The air was cold and damp when I stepped outside of my house to walk to school. My mother and I lived in a rundown trailer park on the outskirts of the little town we lived in. My mother worked as a waitress at a local diner but didn't make enough to afford to live anywhere else. I couldn't afford a car and the bus didn't come this far out of town so I was forced to walk. The holes in my jacket didn't help but there was nothing I could do about it so I toughed it out and hoped that it didn't start raining before I could make it to the school.
After an hour long walk I finally made it to the school. I was one of the first kids there and that's how I liked it. Even though we lived in a small town, the kids I went to school with still liked to bully me for having holes in my clothes or for not having a car. I hated every second I was forced to spend in this place but I knew there was nothing I could ever do to get out. My mom was too poor to afford to send me to college so I didn't even bother applying. I was doomed to spend the rest of my life scraping by in this small town. I accepted this fate a long time ago.
Today was supposed to be the day that the new kids would start school. A few weeks back a new family moved to town. The father accepted an offer to work at the hospital here and, according to the gossip, was rich enough to have a mansion built outside of town. I heard all of this by listening in to the conversations other kids had around me. I wasn't as excited as the other students about the new students coming today. I was afraid that they would treat me the same way that everyone else did. I didn't need any more abuse than what I already got from the others.
I walked into my first class, English, and took my seat in the back. I was usually able to get to class first and have a quiet moment to myself before the other kids got there and started to make fun of me. The only respite I got were these moments and lunch, when I could go outside and be alone. I avoided the lunch room because I didn't want to be bullied and because I couldn't afford the school lunch. It was just best that I spent the hour by myself.
The other kids started coming in, some laughing and talking to their friends and others just coming in quietly. The teacher, Ms. Banks, came in with them and went to her desk to get today's lesson prepared. I was looking down at my book when I felt something hit my head. And so it starts, I thought to myself. Looking up from my book, I saw Mike Newton smirking at me and his gang of buddies snickering. I shook my head and ignored them. I tried to focus on my book but they kept throwing pieces of paper at me.
"Hey Bella, nice jacket. Where'd you get it, the dumpster?" Mike called out. His friends began howling with laughter and some of the other kids in the class snickered with them. I ignored him as best as I could. Just then the door to the class opened and in walked one of the most beautiful girls that I have ever seen. She had long, straight blonde hair and pouty lips. Her eyes were a smoldering gold that looked perfect with her pale complexion. She was tall and confident, judging by the way she strutted into the class and up to the teacher's desk to hand her a slip of paper. As she was walking by, Mike whistled at her and made kissing noises. She looked at him once, scoffed and kept going to the teacher's desk.
"Ah, you must be Rosalie Hale. I was told that you would be joining us. I'm Ms. Banks and I'm looking forward to having you in my class. Please take a seat by Bella in the back. Bella, please raise your hand." As I raised my hand Rosalie locked eyes with me.
The entire world seemed to melt away when I looked into her gorgeous eyes. I swear my heart stopped beating for a moment and then picked up at triple speed. I don't know how long we stared at each other but Ms. Banks eventually cleared her throat and the trance we both seemed to have been in was broken. She walked, or maybe stalked was a better word, to the desk that was next to mine. I was blushing a deep red when she pulled out her chair and turned to face me.
"Hi. I'm Rosalie. It's lovely to meet you." She purred. I honestly thought that my insides had melted when I heard her voice. It was the sweetest sound I had ever heard and I wanted to drown in it for the rest of my life.
"Um yeah, same. I'm Bella." I blushed even harder at that. Of course she knew my name, the teacher told her to sit next to me. I felt like such an idiot, at least I did until she spoke again.
"Bella…what a pretty name. It fits an enchanting girl like you." It seemed like her voice took on a sultry tone when she said that and it definitely didn't help to ease my blush. She smirked at my reaction and turned to face the teacher. I did the same and spent the rest of the class trying to subtly steal glances at her when I thought she wouldn't notice. From what I could tell she was wearing designer everything. I guess the rumors were true and her parents did have money. But I didn't judge her because of it.
The class went by slowly with me being painfully aware of every movement Rosalie made next to me. Finally the bell rang, signaling the end of my torture. Right as I was beginning to gather my things, Rosalie turned to me and flashed a dazzling smile.
"I really hope to have you in some of my other classes, Bella." And with that, Rosalie traipsed across the room and out the door. She left me in a haze of mixed emotions I couldn't even begin to work through. The teacher clearing her throat made me jump back to reality. I blushed profusely and gathered my things and left the class.
The rest of my morning classes went as per usual. I was harassed in most of them, at least until the teacher decided that I had been humiliated enough. The worst thing about this school was that most of the teachers felt the same as the students about me and my mother's situation. They could barely contain their disgust when I would walk into the classroom. All in all, going to school here was hell. I kept praying that I would be able to get through another two years but everyday got harder and harder. No matter what I had to push on. If not for myself, then for my mother. She would never be able to cope without me. I refused to put her in that position.
When my last period before lunch ended, I waited for the rest of the kids to leave the room before heading out into the hallway. Instead of following the other students I turned left and headed towards the doors that lead to the exit closest to the woods that surrounded the school. One thing I loved about Forks, Washington was how green everything was. It seemed like this town was its own little rainforest. On my way I ran into someone that I dreaded seeing every single day that I came here. As I rounded the last corner I came face to face with Lauren Mallory.
