BPOV - Bella's Point of View
EPOV - Edward's Point of View
JPOV - Jasper's Point of View
MPOV - Mike's Point of View
BPOV
Naturally, I was nervous. Who wouldn't be? Everyone had gone through their first day of school at some point in their lives. Mine was just a little more conspicuous. The small town of Forks had obviously heard the news of my arrival - it was inevitable as the chief of police's daughter. I cringed imagining how many people knew that today was my first day; being the center of attention wasn't really my thing. Plucking up what little courage I had, I followed the secretary's directions to my first class.
To my unsurprised dismay, everyone stared at me as I walked in. I tried to control the blush that was rising to my face, but I could tell my efforts were futile. A girl named Jessica introduced herself, and I gratefully followed her lead for the rest of the day.
At lunch, Jessica introduced me to her friends. It was hard to remember everyone's names, but I did my best. A few of the boys in her group kept trying to start a conversation with me, but I kept turning towards Jessica and her friend Angela in shyness. We all chatted for a little while, until they walked into the room. I stared as five of the most beautiful people I had ever seen sat around a round table at the edge of the cafeteria. They were all pale with topaz eyes ringed by dark shadows, had flawless pale skin, and a quiet demeanor. I took them all in. There was a large, strong looking boy, the most beautiful girl I had ever seen with lush golden hair, a blonde boy who looked distinctly uncomfortable, a short, spiky-haired girl who reminded me of a fairy, and the most beautiful of them all - a handsome boy with bronze hair and a jawline that could cut glass. They seemed oblivious to my staring. Jessica whispered their names to me, clearly understanding why I was so mesmerized. Emmett, Rosalie, Jasper, Alice, and Edward Cullen. I couldn't tear my eyes away, though when the lunch bell rang it eventually woke me from my trance.
To my surprise, I was assigned the seat beside Edward Cullen in Biology class. I offered him a timid smile, but it was immediately wiped off my face when I saw the look of purest loathing distorting his handsome features. I was confused and taken aback at how he could hate me so quickly; I didn't understand what I could have done. The second that the bell rang, Edward ran out of the room faster than naturally possible. I blinked back tears. A moment later, a boy with spiky blonde hair and a round boyish face walked over to me. I recognized him as one of Jessica's friends from lunch. He was handsome, but looked quite plain compared to Edward.
"Hi! I'm Mike Newton," he said to me, smiling.
"I'm Bella Swan," I replied, grinning weakly.
"What did you do to Cullen?" Mike asked. "I've never seen him act that way before."
"I honestly don't know." I was troubled that I wasn't the only one who had noticed. I had been hoping that Edward's attitude was a universal experience instead of being uniquely targets towards me.
"Well, if I had been lucky enough to sit beside you, I would have talked to you."
Mike smiled at me. I tried to smile back, but I couldn't get the image of Edward's glare out of my mind. I was surprised that boys here - with one major exception - seemed to like me more. I supposed it was because I was new and everyone's dating pool was so limited in such a small town. But it still made me uncomfortable.
"How do you like Forks so far?" Mike asked me.
"It feels like what the colour gray looks like," I said truthfully, hoping he wouldn't take offense.
Mike let out a laugh. "You get used to the rain, I promise."
"Looking forward to it," I mumbled.
"Do you need any help or anything? Can I show you around?" Mike's tone was hopeful.
"I think I'm fine, thanks."
"Well, can I take you to a movie sometime?"
I felt my jaw drop a little, shocked at how we had only just met. He was quite nice though, and I felt like I needed a palette cleanser after the terrible encounter with Edward Cullen. Plus, Charlie would be pleased that I was actually socializing. Maybe this was worth a shot.
"I'd like that," I replied quietly, blushing.
He beamed. "When can I pick you up?"
"I'm not sure. What's playing?"
"There's a new comedy out, I think! Let's say around four? I'll follow you home after school so you can drop your car off and then we can go," Mike suggested.
"Sounds great!" I said. I meant it, too.
I went through the rest of the day surprisingly eager for the bell to ring. For the most part, it had been a good first day. Jessica and Angela had been friendly, and there was maybe something a little more than friend potential in Mike. It looked like I had an enemy too, but I tried not to think about that handsome boy with the topaz eyes.
MPOV
I knew that Bella Swan was starting school today (everyone knew that), but I had never expected that she would be so easy on the eyes. Lucky for me, she was shy, and I knew how to play that angle. You had to take em' by surprise.
"Are you going to ask her out?" Eric asked me.
"Definitely. I'll bet you by the end of the day I'll have her wrapped around my finger," I said confidently.
"If that doesn't work and she's somehow into guys who like D&D and have terrible acne, send her my way, ya?" Eric laughed.
I laughed. Poor Eric wasn't exactly smooth with the ladies.
"Don't hold your breath, stud," I said, clapping him on the back as we headed to class.
I saw Bella the second I walked into Biology. She was absolutely doable. She wasn't an hourglass or anything, but I could see a bit of curves where the fabric stretched against her chest. She looked like a doe or something - huge brown eyes and an innocent little expression. God, I wanted to take that innocence away. She also looked terrified, and it was only then that I noticed pretty-boy Cullen beside her staring daggers into the side of her head. Huh. That was a new one.
