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Chapter 1

"Calm yourself, dad, it's only the second week of school. Nobody is going to do anything dumb," I muttered as I sat down at the table to eat my breakfast. Mom had set out my favorite cereal, Lucky Bits.

"I know," he ran a stressed hand through his blonde hair. I made my bowl of food before turning to look him in his eyes.

"Listen," I looked him in the eyes, thinking about how mine looked just like his. I'd gotten his brown eyes, and my mother's brown hair. They were both pale, so, at least I wasn't the only person in Forks who looked like an Albino. I shook my head, clearing the path that my thoughts had taken as I gave him a certain look. "It's just school. I don't know why you're being so paranoid."

"You know that I've been a bit more worried ever since we got all of those kids from that shooting in Port Angeles." He explained and I shrugged my shoulders.

"Just think," I motioned to my bowl. "I'm lucky."

"Can't count on a bowl of cereal to save your life, dear. I love you, but it just won't happen. Not even the leprechaun can stop a bullet from hitting you." He stood, kissed my hair, and walked over to dump his coffee in the sink. I watched as he rinsed it out, contemplating if I should have corrected him or not. He sighed, not even turning to look at me. "Just say it, Bella."

"He's an elf. Not a leprechaun." I giggled and he rolled his eyes, making his way to the foyer.

"Whatever you say, honey. Just please, keep an eye out. Don't turn your cell-phone off – I don't care what your teachers say. You're an adult, and if something were to happen, I'd like to be able to get a hold of you." He called from where he was slipping his shoes on and getting his brief case.

"Promise, dad." I called back, and he bid farewell again, before I heard the door close.

I began to eat my cereal as I looked over the box of Lucky Bits. I don't think I'd ever truly believed in luck, but that also could have been due to my uncertainty about what I believed in at all. I just liked teasing my dad about things that got him on edge – i.e., my safety. It was a good thing that I'd loved the cereal so much. It was one of my easiest ways to get to him. I knew that he knew that I understood that my life wouldn't be saved by luck. I just think he liked it when we played around.

I finished up the bowl, and kind of looked around the kitchen in boredom. I didn't have much better to do around here. Mom was out of town, down in Oregon for a wedding, and so I didn't have anybody to talk to this week while I sat at the table. Mom was the interior designer for the bride, and so she had an automatic invite. My mother was too polite to cancel over something as simple as breakfast. I didn't blame her for it, but rather just let myself be annoyed for a couple of days. Looking around a room for a while is nothing compared to being homeless.

We weren't nearly poor in any sense. I lived in Forks, and I had the money to pay for the gas to drive to Seattle everyday for school. My parents had the money to pay for school. We had a just-above-average-sized house. It was really just big enough for the three of us, and two guest rooms when Jasper and Rosalie came home from college twice a month. Our house was nicely decorated, thanks to mom's job. My father was chief-of-staff at Forks General. But were certainly weren't loaded. We were just slightly above middle-class – and that was way more than enough for a girl like me.

I never liked paying for things that were over-the-top. I drove a simple Ford, at the age of eighteen. I paid for half of it, and then half of the gas. My parents helped with the rest. And after I graduate, which will be this year, I'll be on my own to pay for it all together. I was the same way with clothing, and necessities. I didn't go all out for the name-brands, even though I knew I could. I never really went out of my way to shop a bit livelier. I just lived the average, middle-class life. I shopped at Mall-Mart, and I had my own job at the local nature store.

Like I would ever belong in a store like that! I scoffed at the thought. I'd never really been good with the outdoors either. Between that and sports, I didn't know which I was more adverse too. I was just clumsy, and incapable of the unnecessary body movements. It wasn't like I was all that competitive anyway.

I quickly went to dump my bowl, and stuck it in the dishwasher. After making sure that everything was where it belonged, I ran to my room to collect my things. This included: pulling my phone off the charger and putting it in my bag; double-checking that I had all homework and my textbooks; getting a second look at my appearance; and then finally, getting my camera together and around my neck. As I did this, things went smoothly – which it did on most days.

