A/N: Thank you for the reviews so far. All have been positive, so that must mean that I'm doing something right. Some of you have asked some questions about what Bella is and what else she can do. All I can say to that is: keep reading my story and you will find out.

Enjoy the second chapter and please REVIEW!

I'm looking into the topaz coloured eyes of yet another vampire. I dig into Alice's memories real quick and immediately recognise the huge bulk of a guy that I'm looking at as Emmett. From what I know from Alice's memories, he's the goofball of the family. And although he presents himself as this big tough guy, he's more of a big teddy bear. It should be fun to have him as my lab partner.

I sit down in my seat and turn to Emmett to introduce myself. "Hi, I'm Bella Swan."

A huge smile breaks out onto his face. "I'm Emmett, Emmett Cullen. How are you enjoying America, must be really different from Italy weather-wise."

I snigger. "Uhm, I'm from Atlanta, Georgia. As in the United States."

He looks really confused at me for a moment. "But your name's Bella. That's Italian right?"

Again I snigger. "Yes, it's an Italian name. But my parents gave it to me because they liked it, not because I was born in Italy. I do like mushroom ravioli though."

"OK, that's cool too."

We don't get the chance to continue our conversation, because Ms. Elliott decides to start up the lesson then. She begins explaining some kind of experiment to us. I have never been particularly interested in Chemistry, so I soon block out her voice.

I just sit and twiddle my thumbs for a minute, but I soon get bored doing that. I look at Emmett and see that he isn't really paying attention to what the teacher is talking about either. I quietly tear a piece of paper out of my notebook and write a message to Emmett.

'So, you're Alice's brother right?'

I nudge him in the side, getting his attention before sliding the paper over to him. He reads my message and writes a response.

'Yes I am. I take it you have met Shorty then?'

Shorty? I can't imagine she likes that nickname. But I can see how it would fit her, she's what? Like 4'10'' or something?

'Yeah, we had English Literature together first period, next we have History. She was really nice to me, even though I am a total stranger. But all of the Cullens I have met until now are nice like that :)'

He smiles at my message and eagerly writes a reply.

'Yeah, that's Alice for you. I take it you haven't met Rosalie yet, let's see if you still think we're all nice then.'

Rosalie is the blond one from Alice's memories. The girl that looks like she has just walked off a runway or something. And she has an attitude to spare.

'Alice mentioned her very briefly, but she didn't go into details. Why will I think she isn't nice?'

I slip the paper to him again and he hesitates a bit before writing his response. He must be thinking what the politest way would be to describe his girlfriend to me, without scaring me off and without her getting pissed at him. Finally he hands the paper back to me.

'Rosalie has a bit of a 'unique' personality you could say. Either you're in her good graces, or you're not. And when you're not, well then you'd better stay the hell away from her.'

I smile at his description of her.

'I certainly can't wait to meet her ;)'

He seems like he's thinking something over before he scribbles something down on the paper again.

'You don't have to wait long. Sit with us at lunch? I'm sure Alice and the guys wouldn't mind. Rosalie we'll just deal with then.'

Hmm, sit with the group of vampires for lunch, or sit with the normal human kids? I think I'm going to sit with the group of vampires. That way I can get to know them a bit better and see what to make of them. And sitting with them at lunch means more time with Alice. And I'm definitely up for that.

'Okay, if you're sure they wouldn't mind.'

After that the teacher drones on for about twenty more minutes and I mindlessly doodle a bit in my notebook. Finally the school bell rings, signalling the end of this mind numbing class. I make my way to the door and Emmett trails after me.

"I guess I'll see you at lunch then. Better be prepared." He grins at me and walks off to his next class.

I proceed to my third period History Class and suddenly out of nowhere, someone grasps my hand. I look to my side and see that Alice is striding along besides me.

"Hey, haven't seen you in a while. Did you miss me?" She giggles.

"Yeah, how long has it been? Like 45 minutes? How I have survived without you for that amount of time amazes me." I state in a dramatic voice. "I met your brother though, the big one, Emmett. He may be even nicer than you are." She aims this incredibly cute pout at me and I can't help but laugh at her antics.

"You think Emmy-bear is nicer than me?" She says in this sad tone, which together with the word 'Emmy-bear' makes me crack up again.

We arrive at our History class and I go introduce myself to yet another teacher. Mr. Wright welcomes me to his class and tells me that I can sit anywhere I like.

As I turn around I can see Eric waving me over to the seat next to him. I point towards Alice who is enthusiastically patting the seat next to her and mouth a 'Sorry!' at Eric. He seems disappointed but throws a smile at me nonetheless. Then he goes back to talking with the brown haired girl sitting in front of him.

I make my way over to Alice and plop down in my seat. I look at her and pick up our conversation where we left it.

"So, Emmy-bear?" This time I manage to suppress my laughter.

"Yes, because he is as big as a bear and when it comes down to it, he is just a big mush ball. So he is my Emmy-bear." She giggles.

