(Edward's P.O.V)

I couldn't stop the scowl that crawled across my face as my brothers and I walked into our home. Alice and Rosalie had already left to go on their shopping trip with Alice's little human friend, Lynna. A part of me was tempted to follow; the only thing preventing me from doing just that was the fact that Alice would instantly know about it. I wasn't sure why I even wanted to follow after them, to be honest. It was just a strange, pulling sensation in my chest that I was choosing to ignore.

So, here I was. Standing in the living room beside Carlisle who was sitting on the couch as Emmett started cackling to himself. Jasper was leaning against the wall with his arms folded across his chest as he quirked a brow at our brother's laughter.

"Sorry, I was just—" Emmett spoke between fits of laughter. "It's just— You should have seen Lynna's face when that Leo guy asked her to the dance. It was PRICELESS. She was not expecting that."

Now, I was interested. I stood up straighter and delved into Emmett's mind. He replayed the image of her face all scrunched up in confusion. Her cheeks reddened and her mouth dropped to the ground after a moment. She looked at the 'Leo' boy in horror; surprise was evident in her features.

"Who's Leo?" I questioned my brother, trying to hide the bitterness in my voice.

Whoever this 'Leo' is, I already didn't like him. Carlisle looked up from the book he was reading to look between Emmett and me. Jasper was sporting a smug smile as he studied me; his thoughts were guarded. He was mentally reciting the Japanese alphabet on repeat.

"He's on the football team. I heard he and Tyler are rivals. Rumor has it, he asked Lynna just to get under Tyler's skin," Emmett responded, still chuckling to himself. "And judging by how red Tyler's face was, it worked."

"Wait, did she say yes?!" My head snapped in his direction as a strange emotion coursed through me.

He looked at me in disbelief. Jasper snickered quietly to himself. Carlisle pursed his lips before he turned his attention back to the medical book he was reading.

"This is Lynna we're talking about. She hardly even speaks to the guy. Of course she said no," Emmett mumbled, giving me an odd look.

I folded my arms across my chest.

"When did he ask her?" I couldn't stop myself from asking, even though I was certain I already knew the answer.

"During Study Hall. You would know if you hadn't ditched last period," he stated firmly, meeting my gaze. "What's with all the questions anyway?"

I narrowed my eyes at him, instantly feeling on the defense. "Do you have a problem with me asking questions?"

He raised his brows and seemed to puff out his chest. "When they're about Lynna, I do."

I shot daggers in his direction. Jasper pressed his lips into a stern line when he felt the tension in the air. Carlisle, once again, looked up from his reading and frowned when he saw the look on my face.

I took a threatening step towards my broad brother who loomed over me with a look of fury.

"And why is that, Emmett?" I challenged, speaking through gritted teeth.

"Because I know how you feel about her," he all but growled.

I visibly grimaced. "I don't have feelings for her!" I snapped, my jaw clenching.

His eyes widened as a look of humor fell across his face. Carlisle and Jasper both wore puzzled expressions.

"I never said that," Emmett laughed out bitterly. "I know you can't stand her. Which is exactly my point."

I could feel a growl building up in my chest. "Why do you care?!"

His eyes flashed angrily. "Because she's my friend. She's been through a lot, Edward. You need to stop being such a dick to her. I mean it."

Now, I was seething. I clenched my fists tightly and took a step towards him. How dare he threaten me over her!

"Oh, yeah? Or what, Emmett? What are you going to do about it?" I spoke through clenched teeth.

"That's enough, you two," Carlisle spoke as he stood up and walked towards us.

Emmett and I both continued to glare at one another.

"Emmett, I would like a word with you alone," I said to my brother before storming outside, knowing he would be more than eager to follow.

Once we were out of earshot from the others, I spun around to face him. I inhaled deeply, in an attempt to calm myself down. His thoughts were loud and chaotic. Above all, he wanted to know what my problem was. I met his confused gaze and opened my mouth to speak.

"I see the way you look at her. Whatever is going on with you two, you need to stop." My voice was low and stern.

