I decided that asking quickly was the best way to get it completed. "Jasper, may I speak to you in person please?" I asked in the most pleasant tone I could muster while standing near the source of the retched smell, hoping that he will be considerate enough to enquire about what I was asking away from the rest of the blood-suckers.

Which is precisely what he did. "Of course. Lead the way."

I led him outside, careful this time to avoid the forest and another control incident. When we got to what I felt was a safe enough distance, I began the carefully planned conversation. Making sure that my voice contained the right amount of curiosity, I asked, "Are you feeling better?" Human always made sure to ask these sort of questions as soon as possible, as they really do care about others. It is all pathetic, really, but one must use the proper etiquette if one is to pass as a human.

He frowned, before speaking. "I cannot say that it has gotten any better. But your advice did help." So he is praising me and my advice. That is a good sign.

"Thank you," I said immediately, making sure to show appreciation, a humans do. I decided to stop wasting time with the polite exchange, and ask the necessary question. After a slight hesitation, that showed my fear of rejection, I asked him, "So, now that you have opened up to me, and I have given you sound advice," I got a small smile for that one, "could we perhaps become friends? I mean, if it is no trouble…" I began to ramble, as humans always do when they aren't sure of the answer.

To my uttermost surprise and shock I received my second hug of the day, which did nothing to improve his scent. He held me in a strong (for a vampire) embrace, and I could feel him genuinely smile. "Of course," he whispered.

Perhaps he noticed that I was uncomfortable, or perhaps he did not want to push the length of time. Either way he let me go fairly quickly. Flustered, I tried to hide it by brushing the dirt off of my clothing. Grinning, he tried an attempt at humour to diffuse the awkward situation. "Now you will be able to watch my brother hopelessly attempt to woo Bella on a regular basis for our laughing pleasure!"

Not at all impressed at his excuse for a joke, I was able to muster up a light chuckle before the bell rang. After saying our goodbyes, we went to class, where I spent the rest of the time feeling relieved that he had accepted my friendship request, and that I had kept up appearances, even if I now had to spend far too much time with the blood-suckers from here on out.

…..

That night I decided that a celebration was in order, in recognition of a plan that may have been flawed but eventually worked itself out with the desired results. Which meant that I had to go out and get the food.

Recently I had been fasting, attempting to make sure that there would be no speculations or panic. However, that has not fared well, as it had made dealings with the vampires far more difficult. So tonight I was making extra sure that I would be well fed, by going to a nearby town, where nobody knew me, and sticking to dark alleyways, where the chance of me being seen accidentally were lower. Excited to get the feast underway, I smiled at myself in the mirror, my true form staring back at me with eyes full of impatience and hunger.

…..

Once I reached the town I began to search in every dirty and dodgy area that was available, seeking an end to my hunger. At first the search was in vain. But then I discovered a gang of men, laughing and drinking, and my senses went into overdrive. I was ready and willing to pounce, but decided to bide my time, and see if there were any more that were at this stage missing. After all, the more the merrier.

Suddenly one of the men spotted someone, a woman by the curves and body structure, and went after her. Naturally I followed, not wanting to lose my meal that I was so close to having. They continue to chase through alley after alley, never slowing or stopping except to take another quick swig at their bottles. And I never lost them. Eventually the human girl ran around a corner just to find that she had been cornered. At this point I was immensely curious as to who had caught the attention of seven sex crazy men. But as soon as she backed herself into the moonlight, I wished that I was anywhere but where I was. For I knew her.

The vampire's pet human.

I was well aware of the fact that Edward was keeping a close eye of her, just in case she did something stupid. I had had the unfortunate opportunity to hear about it from the mouth of the blond beauty while in class, and then see it in action, watching him follow her around all over school. And I knew that he would never let her go into another town unattended. Which meant that he would find her, and if I was unlucky me as well.

I was so preoccupied with my musing that I failed to notice that I had slide forward out of my corner and had been spotted by one of the gang members. What I did notice was this man slowly coming towards where I was crouched. I knew I had two options: change form and fight, killing the human pet in the process, or allow them to drag me. The second option was far safer, as it would be possible for a vampire to trace me back to her if I killed her now. So I feigned fear and allowed the human to take me back to his gang.

"Look at what I found hiding in the shadows. Another girl," he told his friends with a sickening grin as he threw me in the corner next to it. The others howled in delight.

"Leave us alone," Bella shouted with what she believed was courage, but what I knew to be utter stupidity. They will be even crazier for her now.

"Did you hear that fellas? She told us to leave her alone!" More laughter from the others. He grabbed it and dragged it forward, holding her in an impenetrable grip. "But I don't really feel like doing that." He began to attempt to take her top off, while another member approached me.

Just as he was about to touch me (and get a serious kick in the balls, human style) a car roared into view. Instead of stopping, it continued to move until the gang let go of the girl and ran away from it. Out of the car stormed a serious angry Edward.

"Get in the car," he told the two of us, not even glancing our way, too preoccupied with what I could only imagine as the best way to kill the men who were cowering away from him. Honestly, humans pretend to be tough, but when they are stuck at the deep end, they cower in fear.

To avoid the wrath of Edward, which I knew would be coming, I obeyed, climbing into the back seat of the car. He proceeded to turn away from us, and give the men something to think about: a set of fangs and a loud inhuman growl. While I expect that his display would certainly be frightening, I spent the time thinking of all the ways that I could have done so much better. Having scared them, the blood-sucker climbed back into the car, once again almost running the humans over, before backing away, the anger never leaving his face.

I was done for. How was I going to explain this?