Chapter one.

I ran my hands down my stripy green and blue sweater for the hundredth time this morning. My nerves were beginning to make my stomach churn slightly. Can a vampire throw up? I most definitely hope not. I swiftly slipped my low top converses on and checked my eyes in the mirror. They were ocher after last nights hunt. When ever I looked at my reflection it always startled me to see someone beautiful staring back. At a human pace I marched out of my apartment and down the numerous flights of stairs to the ground floor, questioning why anybody would live on the top floor. I inhaled a few times on the way down just to double check I was in control. Thankfully I was. Only a slight itching occurred when I caught scent of a human, nothing major. The clouds were heavy over the small town of Port Angeles to my relief causing no worry that I'd be exposing myself today. My eyes scanned the side walk for my car. My Audi R8 or in other words my baby sat very exposed amongst the older cars. It had a coat of jet black paint that glistened immensely in the sunless town. I smiled whilst watching people glimpse at it. Once I got into the car I took a second to enjoy the pleasure of the leathers supple surface and the embrace it seemed to give me. I glanced at the clock on the dashboard and realized it said 7:50 which meant I had plenty of time to get to school.

Yes school! This month I had decided I should enroll myself in a school as the last time I went to one happened to be about 50 years ago so I figured my brain needs an up date. The school was situated in a small town called folks which should take me less then 20 minutes to get to with my driving. I was nervous as I tended to seclude myself from humans, paranoid that I'd slip. I hated what I was and I hated who ever changed me. The first few years after this 'change' I had found it extremely hard to include myself in a human society with all the mouth watering aromas. I vowed to never touch a human and instead hunted animal. It took years to master restraint on my own but I managed it. Still, even after 75 years I find it hard. My fingers drummed impatiently on the steering wheel whilst I waited for the traffic light to turn green. When it did I sped off and headed onto the highway that connected both towns.

When I entered folks I welcomed the striking landscape. The whole town was shrouded by a mass of evergreen tree's all of which were identical. I never actually understood why I didn't decide to live here; a) it was so much closer to the school and b) it would be so much quicker to hunt here. Then I thought about the danger I 'sensed' when I drove near the little Indian reservation La push. It was weird, almost like a warning of some sort. I peered easily out the heavy tinted windows at the sky checking for any sun breaking through. None. The clouds had gotten even heavier during the journey.

As I parked in the school my uneasiness was replaced by excitement. Today I'd be able to act normal and try and fit in. Okay fitting in might be slightly harder but hey, it's worth a shot. I got out of the car reminding myself I needed to keep up with the snail pace and took in my new school. The building appeared very plain and simple which I didn't mind. There were no cars in the parking lot at the moment so I assumed I was the first one here. I cautiously walked to the entrance inhaling and exhaling. The room I entered was cozy and warm compared to outside. The walls were plastered in framed awards and photos. A large countertop was being manned by a large lady at the back of the room.

'Hi, I'm Isabella swan the new student.' I said.

She seemed startled by my introduction for her breathing hitched slightly. Her small brown eyes went wide when she saw my smile and then she reciprocated with her own warm smile.

'Welcome to folks high school. I shall just go fetch you timetable.' She said in a nasal voice before rushing off into the back of the office.

I patiently waited. After two minute's and 17 seconds she finally came back, fumbling with a few sheets of paper.

'Here is you time table, a school map and a sheet that needs to be signed at the end of each of your lessons', she emphasized the need so it's obviously important.

I smiled at her once again for thanks and headed outside. The parking lot had begun to fill up so I decided to sit on an empty bench and check my timetable for today.

First lesson – English *Mental happy dance*

Second Lesson – American History

Third Lesson - Calculus *Groan*

Fourth Lesson – Trigonometry

LUNCH

Five Lesson – Biology

Sixth Lesson – Spanish

Seventh Lesson – Gym

Not such a bad assortment of subjects I guess. I looked around the parking lot to see dubious stares at me. Boys had lust filled eyes and girls were either staring in awe or envy. A freaking death glare was even sent my way. I was beautiful to them, my intended prey, so it wasn't any surprise. I suppressed the urge to sigh and headed off to my first lesson.

'Hey you're Isabella.' A voice came from behind me.

I swiveled on my heel and saw a baby faced boy with chalky blue eyes smiling at me. I smiled back to be polite mentally preying this boy would not become infatuated with me. No such luck. His heart beat started to become erratic when I extended my hand.

'Yeah and what's your name?'

