CHAPTER TWO:
MIND OVER MATTER

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EDWARD WAS USED TO being the centre of attention. Call it vain, call it selfish, but Edward Cullen knew for a fact that wherever he and his family went, people would always notice them. He only had to look into their minds and see — elusive, otherworldly, supermodel pretty; the list of admiring thoughts went on. Like every other thing he just happened to overhear, it eventually became background noise to him.

But then he met Bella Swan.

He overlooked her at first. Jessica Stanley, who was over-the-top when it came to her crush of the week — unfortunately, Edward knew this from firsthand experience — had quickly taken the new girl under her wing (you know what they say, keep your friends close and your potential romantic rivals closer) and to Edward she was simply another face who stared at him like he was an animal on display at the zoo.

Her mind, though? The silence he found when he searched for her brain in the chaos was unnerving.

He didn't know anything about her and it frustrated him. It made him want to chase her, to learn what she kept secret. Did she realise she was doing it? Surely not. If she had known what his family was, she would've gone running for the hills long ago. Still, he tried to tell her to stay away from him, to warn her that he was dangerous. But she ignored him even when the truth was revealed. Her look of wonder never faded until that day, two days after her disastrous eighteenth birthday party. When the vampires showed her their true colours, proving her wrong.

Edward wanted to feel victorious.

See? he resisted the urge to shout. I told you that I'd only hurt you.

But in his heart he nursed an ache that he feared would never leave him.

He would miss her.

Only Carlisle and Esme waited for him at home. Even though they were leaving it behind, trading one small town for another, part of him would always long for the familiarity of Forks. He knew he'd never see it again. Like the flush of human blood in Bella's cheeks, he drank the sight of it in. He was reluctant to tear his golden gaze away from the walls of glass but he knew he had no choice.

"It's not too late, Edward," said Esme with a kind smile.

For all intents and purposes, Esme was his mother. It made sense for their typical cover story but in a way it was also how he'd come to view her. With his biological mother long dead, Esme was the only maternal figure he had to look up to. He knew from her thoughts she felt the same, doting on him whenever she could.

Children were the one thing Esme had always craved more than blood. In her human life, she had them taken from her twice and it left her heart in pieces. It was something she'd always feared when it came to himself and the others, but time and immortality had proven her fears wrong.

He wasn't going anywhere.

"The others should be there by now," Edward peered down at the silver watch strapped to the wrist that didn't bear his family crest.

Esme merely patted him on the arm, knowing from his answer that the decision was set in stone.

"Alice called us five minutes ago," Carlisle said, curling an arm around Esme's waist. "She and Jasper are settled in. Emmett and Rose weren't far behind them."

The two of them together made Edward's lifeless chest throb. His throat constricted. He was stunned by the sudden sting behind his eyes. What he'd been missing this whole time had been taken from him, so why were the others this lucky?

Selfish, he thought, punishing himself. They deserve this. What have you done to warrant someone devoting themself to you?

It took Edward a moment too long to realise that Carlisle was studying him. He hoped his expression hadn't betrayed him, searching Carlisle's mind for thoughts of concern. Frustratingly, he found Carlisle listing the alphabet backwards. In Greek, no less. It made his jaw clench. He hated when his family did this, hiding their true feelings before he could detect them.

Now it just reminded him of Bella.

"We should go," Edward grunted, twisting the keys to his Volvo around his index finger.

"We'll see you there." It wasn't a question but Edward knew Carlisle was expecting a promise in his response.

"Yes," said Edward.

He hadn't decided if he would remain in Homer with his family yet. The thought of repeating school all over again made him both restless and miserable. But for now, he'd agree if only to keep Esme's smile on her face. He'd play the perfect brother, the perfect son. No one would know any different.

Edward had never been to Homer. The Cullens often gravitated to Alaska because of the weather and their connection to the Denali Coven. It was a safe option for when they needed to move suddenly. The last time anyone in their family had been to Homer was in the late 1920s. Edward was... on his own, exploring the side of the world that Carlisle had tried so hard to shield him from. Carlisle and Esme had spent three years there while Esme perfected her control. Then they moved onto the next town and Homer was pretty much forgotten.

Edward dreaded just the idea of it.

