AN: I hope this is as much fun to read as it was to write for me. Enjoy!

-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx-

Deadly Affection – Reimagined

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or any of it's characters. I just play around with them.

Chapter 7: Official Meetings

Bella PoV

The blinding light that I had seen near the diner was making my brain hurt. I don't know how I didn't think of it before now. Why wouldn't there be supernatural beings in high school? I was. The silvery neon ball of light was a little larger than what I saw that night though, meaning there was more than one of them around.

Barely missing a beat, I walked inside and gave Mr. Jefferson the admission slip which he signed. Then I walked past the boy sitting in the front row, every fiber of my being screaming in warning. Sitting down all the way in the back, I wondered if he had even noticed my presence. He hadn't moved an inch. In fact, he was unnaturally still. To the point of almost looking like a statue.

He had tousled dark red, almost bronze hair and an insanely pale skin tone. Suddenly he moved, twisting his head to the side. His nose flared, as he was trying to smell something. From this angle I could see his square, angled jaw, with high cheekbones, making him look almost like a Leonardo da Vinci sculpture. He looked too pretty to be human. How did everyone else not notice that?

With another sudden motion, his eyes locked with mine. Shit! I must have been staring like a lunatic. Flustered and on edge, I looked down at my backpack and took out my notepad and pen, trying to act as natural as I could.

I could see him turn back to the front of the room just as the teacher rose from his chair, beginning the lecture. His posture was relaxed even with how still he seemed.

I didn't manage to follow the lecture at all. I was focusing the entire time on not bursting into a full cloak in the middle of class. The proximity to another supernatural being made my brain scream bloody murder. To power up and run the fuck away. That would have been a fucking disaster and a half.

The sound of the bell ringing spooked me, but my muscles were locked in place, not moving an inch. My eyes were squarely at this dudes back all the way out the door, and I didn't relax until I saw him leave my vision down the hall.

I was merely a walking automaton as this other kid that had been in my class introduced himself. I noted blue eyes, but I didn't listen to a word he said, or respond to him in any way. I merely walked to my next class, being diligent in my scanning for other supernatural beings.

I even went as far as to walk part of the way with my eyes closed, and powers unleashed to the point where it encompassed most the building I was in. There was another supernatural dude a few classrooms away from mine. He was built like a fucking tank. How could anyone believe a guy that size was human. Or on some serious growth hormones. It just isn't natural to be like two meters tall and built like a bodybuilder at 18! Wonder how much he can bench... Are whatever these guys are really strong, like me? A brief wonder of what the laws of physics would have to say about supernatural creatures occupied my mind enough to loose focus.

I nearly stumbled into a girl at the door. A human, thankfully. We both excuse ourselves, waiting for the other to move, only to then start moving again at the same time. She laughs in embarrassment as I blush like crazy, temporarily pulling me out of my spying ways.

''Hey... you're the new girl? Isabella?'' She asked timidly, curling a lock of her brown hair in front of her. She is quite pretty, by humans standards at least. This has me scoff at my own thoughts. Apparently I don't consider myself human at some level.

''Just Bella. And yes, I am.'' As the blush leaves my face, I remember that I've got my eyes closed all the way because of the whole glowing situation. She shouldn't be able to glance through my shades to notice easily, but in close proximity and staring she might. With some trepidation I pull back on my powers and open my eyes to actually look at her.

''I'm Jessica Stanley. It's really nice to meet you.'' Her hand extended and I shake it carefully, scared I might hurt her if I'm not careful. I really need to learn to restrain my powers better when close to other supers. If this whole Forks deal is going to have any success that is. Were there supers in Phoenix?

''Stanley! Class is starting, come in and close the door.'' The teacher's shrill voice sounds from inside. He doesn't seem to have seen me from the angle of my entrance, and I kind of want to bolt. But there is no backing out of this one. It's this or bust. I don't think mom or Charlie could afford to home-school me in any case.

