Love at First Handshake

Bella:

My first day in a different school. Can't say I'm going to be eager to start all this. I noticed some of the sniggers as I pulled in with my truck. I really wanted to hit a few people for the looks I got. I guess it couldn't be helped. Even when someone did comment on it, I didn't know if they were being sarcastic or what. I parked next to a black 1969 Impala. The owner just happened to be sitting in it, but he was reading through a thick book of English Lit. He had a marker cap in his mouth, and was using a hi-liter to mark different passages, I had noticed as i got out of my truck, and saw him look up at me as he had seen I was watching him.

"I didn't mean to-"

He smiled, "No worries. What's up?"

I quickly straightened, and turned away, "Nothing. I'm sorry. I'm new here, and I saw you studying."

He got out of his car, and walked over to me. He was only a little taller than I was, but he had a slim athletic build. He wore dark jeans, and a red flannel, the sleeves rolled up, but when I looked up, I saw his face was also thin, his nose was thin, and his blue eyes looked into mine. His hair was mostly medium, except for a long pony-tail.

He smiled, "I'm Damien Summers."

I couldn't help smiling back, "Isabella Swan, but I prefer Bella."

He nodded, "You certainly are."

I smiled at that, and looked over to the main building, "I still have to get settled in. Would you mind if we talked later?"

He shrugged, "Or, I could show you around. That's up to you."

"Would you be cool with it? I mean, I know you were studying just now."

"That was me being very thorough. It's not the book we use in class, but it's a big help. Nevermind. Let's help you get settled in, shall we?"

"That's a nice car you got, by the way."

"I bought it off Chief Swan in the summer. I volunteered for office work in the sheriff's office to complete my community hours for the graduation requirements. He said it was just laying around anyway."

I chuckled at that, "I'm sure he'd be glad to know you're taking care of it. "

He smiled and gestured his head toward the building, "I'm talking too much, right? Want to get going?"

As we walked into the arch of the building, another fellow came up to us, and looked to Damien. He was an asian fellow, with longish hair, and I guess he would be easy going, but right now, he looked dead-serious.

"Summers, did you get that article on the local disappearances done?"

He looked over, slightly annoyed, "Eric, the last thing we need is to cause a panic. Besides, the actual newspaper is doing a PSA."

Eric chimed in, "We can run your article concurrently, and tell the students about a possible in-coming curfew."

Damien was about to protest, when Eric noticed me, and introduced himself, as he offered to write an article on me. I smiled at that, and motioned my head towards Damien, "Only if he gets to interview me."

He grumbled at that, a bit, and went on his way.

I almost laughed, "Is he always like that?"

Damien inclined his head, "Sometimes. We're all just starting, but he wants our last year to be Pulitzer Prize type material."

I chuckled, "Has anyone told him him it's a high school paper?"

He gave me a slightly serious look, "It's more about pride. it's also something we can put on our resume, I guess."

I smiled, "Mind if I take a crack at that story? I know how to do research myself, and such."

He turned to face me, "Well, did you really want me to interview you?"

I looked into his eyes, "I think it'll be fun. Will I get to work with you on that missing person's story?"

He nodded, and we continued walking, "I suppose. We'd also need access to police archives so we can determine the distribution of victim types, and we might need to ask ESAR workers about their findings." He looked over at me as I kept my eyes on him, "What?"

"You dive into everything full-force, don't you?"

He nodded, and gestured to the office, "This is it. Want me to wait out here?"

I went in, and got myself checked in, and came out with the list of classes. He didn't ask me for it, but he slung his bag over his shoulder, "So, where would you like to go first?"

He did show me to my first class, and had gotten a map to the office, and marked off where I would need to go for the rest of the day. After that, he had to go to his own classes. I was glad that I had at least 3 with him.

Unfortunately, PE wasn't one of them. I did meet Mike Newton, and Jessica Stanley, though. They were both very friendly, and I agreed to sit with them at lunch, as well. As it turned out, they knew Damien as well, and he came over as he finished putting food on his tray. I noticed he was having very little, so I guess he wasn't all that hungry.

"Hey Bella,"

I smiled, "Fancy meeting you here."

"Indeed."

Mike looked over jealously, "So, Dames, you know Bella, huh?"

"How many times have I told you not to call me that?"

Mike sneered, "I lost count."

Damien shook his head, "It doesn't even sound right."

Jessica leaned over to whisper to me, "Don't mind them. They always bicker like that. Although, I do have to admit that you're one of the few girls that Damien's actually cool with."

"I thought he'd been here a while."

She shook her head, "He just started at the beginning of this semester. So, he's a bit of a late-comer, just like you."

At that point, I noticed another group enter and gather at their own table, and Jess whispered over to me, "Those are the Cullens. They were adopted by a local wealthy couple." She went on to name them, but I didn't really care at that point. I did notice that Damien had his head buried in the same book he had earlier when I met him. I also noticed that one of the Cullens, Edward, had a scowl seemingly carved into his face, and he was directing that scowl at the two of us.

I nudged Damien and asked him, "Hey, do you know that guy?"

He looked up briefly, and turned to me, "Edward Cullen? I don't know him personally, except on one brief meeting. Otherwise, not really. Why?"

I shrugged, "I don't know. It seems like he's giving us a dirty look."

Damien let his shoulders slump a bit, "I wouldn't give it much thought. As far as he knows, you're the new girl, and you're one of the few that didn't gravitate to him right away."

I laughed, "I didn't even know about him until just now. Did you try to make friends with him?"

I could tell he was close to laughter, himself, and muttered, "I don't really count me asking for the bathroom as a proper meeting. Besides, other than that, there hasn't been any reason to strike up a conversation with them."

Jess chimed in, "In other words, he's really picky, and no one around here seems to be good enough for him. So, don't waste your time, hon."

I nodded, "Gotcha, I wasn't planning to. So, Damien, what class do you have next?"

He blew out a breath, "AP Chem. you?"

I noticed that Edward Cullen made an even nastier look, and turned away as I looked at my schedule, "I have Biology. Would you be cool if we talk when we get to our rides?"

"No prob. See you then." He got up and touched my shoulder briefly, "I have to get some notes from the teacher, so I'll see you later. Take care, k?"