Disclaimer: I do not, nor will ever, own the Twilight series, or any of its characters and plots.


I had never hated school like my friends back in Phoenix. I didn't particularly enjoy it, as I'd always thought I had more fun things to do, but I always did well.

So, when my mother announced that I was already enrolled and would-be attending classes the Monday after we arrived in Forks, I was a mix of nervous and excited – though not at all for the schoolwork.

I wanted the students at Forks High to like me, to accept me into their ranks. I wanted to be one of them, blending into the crowd enough to make and keep friends without being shoved into the center of attention.

I had it easy in Phoenix; I'd grown up with my classmates. I had gone through the embarrassing, awkward stages that every teenager knew not to speak about, with my peers. There was nothing I could ever do to make them ever think of me oddly or impersonal after those middle school years.

Now, I was being thrown into an entirely new set of circumstances.

The spotlight would be on me for the first time in my life, as these teenagers scrutinized every aspect of my appearance, personality, and life. I had to make a great impression, but not something that would have me spiraling up or down the social ladder.

The morning of my first day, I found myself biting my lip as I went through my morning routine. My mother had already left for work, so I worried alone as I got ready to face whatever the day might bring.

I stowed an agate stone in my backpack for good luck, and set out, making sure to lock the door behind me.

It was about a twenty-minute walk to school, and I spent the time practicing conversation starters in my mind. I was pretty good with people, but one could never be too prepared when it came to high school.

Even before I'd even set foot into the school, the few people lingering outside turned to look at me as I walked past. I smiled at them, feigning comfortableness, and my tactic worked.

A blonde girl wearing tight jeans and a sports jacket broke from her group of friends. I slowed down a bit so she could catch up easily.

"Hey, you must be the new girl everyone's talking about." She said peppily, and I laughed lightly.

"Everyone's talking about me? Way to make a girl feel nervous."

She giggled, rolling her eyes.

"It's a small town; everyone jumps at the slightest bit of change here. I'm Rachel, by the way."

"April." I replied and nodded at the jacket. "What sort of team do you play on?"

Her eyes brightened at the question, and she eagerly said, "Oh, I'm actually head cheerleader. The jacket is my boyfriend's, but I'm sure you'll meet him later. Where are you headed?"

She seemed a bit too helpful, but, remembering the cheerleaders at my old school, she was just as peppy as they were.

She walked me all the way to the office, introducing me to people as we passed them. By the time she left me alone outside the office, fifteen or so different names were spinning through my head. I knew I'd never remember them.

"Hello." An older woman behind the desk greeted as I walked in. "You must be April Creswell."

"Yes, ma'am." I replied cheerfully, and she smiled, waving me forward.

As she went over my schedule, I was glad to see that my mother had enrolled me in both French and Home Ethics instead of Gym, as requested. I was interested to note that I was also placed into Choir, but the secretary assured me that almost every Sophomore ended up in it.

"It's basically just a placeholder since our other electives were filled with older students." She told me kindly.

I smiled and thanked her, leaving the office with my schedule and a map in hand. The parking lot was more crowded that it was before, but Rachel quickly found me, two other girls with her.

"April, this is Lauren and Haley, two of the girls on my squad." She said cheerfully.

Lauren was a blonde girl with a naturally up-turned nose and sky, blue eyes. Haley had dark hair, greenish-brown eyes, and perfectly, straight teeth.

"Hey!" Haley greeted, smiling just as brightly as April, while Lauren looked me up and down for a second before she smiled too.

"Nice to meet you." I said, smiling easily. "How are you all so tan with these clouds?"

They really were tan. Haley was a bit too tan, like she'd pasted a ton of tanning lotion on herself in an attempt to make herself darker.

"Oh, honey, we know the spots."

Lauren's tone was a bit judgmental, but I glimpsed a bit of envy in her eyes when she looked over me again. Nothing beat the warm rays of the sun when it came to golden skin. I credited my tan to a mix of genetics and the Arizona sun. My mother had fair skin, but she'd told me once that my father was a part Cherokee.

