I shook my head as the titles rolled,

"No idea, lets just enjoy the movie.