Disclaimer:

Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight and all it's characters

September 2007

BPOV

It had been 1 month now since my disastrous hunt.

And even if the guilt wasn't enough to remember me I had almost slipped up.

The rules had been changed again. No one dared to say it out loud, but neither Alice nor I had gone out hunting alone after that day. Either Carlisle or Esme accompanied us. They would baby-sit us while hunting. And now, they were sending us to High School. Perhaps Carlisle's way of punishing us.

Growling out of frustration I roll over on my side and pull the pillows over my head. Knowing that with the everlasting clouds outside, there is no excuse. Today Alice and myself start at Forks High.

It was the perfect place for a vampire to live.

It had rained almost every day since moving here, even the locals were complaining about the terrible wet summer they suffered this year. And even on the occasional dry day, the clouds would provide us with plenty of cover. Giving us a real chance to go out and be around without stopping traffic and making the 6 o'clock news for being sparkling freaks.

There was plenty of forest, or as we liked to say hunting grounds. Esme had spend days decorating the large house we had picked out and was now busy working her magic on the outdoors.

Carlisle had easily gotten a job at a low key hospital, working miracles. Loved by his colleagues and soon the talk of the town. And that was the slight down side of moving to such a small town.

After 2 weeks he had come home from work. He had gotten a visit by the principle. Asking why his teenage daughters had not yet enrolled into High School.

Alice and myself did look young enough to be in High School, easily passing for 16 year olds. So the question had been logical. But instead of Carlisle explaining, we were home schooled or went to a private boarding school, or even lying and saying we finished High School early and were now attending college at the nearby town.

No, he had instead opted to sit back and smile, promising that very soon his two daughters would join the small student population. And today was our first day in school.

Throwing the pillows and covers from my body, I get up and walk to my closet. Hanging on the outside is a collection of skirts and dresses, all Alice approved. It feels like a dejavu. Each time we start school, my sister will be styled to perfection and attempt for me to join her.

One school I was the grateful sister and played along. Allowing her to indeed dress me each day in clothes that she had hand-picked for me. It had been the most awful year in high school, yet. With my hair styled to perfection and a sexy outfit to wear each day, we soon had drawn too much attention to ourselves. Resulting in some poor boy leaving messages in my locker, following me around school, trying to enroll in each class I had and even stopping by at our house without warning.

Carlisle had a very serious talk with him as I had stayed upstairs, listening to each word. The boy had dramatically explained to Carlisle he loved me. To be honest up to that point, I hadn't even bothered to remember his name. The boy had stood downstairs, crying and screaming at the same time. His own one way love affair breaking his heart and making me feel ashamed.

It was motive enough for me to shove aside the clothes that Alice had selected for me. Instead I ran my hands over the collection of dark jeans. Each one designer but not too flashy, and well worn over the years. Selecting the most faded pair, I smiled to myself knowing the small hole at the knee would drive Alice mad.

It had gotten there when hunting together with Esme, the stains had washed out perfect. Even with all my guard dropped and full vampire senses it smelled like denim. Alice however considered the pair of jeans a mere shadow from their original glory days, and for that reason, deceased.

Smiling I grabbed my favorite hooded sweat shirt from the top shelf. It was a dark blue, slightly fitted with worn down elbows from the amount of times I had worn it. The fabric was so soft after being washed time after time, in a way it had become my security blanket. Laughing hysterical at the thought of a vampire needing something as fragile as a sweatshirt to feel safe, I quickly pulled it over my head and stuck my arms in the sleeves.

It was just as good as I remembered.

The closest feeling I knew to coming home.

Outside, Alice was waiting for me at the car. And just as I expected, she was watching every move I made. Letting out a shriek of disbelieve as I picked up my old sneakers and shoved my feet in them.

Just before I picked up my backpack, my eyes fell on my reflection. In front of me was Bella, the guarded 16 year old that Carlisle forced me to be. A perfected and safe alter ego, ready to go to school. Yet again. Smiling I left my room, only to find Carlisle waiting for me in the hallway. In front of the window, blocking the sunlight, framing his tall lean body as he stood there silently. The tight line of his eyebrows giving away, he was deep in thought.

