Chapter 3

Fear. That is what I have felt for eight weeks. The fear of not knowing. The fear of knowing. Then the greatest fear of all – walking the halls day in and day out of my old high school, avoiding the looks of my attackers, my so-called friends.

As I rolled out of bed on Monday morning I had a refreshing feeling that maybe it will be different here. Maybe I will be able to get on my life and not live in constant fear of them. I looked out the window and still noticed that it was foggy with a slight mist of rain. No surprise there.

I placed my hand on my stomach as I turned to get my small bag of toiletries that I bought yesterday and began my morning routine. As I stood in front of the mirror, I began to study any changes to my body. My stomach was still flat, but I had a little more roundness to my breast and hips. I sighed thankful that I have not had much morning sickness, which was at least a plus.

I decided to dress plain and simple for my first day. I did not need any more attention than I was already guaranteed to get. Not only will I be a new student, but the long lost daughter of Chief Swan. The town probably has already been buzzing with gossip.

I headed down stairs and grabbed a glass, then walked to the fridge to have some orange juice. I threw a package of saltines into my backpack just in case. When I came out to the foyer I noticed that Charlie was standing there ready to go.

"You ready for your first day?" he asked buckling up his gun strap.

I smiled weakly. "Sure."

I went to my truck and saw that it was already running and toasty warm inside. Charlie may not show me very often how much he loves me, but he doesn't have to, it is all in the small gestures that set him apart. It is no wonder why my mom and he feel in love. The only problem, Charlie still loved my mother. It is Renee that has moved on. I began to wonder if someone would ever love me; especially now that I am broken and soon to be a single mother.

I followed Charlie through town and then parked next to him at the school parking lot, which was just beginning to fill up. I was thankful that my truck seemed to fit in with the student body. Most of the cars were much older, with the exception of a new shiny silver Volvo. I walked quietly, with my back pack slung over my shoulder, trying to keep up with Charlie's long pace. The very few students that were out already had their eyes on me. I could literally begin to see questions forming in their heads. I rolled my eyes, if there is one thing that I was not planning on doing here, that will be making friends. As soon as my stomach begins to get rounder and the word gets out that I am pregnant, it will cause the few friends I do make to run and hide. I will be an Ogre here, much like Shriek, a slight green shade from being nauseas, without the smell.

Charlie held the door open to one of the many brick buildings marked office. Once inside the full blast of the heat was a welcoming comfort. I stood back just slightly as Charlie took charge. AN older woman looked up from a pile of papers strewn on her desk and gave small smile.

"Why, Chief Swan, what a pleasant surprise," the woman said looking from him over to me. I could see her eyes come together in confusion.

"Morning, Ms. Cope," Charlie said returning his own beautiful smile. "I would like to introduce to you, my daughter." Charlie waved slightly for me to come forward. "This is Isabella. She will be staying with me for a while."

"Oh, how wonderful," Ms. Cope said looking at me. "I will need you to fill out a few papers. What grade are you in dear?"

"Eleventh," I squeaked out.

Ms. Cope smiled and stood up to go into another small office, she came back a few minutes later and handed me my own stack of papers. "Here is the map for the school and your classes. I will need you to bring this paper back to me after school, with all of your teacher's signatures."

I looked down the list and saw that it appeared to be basic classes. I gulped at the last class on the list and then looked up to Charlie. He saw my reaction and looked over my shoulder to see what I was pointing at. He nodded minutely.

"Ms. Cope, I see that Bella has Gym for last period," Charlie started. "Is there any way she can take another class?"

I watched as Ms. Cope frowned slightly. "No, I'm sorry, everyone takes Gym. Unless you bring a doctor's note to sit out, there is really not much I can do."

Charlie nodded. I could tell that he was planning on getting that doctor's note, one way or another.

"Really, dad, its fine," I said and turned to head out the door. I heard the first bell already and did not want to be late.

Charlie caught me by the arm. "Have a good first day of school," I nodded. "Oh, and Bella, if you have any problem at all, don't hesitate to go to the principal's office. He and I are good fishing buddies and I called him last night to let him know about," his eyes cast down to my stomach. "You know."

I groaned. "Awe, Dad."

"I know that you do not want this to get around, but I needed to let the school know. I did not go into details," Charlie said matching my stride back to my truck. "Also, I think that you will need to make an appointment to see a doctor."

A doctor. That was truly the last thing I wanted, that would mean that this whole thing would be real. When, in actuality, deep down, I was hoping that I would wake up and find out that this was nothing but a bad dream – no a nightmare.

"I'll see you tonight," I said and climbed into my truck to find a spot in the student lot.

Looking at my schedule and finding my classes on the map, I headed out to start my first day as a Junior at Forks High. I followed the small student body along the walkways, looking up at the numbers that have been placed on the each building. My first class, English with Mr. Mason was building three and when I walked in the first thing I noticed was how small the classroom was nothing like the classrooms back home.