Trig really isn't my favorite subject. I like math in general, but trigonometry has always somehow managed to annoy me with its many decimals. And this fucking teacher isn't helping much as he demands I take off my glasses in class. And he has the gall to make me introduce myself! I half-entertained the thought of socking him in the jaw, only to remember Charlie's words this morning with a wry smile.

My heart rate did slow down somewhat, thanks to Jessica. She had elected to pick the chair next to me, and as such was whispering to me constantly. Even the teacher chiding her didn't stop her from pestering me about my life. She did ask for help with the math though, which made me feel better.

And as the bell rang for the last class before lunch I was pleased to find that she shared the next class with me as well. Spanish with Mrs. Goff was pretty uneventful. I chose to sit near the front to discourage Jessica from prattling my ear off. There was also no supernaturals nearby, so my headache that was forming calmed down somewhat. But all too soon, the bell rang again.

Jessica immediately started to herd me towards the cafeteria to sit with her at lunch. As we entered I was pleased to notice there were only humans here. I picked out a slice of pizza for lunch and sat down at Jessica's table, pleased to see Eric sitting at the same table. The blue eyed kid from my government class is also here, along with two other girls and a third boy I don't recognize.

''Hey again, Bella.'' Eric says with a wave as I sit down. I only nod in response, not trusting my voice at the moment. My whole body is tense, and I put on my shades, expecting my eyes to flare up again as soon as company arrives.

''Smiiile!'' One of the girls chirps, shoving a camera into my face just before the flash goes off. The shades definitely came in handy as I feel my eyes glow after the surprise photography. ''Sorry, I needed a candid for the feature.'' Her expression seems genuine, so I just let it slide.

''The feature is dead, Angela!'' Eric exclaims as he gets up, seemingly coming to my defense. I was torn between being grateful for his firm stance on the matter, and annoyed with his seeming familiarity. He puts a hand on my shoulder and seeming goes in to whisper into my ear, before suddenly pulling away awkwardly. I see him looking at me strangely, then walk away quickly.

Good thing too, as every fiber of my being screams to run. Walking along the outside of the building, I see five bright neon life-signs that makes my head feel like splitting in twain. I grab my head with both hands and look towards the exit as they enter the room. Jessica and Angela is talking behind me, but I can't make them out as I stare at the five inhumanly beautiful beings coming in.

I feel someone poke my rib and nearly burst into full cloak right then and there. Turning around way too fast, I glare at Jessica who seems taken aback.

''Bella?'' She questions. Shit. I've opened my eyes as I turned around, and I can see my eyes glow in the reflection from my shades. I quickly shut my eyes again and put on a fake smile for her. It seems to reassure her.

''Staring at the Cullen's, huh?'' A look only a gossip queen could properly pull of forms on her face. ''They're doctor and Mrs. Cullen's foster kids. They moved down here from Alaska, like, a few years ago.''

''They kind of keep to themselves.'' Angela adds in whisper. That figures, as they aren't human. My guess would be their 'parents' were the same thing they are. It would be highly unlikely for two humans adopted all supernatural kids. So why do they go to school? If they had parents that understood they were special, why not home-school them? Keep them away from prying humans.

''Yes, because they are all together.'' Jessica adds with an air of scorn. I see them walking in pairs only a few meters behind me. I grab the metal legs of the table and grip as tight as I can, to ground myself. The metal buckles in my hands. The one walking alone furthest in the back turns his head to me, as if he head the sound, even though Jessica and Angela don't notice it.

''They're not actually related...'' Angela defends them from Jessica's implied incestuous relationships. Finding a partner as a human was troubling enough. I wonder what the supernatural dating scene was like. It seems they were lucky, to have found someone of their kind so young. Or it could be a beggars can't be choosers kind of deal.

''Still, they live together... It's weird.'' Jessica's voice almost goes too high to be considered whispering. ''So, the blonde is Rosalie. She's with the big, dark haired guy, Emmett.'' She occasionally casts a glance over her shoulder at them as she points them out. Emmett seems to be the bodybuilder guy I sensed earlier, towering above the blonde. Rosalie is... Hot. As I stare at her face, the brightness of their beings seems to recede somewhat. I would probably have noticed my brain screaming in thanks, if not for me just about ready to fuck everything up for myself.

