rebelforcauses: Thank you for being the first person to comment on this story! I'll try my best to keep up your opinion on it the same.

liverno: Thanks. I was hoping nobody would at least call it boring, so your comment made my day.

LostInWonderlandd: Yeah, I also feel for my OC. Honestly, I wouldn't even want to show my face around people, if I did something similar to what she did to Jasper. Also, thanks for telling me that I haven't messed up with the characters.

Edges05: Well, I hope that this story stays interesting. Enjoy reading this new chapter.

I'm the luckiest

Unlucky person

-By Tig Notaro

Chapter 2:

Good or a bad day?

I am trying my very best not to show the annoyance or discomfort I am feeling, right now. But the person sitting on the other side of a small round table is making it rather hard for me not to. Alex isn't even trying to hold in his snickers and shaking shoulder. The usual unhealthy paleness on his face is changing to a flushed color and so is mine, but not because I find anything amusing. In fact, I am irritated, tired, but otherwise filled with cheeseburger and fries.

"I am serious," I hiss, glancing around the people in the café. It's not exactly full, but I recognize more than few familiar faces that could overhear our conversation. "Quit laughing at me!"

He shakes his head, raising one arm, looking ready to topple over from his chair. "S-sorry, but… don't you think you're making this sound much worse than it actually is?"

The voice in the back of my throat gets stuck and I grab the lemonade I ordered, drinking it through a straw so that it makes a squeaky noise. It must be irritating enough, because the boy before me frowns and shakes his head. It's strange – he has been listening me ranting for a while now and only now looks like he's done with my explanations.

"No – w-well maybe, but I have a very good reason to be paranoid here."

Alex snorts, tousling his brownish hair and leaning back. Compared to the frown adoring my face, he's smiling. "I guess, but not to this extent. What do you think she's gonna do anyway? Murder you in your sleep or something?"

"…No," I trail off and look to the side again, awkwardly, "but I do think she's plotting revenge on me."

"For what?" The brunette asks, lifting his hands up in the air in exasperated manner, completely lost with the logic I am trying to feed him. "For all you know, she can truly be trying to get to know you. Shouldn't you just accept that and try and relax?"

I lean forward and direct him with a pointed look. "But why on earth would she want to get to know me? I mean… I am me and…"

Alex places his own drink down and gives me an easygoing smile, hands linked together in front of him in a business-like manner. "Obviously, you made a very lasting first impression on her brother."

I flush again and throw fries at him, they land skillfully on his plate. "Alex!"

He merely laughs for the second time and bends over, while I huff and cross my arms. This isn't an unusual occurrence and it's certain that every worker in this café is familiar with our loudness and antics. Nobody has yet to come and complain about how much we cause a commotion in here. Although, it still doesn't stop me from looking around at disapproving glances from grownups who have wisely chosen to sit more than a few seats away from our table. I always feel a bit ashamed, when I see this, but also think that everyone should know better than to come into this place at every weekend. The thought of that makes me smile a bit.

Of course, despite the fact that Alex does not go to the same school as I, he knows of the incident from the last semester. And not through newspaper of the school like everyone else, but because I even told him about it in vivid detail and we were both laughing in horror back then. Now, I am not laughing anymore.

Sighing and ignoring his snickering, I lean back and look out of the window. It's raining and I watch the drops stain the window. A shudder goes down my spine, when I am once again reminded of the horrible event that has ruined the rest of my high school life. Even after the new year, people don't seem to stop reminding me of it. Although, a vicious cycle has started, now that Alice Cullen has joined the picture and made things worse. Even while sitting in this café – the place where I should be comfortable and relaxed – my shoulders keep on tensing from recalling that pale face.

"It isn't funny. My entire life is messed up," I sigh and bite down on my lower lip.

Alex actually pauses with his laughing. "I'm sorry, Trix, but… I think you are exasperating, a tiny bit. I mean, c'mon. I don't think that they would be the kind that would even bother with such things. There are already wild rumors about them without this paint scandal of yours, so what damage did they actually get from the incident?"

I shrug almost weakly. "Don't know."

"See?" He asks and taps his fingers against the wood of the table. "There shouldn't be anything strange, if someone wants to get to know you."

"Are you seriously asking what's so strange about this? Since, when – god damn when – have any of the Cullens wanted to know anyone in this town? This can't be coincidence, Lex."

The brunette shrugs and adjusts the fries I had thrown at him earlier. "How can you know, if you don't even try? Who knows, you two might as well become best friends."

If I were holding my drink and taking a sip, it would surely go to the wrong throat and I would be choking on it. But since I am not and my mouth is empty, my lower lip merely drops, and my eyes widen to the point it feels just about painful. I stare at my friend for a while and he meets my baffled expression head on with a small smile visible on his lips. And after what feels like an eternity, I snort, shoulders twitching.

"Me and her? Best," I pause, when another laugh cuts through my sentence, "friends? Not a chance. Besides, you are the only best friend I need in this life."

Alex places his hand on his chest dramatically. "Oh, how touched I am – but seriously. Why not? I mean, I have met their dad, he's quite a good doctor and a nice person."

"Well, I don't know about their parents, but I know that their children are very isolated from the rest of the school," I sigh again and look at him in the eye. The image of the golden-brown is still so strong that for a moment I mistake his own chocolate brown ones into one of those. Luckily, it's merely the trick of the light and I relax slightly.

