An Awkward Lesson and Meeting a Cousin You Didn't Recognize

The teacher had begun speaking a few minutes ago, yet none of the words were getting into my head. It was just a low-pitched buzz bouncing around in my head, blocking out sound.

The cause of this buzz? Well, she was sitting next to me, looking disinterested with the lesson at hand. I continued to take glances at her, mentally arguing with myself over whether I should introduce myself when I got the chance or not.

Part of me said she must be put off by me because of my staring. Another part didn't care.

It was confusing, like most things today.

Weirdly enough, a part of what the teacher said got through the buzzing, "Partner up with the person next to you, we're doing dissections today," she said, earning a collective groan from just about everyone in class. Everyone other than me.

Don't get me wrong, I don't like cutting up dead animals - who does? - but a part of me knew this was a chance to speak to this girl who I now knew as Edythe after I actually paid attention to registration this time.

...That was creepy as hell, wasn't it? Goddammit.

Ignoring how different I felt when it concerned this Edythe girl, I got up and spoke, "Uh, I-I can get the equipment if you want?" I asked, stuttering like some kind of idiot but getting it out all the same. She didn't even look at me, which hurt for some reason, and just nodded her head to my offer. I placated myself with the fact she even answered me before walking toward the equipment station.

Disposible gloves and safety goggles, along with dissection tools.

Well, this certainly isn't gonna be an opportunity ripe for conversation, is it?

. . .

POV Change - Edythe Cullen

What...what is with that guy's scent?

I'd found myself wondering this throughout all of my lunch break and all of my time up till I walked into biology class. I ended up thinking of it even more when I began to have to actively restrain myself from doing something incredibly stupid when I found myself sitting next to the boy.

It was absurd.

William Riley...That was the boy's name. He had hair reminescent of mine and Edward's but it was a shade redder compared to our more brown-ish locks. If we had bronze colored hair, this boy had bright auburn hair. Put with his piercing green eyes and angular face and noble features...and I could definitely say he was attractive.

But there was something more to it.

His scent just drove me crazy. Like a shark that had sniffed a drop of blood and was seconds away from frenzy - that example was especially relevant to me because of what I am.

A soulless monster, that is. But I digress.

His scent is odd. I've heard stories from Emmett and Carlisle about things called Singers...could this William be my Singer? Hopefully not. Even if he isn't, I should try and keep contact to a limit, right?

Taking a peek at him from the corner of my eye, I saw him rapidly turn his gaze away from me. Obviously, it was much too slow to escape my eyes but I ignored it and focused in on him. But when I tried to get into his head...I was rebuffed.

Stunned solid for a second or two, I tried again. And again, I failed.

Thankfully, I could still get a feel for what he was feeling. Or rather, what feeling his thoughts carried. I'd guess this is what Jasper feels. But other than that realization, I found myself stumped at what I found.

Adoration. Happiness. Nervousness. Confusion.

I'm glad I wasn't the only person who was confused.

Adoration? Was he one of those humans who fell in love with someone just because of their beauty...?

I instantly shook tha thought from my head. This feeling was...it was too deep. Too unfathomable to be something shallow like adoration for beauty. If that were the case, he'd have had the same thoughts but not for me, but rather for Rosalie.

Every time he looked to me, thinking I didn't notice or wasn't looking, those four feelings spiked in his mind before falling every time he looked away, with only his confusion staying the same.

Before I could think any further, the teacher said we'd have to partner up for a dissectiona and I found myself internally groaning at how the world was trying to push me to committing something I'd vowed off of.

I didn't know how to describe his scent. It was just too intoxicating. Like a smell made specifically with my desire in mind. Made specifically with my enjoyment in mind.

Even as I thought all this, I was sniffing at the air, taking in his scent and slowly getting drunken on it. Even as I knew this would end up bad, that I needed to restrain myself--I just couldn't. I felt like one of those damned dogs, sniffing at the air but I just couldn't stop myself. The scent was just too good.

Nevertheless, I kept a tight control over my body. I'd always had the best self-control after Carlisle. But even then, right now...I felt extremely tested. But, it should be enough to last this lesson.

Then I'm leaving to speak to Carlisle. I need to stay away from this William Riley boy.

A trip to our relatives in Alaska should do, right?

William said something about getting our equipment for the dissection, and I just nodded an okay, knowing that if I interacted with him anymore than I did, I'd be in big trouble. Even then, against all that I knew was right, I thought the way he acted around me was incredibly cute.

A darker part of me saw this, felt the adoration he felt for me, and thought that I should try and seduce him to take him and his blood.

But I soon stamped on that thought. It was insidious and horrid.

