As soon as the bell rang, I was already at the door of my Science class. I opened the door after shrugging of my coat and placing it on my usual hook-- no one dares to put their jackets on my hook. Which is quite humorous that they actually try to avoid it, even when the coats are piling onto each other and some even fall down, the one at the end is always free and no one can touch it unless they want to face my wrath. Mr Banner, a lumpy old man with glasses, greeted me with a forced smile. I tried to return it but his thoughts disturbed me too much, it is illegal for a teacher to think of his student in an such an inappropriate way, but I cant blame them-- its natural for all humans, he's a man before he is a teacher--- I could be using this to my advantage, I do get curious of human blood. I shook off the thoughts, I am still hungry and I cannot handle the thoughts of the red moisture, soothing my dry, aching throat.

I walked down the aisle as the students slowly poured through the doors, I sat in the back desk where I normally sit, alone. I placed my black leather bag on the cool tabletop, elbow on the black surface, face resting lazily in palm and ready to hate the lesson with great abhorrence.

The seats were all filled, everyone talking at the same time, the classroom full of excited chatter, mostly about Edward Cullen, the strange and silent new student.

'Why is the sky blue?' the dark haired teacher's voice suddenly loud and completed with authority, the crowd went silent. 'Today, we are going to do a little revision, just to refresh your minds.' I groaned and covered my face with my hands, a sudden miserable feeling jolted through my frozen insides, I frowned as I folded my arms on the table and rested my chin, making a pillow out of my forearms. How much more "revision" can I possibly handle before I snap? Days like these I wish I could grow up. Literally. 'The sky is blue — physicists tell us — because blue light in the sun's rays bends more than red light. But this extra bending, or scattering, applies just as much to violet light, so it is reasonable to ask why the sky isn't purple…' he was pointing at pictures using his long wooden stick, reading from the Smart Board.

Oh how I wish I could sleep, I thought, as I waited for time to pass.

Precipitously, my back straightened up, it was such an abrupt movement— it shocked me. Everyone's thoughts were suddenly louder, more unbearable and excited, like they were all shouting in their heads.

… Oh my god! He is here! I wander were he will sit…

… he looks so cool with his beige jacket and the turtleneck jumper…

… he's in my class, I better straighten my hair-- crap! He cant even sit next to me…

… its impossible for someone to look so good, he definitely had something done…

They were rushing all through my mind in one go, my head throbbed from the pain of too much information. All this for a new student, I sometimes wander how the human mind can be so absurd, but still, from where he stood, at the desk, it was completely silent. I concentrated so hard, but I couldn't hear a sound, then the manic thoughts came flooding in again all of a sudden, but on a different topic-- still revolving around him. They were getting louder, it's arthritic!

I closed my eyes for a second and rubbed my temples, a trick Charlie taught me, which luckily helped. A little. Then, did I realize that the new excited thoughts were about Edward Cullen having to sit next to me, the only person who has a spare seat for him. I exhaled through my nose in annoyance, so much for my space, for my own table.

I moved my bag that was in his newly owned space and slid it on the dusty floor as he did with his. I didn't bother to look up at him, or greet him, I was too annoyed by him for taking my space, for not letting me into his mind and for making it harder for me to breathe because I didn't want to inhale his sweet scent.

Now that I think about it, his scent is odd, all scents are different but his aroma was different from everyone elses. Its more significant and… meticulous, it is sweet of course, but it makes the pool of saliva already in my mouth an ocean. He smells so good… different, but not good enough for me to break a fundamental rule of; No Human Blood For Bella. But the smell intrigues me, and pleases me because I can enjoy the smell and not think about the taste… I licked my lips as the sudden thought and curiosity about what the taste would be like.

I heard him clear his throat, and in a deep voice he greeted me, 'Hello.'

'Hello,' I answered, in a indolent voice.

Charlie would have disapproved of my lack in being amiable, he's always wanted me to make friends-- one night, I wasn't concentrating hard enough and accidentally read his thoughts-- he wanted to make me a companion, a friend and I opposed. The thought of a human life being taken away just for me turned my unused stomach.

I wandered what Edward Cullen thought of my unfriendliness, but couldn't hear anything and it frustrated me. How can he possibly not be thinking anything! Its impossible… maybe he had some sort of head injury and now cannot obtain thoughts? How prosaic that assumption is. Maybe he just doesn't know what to think, or could he be blocking me out of his mind with some sort of human skill not all of them have engineered?

The insinuations and guesses were becoming unnerving as the long hour slowly passed. I cant just not know what he is thinking, and he cant just not think! I looked at him from the corner of my eye, he was blankly watching Mr Banner carry on his hopeless lesson, but despite the expressionless stare-- his jaw was clenched, as were his fists-- then I realized so were mine. I shovelled out my sharp fingernails away from my palms before re-examining him. Why was he so frigid and stiff, I am hardly going to bite him. I grinned at the irony, but it faltered when a thought entered my mind.

