Lunch was agony. Not because of the whispers or the stares—I could live with those—but because I couldn't shake the sensation of being watched. Even with my heightened senses, the scrutiny of the Cullens felt tangible, like a faint hum of electricity in the air, charging the space between us.
I kept my eyes on the tray in front of me, the untouched apple and bottle of water acting as props to complete the illusion of a normal high school student. My mind raced, dissecting their reactions. They were cautious but curious, as if trying to place me, trying to decide whether I was a threat or something else entirely.
Alice's gaze was the hardest to ignore. It wasn't just curiosity—it was sharper, more focused, like she saw something in me that the others didn't.
I resisted the urge to look up at her again. Instead, I busied myself by tearing the label off the water bottle, shredding it into tiny pieces. It was a futile attempt to steady my nerves, but nothing could shake the unsettling weight of their attention.
The bell finally rang, and I was out of the cafeteria before anyone else, moving faster than I intended. I could hear the murmur of voices behind me, the buzz of speculation rising as I disappeared down the hallway.
The rest of the day passed in a blur. Every classroom felt stifling, the walls pressing in as I struggled to act normal, to blend in. But how could I, when everything about me screamed different? My golden eyes, my unnatural beauty—traits I hadn't asked for but now carried like a flashing neon sign.
I barely remembered the subjects or the names of my teachers. My focus was split between keeping my growing hunger in check and avoiding further interactions with the Cullens.
By the time the final bell rang, I felt like I'd run a marathon. The hunger had returned, sharper than before, clawing at my insides. It was a constant reminder of what I was now—what I needed to survive.
I stepped outside into the gray afternoon, the overcast sky casting everything in muted shades of blue and gray. The cool air was a relief, calming the fire that simmered just beneath my skin.
I headed for the edge of the parking lot, where I'd parked the old car I'd "acquired" after arriving in this world. It wasn't flashy—just a beat-up sedan that blended into the background. Perfect for keeping a low profile.
But as I reached the driver's side door, I froze.
Alice Cullen was standing a few feet away, leaning casually against a sleek yellow Porsche that stood out like a beacon amidst the sea of ordinary vehicles. She wasn't looking at me directly—her gaze was fixed on something in the distance—but there was no mistaking the fact that she was waiting for me.
I hesitated, my instincts screaming at me to get in the car and leave. But something about her presence rooted me to the spot.
Finally, she turned her head, her golden eyes meeting mine. She smiled—soft, inviting, but with an edge of mischief that made me feel like she knew something I didn't.
"You're fast," she said, her voice light but carrying an undercurrent of curiosity. "I didn't even see you leave the cafeteria."
I shrugged, forcing myself to stay calm. "Guess I just like to move quick."
Her smile widened slightly, as if she found my response amusing. "Jason, right?"
I nodded, though I wasn't sure how she knew my name. "And you're Alice."
Her eyes sparkled. "So, you've heard of me?"
"Hard not to," I replied, keeping my tone neutral. "You and your family seem to draw a lot of attention."
She tilted her head, studying me with an intensity that made me feel like she was looking straight through me. "We get that a lot," she said. "But you're not exactly flying under the radar yourself."
I chuckled, though it came out more strained than I intended. "Guess I'm still getting used to the whole new-kid thing."
"Hmm," she murmured, her gaze flicking over me. "You're… different."
The way she said it sent a chill down my spine. She wasn't accusing me of anything, but there was an undeniable weight to her words, as if she already knew I wasn't like everyone else.
"What makes you say that?" I asked carefully.
Alice's smile didn't falter, but there was a hint of something unreadable in her expression. "Just a feeling."
Before I could respond, a silver Volvo pulled into the parking lot, stopping a few feet away. Edward was behind the wheel, his expression unreadable as he glanced between Alice and me.
She straightened, her playful demeanor shifting into something more reserved. "Looks like my ride's here," she said.
I nodded, relieved that the conversation was coming to an end but also strangely disappointed.
As she turned to leave, she paused, looking over her shoulder. "It was nice meeting you, Jason. I have a feeling we'll be seeing more of each other."
With that, she climbed into the Volvo, and the car pulled away, leaving me standing there with more questions than answers.
I didn't go straight home after school. The hunger had grown unbearable, a gnawing ache that made it hard to think. I needed to feed, and soon.
The forest was quiet as I moved through the trees, the familiar scent of moss and rain filling the air. My senses sharpened, honing in on the faint rustle of movement in the distance.
I found a small herd of deer grazing near a clearing. They didn't sense me until it was too late.
The blood was warm and rich, quenching the fire inside me but leaving me with a hollow ache in my chest. No matter how many times I fed, I couldn't escape the feeling of losing a part of myself with each kill.
But the hunger wasn't just physical. There was something deeper, something I couldn't quite name—a sense of longing, of searching for something I couldn't define.
That night, I sat in my small, rented apartment, staring out the window as the rain returned. The events of the day replayed in my mind, each detail sharpening into focus.
Alice's words stuck with me. You're different.
She had to know, at least on some level. The Cullens weren't ordinary vampires—they were observant, careful, and incredibly attuned to their surroundings. It was only a matter of time before they figured out what I was.
But what was I?
I leaned back in my chair, running a hand through my hair. I didn't have any answers—only more questions.
All I knew was that I didn't belong here. Not in this world, not in this body. And yet, here I was, thrust into a story I thought I knew, with powers I didn't understand and a hunger I could barely control.
As the night deepened, I made a decision. If I was going to survive—if I was going to figure out why I was here—I couldn't keep running.
Tomorrow, I'd face the Cullens. And maybe, just maybe, I'd find the answers I was looking for.