Twilight by Stephenie MeyerChapter 2: Open Book from Edward’s Point Of View MY VERSION: no copyright intended!

How could Isabella Swan torture me this way?It’s snowing today in Alaska, Tanya trying to comfort me. I waved her off

and went out hunting.I fed on several lions and bears wandering the area. They lay lifeless on the

ground when I was full, but I was sure, before seeing Swan, I would have to feed extra. I scavenged out some more deer and sat down.

Tanya came back.“Edward, listen. I hate seeing you like this, but you’ll have to face it or never

go back to your family. You have to make a choice. You ally with humans, you don’t cause trouble with them. You feed on animal blood not human blood.” she said.

“Please, Tanya.” I begged. “I need alone time.”If... that’s how you want it. she thought. She turned and ran off into the trees,

leaving no footsteps. I felt guilty, rejecting her like this, but I did need alone time.I would go home.I stood up and ran home, leaving no footsteps behind. I was taking animals

but leaving nothing. It wasn’t a fair exchange.

“Edward! You came back!” Esme’s voice was full of joy.“Of course, Esme.” Alice mumbled. “Am I not the one who had that

vision?”“Rose, Emmett.” Carlisle said. “Welcome home, Edward.” He greeted me

warmly.Rose and Emmett suddenly appeared. “Hey, bro!” Emmett practically

yelled. “We all missed you!” he swept me up in a bone-crushing hug – except my bones didn’t break.

“You came back!” Rose cried.Jasper showed his happiness through his thoughts. Finally. He thought. It

was getting unbearable with you around. Jazz nodded around the room.

I nodded. “Thanks.” I mumbled. I looked out the window. The sky was orange and yellow, with a light tint of purple and pink. “Dawn.” I would have to go to school today.

I would have to face Isabella Swan and the terrible monster living inside of me.

The sun was barely up when the clouds covered it. White, detailed flakes began to drift down gently.

I smiled. “You on, Em, Jazz?” “Aw, yeah!” Emmett boomed. I raced around the house, collecting things I

would need for school. I picked up my knapsack and dumped everything into it. I left it by the garage door.

I walked out the door and saw the snow had increased. The world was already covered in white. I scooped up a handful of snow and crushed it into a ball. I made another ball and waited for Emmett and Jasper to come out.

They came out side by side. I threw the snowballs at them and they turned in time to see 2 balls of snow hurling towards them.

“What the...” Emmett murmured, before the snow smacked him in the face.“Gotcha, Em.” I laughed.“Bring it on, kid.” Emmett growled.Technically, I was older than Emmett – and Rosalie for that matter. Both of

them were born in 1915, though Rose was transformed first. If he meant our human years, then he would be right. He was older than me by 3 years that way.

We continued the snowball fight until the sun shone through dimly from the dense clouds above. I sighed quietly and was in my Volvo with my knapsack in a second.

“C’mon.” I muttered. Everyone filed in. I opened the garage door and sped out, down the three

mile driveway and onto the street. I hit the button to close the garage door as I sped away.

We drove up to Forks High School in minutes - we were right on time. I could see Bella’s Chevrolet pick-up truck was already parked.

First class = Gym. Alice followed me to the gym and we split up to get changed for gym. We flowed effortlessly through this class, restraining ourselves so we wouldn’t collect too much attention.

It was the class after lunch I dreaded. The time where I would be less than a meter from Isabella Swan.

Why the hell was I thinking about her now? I wasn’t paying attention to any of my classes. Everything I had already

learned, a century ago. Nothing was new – except for the technology.Then came lunch. We – Jasper, Emmett and I – were engaged in a snow

fight just before lunch and walked in the cafeteria laughing.“I am so gonna beat you next time, Edward!” Emmett vowed. If Emmett

lost, expect him to find a way to get revenge.Jasper laughed. “Emmett...”We all sat down at our table. Alice and Rosalie were already seated. I

permitted myself one glance at the cafeteria doors. Isabella Swan was entering. Great.

“So how was the fight?” Alice asked innocently. Like I would want to know. I already do.

“Aw, Alice.” Jasper chuckled. “Wouldn’t you already know?”“Yes.” Alice admitted. “But I want to see it from your point of view.

Please?”Jasper sighed and explained the fight to Rose and Alice. The moment he was

done, Emmett shook his head at Rose, water flying out of his hair. The girls leaned away, Rosalie muttering, “Ew, Emmett!”

