Project Team Beta 2013 Writing Challenge
Photo prompt: Girl peering over the edge of a cliff

Disclaimer: SM owns all rights and characters. I'm just toying with their universe. No copyright infringement is intended.

A/N: Why hello there! After a couple of years lacking in writing inspiration, I have returned with something completely different! Each chapter is a response to the 2013 Project Team Beta Writing Challenge prompts (sometimes more than one!). I am excited to try this out, and this is my first beta'd story, so I'm especially stoked about that. That being said, thank you very much to EdwardsFirstKiss and Tds88 for proofing this chapter for me. I am ashamed to admit the number of "reallys", "actuallys", and "kind ofs" that I used. Gah. Anyway, I hope you enjoy! Reviews are my crack and I need a fix! Much love to you for reading/following!

"Chapter 1: Cliffs and Creeper Kits"

How did I find myself up here? I was terrified of heights. I had an aversion to outdoor activities. I had a very high sense of self-preservation - well, usually. I hate the cold. This made no sense, whatsoever.

So how did I find myself up here? Oh, right. A stupid boy. A boy that is infuriating, perplexing, and whiplash inducing. A boy named Edward.

Perhaps, I should start at the beginning. My name is Isabella Swan. Don't call me "Iz", "Izzy", or "Belly" unless you want a swift kick in the shin. Oh, and I'll only answer to "Isabella" if you are one of my two deficient-in-their-own-way parents. I will reluctantly allow it for other adults who deserve my respect, but I am not a fan. Otherwise, it's just "Bella". At least, that was my philosophy until about a week ago - before I met him.

"Hello, I'm Edward Cullen, and you must be... Isabella?"

That innocent introduction forever changed my perspective on being called by my full name.

"Umm..." (Cue the incessant nervous blinking) "Yes," I replied lamely.

***T*Y*S***

November 30th (flashback)

It was my first day at Forks High; having just returned here so I could take care of my heartsick father. My mom took me and left him when I was just about to be a freshman in high school, so I've never been to Forks High before this. I missed my dad terribly, and I just couldn't take the long, contemplative silences indicating his complete misery whenever we talked on the phone. He would make his best efforts at asking me about school and my friends, but I could tell that he was on the verge of tears on the other end of the line whenever he got quiet. I needed my dad to be okay.

My mom wasn't in love with him anymore. She had moved on to a young baseball player and never looked back. I tried not to judge her, even though he was fresh out of college, but our relationship had been strained ever since. At least she was happy. I felt pretty confident that I could leave her and be with my dad without drastically affecting her life. Sure, she loved me and would miss me, but I wasn't exactly the primary blip on her radar anymore. I decided to spend Thanksgiving with her and then move out. I didn't want my dad to be alone this Christmas.

Moving to Forks...I felt like I had so little to my name right now, it was just pathetic. My mom and I were living in Arizona, so I had very few articles of clothing warm enough to bring with me. She took me shopping, but it was November... in Arizona. Needless to say, pickings were slim. I met my dad in Port Angeles with nothing but one suitcase and a pathetic little potted cactus. After a brief trip to the mall to buy a decent winter coat and shoes, we shared an exceedingly quiet car ride to his home-my home-where I was met with my eerily nostalgic childhood bedroom. The only thing that had changed was that I now had a full-sized bed instead of a twin, and an admittedly, pretty cool antique secretary's desk, complete with the roll-top cover. Thankfully, my mom purchased a new MacBook for me as a belated birthday/parting gift since she failed me on the apparel front. I highly doubted that my dad had Wi-Fi, but maybe I could convince him into it after a week's worth of dinners that didn't consist of pizza or microwaved meals. Did they even have wireless capabilities in this little town? I sure hoped so.

So, back to me ending up on top of this cliff...I don't know how to answer that question other than that I am a creepy, pathetic stalker. Yep, I'm that girl. I donned my warmest leggings and thermal henley and covered up with my new coat, boots, and a hat I knitted myself; just so I could climb to the top edge of a cliff by myself and spy on a boy. I never thought I would see the day.

