CHAPTER 3

Mystic Falls seems like a nice town. So far I haven't found anything I didn't like.

People were pleasant and I even found a small house on sale in the southern part of the town.

I called the owner, Mrs. Brown, and she led me on a tour.

The house is relatively small but cosy; it has 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a living room, a kitchen, an attic, a basement and a garage that could easily hold two cars.

„I like it." I announce to her.

„I'm glad you do, honey. I've been meaning to sell it for months, ever since I moved away, but there aren't many people interested here.." She says.

„Well.. I'm buying it. I like it too much to miss out on an opportunity like this." I decide.

„Great! We can work out the details now if you want, I brought the contract and you can move in whenever you want, no one has lived in it for a few months." She informs me.

„I only have two bags and a bike back at the motel so I can be here whenever you're ready." I tell her.

„You can do it now if you want to. I don't want such a nice girl sleeping in a place like that awful motel down the road. Let's go inside so you can sign and make yourself at home!"

„Yeah, that sounds perfect! Thank you so much!" I exclaim and actually hug her. I guess I missed human contact more than I realised.

She chuckles and hugs me back.

We go inside, work out the details and sign all the necessary paperwork.

„I should get going. Here's the key. You can call me whenever you want if there is something wrong or if you have any questions."

„Sure!" I say and we both go on our separate ways.

XXX

By the time I returned to the house it was already late afternoon. Since the house was empty I decide to just leave my two bags in the bedroom and head to the local diner Mrs. Brown told me about to get something to eat.

It was within walking distance so I left my bike at home.

The diner is surprisingly packed for a small place like this. I guess it is a common hangout for the locals.

I find a seat at the bar and wait for the waiter.

„Hi, what can I get you?" Asks a tall blonde guy named Matt- according to his name tag.

„Burger, fries and a coke, please." I answer.

„You're the new girl, the one who moved into Mrs. Brown's house, right?"

„Wow, word travels fast, huh?" I say. „And it's Bella, FYI." I smile and stretch out my hand for him to shake.

„Matt, nice to meet you!" He smiles back.

„Likewise."

„Okay, well, I'm gonna go grab your order and be back in a few." He says and leaves through the door beside the bar.

I glance around the diner and see two guys arguing in the back. I can't hear what they're saying but it sure seems pretty heated since a girl my age with long brown hair and a sundress comes by and drags one of them away.

The other one turns around and starts walking towards the bar.

That is when I realise it is the Stranger from the other night so I turn around and hope he wouldn't notice me. I was still a little embarrassed by my behaviour in the woods. I shouldn't have bothered him while he was obviously in a foul mood.

Matt comes out of the kitchen and brings me my food.

„Here, enjoy!" He says.

„Thanks!"

I feel Stranger's eyes boring into me but I decide to ignore it and just keep eating. After all, he is the one who didn't want to talk the other night, hedismissed me.

Meanwhile the other guy and the brunette return.

I guess she noticed that the Stranger was staring at me so she decides to approach me.

„Hey, Bella, right? I'm Elena and these are my boyfriend Stefan-" She points to the guy she was with- „and his older brother Damon." The Stranger.

Stefan reaches for my hand to shake.

„Bella." I say.

The first thing I notice is that his hand is colder than usual, and of course he is just as beautiful as his brother.

Great gene pool, I guess.

Damon, on the other hand, hasn't moved from his seat across the bar so I don't approach him either.

I get a strange feeling in my gut. When I glance between the two of them again I realise why.

They remind me of the Cullens even though they aren't anything like them exactly.

It is just the vibe around them and their physical appearance. They are both tall and muscular and have killer jaws but the thing that captivates me the most is their skin. They are paler than me which is saying something and have flushed cheeks which was a weird combination.

When you would look at the details like hair and eye colour they are different but the vibe around them- definitely the Cullen vibe.

Or I am just overthinking things, as usual.

„Where are you from, Bella?" Asks Stefan.

„I just moved from Forks, Washington a few days ago." I answer.

„You bought the house downtown, right? I live a few houses down the road so we're gonna be neighbours!" Elena announces excitedly.

„Yup, that's the one." I say with a lot less enthusiasm cause I notice Damon staring intently at my arm. And that is when I realise I have a no-sleeve blouse on. And he is actually staring at my scar.

The scar.

Fuck!

„Anyway, I gotta run. I forgot to do something at home. I'll see you around, bye!" I say and stat retreating towards the door leaving half of my dinner untouched. I don't want Damon to suddenly decide to speak up and turn their attention to my scar. That is a story I have to keep to myself.

„Bye Bella! I'll come by tomorrow and see if you need some help around the house, okay?" Elena yells after me.

„Yeah, that's fine, seeya!" I answer without really considering her question.

When I practically run out of the diner I am finally able to release the breath I didn't even realise I was holding.

I start walking back to my house when I feel like someone is watching me.

I turn around but there is nothing to be seen. The street is empty so I just speed up and continue my path.

Until I feel it again. And this time even the hairs on the back of my neck rise.

It was seriously starting to creep me out.

I look around me again and the only thing I see is a black crow staring at me from the middle of the street.

I seriously need to get my shit together. I'm freaking out about every little thing and acting like a child. The dangers of my supernatural past needed to stay where they belonged, in the past.

Mystic Falls is a nice town with nice people. Anyone with eyes should be able to see that.

By the time I get back to my house my heart is beating like a hummingbird's wings due to all the stress and my quick pace.

I immediately lock the door behind me and go straight to my room to change into some cotton shorts and a shirt to sleep in and hop under the covers.

But the sleep doesn't come.

I still can't shake that feeling of being watched away.

And everytime I go to check the window I see that damn bird standing on a branch of the tree that grows by my window and following my every move like a hawk. Or a crow, in this case.

„Get a grip, Bella!" I mutter to myself. „It is just a stupid, annoying bird!"

And the moment the words are out of my mouth the crow flies by my window and starts poking his peak into the glass.

I guess he didn't like what I said.

What? He? Bella? It is a bird. Ithas a brain in the size of a pea. It couldn't care less about what you just said about it.

„Go away, shoo!" I yell in an attempt to chase it away but the damn bird wouldn't relent so I decide to switch bedrooms.

I go into the smaller one and lay in bed for some time until I am finally able to fall asleep.

A/N

I changed up CH 2 a little bit so check it out:)

Krystalwinds1990- The quotation marks are like that because I'm from Croatia and that is how we write it here:) My keyboard automatically sets them like this, sorry:)

Dark-Supernatural-Angel- Bella didn't catch it, she doesn't know anything about his nature, yet:) And like I said, my story doesn't follow any storylines so it doesn't really matter why D was in the woods:)

I decided to upload a chapter once a week, probably on weekends, and I will try to be as regular as possible, but no promises!:D

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Thank you for your support guys!:*