Emmett's jaw dropped. His thoughts had always been entirely innocent when it came to Lynna, but I knew he found her attractive. He had already openly admitted that to me.

"What in the hell are you talking about?!" His voice went up an octave as he stared at me in disbelief.

"You have Rosalie. Stay away from Lynna. I mean it," I warned him, clenching my fists.

He ran a hand through his short hair and huffed in frustration. His eyes were wide and frantic, clearly in shock.

"Edward, I really have no idea what you're going on about. Nothing is going on between me and Lynna. She's a friend. I admit that I do feel protective of her, but how could I not with everything she has been through? What is your problem? Seriously?"

He was at a loss. As was I. I ran a hand through my hair, causing it to stand up on end.

"I'm just looking out for Rosalie. I'm sure she wouldn't be too happy about your friendship with the human girl," I explained.

My stomach twisted in an unfamiliar fashion. Was I really just looking out for Rosalie? Is that really what all of this was about?

"Rose has no problem with Lynna. If she did, she wouldn't have agreed to go dress shopping with her and Alice. If anything, she feels sorry for her. Rose isn't as heartless as you think, you know." He frowned at me.

"I never said she was. But she isn't a big fan of humans. You know that," I muttered.

She-who-shall-not-be-named flashed through his mind, causing me to grit my teeth.

"She isn't a fan of certain humans," he stated firmly. "Now, will you tell me what your problem is with Lynna exactly since you're the only one that clearly has it out for her?"

I pursed my lips. "I just don't like her. I don't have to have a reason."

He frowned and shook his head. Before he could speak, I took off at a sprint, willing my legs to take me anywhere but here. As I sped away, Emmett's thoughts pierced through the veil of my mind. I saw myself through his eyes as I stared at Lynna with a look of pure hatred.

(Lynna's P.O.V)

Taylor Swift played through the sound system of the car. Rosalie was driving; her long blonde blowing out the window as Alice sang along to the song from the passenger seat. Paige and I occupied the back seat. I hummed along to the song, singing off-key in amusement. Paige stared out the window, wearing a timid grin as she listened to the lyrics.

Come In With The Rain started playing causing a forlorn smile to occupy my lips.

"I love this song," I spoke softly over the sound of the music.

Paige looked at me curiously as I started humming along to the song.

"I'll leave my window open

Cause I'm too tired at night to call your name.

Just know I'm right here hoping..

That you'll come in with the rain."

"This song always reminds me of Grayson," I said, feeling my brows furrow as I reminisced.

"Why is that?" Alice asked, spinning around in her seat.

Rosalie glanced at me from the rearview mirror. Paige ripped her gaze from the window to look at me as well.

I breathed out forcefully, not sure whether I wanted to laugh or cry.

"He.. Well, he used to sneak in through my window at night sometimes," I admitted, my cheeks blazing red.

Alice's brows flew up her forehead and a smile sprung to her lips.

"Oooooh," Paige giggled. "I see."

My cheeks reddened even further. "It wasn't like that, Paige. Grayson was.. a good boy. Or at least I thought he was."

"A good boy, huh?" Alice teased with a smile.

"A good boy that sneaks into your bedroom," Paige added with a low chuckle.

I shook my head as my blushing continued. "You guys never met him. He was.. different from most guys. I mean, he had a purity ring and everything."

Alice pursed her lips and glanced at Rosalie before returning her gaze to me. "A purity ring? But.. him and.. Ashley?..." She trailed off, clearly not wanting to upset me.

Bile rose in my throat at the reminder. "Yeah, I know," I breathed out. "It doesn't make any sense."

And it didn't. Grayson seemed so trustworthy and loyal. I trusted him with all of my heart. I honestly couldn't see him cheating on me with her. None of it made sense, but Noah and Tyler were both telling me that he did.

"Did.. I mean, did you two ever.. do anything?" Paige asked, her brows furrowed.

