SMALL SUMMARY: Bella Swan can read minds, but not the new student Edward Cullen's. Maybe that's because she can only read human minds.

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My name is Isabella Marie Swan. But I much prefer it if everyone referred to me as just Bella Swan. I've lived with my father in Forks, Washington since I was born, my mother Renee having died in childbirth with me. Because of that, Charlie finds any reason to work all the time. I try to stay out of his head, but I know the reason why he always works so late is because I look so much like my mother that it kills him a little just to see me standing there when she's dead.

I have always been different than any other kid. I can read minds. The only other two people like me are Alice Brandon and Rosalie Hale. Alice can see the future. Rosalie can travel back in time (though she's not very good at her landing, but if you mention that she'll happily pummel you for it). To Forks High School and the rest of the world, we're freaks. United against life as we know it. Most people look at us like we've got Ecoli Bacteria sticking to ourselves. They only hated the three of us because we never really talked to anyone outside of our little group. I should know.

***

Mornings weren't my forte. I groaned as I stumbled out of bed, almost tripping over the comforter wrapped around my legs. Muttering a stream of profanities, I gathered my toiletries and with half a eye open, made my way into the bathroom. It was like this every morning. I hadn't even gotten out of the shower before I heard banging on the bathroom door.

"Oh, c'mon, Bella! Me and Rose want to get a glimpse at the new kid before first period! Get your butt ready. Chop, chop!" Another bang.

Alice wasn't known for her impeccable patience.

I finished drying off, and put my fluffy blue robe on. When I finally made it back to my room, the little pixie was darting across my room in mid-search.

"You should clean your room, you know. I can't find those Chinese Laundry boots I bought you for your birthday."

"Good, I'm not wearing them." I sighed. This would undoubtedly start World War III.

Alice turned towards me, her hands on her hips. Her 'I'll-make-you glare etched on her pretty features. "Yes. You will."

"No."

"Save yourself the argument. I saw your future ten minutes ago. You say no, I say yes. In the end we know how it's going to turn out. Even if Rose and I have to make you. And we did. So, save yourself the trouble and Put. The. Damn. Boots. On."

I huffed, displeased that this was considered a very normal day. "You're so pushy!"

Alice grinned like a Cherise cat basking in her victory. "Oh, and I laid your outfit out. I'm feeling nice today, so you can wear jeans."

I groaned for the umpteenth time this morning when I found the super tight jeans laid out on my bed. My idea of jeans was denim that fit. Alice thought finding skin-tight and hard to get off fashionable. I had trouble yanking the jeans over my hips, but I barely managed. I yanked the silver sparly top over my hand, dimly recalling her paying only thirty five dollars for it. Only being her choice of words, not mine. If Alice got her way, we'd all be running around in ten thousand dollar designer dresses. And that almost did happen in junior high, before Rose and I developed our immunity to resist the Alice Brandon Legendary Pout that Launched a Thousand Unwanted Dresses.

By the time I got downstairs, Rose and Alice were leaning over breakfast. Chocolate muffins and orange juice. Alice practically lived here anyway, it was only fair that she helped my go grocery shopping every week or so. Her father owned some business he maintained in New York. Her mom worked as a doctor at the local hospital. Neither were hardly ever home, as was Charlie.

Alice had already poured me a glass of orange juice, so I sat down next to Alice and stole a muffin from Rosalie's plate. I ate in silence, listening half-heartedly to Alice and Rosalie's excited chatter about the new boy at school. From what I gathered, he was supposed to be a junior like the three of us.

A beep sounded from outside.

"That's probably Jasper and Emmett." Rose declared as Alice jumped up from her chair so fast it toppled backward, slung her book bag over her shoulder with violent force and was out the door before Rosalie and I had a chance to even move from our seats.

"Hyper little pixie. It's amazing how Jasper puts up with her. I wonder if she tries to dress him up."