"Hmm," he hums thoughtfully and crosses his arms. "Maybe they have been waiting for someone to break the ice?"

"Seriously? According to what I have heard, the moment they moved from Alaska, the entire school tried to befriend them, only to be turned down cold. And now suddenly, one of those mysterious palefaces wants to come to my house and quote: 'hang out,' with me? I am not buying this," I shake my head and slap my hand on the table. "I wouldn't be surprised, if that Lauren is even plotting something against me, right now. Seriously! They all act like Cullens are freaks and avoid them, so why do they act like… ugh! Just when things were beginning to somewhat calm down, I become the headboard for throwing darts, again."

The depression and all the negative feelings I have been holding comes crashing down and I cover my face with both of my hands. Alice had made the first contact with me this Friday and this is Sunday and the entire time to this point I have been fretting over how to handle everything. Honestly, I love to keep things simple in my life – not too much worries, not too much disaster and not too much attention. It's much easier, when the entire school doesn't come up with rumors about you or some strange girl doesn't try and talk to you every time the two you are within fifty feet radius. Nor does anyone give you death stares which make you feel like a scum. From this description, I recall the constant stoic expression on one of the Hale twins' faces.

Seriously, what's up with that entire family? I shudder – maybe for the thousandth time today – and cradle my chilly hands, a sign of how nervous and on the edge I have been.

We are totally different. I see it, everyone else can see it, surely Alice can see it as well. I'm a plain girl who could care less about my appearance and who would rather mend together with a wall. And she… she is just the total opposite of me. Being seen, whether she wants it or not. The same can be said about the rest of the siblings.

I have nothing against Alice or her family, but it's because she has drawn so much attention on me at school that I feel like slamming my head against the walls. It was bad enough that I was made fun of after accidentally ruining Jasper's clothes and it's still bad enough because some continue calling me 'the paint girl'. And the mockery has started again like some sort of fair to the rest of the students. The only one who isn't enjoying it is me.

"I just… don't want things to get more… complicated," is what finally comes out of my mouth and I lower my hands from my face.

Alex pats my arm in a friendly manner and smiles at my downturned expression. "I'm sure that things will go well for you. I mean, people talk, but they also get bored from saying the same things over and over every week."

I raise my eyes to look up at him with a blank expression. "You forget that this is a small town and people will talk as long as possible, until something new happens. How likely the latter is around Forks? Zero."

"Actually," the boy raises his fingers pointedly, "it's from the opposite end of the number line."

"What?" I frown, totally confused from his choice of words. From the look I give, I only receive a mysterious smile from him.

"A little bird told me," he leans towards me and lowers his voice, "that a new person is moving here to attend Fork's High."

"So? That doesn't sound too much – oh, wait! Yes, it does," I say with a slight nod. The school I attend to is small, everyone knows basically everybody walking down the corridor. Even if I don't know the names, the faces are familiar and the groups they belong to. A new face would certainly stir up some curious glances for a while.

And come to think of it, I remember overhearing few of my peers talking of something similar a while back. They seemed pretty excited, but I half-listened and put the fleeting conversation somewhere within my head, forgotten.

Alex chuckles. "See? And I also heard that this person is Chief Swan's daughter."

I smile a bit from this bonus information and quirk an eyebrow. Of course, the face of that man – who also stops by into this café every now and then – flashes in my head. If it is his own child who will attend the school, then it's certain that more than a bit interest will arise, or rumors. This may be wrong, but I pray they will be worse than mine.

"Well, let's hope that she's interesting enough to draw the attention to somewhere else…" I trail off, eyes trailing up to the clock above on the wall. "Um, Lex?"

"Yeah?"

"I think your mom will start to worry, if you don't call and ask her to come and pick you up."

"What?" He turns around and looks where I have directed my gaze. His expression grows slack in a second. "Oh, shit."

I gasp. "Alex Grey, language!"

Brown eyes give me a look, which in turn makes me break into a fit of giggles. The gloom has started to lift itself off from my shoulders a bit by bit, it seems. I really should have met up with Alex immediately after all that hassle in the school – spending time with a friend is really what can make some things better.

He takes out his phone and immediately an expression of disbelief fills his features. "She has already texted and called me."

"Uh-oh. How many?" My voice is serious, but it soon breaks again, when I laugh at his serious face. At least now he knows how I have felt during most of our conversation. "But seriously, you should call her immediately. Don't forget about your surgery."

"Please, don't start sounding like her. That was months ago," Alex says with a begging undertone and I make a zip motion with my fingers. He sighs. "Thanks."

Despite wearing a teasing smile, I look down at the object next to his feet. The greyish and white oxygen tank looks like one of those fire extinguishers that I see at school every day and I know that this thing should weigh a lot less… but it doesn't seem like it. Rather, if I had the two before me, I would wager that the one my friend needs to drag around daily is the heaviest.

The see-trough pipes trail up from the tank and up towards his face and there they enter into Alex's nose. He even ate with them on and that's exactly where I look next – at his plate. Unlike my full course meal of hamburgers and fries with meat and grease, his is half-filled with greens. Healthy, yes, but it's quite obvious how much more he would prefer what I have got. He hasn't even finished everything, like I have, but it's no wonder he's full already.