It had been a long time since I actually had girlfriends that I could confide in, so I wasn't used to talking about my intimate endeavors. Alice raised her dainty brows in a curious fashion and Rosalie stole another glance in the rearview mirror.

"Well, I mean— yeah. We did.. stuff," I admitted with a sheepish grin.

"What sort of stuff?" Paige asked, wagging her brows.

My blush had spread all the way to my ears at this point. "You know.. Stuff," I breathed out. "Enough about me. How are you guys liking Gray so far?" I asked, desperate to change the subject.

"I like it. I think everyone in my family likes it," Alice was quick to respond, sensing my need for the subject change. "Even Edward, I think."

"Yeah," Rosalie mumbled in agreement.

I automatically frowned at the mention of his name. "I don't think he likes much of anything," I muttered to myself under my breath, quiet enough so they couldn't hear.

Alice placed her hand over her mouth and giggled softly, as if she was amused by something.

"Most everyone seems pretty nice here." Paige grinned, pausing as a blush crept to her cheeks before continuing, "Say, Lynna.. Um. Do you plan on asking Noah to the dance?"

"No," I spoke slowly, lifting a brow and smiling. "Noah and I are just friends."

Her blushing intensified. "So, it wouldn't be weird if I was to.. you know.. ask him?"

Alice and Rosalie both grinned from the front seats. I breathed out an airy laugh.

"Not at all. You should definitely ask him. He'd be thrilled," I assured her with a nod.

A huge grin spread across her face, highlighting her flushed cheeks. "Well, who do you plan on asking?" Paige asked.

I shrugged my shoulders and started staring out the window, admiring the trees that loomed over us as we zoomed by.

"I bet I know," Alice piped up.

"Oh, yeah?" I laughed, shaking my head.

She nodded, smiling hugely. "Tylerrr," she sang his name.

I couldn't help but roll my eyes, earning chuckles from all of the girls. I knew she was only teasing.

"I'm not asking Tyler," I breathed out, smiling at my friends.

"Why not?" Paige questioned. "He's really cute and he seems totally in to you. He has literal heart eyes around you."

I sighed deeply and ran a hand through my hair. "It's funny.. You know, Tyler and I used to be arch enemies."

Alice spun around in her seat with a look of shock. Paige's mouth dropped. Even Rosalie seemed interested all of a sudden.

"Really?!" Paige asked in a high-pitched voice.

I nodded. "Oh, yeah. All throughout middle school, we hated each other. I couldn't stand to be in the same room as him. We got into so many screaming matches." I chuckled dryly at the memories before continuing, "It was bad."

"So, what changed then? Did you guys just grow up or..?" Paige urged me to continue.

I laughed lowly. "Hardly. Eighth grade year, he moved away and I swear, it was the happiest day of my life. You have no idea how ecstatic I was when I found out. He was gone for the whole year. He didn't cross my mind once until I walked into high school on the first day of freshman year. I was laughing with one of my friends when he walked through the door and my mood instantly changed."

"Enemies to lovers?" Alice teased with a quirked brow.

I scoffed lightly. "Not exactly. I remember quite vividly how he stood in the doorway with his best friend, Tristan. We locked eyes and I was seeing red. You can imagine the look on my face when they walk over to me. Tristan pointed to some desks that were several rows up, but Tyler looked me dead in the eye and said, 'I'm going to sit right here' before he sat down right beside me. I seriously wanted to die."

I couldn't help but laugh along with the girls.

"Sounds to me like he had a crush on you," Alice stated with a faraway look in her eyes.

I shook my head fervently. "No. He just wanted to torture me. I'm sure of it. I went home after school and literally bawled my eyes out."

Paige and Alice both snickered as my face grew red from the memory.

"I'm serious, you guys. He was so mean." I chewed on my lower lip, pausing before I stated, "But that night, I decided that enough was enough. I walked into class the next day with my head held high and demanded that we stop being at each other's throats. We actually became best friends after that."

"Wait, you and Tyler were best friends? I had no idea you were that close," Paige mused.

I pursed my lips as Alice looked between the two of us.

