DISCLAIMER: Don't own the Twilight Saga or any of the charries. I'm thinking about stealing Jasper. (You know you've thought it, too!)

A/N: Here it is, folks. Chapter two! I hope you guys enjoy it. I'm proud of this. I have a feeling some of you may not like this fanfiction, but I do, so...well...*sticks out tongue* :P
Keep in mind that almost every chapter will be from Edward's POV. Except the bottom part. (You'll see, babe. You'll see.)
Hm. I don't really have an extensive author's note this time. Is that a record, or what?!

Recommended songs: "Radar" by Britney Spears && "Break" by Three Days Grace! :D

Enjoy, babycakes!

note:Edward doesn't have a freaky, uncontrollable bloodlust for Bella, in this story. And the Bella you're about to meet isn't the books Bella. It's my Bella. I gave her a whole new personality. :)

-nikki. :)


Here and Now
Chapter One -- "Introductions..."

Of course, fate would have Bella Swan would be my biology partner.

She had just walked in and was now getting her slip signed. She gave Mr. Banner a cheerful smile, picked up her textbook, and strolled over to the empty seat next to me. Still brightly smiling, she dropped her bag beside the table and plopped down in the chair.

I rolled my eyes. Already irritated, and puzzled, it didn't help that Bella was one of those cheery, optimistic girls. I could practically feel her happiness rolling off her in waves.

Mr. Banner moved from behind his desk and headed for the classroom door. "All right class, I have to make a quick run to the Xerox machine. You can talk if just stay in your seats and keep the volume down. I don't want Mrs. Noble to complain about how rowdy my class is…again." Though it would give me a chance to see her again. I wonder what she thought of our date last weekend. Hmm…

No sooner had Mr. Banner shut the door, did the class immediately start talking. I hated it. With the exceptional hearing and the ability to hear everyone's inner thoughts, I figured that if I could, I would go mad.

Especially since almost everyone was thinking about the one girl who couldn't think at all!

New girl seems nice enough…

Everyone's talking about her…I'm the one with the new haircut!

Wow, she's beautiful! Can't believe she's the daughter of Chief Swan. She had to have gotten her looks from her mom…

Three taps on my left shoulder pulled me from the clutches of pointless, and some disturbing, thoughts. Bella Swan was looking at me with wide eyes and grinning from ear to ear.

"Hi, what's your name?" she asked, almost buzzing with unnerving excitement.

I was stunned by how upfront she was. People in general avoided my kind. Something about us just warded everyone off, which was natural; we were dangerous creatures, after all. Yet, here was this girl, talking to me like I was…normal. She even touched me. What's wrong with her?

Bella quickly stuttered out, "Well, I mean, since we're going to be biology partners, I figure we should know each other's names, right?"

There's that smile again.

I gave her a curt nod and added tersely, "Edward."

Her beam grew even brighter. "Oh, that's a nice name! Do you go by anything shorter? You know, like a nickname?"

I inwardly groaned. She reminded me of Alice, except for the fact that I could tolerate Alice, being that she was family. The human Alice. Great. Two of them, now. Does she see the future, too?

"No," I quietly replied.

"What's that?" Bella peeped out in a squeaky voice.

"No." I snapped a bit louder, earning looks from a few students, including Mike Newton, my least favorite person.

Whoa, Cullen's talking to Bella? Not that I can blame him, she's freakin' gorgeous, but…wow. First time I've seen him talk to anyone besides his family or a teacher. Huh…wow…

Anyone with a semi-working brain would have flinched, perhaps even cower, due to the icy tone of my voice. But no. Not Bella.

Bella nodded in complete understanding. "My full name's Isabella, but I prefer to go by––"

"Bella," I finished for her, casting a quick glance in her direction. "I know."

"How'd you know?" she asked, her eyes widened with amazement.

I pinched the bridge of my nose. It was seriously hard to believe she was brunette and not a blonde. "Miss Swan, you are the chief of police's daughter in the small, diminutive town of Forks. Surely you had to have known that everyone would be talking about you. Today, you happen to be the root of all gossip."

A rosy, crimson blush filled her cheeks as she giggled. "I'm really on everyone's minds today?"

"Oh, yes. Trust me," I cooed, turning in her direction. "I would know."

Bella's now glossy eyes dilated a bit and her mouth opened and closed a few times. Her deep, brown eyes were staring right into my bright, golden ones.

"You know, your eyes are so different," she breathed.

"You don't say?" I murmured.

"Mm-mm. Very pretty."

Bella blinked a few times, snapping out of her reverie. She gave me a half-smile, and redirected her attention to her biology book, flipping through it.

I crossed my arms and leaned back in my chair, figuring this was the end of our conversation.

I was wrong.

"So, is it always this rainy and yucky here?" Bella questioned, staring intently at the stages of mitosis.

"Yeah," I answered.

"Hmm. I used to come down when I was little a while back. I just couldn't remember. I, myself, hate this type of weather. So depressing," she droned on.

I glanced at the clock on the wall. It had only been ten minutes. I closed my eyes, silently exhaling. This girl was annoying me to no end.

The classroom door opened, and Mr. Banner entered. "Okay, class. I have your worksheets. Michael, please come here and pass these out."

As Newton passed the papers out, everyone quieted down. Including Bella.

***

I leaned against the driver's side of the silver Volvo, waiting for my brothers and sisters to get out of their classes. Spanish class let out early and, having nothing better to do, I was stuck outside waiting for them. I didn't feel like sitting inside the car. Alone time would only allow me to think about how odd of a person Bella was. Being outside, I could at least focus on something much more interesting. Like rain. I could count how many raindrops were falling from the sky, pattering on my jacket and on the surrounding pavement.

