Chapter 1

POV: Bella

My name is Isabella Marie Swan. I am not human. I am a vampire, but I have blood running through my veins and a beating heart. My father was also a vampire as was my mother, so I am a pureborn vampire. Charlie is a little over five hundred years old while my mother is two hundred. I was born seventeen years ago in Forks, Washington. Of course, as a pureborn vampire I have some traits that even regular vampires don't have. I can hear people's thoughts. After a while, my mother divorced my father and moved away, taking me with her, to live in Phoenix, Arizona.

Of course, you'd ask, I thought that vampires couldn't live in sunlight. Well, my kind can. Because she had grown to hate my father, she took her hatred for him out on me for being his daughter. She would ignore me for long spaces of time. One night when she'd gone hunting, she returned with a male that she'd bitten. After he'd turned, they'd married. Reneé would allow him to beat me instead of her when he was in a rage, which was often.

After a while, Charlie had found out what was happening and went to court to get permanent custody of me. And Reneé being the bitch she was, insisted that I stay, just so I can take her place as her husband, Phil's, punching bag, not that she cared with happened to me. Needless to say, the court awarded my father emergency custody and warned my mother that if she came within 100 miles of me, my home, or my school while I lived under my father's roof, then she would immediately be sent to jail. The minute I found out the court's decision, I began packing my bags and calling Charlie to make arrangements. I was ready to leave within a matter of a few days. I had one of my cars, a dark blue Volvo, sent ahead of me so that when I left my mother and Phil could not touch it. The night before my flight, Phil went into a rage and came after me.

This time, instead of taking it, I fought back. And since a pureborn vampire is stronger than a human that was turned, I was able to beat him off. I left the next morning, driving my car, a black Aston Martin Vanquish, a seventeenth birthday present from Charlie, straight onto the private plane that Charlie had ordered to bring me home. Since I remembered where the house was, I drove myself to the house where Charlie met me. He helped bring my bags into my old bedroom, which had not changed much except for the desk in the corner with a laptop computer with full internet connection, I might add, but the old rocking chair that my mother used to sit in to nurse and sing me to sleep as a child was still there. Since I hadn't hunted since I'd left Phoenix, I went out for a quick fix. I don't drink human or even bagged blood.

As I hunted, I passed by a meadow, where other people were hunting. At first I thought they were humans, but they had no heartbeat. I stilled behind a tree as one of the people grabbed a deer and immediately began to drain it and I realized that they were vampires too. After a moment, the sun showed itself for one of its rare appearances and I gasped quietly. They looked beautiful, like they had hundreds of diamonds shining across their skin. One of them, a boy who could be no older than me, turned and looked into the forest as if searching for something. I gasped again and quickly disappeared into the forest again before he could see me, returning to my hunt, wondering if I would see them again.

After I finished, I returned to the house and went to bed, tired yet strong. I was nervous as tomorrow would be my first day at Forks High School. I fell asleep, dreaming of that boy's golden eyes. When I woke that morning, it was from the weirdest dream, or vision that I'd ever had. Ever since I'd been a child, I'd had visions of the future in my sleep. Many a time, this led to sleepless nights.

This vision had me in a meadow with the boy that I'd seen while hunting the day before; the one who had heard me, even though I was trying so hard to be quiet. We were talking, even though I couldn't understand what was being said. Then he cupped my cheek with his hand as I cupped his with my own. We'd stood in the meadow just looking at each other, as if we meant something to each other. It had started just a few days ago when I saw a vision of three vampires that were feeding on a human, but I couldn't tell where they were. I shook my head to dispel such thoughts and got up to get dressed and headed off to school.

I was surprised that when I was about to get out of my car another pulled in next to me. A nice shiny, silver Volvo; I own one too, another gift from Charlie for my sixteenth birthday, until Phil put a rather large dent in it. When Charlie had asked what had happened to my car, I'd told him that I'd had a small accident and that I'd already contacted my insurance company about it and it was already taken care of. Luckily for me, I'm pretty handy with cars. I once took an auto mechanic class in Phoenix in my freshman and sophomore years and am now certified to fix cars. I was able to fix my Volvo, thank god, since it's my baby.

