Finding Out Something Odd

Nightmares. It's always goddamn nightmares.

At least I didn't sweat as much anymore. Having a permanently 42 degrees Celsius body temperature comes with some benefits, at least.

Sitting up, I looked to the side at my clock.

3 in the morning.

Knowing I wouldn't be able to get back to sleep, I moved my duvet off of myself but I quickly stopped and sniffed at the air. There was a weird scent in my room. Sort of like strawberries...and apples? Fruity, I guess? But it was especially piquant*.

(*A/N - Piquant can mean two things. Either it's an appetizing smell or it's pleasently stimulating. In this case, it means both.)

...I'd smelt this scent before. Not like I could forget it.

In a world where I could smell every little bad thing with someone, this scent was the only one which didn't make me wince if I delved too deeply into it. It was the scent that kept on...uh, giving, I guess? Point is, that it smells nice and I can't find anything wrong with it, even with my sensitive nose.

Which means it can only belong to one person:

Edythe Cullen.

Standing up, I began sniffing at the air a little more. The scent was still very fresh, so I easily followed it with my nose to where the scent originated from. I walked across my room, from my bed, all the way over to the corner of my room next to my window.

She was here. Right in the corner of my room. Watching me sleep...Oh boy. Wasn't expecting that.

Moving to my window, I looked through it. My eyes were much better than a humans and I could easily see in the dark - it'd never bothered me before the change let alone after my senses were enhanced by the Phasing.

I scanned through the nearby forest behind the house - which my bedroom faced - and I actually caught a slight glimpse of her.

But just as quickly as I saw her, she disappeared in a blur.

Even after she disappeared, I just stood there, looking into the woods with a complicated expression on my face.

On one hand, the girl I liked had been watching me sleep like some kind of stalker. On the other hand, the girl I liked was showing just as much obsession as I was. So, quite frankly, I was stuck between feeling weirded out and feeling joyful. The latter of which was something I shouldn't feel when I realized I was being stalked.

So, in the end, I settled for a 'glass half-full' type of mentality and just walked back over to my bed and sat on it. I had to think about this a little more.

Could the reason she was doing this be because she was catching onto me being different than a normal human? I don't think it'd take a genius to figure it out. Just being close enough to feel my body heat would give them enough of a clue.

So...are they monitoring me to make sure I'm not a danger to them or something?

. . .

POV Change - Edythe

"Oh God! He saw me! He definitely saw me! Edythe you stupid old woman!" I repeatly said to myself as I banged my head against a rock a few miles away from William's house.

If I had blood in my body, I'd no doubt be blushing beet red right now.

I'd also probably be dying from embarrassment and shame. I'd just been caught stalking a boy for god's sake! I wanted to curl up and die again!

The entire endeavor had come to mind when I realized how upset I'd made him. I wanted to check up on him - to see if he was fine and doing well. My motives were innocent!

...But as soon as I saw his peaceful face and got a whiff of his scent...I just couldn't leave! Even after I knew he was fine, I just stood in his room and watched him sleep! Like some kind of crazy stalker lady!

The rock I was banging my head against cracked right in half down the middle and I still didn't feel any less embarrassed.

I just slumped down to the floor, bringing my knees up to my chest.

...I moved quick enough, right? Quick enough to make him second-guess himself? Right?

At these questions to myself, I realized how much I was grasping at straws. He most likely saw me and he'll most likely think I'm weird. I know that I need to take this to Carlisle and tell him what happened...but that's so embarrassing. I'm 118-years-old and I'm stalking an 18-year-old just because his scent is attractive to me and he's kinda my type?

Just thinking about admitting that to the only father-figure in my life makes my skin crawl with embarrassment.

Just as I was wallowing in my shame, I heard something running toward me.

Scrunching my eyebrows together, I stood up and looked in that direction only to see my idiot brother, Edward running toward me with a look of annoyance on his face. Straining my hearing, I listened behind him and found that he'd come somewhat from William's house.

