Isabell has a little problem with arguing with herself, and you'll find that a lot in this chapter.

I tried everything to make my mom and dad not make me go. I tried crying, begging, slacking (more), locking myself in my room (which they have a key to), and even refusing to eat. …Okay so maybe I snuck some food in here and there, but nothing worked. Their decision was final.

Curse parents. Curse parents and their ability to control us kids.

Charlie was quiet in the car all the way to the house. I didn't regret that though, I barely knew him, he barely knew me.

He insisted I sit upfront, but I heard doubt deep in his voice. He didn't want to be anywhere near me.

Am I that much of a spoiled brat? …I laughed to myself. Puh, what am I kidding, I'm just like any other teenager. He shouldn't judge me that way.

CHARLIE POV

"So, Isabell," I smiled at her from the rearview mirror. "Do you remember me at all?"

She didn't. Instead she turned her head to look out the window.

"Isabell?"

She sighed. "I don't feel I need to answer your question. If I remembered you at all, don't you think I would have talked to you already?" She spat the words at me.

I grimaced. What a brat. My sister was right; she does need a lesson learned.

"Now listen here young lady, your mom ---,"

"---Has nothing to do with this. Look if I say yes I do remember you, will you leave me alone? Thanks."

Oh boy.

ISABELL POV

I have no idea why he's trying talking to me. What's it to him anyways? I don't want to know him anymore than he wanted to know me.

I turned to gaze out of the window again. Everything was so green. Green and moldy. I made clicking sound with my tongue, imagining tasting it.

… 'Close your eyes, shut your mouth, dream a dream and get us out.'…

I pulled my cell phone from my purse. It was Jordan.

"Um, Isabell," Charlie started. "Carol told me to take your phone away from you. Now please don't make this any harder than it is for me."

"Eh, no thanks."

He held out his hand anyways. Ew, it looked infested with dirt.

"Charlie, my dear uncle," I pulled a 5 from my purse and slid it into his hands (careful not to touch it) and winked at him. "Do yourself a favor and get a haircut."

I sniffed the air. And some soap.

… 'Dream, dream, dream, dream, dre -,'…

"Hey Jordan."

"Hey, what's up? Are you there?" I could hear her frown.

"Yeah. It's a total disaster. I hate this place already." And my uncle.

"Don't worry about it. Soon enough you'll have to learn your lesson, it can't be that hard." She paused. "I heard it always rains down there. Is it raining now?"

"To my surprise, no." I glanced out the window again. "So what's going on in California? Am I missing anything?"

"Not really. But Brenda is crying her eyes out. She misses you." I could hear her turn the phone to a crying Brenda. "But anyways… hey I have a brilliant idea! Will your uncle know when you have learned your lesson?"

"I don't think so."

What was she up to?

"Then just tell him you learned your lesson. If he's not going to know, why wait until you do?

Perfect. I looked at Charlie who glared at me from the rear view mirror.

"You know Jordan… you can be smart sometimes. Please take that as a compliment."

She laughed.

"I miss you guys too. Tell Brenda I said hey and give her a hug for me okay? See ya."

"See you later."

Charlie didn't even wait for me to turn off my phone. "Phone. Now."

I think he was trying to be mean. That didn't work out so well. But I didn't care at this moment whether he took my phone or not. I was going home soon.

I made sure to wipe the handle before getting out of the car. I mean, his police cruiser thingy. Who knows what could've sat back there.

Charlie struggled to put on a smile as we walked up the steps to his home.

"You're going to love Bella." He assured me.

"Mmm," my eyebrows flew up in a yes. Maybe, maybe not.

"Bella! Come down here please, I'd like you to meet someone!" he yelled towards the stairs.

I have a name.

A few seconds passed in silence. I leaned on the front door and pretended to glance at an imaginary watch that was on my arm.

Then she came. Isabella. My cousin.

