XIX. Cold one.

Both me and Edward sat in the car, complete silence surrounding us. He had turned the heat on to warm me up. For once, the heat was a nice sensation. My forehead rested against my window, staring out at everything we passed.

Once I was warmed up, I lifted my head from the window and shifted in my seat. "I think I'm warm enough now," I muttered softly and we both reached out to turn off the heat. I gasped when Edward's icy cold fingers brushed against mine and he immediately yanked his hand away. "Your hand, it's still freezing cold," I whispered as my eyebrows furrowed. He remained silent, staring ahead of him with a clenched jaw. "Edward..."

"Don't." He pleaded softly as he shook his head before reaching out again to turn off the heat.

I shifted in my seat again. I couldn't look over at him, so I stared out the window again. Was this just another weird and confusing thing I was going to have to live with because he's going to brush me off every time I bring it up? How could he possibly be that cold with the heat on this whole time?

We both remained completely silent for the rest of the drive. As we entered Forks, we passed the police station. My eyebrows furrowed at the cars parked there. More than usual. There was even an ambulance. I shifted in my seat when I noticed my mother's car.

"Wait, that's my mom's car," I spoke softly as I glanced back at Edward. My heart was sinking into my stomach. The worst possible thoughts crossed my mind for why she could be there. Why there could be so many people there.

Edward glanced at the parking lot and his eyebrows furrowed as well. "My father's car is here too." He informed me as he made a U-turn down the street, heading back towards the station.

"Do you think something happened?" I asked nervously as he pulled into the parking lot, pulling in next to his father's car.

"Well they are at the police station," he replied and I shot him a side-eyed look. Edward was out of the car before my seatbelt was even off. He rounded the car and opened my door for me. I grabbed my bag and climbed out, following him towards the station. Just as we took the steps up, Carlisle stepped out of the building. "Carlisle. What happened?" Edward asked.

Carlisle glanced between me and Edward and I could see the subtle questioning glance he shot at his son. "Waylon Forge was found in the woods out near his place," he informed us softly. My heart sank, recognizing the man's name. "I just examined the body."

"He died? How?" I asked softly, placing a hand over my heart as I stared at the older blonde man.

"Animal attack." He replied as he pursed his lips, sending a fleeting glance at Edward who tensed up next to me, his eyebrows furrowing deeply as he lowered his head.

My eyes widened. I remembered my mom talking about the animal attack, right on my first day of school. And once at dinner with Charlie, he also mentioned someone getting killed by an animal. "The same kind that killed the security guard down in Mason?" I asked softly as I wrapped my arms around myself, the cold sending shivers down my back

"Most likely," Carlisle confirmed with a nod of his head.

"So it's getting closer to town," I muttered softly. Forks was small and I had it recognized by now. The victims of this animal got closer and closer to Forks with every kill.

"Waylon lived all the way down on Queets River, 75 miles south." Carlisle said like that was supposed to ease me. The outskirts of town were still close enough for me to feel worried about whatever beast was running around killing people.

I took a deep breath, sending a glance toward my mother's car before turning to Carlisle again. "Is my mom inside?" I asked softly as I nodded my head in the direction of the station's front doors.

Carlisle nodded his head as he pursed his lips again. "She's comforting Charlie." He informed me and my eyebrows slightly furrowed in confusion. "He and Waylon were friends." He explained.

I nodded my head in understanding. I glanced at Edward. His head was still lowered and his eyebrows furrowed. He looked troubled and utterly upset. My gaze turned back to Carlisle and I offered him a small smile before heading into the station.

I lingered by the front door. I watched the two people a few desks over. Charlie was sitting on his chair, his head lowered into his hands. My mom was leaning against the desk, a gentle hand on Charlie's shoulder. "Mom?" I called out softly, wrapping my arms around myself once again.

My mother glanced over her shoulder, but Charlie's head never lifted from his hands. She muttered something to him before pushing herself away from the desk and approaching me. "Sweetheart." She spoke softly, placing her hands on my upper arms

"Is he okay?" I asked her in a hushed tone as I shot a fleeting glance over at Charlie before my eyes returned to her again, my eyebrows furrowing deeply.

She sighed softly as she glanced at Charlie over her shoulder. His head was still buried in his hands. "He's taking it hard." She whispered as she looked back at me, a frown tugging at her lips.

I sighed as well. I followed her towards the desk and carefully reached out, resting a hand on his shoulder. "Charlie, I'm so sorry about Waylon," I spoke softly, giving his shoulder a gentle squeeze.

Charlie sniffed as he lifted his head from his hands. He reached out and placed his hand over my cold one. "Thank you, Ana." He spoke softly as he looked up at me with teary eyes. "Known him going on thirty years." He whispered with a sigh as he lowered his head again.

"Why don't you come home with us, Charlie?" My mom asked softly as she tilted her head to the side Charlie looked up at her and slowly nodded his head. "We'll have a beer, on Waylon." She suggested.

Charlie got up to his feet and glanced over me as I rubbed my arms for warmth. He grabbed his sheriff's jacket from the back of his seat and placed it over my shoulders. I offered him a small smile which he returned for a second.

