The insistent buzzing of the damned alarm clock pulled me from my sleep, after laying prone and frustrated while contemplating tossing the alarm clock from my window, I just open my eyes and sit in the comfortable darkness. Sleep weighed on my limbs, but I still crawl from the thick blanket making my way to the sitting area.

Thankfully, with some last minute thinking my clothes are laid out and was freshly showered last night giving me an extra thirty minutes to sleep in. My thick black socks are the first thing on my freezing feet, I probably have frostbite by now. I tugged on some Dondup jeans they had a small rip in the right thigh, a forest/military green long sleeve drapey tee after my bra was hooked, my darker brown knee-high boots paired well and are comfortable. Before I leave, I toss on a plaid brown, cream and marron blanket scarf, it matched plus I had marron feather earrings in, I stopped taking my cell and my backpack before shutting my door and heading to get some food just thinking that I was forgetting something.

Sure enough, dad is gone a simple note on the counter. I guess a note is better than nothing right now but now it was time to talk, tell him how I feel before it was to late.

It read, "Have a good day. Here is some cash, I took the liberty of getting you a bank account and two credit cards you can use in the states. See you at dinner Angel- Dad"

Great, I had an account and card, but I slip the three shiny cards into my wallet, snagging a blueberry pop-tart from the pantry before I stop halfway out the front door. I forgot to brush my hair and teeth "Classic Caprice," cursing myself leaving my things by the door hauling ass up the front steps into my room.

Now I'm going to be late, I do some makeup then brush my teeth. Figuring that I would just leave my hair down since it was looking quite nice today, classic waves falling down my shoulders and ending below my shoulder blades. "Presentable," I shouldn't talk to myself. Soon enough I am in my baby, a cherry red with black racing stripes, it was a vintage 1965 with a K-Code engine that produces 271 hp. It was Forks so it was pouring rain; I smile driving off our land. Softly splashing water droplets hit the car windows as we drive onwards. The skies are overhung with a blanket of grey, so much so that I can barely tell the difference between the sky and clouds. Despite car rides feeling tedious, the rain commonly calms me. Flipping on the radio hearing Sammy Hagar began to blare, one of my favorites, classic rock. It wasn't hard to locate Forks high although seeing how I am fifteen minutes late I was beyond surprised I was able to find a parking spot; no other students were in sight.

Next to me is a silver Volvo, the rest of these cars look like they belong in a junkyard, but to each his or her own. Grumbling, "No time like the present," finally getting out and running to the shelter of the school, I was at least not as clumsy like Bella, but I did have my moments. The school was ancient, but at least I wasn't getting any wetter with the beams stopping the rain. My boots make an odd sound on the tile as I make my way to the attendance office for my class schedule, the hall is silent except a few kids running to class, nice they stopped to freaking stare like I was some sideshow. Bella must have loathed this part of her own arrival.

It was a brightly lit small office, it smelled like citrus cleaner, a small waiting area with seats that would hurt any one's backside, carpet most likely from the late 80's still residing in here. It looked as any older school would; a large clock hung on the wall, awards cluttered the two small walls, the room was cut in half by a massively long counter with black wire baskets filled with papers and very colorful fliers were pinned to the walls and littered the counter as well. My eyes scanned the desk's that lay beyond the counter an older, bigger woman with red hair and black-rimmed glasses wearing a pink blouse that was hideous sat there.

I waited a minute longer when her eyes lifted to mine "Can I help you, Miss?" her voice chimed in a sweet way.

I stated, "I am Caprice Swan, my father enrolled me. I am here to get my classes," I informed her, she looks confused, I assume it is my last name that catches her off guard.

"Are you by chance related to Chief Swan?"

Offering, "He happens to be my Uncle," her eyes light up like a child seeing its favorite toy, she busted around to a large pile of papers stacked upon her desk, I thought it should have a Bio-hazard sign along with it. "Oh yes, your father was here. I have it, just give me a minute dear," her face was a little red.

"Sure," I didn't mind waiting, as long as it didn't take her forever to find it.