He's struggling. My hands tighten into fists. What am I complaining about?Sometimes, I wonder how it would feel like having tubes in your nose and carrying such an obvious thing with you all over the place. People would stare or make silent comments, true, but Alex is taking it all better than how I would. He doesn't appear to be faced by his circumstances at all and here I am ranting about my silly worries. They are all too insignificant compared to his. I should get myself together.

I don't realize that I was taking in the appearance of the object attached to him so strongly, that I didn't even notice how he was already dressed up in his jacket and hat.

"Earth to Beatrix," he calls out and snaps me out of the stupor. "Let's go. Mom said she will be here, soon."

I blink up at him, lost for a moment, but then nod. "Right. I will take care of the payment, then."

I am sitting in the middle of the couch, knees drawn together and back as straight as an arrow. This isn't how I sit, when comfortable – the position is clear sign how stiff and uncomfortable the situation is.

For some reason, the living room appears too large, too open and completely opposite how it normally appears. The fireplace which is usually void of flames is literally flickering like one bright lamp and many colorful straws decorate its stone sides. They pool down to the wooden floor, which shouldn't be so brown and shiny as it's now. In fact, I somehow dare to lean forward and see my reflection on its surface. The couch feels amiss, as well. The moment I do try and move, it feels as if it's making me sink further into its softness and pillows.

The room is too bright, too. And that's how my eyes naturally rise up to see sun-like chandelier hanging from the ceiling – my neck is kept in craned position due to my puzzlement. This place really isn't or doesn't for some reason look anything like the living room I know.

Suddenly, the spot next to me sinks and the side of my arm meets with another. A smile makes it way to my face.

"You have a very lovely home," Alice comments and smiles brightly while looking around in what appears to be awe.

I tilt my head, still smiling. "Thank you! I am so glad you could come today."

"Why, I must thank you for allowing me to step into your lovely domain," the short girl gushes with what appears to be a faint blush against her pale complexion.

This is a strange scene – me sitting with a Cullen in the middle what is supposed to be the living room in my house. And that's not the only thing anyone would find more than peculiar. Both of us are dressed-up in what appears to be frilly skirts.

This is nowhere near something I would put on. The clothes I wear are either dark or plain. The skirt is shockingly white and has layers of lace and ribbons of light pink color all over it. I lift my hand for a moment to inspect a white glove covering it from the tips of my fingers to my elbow. A single, pearly wristband hangs onto it loosely. Alice's outfit is nearly perfect replica of mine, but without any ribbons or color to decorate it. A lone hat with roses decorates her head and hides the spiky dark strands of her hair almost completely.

We both suddenly stand up and start skipping through a door and to the outside.

And just like the real Alice, the pixie-like girl skips lightly – like flying – ahead of me, the strands of white long sleeves fluttering in the air. Just like a porcelain doll, but one that can't be shattered no matter how high up she flies. And that's exactly what scares me, because I am left further and further behind.

I try skipping and end up feeling the ground firmly at the bottoms of my both feet. I am not weightless, and this makes me feel more desperate to catch up to her.

"Wait up!" I yell after her, but soon find myself standing in the middle of a parking lot.

Another wave of puzzlement washes over me, but it disappears in a second. This is not my house anymore, but I am in the school's grounds. However, unlike what it usually looks like – much like what you could say about the living room – the cars are all dark black and lined up neatly no matter where you look. There is no sign of small groups of teenagers or small puddles formed from the usual rain.

So clean and so unnatural.

I look around and realize that I have completely lost sight of the girl I was chasing. She is nowhere to be seen and soon the sea of students is surrounding me from all directions.

"Look! She has been hanging out with a Cullen!" Someone shouts from the crowd and I stiffen up.

No, no, no, this can't be happening to me, now. I start shaking my head and backing away, but soon realize that there is nowhere for me to go.

The people seem to be moving closer, too. I start to experience fear. They are all looking at me, but it's hard for me to focus on their faces, because every feature is blurred. However, I do distinguish the scorning face of Laurent and couple other popular kids.

My breath picks up and I start panicking, nearly tripping on the strands of the ribbons hanging from my dress. They are starting to wrap around my legs, swaying my body dangerously close to the concrete.

"Alice?" I call out, worried and scared for my life. "H-hey! Stay away!"

One starts pulling me by the hair, the others take hold of my limbs and the hem of the dress. They pull, push and sway, making me stumble every second. I no longer am seeing the parking lot or the cars – the students have started forming walls with their bodies, growing and closing in wherever I look.

And it's exactly before I am swallow by the mass and crushed by it at the same time, that I see a face that is just as haunting and beautiful, as the day I dropped red paint on its holder. Jasper is looking at me and my entire body freezes despite the tugging it's going through. It doesn't matter that everyone is trying to drag me down, though, because I would gladly choose to disappear from the surface of the earth right now.

Those solid dark eyes are harsh, nothing like Alice's who had the glow of gold in hers. The black ones are the same ones that glared at me heatedly with poison and are even now making every warm blood in my veins turn into ice.

And it's the moment he is so close that I can feel the breath on my face that red comes splattering down from the sky, staining my white clothes and muffling my screams of –

My eyes open immediately to see the darkness of the room.

