Chapter Five

Edward

Days passed and Carlisle relayed the information he knew about Charlie's daughter. He'd just returned home with her two days ago, so Carlisle and Esme had yet to meet the young girl. That didn't stop Esme from, once again, crossing the already fading line.

"That smells terrible," I remarked, walking into the meaningless, but now in use kitchen. I looked in the pot she stirred, scrunching my nose in disgust. "And looks even worse."

She attempted to swat the side of my head and I ducked her almost human speed movement with a smirk.

"It's vegetable beef soup," she said with a smile. "I'm taking it over to Charlie's this afternoon."

"Ah, so you're using food to meet her."

She rolled her eyes, tapping the spoon to the pot before returning the lid. "I'm being neighborly."

"We barely live in the town limits," I said, walking around the counter to sit on a stool. "Why, Mom? I mean, I really just don't get why you're wanting to get close to these people."

"I guess . . . it'd just be nice to actually get to know people for once," she said. "I love this life, truly, but . . . doesn't it feel lonely sometimes? Just the three of us?"

"We have the Whitlocks and the Denalis."

She sighed, frowning slightly. "Alice and Jasper pop into our lives every five or ten years, and we haven't seen Tanya and her family for almost twenty. We've lived in so many towns since I've joined you and Carlisle, and I've never gotten to know any of the townspeople. You get to go to school and Carlisle works, but . . . I've mostly been cooped up in a house. I haven't had a slip in so long and . . . I just want to live, you know?"

I'm tired of being hidden away, she thought sadly.

Esme was relatively new to this life, having been changed only fifty-eight years ago—a short time frame compared to my ninety-five and even shorter compared to Carlisle's three-hundred and fifty. Her transition to this life wasn't simple—having slipped up many times and adjusting to an all new set of laws and rules. I knew she cherished it, though. Her mind was only ever filled with gratitude toward Carlisle for changing her and the love they shared.

The precautions she had to take were no more than a slight inconvenience, but she wanted more. She was growing more and more immune to the call of human blood, so this latest move was her chance to start interacting with humans on a more than sparse basis. She'd even taken a job after taking online and night courses to get a teaching degree. She was a substitute teacher, but had only been called on twice since we'd arrived three months ago.

"I know, Mom," I sighed, glancing at the time and standing from the stool. I wrapped my arms around her and she embraced me with a smile. "I need to get to school, but I'll come with you later, if you want."

"Really?" she asked excitedly. "Oh, Edward, I'd love that! Carlisle has to work late, so that'd be wonderful! We'll go hunting afterward, okay?"

I nodded. "Sounds good. I'll see you later, after I've 'learned'."

She laughed softly and stood on her toes, kissing my cheek. "I hope you're not too bored."

The students at Forks High School were like any other pubescent teenagers. Their minds were on sex, gossip, and their own vanity—with a hint of actually wanting to learn from a few. I firmly believed having to attend school over and over was a form of torture, but it was a necessity to this life—at least sometimes.

Today, though, something else was on the students' minds.

Isabella Swan.

Thoughts of her arrival and rumors of why ran rampant through their minds, and the theories made me scoff and a twinge of anger run through me. From the girl being in witness protection to Charlie "buying" her, the theories were utterly ridiculous.

As I sat in English, absentmindedly listening to the teacher and the students' minds, my own mind wandered to what kind of welcome this girl would receive come Monday.

It wasn't looking warm, to say the least.

Lauren and Jessica were already angered that the attention would be off of them.

Mike and Tyler hoped she was hot.

The only mind that seemed the least bit kind was Angela, though this wasn't much of a surprise.

I wonder if she'll be in my classes. Maybe I should go to the office and volunteer to show her around. God knows Jessica and Lauren should not have that job.

As if she knew her thoughts filled my mind, Angela's eyes met mine and she smiled softly from across the room.

It's really crappy how everyone treats him. I hope they don't do that to Isabella. I mean, he doesn't seem to care, but she might.

"Do not forget that we have a quiz tomorrow," Mr. Mason said as the bell rang. "It'll do you well to actually read the material—Mike."

My lips flickered into a smirk as Mike's thoughts revealed that Mr. Mason was correct. Embarrassment filled his face, but he tried to make a joke.

I may have smirked a little more when no one cared.


I don't own Twilight.