Her light brown hair covered most of her face as she walked down. When she walked on the last step, her other foot got caught in a whole bunch of 'nothing but air' and she stumbled forward. Wow…

I guess it'll be easy now to tell that we were cousins. We had so much in common already! We both had brown hair and brown eyes. And not to mention her pale skin and klutziness. But her face was more round than mine. Kind of heart shaped. Mine was oval shaped. Maybe I would like Isabella after all.

"Isabella, meet Isabell." Charlie seemed to be amazed that our names were almost alike.

"Hi, it's nice to finally meet my cousin." I put on a fake smile. You know what they always say, Service with a smile (wink). 'Cause I surely didn't want to be here now.

"Hi, nice to meet you too." she barely whispered. Or maybe I wouldn't like Isabella. She seemed like the shy type. How in the world did that happen?

I cleared my throat and tried to look really unhappy (which wasn't a hard thing to do).

"So where do I sleep?" I turned to Charlie, completely ignoring Isabella. If she wasn't going to talk to me, then I wasn't going to talk to her. She'll come around soon.

"Upstairs to the left. I put an extra ---,"

"Got it." I cut him off racing up the stairs.

Finally I can be by myself. What the…

No. No! This can not be happening.

There were two beds in the room. And one of them had my name on it.

"Charlie!" I flew to the stairs. "This has to be some honest mistake. That room has two beds in it. Please tell me that's not my bed."

Charlie let his hand cover his face and he sighed. "You and Bella are sharing her room. Is that a problem?"

Ugh. You have got to be kidding me. So far, my day in Forks was turning out to be a total disaster.

o o o

BELLA POV

"Charlie, dinner is done." I called to him in the living room. He was too busy watching a football game.

"Where is Isabell?" he asked absentmindedly, his voice dull.

Oh. I almost forgot she was here. She hasn't come down ever since she's gotten here.

I raced upstairs, taking two at a time (bad idea I know), and knocked.

"Come in." her voice was quiet.

She was sprawled across her bed, her face down in her pillow. She must be really homesick. For once, I actually felt sorry for her.

"Are you hungry? I made dinner."

She pulled her face half way from the pillow. Something sparkled on her cheek and she quickly wiped it off.

"No thanks. I'd rather stay up here if it's okay." Her voice cracked, barely a whisper.

"Okay, if you want anything it'll be downstairs." I closed the door behind me. It's hard to believe a girl such as her would ever be homesick.

When I came back downstairs Charlie was already at the table… with Edward. Didn't hear him come in.

I heard him chuckled under his breath, and I knew he knew someone other than me and Charlie was here.

I turned to Charlie, a pleading look on my face, "Please?"

He knew what I meant and scooted from underneath the table to go back into the living room. As he left he muttered something unintelligible under his breath.

"Isabell?" Edward chuckled again.

"Yes. She's my cousin. You probably know the reason behind all of this." I took his cold hand in mine. "Charlie is making me drive her to school."

"Hmm." He wasn't listening to me.

I gasped. "You're reading her thoughts." It wasn't a question.

He chuckled again, opening his arms for me, trying to change the subject. I sat on his lap, my back resting against his cold marble chest. He pressed his lips against my shoulder and I trembled.

"Are you cold?" he asked, letting his arms fall at his sides.

"No. I'm just worried about her." I reached for his hands and placed them back around my waist. The fact that he was as cold as snow didn't make me tremble entirely. "What if something happens to her? With everything going on around here, she sure picked the wrong time to be a brat." I frowned at myself. I'd never said such a horrible thing before. But it was true. "I have to look after her and Charlie now. If something goes wrong…," I didn't want to think of those possibilities. "It'll be my entire fault, Edward. I have no one else to blame but myself."

His arms and shoulders stiffened. He seemed to know what I was talking about now.

"Her coming here is not your fault, Bella."

"But all of this is. And if Isabell gets hurt, or… killed, it will be because of me. Because I am a magnet for danger. You were right."

My hands were shaking now. I felt like Jacob.

Edward put his chin on the top of my head and pulled me closer to his chest. "Yes, I was right. But don't worry about it, Bella, she will be fine. And so will Charlie. We will make sure of that. Do you trust me?"