I don't wake up from the nightmare in cold sweat – a surprising fact – and not screaming my head off either. In fact, I stay in place calmly, feeling the soft mattress under my back and inhaling the smell of my room's stuffy air after the night. The heating must be malfunctioning, though, because the air is clearly a bit chilly and goosebumps spread all over my arms.

Slowly, if not a bit warily, I wrap the covers tighter around myself and turn to my side. The phone has been charged throughout the whole time I have been sleeping and when I look at what time it's from the screen the clock is showing that it's barely six – another surprising fact. I can't remember the last time I woke up this early without an alarm and feel immediately discouraged to get up.

Slumping back down and letting out a sigh, I look with my adjusting eyes through the shroud of the lightless room towards the window to see barely visible shine coming under the curtains. It's definitely going to be another cloudy day and the fact doesn't make me feel any better. This nightmare has proven me something, though. I am not looking forward on confronting the shortest Cullen today.

I sigh heavily for the second time, I drag my hands across my face. Today would be the last day of peace for me, is what I think and dread, coldness pooling into the bottom of my stomach.

What a nightmare… Both my dream and the real-life.

Frustrated, I climb up from the bed and shiver immediately from feeling the chilly air's full impact. It isn't spring, yet, but it feels as if I am standing in the middle of winter land with only my pajamas on and bare feet.

Hissing, I quickly make my way out of my room and towards the bathroom. There is no change in temperature, though, because no matter where I walk – the hallway, past the other rooms and kitchen – every place does not have a single corner for warm air. W-what's up with this? Has the heating been off the whole night?

In disbelief and even more depressed by this morning, I turn on the warm water and start my morning routine with a frown permanently formed on my face, which reminds me of a ghost. I have a look of a deadpan on and for some reason my face also appears swollen. Depression doubles and I can't stop looking at my gloomy self from the reflection for what feels like minutes.

And it isn't until I have washed my face, that I inhale deeply and purse my lips in silent determination. "I can do this… everything is going to be fine, today."

It's pretty obvious how nervous I am, by just acknowledging the fact that I am talking to myself. My stomach keeps on flipping, as well, and I end up splashing cold water on my face for so long that the tip of my nose ends up feeling numb. However, the good side is that my face is not too pale anymore and healthy color has risen up to my cheeks.

Suddenly there is a knock on the closed and locked bathroom door, and I jump, heart nearly leaping out of my ribcage.

"Beatrix," a familiar voice calls out, slightly muffled, "everything alright?"

For a moment, my mind turns blank and I stare at the wooden door in daze. I never expected that the second person living in this household would also be awake. It makes me feel a bit better, though, and mentally cheer that I am not the only one with sleeping problems.

I make my way to the door and open it, coming face-to-face with already dressed up man. And he's not wearing just any kind of clothes, but the kind which make him appear, as if he's going somewhere. He even has that hat of his on his head and squashing his short spiky hair. I look up at him, only to see his side profile when he's already turning away. This action makes me freeze on the line between the bathroom and the hallway.

"You're up early," he comments and walks leisurely, if not a bit stiffly towards the kitchen – I follow him.

"Well, couldn't exactly sleep anymore," I say offhandedly and start opening cupboards and taking out my cereal. However, I hesitate and turn to look at the man's back as he sits down to the couch, away from me. "…And what about you? Are you going somewhere?"

"…Yeah."

I am not surprised, but a familiar sensation of disappointment makes me nearly pour all of the cereal in the box into my bowl. Honestly, I was kind of wishing that he might take a day-off or even a week-long vacation would have been ideal – he would never do that, though.

"Um, dad?" I call out tentatively, deciding to finally take a chance and ask. When I see a slight twitch of his head, a sign to say that he is listening, I open my mouth. "Can someone come over to our house, maybe around this week?"

He's silent for a while, but then asks without turning around: "Who?"

My throat tightens as the pale face of a short girl with dark hair flashes in my head. I end up crossing my arms and leaning against the counter in what I hope natural manner. "Someone I know from school. We'll just watch a movie and… that's it."

"How long are they staying here?" He asks, but still doesn't stand up or turn his face towards me.

I shake my head, as if he could see it. "I don't know. Depends how long the movie will last, I guess?"

"…Alright, then," he says and finally stands up. It's his way of declaring that the conversation is over with this – he has given a permission.

However, before he can even walk past me, the kitchen and towards the door to the outside, I push myself off the counter and take a step forward. "When will you come back?"

"Probably after a few days," he says simply and disappears behind the corner without making a noise.

I frown and forgot about my food on the table. I head to the front door to see my father pulling on his shoes and reaching for the housekeys. "So, you will be out of town again?" He gives a single nod and reaches out for the knob of the door. But then I make him pause again by taking a steps forward and opening my mouth. "Can you look at the house's heater, before you go? Every room is freezing and the last time I checked things worked just fine yesterday."

Again, there is a pause and I bite down on my lower lip. Hasn't he noticed? It's quite unlikely, when you look at all the layers he's wearing. Although, the temperature inside can be a reason for that as well. Surely, he can't be thinking of leaving me into this freezing house for over days? The thought makes my gut drop.

However, the only word that comes out of his mouth is: "Yes," and then the door opens and closes a second later.