I absolutely love that car. It was the very first car that I'd ever gotten. I learned how to drive in that car. I only learned because when Charlie had given it to me, he'd taught me how to drive so that I could get my license. Reneé had had a fit because Charlie had never gotten her anything remotely close to a car while they'd been together. She'd been after me to let her drive it, but I wouldn't let her. She had her own car to drive. It may not have been as good a car as mine, but it ran well and didn't look like it had been chewed up and spit back out, so she really couldn't complain. But she had anyway, saying that she was the mother, so she should drive the good car. It didn't happen that way because Charlie had told her straight out that that was my car and I was going to be the one to drive it. Don't you see now why I love him so much? He's the champion of justice! It helps that he's a chief of police.

When I got there, it was apparent that not all of the students had arrived yet. Which was good, because then I wouldn't get stared at as much. I got out of my car, only to realize that I had everyone, at least all of the students who had arrived this early, looking at me, even those who were in the Volvo, which turned out to be the family that I'd seen in the meadow the night before. I was surprised to seem them at a human high school, but then one would think that it would be weird for me to attend either. As I walked by, I caught eyes with the boy who'd more than likely seen me the night before, and my beast reared its head, making my eyes change from their normal color of brown, to the glowing blue that always alerted me, telling me that I had to go hunting immediately.

My god, he's gorgeous. No! I have to get a grip on myself. I can't ruin the life that Charlie has built for us here. And if I get involved with him and things end badly, I'll have to leave. Then Charlie will be all alone again. I don't want that. Wasn't it enough that that bitch of a mother of mine hurt him so much when she left him, taking me with her? Charlie had known that Reneé had hated him when she left. He known it and he'd begged her to leave me here; saying that I'd be better off living with him. She'd taken me out of spite to hurt Charlie, because he hadn't begged her to stay on his hands and knees. And hurt him she had. Until he'd found out what she'd been doing to me. Then he'd gotten angry at her and done everything possible to get me out of that situation. Another reason why I love him so much!

I saw his gold eyes widen and I just moved on as if I hadn't noticed a thing. Once I entered the building, I realized again that I had all of the humans' eyes on me. I could hear their thoughts. Many of the men thought that I had just dropped from the heavens for their own personal pleasure while the girls thought that I should go back to where I came from. I rolled my eyes at these juveniles. How could they act like children? But then I remembered that I was the shiny new toy. I'm certain that after I've been here for a while, all the newness will wear off and I can slip quietly into the shadows where I belong. As I looked around I noticed that this school was so different than the one I was used to in Phoenix that was just one building while this one had maybe three or four buildings that looked more like houses than a school. It made me wonder if the people would be different too, or would they just ignore me like they did at my old school?

I never made any friends at my old school. Everyone thought that there was something wrong with me, something different that they couldn't place. Then again thanks to the fact that everyone, humans I mean, don't believe in vampires just makes it worse. Sometimes someone would get too close to finding out my secret, and since I cannot only just read their thoughts, but I can make my thoughts their own, I would make them think that they're being delusional. And then I'd be able to go on my merry little way. I'd never told anyone about that ability. My parents both know that I can hear other people's thoughts, but I've never told them about the being able to change people's thoughts. I was afraid they'd shy away from me like everyone else.

I was drug out of my thoughts when I entered the office to find a helpful woman. She was busy on the phone, but she noticed me. She waved her hand at me, indicating that I should take a seat. I did and looked around the office. It looked like an ordinary office with pictures of past principals and other head figures of the school hung all around on the walls with a few paintings done by past students and donated to the school. After she was done on the phone, the secretary turned to me and said, "Can I help you, sweetheart?"

"Um, yes, my name is Isabella Swan. I'm new and I need to pick up my schedule." The one good thing that my mother did teach me was to be respectful to my elders. And half the time I was on my own without having her to remind me. I know better than to actually speak my opinion that this woman was a little to cheerful this early in the morning and mind you, I'm a vampire, and I don't need as much sleep as a regular human does.

"Oh, yes, of course. I have your schedule right here. Welcome to Forks High."