''Next is Alice, the little dark-haired girl. She is really weird.'' My gaze focused on the little girl, being way shorter than even me. She looked non-threatening as she skipped alongside a deceptively ripped guy nearly two heads taller. Her eyes were big for her small face, giving her an almost elfish look. With how they all looked super cut and pretty, if not for their lack of point ears, I would have thought them to be elves. Then again, J.R.R. Tolkien work was fiction. Right?

''She always hangs around Jasper, the blonde one who looks like he's in pain.'' My attention turned to his posture. I could see how Jess thought it was pain, if he had been human. The impression he gave me was that he was trying to constrain himself from acting out. He was dangerous. The metal in my hand crumpled further, enough to make Jess notice and jump in surprise.

''Bella? Are you okay?'' The guy walking in the back of the group, alone, was staring into my back. His lips moved like he was talking, but I couldn't hear a sound. The others of his group all turned their heads simultaneously as they were sitting down. ''Bella? Hey...? Bella?'' I think he knows. Somehow, he knows. He had stopped moving completely, and turned his body in my direction, just standing in the cafeteria. The mouths of the other occupants at their table also move in a similar fashion, seemingly without making sound.

I grip around the wrist of an incoming hand moving to shake my shoulder. Jessica looks scared as my eyes blaze red behind my shades. I need to get out of here. Run. Run!

''I don't feel well.'' The deep bass of my voice surprises even me, but I can't linger on it. I need to get the hell out of here. Grabbing my pack, I rush out the cafeteria, looking for somewhere to hide. I want to ditch everything in my locker, strip down, cloak up and run as fast away from here as I can. But that isn't an option. Charlie would find out. People could see me. Questions would be asked. The impossibility of the situation leads me to the cliché hiding spot of the little ladies room. Being the middle of lunch period, it's empty.

Setting my backpack down underneath the sink I tear off my jacket and shades, staring into my reflection. The shock of seeing my blazingly red pupils being slit vertically like a cat is numbed by the realization that I can still see all the way to the cafeteria, without my cloak. The five beings are arguing at their table. Glad to see I messed up their day somewhat as well.

So how could it be that he found me out so quickly. The debate they're having seems way too lively to be only plausibility. The few tables close to theirs has even been vacated by the humans in a hurry. They have got to have increased hearing at least, as he had been drawn to the sound of bending the table leg. But he didn't see that I did it. Or my eyes. I didn't open my eyes in their direction after he noticed the sound.

And they can communicate without humans being able to hear. I wonder if a human would even be able to pick up the minute movement of their lips going at that speed. Oh fuck. They all got to hear Jess prattling about them. No wonder they keep to themselves. Listening to small town folks gossiping like they were sitting right next to you could not be charming.

I did stare at them, and hold my head with my hands like a lunatic. But they didn't seem to look back at me at the time. Anyway, that could just be circumstantial. So what did tip him off? Movement. The big guy, Emmett, tried to hold his girls wrist to stop her. I was staring at the tiled wall in their direction as I saw them argue. The look on, what was it... Rosalie's face brought chills down my spine, and I wasn't even near her. Emmett's hand dropped quickly without a word. The last kid who I didn't get the name of spoke to Rosalie, before she turned in the direction of the door I had left from.

No. Fuck. NO. Fuck-my-life NO. She was not coming this way. No. Oh fuck. She was. Her stride was driven as she homed in on my location. The scared school-girl in my had me getting in one of the stalls, locking the door, and standing on the top of the toilet. I wanted to laugh at myself, but in vain hope I tried to stay as still and silent as I could. The seconds ticked by. The only sound I heard were my own heart racing in my chest.

And I felt even more stupid as I realized that if they could speak and hear things humans couldn't, they could probably hear my heartbeat in a closed off room. I unlocked the stall and went over to the window. It was a second story window on this side of the building, being on a slope close to the forest. Worst case scenario, I had jumped from taller places. I just hoped no one would see me. From a quick look, this side of the building was almost empty. A couple of adult, probably teachers, were in one of the rooms across the hall, but they seemed occupied.