The moment the door had been open, though, I felt a chill going down my spine. The house has turned silent, once again, and now I am certainly the only one awake within it. The glass window on the door rattles from the small force that was used to get it close and I see my own frozen and blurry reflection on it. But it's exactly because of that that I look like a shaking trunk. And despite the door being firmly closed, it does not lessen the chill in the air.

You've got to be kidding me.

I frown again and turn my back to the door but end up slumping down on my chair and staring at my cereal blankly. Once again, that man walks away almost without my notice and will be gone for a while. And when he comes back, there is a half chance that I will not see it immediately. It's always his work dragging him from one place to another, so he could creep in in the middle of the night. Honestly, I am more worried about, if he even remembers to fix the heating like I just asked him to. There is no reason for me to worry about him, though. This may sound perplexing or horrible for any outsider, but to me this interaction is really normal. He will always come back anyway.

I take the first bite and look out of the half-open window. The light is still faint, but I see the slightly overgrown lawn of the yard just fine from where I am sitting. I have definitely been spot on, when I thought it is going to be another cloudy day. For what feels like the thousandth time this week, I feel depressed just thinking about the damp and cold weather waiting for me outside. Soon, I will have walk to school in that weather.

Despite living in Forks for a long time, I still have contradictory relationship with its weather conditions. Especially, when my mood is just as gloomy and aggravated.

I bite down on my lower lip in nervousness, as I am making my way towards the cafeteria. The hallway isn't filled with people rushing towards it, so I am guessing that most of the school is there by now, which does not encourage my feet to move faster. Instead, I falter the closer I get and bite down on my lower lip. I should have taken lunch from the house.

Like I predict, the place is packet with people and I quickly make my way to the line, barely managing not collide or tackle anyone on the ground. However, it's obvious how on the edge I am being from the fact that I keep on glancing over my shoulder every few seconds. The anxiety jolting me tense nearly makes me stall on the spot and cause a large gap in the middle of the line – I sweat and start grabbing the cheapest and quickest food to eat.

However, it's because of my glancing that I have managed to locate every possible threat in this space, so to speak. The Cullens have not yet arrived – I would definitely see them, if that was the case – so there is a chance of slipping away from here before that happens. But unfortunately, this doesn't mean that every person I would wish to avoid isn't present. I have already seen the popular group and my gut drops from the thought of even passing them anywhere remotely near.

Calm, calm, is the mantra I repeat inside my head and balance everything on my tray carefully. The beating of my heart is so strong that I can feel it in my throat and against the ribcage. And when I get to the furthest possible table between my exit and a corner, I sit down with my hands lowering the food shakily. So far so good.

I sigh quietly in relief and start eating in what I hope seems like natural pace. If things continue on this smoothly, I just might survive this lunchbreak…

A movement on the side catches my attention. Of course, this isn't anyone I should fear or have even had a conversation with – a random student merely passing by my table. I am momentarily relieved because of this, but then I catch a sight what's much further away. At first, I think it's a trick of the light, or at least hope it's.

There is no mistaking that way of light walking with grace of a ballerina. The person's back is turned and they briefly brush the spiky dark hair. That's enough of confirmation for me to stiffen once again.

And it's exactly a few seconds after spotting her that Alice turns her head slightly and our gazes lock. A smile spreads on her colored lips, showing off her perfect teeth, but it's when she waves at me that I duck my head and pretend to be too occupied with eating.

Oh. My. God. I close my eyes momentarily, trying to ignore the edging feeling of stares from the people. I can't exactly be sure whether I am being looked at weirdly or if anyone even paid much attention to what one of the Cullens just did, but I sure feel like it. Flush spreads across my face and the rest of my body is covered by cold sweat.

My pathetic show of ignorance, however, does not help and soon I hear two distinguishable heels clicking towards my table.

"Hello, Trixie," she says and easily sits down next to me.

I shift uncomfortably, nearly choking on a piece of bread. Last time she had sat with me, it was on the other side of the table, not like this. I had rather hoped that she would take the same seat, but it seems that's not the case. Sweat gathers in my armpits, heart beating uncomfortably inside my chest.

"Hi, Alice," I reply steadily, but under the table one my hands is clenching into a fist.

The pale girl doesn't hesitate to open her mouth a second later. "How did it go with your dad?"

I think back to this morning and bite down on my lower lip. I also become very aware of Alice is smiling from the corner of my eye like an excited child and leans slightly forward. This only cause my mind to grow blank and not even think about slithering my way out of this.

I shrug and finally gather courage to look at her. "Well, he said yes."

"That's great!" She beams.

Suddenly, my passiveness towards my parent fades and actually after a long while I am feeling betrayal. He could have been a bit strict today and rejected the idea of me bringing anyone into our house. Even though it would be better to have Alice there than in any public place, but I also don't want her to find out where I live. Scenarios how that could go wrong fills my head and I start weeping mentally.

I half-wish that the petite girl can see my expression twisting between helplessness and anxiety, but I guess not because her smile is still as radiant as ever.

"So," she starts and links her hands together on the table, "could I possibly come to your place today?"

"Today?" I ask with surprisingly calm tone. I think she's joking, for a moment, but her nod only confirms my fears. "Um…"

"Oh, did you have other plans?" Alice tilts her head in question, but it's clear how disappointed she is.