What if he knows?

I shook my head slightly, he cant know, no one knows and he only just started school for goodness sake! Me and my paranoia, its shameful. If he knew my secret, and a quarter of the world's secret, he would be highly endangered. I shuddered at the thought of the Volturi, the highest coven in the vampire world (practically royalty), would do if they found out a kid in Forks knew about our civilization-- existence. I sneaked a sideway glance at the red-head and met his green eyes, then quickly slid my eyes back to examining my fingers. I feel stupid, so what if a petty human boy whose mind I cant read, saw me look at him? What is he going to do, fight me? A little laugh escaped my mouth before I could control it. I clapped my hand over it.

I am the worst vampire known to history, honestly. Charlie says I have personality for a vampire, basically telling me that vampires are lifeless-- which in some cases, is true.

'Miss Swan, the answer?' Mr Banner suddenly brought me back to earth, damn him for it. The whole class were staring up at me.

'The electromagnetic spectrum,' I answered, after browsing through minds for the answer.

Mr Banner's eyes narrowed, he thought he got me that time, I smirked as he praised me for the right answer. I have done this a hundred times, literally-- if I am counting properly-- I probably know more than he does. No, I do know more than he does.

'How did you do that?' Edward muttered under his breathe.

Despite myself, I felt smug and triumph. But also surprised by his conversing. I shrugged nonchalantly. 'I know things.' a lot of things.

'You weren't looking at your text book,' he said, matter-of-factly. 'I could tell you weren't listening either.'

'Maybe you're not as observant as you thought you were,' I teased, while wandering what he could be meaning behind his words, why he was asking me and why he seemed so deep in thought at my answer. It is agitating watching him and hearing nothing, I feel like picking him up and throwing him against the wall with full force.

I almost groaned as the seconds ticked by and he hasn't said anything. 'Maybe,' he mumbled, more to himself than me. I guessed, after a while of silence, that was the only answer I was going to get from this mysterious, strange boy.

'You're new?' I suddenly heard myself ask, drawn to him all of a sudden, having a desire to know what he is thinking. Maybe, in someway, if I can make up his character, it would be easier to read his mind. If I can get an idea of who he is, then maybe I will be able to unlock whatever key is keeping his mind blocked from mine.

'Yes,' he answered briefly. 'I moved in with my adoptive family only a few weeks ago from England,' there was a tone to his voice, like he was reciting his lines for a play.

'England?' I raised an eyebrow, I expect that he isn't the type with the English accent-- I still question why it is so appealing to American girls.

'London to be precise,' he said, the corner of his mouth twitching. What was amusing? Its so annoying not knowing these things! I want to strangle this boy!

I exhaled sharply, my hostile thoughts wouldn't exactly be getting me anywhere. 'Why did you come? To Forks I mean.'

He seemed taken aback my straightforwardness, but recovered and answered. 'My… adoptive father… got promoted. In his job.' he said it carefully, as to measure up or something, but he sounded so sure and truthful, I couldn't doubt his honesty-- but why would he lie in the first place?

'So you're adopted.' it wasn't a question, but I decided to press on that subject instead of wasting the little time I have to learn to read the stranger's mind.

He hesitated in answering, he was engrossed by the lines on his palms then turned to me and answered, sounding confused, 'My father… he killed my mother and if Dr Carlisle, my adoptive father, hadn't been there, I probably would have gotten killed. If it weren't for him and Esme, I wouldn't be here right now,' he swallowed then looked away, back to being enthralled by his hands. Under his sleeves, I can see his veins and the blood rushing through it. My mouth opened slightly, a sudden rush of pain scorched my dry throat. Venom built up in my mouth. Then looked away from his arms, ignoring the pain and not breathing.

I sat there in silence, not knowing what to say-- that too is quite new to me. It would be easier if I knew what he was thinking. So I decided to say something that humans normally would in this kind of situation. I sucked in enough breathe to say, 'I'm sorry.'

His seemed genuinely shocked by my empathetic apology for his supposedly mental father's actions, he probably thought I lacked consideration from my anti-social behaviour. 'T-Thank you,' he stuttered, then cleared his throat, jaw gritted for a second then he looked away. I could sort-of sympathize with him, I too never knew my parents and am… in a way… adopted. But the story is that Charlie is my dad. Just my really youthful father, who looks more like an older brother. To me, he is like an older brother… whatever that's like. I stiffened, what do I say now? You're welcome?

'My name is Isabella Swan,' I introduced myself once I realized I hadn't before. How do you expect to read someone's mind and not have them know your name? I could be ill-mannered sometimes. . 'You must be Edward Cullen.' I tried for a smile, not sure if I fooled him or not, but he just looked at me blankly.

