Bella's POV

I can't believe its only been a few weeks since I moved in with Dad. I had remade myself, at least mentally. I was no longer Izzy. I was Bella. Unassuming and fragile, yet mysterious. I had made the popular clique and was even more wanted than the queen bees, Jessica and Lauren. I had all of the girls jealous of the attention I received from the boys. I had all of the boys wanting to date me. All except the one I wanted. I may have momentarily forgot my agenda and reverted back to the old weird Izzy but I couldn't help it. He was just that beautiful.

I took one look at Edward Cullen and he was all I wanted. He was tall with a swimmer's build. He had auburn hair that appeared bronze in direct light. He had a face that belonged on the cover of a romance novel. It was his eyes, however, that broke my trance. They passed over my classmates with casual indifference. They looked at me with annoyance and irritation. Why? I know I stared a lot, but surely that was an overreaction.

That night when I got home, I mapped out a plan to change his obvious negative opinion of me. I would go out of my way to ignore him while befriending his sister, Alice.

I tried approaching her the next morning when I saw her alone at her locker. It wasn't until I was inside of her personal space that I made a startling realization. There was a perfection about her that I had only seen in Edward. Even then, I only experienced it when sitting next to him. He was incredibly good looking from a distance. Up close, he was stunning. From a distance, Alice looked like a graceful fairy princess. Standing close to her, I couldn't deny that she was absolutely breathtaking.

I swallowed my jealousy and tried to appear earnest. If I could become close to her, maybe that perfection would rub off on me as well. Edward lived with women like her and Rosalie. How could I stand out, much less convince him that we were perfect for each other? Anything I could learn about them from Alice I would apply to myself. This would help gain his attention and prove that I could fit in with the rest of his family.

After I stuttered through a bout of verbal diarrhea, she raised a single eyebrow and said, "Hello." She then walked over to Rosalie who glanced at me as if I were something stuck on the bottom of her shoe. Thank goodness the Cullens were already known as snobs or that could have really been embarassing.

If what Jessica says is true, approaching Edward directly won't work. I have to be friendly to everyone while remaining aloof to him. Once he approaches me, I'll play coy. This plan has always worked for Renee when she sets her sights on anyone playing hard to get (i.e. men who were happily married until they met her).

I didn't change too much about myself physically. I didn't want to appear as if I were trying too hard. Instead of one of my normal button down shirts, I wore fitted sweaters and my tightest jeans. I also used a more expensive conditioner on my hair than I normally would. I knew I couldn't compete with his sisters but hopefully he would think that I was better looking than anyone else at Forks High.

Unfortunately, it was all for nothing. Edward never returned to school after that first day. Every day that week, I imagined him coming back to biology and apologizing for his previous behavior towards me. I just knew that if he saw me as new and desirable, he would beg for the privilege of getting to know me. I would let him know the real me. Not the plain awkward Izzy I used to be, but this new beautiful Bella that I am. He would be my soul mate. And I would be his.

Every day that he didn't show up I grew more and more impatient. In my mind, Edward and I being the Golden Couple was already a done deal. He became mine from the moment I first laid eyes on him. He owed me an explanation for his absence and if he wasn't here, I would demand it from his family. On Friday morning after arriving at school, I spied Alice standing with her siblings across the parking lot. After seeing my beloved Edward missing from his siblings again, I stalked towards them with single-minded intent.

I heard Eric yell my name but I waved him off. He's such a geek. Maybe I'll give him a thrill later by letting him walk me to one of my classes. Suddenly, I heard a loud screech of tires. I realized too late that I walked into the path of a huge van. I just managed to make out Tyler's panicked face behind the wheel before I turned to run out of the way. It looked as if I would just make it when I felt a sharp pain on the back of my head. I woke up a day later in Forks General Hospital.

On my right, Charlie was sitting in a chair with his eyes closed. He looked unshaven and his clothes were wrinkled. It was the sight on my left that made me groan. Renee and Phil were dozing in two chairs. They all had rings under their eyes. I then took stock of my body. I felt like one big bruise. What concerned me were the two tubes coming out of me. The first was an IV. Lord, I hate needles! The second tube came from lower in the bed and I didn't even want to think about where it came from. On no! I could actually see pee going into the bag!

A second louder moan awoke everyone in my room. "Baby?! How are you feeling?" My Mother's grating voice made pain shoot behind my eyes.

