Return Of The Century

Chapter 2 - Like A Flash Of Fire

This chapter contains parts of ' Twilight' which i do not own.

BPOV

The journey from sunny Phoenix to Wassily was a long one. Eight restroom breaks, Seven dinner stops and a charming overnight

stay at the ' Lucky 8 Motel ' just off the Alaska Highway. It made a change from sleeping in the car ... Charlie cried almost the whole way.

When we eventually arrived at the new house it was snowing heavily. I saw it as an early warning. An early warning that this would be the weather conditions almost everyday.

I clambered out of the car, then stumbled my way up to the front door of the house. It was already open. My dad Christopher had went ahead of us with the movers, in order to get the house ready for our arrival. It was his stroke of genius.

Inside was beautiful, and surprisingly warm compared to the winter wonderland that was outside. Everything that had been taken from Arizona was now neatly arranged to fit the setting of the new house. I wondered for a second if Christopher had done this all himself, he was athletic after all. Nah my rational brain chirped in he probably got the movers to help him. They where his friends after-all.

Charlie stumbled in nosily behind me, snapping me out of my thoughts. Poor little guy was exhausted. His eyes where red and puffy and his skin red and patchy to match. Dried tear tracks stained his face and his little lips pouted in such a way that he looked like a begging puppy.

" Bwa " he croaked " Can i s'weep with you tonight ? "

" Of course, you can buddy " I can't even begin to describe the smile that appeared on his chubby little face " But first you gotta go take your clothes box from the car and unpack it into your dresser. "

Charlie didn't even bother to reply. He shot right out to the car and began to pester Susan. He was so cute when he wasn't in ' annoy Bella mode '.

It had taken only two trips to get all my junk upstairs. My bedroom was second on the right next to the bathroom and directly across from Charlies room, Christopher had pre-allocated the rooms to us before we arrived. One of the best things about the room that i got was view from my window. Even in the darkness i could see a beautiful frozen lake surrounded by snowy tree's. It would be something to look forward to seeing in the mornings.

When i had finished unpacking my clothes, i swiftly pulled on a pair of patchy black pj's and jumped into bed dismissing the urge to run to the bathroom and brush my teeth. A sudden wave of tiredness to blame.

After what seemed like hours of slipping in and out of consciousness, i finally herd Charlie sneak in. I pulled back the blankets and felt him snuggle in, his tiny fingers coiling round my hair like usual. I smiled and covered him up.

" Night Bwa ".

" Night Charlie ... "

Tomorrow would be the beginning of the school year for Charlie and me. But it would also be the beginning of a new life.

Waking up, having breakfast with Charlie and riding to school had been the easy part of the day. Actually finding and entering the schools office had been the hard part.

I couldn't put into words how i felt the moment i walked into the high school. Every teenager in the long main hall stopped and eyeballed the newcomer. For the first time in my life i wished that i could just fade into the background and be invisible. Normally i was quite a loud person, but i think that was all about to change. I could feel people's eyes borrowing into the back of my skull, hear them whispering assumptions and guesses about me, starting rumor's and commenting on my appearance. Most of what i herd was good but there was the odd mocking comment.

My pace quickened subconsciously as i ran into the office slamming the door behind me. I was safe from the stares ... At least for a little while.

" Hello, Can i help you ? " A chirpy blond haired women chirped at me from behind the sanctity of her desk.

I had to admit, she startled me.

" Uh, Yeah, um i'm-i'm new here and i was told to come here to get my schedule ? ".

" You must be ... Isabella ? Isabella Fitzroy ? " She muttered as she pulled a large blue box out from under her desk and started to flick through the papers inside.

" Isabella Marie Fitzroy. I have your things right here. Your schedule, a map and a list of lunch time activities, clubs and after school sports. "

I picked up the papers and eyed them wearily. Gym was first then biology, followed by English, Government, Trigonometry and Spanish. It was a good order, all except gym of course, that was never good. When you had no hand-eye coordination to walk in a straight line, it was never good to try and play sports of any kind. The students at this school would find that out fast.

" Thank you " I murmured and left the office, about to slowly make my way to what no doubt would be my crowning for ' Clumsiest Newcomer '.

I kept my head down the whole way, trying hard not to draw any more attention to myself that i already had.

The ball was passed to me twice during the gym game of Volleyball. Both times i smacked it away in the wrong direction and was glared at by the other players in my team. I did warn them not to pass me the ball ... It was there fault that they didn't listen.

Gym was survived. Now Biology.

The classroom for biology was surprisingly large. The students all sat in two's, each with there own set of aged look equipment. I approached the teachers desk my whole body shaking.

" Uh, excuse me sir ? "

The teachers head turned toward me and smiled.

" You must be ... Isabella ? The new girl. "

I flinched at the name " Just Bella. "

" Class !! Please can i have your attention ... NOW ! ".

The class fell silent, all there attention now focused on me and the teacher Mr .... Conway.

" Everybody this is our new addition. Miss Isabella Fitzroy. "

My name had bairly left the teachers lips when the only boy in the class to not pay attention decided to join in the party. He had scruffy bronze hair and the most beautiful topaz eyes i had ever seen, the only pair of topaz eyes i had ever seen. But the one thing that shocked me was his gaze. He looked at me with such pain ... with shock. I locked eyes with him and held my breath. It was intense. He didn't even seem to blink.