Then she handed me my schedule along with a map of the school, a slip of paper that each of my teachers would have to sign and for me to return at the end of the day, and highlighted the best route to each class which was good because half the time I wasn't known for my sense of direction. When she was done helping me, I went back to my truck to grab my things and more of the students were arriving. When I entered my English class and had my teacher sign my slip, he gawked at my last name which annoyed me and when he looked up at me, I gave him a look that said, "Make me introduce myself and I will gladly rip your head off. And I will make sure that they can't identify the body." Did I mention that I have a very nasty temper when agitated? No? Well, now you know. Luckily for me, and for his own good, the teacher didn't make me introduce myself and sent me to sit in the back of the classroom with a list of the books that we would be reading this semester. Of course, because I'm such a bookworm, I've already read all the books on said list. Not much variety here. Aren't there any other classics that these teachers know of? I mean I'm sure there are.

The rest of my morning classes were easy. I could do everything with my eyes closed. I could tell that this year was going to be boring. Though not all of my teachers were as smart as Mr. Mason, my English teacher; some of them did make me introduce myself, though I had most of the same classmates in several different classes, much to my annoyance. After every class I had a little clan of followers that would dog my every move. At lunch I was able to get a table to myself. It sucked to have to sit there and act human when I very much so wasn't, but I did it for Charlie. For the life he'd created for the two of us here. However, the food on my tray smelt like rotting garbage, so I tossed it out at my earliest opportunity. No one noticed so I got away with it. Before long the bell rang and it was time to go to my Biology class. Oh, great, just another class that I'll ace without a problem.

As I walked into the classroom, I noticed the boy from the meadow. Edward, I'd heard him called in the other students' thoughts. Another coven of vampires here in Forks; just great. Well, let's just hope that it doesn't create problems. I know for a fact that these vampires were not the ones that I'd seen in my visions; the ones attacking humans; other than the boy sitting at the only table with an empty seat. He glared at me as I took my seat. I ignored him and closed my mind to his thoughts as the class proceeded. I noticed as class progressed that his eyes had gone from gold to black. My own eyes went glowing blue as they did when I let my vampiric side have full reign.

He stiffened slightly as I hissed at him under my breath. Once the bell rang, he was gone, moving a little too fast. I slowly gathered my things and chuckled lowly as his discontent. The next time I saw him was in the office, trying to get his schedule changed. I laughed lightly as I handed my sheet to the secretary and walked out before he could react. I went to my car and was about to open the driver's side door when I heard a car door being opened behind me. I turned and saw Edward and his family watching me from within Edward's car. I threw them a wicked grin before getting in my car and sped off, driving way too fast. I would definitely need to go hunting tonight. My vampiric side was getting restless. Again.

I did go hunting that night. I found a small herd of deer not far from my house and luckily no humans were in the woods and they didn't see me feeding. Normally I would have continued hunting for something more interesting, but I was eager to get home and back to my drawing pad. I was an artist, something that I took great pride in. I could spend hours just working on one sketch. Sometimes it took me more than a month to find the inspiration for me to sketch. Sometimes it was animals, sometimes it was nature herself. Other times it was humans, just doing what they do everyday. Now my inspiration was Edward and his family. Once I returned home, I took up my charcoal and pad and worked way into the night until I was certain that I would not get this sketch done until the next day. I just could not picture Edward the right way. Every time that I tried it came out wrong and I wasn't happy with it.

I stayed as far away Edward and his family within the next week. Though I watched them closely, to see if there was anyway that I could improve them within my sketch. I'd bring my sketch pad to school and work on it, but sometimes I just didn't trust humans not to mind their own business. An artist's work is their life. Not that I saw a lot of Edward, himself, since he wasn't in school for the rest that week and here it was Monday again. I made my way as well as I could in the morning, but by lunch I was bored. I looked around and was surprised to see Edward sitting with his family when our eyes met. I nearly fell out of my seat with shock, but was able to control myself. I decided to ignore him. It would be best for both of our families.

His type of vampire and my type of vampire were worlds apart. I'd done some research. I once again threw out my food when no one was looking. I didn't think that Edward had such a dirty mind; though I don't mind. I listened around to everyone's thoughts and heard that Mike Newton, the self professed most popular and wanted guy in school, was going to ask me out on a date. I smirked a little, thinking that had he known what I really am he would not want to be around me. I know what he does to girls he asks out. He's nothing but a scum bag, man whore, who if he even dares approach me, is going to get what's coming to him. Just once I looked back at him and laughed at the expression of determination of his face. I heard Edward's thoughts on the matter loud and clear. Angela Weber walked up to me and asked me to join her and her friends at their table for lunch the next day. I smiled and told her that I would. Once the bell rang, I made my way to Biology.

