Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or Vampire Diaries

The next day was better and worse. It was easier because I knew what to expect. Mike sat with me in English and walked me to my next class, with Eric Yorkie glaring at him in jealousy. Boys… People didn't stare at me as much today, which was a relief. I'm used to being known at a school, but new kid watching is a totally different feeling. I sat with Jessica, Mike, Angela and a few others at lunch. I felt slightly accepted which is a start.

It was worse because…

I played volleyball in PE and accidentally hit my teammate in the head.

I was tired because I woke up early.

And Edward Cullen wasn't in school at all.

I bet you think it's stupid for me to say my day was worse because he didn't show. I'm not some girl whose life revolves around a guy I just met. Especially with his constant glaring. It was worse because I couldn't observe him more for info in supernatural category. And because I want to know why my blood/scent attracts him more than other humans. That is if I am right about that. I don't have classes with any other Cullens so Edward is my only shot. Plus he's cute.

When I walk into the cafeteria, I look at the table they were at yesterday, only to find four of the five Cullens there. No Edward. Mike brought Jessica and I over to their table. I tried to listen to their conversation, but it was quite boring, so I glance over at the Cullens curiously. They still aren't eating. Weird.

I walk into Biology and see no Edward Cullen. Awesome. I sigh in disappointment. I guess I should be grateful for the lack of possible danger in Bio today. I look at the lesson and remember it from last year. I fill my mind with thoughts of home. How is progress towards the cure? What are the Originals up to? I wonder how Damon is training Jer right now…

After school, I get money from the jar in the cabinet labeled food money. Last night, I learned that Uncle Charlie could not cook much besides fried eggs and bacon. Luckily, unlike Elena, I can cook. I would prefer not to, but given the situation of lack of cook, I shall be crowned Queen of the Kitchen. I go and buy groceries necessary for food.

When I got back to the house, I unloaded groceries and put them where I figured they belonged. I put potatoes in the oven to bake, and I cover the steak in marinade, before setting it on top of the egg carton in the fridge.

Then I grab my book-bag and go upstairs. I change my wet clothes from the rain to something drier and more me. I work on my homework and finish it in fifteen minutes. All I had to do was jog my memory since I did it all last year. I may have been busy with supernatural stuff but I also made sure I passed high-school.

When I finish homework, I pull out my tablet and Mi-fi and read Supernatural fanfiction. There are some great fanfiction. I got lost in the fanfics, and I suddenly hear Charlie pulling in with his cruiser. I turn off Mi-Fi and head downstairs. I take the potatoes out and put the steak in the boil.

"Bella?" Uncle Charlie questions as he walks in.

"Hey, Charlie," I grin at him as he hangs up his gun belt and takes off his boots.

"Hey. What's for dinner?" he asks me.

I answer, "Steak and Potatoes." Charlie goes into the living room after standing awkwardly for a moment and watches television.

I sigh and work on the food. I miss the socialness at home. I miss the arguments, and I miss everyone who died. Well not Isobel. I miss Mom, Dad, Uncle John, Aunt Jenna, Alaric, Lexi (who I only knew 2 days), Bonnie's Grams, Carol Lockwood, even Vicki.

I called him in when dinner was ready. He sniffs appreciatively and walks in. I am so glad Dad taught me how to cook steaks and a few other things, because when I cook certain things… it ends badly.

"Smells good, Bella."

I smile at the complement. "Thanks."

We ate in silence for a few minutes. "How's the family?" Charlie asks me.

I sigh, "Pulling through, after everything."

"How was school?" Charlie asks, seeing if I at least semi-enjoy Forks.

"It was good," I answer him. Then I question, "Do you know the Cullen family?"

"Dr. Cullen's family? Sure. Dr. Cullen's a great man."

"The kids don't seem to fit in at school," I tell him.