Lauren wasn't your typical small town girl. Her parents were pretty well off and she took every opportunity that she could to flaunt all of the nice things that her parents bought her. She also took great pleasure in finding new ways to insult me or to make my life even worse in general.
"Well look what we have here. Are you headed somewhere, Bella? Maybe off to dig in a dumpster for lunch?" I tried to walk around her but she sidestepped so that she would stay in front of me. I was trapped and there was nothing I could do. I would just have to endure whatever torment she deemed fitting for today.
"Please Lauren, just leave me alone." I practically whispered. For all of my faults, my worst one was not being able to stick up for myself. When people like Lauren bullied me I just rolled over and hoped that it would end soon. Another thing I hated about Lauren: she didn't mind physically hurting me too.
"Did I say you could speak to me? I don't think I did. How dare someone as low as you speak to me." She reached forward and grabbed a fistful of my hair and yanked it so that I stumbled right in front of her. I cried out from the pain of having my hair pulled so close to my scalp.
"Please stop it. That hurts." My voice cracked and I could already feel the telltale burning of oncoming tears behind my eyes. I didn't want to look even weaker in front of her but there was nothing I could do.
"I'm going to teach you a lesson about respecting your betters, Swan." She began to drag me towards the nearest female bathroom. I could only imagine what torture awaited me in there. Right as she was about to open the door a voice called out from behind us.
"Just what exactly do you think you're doing with her?" The voice sounded livid. It also sent chills down my spine. I had only met her today and talked to her once but I felt that I would recognize that voice anywhere. We turned to see Rosalie Hale standing a couple yards down the hallway with her hands on her hips and her face screaming murder. Flanking her were a short, pixie-like brunette who could only be described as waifish and a tall redhead who was literally sex in heels. Her long, flame red hair reached her waist and was loosely curled. The three of them made a very intimidating group indeed. At that moment I knew that I was saved.
"What's it to you?" Lauren spit back. She was visibly seething at being interrupted in her favorite activity: bullying poor Bella. Her grip on Bella's hair tightened, causing the girl to yell out at the pain. Rosalie's eyes, which were such a beautiful golden color in class, were flat black. She stalked towards Lauren with a fire in her eyes that would have made many grown men cry. Lauren took an involuntary step back, causing her to tug on Bella's hair.
"I'm only going to tell you this once, you hear me? Let go of her and I may let you keep that hand." Rosalie's voice was that of a destroying angel. It still sounded like music but it spelled death for all those who would disobey her at that moment in time. Lauren immediately released her hold on Bella's hair and attempted to raise herself up to her full height in an effort to intimidate the other girl but her shaking ruined any effect she might have had.
"Back off new girl. This has nothing to do with you. So just turn around and go back to the lunch room." She turned around and grabbed Bella's arm and tried to drag her towards the bathroom again only to be stopped by vice grip on her upper arm. She turned to see Rosalie invading her personal space.
"I said to let go of her and I meant it, you bitch. I swear to you that I will end you and feel no remorse. So I suggest you take your ugly ass back to the lunch room before I do something my parents wouldn't be happy about." The threat was very clear and Lauren seemed to consider her options carefully before huffing and heading down the hallway. Not without one last glare at Bella and Rosalie.
"Are you okay, mon amour?" Rosalie's French was spot on, without the hint of an accent. Bella was too busy staring at Rosalie with a mixture of awe and gratitude. The tears that had been threatening to fall finally spilled over and she threw herself at Rosalie with a sob. Her heart stuttered and picked up in double time when she felt Rosalie wrap her arms around her back. Rosalie was cooing into Bella's ear to calm her down.
"Shush beautiful. You're safe now. I won't let her hurt you." Rosalie was stroking Bella's hair and holding her tight to her body as she let Bella cry on her shoulder. Her designer shirt would be ruined but she didn't care. Her only concern was keeping Bella safe right now.
"T-thanks, Rosalie." Bella hiccupped. "I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't saved me." Bella's eyes were lit with the fire of burning gratitude and she could feel the admiration welling up inside of herself. Rosalie, a total stranger, had saved her from someone she had known her entire life. Bella stepped back and gave Rosalie one last glance before she turned around and began to head to the exit.
"Bella, where are you going?" Rosalie called after her. She didn't know if she could let Bella go off on her own after she saw what just happened. Her instincts were telling her to never leave Bella's side again but she knew that that was impractical. Even so, she didn't want to let Bella go so soon after the incident.
"It's ok, Rosalie. I just need to be by myself. Thank you again." And with that Bella opened the door to the outside and strode across the student parking lot towards the woods. Rosalie looked after her until she couldn't see the girl anymore. Her heart felt like it was breaking in two.
"Rosalie, what was that? Why did you save that girl?" Victoria, the redhead, asked. Her tone expressed her bewilderment at the situation she had just witnessed. The only thought she could form was that the way Rosalie had defended Bella reminded her of the way mates defended one another. At the moment it all clicked and she gasped.
"Rosalie…did you…?" She let the sentence trail off, knowing Rosalie would understand. Rosalie looked at her with her eyes the lovely gold hue again and simply nodded. She turned her head back towards the direction Bella had walked off in and sighed. She was in for a long school year here in Forks.