Once I entered Biology, I found it hard to ignore Edward's presence. It filled the entire room, suffocating me. I knew that I was going to have to be careful. I could very easily fall in love with this guy. It wouldn't be hard, but for my kind, when we fall in love, it's forever. My parents were never truly in love with each other and deep down, they knew it. The feelings that I got from them when I was little were never quite right. People don't realize that they can feel in their thoughts. They never matched the feelings from other couples that I felt whenever I went to preschool. I would watch other couples pick up their children and look into each other's eyes. It was the look. I'd never seen my parents give each other that look. And when I saw those couples together with their children, I knew that we were not the happy little family that we wanted to be. Though I hate her for it, it was a good thing that Reneé left Charlie, because they'd finally realized that they weren't right for each other. But this feeling that I get when I'm with Edward, or anywhere near him for that matter was different from the vibes that I got from my parents.

I felt safe, protected. That if something, god forbid, were to happen right now, that Edward would protect me. I'd never felt this way about anyone. But I knew that I had to avoid him if he was going to act like a man who has just lost his girlfriend to his most hated enemy. When I sat down, he seemed as if he was trying to restrain himself from speaking to me, but after a moment I heard a soft, though musical voice say, "Hello."

I looked at him, surprised that he was speaking to me. I was so shocked that I was only able to murmur a polite "Hello" in response. Undeterred, he continued, "My name's Edward Cullen. You must be Bella. I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to introduce my self last week."

"It's fine," I replied. And it really was. I'm not mad at him for acting like a total jerk. He looked surprised by my reaction, but he was not able to reply before Mr. Banner, our Biology teacher, gave us our assignment. Unnoticed by either man, I rolled my eyes. This is nothing new. I've done this lab before though not with the same subject. I went first.

"Prophase," I said, before pushing the microscope towards him, because I knew that he would want to check for himself.

"Prophase," he agreed and wrote it on our worksheet. It continued like this until we were done with the assignment. From the looks of things, Edward and I were the first ones done. After a few moments, Mr. Banner came over to check our answers and asked, "Edward, didn't you think that Isabella should get a turn with the microscope?"

"Bella," he corrected automatically, "And actually she identified three of the five." He looked at me skeptically and asked, "You've done this assignment before?"

I smirked and replied, "Yes, but not with onion root." Then he asked, "Were you in an advanced placement program in Phoenix?"

"Yes, I was," I replied and he moved on, mumbling about how good it was that Edward and I were partners, so that the other students could do their work for themselves. After he left, Edward and I didn't speak much, and I was getting bored sitting around, waiting for everyone else to finish their work, so I pulled out the book that I was reading in English to pass the time, though I've read it about a million times. Edward left me alone until he asked, "It's too bad about the snow, isn't it?"

"Not really," I replied without looking up from my book. It had been snowing when I got up this morning and it had just stopped during lunch and melted.

"You don't like the cold, then?" No, duh, boy genius, I'm from Phoenix. Of course I don't like the cold, but I remained indifferent and replied, "Or the wet," and kept on reading.

"Forks must be a very hard place for you to live then." Of course, keep up with the questioning. Can't you see I'm reading here?

"It's not that hard. I ignore it most of the time." Yeah right. Like that's possible. Edward seemed skeptical but allowed it and asked, "Then why did you come here?" remembering why I had to come here made my heart hurt. I still didn't like talking about it, especially to a virtual stranger that I knew practically nothing about other than the fact that he's a vampire. Instead I told him, "I'd really rather not talk about it," and he let it drop.

