Co-written by Nothingtolose15 and phnxprncss.

Summary: Bella and Jasper Swan are sent to live with their father Charlie in Forks, Washington after the untimely death of their mother and stepfather. Neither of them had seen Charlie since they were 7 years old and Renee had cut off complete contact between the children and their father. Now here they are in a place they don't remember at all trying to get on with life. But to make matter's worst Bella Swan has not spoken a word since her mother and step-father's death. Will Jasper be able to protect his sister? Or will she have to go down her own road to find herself again?

Disclaimer: we do not own Twilight or any of its characters.

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Edward's point of view.

The town of Forks, Washington; I wasn't sure if anyone hated it as much as I did. I even think I hated it more than my own siblings, and they weren't too fond of it either. Well, it wasn't so much the town as it was the school and the vile students who went there. I knew Emmett and I could stand up for ourselves, but Alice didn't need their shit. She was too good and pure to be put through what they did to us. But of course, none of them cared. As soon as they realized that we didn't want to be apart of any of their silly little high school cliques, we became outcasts. Outcasts because we had enough shit to deal with in our personal lives and didn't feel like adding anything else to it. They treated us like the lowest form of species you could imagine with no thought as to how it affected us. Well, not so much Emmett and I, but Alice. She cried again today and I swear, I wanted to put a hole in the head of whoever had caused her tears this time.

The school had been buzzing with the talk of the Chief of police's children coming here. Apparently, a death had brought them to live with their father here in Forks. I figured they'd be just like everyone else at school, but then the whispers seemed to start about them as well. I should've expected that. This school didn't take well to outsiders for some unknown reason. If you weren't just like them and if you didn't bend to their every wish and whim, then you were shunned. It was really quite pathetic, but since we preferred keeping to ourselves anyway, we didn't care. At first, it seemed like every girl just wanted to 'hook-up' with me and they tried everything they could think of. They're tired seduction techniques were more nauseating than sexy and the way that they stared at me like I was something to eat was downright scary. Especially that Jessica Stanley, it took everything in me to get her to understand I wanted nothing to do with her at all. Of course, that caused Mike Newton to start those fantastic rumors that I was into guys.

Yes, guys. He couldn't get it through his thick skull that I just wanted nothing to do with him or anything he'd been with or in. Besides, Jessica wasn't even pretty. Far from it, to be honest. Like I said, pathetic. All of them. I think that, at one point, there was even a rumor about myself and my siblings having some sort of incestuous relationship going on. Which brings me back to the Swan siblings; that was the rumor I'd heard this morning. I guess the obviously moronic and heartless students at this wonderful school didn't understand what comforting someone looked like. I'd caught a quick glimpse of them while walking down the hall, and on one hand, I could understand why an outsider would think there was something more than a brother comforting his sister going on, but having been in that position before, I recognized it for what it was. I didn't know the details of what had brought them here, or maybe I did. Who could be sure with the way stories spread like wildfire in the middle of a drought here? What I did know, though, was that they were both hurting and the only comfort they could find was in each other. I contemplated informing my 'classmates' about how pathetic they all sounded, but at the last minute, decided against it. It's not like they would've believed me, and it would probably have been kindling for them to start more stories about us.

Lunch was the first time I laid my eyes on the Swan siblings. They were both very pale and didn't actually look much alike, but I didn't know what their mother looked like, though I had seen their father around town. The boy looked protective, much like how I suspected Emmett and I looked around Alice. While the girl look scared and extremely sad, in a way it was like she was off in her own world. I had to roll my eyes when I noticed who they were sitting with. Out of their group, the only two people who I thought were decent were Angela and sometimes Rosalie. The rest of the group were the the worst people in this school. All they cared about was being 'popular' and having the most 'friends.' And of course, right at the center of that group was that scumbag, Mike Newton and the vile Jessica Stanley. Rosalie and Angela were the only two in that group that even bothered trying to defend us, but of course, no one listened. The three of us kept watching the table that they were at and the atmosphere, at least from here, looked tense. I took a moment to study the boys face, I think I heard somewhere that his name was Jasper, and he looked, for lack of a better term, infuriated. It looked like Jessica was trying to get his attention, but he was persistent about ignoring her. A fact that almost made me laugh, almost. She was really the most pathetic of all. There she sat making another vain attempt to 'score' with the new guy. And from what I could tell, Mike was looking at the girl like he wanted to eat her. Disgusting.

I had turned my attention away from them, until I noticed Emmett staring at something. I looked up to see the Swan's coming our way. I didn't know why they'd possibly be walking towards us but Rosalie stopped them before we could find out why. I couldn't really hear what they were saying but I figured she was saying it was a bad idea to come over to us. They'd stopped in the middle of the two tables and were speaking in tense whispers before Jasper turned around and pulled his sister along behind him. They stopped again, for a moment, just inside the cafeteria door. It looked like they were talking from here, but I couldn't be sure since they weren't facing me and then, they were gone. He'd pulled her into a hug and rushed out the cafeteria door before I'd even realized they were moving.

