Disclaimer - All characters, etc. belong to Stephenie Meyer. I do not own Twilight, or anything for that matter.
Chapter 2 - New Girl in Town
APOV
The day was shaping up to be just like every other, overcast skies, damp chill in the air, and a fine mist coming down out of the clouds. And Edward…the same as always. I loved him as if he was my own flesh and blood, but really, that boy could drive me insane!! I wasn't the only one who was dissatisfied with Edward's moodiness and pensive disposition. I happened to know for certain that Carlisle and Esme, our adoptive parents, were also concerned. With a son who looked like Edward, it was surprising that girls didn't constantly surround him, but trust me, it wasn't for lack of the female student population trying that Edward remained single. I could easily tick off a list of girls who had tried to capture his attention. It was like he just looked right through them when they'd come up and bat their mascara-caked eyelashes, or drop their pencil and bend over in front of him to pick it up. A few were even brave enough to verbally proposition him for a date, or to ask him to the season's dance, but he always declined, in that polite yet cool tone he had. Eventually though, the ones that felt spurned by him spread word around the rest that he was uninterested and he got a reputation of being "too good" for the likes of any girl in school. He was the "most eligible bachelor" and the "most untouchable" altogether.
Esme had even worried that he may need counseling, and she worried that she had failed as a mother to him when he seemed to be emotionally unreachable by other girls his age. After several times of her trying to confront him on this, and Edward brushing it off, he finally sat down and told her that the "right one" was out there somewhere, but he just hadn't found her yet, and he was not going to waste his affections on someone who was not his true love. Esme, ever the romantic, was completely satisfied by this answer. I wondered if he truly felt that way, or if it was just an answer to get Esme off his back, but I knew when to stop prying, so I never asked him.
I had almost gotten to the point where if he didn't mind being the only lonely, the third wheel, happy in his misery, than I didn't give a rip either. Almost. Truthfully, it really bothered me that he was so sullen, so dark and so lonely. I nearly felt bad that the rest of us, Emmett, Rosalie, Jasper and myself, had all sort of paired up, and that he was left by himself. It made me sad to see him alone, but how could I regret finding my perfect match? I really thought things would work out between he and Rose, but I guess she just wasn't his type. It didn't surprise me when she got together with Emmett. They were made for each other.
And that left Edward. I tried not to play matchmaker, not after the whole Rose debacle, but I was quickly running out of patience when it came to this matter, and I was just done with dealing with his melancholy moodiness. It seemed like none of the girls at Forks High School were anywhere close to being his type. They were all either too shallow, too stuck up, too Emo, too dull or any number of other excuses Edward had come up with. I couldn't even talk him into checking out the girls in Port Angeles for a change of scenery. I had been thinking about giving up on the whole thing, and then I saw her.
I had heard that Chief Swan's daughter, Isabella, was going to be moving back to Forks. She hadn't been here since we moved here from Alaska, but a lot of the other kids at Forks High School remembered her and she was the recent topic of discussion. I almost felt bad for the poor girl, to be gossip fodder before she even arrived, but that was the way it worked in a small town like Forks, population 3,275, or 3,276 if you counted the new girl. I first saw her in the parking lot, getting out of an old clunker of a pickup truck. She looked...mysterious. Then again, that could just be because I was so used to the other students at school, but I don't know, I just sensed something about her. My instincts on these things were almost always spot on.
She got out of her truck and walked into the main office. She didn't look any different from anyone else, physically, I mean. Her wardrobe could use a little help; she was dressed in jeans, a long-sleeved t-shirt, and the pre-requisite rain parka. She was pale as a ghost, which surprised me having the knowledge that she was coming here from such a warm, sunny climate. I had expected that she'd be sporting a nice tan. She had long dark hair, with some reddish highlights, that she wore loose, with just a bit of wave. Descriptions alone, she looked like any other typical high school student. I think it was the way she carried herself that got me.
She seemed so sure of herself and un-sure of herself, all at the same time. She seemed a bit awkward, and clumsy, I noted as she tripped on the curb, but also graceful, like a dancer. This girl was a walking oxymoron. She'd be a perfect match for Edward, who had a knack for looking contented and depressed all at once. Suddenly, despite my having sworn off playing matchmaker ever again, a plan began to formulate in my head. I had a feeling about this. If I played all my cards right, and did this ever so carefully, Edward, or Isabella for that matter, would never know my preconceived plans for the two of them. All it would take was some careful planning, of which I was notorious for, and some finesse, which I possessed a lot of. Excitedly, I started heading towards the office, not noticing the quizzical looks coming from behind me.
I decided to stand outside of the office and wait for her. I saw the others shrug their shoulders and head off to their respective classes. They knew me enough, that when I went off on some whim, to leave me alone and let me do my thing. I was pretty sure they thought they'd figure it out sooner or later. And this time, boy would they! I almost giggled out loud, but stopped myself. I stood there trying to act as inconspicuous as I could, while waiting for the new girl to resurface from the office. I coached myself to try to tone it down some. I know I can be overly bubbly and excitable, and I am no fool in realizing that can sometimes turn someone completely off. Once you got to know me though, it was no holds barred!
I positioned myself so that when she came out of the door, she couldn't help but see me. I was just starting to get impatient and worried I'd be late for class when she finally stepped out into the chilly damp air. "Hi, aren't you Isabella Swan? Welcome to Forks High School!!"
She just stood there with this cool indifferent look on her face for a minute (gee, where had I seen that look before?) before finally answering me. "Yeah, I'm Bella." She appeared to be pondering me suspiciously. "And you are...."
"Well, Bella, it's great to finally meet you!! I'm Alice, Alice Cullen, and …I think we're going to be great friends!" I said enthusiastically, hoping I hadn't overdone it with that last bit. Well, at least the girl won't forget who I am!
"It's...nice to meet you, Alice," Bella responded after a long pause. She looked at me with this incredulous look, like she was shocked that I was speaking to her. "Um...how did you know who I am?" she asked.
"Oh, that's easy," I replied. "This is Forks. Small town, in case you hadn't noticed, and ...well ...news gets around. You're the new girl! Everyone has been talking about you for the last 2 weeks."
"Oh, right. The new girl," Bella chuckled dryly. "Guess I'll have to get used to that."
I felt bad for her then, because she looked so uncomfortable. I didn't see what the big idea was. Having been the new girl before, I just didn't see it as all that bad. But then again, I loved attention, and it was pretty small-minded of me to forget that not everyone felt the same way.
"So...are you like, the welcome wagon or something?" she asked me.
"The welcome wagon?" Gee. Maybe I had overdone it. Time to pull something out of the air on this one. I flashed her one of my spectacular grins and said, "No. No welcome wagon. I just remember what it was like being the new girl and knowing no one, so I thought I'd introduce myself. You know, so you wouldn't feel like an outsider." I hoped I had redeemed myself with that one.
"Oh, okay, then. Well, thanks, Alice." Bella just stood there looking at me like she was not sure what to do next. Hmmm ...this one might need a bit of work, just some polishing around the rough edges. Well, there would be plenty of time for that, if things went according to my plan.
"What class do you have first?" I asked her, hoping to move things along a bit before we were both late. She'd have an excuse, being new and all, but me? Not so much.
"English," she replied.
"Oh, good. So do I!! I'll show you the way!" I started off and she just stood there for a minute and I gestured impatiently and she finally started walking. I tried to make small talk on the way to class, but was only getting one-word answers from her. This might take a little more time than I thought, but I was positive she was the one. My first impression of her screamed out that she was perfect for Edward, and my first impressions had never failed me yet.
A/N: Thanks so much if you are reading this! Reviews are definitely welcomed!
