New Horizons

Summary: The hunter smiled as he sauntered forward to kill me. He was so close that no doubt he could smell my fear. As he was only inches away he held out a hand to yank me towards him, when the unimaginable happened. I stopped him. Strictly; E/B J/A, J/A, R/E. There is no deadlier line to cross than choosing your boyfriend over you best friend, life over death, duty or love.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters- but Stephanie Myers does.

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Preface

It was strange- for as long as I had been around I had always been the clumsy one, the unsocial one- the one most likely to die before graduation. So even as I stared death in the face I was prepared, I knew this day would come, but I never imagined it would be like this.

I stared across the terrain and watched the dark eyes of the hunter as he looked pleasantly back at me. He wanted my blood.

Now as sure as I was that I was going to die tonight, I decided that I wouldn't go without a fight. Ha. I know clumsy Bella in a fight I was more likely to kill myself, do his job for him. But fight I would.

The hunter smiled as he sauntered forward to kill me. He was so close that no doubt he could smell my fear. As he was only inches away he held out a hand to yank me towards him, when the unimaginable happened. I stopped him.

8

8

1. Beautiful People

"Bella" my mom said to me- the last of a thousand times- before I got onto the plane. "You don't have to do this" she glanced over at my best friend and offered an apologetic smile "I don't think Amanda would mind" she added.

"I want to go" I lied. I was bad liar, but for her I could be convincing.

My mom watched me critically before she finally gave in "at least Mandy's there to keep you company"

I sent a look over to Amanda; she hated being called Mandy ever since that stupid Westlife song came out (no offence to anyone).

Amanda stepped forward "I'll keep her out of trouble Renee" she responded and then tilted her head to our exit.

"Bye mom we should really get going" I began to walk after Amanda but stopped and turned back to my mother. "Don't worry" I said and then crossed the remained of the distance and gave her a hug. "I'll be fine".

That would be the last time I'd ever held her, I wish I had held on longer.

The ride to Charlie's house was long but filled with chatter- not the awkward sound it would have been if it was just me and him but easy going chatter, which was strange because the Charlie I remembered didn't talk much- at all. But as I forced myself to listen I realised the chatter was pretty much one sided, Amanda held the microphone. I didn't understand after a four-hour flight and an early morning how she could still have steam to talk. I wanted nothing more than to go to bed and sleep.

After one of the rare intervals of silence Charli-my dad finally addressed me.

"I found you a car- for cheap" he said "you girls will need to get around and I figured you wouldn't want me driving you everywhere." Amanda looked apologetic and then beamed but I was suspicious.

"What kind of car?"

"It's a tuck a Chevy actually. Do you remember Billy Black down at La Push" Amanda eyes flashed she had been down there once before and liked it more than Folks. "Well his in a wheel chair now so he can't drive and he offered to sell me the truck" he paused and looked between us in expectation.

Amanda shrugged "Bella's the driver passed her test first time in driver's Ed. The teacher said she was the most cautious student he ever had"

Charlie smiled he was all about safety what with being the police chief of the town. "So Bella" he asked

I had all sorts of questions like the year, the colour, but mostly the year, the mileage and the year… how easily would it break down because I didn't know a thing about cars and didn't plan on learning. But I settled with "how cheap is cheap"

He blushed and I found myself staring in amazement. "I kinda, well I, already brought it for you" he peeked at me in the rear view mirror and the quickly turned back to the road.

"You didn't have to do that-dad" I said finally having to fight not to let any emotion show, Charlie couldn't handle emotions well.

"I don't mind. I want you- both of you to be happy here" he looked uncomfortable. See I told you he didn't do emotions so I pushed forward "thanks dad, I really appreciated it"

"Thanks Charlie" echoed Amanda

"Your welcome" he mumbled in embarrassment,

The rest of the journey was filled with pleasant silence.