I giggled at that. Alice did try to dress up Jasper for Halloween. He wanted to be a Civil War officer, but she wouldn't have it. She forced him into a Peter Pan costume and dressed up as Wendy.

As we made it out of the door, Emmett grabbed Rosalie into a heated kiss. I looked away. Alice looked lethal. "Hey, cut it out, you two! We want to see the new guy! I might have to fight off Lauren Mallory and her army of skanks before she gets her hands on him before we can try and set him up with Bella!"

Jasper chuckled. I glared at him. "Traitor." I mumbled under my breath. Jasper and his excellent hearing picked it up and patted me on the shoulder. "She's a force of nature that out not to be reckoned with."

I crossed my arms over my chest, trying my hardest to be irritated with Alice and her schemes.

"Oh, you'll get over it, Bella."

"Not helping, Rose."

I wedged myself in next to Rose and Emmett in the backseat of Jasper's '67 Chevy Impala. Alice was bouncing in the passenger seat when we pulled up at Forks High School. Before Jasper even put the car in park, Alice was already out of the car, scanning the parking lot for the new kid.

"Oh, oh! There he is! Ugh, Lauren and Jessica already got their grimy paws on him. Wait here, I'll go take care of this." Alice started to march off, but Emmett grabbed her by the back of the shirt, holding her in place. "Let me go or I'll tell Rose what I found in your room the other day, Mister!"

Alice was a force of nature. Emmett immediately released his hold on Alice, earning a glare from Rosalie.

What the hell did she find?

I shook my head, drowning out Rosalie's curious thoughts. She had made a pact with them years ago to try and stay out of their heads as much as possible. Emmett and Jasper, being Rosalie's and Alice's boyfriends - respectively - knew about our abilities. Jasper even tried to talk Rosalie into taking him to see the Civil War. With Rosalie's horrible landing, the two ended up between the actual fight. It wasn't pretty.

I directed my attention back to Alice, who was now across the parking lot with Jasper, talking to what I guessed was the new guy. I was positive my heart stopped beating for a fraction of a second. He was beautiful. The type of beautiful you only saw in magazines and billboards. Messy bronze hair.

Woah, he is a babe!

I stopped staring at the Adonis that Alice was talking too, grounding my elbow into Rose's side. By the look on her face, she knew I overheard. Before she could even open her mouth to growl at me to stay out of her head, the bell rang. Saved by the bell.

I waved to Rose and Emmett and made my way to English. Alice fell into step next to me. We had four classes together.

"Sooo, his name's Edward Cullen. He's seventeen. Total dream-boat. I invited him to sit with us at lunch."

"How does Jasper feel about you inviting the 'dream-boat' to sit with us?"

"Pft. He's alright with it. Jasper's in my future. I can one-hundred percent tell you that. We're getting married after college. The engagement ring is beautiful."

I cocked my head towards Alice, my brows pulled together. "You saw that far ahead?"

Alice nodded her head, staring out into space with a wide smile on her face. "Only that vision, I think. I saw it when I met him at the lodge, thinking he was my Pre-Cal tutor. We're soul-mates. Isn't that romantic?"

"Wow." I mumbled, as we got into class. The class formed in behind us. Alice and I took our usual seats in the back of the class, where we could easily pass notes without the teacher noticing. Alice and I had the highest grades in the class, and as long as we weren't disrupting the rest of the class, she didn't care.

The rest of the morning classes passed by quickly. Before I knew it, it was lunch. I had to turn in a library book, so I was the last to the table. Imagine my surprise when I noticed the table was full, other than my empty seat. Wedged in between Alice and Emmett was none other than the new student. Edward, my mind supplied. He was even more beautiful up close, I noticed as I sat down. His eyes were a oddish honey color, like topaz. He looked up at me. I felt my heart drop into my stomach. Confusion drew across his features for a millisecond.

Alice was beaming ear to ear beside me.

Then he glared.

I could feel the blood rushing to my face, my cheeks heating up.

He stood abruptly. "I'm sorry, Alice," his musical voice sounded, "I've got to go."