Chapter Text
Edward Cullen might have been the only one at Forks high school who hadn’t been fascinated by the arrival of Isabella Swan.
The whole town had been twittering with the news of Chief Swan’s daughter’s homecoming. The result of however short a fancy of marriage, it was no secret that Charlie Swan was fond of his only child, and long-awaited her visits every summer. Of course, there were very secrets in Forks.
Except for us, thought Edward, a corner of his mouth lifting upward with the hint of a smile. Catching sight of the movement, Alice raised an eyebrow. Edward shook his head slightly, a minuscule movement that would have gone unnoticed by most humans. The natural-born stillness of their species, however, meant that Alice caught it with ease and looked away, leaving Edward alone to peruse his own thoughts, a welcome change from the voices that constantly occupied his head.
He had recently taken to listening to grunge rock, a choice his classics- loving family were puzzled by. Sometimes they’d catch a bit of whatever was playing in his earphones and wrinkle their nose in distaste. Edward ignored them for the most part. After all, he needed something loud enough to drown out the noise.
It was especially bad today, when everyone was excited by the newest addition to their laughable population. Well, almost everyone. Edward sent a casual glance at his family sitting at the table with him. Rosalie and Emmett were both going over Carlisle’s recent suggestion to adopt a human child. They had enough time and experience in order for it to be a safe project, in their father’s opinion, but the two had their own reservations about the idea. Rosalie ached to be a mother with a longing that was physical, but worried that she had spent too long as a vampire to ever be a good maternal figure. Emmett worried about losing his child to all the usual vulnerabilities - accidents, disease, time. There was also the question of putting a human front when faced with all the people they would encounter - teachers, government officials, the list was endless. The one thing the two shared in common, was an increasing inclination to risk it.
Alice was going over a vision she had - one that had occurred when she was out of Edward’s reach, and one that she was surprisingly tight-lipped about, especially given how close the two were. Jasper was hungry. Somehow, Jasper was always hungry. He was considering the merits of elk versus grizzly bears, and wondering if he should weigh Emmett’s opinions into the equation.
Just then, Edward caught a familiar scent, and his head swiveled automatically to follow it. From the corner of his eye, he caught Alice nudge the others and roll her eyes, but he paid them no mind. Catching sight of the familiar blond head, Edward flashed a brief smile.
“Your fangs are out,” Emmett supplied unhelpfully.
Edward let out a low growl, one only his family would detect, and schooled his expression into his usual mask of impassivity. His eyes, however, didn’t stray from their target.
Mike Newton entered the cafeteria, trailing behind Jessica and the new kid. His hair was sticking up in a few stray spots, and Edward resisted the urge to walk over and smooth them down, or worse, run his fingers through them. His pale face emphasized his freckles, and Edward lamented that he was too far away to trace constellations on that landscape with his eyes. Instead, he settled for taking stock of Mike as he always did. One sweep of the teen satisfied Edward - his eyes were bright (no dark circles this week), and his complexion healthy, if on the pale side. He hadn’t lost or gained weight, and Edward took in his chubby cheeks with a fondness that was almost overwhelming.
Stop drooling, Emmett threw at him, the thought interrupting his attention. Edward resisted the urge to snap his teeth at his brother, choosing to send a glare his way instead. Emmett absorbed it all with his easy good humor, a sense of glee illuminating his mind, even if Emmett didn’t grin outwardly.
Pulling his gaze back to Mike was more than easy. The draw was almost irresistible. Following his gaze, Edward noticed how Mike’s attention - and smile - was directed at Isabella Swan. He said something to her, calling her Bella. For a moment, the name on his lips and his flushed cheeks opened a dark abyss of jealousy in Edward, and he had to lock his limbs down to stop himself from striding over and claiming Mike’s attention for himself.
He knew his sudden stiffness hadn’t gone unnoticed by the others but he was too busy perusing the object of Mike’s apparent desire. The first impression Edward had of Isabella - sorry, Bella - Swan was chocolate. Brown hair, brown eyes, and a softness that lent itself admirably to her slender frame, Edward could see why someone like Mike would be attracted to her. While he couldn’t find it in himself to empathize, he understood what had the school in a flurry.
What was harder to handle was the flare of heat Mike’s attention caused in him. Edward had endured plenty of Mike’s fantasies from a distance. He even found some of the secret ones amusing, if only because they gave him hope. Hope that Mike would find him, lonely, old miserable vampire that he was, half as attractive as he found the freckled, gorgeous, frustrating human. Looking at Bella Swan, Edward felt some of that hope dashed away.