"People in this town," Charlie mutters angrily. "Dr. Cullen is a brilliant surgeon who could probably work at any hospital in the world, make ten times the salary he gets here. We're lucky to have him-lucky his wife wanted to live in a small town. He's an asset to the community, and all those kids are well-behaved and polite. I had my doubts when they first moved in, with all those adopted teenagers. I thought we might have problems with them. But they're all very mature- I haven't had one speck of trouble from any of them. That's more than I can say from the kids whose families have been here for generations. And they stick together like family should." I smile slightly at that remembering family back in Mystic Falls. "-camping trips every other weekend. Just because they are new in town, people have to talk."

"They seemed nice enough," I tell Charlie. Well, all except Edward. Then again I haven't spoken a word to any of them. I'm too busy trying to figure out what he is. "I just noticed how they kept to themselves."

After dinner, I wash the dishes. Then I go upstairs and create a supernatural/strange checklist for the Cullens.

They don't eat

Edward looks like he's experiencing uncontrollable bloodlust towards me alone. Well, almost uncontrollable.

They are extremely pale.

There are shadows under their dark eyes like they haven't slept in a while.

They have uncommon Grandparent-type names.

Their lips barely move like they are talking quietly like vampires do on occasion when they don't want humans to hear.

Edward looked at me with curiosity, frustration and as if there was an unmet expectation all in a minute.

I close the notebook and put it in my middle drawer in my desk under another notebook.

The rest of the week was uneventful. Edward still hasn't returned. I still haven't called Damon for information on what the Cullens could be. At lunch, throughout the week, my classmates/ possible new friends discussed a trip to la Push Ocean Park in two weeks that Mike put together, and I agreed to go. It could be fun as long as I don't get thrown into danger there. It could happen. I am a Gilbert after all.

My first weekend in Forks passed without incident. Charlie worked most of the weekend. I got ahead on homework so I didn't have to worry about it too much when I'm investigating the Cullens. I know Edward will return. Therefore I will be able to investigate soon, and lack time for homework. I'm sure I would still be caught up, but this was easier. I also reread Wuthering Heights to jog my name. It was a good book, but not my favorite. I went to the Forks Library to see their selection, but there wasn't much. I decided I needed to make a trip to Olympia or Seattle for a bookstore or find a closer one. I wonder what the gas mileage for the truck is. I shudder at the thought. I add number 8 on my list.

Edward: sudden absence after my arrival

People greeted me in the school parking lot on Monday morning. Some people I remember names, but the rest draw a blank. I was slightly colder this morning, but not raining, which is a plus. In English, Mike takes his seat by my side. We have a pop quiz on Wuthering Heights, and I am suddenly grateful for my rereading. It was straight forward and easy. All in all, I felt more comfortable here then I thought I would be, seeing as my home is on the other side of the country.

When Mike and I walk out of English class, the air was full of swirling bits of white. Snow. A smile comes across my face. I'm not used to snow in March. People around me shout excitedly at each other.

"Snow in spring," I say chuckling to myself. It shouldn't be this cold in March.

Mike chuckles beside me. "At least it's not snow in summer which can happen here."

"Really?" I look at him, eyebrow raised.

"Yeah. It's happened a few times."

A snow ball flies and hits Mike in the back of the head. We both turn around to see who threw it. My suspicion was Eric, who was walking away, in the wrong direction of his next class. Mike got the notion and threw a snowball right back at him. I laugh quietly.

"I'll see you at lunch, okay?" I tell Mike, as Eric turns around, and he nods.

All morning people talk about the snow. Apparently, it's the first snow fall of the new year. Shocking. I would have thought a place like Forks would have snow in January.

I walk to the cafeteria with Jessica after Spanish. Snowballs are flying everywhere. If Elena, Bonnie and Caroline were here, I'd throw some snowballs at them. I'd also throw a snowball at Damon, who would throw one right back at me. I might've thrown one at Stefan too to get the brooding look off of his face. He needs to brighten up a bit. I know life is tough on him and the love of his life left him for his brother, but he will find someone else eventually. I hope he does.

Mike caught up with us as soon as we walk through the cafeteria doors, laughing. Snow is melting the spikes in his hair. Jessica and Mike talk about the snowball fight as we get in the line for food. I make a few comments, but I don't say much. I look over at the Cullen table, expecting there to be four Cullens, but there were five. Edward's back. My eyes widen slightly. I expected him to be gone a few more days before he returned. Oh, well. Guess it's time to investigate.