For a second, I couldn't believe I'd even thought it. That I'd even thought for a SECOND that I should do it, because, well, why not? I reasoned that he'd enjoy it if his feelings were anything to go by. But such a line of thought was exactly what Carlisle had led me from when I was younger. I wouldn't go against him and everything he'd taught me just for some lust over a 18-year-old's scent.

Even if that said lust for his overpowering scent was slowly filling my brain the more time I spent near the boy.

As he got back with the equipment, I gave him the silent treatment, hoping he'd stop being interested. But it didn't seem to work. All it did was add a slight dismay, if what I was getting when I tried to read his mind was anything to go by.

It was a long lesson where I secretly thought about how cute he was and how nice his scent was, while trying to fool myself that I didn't like what he was feeling about me.

. . .

POV Change - William Riley

Sighing, my head craned back and just looking up at the cloudy skies.

The sky seemed to be representing my mind, honestly. The rapidly swirling dark grey clouds and the cracking of thunder was definitely representative of both my bad mood and my sadness at how I sucked ass at speaking to Edythe during that lesson.

Everything I said was either started or completed with a stutter. Every word I said felt like the wrong one. And worst of all, she didn't give me any answer that was longer than 2 words. That is if she didn't just nod or hum in agreement.

"Urgh!" I gave a loud shout of annoyance as I ruffled my hair aggressively before dropping my head and looking down at the ground, "What the hell was that display, Riley...? You've spoken to loads of pretty girls without breaking a sweat, so what's different about this one?" I asked myself in a harsh whisper.

Again, part of me felt bad for worrying about girl problems when my sister was in hospital but another, sadly, bigger part of me was glad I had the distraction.

That I didn't need to wallow in guilt and sadness all day.

Well, sadness about my sister. Sadness about a girl not taking to your lame advances...well, that's a different ball park, I guess.

My thoughts were put to an end when I saw a short-ish girl, around 5'4", rummaging around in the back of Charlie's car. I instantly felt suspicious and I picked up into a jog, "Hey!" I gave a call, causing the brunette to jump in shock before turning around suddenly, like a deer caught in the headlights of a car.

But seeing her face, I was stopped in my tracks.

Apart from the dark brown eyes, this girl looked like an exact copy of my older sister, just aged down a few years.

I was stunned, flashes of my sister coming through to my mind, making me wince a little.

"Y-yeah?" the girl asked, confused by my reaction to her.

Seeing that, I forcibly pushed through my confusion - I was getting good at that - and spoke up to her, "Are you, I don't know, robbing my uncle?" I asked, pointing to the car behind her, the boot open and filled with suitcases, "As you might be able to see, he's a police officer. So, stealing from him probably isn't that clever," I joked, trying to both hide my hurt at being reminded of my sister, and to keep the mood light so she didn't bolt or something.

The girl seemed clueless as she looked between me, the car, and the house. In the end, she got spoke up, "Uh, uncle? You mean Charlie Swan, right?" she asked and I gave a nod, "You're his nephew? I...I didn't know he had one of those," she said, seemingly to herself.

Just as I was about to continue, Charlie came out of the front door of the house, a rare smile on his face.

When he saw me and this girl talking, he picked up his pace and came to stand to the side of us, "Ah, Will, I'd like to introduce you to my daughter, Bella," he said, a sort of pride to his tone.

Hearing her name, I widened my eyes before putting on a smile and looking back to her from Charlie, "You're Bella?" I questioned with a laugh, "I've seen pictures of you in the house," I motioned to the house before carrying on, "But I never knew they were so outdated," I shook my head, feeling genuinely confused on why Charlie didn't have up to date photos of his daughter in the house. In the end, I just put my hand out, "My name's William Riley but please call me Will. And if your Charlie's daughter, that'd make me your cousin. It's nice to meet you," I said, again, keeping up a practiced smile.

Bella awkwardly took my hand and gave an equally awkward smile before nodding in reply to my greeting.

Letting go of her hand, I looked to Charlie, "Well, I'm gonna go and have a shower, then I'm off to visit Jess. So, just leave me something to eat in the oven and I'll eat it when I get back," I said and Charlie just gave a nod.

As I walked passed him and away from Bella, I felt him slap my shoulder, trying to comfort me as he spoke, "Tell her I said hi, will you, kid?" he said and I just gave a nod without looking back.

Thinking about Edythe, I realized I at least had something to rant to Jess about.

They did say that people in comas can hear people, right? I think I remember reading that somewhere. Nevertheless, it'd do me some good to speak to her and if she can hear me? Well, I guess I'd be doing her a favor.