[A/N: Hey guys, here's my newest story. I'm really eager to hear what you guys think and I▓m also very, very, very nervous!
Plot Summary: Inspired by Jane Austen▓s 'Emma' and 'Pride and Prejudice' comes a story based of the Twilight series. Bella is a pretty popular teen having a great time at boarding school. She's got tons of friends and admirers but gets turned around when the higher-than-thee Edward Cullen enters the picture. He seems to have everything figured out, except her. All the while Bella is trying to reach her dreams as a dancer, and playing matchmaker while trying to avoid the fact that she has most definitely found the boy for her, even if he's everything she's thought she never wanted.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the original characters from the Stephanie Meyer books. But a girl can dream can't she?
"Here we are," Rene said in small sad voice. The usual high pitched girly incessant chattering that always seemed to be bubbling out of her mouth was missing. It was all Bella could do to not roll her eyes and giggle at the dramatic show her mother was putting on.
"Mom, don't be like this. We had two" she stressed the word two "very... long.. enjoyable months together. I watched Phil play baseball every. single. day. and you cooked every. single. day." The last bit came out through a forced smile and gritted teeth... But Rene, to consumed by her pouting, failed to notice.
"I just don't see why you can't go to school a little closer to home, Tallahassee has some great schools and Phil is supposed to be playing there for this season - no moving around!" Rene was obviously trying her best to make the present situation seem more appealing then being miles away from any parental supervision in Miami of all places... she was failing miserably. "Even living with Charlie would be better; at least you'd have some family to keep you safe!" Bella shuddered at the thought of going to Forks High School, the only thing smaller than the student population was the facility itself.
"I'm so sure! Besides, I love this school... I have tons of friends, and it makes me all the more excited when I get to see you after months of missing you desperately!" The last part wasn't entirely un-true... there's something about a mother's hug you just couldn't replace, but the freedom she got was so worth the distance! "And, this school is top notch. I'll be sure to get into a great college and my dreams will be that much closer!" Bella knew the responsible ending would win Rene over but the truth was, now that Phil was making quite an income, there wasn't any school Bella couldn't pay tuition for - her options were wide open.
"Oh, alright ms. responsible. You make me feel so immature sometimes; do you need me to help unload your luggage?" Her mom's mood was getting better by the second and relief washed over her when she realized she was going to complete yet another semester at Brighton Academy.
"No I▓m fine, my trunk has wheels and everything else is stored in the Alpha Dorm" Bella flashed her an apologetic smile and reached across the BMW's arm rest and embraced her mother one last time before she saw her again during Winter Break. Her mother smiled, kissed her cheek and told her to go before all the good beds were taken - which made her laugh. If anyone tried to take her bed in the dorm they knew she would fight for it.
Bella opened the heavy door of the BMW and searched for her purple pumps which she had kicked off at some point during the drive. After finding them she pulled herself out of the car and onto the sweltering asphalt. She felt the heat ripple below her, blowing hot air on her face and dress. Out of concern, not wanting to be flashing anyone with out knowing it, Bella adjust her white flowy empire dress that ended right above her knees - showing off her killer tan and awesome new Jimmy Choos.
Yes, Phil's new career jump had suited Bella just fine. She walked quickly to the trunk of the car, which had been popped open, and wheeled, out her candy red trunk which she let plop to the ground with a loud thud. Shaking off the light sweat which had formed at her hairline, Bella decided to move quickly afraid that her perfect spiral curls may frizz.
Allowing herself to move as fast as her heels would let her go, she waved once more to her teary eyed mom, and she reached the arches of the campus quickly. Just before entering school territory, Bella surveyed her last moment of remaining freedom. She could easily start running for the nearest bus stop and leave school behind her... but that wasn't her dream. Bella was a killer dancer and had plans to, although her parents were unaware, apply to Julliard. The mere thought sent shivers down her spine; she still had to pass this ending semester to even be considered.
So, without any more pauses, Bella squared her shoulders - set her jaw - and strutted onto campus like the Queen Bee she was.
The mobs of people darting over to Bella to ask her about how "amazingly amazing" her summer was, was overwhelming to say the least. Just to get to the Alpha dorms took 25 unnecessary minutes. She was sure the back of her neck was sticky with sweat but she managed to stay relatively dry in this blistering heat and humidity. She could barely suppress a moan of pleasure when she walked through the French doors of the dorm's air-conditioned lobby. She dropped her trunk where she stood and just took in everything about the dorm, eyes closed, oh how she'd missed this. The smells of girly perfume, the sounds of whispers and gossip, taste of success, it felt right. She heard clacking coming increasingly closer by the second and began to grin to herself, she knew that effortless cat walk strut anywhere - even if she couldn't see it. Within seconds she was being strangled to death by a tiny pixie haired girl. Her best friend, Alice.
"Oh. My. GOD! I've missed you so much! You look amazing! You won't believe what happened this summer" Alice bubbled out, it was hard to resist grinning around her... she had this aura of happiness and youth. "Ok, so Lauren apparently begged 6 guys to hook up with her and was like... totally shut down by all of them so she was all depressed and..." Alice continued to spill gossip, jumping up and down during the exciting parts - wiggling her eyebrows during the sexy parts... Bella only half listened but was just so happy to have her best friend back after two months of BASEBALL! BASEBALL! BASEBALL! "Yeah, so she got the boob job and one is soooo obviously smaller than the other... it's the funniest thing I▓ve ever seen. Whenever I see her it gets me each time" Alice giggled happily and looked at Bella, expecting more of a reaction. "So... ms. seriousness... what did you do this summer?"
