Carlisle had talked to me about school the following day, on Sunday. He asked if I would like to go to high school. The Cullen children found it as a way to do something and, even though they've been doing it for awhile, learned a few things ever now and then. Dryads, for the first fifty years, are home schooled, so that everyone in the village could be literate and well educated. I suppose it couldn't hurt although I had never been to actual school before. While traveling I had seen some schools and the people that walked around there and found it very interesting.

It was Monday morning and I was in my room changing. Alice and Rosalie had given me some clothes and it was surely more than I was expecting. All the drawers in my closest were full. I slipped on my shoes - shoes that I had made myself in the village then looked at myself in the mirror. I really looked like an ordinary human being. Huh.

I went downstairs were Edward, Emmett, and Rosalie were seated in the living room.

"Hey Ava," Rosalie said. She was snuggled up against Emmett on the couch.

I smiled and found an armchair to sit in. I guessed we were waiting for Alice and Jasper to get ready.

"Oh here," Emmett said, and he pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket. "This is your list of classes. Carlisle arranged it so that you have at least one of us in your classes at all times."

"Oh okay," I said, taking it and looking down at all the classes. English, Organic Chemistry, Calculus, Government, Art, and Environmental Science. Well. He certainly knew me well enough to pick classes that at least I'd be interested in.

"Ready!" Alice said from the top of the stairwell. Jasper was in tow, following her down as she descended down the stairs.

"Alright let's go," Emmett said and we all made our way to the garage.

"Ava," Alice said and she joined my side. "You can ride with Edward. You don't mind do you Edward?" Her face turned sharp as she looked him.

"Nope," he said, twirling his keys in his hand. He unlocked his silver car and got inside. I hadn't been in a car for a long time. Really long time. This was when cars looked nothing like they do now

The others piled into Emmett's jeep and I got inside of Edward's car. I looked around and my mind couldn't comprehend that I was in a car. The interior was all black and leather, the buttons shined with metallic grooves and they were in abundance. I leaned in and looked at a large circular button. Edward didn't start the car but just looked at me.

I scrutinized the numbers and marks on it and then slowly brought my index finger up. I pressed it and all of a sudden cold air from a vent blew heavily into my eye. I yelped and brought my hands to cover my eyes.

Edward actually laughed. I had to peel my hands away and look at him because I couldn't believe it. He looked at me, then the air vent, then started to laugh again. It was beautiful and I was so embarrassed yet I felt privileged to even hear him laugh.

He quickly quieted himself down and then started the car. He put one hand on the wheel and another on a long knob that was in between our seats. Then he turned over and looked at me.

"Put your seat belt on," he said.

Now I knew what that was. I reached over my shoulder and pulled the long strap over me. Right as I clicked it in, the car lurched forward and we were racing on a dirt path through the forest. I gripped onto the side of the car and the arm rest.

"I know that you can't die, but someone else in the car, mainly me, are very well capable of dying in a car accident," I said uneasily.

He smiled but didn't respond. There was an opening at the end of the forest and when he reached he the car turned a sharp left and we skidded onto the main road. When I looked over at all the dials in front of Edward, the meter displayed a speed of 80 miles per hour. The speed limit was 40. I have a feeling he didn't care for the driving rules.

The whole ride I was poking at random buttons and opening drawers or compartments. I would explore around the car and every now and then Edward would tell me what it was actually for. Not before I guessed like an idiot though. Of course.

When we pulled into the parking lot, people were already turning their heads to look inside the car. People in conversations, walking to the building, and standing by their cars all stopped to look. I got out of the car and kept my eyes glued to the gravel of the parking lot. Edward went to the back and opened the trunk. He grabbed a light green book bag and threw it in my direction. I caught it in surprise and looked inside. There was a binder, a notebook, and pens and pencils inside.

Edward pulled out his own bag and then slammed the trunk down. A second later Emmett's truck rolled in the parking lot and the rest emerged behind the car doors.

