The following day came and I have to admit, it was colder than usual.
I shivered as I woke up in bed.
As I stared up and through my slant window above me, I noticed the grey mist that covered everywhere seemed to be gone, but now it was replaced by the chill.
Wincing as I placed my legs on the ground, I rushed out and into the bathroom, taking a very hot shower than usual… seriously, I'm sure some parts of my skin will be red in no time but I seriously didn't care. It really was chilly.
Heading back into my room, I quickly changed into an outfit that covered me up.
Plain black leggings and white socks over the leggings to my calf with white converse and a grey loose sweat shirt.
I put my hair in a tight bun and grabbed my bag, heading down.
I heard Bella in her room probably dressing up as well and I immediately made myself a hot cup of coffee, almost inhaling it but welcoming the warmth it brought.
Looking out the window, I saw that it snowed through the night.
The ground was covered with snow… everywhere!
It made me a bit worried about driving though as the road seemed slippery and wetter than usual.
I just had to be careful.
Hearing footsteps, I turn and spot Bella heading into the kitchen and give her a small greeting.
"Morning."
I grunt as I pour myself some coffee in a thermal container for school. There was no way I'd entertain getting a cold when I just arrived at Forks.
No way!
"Morning."
Bella answered back, a bit curt but still nice, and it definitely made me pause as I turned a bit to stare at my sister who had grabbed herself some cereal for breakfast.
She must have felt my intense staring because she turned back to me.
"What?"
I shook my head, turning away from her and putting my thermal container into my bag.
"Nothing. Just wondering what entered the usually moody Bella Swan on an actual cold and icy morning."
I gave her a wan smile as I walked out of the kitchen and I heard her reply.
"Ha. Ha. Very funny."
I snorted though I knew this time I had been the one to instigate.
What could I say?
Bella was just fun to rile, though she was incapable of understanding jokes.
As I stepped out the door, I hugged myself a bit, quickly taking my head warmer out of my bag and straight on my head.
Taking a step towards my car, I noticed the ground was quite slippery and it was really easy to fall and get injured.
I definitely wasn't looking forward to that in anyway.
I took my time tiptoeing towards my car in an hilarious 'the floor is lava' way and I swear I spotted the neighbor opposite staring at me weirdly but whatever.
I thankfully arrived at my car without accidentally doing a backflip and backed out the street, off to the high school.
Cold aside, it seemed I was already settling into the Forks life once more.
Take that Bella Swan!
"Hey Gabby!"
Jessica waves me over as soon as I got out of my car and I throw her a wave back, a smile on my face.
Angela stood with her by a car as both seemed to be in the midst of an argument or something.
I walked over to them.
"Hey guys! Cold morning, isn't it?"
Jessica shrugged.
"You'll get used to it. Lovely outfit."
She complimented and I grinned.
"Thanks Jessica, you too. Morning Angela!"
Angela gives a small wave in return.
"So Gabby what would you choose… be color blind and gorgeous or have the best singing voice and be basic."
I raised an eyebrow at Jessica's question.
"Uhh… I guess the second one."
Angela's face brightened.
"Yes! Thank you!"
Jessica gives us looks and I stifle a snicker.
"Really, you two?? I'd prefer being utterly gorgeous!"
"But you'll be colorblind, Jess!"
"Yes but everyone will love me! It doesn't matter what I wear!"
I shake my head, amused.
"Well there's nothing wrong with both actually… I wouldn't mind either."
"Lauren said she'd prefer death over both though."
Jessica pointed out and I bit my tongue before I could say anything rude about the other girl who thought everything in life should be all about perfection.
"Oh look, there's Mike and the others."
Jessica beamed as she pointed over at somewhere behind me.
As I turned, I spotted him walking over with Eric and Ben and when he spotted me, his grin seemed to widen.
Deep down, I desperately hoped his… crush of sorts, died down soon enough.
Wouldn't want Jessica thinking I liked him or something, especially when she seemed to have some sort of interest in him.
Then again, she seemed to also have a thing for the Cullen boy that had been sick.
As they walked over, I heard the telltale sound of Bella's truck and I turned to see the orange truck drive into the parking lot.
"Hey ladies! Wonderful morning isn't it?"
Eric grinned as the three reached us and I shrugged.
"If by wonderful you mean chilly, then yes."
Eric grinned as he moved closer to me.
"Don't worry babe, you get used to it."
"Babe?"
I ignored Mike's seemingly offended question as I see Angela wave at someone a few feet away.
Probably Bella.
"So should we head I—"
The high pitched screech of a car and a scream stopped Jessica from completing her sentence and then, in that exact moment, the sound of metal colliding and glass shattering resonated around the parking lot and then the noise and shouts increased.