I unlatched the lock of the window as I started hearing the heels of the blonde clacking through the corridor outside. I wouldn't get the window open in time, before she came into the room, so I turned towards the door, readying for a confrontation.

With a bang, the door crashed against the tiled wall, and Rosalie stepped inside. The door closed behind her with another bang, as we squared off. She crossed her arms in front of her, leaning her hip against the sink, just staring at me for a second or two. An offhand thought of how beautiful she was got cut off as she clicked her tongue. She was staring directly into my eyes.

''So Edward was right. You're not human.'' Even the sound of her voice was beautiful, despite the cold edge to it. It was a weird sensation, time being slowed down, but still hearing her speak normally. Like watching a japanese movie dubbed to english in a sense. I elected not to answer, instead scrutinizing her for any sudden movement to warn of danger. ''But you're not one of us.'' She mused to herself. Her arms unfolded, and in reaction I bent my knees, readying for an attack.

''Say, what are you, per chance?'' Her words were amicable, but her tone held a dangerous edge to it. The fake smile adorning her face didn't help matters.

''Dangerous.'' Was the only word that left me. I didn't want any supernatural who could possibly know more about my kind that I did any leverage. She could know of a weakness I did not. The glint in her eyes were all the warning I got.

In a flash, she closed the distance between us. I barely had the time to react, even with my cloak blowing apart my clothes instantly, and time slowing down even further. She seemed surprised by the emergence of billowing red energy around me. Enough for her to make a mistake. My taloned feet dug grooves into the tiled floor as I pushed forwards, stepping into her guard, and striking her center mass with an open palm punch.

The inertia of her movement and mass made it heavier than I imagined, nearly pushing the cloak into my palm. I could feel a lack of heat from her body as a mere whisper of red energy remained between us. The look on her face as she launched backwards into the mirror above the sink was priceless.

My face snapped in the direction of the cafeteria, as the guy apparently called Edward rose too quickly out of his chair, knocking it over. The others had reacted to the noise of her crashing into the wall by turning their heads, but he somehow knew before she even hit it. There was something off about him. In any case, she had backup coming. And Rosalie didn't seem any worse for wear, as she got out of the crater that was the wall and stood up like nothing happened. Other than her jacket being covered in plaster, and somewhat singed on the front.

A pissed-off expression marred her beautiful face. She did however, look put-off enough by my seeming ability to fight her off, to not go in for another try.

''I don't want to hurt you. Just leave me alone.'' I muttered, before jumping backwards through the window, landing in a shower of glass. Thoughts running through my mind of how this would ruin everything. I saw her peering over the edge of the window as I ran as fast as I could into the forest. So much for not ditching school, or causing a fuzz. The last thing I saw before getting out of range, was that the teacher in the other room were getting up, trying to find out what caused the ruckus.

-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx-

So there I was, standing in the forest, completely naked. Like you do... I had run into unknown territory before I decided to stop in a clearing, close to a river. The sound of water rushing downstream calmed me enough to where my cloak almost receded. Almost. There was still too much adrenaline running through my system to stop trembling.

If that's even how my body works anymore. If I even have adrenaline in my body. Fuck.

I fell down to my knees in the snow. The cold didn't bother me thanks to the cloak, but a part of me wanted to. I wanted to feel cold. I wanted to feel helpless. I wanted to feel human.

I roared out in despair, causing birds to squawk as they fled to the skies all around me.

Seems like now was the time to have a breakdown of epic proportions.

I had fucked up in Phoenix. I had fucked up in Forks. Charlie would be... how do one even react to this.

Tears fell silently into the snow.

I couldn't stay. But I couldn't leave. I can't.

Renèe wouldn't be able to cope if I disappeared. And I don't know if Charlie would fare any better. At least Renèe has Phil to lean on. Dad doesn't have that.

Another roar, this time in anger, as I bring my hands down into the ground. Dirt explodes everywhere, but I don't care. Deep grooves are left in the wake of my fists, sinking little by little further into the ground.

