"Amani, where are you going?"

Of course I had the shortest luck in the world. It was Mrs Cullen. She gave me a worried look as she watched me from across the car park, just before I could slip into the tree-line across the road.

She slowly approached, as if I was a frightened deer, ready to leap away. I vaguely wondered how many deer she had actually killed to get that hue of brilliant gold in her eyes.

"I'm going home?" I replied, after an awkward pause. The questioning tone came from the realisation that I never told her my name, yet she knew.

That churning in my gut returned as I wondered what that meant.

Did they already know? Were they going to kill me?

"Through the forest? Did you walk here?" I nodded mutely, a little too distracted to think proper words.

"Come, let me give a lift back home. It's the least o can do for running into you," she beckoned with a rather convincing smile.

The few patrons that were dotted around the car park were staring between Mrs Cullen and I. Their expectant gazes fell on me, waiting to see my response.

"It's quite alright , I don't mind the walk. And I wouldn't want to inconvenience you," I replied rather weakly.

"Please, you'd be doing no such thing. It'd give me peace of mind knowing you got home safe."

Her eyes were reassuring and her smile was inviting. Again I felt that daze fall over me, pulling me into a false sense of safety, despite the warning bells going on inside my mind. I mutely nodded to her request and followed her back her car.

I told myself that I only followed her into her white Mercedes to not make a spectacle of myself in front of the townsfolk and not because her vampiric charms had pulled me into a sense of complacency.

Before I knew it, we were on the road. The car was silent, save for the quiet radio that played faintly in the background.

I was hyper aware of my breathing, which was too fast for someone just sitting. I could feel my neck throbbing with each erratic beat of my heart and I tried to remain statue still.

I didn't want to risk tempting any vampires anytime soon. Not even ones as calm as Esme.

"So Amani, I hear you're starting high school tomorrow," Esme began. I could feel her glance over at me, but I kept my eyes forward.

"Yes, I will," I replied. There was a long pause, since she probably expected me to elaborate but I didn't. Before she could speak again, I found myself blurting the one burning question that had been circling my mind.

"How do you know my name?" I made the mistake of looking over at her.

"It's a small town. Everyone knows your name," she chuckled. Sensing my apprehension, she continued, "I'm also good friends with Sam and Eli. They asked me to design your room."

I didn't know what to say to that. If Sam and Eli are friends with the Cullens, it meant I was more likely to run into them, outside of school especially. That did not bode well for me.

"I hope you liked it. I thought purple would be a nice colour," Esme continued, interrupting my spiralling thoughts.

"Yeah purple's cool, thanks," I mumbled distractedly.

before this awkward conversation could continue any further, I noticed when we pulled up to a familiar drive. The car came to a stop just before my door.

Remembering my manners for the first time all day, I turned to Mrs Cullen with a polite smile on my face. "Thank you so much for the ride, you didn't have to but I appreciate it,"

"It's not a problem, Dear,"

"And thanks for the room too, I really do like it," I added.

She smiled back at me, and I had to blink a few times for the vampire dazzle to clear off. I jumped out the car and turned to watch her leave.

It wasn't until I was safely back inside my room did I finally relax.