Together, the three of us made our way out of the station. Edward and Carlisle stood outside, near Carlisle's car, having a hushed conversation. I looked over at them and Edward's head turned, his eyes meeting mine. He silently stared at me. Neither of us broke off the stare until I was getting into my mother's car.

My mom and Charlie stayed up late that night, drinking beers. I went to bed long before them, having had enough of the exhausting day. But even with how tired I was, I had a restless night and struggled to fall asleep.

The following day I got up with a struggle and took longer than usual to get ready for school. The rainy weather was back and I was thankful for the cold morning air. I pulled on a long long-sleeved grey shirt with black jeans, and with a black cardigan.

As I moved around the room to gather my things, I spotted my bag from the previous day, on the floor next to my bed. I walked over to it, reaching inside and pulling out the red leather-bound book. I ran my fingers over it as I turned to my desk, hiding it in one of the drawers.

I made my way downstairs, taking note of a passed-out Charlie on the couch as I walked through the living room and into the kitchen. For a while me and my mother made small talk as we prepared breakfast together. Simple eggs and toast with bacon.

As my mother scrambled the eggs, she turned towards me, raising her eyebrows. "Did I see Edward last night, at the station?" She asked curiously as her head tilted to the side.

"You did," I confirmed with a nod of my head as I pulled myself up to sit on top of the island counter, eating my toast while I waited for the rest of the food. "He gave me a lift," I informed her as I pursed my lips.

She turned off the stove and glanced over at me, her eyebrows furrowing even more. "I thought you were with the girls?" She questioned as she plated the food.

I nodded my head as I climbed off the counter and leaned against it, watching her plate the food. "I was, but then I went to the bookstore and Edward was there, so he gave me a lift," I explained as I nonchalantly shrugged my shoulders. I didn't mention a single other thing from the previous night.

"Well, that's nice of him." She spoke softly, shooting me a small smile over her shoulder.

I hummed as I nodded my head. I turned my head and glanced out into the living room, staring at Charlie for a second. "Is he going to be okay?" I asked softly as I looked at my mother again.

She sighed deeply, glancing over at Charlie and shrugging her shoulders. "I don't know." She admitted softly. "I think so." She assured and I nodded along.

At school, I was lucky enough to avoid Jessica and Angela for a while. When lunch rolled around, Edward wanted me to sit with him again but Jessica got to me, dragging me to a table outside, even shooing the three boys of the group, away when they wanted to join us.

"Okay, so tell us everything." Jessica insisted when the three boys left grumbling. She was sitting opposite of me and Angela, her arms crossed over the table as she leaned a little forward, her eyes wide with excitement.

I feigned confusion as I furrowed my eyebrows. "About what exactly?" I questioned as my head tilted to the side and I rested my hand against my cheek, my elbow on the hardwood table.

Jessica dramatically rolled her eyes. "Your date with Edward." She insisted with a soft huff, impatiently waiting for all the gossip.

I rolled my eyes in return as I stared at her. "It wasn't a date, Jess." I denied with a shake of my head as I shifted in my seat. Memories of last night flooded my head, no matter how hard I tried to keep them out.

"You had dinner together," Jessica argued as she waved a dismissive hand in the air. Dismissing my denial of it being a date.

"I had dinner, he watched me eat," I informed her as I shook my head before resting my chin on the palm of my hand, my lips pulled into a tight line.

Both Angela and Jessica turned to me with eyebrows furrowed, confusion on their faces. "He didn't eat?" Angela questioned softly as her head tilted to the side, her lips tugging into a frown.

I lifted my chin from my hand and dropped my arm onto the table. "No, apparently he's on a special diet," I explained as I shook my head and shrugged my shoulders.

Jessica silently stared off into the distance for a second before humming. "Yeah, you have to be to look that good." She muttered softly and for the first time, I found myself irritated with her comments towards Edward. I didn't like it.

Angela shot Jessica a pointed side-eyed look before turning towards me, resting her hand against the side of her face, leaning against her hand. "So are you guys going out again?" She asked curiously as she raised her eyebrows.

I took a deep breath as I shrugged my shoulders again. "Well...he offered to drive me to Seattle Saturday, but I'm not sure that counts as anything," I muttered softly as I pursed my lips.

Jessica gasped, her lips spreading into a wide smile "Of course it counts!" She insisted as she slapped her hands onto the table before pointing a finger at me. "See, I knew you were skipping on the dance for a reason." She insisted.

I rolled my eyes at her as a small smile spread onto my face. "To be fair, he asked me after I decided to skip the dance," I informed them and Jessica rolled her eyes in return. "You guys have to show me the dresses you picked." I insisted in an attempt to change the subject from Edward.

"Yeah and after you have to come with us to pick shoes," Jessica informed me as she nodded her head while wiggling her finger in my direction.

"Why don't I just do everything for you guys?" I asked playfully as I raised my eyebrows, crossing my arms on top of the table.

Jessica hummed as she nodded her head. "Well, I do need help picking out jewelry," She informed me as a playful smile tugged at her lips.