As the engine of Carlisle's Mercedes roared to life, Edward switched the Volvo into gear and led the way down the driveway. Soon enough, the glass walls of 420 Woodcroft Avenue were swallowed whole by the forest, but Edward could feel them haunting him even as they drove past the 'Thank you for visiting Forks' sign that marked the beginning of the end. This cloud-covered town's population of 3,121 would now be 3,114. He wondered vaguely what Homer's would be, and then forced himself not to think of anything else for the rest of the forty-six hour drive (not that it would take that long, Edward was confident he could do it in thirty.)

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IF EDWARD WASN'T SO consumed by his thoughts, he might've liked Homer at first glance. Nearly thirty-one hours later (damn traffic!) he finally got to leave behind the Sterling Highway. Situated near the Southern tip of the Kenai Peninsula — further South laid Anchorage, the largest city in Alaska — Homer was often described as 'where the land ends and the sea begins.' With an overwhelming population of 3,946, the cosmic hamlet by the sea was an unassuming town that somehow defied expectations. Originating as a coal-mining town, Homer had succeeded in expanding its prospects to include fishing, farming, ranching and homesteading.

Edward struggled to picture his family blending in seamlessly. Carlisle had decided to continue pursuing medicine as a new lead doctor at the South Peninsula Hospital while Esme would focus on redesigning their new home. She contemplated enrolling in a local college to study architecture (again) but decided to leave education to Edward and Alice, who were the only ones going through the high school system (unfortunately) as juniors.

Edward had insisted he didn't need something as mediocre as high school this time around but Alice believed it would allow them to stay in Homer for longer, and who was he to argue when he was the reason they had to move on? Often, the family fluctuated ages depending on their mood and the town. Like Emmett, who was 'taking a gap year' as a recent graduate rather than repeating his senior year.

Jasper and Rosalie would also be studying but at the Kachemak Bay Campus of Kenai Peninsula College instead. Jasper planned to pursue philosophy — one of the only subjects he was yet to study — while Rosalie was interested in a mechanical engineering course. The smug part of Edward longed to be a fly on the wall for her first day, wanting to experience firsthand the incredulous reactions of her male-dominated classmates when they realised just how good she was in the subject.

Their new house was on a road called Hill End. Through the rich browns and greens of close-knit trees, Edward was able to make out the never-ending horizon of water to the right of him. On the left, a dozen houses were dotted across the angled terrain. Unlike Forks, where their house was entirely secluded, they would always be in a relative distance to their neighbours here, but at least they were much too far away to pay close attention.

480 sat on a three-thousand foot block of land, reminding Edward acutely of a multi-storey hunting lodge with its dark-wood walls and tinted windows. It was ten minutes away from Homer High School and even less of a distance to the College, thankfully just out of the main heart of town and with Bidarki creek somewhere in the bushland behind them. The faint sound of its water flowed in his ears as his car slowed to a graceful stop behind Carlisle's Mercedes.

This was it, the holy blade that gutted Edward raw. A house he'd never see as a home. A new life without Bella Swan.

Jasper met them at the door. As soon as Edward met his eyes, a rush of warmth expanded in his stomach, filling the pit of dread before he could get lost in it again. Jasper's eyebrows flashed to his hairline but apart from that he gave no indication he'd done anything to alter Edward's mood. Edward knew his brother was there if he needed him for more than a minute of peace. Jasper believed he had a lot to make up for, a penance to pay for nearly attacking Bel—her.

"I don't blame you," said Edward, and not for the first time. He'd keep saying it until Jasper understood, no matter how irritating it became.

Carlisle and Esme followed the high-pitched sound of Alice's commanding voice directing Emmett and Rosalie as they moved the couch to her liking. Edward and Jasper remained in the doorway — Jasper on one side, blocking the view of pale cream walls and dark timber floorboards. Edward remained on the other, not quite ready to ruin the perfect picture.

"Alice is acting strange," Jasper revealed, whispering so low that even Edward's ears nearly missed it.

Edward couldn't help but scoff. "Since when is that surprising to you?"

Jasper's mouth curled in a sly grin. "More than usual, I mean. I believe she saw something when we got here. She said your name."

In the pit of peace in Edward's stomach, a tiny spark of interest tentatively caught alight. He searched for the loud, colourful brain that he recognised as Alice's and found her, like Carlisle, reciting the Iliad in its original Greek. Curse them both.

