Chapter 1

Orphan

My hands shook reaching for the door to my greatest nightmare, high school. Inside it I'd only meet kids who pitied, taunted and asked questions, stupid questions. Most of them things I'd rather not talk about.

I've been an orphan all my life, or at least as far back as I can remember of my life And since I was young, kids at my school, any school, wanted to know one thing. Everything. Eventually I learned to keep my mouth shut and tuck myself into a corner where no one could see me. Unfortunately I'd always been the kind to attract the oddest attention, whether it was wanted or not.

I found no reason at all that this school was going to be any different than the other's I'd been to.

Finally I took a breath and pushed the door open, a sigh of relief escaping me before I could stop it. It had been cold all morning and most of last week when I arrived. I was beginning to think this Forks place had no clue what heat was, let alone the sun –though it seemed highly unlikely due to all the green plants indoors as well as outdoors what with all the potted plants all over the small school office.

"Hello there, can I help you?" the lady behind the desk spoke in a weird perky voice. She was a little plump and, as mean as it sounds, the pink shirt she wore made her cheeks rosier than they should have been; it reminded me a lot of a little piggy.

I muttered my name but she didn't respond so I could only assume she didn't hear me. "Claire…Newton." I hesitated with the last name; it wasn't really mine. I'd been Astor, Smith, and Pen before, Newton was just something to use till I turned eighteen and packed my bags. I'd leave and really experience a life; maybe even find my real last name.

This Forks, Washington place was just a minor setback.

"Another transfer? You're Mike Newton's new girl aren't you?" New girl, that sounded weird, but I guess I am since they had a little twelve-year-old named Natasha when I got here; I'm almost positive she's really theirs. Things like that didn't stay secret for very long here, even if I asked it to be discreet. Maybe it didn't help that Mike and his wife, Jessica, had been flaunting my adoption during store hours. Even so I nodded keeping to myself as her chubby fingers did a number on the keyboard in front of her.

I had begun to think of what others would say while she ranted about how both my parents had been students here. Only when a slip of paper was poking the side of my arm did I come out from the clouds -which is really hard to do in a place like this- and reach for it only to watch it slip past my fingertips as someone opened the door, letting in a large gust of wind and small sprinkles of rain.

In walked some sort of super model her lustrous brown hair curled into a bun atop her head. She was an moderately average height –something I'm admittedly jealous of, I can hardly even reach the top of the fridge where the cookie jar is kept from Natasha- but she had long legs that were clung to by snug, damp jeans. Beautiful snow white skin and the most stunning liquid topaz eyes made me feel really plain and underdressed, and she was the one wearing an ugly yellow slicker that, on her, looked like it came fresh off a designer's rack. What was someone like her doing here and not on a runway somewhere?

"Morning Patty, I'm here to put in Andrew's information." Her voice was soft and melodic, but it had a tone of power like the whisper of crashing waves on a distant beach.

I couldn't help but frown when my gaze moved to her stomach. Behind that ugly yellow thing was a slender toned stomach I could tell by the way it held onto her. She was so young too! If I didn't know better I'd bet my money that she was only a year older than my sixteen years –in three weeks I'd be seventeen though.

During the seconds it took me to tear my eyes from her and bend to pluck my schedule from the floor I'd missed her name, I also realized she was right next to me, I didn't even notice at first, there was no heat radiating from her that usually meant someone was close by.

"Off with you Ms. Newton, I hope you have a good first day." Patty smiled at me and I tried to smile back but was distracted by the wide-eyed shock from the woman beside me. Instead of making a fool of myself even further -she must think I'm brain dead by now- I made my way as quickly to the door as was possible on the slick tile floor. Unfortunately it wasn't quick enough to not catch the next exchange of words.

"That's Mike Newton's daughter?" her melodious voice a whirlpool of surprise. "She looks nothing like him or Jessica."

"You haven't heard the news? They adopted, it'd be a funny little miracle if she miraculously fit in." Patty laughed and I fought back a few tears. I refused to walk into my first period with puffy red eyes and tearstained cheeks. I was a junior, not a little elementary school baby –I'd skipped a year back in the sixth grade with since I'd changed families and schools, the one I went to before happened to be really advanced.

There was no lie to Patty's words though; I didn't look a thing like either Mike or Jessica Newton. Mike had pure blonde hair and Jessica had dark curls I had reddish-brown hair, auburn to some, that hung completely straight. They also had cream-colored skin and I had a year-round mild tan. I really didn't belong in that family, I think the only thing I shared with either of them were Jessica's brown eyes, though mine were a bit of a lighter color. Even still it hurt that I couldn't have a real family.

