A/N: Thank you so much for the reviews, they encouraged me to write more :) and in response to the reviews yes this is going to be a Darkward story :)

Chapter 2

As the echoes of rainfall on our roof lightened, I heard an urgent buzzing sound, coming from inside the house. I rushed carefully inside, lose floorboards are always in unsuspecting places. It was coming from the lounge. Charlie! He was watching the game. I entered slowly fidgeting with my hands preparing to ask him an unimaginable favour. As I edged closer one of the floorboards squeaked giving me away, Charlie's eyes unwillingly moved away from the game to meet my gaze.

'Ch…I mean dad, could you give me a lift to school, I need to get to my exam…and I'd drive myself if it weren't for Jacob altering my truck.'

Damn Jacob, of course he always did have perfect timing.

He let out a room filling sigh. 'Alright Bells, seen as your in this predicament, but you know how I get when I miss the game.'

Charlie reluctantly rose from the sofa where he'd left an indentation from his regular spot for the game. He was trying to play the sympathy card, but this was my exam, and he'd have plenty of time to watch the game again, maybe Billy had recorded it. But as I turned to see my father's miserable childish face the guilt started to kick in, so I decided I would make his favourite for tea, Harry Clearwater's fish fry.

I lead the way out of the house into the rain, but as soon as my foot touched the pavement outside the heavens decided to open. A fitting start to an already disastrous day.

I carefully lowered myself into Charlie's cruiser, wanting to prolong the embarrassment of being in there for as long as possible. Under different circumstances I may have looked cool but considering I was late to my exam, half asleep, and being driven by my unwilling dad, I believed that looking cool was quite impossible.

Lost in thought I didn't realise when Charlie pulled up to my school, Forks High. As I saw the sign through my glistening rain splattered window, the butterflies hit me like a traffic collision. I sucked in a deep breath and bid Charlie goodbye. At least no one was here to see me step out of Charlie's cruiser since I was so late. The grounds were completely empty, and peaceful. As I stepped onto the curb the moist are filled my lungs, with the scent of thick, dense foliage. I hurried towards the examinations hall while the wind whipped back my hair, as if urging me to turn around; nature was out of its mind.

When I was inside a tall burly man, the examinations officer was impatiently tapping his foot repeatedly. Because being tall and big wasn't already doubly intimidating. In my nervous fit I threw off my coat and walked towards him.

He hastily opened the door, and darkly whispered 'and next time don't be late.' I could hear the venom in his voice.

I trudged down one of the narrow lines to meet the teacher with the seating plan. I could feel the hostile eyes like sharp daggers to my back. I met eye contact with a familiar welcoming face, Mike Newton, which put me at ease until I heard snorts of amusement, which turned into a complete uproar.

My eyes roamed the room in confusion, what the hell were they laughing at? Oh no, I did get dressed this morning didn't I? I felt my clothes cling to my nervous sweat, and knew I was in the clear. So OK I'm not naked worst case scenario over, so what the hell were they laughing at?

As if to answer my question an unfamiliar acidic voice called out 'get dressed in the dark Isabella?'

Well I was on the right lines it was garment related.

'Maybe she's wearing her pants backwards for duel condom storage,' cried another.

'Or maybe she needs growing room for her huge fanny.'

Ugh boys were vulgar, but wait a minute I'm forgetting something more important. I gaped down and saw two pockets misplaced, currently at the front of my trousers. Damn Charlie! Why didn't he tell me? I craned my neck with embarrassment, and tried to hide my growing blush, not growing fanny, according to some. And if that embarrassment wasn't quite enough, further down the hall I tripped on Jessica Stanley's table leg. Earning me a look of pure evil satisfaction from her eyes, at least I'd improved someone's day.

Well aside from my trousers, and my clumsy streak I was still in tack. I ambled helplessly towards the front avoiding a few legs purposely stuck out, just waiting for me to be made their prey. Luckily my head was still hung with my blushing embarrassment, which made it only too noticeable. And so I met one of those legs with a forceful kick, which I felt slightly redeemed myself .

When I reached the waiting teacher with the seating plan muffled giggles still filled the air, reminding me of my current situation. This took my cheeks to a whole new shade of red. The teacher was slightly smirking to my dismay, but decided to take control in her own hands, and perhaps help my situation.

