Summary: Bella Swan is a shy, quiet girl from Brooklyn that doesn't seem to fit in with the rest of her fellow classmates at the Hewitt School for girls in the Upper East side. Edward Cullen was born into the life of the elite. He attends the Allen-Stevenson School for boys and has his life planned out. So what does a girl from Brooklyn have to do with an Upper East Side boy? Guess we're about to find out...
Disclamer: I don't own any of the Twilight characters, I just use them as my minions. It all belongs to Stephenie Meyer._
BPOV
I made it through my freshman year at the Hewitt School, so I think I can make through all the way. I always have to remind myself to keep the eye on the prize. If I didn't do this I would have already dropped out and attended public school here in Brooklyn.
And what is the prize you might ask? Yale University. The only reason I put up with snobby, uptight, rich girls. Ever since I was in 7th grade, I've wanted to be a writer. Wether it was for The New York Times or be an actual author, it's been my dream. Hence the reason I'm enrolled at Hewitt.
Apperantley, dreams come with a price tag. If Yale saw that I attended school at Hewitt, an elite school on the Upper east Side of New York, they'd be impressed and I'd have a much better chance of attending than if I were in public school.
It took Charlie, NYPD officer and my dad, much convincing to let me attend and pay for my expensinve education. He had to work over time to make a living for two and my attendance at Hewitt. But I knew it was all worth it because once I, hopefully, became a sucessful writer it would be my turn to take care of him.
Luckily, I, the 'poor' little girl from Brooklyn, was number one in my class and hoped to keep it that way until I graduated in three years. Which I know that is no problem because my schoolmates would rather sip martinis and Cosmos than study for another test. Their parents could bribe the college board into letting them in, no sweat. That's why I couldn't slack off even once and I had to work my ass off.
Walking down the street to catch the subway in my blue and white Hewitt uniform made me feel out of place. In fact even when I did arrive, I felt even more out of place. Every girl had the latest Gucci purse and the latest Tory Burch ballet flats, while I owned the same red and black plaid, Hot Topic messenger bag from freshman year and the same Charlotte Rousse black ballet flats.
Every girl ignored on me. They didn't know that I was from Brooklyn, because they didn't attempt to get to know me. It's safe to say that I've made no friends since freshman year. And I'm guessing that this year, sophomore year, is no different.
My only friend, Jacob Black lived in Montauk, Long Island. A good 2 and half hours from the city. They used to live in Queens but they hated the fact that the city was all noisy and cluttered so they moved the fishing village of Montauk where there was nothing but peace and quiet. And of course Charlie drags me out there to fish. I didn't complain, I got to see Jacob, so it was all good.
As I stepped of the subway and walked to the school, I saw the girls from Hewitt socializing with the boys of Allen-Stevenson on the steps of the Met. All those perfect, rich people with no worries looked like they belonged on the cover of magazines. I sighed to myself and decided to keep walking with my head down.
Just as I turned the block, I collided with something. Better yet someone. My clumsiness restrained me from keeping steady so I fell on my butt. The person had managed to kept steady and helped me up.
The person extended their hand and I took it. It was a strong and kind of rough, but smooth at the same time. As I looked up to see into the person's eyes for the first time I felt like the wind had been knocked out of me.
It was a boy, but not just any boy. It was Edward Cullen. He was a sophomore just like me. He went to the Allen-Stevenson School for boys. He was the son of the famous Dr. Carlisle Cullen and interior desginer Esme Cullen.
I remember the first time I saw him, it was on the steps of the Met the first day of freshman year. I only saw him from far away but he looked like a god. He had bronze colored hair that complimented his piercing green eyes. He had an unblemished face and dazzling smile. The Allen-Stevenson uniform only made him more desirable and sort of mysterious. To say the least he had a classic, movie-star good looks. But of course, when I first saw him on the steps of the Met, he had been waiting for someone. His girlfriend, Tanya Denali. The perfect, tall, blonde, blue-eyed version of Megan Fox and the heiress of the Denali fortune.