I didn't sleep well that night, the rain kept me up and then being in an unfamiliar place kept me up. I was tempted to go to Amanda's room and talk but I didn't think it was fair to keep her up because I couldn't sleep. Almost as if she could read my mind my door opened with a creak and Amanda stepped in. Closing the door softly she bounced to my bed.

"Can't sleep?" she asked

"No" I was too tired to lie but not tired enough to sleep.

She sighed "you really need to sleep Bella"

"I know I know" I said as I sat up "the rains to loud" I moaned

"Don't you think it's soothing" she said

"No, just loud"

Amanda laughed and then looked around the room "have you tried reading?" she asked

"No my eyes are to sore" I mumbled as they began to close

"What about music?" she asked and I found myself slipping under my covers as she spoke. Soon her words became inaudible but her tone was all I needed to remind me of home and I fell into a slumber.

When I woke there was thick fog covering my window and I cursed at the bad weather. I was not looking forward to going out in that.

By the time I went down stairs Amanda was entering the house from her morning run.

"You went running in that" I asked referring to the weather

"You hardly feel it after the first couple of laps" she insisted "I would have woken you but you got to sleep pretty late last night. Maybe tomorrow"

I didn't respond I hated running, in fact I hated all things physical. But every since I'd known Amanda she had insisted that I need to keep fit and build up my coordination which wasn't bearing much fruit.

"I'm going up to shower" she announced to me and Charlie who watched watching us over his newspaper.

"Dad" I greeted once Amanda had left

"Morning" he said and put down the paper "I didn't know you run. I used to be good at track in my old days"

I sighed as I began pouring a bowl of cereal "I don't run, Amanda runs, I just sort of shuffle after her"

"Oh" I felt bad that was just another thing my dad and I didn't have in common.

The rest of breakfast was silent and I almost sang in relief when Amanda came down the stairs.

"Ready I asked" as I hopped up from my seat

"Give her some time to eat Bella" said Charlie and I coloured in embarrassment.

She waved Charlie of and took a piece of fruit from the bowl "I'll eat while Bella's driving" she said and then under her breath she mumbled "trust me I'll have enough time"

I scowled at her jab. I didn't drive that slow I thought as I opened my new truck-which I loved. It took us 45 minutes to get to the school and Amanda jumped out before I even stopped the car "thank God" she cried. I did feel a little bad; she probably could have run faster than my truck.

When we got to school my mood took a turn for the worst. There were so many new people and I didn't tend to get along with people my age. On the plus side I didn't have to make any friends since Amanda was here and that thought comforted me as I walked into school. Just like me I managed to trip over the threshold at I entered the double doors of the school; fortunately Amanda caught me without to much damage being done. Unfortunately we didn't have many classes together, and I spent the time finding our first class worrying over how much harm I could get into without her there. As we entered our first class I noticed that we were being watched. Not that that was unusual since Amanda was gorgeous but what was unusual was that they were watching me as well. It didn't help my self-esteem.

When the bell rang a boy approached us "your Isabella Swan" he asked me

"Bella" I instantly corrected

"And your friend" his eyes slowly trailed over to Amanda unsure that she would appreciate his gaze

"Amanda. Amanda Legend" she offered a hand and he looked shocked, probably not expecting that response from her.

"Eric" he finally managed once he regained use of his jaw. Eric led the way to our next class, talking the entire way. I trailed behind them hiding as best as I could in the shadows. He seemed to have forgotten entirely about me. When we reached out class, Eric hovered by the doorway talking excitedly about something. I couldn't be bothered to pretend to care so I pushed my way past with a polite 'excuse me'. Amanda soon followed. The rest of the morning passed uneventful. After several people had tried to engage me in conversation and my one word answers I figured that a message went out that I wasn't the nice one because people pretty much began to ignore or avoid me. Thank heavens.