" There's an empty seat next to Mr. Cullen at the back, Miss Fitzroy. "

I nodded automatically and slowly paced up to my seat, my eyes still locked with the boy. I didn't know why i couldn't look away ... It was as if my eyes where glued to his. My cheeks would no doubt be bright red. I was entranced, bemused and embarrassed all in the one go.

" Bella ? " The boy asked cautiously.

" Yes ? " I said breathlessly. I had finally remembered how to breath again.

" My -- I'm Edward Cullen. "

" Nice to meet you, Edward. "

The interaction stopped there. The rest of the hour i hide myself behind a curtain of hair, only stealing a few glances at the god that sat next to me. Edward on the other had tapped his hands and feet impatiently, his eyes never leaving the door. He wanted to leave.

Minutes later he got his wish.

The bell rang and Edward Cullen was out of the classroom faster than i could blink.

I didn't see Edward the rest of the day, not even at lunch. I arrived back home with a horrible feeling of abandonment. I had only known the guy an hour and already i felt like i never wanted to be away from him. I wanted to be with him every second. This would be something that i'd have to keep to myself of course. If my mother found out i found a crush on my first day, i'd never hear the end of it.

Inside the house i could hear several voices. My mothers voice was in the mix and she sound happy ... too happy. Something was going on in the kitchen.

" Mom, do you have comp-- " The end of my sentence faded into the air, as i froze in shock in the door way to the kitchen.

Edward Cullen stood at the dinner table unpacking my mothers best china. For an instant, i felt genuine joy at seeing him again. But it slowly dissolved into confusion.

" Hello again Bella. " he said in a voice like velvet. I could already feel my cheeks going red.

" H-Hay Edward. "

But Edward wasn't here alone. Six other teenagers were standing around him each one looking like they had just came directly from a movie set. Of the three boys, one was big-muscular like a serious weight lifter big, with dark, curly hair. Another was taller, leaner, but still muscular, and honey blond. The last was even taller still with long black hair and really, he resembled a bull-doser. He was the odd one out. He had a more tan complexion than the others.

The girls were beautiful. The tallest one was statuesque. She had a beautiful figure, the kind you saw on America's Next Top Model, the kind that made every girl around her take a massive hit on her self-esteem just by being in the same room. Her hair was golden blond gently weaving to the middle of her back. The next was a short pixie-like girl, thin in the extreme, with small features. Her hair was deep black, cropped short and pointing in every direction but down. The last girl looked the youngest. She was of average height and had beautiful chocolate brown hair which curled into ringlets at the bottom. She again was the odd one out. She had slightly more color about her and her eyes were nothing like the others. In fact they were surprisingly similar to mine.

But the question was, Why were they all in my kitchen unpacking and washing the china ?

" What are you all doing here ? ... Not that its not okay but i just met you today, and i don't know any of you. " I scanned my eyes over the others then rested my eyes on Edward.

" Bella, sweety " Susan chirped in. I knew she'd have to get a word in somewhere " You never told me you had made such nice friends !".

" Su-mom, you never gave me a chance. I just got in. "

" Where have you been ? " I was expecting that.

" I forgot my way home and had to wait for my guidance counselor to show me the way back here. "

Edward laughed and gave me a crooked smile which i fell in love with almost instantly. " I could drive you home if you want ? ".

Those had been the magical words my mom had been waiting for " That would be wonderful, Edward. Wouldn't it Bella, love ? "

I nodded my head robotically, still stunned by Edwards presence in my house.

" I'll leave you alone with your friends, Bells. " Then she left. I could already feel my heart going into overtime. I couldn't speak either. Instead i moved closer to Edward and smiled like a goof. I think he got the message.

" I'm guessing you want an explanation ? And perhaps a formal introduction to the rest of my family ? "

I nodded again " And explanation would be good. "

" Bella, this is my brothers Jasper and Emmett. Jacob here is my cousin. Then we have my sisters Rosalie, Alice and Renesmee, but for ease you can also call her Nessie. "

" Like the Loch-Ness Monster ? " I ruffled my nose.

They all laughed like i cracked a funny joke. " Yes " Renesmee giggled in a high pitched voice like bells. I smiled.

Out of the corner of my eye i could see Edward's smile fade as he reach his hand out for mine, he had a determined look in his eyes.

That's when the fire started.

" And so the lion fell in love with the lamb " i herd Edward mumble.

" What a stupid lamb " I sighed.

" What a sick masochistic lion. "

The scene changed.

" My hand is burning " " I screamed as i watched myself seize on the floor. It was like watching a movie. But suddenly i could feel the same pain the me on the floor was feeling. It was like fire.

" The fire ! Someone stop the fire ! " Both of us screamed.

" Carlisle ! Her hand. " I didn't recognize the voice.

" He bit her. " Another new voice commented, he sounded repulsed.

" Edward, you have to do it. "

The fire suddenly stopped, along with the images. I became aware of my surroundings again and realized i was on the floor.

Everyone was around me, there faces plastered with concern. I attempted to sit up but found myself held down. The last thing i remembered before the darkness took me was a question passing through my lips.

" Edward, who's Carlisle ?. "