"We were until I got with Grayson. He got real weird after that," I explained, fidgeting with my lower lip.

"Because he's in love with you. Duh," Paige blurted out with wide eyes. "And has been since middle school."

"Paige is right." Alice put in her two cents. "A lot of boys are mean to girls that they like, you know."

Somehow, my mind drifted to Edward Cullen and I hated myself for it. Alice may be right, but I was certain that wasn't the case with the brooding, aggravating boy that I'm forced to sit beside in class.

"All that Tyler feels for me is physical attraction. He just wants in my pants. Noah saw him talking to his friends about it when school started," I told them with a frown.

"So, that's why they had matching black eyes," Paige said with a giggle.

"Yeah," I laughed out loud. "That would be why."

"So, Tyler is a no then?" Alice asked with a quirked brow.

"Yeah, I'm not asking Tyler," I responded.

Paige pulled her lower lip between her teeth and turned to face me with a mischievous glint in her eye. "You know who you should ask?" She asked in a low voice.

I knew by the look on her face that I wouldn't like what she was about to say. Alice was still twisted around in her seat, facing us.

I sighed heavily. "Who, Paige?"

Paige giggled like a school girl before she responded. "Edward. You should ask Edward."

My brows flew up my forehead so quickly that I thought they might fly away. Mine and Alice's jaws dropped in sync. I felt a rush of anger surge through me at the very idea of going to the dance with that egotistical prick.

"When pigs fly," I sneered, my face twisting in disgust. "I'd go to a thousand dances with Tyler before I'd even consider going anywhere with Cullen."

Alice threw her head back and laughed musically. Rosalie smirked as she looked at us in the rearview mirror.

"Oh, come on," Paige teased, smiling broadly. "He's always staring at you. I definitely sense some chemistry between you two."

I felt my face heat up. My hands flew up to my blushing cheeks. "There's no chemistry, Paige!"

Alice pursed her lips as she stared at my red face.

"Yeah, I don't see it," Rosalie stated firmly, in agreement with me.

I exhaled a breath I didn't realize I was holding. Alice pressed her lips into a thin line, as if she was fighting back a smile.

Paige simply smiled and shrugged one shoulder. "Whatever you say. But he never takes his eyes off of you."

I couldn't disagree with that. "Cullen seriously has it out for me. He hates my guts."

"Why do you two call each other by your last names?" Alice asked, tilting her head to the side curiously.

I folded my arms across my chest and inhaled deeply. "Because it feels far too personal to call him by his first name."

"I don't think he hates you," Paige spoke up from beside me.

I gave her a disbelieving look. "I beg to differ. No matter— The feeling is mutual." I looked to Alice and Rosalie before continuing, "No offense."

I didn't want my dislike for their adoptive brother to come between my friendship with them; Alice especially. Alice offered me an understanding smile.

"None taken," her and Rosalie said in sync.

"Well, do you know what I heard?" Paige asked with raised brows and a smug smile.

"What?" I asked, leaning back against the seat.

"I heard that he practically knocked Tyler to the ground, so that he could sit beside you in Chemistry." Paige's eyes danced with delight.

My mind drifted back to the first day of class. There had been an empty seat next to me and one next to Ashley. I had always assumed that Tyler had beat him to the seat next to Ashley. It never occurred to me that Edward actually chose to sit next to me; that he would even try to beat Tyler to the seat. The thought was quite absurd, if you ask me.

"That's ridiculous. I don't believe that for a second," I mumbled bitterly, wondering who was spreading such rumors.

Alice let out a quiet chuckle and locked eyes with me. "Actually, she's right about that. He knew you didn't want to sit next to Tyler."

A weird feeling settled in my stomach. It felt nice yet uncomfortable; strange. I felt my face twist and contort as I processed that information.

"Well, I wish I had," I muttered to myself.

"Noah's favorite color is green," I smirked at Paige as her hand ran along a green tulle dress. "Just so you know."

She returned my smirk and removed the dress from the rack, draping it over her arm before walking to the dressing room.