I had fantasized about the idea of me being with Edward, but knew that would never happen. Not even in my dreams. We were too different. He came from caviar and wine, and I came from beer and pretzels. Why would he even waste his time talking to me?
"Are you ok? I'm really sorry, I didn't mean to knock you down. I was just in a really big hurry." It was his deep, velvet voice filled that snapped me back into reality.
"No, umm, it's not your fault. I should learn to walk with my head up and be aware." I looked into his green eyes and blushed. He was even more perfect close-up.
Edward just kept looking at me as if he were trying to solve an impossible math problem.
"I've never seen you around. You go to Hewitt because of your uniform but I don't remember ever seeing you." He kept staring. Of course you haven't. I'm a nobody.
"Umm, yeah. I've been going to Hewitt since freshman year, but I've always kept a low profile." I gave him a small smile.
"That's why. The majority of girls start at Pre-K or kindergarten. Do you live around here?" he asked.
Should I tell him the truth or lie? I'm sure Rosalie has never mentioned me, why would she? She probably doesn't know me. No one does.
"Uhh, yeah. I have an apartment at the Pierre Hotel. My parents live in the Hamptons while I attend school here." Did I really just say that?
"Oh, that's cool. Why have I never seen you at parties or clubs? Surely someone like you would go to those things." He looked at me with curiosity.
"Those events aren't really my thing. I prefer to walk through Central Park or visit museums than get wasted." Well, that part was true.
"I see. You're like an old spirit inside a young body. In some ways I'm like that too." Just then his iPhone 4 started to beep. He opened it and rolled his eyes.
"I have to go, but it was really nice meeting you. I never formally introduced myself, I'm Edward Cullen." He put his hand out and waited for me to introduce myself.
If I told him my real name he would ask Tanya and then Tanya would look me up or something and tell him the truth. Then he would hate me. Forever.
I could use Bella. Everyone knew me as Isabella at school. But what about my last name?
I slowly went to shake his hand and looked all around me for an inspirational last name that sounded wealthy.
"I'm Bella, ummmm,-" Just then inspiration hit me. I saw a woman walking in the other side of the street, with a shirt that had a mechanical bull on it from the restaraunt Mason Dixon, which was located on the Lower East Side.
"I'm Bella Mason." I gave him a confident smile, proud of my quick save. Before I can fall further into the lie, I decided it was time to go.
"Listen, Edward. I really have to go to school. It was nice meeting you too." I dropped his hand, gave him a smile, and left.
He yelled after me. "BELLA! Maybe we can hang out soon?"
I didn't turn around. I pretended not to hear that and walked faster. I had a feeling that the more time I spent with him, the further the lie would go. I decided that I would never talk to Edward Cullen. That shouldn't be hard, right?
EPOV
Another year at Allen-Stevenson. You'd think that going to an elite school would be exciting, but after you've gone to that elite school since Pre-K, you forget and loose all excitement.
I sighed and rolled of my bed. I headed straight to the bathroom to take a shower.
I stepped into the shower and scrubbed myself to get rid of the alcohol, cigarette, sweat, and what other disgusting grime I had on me. I felt like shit this morning. I knew I shouldn't have gone to that party last night, but my friends convinced me other wise. They said it was the last party of the summer and the pre-party before the real party of the year. It made sense at the time.
But now, I regret it 100%. My head was pounding and my body felt useless. It took me a good 45 minutes of showering to feel somewhat ok.
I stumbled out of the shower and dried myself off. I wrapped the towel around my waist and looked at myself in the reflection of the mirror.
My eyes were bloodshot, my hair was sticking up all over the place, and my face was paler than usual. I groaned internally and opened the medicine cabinet to find some Visine for my bloodshot eyes. I ran a hand through my wild hair and somewhat managed to tame it.
Once I looked somewhat decent, I left the bathroom and went into my room to get changed.