We all laughed.“-are you staring at?” Jessica Stanley asked. I searched her thoughts, she

was taking to Bella. My head turned and my eyes met Bella Swan’s. She looked away, letting her

chestnut coloured hair fall to hide her face.I concentrated. What in the world was she thinking right now?Edward, what’s wrong? 4 voices inside my head sounded.I shook my head. “Nothing... it’s nothing.”To take my mind off Rose, Emmett, Alice and Jasper, I listened to the

conversation Stanley and Swan were having, from Jessica’s point of view.“Edward Cullen is staring at you.” I giggled.“He doesn’t look angry, does he?” Bella asked. “No.” Why would Bella want to know that? “Should he be?” Did you do

something that would make him hold a grudge against you?

“I don’t think he likes me.” She admitted. Ha! If only she knew...“The Cullens don’t like anybody... well, they don’t notice anybody enough to

like them. But he’s still staring at you.” Damn it! I forgot I was staring at her. “Stop looking at him.” Bella growled. I don’t know how it’s a growl, but

still... Anyway... Jessica Stanley turned her head away from me.Mike Newton then interrupted them, discussing some snowball fight in the

parking lot later. I stayed away from thoughts from the table. I would wait until Biology, the

now dreaded period.I walked through the door, textbook in hand. Bella was already sitting at my

– our – lab desk, doodling a pattern on the cover of her notebook.I moved the chair beside back roughly. I sat down in it and looked at her.“Hello.” I said to her.She looked up, surprised. I was sitting on the edge of the desk, but I angled

my chair towards her. “My name is Edward Cullen.” I continued. “I didn’t have a chance to

introduce myself last week. You must be Bella Swan.”“How do you know my name?” she stammered. Ugh. Why can’t I read her

mind already?I laughed. “Oh, I think everyone knows your name. The whole town’s been

waiting for you to arrive.”She grimaced.“No.” She retorted. “I meant, why did you call me Bella?”What does she mean? “Do you prefer Isabella?”“No, I like Bella,” she replied, embarrassed. “But I think Charlie – I mean

my dad – must call me Isabella behind my back – that’s what everyone here seems to know me as,” she explained.

“Oh.” I said, idiotically. Of course, haven’t I read minds lately since Bella came? It was stupid of me to call her Bella the first time. Stupid, stupid, stupid!

The monster was screaming at me. Kill her!But I couldn’t. I felt a connection to this girl.Mr. Banner started the class. I had already done this lab, easy. The slides in

the box he passed out were scrambled. As partners, we had to separate and label the slides. No books were permitted. Easy.

“Get started.” He ordered.

“Ladies first, partner?” I smiled. She looked up and stared. “Or I could start, if you wish.” My smiled fell off my face.

“No.” She said, blushing. “I’ll go ahead.”It appeared that she was showing off. She clicked the first slide into place

under the microscope and adjusted it. She studied the slide.“Prophase.” She’s confident, must be right.She began to remove the slide. “Do you mind if I look?” I asked. I caught

her hand. Big mistake. My skin was ice cold to humans. I hope it’s a good thing that it’s snowing today. I don’t know why she took her hand away so quickly. I felt an electric current flow through me in the brief moment I touched her.

“I’m sorry.” I murmured, pulling my hand away. I reached for the microscope and examined the slide.

Dang it, she was right. “Prophase,” I agreed, almost guiltily, writing it on the first space on our worksheet. I switched the slides quickly and glanced at it.

“Anaphase.” I muttered, writing it down.“May I?” Bella asked.I tried to hold back a laugh, so it came out a smirk. I pushed the microscope

to her.She looked through the eyepiece, as if she wanted to prove me wrong. Her

face fell. I’m right, even though I already knew it. If I were by myself, I could cheat – take the answers out of Mr. Banner’s head.

“Slide three?” she asked. I handed the next slide to her. Don’t touch her hand, don’t touch her hand. Bella took a brief look at this slide. “Interphase.”

Before I opened my mouth to ask for the microphone, she handed it to me. I took a peek and wrote it down.

The two of us were the first ones finished. I looked around the room. Newton and his partner were comparing to slides and another group had their book open. I looked at the girl sitting beside me. A look of frustration crossed my face. I tuned out all other thoughts and concentrated on Bella. Nothing.

She looked at me. “Did you get contacts?” She blurted out.What? No. “No.”“Oh.” She muttered. “I thought there was something different about your

eyes.” This girl was observant! I just hunted. I shrugged and clenched my fists,

Mr. Banner came to our table, saving me from stress. He looked at the completed lab and checked the answers. Correct, correct, correct, correct, correct! A smart little bunch. He thought.