I rested a bit, even though I didn't want to. But what he said was true. I knew I could trust him. I knew he would do everything in his power to keep me safe.

"Yes." I mumbled, and breathed a sighed of relief. But the worry still did not escape me. I was going to have frogs jumping up and down my throat all the while she was here. Even though it was clearly an uneven number --- the Cullen's VS. James, Victoria and Laurent --- they still might manage to get around them to Isabell.

That's it. I couldn't handle it. I was going to have to find a way to get Isabell home before anything got out of control.

o o o

ISABELL POV

I woke up Monday morning still tired and confused. Day and Nicole had to cancel plans. Apparently a week just wasn't enough time. I couldn't blame them.

Then I remembered I wasn't in my home anymore… again. This was the third time I'd mistaken her room for mine. And now I'm three days behind on sleep. And it's all because of the girl that slept beside me.

Isabella kept me up all stupid night, because of her stupid sleep talking. Now I wasn't getting enough stupid sleep!

"Who the heck is Edward?" I blurted out by accident. She blushed feverishly as if she knew something I didn't.

"Sorry. I talk a lot in my sleep."

So I've noticed.

I tried to be positive about it, making my voice sound sweet and sensitive. "That's okay. I can understand." Maybe she would see how sweet I was acting and tell Charlie this time. So much for the fake tears yesterday.

She smiled. "Did you want to go first?"

"Excuse me?"

"The bathroom. To get ready for school today."

Aw crap. I forgot all about school. "Oh-ho-ho. School. Almost forgot." My voice sounded weird on the last few words. "Sure I'll go first."

I grabbed some clothes from my bad and my toothbrush, almost mad that I didn't unpack yesterday, and headed for the bathroom. "Which way is the ---?"

"To your right." I could hear a smile in her voice. Was she glad I was here or what?

I cut in the water (having trouble a few times) and got in, the water felt so good on my skin. I like to it as hot as it will go (it burns a little but then its relaxing… you know, like a sauna or something?). For one people might think im crazy, but I think they all should try it... so there.

Okay, embarrassing, I hadn't noticed I had started humming. It was a habit… a very dominant one. Today I was humming 'Oh When the Saints Go Marching In'. I quickly stopped, feeling awkward. What if Isabella was listening from the door? Or better yet her room? People did say I could have a loud mouth when I wanted one. But I didn't know if to take that as a compliment or not.

"Hey Isabella!" I opened the door to find her waiting. She didn't look happy either. Maybe she thought I was a bad singer?

"In fifteen minutes school starts." She addressed me.

"Oh don't worry, I'm all dressed." I put on my goofy smile. She still didn't look happy. Was I that bad?

"But," she started, her voice sad, "Just please let me in the bathroom, were going to be late."

Guh, my breath escaped my mouth. Good morning to you too. And people call me a brat, puh!

She rushed me downstairs once she was dressed. Why was she rushing? Of course she had to hate school as much as I did. Were cousins. We should have something in common.

"Well what are you waiting for? Get in." she called at me from her side window.

I stared at her like she was crazy. Did she even know how to drive? We weren't going to walk? I always walk to school.

"Isabell, if you don't like it then maybe you should walk to school. Good luck finding your way there."

I was already in the passenger seat before she could finish her sentence. Maybe walking around here would be a bad idea, with all the raining that happens and all...

"So where are you from?" Isabella asked as we pulled out of the driveway.

"California." I answered, glancing out of the window. "Where it's sunny… er."

She laughed to herself. "So you have a problem with this place too huh?"

"Kinda. Especially the never sunny part. I packed my whole wardrobe full of summer clothes." I motioned to my blouse and mini-skirt and sandals. "Doesn't the sun ever shine here?"

She eyed my clothes with dismay, "That's probably a bad choice, but other than the skirt and the sandals you're okay." She glanced out her window too, "And if you count the clouds rolling from under the sun every once in a while, then that's a yes."

We both laughed. She was a really fun person to be around once you got to know her. Not shy at all.

"Well, I just can't wait until I get back home." My frown returned. Home. Why did I have to bring up home?

