Chapter 1:

It was like any other day. Kids were sitting on lunch tables, laughing as they threw grapes at each other and debated what the plans for their weekends would be. But behind the masks of normalcy, there was nervousness. The small town of forks was about to get seven new students. And whilst that did not seem rather important to most, it was important to them. They heard of the bigwig Doctor Carlisle Cullen that was bringing his family to the small town. Everyone was bustling around trying to prepare. But the students paid no mind until the new comers were in plain sight.

Allison sat with her fellow classmates, the group that was considered on the 'in" in high school terms. She sat on top of the round lunch table, a book of poetry perched in her lap, and her boyfriends arm around her waist. She paid no mind to the craziness that was high school that surrounded her. She just kept reading, not bothering to check her surroundings. That is until Jesse whispered in her ear.

"They're here. Look over to the door." He whispered with excitement in her ear, and she cringed at his close proximity. It wasn't that she didn't love Jesse. She did, and has for the two years they were together. But his touch had lost the comfort and now made her feel on edge for almost a year. The day flashed in her mind, the first time they had made love, or rather that's how he described it. She could only remember the firm grip he had on her wrists as she insisted he stop. She shook the memory before she cringed, and turned her attention to the door as seven students walked in.

"I guess Doctor Cullen adopted all of them. Jasper and Rosalie are his niece and nephew, but the rest are all adopted. And they're all together. Like together, together. They won't talk to anyone." Rebecca, a quirky and ditzy blonde from Allison's chemistry class started giggling as she looked up from her lunch. Allison narrowed her eyes at her.

"That blonde girl is Rosalie, she's with the big guy Emmett, I guess they're like a thing. That's so weird, right?" Jesse smiled as he whispered and laughed a bit. Her eyes were trained on the two as they entered. A beautiful blonde walked hand in hand with a boy that could have been a body builder. His muscles immediately sent chills through her. She could only imagine how dangerous that made him. He could be considered double Jesse, who has the build of a swimmer. When she looked at the two, she saw a very beautiful couple. And she could see how oblivious they were to the gossip going around them.

"Those two, that's Edward, the guy with like red hair." Jesse guessed, scratching his head with confusion.

"Bronze is more the way to describe it, Jesse." Allison chimed in, musing softly at the beautiful boy that entered.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Bronze. His girl is Bella. They're like a thing too." Jesse smirked, eying Bella for more than necessary, an action that did not go unnoticed by his girlfriend. Bella was a beautiful brunette whose hair reached her hips, and the man on her arm was the embodiment of a Greek god. His perfect angles to his face, and crooked smile. "Then, there's Alice and her guy Caleb. I guess they just adopted Caleb like a few years ago but the rest have been there since they were a kid. They're together, too."

She observed the last couple to walk in, whose eyes held a new found love that almost made her look away because of how intimate the gaze looked. She nodded, and went back to her book, until she heard the door open and the last Cullen come in. The boy was gorgeous. Blonde honey-suckle curly hair that framed his pale skin perfect. His top lip was slightly bigger than the bottom, but it gave it a nice heart shape. His eyes were the ones to stand out the most to her. Beautiful golden irises were staring back, at her. She blushed slightly before returning to her book. Jesse had a glare lining his face. "Who is he?"

"That's Jasper Hale. He used to date Alice, but she dumped him for Caleb. All the girls are already lining up but he turned them all down."

"I wonder why."

"Probably because the most perfect girl is mine, and no one else could compare." He tightened his grip on her waist and she winced at the force. That wasn't meant to be sweet; it was to remind her to stay away and a warning to the newcomers, even though they were nowhere near hearing distance. She knew there would be a bruise where his fingers lie.

"It's been like that for two years, why change now." She mused softly before tuning out the rest of the café and going back to her book. Silently, she thought of how perfect his name was. Jasper, so sophisticated and unheard of, she wished she had a name like that. Instead, she got Allison, which made her one of seven in her school. As she repeated the name she realized how every girl must have been doing the same thing, and when she looked up she realized the whole café was looking and whispering about these strangers. Instantly, she felt guilty for becoming apart of that.