"Well, whatever it is, she's not only keeping it from you."

Alice appeared at the top of the stairs, predictably sensing them discussing her. She hopped down each step on graceful feet, all the while scrutinising Edward while he lingered on the porch. He swallowed thickly, finally breaking the barrier separating him from everyone else.

Nothing changed. The world kept spinning. The house didn't collapse around him.

Batting her lashes at him, Edward only managed to catch one fleeting thought before Alice started picturing the throw pillow options she planned on purchasing for Esme's library.

She likes the colour blue.

"Who?" Edward frowned at her.

Of course, Alice didn't answer, leaving him to doubt if the thought had been significant to begin with. Was she talking about Esme, who — as far as Edward knew — loved all colours enough not to care what Alice chose for the throw pillows? Or was she referencing this new alluring secret, with a not-so-subtle flick of her eyes to the navy shirt that clung to his biceps and chest.

For the moment, he conceded defeat and retreated upstairs to the room furthest from the rest. He shuddered at the thought of being next door to any of the couples. It was bad enough having to hear their minds racing when they were alone together. He wasn't about to get up close and personal.

Thankfully, the night passed quickly. By the time dawn broke in a myriad of deep orange skies and gentle bird calls, Edward had his room organised how he wanted it. The same simple leather couch in lieu of a bed, a wall of books and CDs kept in pristine condition, the walk-in wardrobe that Alice insisted on everyone having (except Edward's was notably empty on one side.) Everything was almost identical to Forks, but Edward couldn't help feeling disjointed. It wasn't right, yet it would do.

Alice was waiting for him in the passenger seat of his Volvo. He'd chosen simply for his outfit that morning — black fitted jeans, a pale blue t-shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, sneakers with scuff marks on the toes.

He looked like every other teenager.

(He felt like an imposter.)

In contrast, Alice had her outfit styled like something off a runway. A black pleated skirt with a jewel-studded leather belt, a fitted baby pink tank beneath a black jacket that matched the tights stretched across her legs. Her feet were cladded in heeled ankle boots — who wore heels to school, except his sisters? Edward shook his head with a hint of fondness.

"This place is going to be good for us," declared Alice while gazing reverently at the dew-dotted fields.

Edward's lips thinned, biting down on the answer he wanted to give but wouldn't.

It was a cloudy morning but there was enough light and warmth seeping through to encourage the early risers to come out of hiding. There was a woman walking her dog, a couple hand-in-hand sipping from takeaway coffee cups. Edward caught a flash of an engagement ring in the male's head and shuddered to himself, flooring the gas until he'd sped to a stop in a parking spot next to the school's entrance.

Homer High School was easy to overlook. If it wasn't for the giant blue signboard with the mascot — a mariner wheel — displayed loud and proud, Edward would've overlooked the cluster of red-brick buildings. There were plenty of teenagers milling in the parking lot to gawk at them — nearly a hundred more students were enrolled in Homer than Forks — and their whispers were incessant in Edward's head as he slipped a pair of sunglasses over his eyes and locked the Volvo. He did his best to ignore them, waiting for Alice to skip to his side before leading the way to the building labelled 'office.' The crowds parted around them with ease, as if they could sense the predators prowling among them and knew to keep their distance.

"Hi there! You must be Edward and Alice Cullen," chirped the receptionist, who wore a name tag that called her Janine. She had wispy blonde hair pulled into a knot at the back of her head, showcasing a large forehead that was only emphasised by her oversized black glasses. Edward's gaze landed on her nose where her fingers continued to creep up and adjust the sliding bridge of her frame. "It's not often we get new students midway through the year! You're juniors, yes?"

"Yes, ma'am," said Alice politely, plastering on a pretty smile that seemed to stun even this middle-aged receptionist into oblivion. "We're here to pick-up our schedules."

"Of course," Janine mumbled. Her wide eyes eventually blinked out of their daze, allowing her to lower back into her seat. Just a moment later, she'd printed out three pieces of paper for each of them. "This is your schedule, since you're both juniors most of your classes overlap. Which is good, you'll have a buddy! And this—" Onto the next, which had five boxes evenly lining the page. "Is for your teachers to sign. Just bring it back to me at the end of the day!"