I felt her hand touch mine just then, it was soft and warm.

"Don't worry. Trust me, I'm working on that." She smiled. Then something amazing happened… I smiled back too. But it wasn't one of those 'service with a smile' smiles. It was a real smile. A smile I hadn't smiled in days.

And then you know what else happened? The sun came out, shining directly on us, and the birds started chirping a beautiful tune.

I know what you're thinking… really? Eh, no! But a girl can dream can't she?

The engine cut off just then sending an awkward silence into the confined space, and I noticed we were at school.

Aw crap.

I was a little sad that out conversation had to end. I was just getting warmed up to her. And for some reason I felt different around Isabella. Like I was a whole new person, waiting to be discovered. Why couldn't I feel this way all the time?

We stepped out of her truck and she led me to the front office.

"Hello Miss. Montez. I have you schedule around here somewhere. Let me find it for you." A lady with long dark brown hair motioned to me.

"How ---?"

"Don't be shocked, this happens to every new student." She put her hands on both my shoulders, and whispered in my ear. "Apparently they have a way of knowing who you are before you do."

I whispered a laugh, almost choking.

"Hey, you'll be alright if I go to class without you won't you?"

I nodded and she waved at me before heading out the doorway. The way Isabella was described to me by my parents wasn't anything like her now. How could she have warmed up to me so fast?

"I have your schedule right here. I put you in every one of Isabella's classes." The lady behind her desk said.

"Joy…," I overdid the sarcasm a bit.

The woman behind the desk must've noticed, "Is there a problem?"

"Oh, not at all, I was just kidding." I suppressed a laugh. She only smiled.

I quickly exited the office, afraid I might give more of myself away. I did like my cousin… a lot. But she didn't have to put me in every one of her classes. I can handle myself.

Walking down the halls, surprise surprise, I found every room number but mine. It wasn't until the second time that I started to panic.

Okay Isabell, don't worry. The room is here… somewhere. Well duh, it has to be.

I walked up and down the halls… again… for the thirteenth time. Still no luck. I couldn't help myself, and I flopped down, tears already streaming down my face.

I had no idea what came over me. What I just did was weird and childish. I thought only first time middle schoolers did this?

Well… I am new, so that should be and exception right?

I looked around me. Nothing but hall. Plain old hall that seemed to stretch for miles.

Then I noticed something... in front of me.

Oh boy...How could have missed that?

In front of me there was a door. A door that led to a classroom. A classroom with bold, black numbers right above the door reading sixty-seven. The number on my 1st period class schedule. The number I'd been looking for all along.

I laughed at myself as slowly climbed to my feet.

Puh, sh, cuh, huh, well the room was a little too far back wasn't it? It was barely noticeable. And it blend in with the wall. So I'm not that dumb am I? I let me head fall between my hands, I can not be that dumb!

I rushed to the door, not wanting to be alone anymore, right when the bell rang. Horrible, horrible idea.

The door swung open and hit me square in the nose. My head jolted back as I heard something crack, the pain I'd just encountered unbearable. I cried out in pain and started tumbling backwards; but something caught me before I could hit the ground.

He had the most beautiful eyes I'd ever seen – honey looking almost – and the most adorable bronze colored hair. And the palest looking face I'd ever seen. But otherwise, the most beautiful human I'd seen in my life.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his jaw tense.

I couldn't answer. It hurt too much to even try to talk. I didn't want to be here right now. I just wanted to go home.

People all around me gasped and whipered excitedly. Then something liquidy entered the corner of my mouth. Blood.

Little black circles started forming in my eyes, getting larger with every blink, until finally… I passed out.

Hmm, so I bet you caught that right? That was nothing like Bella's character. But just remember that Isabell is Bella's cousin, and that Bella has a different attitude around different people. Right? She wouldn't talk to Jessica the same way she would talk to Angela. So just pointing out that this is the way she talks to Isabell. I don't really know how to describe a characters character when their character was already written ( I hope that makes sense). For some reaon that just doesn't work out the way I want it to.