"They're already isolating themselves and it's their first day. Dana tried to ask them to her party this weekend and they said they weren't allowed to go to parties. What kid is allowed to go to parties?"

"Yeah, right. Not allowed? What, they probably think they're too good for this town. This town may be small but it's still not bad. Why'd they even choose Forks?"

As the whispers continued, it only angered her. "Why don't you guys just leave them alone? They just got here; maybe they're shy or just used to being just with their family. Be nice, you don't even know them."

She could feel the entire lunch table turn to her. She barely ever spoke when it was the entire group. She tended to only speak to Jesse when he asked her to. And here she was, defending people she had never even talk to before. No one knew how to respond to her outburst, so they switched the conversation to plans for this weekend. She sighed as she kept reading her book.

She wanted the new kids to feel welcome, and normal, but everyone was acting as if they were shiny new toys. Whilst she didn't know if they liked that feeling, she knew how it made her feel when she had moved her in her childhood, and she hated it. So she simply thought how nice it was to have new kids, and continued reading. But she could hear the gossip going around her, and their names just kept coming up. No matter what she said, she couldn't stop the kids from talking.

She could feel an intense stare at her, and it unnerved her to no end. Her eyes shot to the source, only to find Edward and Bella staring directly at her. She didn't know what to do, so she smiled softly and sent a nod their way, in which Bella returned but Edward remained focused on her. She thought. I wonder if he's okay. The gossip must be getting to them. Poor kids. Everyone should make them feel welcome not like outsiders.

His eyes snapped back to Bella, so she was finally able to escape his gaze. He looked worried, as he had gazed at her. And instantly, Allison noticed something no one probably did. These strangers were anything but normal; she noticed how beautiful these people were. Inhumanly so, their skin was so pale they couldn't have blood circulating through their bodies, and they're eyes. They all have the same golden eyes. Gold isn't an eye color. She one day wished to study Biology in college, and she knew the probability of all eye colors. It wasn't possible.

Again, Edward's eye skewed her from across the café, which made her feel exceedingly uncomfortable. She sighed as she closed her book, and stood up.

"Babe, what are you doing, lunch is another twenty minutes?" Jesse grabbed her arm roughly and demanded, but the rest of the table only saw the concern he put through. She winced again at the roughness of his grasp. She pulled her arm from his grasp, rubbing it slightly.

"It's just really loud in here, and I want to finish the book for Mr. Walker's class. I'm going to the library for a while." She said softly, taking her bag and dumping her tray on the way out, leaving a stunned table of her friends who had never heard her stand up to anyone.

Allison wasn't lying when she said it was loud in the cafe. She just couldn't stand to sit there anymore. So she waited in her Chemistry class until the students started to pile in. She had an empty lab bench all semester, since she usually preferred to do the labs on her own since she had taken advanced chemistry as a junior and was already above all the seniors in her class. Usually it wasn't normal for another Junior to take the course. That was until Jasper Hale stepped into the class and all eyes turned to him.

Mr. Dumal could sense the discomfort and quickly welcomed the class to talk amongst them while he sets up the lab for the day. He motioned Jasper to the only available seat in the class, directly by her. She blushed as she looked away, seeing his gaze go to her. She pulled out her book again and dove right in, trying to hide the embarrassment she felt for having thought about him earlier. She heard the chair pull back and someone sit gracefully next to her.

She peaked up from her book to see Jasper giving her a questionable look. She closed the book softly, and offered a hand to him. He shook it softly.

"Hi, I'm Allison. You must be Jasper, it's really nice to meet you." She smiled and for the first time, she saw one of the Cullen's smile back.

"It's vey nice to meet you as well. I think you're the first person to actually introduce themselves and not just stare at us." Jasper chuckled, and pulled out his notebook. She couldn't help the blush that rose to her cheeks. She saw Jasper breath in deeply, and gave her an even more confused stare.