I was sure to check that my lens cap was attached and that my neck-strap was secure. I would never risk hurting my camera. It was a beautiful, professional, Rikon. It was called the Rebel. Mom, dad, Jasper, and Rosalie put into it for my eighteenth birthday present last week. I adored it – because I'd always loved photography. I had a camera before, but it just wasn't as nice as this. This baby was fourteen megapixels. Fourteen. I was still learning to use all of the effects and settings. So, I always made sure that I had it on me.

You never know when you're going to snap that perfect picture.

I'd always been taking pictures – from the time that Rosalie gave me her Toyhouse School camera when I was about four. I took that puppy with me everywhere, and I took pictures of everything. Ever since then, mom has made sure to keep my darling photos hung around the house. I wasn't sure if they were that good, or if she was just being biased...but I liked seeing my work blown up and framed.

I thought about that as I walked down the hallway and looked at the black and white photography that I'd had put in. It went well with the colorful walls beside the staircase. I smiled, my mind still on my mom's way of showing her affection, as I grabbed my shoes and ran out to my car. It'd started raining while I ate, and I had to sprint. I really didn't feel like going to school sopping wet.

When I got into the car, I made sure to turn the heat on and put my things in the passenger seat. I slipped my sneakers on and tied them fluidly. I was always a t-shirt, jeans, and sneakers girl. Pair that with a Southface jacket, and I was always set to go. Today I was wearing a blue t-shirt, from my church, and my black jacket. The rest was just blue jeans, and blue Czar's. That was the brand of my sneaker's. Jasper got them for me for Christmas – I loved them. I smiled as I sat back and began to pull out and onto the dark roads.

Living so far away from my school tended to be a burden sometimes. It was really kind-of annoying to have to drive an hour every morning just to get there. My parents didn't trust the area of Forks that their school resided in, and it was getting to the point that they weren't really trusting Seattle West. I didn't want to transfer. Besides the fact that I had to leave just before six, when it was still dark and freezing, I liked the fact that I went to a crowded school. You were truly one in a million there, and attention wasn't something that you often got.

Don't get me wrong, I had friends. There was Angela Weber, a girl in my photography class. Her boyfriend, Ben Cheney was really nice too. Sometimes, when they had nothing better to do, Jessica Stanley and Lauren Mallory talked to me. They'd always been stuck up, so I wasn't at a loss when I wasn't around them. There was also Mike Newton, a blond boy with a puppy-dog face, who seemed to follow me like...well, a Golden Retriever. I even talked to the school's quarter-back, Jacob Black sometimes.

We wouldn't date though. He had a boyfriend. His name is Seth Clearwater, and he's always been friendly enough with me. Even with the fact that his affinity for the color pink was much stronger than mine would ever be. I giggled at the thought.

My phone rang as I pulled in, and I glanced at it to see that it was my mom. I was about ten minutes early, and so I wasn't worried about being late; I answered her, not yet getting out of my car. It was still raining cats and dogs, and the sun was only just starting to rise a bit. Not that you could tell with the thick overcast. I shook my head, and sighed as I answered my mother's call.

"Hello?"

"Bella, honey, did you get to school alright?" She asked me and I frowned.

"Of course I did. I'm here, and I'm fine. You got me just as I parked. Is something wrong, mom?" I asked her, feeling the tenseness in her voice, even through the phone.

"I'm just getting my things together for the day in my hotel room. I don't know, I just got that feeling. Remember? The one that I had that one time, when you broke your arm?" She asked me and I giggled, remembering that my mom always thought she had a sixth sense when it came to dangerous things, and times. The problem was, she was only going off of one incident. And it was me falling and getting hurt – not all that uncommon.

"Mom, calm down. I'm fine. I'm at school and everything looks normal. Besides, just because you said I would hurt myself, and I did, doesn't mean you're the next psychic. I injure myself all the time." I reassured her, but sort-of contradicted myself.

"Yeah, I know. I don't want to worry you, you just know how I get." She told me and I nodded. I did know. My parents had always tended to be a little bit overprotective when it came to me. I loved them, but they worried over silly things.

"Well, I need to get to class. The bell's going to ring. I love you, mom." I told her, looking up as more people pulled in and found their way through the downpour and into the building.

"Oh, alright. Just keep your eyes peeled."

"that's almost exactly what dad told me this morning!" I laughed.

"Right, well, your father is a smart man." She chuckled and I rolled my eyes. "Love you Bella!"

"Love you too. Bye." I smiled and shook my head as I hanged up.