'What Miss Swan chooses to do with her trousers can be of interest in your own time, this is an exam!'

OK or so I thought. She directed me to the central seat at the front, the whole time I'd tried not to make eye contact because I surely would have given her daggers for that speech.

Well centre seat at the front, best seat in the house, on the best day of my life, so far. I sat their apprehensively fearing the exam I was about to receive, as I played with a stray curl that hung loosely down my side. We were given the whole consequences of copying speech, and told firmly to start. I opened the exam to see an impossible linear equation awaiting me, goody. I chewed on the end of my pen and consistently wrapped a loose curl playfully around my finger in concentration. But more complex happenings were occurring in my mind, I was internally praying for a miracle, and God knows I needed one, this exam wasn't going to do itself.

Out of nowhere answering my prayers a crescendo of deafening sounds filled the hall, followed by a violent shaking. An earthquake!? This was Fork's not California, what was happening?

Simultaneously the floor, triggered by the shaking rapidly began to crack. It was instantly defaced, forming a zigzagged line from right under me, straight across the massiveness of the hall. I was too caught up in the shock of the natural disaster, and the fact that my prayers had been answered in this twisted way, to realise that the entirety of the hall had stampeded to the doors of the hall. Adding to their panic the furniture was barricading us all inside, with various items belonging to the hall, that had been forced there during the violent event.

Without delay the event came to a halt, the violent shaking, and the panic being radiated by everyone had almost evaporated. The teacher found the nearest standing chair and forced herself upon it. She stood over the crowds and shouted out 'ok everyone earthquakes over, we'll have to stay here until help comes. She carefully scoped the room looking for civilians no doubt, when I caught her attention. I was just sat there looking helplessly lost when she vigorously gestured for me to join the gathering of students.

I carefully rose for my desk and hoisted myself onto my quivering legs. As soon as I'd made this small movement the crack beneath began to widen, like I'd activated it. The floor was impulsively parting. My balance was instantly lost, I couldn't even control it on a stable floor, I had no chance. I met the cold floor face down with an empty unwilling thud; well at least my fashion disaster wasn't apparent this way.

I pulled myself onto my hands positioning my weight at the front of my body, while my hair wrapped itself around my face like a child in fear. But this effort was wasted when an urgent crack and the floor began to dismantle further from under me. The crunching grew louder, and louder, and the gaping hole expanded across the hall.

I was left hysterically clinging to a ledge that had formed on the outskirts of the crater, in the midst of it all. Unsought sweat began to form on my palms, weakening my grasp as I clung for dear life. Even thought I didn't want to mentally admit it, physically I couldn't hold on much longer. The constantly forming sweat grew evoking my hand to slip.

I unconsciously opened my mouth to scream when a firm grasp tugged on my hand. I intently stared upwards with the little energy I had to see my saviour. It was Mike Newton, my eyes met his with all the pure gratitude I could muster.

'Hang on Bella I'm going to get you out!' Mike cried out in desperation.

I knew his fondness of me may come in handy some day, and I suppose for once I proved myself right. I kept my eyes hopefully on Mike, I tried to remain calm even though the panic surged inside me. I didn't want to make this any harder for Mike than it currently was. But as I looked up I saw sweat forming on his brow, physically giving away his weakness he was struggling.

I was so exhausted I nearly gave up the fight then and there, as I fell into near unconsciousness a blur of outlines came into contact. Everyone was gathered around the gaping hole. The teacher bolted to Mikes side grasping my other hand, forcefully tugging me up.

'Bella pull yourself up, we can't do this alone, your slipping!'

But my energy was completely drained, as I hung limply not contributing to their desperate efforts for my survival.

I felt like the force pulling me down was greater than the one pulling me up, and that it had won me over body and soul. If I took the route upwards what awaited for me? There wasn't much in the way of a life, I was lonely and desperately unhappy. But the way down was an inviting escape from my hum-drum life in Forks, I would be free of its cloudy capture, I would be free of everything. So which would it be...up or down??....

A/N: I hope you like this chapter, and doesn't worry Edward is coming soon  Please review I really appreciate it; it makes me want to continue.