This scene is familiar to me and I recall our other conversations from last week. She is once again making me feel guilty and uncomfortable and I silently bite down on my tongue. I have an urge to merely shake my head and drop this entire conversation. This is ridiculous – I am acting like a child.

"No, you can come today," I finally breathe out and go back to eating my food. It tastes plain and I curse myself for the second time for not bringing my own lunch.

"Are you sure?" She asks, instead of perking up or smiling even more. And when I look at her, I am met with a frown. "I mean… are you alright?"

Her question makes me blink once and feel perplexed. Now, she has certainly dropped a bomb on me. Of course, it has come to my mind that she might not understand what trouble she has caused me to go through, or rather she and her brother whom I stained with paint and ended up in the school's newspaper with. Alex's words come into my mind from thinking of this and our conversation on the last weekend. Guilt and his voice gnaws on my nerves and I once again bite down on my lower lip, which is surely worn out by my constant biting.

"Yeah," I nod and open a juice box, "just didn't sleep too well."

By the time I am sitting in biology class, my entire body is slumped, and I am rubbing my face. The students just keep on coming in and everyone is obvious to my exhaustion, though. The next thing I try doing is read something from the book on today's lesson but find myself closing the thing after only five seconds.

This is stupid.

I can barely remember what me and Alice had been talking throughout the lunch. I do remember the moment I finished the food and left, though. It had been like I was given a chance to breathe fresh air after hours and luckily Alice hadn't even started eating hers, so she didn't manage to follow me out. I at least hope she hadn't even been thinking about it – I needed and even now need my own space.

A student sits next to me and I shift, nudging my stuff from the other side of the table closer to my corner.

"Hey, look! Isn't that the new girl?" They whisper to the person sitting in a seat in front of me, but I hear it just fine from where I am sitting.

Curiously, I lift my eyes up to see an unfamiliar face in front of the teacher's desk. She truly stands out, though, so it's easy to spot her to begin with. Either it's the pale face or the uncomfortable stance she has, but it's clear this is the daughter of chief Swan that I was told of. Her hair is dark and stark against her skin, but it's not as white or flawless like one of Cullen's. Instead, it looks what I consider to be "normal" pale tone on a person. Where did she move from again?

The teacher – Mr. Banner – points somewhere and the girl gives a nod. Slowly, but surely, she makes her way towards whatever seat she has been give. But it's only a few feet before she makes it that the Swan girl stops. And it's exactly a second later that I look who sits next to her that I understand her hesitance.

I frown and look immediately away, resting my head on my palm. Oh, poor girl. I glance carefully back, while trying to appear disinterested. The one she will be sitting next to is Edward Cullen. The thought makes me almost cringe, because the memory of the other sibling pops into my head, once again. No, nope. This is none of my business.

"Don't you think that Cullen looks a bit tense?" My seat partner asks from the same person sitting in front of us.

"You think so?"

"Dude, can't you see how he's glowering at the new girl?"

Against my better judgement to keep my head focused on my own problems and worries, I look back over at the Swan girl and Cullen. And to my great surprise, what I have heard isn't incorrect – Edward appears uncomfortable, or rather, on the edge as he watched the girl sit down next to him. It can be the trick of the class' poor light, but it appears as if he is slightly inching himself away together with his seat and closer to the side.

From where I am sitting, his action appears rude to me and I frown in confusion. The daughter of the chief of police clearly turns to look at him with a twist of her head, but soon looks back down at her desk. But even when she obviously is trying not to pay any attention to him, Edward keeps on staring – more like glaring – at her. My frown continues deepening. Wow. Who crawled up his backside and died?

His head twitches sharply along with his eyes and pass over the row I am sitting in. Or rather, it feels like he was glaring at me for a moment there and a shudder goes down my spine – I look away again.

"Alright, let's settle down and everyone take your seats," Mr. Banner says as the last student closes the door into the class after themselves.

I also try to get comfortable in my seat, if that's possible, but find my gaze wondering back to the middle row where the school's new kid and its pale faced outcast are sitting. Indeed, the latter is to my surprise continuing his glaring. The Swan girl on the other hand gives off an impression that she's trying to focus on the lesson at hand, but it only makes me wonder, if she's obvious to the look she is being given. I mean, I pay pretty much zero attention to the people I go school with, but even I can see that the impression Edward is giving off should be clear distaste to anyone witnessing it. Ignoring him, then? Good choice.

The lesson goes on, but my head is not really being filled with working as a group with my supposed partner who's busier talking to his friend at front seat. However, when's doing that and my hands are on the microscope, I can't stop staring towards the Cullen and his new seatmate – I find myself comparing him to Alice.

Sure, they are adopted, but there are similarities, between all of the Cullen siblings, no matter, if there's blood relations or not. They are all unnaturally pale, but also beautiful and Edward is no exception. And this is where the comparison starts working in my head. While Alice is more like an unworldly ballerina with her grace and deer-like jumping across the halls, her adopted brother is more like a sculpture out of some sort of museum from Europe who merely broods all day, like now.

Again, the bronze-haired boy's head and gaze twitch so that it appears that he's directing his glare towards the people at the back. Or more specifically, my row of seats and my corner. I shift my eyes away, immediately, for the second time and purse my lips with sweat trailing down my back.

