June 14th 1991, 80 miles south of Houlton, Maine.

Emmett peeked at Edward as he unloaded yet another packing box from the back of the removal truck. The jug of ice cold water was being held out of sight behind Emmett's back, waiting for the precise moment when Edward would turn to face him with his hands full. As Edward turned, Emmett launched the water at him full force. Before it reached Edward's face, though, he had moved the box to shield himself and consequently the water splashed harmlessly onto the floor.

"Cheat!" sniggered Emmett, knowing Edward had seen his plan all along, then gasped as Jasper shoved a handful of ice-cubes straight down the back of his shirt.

Within seconds the unpacking was abandoned and chunks of ice flew round the garage like a hail of missiles. The laughter stopped instantaneously as they heard the unmistakeable crack of glass breaking and the windshield of Carlisle's car crumpled into a thousand tiny shards all over the driver's seat.

Carlisle coughed discretely from the doorway and three shame-faced vampires turned towards him.

"I trust that will be mended before my first shift at the hospital," he said quietly.

The boys nodded and muttered apologies.

As soon as Carlisle left they got back to work amid some elbowing and jostling and murmurs of 'that was your fault'.

When the clearing up was done they decided to take the damaged vehicle to town for repairs. Emmett fixed it to the back of his jeep using a tow-bar and they all headed off.

The garage said it would take about an hour to replace the windshield so the boys went to wait in a nearby park.

"Wonder what this High School will be like?" said Edward with a sigh. Jasper groaned.

"Why do we always have to go to school?" he moaned. "Carlisle gets to do what he wants every time we move. School is so dull."

"I know," agreed Emmett. "And it's not like he even asks us if we want to go. Sometimes he treats us like we really are kids."

Edward chuckled. "He's actually only three years older than you two but you'd think it was way more from how he acts!"

The more the boys pondered the unfairness of things, the more worked up they became. Feelings of discontent seeped out and Jasper bounced them right on back. The effect was like a snowball. By the time the car was fixed the three were ready to do the unthinkable. They were going to challenge the decisions of their coven leader.