"You'll have to show me one day." I replied, laughing.

Haley grinned and nodded in agreement. Rachel took my schedule from me, looking over it.

"Oh, great, you have English with me." She said, "And Chem. with Haley."

"Yeah, it's too bad I already have a lab partner."

Haley seemed genuinely disappointed. Lauren scoffed.

"As if. Evans usually puts the new kids with a Cullen." She turned to me, her eyes narrowing. "By the way, when you do meet the Cullens, try not to make them notice you. I've heard they have tempers."

I blinked in surprise at the blatant warning, and Rachel laughed, though it sounded a bit forced.

"Come on, guys, leave her alone. The Cullens aren't that bad."

She linked her arm through mine, handing my schedule back.

"Yeah, right."

Haley rolled her eyes.

The warning bell rang, and Rachel and I hurried away. I didn't mention the 'Cullen' thing, wondering if it was just a playful prank that Lauren was trying to pull on me. She certainly seemed like the type to have a sort-of initiation into her friend group.

"Don't worry about what she said." Rachel whispered as we entered the classroom.

I nodded, and she strode to her seat at the back of the class.

"Hello," I said as I walked up to the desk.

The woman behind the desk was a plump, middle-aged lady with graying, dark hair, and tired blue eyes. She glanced up at me, and then motioned to one of the empty desks near the front.

"Welcome, Miss Creswell." She said as I chose the seat next to the window. "We're currently reading 'Animal Farm', written by George Orwell. Have you at least heard of it?"

I nodded, surprised that they were still reading something that I'd read last year.

"Yes, ma'am. Actually, that was on last year's reading list." I admitted, and she seemed surprised.

"Hm. Well, I can recommend reading another one of Orwell's novels, 'Nineteen Eighty-Four', and then I'll have you complete an essay about it at the end of the unit, instead of the one about 'Animal Farm'. You will be graded with the same scale as the others, so I expect nothing but great writing from you, Miss Creswell."

I could tell, already, that I was going to like Mrs. Williams' class. She seemed strict, but she also seemed like she actually wanted her students to succeed. Plus, as I spent most of the lesson doodling at the top of my notebook, she didn't seem to mind at all. Perhaps because I'd already completed this unit, but also maybe because she trusted my ability to keep up despite my obvious distraction.

Rachel bid me goodbye after the lesson, just as Haley was walking up, chattering to a red-haired girl next to her.

"April, meet Kylie. Kylie, April." She introduced.

Kylie instantly grabbed my hand, grinning widely.

"It's so nice to meet you!" She exclaimed loudly, drawing attention to us.

I smiled back at her.

"You too!" I said, copying her excitement.

She beamed, and then, to my surprise, kissed Haley's cheek before she skipped away. Haley blushed at my questioning look.

"Oh, that's my girlfriend." She explained, and then got a very guarded look. "I don't suppose you mind about-."

"No, no." I quickly interrupted. "It's just that most of the couples at my old school were embarrassed about PDA."

She sighed in relief, shaking her head with a small smile on her face.

"Kylie's not embarrassed about anything." She admitted and laughed quietly as she began to lead the way to my next class. "You really should've seen her when I finally got up the courage to ask her out. If the gym teacher hadn't stopped her, she might've torn off my clothes then and there!"

I laughed along, the idea so absurd, that I couldn't help myself.

Encouraged, Haley continued, "Oh, and then our first date, she actually did strip then and jumped into the lake after I dared her. Mind you, it was the beginning of winter, and the lake was nearly frozen over! I panicked and jumped in after her after she didn't come up, only to discover that was exactly what she was hoping for! Let's just say our parents were quite furious when we came home soaking wet, and not even the good kind!"

I wrinkled my nose, and she laughed harder at my expression. The warning bell rang just as I stepped inside the classroom.

"Ah, Miss Cooper and, this must be Miss Creswell!" A man in his late twenties exclaimed, brown eyes bright behind thick glasses, and his reddish-brown hair combed back neatly.

"Hey, Mr. P!" Haley exclaimed back, smiling.

