I sighed as we pulled into the school parking lot, not ready to start our lives over — again. It has been years since I had been changed, and this would be at least the fourth time I would be enrolling high school. I turned to look at Edward, and he gave me a reassuring smile, telling me everything would be okay.

He got out of the car first, and like the gentlemen he was raised to be (in the 1900's), he walked around his car to open the door for me. "Don't worry, Bella," he whispered into my ear. I felt his hand reach for mine, our fingers intertwining. "Everything will be amazing."

"I'm holding you to that," I said, teasing him. I squeezed his hand slightly as we began walking towards the main office of our new, well old school, Forks High School.

"I can't believe we're back," I heard Alice call from behind Edward and I.

Edward, whose arm was now wrapped around my waist, looked down at me and smiled. "I remember, all those years ago, when my life finally began — on your first of school here." He leaned down to kiss the top of my forehead, but I lifted my chin so our lips could meet.

"Well I remember when I walked into this very office and saw you talking to Ms. Cope about switching out of biology because of a certain someone."

"She must have been awful," he said, his voice heavy with sarcasm.

"Who said it was a she?" I said, fake gasping. "That Mike Newton was always a handful, I'm almost positive he was the reason."

After getting our schedules, which were almost identical, we had time before classes started to do whatever, so Edward and I decided to take a walk around the school. I smiled as we passed the cafeteria, remembering the first time Edward and I saw each other. "Come on," I said. "Let's go in."

As we walked through the doors, the memories flooded me. I saw the salad bar, already stocked with some fruit for the kids who didn't have breakfast.

"An apple," Edward pointed out. "How convenient." The apple was in the middle of a fruit bouquet that, to me at least, looked disgusting, but I'm guessing that to a human, would look mouth watering.

"Edible art."

"That's my line," he laughed, going over to pick it up, but using my vampire speed, I beat him there. Just for old time's sake, I "accidentally" knocked it over, and because he's so perfect, it bounced off the toe of Edward's shoe and landed in his palms.

A screeching bell rang so loudly, I could have heard it from miles away, and not just because I'm a vampire. "Let's get going," I said, not wanting to get in trouble on the first day.

Edward and I walked into our AP Spanish, not knowing where to sit, as it was the middle of the school year. Edward walked up to the teacher standing in the front of the classroom and told him how he and I were new, along with our adoptive siblings, and of course, it was in fluent Spanish. The teacher asked us to introduce ourselves to the class, Edward doing it in his perfect Spanish, while I chose to speak in English. "Hi, I'm Isabella Swan, but I go by Bella. Um, I just moved here from Seattle, and uh, yeah."

"Good job with the fillers," Edward said, loud enough for only a vampire to hear. "Very human of you."

"Does it matter where we sit?" I asked politely, in perfect Spanish this time, wanting to be on this teacher's good side. Edward and I could speak many languages fluently in our sleep, if we could sleep, that is, but unfortunately, this was the most advanced class this tiny high school offered, and foreign language was required.

"You two certainly have good Spanish. I see why you're in this class."

"Yes, our family spent a few years in Spain because our mother loved their culture. We perfected it there," I told the teacher, even though it was a complete lie. I'm sure Esme would love the Spanish culture — but not the sun that came along with living in Spain. Also, with all the time we had on our hands, learning Spanish fluently would take us about two weeks, another vampire perk, having a perfect brain, never forgetting anything.

"Well, I might just take the period off and let you teach you guys teach the class," he said jokingly. "Sit anywhere you want, just don't be a distraction."

I chuckled at his joke and followed Edward towards the back of the classroom, apart from everyone else. "You know the last time we went here, everyone thought you guys were freaks," I said as we sat down at the farthest table, pushing our chairs together into a make-shift bench.

"I wonder why?" Edward said, laughing.

"I want to have friends this time, Edward," I said after a few moments of silence, not knowing what his response would be. "And I know Alice does as well. I mean, I love you guys to death, but if we're gonna be doing this for a while, I think we should all make some friends. I think it would be good for us."

I could tell he was trying to stay calm, but even without being able to read his mind, I knew that he hated this idea. "Bella, do you remember what happened the last time I became "friends" with a human?"

"Yeah, Edward. I do. And that was the best thing that ever happened to you, you've told me yourself," I said, starting to get defensive.

Edward sighed, looking down at the floor, then closed his eyes and inhaled slowly, as if he were trying to meditate. I was going to remind him that he doesn't have a heart beat to slow down, but he began to speak. "I'm sorry, Bella. That's not what I was going for. Becoming friends with you, deciding to talk to you, to get to know how absolutely perfect you are, was the best decision that I ever made. But, I was going to say that becoming friends with a human lead to that human finding out about my family's secret."

"I understand where you're coming from, Edward, but in case you didn't realize, the only reason I found out was become of my inhumane amount of stubbornness..." I chuckled, remembering what I went through to find out what he is. "And, I seem to remember the only reason I even thought you were different was because of all the things you needed to do to protect me. And lastly, I am positive that only one person on this Earth needs protection from a) leaving a book store, b) standing in a parking lot, and c) a biology lab, and that is Bella Swan, yours truly."

