A/N: Okay guys, this is the last daily update for a while. I'm only halfway through the next chapter and I'm not quite sure when I'll finish it. Hope you enjoy this chapter at least, your response to this story have been amazing.
Chapter 4
Bella would be lying if she said she was enjoying school so far. Just like at the airport, everyone stared at her, making her feel beyond uncomfortable and paranoid. If they also hadn't been so nice to Bella at the same time, she would have been sure that some of her weirdness had been rearing its ugly head.
Despite the way people gaped at her, despite having to deal with two boys who appeared to want to follow her around like paparazzi, and despite how boring she felt classes were, Bella also couldn't shake the excitement she felt buzzing around under her skin. It wasn't because she made an actual genuine friend-which she was pretty sure she found in Angela, who had been introduced to her between classes by Jessica-but because of something else. That something else, Bella had no clue of...until lunch.
"Oh my god here they come," Jessica whispered way too loudly as she grabbed onto Bella's shoulder. She then proceeded to shake Bella so hard in her excitement, that Bella had no choice but to drop her fork or risk stabbing herself.
"What are you talking abou-" Bella started to ask, only for Jessica to slap her hand over Bella's mouth with enough force to nearly shove her out of her seat. Thank god for Angela, who put a steadying hand on Bella's back to hold her up.
"Shh! They might hear you!" Jessica whispered loudly.
You're the one who… Bella stopped herself from complaining out loud, sending Angela a thankful glance. Angela smiled ruefully in return, aware of just how far overboard Jessica was going.
Peeling Jessica's hand off of her mouth, Bella turned to see what the big deal was about...only for Jessica to turn her head and wrench it back towards her.
"Don't look, you'll be too obvious!" Jessica squealed.
"Seriously Jessica?" Bella demanded, pushing Jessica's hands away. Before she could lay into Jessica about how the other girl had come way too close to just about snapping Bella's neck, Angela spoke up instead.
"Jessica, calm down. You can't just grab people like that, especially when you bring such attention to the Cullens. Of course Bella is going to want to see just what you are getting so excited about," Angela chastised with so much sternness, Jessica actually looked away like a chastised child.
"Sorry, Angela," Jessica mumbled, earning laughter and teasing from Mike and Eric while Lauren just rolled her eyes.
What about me? The girl whose neck you just cracked in seventeen different ways? Bella wanted to complain, but decided to just let it go. Instead, she scooted closer to Angela and farther away from Jessica, just in case Jessica got over excited again.
"The Cullens?" Bella asked Angela.
"Yes, they're a family who live here. For some reason there's only four of the kids at school today, but…" Angela trailed off, staring behind Bella, wide eyed. The girl looked stupefied, like a deer caught in headlights. Bella was actually nervous about turning around, until the most beautiful voice she had ever heard spoke.
"Talking about us to the new girl already, are we?" Rosalie Hale all but sneered from behind Bella. She narrowed her eyes at Angela, causing the human to shrink back in instinctual fear. Good. She really didn't like how close Angela had been to the new human...to her mate? Rosalie still wasn't sure what was going on, if what she was feeling should even be possible, but she wasn't about to risk messing it up after the hole in her heart was slowly starting to fill after all of those years of suffering.
"Uh, I…" Angela started to stammer, but Rosalie forgot all about her when Bella turned around.
Rosalie's eyes met Bella's chocolate brown, and immediately, Rosalie was filled with such happiness, such joy and longing and relief, it would have taken her breath away had she needed it. It took all she had not to simply sweep the girl into her arms, squeeze her tight, and kiss her senseless right then and there.
Instead, she held out her hand to Bella, who was now staring at her wide eyed, mouth hanging open, gaping at her. "Rosalie Hale," Rosalie introduced herself. "And you are?"
Rosalie noticed how Bella's eyes slowly took in every inch of her, heard the girl's heart stutter out an unsteady rhythm, heard Bella swallow, hard. Normally, it would have annoyed Rosalie to be looked at in such a way, despite how used to it she was. Instead, under this girl's gaze, Rosalie all but preened. She relished the way Bella took her in, clearly unable to help herself. Deciding to help the poor overwhelmed human, Rosalie took the girl's hand from where it had rested on the table.
Electricity sparked from the touch, and Rosalie almost let out a gasp. Just taking her hand had such an impact on her...she had never felt more alive. Instead of shaking her hand, Rosalie just held it. Craving more but unable to get it, Rosalie settled for reveling in the contact she had. "Your name?"