He motioned for her to sit and then turned to me.

"Well, Miss Creswell, how's your time at Forks High going so far?"

"It's been great, sir!" I replied, grinning back at him.

He looked pleased.

"Awesome! I'm going to assign you to that table in the corner, with Mr. Cullen, Miss Cullen, and Miss Hale."

He motioned to the back corner, and I nodded easily, turning.

My heart seemed to drop in my chest as I looked at exactly who I was supposed to be partnered with. For the first time all day, I was grateful for the coolness of the air, for my skin should've been on fire. Whatever Lauren had said hadn't prepared me for how… beautiful the Cullens were.

Their skin was pale and smooth, their hair (black, blonde, brown) falling effortlessly in whatever style they wanted. They were dressed like they stepped from the pages of a fashion magazine, and I wouldn't have blinked twice if someone whispered that they were gods in the flesh as I approached the table.

There was a strange lump in my throat, and an even stranger burning in my stomach. I'd never felt any urge to be close to anyone, but I would've done whatever they asked of me in those few moments.

I numbly took my seat next to the brunette boy, my heartbeat loud in my ears, making it difficult to hear what Mr. Payne was saying. There was a fire burning beneath my skin, growing hotter with each beat of my heart. My fingers curled together underneath the table, desperately trying to find purchase as my mind fluttered in directions it had never went before.

Something hard hit my shin, and the sudden pain anchored me. I looked up, realizing that the entire class had turned around and were staring at me.

"Miss Creswell, what is the difference between ionic and covalent bonds?" Mr. Payne asked in a way that made me believe he was repeating himself.

Ionic and covalent… covenant.

"Ionic bonds are when one atom donates an electron to the other, while covalent bonds are when the atoms share electrons equally." I answered quickly.

He nodded, his bright smile returning.

"Good." He praised before he turned back to the board.

I glanced at the black-haired Cullen across from me, sure that she'd been the one to kick me and wake me from my stupor, but she was studying her notebook intently. The other two were staring elsewhere as well, not seeming to be paying attention despite the correct answers they gave whenever Mr. Payne called on our table.

The lesson ended earlier than expected, so he allowed us to talk amongst ourselves before the bell rang. Haley instantly hopped out of her seat, coming towards me. Her pathing was interrupted by a blonde boy who stepped in front of our table.

"Sup, April. I'm Michael, or Mike." He introduced himself, grinning at Haley when she huffed at him. "How're you liking Forks, so far?"

"It's pretty cold… and wet." I replied, and he laughed like I'd just said something funnier than anything he'd ever heard.

"Careful. You wouldn't want Jess to know you were flirting with the new girl." Haley snarked, and Mike's eyes widened.

"I'm not flirting with the new girl." He turned on me, hope in his eyes. "Unless…?"

"I'm so good." I told him, and he blanched before he grinned.

"Honest. I like that." He turned and shouted across the room, "Yo, Josh, your girl was right."

A black boy with short dreadlocks and a smirk on his face looked up.

"I told you so." He shouted back.

Haley rolled her eyes, lightly pushing Mike towards Josh.

"Boys, right?" She murmured when he was gone.

I laughed with her.

"Hey, so what was up earlier? It's like you totally zoned." She whispered, glancing at the strangely silent Cullens.

They were still looking away, like they didn't even realize we were there.

"Yeah, I think I was just… thinking too hard."

"About atoms." She deadpanned, giving me a disbelieving look. "Don't tell me you're one of those nerdy kids. I had such high hopes for you."

I rolled my eyes, shoving her shoulder.

"Don't be ridiculous."

She laughed as she stepped out of my reach.

"Good. Nobody likes a know-it-all."

She turned on her heel, walking to her desk. I frowned, filing away that comment for later investigation.

When the bell rang, I gathered up my things and joined her outside the classroom. Mike and Josh met us there, trading playful shoves all the way to the cafeteria.

"There's a few more people you need to meet, but we'll see them at our table." Haley said as we stood in line for lunch.