Edward...couldn't be...? No, I'm pretty sure he likes women, right?

But upon listening just that little bit more, with a little more focus, I heard William's voice, "What the hell was he doing in Bella's room...?" I heard him say which made me agree.

What was Edward doing in Bella's room?

I sped off back to the house, knowing I'd have to talk to Edward about what he was doing at that house. I didn't even sense him I was so concentrated on William. Maybe he has the same problem with Bella?

...If so, we need to tell Carlisle before a mistake happens.

. . .

POV Change - William Riley (A Few Minutes Ago)

As I sat on my bed, thinking about what her being in my room could mean exactly, I could a whiff of a sickly sweet scent that was coming from underneath my door.

A Vampire other than Edythe.

Getting up, subconsciously keeping my center of gravity low, I slowly stepped toward my door before silently opening it to see the hallway.

Empty.

Once again, I followed my nose and the scent was coming from across the hallway - from Bella's room. I instantly turned around and somehow silently sprinted toward my window. I opened it quickly, not minding the noise and looked out of it and down.

I was two floors up...but I needed to get around to the other side of the house to see if Bella was okay. So, I got one foot out, followed by another and just took a deep breath as I prepared myself.

I could jump high and feel fine but jumping from the second floor of a house still made me feel somewhat hesitant. But I soon got over it and pushed myself off. My stomach flipped for about a second before my feet impacted against the soft grass and dirt below.

I barely even felt the impact.

Not having time to marvel at my own abilities, I rushed around to the front side of the house.

The overhead cover for the porch was right in front of Bella's room, so I crouched down before jumping up, using my momentum and my enhanced leg strength to throw myself up. I easily cleared the distance and even went a few feet above what I wanted to. But as I landed, I crouched down, stopping my land while also using my hands to lower the noise.

I was practically silent.

Looking ahead, my sight easily cut through the dark and into Bella's room. I couldn't see her but I could see someone standing in the corner of her room.

Edward Cullen.

I narrowed my eyes and he just so happened to be looking toward where I was. When he saw me, crouched down like I was ready to pounce (a purely instinctive reaction on my part, honestly) his eyes widened before he turned into a blur and sped off.

I jumped from the overhead and onto the ground again before kicking off after Edward. I had his scent so I could easily follow him.

...But he was way too quick.

I tried to force myself to Shift...but it just wouldn't work. Like I was missing something. I probably wasn't physically strong enough to withstand the transformation just yet. Though I was already just under 6'6" and about 240lbs - how much bigger was I gonna get? Hopefully not too much bigger. I kinda like being this tall and broad but there's definitely a sense of too much of a good thing is bad. Being too big seemed to be a problem as well.

...I mean, certain size enhancements were welcomed quite happily by me, though--

Keep your mind on the prize, Will, and out of the gutter. Even if that was appreciated.

Jokes aside and whatnot, there was one serious question I had, "What the hell was he doing in Bella's room...?" I whispered to myself before turning around and jumping back up and into my window.

I spent the rest of the early morning thinking and guarding the house. I'm grateful of Edward for saving Bella, for Carlisle keeping my sister healthy and making sure she's healing up fine, and Edythe...well, whatever feelings I have for her help abstain her from doing most bad in my books. But...I won't let my family get put in danger.

Not again.

It wasn't until around 6AM and Charlie got up that I finally let my guard down somewhat and got up to get ready for school.

I had questions to ask and a small apology to give to Edythe...which I felt slightly less inclined to give after catching her stalking me. But still, I needed to clear the air between us. I blew up at her when she came over to me after what nearly happened to Bella. It was unnecessary on my part and didn't need to be aimed at her.

I feel especially guilty after what Carlisle told me.

But mainly, I had questions I needed answered. Both about her being in my room and Edward being in Bella's. Something potentially dangerous like that...I need to make sure it never actually becomes dangerous.

Let's just hope those two are just stalkers. It'd be better than them planning to kill Bella and I, right?