Introduction: Bella has just moved to Forks. She left Phoenix because of the death of her boyfriend, whom she loved very much. She couldn't handle the memories her home held of happier times. To make matters worse, her mother fell sick : cancer. And her mother doesn't want Bella to see her like that, to suffer even more, so she pushed Bella to go, even when the girl seemed to be having a hard time leaving her mom behind.

Chapter 1.

So It Begins

More rain. I felt it the moment I was outside the door to go to school. But I didn't complain, I didn't mind. I used to hate it, when I came to spend one month with my dad every summer as a little girl. But now I couldn't care less.

I got into the cab of my big old Chevy truck and tried to start the engine. Unfortunately, it didn't start half the time, and as I'm completely devoid of any luck, it was always on rainy days that it chose to disappoint me. I was thus doomed to go on foot today, for Charlie was always gone before me. And even if he wasn't, I wasn't sure I'd accept to ride in his cruiser.

I was soaked to the bone when I finally reached the school buildings, and to make matters worse, I was late. The hallways were deserted. I hung up my raincoat in silence and entered the classroom, trying to be as discreet as possible, which was a mission doomed to fail. Someone had put his bag down close to the door, and tripping over it was, for a person like me, unavoidable. Luckily I was able to catch myself on a desk before hitting the floor; unluckily, it was the teacher's desk. And not just any teacher. It was Mr. Varner, the trigonometry teacher. Of course he turned around at hearing the noise, with a glint in his eyes that meant I was in trouble.

"How kind of you to join us, Miss Swan." He said severely. "Apparently the chief's daughter doesn't need to be educated. But I have a different opinion, Miss Swan. So I ask of you to finish all the exercises on page 92 by tomorrow."

I turned red from humiliation as I regained my seat which was, thankfully, at the back of the classroom and next to a very kind girl named Angela, who immediately whispered some kind and encouraging words as I sat down and fumbled with my bag.

Angela was a good friend of mine, actually the only real friend I had, for she was the only one who seemed to really care about me, even though I did not talk to her. I did not talk to anyone. A few polite greetings a day were my limit.

The rest of the morning passed in much the same way as usual. After a month in Forks, I'd developed a steady routine. Get up, go to school, go home and cook for Charlie and myself, do my homework and get into bed. And all this was done pretty much in silence on my part. Except for today.

Just as I was thinking I'd be alone again at last when the bell rang at the end of the school day, I heard my name being called across the hallway. I turned around to see Jessica, a girl from my Trig and Spanish classes, and also a friend of Angela's who liked to gossip, jogging my way.

"Here." She said as she handed me some papers. "We got these this morning when you were late. I forgot to give them to you."

"Thanks." I mumbled as I took the sheets, and already turned away.

But Jessica hadn't understood my desire to be alone in silence and took my turning away as a sign to join me on the way to the parking lot. Jessica often talked to me during lunch, or even during Spanish when I sat next to her, but that was mostly just because she needed a 'gossip outlet'. It couldn't even be called a conversation, for she always talked and I rarely even listened. Today was no different, and she continued the story about a couple in school who were on the verge of breaking up, which was good news apparently because all the girls thought the guy was hot. I, however, didn't even know what the guy looked like. Outside the small group I sat with during lunch, I didn't really know anyone. I could vaguely recognize the faces, but couldn't even tell their names.

As Jessica droned on, I saw the parking lot coming nearer. I'd have to try and convince her to leave me without hurting her feelings. A difficult task to say the least, and more than a little bit stressful.

"Jess, listen." I began, using the short version of her name to try and sound more friendly and personal, which was completely ruined by the awkward sound of my voice. "I have to get home now. See you in Spanish tomorrow?"

She blinked at me for a moment, seeming surprised for she wasn't used to hearing such a long sentence coming from my mouth. "Yeah, okay." She finally answered hesitatingly, probably wondering whether I was an alien about to brain-wash her, or suck out her soul when no one was looking.

I sighed deeply as I watched her walk away to her car. Which reminded me that I'd come on foot. Dang it.