Holy shit. This was the girl from my dreams. She exists? Bella thought in disbelief. Rosalie Hale. That was her name, a name Bella would never forget. And now she was…? Right, a name. Rosalie was asking for her name. "Isabella Swan. Call me Bella."
From across the cafeteria, Emmett froze. Not just looks, even this girl's name was similar to his sister's. Why? Was this a way for the world to taunt him and Rose? How was this supposed to make him happy, seeing a reminder of his sister every day until they left Forks? Even as he started to get worked up, looking over at Bella sent a wave of warmth and comfort through him, and he just didn't get it.
"Well, Bella, why don't you join my siblings and I for lunch? I believe you would find it much more interesting to hear about us from the source." Rosalie tugged lightly on Bella's hand, and the girl rose from her chair with a dumb nod.
"Sorry guys, I…" Bella started, trying to get out an apology for abandoning her tablemates for the blonde angel before her.
"No problem Bella, talk to you later," Angela said with clear encouragement. No one else could manage more than an awkward mumble.
Wait...if the blonde from her dreams was here, could that mean the boy was too?
Bella looked up from where Rosalie and her were still holding hands to the table the blonde was leading Bella to. As her eyes landed on Emmett, she felt such heartache and joy, she stumbled. It was like someone hit her over the head with a brick of pure love as she looked at him, and she didn't even know why.
"I need to go," Jasper mumbled to Alice, overwhelmed by the strength of Bella's emotions. "Now."
Alice glanced over worriedly; her vision hadn't warned her about this. With a nod, she took Jasper's hand, and the two left immediately, Alice making sure to smile warmly at Bella as she passed. She didn't want Bella to think that they were leaving because of her after all...even though they were.
Bella barely noticed, her eyes still locked on Em. She felt such an urge to cry, but she wasn't about to do that here, in front of a bunch of strangers, and embarrass herself on the first day. Bella had to hold the tears back like her life depended on it, but it didn't help that Rosalie sat Bella right between her and the big guy. Despite how cold their bodies felt, Bella felt nothing but warmth.
"I'm Emmett," Emmett said with a grin, because even in his overwhelmed emotional state, he couldn't help himself. He had a powerful urge to hug the human, so he did, squeezing her tightly.
Bella grunted at the strength of the hug, and immediately Rosalie slapped Emmett hard at the same moment that Emmett let go.
"Careful with her!" Rosalie hissed, but Emmett was already letting go, eyes wide with alarm and worry.
"Shit, sorry Bells, I don't know my own strength!" Emmett blurted.
Bella surprised everyone with a laugh. "Don't worry, I can take whatever you've got. I'm stronger than I look." Bella flexed her arms to prove her point, showing off her muscles.
Rosalie just had to touch them, eyeing the brunette hungrily. "Mm, I bet you can," Rosalie purred, making the girl turn red from embarrassment.
Someone that beautiful shouldn't be allowed to tease her, not like that. Bella was more than prepared to pass out from the way Rosalie stroked Bella's bicep, the way Rosalie's gold eyes watched her with what Bella's horny, too hopeful and muddled brain could only describe as hunger, but she sensed something wrong with the boy on her other side. It was honestly all that stopped Bella from forgetting how to breathe.
"You okay, Emmett?" Bella asked, turning to the big guy and trying not to be hyper aware of the goddess hugging her arm. She felt Rosalie hug the arm closer, pressing her breasts against Bella's bicep. She had never really thought much about her sexuality, but right now, Bella knew she was certainly Rose-sexual. Thankfully, her concern for the muscular boy kept her from making a fool of herself.
"Yeah," Emmett said with a nod, a far away look in his eyes. "You just remind me of someone is all." The short conversation they had alone was eerily similar to a conversation Emmett had with Isabelle when he was a kid, and already putting on muscle and size. Even now, the reminder made his heart ache.
"Don't be," Emmett said, his grin returning. Regardless of what was going on, a conversation Emmett had almost forgotten had returned to him. "I'm already happy I met you, Bells." He went to give Bella another hug, only to realize Rosalie was in the way. Their eyes met, and an agreement to have a discussion about Bella later passed between them.
"I am as well," Rosalie murmured, making Bella jump as she felt Rosalie's breath against her neck. "I have a feeling we are going to end up very, very close, Bella."
Feeling a strange tingle all over, Bella gulped. Just what was she getting into with these two?
