Chapter 2

I walked nervously into the secretary's office. Behind the desk sat a lady with long red hair reading a magazine, I identified her as Ms Cope, by the badge she wore on her jacket.

"Hello, I'm a new student here this term, I was told to come to you."

Ms Cope didn't look up but said in a very bored voice, "Name?"

"Renesmee Cullen," I stuttered.

Her eyes snapped up and after taking in my face took an enormous gulp. "I'm terribly sorry for my rudeness, I didn't realize, I'll find your file."

Looking over her shoulder I saw her type the word CULLEN into the address bar at the top of the school's database. Six results came up; the first five all had the status of "left" and their grades and which colleges they went to. But the final entry was completely blank except for the name "Renesmee Carlie Cullen, Grade 10" Ms Cope took up some paper work on her desk and handed them to me.

"Here is your timetable and a map of the school, and can you give this form to each of your teachers to sign. What's your first lesson?"

"Maths" I said after glancing at the timetable.

"That's the first classroom on the left on the second floor."

"Thanks" I said and left the room.

When I entered the classroom I headed straight towards the teachers desk in front of the white board. The teacher looked up when he saw me approaching and held out his hand.

"Hello, you must be Renesmee. I'm Mr Butler." I gave him my slip to sign and he directed me to a seat which was currently empty.

I took out my notepad and pen and subconsciously began to doodle on the clean new page. It was strange being alone, my whole life I had always been surrounded by my large family. People offering me this, asking me that, but here I had no one.

My eyes left the page and I noticed that the seats around me had been filled and mr Butler was clearing his throat. He began he lesson by taking the register, all heads turned in my direction when I answered and heard a series of ominous mutterings. Thankfully he didn't make me stand up and introduce myself and I was exceedingly grateful. He started the lesson on quadratic equations, Mum had taught me how to do these so I was following his teachings with ease.

About half way through the lesson another teacher came in and asked for a word with Mr Butler and they stepped outside. The girl who was sitting text to me turned, she was very petit, rather like Auntie Alice with a long dark plait down her back.

"Hello, are you Renesmee?" she asked.

""Yes, what's your name?"

"I'm Angharad, how on earth have you been doing these so quickly, I never understand anything mr Butler says, I had him last year too, it's so unfair."

"Yeah, he didn't give the best explanation did he?" I agreed. "My Mum taught me to do it like this."

I showed her that instead of solving the equation by trial and error, as Mr Butler had shown the class, to draw a table and therefore find the answer instantly.

"I get it now." Angharad sighed, "so what school have you come from?"

I had decided last night that I didn't want to lie to any new friends I was to make. I was going to tell them as much of the truth as possible.

"Until now, I have been home schooled by my parents and my Dad's family." I replied sincerely.

"SO you've never been to a real school in your whole life?"

"Never, this is all new."

"Well if you need anything then I'm happy to help."

I smiled warmly at her, could I really fit in here? Would she be my first human friend? I hoped so. We didn't have a chance to speak any further as Mr Butler re-entered the classroom and insisted that we continue to work in silence.

When the bell rang at the end of the lesson Angharad asked me which subject I had next.

"History" I replied.

"Me too, I'll show you the way."

She continued to chat to me all the way to history. And by the time we arrived at the correct room all the seats were taken bar two at the back of the room next to a girl with the most amazing blue eyes. I have never seen anyone with blue eyes before, all my family's are gold and the wolves and Grandpa Charlie have brown eyes like me. I vaguely remember seeing a lot of people with red eyes just after I was born but no one with blue. The girl saw us approaching and waved to Angharad.

"Hi there," she cried. "Did you have a good Christmas?"

"It was good thanks, how about you?"

"Good, good!"

"This is Renesmee." Angharad pushed me forward and I smiled at this most intriguing girl.

"Hi, I'm Ellyse, come and sit down!"

I sat between these two girls as they exchanged gossip and news of their Christmas break.

"What did you do for Christmas?" asked Ellyse

"Oh, the usual, tree, presents, most of them from my Aunt, she loves shopping. In fact she bought me this whole outfit new today."

"Wow," gasped Angharad. "I wish I had an Aunt like that. Do you have any brothers or sisters?"

"No" it was after all impossible, "I don't have any cousins either, so I'm pretty much surrounded by adults 24/7."

"Poor you, I have three brothers, so it's great to get some female company at school."

"I have brothers too and so does Juliet but all the others have sister," said Ellyse

"How many of you are there?" I asked.

"6" said Angharad, "you can sit with us at lunch if you like."

"I'd love that," and an enormous grin spread across my face. From then on we had to concentrate and take notes on the lecture our teacher was giving us on slavery.

Neither Ellyse nor Angharad were in my next class, art, but they walked me to the classroom and promised to save me a seat at lunch.

"See you later Renesmee," they waved and hurried off towards their German lesson.

The class was still half empty by the time I walked into the room so I picked a seat at the back and took Jacob's letter out of my bag and broke it open.

Dear Nessie
Where are you? I haven't seen you in ages. Come and see me later. I miss you. Good luck. I'm thinking of you, as always.
Jake xxx

I sighed; Jake was a constant problem nagging at the back of my mind. We'd been best friends all my life but now he kept trying to push me into taking it further and I didn't want to hurt his feelings. But he had never considered if I wanted him, what if I fell in love? What would he do? He was so over-possessive and under-considerate, just like he was with my Mum. I was constantly being pulled in two different directions – he was my friend and I didn't want to hurt him, but I also wanted my own life, I didn't want to have to be tied to him. In wanted a choice and I didn't want him to make it for me. And also, what was he talking about, I saw him yesterday. I suppose he got used to my life flying by, he must expect me to still be growing by the month instead of the year. I was slowing down now and would stop very soon. I would never be old enough for him but that wasn't going to stop him.