"It's only fair that he calls you Shorty then. That isn't far from the truth either." I smirk at her.

"Excuse me! Is that some stab at my height? Why I have never!" She says in a mock offended tone.

Mr. Wright soon interrupts our playful banter with the start of his lesson. History has always been one of my best subjects and it's an interest of mine. So I'm actually delighted to hear that we have to write a paper on the American Civil War this semester. What's even better is that we have to write it in pairs and that we can form the pairs ourselves.

I whisper over to Alice "Do you want to work with me on this assignment?"

"Of course I do!" She throws her trademark radiant smile at me.

Mr. Wright gives us a few more pointers for our paper and then he leaves us to our own devices. I enthusiastically take my book in front of me and begin highlighting all the important things in the introduction chapter to the Civil War. When I have finished highlighting almost half of the page I turn to Alice.

"So, where do you want to start?"

"Well, I was going to ask you to tell me something more about your parents, but I'm guessing you're talking about the paper. Seeing as you have been busy highlighting an entire chapter."

I blush at her comment. "Sorry. I guess I got a bit over-excited there. It's just that this is my favourite subject, so I like doing assignments for it. I guess that would qualify me as a geek, actually wanting to do my homework."

Alice puts her hand on my cheek. "You're cute when you blush." That only makes me blush harder. "And no, you're not a geek. It just shows that you are passionate about something. I'm like that when it comes to Art, so you have no reason to be embarrassed." She takes her hand of my cheek and I instantly miss her touch. "But I was kinda hoping that I could ask you some more questions about yourself." And she uses her pout again.

I already know that I can't resist her pout and I think that she knows it too. So I close my book and put my highlighter away.

"OK, shoot."

"What does your mom do? You know, as a job?"

"She used to be an elementary school teacher, before my dad god his high-ranking position as Colonel. But because we have to move so much, she had to give that up." I remember how she always loved to talk about her kids from school, she truly liked her job. But she gave it up for dad's career and for me, and she hasn't ever regretted it. "Now she's a housewife most of the time and she has a part-time job at the on-base kindergarten." Which she also loves.

"Sounds nice. And your dad? What exactly does he do in the army?"

This was the one question that I hoped she wouldn't ask me, because I have no choice but to lie now. "He's involved in developing new battle tactics and strategies. He can't really talk about it to us, because most of what he deals with is classified. As almost everything in the army is." I handled that one nicely.

"Isn't that weird for you and your mom, that he has to keep secrets from you about his work?" She seems genuinely curious about this. Damn I wish I could tell her the truth. I know exactly what my dad does in the army, how could I not, I'm involved in it as well.

"It was kinda hard in the beginning. But after living on an army base for a while, you get used to all the secrecy and just accept it as the norm. It's not like we have some major trust issues going on at home because of it you know. He just can't talk to us about the army stuff, all other stuff that happens in his life he does share with us."

Mr. Wright interrupts our conversation again, telling us we can pack our thing up and go. This time I'm grateful for the interruption, because now I don't have to go keep on lying to Alice about my dad. And me.

"Finally, lunch time has arrived." I exclaim happily, trying to steer the conversation towards another topic. As if on cue, my stomach rumbles loudly.

Alice laughs at the sound and pats my stomach. "I think you have neglected to feed someone for too long."

We make our way towards the cafeteria where I get myself some sandwiches and an apple. Alice loads some fruit onto her tray, which I know she won't eat. I guess she just has to keep up appearances towards the other students. It would look odd if she never got anything to eat at all. I make a quick survey of the cafeteria and see Emmett already sitting at a table. Next to him sits Rosalie. Both have two trays of food standing on the table before them. Both are untouched.

Emmett notices me looking at him and Rosalie and motions me over to them. Rose thumps him in the back of his head and glares at him. As Alice and I approach their table however, she turns her glare onto me.

As we sit down, Rose does not surprise me by immediately trying to get some kind of rise out of me. She gives me a curt nod. "I'm Rosalie. You must be Bella. The Italian girl Emmett was blabbering about all through third period." The tone in which she says it isn't friendly, but I wouldn't call it hostile either.

"Yeah that's me, kind of. I'm not Italian and I don't know if he has been blabbering about me all through third period, but I definitely am Bella." I just meet her head on, mustering up the most friendly tone I can manage. Judging by the twinkle in her eye she likes the way I just back talked to her.

We get involved into a little staring contest, while Alice and Emmett cautiously look at us. After about a minute of our little staring match, a small smile begins to form at the corners of Rosalie's mouth.

"For some reason unknown to me I think I might like you." Alice and Emmett both look shocked at her words. I just smirk and answer her.

"Same here."

After that I dig into my lunch, while Emmett and Rosalie resume talking to each other. Alice pushes around the food on her tray a bit, but I choose not to comment on her lack of eating. Just as I'm about to start on my second sandwich, two pairs of shoes appear in my peripheral vision.

"Well hello there. I don't believe we have met?" Someone says in a Southern accent.