'Uhm…M-Mike Newton.' He stuttered grabbing my hand. I saw him flinch slightly at my cold skin before gaining composure. I smirked internally, Silly human.

'Mike do you have English now?' I asked as it was common curtsey and gently let go of his hand.

'Yeah I do. I'll walk you.' He smiled again, hitched his scruffy book bag up and began in the direction of our next class.

On the way to class, Mike asked me many question about myself such as where I came from, did I like it here, what did I think of the weather etcetera. He seemed very easy to talk to but I was afraid he'd take my friendliness as some sort of implication. I replied with some of my own questions, again out of good manners. I ignored the stares from bystanders not wanting to be in the spot light.

When we walked into English everyone's eyes were on me. All small conversation ceased to exist as I handed the slip to our class teacher. If I had the ability to blush I definitely would have at this point in time. Mike offered me the seat next to him which I happily took. On my left a tall girl sat named Angela Weber. She was very kind to me but shy all the same. They both wanted me to sit with them at lunch today so I accepted. I wanted to fit in and it was beginning to be effortless.

'So what do you have next?' Angela timidly asked when the bell went.

I conspicuously rummaged through my school bag and pulled the crinkled sheet of paper. I had memorized the timetable within half a second; this was just to keep up my human pretense.

'I have…American History.' I answered hardly looking at the paper.

'Same. Do you want to walk to class with me?'

I smiled 'sure.'

The rest of the morning was very uneventful. I did get introduced to a few more people though they weren't exactly genuinely friendly like Angela and Mike. Lauren Mallory sniped me as soon as she and the little podgy girl Jessica Stanley walked away from me. Angela informed me that they were, unfortunately, sharing a lunch table with us. It's times like this I wish I were six feet under. Through out the morning I could swear I smelt a vampire or a few vampires but I hadn't bumped into any yet. Angela and Mike spoke animatedly about my car. They were both very intrigued by it.

'So do you think maybe you'd give us a ride in it some day?' Mike inquired, gesturing to Angela and him. I personally didn't want to have him in my car for that was possibly another suggestion.

'Okay. What about this weekend?' Angela grinned and nodded violently at my idea but Mike's face fell.

'Err I'm busy this weekend so I'll have to come some other time.' He sighed.

'Sure' I replied casually though I was ecstatic he wouldn't be in my car.

Angela and I decided we'd meet in the high school parking lot and go to Seattle shopping or something. I didn't enjoy shopping but that may have been because I shopped on my own. It could be different with a human. They both gradually got more comfortable around me. I found that Mike was more persistent in questions then Angela which made me like her more. When we entered the cafeteria my throat began to itch with the crowd of humans. You can do this, I chanted to myself continuously.

'What are you having?' Mike started when we stood in the lunch line, 'there's a salad bar over there. I know some girls don't dig carbs and stuff.'

I rolled my eyes and grabbed a bottle of water. Human food had no appeal to me what so ever. I had eaten it once upon a time when I was naïve about what I'd become and puked it back up. Angela appeared concerned that I didn't eat but I convinced her I eat masses when I get home. Wasn't completely a lie, mountain lions are fairly sizeable. When we got to the lunch table, a little pixie looking girl gracefully made her way other to where I'd been seated. Only when she got closer did I realize how inhumanly beautiful she was and the fact she had golden eyes. This school girl happened to be a vampire.

'Hi. I'm Alice Cullen.' Her voice sounded like wind chimes. She literally bounced on the spot.

'I'm Bella.' I introduced myself smiling. I stuck my hand out but she ignored and hugged me. I was a bit taken back by her forwardness.

'So nice to meet you Bella. You can sit over with us if you'd like.'

'Us?' I repeated. I peered over her shoulder to see five vampires staring at me and Alice intently.

'Yup' she said popping the 'p'.

I gazed at them for another second. The girl who sat there was strikingly beautiful with golden waves cascading down her back and model like features. The blonde boy next to her could have been written off as her twin. He looked fairly muscular just not as brawny as the brown haired boy next to him. At the end of the table a bronze haired boy sat. He had sharp features and must have been the shortest of the boys by a centimeter. They were all so stunning.

'I can't. I'm kind of having lunch with these guys.' I declined almost regretfully. Alice sighed and nodded in understanding. Then her face went blank. Weird. I was just about to shake her when she beamed a toothy smile at me.

'That's okay. I'll see you in Spanish.'

And with that, she made her way back to the Cullen's. Okay weird was understatement of the year. I joined back with my tables that were looking at me curiously.

