Chapter 2: Walk at Night

I was almost done with reading Wuthering Heights for about the billionth time in my life as I waited patiently for classes to be over. It's not that I don't enjoy reading, it's just all of the nervousness and anxiety was built up inside and I found it hard to concentrate on anything for more than a short period of time. I was restless. I paced up and down the dorm as endless questions raced through my head. What was tomorrow going to be like? Would I be able to make it through unnoticed? Preferably, I'd rather not be noticed than be noticed for something I'd rather not have done, which is what usually happens to me.

I wasn't sure if I would grow to love this school and my new friends as I had back at home, but it was worth a try. Who knows? Maybe I'll love the people here more than I do my old friends…no, that wasn't possible. It took a lot for me to trust someone, and after I had known my friends for so long, I had grown to confide in them with all my oh-so-embarrassing secrets. However, there was still a major part of me that stayed hidden from everyone else, a part that no one could ever take away from me. Now, you're probably wondering why I'm so secretive.

Well, it has a lot to do with my past. Up till the age of 7, my mom had been everything to me: my guide, my idol, my trustee, and most importantly, my best friend. However, a couple months after my birthday, my mom was hospitalized and diagnosed with cancer. Within 4 months, she was dead. It was a huge blow on all of us, but mainly my dad and I. After that, I was never the same. Everything I had ever trusted and believed and hoped in was lost. It took me ages before I was finally myself again, much to the relief of my friends and family. I never had any siblings, so it was always my mom that kept me company. My dad and I were never really close, we would occasionally speak a few words to each other, but he was usually at work until late at night, when he just ate dinner, watched TV, and then went to bed. On the weekends, he was usually busy with errands of his own and those that my mom would force him on. After my mom's death, he seemed keen on spending more time with me so I wouldn't feel lonely. However, I was an obedient child and was able to cook, manage the house and take care of myself. AS I grew older, he began going to work like normal and I was left all alone. I didn't really mind, we lived in a small town, and my friends were usually able to come over and keep me company.

I sighed, and sat down on my bed. It was 4:00, classes should have ended by now. Right on time, two figures burst into the room talking and laughing. To my surprise, I noticed it was a giggling Alice being carried on the shoulders by Jasper.

"Hey Bella!" Alice cried while giggling and punching Jasper's back in an attempt to get him to put her down. Laughing, Jasper carefully placed Alice on the ground.

"Um, hey," I said, still in shock from their loud entrance.

"Ready to go?" At first, I had no idea what she was talking about, but then I remembered that she was supposed to give me a tour of the campus after classes. Are you kidding me? I was so nervous, I had gotten ready four hours ago!

"Yeah, let's go," I replied.

"Kay, let me just quickly change first," Alice said giving Jasper a quick kiss on the cheek before he left. 20 minutes later, Alice came out looking stunning as usual wearing a pair of denim capris, a lacy pink top, and matching earrings.

"Alice… you are giving me a tour of the campus, right?"

"Yup."

"Then why are you all dressed up?"

"Oh, this is normal for me! Now hurry, let's go I want to be able to show you all of the campus before it gets dark out!" That was normal for her? I shuddered as I thought of what might be considered "fancy" in her eyes. She slipped on her pink flip-flops from what seemed like an endless collection of shoes, and headed out the door. I followed her outside and squinted as the bright sunshine hit my face.

People were scattered all over in mini groups, chatting, laughing and enjoying relaxation. Others were sitting at tables or underneath the shade of trees, most probably working on their homework. I wondered if I would meet the infamous Edward Cullen at last; I had heard many rumors about him since I got here. Alice led me to the pathway that surrounded the main buildings, pointing out each one as we passed it.

"Math, science, history, law, guidance, medical..."

I was astounded at the vastness of the campus and I wondered how I was ever going to find my way around here. As if she could read my mind, Alice pulled out a map.

"Here, you'll need one of these for your first day at school tomorrow."

"Thanks, knowing me I'll probably get lost even with one of these maps."

"No problem," Alice said, smiling. "Don't worry, it happens to all of us. The first day I was here, I ended up going to the same building for each one of my classes, it was sooo embarrassing."

