EDWARD

This was my Junior year at Forks High, being that it's not the most prestigious school in the country I was working pretty hard to be sure I'd get into Stanford in two years. And the long Labor Day weekend was allowing me to get a good head start on this school year. I'd managed to get an outline of assignments from several of my teachers and was getting as much early work done as I could. School was my life. I planned on following in my father's ivy league footsteps and would do just about anything to meet my goals.

I was reading from my biology textbook on Monday evening when my parents returned from dinner.

"Where's your brother Edward?" my dad asked.

I shrugged. Emmett was most likely in one of two places, screwing his on-again off-again girlfriend, Rosalie, or drinking with his football buddies. I knew this, my dad knew this, hell, most of Forks knew this. He was after all the star of the Forks football team, everyone in this town knew Emmett and those who weren't cool enough to hang with him avoided him. That included me. Not that he and I didn't get along, I just couldn't risk having a black mark on my record. Being brought home by the local police on an regular basis wasn't something I was interested in.

My dad, Carlisle, headed up to his study to do paperwork for his job at the hospital, while my mom, Esme sat on the couch beside me turning on the TV. My mom was really beautiful, her hair was the color of caramel with light curls, and her eyes were the same deep emerald green as mine. "What are you working on, hon?" she asked, tipping her head towards mine and reading from my book. "Ah, biology. How's it going?"

"Pretty good. I'm probably a good month ahead of schedule on the reading."

"You know Edward, it's OK to take a break once in awhile." It wasn't a question.

"I'll take a break if I need one," I rolled my eyes at her. "It's not like there's a whole lot else to do in this town."

"Oh Edward," she sighed, ruffling my hair. "Well, I guess there is a little excitement now," there was a tinge of excitement in her voice. Like most of the women in this small town, Esme enjoyed a little bit of gossip. She was dropping a line, hoping I'd bite. I would, to please her, and she knew it.

"Hey! Where is everybody?" a loud voice shouted from the back door. Apparently, Emmett was home.

"In here, Emm," Mom called.

"So, the rumor around town is that they'll be a new girl in school tomorrow," Emmett said in his overly loud voice. He had two volumes, loud and louder, his big voice fit his big body. Emmett had dad's mist blue eyes and mom's curls though his hair was a mass of black and he was huge, like a bear. "I guess Chief Swan's daughter just moved in with him."

"I didn't know he had any kids," I said.

"I met her tonight," Esme bubbled, excited to share her knowledge.

Emmett dropped himself into the oversize chair, that really was just the right size for him, that was kitty corner to the couch Esme and I were sitting on. "So, what'd she look like, Mom?" he asked, kicking his feet up on to the coffee table.

"She's a beautiful girl, seemed quiet, polite. Her name is Bella." She was looking at me as she answered Emmett's question.

"Humm..." Emmett pondered, rubbing his chin. "Don't suppose the Chief's gonna let me anywhere near her?"

"I'm sure Rose, would love to hear about that." I taunted.

"Rose and I are over, thing of the past, dear brother. You really should try and keep up. Maybe if you took your nose out of those books every once in awhile and had some fun.."

"My grades would be ask sucky as your's," I finished for him. "I'd be on the verge of NOT graduating. No thanks, dude."

"But at least you'd be having fun," he shrugged.

"Emmett, WILL be graduating this year," my mom stated, eying Emmett.

"Yeah, yeah. Well I'm gonna head up to bed, I'm gonna head to the school early tomorrow to do some lifting. Night, Mom." Emmett stood, leaning down and kiss our mom on top of her head before heading up the stairs.

"He's right, Edward. You could have a little bit of fun."

"Who says I'm not having fun."

The next morning Forks High was a buzz with gossip about the new girl. Jessica Stanley was an aide in the front office 1st period, when she'd arrived at school Chief Swan and his daughter were already in the office with Mr. Aro with the door closed. Apparently, they'd still been in there when the bell rang to signal the end of the period.

Unlike my mother last night, it seemed as though not everyone had nice things to say about her. In particular the girls were being brutal. I guessed there was probably some truth to my mom saying she was "a beautiful girl". Jessica swore she heard Chief Swan say that Bella had been arrested in Phoenix. Kate heard that she'd flunked out of 3 schools. Lauren apparently heard that she was pregnant, and she hadn't been anywhere near the office this morning. Anyone and everyone had something to say about Bella Swan by lunch.

I was late to the cafeteria, since I'd been talking with my Trig teacher about the possibility of tutoring other students as an extracurricular. Now I was anxious to see the new girl for myself. I walked in and looked around, trying to be nonchalant as I headed to the lunch line. I felt Jessica's eyes on me as usual, she'd been trying to get me to notice her since we moved here when I was in 8th grade. Unfortunately for Jessica I had noticed her. I'd noticed that she was a bitch and I wasn't interested, but she didn't get it. I grabbed a bagel and a lemonade and kept looking around for Bella.

I'd never seen her, but I was sure I would be able to spot the "new girl". I checked all the tables that weren't anyone's usual tables, thinking she'd be sitting alone. I was wrong.

Emmett's voice was booming across the room, followed by melodic laughter. My head turned toward the sound.

Esme was right. Bella Swan was a beautiful girl. She was petite, shorter than most of the girls in our class, thin but not unnaturally so. Her face was perfectly heart shaped, with her tiny button nose perfectly centered above her pink full lips. She was very fair almost pale, her skin tone set off by the deep brown of her thick hair that had just the slightest curl to it. I probably stared at her a moment to long. She looked at me then, catching me in the act, but I couldn't tear my eyes away from her.