A second sigh escaped me as I set out on foot for the two-mile-journey home. Of course, the rain which had stopped during the day picked up again now. My almost dry clothes were drenched in no time. But it could hardly be called bad luck. That was just how things were in Forks: rainy.

I'd been walking for five minutes when I felt it again. It was a very strange feeling that had regularly washed over me for a while now. I wasn't sure when exactly (for in my state, the days usually became one big blur after another) but it seemed to have started shortly after my arrival in Forks. So I'd come to the conclusion that it was my mental state, together with the mysterious greenish environment here that had been causing some kind of paranoia attacks.

I hadn't told anyone, not wanting to be sent to a shrink, and had mostly dismissed the feeling, but I still couldn't help looking over my shoulder every time it happened, because when it did, I felt so sure that I was being watched. But as usual, when I turned around, there was absolutely nothing to see. The school buildings were still visible afar and alive with movement, and cars were splashing through ocean-sized puddles on the street. But except from that, all was deserted.

Minutes after I set off on the main road, the cell phone in my bag started to vibrate. I took it out, fumbling with it as I tried to protect it from the sheeting rain. The text message was from Charlie and it read:

Bella, where are you?

Your truck is here, and you are late.

Should I come pick you up?

Charlie didn't like to express his emotions, but I could clearly feel worry behind the words he'd written. Ever since I'd come back to Forks a month or so ago, he'd treated me like I was a porcelain doll. It irritated me a bit, but I had nowhere near enough energy to protest or be upset; which didn't mean I let him do what he wanted. I quickly answered him.

Don't worry, I'm coming.

Truck didn't start this morning.

As I sent the message, my eye fell upon today's date: 5th of april.

One second was all it took. Everything I'd tried to push into a little corner of my head came back because… Well because today was his birthday… Alex's birthday. He was my boyfriend, had been my boyfriend, and would've become nineteen today . . . if he'd still been alive.

His face was suddenly clear and smiling in my mind, his chaotic auburn hair surrounding it like a cloud, brushing his neck and cheeks in playful curls. The image faded away slowly as I felt warm drops roll over my cheeks among the cold rain drops. My sight got blurred as tears began to fill my eyes. And my lungs and heart were being crushed by an invisible weight.

My cell phone, forgotten, slipped out of my wet hand and landed in a puddle. But I couldn't pick it up. I could no longer feel my legs and I had difficulty breathing. So I let myself drop to the ground, against the wall of the department store I was standing next to, hugged my knees against my chest and hid my face in between.

For now, the world around me didn't exist. All there was in this tiny space was myself, and the excruciating pain of loss and misery. I cried for him, but I also cried for my mother. She was still of this world, but the doctors had made clear that she wouldn't be for long anymore. Barely a few weeks after Alex, she'd been diagnosed with lung cancer, even though she'd never touched a cigarette in her life.

But it had been too late. Like many people, she'd been too afraid of the diagnose to see a doctor and she had kept postponing it. I couldn't blame her. My mother was a very young and energetic person, a bit immature too. But now she faced it with more courage and determination than I'd ever seen. She knew very well that she was at the end…

But even then. She'd supported me through my mourning for Alex. And when she knew I couldn't handle the sight of our home city anymore, for it held too many memories of happier times, she'd insisted that I come here to live with Charlie.

I suspected there was another reason why she wanted me to leave. A reason I could not even think about without going insane with anger, pain and denial: she didn't want me to see her die. It was the very first thing that I felt she did as my parent. Otherwise I had always been the one taking care of her as if I was the adult.

After having had my heart torn apart and my tears run free for a while, I began to work on pushing everything back again, and put the numbness back in its place. It was a way for me to disconnect from the world and from myself, shrouding my world in emptiness and silence. It wasn't easy, but I'd had some practice.

I had no idea how much time had passed while working on this exercise. It could've been a minute, could've been an hour. All I knew was that the rain was still falling, but I was already soaked and didn't even feel it anymore. And then I became a little aware again of my surroundings. I heard cars passing close by. I heard one stopping, the sound of the door being opened, and footsteps coming my way.