Sure, I thought a few boys were cute at my old school, but I can't say I ever had any more than a fleeting crush on any of them - not that they noticed me anyway. Most of the other girls at my school dressed in as little clothing as possible (using the heat as an excuse), caked makeup on their faces, wore fake eyelashes, and proceeded to bat them at anyone they found remotely interesting. My friends told me my standards were too high-I protested that all the guys in our class were immature pricks.

My first day at Forks High was unexpected, to say the least. Everywhere I went, people whispered and pointed. At first, I was self-conscious-did I have my shirt tucked into my Hello Kitty underwear or something? Then, I realized that it was just because I was new and a bit of a novelty. Even some of the popular girls wanted to chat me up, but I was most grateful for being reunited with my childhood friend, Angela Weber. She was one of those genuinely nice people, rather than a closet asshole. You know, nice to your face, but once you get to know them, they are really mean people? I hate closet assholes. Once I have realized that's what a person is, I get angry because I feel like I've been conned. I pride myself on the ability to read people, and that crap just pisses me off.

After I went to the bathroom and made a quick wardrobe check to make sure Hello Kitty wasn't saying "Hello", I carried myself with confidence the rest of the morning. I was determined not to be the sad little wallflower I was when I lived in Phoenix. I wasn't going to try to fit a mold or blend in anymore. Although, I was tired of being ignored, I was determined not to act like an idiot just to be noticed. I wanted to surround myself with people who brought out the best in me, and accepted me the way I am. I was going to be myself, and I was going to be a positive person.

At least, this was the mantra I was trying to live by. That was until I met Edward. I was completely gobsmacked, and I had no idea why. I had AP Biology just before lunch. I started the class at my old high school, so I wasn't worried about being behind. Plus, I enjoyed the subject - the intricacies of our world were beyond fascinating to me. I walked into the classroom and checked in with Mr. Banner before he pointed at the empty seat next to a rather good-looking guy, but unfortunately, one who also looked cocky as all hell.

I sat down, annoyed with the fact that he didn't even smile to be polite. No wonder he doesn't have a lab partner, I thought to myself. He was a complete asshat. Our assignment was to identify the stages of the cell cycle from prepared slides. It was easy for me since I'd already done this lab at my last school. Edward took charge of the microscope, deftly clicking the slide into place and adjusting the condenser for proper lighting. There was something fluid and purposeful about his movements, indicative of something more about him. I admit that I was a little impressed as I was usually the one to pay attention to using proper technique. He quickly identified a cell in metaphase and grabbed the knob to start moving the stage in search of a cell in anaphase when I stopped him.

"Mind if I look?" I asked innocently.

"Sure, whatever," was all I got as a response, accompanied by a cocky half-smile. Damn, I liked his smile. And his auburn sex hair. And maybe his piercing green eyes. Okay, he was more than good-looking - he was really fit, and I was extremely attracted to him. Too bad he was a jerk.

He was correct, (bugger), so I moved on to a cell in anaphase and drew it the best I could. He snickered at my lame attempts at a scientific illustration as he slid the microscope back to himself to verify what I found. I snuck a peek at his paper while he was drawing my anaphase cell, and was met with a rather masterful rendition of chromosomes perfectly lined up on the metaphase plate for the cell that he found before. I hated this boy. I did not like being shown up.

"You draw well," I offered, hoping to spark some conversation. This class was going to be much more tedious than I hoped if I had to endure a long-term lab partnership with this guy and his attitude. At least a bad personality would eventually make him less attractive to me. That was how my brain usually operated. He seemed like a smarmy git, so hopefully my stupid feelings would catch up with my brain soon.

"Thanks," he said.

Loquacious much? I scoffed mentally.

We finished the lab in silence, punctuated with one word commands and answers. We still had several minutes left in class for him to ignore me and for me to stare at the desk. Mr. Banner came by to check our work, asking, "You didn't want to let her help, Cullen?"