A pain I haven't felt since the day I killed that bird erupts from my chest. Black markings burn my skin through the cloak, and heal up as soon as they appear. They swirl frantically over my body, pain giving way to rage.

The fury is all I feel as trees explode with each punch I land. Ten. Twenty.

The river is full of splinters by the time I notice it. A single neon-silver entity in range of my vision.

It's the little one. Alice.

It brings me out of my rage, and the black markings all but recede. She has been standing still some ways away from me for some time. Leaning against a tree silently with her arms crossed in front of her. Her face belies the calmness of her stance. The slightly open mouth, the narrowed eyebrows. She is worried, maybe even scared.

As my eyes bore into her, I notice the strap around her right shoulder. My strap. Well, Charlie's strap. The backpack I was borrowing from him. She brought it for me?

Another revelation hits me as I have turned to her. I'm completely naked. The cloak may hold the weather at bay, but it by no means conceal my form. The warm rush of blood to my face alert me to a blush very much deserved, and I cover myself as best I can with my hands, turning a little sideways. I don't know if it helps any, as a smile spreads on Alice's face.

With the same dizzying speed that Rosalie rushed me with, Alice would have all but appeared in front of me if not for my powers. She had her back turned to me, and was seemingly untangling something from over my backpack.

''Here.'' The bells of her voice catch me off-guard, as she holds my jacket out in my direction. She is very intently not looking in my direction. Part of me still screams of danger, but her actions tell me otherwise. Why did Rosalie attack me, when Alice is standing her with her back to me.

It seems counter-intuitive, for one to consider me an enemy, and for the other to stand here with her back to me. She just saw me wreck every tree in the vicinity. Does she truly believe that I wouldn't, or couldn't, actually hurt her?

A throb of anger arose in me at this little impertinent imp assuming I was unable to defend myself. I should show this...

''I'm sorry about Rosalie's rude behavior earlier. She's not really that good with people...'' Alice's voice sounds like bells and chimes, and it calms the resentment in me somewhat.

''Then why send her to be your emissary?'' I question gruffly, again taken aback by the bass in my voice. Then again, I had not spoken to anyone while cloaked up before. Must be a side effect of it.

''We did not know your intentions, or your abilities. Rosalie can handle herself in a fight.'' She said it like it made perfect sense to attack first and ask questions later.

''Didn't stop me from getting a good lick in when she attacked me.'' I huffed back at her, and Alice laughed in response. ''What's so funny?''

After giggling some more, which while being infuriating, it also calmed me enough to drop the cloak, Alice replied. ''Well it kind of caught her off guard, you blowing up into full frontal nudity. Even Edward was shocked from that.'' More laughter, to my confusion and embarrassment. Why would Edward be shocked at that? He wasn't there. He hadn't seen me.

I pushed that away, as I moved onto more immediate concerns. ''So she wasn't actually attacking me?'' Alice's delightful laughter stopped, and she tapped her foot to one of the bigger pieces of wood left from my rampage.

''Well... She did. But she didn't intend to harm you. She only wished to assess how much of a danger you posed to us.'' Alice's voice was low and sheepish, the bell like quality somewhat gone.

''And?'' I said with baited breath. I was eager to hear the verdict, as it could hold a hint to my survival.

''She agreed with what you said. You're dangerous.'' The silence that settled between us was numbing. Not a breath was drawn for several seconds by either of us. Not a creature around us made a noise. Not even the wind blowing through the trees made a sound.

It meant if the worst came to pass, I could possibly hold my own against at least one of them, maybe more. But likely not all of them. And it meant they had made the choice to not attack again, as proved by Alice's presence.

''Then why trust me?'' Her shoulders which had been tense dropped down lower. She hadn't been completely sure I wouldn't attack her. The duplicity of it was understandable to me. We had come off to a bad start, but they wanted to offer a second chance. The repercussion of the first attempt was not ignored, but hope had taken its place.