I opened the closet doors to find my Allen-Stevenson uniform waiting for me and put it on. I grabbed my messenger bag for school and headed to the kitchen.
I lived in a 6 floor townhouse on 94th street. It had 12 rooms, indoor 50' lap pool with a jacuzzi, sauna, gym, spa, kitchen, elevators, and my very own entertainment room. The funny thing about living in a townhouse this big was, that only 3 people lived in here. My dad, my mom, and me. Oh, the irony.
As I neared the kitchen I saw my dad and mom were already being served breakfast by Sylvia, our housekeeper.
"Edward, darling, good morning!" My mom, Esme, was always cheery and happy at any time of day.
"Good morning, son. You look kind of sick. I bet that was some party last night. Sit down, and get some food in you." My dad, Carlisle, looked up from his newspaper and greeted me. He ordered Sylvia to get me food and took a seat next to him.
"So, are you ready for your first day of school?" My mom took a sip of her coffee and stared at me with her green eyes.
I lot of people said I looked more like her than my dad. Esme had the same bronze colored hair as I did and the same green eyes. What I got from Carlisle was his height, calm demenor (though his is way calmer than mine) and I guess a strong, sturdy body, if that counts. The rest I got from Esme. Good thing too, because if I got Esme's curves there would be some serious issues.
My dad had blue eyes and blonde hair. He was a bit taller than me, standing at height of 6'1 while I was 6'0. Every time my dad would walk into a room full of women, they would all drool. It was kind of pathetic, but it didn't phase him or my mom. They were used to it. The same thing would happen to Esme when she walks into a room. My mom and dad had me at a young age and that's why they looked so young.
"Umm, I guess. I mean, sophomore year isn't that big of a deal. There's nothing to look forward to." I said, answering my mom's earlier question.
"Well, you have your junior year to look forward too." My dad said, trying to sound optimistic.
"Yes, a whole year to look forward to college essays, SAT's, and bunch of other tests." I poked my breakfast with my fork and let out a deep sigh.
"Now, Edward, you know what you're father means. Besides, think of your sophomore year as your last year to 'slack off', and I use that term very loosely. Next year the stakes are high, and your future depends on it." Esme was serious now and looked at me.
"You're right, mom. I, uhhh, have to get to school. I'll see you all later." I really wanted to get out of there. If I heard the 'your future is coming soon, and you better be prepared for it' 'speech again, I was going to explode.
On my way out I grabbed my phone and checked it. I had gotten 3 text messages from my best friends Jasper Whitlock and Emmett McCarty, and one from my girlfriend Tanya Denali.
I read Jasper's first:
Where are you? School's about to start and you said you'd be here at the steps. -J.W
I scrolled down to see Emmett's message:
Dude! Me and Jazz are waiting here with Rosalie and Tanya. And honestly, your girlfriend is getting pissy. -E.M
I rolled my eyes at Emmett's message. An impatient Emmett and Tanya were both really annoying.
And lastly, I opened Tanya's message:
Edward, where are you? We've been waiting here all morning. If you don't show up to school, I will come to your house and pull you out myself. -T.D
I sighed and put my phone away. Why did I even date Tanya Denali?
Oh, yeah because I was the 'magnificent' son of Dr. Carlisle and Interior Designer Esme and I was an athlete, top of my class, and musically talented. And she was Tanya Denali. The beautiful, up-coming model, and heiress to the Denali fortune. We were meant to be together. Or so everyone expects us to be.
Sure, Tanya was beautiful but I never felt any real chemistry with her. She liked to be the center of attention as to were I liked to be more laid-back and observe. But if you ask Tanya, we couldn't be any more in love. The problem was I viewed her more like a friend than a soulmate. But it made everyone happy to see us together. We were the 'perfect' couple.
I was so deep in my thoughts that as I rounded the corner to head to the Met, I collided against a small body. The hangover was starting to wear off so I luckily regained balance, but the person I bumped into didn't have the same luck.