Edward smiled. "That was a very convincing argument, Miss Swan. You should go to law school," he said sarcastically, knowing that just last year I had graduated from Yale, majoring in law. "However, you made a strong case; I shall consider it."

I punched him playfully, with the amount of strength that would have let any human black and blue for at least a week, but to Edward, it felt just like a tap on the shoulder. "I'm serious about this. I love it here in Forks, it's the one place that truly feels like home to me. And if I'm going back to high school, I'm going to live the high school experience, whether you're by my side or not, although I hope you are."

Once again, the screeching bell rang, and everyone was out of the classroom so fast, I could have sworn they were faster than a vampire. "Miss Swan and Mr. Cullen, please, come here. I need to talk." We made our way from the back of the room towards his messy desk. "Listen, I know you guys didn't pay attention, and quite frankly, I don't care," he paused, and I could tell that he wasn't sure whether he should go on, but, he did. "I know that your Spanish is probably ten times better than mine, and that this class is a waste for you, but please, try to keep your talking to a minimum, the entire class kept looking back at you every other second."

"Of course, we're sorry for being so disrespectful. I will definitely try," Edward said, bring out his goody two shoes side. Hand in hand, we walked out of the classroom and into our next, Biology.

Once again, we were forced to introduce ourselves, only this time, we requested a specific table. Mostly because I was turning on my charm, the teacher allowed us to sit wherever, very confused on why we would care which seats we would sit in. As if it were fate, today, the class would be analyzing onion roots. Edward and I looked at each other and started cracking up, drawing more attention than needed, but at this moment, we didn't care.

"Is everything okay?" the teacher asked, sounding more annoyed than concerned.

"Oh, yes, everything is perfect. Carry on with your lesson," I said, trying to sound as serious as possible, but I could hear Edward still chuckling under his breath. After suffering through a lecture about the different stages of mitosis, we were each handed 5 different plates to analyze.

Edward and I got right to work, probably not even needing the microscope, but to look human, we used it anyways. "Metaphase," I said. Smirking, I added, "Did you want to check?"

"It's metaphase," he confirmed.

"Like I said," I replied with a smirk.

When class had ended, once again, we had won the golden onion — again, but this time, it ended up in a nearby trash can. Edward walked me to gym, the only class we didn't have together, and kissed me goodbye before I entered the girl's locker rooms. The class was playing basketball, and for the first time I could ever remember, I didn't dread walking into this gym, seeing as I now had vampire reflexes and didn't trip over flat surfaces.

We were asked to partner up, and I got stuck with this jock who said his name was Steven, but was a bit too engaged in our small talk. After beating him one-on-one at least five times, the class ended, and we were sent back into the locker rooms to change. But as I walked out, of course, Steven was waiting at the door for me. "You have lunch, right, Bella?" he asked, even though he knew the answer.

"The last time I check, everyone has lunch together," I replied, sounding slightly annoyed. I tried walking past him, but he would just jog a bit too catch up with me.

"Here, I'll walk you to the cafeteria," he offered, again, sounding too eager.

Even though I already knew my way to the cafeteria, I accepted. On our way there, Steven told me about all of his "epic" pranks he has pulled on either students or teachers, and how much of a legend he already was in the eyes of the student body. "You should meet my brother, Emmett. You two would get along well," I told him.

We walked into the cafeteria, and my entire family was already sitting around the table farthest away from everyone, as usual. "I have to go sit with my family," I said to Steven, probably sounding more excited than disappointed. "Maybe we will see each other again."

Edward had saved me a seat next to him, like the perfect gentleman. I looked around to see a perfect family, to my eyes at least, but I'm betting that to any human in this room, we would be seen as a bunch of freaks. However, my time taking in the beauty of the people sitting around me was rudely interrupted by a pack of boys, all in the same yellow letterman jacket.

"Hey, Bella," Steven said awkwardly. "I know we just met and all, but there's a small party tonight at my buddy Alex's house. You in? Only the coolest kids are going."

"So I'm guessing you won't be there?" I asked, not able to give up a perfect opportunity to play with him a bit.

"See, I told you! Isn't she funny?" he said towards his friends.

"I wasn't being funny — I'm dead serious." I said, cracking a smile. "I'll be there." I glanced over at Edward, who looked like he could rip Steven's head of for even attempting to flirt with me. Edward was the love of my life, well, my existence, and I didn't want to get in a fight on our first day back at Forks High School, so I told Steven I would only go if I could bring Edward, emphasizing that he is my boyfriend.

"Um, sounds great," he said. "See you both there." He turned and walked away, but little did he know how perfectly clear I could hear his friends making fun of him for practically being turned down for once in his life.

We all finished our food, and by finished, I mean that we threw untouched food into the trash can. "Bella, we're not going to a party tonight," Edward said as we left the lunch room. I knew he hated the idea, but I was hoping that his love for me would overpower his wants or something cheesy like that. "What if something goes wrong?"

I sighed. "What could go wrong, Edward. I'd be with you the entire time — I just want to have some fun. I want to make some friends."

"You have 6 friends already," he pointed out, trying to sound optimistic.

"Do you know how pathetic that sounds?" I said, picturing me telling everyone how I only had six friends who just happened to be related to me. "And 5 — I don't think Rose counts herself as my friend... Edward, I'm going to that party. And you're coming with me, whether you like it or not."