I instantly felt reassured. However, my anxiety grew as the curious eyes of the student body swept over us. They probably all heard about "the new girl", and were all dying to see what I was like. I averted my eyes to the ground, trying to avoid their watchful eyes, each one of them seeming to be waiting for me to make some sort of fatal mistake.

"Ignore them," Alice said. "They do this to all the newcomers, they're just curious to see what you're like and whether you're 'worthy' enough to get to know. But don't worry, since you're my roommate, you're social life will be blooming!"

I was staring at her in surprise, how did this girl ALWAYS manage to know how I was feeling?

She laughed at my expression and said "Don't worry, I'm not some kind of weirdo psychic mind reader, it's just that everybody feels the same when they first enter this school." I immeadiately went red with embarrassment and simply nodded. As Alice let me along the seemingly never-ending campus, it was beginning to get dark out and students began to filter out of campus grounds and into their dorms.

"We better hurry up, I want to show you my favorite part of the campus." Alice led me to the right side of campus; we hadn't gone there before. What I saw there shocked me. There were a row of buildings curving in a U-shape, and they didn't look anything like buildings for classes. There was a huge parking lot in the U-shape, but not many cars were parked. I turned to Alice for an explanation.

"Welcome to our campus fun area!!" she said happily. She led me to the center building, and I gasped as I entered. It was designed like a lounge, with every game and electrical mode of entertainment you could think of. There was a huge flat screen surrounded by many couches, and video games, pool tables, and much more ran along the walls. There was also a fireplace and many vending machines. Alice grinned at my expression, and then began dragging me to a different area. The rest of the buildings was designed like a mall, except more organized with restaurants, food shops, and a built in cinema on the left side, and the entire right side filled with an endless number of shops. So this is how the students seem to have such huge closets..

"What do you think?!" shrieked Alice happily.

"I love it!!" I yelled back with joy. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all! Any college with this many opportunities to have fun, couldn't be THAT bad.

"I know!! I do too!! My friends and I come here to hang out whenever we can and now that you're here, you can join in the fun!" Feelings of happiness and acceptance coursed through my veins, leaving me more excited than I had been since I got here. We walked back outside, and I surprised to feel a cold wind whip across my face, and see the twinkling stars shine in the night sky.

"Wow, we're late! I promised our friends we would meet them back at our dorm at 8 and it's 8:30! Ugh, I guess I'll have to call them and cancel our plans." As Alice began talking on her cell phone, I noticed two distinct figures in the shadows. As I got closer, I noticed it was a man and his girlfriend kissing. Embarrassed, I tried to leave before they could spot me, but I was too late.

"Hey there," called a voice of pure velvet. Glad he couldn't see me red face in the darkness, I turned around and gasped. I was staring at yet another perfect face, but somehow he seemed more beautiful than all the rest. His skin was like marble—very pale, ice cold, and smooth. His facial features were perfect and angular—high cheekbones, strong jaw line, a straight nose, and beautiful, full lips. His hair, in casual disarray, was an unusual bronze shade that glistened in the moonlight. His eyes were emerald green, and the crooked smile he was giving me was dazzling. I quickly snapped out of my daze and was about to respond, when I heard Alice come up behind me.

"I see you've met my ex-brother." Ex-brother? So this was the famous Edward Cullen! I had heard rumors that he was a player, and by the look of it, they seemed to be true. Well, there absolutely no way I was going give a second thought to a player; they were so untrustworthy. I struggled to forget about his gorgeous appearance, and I knew it would take a lot for me to forget him. Hopefully, he wasn't in any of my classes.

When Edward heard his sister's voice, his smile vanished. "Alice, can't you please forgive me? It was just a joke!"

"Never." I heard a cough, and realized it came from the girl he was with. I blushed again, and looked down at my shoes. "Anyway, We don't want to interrupt your little conversation so I guess we'll be going. Edward, this is my new roommate, Isabella Swan, but she likes to be called Bella. Bella, this is Edward." And with that, she began pulling my hand in the opposite direction, not even giving me a chance to say hi. Not that I minded of course. She began dragging me back onto the pathway and towards the campus, leaving a mystified Edward staring after us.