'You just spoke Alice Cullen.' A boy named Tyler stated.

'Mm-hmm. She seems really nice.' I said plopping down into my seat.

His look went from curious to incredulous in an instant.

'She's really strange. Seriously Bells, don't be getting involved with them.'

I almost laughed at his little rant and the silly nickname he'd just given me. When I did request a reason for his summary he failed to give me one. Obviously somewhere deep in his mind he actually knew they were dangerous. I kept glancing over my shoulder at them. The blonde girl smiled at me and I returned it. Alice smiled to but it was so enthusiastic I laughed, quietly, so no one would consider me crazy. Lunch passed in a blur. Angela, Mike and a boy named Eric had biology with me next. Mike had already got a head start to the biology room leaving us three behind.

'So how are you enjoying you first day?' Eric asked trying to start a conversation with me.

'Oh it's pretty good actually.' I answered with honesty.

'Hey, don't listen to Jess and Lauren. There just jealous 'kay?' That was the first time Angela had interjected into a conversation randomly today.

'I'm not,' I reassured her, 'I'm just having trouble understanding why they have a problem with me.'

I didn't actually care but its conversation.

'They have a problem with everyone who isn't them' she giggled which made me laugh to.

When we got into biology I saw Mike waving at me. I shyly put my hand up letting him know I got the message. I noticed at the very back of the classroom the bronze hair boy sat next to an empty chair. He looked up from his book and smiled a crooked smile at me. Jeez if my heart could beat it would have escaped from my rib cage. Mr. Banner instructed that I should go sit in that empty chair next to that Greek god. The Greek God studied every step I took to that empty chair. I smiled bashfully at him before sitting down.

'Hello I'm Edward Cullen. You're Bella.' His voice was like music to my ears. A sweet never ending harmony.

'Yes. Nice to meet you.' I said coyly, fiddling with the edge of my book.

'Pleasures all mine.'

The lesson started so I couldn't exactly reply to that even though I couldn't think of anything to reply back with. When I'd just about finished my notes down I felt a gentle nudge on my elbow sending a shooting pang of electric up my arm. I stifled the gasp and turned to ask what he wanted. He pushed a slip of paper in front of me. Childish, I know but very exciting.

Alice told me to tell you that you have to come to our house tonight. Everybody would like to meet you.

I sorted through my head of any plans I had tonight. Zilch. So I scribbled back.

Sure. How many others are there?

I slid the note under his text book knowing that he could see from the corner of his eye. Half a second later he replied.

There are two more at home; Carlisle and Esme.

Seven vampires in one coven? That's pretty intense. Our kind usually hand around in two's or threes if we have a coven. Normally we just travel alone.I jotted another note down.

That's pretty awesome =D

I saw his mouth twitch up at the corners.

We didn't write anymore letters for the rest of the lesson which was a shame because I enjoyed them. I couldn't help my eyes wondering in his direction either seeing him writing or staring at me. Biology went very slow compared to other classes but I didn't mind at all, not when I was sitting next to Adonis!

At the end of class, Edward gathered my books up for me and put them in a neat pile on my desk.

'Thanks.' I said kind of elated by his gesture. Jesus, get a hold of your self Bella!

'Not a problem.' He had an incredible way with articulation.

I placed them in my bag and headed of to my next lesson. Edward went the other way so I waved and he smiled. He smiled that breathe taking crooked smile of his that just made the very core of my being melt and… SHUT UP BELLA! I scolded myself mentally.

'Bella!' a very excited voice squealed as I walked through the door of Spanish.

'Alice.' I retorted with the same squeal.

The little pixie leapt out her chair and flung her arms around me like we'd been friends for a very long time. Okay I should have been all freaked by this but her warmth was just too much to deny. I hugged her back.

'Edward told me that-'I started but Alice interrupted.

'Yeah I know, I know.'

I cocked an eyebrow at her waiting for her to explain how she actually knew all this.

'I'll tell you everything later. Ooh I love your outfit by the way. Very cute.' She explained eagerly before bounding off into her seat. How can such a small person contain that much energy? I actually think she might combust some day.

This lesson zoomed by with Alice interrogating me on my past. I instantly liked Alice a lot. I had a feeling that maybe, just maybe, we could be very good friends one day.

The last two subjects also went by a lot quicker then my morning lessons did. I was pretty eager to meet the rest of the Cullen so that must have the reason why my day went by rapidly. All in all, my first day of school was exceptionally enjoyable.