At lunch we sat at a full table of people that Amanda had met and I had briefly smiled at. I didn't bother to listen to the conversation since they didn't try to address me. Amanda gave up trying to pull me into the conversation and sent me a look that meant we would talk later. My eyes drifted around the hall now that I knew I was no longer obligated to pretend to listen, and it was then that I saw them. They sat in the far corner of the hall not eating, not talking not engaging in any sort of activity. Best of all no-one seemed bothered by their attitude, they were my idols. I could see myself joining them having to have no duty to speak to each other if it wasn't for the fact that they were all Greek Gods and I was a serf. They were undeniably gorgeous, perfectly sculptured in their physique and their face.

"Who are they" I asked one of the girls at the table. She blinked at the abrupt subject change and followed my gaze "The Cullens-Halles" she said then turned away "they all live together got adopted by Dr. Cullen"

"Oh" I said and then asked a bit more questions on my new idols. Amanda seemed pleased that I was making an effort and I gave her a smile in response. I was actually getting comfortable that I began to lean backwards and- Amanda caught me an inch from the ground.

"Are you ok?" worry was etched into her face

I blushed in embarrassment "you caught me didn't you" I replied and cursed that I had forgotten that there was no back to lean on. I peeked out from the corner of my lashes to glance as the Cullens', they were staring at Amanda. I sighed and turned back to the group at the injustice of it all. Beautiful people attracted beautiful people.

Lunch was soon over and I made a special effort not to make a fool of myself the rest of the day. It was all going good until biology class. As soon at I entered I tripped and barely stopped myself from falling. With the table as support I made may way over to the one remain seat- a seat next to Cullen- Edward Cullen. As soon as I approached he moved away, his stare was antagonistic and his eyes were black. He sat stiffly never relaxing his position throughout the whole lesson. When I peeked it him halfway through the lesson I found him glaring at me. His black eyes were full of revulsion and if looks could kill I would be dead. As soon as the lesson was over I bolted out of the classroom. I had only gotten a few feet when I began to fall. Amanda was there. I let her pull me up and then I struggled passed her but she caught up with me but the truck.

"Bella you're crying" she said. I raised a hand to my face and there were indeed tears, but I was in to much pain to care.

"What happened" she demanded

I remained mute. But her face was so pale and so worried that the word gushed out "him-Cullen-Edward-hate". I took a deep breath and shook the grief away. Amanda eyes darkened and a look crossed her face, it was a look I had seen once before. It was the night I had almost been mugged, she went after him and some how she got him to come back and apologise to me. I was in to much awe to ask how and for some reason I was sure that the answer would lead to a whole other issue that I wasn't ready for.

"I'll be back" she said and then turned on her heals and walked away. I wasn't going to follow. I went into my truck and practiced my breathing, breathing was good, it was easy, it was safe. He couldn't hate me I repeated as I breathed, he didn't even know me. But as his look flashed across my face I felt tears begin to fall. Why was I never good enough? I continued breathing until the tears went away.

Amanda came back 10 minutes later her face a perfect mask but I could tell she was hiding something from me. "Stay away from them Bella" she said a few minutes after she had gotten comfortable in the truck.

I blinked "what? Why?" then bit my lip "does he really hate me" a fresh tide of pain began to wash over me.

"No. it's for your own good"

"What do you mean?"

She sighed "Bella have I ever asked you to do anything for me" I slowly shook my head "then please do this. At least for now- until you've" she broke of

"What?" I asked not liking her tone "what aren't you telling me"

"It's a complicated story and not one you would enjoy"

"Amanda" I repeated letting her know that I demanded to know

"If there was one thing I'd wish for you, it's not this. Let it go, if I feel you need to know then I'll tell you"

"What are you my mother" I snapped

"No, and that's why I won't feel guilted into telling you. Bella you worry about the most insignificant things there's no point getting your worried over something that may not happen"

"But it could" I asked

"It could" she repeated "and at the first sign that it will- I'll tell you"

"But-"

"That's enough Bella"

I stared at her for a while not liking this new part of my friend. Just what had transpired between her and Edward for her to act in this way? One thing was for sure. I would find out. I started the engine.

Next Chapter: Edwards POV which includes the conversation.

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