Next came a voice, so soft and warm that it made me sleepy. Or was it exhaustion that made me want to sleep? The nights weren't peaceful for me.

"Is everything all right?" The voice asked.

I wanted to answer it, it was so beautiful, in a painful nostalgic way. It felt like home and warmth, but unreachable at the same time. I did not seem to have any air left in my lungs. I couldn't even lift my head to see what person could have such a lullaby-like voice.

"I could give you a ride if you told me where you live." He said, for it was clearly a deep, male sound.

Again, I wished to say something, but it was an impossible thing to do. I definitely felt like a doll now, lying lifeless on the street. Another Bella inside me was getting frustrated at my passiveness.

"You're trembling; let me get you somewhere warm."

It was only now he'd said it that I realized I was shivering violently. I felt so cold and wet. It was sucking the life out of me.

Suddenly two arms wrapped themselves around me and lifted me off the sidewalk, which resembled more a river now. I was startled at how easy it was for this individual to do so. But I wasn't much more comfortable than I'd been on the ground. He was as hard and cold as the pavement stones.

Only a second later and I was more comfortably seated on the passenger side of the car. Again I was surprised at how quickly he'd closed the distance. I had no time to even blink and my mysterious helper was seated on his side. He turned the heaters on, so that warm air was now coming out of the vents and started to slowly dry my hair and clothes.

I could now look at him, and was again surprised, but this time because I recognized him. He was in my biology class at Forks High School. I couldn't remember what his name was, even though Jessica had gossiped about him and his family a lot during the last month.

According to her accounts, he was a little like me, a bit of an outsider. He didn't talk to anyone except his family. The five of them, two girls and three boys, mostly kept to themselves. Never had I had a reason to talk to him, and I immediately regretted not having heard his voice before. It was the first thing ever having been able to soothe me since… well…since Alex.

He'd started driving already, even though I hadn't told him my address yet. I kept my eyes on the road, but couldn't help peeking sideways from time to time. I'd never really looked at him before, and only now noticed how striking he was. His appearance matched his voice. His hair was a bit chaotic and had a reddish brown color. His complexion was even paler than mine, which was an exception on itself. However, his eyes were the most unusual. Never before in my life had I seen someone with eyes the color of gold and topaz. They often darted sideways too, to look at me with a worried glint in them.

His beauty was fascinating and I had a hard time to look away from his face, but as I did so, another face came hovering in my mind: Alex's eyes were fixing me.

Suddenly I dropped my gaze and observed my soaked boots. I felt incredibly guilty for thinking any other guy than Alex could be cute. And my heart felt threatened by this boy's features, for it felt like it would erase Alex's from my memory. Never did I want to forget him. Never did I want to lose the little bit that I had left of him. So I forced myself to look outside, at the trees now moving past in a blur. My stomach did a little flip as I suddenly realized how fast we were going. But I did not say a word.

He was driving down the road I usually took to go home after school, even though I still hadn't told him my address. I was puzzled by this. He seemed to feel my state of agitation, for he then spoke.

"You're Bella, sheriff Swan's daughter, aren't you? I know where he lives." He'd just finished his sentence as he pulled over in front of the house. My truck and the cruiser were both parked in the driveway.

"Did it break down again?" He asked. He nodded toward my Chevy.

"Yeah." I finally managed to choke out. I felt astonished at his knowledge of me, but my atrophied facial muscles probably didn't show it. It was an advantage sometimes. "H-how did you know?"

"It's the only car in the school's parking lot that regularly vanishes. What other reason could there be for its repeated absence?" He smiled broadly as he explained. "I'm relieved to hear you talking." He added, starting on another subject.

I looked away, a bit embarrassed. What did he think of me now that he'd seen me like this? I inhaled deeply to collect some courage, intending to thank him for his help, but when I turned around to look at him he'd disappeared. The passenger door then opened. He'd gotten out and circled the car to open the door for me like a gentleman, without me even noticing.

"Th- thanks." I stammered. And then I realized I still didn't know his name. Jessica must've mentioned it, but I couldn't remember. He seemed very pleased when I asked him.

