I. The Unwitting Infiltration of the Body Snatcher

Do you ever wish you could wake up as a completely different person? Don't do it. Just, please. Because let me tell you, waking up in a foreign body while flying 31,000 feet above ground is beyond terrifying. I'm not sure how long I hogged the bathroom in the midst of a panic attack, but it was long enough for a few of the other passengers to file a complaint with the flight attendants.

I'm not sure if you want to sit here and read about how I found a driver's license in my carry-on with the name "Isabella M. Swan" and a picture matching the face I found in the mirror, or how a man named Charlie found me at the luggage carousel while I squinted at the tags hanging from each suitcase, until I found a matching name. Even the ride to Forks or the time I took to settle into "my" room would be a tedious read because it was mostly just me thinking:

Oh fuck, this can't be happening. I'M IN TWILIGHT?! Howwwwww? Did I die? Am I in a coma? Is this just a really lucid dream? Faaaaaaaaack.

Yeah. Just pretend I wrote 50 pages of those thoughts, and that's basically what went through my brain for the next 24 hours. Thankfully, Charlie mistook my anxious silence as reluctance to be in Forks. Which, yes, I was definitely reluctant to be in Forks, but for extremely different reasons. Poor guy.

But, I didn't want to end up in one of those padded rooms wearing a straight jacket, so I didn't make a scene. Instead, I woke up the next morning and decided that I was clearly in this for the long haul. So I dragged myself out of bed, wore the first outfit I found in Bella's suitcase, shouldered her backpack without checking to see what was inside, grabbed her parka and keys, and hauled ass.

Of course, my dumbass didn't check the time. But I didn't even have a cellphone, let alone a watch. It was a miracle I had even woken up as early as I did. You'd think it would have taken me a while to locate the damn high school, but this town was so stinkin' small, I managed to drive by it within five minutes of leaving Bella's house. And when I did, I turned in and found a nearly empty parking lot.

"Ugh," I moaned, cutting the engine and slumping down into my seat. "What a nightmare," I wept. "Why couldn't have I woken up in Hogwarts?"

I continued my pity party for another five minutes, before reluctantly grabbing Bella's backpack and sliding out of her monstrous, faded red truck. I slammed the door shut without bothering to lock it and trudged in the direction of the main office. Luckily, it appeared the receptionist had already arrived and unlocked the doors, so I wouldn't be forced to wait outside where the mist clung wetly to my hair.

I hope it doesn't get all stringy, I mentally sighed, running my fingers through it, somehow hoping to dislodge the water as I walked into the cozy office.

I plodded over to the red-headed lady sitting behind the counter and cleared my throat in order to catch her attention. "Um, I'm Isabella Swan?"

Note to self: don't sound confused when introducing yourself.

Fortunately, the receptionist didn't appear to notice. "Oh, of course. Although you're awfully early, dear." I shrugged, and when I didn't offer up an explanation, she continued, "I have your schedule right here, and a map of the school."

I tried to pay attention as she went through Bella's schedule, highlighting their locations on the map, and explaining the slip of paper that had to be signed by each teacher.

Finally, I escaped back into the cold, and tugged my hood on this time. Finding my first class was rather easy, and surprisingly, the classroom door was unlocked. Shrugging, I stepped inside and found a seat near the back. I pulled Bella's schedule back out and frowned. English wouldn't be starting for another 40 minutes.

I took the time to dig around her backpack. Nothing unusual, although not very organized, either. Most of her notebooks were thankfully new, ready for the new semester. I found some old, crumpled assignments at the bottom, with what looked like trig problems, and a few loose pencils. Pulling her wallet out of my back pocket, I chucked it in as well.

Setting her bag by my feet, I slouched back and made a game plan for the rest of the day:

1. Do NOT forget. As far as anyone is concerned: YOU are Isabella Swan.

2. Act NORMAL. Do NOT spaz out.

3. Get the fuck out of Biology.

That was...that was it. To be frank, Bella's story was rather dull without the inclusion of the Cullen's. And the reality was, I wasn't Bella. The blood and the shield were enough to gain Edward Cullen's attention, but it was Bella who he fell in love with. As soon as he could get past those two things, I was home free. I could deal with the trauma of being ripped away from my family and everything I'd ever known once everything settled down.