With my new mask of self-confidence and unawareness I walked through the thick damp fog that seemed to have been held captive in this town. Outside everything seemed so gray and monotonous, specks of mossy green would poke out here and there or the blue or white color of a car parked in the lot -none of them my ride, I have to walk to and from school since the Newton's only live right around the corner- even the buildings, all laid out on flat land, were the same dingy white that made me feel like I'd been walking past mirror after mirror. Was it so much to ask for a little color?

Even the few kids here and there seemed the same, the way they dressed, looked, walked. Not to mention how each one passed me with a questioning look that was already sickening me. I was tired of always being the center of gossip.

At this point of aggravation I picked up the pace looking down at my schedule and flipping from the room numbers to the back of the paper where there was a map of the school grounds scanned to it. I found the building and room, lifting my eyes from the paper to look for a sign that I might be anywhere close so I could get there.

It was a bit of mistake though because the next thing I knew I'd run into a brick wall. If it weren't for my good tolerance of running into hard objects I would have fallen right there and thrown a fit for being so clumsy. I admit I can have a bit of a temper if presented with the right situation.

I heard a chuckle though, a gentle ring in my ear that was a lot like the soft strumming of a guitar, the vibration of it even sent an odd sensation down my spine. Around that point I kind of realized my brick wall was more alive than I had first thought.

"My apologies, are you alright?" He said.

My apologies? Was this guy serious? Did anyone even say that anymore? A good 'sorry' or a 'my bad' would have suited this century a bit more.

When I looked up though I realized one of two things. One being that he was dangerously gorgeous and second being that he was made of marble or some kind of stone. With his height and mine I'd have run right into the middle of his chest but he didn't seem to have been affected by it at all. He stood right there as if I, a hundred and ten pound girl –give or take a few- had not just run into him.

For a moment that I didn't even notice had passed I stared, no, I gawked at him. If there really were such thing as perfection it would have been him. Wavy dark brown hair that seemed a little more grown than most boys would prefer, but it just made him look artistic and free. His structure was sharp, everything a hairpin turn. What captivated me more than his hair or his pale, snow-white skin were his dark tawny eyes. They swam around almost like a thick molten liquid, never the same a second later -or so it seemed that way to me.

Finally one of his hands reached out to press against my forehead and I nearly yipped at how cold he was. I mean I understand Forks is a pretty cold place but he felt like he'd been sitting in someone's freezer for a couple of days. Though he'd had a gentle touch he was quick to take it back after my flinching.

"Uh, fine." I finally said, my voice squeakier than I'd have liked. I immediately regretted it as his face took on a very large amount of surprise. It was one word? My first word to him, what kind of offense could I have committed in that?

My expression changed to one of annoyance and I was ready to snap something back at him but by the time I had enough courage to try, waves were crashing down behind me.

"Andrew," It was the same woman from the office, her steps quick and fluid like the water itself, I almost started to stare again until she was right in front of me. Her nose was wrinkled lightly and it looked to me like she was holding her breath; I'm an unusually observant person so I notice these things.

"Newton weren't you supposed to be in class?"

"Claire," I'd been shocked when she spoke directly to me, but I hated when people used my last name –whichever one I was using at that point in time that is- and it was like a natural defense to declare who I was.

She seemed a bit startled by my sudden proclamation of identity but not phased for any more than half a minute. It was amazing to watch that flicker of emotion over her visage all because of me.

"Sorry. Claire, shouldn't you be in class?" she asked again, this time though she seemed to caress my name with the gentle waters of her voice –look at me I'm going poetic!

I felt my face grow a bit hotter while she stared at me, the same for this Andrew guy. Both of them had such piercing gazes; they were like those stupid little laser dots that people like to point at others. "I, uhm, I don't know where it is." I finally said, in back of me I heard Andrew suck in a breath. Was he trying not to laugh, or was it something else? This guy was really starting to tick me off –I often wonder who I got my temper from, mom or dad?

"Let me see your schedule," she said holding her hand out for the little slip of paper. I handed it over to her, she took a quick scan trying to hide a frown when she handed it back. "Mr. Mason is right down there, you have first period with Andrew. Your in my fourth period class, he'll show you where it is."

Both of my eyes got wider, was she a student? I looked down at the schedule, first period was history -thankfully something I'm good at- with Mr. Mason; my fourth period was English with…my eyes widened further, Mrs. Cullen, she was a teacher! Again I just stared at the woman, she was so young and so beautiful, what could have possibly held her to Forks?

