UPDATE: I accidentally posted the wrong version of chapter 13! Soooo if you've already read it, go ahead and skip down to the end of the chapter. That's where the new stuff is! Sorrryyyyyy (:

boy

You'd think after the countless moves my family has made, I'd be over the whole "first day jitters" thing. I mean, I thought I was, too. Then again, I've never had to start over at the same school as Bella before.

The fact that I'm letting some girl I've never even spoken to intimidate me is pathetic. I need to get ahold of myself. New schools are my thing. At first, I loathed moving from school-to-school, never staying longer than a year or two. I let my bitterness and resentment rule my life, which only resulted in my self-isolation.

In eighth grade, I decided to make a change. Weary of the loneliness my sullen attitude had afforded me, I harnessed my weakness and made it my strength. New schools would be my thing. Making friends would be easy – instantaneous, even. Embracing this new attitude, I walked into my first new school of eighth grade with the joy and confidence of a new man.

This approach to school and life has been failsafe for the past three years, until now. Until Bella.

My inner diatribe comes to a screeching halt as Riley intercepts me in the hall. "Hey, man." Riley smiles his wide, dimpled grin, nodding his head in my direction. "What class d'you have first?"

"Uh," I mumble intelligently. Memory failing, I hastily fish the crumpled paper that the school secretary handed me this morning out of my back pocket. Squinting, I read out the subject of my first class. "AP English Language."

"No shit?" Riley chuckles, shaking the dark hair out of his eyes. "Smart and athletic? The girls here are going to eat you alive."

"Hah," I laugh awkwardly. I'm no stranger to female attention, but what Riley's implying seems a little extreme.

"Come on," Riley chuckles, clapping me on the back. "I'll show you to class."

Riley's statement, although exaggerated, proves to be right. I'm by no means conceited, but even I can't help but notice that nearly every girl's eyes seem to swing in my direction as I enter each class. Either that or this school must not get many new students. Regardless, my spirit is lifted by all of the positive attention. This alone is enough to make me forget about Bella.

"Where are you from?" Emmett, my burley table partner, asks during Physics.

"Pretty much everywhere," I shrug. "My family moves a lot."

"Wow," Emmett frowns. "That must be cool – to travel so much. I've only ever lived here."

"Yeah, it's pretty cool." I shrug, pretending like Emmett didn't just vocalize one of my childhood fantasies. That thought doesn't fit into the easy, likable persona that I like to portray, so I tuck it away. It'll reemerge later to be hastily scribbled across the pages of my journal.

Physics nearly flies by. Emmett and I fall into easy conversation and, before I know it, the bell rings – signaling the start of lunch. Shouldering my backpack, I follow Emmett out of class and into the hall.

"You can sit with us, if you want." Emmett murmurs, nodding toward the nearby cafeteria. "Unless you're already sitting with someone else."

"Um, thanks," I murmur, feeling awkward about possibly hurting his feelings by turning him down. "But I think I'm sitting with Riley Swan."

"Swan, huh?" Emmett says, expression unreadable. "Riley's a good guy."

"Uh, yeah," I shrug, running my hand through my hair nervously. "He's my neighbor."

"Hm," Emmett hums thoughtfully. "So, then I'm assuming you've met his little sister."

"Bella?" I ask, chewing the inside of my cheek. "Um, no, I haven't."

"Well," Emmett murmurs, face serious. "Let me be the first to tell you to watch out. Riley's nice and all, but Bella… there's something seriously wrong with her."

"Wait," I say, pulling him aside and out of the lunchroom traffic. "What do you mean?"

"Just wait," Emmett shakes his head, frowning. "You'll see soon enough. Just… remember what I said. Steer clear of that girl. She's trouble."

As Emmett retreats, I can't help but mull over what he's just told me. This isn't the first time someone has referred to Bella as that – trouble. That must make it true, yeah?

Hi All - hope you haven't forgotten about me in my absence! As I mentioned before, RL is pretty busy so I'm cranking out chapters whenever I can. What do you guys think of Edward's first day so far? Do you think he'll run into Bella? How about Emmett's warning? Do you think Edward will heed it?

Thanks for reading (: I hope to post again on Friday!

xo j