After class, I walked over and asked her out. I smirked when she agreed and couldn't wait to rub it in Eric's face.
I probably looked like an idiot strutting down the halls. Eric was absolutely furious when he found out. The poor kid had tried striking up a conversation with her when we were all at lunch, but Bella hadn't humoured it at all. Mike: 1, Eric 0.
When the final bell rang, I headed out to my car and leaned against it to wait for Bella to show up. When she finally did, I waved at her. She gave me that little smile and climbed into her dinosaur of a truck. It roared to life and I followed her home in my SUV. I could have sworn that the whole parking lot was watching us leave. I felt smug and waved at a few of the guys. I only fixed my gaze back on the road when I saw Cullen glaring at me with far more ferocity than he had ever given Bella.
EPOV
Why was her blood so appealing? Why did she have to come to this town, to this school, to this class? Was she my own personal demon sent to bring me back to hell? Was she a weapon from the Volturi assigned to tempt me into ruining the life that Carlisle had built for us? Venom gushed into my mouth as I imagined every possible way to kill this insignificant girl. I didn't let myself move. I didn't let myself inhale. But I let my mind roam. Perhaps the smallest shred of curiosity kept her alive. Why couldn't I read her mind? The rest of this insufferable school's thoughts were clear as ever, but this Swan girl was an enigma. I focused on the mystery of it, and minute by minute it kept her alive.
Miraculously, I made it through the hour. I ran to my car as fast as I dared and took a deep breath of clean air for the first time.
In the distance I saw the girl chatting with the Newton boy. He was particularly irksome these days. Every time I was near him I could hear his disgusting thoughts about whatever poor girl he was in the midst of pursuing. His thoughts were as loud as a siren now, echoing in my crowded mind.
I can't wait to rip that stupid shirt off later. What is it, anyway? Her dad's flannel?
The girl laughed as though Newton was charming her.
I tried to focus on the other thoughts around me, determined to block out Newton's disgusting plans.
Cullen is staring at Bella again.
He was totally giving her the death-glare in bio. What did she do?
He is so handsome…
Bella and Mike? This is so not okay. Even Edward Cullen is into her… why are they all staring at her?
I supposed that my episode in Biology hadn't gone unnoticed. I was glad that I was the only one in my family who could read minds. If Rosalie heard about this, she would probably destroy another one of my cars. She had a tendency to overreact at anything that could threaten our permanency here.
I kept staring at the girl, unable to look away. Why was the entire school so infatuated with her? She was attractive enough I supposed, and a novelty which was exceptionally rare in Forks, but really, what was the draw? Her blood for me, obviously. But what sort of brains could she have if she had accepted Mike Newton's offer? I felt a waver in my repulsion as I reminded myself that she, unlike myself, could not read minds. To Bella Swan, there was nothing wrong with Newton. A wave of pity crashed over me. Just because the girl was naive, did she deserve to get taken advantage of? Just because her blood was pure heroine to me, did that mean I wished her that miserable excuse for a man? A growl escaped my throat. No, Mike Newton and Bella Swan could be together for all I cared. I wouldn't turn my head when he hurt her. I wouldn't bat an eye. But why, I asked myself, did it bother me so much? This girl risked everything my family had ever worked for. I shook my head and vowed to never go near either of them again.
Alice and Jasper walked up behind me. I felt Alice place her tiny hand on my shoulder. I closed my eyes and listened as she addressed me in her thoughts.
I've just had a vision, Edward. Please stay away from Mike Newton. I'm not sure why you're mad at him but just stay away. I saw a fight, Edward.
JPOV
I felt Edward's longing. It was unbearable. I yearned to help my brother. In all of my years as a Cullen, I had never felt any of my siblings experience such a draw to a human's blood. The mere emotion of it made venom gush into my mouth. I swallowed and tried to focus on something else instead of the pulsing veins in the crowd around me. I forced myself to think about Alice - how perfect and caring she was. It worked momentarily, but Edward's agony kept pushing to the front of my mind. I decided to tell Alice, but she wasn't present with me anymore. Her face was blank and her eyes were wide.
"What do you see?" I asked her in a whisper.
"We need to find Edward," she replied.
I felt the magnitude of her worry. What was happening? I grabbed her hand as we walked to the parking lot. My instinct was to run, but our silly human facade kept us at a slow and even pace. When we approached our brother, I saw that he looked worse than I had ever seen him. The shadows under his eyes were dark purple, and he had a curious expression of dread and longing on his face. He was breathing heavily, as if trying to rid himself of the memory of her scent.
"Who is she?" I asked him.
"Bella Swan. The new girl," Edward growled quietly.
Alice placed a hand on his shoulder and he shut his eyes. I knew they were having a silent conversation, and it infuriated me to be on the sidelines. After a moment, Edward looked up warily.
"I swear that I will never go near Mike Newton. I would never fight him. I have no reason to. The girl is nothing to me. Just a temptation. Don't worry, Alice," he told her. "And please tell Jasper what you saw. He's very nearly ready to explode."
He really was infuriating. But I mentally thanked him anyway.
