After our winner takes all wager things kicked into high gear from that time onwards. The underlying reason was to win the cash. We hung out more to study, helping each other with and I've got to admit it helped, not just academically in a way to bond as friends.

The days the new student arrived there was a bit excitement at school and Forks. I guess the student's novelty coupled with whom is her father was sort of interesting. The 1st time I saw her I was at Cullen's table that time looking fine, she was with that guy Eric, sitting at Mike Newton and his friend's table.

Looking at her she was above average pretty not exceptionally just above average and she definitely had nothing on me and Kareena not even close, could dress up a bit better, hair's unstyled, makeup is minimal, all in all she didn't seem to take that much effort in her looks.

Edward gave me an exasperated judgmental look that like "Oh come on get serious!" I rolled my eyes at him and thought to him with a sarcastic smile "I'm so sorry I've committed thought crime, THOUGHT POLICE!! Next time when you go Big Brother, I'll have thoughts you'll approve of." A feeling of calm washed over my annoyance.

Of course it was my "cousin's" gift was at work.

Still maintaining the peace he asked "So what's happening at Eric's table?"

Edward answered: "Him, Angela, Lauren, Jessica and Newton are talking about school, the usual." It's then Emmett noticed her staring at us, which I disliked but when we stared back she looked away.

Edward to us: "Now we've become the topic of discussion."

"Bet they're dishing dirt on the mysterious Cullens. So what juicy scandal are they thinking of?" Emmett said with nonchalant amusement.

"Us kids being reclusive snobs, being adoptees, Jasper and Alice, me spurning Jessica, Lauren's envy, Rosalie, our parents." Came Edward's answer.

"Well it's kinda disappointed this the level of infamy we've got? Gimme the good old days when we scared students and some of the faculty. But Naaah! We've gone soft! Jass man, you used look like you're fucking Brad Pitt in fight club! Then there's you beautiful (looking at me) people were like look but don't touch cause this bitch bites! Alice you were a poodle." said Emmett.

"Really Emmett?!! A poodle? Alice in a pouty voice.

"Yeah Alice, adorably cute, well put together, but way more vicious than a pitbull." Emmett answered.

That seemed to appease her. I asked Emmett: "Well about you Em?"

"I went from the badass Terminator to a teddybear oaf!" he said. More like a hunky teddybear I thought. Said bear turned his attention to Edward.

"Eddy! You used to be our foolproof scarecrow, with that look and your brooding intensity , makes Bruce Wayne over looking Gotham go…" he said exaggerating Edward's serious face and further spoke in a deliberately poor deep Batman voice "… Damn I wish I had Edward's brooding scowl."

That did it! Me, Jasper, Alice and Emmett burst out laughing, even Edward was struggling to contain the smile tugging at the corners of his mouth from spreading. In between the laughter, Emmett said: "Now your going soft too!" I don't know why but I couldn't help notice Edward seemed uncomfortable. The newbie girl gawked at us briefly when we noticed.

That was a few ago. I don't know why but Vera was giving me the cold shoulder and avoiding me these days. The only place she seems to willing to be around me was the cafeteria table, so I was going there today. When I arrived at table an intangible aura division was present. Vera, Kareena, Heather, Miranda on 1 side, tactful hostile towards Jack, while Luke, Heath and Lucy looked caught in the middle. "Hi, Guys!" I greeted.

Vera and co turned their hostility to me, while Luke and his group were polite but neutral, Jack looked lackadaisical but had a tense edge to him. "Vera can speak to you for a sec? In private."

Vera replied coldly: "No. I'm. Busy."

"It's important Vera, it won't a take long." I told her.

"Later Rose! she replied.

"When then? Getting impatient

"I don't know!" she replied.

Okay Vera. You're upset for some reason, I'll go before I loose my cool!"

I went to sit with my family and told of my day leading up to the tiff with Vera, when Edward stifled a giggle.

Rude much? I mean I'm having a crisis he thinks it's funny! Edward replied with an unusual giddiness "It's not that it's Mike Newton telling Isabella about the time when you shot him down." Emmett snickered "Aw!! Your lover boy is still pinning for our fair maiden's affections." Oh not that again!

"Damn that guy's still hurting from that it! Get over it! I'm not interested in him, especially when he hit on me after knowing Alice Jasper are a couple opted to go for the "plain" less intimidating Cullen. I used to be the "intimidating" beauty that few people approached me but when the Cullens came on to the scene, I was rendered the plain one when the Cullen's eclipsed my beauty.

I'm a bit conflicted about this I mean on the one hand, people swooning over you, going all out to impress you, the VIP treatment occasional gifts that rained on you.

The downside people don't take you seriously question your intelligence, thinking you're frivolously shallow person who coasts through life due to their looks, the wondering if people genuinely like you or just pretentious friends who just want to ride your coattails of your brilliance malicious envy that it inspires.

Being "plain" allowed me to have sincere friendships that more than made up for it.