"Ugh, just watched Phil play baseball everyday and my mom was trying to be some sort of homemaker and made all of our meals. I swear that's why I can fit in to size 2 jeans now..." Bella rolled her eyes dramatically and feigned fatigue. Alice chuckled and linked arms with Bella and began to drag her away - to their dorm. Bella grabbed her bright red trunk and wheeled it along as best she could; Alice was so excited she was practically dragging her.
"Well that's no fun. But at least it's only for the summer... my family decided to send my brothers here too... they said some bullshit excuse like 'they can watch out for you'! As if, those two would soooo let me drown!" Alice whined, obviously having much resentment towards the situation.
"Aw, I'm sorry. But I thought you said the older one was really nice... and the one our age never really bothered you... ugh - what were their names again?" Bella asked lamely... she'd know Alice for two years but had never met her other siblings who regularly attended Manchester Boarding School in New England. She'd met her gorgeous parents Esme and Carlisle; she could only imagine how handsome her brothers must be.
"Emmet is the oldest; he's like a big teddy bear but loves a prank or fifty... And Edward is our age. He's naturally good at everything but knows when to be more reserved... whatever you probably wont see him that much anyhow" Alice sighed "But, back to Lauren..." And she droned on for another half an hour when they were cutoff by the clock towers light jingle - notifying that the dining halls were open.
"Ok, as much as I love to talk about the campus slut - I'm really hungry and I▓d rather not lose my appetite thanks to her"
"How on earth are you so skinny?!" Alice moaned when she saw Bella's tray was filled to the brim with steak, potatoes, greens, chips, cookies, soda and a small salad. Alice on the other hand had a large Caesar salad and a diet coke.
"It's all my dancing, it makes me so hungry!" Bella mumbled with a mouth full of food and she tore away at it - not realizing just how hungry she had been. After a moment of silence, the expression of horror still present on Alice's beautiful pale face, she felt a soft plop next to her and the presence of heat. Someone had sat next to her, someone warm... She turned her head and almost gasped. There was a boy sitting next to her, the most beautiful she'd ever seen. His hair was a rusty auburn color and his eyes sparkled like emeralds. His features had the ability to be clean cut and defined but still soft all at once, he seemed tall - although he was sitting down - and his graphic tee could barely hide the muscle definition she saw poking out underneath. Wow.
"Oh, ok Edward! Make yourself comfy, don't say hi or anything! Wouldn't want you to hurt yourself in the effort to be friendly!" Alice whined at him. He rolled his eyes and chuckled lightly; he turned his handsome self to face Bella and stuck his handout formally.
"Hello Bella, I'm Edward" He said, his voice musical and rich. She was fairly shocked to have him know her name but she didn't care. In his voice her name sounded like a rare jewel. Not wanting to drool, Bella composed herself and shook his hand lightly and smiled.
"Hi Edward, it's nice to finally meet you. I have to drag any facts about you and... Emmet was it... out of Alice by force" She giggled slightly and cursed her brain for making her seem like some retarded school girl.
"Well, you're all Alice ever talks about, she shows us pictures... they don't do justice to the real thing though" He gave a crooked smile and she could have died right there... he was taking over her senses in a way she had never experienced and it was scaring her. It was odd... she had the extreme urge to take a photo of that smile and carry it around with her like some crazy stalker. 'Keep it together girl!'
"T-thanks! I never saw you before... today? Uh... but I▓m sure you look nice in a picture too!" She choked out lamely. She could feel her heart skipping and her face reddening. When her ashamed eyes locked with Alice's immense amusement was all she found. Bella tried to occupy herself with fumbling through her bag for her phone and gasped when she saw the time. "Shit! I totally forgot" She groaned. Alice cocked her head to the side questioningly, Edward leaned it curiously and she tried to ignore the extreme urge to pin him down and make his wildest fantasies reality. "Oh, I have to go help set up the dance room. I'm teaching a beginners course this year and I▓m helping the teacher make the semester's outline for each class" She explained quickly as she stuffed her belongings into her brown Kate Spade tote. She grabbed her point shoes out of her bag to have them ready for a quick change from pumps to toe shoes. She saw an impressed look wash over Edward's face and she cheered happily inside. "And then I▓m also helping the tap, jazz and modern courses build their base - they're new classes so they're all scattered about" Her eyes darted to Alice's watch and new she had no more time to waste.
"Go, go! We'll be fine, call me when you're done" Alice said, rolling her eyes and laughing. Bella stuck her tongue out and giggled. She then eyed Edward nervously, a small shy smile present.
"Well, um. I hope you like it here. If you ever need any help getting around - Alice has got my number!" She muttered lamely and began to walk towards the exit. She pulled the giant glass door open and looked back one last time, to survey Edward. He was talking to Alice and laughing, she was sure he was making fun of her most recent conduct. She squared her shoulders and glared at his unknowing face. This was going to be an interesting year, and somehow she knew, he would make it even more so.
[A/N: Ok, ok. This chapter was a little vague - but it's only the beginning. It's really just a test to see if my writing is ok and that you guys are into it so far. I'm sorry it's pretty short (at least for me) and the others will get longer once I get into the plot and such. I will take ANY SUGGESTIONS/COMMENTS/CRITIQUES to heart, so please feel free to REVIEW! I also would love a Beta, don't hesitate to offer. I do know where I'm going with this, I▓m sorry if it's super confusing at the moment! I'm not trying to be all messy and jumbled. Right now there are NO LOVE CONNECTIONS! Not even Alice and Jasper yet (GASP!). But don't worry about it wink wink.
GO REVIEW AND TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT!
T.B.C!