My head immediately snapped to the sound and my eyes bulged out as I spotted my sister seemingly in the scene of an accident.
A van rested a little bit from Bella's truck and I couldn't spot my sister around.
Panic immediately filled me as I spotted people begin to rush towards the scene.
"Oh my God!"
Jessica gasped out and without any thought, I ran towards the Chevy truck, my heart beating against my chest and fear clouding my mind.
"Bella??"
I stuttered out as I pushed my way through the crowd to search her out.
Thankfully though, once I got to the front, I saw my sister getting to her feet, slightly shaky as she held a hand to her head. Her skin paler than usual which was crazy.
"Bells! Are you okay??"
I jogged over to her, a look of relief on my face as I glanced all over her body and spotted no injuries.
"Somebody call an ambulance!"
I heard someone screech nearby but Bella waved her hand in a negative motion.
"No. I'm fine, I just…"
"Someone get Tyler out of his van!"
I heard Lauren screech nearby in panic and I turned to the van to see it had a sort of dent near the driver's door, and Tyler was sat there, groaning, some blood trailing down the side of his head.
My eyes widened.
"She should sit down."
A soft yet slightly formal voice brought me back to the situation with my sister and I immediately turned to see Edward Cullen a few feet from us, a grim and dissatisfied look on his face.
Oh wow, I must have totally not noticed him there.
I blinked at him, confused and Bella cleared her throat hastily, as if wanting to gain my attention back again and I looked at her.
"He saved my life."
"I didn't."
He cut in, his voice icy and I was so confused.
Even as Bella bit her lip, looking like she wanted to say something, I shook my head and cut in.
"Bella, you should sit back down."
I placed my hands on her shoulders and pushed and because of how she might still be in shock, she went down easily.
"I'm fine Gabby! Stop it!"
She glared slightly at me but I ignored her.
I didn't have the time for an argument.
I turned to Edward Cullen.
"Thanks for saving her."
A small frown filtered across his handsome face.
"I didn't—"
"It doesn't really matter."
I cut in, even as I heard Bella's intake of breath at how I had cut him off.
"Bella says you saved her. That's more than enough for me."
The bronze haired boy stared fleetingly for a moment, his gaze filtering to Bella and then back at me as if trying to gage something and then he nodded.
"You're welcome."
I could definitely understand why people were interested in the Cullens.
Seeing one so close, he was really good looking it was almost artificial.
And his eye color… so golden—
"Hm!"
Bella cleared her throat and I quickly turned back to her, feeling slightly embarrassed even as I grabbed Bella's bag from the ground, ignoring her mini glare.
The sound of an ambulance arriving brought everyone's attention towards them and I noticed Angela and Jessica rushing over to us, a look of concern on their faces, Angela looking teary eyed in fact.
"Bella… h-hey… are you good?"
Jessica questioned and nearby, Mike, Ben and Eric struggled with Tyler in their arms even though the boy didn't look terribly injured.
Bella nodded once, a frown on her face even though her eyes kept filtering towards Edward who kept quiet, a grim look on his face.
What happened between those two again!
Ugh!
They're like oil and water if I was being honest!
Just then, some EMTs rushed towards the scene, immediately crouching next to Bella or moving to Tyler.
"I'm fine."
Bella spoke up as they brought a stretcher over to her side and even I was about to agree.
She could walk on her own, and also… this was a bit embarrassing.
But before I could speak though, Edward Cullen spoke up.
"She hit her head and she might also have a concussion."
He spoke so softly and airily it was almost ridiculous, even as the EMTs immediately began whispering amongst themselves and forcefully placing a neck brace on Bella's neck.
A snicker escaped my lip though I felt a feeling of relief fill me.
At least I wouldn't be making any calls to dearest mother about her daughter getting smashed by a van.
I went along with them, entering the ambulance with Bella and our short journey to the hospital began, even with Bella trying to convince the EMTs that she was perfectly fine and didn't need any neck braces whatsoever!
The ambulance got an actual police escort with it as dad seemed to have heard about the incidence all the way from the station and tailed after us, and a feeling of amusement filled me, even as I smugly told Bella who let out a small groan from where she was laid.
As soon as we got out, Bella was transported through the hospital and I immediately rushed over to my dad as he had a look of panic and fear in his eyes.
"Gabby! Thank God!"
He sighed in relief as I went over to him and I immediately hugged him so he'd begin to calm down.
"Relax dad she's fine."
I said as I separated from him and we both began to move towards the hospital as well, following after some nurses.
I idly realized some students had followed after us as well in their cars and I shook my head.
Forks really was a 'loving family' town, if you catch my drift.
"Where is she?"
I heard my dad ask a nurse as I looked around curiously.