"Actually, sir, she identified three of the five," Edward said smoothly. I was surprised, both at his show of respect for our teacher, and that he gave me any credit at all. My eyebrows may have arched in surprise. I tried to hide it, but the corner of Edward's mouth turned up. Of course, he saw me. Ugh.

The bell rang. I was free to leave my confusing lab partner in my dust. I met up with Angela who showed me to the table where she ate lunch. I made nice with Jessica, whom I had met earlier that morning in Pre-calculus.

"Edward Cullen is staring at you," Jessica whispered to me.

"What? Oh, uh, he's my lab partner in bio. He was rude, honestly," I said.

Jessica rolled her eyes and disdainfully added, "That's because he's too good for anyone here." I wondered how long ago he had shot her down-the wound seemed fresh. She was one of the aforementioned fake-eyelash-caked-on-makeup girls, so I'm sure she found that as quite a shock.

All I could think to say was, "Oh, yeah?"

"Yeah, just because he's the school's all-star and top of the class, he thinks no one here is good enough for him. He just hangs out with his family. So lame." Jessica finished.

All-star, huh? "All-star of what? What sport does he play?" I asked. Angela said that he played almost every sport - football, baseball, and soccer, but he was known as one of the best wrestlers in the state.

"Wrestling? Really? I wouldn't have thought that by looking at him," I said truthfully. He was tall and lanky, and I had always pictured wrestlers as being stocky. I chanced a glance his way, focusing on the way his jaw tensed as he chewed while also noticing the heaps of food on his plate. His forearm flexed subtly as he brought his sandwich up to his mouth, and damn if I wasn't hypnotized by it. Then I noticed he was still staring at me-intense, burning, and green-while he took that bite. Crap.

"Hello? Earth to Bella?" Jessica teased. "Don't waste your time. Edward is so focused on school and wrestling right now, he doesn't date."

"I never said I was interested, Jess."

She rolled her eyes again-I was quickly becoming a non-fan of Jessica Stanley. "Whatever. I'm just sayin'. Anyway, we're having a party at First Beach on Saturday afternoon; you should come!" she added enthusiastically. I was starting to think she wanted to be my friend just because of all the attention I was getting. As that faded, I guessed her friendship with me would as well. That was okay by me. At least she wasn't a closet asshole - her motives were pretty obvious.

"Maybe next time, Jess. I have to do a serious makeover on my room this weekend. Thanks for offering."

I did work on my room. I made some poster-sized photo collages of my old friends with ticket stubs of concerts and Diamondbacks games that I had been to. I hung up some band posters, paper lanterns, and twinkle lights; and stocked my fabulous desk with my favorite nerdy accessories. I especially had a penchant for post-it notes, Sharpies, superhero stationary and erasers shaped like food. I totally owned my geek-girl status.

Even with all these improvements, I only spent a few hours working on sprucing up my room. I got several texts from Jessica, and even a couple from Angela encouraging me to come to the beach. I didn't care until Angela texted me: "Edward is here – he's asking about you." Well, shit. No sooner had I read that, I was getting dressed and heading out the door, making up a quick excuse to Charlie about going to the grocery store.

So here I am. Since I did grow up here, and my dad's best friend lives on the reservation, I was pretty familiar with First Beach and the rest of La Push. Whenever my dad hung out with Billy, I had to hang out with his son, Jacob. I wanted to see Edward, but I didn't want to "just show up" at the party because I had heard that he had asked about me. I didn't want to appear obvious or desperate. So, I took the next most logical step.

I drove up to the trail where I used to watch Jacob and his friends cliff-dive, walked as close to the edge as I could get before terror struck, and then army-crawled the rest of the way until I could peer over the edge and spy on the party below. I may have also brought binoculars...and a blanket to lie on… and maybe a snack. I had made my very own creeper-kit just to spy on some random boy that hadn't said two words to me. Actually, it was three words, but who's counting?

What is wrong with me?