"Edward." He answered, grinning. "Edward Cullen"

"Thank you, Edward." My voice was still rough from neglecting it. I really wasn't used to talking so much anymore.

"Anytime." He said, smiling encouragingly, as if really wanting me to ask him for more favors. "Take care of yourself, Bella."

I smiled an awkward mini smile and nodded, before turning away to get to my door. As I finished fumbling with the key and finally got the door to open, I turned to look at him just once more, but he was gone. I hadn't even heard his car starting. Was I becoming deaf?

I dreamt of Alex that night. That happened quite often. But I tried to forget about it as soon as I got up, otherwise it would never be possible for me to get through the day. I couldn't think about him, but couldn't forget him either...

After a nice hot shower I went down for a silent breakfast with Charlie. But even though he did not say anything other than a 'good morning', I could see he'd been really worried yesterday, and still was. He knew about the birthday.

Still, everything remained as usual. He went out for work and I begged my truck to start, which it did to my great relief. Charlie must've looked at it. As I got to the school parking lot, the shiny Volvo immediately caught my attention. I recognized it from yesterday, and now knew who the owner was.

That his car was here meant he was already in school. This thought gave me a strange feeling of relief and of being safe. As if today I would jump out of a plane with a parachute, as opposite to the other days when I'd jumped with no safety net at all.

I got out of the cab and swung my bag over my shoulder. Now that I was on time, there was no need for me to hurry. I could concentrate on my feet to keep myself from tripping as usual. But a sudden shiver along my spine turned my attention to something else: Again, that feeling of being watched. I looked around. The lot was filled with students, it could be anyone here, but my intuition told me it came from the dark shade of the mossy trees, on the other side of the lot. I could almost picture two pairs of eyes glowing in the shadow.

But I knew it was impossible. Who could possibly be interested in spying on me? I spun around and mostly concentrated on getting inside the building as fast as I could.

The bell rang and everyone rushed out of class to the cafeteria. I, however, didn't feel like rushing. It didn't matter anyway, there was always a long queue at the food counter. I joined Jessica and Angela in the queue, for Angela had been hailing me. She didn't want me to stay alone. I smiled gratefully, but I was certain that she noticed the smile looked more like a grimace.

I took something to eat without even seeing what it was, and followed the girls to our usual table, where Mike, Eric, Tyler and Lauren already sat, chattering away about Mr. Varner, the most hated teacher in the school. But instead of trying to follow the conversation, my eyes started to linger around the cafeteria, unconsciously looking for something. It didn't take long for me to find it. There, in a retreated corner of the room, sat the five members of the family. Edward had told me yesterday his last name was Cullen.

So this is the Cullen family, I thought, watching them closely for the first time. Now that I thought about it, I seemed to remember Charlie mentioning that name. Some Dr. Cullen worked at the local hospital, were they related?

Probably, there weren't enough people in Forks for two people to have the same name by coincidence. He was probably their dad, though I couldn't imagine that they needed any adult supervision. They all looked like full grown adults themselves. Especially the big muscled one, he looked a bit scary, with arms twice as large as my thighs. But the others were just as intimidating in their own personal ways.

The blond girl sitting next to the big one was gorgeous in every way. Her wavy hair fell lightly to her waist and her figure was more perfect than a model's. I couldn't imagine a girl who wouldn't be jealous of such beauty.

Only the girl sitting next to her could easily rival, even though she had a completely different style. Her pixie black hair pointed in every direction, which accentuated the thinness of her delicate face and neck. She was much smaller and slighter, but she seemed to be more animated than the others, a playful smile hovering on her perfect features. And her movements, I could only dream of such elegance and smooth control. I was mesmerized as she tucked her hair behind her ear with such…how could I possibly describe it? I felt even more self-conscious about my unruly klutziness now.

I tore my eyes away from her to move along to the fourth member, a blond man this time. Like all the others, he possessed flawless features and beauty. But it was somehow disturbed by the look on his face that showed obvious discomfort, almost pain. I wondered if maybe he was sick. But I could not worry for him much more, for I had now reached the last and most important member and the only one whose name I knew: Edward.