I couldn't say I had been at the hospital ever.
Maybe when I was born, but apart from that, I had no memory of the place at all.
As I stared down the passage way, a door opened and I watched a pale, blonde man walk out, a nurse behind him.
He had seemed a lot pale. Paler than Bella. Perhaps as pale as Edward Cullen.
Which reminded me that his father was a doctor anyways.
Perhaps that was him, though I didn't catch enough to be sure.
"Come on Gabby. Let's go sit down."
Dad spoke up, turning to me and I stifled a small groan.
"How long are we expected to wait?"
I asked him as we settled and he shrugged, looking as helpless as ever.
"I uh… they're running some tests but there doesn't seem to be a problem at the moment."
I nodded to myself before something came to mind.
"Ugh! My car!"
I slapped my forehead in remembrance.
How am I supposed to get to my car?!
It was back at the school!
"Don't worry about it, hand me the key."
I looked at him curiously, even though I began digging through my bag for said key.
"What are you gonna do?"
"I'll have a deputy drive it home for me."
"I have Bella's bag too, lemme get her key."
He stood up.
"I should also probably inform your mother too."
He said to himself as he walked away and I shook my head.
Telling mum would probably leave her scared and anxious.
With a sigh, I relaxed into my seat, playing with my hair and just about catching a breath.
I had no idea today was going to be this crazy!
"Gabby!"
I turned to see Angela, Jessica, Mike and Eric walk through the double doors and walk over to me, looks of concern on their faces and I stood up with a sigh, meeting them halfway.
"How's Bella?"
Angela asked with a look of concern on her face and I smiled.
"She's getting some tests done but I think she's fine anyways so…"
The three sigh in relief and Eric spoke up.
"Thank God! Tyler wouldn't say anything except bemoan almost running her over. I thought something bad had happened to her."
Mike nods.
"Yeah, you should have seen Tyler though. He had blood running down his head and he has a couple of bruises here and there too."
I frowned.
"He'll be okay though, right?"
Mike nods.
"Hopefully."
"Thanks for coming anyways. Today's so surreal!"
I commented and Jessica nods eagerly.
"Yes! And what was Edward Cullen doing next to your sister anyways?"
Even though she still looked slightly shaken up at being at the scene of an accident, she had an eager look for gossip in her eyes and I almost snorted.
"I think he saved her or something."
The girls gasp in awe while Eric and Mike frown.
"Really? Didn't see him around the area though."
I shrugged.
Not my problem.
"I'm just glad he was there at the right time."
The three of them nodded and that was it.
I slowly went back to my seat as they also decided to find seats for themselves.
Thankfully, the rest of the week went by without any drama, although dad acted the overprotective father and the accident was still the talk of the school/town and probably would for a long while.
Bella and Tyler were given a whole lot of attention much to my sister's chagrin, though I felt something else was bothering her as well, but I wasn't bothered.
She was alive. That was good enough for me.
Weekend came soon enough and my plans to visit Port Angeles was set in motion.
I woke up a bit early that Saturday, glad that it wasn't raining.
I dressed in a pair of skinny jeans, a white loose sweater with white sneakers.
I let my wavy hair loose and immediately headed for my car after making sure to leave a message on my whereabouts.
Besides, dad already knew where I was headed so there wouldn't be a problem.
My journey was a little over an hour long but was worth it nonetheless.
Port Angeles was livelier than Forks and had a whole lot more than the quaint little town had to offer.
A beautiful place with sea sides and mountains and there was even a community college smack dab in it as well.
My first destination was the Nutcracker Dance Centre.
It was a nice one story building and modern but was 70 dollars a month, which was something I was not prepared enough to pay for.
Mum had decided to take care of my monthly fees for it, granted it wasn't past 60 dollars.
I could probably pay the 10 dollars on it, but the studio just didn't catch my attention, and so I was off the Studio180.
It was quaint and sturdy.
More brick built with some tall and large glass windows here and there.
It was also a two story building and with a nice parking space, also across the street was a small café and there was even a bookstore next to it!
This one definitely caught my attention that much was true.
And so I walked through the double door, curious about who I was going to meet and what I was going to see.
The waiting room was open and airy and a woman sat behind the counter.
She was in her late 20s or so and her hair was short and in a wavy bob.
She looked up as soon as she spotted me.
"Hello, welcome to Studio180. How may I help you?"
I smiled as I walked over to her.
"Hi! I came across your website and I'm interested in registering in this studio."
The lady smiled.
"Great. Please sit and I'll inform someone right away."
I thanked her, moving to a chair as the woman spoke into a phone.
A moment passed and a lithe looking woman walked through the double glass doors next to the secretary table, a small and curious smile on her face as soon as she spotted me and I immediately stood up, holding my bag and walking over to her, a smile on my face as well.