"Carlisle?" Stepping closer I gently placed my hand on his. "What's wrong?"

His eyes were a liquid gold, fresh from the hunt he had taken Alice on last night.

Slowly his face relaxed, but not all the way. Making me feel uneasy.

Shifting the empty backpack, I pulled the strap tighter around my shoulder.

"Are you sure you're ready for this?" His calm words, sounded just like they always had whenever he was concerned about my well-being. "I feel like I forced this on you, without thinking about.."

Stopping mid-sentence he shook his head.

Guilt stabbed me through and through, knowing what he couldn't say.

"I'm ready for this, besides Alice is with me. She'll see if I get tempted to slaughter the entire male population of Forks High School."

His eyes flinched at my harsh words. "That's not what I was thinking about."

Replying as he moved closer, he placed a hand over mine, holding it tight between both his hands. "Try to be yourself today, show them not the vampire or human you try to be. But the truth behind it all. Deep down."

Letting go he smiled one more time, almost like an apology before he walked down the hallway and closed the door. Locking himself in his office and leaving me alone. His words repeating in my mind, the truth behind it all. Carlisle was the only one who had known me as a human. Remembering the girl in the mirror this morning, I shook my head. Trying to clear that image from my mind and focusing on the dim memory of my human years. It didn't work, it was so far down. Another lifetime, buried beneath everything that had happened in the past centuries.

Puzzled by the rest of Carlisle's words, I went downstairs and outside. Waiting for me was Alice. Sitting indian style on the hood of her shiny new car. Bought especially for school. Her eyes were closed and her chin was up in the arm, tilting her head back as the smallest of sunshine touched her skin. Reflecting of her skin, only for the sharpest of eyes to see. To a human she would seem normal, but in my eyes she looked like a little fairy. Her hair spiked around her face and a minimal amount of makeup, only some lip gloss. If she wouldn't be wearing a pair of golden loops through her ears, probably matching the color of her eyes, I would have thought she had been replaced by an evil twin. But her immaculate outfit, told me, she was just trying to humor me and dress casual instead of showing of to the other students on her first day of school.

Amused I waited for her to move. Standing in front of her, throwing a shadow on her body. Without opening her eyes, the corner of her mouth pulled down and her nose wrinkled up. "Really Bella, your oldest sweatshirt, the deceased jeans and a pair of battered sneakers. Are you sure that is the first impression you want to make?"

I giggled, knowing that she already knew that there was no chance she would talk me out of this outfit. Reaching to my wrist, I did have one improvement to offer. Pulling the band from my wrist, I pushed the hair out of my face and back, tying it together in a messy bun that rested in the nape of my neck. "Better?"

Getting in the car, I looked to my sister who just rolled her eyes as she got behind the wheel. "Hardly."

The car rumbled to life and she pushed down her foot, full throttle. Immediately the sleek little car jumped forward with an impressive speed, pressing my back in the seat.

"Alice." Trying not to yell at her, when there really could be no harm done. "What car is this and why did Carlisle allow you to buy it!"

My sister just threw her head back and laughed. Taking a sharp turn on the main road and slowing down to a reasonable human speed as she expertly drove us down the winding road into town.

"It's just an Audi R8, nothing fancy." The name Audi, I knew. Adding the title R8 to it, only made me wish I had paid more attention to Alice and her rambling about cars. As we entered town limits, Alice slowed down more. She seemed to be unaware of several people stopping on the sidewalk and staring at us or the car, or both.

"Will we be able, to park this not fancy car, in the school parking lot without attracting too much attention?" Emphasizing the word not fancy with as much sarcasm as possible.

"We'll see" Pulling into the said parking lot, she smoothly parked the car in a spot right at the front. Making me growl as she hopped out of the car. Parking a brand new sports car, in a High School parking lot, right at the front... that would surely draw attention. Getting out of the car also, I already heard several students whisper about us.

"Alice."

Growling my sisters name under my breath, I followed her towards a small building that most likely would also hold the administration office. Alice just lifted her hand over her shoulder as she continued walking and pressed the remote control, locking the car as it produced a beeping sound and flashed it's headlights. Freaking awesome, was the remark a boy exclaimed standing close to our car. Oh yeah, freaking awesome.

