Hiya guys! I had this thought in my head that I would write a short story based in the late 1800s/early 1900s about some girl who was forced to marry some stupid guy, but I ditched that idea and started on this... let me know what you think! Plz review!

Disclaimer: I do NOT own twilight, no matter how much I would like to become rich and drive away with a hot guy in a hot car.... but I do own Rachel Racine!

PS: Like Rachel, I did my research! I don't live in Mill Bay, but I've been there, and let me say that it's a beautiful place :) That's why I chose it, and that's how I know stuff about it! So, stalkers, don't waste your time. :D

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Whenever people talk about love, they make it sound like it is the most amazing thing in the world. They say it fills them with joy to the point where they can't breathe. They make it sound so simple a toddler could do it.

My name is Rachel Racine, and I'm not usually filled with joy when I think of love.

You are probably thinking I once had my heart broken. Or maybe the guy I fell in love with was a jerk who didn't know a cat from a duck. It's not either of those things, actually. But I am willing to share my story to whoever wants to listen.

It started in late September of 1998. I was 16 years old and just starting at a new school in a new town...

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The forest seemed to fly by me as the bus headed towards the next stop. I felt like I could reach out and touch the falling rain, but was brought back to reality when an older girl with short black hair asked if she could sit next to me. I nodded my head and moved my bags so she could fit in the seat. The girl was petite, to say the least, and seemed comfortable sitting beside a stranger.

"Hi, I'm Alice. I haven't seen you around... are you new here?"

I was pretty shy that day. I mean, who wouldn't be; starting at a new school and such? I simply nodded and replied with my name.

"Did you in move from out of town?" She asked.

"Yeah, from Chicago."

"Oh cool, where's your house?"

"Um Telegraph Road. I've been here for a couple days."

"Well, if you need any help getting to know the area, I'd love to show you around!" Alice seemed a bit excited about me, so I accepted.

Mill Bay is a small community. Tiny compared to Chicago, but I've always wanted to live in a small town. When my mom told me we were moving to an island in Canada, I thought, Oh no. Not igloos. No no no no no. NO. I refuse to live in an igloo surrounded by ice and snow and cold water.

It wasn't until I'd searched for a map and found out that we were moving to Vancouver Island on the southwest coast, far from freezing temperatures, that I started to calm down. I did all the research I could on Mill Bay and the surrounding area... the only flaws I could detect were lots of rain, and the obvious point: it was on an island. A very large island, but still an island.

I figured Alice would know where Telegraph Road was. I, on the other hand, didn't even know where the nearest Starbucks was.

Next thing I knew, we were driving up the long driveway to my new school, Mill Bay High, and the bus was unloading. I walked into the office to sign in.

Alice insisted on coming with me to make sure everything went smoothly for me. It was nice to know that someone was there to help me in my time of need, and Alice's overly-happy mood was the cherry on top.

I smiled at the secretary and said, "Hi, my name's Rachel Racine. I'm new here. My mom told me to come here and pick up my schedule and find out who my home-room teacher is."

The older lady smiled a motherly smile and replied, "Of course." She gave me my paperwork and had me fill out some forms as she told me some quick tips and rules. Ready to fulfil her duty, Alice jumped in.

"Ms. Bunter! I'd be happy to show Rachel around, don't worry about giving her directions."

The secretary, Ms. Bunter, looked at me for confirmation that it was alright with me –which I confirmed my nodding- then turned to Alice and said, "Her advisor is Ms. Ready, room-"

"-229. Yes, I'm in that room as well!" Alice turned to me and was literally bouncing with joy, "I can't believe it! We get to spend every morning block together! Aren't you excited?!?"

Just as this was going I heard the morning buzzing ring. As I had understood from Ms. Bunter's briefing, this was the five-minute bell

"Calm down Alice!" I giggled. Her mood was starting to spread to me, "Yes I am, now let's get to class before we're late." We started to walk down the hall and took a quick left up some stairs. Alice led me to a door a few meters down the hall and stopped infront of it.

"Ms. Ready is a nice lady. If you respect her, she'll respect you. And try not to get on her bad side..." Alice trailed off, "Any questions?"

I looked at her and smiled. "No, but thank you so much. You have no idea how much help you've been"

"No problem, hey, what are you doing after school today? Wanna go explore town? I could show you around."

I realized at that moment that I had made my first friend at Mill Bay High. The first friend I'd made since leaving Chicago. It made me smile to know that somebody could be so kind to someone they barely knew. All of my old friends were very close to me, but when I met them, they were just another face in the crowd. Alice stood out among everybody, and I already felt the friendship building between us.

"Rachel, let's go inside before all the seats are taken." She tugged me into room 229 with that everlasting smile on her face.

Alice quickly introduced me to Ms. Ready and then pulled me to the back of the class where two seats were waiting.

"Nice," She congratulated, "She likes you, I can tell. We are supposed to use this block to do any homework we need to finish and Ms. Ready will do attendance. What class do you have next?"

"Um let me check," I pulled out my schedule the secretary gave me, "Science with Mr. Sosh, room 103"

"Okay, that's downstairs. It's right on the way to my class if you want me to walk you there." She didn't even wait for a reply from me, but smiled and started her homework.

Ms. Ready started calling attendance. "Lucy Allen"

The girl behind me called "Here!"

"Alice Cullen"

"Here!" Alice said.

"Edward Cullen"

"Edward, Rose, and Emmett are away with family friends- they should be back by next week. Jasper is camping with friends. They called yesterday and said they got lost, so they extended it a day. He should be back tomorrow." Alice told the teacher.

I was staring, amazed by what I heard. She saw me, laughed, then leaned over and whispered, "They keep families in the same advisor group here. Those were my brothers and sisters. I'll introduce you when they show up!"

Ms. Ready's voice cut in, "And I'd like to introduce a new member to our room: Rachel Racine. She moved here recently from Chicago. I'm sure she will come to feel welcome at this school with your help."

The rest of the hour I spent reading a book Switcharound by Lois Lowry which Alice lent me.

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Sooo.... there's the first chapter! Tell me what you think! Any guesses as to which way the story's going to turn?

~Maux