"Not so loud, Renee." Charlie quietly admonished her.

Renee glared at Charlie and screeched. "Don't you dare tell me how to talk to my own daughter! She never got hurt like this when she lived with me!"

I gave her an incredulous glance. I guess she forgot the broken arm I got when she was too busy flirting with our neighbor to teach me how to ride my bike. Or the broken leg I received when it was more important to introduce herself to the new hockey coach than to teach me how to ice skate. Or the concussion I got when Phil's former wife ran us off of the road after finding out about his affair with my Mom.

Apparently, Renee knew what I was thinking. She studiously avoided eye contact with me and focused her ire on Charlie. Everyone's attention shifted when a doctor walked into the room. "I must ask all of you to lower your voices. We have patients trying to rest, including your own daughter." His voice was low and stern. I immediately felt myself relaxing and focused on him.

He looked more like a Hollywood actor than a doctor. He had pale flawless skin and light blond hair. The only thing missing was a tan. Renee stopped her verbal abuse of Charlie and rushed to his side. She always had to have everyone's attention. "She just woke up and hasn't spoken yet. Are you sure there'll be no brain damage?"

He moved passed her and began to do a cursory exam checking my vitals. I winced as he shined his pen light in my eyes to check my pupil reaction.

"How are you feeling, Ms. Swan?" Despite my pain, I could feel a blush rising up my neck. I looked into his golden eyes and tried to focus on sounding coherent.

"I feel a bit sore. What happened?"

"Bells, you walked in front of Tyler Crowley's van. You tried to get out of the way, but the side mirror hit you on the back of the head." Charlie said. His face was filled with worry.

"Don't make it seem like it was her fault! It was just an accident. And anyway, why was he going so fast that he couldn't slow down?" Renee snapped. I guess she needed to blame someone and Charlie and Tyler were the easiest targets.

Charlie, unfortunately, had had enough of Renee. "I'm only going by what the witnesses said. Now either keep your voice down or get the hell out!" He hissed. Renee and I both froze. Usually Charlie was complacent at best and henpecked at worst when it came to women. He always said that it was best just to let women have there way.

My Mother snapped out of her shock first. She huffed and went back to her seat against the wall and wrapped Phil's arm around her shoulders. I then focused back on my Doctor. I read his name tag and gasped. Just like that, all of my memories came back to me. He must be Edward's adoptive Father. Wow! For there to be no blood relation, Dr. Cullen had the same perfect beauty as his adopted children. I bit the inside of my cheek to stop myself from questioning him about Edward. I didn't want anyone to know about my new obsession and how it nearly got me killed.

Consumed by my thoughts, I barely heard Dr. Cullen speaking to Charlie. "She'll be fine in a few days. I would like to keep her under observation for another 48 hours. She can be released then but I would like her to follow up in 4 days with our outpatient clinic. She should be ready to return to school in another week."

"Are you sure a week is enough? Maybe she should come back down to Florida with me and take the semester off." My Mother said ringing her hands.

I blanched and finally found my voice, "No. I want to stay. Besides, it was just an accident. I've made new friends here and you'll be traveling with Phil anyways. Mom, please."

Charlie rolled his eyes, "As long as Bella doesn't play chicken with anymore vans, I'm sure she'll be fine." This time Dr. Cullen, Phil, and Charlie chuckled as I tried to fight my blush.

'If Dr. Cullen tells Edward, I'll just die. The new Bella is supposed to be graceful and beautiful and I walk in front of a van? I'll bet this never would've happened to either of his perfect sisters.' I miserably thought.

Renee sat straight up, as if remembering something, "Izzy, your classmates all came by the day of the accident and a lot them also came by yesterday and bought you a giant card signed by the students and staff at your school." Ignoring the hated nickname, I looked in the corner of the room and saw a teddy bear, flowers, and a card the size of a poster board. I smiled and felt more than a little smug. Plain Izzy would have been questioned about the accident when she returned to school. Popular Bella got visits to her hospital room and gifts. I can't wait to read the giant card. I hope Edward wrote me something.

A couple of hours later, I was sullenly watching the sunset through my hospital window. My parents and Phil left a couple of hours prior for some much needed rest. Unfortunately, in Renee's case, not without one last transparent attempt to get Dr. Cullen's attention.

I had gone through all of the gifts and the giant card. There was nothing from the Edward or any of the other Cullens. Did he not come back? Is he sick or maybe he just doesn't care?