''Because of the other thing you said. Rosalie isn't a good people-person, but she is a good judge of character. She believed you were telling the truth, when you said you didn't want to hurt her.'' Alice's words were sounded sincere, helped by the half-smile on her face. It felt like she was leaving something out, but that could probably wait.

These supernatural beings had decided they would trust me enough to let me live, at the very least. I took my jacket from her hand slowly, and pulled it around my body. I was glad I had gone with a jacket went almost down to my knees. Hearing the zipper being pulled up, Alice turned to face me with a gleaming smile.

''I'm Alice! I'm NOT weird. I'm awesome! Nice to meet you!'' The elf-like girl announced happily, holding her hand out for me to shake. The complete turn-around of emotions had me smiling as I shook it.

''Bella. Nice to make your acquaintance.'' I laughed as I recalled the words Jess used to describe her earlier. Seems like Alice doesn't appreciate being called weird. Noted.

''It's SO exciting to meet another friendly supernatural! Hmm...'' She was bouncing in place, arms held down at her sides, seemingly by force of will. ''Can I hug you? Please?'' It was hard not to giggle at this little girls giddy behavior, and I just nodded in response.

All of a sudden her lithe body was wrapped tightly around me with a grip stronger than I would have attributed to her tiny form. I also took note of her lack of body heat. Probably something to do with whatever it was they were. I patted her back to inform her the appropriate amount of time for a friendly hug had passed, and she let me go. She still bounced on the balls of her feet.

''Oh yes, I forgot to mention. We took care of the mess at school. And we covered for your absence. It was smart to tell your friends you didn't feel well, really sold the sickness excuse.'' Before I even got a word out, she replied to what I was going to ask. ''Officially, Rosalie was having a bad day, and trashed the bathroom. She's going to have to pay for the damages. The look on her face.'' Alice's grin grew even wider.

This tiny terror was something to look out for, even if she was family, it seemed. I felt a little guilty that Rosalie would have to pay for me throwing her into the wall and bursting out of the window. Then again, she did try to attack me first.

''I have to warn you, she is sort of upset with you about that.'' The grin on her face had disappeared completely. It had gotten kind of annoying, the way she seemed to know what I was going to say before I said it. And I noticed that as I thought that, her face donned a sheepish smile.

''You guys can see the future?'' At this point it was more of a statement than a question. But then why did Rosalie get surprised when she tried to attack me. Unless. ''Just you?'' A quick nod. Then why wasn't she selected to be the first to approach me? And why was she so tense earlier. Unless it wasn't fool-proof. Or it hinged on something. ''They have to make up their minds first?'' Another nod.

As crazy as that was, it made sense. It was certainly a useful ability to have, and they didn't want to risk loosing it if I was hostile. My mind then turned back to how they figured out. If Alice had the ability to see the future, the others would possibly have other abilities. Edward... A cold shiver went down my spine.

''Please tell me Edward can't read minds. Please?'' I begged her, only to receive raised eyebrows. She hadn't seen this question coming.

''You really are clever. We're gonna be such great friends!'' She was beaming with happiness again.

''Oh my god, your brother has seen me naked.'' So I can admit this was a weird thing to freak out about, but that's just how I work. That Rosalie and Alice had seen me was awkward, but it's not like they didn't have the same basic layout. I think. But that her brother had seen me by proxy of Rosalie was just downright mortifying.

I ran my hands over my hair as the blush spread across my face, and Alice came up beside me in sort of a side-hug.

''There's not a lot of privacy with a mind reader in the house, but he does try to be courteous with it. And your mind is harder to read than others, according to Edward. You're actually a black spot in my visions. I could only see what you were going to ask because it was in my future.'' Her attempts to console me was somewhat effective.

''I feel so embarrassed.''I lamented, leaning onto Alice's shoulder as we started walking back to civilization. The large gouges of earth left in my wake had made that easy enough.

-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx-

AN: I hope it was somewhat understandable. Most of this was written under a painkiller haze, but oh well. If there is anything missing or feels left out, please let me know. Otherwise, I hope you enjoyed it. Another chapter should be up in about another 2 weeks.