Hi. I haven't written in so long, but thought I would try something new. I have no beta, so please alert me to any mistakes! I don't own twilight! Rated M due to a dark theme later on.

It was a late November evening, I could hear the rain hitting the windows and the wind rattling the door. I looked out and through the pathway lights, I could just see across the quad. I loved Forks, but the weather made me cringe sometimes.

Teaching at Forks High School was extremely rewarding, and it meant I could share my passion for European history with the bright young minds of Americas youth. That is what kept me working late on a dismal night, being that it was parent-teacher night. I was waiting on a new transfers parents to turn up, whose child was starting in a weeks time. All I knew was that they were foreign, having just emigrated to the US.

As I was musing what I might come across, the door flew open from the wind, and a petite brown hair woman tried to push it shut with all her strength, which wasn't much considering her side. I flew out of my chair and rushed to shut it, knocking her slightly with my haste. Once it was shut, I turned to face her and apologize for my brash behavior.

"I am terribly sorry, I hope you're not hurt Mrs..." I tailed off, not knowing her name. Thats when I really looked at her. She was beautiful, with flowing chocolate hair, just a tinge of copper mixed in. Her doe eyes were a deep brown, that shone with her pale complexion and heart shaped face.

"It's Swan, we just moved here. I was told to come and see you as my son wishes to take European history. I am fine though, thank you." She spoke with an english accent, very proper and enunciated every syllable.

"Yes, please sit down." I indicated to the seat in front of my desk and smiled, in what I hope was a comforting manner. Once we were seated I began with my usual spiel about the course. "My name is Mr Cullen. I am a firm, but fair teacher. I expect all assignments to be handed in on time. We cover the rise and fall of the British Empire, the World wars, and the cold war. We will also look at the industrial revolution. Now I am guessing from your accent your child may have covered some of this work before." I paused hoping she would fill in a piece of the puzzle.

"Oh, well Alfie has probably done some of the work, but it won't harm him to go over it again" she said smiling. However, it wasn't a bright smile. If I was being completely honest, it was barely there.

"Thats fine, I am positive we will be able to accommodate him. I believe he has homeroom with me, so I will acquaint him with all the necessary procedures we have her" again she did that not-really smile thing. It was frustrating, but I let it go. I barely know the woman!

"Thanks ever so much. I am more nervous than him about the transition. He's a bright boy, but he was against the move. He may come across as hostile at first, but he will soon calm down I am sure." I looked at her and sensed there was more to the story than she was letting on.

"Mrs Swan, is there an issue I should be aware of?" I didn't want to push her, but I couldn't help it. There seemed to be a strain behind her words.

"Well, Mr Cullen, I happen to have just divorced my husband. Alfie doesn't understand why I'm afraid." She replied, pulling at a lose thread on her jacket. I just stared and nodded my head, and wondered what on earth had happened across the pond to make her move halfway around the world.

Chapter 1

I was woken up Monday morning by the blaring of my alarm. I turned it off, and went straight into the adjoining bathroom. It was one of my few pleasures, an ensure with a Jacuzzi bath tub. It had been one of the major selling points to the house, well that and the beautiful 1900's Victorian architecture. The four bedroomed property sat on a quiet road on the edge of Forks. It was perfect.

I stared at the mirror, seeing myself I cringed. My skin was pale and my hair was looking limp. I barely understood what Alfie's dad had seen in me in the first place. I was far too skinny and a real plain Jane. Oh well, just another reason to stay in today. I quickly showered, not looking down at my body for fear of repulsion. Once dressed, I proceeded to make Alfie some breakfast. A nice ol' english fry up for his first day. He stumbled in as I was plating up the eggs and I turned my head and smiled.

"A taste of home for you baby" I smiled, as i placed his meal in front of him.

"Thanks mum, I am starving" He mumbled around a mouthful of sausage and potatoes. At 13 he was eating more in a day than I did in a week. Once he finished He placed his plate in the washer, then ran up the stairs to get changed.

Once he re-emerged I ushered him into my car. "Do you have everything?"

