Chapter One
Introductions

High school. Or was my personal hell on earth the right term? I let out a sigh as I tried to tune out the voices in my head. All the student bodies' thoughts were focused on Annabelle Cale – or Belle as she corrected them – who was being ambushed by most of the single boys. Rumor was she moved here to Forks, Washington from Phoenix, Arizona to live with her father, Chief Cale over a custody issue. I don't think she'd like the whether, Phoenix was basically exactly opposite of the Olympic Peninsula. When I tried to see what she was thinking, it was as if no one was there. I could see her in Jessica Stanley's thoughts. I turned around to make sure she was still there. As I turned, she was looking at me. She smiled warmly and turned around to face her new friends. Jessica was telling her about us, the Cullen's.

The cafeteria quickly emptied as lunch came to an end. I headed of to biology. I was the first to be seated, but the students trickled in and chatted away. Belle Cale walked in talking to Angela Webber and Mike Newton. I cleared one half of my desk as she would be forced to sit next to me because it was the only empty seat. As Mike and Angela walked to their seats, Belle went to Mr. Banner's desk who lead her down the isle to her seat. She thanked Mr. Banner and sat down. She looked at me and smiled. I was hoping that I'd be able to hear her thought if I was closer to her, but it was still as if there was no one there. I wondered why.

"Hey," she said. She spoke in a casual tone, like I was just like everyone else. I was surprised, usually people's survival instincts warned them not to get involved with us.
"Hello," I said curtly, "My name is Edward Cullen. You must be Isabelle." I said.
"Belle," she corrected.
"Sorry. So how do you like Forks? It must be a big change compared to Arizona." I said.
"Yeah, I guess. But you get use to it," She said with ease. She was really easy to talk to; I had a feeling we were gonna get along great. I nodded.
"Your right." I replied. Mr. Banner started the class at that moment. The activity we had was really simple. Belle wasn't as clueless as the rest of the class. She had to think for a few seconds, though, but she got it right. Every now and then we would share a laugh or two. I was really beginning to like her, which was strangely odd. She was human. I was her predator. Humans weren't supposed to hang out with vampires. It wasn't safe. I taught her an easier way to remember the names of some of the samples, she was a quick learner. Although every now and then when her scent blew my way, when my throat burned with thirst, it was easily ignorable.

When class finished, she smiled and said bye as she walked to her next class. As soon as she was gone, I wanted to see her again. Something was seriously wrong with me. I could kill her with the slightest touch. I shouldn't be wanted to spend more time with her, but I did. She made me happy. I knew half of my family wouldn't approve of the way I felt. Alice, Esme and Carlisle would be fine with it. Rosalie and Jasper would be extremely against it, and Emmett would support Rose. I thought about this as the day progressed and came to an end. I waited by my car for my family. But I also stood there as Belle would have to walk past me to get to her car, and I wanted to see her again. I was anxious.

She was about to walk past me, then she noticed me. She smiled.
"Hey Edward," she said. I couldn't help myself, I smiled in return.
"Hello Belle," I replied. She looked at my car appreciatively.
"Nice ride," she approved.
"It's alright, I guess." I said. My Volvo was nothing to me compared to my Aston Martin at home.
"Better than anything around here though," she laughed as she looked around the parking lot. She was right.
"Your right," I said, and laughed with her. Rosalie, Emmett, Jasper and Alice walked up to us at that moment. Rosalie and Jasper were thinking all sorts of things about Belle. I felt like defending her. I had to protect her.
Introduce us to her! Please? Alice thought. I guess I had to, or Alice would never let it go.
"Belle, this is my family. Alice, Rosalie, Emmett and Jasper," I said. She didn't seem out of comfort surrounded my five vampires. Her survival instincts were very slow.
"Hey guys," she said to them. She smiled and couldn't help but feel happy. I loved seeing her happy, even though I had only known her for a day.
"Hey Belle," Alice said.
"Hi," Emmett said awkwardly. He didn't want to upset Rose by being as polite as Alice. Jasper was struggling; it's been so long since he hunted. We'd have to go tonight; he didn't need to test himself like this. It wasn't safe.
"Well I guess I'll see you tomorrow. Bye Edward. Bye guys," Belle said.
"Bye Belle!" Alice called as Belle turned away. Belle waved at Alice before hoping into her truck.

I stared after her as she drove away.
"Edward, what is this?" Rosalie shrieked at me as we got into the car. "She's just a human! You shouldn't be making friendships with them. It's not safe," she said. She had a point. But she didn't know I felt.
"You can't stop what's going to happen know Rose, I've already had a vision," Alice chimed happily. She thought about her vision for me to see. She'd had it at the end of biology, I was too focused on Belle I never heard Alice's thoughts. It was Belle and I in my room laughing like we were the best of friends. I gritted my teeth. I was happy that we were good friends, but I didn't want her to be in danger by being involved in the vampire world. Rosalie hissed. She didn't relish the thought of Belle being in her home, but not for the reasons I had. Rosalie muttered a string of profanities. Emmett tried to soothe her by rubbing her hand.
"Rosalie is right, Edward," Jasper agreed. No one spoke the rest of the way home.

As soon as we got home, Rosalie went straight to the garage to work on her car. Emmett followed. Jasper started to watch the news to see what was happening. Alice went straight to Esme who was dusting the kitchen benches and told her about the vision she had. Esme was glad I was going to make a good friend. She's been afraid that I was too lonely.
"Edward! That's so great. Tell me all about her," Esme said excitedly,
she couldn't wait to here about the human who would soon be visiting this house. "She's really nice. She doesn't seem to feel uncomfortable around us; she talks to me so casually." I paused. "But I can't read her mind," I tacked on at the end. Everyone in the house came to the kitchen, even Rosalie. They were all intrigued. She was the only one who I couldn't hear.
"Really?" Carlisle asked. I nodded. Even Alice didn't realize I couldn't hear her thoughts.
"She's the only one isn't she?" Alice asked curiously. I nodded again.
"Hmm," Carlisle said.

Jasper, Emmett, Alice and I went hunting that afternoon. Emmett left early and returned with Rose. Emmett whined that he was sick of elk, so we went further north and were lucky to find a few mountain lions. I couldn't keep my mind of Belle. When we got home Carlisle was called into work at the hospital and Esme was online. She was thinking about buying some new equipment and tools to restore an old little cottage she found a few miles south in the forest. Jasper and Emmett went outside to fight and muck around, Rosalie went out to watch. Alice and I had a few games of chess, Esme observed and had a few games with each of us. I had a new melody in my head. So I walked over to the grand piano by the door and started playing. Esme stood behind me, she liked the composition. Rosalie and Alice used the touch screen computer to start designing some parts of Rosalie's wedding dress – Rosalie likes to have a wedding every few years and Emmett likes to keep her happy – even though it was about two or three years away. The rest of the night wasn't very eventful. I was just anxious for biology tomorrow, so I could see Belle again. I wasn't sure if I could wait that long.