Chapter 2 Strike One

Second inning.

Forks high down by five points. Already.

I don't know much about baseball, but I like it. When I lived in Phoenix, and my mom started dating - her now husband - Phil, he made a point of getting to know me. Shocking. Maybe at first he was trying to get on Renee's good side, considering her previous boyfriends only ever called me an adorable little girl, and went right back to ignoring me, but he started liking me, and volunteered to take care of me when Renee went out to run errands.

I was eleven the first time I picked up a baseball bat. Phil taught me a lot about the game, but none of it really sank in. I just went along with what he told me to do.

When he explained the way points worked, it went in one ear and out the other. He just showed me the same thing over and over again until I finally focussed enough to do it.

Like holding the bat. I held the bat the wrong way everytime I picked it up, until my fingers just magically remembered the creases at the bottom to grip at. It was all in my body. Not my mind. I had no control over anything I did when it came to baseball. It just came instinctively.

That's why I knew our school's baseball team sucked at baseball... a lot.

Phil was the only one that knew a little secret of mine. I actually liked baseball quite a bit. It was the only social event I enjoyed. It's really too bad because if I didn't like it so much, I wouldn't have to be subjected to spending time with my 'friends', since I love watching it. At least I only have three. Angela Weber, Jessica Stanley and Mike Newton, and even then, two out of three get on my nerves half the time.

Speaking of one of the devils, Mike was up to bat. He stood on the home plate confidently, knocking the bat against the insides of his feet to get some dust off.

Interesting, he was going for the cocky player look.

When he lifted the bat beside him, in a ready stance, I gave a loud snort. That turned my friends' heads in my direction, but I ignored them. Mike stepped forward slightly, leaning toward the ball coming his way. He hit it, and it went flying. It had to be a homerun! If it wasn't, he'd have a few people hating him in the morning.

Lucky for him, it was. See, Mike Newton is the wannabe jock. He's has an okay face, a bit on the baby side, that's why he was given the name Babyface. He thinks it's intriguing. Anyway, although he's one of the most popular guys in school - I don't see why - he tries too hard. He tries to look cool. In my mind he's far from it, but he's a nice guy, which makes him more popular, and he's been nice to me. A little too nice, but all the same, nice.

When the game was over, we made our way out of the rickety bleachers and slowly walked to our cars.

Today had been an okay day. I didn't do a heck of a lot, but it was good. Good for me. As good as it would probably ever get. It had started raining, but it was pleasant, and I liked it. I used to hate the rain.

My day was then ruined when Tyler Crowley turned around, clapping a hand over Mike's back saying: "Hey, Mike. I think Rosalie Hale is staring at you!"

Everyone turned their heads to the left where Rosalie Hale and her brother Jasper were in some sort of discussion. Well, Rosalie was silently fuming at her brother, while he was bent over laughing. It was like a silent picture. It was beautiful.

"Aww, naw Tyler, don't you know she won't go for anyone? Bet she and her brother got some sort of incest thing going on."

I could almost swear I saw the two freeze in their positions, out of the corner of my eye.

"I don't think that's it bro. I mean, I've heard she's been around a few times. Only with specific people. Maybe a couple chicks."

That was a low blow.

"Sure. Wouldn't be surprised. I mean, she's super hot and all, like wicked hot, but if she's a lesbo, I wouldn't be surprised. But that is still pretty revolting. 'Cause really, doing that with another chick? Gross."

Okay, you guys can drop it anytime now. You're really starting to get on my nerves.

"Haha, yeah I know what you mean! But what I wouldn't give to watch that shit! Mind you, I'm not into dumb blondes"

"Shut. Up." Everyone turned toward me in shock. Holy. Crap. Did I say that out loud? "Do you have any idea how annoying it is to hear you guys go on about lesbians? It's everyday! And who are you to castigate her? If you think she's giving Mike some sex look, Tyler, she wouldn't give him the time of day, I bet. You have no right to judge her, or anyone for that matter. You don't know her at all, and Mike, she's smarter than all of us. Put together!"

For a moment I was worried I would now be hated by half the population of the school - well, maybe not half the school because Forks high isn't that small - and be shunned. Wait, that would be a good thing.

But when Angela whispered a "that was amazing." in my ear, I think I might have accidentally upped my social status.

Either way, no one said anything, simply walked to their cars and drove to the after party at Jessica's house. The one I wouldn't be attending because I had another baseball game to be at.