“So, Edward, didn’t you think Isabella should get a chance with the microscope?” he asked.

“Bella.” I blurted. “Actually, she identified three of the five.”Mr. Banner looked at Bella. “Have you done this lab before?” Bella smiled as if ashamed. “Not with onion root.“Whitefish blastula?”“Yeah.”Mr. Banner nodded. Huh. “Were you in an advanced placement program in

Phoenix?”“Yes.”Huh. Mr. Banner thought again. “Well, I guess it’s good you two are lab

partners.” Then he mumbled, “Let everyone learn for themselves.” Then he walked away. After he left, Bella began doodling again.

“It’s too bad about the snow, isn’t it?” I asked.“Not really.” She answered. I looked into her eyes. Funny. She was honest

about the weather, strange for a girl from Arizona.“You don’t like the cold.” Duh.“Or the wet.” She corrected me.“Forks must be a difficult place for you to live.” I thought aloud.“You have no idea.” She muttered as if she were a demon, craving for

something. Ha!“Why did you come here, then?” I asked.“It’s... complicated.”“I think I can keep up.” Can I force it out?“My mother got remarried.” She confessed.“That doesn’t sound so complex.” I said. “When did that happen?”“Last September.” She sounded sad. The poor girl.“And you don’t like him.” I said, pretty sure I was right. It was weird, with

this girl being different than the rest of the world.“No, Phil is fine.” She rushed her words. “Too young, maybe, but nice

enough.”“Why did you stay with them?” I asked interested.

“Phil travels a lot. He plays ball for a living.” A smile was tugging the corners of her lips.

“Have I heard of him?” I asked, smiling in response to the smile that now stretched across her face.

“Probably not. He doesn’t play well.” Huh. “Strictly minor league. He moves around a lot.”

“And your mother sent you here so that she could travel with him.” Confident again.

“No, she did not sent me here.” Bella’s chin raised a small amount. “I sent myself.” Huh?

My eyebrows were brought together from curiosity. “I don’t understand.” I admitted.

“She stayed with me at first, but she missed him. It made her unhappy... so I decided it was time to spend some quality time with Charlie.” Her voice sounded sadder with every word. Someone should comfort her – but I felt as if it should be me.

“But now you’re unhappy.”“And?” She pressed.“That doesn’t seem fair.” I shrugged, but I think my eyes gave me away.She laughed without humour. “Hasn’t anyone ever told you? Life isn’t fair.”“I believe I have heard that somewhere before,” I agreed dryly.“So that’s all.”“You put on a good show. But I’d be willing to bet that you’re suffering

more than you let anyone see.” I said slowly. She grimaced.“Am I wrong?” I asked. She ignored me. “I don’t think so.” I said smug.“Why does it matter to you?” she asked irritated.“That’s a very good question.” I murmured. Why did it matter to me?She sighed.“Am I annoying you?” I asked.“Not exactly.” She looked at me. “I’m more annoyed at myself. My face is

so easy to read – my mother always calls me her open book.” A frown formed on her face.

I find that disagreeable. “On the contrary, I find you very difficult to read.” And boy, did I mean it.

“You must be a good reader then.” She replied sarcastically.“Usually.” I smiled at her, revealing all my teeth.Mr. Banner called the class to attention. He showed the answers to the lab on

an overhead projector. I paid no attention.The bell rang and I was out the door, walking quickly. I listened to Mike

Newton’s thoughts as I walked to my next class.“That was awful.” I told Bella. “They all looked exactly the same. You’re

lucky you had Cullen for a partner.” I smirked.“I didn’t have any trouble with it.” Bella retorted. “I’ve done the lab before,

though.” She added quickly, probably to keep my feelings from being hurt.“Cullen seemed friendly enough today,” I said as I put on my raincoat. And

I’m not happy about that.“I wonder what was with him last Monday.” Bella said as we began walking

to Physical Education.I got out of Mike’s head. When I finally realized what I was doing and

where my feet were carrying me, I was leaning against my car.I saw Bella’s truck back up roughly, almost hitting a very rusty Toyota

Corolla. She hit the brake, saving the car that the truck could easily crush. She backed up again, carefully. I started laughing, watching Bella’s face through her rear-view mirror. Her eyes met mine in the mirror.

“Dude, what’s up?” Emmett asked me.“Nothing.” I chuckled.