A/N: Thanks for Sherry & Tiffany.

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Chapter 8

I had been avoiding Edward since that night at the beach. He had stirred feelings in me, feelings that I just wasn't ready to face. I had seen the look in his eyes, too. He wanted to kiss me. I… I just wasn't ready to handle something like that.

There was a knock at my door. I ignored it, pretending to be sleeping, but whoever it was, wasn't willing to go away. "Bella," Jasper said, opening the door.

I groaned, closing my eyes and rolling away from him.

He kicked the side of the bed. "Come on. It's time to get up. You've been locked in here for days."

"Go away."

"C'mon. Alice and I are going to a cookout. I want you to come with us."

"I'm not hungry."

"I'm not taking no for an answer."

I turned to look up at him. He gave me that look, the one that told me I wasn't getting out of this.

So, that's how I ended up here, at some stranger's house, with a bunch of people I didn't know. Who were all talking, having a good time while I sat in the corner, nursing a coke, cause Jasper said I was underage. I was just wondering when I would be able to leave when he showed up.

"Hey, there you are," Edward said, taking a seat beside me. "Black again," he said, motioning towards my outfit. "You know now that you're living in Santa Cruz you really should try investing in some other colors."

"Blacks isn't a color."

"What?"

"Black, it's not a color. It absorbs light, therefore, it's not a color."

Edward laughed. "And Jasper said that you didn't pay attention in school," he said, playfully shoving me.

I rolled my eyes.

"So, where have you been these past few days? I haven't seen you around."

"Nowhere," I said, staring down at my can of coke. I really didn't want to have this conversation.

"Jasper said you've been held up in your room. Is it because of what happened at the beach?"

"Nothing happened at the beach," I sighed, standing up. "And nothing is going to happen. Why can't you get that through your thick head? Didn't you promise to stay away from me? Wasn't that the deal?"

"The deal was if we talked. I don't remember you doing any talking."

I growled in frustration. "Just stay away from me," I warned him. "I don't want anything to do with you."

Before, I knew what was happening, Edward was up and out of his seat, pressing his lips to mine. He kissed me gently as he combed his fingers into my hair. The surprising bit was, when I kissed him back.

After a few minutes, I pulled away and glared at him. "You shouldn't have done that."

"Why?"

Tears filled my eyes as I shook my head. "Just stay away from me. Leave me alone."