"Hi!"
"Hello! I was told you're interested in our studio?"
"Yes. My name is Gabby Swan and I just moved to Forks from Arizona."
"Ahh… a long way from home then. I hope you like our studio then. Tell me, are you interested in the basics or you're looking to learn more and maybe even see it as a career?"
A small frown appeared on my face.
I definitely hadn't thought that far. Mum had been the one to deal with the whole registration back at Arizona so I didn't really know what to say.
The woman gave me an assuring smile.
"It's okay. You don't need to answer that now."
I sighed in relief.
"Awesome. I've actually been doing ballet since I was at least 5. So I definitely am not a newbie to it."
The woman nodded.
"Very well then, come, I'll show you around then. My name is Adeline Summers, by the way but you can just call me Miss Summers."
I was showed the two practice rooms to be precise.
One down which was mostly where the newbie classes were taken and then the one up which was more professional standard.
She had taken me to the professional one instead where I saw at least 10 students from at least age 14 to maybe 18? 19?
Three being boys.
Studio180 was also in agreement with some higher companies that dealt with international competitions and big showcases and so if her students were talented enough, the dance director could hook them up to higher grounds.
That was cool.
I hadn't actually gone for competitions back in Arizona, except for a couple and they hadn't been international either.
Perhaps it was something I could try out.
Of course starting small, maybe in Seattle.
And it helped that I was quite a pro at it, seeing as I practiced a lot with ballet so as to loose the clumsiness that had been in my genes.
"Most students usually train 2 or 3 times a week, especially those who are doing it as a hobby. Those who are into competitions or even doing it professionally train at least 5 times a week, some going so far as the whole 6 days we're open, especially when a competition or an exhibit is at stake. It also helps that most of the big competitions and showcases end up during the holidays especially summers so less obstacles and more focusing."
I nodded.
Perfectly understandable.
"I think I'll start with the 2 to 3 times a week, seeing as I'm still new to town and I have to get my schedule upright. If I do end up getting interested in the competitions or shows, perhaps I will increase the days."
Miss Summers nodded in agreement before another dance instructor called her over.
"I'll leave you to look around a bit and I'll join you in a sec, okay?"
I nod before turning my attention to the dance room again.
It was bright and more pastel colored.
The room being a light pastel pink and the glass mirrors large, clean and clear.
As I moved around, I found that I definitely didn't mind spending some time here.
Naturally most people spent at least 5 to 6 hours in the ballet studio, but like I'd said before, since I wasn't looking to doing it professionally or practicing for a competition, I could do this for 2 to 3 hours.
The competitions sounded interesting though… or even the shows.
I hadn't put much thought into what I wanted to do in the future, seeing as I was still young and I had quite a lot of opportunities if I do say so myself.
Ah well…I'd think of something.
"Oh!"
I stumbled a bit as I walked into someone, or rather yet, we both walked into each other.
"Sorry!"
"Sorry."
We both said at the same time and I looked to see a girl in front of me.
She had the russet skin of the Quileute people and really dark brown hair in a bun.
A black rimmed brow line glasses sat across her face and an unsure look set across as well.
"I am so sorry."
She spoke up and I grinned, waving it off.
"It's okay. My bad too."
She seemed to relax and a small smile appeared on her face which I reciprocated before stretching my hand out.
"I'm Gabby Swan, nice to meet you."
She slowly shook my hand.
"I'm Kim. Kim Connweller."
My first thought was that she reminded me so much of Angela. Quiet and shy Angela.
But where Angela seemed to loose her shyness after a while though, Kim seemed the type to be generally shy.
And I took that personally.
No matter what, Kim Connweller seemed like a nice girl, and a Quileute to boot.
I was going to befriend her one way or the other.
The rest of my day was spent prowling through Port Angeles and just about doing some little sight seeing.
I had decided to stick with Studio180 instead and was glad I only had to pay 50 dollars a month.
Well… my mum would, actually.
I had also decided on 2 times a week, at least for the moment, unlike Kim's 3 which she'd told me in passing.
I chose Fridays and Saturdays to be precise and only 2 to 3 hours at most.
If things changed, which I suspected it might, then good.
But hey! At least I knew one person there now!
And that was part of my schedule fixed!
I certainly couldn't wait to hangout with Jacob and the others the next day.
So that's it!
Oh! First interaction between Gabby and Edward. He's a beautiful man but Stephanie Meyer did explain that vampires did exude this sort of predator like scent of sorts that made people wary of them. Bella was a weirdo I guess, lol.
Oh and Gabby met Kim Connweller. I hope you all know who that is, and if you don't, I'll give more clues in later chapters.
Thanks for reading!