'I know that,' he blurted out, half mumbling, before slightly shaking his head then smiling up at me. 'I mean. Hello.' he studied me for a second, his green eye scrutinizing before he asked, 'How did you know my name?'

I'm a spy, espionage is my middle name. Why is he so suspicious? 'Everyone seems to be talking about you non-stop,' I said, carefully, biting the inside of my cheek.

He scowled. 'Oh,' he said flatly, then the bell rung, everyone got off there seats. 'Nice to meet you anyway, Bella.' he said, standing up and taking his Mulberry Seth, putting it across his body.

Something he said finally settled in and before I could ask, he was striding out the classroom door. How did he know my name? I said Isabella, not Bella. Hardly anyone calls me Bella, anyway, it's Charlie's nickname for me which got stuck in my head. I shrugged the clouding thoughts away from my mind, paranoia is all win today.

I walk in the slow, human speed, through the Art hall-- the only lesson I do not completely despise-- but it would be nice to be doing something new every once in a while.

At least a mile away from me, I heard my name being vocalized by Lauren Mallory, who was walking with Jessica Stanley-- two somewhat clichéd, unfriendly but extremely popular girls. I can hear them talking about me clearly, despite the distance between us, I can hear every word as if she were standing right beside me.

'That girl is such a hussy!' Lauren, the taller one with silk blond hair hissed, while Jessica, shorter, with black curls sniggered. 'Isabella really has some nerve, she was all over him in Science-- I don't understand how she just cant seem to herself, it was sick-- I mean leave some for the rest of us, spiteful cow!' I wasn't surprised by Lauren Mallory's vindictiveness. She hates me because of her asinine fondness over Tyler Crowley, who leered at me every chance he got when I started at this school. As for her equally nasty and malicious friend, Jessica, hates me because she hates me and has a foul taste in boys-- her love for Mike Newton is comical, yet pitiful. I just rolled my eyes and sped up so I could push pass them. They instantly stilled when I did, I faint smile on my lips as I walked into the class room after reading their thoughts.

…What if she heard? Oh no!…

…crap, crap, crap, crap…

The rest of the day went painfully slow, I had Spanish as my last lesson after Art. I know more Spanish than Ms Del-Amo does herself, why did I choose to start a language I already know fluently? I might as well dismiss school altogether, but Charlie said that if I finish this year-- it would be my last high school year and I move onto college. He was thinking Harvard, I was thinking Dartmouth.

I walked through the pouring rain toward my yellow Porsche 911. I am a car person, and the speed exhilarates me. I took out my keys and unlocked the door, open the driver's seat when I caught green eyes staring at me, again, openly and carelessly. I stared back-- going for the same intensity, but I do not think I pulled off that well because he turned around and got into a silver Volvo. The nicest car in this parking lot after mine. Now the heats off me-- I remember how everyone would crowd around--admiring my beautiful yellow turbo.

After a very short drive through the woods, I parked in our large garage, Charlie and me have our fair-shared collection of motorbikes, although Charlie gets to be the car collector. He left behind his Mercedes Benz F 700, a true beauty, I thought in awe a I got out-- parked my car next to it --and stroked the cold metal boot. I sighed, Charlie wouldn't allow me to get one-- he say he spoils me rotten already, which isn't that truthful if you ask me. I walked up the stone stairs, and into the timeless wide elegant doors, but noticed the note stuck under the doorbell. I pulled it, it's from Charlie

Dear Bella

I know you you're going to be really mad and probably kill me, I just want to say I am sorry.

And that she is harmless, and surprisingly very under control. I brought her a few hours before school must've finished, I had to get back to the Marines before the others noticed, it was a long run.

But anyhow, please take care of her. You know what to do.

-Charlie

We have a new dog? It wouldn't be any good, I'd probably get really hungry one day and drain all its blood. I walked into the large, open space empty house.

We have hardly any furniture so its very, very large. Could fit ten people, oversized for only two. I dropped the keys on the counter in the kitchen, dropped my bag too and kicked of my shoes. Looking around all the while. So where is our new pet? Hopefully he hadn't been expecting me to be playing hide and seek with it. I smelt the blood first, then heard the thoughts. How can I not be aware? These things should be coming to me like oxygen, I walked out and followed the voice into the back garden.

And there she was. Sitting on the marble patio, hugging her knees to her chest. Her crimson eyes shifted restlessly around her surroundings and looked up at me. An almost pained expression on her face.

'Hello,' her voice was high-pitched and rang in the silent air. I stood there, over her, frozen for a couple of seconds. Counting all the close-cut leaves before sitting down on the hard, curved stairs. She looked down at me, her eyes seemed to narrow, the same shade of brilliant red was her curly hair on her back. She was wearing a simple black t-shirt and jeans. 'Who are you?' she demanded.

I bit my bottom lips before answering, 'Bella. Charlie's… friend.'

She looked away, her eyes darting around her surroundings again. 'I'm Victoria.'