I get some food and sit down at the table with my new friends. After a few minutes, I take my gaze off of Jessica and Mike, and I look back at the table with the Cullens. They were laughing. Edward, Jasper and Emmett's hair is covered with melting snow. Alice and Rosalie lean away as Emmett shakes his dripping hair towards them. They look like a scene from a movie as they 'enjoy the snow'. They are trying to blend in. They need to learn how to act better.

Edward Cullen is less pale than the last time I saw him. The circles under his eyes lessened. I feel like I am missing something, but I just can't put my finger on it.

"Bella, what are you staring at?" Jessica asks me. Edward's eyes flash up and make contact with mine. I take my eyes off of him and take a sip of my soda. "Edward Cullen is staring at you."

"He doesn't look angry, does he?" I ask curiously.

"No," answers Jessica. "Should he?"

I reply, "No… It's just…It doesn't matter."

"He's still staring at you."

I glance over at him, and sure enough he is. Heat rises in my cheeks, and I take another bite of my food, looking away from him. Why should I care? It should be annoying that a supernatural being, that I have yet to find out what he is, is staring at me. But I'm not annoyed. Well, maybe slightly.

Mike suggests a Battle of the Blizzard in the parking lot after school. Jessica agreed enthusiastically. I might join if I feel like it. For the rest of the lunch hour, I keep my eyes at my own table. When it comes time for Biology II, the snow is melted. Mike complains all the way to class. It took everything not to snap at him to stop complaining.

Once I entered class, I realize my table is still empty. I feel disappointment. I want to figure out what he is. Mr. Banner walks around the class, handing out a microscope and a box of slides to each table. I hear very clearly when the chair next to me moved, but I didn't glance over.

"Hello," said a quiet musical voice from beside me. I look in his direction in shock. I thought he'd be all stiff again. I guess he got control of himself while taking a break. Or was I wrong about the whole bloodlust thing in general. His face is friendly, open, and he has a small smile, but his eyes are cautious and careful. "My name is Edward Cullen. I didn't have a chance to introduce myself last week. You must be Bella Swan."

Wow, he's actually being polite. I nod. "That I am," I lie. "Nice to officially meet you, Edward."

Mr. Banner starts class. Today we are working on separating and labeling slices of onion root into the phases of mitosis. In twenty minutes, he is coming around to see who got it right.

"Get started," Mr. Banner instructs us.

"Ladies first, partner?" Edward offers me to go first, giving me a crooked smile that looks beautiful. Hold on! Where did beautiful come from?

I smile at him, ignoring the fluttering of my heartbeat, and slide a slide into the microscope. Then I look at it. "Prophase."

I did this lab before since I am repeating Junior Year here for some unknown reason.

"Do you mind if I look?" he asks as I begin to pull out the slide. His hand caught mine, to stop me, and I feel the coldness of his skin along with an electric current. What the heck? I look at him curiously. I let go of the slide I had been pulling out, and I pull myself from his grasp, not extremely quick as some people would, but it was enough for him to immediately retract his hand.

"I'm sorry," Edward apologizes. Then he looks in the microscope. "Prophase." He writes it down on the first space in our worksheet. Then he grabs another slide from the box and puts it where it is supposed to go. "Anaphase."

"May I look?" I ask. He smirks, turning the microscope over towards me, and I peak in it. Dammit, he was right. "Anaphase," I repeat back to him. He is still smirking as I ask, "Slide 3, please."

I hold my hand out, and he places it in my hand, careful not to touch my skin. Cautious. "Interphase." I answer and slide it over to him without him having to asking for it. He swiftly takes a peak and writes it down. He has a clear, elegant handwriting. I look at my handwriting and frown. I wonder if there was ever a time-era where they spent a good part of school working on handwriting.

With nothing to do, I glance at him and see him staring at me with frustration. The old me would snap, but I am trying to change for my safety. Damon's idea. If he was here now… I clear my head out of thoughts about Damon and how I would pay him back for the idea of me to act sweet and innocent.