I recognized the same features in him as all the others, the pale skin, the golden eyes, the purplish bruises under them, as if they were all very tired. He seemed to fit in with them, and I felt more intimidated by him, now that he was surrounded by such an impressive group. They all seemed to belong together, to be attached by a stronger bond than anyone here, even though none of them were looking at each other. It was a most peculiar group.

My fascinating study was suddenly interrupted by the sound of my name.

"He even gave Bella a punishment, it was really mean." I heard Angela say now that I was listening again. "By the way, Bella, did you have the time to finish the work he gave you?" She asked kindly as she turned to me, thinking that I'd been following the whole time.

"Hmmm" I said, nodding as I was still looking toward the Cullen table. I'd made those exercises a long time ago, before Mr. Varner had asked me. I often worked more than was required, just to keep my mind as busy as possible to keep it from wandering on subjects I wanted to avoid at all costs.

"He's so unfair! If he ever does that again, just tell me, Bella, and I'll go talk to the principle." Mike said to me, a bit too protectively for my taste. He didn't have to be so passionate about it. But I smiled politely in a grateful gesture.

I tried my hardest to keep focused on the conversation as lunch time passed, but I couldn't keep my eyes from darting toward the Cullen table every now and then. And I couldn't comprehend why everyone in the room could just act as if they weren't even there. Why was I the only one being so mesmerized by them?

I then remembered that before yesterday, I hadn't paid more attention to them than anyone else. What had changed?

Once lunch time over I slowly headed over to biology. I knew that I would find Edward there too, which wouldn't exactly help my staring problem. Still, I couldn't feel bad about it. I had the inexplicable feeling that if he was there, nothing could go wrong. Furthermore, he was seated two rows in front of me, so I could stare without it being too obvious.

Mike quickly joined me after parting with Jessica. Both of them had become a couple a short while ago, after I'd made clear I wasn't interested in him. But he still stuck to me sometimes, like now for example. I had no idea why he had been interested; I didn't even talk much to him.

Still, he'd insisted on being my lab partner. But I suspected that was partly because the only other person with no lab partner here was Edward, and it had been pretty clear that Mike held a great dislike for him. Probably because Edward had had so much success with the girls when he'd first arrived here two years ago, or so Jessica had told me.

I hoped that Mike didn't notice me peeking constantly at Edwards back during the entire period. I was somewhat relieved that biology was over, being with Mike was often quite a suffocating experience, for he always felt he needed to help me and protect me. Sometimes he was right to do so, when we had to work with scalpels for example, or scissors, or anything that was already dangerous enough in itself, that it wouldn't be a good idea to put it in my hands. But he often exaggerated, like he'd done during lunch. I wasn't that fragile, and I didn't like to be treated so. I'd always cared for myself and for my mother for that matter.

But the feeling of relief didn't last long, for now my personal hell of the day would begin: Gym. Yes, Mike was still there, but at least here he wasn't sitting an inch from me, treating me like a little girl. He usually formed a team with me, and then just played whatever position I was supposed to be. I didn't mind him doing so, for it was not only for my safety, but also for others.

Today we would be playing volleyball, and I was very satisfied with standing in the corner of the pitch and watch my team do their thing. That's why everyone, including our coach, was very surprised when I still managed to stumble against the pole that was holding the net, and get a nasty cut on the back of my hand.

"But you weren't even playing!" Mike exclaimed, as startled as the rest. I gave everyone a sheepish smile as the coach ordered me to go to the infirmary. I hoped they wouldn't worry about me. There certainly was no need for that.

The rain washed away some of the blood as I headed out of the gym towards Ms. Cole's office, where the infirmary was. I did not get very far, however, that I again felt like I was being watched. Only this time it felt much more intense, as if I could feel desire burning in the pair of eyes that were looking at me, wherever they were. I could not understand what was going on. Was I really going crazy? It seemed more of a possibility each day.

In the end the wound wasn't that deep. It only took the nurse a few minutes to disinfect and bandage the wound. I blessed her when she told me I wouldn't have to participate in the Gym lessons for a few days.