Yet as soon as they left everyone seemed to turn their attention back to us. At one point someone threw, what I guessed were mashed potatoes, straight at Emmett's head. Emmett was the one you didn't want to mess with, but people still thought it was funny to get him mad. I just rolled my eyes and looked back at my food when it happened; then I heard Alice's sniffles.

Apparently, someone had also aimed mashed potatoes at her as well, and it hit her right in the middle of her back. Emmett stood up and shot death glares at everyone looking our way as I pulled Alice closer to me so that I could clean the mess off her back and then I handed her my jacket. Lunch was officially over for us. Even Emmett, who never turned food down, looked at his food with disgust and stood up. As we neared the hall just outside the cafeteria, the route we always took to our afternoon classes, I could faintly hear muffled crying. When we rounded the corner, the Swan siblings were there, Jasper leaning against the wall, and the girl crying into his chest. "Her name's Isabella," Alice whispered, "she's in my English class. I want to be her friend, but ......... I don't know if she wants to be mine."

"Ali, I'm sure that's not the case, just give her some time. She's probably scared and overwhelmed with everything. It's a big change."

Alice nodded, "you're probably right." We looked at the siblings once more before the bell rang and we headed to our respected classes. I had to stop by my locker first, and of course Mike Newton was waiting there for me.

"So Cullen how's your boyfriend?" he said with a smirk.

I just rolled my eyes and opened my locker pulling out my book. I didn't even bother to say anything to him as I turned on my heel and headed down the hall. Unfortunately, that didn't stop him from shouting after me. Sometimes I wanted to just turn around and deck him in the face, but I was better than that. As I walked up to my Biology class, a class I unfortunately shared with Mike, I noticed someone standing in the middle of the doorway. All I knew was that it was a girl, and I just wanted to get into class before Mike decided to make his presence known again. I lightly tapped her on the shoulder, hoping that it wasn't one of Jessica's clones that sometimes felt the need to converse with her by yelling across the classroom from the door. As soon as I touched this girl, she tensed up immediately, gasped and spun around to look at me. It was Isabella. My heart stopped. Her eyes were brown, and who knew brown had so much depth to it. Even through the pain that was so prominent on her face, I saw her beauty. She was an Angel. Before I had time to react, she'd stumbled backwards and hit her back on one of the lab tables near the door. I saw her face change from shock to pain in an instant, and reached out my hand to help her up, but she pulled away. Still, I couldn't walk away and I couldn't stop staring into her mesmerizing eyes.

I wasn't sure how long we stood their staring at each other but I knew I had to go take my seat before Mike got to class. He tended to like to slap the back of my head if I was standing in the front of the room before class started, and right now that was the last thing I wanted. I had to admit, I was reluctant to break our gaze, but I knew we had to. I carefully made my over to my desk and then realized that the only empty seat left in the class was the one next to me. For once, I was thankful that no one else at this school bothered with us. I didn't quite know why I was happy that she'd be sitting next to me, I just knew that I was. It took her a little longer to steady herself and walk over to Mr. Banner, and I felt bad for just leaving her standing there. I supposed I could've risked putting up with Mike's antics to help her, but it was too late to fix that now.

After a few moments, Isabella had come and sat next to me, saying nothing at all. I don't even think she said anything to the teacher. I looked down at the table when I noticed Mike walk in and say something to her, her body seemed to tense at that. But it only got worst when Mr. Banner started to talk to her in front of the whole class. I chanced a look at her and she looked scared to death, there was no other way to describe it. Her eyes were wide and her mouth slightly agape as she looked at Mr. Banner in complete and utter shock. Without saying a word, she reached into her backpack and pulled out a cell phone. I guess she'd sent a text message because within seconds she'd closed it and placed it back in her back. The entire time, not a word was spoken by anyone, not even Banner. She stared at the table, and the rest of the class stared at her. A few minutes later, the classroom door opened and in walked Jasper. He completely ignored the teacher and walked straight to his sister without saying a word to anyone else.

Eventually Mr. Banner cleared his throat in what I figured was an act to get their attention, Jasper whirled around to look at the teacher while he held his sister's hand. "I'm sorry, Sir, I don't mean to interrupt your class like this but my sister....... I'd really appreciate it if you didn't push her into anything today, and if you'd allow it, I'll explain why after this class has finished."

Mr. Banner just stared at them for a few moments before finally being able to speak, "I would appreciate that son."

