Chapter Two: Lost in the Woods


I entered into the office. The secretary behind the counter smiled. “Let me guess, Cassie?”
“Casey,” I corrected her. She nodded and I walked up to the desk. “…Its spelled Kasi.” Her eyes scanned over a piece of paper and she handed it to me. “Here’s your schedule and a map.” I took the map, but trashed it when she wasn’t looking. I’d rather get lost looking for a class than look ridiculous. With a smile, I left the office and went on my search for my classes.
“Lets see. First period is Gym… Followed by Chemistry, Biology, English, and math is last.” That seemed simple enough. I saw Mike again and I walked over to him. “Hey Mike. Could you help me find the gym?” His eyes lit up and he just nodded. I smiled at him and began to follow him. I noticed him again, he was…watching me? Why? Did I do something? A smile crossed his perfect features and he left with the small girl who seemed to be his sister. That’s when I noticed the other one that looked like them. He had pale blond hair that was a little bit longer than Edward’s and a bit messier. “Those are the Cullens and the other boy is Jasper Hale.” I blinked and looked at Mike. “Who are the other two?”
“The girl is Alice and the boy is Edward. He’s trouble.” Mike gave me a serious look when he said that. Well…It might be hard for me to stay away…I always seem to be lured to Trouble. A laugh was heard. I didn’t see who had laughed, but it was a laugh I wouldn’t forget. Mike touched my hand and brought me back from my thoughts.. “Yeah…To gym, I remember.” I said, following after him.

My thoughts could not escape the way Edward had looked at me. Why had he smiled? Did he like me? I had heard that ever since a student named Bella Swan had left him, Edward hadn’t been at school until today. Some speculated it was because of me. He liked ‘fresh meat’ and that’s what I was. I tried to concentrate on my chemistry work, but it was so hard. I pushed my black bangs back and tucked the strands of hair behind my ear, but that didn’t work for long. Finally I just sat back and closed my eyes. It was obvious to the teacher I was having trouble, but before she could say anything, I was back to work on the formulas. Transferring into a school in the middle of the year was so frustrating. Lucky for me, I was able to catch up quickly. By the time chemistry ended, I wanted to shoot myself in the face. I was glad it was Friday. My thoughts drifted off to this weekend. I was going to stay home and relax in my Jacuzzi tub.

The day seemed to drag on until I entered my English class. There he was. Edward Cullen. Of course, I just had to have a class with him. I sat down as far from him as I could, making it to where I was surrounded by the male population of the class while all the females were around him. He’s handsome and all…but I wouldn’t be all obsessive over him… I swore he had smiled again, but his expression changed as class began. English seemed to go by a lot faster than I expected. Soon the bell rang that horrible ring and students began to leave. We had gotten a reading list from the teacher. I hadn’t read all of the books, but a good number of them. There were a few I would buy in Port Angeles when I went to visit Damon. Even though everyone was in a rush to get out of the class, Edward still sat in his seat. His topaz eyes were looking at the board. He was writing something on a piece of paper. I shook my head, not knowing it would send my scent his way, and I walked out of the class. He still hadn’t moved.

I quickly made my way to math. It was the last class of the day and I could go home and relax. I really wanted to get back into my Aveo and try out that CD player. Of course, I didn’t have my CDs with me. “Damn.” As I walked into the classroom, the teacher called me up front. She wasn’t the first to make me do this. “Tell everyone about yourself darling.”
I started with a sigh. “My name is Kasi. Yes, Casey, but its spelled K-a-s-i. I grew up on the road with my parents. They were in a band and were on tour constantly. I live in the new two story place that was built just a few months ago.” I gave the teacher a ‘that-enough?’ look and she smiled and showed me an empty seat. It was in the back of the class and I was grateful for that. People asked me questions about my parents, but I just gave them short, sweet answers. They soon stopped asking when they had enough information to whisper about me when I wasn’t around. My salvation came when the bell rang once again. I was quick to get my things and leave.

