I should've listened to myself. I should've paid more attention the red flags in my mind when Aro suggested this place. But of course, I ignored all that. And now, it was too late to change plans. Forks was my new home.

It really sank in when a wave of self-consciousness came over me as I hurried inside the Forks High School before I got soaked by the rain. My face wasn't familiar to the other students so, I guess the stares were understandable. It was just so... strange. Back at Volterra, it didn't seem to matter when others stared at me like I was a freak. Here, they were mildly unconfortable.

The map and instructions a lady from the office had given me were enough to get me through my first classes. Apparently, I wasn't the only new girl. That should've made me feel better, but upon meeting said girl, I decided it was better to keep my distance. If I thought stares from students were unconfortable, her stares were just disturbing. We were both taken under the wing of a really chatty girl and her almost-boyfriend.

Jessica and Mike were both energetic and very friendly and I soon found myself getting along with them. Bella, the other girl, also seemed relieved she'd found a place for herself in this school.

I nudged her as we made our way to the cafeteria. "Cheer up. At least we have a table." She smiled halfheartedly and did something weird with her mouth while blinking several times.

Okay...

We took a seat and I was happy to see we were sharing table with even more people, which Jessica took the time to introduce to me and Bella.

"Oh, you're chief's Swan daughter! Everyone's been talking about it," A girl named Angela chimed in.

I glanced down at my food and smiled. Pizza. My enhanced sense of smell didn't have to tell me what my tongue already knew. This thing would be awesome. I lifted the slice to my mouth, and then another smell hit me like being smashed by a truck -not that I know what feels like-.

The sweet, honeyed scent of vampires.

My pulse skyrocketed. I'd imagined... with so suitable conditions that it was possible. But I smelled not one or two, but five. Freaking five.

"Ari, are you alright?" One of the guys, Eric, asked.

I nodded shakily and forced a smile. "Yes, don't worry. I was just thinking about something." That seemed to appease them.

I knew the exact moment when the first one walked into the busy cafeteria, followed by another. before I was able to see them. I was so intent studying them that I almost missed Jessica explaining them to Bella.

"Dr. Carisle adopted them all. He's kind of a matchmaker."

My brain jolted. "Did you just say-"

"And who is that?" Bella asked in this dreamy voice I associated with her having an instant crush. I turned my gaze to the subject of her attention and my entire body froze. My mind was a puddle of memories, fuzzy but there. And they were all rising to the surface, as if to test each other and see which one was the stronger. Which one would take over me. Would it be sorrow? Or elation, confusion, or even anger?

The last one rocked me to the bone. I was angry, yes.

Bella was still staring. And he knew it. I could tell by that tiny ghost smile. He would look this direction in any second. Would he see me? Would he remember me? Did I want him to?

When the moment came, I ducked my face and tried to hide most of it with my hair. No, I wasn't ready. I wanted him to leave.

I waited 30 painstaking seconds, and then counted 20 more, to be sure, before lifting my head. At my new friends' concerned glances, I said, "I had an awful headache for a moment. Do you think the nurse here could help me with it?"

Jessica jumped to action. "Of course! Do you need help getting there?"

"No, it's alright. I can do it. Thanks anyway," I said with a grateful smile.

I stood and took deep breaths, trying not to take off right there, go straight home and curl up on my couch. Edward was here. And even though I wanted him gone, there was also another part of me that just wanted him to pull me close as if the last century had never happened.

Edward whipped his head towards me, and above the chatter and the paper planes, our gazes met.

"Don't come near me," I whispered, knowing he'd hear me, and then bolted.