I looked to see that I bumped into a brown-haired girl wearing a Hewitt uniform. I extended my hand to help her up. She was hesitant at first, but took it.
When her eyes looked into mine, I froze. I felt like time had stopped. Her beautiful, chocolate-brown eyes bored into mine.
I had never seen her before in the Hewitt School and I knew pretty much every girl in that school because of either parties, charity events, or they hung out with Tanya. And even if I did see her before, I would have surely remembered. Trust me.
This girl had beautiful waves of brown hair. Her creamy skin made her brown eyes and red lips pop. She looked so innocent but there was a feeling of mystery that you got. She was about a half a head shorter than I was and was one of the most beautiful girls, if not the most beautiful, girl I had ever seen.
I stopped staring at her and asked her if she was ok.
"Are you ok? I'm really sorry, I didn't mean to knock you down. I was just in a really big hurry." I tried to keep my voice smooth and under control so I didn't seem too anxious.
"No, umm, it's not your fault. I should learn to walk with my head up and be aware." Her voice was quiet and soft. She once again made eye contact and a small blush covered her cheeks.
I kept looking at her and became frustrated. Why hadn't I ever seen her? I mean the Hewitt school had only 550 girls and the majority liked to be at parties and stuff.
"I've never seen you around. You go to Hewitt because of your uniform but I don't remember seeing you."
"Umm, yeah. I've been going to Hewitt since freshman year, but I've always kept a low profile." She gave me small smile.
"That's why. The majority of girls start at Pre-K or kindergarten. Do you live around here?" I asked genuinely, but I felt like an interrogator.
She seemed to be thinking about where she lived. As if she forgot.
"Uhh, yeah. I have an apartment at the Pierre Hotel. My parents live in the Hamptons while I attend school here." She seemed unsure of this while she said it. Maybe she was thinking of something else or was shy.
"Oh, that's cool. Why have I never seen you at parties or clubs? Surely someone like you would go to those things." I looked at her curiosly as she answered.
"Those events aren't really my thing. I prefer to walk through Central Park or visit museums than get wasted." Interesting. I expected her to say 'I do party, I just don't go to the same parties you attend.' That's what any other teenage girl would have said. What teenage girl doesn't like to party? But she was different. She wasn't like Tanya or Emmett's girlfriend, Rosalie. She looked like she was simple. That a quiet picnic would make her day, instead of a full-blown out party.
"I see. You're like an old spirit inside a young body. In some ways I'm like that too." That sounded a little too much like Grandpa Cullen, but it was true.
Just then my phone started to beep again. With another text message from Tanya, again.
Edward Cullen, I see you talking to some skank instead of being with me, your girlfriend. -T.D
I looked over the girl's head to find Tanya at the top of the Met's steps glaring daggers at me. I rolled my eyes.
"I have to go, but it was really nice meeting you. I never formally introduced myself, I'm Edward Cullen." I put my hand out so she could shake it but she hesitated. Was that too business-y?
She suddenly became alarmed. She looked all over the place as if she were looking for something.
"I'm Bella, ummmm,-"
I waited for her to say her last name. She ever so slowly raised her hand from her side to shake mine.
"I'm Bella Mason." She said quickly and proudly.
I've never heard the name 'Mason' thrown around with the Upper East Sider, but then again she said she was low profile then her family must be too.
"Listen, Edward. I really have to go to school. It was nice meeting you too." She said quickly and then dropped my hand. She must have been late for something because she bolted.
I was just going to leave it at that, but I wanted to spend more time with her to get to know her. I didn't know why, but something about her pulled me in.
"BELLA! Maybe we can hang out soon?" I yelled after her, but the loud noises of the city street drowned out my voice. I watched her retreating back until she was fully out of view. I smiled to myself hoping I would be hanging out with Bella Mason, very soon._
Bella Mason, huh? All this time I thought she was Bella Swan. Uh-Oh, what has Bella gotten herself into?...Comment please.