Pulling the hood of my sweatshirt up over my head, I tried to ignore everyone and decided that next weekend, I was buying myself a car. Something sensible yet save, with enough power to satisfy my needs but not sleek and shiny enough to stand out.

" A Volvo." Alice whispered over her shoulder with a frown on her face. "You're thinking about buying a Volvo. "What is wrong with my car?" Stopping she turned and placed her hands on her hips, lifting her chin up in the air as if she was defending her most prized possession. Come to think of it, the Audi might be her most prized possession at the moment.

"You're car attracts too much attention, I feel uncomfortable with everyone staring at us like that." Stepping closer to her, I spoke fast. Alice just rolled her eyes. "Staring at us like what?" Looking around, she waved her hands in the air.

True enough, there were now only 3 people staring at us.

"Most of the guys, have fallen in love with the car and are now still standing around it. Taking turns in guessing how much it costs, how fast it can go and most important whom it belongs to. It is taking the attention away from us."

Smiling wide, she stepped closer and gave me a quick hug. Her body pressing against mine for a second as she whispered in my ear. " It will be alright."

When she let go, she straitened her no frills blouse and grabbed a little silk scarf from her handbag, wrapped it around her neck and winked at me.

"Let's go find out what the dear principal is like."

Skipping ahead of me, she went straight to the admissions office. When we entered, a large round woman with bright red hair piled on top of her head got up. Already standing at the desk was a tiny man with a suit on. Even I could see it was a model, that had probably been in his wardrobe since he left high school in the 70's. Perched on his nose were a pair of glasses that matched his outfit and his eyes immediately settled on us.

" The Cullen girls." Clapping in her hands, the plump red lady stepped round the desk with two sets of folders. "It's so nice to welcome you to our school." Shoving a folder in both of our hands, she looked like she was ready to hug us both.

Luckily mister 70's intervened. "That will be all, thank you Bertha."

Red lady looked disappointed for a moment, but took a step back and returned to her spot behind the desk. "You girls have fun today."

Giving both of us a motherly smile, I forced myself to smile back.

Alice was now shaking hands with mister 70's and introducing us both, to what turned out to be our principal. I just stood there, quietly. Nodding and smiling whenever needed, until finally our new principal seemed satisfied and like red lady, wished us a pleasant day.

Standing outside seconds later, I stared down at the folder in my hands and then to Alice, who like me was staring at her folder. When I opened it, not only was my schedule in it, but also a map that had several building highlighted.

Next to me, my sister started a soft bubbly giggle. Biting my lip I attempted to ignore the laughter I felt rise up inside of me, but failed miserably. The bright pink highlighted student cafeteria and multicolour suggested walking routes to each of our classes were carefully hand drawn on the map attached to the inside of my folder was simply too much. Soon both of us were laughing.

"Did you know?"

Following the trail of the green dotted road on the map, showing us towards our first class. Alice was next to me, snorting at my remark. Clasping her hand over her mouth at the very un-lady and therefore extremely uncharacteristic exclamation.

"I'll take that as a yes." Flipping ahead in our schedule, I found that tomorrow would be a blue day. All new classes were highlighted with a bright blue marker and sure enough. On the map there was a matching blue trail set out for us.

Slamming the folder shut, I stuffed it in my backpack. "Should we color coordinate and wear a blue outfit tomorrow." Joking I opened the door to our first class but the sparkle in Alice her eyes, warned me….she liked the idea and had already started planning.

Quickly I made it to the back of the classroom, sitting in the far corner at the window. Leaving Alice to dazzle the teacher with her bubbly personality. It was the way we presented ourselves at each school. The way I liked it, me in the background outshined by my sister. Who loved the attention and could handle the pressure.

Slouching deeper in my seat I grabbed the pen and notebook, laying them in front of me to keep up the charade. Hoping that this school and the teachers, were like any other school. Leaving the quiet student, that caused no trouble... alone.

