All character names belongs to Stephene Meyer

Chapter 1

Bella Swan wiped the fog from the car window. Outside, the morning was gray and slimy, a perfect way to start her first day at Hudson High School. The building loomed dark and ugly to her. Hundreds

of students milled around talking, smoking, dancing, and making out in hidden corners. It was a far cry from the all-girls prep school she last attended in Upper Manhattan. She almost cursed her

Mother for moving again. This was the third time during the course of her high-school career. Now in her senior year, she wondered how long her Mother would decide to remain in Brooklyn.

Bella learned the hard way to never settle down completely. Every time she found stability, her family upped and left. Renee Swan was a go-getter, forever making new business deals and hopping on

others. It seemed to her that his family was just an extension of her. They were like worn in furniture you never have the heart to throw away. Bella was normally a cheery girl with a big heart. But her

mother's pushy attitude and father's pride somewhat rubbed off on her.

Her mother Renee was vain and independent. The Swan family could always afford to be. She taught Bella that in the modern world, 'women needed to be strong; there were no knights on white horses.'

Bella then watched her lose all her dignity and beauty to a disease that wasted her inside and out. Renee chose to suffer at home; she couldn't bear the thought of the world seeing her shrivel away

to what she called "A festering shell of a woman with stomach cancer."

While the home arrangement worked well for her, the rest of the Swan family suffered. Eventually Bella shouldered much of the responsibility of caring for her mother's daily needs. Charlie then took in

his mother, Ruth. She and Bella were Renee's sole caretakers and for Bella, her whole world.

-Oo-

Bella thanked her driver Laurent and stepped out of the black Lincoln. She inched ahead a few paces and soon all five feet of her was engulfed in a sea of restless students and harried teachers. She

ignored the snide looks the other students gave her. This part of town wasn't used to seeing her wealth. She glanced at her program card. It was already twisted and warped because she wrung it

nervously in the car. Her schedule was light; she had completed most of her major credits in her last school. History, English and dance in the morning, lunch and lab science last. She took an

immediate liking to her homeroom and English teacher, Mrs. Brenchley. She had a calm smile and pleasant disposition.

One student in class rubbed her the wrong way; his name was 'James' Abergo. The name fit his attitude toward life and he was severely disrespectful to both students and teachers. If there was any

good to be found in him, Bella couldn't see it. She had the bad sense to sit in front of him in homeroom. He was a latecomer and as soon as he sat down he blew spitballs on her hair and incessantly

banged her chair.

"Why don't you grow up?" Bella seethed.

Mrs. Brenchley looked up from her book. "Is there a problem, James?"

"Yeah, this peach pit took my seat!"

"I did not, I was here before you came in."

Bella looked around for support; the others just kept their heads low. She realized quickly that they were all afraid of this ass-hole.

"James, stay in the seat you are in." Mrs. Brenchley warned.

"I don't go by that no more Clarice, call me Big J, I wanna be called Big J."

Bella smirked at him. "I don't think big fits your profile, just your head and mouth."

James glared at her with a vengeance. He was certainly taller than Bella, with longish blonde hair and small ice blue eyes. He had threatening low, brow bone; if he was nice he could be passably good

looking.

"You know what?" He whispered, leaning forward and breathing into her ear. "You better watch yourself and grow eyes in the back of that fucking pretty head."

He sat back and grinned, then turned to talk with one of his friends. Bella felt a slight chill and held her tongue. She usually never let anyone step on her or treat her wrong, but this time, she felt he

meant business. Mrs. Brenchley reviewed her roster and called out a certain name.

"Edward Cullen? Has anyone seen Edward Cullen?"

There was a flurry of excited whispers; a few students called out rude comments.

"Who wants him?"

"I hope I never see him!"

"He's probably in jail!"

Bella leaned over to the kid next to her. He was short for his age with blonde hair, sunken in blue eyes and a smattering of freckles. She had heard his name was Tyler Crowley.

"Who's Edward Cullen?"

"Nobody, just your local mass murderer."

Bella put her head on her arm and the chill returned. What kind of school was this?

-Oo-

Bella and Tyler also shared first period History class. The teacher was late, so everyone hung around talking. All Tyler could do was sigh and hold his head and Bella felt badly for him. He had told her

how he hated school, but his parents insist he finish. She discovered that he was very smart, and only sixteen years old. The principle thought him a genius and decided to skip him a grade. Bella

consoled Tyler with the fact that this would be his last year and he would never have to deal with these bullies again.

"Hey, I hope you get away with it...talking back to James I mean. If I were you, I'd avoid being alone anywhere in this school. I never go to the bathroom." Tyler warned.

"Tyler, that's silly, what do you do?"

"I hold it in, don't drink any liquids. I heard that a kid got thrown out the window last year, and another kid once got his eyeball kicked out, they never did find the eyeball."

Bella looked at him in disbelief. "That is such horse shit! Let me guess, James done it?"

"I'm not saying he did, and I'm not saying he didn't. All I know is you better start paying your protection money."

"Protection money from James? That is so damn ridiculous."

"No Bella, its protection against Cullen, James and his friends will be your watchdogs."

Bella was annoyed that anyone was foolish enough to give that douche James the time of day.

"Let me guess, you pay too?"

Tyler shrugged. "Yup, I guess I'm addicted to breathing."

Bella shook her head. James had an extortion ring. It didn't come as a surprise to her. She decided she wasn't going to take part in anything going down.

Her next thoughts drifted to Edward Cullen.

Who was he? What did he do that was so wrong? Maybe he wouldn't come back to school anyway.

It seemed most of the students would be happy about that.

They would just have to wait and see.