Minutes passed before she announced in a happy tone, "I have your schedule right here, along with a new map of the school," she walked to me with a few sheets in her hand as she brought them to the counter where I was waiting. I was beginning to get a tad frustrated, having private tutors spoiled me. Letting her drone on about my classes, she was trying to be helpful as she highlighted the best route to each of my classes with multiple highlighters. "The first period is nearly over, I can have a student show you to your second period," she offered still smiling at me, her face must hurt after every day with how much she smiled.

"No thank you, I appreciate the offer, but I think I will be able to locate it on my own. No better time than the present to learn," I smile, even as I walk away she was smiling at me. Oh joy, my second period was Government with Mr. Jefferson in building six, sounded fascinating. Looks like I had to walk around the cafeteria since building six was closer to the Gym, I was walking when a very high-pitched buzzing sound vibrated through the halls, the bell signaling next class. The halls quickly filling up with its entire 302 population, I hurried into Mr. Jefferson's class while getting unwanted looks. A tall man with black hair was at the desk "I need this signed, I am your new student," I say while still being polite as some kids file in taking their seats, some removing wet coats.

He eyed me, "Oh yes," his voice was more standoffish, I handed him the slip "I see, why don't you introduce yourself," I hated this man, my eyes narrow but I plaster on a fake smile while I plot his death. The bell rang again, telling people they're late so when I turn it's to a filled class, my eyes land on the chocolate brown eyes of Bella, her eyes filling with tears seeing me.

"My name is Caprice Swan, I am from Greece." but my eyes don't move from my cousins, it has been too long.

A random kid, "You look a lot like Bella, are you two related?" I notice there is also a boy next to Bella. My heart drops, I have learned over the years how to keep it beating at a steady rhythm, a trick of the trade per se. His skin is pale white, his eyes amber colored, if I didn't know what he was I would guess he had nose surgery or a broken nose by the blackness under his eyes. His face was perfect as if an artist of great skill carved him from marble, Bella was supposed to be safe, but in her normal fashion, she has welcomed trouble. But the boy's answer came soon enough as Bella's stumbled from her chair towards me, I watched her as she nearly falls but soon enough her arms wrap around me.

Stammering out, "Mike this is my cousin Caprice," her voice was a mix of excitement and shock.

"Hey there Bells. You miss me?" I heard my own voice break a little.

A small sob, "You think so? Come sit with me," her hand in mine as she dragged me to her table with the boy, I knew he was one of them, a vampire. Now I was more concerned why he was near Bella. There are only so many reasons' he would be near her. Food. It was on the top of any vampires list, but the second was the one I was more concerned about.

Was she his mate?

I failed her if this was true, but maybe if it was true and she was happy, I could use it to my advantage. "Calm down Bella," I laugh a little as we sit together.

Rambling on, "I can't believe it Caprice, you're back? For how long? I missed you so much," her eyes were ones you could get lost in. I smile, finally, the feeling of being home was filling me.

"I am back for good, we can talk later. In private," my eyes on the ones of the boy sitting close to her.

"Sorry. This is Theo Cullen, he's kind of my boyfriend," the tense hesitation in her voice and the look on his face matched perfectly.

"Hello Theo, I am Caprice." I offer my hand which he doesn't hesitate to shake, having felt the familiar coldness of their skin against mine, enough that when we touched, I didn't flinch at the texture or coldness of his skin.

Smiling, "Hello Caprice, I have heard so very much about you. It is a pleasure to finally meet you," his voice was drool-worthy, but I had practice, I give a simple smile.

"Class, here is your worksheet for chapter forty-five. You have until the end of class to have it turned in," Mr. Jefferson requested before he sat with a red pen in hand. I removed a black ink pen from my bag, starting on the packet he gave us. I finished a few minutes before Bella, watching her knowing how much I missed her. The rest of the morning passed in much the same fashion with me sitting by Bella and the Mike kid trying his hardest to strike up a conversation with me. I assume he is the golden retriever, Mike, that Bella emailed me about on her first few days here. Most were asking me questions, how I was liking Forks? Why did I leave Greece? Some braver, asking personal questions, but Theo would appear out of the blue causing them to scurry off from Bella and me. I started noticing faces, names came a little harder but some girl with very curly hair was in three of my classes so far, then another in two she had black hair and glasses; she was a sweet girl named Angela, the curly hair girl who glared daggers at Bella and me since Mike was chatting away with us was Jessica.

