Chapter 2: High School highs (and lows)

I prepared myself for my first day at High School with a long hot shower to wash away the still present jet lag cobwebs. Adjusting to the time difference was hard, especially as everything seemed so bright here, even on the cloudy days. I think it must be the pure mountain air or something.

Dressing in my favourite dark skinny Levi's and a slim fitting white vintage Beatles t-shirt knotted at the side of my hip, I admired my reflection in the mirror. I would stand out for sure as a quirky British teenager as I had seen some of the fashions around town, and my taste was definitely a little obscure for Forks. I didn't care though, I hated hoodies and sweatshirts, preferring to wear feminine, edgy or retro clothes. I didn't dress overtly sexy but my clothes were often fitted and accentuated my figure. I loved heels but knew that this climate didn't really allow for heels on a daily basis. I hoped that maybe I would be lucky enough for somebody to take me out where I could get dressed up. I loved shopping and would have to look into where I could update my wardrobe to try to fit in a bit. My mother didn't enjoy shopping and hoped I could make some friends that would enjoy shopping with me.

I dug my calf-high black leather YSL boots (a gift from my parents for my 17th birthday) out of my walk in wardrobe and proceeded downstairs to have breakfast with my parents. They were sat at the breakfast bar drinking coffee and discussing my Dad's first day at Forks County Sheriff's department starting later that day.

"Morning sweetheart, how did you sleep?" my Mum asked cheerfully. She was excited for the both of us starting new jobs/school. [Americans say Mom, English say Mum].

"Great thanks, I slept like a log, it must be the fresh air". I never had trouble sleeping, although I did talk in my sleep apparently. My parents thought this was hilarious as it was always something sweet or hilarious I would say.

"Do you want some coffee or juice? I've made pancakes especially, I know you normally only just like cereal but today is special"

"Thanks Mum, I'll have juice and pancakes please, thanks so much for the effort". I said sincerely. I was always a polite child, I never gave my parents reason to scold me or be worried about me like most parents of teenagers. I suppose being an old soul in a young body did that to you.

"Are you nervous about starting High School honey?"

"Not really" I said honestly. With my 'special talents' I had ways to overcome any feelings of first day nerves. "I'm looking forward to it actually, it'll be a totally different experience. You know how I love making new friends and experiencing new things".

"Oh yes, you're so shy Bella, I wonder sometimes if you were swapped at birth - both your mother and I are socially stunted, so you can't be mine. Renee, you did say you found the milkman back in England rather attractive, didn't you?" My Dad joked sarcastically. I did have my Dad's British witty sense of humour and it was no lie that both my parents were easy to talk to and rather gregarious at times. My Mum did tell me that some Americans didn't quite get British sarcasm and self-deprecating humour, she was an exception. After meeting my Dad when she was at University in England, she fell for my Dad's Hugh Grant like charm and he fell in love with her laugh and her fabulous cooking.

"Ha ha Dad, very funny. I hope you're not going to charm the guys at the station with your jokes, they might lock you up for crimes against comedy!" I said mockingly. Mum fell about laughing, knowing exactly the kind of response he would get to his British sense of humour.

I may be an immortal, mythical creature but I also had human attributes. I had a wicked sense of humour (inherited from my Dad), I could cry when sad or emotional and I had a strong protective nature allowing me to be empathetic and nurturing. Although I could never have children as an immortal, I loved children and animals and would love to have a pet. Unfortunately my Mother was allergic so all I got to nurture were fish.

I finished my breakfast, kissed my parents goodbye and grabbed my biker jacket and backpack and headed out to my car.

I loved my car, it was my baby. When my Mum's parents died earlier this year they left me enough money for me to buy my first car. I decided to go to Seattle with my Dad before I started school, to look for a car. In England I had really wanted a Mini Cooper and luckily enough we managed to find a dealer on the internet that specialised in British imports.

My baby was going to stick out like a sore thumb - as they say in England. It was blue and had painted on the roof a traditional British Union Jack flag. Everyone would see me coming and know just who was driving this car. Talk about being inconspicuous, but I didn't care. It was quirky and I loved bringing a little bit of England with me.

The car was very sporty so manoeuvred round the twisty bends of the forest roads with ease. The only downside was the mileage. After driving from Seattle with my new car, I understood why everyone drives big cars and trucks, everywhere is so far away from anywhere else. A four hour drive from Forks to Seattle would take you almost half way across England in that time!

I arrived in the parking lot of Forks High School in good time and noticed the lot full of the types of cars that I'd just been thinking of, I was right, I did stand out. Everyone who was in the lot turned to stare as my little car speeded in and I got out. The only other car that stood out as different was a shiny silver Volvo. I had seen quite a few in England, although they were mostly driven by mature men with safety over looks as their main concern. I wondered if the owner resembled the car?

As I exited the car and walked towards the school, the small group gathered near the steps to the entrance and were shamelessly gawping at me. I could hear their thoughts rampaging from surprise to envy and right back to surprise when I opened my mouth in greeting.

"Hi, I'm Bella. I'm new to this school, could somebody show me the way to the office please?".

The surprise at my alien accent and the thoughts about my looks screamed in my head from the group of six and I was keen to get away. Two of the girls were thinking envious almost bitchy thoughts and the three guys could be practically undressing me with their eyes.

A tall dark haired girl introduced herself

"Hi, I'm Angela, nice to meet you Bella. I'll show you the way.". She made no comment about my accent or car, which I appreciated. She was kind in her thoughts and hopeful that she could become friends. I liked her already.

As we walked up the steps, I noticed a group of kids get out of the silver Volvo and stare intently in my direction. There was something different about them, they didn't look like stereotypical High School kids. They were all very attractive in a strange way, not unlike myself I suppose. One of the boys looked like he had seen a ghost, he had an expression of shock or was it anger on his face? His thoughts were puzzled and incoherent but the thoughts of the others next to him were of wonder and appreciation. They appeared to be having a conversation with the boy staring at me, telling him to snap out of it, which was odd. I hadn't been within 30 feet of him let alone spoken to him. How could he be so affected?

I dropped my gaze from the strange party and continued up the steps to follow Angela towards the school office. When I got within 10 feet of passing them, my senses were assaulted with a cornucopia of wonderful scents which made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. There was only one being that induced this kind of fear into me. The fear was only eased by looking into their eyes. They were not the same as the other blood-drinkers I had encounter, they were a golden honey colour. What were vampires doing here, mingling amongst humans, not attacking them for their blood. What kind of vampires were these?

I forced myself to look away from them as they were now staring at me with puzzled looks. I think they sensed my fear. I wasn't frightened, just alarmed that I would need to protect these humans in such an exposed setting. They looked at me like they knew something was different about me, but to a vampire I am essentially human and my 'talents' well disguised, so the risk of being discovered as different was small. Walking quickly behind Angela towards the office I collected my schedule and filled in some paperwork. Angela offered to stay with me and show me the way to my first class which was English Lit, which I accepted.

I tried not to let my concerns run away with me, I had barely been in the school grounds 5 minutes and already I felt trouble brewing.