- Reposted with edits.

A somewhat multi-chaptered fic. My first attempt at getting one fanfiction completed. XD;; Twilight is great, so I figured, "Why not make a fanfic?"

Disclaimer: Characters owned by Stephenie Meyer--I want Jasper. NOW.--And I asked Digital Skitty for permission to post this fic, It's somewhat like hers. But not in plot.

Note: In Bella's POV. This is AU. Obviously. :D. And oh yeah, Alice is 4 foot tall and 10 inches. XD

Enjoy

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1. Welcome

The airport was filled with people as I took in what I could. I held the sling on my bag tightly, and then swallowed. I didn't like going here. It was all Charlie's idea. I grimaced at the thought. I didn't even know Phoenix was capable of sending off Exchange students. Wait, hold that thought. It wasn't Charlie's fault. It was obviously Renee's, supported with the whole school administrators. I shut my eyes for a bit and then sighed. I couldn't go back now. It was far too late for that. I was in an airport—well, just outside the airport, I was just ready to get off the plane—at a different country. It didn't bother me at first. Sure, I'm going away. I'm almost an adult, for crying out loud, but still. I never knew I would ever arrive here of all places.

I opened my eyes and peeked out of the window the plane had. I swallowed—again—and then groaned. Okay, so I was an exchange student in a country I have never been in. And I was from America. It was actually a good thing Australian's spoke the language.

As the line slowly moved, my hand fell down from the strap and to my side. I shrugged involuntarily and then tried to get it all over with. I would meet my escort—an Australian in charge of the exchange students—and I would be in the school. Plenty of time to sulk in my own dorm room.

As I descended from the stairs, a line behind me, I forgot a teeny tiny detail. I forgot what my escort would look like. Without stopping, I checked my pockets for that picture I had printed for convenience. I knew my escort was a she. I just knew it because I remember talking to her the other night I was getting ready for the flight. Another thing I was sure of was that she was pale and beautiful and tiny. Judging from the picture she sent, she was small...tiny.

My fingers touched something glossy and stiff and I knew it was the picture. I let out a sigh of relief as I took it out; I didn't watch where I was going. I was just walking into the doors to the main lobby of the airport to get the rest of my things. I tried to swallow her appearance. She was beautiful. Her features were so delicate and it was obvious even in the picture that she was so graceful. The way she stood. Her height was not the slightly bit up to debate because she was no taller than me—she was shorter than me, probably.

As my feet drove me to where the doors were, I stopped abruptly and looked up from the picture. I stared for a while until I backed away, in a second; I felt my cheeks flush a slight pink and then looked back at the person I just bumped. He was pale, with incredulous yellow eyes. His hair was a tousled bronze hair. His hair was messy disarray, but it looked good on him. He looked good. I ducked my head and muttered a quick, "I'm sorry." And then walked off. I could feel him still starring at me. His eyebrows furrowed slightly and then I was around the corner. I couldn't feel his stare anymore unless he followed me, not likely.

I breathed in, and despite the bag that was slung on my shoulders, I pulled my jacket closer to me. It was unseasonably cold in Australia for the time being. I did that for a while, breathing in and out, it helped 

calm the jetlag. Then, deciding I would get this over—again—I turned off to the other direction, positive that the lobby was there because I read a sign somewhere that indicated the main square of the airport. Underneath it were a few more signs, in different languages, probably meaning the same thing.

I remembered the picture and as I looked at my hand, it wasn't there. Great. But I'm pretty sure I got her face right. Her features. She surely would stand out—no pun intended—because she was just surreal. She was beautiful. Then, as if knowing I was tired and wanted to get to the school already, my escort appeared from around the corner, a faint smile gracing her lips.

I was right. She was beautiful, more beautiful in person. She looked so cute, so tiny. Her eyes were a beautiful gold and I remembered the boy that I have bumped earlier and felt utterly stupid again. She walked toward me, moving with great grace that could possibly make ballerina's cry, and stopped a few feet away from me. Her grin turned wide and she leaned forward. I thought she was just going to shake my hand, but she stretched out to hug me and then let go. She was welcoming, I'll give her that, and very friendly.