"Come on its lunchtime," Bella says as Theo helps her with her plain black coat.

"May I help you with your coat, Caprice?" his voice chimed in, I swear Bella looked ready to jump him and do dirty things right here in class.

Smirking, "No thank you, Theo, it was very thoughtful to offer but I didn't bring one, I was already late," he didn't look pleased, it confirmed he was mated to Bella. His concern for her would flow over to me with how close Bella and I are.

Bella laughed, "Caprice, how could you just forget a jacket when it is cold?" she was even blushing as Theo held her hand walking us to the lunch room.

Rolling my eyes, "I overslept, my flight got in around one, so I arrived home near two."

All huffy puffy, "Why didn't you tell me, I hate surprises. I was basically crying in class," her voice came out in a huff, Theo was smiling at her, his pearly white teeth flashing making people around us scatter into their lockers. He had light brown hair, it was rather messy maybe because he ran his fingers through it every so often. Bella handed me an old plastic tray, Theo was holding hers when I noticed them. They were sitting in the corner of the cafeteria, as far away from where we're standing as possible in the long room. There were five of them. They weren't talking, and they weren't eating, though they each had a tray of untouched food in front of them.

What was the sheer amount of luck, or bad luck, a coven would be here? I thought maybe Theo was a nomad, but I was terribly wrong. They weren't gawking at us, unlike most of the other students, so it was safe to stare at them without fear of meeting an excessively interested pair of eyes. But it was none of these things that caught, and held, my attention. They didn't look anything alike. Of the three boys, one was big-muscled like a serious weight lifter, with dark, curly hair. Another was taller leaner but still muscular, and honey blond, I honestly have seen him someplace, a picture somewhere. The last was lanky, less bulky, with untidy, bronze-colored hair. He was more boyish than the others, who looked like they could be in college, or even teachers here rather than students. The girls were opposites. The tall one was statuesque. She had a beautiful figure, the kind you saw on the cover of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue, the kind that made every girl around her take a hit on her self-esteem just by being in the same room.

Her hair was golden, gently waving to the middle of her back, great and here I had freckles. The short girl was pixie-like, thin to the extreme, with small pixie-like features. Her hair was a deep black, cropped short and pointing in every direction. And yet, they were all exactly alike. Every one of them was chalky pale, the palest of all the students living in this sunless town. Paler than me even. They all had very dark eyes despite the range in hair tones. They also had dark shadows under those eyes, all these traits I knew by heart, they are what I wanted to avoid at all cost, but now that Bella is involved, I will destroy them if it comes to it to protect her. I was ready to be one of them but now that Bella was involved with one, the game has changed. Another trait I took notice of was the purplish, bruise-like shadows. As if they were all suffering from a sleepless night, or almost done recovering from a broken nose. Though their noses, all their features, were straight, perfect, angular. They were thirsty, plain and simple and here Bella was dating one of them, little twit that she was. But all this is not why I couldn't look away. I stared because of their faces, so different, so similar, were all devastatingly, inhumanly beautiful the ones I came from are the same but something was different here. They were the faces of modern-day vampires, I heard rumor of the Olympic coven who feed off animals this would explain the dark amber color adorning their eyes. It was hard to decide who was the most beautiful - maybe the perfect blond girl, or the bronze- haired boy.

They were all looking away - away from each other, away from the other students, away from anything in particular as far as I could tell. As I watched, the small girl rose with her tray - unopened soda, unbitten apple - and walked away with a quick, graceful lope that belonged on a runway. I watched, amazed at her lithe dancer's step, till she dumped her tray and glided through the back door, faster than I would have thought possible, but thankfully I know it is possible.

Theo cut in, "That is my family. The one who left is Alice, the other young lady is Rosalie Hale and her twin brother Jasper Hale, he also has the honeyish blond hair. The big man with the dreadful curly mop is my brother Emmett Cullen, now the one staring at us is Edward Cullen," his voice like silk over polished marble.

"Should we sit alone today Theo?" Bella intervened.