I ran into the school and quickly got what I needed in and out of my locker. After I had it, I all but sprinted to my Arts class. It was a class for seniors who needed another art credit, or just needed something else to do with their schedule. It was a big group too. I was surprised when not only the creative signed up. I sat down in my seat and began going through what all I'd need for my portfolio again.

Something that expresses a personal experience. Be very specific, and dramatic.

I nodded to myself as I read over that direction. I couldn't think of anything that I would do at the moment. I just made an extra mental note to keep my camera on me at all times. I never knew when that dramatic, personal experience is going to happen. I proceeded to look over some options and examples. That's when the teacher, Miss Goff, came up and smiled at me.

"Going through your assignments?"

"Yeah, there's quite a bit. I just want to have an idea as to what I'll need. You know, just in case I get a picture that fits. I'd want to know." I explained and she smiled, nodding sternly.

"Well, I was wondering if you'd do me a favor? You seem to be one of my more trustworthy students so far...between the fact that you're in this class with talent, instead of being bored. And the fact that you get more than all of your work done in time." She told me and I nodded once, still looking over my list.

"Don't forget good grades in general," I added.

"Yes, right," She spoke again, her voice a bit stiff. It was always a bit stiff. It didn't help that I was being cocky.

"What do you need again?"

"I wondered if you'd be willing to run with another student, and pick up some things from the main office." She offered and I nodded, shrugging.

"I don't see why not," I turned around, on my stool, and looked at her now. She was a thin woman, shorter than me, and had hair that fell just above her chin. It worked for her though, and her attitude. I smiled at her. "Who's the other student?"

"His name's Edward Masen...he's a senior too. Do you know of him?" She asked and I shook my head, pursing my lips in the process. "Well, then you can make a new friend." She offered, handing me two manila envelopes. "Just run these down, and the ladies in the office will know what to do."

"Got it. Where's Edward?"

"Right here," A boy, who had been sitting at the table diagonal of mine, turned around and grinned at me. His smiled was crooked – but I couldn't help but like it a bit. It was a lot more natural than half of the losers around her.

"Hey, ready?" I asked and he nodded, "good."

"Let's go." He stood and I followed him.

We got out into the hallways, and I had the chance to quickly observe him. He was attractive, and even I couldn't deny it. His hair was messy, bronze, and looked soft to the touch. It had a slightly red tint in the florescent lighting. He was a lot taller than me, but at five foot, three inches, I wasn't exactly considered remotely tall. He was probably a good foot taller than me, if not more. And his skin was average, not too tan, not as pale as mine. It all worked well with his perfectly structured body and emerald green eyes. I'd never seen eyes so...radiant. I loved it.

He glanced at me a couple times, and I wondered if he was doing a mental look-over as I had. I knew that he wouldn't be nearly as impressed, but I was still flattered that he would look at me and not grimace. He wasn't like Mike, or Jacob. He seemed to have that touch of class that a lot of guys around here didn't have. I may not have known him long, at all, but I could tell that I liked him from what I'd seen.

I blushed at that thought. I was turning into such a girl. It's not like he'd flirted with me, or anything.

"I'd try to make small talk by asking what you do in art, but it looks like you're into photography?" He interrupted my inner monologue, and I blushed again. I nodded, holding up my camera and snapping a quick photo of him. "Are you any good?"

"My family thinks so...I've been into it for a long time."

"That's cool. I'm into the musical arts myself. I play a lot of piano. I can play the violin, the drums, and the guitar too...but not nearly as well. I've been playing the piano since I was young as well. My mother forced me to take lessons – I never thought I'd love them as much as I do now." He told me and I nodded, grinning at him. He suddenly pinked a bit and looked down. "Sorry...I'm rambling about myself."

"No." I stopped him, shaking my head. "I didn't think you were rambling. I asked you a question, and you answered. Isn't that how it works?"

"You think so?"

"Yes..."

"Tanya is always saying that it's the man's job to focus on the woman."

"Tanya...Denali?" I asked, thinking of the only Tanya I knew. He nodded slowly. "You talk to her?"

"Not a lot, but enough. We're not...together or anything. Just friends. She's friends with my sister Alice." He explained and I shrugged. I still didn't like that.

