Vampires, Werewolves, and... Love? Oh My!

By school on Monday, everyone knew about what had happened. UGH! If stupid Jacob had kept his mouth shut, then nobody would know. Everywhere I went, people would turn their heads and I could hear them whispering about me. And, because Bella was my sister, they were talking about her too. And it wasn't just students, either. God, people suck!
"Looks like the Swans really are psychotic," Lauren snickered to Jessica on their way to lunch.
"I can hear you, you know," I said into my locker.
I saw them give me one more look and walk away cackling like a couple of hyenas. My hand balled into a fist until my nails were digging into the skin. I slammed the locker shut so hard it nearly got stuck like that.
"Hey, don't worry about them," Bella said when she and Edward walked up hand in hand. He was frowning in the direction of the two hags. Bella didn't seem to notice because she tried giving me a warm smile. "Come on. Let's just go get some lunch."
I turned on my heel and walked straight to my table without even bothering to get food. It only took a few minutes before the Bella and the Cullens joined us. Alice shocked me by immediately pulled me into a hug. I think she was trying to be comforting but was failing miserably.
"Oh, Lizzy! I am so sorry that everyone's been giving you a hard time. I'm sorry that you were in the hospital this weekend. That is so terrible. Your first Forks weekend should have been spent shopping or something. Tell you what, Friday us four girls can go."
"Yipee," I muttered; shopping was so not my thing. "Um, Alice. Can you let go? You're freezing and I'm about to catch a cold."
"Oh," she gasped. "Whoops. Sorry about that." She let go and sat by Jasper. She looked embarrassed but didn't blush, which was odd for someone with her complexion.
"Lizzy, I got you a muffin," Bella offered.
"No thanks. I'm not hungry." Bella pursed her lips but didn't push the subject. A Bloody Mary sounded so good at that moment, but if it weren't for me being totally obsessed with that stupid drink, I'd be home in Florida.
"Lizzy? Elizabeth!" Rosalie was snapping her fingers in front of my face. "The bell just rang. Are you planning on going to class or not?"
Not. "Yeah, yeah. I'm coming." Rosalie walked with me to building four before she split up with me to go to her own class. My last two classes of the day were so boring. I honestly tried to pay attention, but all I could hear was the buzz of students talking about me. By the end of the day, I had a major migraine.
To make matters worse, the second the final bell rang Mike Newton was at my desk. “Hey, Lizzy. Are you feeling any better?”
“No. What do you want, Mike?”
He looked down at the tiled floor as he started walking with me to my locker, which really annoyed me. “Well, I was wondering if maybe you’d like to go out on Friday night.”
I snapped my jaw shut to keep from hurling a string of swear words at him. “I can’t, I’m going shopping with Alice, Rosalie, and Bella that day.” The chances of me actually going were zero but it was a good excuse.
“Maybe on Saturday then?”
I stopped and turned to him. My patience was completely depleted so I didn’t have enough tolerance for being subtle. “Look, Mike, I’m not going out with you. Believe it or not but I really don’t like you. I’m not Bella so I’m not going to sugar-coat it. Leave me the fuck alone or you’re going to regret it.”
He walked away looking shocked. Other students were pointing and talking about me even more which only pissed me off even further.
"I hate this goddamn town," I screamed, punching my locker. There was actually a slight indent where my knuckles had hit. They were scratched and bruised, but not too bad. I smirked, feeling much better, and opened my locker. A single white piece of paper fluttered to the ground
*Dearest Elizabeth:
It was a shame to hear about your unfortunate trip to the hospital. A beautiful girl such as you deserves freedom. Know that I am someone who wants to help you get that freedom. I will never let you get hurt, but with me life will always be a risky adventure.
Love,
Your secret Admirer*
"You have got to be fucking kidding me." I was so not in the mood to deal with stupid people and their retarded pranks. I simply threw away the note and walked out to meet Bella at her truck.
"Bye Edward. We'll meet you at your house," she was saying.
"You're going over there again?"
"Yes?" It came out as a question.
I shrugged and started walking the other way. "Well then I'll see you at home."
"Wait," she called, grabbing my arm. "Aren't you coming? I thought Jasper was tutoring you."
"He was. But I pushed him over the edge on Friday and he gave up. I think if I ever go over there again he’ll murder me. I'm just going to walk home. It's really no biggie, Bells. You go and I’ll see you later."
She bit her lip and looked over her shoulder to where her boyfriend's car had been. "I just don't want to leave you at home alone. That didn't work out so well last time."
I rolled my eyes. "That's 'cause you sent a babysitter to look after me. I will be fine. Cross my heart and hope to die."
Her eyes narrowed. "That's not funny."
"I wasn't trying to be funny. I won't do anything. Just go. Please?"
"Well... 'Bye, Liz."
I was about half way home walking the two miles when a boy on a motorcycle pulled up beside me. "Hey. I'm Rick. You're Elizabeth, right?"
I gave him a quick look. Rick had light brown hair, green eyes, toned muscles, and a leather jacket. I smirked. I'm a sucker for leather jackets and motorcycles. "Lizzy. Nice ride."
"Thanks. You want a ride?"
"Sure."
The rest of the week went by pretty much the same, except the gossip wasn't as intense. Every day at the end of school, I would find a note from my “secret admirer”. After school, I would walk a few blocks and Rick would pick me up and take me home. We'd sit on his bike and make out for about an hour before he left.
"Did you ever figure out who the notes are from?"
I smiled and turned to face Rick. "Not yet but it’s starting to get really annoying." I opened my locker and sure enough, another fell out.
*Dearest Elizabeth:
I have loved watching you read my notes. Seeing your face and being close to you this past week has been great. I can't wait in the shadows anymore. I don't want to be a silent Prince Charming. From now on, you will know me as you knight in shining armor on my yellow motorcycle steed.
Love*
I gasped and turned the note over.
*Rick*
"You?" I stuttered.