"If you would like," he retorted not caring either way. Suddenly he looked at her, the thinner one, the boyish one, the youngest, perhaps. He looked at my cousin for just a fraction of a second, and then his dark eyes flickered to mine, then to Theo who was looking at Edward as if they are having a conversation. He looked away quickly, more quickly than I could, though in a flush of embarrassment I dropped my eyes at once. In that brief flash of a glance, his face held nothing of interest, I have no clue why I was embarrassed maybe at getting caught gawking at them, maybe.

"So, Bella, your best friend is Alice correct? you have written about her but not Theo. It was very alarming hearing it," Bella turned a shade of red I didn't know possible.

Admitting, "I was scared; I mean what if you didn't like him?" she knew what he was, by the way she steered us over here away from his family. True if they are mated, he would tell her, but I know she was smart enough to figure him out on her own.

Theo was looking at Bella in a sad way "I understand Bella. Please don't take it personally Theo, Bella and I have always been very close we remained that way even while I was in Greece to study abroad. She knows how temperamental I get," I say more for Bella than myself, to her extreme embarrassment.

"Greece you say? I could've sworn you speak like that of an Italian, have you visited there?" Theo questioned before I could respond someone else spoke.

"What if you didn't approve of what?" the pixie-like Alice chimed in from behind us, she had been there for a good minute or so.

"Ask Bella," was offered by myself.

"Theo and I would be having problems, just like how your family is as well Alice," Bella said in a firmer tone as Alice sits at our table uninvited.

"Hi, I am Alice," she was very cheerful.

"Caprice, I am Isabella's cousin,"

"I can tell; you both look alike. Except for little things, eye color, hair, complexion and most of all fashion sense." I knew Bella liked to be comfortable, I liked fashion to a point, a very fine point.

"Alice," Theo warned.

"But Bella is right, you know we are very protective of our family," Alice looks back, Jasper is staring at her, this was going to be so much harder than I wanted, imagined, or needed. I know I can't lean over and whisper to Bella, they will hear it as if I am saying it out loud. I wanted to look back at the one named Edward, but with practiced ways, I was able to keep my eyes on our table. Bella and Theo had Biology II with me the next hour.

We walked to class together in silence. When we entered the classroom, Theo and Bella went to sit at a black-topped lab table not exactly like the ones I was used to. Bella had a partner, Theo. In fact, all the tables were filled but one. Next, to the center aisle, I recognized Edward Cullen by his unusual hair, sitting next to that the only open seat.

Son of a bitch!

As I walked down the aisle to introduce myself to the teacher and get my slip signed, I was watching him surreptitiously. Just as I passed, he suddenly went rigid in his seat. He stared at me again, meeting my eyes with the strangest expression on his face - it was hostile, furious. I looked away quickly, shocked, going red with emotion, my scent was making him thirsty more than he felt or more than he should have felt. I'd noticed that his eyes were black - coal black.

Mr. Banner signed my slip and handed me a book with no nonsense about introductions. I could tell we were going to get along just fine. Of course, he had no choice but to send me to the one open seat in the middle of the room. I kept my eyes down as I went to sit by him, not bewildered by the antagonistic stare he'd given me. I didn't look up as I set my book on the table and took my seat, but I saw his posture change from the corner of my eye.

He was leaning away from me, sitting on the extreme edge of his chair and averting his face like he smelled something bad. Inconspicuously, I sniffed my hair. It smelled like honeysuckle, the scent of my favorite shampoo. It seemed an innocent enough odor.

But what Edward was smelling was my scent, shampoo, soap only masked my true scent and mine was like a drunk seeing a vintage bottle of his choice of liquor. This time playing the role, letting my hair cascade over my right shoulder, making a dark curtain between us trying to pay attention to the teacher. Unfortunately, the lecture was on cellular anatomy, something I'd already studied, with Noella. I took notes carefully, anyway, always looking down just trying to figure out how was I ever going to pull this off.

Before it, all seemed so easy but now the Cullens have tossed a preverbal wrench into my well-made plans. During the whole class, he never relaxed his stiff position or moved from the edge of his chair, he was still sitting as far from me as possible. I could see his hand on his left leg was clenched into a fist, tendons standing out under his pale skin. This, too, he never relaxed. He had the long sleeves of his white shirt pushed up to his elbows, and his forearm was surprisingly hard and muscular beneath his light skin. He wasn't nearly as slight as he'd looked next to his burly brother.