You see, Tanya has no class. Zero, zip, none. Tanya is the strawberry-blonde-bombshell. She was quite the skank, and she was very rude. She was a jerk to guys, and even worse with girls. I wasn't sure how her looks were even enough to be friends with people...but they did the job. I shook my head, just thinking about her put me in a bad mood. I noticed that Edward had stopped, and I had to turn around and catch up with him.

"Something wrong?" I asked him and he gave me a pointed look.

"Just...she and I aren't that close, okay?"

"You don't have to justify your friendship with her. It's none of my business." I told him, speaking ninety-eight percent of the truth. The other two were begging him to come to his senses.

"That's not the point...I know she's not the greatest person...but she holds a lot of prestige with my parents. It's more of a forced friendship. I know that you don't need to know this...but I want you to." He told me and I nodded, and then shrugged.

"I wouldn't judge you off of your friends. That's not fair." I whispered and he smiled again, making me melt in my spot.

"You're a cool girl, Bella Cullen."

"Thanks, cool boy." I giggled.

And then I couldn't see him. I heard thunder rattle the building, and I knew that the lightening had probably set the power out. I groaned and he chuckled, promising me that the storm wouldn't hurt me. I knew where he was enough to sucker-punch him in the arm. He feigned hurt as I walked around to see if there was somewhere we could go. He whispered into the darkness, but was cut off by a very loud noise.

I knew that sound anywhere. Okay, maybe not anywhere, but I knew it enough from all of the police shows I watch. It had to be a gunshot. It definitely seemed louder in person – but I couldn't think of anything else that it could have been. Edward groaned, grabbed my hand, and began running down a hall.

"What do you think you're doing?" I hissed, and he pressed his index finger to his lip. I could see him better, as we were facing a window. The rain pouring down behind him was quite the dramatic effect too. I closed my mouth, and picked up my camera. Edward gaped at me as I snapped a picture of his silhouette in the rain.

My eyes had adjusted, and I quickly pulled out my forgotten phone. I quickly texted my dad, telling him,

SOS. CALL 911. I HEARD GUNSHOT. IM IN THE WEST WING. HURRY. - Bella

"Texting, really, Bella?" Edward asked me and I glowered at him.

"I texted my dad. He's chief-of-staff at Forks General. I told him to call the police. I don't have enough bars to hold a call right now." I told him and he nodded, apologizing for accusing me of being stupid. I was about to laugh it off, but that's when I saw the silhouette of a guy down the hall to our left. I let out a strangled cry as I pointed to him.

Edward turned, putting his arm in front of me as we looked at the figure. It came forward, and I suddenly found myself in tears as I recognized Michael Newton. He had a black hoodie, and sweats, on and a pistol in his hand. I groaned, pressing my face into the back of Edward's arm. Mike merely laughed, making a comment about how I could run, but I could never hide.

"Trying to hide behind your boyfriend? I know that's you Bella!" He yelled at me and I froze. How did he know it was me? What did he want with me?

"Mike, Bella hasn't done anything. Please..." Edward whispered and Mike laughed menacingly.

"Shut up, Masen! You're only saying that because you have her on your arm! You get all of them!" Mike hissed and I jumped in front of Edward.

"Don't hurt him, Michael! He has nothing to do with this. We were running an errand for Miss Goff. I don't even know him well." I whispered, and Mike laughed loudly.

"Do you have to? Look at you! You're...you're all over him!" He sobbed and I cringed. "You and I, we've known each other for four years...you still won't go out with me!"

"Mike, please..." I began to back up and he followed me, pointing the gun directly at me. He was standing in front of the rainy backdrop from earlier, and I had the sudden urge to take a picture. I knew that I shouldn't – he'd shoot me without a second thought.

But I had to.

"Bella, what are you doing?" Edward hissed as I turned on my camera and removed the cap. I held it up and Mike laughed loudly.

"Can't hid behind your camera any longer, Bella!" He screamed.

He pulled the trigger at the same time that I hit the button and the flash went off.

I didn't think about much as I hit the floor. Edward screamed, and I heard the gun go off again. After a dull thud to my right, I heard Edward as he kept on pleading with me to stay awake. I just groaned, begging him to move the camera. I heard another gunshot then, and Edward jus began crying again, telling me to keep my eyes open.

I didn't...

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