I left the school a bit earlier than the rest, and headed back home. I had some grocery shopping to do though, so I set out again. After this I decided to make something more complicated for dinner, because I did not have enough homework to fill my evening. But in the end, it was unavoidable. There always came a time when I had nothing more to do, and I would go crazy being trapped in my own head.

Today it came around nine. Charlie was watching a game downstairs. I knew he too was doing his best to suppress his emotions; it was our way to deal with things. But just like me, it became too much for him at times. I'd heard him a few weeks ago, locked in his room, crying silently. I knew he still loved my mother very much; he'd never really gotten over her. Sometimes I wished we could be more open to each other. Maybe it would help. But I had no clue about how to even try.

I had now nothing else to do but get changed and into bed. But I took my mp3 with me, which I had emptied of all slow and sensitive ballads. I fell asleep around midnight, to the sound of meaningless electronic music and rebellious rock music. My dreams once again filled with corpses of the few people I loved.

Nothing seemed very different the next day, and still I felt something was…out of place. I'd woken up in the middle of the night, screaming because of the nightmares, and had been overwhelmed by the feeling there was someone in my room. First I'd thought about Charlie, after all, he was the only other person in this house. But when I'd heard his snores coming from his bedroom, I'd realized it was not him.

I'd moved to flick on the lights, and just before I'd reached my bedside lamp, I'd seen a shadow pass swiftly and disappear into the night. My heart had thrummed in my chest as I considered the possibility it had been a ghost, maybe Alex's? But when the morning had come, and the light had again illuminated the world, the idea had seemed more than ridiculous.

I'd then assumed it had been a part of my nightmare. I really didn't want to become crazy. But it seemed something inevitable, creeping up on me. And acting normal, or at least as normal as I could around everyone was becoming harder every day.

I'd been even more silent and unresponsive during the following morning. Only the idea that I was going to see the Cullen family seemed to calm me down as lunch time approached. I waited for it, as if waiting for oxygen during a long dive, when I followed Jessica and Angela to the cafeteria. I looked around, toward the same table as yesterday. They were there, just as I had predicted. I watched them discreetly all the way to our table. But I had to pull my eyes away from them then, for Mike and Angela were inquiring after my wounded hand as I sat down.

"It's fine." I responded, one of the few words that escaped my mouth. My voice croaked like an old lady's. I showed them my bandage to help them convince I was perfectly healthy. They should know me better by now, I constantly had all kind of accidents. It wasn't my first trip to the nurse, but it was the first time there was blood. I guess that's what upset them the most. I quickly grew tired of all the attention though, it made me feel like a charity case, which of course, I knew was true. I wasn't sitting at this table because they enjoyed my company.

I made it clear that I wanted to change the subject though, and so Jessica quickly got back to her newest and juiciest gossip. Only, for the first time ever, I was actually interested in what she had to say.

"Did you hear about Edward Cullen?" She asked. But of course she wasn't expecting an answer, she immediately continued. "He suddenly got up during last period yesterday and dashed out of the classroom without saying a word!"

"He's so weird." Mike said disapprovingly.

I couldn't help but sneak a peek to the subject of the gossip. Edward Cullen was just as breathtaking as he'd been yesterday, no doubt. But he seemed concentrated today, as if trying to hear something. Was he listening to our conversation? Surely he couldn't hear from all the way across the cafeteria…could he?

"Maybe Bella saw him, she left to go to the nurse at about the same time." I heard Mike say.

"Really?" Jessica exclaimed, and she turned to me, excited to hear a firsthand account of yesterday's events. "Did you see him?"

But of course I hadn't seen a thing. The parking lot had been empty. My negative answer disappointed her, but it didn't discourage her to continue to speculate about the reason for his actions. But I was suddenly too preoccupied to listen.

Now that I thought about it, maybe the parking lot hadn't been empty. I'd sensed someone watching me again. Until now, I'd thought it was me who was insane, but what if I wasn't? Yes it was a rather long shot, but still, Edward had been out there somewhere at exactly the same moment I was. The school really wasn't that big, I should've seen him. But what if I had sensed him?