I heard from his thoughts that Mike was getting jealous that I was paying Edward attention and not him. I saw Edward smirk from the corner of my eye and nearly smirked myself. Edward and I continued to talk about nonessentials until the bell rang and Edward walked me to my gym class. Oh, god, I hate that class. I wish I could skip. Edward seemed as reluctant to leave me as I felt to leave his protective presence. But when he did and I entered the gym I was bombarded by Mike's thoughts and then by Mike himself. I couldn't wait till class ended and went it did, I was horrified to notice that Mike almost followed me into the girls' locker room and while the look on his face when he'd realized what he'd almost done was hysterical, I was beginning to get worried that he might actually think that I want to go out with him when I really don't! I swear I couldn't go anywhere without him showing up. I mean the boy picked up the same things that I picked up in lunch today to try and impress me, for crying out loud! Even when he found that he hated it!

I was able to escape the girls' locker room before he left the boys' locker room and quickly left the gym, peeking my head out to see if he was waiting for me outside the gym, only to find Edward walking down the hall towards me. I sighed in relief, thanking god that Edward was there. I looked back to see Mike leaving the boys' locker room and he looked around. I quickly went through the doors and ran around Edward, hissing, "Hide me!" moments before Mike came out of the gym, obviously looking for me.

Through Edward's thoughts, I could see that he was disappointed because he'd been sure that I had just left the gym. Then I heard him ask Edward, in a not so nice tone, I might add, "Hey, Cullen! Have you seen Bella?" I wanted to growl at him, but when Edward shook his head and Mike huffed in aggravation, I snickered as quietly as I could. I couldn't help myself. This was just too funny. When Mike left, I came out from behind Edward, while laughing I might add, who asked, "Now may I ask why you were hiding from him?"

"He's been following me around since biology and almost walked into the girl's locker room after class today, which I thought was pretty funny while also being sincerely creepy. He's turning into a S. T. A. L. K. E. R," I answered and he laughed. I glared at him and continued, "It's not funny, Edward. I mean it; he's turning up at the oddest of times. He eats the same things that I pick up for lunch, trying to pretend that we like the same things. It's just creepy. I wouldn't be surprised if he watches me through my bedroom window at night." I shivered at the thought, because I know he had. I just couldn't believe that Edward thought that this was funny!

"Don't pay any attention to him. He's not worth your time." He just didn't understand. I've never had a guy obsess over me before. This was new and weird to me. I didn't know that guys did that. Of course, I've never had a boyfriend and am still virgin so that explains that right there.

"He scares me, Edward, now what am I supposed to do about that?" I told him. His reaction to that almost surprised me. I never expected Edward to get all protective of me, as if he thought me as his own, something that is in need of his protection.

"Don't worry about him. I will protect you." I looked at him as if he was crazy, which he probably was and said, "But you barely know me." At that comment he looked even more determined and he replied, "So? I want to get to know you." I panicked for a moment. I hadn't forgotten that we were still worlds apart. He was one kind of vampire, I was another. He was beautiful, I wasn't. He was way out of my league and it was better that I don't get any closer to him than I already am. It's best to protection oneself from future heartache.

I turned away from him, refusing to look him in the eye while I said it. "I don't know if that's such a good idea, Edward." When he replied his voice was stony and cold, as if he was angry, and he said, "Why not? Are you scared of me?" I walked away. I couldn't take this anymore. One more word from him and I would comply with anything he wanted and he so obviously wanted me. I walked towards the door and I before I walked outside, I turned back to him and said, "I'm not what you think I am, Edward, just remember that," and I left. I ran at vampire speed to my car and sped off. Luckily no one noticed me and I was able to get away with it.

Once I got home, luckily Charlie wasn't home, I ran to my room, laid on my bed and cried my eyes out. I laid there for I don't how long. After I got up, I tried to work on my sketch, but I was too upset. I got out of my school clothes and into the clothes that I wore when I went hunting. Luck was on my side and no one was at home. I put on my black leather jacket that was my favorite. My kind of vampire really didn't have to worry about the cold like a human does, but it would look suspicious if we went without a jacket of some sort. I went and opened my window and opened it, got out on the ledge and before I jumped off, I made sure to close it and then I jumped, landing on my feet like I always did.

Then I ran through the forest, feeling free as I always did when I was running. I felt like I had no problems. None at all. I felt the wind rush across my face and blow through my bangs. It wasn't long before I could hear him coming. I ran around trying to confuse him before I climbed up a tree. I got to the top where I had an amazing view of the town of Forks. The sun was setting and it was beautiful. The way the sky lit up with different colors, like pink and yellow. It was amazing, I never got to see things like this when I lived in Phoenix. I never went out much after nightfall, unless it was to hunt. I never had any friends, so I couldn't go and hang out with them.