"Yeah, don't worry" he replied looking out the window at the passing green. He didn't utter another word the whole way. That was what it was like these days. I had taken him from his father when he needed him most.

I pulled up and leant over to kiss him goodbye, but he jumped out before I could even say goodbye. I sighed and watched him trudge through the rain to the reception building. Once he was inside I drove home, resigned to a day of writing.

EPOV

Homeroom began like shy other on that Monday morning. The children all huddled round there tables, chatting to friends and catching up. I was a bit more lenient on a monday, as I knew what it was like at their age. Smiling down at my book, aI waited for the second bell to ring to start. When it finally did, they all returned to their seats without having to be asked. As I was taking roll, the door opened and in walked a new boy, I assumed to be Alfie. He was tall for his age, with light brown hair and green eyes. I indicated to a seat in the middle of the room, which he walked to without looking up. If he had, he would have met a room of 30 13-14 year olds gawping faces.

"Alfie, right?" I questioned once roll was finished. He nodded at me. I left it at that, fearing a public speech was not in his best interests right now. "Okay, well I will see you all fifth period. Be good guys." They all went to leave, but I indicated to Alfie, and another student, Ethan, to wait behind.

"Alfie, I was thinking you could buddy up with Ethan here. He is in all your classes so it would work well until you felt settled." I looked at him, his face sour. Ethan just smiled at him, only to be met with looks of disdain.

"Yeah, whatever. I'm not gonna' be mates with him or anything." I just shook my head and sent them on their way. Settling in to my free period, I pondered how I could impact his life and channel his behavior. With thoughts of Alfie, I began thinking of his mother, which was not productive in any way, shape or form. It was going to be a long period.

I walked into the lunch room, and went straight to the teachers table. Smiling at Joanne Cope, I sat next to her. Our usual routine of sharing the paper, I get the politics section, and her the sport.

"Busy day?" She asked, brushing down the crumbs from her tracksuit.

"Oh, the usual. New student, British. Seems a handful right now, but his mom thinks he will grow out of it."

As I said this a commotion was heard across the room, I looked up only to see the boy in question telling a joke to a group of students, mostly girls. Ethan sat far away, his nose in a book. "Looks like I have a Casanova on my hands." Jo laughed.

"Its a shiny new toy, what did you expect. He's British as well..."

Class began, and I was impressed with Alfie. He was miles ahead with the material, happily informing the class on some of the finer details that caused World War 1. However, when it came to doing actual work, it was as if he couldn't be bothered.

"Alfie, will you stop flicking Jessica's hair and get on with the questions please." It was the third time I had asked him.

"Whats the point. I finished 'em ages ago. Don't get a bee in your bonnet." A few of the kids giggled at his british slang, while I scowled.

"Bring them here then please. I need to mark them before you can move on to the homework assignment."

He sauntered up to the front smirking. "There you go sir, think you will find they are right."

They were, so I asked him to work on the essay I was setting tonight. He just nodded. I hoped that wasn't a sign of things to come, and that his behavior was a result of boredom.

BPOV

I pulled up at 3pm. I was early but I didn't want Alfie to wait, I needed to be there, and show that I could be both parents to him. When he came out, he was surrounded by other students. I refrained from beeping the horn, I wasn't in a rush. Once his mates had caught the bus or gotten lifts, he jumped in the car.

"How was your day?" I asked, trying to sound supportive.

"Fine. Works not to bad, and Coach Cope reckons I'm good enough to try out for the footy team." He mumbled. I beamed with pride.

"Thats brilliant! Whens the try out?"

"Tomorrow after school, can you pick me up at half 4 instead?" He asked.

"No problem" I replied. I would do all I could for him. He was all I had now.

Alfie took his tea to his room that night. I couldn't fault him for it, he had a long day and I knew he found it hard to be around me. I took his lead, and locked the house up before heading to bed myself. Although it was pointless. I was still haunted by memories of what happened. I laid awake much of the night, but when I did drift off it was a fitful sleep.