I returned her smile as I scoffed. "Of course, you do," I replied as I nodded my head.

After school, I went with Jessica and Angela to see their dresses and we did our homework together at Jessica's house. I returned home late that night and went right up to my room. I grabbed the red leather-bound book from my desk and sat down in my chair.

I took a deep breath as I pulled my feet up onto the chair, pressing my knees to my chest. I opened the book, flipping through it. I wasn't sure exactly what I was looking for. I was mostly going off what Jacob had told me on the beach, which wasn't much to go on.

There were a lot of ancient photos in the book, some looked interesting and others looked terrifying. There were photos of monsters and people, carved masks that resembled faces. As I flipped through the book, one particular picture caught my attention.

An ancient, carved mask. It was hauntingly white, with dark black eyes and a row of razor-sharp teeth. Those eyes looked so familiar. They had haunted my mind for a long time after my first day at Forks High. My eyebrows furrowed as I read the inscription underneath the picture.

The Cold One.

I flipped the page and scanned the small paragraph following the picture, but it gave no more information on The Cold One. With a soft huff, I turned to my laptop. I could feel my sanity slipping even more as my finger hastily typed on the keyboard.

A scowl slipped onto my face as I got ads and links for different kinds of beer. As my eyes scanned over the links, I saw one that stood out from the rest. It wasn't for beer, but something completely else. Something more sinister.

The Cold One: Apotamkin.

I rested my elbow on the table, the tips of my fingers brushing over my lips. I clicked on the link as my eyebrows furrowed. I shifted my elbow on the table, bitting down on the nail of my thumb before moving my hand up my cheek, resting it there.

Terrifying pictures popped up on my screen. A pale white monster with sharp black eyes. One picture showed the monster eating people. Other pictures were of men, with beautifully pale skin and dark eyes, biting people, and drinking blood. My heart pounded in my chest as I scrolled through the page, my eyes skimming over the words.

Cold.

My mind flashed back to last night, in Edward's car. Even with the heat on for a long while, his skin was icy cold. Then I remembered all the times he avoided making skin-to-skin contact with me. When he placed his hands on me, it was always somewhere covered with my clothes. He even retracted his hand last night when he was about to reach out and grab my hands on the table.

Fast.

My mind flashed back to the day of the horrid accident. I remembered seeing Edward seconds before Tyler's van came right at me. I remembered seeing him, right next to his Volvo, where it was always parked. Right at the opposite side of the parking lot. And before the fast-heading van could reach me, Edward was by my side. Not even Tyler had seen him before the accident.

Strong.

Again the accident played in my mind. Edward stopped that van from crushing me, with his bare hand. His body had left a dent in the hard metal of my truck and his hand left a dent in Tyler's truck. But he came out unscattered from the accident.

These thoughts created more of their own. All his strange behavior. Knowing where I was last night when he couldn't have been following me. Because now I remembered clearly, that the road had been empty when I was looking around.

Always hearing things he couldn't have possibly heard with how far he was. Disappearing that first week for no reason at all. Seemingly thinking he knew what others were thinking. How scared and uncomfortable people seemed to be around him.

He was never at school when the sun was out. And when I thought about it, it wasn't just last night that he didn't eat or drink anything. Every time we sat at lunch together, he'd either have no food or just pick at the food before eventually throwing it away.

My mind went back to what Jacob told me on the beach. The Cullen's didn't go to La Push because of the supposed treaty. I remembered how Edward reacted when I told him about La Push. He only said no to the beach after I told him where it was.

My attention returned to my screen and I read a little more of the information on my screen. I froze at one simple word. My heart sank for a second as I stared at the word underneath one of the picture.

Vampire.

I silently stared at the word for a second, my heart pounding harder and harder until I could hear the sound so clearly in my ears. My lips parted and my eyebrows furrowed as I stared at the word.

"Vampires?" I repeated softly. I silently stared at the word a little longer before letting out a hysteric laugh and burying my face into my hands. As a heavy feeling settled into my chest, my laughter died down. "That can't be right," I said with a shake of my head as I shot up from my chair, pacing my room while sending a few glances at my laptop screen every now and then. "Why else would he be so strange?" I asked, trying to reason with myself. "This town..." I huffed as I ran a hand through my hair, only noticing then that my hands were trembling. "I miss Phoenix."

There was a knock at my door, startling me. My pacing stopped as the door swung open and my mom popped her head in, her gaze darting around. "Sweetheart, who are you talking to?" She asked as her eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

I silently stared at her, clenching my hands as I offered her a feigned smile. "Myself..." I replied with a shrug of my shoulders.

Her eyes squinted as she stared at me silently for a second before slowly nodding her head. "Well when you're done talking, dinner's ready." She informed me before leaving my room.

The second my bedroom door closed, I slumped onto the floor, my back resting against my bed. I pulled my knees up to my chest and wrapped my arms around my legs, tears pooling in my eyes as I stared at the wall in front of me. What the hell was going on?

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We're officaly at the starting point of the storm that's going to change Ana's life forever, honestly so excited for her and her vampire boyfriend storyline!!!