Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight, I just play in the sandbox. I do however, lay claim to my original characters and the inclusion of the fey world.

AN: Thanks to Adam's Gurl for agreeing to be my beta and for doing such a fantastic job with this. ~Hannah

Chapter Four – A Lesson with the Un-dateable Edward

It felt like the whispers followed me around while I walked the halls of the corridors that week. People couldn't believe that I'd struck up a friendship with the 'outsiders' on my first day there and they greatly resented me for it. Bella said that I'd just upset the dynamics of the school but really, I hadn't said anything anyone else wouldn't have. Rephrase that to any normal person. Clearly, the people at this school weren't normal, they were rude, opinionated bullies. I guess that's what happens when you grow up in a small town, everyone knows everyone and it's easier to create segregation.

Personally, I was floating on cloud nine since Alice agreed to go shopping with me this weekend. I love shopping and though Bella often came with me, she never really enjoyed it. She's more of a book shopping person while I'm more of a fashion shopping person. I wasn't always like that, though. I used to like dark colours and baggy clothes but I'm past that phase now and I have my wonderful sister and amazing Dad to thank for that. I'm all about colours now, the brighter the better.

Anyhow the whispers that followed me were starting to become an annoyance. I have a motto; 'Say it to my face or not at all'. I don't understand how people expect to be taken seriously when all they do is gossip and belittle people behind their backs. It's stupid, pathetic and just plain irritating. I couldn't decide whether they were annoyed that I was accepted by the Cullen's or angry that I had the guts to do what they clearly didn't.

Still, I had Bella to guide me through the whispers. We'd made firm friends in Angela, Ben and Tyler, even though it had been but one day since we'd met. It was great when you met people like that, the instant connection letting you know you'd met a friend for life. I liked to think that was the better edge that high school had to offer; making lasting friendships.

Feeling like today was going to drag I wasn't very optimistic about how the day was going to go. My feet felt like lead as I tried to heave one foot up and the other down, trudging glumly around the school. It wasn't even Wednesday and I already had the blues. Damn whispers, if I was a superhero I'd blast all their heads off – regardless of what power I'd have.

I was looking forward to two things today. Lunch – because I was hungry and wanted to talk to Alice about fashion (she mentioned she'd sit with my sister and me) and secondly music. With music, I could relax away from my troubles and emotions. Hopefully, today I could drain my anger at my other peers in favour of making magical music on a piano.

I slumped down in my seat at lunch. I hadn't had to wait in line for whatever the cafeteria was selling as food because Bella and I had made spaghetti the night before and there were plenty of leftovers.

"Chin up, you keep frowning like that and your face will freeze."

"Alice! Where have you been all my life? This morning has been dragging along painfully slow!"

I felt Bella fall into the seat beside me, while Alice took the seat to my right. Jasper, ever attached to her hip it would seem, fell into the chair on Alice's other side. Angela was already at the table when I got there, and I could see both Ben and Tyler in the lunch queue.

Alice was looking at me with a bemused expression on her face, her eyebrow raised in amusement.

"You saw me about an hour ago in class…are you feeling alright Ella?"

Bella snorted and I poked her in the ribs with my elbow. I always get my revenge.

"There is nothing wrong with Ella, she's just crazy. She's been moaning about today since she got up."

I sulked in my chair, it wasn't fair that my dear sister knew so much about me. I wasn't crazy just different…

"Well, how would you like it if whispers followed your every move? I keep feeling people's eyes on me yet when I turn to look they've averted their gaze. It's infuriating! If they have something to say, why can't they just say it! Life would be much easier that way!"

It annoyed me how mad I was over a couple of whispers. I really shouldn't let things get to me like this, it was stupid.

"I know how you feel, we've been here for a year and they still consider us 'outsiders'. You'd think they'd want to make friends more than they'd want to gossip about us but apparently not." Said Alice.

"This conversation is glum, I wanted to talk to you about shopping anyway."

I don't like talking too long about topics that make me grumpy or sad. Life is too short and all that.

Alice squealed when I mentioned shopping, it was almost loud enough to drown out Bella's groan. She should be happy really, I was releasing her from her duty to come shopping with me. No more would she have to grumble as I forced her into yet another clothes shop. The plus side of not shopping with Bella, I could pick out and buy clothes for her and she couldn't stop me. *Insert maniacal laugh here.*

Though I was totally tuned in to what Alice was saying, it didn't stop me from observing what was going on around me. I liked to be aware of my surroundings, and I didn't like getting caught off guard. Also, I had to keep one eye on Bella, just to make sure she was ok. It was a twin thing; I know that because I can see her doing the same to me.

I might have just met my match when it came to Alice, she seemed even more fashion-obsessed than I was. I was of course relatively new to the whole fashion side of shopping, but still, Alice could talk a person's ear off with this topic.

I laughed at her behaviour and remembered I had something in my bag for Jasper. I knew what it was like to constantly remain in an environment that was difficult. Bella had bought me one when I was struggling and so sensing Jasper's struggles, I'd bought one for him. It was silly really but if it helped it would be worth it.