Jasper nodded and turned back to his sister, I faintly heard him asking if she wanted to stay or leave, but I didn't hear her reply. Odd. I guess he'd understood what she wanted anyhow because a second later, he'd turned back to Mr. Banner, "Sir is it okay if I sit through this class today? I hate to be such a bother, but I can't leave her right now." Banner just nodded, which I'll admit, surprised the hell outta me (as well as the rest of the class) and went back to his desk. Without a moments hesitation, he'd slid Isabella off of her seat and taken her place, sitting her comfortably on his lap.

The whispers started and I thought to myself, "and so the vultures attack." I got lost in my mind just watching the two of them interact next to me when Mr. Banner's voice finally broke through my thoughts, "Oh I almost forgot, umm.. Mr. Cullen could you, um, share your text book with Ms. Swan? We will not be getting hers until tomorrow." I nodded at him in understanding and got my book out of my bag. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Isabella look up at me at the mention of my name with a look of understanding on her face that quickly changed to anger as her eyes moved around the room. I opened the book to the correct page, and placed it in the middle of the desk between us. I saw Jasper turn his head and look at me; it looked like he wanted to say something.

So, I introduced myself first. "Edward Cullen, nice to meet you," I said as I stuck my hand out towards him. He adjusted Isabella so that he could he could shake my hand, "Jasper Swan," he said, "and this is my sister, Isabella, but she prefers just Bella." I nodded at him, and turned to her with a smile. I didn't bother saying anything because as far as I could tell, she either couldn't, or wouldn't, speak to anyone, including her own brother. I'd have to make sure to inform Alice of that after class. Maybe that would explain why she thought that Bella didn't want to be her friend.

I wanted to tell him that I thought he was being a great brother to be there for her. For sticking together through the tough time I suspected they were both going through; but I didn't want to push the boundaries, I didn't know them, and they didn't know me. Butyou want to know them! My subconscious mind screamed at me. And it was true; I did want to know them, or at least her. I wanted to know everything there was to know about her, but how do you get to know someone that doesn't speak? Realizing that I was still staring at Bella, I shifted my gaze back to Jasper, and I could tell right off that he'd noticed where I'd been looking. He didn't mention it though, and for that I was thankful.

"I heard what the other students around here think of you and your family," he said instead, "and I wanted to let you know that I think they're all a bunch of insensitive bastards. I don't know why I agreed to sit there at lunch, but I do know that those aren't the kind of people I want to associate myself with."

For the first time while being at this school, this kid made me feel like it wasn't my fault for why people acted like they did toward my siblings and I. "People don't have anything better to do. I just hate how they hurt my sister so much."

"What do you mean?" He replied, with furrowed eyebrows, worry etched on his face.

"Well, once they realized that we weren't and wouldn't be what they all wanted us to be, they started harassing us. Emmett and I don't really care what they do to us, but we do care when they mess with Alice and they do that a lot. They know that they can get to us through her." With that, I noticed Jaspers hold on Bella tightening and his expression went from worried to angry.

"That's messed up," Jasper sighed and just shook his head, "moving here was the second worst thing ever to happen to us," he turned his head and looked back at me. "They are big on rumors here I take it? I already heard some things about Bella and myself."

"Very big on rumors seeing as how there's nothing else to do in this town. I've heard some about you guys myself, but being on the bad end of quite a few of those stories myself, I knew better than to believe a word of it."

He sighed again and looked down at Bella who appeared to have fallen asleep. "Look man, I can't be in here everyday, as much as I want to be. I don't want to leave her alone because she's taking what happened so hard. She rarely lets me leave her side, and she's refused to say a word since ....... well, since everything happened a week ago. The doctors say she's still in shock, but that doesn't stop me from worrying. Would you mind," at that he paused as if to seriously consider what he was about to ask me, "looking after her in here. I'll talk to her about it tonight, and I'll let Mr. Banner know that she simply doesn't talk - to anyone - but I'd feel a lot better if I knew there was someone in here keeping an eye on her for me."

I was taken aback; did he actually ask me to keep an eye on his sister? Of course there was no reason not to, "Of course man.. I know what it's like to be protective of your sister and I don't really know what happened but I'm sorry for whatever you are going through." I sighed and ran my fingers through my hair thinking back to things that I hated. I shut my eyes for a second and cringed at the memories that flooded in. I shook my head quickly trying to forget them and opened my eyes. "Really?"

He replied, with a faint trace of a smile on his face, and I simply nodded. I turned back to the front of the room to see what Banner was talking about now. I didn't really need to pay attention in this class because I held a solid "A" already and almost knew more than the teacher, but I needed a moment to gather my thoughts.

"Thank you."

I turned back toward Jasper and raised my eyebrow, "for?"

"Actually seeming genuine when you said that," he cracked a small smile, but I could see he wasn't able to hide the sadness that came with it.