It almost seems like he felt my stare.

"Have you figured what it's?" My partner asks and finally stops whispering to the other student.

I almost don't hear his question, though, and actually pause for what feels like a minute. "Um, maybe? I think this is a bacteria cell and this its flagellum, first of all."

"Ok. Cool," he mumbles and writes it down without even checking it himself.

Feeling a bit miffed, I look back down at the task and try to focus. Maybe it isn't flagellum, but pilus? I mentally start cursing myself for being a lazy student. But then my mind jumps back to throwing insults at my father for having such a loose hold on the household that he lets his daughter bring strangers in.

Seriously, I almost sigh out loud in frustration and pick up another sample. For some reason, my father really can pick up the worst timing to get out of town and leave his daughter to handle social crisis alone. I sure hope Alice doesn't mind eating Cheetos later at my place.

There is a sound of chair screeching against the floor and almost everyone's heads snap up. I also end up looking and am once again surprised to see that Edward is the one who caused the sudden pause in the class's atmosphere.

His shoulders are squared, but not moving, almost as if he has stopped breathing. The girl next to him looks startled and she's staring at him with mouth half-open in shock. Honestly, she isn't the only one and my jaw clicks shut as soon as I realize that I am wearing a very similar expression. As for what kind of face the pale boy is making, for once his expression is hidden.

"Mr. Cullen, is there something wrong?" Mr. Banner asks carefully, also appearing to be startled by this kind of uncharacteristic behavior.

Instead of getting a proper answer or an apology, the bronze-haired boy grabs his stuff and walks towards the door without a word. And before anyone can blink the door is closed firmly after him, leaving the rest of the class into a silence.

Of course, this lasts only a second or two, before everyone starts talking.

"Dude, what the fuck was that all about?" The boy next to me asks his friends and I silently asks something along the same lines from myself.

The new girl stays in her seat, unmoving and unresponsive. I would too in her place. The half of the entire lesson hasn't even been gone through and the guy merely waltzed out of it like he's got all the permissions in the world to do so.

It is only after Mr. Banner collects himself from the lack of respect towards his authority – and instructs us to continue – do the rest of us focus on the lesson, again. Although, my mind isn't probably the only one which keeps on wondering what in the world did we all just witness.

The last thing I expect after the crazy event in the biology class is to bump into yet another Cullen on the way outside. Honestly, it could be coincidence or a curse. After all, there is no way that all of sudden I am seeing their family's little drama episodes just because I end up in always seeing them at the worst possible time. And frankly I would rather not continue doing so.

However, as soon as I am heading out of my last class, totally minding my own business and wondering how on earth would I meet up with Alice without gathering the attention of the entire school, another person rounds up a corner before me. All I see is a flash of brilliant blond hair, before a hard – literally like a rock hard – shoulder slams into mine and nearly knocks me down against the lockers. I blink in total surprise, gasp in pain and look at the person who has stopped to glare down at me.

W-what the heck? The expression I wear is definitely speaking volumes on how dumbfounded anyone could be in a situation like this one.

Rosie Cullen's eyes are like two dark holes on her porcelain white face and the thunderous expression on her face sends chills down my spine. The moment she sees the slight flinch from my part, the corners of her lips tug down into a frown. My own half-open mouth closes tightly shut.

"S-sorry?" I squeak out, not really comprehending what's going on or why I even said such a thing. If anyone should be feeling sorry, it would be this blond girl and not me.

Instead of showing any remorse from the pathetic sound, Rosie merely gives an expression close to a sneer and storms down the hallway. The people easily sense the approaching storm and quickly make her way, some unlucky ones nearly stumbling and falling. This is once again, very unusual behavior from someone that is in the Cullen family. And that's exactly why both of my eyebrows rise up till my hairline.

Now, I have once again nothing against this peculiar – an understatement – family, but slowly what just happened starts making my cheeks flush. There had been a sensation of aching on my shoulder from our collision, but only now do I start rubbing it tenderly. What was her problem? That freaking hurt!

Even more frustrated, I make my way where I was originally going to. Any longer in this stuffy building and I might as well pull my hair from its roots. However, the closer I get to the door the more confused I get, and the irritation almost disappears completely. There is no telling what might be going with the Cullen's to make them act like this and it must be pretty bad. Still, what has even made Rosie become physical? Whether this just now was on purpose or not, it doesn't change the fact that she didn't even apologize or show it on her face. In fact, she had looked at me like I was some kind of bug or something in her way. Also, why am I seeing so many of Alice's family members glaring at people so often now?

"Trixie!"

Maybe because I am on the edge with the Cullen's and their unpredictable behavior lately or the fact that I just got stared down by one or the because I generally find talking to Alice as a bad omen, but I nearly jump out of my skin.

"Hi, Alice," is what I force out of my mouth and nearly wince from the sight of her pearly white smile. Seriously, the girl is making so unconscious of my own mouth by doing that.

She skips right next to me, so close in fact that we barely have a feet between us. "Ready to go?"

"Sure, yeah," I say back lamely and start walking, very aware how people have started to stare and how close the petite pixie-girl is walking next to me. "I am warning you, though. My house is not exactly close."

"Don't worry a thing. I have got a pretty great stamina, despite wearing heels."