Suddenly, she turned her attention back to my brother, he was tugging at the ends of her long hair. I closed my eyes and turned my head slightly. When I opened them, I saw Rosalie. Her lips in an ugly sneer staring down the beautiful Bella Swan. Bella didn't seem to notice her.

I sat by myself, across the cafeteria from my brother and Bella. Stealing glances of her whenever I could.

BELLA

Today was hell, seriously, my own personal fucking hell. I spent nearly the two periods in the principal's office with Charlie while they chatted about some of their favorite fishing spots before the conversation got back around to me. Charlie was very diplomatic, saying that I'd "hit a rough patch" in Phoenix and we were "hoping that things would smooth out" now that I was in Forks. I had been placed in AP classes my freshman year, but had nearly flunked out by the end of my sophomore year. With the smaller student population there were no honors classes here and they figured I'd be right around grade level. I was finally given a schedule and map of the school. Mr. Aro wished me luck and Charlie and I headed out of the office.

We walked out the only door, which faced the parking lot. It was the middle of second period, yet here was a huge guy climbing out of an equally large Jeep. Somehow he'd managed to find a parking spot right near the front, and he was now bounding directly towards us.

"Mr. Cullen, are you running a little late this morning?" Charlie asked.

"Chief Swan, " the huge boy nodded at Charlie, before shooting a giant grin at me. He had dimples, I melted. "I'm not late. I was here early to workout. I was just taking a little break." Then it clicked Cullen, hum, I wondered if this was the troublemaker I was supposed to stay away from. I smiled right back.

Charlie's eyes flashed from the boy, to me, and back again. "Emmett, I think you ought to be heading back to class then," he drawled out slowly.

"Of course, Chief Swan. But maybe she needs a guide," Emmett smiled again and shrugged, cocking his head toward me.

"I think she'll be just fine. And you're missing class."

Emmett's blue eyes landed on me, he smiled wide and the dimples appeared. He winked and shrugged and headed toward the school.

"Isabella Swan, that boy is no good," Charlie said in a low voice. I looked at him and nodded. He sighed, "Well, you better get headed to class. I'll see you this evening." Charlie smiled at me again, the corners of his eyes crinkling, "Have a good day Bells." He tapped me lightly on the shoulder with his fist before climbing into his cruiser.

I nodded waving my hand once as he drove away, flashing his lights once. I smiled to myself as I recalled him doing that when I would visit him as a kid. Ugh, why did he have to want me here so bad. He loved me and only wanted the best for me and would do what ever he could to assure that, but in my mind what was best for me was being in Phoenix. I would have to break his heart, just like Renee had done. It sucked, but there was no way I could stay here.

OK, enough of the pity party, back to the plan.

I checked my schedule and map, then head towards building B for English.

"So, where you headed?" came a low voice from behind me. I turned to face Emmett Cullen. Emmett was huge, I know that I'm on the short side but this kid was a giant. He was tall and broad, the sleeves of his tee shirt strained against his muscular upper arms. The shirt, also tight across what I could tell was a defined chest, read Forks High Football. Go figure. Emmett caught me staring at his chest and the dimples made an appearance again, along with a twinkle in his eyes. He was grinning widely at me, this may be easier than I thought. "I'm Emmett," he said, extending his large hand towards me.

"I'm Bella," I said softly. Glancing up at him through my eyelashes and smiling lightly, as I placed my hand in his. Instead of shaking my hand he grasped it firmly, interlocking our fingers and lowering it to his side. Then he grabbed my schedule from my other hand.

"So, I'm thinking maybe the chief was wrong and you need a little help today. Let's see where we're going to." He then lead me up the stairs into the building, depositing me in front of an open door. The entire class turned at the sound of our footsteps.

Everyone was staring, I took a deep breath, I could feel the heat rising to my face.

"Here you are, Bella," Emmett said, making a show of releasing my hand from his. "I'll see you at lunch," he winked. It wasn't a request.

I smiled and nodded at him, before walking toward the front of the room. I was concentrating hard on not tripping over my own feet and trying not to think of the many pairs of eyes glued on me. I handed the teacher my schedule. He introduced me to the class, told me to have a seat and told Emmett to get to his own class.

The girl beside me in English was eager to show me to my next class and prattle on about who knows what. I wasn't really listening to her, I didn't even catch her name. "So how do you know Emmett Cullen?" she asked.

I shrugged, "I don't really. He just offered to help me find my class."

"Hum," she looked at me out of the corner of her eye, "have you met anyone else yet?" I shook my head, she was getting at something but I had know way of know what. And really right now I didn't care much. She was obnoxious, and constantly talking, mostly about herself. I couldn't stand it, I missed Alice desperately.

At the end of the next class a boy offered to show me to the cafeteria. As soon as we walked in the door I was off my feet. For a moment I thought I'd fell in front of the entire school, which wouldn't have been a lifetime first but it was my first day here. Then I felt the something around my waist, Emmett was crushing me to him. "Thanks for bringing Bella to me Mike," he said loudly.

Ah Mike, that was his name. Mike let out a low hiss, I don't think he was planning on taking me to Emmett. I grinned, this might work out well for me. I sat beside Emmett during lunch, laughing too loudly at his jokes. The thin chain around my neck felt especially heavy as I let Emmett wrap his arm around my me.