Preface: (BPOV)
Sometimes you don't understand why things happen. It could have been an accident or fate or maybe it was just meant to be. When I boarded that train almost two years ago, on Platform 8, little did I know that I was about to meet the one guy who could make my heart beat faster than any other.
Chapter 1: The New Girl
Two Years Earlier
Arghh! The first day of school; it sounded like a curse. I always hated the first day of school! This was my third 'new school'. My most recent change was so that I could study at one of the best schools in the country. I was on a scholarship.
I wasn't worried about the work, though. I was more concerned about fitting in.
Why was I even worrying? I wasn't going to fit in; what with my pale skin and my balance issues? You couldn't describe me as sporty nor beautiful. I am averagely smart and normal. Well, not so much 'normal'. This is probably due to my inability to walk across a flat surface without tripping over my own two feet.
Ouch! I bumped into someone, pulling me out of my reverie, landing on my bottom. See, a perfect example...
"Hey! Watch out, there." I glanced up though my hair to see a thin boy with jet black hair holding his hand out to me. I grabbed his hand and he hauled me onto my feet.
"Are you okay?" The boy spoke again.
"Yeah, I'm fine," I said softly, not wanting to attract attention. I quickly hid my face behind my hair and started to walk away.
Whew! He didn't recognise me. "Hey! Wait! You're Isabella, right?" Crap. I kicked myself mentally for hoping too quickly. The boy was walking in a bee-line toward me. Nearly all the heads in the parking lot turned towards me, scrutinising the 'new girl'.
"Bella," I extended my hand when he reached me.
"Tyler," he introduced shaking my small palm in his sweaty one. He seemed nice enough, but how did he know my name?
"Hey, Tyler!" Tyler and I turned around in time to see a boy with blondish hair walking toward us. I pulled my palm out of Tyler's and put on a polite smile and was about to walk away when...
"Mike," Tyler introduced, "this is Bella; the new girl." Oh, great!
"Hey, Bella," Mike greeted, putting his arm casually around my shoulders. "Hi," I replied, inconspicuously shrugging off his arm, "Sorry, I've got to go."
"See you around," he almost asked. I walked away as quickly as possible to my classroom, hoping that I wouldn't see him again. Were people so casual here? Or was it just him?
The rest of the week went by in a buzz, with the attention on the 'new girl' decreasing a bit. I made friends with a couple of people, but didn't want to make too many friends. There were two reasons for that. One, I was in year 11, so I probably wasn't going to see these people in two years time. I didn't want the emotional frenzy of missing my friends. Secondly, I didn't want the attention.
Charlie - or as I should call him, 'dad' - came and picked up from school. I ran straight up to my room and rang Renee, my overly cautious mum, who was in another state with her husband Phil. She was expecting a baby and was well into her ninth month. I called everyday, expecting some news. Unfortunately, her week was as uneventful as mine.
I skipped lightly down the stairs, nearly tripping, and into the lounge where Charlie was watching a game.
"Dad?" I called, trying to get his attention.
"Bella? What's wrong?" A concerned look came across his face as he turned to face me.
"Nothing. What did you want for dinner?" I asked, walking into the kitchen.
"About that... I already ate. It was late and I didn't want to strain you."
"Ok, that's great! I'm going to sleep anyway." I walked up to him, about to kiss him good night when he said, "Bella, I've got to fly to L.A. tomorrow."
"Dad, if it's the transport, don't worry. I'll catch the train." I assured him. I wasn't his duty to drive me to school and back. He should have his freedom.
"Thank you, Bella. Good night."
"Night, dad," I replied, kissing him lightly on the forehead.
I changed into my pyjamas, brushed my teeth and hopped in to my bed; sleep downing me in less than two minutes.