And what's with her age anyways? Andrew had to be at least my age, if not older, how did that fit in. Unless…unless Andrew was adopted too. I turned around to face him but Mrs. Cullen held his gaze sternly. They seemed to be coming to some kind of silent agreement; life would have been easier if people could read minds.

What snapped me out of this sudden stupor was the shriek of the last bell forcing both my hands over my ears, I should have realized we were standing right under one of those stupid little speaker boxes.

"Well that's the last bell, you better get to class. Andrew we'll talk about this later." And she was off that yellow slicker flickering like gold on her.

Turning I was going to ask Andrew which way to go but he was already ahead of me. How rude? He didn't sound like he'd be that type of person but he apparently was and for whatever reason it just seemed to make me a bit more aggravated.

"You could have waited," he seemed to flinch at the sound of my voice, like I'd all but screamed into his ear, which I hadn't seeing as how I'm struggling to keep up with him in the first place; his legs are really much to long. "I know you can hear me."

But he just ignored me and by the time he stopped outside of a door I was out of breath trying to match his pace. I looked up at him, my hands on my knees as I was hunched over, and caught is gaze my lips pursed together immediately. Hadn't he had a more liquid amber color, not a dark inky black? How weird, maybe they were hazel, or contacts. I don't know and didn't have much time to ponder it before he threw the door open and stepped in. I followed, my cheeks stinging as I felt the warmth of the classroom envelope me opposed to the cold outside.

"Can I help you?" Mr. Mason was a balding man, his beard trim and professional; looked more like a Professor Mason rather than just Mr. Mason.

"Andrew Cullen," he stated his name with confidence flashing a smile in the direction of our new classmates. A small mousy girl at the back of the room caught my eye as she looked up at Andrew blushing in admiration. I couldn't blame her, or any of the other female student body; he was gorgeous.

"And you?" Mr. Mason turned his gaze to me after taking Andrew's schedule and signing it. "Miss." I stopped examining the room and it's people, already muttering about Andrew Cullen.

"Claire, Claire Newton." More mutters filled the room, whispers and snickers; I felt Andrew next to me stiffen, almost like he was reacting to my discomfort because right now I know I had all the blood in my body in my cheeks. Mr. Mason took my schedule and signed it as he had Andrew's before handing it back to me.

"Andrew, by Kylie. Kylie raise your hand, please." The short-haired blond giggled with the girl behind her, both obviously thrilled by Andrew's close proximity with them. Her long nose made me really wish I could push it in, she was definitely what they call a school snob; I don't want to sound judgmental but every school was the same, it was easy to pick those types out after the first few times. "Claire take a seat over there my Pamela. Pamela?" the mousy haired girl from before rose her hand timidly and a part of me wanted to give her one of the largest hugs possible, she was teenier than me and looked just amazingly innocent with her halo of light brown curls and innocent blue eyes.

"Now you two can just follow along for now and if you have any questions ask me after class and I'll be happy to fill you in." I could tell I was going to like this Mr. Mason, he didn't get to touchy feely with his class but knew how to keep it all interesting.

However there was the issue of Pamela beside me, she was shy about how she stole glances at me, but even about three feet apart I felt like she was breathing down my neck. It was really annoying; luckily the lecture currently being spoken was something I'd worked on last year.

The pitter-patter of rain outside was the only thing occupying my time, turning it into beats. Every so often though my eyes would involuntarily roam over to Andrew sitting back as his pen scratched notes across his paper. Kylie, beside him, was whispering small words every so often to which he'd shrug some, nod, or shake his head.

I'd been so wrapped up in attempting to read lips that I nearly shrieked alone with the bell this time. Almost once again when Pamela's gentle fingertips grazed my shoulder.

"My name's Pamela, Pamela Cheney. Do- do you want me to show you your next class?" her voice was so soft and childlike, I wondered if she were as young as me, if not younger. How many grades are you legally allowed to skip anyways?

"Claire Newton, but you probably already knew that," I chuckled nervously not really used to people suddenly wanting to befriend me. "I'd like that, a lot."

Pamela smiled; it was infectious because I found myself smiling back at her, or rather grinning. Maybe Forks wouldn't be so bad. My head turned in the direction of two blondes and a brunette. I take that back, it was going to be bad, or at least until I found out more about this Andrew Cullen.

Well thank you for reading my dears. I know there must be a lot of questions. I'm not an idiot, I'm a fan and I know the rules and restrictions, obviously vampires can't have babies, there's an explanation. It's only the first chapter so things aren't absolutely clear yet. I promise you in time they will be.

Thank you again, please review.

Anna Craft