***

It was seven o'clock when I arrived at the Forks baseball park, and it was packed.

Most of Forks had to be here. It was very entertaining, knowing that Forks could get all riled up by a baseball game. Even if the people coming to play were from out of town, and were bringing their families to see us lose.

"Bells, over here!" I looked to my right to see Phil standing with my mother and Charlie. Charlie was giving me a pleading look.

He needed some saving.

I put on my best smile and walked over to them.

Immediately my mother's hands were pinching my cheeks, saying: "Oh, my Bella-Boo! How are you, honey? Look at you! You're so tall, and slim, and your hair's even browner and curlier, and you're just beautiful! I even think you grew out a bit in the chest area. That's my girl!"

The look on my face had to be mortified. It was worse enough she was saying it at all, but on top of that, she just shouted it out for the world to hear.

I quickly looked around to make sure no one noticed it, but my eyes met two sets of gold ones. A girl and boy were coming down the bleachers set up behind the protective net. At first, I only noticed their eyes, but when I forced myself to look away, I realized how beautiful they were.

When my head shot back toward them, they were still staring at me with the same amused expressions plastered to their faces. The girl had spikey black hair, and the boy had untidy bronze hair. Their faces were very pale, and they seemed to walk with a particular alacrity I'd never seen before. Something about them seemed so familiar

"Did you hear what I said, Bella?" Phil was waving a hand in front of my face... which was still being crushed by my mother's hands.

"Ma, let go," I said shaking my head. "uh, what were you saying?"

"I was saying that there's gonna be an addition to Forks after the game!" I wasn't aware Phil enjoyed gossiping, but I'd play along.

"Really." I said, raising my eyebrows.

"Be nice, Bella." Renee said swatting my arm. "It'll be nice for you to make some friends!"

"Maybe I don't want any friends." I mumbled.

"What's that?"

"Oh, um, nothing. So, what exactly do you mean?"

"My good bud and his fam decided they wanted to move down here after the game. They've been looking for somewhere nice and cloudy to settle down in for a while."

Good one, Phil. Crack out the cloud jokes. You're goin' down today!

"I don't really get why they'd wanna live here, no offense. Like it's always so dreary and - "

"That's why it's so nice, Phil." I cut him off, gesturing my hands all over the place, to get my point across. "Everything's beauty is constantly augmented because it's almost always pouring, so it lives longer. That's why the trees are taller, the grass is greener, and the flowers are more colourful. They might not get as much sun as Florida does, but they still do. Forks is... incredible."

The three adults infront of me, gaping, was probably a bad sign.

The two gold eyed teenagers gaping at me from the bottom of the bleachers, now, was also probably a bad sign.

"What?" I asked, wide eyed.

"Oh, um... nothing." Charlie said, before he wrapped an arm around my back whispering, "That's my girl." in my ear.

I smiled a sad smile up at him. I wasn't enjoying this much attention. Why couldn't I just go home and write!?

***

"BATTER UP!"

I really detested the umpire's corny, booming voice heard at the beginning of every baseball game.

If he really wanted our attention, all he had to do was clap his hands together a few times, telling us to shut up because the game was starting.

Much simpler.

"Who ya gonna root for, baby?" Renee asked me.

"Um, I don't think I'm hoping for any specific team to win, mom. Afterall, it's about having fun and practicing good sportsmanship!" I drawled.

Of course Renee giggled - like a school girl - and turned back to the game, cheering for Phil.

I was secretely hoping the Clouds would pull through in the end. Sure, it was about the love of baseball, but I was sick of hearing how much the Suns was going to cream us. In the end, it all came down to men hitting a round object with big sticks, and running around four lumps in the ground.

No big deal.

"Ou! Carlisle's up!"

My eyebrows knit together in confusion as I watched a blonde haired man walk toward home. Where did I know him from?

The teenagers!

But something else looked like all of them as well.

"Uh, mom, does that guy have any kids here with him today?" I asked distantly.

"Why yes he does! Three kids and a wife!"

"Do these kids have gold eyes?"

"How did you know? Well, they all do. Funny story, his kids are adpoted. Yet they all look so much alike! Oh they're wonderful people, Bella! We're wonderful friends with them you know! You should be nice to them on their first day. They're going through a lot right now!"

"Yeah... sure... funny story." I mumbled, my eyes still fixed on Carlisle. There was something different about him and his family.