"Hello. You must be Isabella Swan from America, right?" Her voice was so good to the ears. It was like silver wind chimes. Soft but having a soprano edge. She continued, "I'm Alice Cullen and I'll be your guide throughout your stay here in Australia." The last sentence made her glow, her smile—grin--widened a fraction and she looked up at me, enthusiasm in her face and eyes.

"Umm..." I stuttered out, looking at her blankly. Her expression did not change; instead, she toned down her grin and replaced it with a friendly smile. "Bella." I corrected her. I hated being called Isabella. She nodded, and still waited for me to speak. "Nice meeting you, Alice..." I added hastily, she caught that and nodded.

"Well, come on, Bella! Let's go get your bags before the other students find a guide unnecessary." She called over her shoulder as she took my wrist and then pulled me along the crowd. Her touch was so cold, it felt nice. She was perfectly pale. Her skin becoming whiter because of her dark hair. And really, I thought I was pale—being part albino, and all—I just smiled at all of this and followed her.

I forgot I wasn't the only student. Exchange student. There were probably a few more. Well, it wouldn't hurt to be friendly for once—but, even in Phoenix I found it hard to click. Would my luck really change if I was in another country?

The tiny girl looked back and dropped her hold on my wrist, her delicate brows furrowed and then she flashed a smile at me. Her teeth were so white. "I forgot, Bella, welcome to Australia!" It was then that I caught on her accent. It wasn't Aussie. It sounded American.

Curiosity got the better of me so I asked, "Umm...Alice?" She tilted her head to the side, though she did not stop walking. I followed her as well. "Are you Australian?" I asked, the words sounded tight. I wasn't used to talking to someone this foreign. But she made it clear that we could be friends, judging by her enthusiasm and over friendliness. She seemed like a good person.

She remained silent for a while and then shook her head. "Nope. I'm from America, like you. But I lived in the North. I decided to go to Australia for Educational purposes—just like you, too—and I guess the school liked me." She turned to face me, grinning. "And the administrators also thought it would be easy for me to click with the students, seeing as I know more than one language and own a handful of accents." She laughed at that, a tiny hand covering her beautiful red lips.

I nodded and muttered, "I see." She nodded as well.

"Don't worry, Bella. You'll love it here, really." She assured me. She stopped and I stopped, too. We were at the luggage department. She opened her palm out to me, it took a minute to process what she wanted, and then I got it. I handed her a thin paper, my passport, and then she walked off. I heard her cheery voice from afar saying, "Stay while I get your bags." I did what she said and found a bench not far; I sat down and then sighed heavily.

I was afraid of leaving her alone to get my bags. She was just so tiny, I wondered if she could manage it. I sighed again and then buried my head in my hands. It was quiet for a moment, except for the usual chatter of the people around the airport. I was quiet for a while. Then, I felt a shadow casted over me; I looked up and then saw the same boy from before. Feeling my face heat up, I shook it slightly and looked at him properly now.

His face was smooth and then he took something out of the front pocket of his shirt. He was just as pale as Alice and his eyes matched her eyes—I had to stop comparing them. He took out the small piece of paper and then handed it to me, his hand stretched out. I realized then when I took it that it was the little picture I had printed of Alice. I nodded stiffly and then looked back up at him. I never liked strangers. And I wasn't one to mingle—most of the time, anyways—so I muttered a quick, 'thanks' and then dug the picture in my own pocket.

He started to turn, and he was half-a-step away already when I caught sight of the spiky dark hair. She was in view already and her face turned wary as she looked at the one who was just beside me, her eyes narrowed slightly, until her lips pushed out into a pout and her eyebrows creased. She smoothed this easily and then a new smile replaced her previous expression.

"Edward!" She called, her voice like silver chimes and now, emitting an Australian accent. I now get what she meant by a handful of accents she knew of. She raised a tiny, pale hand that was covered by her long sleeved blouse to wave at him. He didn't need the waving to catch her, as soon as she was in view; he was already staring at her general direction.