"…great," is the next thing I can only say, but mentally I am screaming my head off. This was the last resort I had in mind to keep her away, but I guess I will have to along with all of this after all.

The very second, we step outside and feel the chilly wind, my mood lowers, and I inhale deeply through my nose. This will certainly not be my day. And when I look at the dark-haired Alice next to me, I immediately take a note of how light her entire attire appears to be.

The purplish coat flutters in the wind lightly as the skirt beneath it appears to be even more ruffled. The only thing covering the entire length of her legs are only a pair of long socks and boots. It's really no surprise that she has chosen to wear such an outfit, no matter how gloomy and windy the weather appears to be. But it does raise questions of how she can walk so freely without obviously shivering and turning even paler than she already is.

Such a fashionista, I think, but do not dare to ask or point it out to her. The last thing I want to happen now, is to get into a conversation about clothes. But there would be nothing else to talk of with her during this walk to my house anyway. And frankly I do not know what common subject we could talk about besides schoolwork. The more I think of this, the more nervous and uncomfortable I become. The stares people keep on giving us do not also help and I lower my gaze to the ground, occasionally glancing up to see where the road for my escape is.

"I hope I am not intruding, though," Alice suddenly says.

I look at her in confusion, but slowly realize what she means and feel my tongue getting tied up. "What? N-no! Of course not. My dad isn't really around, so it's fine."

She actually appears surprised and adjusts a fancy handbag on her shoulder. "Does he work a lot?"

Crap. I shouldn't have told her that. I hadn't really intended to come into a conversation about my parent, but it seems like I let this information slip. The bottom of my stomach clenches in discomfort, but I still somehow manage to look at her in the eye.

"Well… yeah," I say, but do not add any other unnecessary information.

Alice hums and then smiles a bit. "My dad is also quite busy. He's a doctor and all, but what about yours?"

Once again, I do not feel comfortable and look forward. "He works for a travel agency."

It feels kind of weird to be talking about him, right now. I have never had had to explain or tell anyone of my parent like this before. Alex already has known of how my old man can be for as long as I have known him and he me. The same can be somewhat said about his mother, too, but that's where I have put a stop sign. Not that there have been too many people that I could talk with, but… I just am not used to this kind of thing. Talking of such personal things with someone who is almost a stranger.

"Alice," a voice suddenly calls from behind us, quite sharply and that's half of the reason why I freeze completely on my tracks.

"Jasper," the shorter girl says easily and turns around. "Do you want something? I'm kind of in a hurry."

Slowly, I too turn around, but refuse to make eye contact. I should let these two talk and watch silently how things will play out.

Luckily, the blond boy doesn't seem to pay any attention to my awkward self and continues speaking to his adopted sibling. "How are you planning on getting back? The others took their car and I have to get back using yours."

"Well, how about you come and pick me up later?" She asks and sways the handbag innocently in her hands. "It's fine Jasper. I'll call, when I am ready to go."

"Edward isn't feeling well," he says tightly. "Shouldn't you go and check on him at least?"

Immediately, today's biology lesson flashes in my head and how stiff the bronze haired boy had appeared to be. He's not feeling well? The next thing I know, a shiver goes down my spine from also recalling that icy glare he had on his face. Is that all what it really was?

Alice pauses for a moment, but then shrugs. "I know he's alright. I mean, it isn't like this hasn't happened before. Besides, dad is looking after him."

"It's worse this time, Alice," Jasper takes a step forward, tone a bit more strained.

I take a moment to glance up out of curiosity from hearing his words but regret it almost immediately. He's looking at Alice – thank goodness for that – but his face is stern and tight. For a moment, it's the perfect copy of Rosalie's. Not because of the facial structure, those definitely differ between the two of them, but because of the paleness and the bottomless dark eyes.

Next, Alice's side profile fills my eyes and I see that compared to him, she has calmer exterior. Without saying anything, she reaches out and touches his shoulder. "It's fine, Jasper. He'll be okay and I will come back home safe and sound later. So, don't worry."

It could be just my imagination, but it appears as if for a moment Jasper's shoulder drops. His expression remains stern, but the twisted sneer on it has somewhat melted, as he looks down at the small dark-haired girl. The change is expected, though. Whenever these two have been together in cafeteria, Jasper has appeared uncomfortable, but while alone or detached from Alice, he only appears to be even more than that. Whatever it is that has driven him to the edge, the golden-haired boy seems to forget all of that from her single touch.

Wow… Truthfully, I have never seen two people this comfortable with each other. And that's why I can feel how my heart skips a beat, but also how my face flushes from seeing such a scene. No doubt we have attracted more attention by stopping and sure enough, from the corner of my eyes I can see how people have stopped whatever they are doing and stare again.

Suddenly, a foreign hand touches my hand and pulls me along. The back of my throat closes and doesn't relax, when I see that it's Alice. She looks over her shoulders and gives Jasper a final wave.

"Bye, now!"

For a moment, I am half-tempted to look over my shoulder as well and stare at the enigma-of-a-Cullen to come and save me from his sibling. But refrain from doing that and continue being dragged forward by Alice.

Her hand…

The grip isn't harsh or bruising. In fact, it pulls me along in gentle manner, like I am made out of glass. But I do notice one thing after a while, even through my coat.

I can feel no warmth from it.