"This one has your name written all over it," Alice squealed as she ran towards me with a light blue dress in her hands.

She thrust the dress into my arms and pushed me into a dressing room before I had the chance to speak. I slipped into the dress and was pleasantly surprised. It was a long pale satin dress that was off the shoulders, exposing quite a bit of cleavage which I wasn't too sure about. I stepped out of the dressing room and stood next to Paige who was wearing the green tulle dress.

"Omg, Paige! I love that dress on you! Noah won't be able to keep his eyes off of you!" I exclaimed with a beaming smile.

Her eyes lit up. "You're one to talk. That dress is gorgeous!"

"You don't think it's too low cut?" I asked them.

"Nonsense," Alice grinned. "You look great."

Alice ended up with a short lavender tulle dress while Rosalie purchased a red form-fitting dress that hugged her curves. With our purchases in hand, we stepped outside into the evening breeze.

"Now, we need shoes!" Alice practically jumped for joy.

There was a shoe store just around the corner. As the three of them turned to head in that direction, my eyes drifted to a bookstore across the street that had dreamcatchers hanging in the window. The dreamcatchers twirled in the air as if they were dancing. One was crimson red while the other was deep blue. A sense of déjà vu coursed through me as I was reminded of the dream I had been having about Grayson— his scarlet eyes fading to their usual cerulean blue. I was frozen in my tracks as the dreamcatchers danced in the window, drawing me in.

"Lynna, you coming?" Alice's voice pierced through my thoughts.

I continued staring straight ahead, feeling as though I was in a trance. "Um. Yeah, I'll catch up. I'm going to check out this bookstore real quick."

I could feel Alice's eyes studying me. "I can go with you," she spoke softly.

I ripped my gaze from the dreamcatchers to look at her. "That's okay. I won't be long."

She didn't move. There was a look of determination on her face. I chuckled, changing tactics. "See if you can find me a pair of shoes that match my dress."

Her eyes lit up in excitement. "Can they be heels?!"

I nodded with a smile. "Of course."

She clasped her hands together in excitement. "Okay! I'll find you the perfect pair! Don't be too long, okay?"

"I won't," I assured her, watching as she darted over to the shoe store before she disappeared.

With a shaky breath, I found myself walking into the bookstore. The smell of books and incense hung heavily in the air. The sound of the bell jingling alerted an elderly woman with eyes so gray that they were silver. Her white hair was a messy poof on top of her head. Her pale skin clung to her bones as she signaled with a bony finger for me to approach the desk.

"Come here, child," she spoke in a raspy voice; the very sound sent shivers down my spine.

Hesitantly, I walked towards her. She was hunched over her desk with a wild look in her silver eyes. She looked up at me and frowned, pulling her face down in to a grimace. A surprised gasp flew through my lips when she reached out and grabbed my wrist; her slender fingers wrapped around me like a vice as she locked me in her steely gaze.

"I must warn you," she whispered eerily. "Great darkness follows you. It isn't safe."

Her words caused my heart to drop to my stomach. A feeling of dread consumed me. I gulped loudly around the sudden lump that had formed in my throat.

I repeated her warning in my mind. It isn't safe.

In my dreams, Grayson repeats those very same words. Goosebumps erupted on my arms. She dropped her hand from my wrist and shuffled over to the window display where she removed the dreamcatchers, holding them in her hands as they continued their dance. She looked up at me and smiled cheekily.

"Take them," she demanded in a rough voice. "Perhaps, they will keep your nightmares at bay."

I shook my head and shifted my weight anxiously. "No, no. I really shouldn't."

She locked eyes with me once again; her gaze was unwavering.

"Take them," she stated sternly, holding them out to me.

With trembling hands, I took the dreamcatchers from her. She walked around the counter and handed me a bag to put them in.

"Um, thanks," I said to her, offering her a gentle smile.

She returned my smile; the gesture made her look ten years younger. "Remember, child. Just because you're sleeping, doesn't always mean you're dreaming."