The class seemed to drag on longer than the others. Was it because the day was finally coming to a close, or because I was waiting for his tight fist to loosen? It never did; he continued to sit so still, had no else noticed that he doesn't breathe? I peeked up at him one more time and instantly regretted it. He was glaring down at me again, his black eyes full of revulsion. I look back at him, my eyes boring into his insane black ones giving a firm look, not caring that he could snack on my whinny ass.

At that moment the bell rang loudly, making me jump, and Edward Cullen was out of his seat. Fluidly he rose - he was much taller than I'd thought - his back to me, and he was out the door before anyone else was out of their seat.

"Well, a pleasurable class with your very well-mannered brother. I feel very welcome," I smile in a charming way as Theo, gave a slight laugh making Bella go red once again.

Apologizing, "I am very sorry for Edward, I am going to go see what has gotten into him today," Theo was gone before we blinked.

"Isabella Marie Swan, we need to talk right after school at my place," I look at her as we walk into the gym.

"Caprice," she moaned.

"Seriously Bella,"

"I know, I am just worried now," I was taking it she meant because of Edward and his barbaric self. Coach Clapp handed me a uniform but didn't force me to dress down today. Forks was literally my personal hell on Earth. I watched four volleyball games running simultaneously, Bella was inflicting pain on her teammates, herself, and others who are in the same room.

The final bell rang at last. I walked slowly to the office to return my paperwork the rain had drifted away, but the wind was strong and colder than this morning. When Bella and I walked into the warm office, I almost turned around and walked back out.

Edward Cullen stood at the desk in front of me. I recognized again that tousled bronze hair. He didn't appear to notice the sound of our entrance but he did, he was practiced. So, we stood waiting for her to stop flirting with Edward, she was a cougar.

He was arguing with her in a low, attractive voice. I quickly picked up the gist of the argument. He was trying to trade from sixth-hour Biology to another time - any other time, I turn to Bella with a raised brow. The door opened again, and the cold wind suddenly gusted through the room, rustling the papers on the desk, swirling my hair around my face. The girl who came in merely stepped to the desk, placed a note in the wire basket, and walked out again.

But Cullen's back stiffened, and he turned slowly to glare at me - his face was absurdly handsome - with piercing, hate-filled eyes. For an instant, I felt a thrill of genuine fear, raising the hair on my arms. The look only lasted a second, but it chilled me more than the freezing wind.

He turned back to the receptionist. "Never mind, then," he said hastily in a voice like velvet. "I can see that it's impossible. Thank you so much for your help." And he turned on his heel without another look at me and disappeared out the door. I went to the desk as if he didn't just give me a death glare and handed her the signed slip. "How did your first day go, dear?" the receptionist asked maternally.

"Well, thank you," I lied, my voice weak. She didn't look convinced.

But once outside Theo was waiting "I am going over to Caprice's, we really need to talk. Is Edward okay? He's being very rude to her," I heard Bella as the Volvo of doom was revving its engine, we walked as they talked until, I was in my Mustang making sure to pull it in front of the shiny silver car.

Calling out, "Bella, come on," smiling as she is in Theo's embrace.

"I am again very sorry for Edward. It was a pleasure meeting you, I would love to get to know you," Theo tried, his voice like silk over polished marble, Bella never stood a chance.

"We have plenty of time, I am not going anywhere," I knew Edward was listening his face was demented in the rearview mirror as Bella was in, I hit the gas peeling out hearing her loud gasp as we turned right, doing over sixty miles per hour at the turn leaving the school behind.

"I can't leave you alone, Bella. Look what you have gotten yourself into, is Theo your mate?" I bark out, she flinched back against her seat making me feel guilty.

"Yes,"

"A vampire Isabella, damn it. You of all people would move home to Forks and fall for one of them, then you negated to inform me you're dating, I am hurt." Her eyes are wide as she stares at me.

"How did you know Caprice?" I look at her, great, now I have to tell her.

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