At the end of the first day, I started to feel this school was in fact a twilight zone. So far each class, Alice had introduced us. And so far each class, I had attempted to sit in the back of the class, wishing to be left alone. But sadly, each teacher had found it necessary to ask me to stand up and introduce myself to the entire class. By now I was sure they all knew who I was.

It was for this reason I braced myself when entering the last class. Not only was it the only class, Alice and I did not share together. It also was a class that without a doubt would force me to pair up with another student. As I entered the lab, a friendly looking man stood at the whiteboard. " Welcome, Isabella. Please take a seat, I'm sure your fellow students know your name by know, and I have a piece of paper telling me who you are. No need for uncomfortable introductions."

Handing me a list and pointing me to an empty table halfway down the classroom. I quickly made it to the spot he had given me. Relieved to find, at least one teacher wasn't on a mission to put me in the spotlight. As I sat down, I stared down at the paper and read the books suggested to complete some of the assignments. Most were books that Carlisle would have at home, but one wasn't on the list. Resting my finger on the title, I stared outside, debating if I would do the human thing and borrow it at the school library or simply buy it online and have it delivered home.

"You can get that one at the library." Leaning over my shoulder, a girl with dark hair whispered. She sat down next to me and extended her hand towards me. "I'm Jessica."

Looking at her hand, then her face, and back to her hand. I slowly saw it fall down into her lap. "You're Isabella, right. And Alice, the tiny fashionable girl, is your sister." It sounded like she was summing up the things she already knew rather than asking about them. "We were wondering, could you give her this invitation. It has my phone number on it, as well as Tanya's phone number. We think your sister would want to hang out with us." Leaning back, she obviously felt sure her offer was of such extraordinary honor, that it would not be considered weird. I suppressed a bubble of hysterical laughter that threatened to explode inside of me.

This girl, and her friends were crazy. As I stared back at Jessica, she pointed to a blond girl at the back of the classroom. The girl waved back and I couldn't help but gasp. Feeling the little card slip out of my fingers. The polite decline I had been planning to give on behalf of my sister, suddenly was stuck as I could feel my mind lock down.

It wasn't the rude question that caused me to choke, but instead the girl sitting in the back of the class, carefully painting her fingernails. That girl made me reach out and grip the table tight for support. Her eyes were a similar pale grey and her hair the same perfect strawberry blond.

As she looked up and caught me staring, for a moment I expected her to draw a knife. Just like she had that evening many years ago. The same hostility was there.

"No. I'm sorry…you and your friend aren't welcome. "

Getting up, I pushed the chair back causing it to fall backwards and on the floor. The loud sound of thick plastic bouncing of the floor made the other students look up and our teacher pause on his lecture.

"Not feeling ok." Was all I managed to stutter as I grabbed my bag and took one last look at the girl in the back. Lowering my shield, I carefully smelled the room. Immediately the burning in my throat presented itself, smoothed down by relief as all I could smell was human.

"I'm excused."

Brushing past the teacher, I merely told him. Throwing him a desperate glance as I spoke. He just nodded with disbelieve in his eyes. Taking the nod for a final confirmation, I left the classroom. Walking fast as I went down the hallway.

It was only when I reached the end, of the hallway and the end of the group of buildings I stopped. Throwing my bag on the ground at the corner and sitting down with my back against the wall.

"She's not real."

Resting my head on my knees, I took a deep breath to steady the nerves that were racing through my body. Doubles weren't uncommon, after being around for centuries, it was bound to happen.

"She's not her."

Closing my eyes, I reached out for my bag to find my phone. Instead my hand bumped into something.. or someone. And as I opened my eyes and looked up. My eyes find a bright blue set of compassionate eyes staring down at me.

A/N
Some background to why this story is taking forever to be finished. One of my best friends and also coworkers introduced me to FanFiction. She was funny, smart and had the most vivid imagination. Together we could brainstorm and get completely lost. When she got very sick I had just started this story and she loved guessing what would happen. I didn't finish the story in time for her. Instead I visited her in the hospital for a month reading to her when she could no longer hold a book, her favorite the Twilight Saga ;-) It has taken me a long time to work through the feeling that sharing the end with everyone but her is ok. But i'm there now!