"Simply mouth-watering" Laurent's words swam in my head as terror finally set in. His threateningly beautiful face was mere millimetres from mine. He inhaled deeply as he leaned in; his head inclining as if he were to kiss me. I felt the tears pool behind my lids. It's finally over. All the pain... over.

His razor sharp teeth punctured my skin like a knife would penetrate a sheet of paper. I felt my face distort in pain and heard the soft murmur of agony escape my lips as the fire seeped into my blood stream.

Then he pulled away. I opened my eyes in shock, my hand clamping to the bloody wound on my neck. Laurent's face was shocked, staring out into the forest.

"It can't be..."

I heard no more, the pain took me then and I passed out.

I lay on my mattress, pretending to sleep. The whole act of being human was tedious, especially at night when I had nothing to distract me from...them. I cringed to myself, and rolled over to check the time. 5:01 am; early, but acceptable. I stood and left my bedroom and entered the lounge in my pyjamas. I looked around the small room, it was undeniably a tip. I rolled my eyes as I quickly set about tidying; sticking to human speed and over thinking every activity to keep my mind of...them.

The apartment was silent; except for the rumbling snore that came from Matthias's bedroom.

Lucky Matt, I thought, what I'd give to be able to sleep away my troubles.

My troubles. How ridiculous! It's been fifty-three years! They don't care, Bella, get over it!

My self-scolding was interrupted by a rather loud grunt from Matt's room, cracking a small smile across my face. Admittedly living with a human had eased the pain; my life seemed more realistic with Matt and his student loan and inability to clean.

I picked up a plate and walked over to the tiny excuse for a kitchen to wash it. I was nearly done now, and my human speed at spread the task over nearly two hours, so i returned to my bedroom and gathered clean clothes before heading off to the bathroom for a shower.

The hot water dripped pathetically from the showerhead, doing its darndest to relief my stress. After the last soap suds were out of my hair, I towelled myself dry and got dressed.

"Matt," I called as I left the bathroom "you're gunna be late for class if you don't get up now." I walked to the kitchen and got out a bowl and filled it with cereal for him; I would tell him I'd already eaten as I did every other day.

He stumbled out of his room a few minute later, looking more than a little sleep deprived. His eyes brightened considerably when he spied his breakfast. "Bella you are an absolute angel, you know that right?"

I smirked "I've been told. I hope your planning on getting some sleep this year; you look terrible!"

"Well I was busy last night..." he trailed off as he hoisted himself onto the counter and began munching on his Cheerio's.

"Oh really?" I smiled broadly, his promiscuous ways never ceased to entertain me. "Who was it this time?"

"You won't know him."

"You still have to tell me."

"Why?"

"So I can spend all day googling him, of course!"

He laughed at me. "Well in that case, his name is Peter Fellows, and he's a plumber."

I snorted "A plumber?"

"It's okay; he's a hot plumber, not one of the overweight, balding ones. And anyway aren't you meant to be going to High School today?"

I sighed "I don't know why I have to, Matt. You're being ridiculous."

"Bella I agreed not to send you back to your parents on condition you got an education. I know you ran away for a reason, but your past is no excuse to through away your future."

I smiled briefly, Matt was under the impression that I had run away from my abusive parents in Alaska, and had agreed to let me live with him- under the understanding I would get an education and that is the police came looking, he knew nothing. The rest of the town was under impression I was Matt's younger sister.

"Fine; High School, I knew I shouldn't have moved in with a professor!"

"Well I'm glad you did, Bells. It's a lot nicer around here with you." I smiled, and I knew that I was truly lucky.

"Right, I'm gunna go dry my hair, you go shower and get ready. I'm surprised they've kept you on for this long, you're terrible!"

He grinned and slid of the counter. I turned and went back to my room to make myself look 

acceptable.

Sitting in front my mirror-letting the heat dry my chocolate brown hair-I once again reviewed my new appearance, although I guess it doesn't class as new after this long. My eyes were a light gold as always, rimmed with long black lashes. My inexplicably pale skin was blemish free, and the purple bruising beneath my eyes was near invisible. I found it easier to avoid suspicion if I fed every other day or so, keeping my eyes the same colour and the bags under them at bay. My lips were full and naturally stained a rosy pink, my cheekbones were pronounced yet subtle. Before my transformation- when I was with him- I always thought myself inadequate, I had to admit now that it was slightly ironic that now that he was gone I looked worthy of him.

Stop thinking of him! Today's going to be hard enough without that too! I turned off the hairdryer and left my room.

I occupied myself by watching the news, until Matt finally emerged from his room wearing a shirt and tie with jeans and a leather jacket. With his black hair, dashing good looks and slight stubble, Matt always managed to make every girl in his class fall in love with him. He would always complain that it was not the boys chasing after him and leaving him love letters. I had been shocked at this until he reminded me he was only twenty-nine and that most of his college students were only a few years younger than him.

"Are you ready?" He beamed.

"Ugh, fine. Let's get this over with!"