Alice was actually pushing a trolley with my luggage; consisting of a black suitcase and another two smaller bags. She pouted again as the boy—was his name Edward?—remained silent. She sighed and then called, but she didn't shout, she was in good hearing distance already. "Will you please help me with this?" Her eyes fell down towards the luggage that she was just pushing, and with a small and quick nod, Edward strode towards her. The way he moved was just so graceful—just like Alice. I shook my head to get the shock out and then looked back at them. His hands were clutched on the handle and Alice was at my side already, smiling—beaming.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Bella." She said a bit apologetic but playfully. Her eyes looked up and caught Edward's own. They were exactly the same shade. Golden eyes which reminded me slightly of a cats. I saw him tense up at the mentioning of my name and then he squared his shoulders.

"So you've met my brother, Edward, then?" Oh, her brother. That's right. They looked absolutely alike. Same pale features, beautiful golden eyes, and then... those circles underneath their eyes. It made them look like they missed a few nights of sleep. I shrugged at that, they were just teenagers. Teenagers were bound to miss a few nights of sleep. But aside from the looks, they moved the same, graceful and beautiful. My mind processed it all again, and then I just came to a conclusion that Edward was like Alice. He was beautiful, too.

Shaking my head again to get rid of the upcoming blush, I looked up at Alice and then smiled wryly. She smiled back again. "Well, that's Edward and you probably can guess what his last name is." She let a good giggle out and then went back. "Oh yeah, Edward, this is Bella Swan. An exchange student from America."

He nodded once and then his gaze was out again. He was looking at all the people, probably. "Don't worry. He'll adjust to your company." Alice whispered, standing on her toes to whisper to me. I smiled at that and nodded. She laughed her silvery laugh once more and then grabbed my wrist again. "Well, what are you waiting for, Bella? Let's get going!" She dragged me again with much enthusiasm as before.

Our trip to the parking lot was rather bubbly and giddy because Alice provided the conversation. She talked non-stop, saying things like, "Oh, Bella! You'll absolutely adore the school! And then you'll meet other exchange students, too!" She sighed at that and then continued on exclaiming. "It would be so fun! Carlisle would be thrilled that everyone's up and ready. Well, not everyone. We're missing two more people from France." When she said that, her smile dropped slightly and then twitched back. Her face was animated, as well as her conversation.

When we finally got to the car, I stared at it for awhile. It was absolutely a grand looking car. Sleek and fast probably. I didn't know what it was, aside from it being a Mercedes. "You like the car?" She chided, sliding in the passenger seat. I nodded. "It's a Mercedes Guardian." She said, happy about the brand of her car. I nodded again and then saw that the door for my side of the car was open, Edward was holding it open in a gentlemanly way. Alice just grinned at that and rolled her eyes. My gaze flickered to him for a while, and he was reluctant about something. Then, he smiled. A crooked smile that would've just knocked me senseless if the cold rough road of the parking lot wouldn't have hurt if I fainted. But I kept myself together and then smiled back, uneasy for a while.

Before I slid inside the car, he spoke, "Welcome to Australia, Bella." The voice was silky. It was like smooth velvet. It captured me then. His smile was breathtaking, and his voice was...alluring. He sounded happy when he greeted me, and then chuckled slightly as he closed the door of the passenger's side. I stared out in space for a time, and I felt Alice shake me as we drove out of the parking lot.

Edward would be our driver, then. I slumped back onto the chair, relaxing as my eyes looked out to the speeding buildings. Edward drove fast. I smiled to myself. I still couldn't get the picture of his smile out of my head. I think...I think...

I think I'll like it here in Australia. I was welcomed by two people, siblings. So I really think Australia wouldn't be bad, it's worth a shot anyway, right?

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Was it good--I hope it was? It's my first shot in a Twilight AU and all. I hope you guys liked it. Review, please :3 I'm gonna put on the next chapters soon enough so yeah. :D

Last Note : Praise Skitty-san :D