Bella's POV

"Bella honey, what do you want for dinner tonight?" my dad asked from the living room, where he was reading the morning paper.

"Dad, you can't cook and you know it. Why don't you just tell me what do you want me to cook for you?"

"Oh honey I'm so sorry, I must be such a terrible father."

"Yes, top of the class," I grinned.

"Will you make me your mom's famous lasagne? I hate it when she goes away to Grandma's. I swear, that woman is out to create trouble," Charlie muttered under his breath.

"No problem, dad. I'd better head on for school, I'm getting late," I kissed him on his cheek and dashed out.

The school bus was waiting for me at the side of the curb. The driver, Mr Johnson, kept honking his horn repeatedly. I quickly sprinted as fast as I could and stepped onto the bus before Mr Johnson locked me out like he did yesterday.

"And this is why I need a car!" I complained to my best friend, Alice, who was sitting at the back of the bus.

"I feel your pain. Have you talked Charlie into getting you a car yet?"

"Nope, he wouldn't budge. Maybe I should ask him to take the bus and see how I feel every stinking morning," I said miserably.

"He did, Bella. 20 years ago," Alice sniggered. I whacked her on her arm, but I was laughing at the same time. Suddenly, I noticed something out of the corner of my eye. A shiny, silver Volvo was alongside the bus, making every student in the bus green with envy. The Volvo owner then sped off.

"Wow," Brian Newton sighed. A few others murmured their agreement.

Soon, the school bus halted to a stop and everyone got out of the bus. I walked hand in hand with Alice towards the school entrance. It was the second day of school but more importantly, it was our senior year in high school. Our very last year together before we headed off for the real world. I hadn't decided where I wanted to go, but I was most certain that I would definitely get out of Forks. Much as I love my parents, I didn't want to stay any longer in Forks.

"Ooh I see Jasper, I gotta go. See you in class," Alice said as she headed for her boyfriend of two years, Jasper Hale.

"Alice and Jasper sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G!" I called out childishly, earning a glare from Alice. I headed towards the general office, where I had to report for Student Council duty every morning. As I daydreamed about what duty I would get today morning, a voice interrupted my thoughts.

"Excuse me, do you know where is the general office?" a velvety voice asked me.

"Yeah sure," I turned around and was pleasantly surprised by a good-looking guy who was about two inches taller than me. Realizing that I must have looked like an idiot to him, I quickly snapped my mouth shut and smiled at him. "I'll show you the way since I'm going there too," I added.

I found out that the guy's name was Edward, and that he was a transfer student from California. He and his family had moved after deciding that they wanted a change of environment and wanted to live in a small neighbourhood. He was an only child, and had a terrible sense of direction, which explained how he had gotten lost in a ridiculously-small school. Within minutes, we reached the office and I waved goodbye as I went into the guidance counselor's room to find out what hell I had to go through for the day.

Don't get me wrong, I do love being on the Student Council but sometimes the duties just bore me to no end. Alice have always been asking me to quit so that I can join her every morning but I insisted that once I committed myself to something, I have to go through it.

"Hi dear," Mrs Watkins, the counselor, greeted me. I smiled at her and sat in the chair opposite her.

"Well today, you'll have an interesting duty indeed..." she trailed off as she sipped her coffee. Hurry up, I begged silently.

"Tea for you?" she asked, a grin on her face.

"No thanks," I fake-smiled and shook my head.

"As I was saying Bella... Today you will have to guide a new transfer student around. It's been awhile since we had one of those, and I hope that Forks High would leave a good impression on him. He's in all of your classes, so don't worry about that... Now, I've spoken to all your teachers and they agreed that he would be sitting next to you throughout all your lessons. Is that fine with you?" Mrs Watkins asked, her eyes shining with excitement.

"Yes of course," I mumbled.

"His name is Edward by the way, and he's waiting for you outside," Mrs Watkins continued, winking. I stood up, stunned, and went out of her room. Did she really wink at me? I shook my head in disbelief and went towards Edward, who was sitting on the couch.

"Hi again. Anyway, I'm assigned to be your student guide, so let's go before the bell rings," I told him. He rose and started walking beside me.

"This school is kind of...small," Edward attempted to make conversation.

"Yeah, I know. The worst part is, everyone here knows everyone, so gossip spreads around fast. If I were you, I'd keep secrets to myself," I advised him.

Edward's POV

"If I were you, I'd keep secrets to myself," the girl warned me. I didn't even know her name.

"Sorry but... I don't think you've told me your name? Can I please know it?" I asked her. She started laughing melodiously.

"Isabella Marie Swan, but everyone here calls me Bella," she informed me light-heartedly.

"Bella," I found myself saying her name out loud. "It's a beautiful name," I told her and smiled at her.

"Thanks," Bella said, blushing a deep shade of red as she did so.