I notice what I was missing before about Edward. His eyes. Last time I saw them, they were coal black and now they are a slightly-darker-than-butterscotch color. I've got to add that to the list.

Mr. Banner then comes over to our table to see why we weren't working. When he saw the completed worksheet, he checked the answers. "So, Edward, didn't you think Isabella should get a chance with the microscope?"

Reminds me of Tanner. They even rhyme. I hope he isn't that bad. "Bella," Edward corrects automatically. "Actually she identified three out of five."

I smile proudly. Banner turns to me skeptically. "Have you done this lab before?"

"Not with onion root," I answer honestly.

"Whitefish blastula?"

I smile sheepishly, "Yeah."

"Were you in the advanced placement group in Phoenix?" questions Banner.

No. "Yeah." It seemed like the best explanation.

"Well I guess it's a good thing you two are lab partners then," he mumbles. Then he finally walks away.

"It's too bad about the snow," Edward says as if he heard my conversation with Jessica and was trying to prove me wrong.

"Not really," I reply.

"You don't like the cold." It wasn't a question even though the statement is false.

"I don't mind the cold. Not really. Snow is pretty cool until it melts and your clothes are all wet," I tell Edward. "Then you have to deal with wet clothes until they either dry or you have other clothes to change into."

"Forks must be difficult for you to live," he muses.

"You have no idea," I mutter. It's not so bad, but almost every day it rains. Not to mention I want to go back to Mystic Falls.

Edward looks fascinated by what I said. "Why did you come here then?" he asks. Nobody has asked me that yet. I decided to answer him at least partly honest.

"Stuff was happening in town, and my friends and family back home thought it would be best if I went to live with Charlie, my dad."

"What kind of stuff was happening that made it best to leave?"

I open my mouth again and this time I give him a lie. "I don't know. It must be a really good reason though. Maybe they wanted me out of town because of the memories."

"The memories?" Edward asks curiously.

I shake my head. "It doesn't matter. I don't want to seem like a sad little girl."

Edward frowns. "What is it?"

I sigh in defeat because I recognize the look in his eyes. I've seen it way too often with Elena. Stubbornness and worry. He's not backing down any time soon. "My aunt died at the end of the last year, and her boyfriend died recently."

"I'm sorry," he says, looking at me in sympathy but not pity. Thank god. If he knew my full past… I'm afraid I would see pity.

I shrug. "That's life," I look down at my notebook sadly. Put on a brave face. You're a Gilbert.

"You're putting on a good show, but I bet that you suffer more than you let on to anyone, even your family."

I sigh and scowl at the blackboard.

"Am I annoying you with the questions?" he asks.

"No. I'm more annoyed at myself. My Mom always said I was an open book." Mom was the only one who said that. The rest I could lie to. Not that I lied to my family unless it was necessary.

"On the contrary, I find you pretty difficult for me to read." He sounds like he means it, and I smile slightly.

"I guess you're a pretty good reader then."

"Usually," Edward gives me a crooked smile.

I relax but not completely. Mr. Banner calls the class to order, and then I turn to face the teacher ready to listen to the possible Tanner 2.0. I notice that like the last time I saw him, Edward is leaning away from me, and his hands are clenching the edge of the table with obvious tension.

I bite my lip and return my eyes to the front. When the bell rang, Edward rushed swiftly and gracefully out of the room like he had on Monday. Mike skipped to my side and took my books for me. I pictured him with a wagging dog-like tail, and I chuckle.

"That was awful," groaned Mike Newton. "They all looked the same. You're lucky you had Cullen for a partner."

"I didn't think it was difficult," I mutter, honestly, not worrying about the kids feelings.

"Cullen seemed friendly enough today," Mike commented, not sounding too pleased. Poor kid.

I nod, "I know. I wonder what was with him last Monday."

At the end of the day, I go to the house and pull out my notebook. I add

Edward's eyes changed colors from coal black to slightly dark butterscotch.

10. His skin I ice cold.

Then I cook dinner. After Charlie and I have dinner, I go to bed while thinking of all I have learned about Edward Cullen and his family.