"Well, I was the new girl once, and it doesn't feel good. I'd rather welcome you than idolize you. I mean, we're all human right?" She shrugged and offered him her notebook so he could copy down what he has missed the first two weeks of school. He took it and still held the same curiosity in his eyes.

"When did you move to Forks?"

"When I was seven. So it wasn't recent but I still remember the feeling especially in a small town like this it's even worse."

"Where did you move from?"

"North Carolina." This seemed to spark his interest as he smiled over at her, one eyebrow raised. She could literally feel the curiosity radiating from him, but yet she had no idea why she was so interesting to him.

"Well, that is certainly unique. Why the move to such a small town?" She shifted in her chair, although the story wasn't too tragic, she hated explaining it, especially to someone she just met.

"My parents split, and my mom remarried. My mother was from the reservation across town, and she wanted to come back to family and friends. So we came out here. I've been here ever since. Why the sudden move for your family? You're from Ontario right?" His eyes held a sort of soft humor to them, and she couldn't help but wonder what inside joke she was missing.

"Yes, my father received a better job offer so he took it. My mother also loves small quaint towns so it all but convinced my father it was the best decision." He shook his head, an affectionate grin setting on his lips. Allison couldn't help but smile back.

"Did it live up to her standards?"

"Exceeded them, if anything. We all find Forks a rather interesting place to live in."

"Interesting? How so? Most would say it is rather boring. Most people like big cities."

"Most people like how anomonous living in a big city is. They like that they can hide. Small towns, there are no secrets because everyone finds them out. It's impossible to hide."

"Well, then I hope you don't have any secrets you wish to keep hidden." Immediately, Jasper's face lost its innocence and she could feel the realization run through him. "You know, because you are in a small town."

"I do not believe any of my secrets are easier enough to find out, so I'm not worried." His face forced a small smirk, but she could feel the unease in his posture. "But I am quite good at finding out other's secrets."

"Oh yeah, you sure about that?" It was like her mouth spoke before she realized how her words sounded. She knew how Jesse would feel if she could see the two of them talking like this. But she couldn't stop herself, especially when she saw the challenge in his eyes as he nodded. "Oh, yeah? Okay, try it."

"Hmmm…." He mused softly as he stroked his chin. He looked around, focusing on Devin Lopes, a short blonde boy who was all city for track. "He cheated on his past chemistry test, so he feels guilty about his 97% because he knows he doesn't deserve it."

"Her," He pointed at the soft-spoken auburn hair and freckles that covered her face girl that had never actually spoken a word. Allison thought her name was Gemma. "She is actually in love with the boy in third row. But she would never get the guts to speak to him because she knows he tends to date around."

"That's all really easy stuff. Body language isn't hard to notice." She laughed and shook her head, opening her notebook and doodling in the margins.

"How can I prove it then?" He spoke softly, his hand lightly stopping her hand from doodling; She dropped the pen and stared right at him, not thinking before the words slipped out.

"Try it on me."

"That is definitely not easy." He sat back only slightly, smiling brightly, but she could see the determination on his face. She could feel her resolve completely crumble, but she felt the relief that her actual thoughts were not broadcasted through her body language like everyone else.

"Why is that?"

"You're difficult to read, almost impossible actually." This was like heaven to hear from him. Although she couldn't help but notice the double meaning in his words. The last thing she needed was for the new students to know her secrets. Or anyone for that matter. She has yet to really admit them to anyone. Not even herself.

"Take a guess." She whispered as his hand still remained on top of hers and she could feel her nerves increase as the beautiful boy's gaze was smothering on her, but she wished he would never look away. She couldn't help but let the walls that surrounded her dissolve and crumble.

"You… you seem shy. You stay away from anything that could get your feelings hurt. But you chose the bad boy of the school, who never seems satisfied for too long, so that was the biggest risk you've ever taken. You've been together for so long, you are afraid to try something new. Even if it could be the best thing for you. You're afraid. But I cannot tell of what."