"Yeah, like my girlfriend." Mike boasted, and then lower said, "Just don't tell her about that conversation in Chem., yeah?"

I agreed easily, and Haley laughed at him.

"Oh, you're lucky April's such a nice person. I would've told and watched her skin you alive!"

Mike paled a few shades at her words. We continued our banter all the way to two of the tables, which were pushed together, along the windows, where Rachel, Lauren, and Kylie were already sitting.

An Asian boy with thick glasses and kind, dark eyes sat next to a Hispanic girl with long, black hair and equally thick glasses. Next to them sat a tall, black guy with a buzzcut, and a red-haired boy with blue eyes. Finally, to Rachel's left, sat a brunette girl.

"This is April." Rachel introduced me as we sat down.

The Hispanic girl smiled at me, and I could see genuine friendliness in her eyes.

"I'm Angela." She said, placing her hand over the Asian boy's, who introduced himself as 'Ben'.

"I'm Jessica." The brunette girl smiled at me, though her eyes were more inquisitive than friendly.

"Derek, and this is my boy-toy, Scott." The black boy said, causing the red-haired boy to turn a deep shade of red, nearly matching his hair.

"Not cool! True, but still not cool!" Scott cried, shoving Derek's shoulder.

I laughed at them, joining in with the others.

"So, were the Cullens as horrible as I said?" Lauren asked when the laughter died down.

"Not this again." Mike groaned.

To my surprise, Jessica elbowed him, a frown on her face.

"I'm with Lauren on this one. How were they?" She asked, narrowing her eyes at me.

I shrugged.

"They didn't acknowledge me at all." I admitted, and the two of them deflated, glancing at each other.

Haley scoffed.

"You certainly noticed them, though." She teased, and I felt my face grow warm at the mention of my… reaction to being so close to them.

"Can you blame her? I'd be pegged by that brunette one any day." Derek sighed dreamily, and then laughed when Scott smacked his arm. "If I wasn't with the man of my dreams already, of course." He corrected himself, and Scott grinned, appeased.

I shook my head at them, a smile on my lips.

"Really? Emmett? I think Edward is sexy as all hell." Lauren told them.

"Which one is Edward?" I asked Rachel, who smirked and motioned to the table in the corner against the windows.

Three of the Cullens I'd already seen, but the other two – the blonde boy and the red-haired boy – were just as dazzling as their siblings.

I found myself staring a bit too long, if my friends' giggles were any indication. Just as I was going to look away, however, the black-haired girl looked up, her beautiful, golden eyes meeting mine.

Every cell in my body felt like it was set on fire. If she was a siren, I was the foolish sailor caught in her song. If her eyes were like molten lava, I was simmering beneath her surface. For the first time in my life, I found myself completely entranced with another person.

Her lips were moving, just barely, and the other four looked at me too. I drifted lazily between their eyes, feeling like I was truly seen behind all of the walls I hid behind. I wasn't confused by their names, anymore. I knew each and every one of their names.

"Damn, April, what did you do?" Haley asked, and I blinked, looking away from them.

"What do you mean?" I asked her.

She opened her mouth, but Lauren interrupted, "I've never, ever seen them stare at anyone like that."

There was a hint of jealousy in her voice, but I didn't acknowledge it, shaking my head.

"I'm new. They're probably just curious." I brushed it off.

I knew they wouldn't believe me, but I was just as clueless as they were. I had no idea why I was reacting this way to complete strangers, nor how I already knew their names. I must've heard it from someone else, right? Or seen it on Mr. Evans' roster.

But, what about Edward and Jasper? I'd never even seen them before that moment. Lauren did mention an 'Edward', and Jasper was a common gem. I must've just imagined the burning under my skin.

Weren't my friends just lusting after them? It's absolutely normal to be intrigued by the beautiful, mysterious strangers seating only a few dozen feet from me. Excuse after excuse flooded my mind, but I couldn't completely deny what I had felt and now knew.

The Cullens were different than anyone I'd ever met, and I was determined to figure out why.


A/N: Thanks for reading!