Graceful as the Setting Sun
Hey, so this is my first fanfic story. Story & character ideas belong to Stephenie Meyer :)
It's simply a pre-twilight story. Set a little more than two years prior to Bella's move. Here's the kicker... While most stories are from Bella's POV, or Edward's, heck... any of the Cullens for that matter... This one is told from a totally different angle. I try to set up what it was like at Forks High School before Bella for sure, but even a tiny glimpse before the Cullens as well. How did things end up the way they are now? What are these high school characters' secret histories? What was it like at Forks High School before this crazy twist of events?
Chapter 1: Like a Birthday
The sun is something that I have loved for as long as I can remember. It's like a birthday, because it only comes around once in a great while. Image if it was everyone's birthday every day. Birthdays wouldn't be special anymore. Today was like a birthday, not necessarily mine, but someone's – someone nearby. This I knew because the sun was actually shining on Forks, Washington. Usually it is very cloudy and grey, dull really, but it is so constantly like it that I've grown to accept it – not like it. On days like this one, the best of things happen, and that's how I knew today would be perfect.
"Jess! Are you ready to go yet?" That's my mom. She works at the local bank, and apparently she wanted to get a jumpstart on the day. All summer long she left really early in the morning for her job, but today was different. Today she would have to drop my off first. I was almost ready; I just had to find my backpack. Crap, where did I put that thing! "Jessica Stanley, dear, let's go, or else you're going to be late for your first day."
"Ah Mom, it's alright. I just have to…" find my – BACKPACK! "Never mind… got it. Coming!" I took one last look at what I was going to wear on my first day of high school. It was a light pink tee and a short jean skirt, an outfit that I bought earlier in the week. Pleased with what I saw, I ran down the stairs, passing my school pictures as I went. My mother had decided to put them up a few years back, in order to show how proud she is of me. I just find them rather embarrassing. All my pictures from first to eighth grade were up on that wall; no doubt we would be adding a new one in just a few short weeks. First, though, I needed to make it through today.
On the way to Forks High School, my mom had all sorts of questions lined up for me to answer. They were about general things mostly, but also about today and school starting. She asked if I was excited, and I told her I was, and it wasn't a lie. I really did want to go back to school, but only to see my friends again. If I could've seen them more this summer, I wouldn't have wanted it to end. I used to spend a lot of time with them down on First Beach at La Push on the Quileute Reservation. Before this summer I would spend all my time with Lauren Mallory. We have known each other since second grade, and although we didn't get along in the beginning, we are best friends now.
We finally rolled up to the front of Forks High School. It's very, how do I put it, small-town-feeling. There are several detached buildings scattered about the green rather than one building, like a normal high school. I think it's a horrible set up. My friend Kayla is a sophomore this year at Forks, and she told me that it's horrible walking from class to class in the rain. Yuck, I was definitely dreading that part...
I pictured myself walking through the halls of Forks High School. That's when I started to get butterflies in my stomach. "Jessica, are you alright? I thought you said you were excited for this…" I turned slowly to face her. I remembered then that she was in somewhat of a hurry to get to work, but I could hardly move. I was truly nervous for the first time. I smiled half-heartedly at my mother and turned back to look at my future school. Well, actually… my school. Now, or whenever I could work up the courage to walk through the glass doors into the new light - into my school.
What made me most nervous was the fact that when I was watching all the students pile into this new atmosphere, I didn't recognize a single one. This frightened me. Not like it frightens most people at a new school, because this high school is small. There was no way that I didn't know a single person. Perhaps I just wasn't looking hard enough. Al the while my mom was going on and on about her firsts days of this and that, and how it always ends up great in the end. Finally, I spotted him. I had found my reason to leave the car, at least… and hopefully step into the unknown. "I'll be just fine mom," I ensured her with a smile and gave her a quick hug.
I climbed out of the passenger seat, and into the sunlight. It felt good on my skin; it reminded me of my summer in California. Although this sun was a much kinder one, and there wasn't a dry heat here. I was pulled out of my trance by my mother, who was quickly pulling away from the curb and exiting the parking lot. I remembered my newly gained courage and wanted to run after him, into the new place. I was about to, but I caught myself. 'This is high school,' I thought to myself. I needed that to sink in, and fast.
I started to casually approach Forks High, and soon I was strolling through the wide, glass, double doors.
I really hope you liked my first chapter! What do you think of Jessica so far? She doesn't really seem that mean, I wonder what changes her to be like the books... If you, as my respected reader, have any comments, questions, or suggestions, PLEASE feel free to review and tell me. It will only help me to improve the story. Thanks, NassauBlue
P.S. I have the second one waiting on my computer and I will post it later, maybe even tonight :) Please Review. Tell me everything :)