Her breath caught in her throat. It was like he could read into her soul. But by this point, she was the master at controlling her emotions, and she tried to brush it off. She smiled softly. The bell rang shrilly, filling the entire hallway with its cry; she scooped up her work and threw it in her bag. She touched his shoulder softly as she stood. "I guess I am difficult to read. But good try though. I'll see you later, Jasper."

JASPER P.O.V

Her touch felt like an electric shock running through his veins, but in the most pleasant way. Once he had seen the beautiful creature, he could feel the instant attachment. As soon as he sat down next to her, she was the first human that did not cause the burn to rage through his body. He felt no thirst, no monster start to rise inside. Even when the cute little blush rose on her cheeks, he felt nothing. He could not even feel her emotions, which had sparked the idea he would have to ask Edward if he felt the same blockade when he tried.

She was like a blank wall when she was around, which had reminded him he must feel how Edward felt when Bella first came in all those years ago. Although, being shut out of her private emotions wasn't terrible, it was comforting. She would keep him guessing. It still unnerved him to no end to figure out why he felt no such emotion from her, could it be another gift that can manifest in the human life, he was not sure. All he knew was he needed to find out, he had to find out everything about this small human.

He wasn't sure why he had been so forthcoming in their conversation; it was like he felt no need to hide the real Jasper Hale from her. He should have been smarter about it, but yet he could find no remorse. She hooked him as soon as she defended them in the caf, and her entire family felt the same. No human had ever actually stuck up for them when it came to the demanding rumors that started almost immediately after their arrival.

He waited for all of the students to leave the room, noticing he had been lost in his thoughts; he was the last one in the room. He grabbed his books, only to be stopped before the threshold when he heard the loveliest voice. "Jesse, you know I would never do that. Cameron did know what he saw, I was just welcoming Jasper. I've never had a lab partner, it was nice to actually have a conversation with someone."

"And why would you need anyone but me for that? I already told you before they came, I don't want you anywhere near those new kids, especially Jasper. I already have to fend the guys from these idiots here. No one is getting near my girl." His voice was like a kitten with an oversized bite, and he fought the urged to walk over and snap the guy boy's neck. How dare he talk to a lady like that! Especially to his lady.

Your girl? Jasper thought as he continued to easedrop, fighting the urge to defend Allison's honor. He could hear skin hit skin, that's when he looked out from behind the wall and saw Jesse holding her wrists much too tightly and had her against the nearby lockers. He saw the pain on Allison's face as he gripped her so tightly, she was so fragile and this boy felt no remorse in leaving marks on her body. The overwhelming urge to protect her ran through him. Her worse stopped him from moving from his place; he didn't need to feel her emotions to know it was desperation she was feeling. "Jess, you know I love you. You never have to feel jealous of anyone else. Jasper isn't a threat to us."

"I still don't like it. I don't want you talking to him." Jesse released his grip slightly, pulling back from her. He crossed his arms over his chest, and forced her to meet his eyes. "Don't talk to him anymore, got it?"

"Jesse, I can't just ignore my lab partner. I have to talk to him, if only in Chemistry then so be it. But I have to talk to him. My grade will not suffer from your jealousy." The words hung in the air around them, but not before he heard a loud slap echo across the hallway. He knew he should jump in, but he just couldn't. He did not want to make it worse for her. But he heard voices coming from down the hallway. "Let's talk later, okay? We have to go to class."

He heard her footsteps rush away, and only seconds later, he saw Jesse following after her. Jasper stepped out of his hiding spot then, and walked to his next class, trying to control the anger that rose in him. She just allowed him to hit her? She didn't scream, fight back, or run away. She just let him do it. Was that in human nature, to allow harm to come to them?

The one thing he was sure of as he walked into his next class after watching that spectacle was that he would never allow any harm to come to her again, she was now his.