Ah, that's ridiculous, I thought. Why in the world would Edward Cullen want to spy on me? Yes, he'd been there to help me two days ago, but he hadn't said a word to me since. He'd probably just been polite and worried about his classmate, nothing more. And I did not want there to be something more. Absolutely not.

However, I was growing tired of those paranoia attacks, and I decided that next time it happened, I would definitely find out if I was crazy or not.

In the meanwhile, things went on as usual. I suffered through biology as Mike insisted to take notes for me, even though my wounded hand wasn't the one I wrote with. And I was allowed to sit on the bench during Gym, watching with relief how smoothly things went when I wasn't participating. I even caught coach Clapp sighing in satisfaction when the period had passed without any incident whatsoever.

After school ended, I headed to the pharmacy. I was out of pills the doctor in Phoenix had prescribed to me right after Alex's death. I didn't like taking them, they didn't help with the feeling I was crazy, but Charlie made sure I didn't even miss taking one.

Yes, Charlie was really worried. It pained me that he had to deal with me while he himself was having such a hard time about Renee, my mom.

I drove slowly. It wasn't raining, but it had been quite cold this morning, and the puddles had half-frozen during the day. Luckily I arrived at the pharmacy without trouble. I took some money and my prescriptions from the seat next to me and headed out of the cab to the entrance. But as I opened the door, I caught the toe of my boot on the doorjamb and felt my body lose its balance. I threw my hands out and squeezed my eyes shut in a reflex motion to prepare for impact, but it never came.

I slowly reopened me eyes and saw the floor, about three feet away from my face, under me. Two arms had caught me in such a smooth motion I hadn't even felt it. Though now I did feel them, and their touch seemed familiar: hard and cold. I immediately thought of Edward Cullen, but though the arms felt the same, they weren't. There were much, much thinner, thinner than mine. I was surprised they'd been able to carry my weight.

I scrambled to my feet and turned to see who it was, even though I already knew. It was the thinnest and smallest girl of the Cullens, the one with her pixie hair. Her broad and enthusiastic smile had the effect of warming me up instantly.

"Hi, Bella." She said, as if we'd known each other for ages. And her voice, a high little soprano, rang like music in my ears, much in the same way Edward's voice did.

"Um, hi." I responded, mesmerized again by her elegant and effortless movements.

"I'm Alice, Alice Cullen. I'm here to pick up some medication for one of Carlisle's patients. He's our father. He's a doctor at the clinic." She explained.

So I'd been right. Dr. Cullen was their father. I wondered how he'd managed to have so many children of practically the same age. Maybe some were twins?

But I did not say anything. Instead, I thanked her for saving me from another bruise and humiliation.

"It's ok." She said. "I'd sort of seen it coming." I had the strange impression that this phrase had a double meaning.

The silence was a bit awkward while we waited for the old man in front of us to pay for his medication. I was more than preoccupied by trying not to ogle at Alice, while she seemed to be itching to tell me something, but wasn't allowed to do so. After a minute or so, she finally made up her mind to speak.

"I heard you met my brother, Edward?" She asked casually. Her voice sounded to my ears like the best chocolate in the world would taste to my tongue.

"Uh… y-yes. He… helped me." I had to really concentrate on talking. I had a hard enough time using my voice as it was, but with someone like her in front of me…

"I'm very pleased that I was able to meet you as well." She said and then she hugged me. I was dumbstruck as she let me go again, but still I noticed how she sniffed my bandaged hand before doing so.

"Yeah, me too." Was my brilliant answer.

"We'll see each other soon." She said, sounding determined, as if she already knew it would happen. Did she know something I didn't?

I simply nodded, not sure how to respond to that. She turned to the door without even going to the counter. Hadn't she come here to get some medicine?

Just before she closed the door she said over her shoulder: "Take care of yourself, Bella" She'd sounded serious, but very soft at the same time as she repeated the words her brother had spoken to me. They both really had a gift for making me feel at ease.

Hello everyone. My name is Aoiika, and this is my second Twilight fanfic. I'd be happy if you left me your thoughts in a review or a pm. Sharing is the most enjoyable part of fanfiction, so don't hold back :)