CHAPTER ONE

Having to pretend you're a normal teenager for the rest of your life isn't easy.
Especially if your skin is so pale you wouldn't be able to differentiate yourself from an undercoat of paint.
When your skin is so cold it'd be more comforting for another to go skinny dipping in the North Pole than brush past you.
When your unquenchable thirst is not for H2O but rather, blood.
When you're not mortal.
You're a vampire.

However when you've got Edward Cullen as your husband, the ride uphill seems that much smoother.
Of course the marital thing has to be veiled otherwise you've got as many people believing your normal as the amount of people in line for a manure bath.
So when Edward and I began school again at the local public school at Forks the last thing we expected was that we'd cross the path with another enemy, an enemy more brutal than James or Victoria, even more powerful than the Volturi.
And she was only five foot high.

***
"Bella! We're going to be late." Edward called out to me from the car parked right outside our little cottage.
His parents had it built for us as wedding present almost sixty years ago.

Currently they were living in Hawaii soaking up as much of the Tropical Island as they possibly could.
Of course all the soaking up would have to be at night if they didn't want to reveal themselves to the humans currently occupying the island.

Our "brothers and sisters" were elsewhere at this particular time.

"BELLA!" Edward shouted again. "I DON'T THINK FORKS HIGH IS GOING TO CARE LESS ABOUT THE STATE OF YOUR HAIR."

"Gimme a minute!" I shouted back.

My long chestnut mane was doing its usual thing, i.e. standing up in a triangular figure.

I sighed and tended to a last resort. Stuffing my massive head of frizz into a beret and ran out to the car.

"Okay I'm good to go." I breathed and smoothed my green jumpsuit down.

Fashion really changes over six decades.

"Fluros back? Edward mockingly questioned, raising an eyebrow.

"You're just jealous that you're not as socially connected like I am."

When you're a teenage girl you need to look the part, despite how hideous the excuse for a clothing item is.
I ruffled his bronze hair through my fingers and laughed.

"I don't really care about fashion." He replied playfully.

I secretly admired his denim jeans and military jacket.
It had been years since I was last accepted into society wearing such a thing.

However when you look as good as Edward, you don't need fashion on your side.

***

Mortifying.

That is the only word fitting for my first few seconds in Forks High.
As I stepped out of the shiny silver Volvo, Edwards most prized possession that has lasted for all these sixty years, thanks to the advancement in technology, I saw them.

Evening gowns.

Tuxedos.

Formal Wear.

Obviously jumpsuits were out and formal wear was in.

Only it wasn't exactly formal wear.

It was formal wear with an edge.

The dresses were in all shades of silver and gold, slashed across the backs, revealing the entire back. They were ripped across the hem, jagged along the ends.

Tuxedos were similar, like they'd been battling a rouge bear.

Trashy formal wear more like it.

And I was wearing a fluro green jumpsuit.

"Socially connected 'ey?" Edward teased, trying to conceal an obvious grin.

"Shut up." I hissed, glaring at him, and took his hand in mine.

At least I'd have one thing to brag about.

A few snickers and giggles were made referring to my attire as I walked across the ever so familiar path to the school office.

However the giggles immediately suspended as they saw who exactly clutched my hand.

Flirtatious pouting and suggestive eyelash fluttering could be seen from the entire female body. A few from the male body too.

Of course I got a few looks, but I was more concerned for Edwards's sake.

You never know what this generation is going to turn out to be like.

The little girl in me grew particularly resentful towards these strangers and secretly numbered off which students would make a delightful snack if I wasn't completely content with the lunch menu.

A brunette with a short, skimpy red sequined dress flipped her hair over her shoulder and smiled suggestively.

"Hey, there handsome, I'm Heidi."She grinned.

"Hey…" Edward began but I instinctively jerked him out of her way.

Heidi made it to number one.

"Don't you even think about it." Edward simply stated.

"You're reading my mind?" I asked quite shocked.

"You're guard's down." He shrugged.

I moved skimpy brunette to number two and added Edward to the top of my list.

He snickered quietly to my right.

"Bella, I was just trying to be nice." He tried to explain.

I made an unsatisfied growl and he drew me in for a big bear hug.

"She doesn't smell anywhere near as good as you did."

I crossed Edward off and returned Heidi to his spot.

"Better?" I asked as we stepped into the office.

It seemed the same as it did the first time I'd graced this building however it had been modified with today's technology.

The receptionist wore a simple dress, barley slashed, in a shade of silver that clashed horrible with her grey hair.

"Not entirely Bella. You know I'd prefer it if…" He trailed off and I followed his glare.

Talking to the receptionist was a small girl, maybe fourteen, with long baby doll blonde curls that passed her waist. I didn't feel threatened the slightest bit.

That was until she turned around.

Her eyes were an amazing shade of violet, her cheekbones model high, her small freckled nose the perfect size as was her glossy plum sized pout.

She was pretty but not beautiful.

Heidi seemed more Edward's type.

I wasn't threatened the slightest.

Until Edward breathed those formidable words I will never forget.

And they weren't to me.

They were to the doll like figure staring deeply into his eyes; mouth gaped opened much like his.

He let go of me and returned her deep stare.

"You smell really good."