After what seemed like only five minutes since I'd lost him, Edward appeared, sitting on the branch next to me. He'd thought that I hadn't noticed that he was there, but I had. I could hear him coming about a mile away. That was how loud his thoughts were; that was how I knew how he felt about me. My feelings were similar but I didn't know how to express them. Edward, though he couldn't remember, at least experienced what it was like to be human, while I was born like this and have no idea what it is like to be human.

"I thought that I'd lost you." The sound of my voice must have startled him because he almost fell off the branch.

"Well, I just couldn't leave you out here alone." How noble. I smiled slightly at his answer and said, "You know, don't you?"

"That you're a vampire? Yes, I know." He knew, yet here he was because I was out here by myself?

"And that doesn't bother you?" He looked at me like I was missing the point and he replied, "No, I'd just like to know how."

I sighed. Now it felt like he was missing the obvious as I replied. "There is no how, Edward. I was born this way. I've always been a vampire."

"But then that would mean…" He looked as if this was surprise to him.

"That Charlie and my bitch of a mother are too," I growled. He looked surprised again, but after a moment the surprised look on his face disappeared.

"But why did she leave?" I heard in his thoughts.

"I left because my mother hated me. She hated me because I was my father's daughter. Though my mother liked to tell her human friends that she and Charlie were still on good terms despite the divorce, they weren't. Charlie only called us so that he could talk to me. At the time it was good to know that at least one of my parents still cared about me. My mother would neglect me for days on end and when she did give me any attention it was to criticize or punish for some wrong I did; most of the time she just hit me because she could. One night while she out hunting, she came home with a human that she'd bitten by accident. Unlike you, our kind doesn't have venom. But our bite can be deadly if the human is not strong enough to make the transition. However, this human was able to make it. It wasn't long after that, they were married." I had to fight off tears as I told the story. It was taking a lot out of me, but I have to tell him. It's been so long since I'd had someone to talk to. I can't even talk to my dad about it.

"Now, newborns of our kind are kind of similar to yours, but they are easily enraged. Phil would get angry at even the slightest of sounds. He was very violent. Sometimes when he was in a rage, my mother would tell him to have a go at me. I was in shock the first few times that it happened, because I knew that even though my mother didn't care for me at all, I didn't think that she would blatantly put me in harms way. Things progressed this way until Charlie found out. He'd come down to see me while on his Christmas vacation and Phil went into one of his rages and came after me while Charlie watched." I could tell that Edward couldn't keep quiet anymore because he asked, "Didn't he do anything about it?"

"Of course he did. I'm here, aren't I? Now let me finish. Before Phil could lay a hand on me, Charlie attacked him. Reneé threw him out for attacking Phil. He left, but he told me that he was going to challenge Reneé for custody of me and he did. The next month, my mother was called into court and, well, in the end, custody was given to my father, who gave testimony that had he not interfered then Phil would have attacked me. I was then called in to testify as well and confirmed my father's story. Since I was of reasonable legal age, the judge asked me if I wanted to press charges against my mother and Phil. I told him no. That I just wanted to get away from them as fast as I could. It took only a few days to get everything ready, to make all of the arrangements. The night before I left, I still hadn't told my mother when I was leaving, so I announced that my flight was to take off at eight thirty the next morning. She reacted violently." I shuddered remembering the fight we had. I could hear Edward reliving Alice's vision in his head.

"She told me that she wasn't allowing me to go, but I told her that she legally could do nothing to stop me and that if she even tried that all I had to do was call the police and she would be arrested. She smacked me, but I didn't react. I just left the room and then when Phil got home, he was angry that I'd 'insulted' my mother and tried to 'punish' me. This time instead of remaining still and taking it, I fought back. For my kind, pure borns are stronger than those who are turned, so I was able to throw him around. I told him that I was tired of taking his crap and that I wasn't going to put up with it anymore. I left the next morning on the private plane that Charlie had chartered in order to get me to Washington. The rest, as they say, is history." I didn't react as I waited for his reaction. I didn't move until I felt him wrap his arms around me and I knew, I knew that I wasn't alone anymore.