Twenty minutes after they left, Jacob Black and two of his friends from the reservation came to my room. God, what do they feed the boys at La Push? When I saw Jacob after so long, I was a bit intimidated with his height and muscles. He was a year younger than me and he easily towered over every boy at my school. Since he had the same sweet personality, I was instantly put at ease. This was the same Jacob that would do anything to make me happy. I saw that his friends had similiar builds. I had to wonder if there was steroids in the water at the reservation.

"Jacob! What are you doing here?" I said.

"Well, I was taking my Dad to his doctor's appointment. Imagine my surprise when we ran into Charlie and your Mom downstairs. Anyways, do you remember my friends? This is Quil and Embry." he said pointing to the two Native boys. I remembered the other two boys from when we all young kids. They used to tease Jacob about his crush on me. When he and his Father delivered my truck, I could tell he still had the same crush. After Edward's obvious disinterest, my ego could use a bit of a boost.

"Did you really try fight a van and lose?" Quil asked. Embry snickered. I then remembered my dislike of his friends. Where Jacob always gave me all of his attention, the other boys lost patience with me rather quickly. They liked to call me "whiny Izzy" and wouldn't stop until I threatened to go to the adults. I cringed at the memories of childhood summers spent with the children at La Push. While I was treated like a princess by Charlie, I was an unwanted presence at La Push.

I wish I could say that it was because I wasn't Native or even because I was a girl. The reality was that the kids at La Push were much too rough and tumble as far as I was concerned. The girls and boys alike were always wrestling in the yards, having foot races, or pretending to hunt animals in the woods. I guess Jacob's twin sisters weren't so bad, but I was too young to be of any interest to them. Since Dad was close to Harry and Billy, they were the only kids in the area I knew growing up. Was it any wonder why I felt so out of place here?

Jacob gave them an annoyed look. "Shut up, Quil. Why don't the both of you go wait out in the hall?"

After more snickering, Embry and Quil left us alone. "You should come out to La Push. At least we'll return you to Charlie in one piece." His sweet grin widened. After a couple of more minutes of awkward conversation, I was left alone again.

I heard a familiar voice coming from outside of my room. I recognized it as Alice Cullen. This was my chance to find out about Edward! I called out to her, hoping I didn't sound as desperate as I felt. She happened to be walking with Rosalie. I really didn't like the blonde. She was easily stunning enough for any catwalk and knew it. I'd still put up with her attitude to find out about Edward.

"Oh. Hello, Isabella."

"Please just call me Bella. That's what my friends call me." I said in my friendliest voice. Rosalie rolled her eyes behind Alice. Bitch. "So what are you guys doing here?"

The Bitch replied, "If you must know Isabella, our father is a doctor here. We dropped in to see him." In one statement, she called me out on my nosiness and made sure I knew my status as a non-friend. God I hate her!

I still plowed on. "Umm. I wanted to ask about Edward. Mr. Banner assigned the both of us a lab project in Biology. Since he's been gone a week, I was wondering if there was any way of contacting him." This was a total lie, but I needed an excuse to ask about Edward.

Alice and Rosalie gave each other a look that I couldn't decipher. "That's surprising. Mr. Banner should've informed you that Edward transferred schools last week."

I was shocked. "What?"

Rosalie smirked, "Little Brother couldn't stand to be away from his girlfriend any longer. He finally convinced our parents to let him move out of state to be closer to her."

I sat frozen. "G-girlfriend?"

Alice replied, "Mmhm. I can't believe Mr. Banner wouldn't assign you another lab partner. Its very irresponsible of a teacher to be that neglectful to a student." She then turned to Rose and they both began a conversation about having their parents complain to the school administration at the next PTA meeting.

I snapped out of my shock and yelled. "NO! NO! That's not necessary!" I then continued in a softer voice, "I'll talk to him when I go back next week." The last thing I need is to get caught in a lie. Seeing the knowing expression on Rosalie's face, its too late. I can't believe my Edward left me for someone else. I can't accept it. I wont! He had to have felt the same connection that I did. Its impossible that he didn't. I needed to find more information.

"Bella? Are you OK? You seem upset." Alice's sweet voice pulled me out of my thoughts.

"No, I'm fine. I'm just not used to taking meds." I gave them both a pitiful look meant to inspire sympathy. "Um. Where did Edward move to?"