Eventually, my mind abandoned the total amount of raindrops and returned to Bella Swan. I hadn't known her for twenty-four hours and she was all I could think about. Her long brown hair, intense, chocolate-brown eyes, optimistic aura, unreadable mind, and her crazy, abnormal reaction to a vampire. Not that she knew, of course. Still, she was unnatural.

Not to mention completely bothersome and maddening.

Okay, she wasn't that bad. Maybe it was just that I was uncomfortable with it. She was really the first person outside my family that made any attempt to strike up a conversation, let alone be herself, assuming that she naturally was that cheerful.

Now the reason for my inability to read her mind puzzled me to great lengths. I had no answer for it, not even any ideas! I had never met anyone that I couldn't read. For years, I had wished that I couldn't read minds, and when the opportunity presents itself in a walking ray of sunshine, I actually want to get some insight into her mind, if not any at all. I'd have to talk to Carlisle. He might know something…

"Um, Edward?"

Speak of the devil.

Bella was standing about five feet away from me, slightly damp under her blue umbrella. So much for vampire hearing when you might need it…

"Yeah?"

She stepped a little closer, and raised her voice over the constant tapping of rain, "Well, I just wanted to say thank you."

I raised an eyebrow in response. What on earth is she talking about, now?

She tittered, "Thank you for being nice to me, today. I mean, a lot of other people were too, it's just…well…anyway, thanks again. I'll try not to be annoying this year. Ha!" She beamed at me, and even through the pouring rain, she shone like the sun.

I slightly gaped at her. I didn't know what to say, especially after all the awful things I thought about her.

She stood there for a second, biting her lip, before speaking. "Okay, well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow!"

As she was about to turn away, she snapped right back around and exclaimed, "Hey, do you need an extra umbrella? It's raining cats and dogs out here, and you don't even have a hood on!"

I found my voice and answered, "Oh, uh, no. I'll be fine…thanks, though."

Bella rolled her eyes and scoffed, "Whatever. You are so going to catch a cold. Here take it. My dad gave me an extra umbrella, who knows what for, though, but you can use it."

She dug in her bag and pulled out a small black umbrella. Walking closer until we were about a foot apart and I was also under the same umbrella she was using, she held out the spare. I slowly reached for one side, while she firmly grasped the other. Soon, we were both holding it. I looked into her eyes, which were squinted and staring intently at the black umbrella.

A few more seconds passed, before she shook her head and abruptly let go.

She backed away and let out a small cough, before saying, "Use it as long as you want, okay?"

Weird, I thought as I nodded. "Hey, um, thanks. That was real…sweet of you."

She gave me a small smile and twisted around, ambling towards her old, red truck.

I gazed down at the umbrella in my hands and back up at the distant, walking form of Bella.

So she isn't that bad…

***

January 18th, 2005

So the first day of school wasn't as bad as I thought it would be!

I'd first like to say that the truck Charlie got me is ah-mazing. It takes a bit to warm up, but since it's been around for more than twenty years, I'll let it slide on that tiny factor.

It's super duper cold here. And it was rainy today. Ugh.

Back to the school topic…

Well, everyone was really nice! I met a couple of girls. Jessica Stanley seems like the very outgoing kind of girl.

Nicest: Angela Weber (she was shy and quiet, but so sweet! I have a feeling we're going to become good friends…)

Least nicest: Lauren Mallory (Okay, the girl scares me. She kept giving me some sort of evil-eye. I'm seriously afraid of her killing me in my sleep…)

I also met some guys: Tyler Crowley was pretty friendly and funny. Eric Yorkie was also kind. He sort of geeky, but who doesn't love a good nerd?! Mike Newton was cute and friendly. I think I'll be pretty good friends with him, too.

Okay, okay. I saved the best for last….

Edward Cullen. (Jessica told me his last name…)

Edward Cullen is tall, has gorgeous bronze-colored hair, super pale skin, and the most beautiful pair of eyes I have ever seen. They're golden. Yeah. Wow.

I first saw Edward at lunch, sitting with his two sisters and two brothers. He looked so alone there. I felt bad for him. (Oh, and his whole family's, like, supermodels. They're THAT pretty.)

I also have biology with Edward. And guess what. I'm his bio partner. Yeah!

I have to admit, I was really nervous, but I plastered a smile on my face and strutted over to his table! I have to say that I don't think he really likes me. He was very cold and seemed pretty irritated. I tried making conversation with him, but I think that only further annoyed him.

I'm also going to admit that I totally got mesmerized by those golden eyes. Enthralling, much??

Oh, oh, oh! I also let him borrow my umbrella! Charlie gave me an extra one and I let Edward use it, because he was just standing out in the rain. He didn't even have a hood on. He seems so smart, but really…standing out in the middle of the rain? So not bright…

That was pretty much my day at school. The classes were okay, nothing special. Definitely not like Phoenix…

Did my homework right when I got home. Had to get that over with.

I made dinner for Charlie, even though he insisted that he would. He said I wasn't here to take care of him, but I guess he doesn't understand that it makes me feel good to do something around here…

Charlie also said that his good friend, Billy Black, and his son, Jacob, would be coming over tomorrow. Some big sports game is on TV. He said that when I was little, Jacob and I would play together.

I don't remember…

I also checked my email. No new messages from mom.

It still makes me feel horrible, but I'd never tell her that. She had to send me here, it was rough on her. Can't deny that I miss her, though.

Anyway, it's getting late. I'll check in tomorrow!

--Bella Swan


A/N: Erm. Hope you enjoyed it! Review, please.

Hate? Dislike? Meh? Like? Love? Infatuated?

Tell me!

-nikki. :)