Making my way towards my car, I saw the Cullen siblings, which included Jasper, standing at the Volvo. All three of them were looking at my car. Uh oh. Did I park to close? Did I hit their car or something? That’s when I noticed the look on Alice’s face. It seemed like they use to have the flashy car, but now mine was the new flashy one. I gulped and continued walking; trying to have confidence in my steps, though I know I probably looked stupid. Jasper looked towards me, as did Alice. They watched my every step. Edward had his eyes closed as I finally had reached my car. I unlocked my door and was about to get in when he spoke. “Nice car.” Was all he said, before all three of them got into the Volvo and he backed out and drove off. I was speechless. His voice…It was so…I didn’t even know how to explain it. I bet even angels envied his voice.

It was Saturday and there was nothing for me to do. My parents had gone to Port Angeles to meet Damon’s fiancée. I was lying on my bed, flipping through the channels on the television when something in the back of my head said that name I was trying to forget. Edward Cullen… I wanted to scream. Ever since he spoke to me, he was all I could think of. That was it! I knew a walk would clear my mind. I grabbed my light pink 60G iPod and left the house. The first song to fill my ears and drown my thoughts of Edward was Reckless Abandonment by The Spill Canvas. I soon began to sing along with the song.
“I don't believe, in anything,
that she has been saying about me.
Yeah we don't believe in anything,
that these critics go writing in their magazines.

[Chorus:]
The world is spinning way too fast.
The entire human race, will float into space.
So fill your shoes with cement,
And kiss the ones you love,
With reckless abandonment.”
I couldn’t hear anything around me. No birds, no animals, just music. It made me happy. My mind was finally clear of Edward Cullen. At least, I thought it was. As soon as the song ended, I noticed that I was lost. “Oh man…Seriously?” I turned a circle, looking around frantically. “How am I supposed to get out of here?” I asked myself. Panic began to take over. I took the ear buds out of my ears and I tucked my iPod into my jeans pocket. My ears now heard every sound around me. I felt my breathing becoming more rapid. I knew I was going to hyperventilate. My brain screamed for my feet to run, so they did. The green of the forest surrounding me seemed to blur as I ran, but I wasn’t even going that fast. Roots tripped me up, but I never fell. I felt like my lungs were going to collapse from the weight of an invisible enemy. I looked up to the sky and tried to scream for help, but all that came out was hot air. Then, the sky began to seem farther away. Everything went black.

I awoke to a humming sound. Where was I? I sat up and gasped in air. I felt like I had been dead. My lungs ached for the air outside of my body and I gladly relieved the ache by breathing in a lungful of wonderful oxygen. “Well…Welcome back Grace.” My stomach fluttered. No one around here called me Grace. Even Mike Newton at lunch had still called me Kasi. My head snapped to the right and there Edward was. He was sitting a few feet away, looking dead at me. His topaz eyes seemed to penetrate my soul through my own light blue ones. “Edward Cullen.” I simply whispered his name and he smiled; a crooked smile that took my breath away. Wait, how had he found me? “If you’re wondering Grace, I was out walking when I found you passed out here.” His voice… It made me melt. “T-thank you.” I said, unable to look at him. He was too beautiful. Edward stood up from his seat on a nearby tree trunk and he walked over to me. Very carefully and almost cautiously, he pulled out a leaf from my black hair. “I should get you home. I’m sure your mom and dad will be worried.” He stood in front of me and offered me his hand. Coldness was all I felt when I placed my warm hand into his. “You’re cold.” I said, not really meaning to.
“It’s natural.” That’s all he said, yet I didn’t even think to ask how that could be natural. He kept his hand around mine as he helped me step over roots and soon, we were in my back yard. “Thank you again Edward.” I said, smiling at him. He took a step closer to me; his face was less than an inch away from mine. “You’re welcome, Grace.” His pale hand reached up and brushed a few hairs back out of my face. “KASI! Where are you?” I heard my mother screaming for me. I turned to look in the direction I heard her voice. “I’m in the back yard Mom!” When I turned back, Edward was gone. “Where did he go?”
I never told my mother about Edward finding me in the woods. That was my little secret…