She concluded her spiel by handing them a map of the school. Her lips curled back to reveal a crooked grin, one that was so rehearsed it must've come as muscle memory to her.

"Have a good day! We're excited to have you raising the bar with us here at Homer!"

Edward couldn't contain his grimace. He swiftly turned on his heel and stepped into the fresh air outside, holding the door open for Alice to follow him. Janine's thoughts flooded his own. It was nothing he hadn't heard before but they were persistent, like a buzzing fly. The typical ramblings of an unmarried woman whose life revolved around her job and small-town gossip. No doubt, she would have much to say about the elusive children of the new heartthrob doctor. He caught her questioning Edward's broody expression and laughed to himself, making Alice drive her elbow into his ribs.

"Stop laughing to yourself," she chided. "People are going to think you're crazy."

"Let them," he shrugged, ignoring the petulant jut of her lower lip curling into a pout. "I'm not here to make friends, Alice."

"You never know. This town could be different," said Alice, brushing some of her hair out of her eyes while smiling widely at a group of nearby girls. Her pearly white teeth made them audibly gasp, and not in the way that Alice hoped.

Edward merely patted her arm then reached for the map. With little effort, he managed to find their first class of the day; English with Mr Kent. They were some of the last to arrive, if the overlapping voices echoing from inside were anything to go by, but for once the noise wasn't what caught Edward's attention.

Through the thick metallic tang of blood and sweat that coated the air, Edward caught the scent of something sickly sweet. It made his nose burn and his head spin — jasmine and honeysuckle with an underlying tone of cherry, and there... the undeniable tinge of decay. As if a rose had been left in the sun for several days, its petals slowly withering.

Edward knew that scent. Not so much its unique identifiers, but the rotting.

There was a vampire in their English classroom.

"Are there others... like us here?" Edward whispered through gritted teeth.

Alice frowned. Edward caught the barest flash of a vision — brown hair, his blue shirt, and then nothing. He glared at her, fingers knotting into fists in his pockets. Had she known this whole time that Homer was inhabited by vampires and let them enter blind?

"I've only seen one," Alice admitted. "But she's like us. At least, I think."

"You think," he scoffed. "That's just great."

A shadow spread across the threshold before Alice could continue pleading her case. Mr Kent was shorter than Alice herself, with a round stomach and a precisely groomed moustache to match his grey hair. Despite his short stature, his presence demanded respect. He held his head high, maintaining stern eye contact with Edward.

"You must be my new students. Were you planning on coming inside?"

"Sorry, Mr Kent. It won't happen again," muttered Edward, dipping his head in a conceding nod that gave no excuses.

As expected, Mr Kent's bunched shoulders immediately slackened. He guided them into the room, wasting no time with introductions as he took their slips, hastily signed them, then directed them to two empty seats a few rows apart. Their classmates were yet to settle into silence but heads turned to watch them as they approached the back half of the room.

As Edward neared his seat, he caught a fleeting thought through the chaos, a curious whisper. Their eyes are like hers.

The sweet scent was back and strong to the point of overpowering, colliding with him like a punch to the gut. She was right beside him, her golden eyes unyielding. She had a thin face that might've seemed plain in her human life but immortality had brought its subtle beauty into focus. Her hair was mousy brown and chaotically curly. It framed sharp cheekbones and a narrow chin that gave way to a slender neck. Edward's perfect vision made out the crude shape of teeth on the juncture of her shoulder, partially hidden from view by her denim jacket.

There was a lot Edward could say. He was aware of Alice watching them from her spot three rows behind despite the fact she was introducing herself to anyone who got close enough.

Deciding to take a leaf out of her book, he offered his potential enemy his hand.

"Hello, I'm Edward Cullen."

Her smile was slow and coy. Her upper lip was fuller than the bottom, lifting higher on the right. She accepted his hand, cold fingers locking in a battle of dominance she was determined to win.

"Hi. I'm Aubrey Evans."

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A/N: Chapter two from Eddie's perspective! What do we think? He's definitely going to make a return as we dive into the thick of Aubrey's plot, I feel like it adds to both his character and Aubrey seeing how he approaches things. Also, any information listed on Homer / the high school is taken off the internet with my spin on things. It's not supposed to be 100% accurate, because I don't live in Homer or America. So if there's tiny plot holes please ignore them haha