And hey, maybe getting crushed by Tyler's van would be the key to snapping me out of this nightmare.

Now there's an idea, I smiled grimly for a moment until the silence settled on me with a leaden weight. My brain had been in overdrive ever since I'd woken up on that plane and the fear was now only beginning to twist around my heart, leaving me breathless. Maybe this is temporary. Maybe this is all in my head. But those were empty platitudes. I had no way of knowing if this was permanent.

I blinked back into awareness when I heard the dull roar of voices out in the hallway, as students began to converge.

Mr. Mason was the first to arrive. Plopping my backpack into my chair, I snatched the slip and got him to sign it. I scanned the reading list he gave me as I trudged back to my desk, ignoring the gawking of my fellow classmates.

The day was turning out to be predictable. I jumped up as soon as the bell rang, and left before anyone could talk to me. I wasn't sure I could keep up the pretense of being polite.

In Trig, Mr. Varner made me introduce myself to the class.

"Um, hi guys. I'm Isabella and I'm from Arizona," I smiled awkwardly.

Before I could get the go-ahead from Mr. Varner to sit down, some obnoxious dude asked, "What do you like to do for fun, Isabella?" It was an innocent enough question, but the tone with which he said it caused his peers to snicker.

My smile turned brittle. "I like to go shooting. I'm pretty handy with a gun."

His leer dropped, and I found a seat in the back before Mr. Varner could lecture me about appropriate intro topics.

The curly-haired girl beside me shot me a grin. "Short of telling Vincent to go to hell, nice," she approved.

My lips twitched. "Clearly, he will not be dying of natural causes."

We tried to contain our laughter, but Mr. Varner glared at us anyway. It wasn't until the bell rang, that the smaller girl introduced herself as Jessica Stanley.

"Nice to meet'cha, Jessica," I smiled as I shoved my notebook and pencil into my bag. "If you hadn't already figured it out, I'm Isabella." It was a good distinction to make. I wasn't Bella, but for the time being, I could be Isabella.

Jessica rolled her eyes. "Trust me. Everyone is very aware of the fact."

We found out we both had Spanish next period and walked together to class, chattering about inane topics―class schedules, teachers, and a who's who synopsis.

Of course, our gossiping spilled over into the class lecture, and the moment Señora Goff called me out, I forgot for a split second that I was supposed to be impersonating a white girl.

"Señorita Swan, ¿hay algo que le gustaría compartir con la clase?"

"No, Señora Goff. Mis disculpas," I replied, without a hint of an accent. She appeared taken aback, but accepted my apology with a simple nod before continuing her lecture. Jessica gaped at me for a few seconds and didn't turn back to her notes until I pointedly ignored her.

As soon as class ended, Jessica pounced on me. "Oh my gosh, Isabella, you've got to tutor me!" she begged, expression morphing into a cute, puppy-dog gaze that I was sure was very effective on her dad.

"Ehh," I shrugged, "I'll think about it."

She pouted, but then, going by my grin, assumed I would probably tutor her regardless. "Aww, don't tease me!"

"Only if you lead the way to the cafeteria," I said, swinging my bag over my shoulder.

Immediately, Jessica picked up her chatter from where she'd left off.

"Ugh, Jess, stop," I complained. "It's hard to form an opinion when I don't even know these people."

She laughed. "Okay, okay, hurry up." Latching onto my arm, she pulled me through the double doors leading into the lunch room, and towed me over to the end of the line. Jessica preened under all the attention everyone was giving us.

The guy in front of us was craning his neck awkwardly so that he could stare at me.

"Take a picture, buddy. It'll last longer," I huffed and he turned beat red before shuffling along.

Jessica giggled. "You're funny!"