Rosalie walked with me to my first class, which was Calculus. On the way there, every student looked like drones, incapable of speech and though process. They just stared, eyes opened and wide, as Rosalie and I walked down the hallway and into the room. Rosalie ignored it, as if it was second nature, but I couldn't help but look at each individual face.

We sat in the back and the entire class was me being completely lost the entire time. With the anxiety from my arrival and the awkward and uncomfortable looks plastered on people's face, it was hard for me to concentrate.

The bell finally rang and I dashed out of the classroom, sliding in between people. I felt suffocated in that room. I didn't know where my next class was and I didn't bother to ask Rosalie, who I'm sure was bewildered by my actions. I was walking down the hallway rapidly, trying to find a way out.

As a turned a sharp corner, the books in my hands went flying as I collided with someone. I fell on my butt and my hands felt the cold tile on the floor. I looked up and saw Edward down the hallway, looking at me intently. He was striding over quickly.

"I'm so sorry," said an Asian kid with shaggy, black hair. He got on his knees and began to grab the books that I had dropped on the floor.

"It's okay," I said softly, my focus changing from Edward to this kid.

The boy's hand stopped reaching for my books and he looked up at me and smiled. "I'm Eric Yorkie. I'm in newspaper, class president, chess club president--"

Another body joined us near the floor.

It was Edward. He grabbed the remaining book on the floor and yanked the other out of Eric's hands. Eric's mouth hung open as Edward grabbed my forearm and lifted me up with ease. With my books cradled in his left arm and his right hand gripped onto my wrist he took me down the hallway quicker than I had been walking before.

We walked into another classroom. There were large tables seated for two and Edward dragged me to the one in back. He put my books on the table and turned his attention to the blackboard in the front of the classroom. I took in a deep breath and pulled out my list of classes to see that I was in Organic Chemistry.

He didn't talk to me for the rest of the class.

_________________________________________________________________

I was standing by my assigned locker, the bell for lunch had rung and kids were dispersed all around the hallways, going in and out to the cafeteria. I put in my textbooks and the binder that had paper filled with scribbles and notes from various classes, all unorganized and disheveled. Just as I was about to shut my locker, a boy slide into my per phial vision.

"Hey," Eric said, leaning against the locker next to mine.

"Hello," I said, holding my lock in my hand and pretending to shuffle into my locker to look busy.

"I'm sorry about hitting you earlier. Totally didn't even see you," he said, smiling over enthusiastically.

"It's fine."

"I didn't catch your name."

I paused and stopped shuffling around. "Ava," I said.

He nodded and said, "Cool name. Well, I mean it's, you know, unique and stuff. Never heard it before. I mean you look the part you know? Not weird, I don't mean that--"

"Where's the cafeteria?" I asked, interrupting his useless rambling.

"I'll walk you there," he said and I complied. I closed my locker shut and we made our way to the cafeteria.

"So," he said as he drummed his fingers on the camera hanging loosely around his neck. "Where'd you move here from? It's not everyday we get new residents here in lovely Forks."

I hesitated, trying to come up with a plausible answer.

"Clarkston," I said. "Clarkston, Washington."

"Sweet, a Washington girl," Eric said. "Hey let me introduce you to some people I know you'll like."

Much to my dismay, Eric decided to take a detour and we took a left, walking across the grass to a group of people seated outside by the lunch tables. Trays were all of the table with an assortment of uneaten food. The shadows covered the sun, providing no sunlight and making the whole scene looking gloomy and unappealing.

"Hey everyone," Eric said. "I brought a guest."

With this announcement, every head looked up. The expression most common? Surprise.

"H-Hi!" said one bubbly girl with dark curly hair hugging her shoulders. "I'm Jessica."

Everyone took a turn in introducing themselves. I merely smiled and waved when they were finished.

"I'm Ava," I said, then I put my hands in the pockets of my jacket. A wind chill was floating around and an awkward silence had come along with it.

"Anyway," I started again. "I'm going to get some lunch. Nice meeting you guys."

They all said their goodbyes and as I walking towards the cafeteria, Edward's face could be seen through the window, watching me.