Again, they looked to each other. "Why do you ask?" Alice inquired.

"I was just curious." I answered in an attempt to sound nonchalant.

Rosalie scoffed with blatant sarcasm, "Yeah, right. Just curious."

I tried to look clueless. "What's that supposed to mean?"

This time Alice spoke as if trying to communicate with a child. "No offence, Isabella, but you made Edward very uncomfortable with all of the staring."

I felt all of the blood drain from my face as I gawked at them in mortification.

As if that wasn't enough, Rosalie chuckled, "I believe his exact words were: 'She was staring at me like she was starving to death, and I was the last happy meal on Earth.'"

Alice shook her head. "Rosalie, don't be mean. You know also he missed his girlfriend." Alice then turned to me. "But it was kind of obvious at lunch earlier that day you seemed a bit fixated on him. It was the one final push our parents needed to allow Edward to move in with his girlfriend."

Alice's voice started to fade into the background. I swore I could hear my heartbeat. I meet the perfect guy and its all for nothing. He'll never want me now. He's seen past the new me and into the old, weird Izzy. His family has seen it as well. What if they tell every one at school? I'll go back to being invisible. My breath starts coming in short pants. I barely notice someone else enter the room. All of a sudden, I'm calm again.

I had to defend myself. "I don't know what either of you mean. I saw all of you in the luch room, but it was Edward who glared at me during our entire Biology class." Maybe if I come off as the victim, I could turn this around. I was even more desperate for damage control. If his family viewed me as a weirdo, there was no way I could find out more about this relationship my Edward was in. There was no way I could get close enough to destroy it.

I sat there trying to think of a way to turn this to my benefit when a male voice spoke, "Alice, love? Carlisle's wondering what the hold up is." I flush in humiliation as I realize that one of Edward's brothers is in the room. He probably heard the whole embarassing conversation and can't wait to laugh at me.

"We're coming Jasper." Alice says and then turns back to me. "Isabella, you're not the first girl who's acted a bit weird because she's liked Edward. Its just that one girl ended up becoming a psycho stalker. She not only harassed our family trying to get closer to him through us, but she also tried to cause a rift between him and his girlfriend."

Rose put in snidely, "She was a nightmare. I hope you don't become one."

They moved towards the door. "I hope you feel better soon, Isabella." Alice said as she grabbed Jasper's hand.

3rd Person POV

As the three Cullens walked down the hall away from the humiliated and distraught girl, Rosalie turned to Alice.

"Not that I didn't find that enjoyable, but what was the purpose of that whole interlude?"

"Little Miss Bella was desperate to get close to us so she could be close to Edward. She would've followed us around like a puppy dog. She even would've showed up at our home with a gift basket to thank Carlisle 'for being such a kind Doctor.' She then would've taken advantage of Esme's good manners, showing up whenever she wanted knowing that she'd never be kicked out of the house."

Rosalie and Jasper both were incredulous at the gall of the teenage girl. "As clumsy as she is, you know it'd only be a matter of time before something unfortunate happened to the nosy little bitch. Who do you think the mutts would blame then? Surely not the deluded teenage girl who can't take no for an answer!" Rosalie griped.

"So, she won't find out about us then? Is our secret safe, Alice?" Jasper asked. He felt the shock and devastation coming off of Bella. The level of emotion coming off of the Swan girl was alarming. Even for a 17-year female, her exaggerated feelings towards Edward indicate a need for professional help. When Jasper and Alice first joined the Cullen clan, Carlisle strongly suggested earning a Doctorate in Psychology during his college years. This turned out to be a saving grace. As an empath Jasper had special insight in not only current emotions to those around him, but human nature in general.

He hadn't had that long to observe Isabella Swan when her guard was down. The depth of her delusions was a cause for serious concern. Her initial attempt to establish a rapport with Alice and Rosalie was laced in deception. When faced with the knowledge of Edwards's girlfriend, a sick sort of desperation flooded his senses. This little lamb would do ANYTHING to make her competition disappear forever. She would attempt to manipulate any situation to achieve her desired result. Her behavior is wholly self-serving with the sole purpose of seeking admiration. Jasper's empath abilities were screaming. Once he got what he needed, he entered the room and calmed her down. Isabella Swan was a budding narcissist with sociopathic tendencies. If they didn't distance themselves, she could become a serious problem.

Alice gave him a grim look. "I believe another family meeting is in order."