Too soon, the class was over and he stood up to walk to his next class, carrying the still sleeping Bella. I caught up with him at the door and asked where her next class was. "We both have Gym now, I had to have Cha -- err, my dad, talk to the front office to get them to switch around my schedule just so I could get a couple classes with her. I'm glad one of those classes turned out to be gym."

"Ah, well if you just tell the teacher she's sick maybe you'll get out earlier" I cleared my throat and decided to ask a question I wasn't sure I should, "do you guys need a ride home or anything?"

At that, he chuckled, "Nah man, but thanks. Dad bought us a truck that surprisingly works. I didn't think it would when I saw it this morning, but it does the job. I just can't wait until my car gets here from Phoenix. Maybe we can meet up later, you know where we live?"

I ran my hand through my hair and looked down at the ground suddenly extremely interested in my shoes, "um I think so.."

"Well look, here's my number," he said, while rattling off his number, "give me a call when you get out of school and let me know whats going on. You're welcome to stop by, it'll only be Bells and I home until who knows when."

I nodded, "yeah, I'll see what's up. I should probably get to my own class. Bye." I turned on my heel and retreated down the hall, but of course I wasn't quick enough to get away from the wrath of Mike Newton.

He was standing against the wall with Eric and Tyler, "So Eddie, did you find a prospect for your new boyfriend?" he walked over to me and patted me on the shoulder, "Hate to break it to you but I'm pretty sure he's straight. Besides Jessica has her eye on him.. And I…" he licked his lips, "Have my eye on that hot little brunette."

I usually ignored his comments, but today ..... Today I was in no mood for it. I didn't help Bella earlier, but I'd certainly defend her now. "For your information, Mike, they can't stand your group of friends anyway. Just like my brother, Alice and myself, they think you're vile, disgusting and entirely too self-centered. Besides, in case you didn't notice, the only look Bella gave you today was one of anger and hatred!" And with that, I walked off to my next class. I couldn't believe how mad I was over what he'd said about Bella. It felt a lot like jealousy which made absolutely no sense. I barely knew her, in fact, aside from knowing that she prefers to be called Bella, Jasper is her older brother, and she doesn't talk because of whatever it was that happened in their lives, I didn't know her at all. I reached into my pocket for my cell phone and quickly sent Jasper a text message informing him of what Mike had just said to me, and continued on my way to class.

When I got to my class, Emmett was already in the back in his seat; I was grateful that we had this class together at least. I went in the back and sat down almost slamming my books on the desk which caused us to receive quite a few looks. "I'm guessing Mike Newton did or said something to piss you off?"

I scoffed, "Yea, Em, that's an understatement." I didn't offer any other information and he didn't ask. I'd never been more grateful for my brother than I was at that moment. I hardly understood my feelings towards Bella and my reactions towards Mike about what he said, so telling Emmett wouldn't have done me any good. Before he could say anything else though, I quickly changed the subject, "Jasper, the new kid, invited us over to their place after school. He's pretty cool and we got a chance to talk in Biology while his sister was asleep. Get this, he isn't even in that class, but I guess his sister sent him a text message after Banner tried to get her to talk, and he came by to check on her and just walked right in." I could imagine the look on Emmett's face right now considering we never interacted with anyone unless directly provoked.

"Yea, sure Eddie, I mean Alice says that she wants to be the girls friend so I'm sure she wouldn't mind." I nodded and stuck my hand into my pocket again when it vibrated signaling a message. I looked at the screen and noticed that Jasper had replied.

E - He said WHAT about my sister? I'll kill him! - J

When school was over for the day, Emmett and I went in search of Alice then headed out to my Volvo. I explained to her how Jasper had invited us over and I could see the glint of excitement in her eye, but at the same time she was afraid. I assured her it was going to be alright. One time she had been invited over to this new girl's house and Jessica Stanley and her minion Lauren jumped her, thankfully Rosalie broke it up and told Alice to just go home. As I watched her face in the mirror go from scared to thoughtful, I remembered to tell her what Jasper had said about Bella. "Hey Ali," I said, looking at her in my rearview mirror until she looked up at me, "Jasper said that Bella doesn't talk to anyone, at all, not even him. Not since whatever happened to them, so don't take it personally if she doesn't talk to you, okay?" She nodded and returned to looking out the window; watching the trees and houses fly by us. We pulled up to Chief Swan's house shortly after that and I noticed the truck Jasper had mentioned earlier. I laughed to myself as we walked up to the door. Before we got there, Jasper leaned out of an upstairs window and yelled down at us to just let ourselves in, so we did.

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A/N: we got this chapter done faster than we anticipated. But that's always good isn't it? We are going to start working the next one soon. Thanks for the reviews. Please continue to read and review. The more reviews we get the more we want to write!