"Yep. Hilarious," I drawled, digging through my backpack in search of Bella's wallet. I found a couple of one's and five's.

If this is as permanent as I suspect, I'll have to steal your sock money. Sorry Bella.

We moved along at a swift pace, and soon enough, Jessica took the job of introducing me to everyone at her table. It was odd, sitting with people I viewed as storybook characters. There was Angela Weber―tall, pretty, shy. Lauren Mallory―haughty, and with the looks to justify it. And even a few new names and faces―June Richardson, Ashley Dowling, Samantha Wells, Lee Stephens, and Austin Marks.

I was dipping a fry into my ketchup when Jessica suddenly jabbed me in the gut with her elbow. "Ouch! Watch it, Jessica," I grumbled as I rubbed my stomach, "Your elbows are sharp."

"Isabella, look. Wait―don't be so obvious!"

I rolled my eyes, but tried to be more discrete as my gaze followed the direction she'd nodded her head towards. My eyes nearly bugged out of their sockets.

"I know!" she giggled. "Those are the ones I told you about earlier. The Cullen's and the Hale's."

"Oh. The rich kids," I repeated what she'd said. Although I hadn't paid much attention. Jessica would never know I had an uncomfortable amount of information on the group of vampires.

I snatched my gaze away before I could burn holes into their faces. They were so achingly beautiful, I knew I could stare at them for hours. Thankfully, Jessica dropped the subject after that. I'm pretty sure she'd only brought it up, just to get a good look at my face when I did see them.

Angela was nice enough to walk me to Biology II. As soon as I walked by Edward Cullen's table, my brain went into overdrive.

Gotta come up with an excuse…!

Mr. Banner signed the slip and waved me off without much fanfare. But I had sat on the stool, enduring Cullen's black, menacing gaze, for exactly one second before I stood back up. Gee, never thought I'd regret reading Midnight Sun.

"Is something the matter, Miss Swan?" Mr. Banner asked without looking up from a stack of graded worksheets.

"Um, I'm not feeling too good, Mr. Banner. Could I please visit the nurse's office?"

It only took the sight of my pale, scared stiff face for him to agree. As soon as he handed me a permission slip, I ducked out of the classroom, and assuming the nurse's office would be in the main office, I hurried in that direction, clutching the strap of my bag with a white-knuckle grip.

Please don't come after me. Please don't come after me, I prayed.

And to my relief, he didn't.


I leaned closer, squinting my eyes.

"Um, Bells? You okay?" I startled slightly at the sound of Charlie's voice. From the sight of his uniform, I assumed he'd only just arrived. He was peeking into the bathroom, where I'd left the door wide open.

I turned back to the mirror, leaned closer and poked the skin beneath my eye. "Dunno. My face looks funny," was the best I could come up with. Really, I was cataloging the differences in my face―similar skin tone, nose shape, and eye color; thinner lips, different eye shape, and a slimmer face.

My cheeks are gone, I mentally sighed and gazed down, as are my boobs.

Catching Charlie's look of concern, I changed the subject. "So, what should we do for dinner?" I asked, grabbing a hair brush off the counter and gently brushing through the tangles that had formed throughout the day. Long and dark (like my old hair), and straight (I could do without the curls. Not the best in such a wet climate.)

"I was thinking we could go down to the diner," Charlie offered.

"Eh. It's been kind of a long day. Think we could just order in?" I sighed, setting the brush back down.

"Listen Bells, I know―"

"Don't worry, chief," I grimaced. "I know I was acting funny yesterday. I don't hate it here. I was just stressed out about the change, and I'm no good with change. But it actually wasn't as bad as I thought―I made a couple of friends today." I smiled.

Charlie was both taken aback and relieved. "That's great, Bells! How about I order some pizza and you can tell me all about it while we eat?"

I grinned. "Sure thing!"

One day down. Fuck if I know how many I have left here.


A/N: What do you think of my OC? She's a bit of a spaz, but hopefully she's likable enough. Please, let me know your thoughts on this first chapter!