I followed the route of the other students and then went to the front of the class to turn in my slip to be signed. Thankfully he did not ask any questions or make me introduce myself to the class. He just signed the paper, handed it back, then reached across his desk to pull out a copy of the syllabus. I walked down the aisle toward the empty seat near the back. While the teacher droned on about an upcoming paper on Macbeth, I took a moment to glance at the required assignments. A smile started to tug on my lips realizing that this will be an easy class. Considering I have already read the books and written a few papers on some of the topics.

The hours passed quickly, with the same routine with all the teachers and before I knew it the bell rang for lunch. I groaned as I walked toward the cafeteria, the smells rafting from the doors were already making my stomach churn. I decided to take my lunch hour to my truck and look over my trig assignment for the night. The one class that I could tell that will cause me problems.

As I opened the door, I glanced up and that is when I saw them. A small group five: two girls and three boys, walking in a close net cluster toward the cafeteria. They looked like they should have belonged in California working on a movie, not in the dreary town of Forks. They were the same, yet they were so different. Beautiful, almost to perfection.

A small wind picked up and my hair moved across my face. I tried quickly to brush it away to see who they were; I do not remember seeing any of them in one of my morning classes, not that I was paying much attention. When I looked up again, I noticed that one of the boys stopped and looked directly at me. I could feel the heat in my face as blush slid up my neck. I ducked quickly into my truck and slammed the door. The boy, with his windblown bronze color hair and pale, albino skin just watched me for a moment. He had a look or utter confusion and frustration.

A petite girl with the same perfect skin, but with dark spiky hair, turned and followed the boys gaze. Her eyes locked onto mine. I watched as her eyes seemed to glaze over and her body all of a sudden goes limp slightly. It was then that they both broke their stares and walked quickly, almost too quick, to the lunch room.

"Strange," I muttered, reaching in my bag to take out the bag of crackers.

When I heard the bell ring at the end of the hour, I climbed out of my truck and noticed that the same boy just a few feet away, watching me. I knew that I would get stares, but it was the way that he was watching me that left me blushing and butterflies floating in my stomach. It almost reminded me of a hunger. I turned in the opposite direction and walked toward my next class of biology.

I gave my slip to Mr. Banner and he pointed to the only empty table left. I glanced up quickly and saw the same boy that was standing outside just moments ago. My eyes darted toward the door, trying to remember seeing him pass me on the way in. When I began to walk down the aisle he stared right at me, watching my every move.

When I turned at the table and pulled my chair out, my toe caught on the table's leg and began to tumble forward. That is when I felt it. A surge of electricity course through me when I felt one of his hands reaches out to break my fall. I stood there for a moment, trapped in his gaze, his face expressionless, and his eyes an unfathomable darkness. I felt fear, but not the same fear that I have been feeling the past few months. This fear was different, this fear I wanted to hang on to, because I knew if I couldn't I would not be able to live.

"Thanks," I mumbled when I slid into my chair.

"You are very welcome, Bella," the bronze haired boy said, his jaw in tight line, looking straight ahead toward the front of the classroom.

"I'm sorry," I started. "What did you call me?"

He turned and smiled hesitantly. "Bella, that is your name, is it not?"

I nodded, but I was confused. I never met him before, nor have I ever told him my name. I would for sure remember him if he was in one of my other classes.

"My name is Edward Cullen by the way," he said before turning back to give the teacher his full attention.

I smiled slightly as I flipped my hair over my shoulder to hide my face. I had a name to the face that I saw earlier. But, I could not shake the feeling that he is different than any of the other boys here in Forks.

The bell rang and I went to tell Edward bye but realized that he was already walking out the door. I shrugged my shoulders and stood up to walk the one class that I was dreading the most: Gym.

I was thankful when the final bell rang for the day. I headed out the gym doors and back to the office to turn in my slip of signatures. Just as I was turning the corner I ran into something hard, much like a wall, but felt cold hands catch my waist.

"Sorry," I said and then looked up to see Edward Cullen looking right at me with that same expression of frustration. "I wasn't paying much attention."

He smiled a crooked smile that sent my heart soaring. "That's twice today that I caught you. You better be careful I may not let go next time."

I cocked my head trying to understand the meaning of his words. For some reason, I could not help but wonder if there was a double meaning in them. And just like before, he was gone, walking down the hall toward the front doors leading out to the dark cloudy afternoon.

I pushed the office door open and Ms. Cope was sitting behind her desk, just like I left her this morning. She glanced up when she heard the door open and smiled gently at me.

"How was your day, Bella?"

I smiled in return. "Fine." I handed over my slip and turned to leave.

I was thankful for this day to be over, it was long and my feet and back was killing me. I needed a nap, but first I had to stop off at the hospital to make my first appointment. I knew there was no other way to get around it. I was going to have to face the truth sooner or later.

A/N: Thank you all for the reviews, I am so excited that you are enjoying this!!