Chapter 1
The New Girl
Forks High School was buzzing with excited murmurs from what Jasper morbidly called sheeple. Bella was only too happy that for once, it wasn't about her or the Cullens.
There was a new student. From Jessica Stanley's incessant gossip, there was a new girl coming to Forks. Odd, considering it was the middle of the semester, but apparently, her father was a ranger and was called in from California to help with Fork's "bear problem." The new girl's dad, Mr. Daryl Balewa, was coming in today to give a safety brief to the students of Forks about the dangers of bears and what to do if caught in a situation with one.
"Man, if I see a bear, I'll just shoot it," claimed Mike Newton, narrowing blue eyes and pantomiming a gun with his thumb and pointer finger. Jessica, who was lounging against his car next to him in the parking lot, gave a mock scream and grabbed hold of Mike's arm claiming save her. Bella just rolled her eyes as she headed inside, shaking her dark locks sadly. They have no idea that it's not bears they need to be afraid of, and a gun won't hurt what's really killing the hikers.
She took a seat at her usual desk, Edward and his family absent on another "camping trip." The shining sun beaming inside the classroom being the real reason for Bella's vampire boyfriend's absence. Pulling out her notebook, she readied to take notes or at least look like she was when her homeroom teacher Mrs. Harris introduced a man that could only be Mr. Daryl Balewa—pronounced Ba-LEH-wah. He was a large man, standing at least six feet with broad shoulders and neat long dark brown dreadlocks pulled back. His caramel skin glistened movie-star like in the sun. And when he smiled his Colgate commercial like smile, Bella—though she'd never admit it—swooned right along with the rest of the females in class. His quarterback football frame was squeezed deliciously into that dorky forest ranger uniform, complete with wide brimmed tan hat hanging around his neck.
Amazing blue-grey eyes crinkled attractively. Damn. He opened his mouth to speak, a rich accented baritone preceding whatever explanation he was spouting about bears and what not to do. Bella loved Edward more than anything; he was gorgeous, smart, sweet and he loved her unconditionally, but damn, human though Mr. Balewa may be, he was almost Cullen-gorgeous, and Bella was a red-blooded female who could appreciate good eye-candy.
"…. any questions?" Every female hand in the room went up in the air. He blinked stormy eyes and went to point to maybe Lauren when his phone rang.
Hey! Hey! You! You! I don't like your girlfriend! No way. No way. I think you need a new one. Hey, hey-
Mr. Balewa sighed, almost fondly exasperated. "It's my little sister. Excuse me." He went to walk out the door when it opened, comically smacking him in the face, caused by the girl who could only be his little sister.
Where he was tall and large, she was small, Bella being just a tad bit taller than her. Her caramel skin glistened attractively like his. Dark red-brown wild curls were left free to frame her face, reminding Bella of a lion for some reason. Her womanly curves, reminiscent of Rosalie's statuesque figure, was clad in a black shirt saying Black. No Cream. No sugar tucked into high waist boyfriend jeans—Darn you, Alice for making sure I knew the different kinds of jeans—a too-big jacket clad shoulders leaving her hair to tumble wildly down her shoulders and back.
Wide storm eyes framed by dark lashes and lined with liner looked up at Mr. Balewa mischievously. "Big brother, love the new ringtone." Her smile was commercial bright like his.
"Everyone," Mr Balewa gave a mock long-suffering sigh. "This is my little sister, Nandi."
So, this is the new girl.