"Jasper, I got something for you."

Alice paused mid-conversation and Jasper merely looked at me in the same curious manner as before.

"I know what it's like to suffer from anxiety and well, Bella got this for me when it was bad. I thought it might help you."

I tried to avoid the fact that my face was flaming red as I passed the object over. It was a banana, well it looked like a banana but it was soft like a stress ball. I often used it when I was having bad days. It was funny because it looked like a banana and squeezing it had a calming effect on me.

Jasper just looked at it.

"You don't have to use it if you don't want to. I just thought it might help."

I was wishing that I hadn't been so forward. I shouldn't have tried to help. I felt the eyes of everyone on the table and could feel my own anxiety grow. My hands were sweaty and I could feel Bella's concerned eyes looking my way.

"Thank you, Ella, this is… that is, I think this could help."

I let out a large breath I didn't know I was holding. My anxiety crept back into the cave it lives in. Unfortunately, the sweat on my hands took longer to evaporate.

I glanced back at Bella, she was smiling proudly at me. It made me feel warm and fuzzy; I'd done something good - something that made me feel uncomfortable - and survived to tell the tale.

All too soon the bell rang and we departed out friendly lunch table in favour of our next classes. I had to walk to mine alone as it was far away from the classes all the others had. I didn't mind that much, I could already feel the stress leave my body as I made my way towards the music room.

The teacher – a slightly ditzy woman – knew her stuff when it came to music. Everyone was sitting in pairs except one boy with bronze hair. I recognised him as being Edward, Alice's brother. I sat next to him hoping that I wasn't intruding or anything. He was looking at me curiously, a slight smile on his face. I gazed back unblinking until the teacher called us to attention.

"I want to try something new today and not just because we have a new student in our midst. We so often play music that we forget to learn about each other. I've devised a 'my most favourite music' sheet of questions. I'd like you to ask the person next to you these questions and vice versus. If there is any time left at the end, you can either socialise amongst yourselves or play music to your heart's content. Next week we will be beginning our next project."

She handed out a sheet and I looked down at it. It had questions like; 'my favourite composer is…', 'my favourite music to play is…' and so on.

I held my pen in my left hand – left-handed people rule – and turned to face Edward.

"You are not like other people at this school."

I'll admit I faltered a bit when he said that. It was such an open-ended sentence that I couldn't quite work out what he meant by it. My face frozen from his words, waited in anticipation for him to elaborate.

"I just mean you have a sense of compassion and need to see others happy. It's rare in this school. The majority of people here believe in the gossip and popularity of school life above all else."

I nodded, I could deal with that.

We began asking each other the questions on the sheet. It was boring at first, our answers not giving a clue to our personalities. It was the last question that brought forth more of our personalities and it seemed we'd finished rather quickly. I guess that just meant we could chat with each other for a longer period.

"What piece of music do you turn to as your solace?" he asked me.

"La Vie En Rose," I said without hesitation.

"Why?"

"I guess because it's just so calming, like a river flowing softly. It tangles me up in blankets and cocoons me against the hardships of the world. It's so peaceful and romantic and it makes me smile."

My answer was full honesty; I didn't see any reason to lie. I truly did love that song. It was always my go to if anyone asked me to play.

"What is yours?" I asked.

"Love in Venice, more specifically the Andre Rieu version. Sometimes I wish I could play the violin but I don't think I could do it justice."

"Have you ever been to Venice? I'd love to go, not just for the culture but for the serenity and the calm that it seems to offer."

He shook his head, "No, I've not been."

For my first lesson with the 'un-dateable Edward', my views on him were incredibly positive. I couldn't think of anything that made him un-dateable, so I put his title down to foolish gossiping. I certainly hadn't fallen under his spell as I suspected many of the female population expected me to. He was a nice guy and my actions didn't need to be explained to the school population anyway.

"Thank you for accepting my family so quickly."

I looked at him and cocked my head to the side, analysis his expression.

"It's no biggie. I already really like Alice and Jasper and I hate bullies or people who spread rumours without knowing the facts. I know Alice wants me to sit with you guys at lunch a couple of times during the week and I'm sure I'll love the rest of your family as I do them."

"Still, I thank you."

I paused, "I don't have many friends. I never really excelled in that aspect when we lived with our mother. Bella encouraged me to spread my wings here. If anything I should be saying thanks to you for Alice and Jasper. They accepted me without trying to change the person they saw before them. As far as I'm concerned that's some rare feat."

"Can I walk you to your next class?" he asked.

He had bowed before me in a humorous manner and now had his hand out for me to take. I curtsied before him and placed my hand on his arm.

"Of course, kind Sir."

We smiled at each other. Edward was a good person – I bet he'll be a great friend.

"You realise this will make the gossip mill talk right?"

I rolled my eyes. "Like they weren't talking about me before."

'Bring it on!' I thought.