Shit.

So I turned and ran. I couldn’t think. How could I have been so stupid? It had been so goddamn obvious! I’m such an idiot, I just can’t believe this…

“Bella, wait!” Edward called after me, “Stop!” and then with an impressive burst of speed, appeared in front of me and forced me to slide unwillingly to a stop. “Just listen to me,” he pleaded, staring me down with those fathomless topaz eyes. I faltered a little, unsure of what to do next.

“Listen to me, Bella. My family and I have known from the moment you stepped into that cafeteria that you were like us. We could see right past those silly contacts of yours.” I snorted in response. They were convincing enough to humans, at least.

“We were undecided as to how to deal with you;” he continued unblinkingly, “It was clear from the beginning that you were inexperienced; likely a newborn. To us, you meant nothing but danger. Especially with your temper,” he snickered, motioning to the uprooted trees in our path. “My family is very private about are true nature, you see. And the fact that another of our kind had come and compromised the life we had built for ourselves here was… frightening, to say the least.” I stared at him, confused. Compromised? How…?

“They wanted to kill you,” he said, suddenly very serious, eyes burning into mine. “You’re a threat to our very existence here. But Alice and I wouldn’t have it. So we left school, went home, and as a family, took a vote,” he seemed reluctant to continue. “We would either eliminate you as soon as we could get you alone, or keep a close watch on you until a formal decision could be made. After a week, it was clear you were by no means a threat to the humans around you and did not intend on making your true self known. But I see that, although your self-control is astoundingly developed, you have not quite shaken the quickness to anger that most newborns experience. Of course, with help, that can go away in a short time.”

After several minutes, I finally found my voice. “What do you mean, close watch?” I sputtered out, already knowing the answer as the past week’s events pieced themselves together in my mind.