Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight, I just play in the sandbox sometimes.

AN: I know it has been a very long time since I updated. Life has been very stressful and personal issues have kept me occupied over the last couple of months. I don't have anything written in advance on this story, I will try and get some stuff down. My muse has left me at present so do bear with me. ~Hannah

Chapter Twenty-Eight - Attention

I definitely needed something to keep myself occupied. I'm not moping, I promise but it was just easier to forget that Edward wasn't by my side when my mind was occupied with something else. I hadn't fully decided what I wanted to do after school but I knew that whatever it was would have something to do with music or art. I wouldn't really be happy if I studied something that wasn't either of those things past high school. You have to do what makes you happy.

Of course I'd thought about the Cullen's and how they'd fit into things. A university somewhere where the sun didn't shine a lot would be best but I didn't want to go somewhere really cold. Anyway, that was all way in the future and really not worth worrying about now.

The 'Arts' summer camp was held in Port Angeles, which meant my drive there took just over an hour. Port Angeles was in no way a large city and with a population of around 19 thousand, could easily be overshadowed by a multitude of other places. To Forks however, Port Angeles was large and well equip to deal with an 'Arts' Summer Camp that catered to approx. 150 teenagers.

I could have gone elsewhere but any further afield and I would have had to board. I suppose I was just lazy, not wanting to leave the comfort of my own bed but we all have weaknesses.

Bella assured me that she and Angela would be fine and dandy without me to bug them all day long. I still worried for my sister but knew she was telling the truth. This wasn't Phoenix where we had no one but each other, we had proper friends here that would always be there for us.

The camp ran from 10am till 3pm. Personally I thought that was fantastic because it meant I didn't have to get up too early to be able to get there on time. I was, I admit, nervous about arriving at camp today. It was not often that I was alone in the things that I did and I felt a little stress about stepping into waters unknown. I knew I was being a little silly but I guess I just felt cautious about what I would discover waiting for me.

I made good time on my journey, parking in the carpark where others who were commuting to the camp parked and I took notice of the many bags dotted around and concerned parents saying goodbye to their children for the summer. It made me even happier in my choice not to board here when I saw the cliques already beginning to form as teenagers met each other for the first time. I mean, I have to deal with the cliques of school, so I really didn't want to get involved with them elsewhere as well. Selfish right?

I made my way straight to one of the adults wearing a blue t-shirt with the camp's logo on the front. I assumed he was a helper designated to help arrivals.

"Boarding or commuting?" he asked.

"Commuting."

"Ok, you need to go to that red building off to the right. Ask for Julia."

I nodded my head and followed where his arm pointed.

He really did mean the red building. Not just red brick but someone had actually gone to the trouble of painting the entire building the most ridiculous shade of bright red. Sad.

Walking in I had expected it to be a little quieter than the hustle and bustle of outside but I was wrong. I'd obviously underestimated how many campers would be commuting rather than staying. Actually, what surprised me most was that I had yet to see anyone who I went to school with. There were many talented students in both my art and music classes and I wondered why they hadn't thought to apply to come here. Like me they could have applied on a scholarship but perhaps they had other plans for their summer holidays.

I suppose I was a stickler for honing my skills and building up my portfolio of skills for later life.

I picked out Julia without having to ask anyone. A) she had a name tag on and B) she was the only girl. I could already tell she was one of those overly excited camp leader people. Silly really, but she reminded me of Alice and that made my heart pang painfully.

"You waiting for Julia?"

I turned to the voice to my right, and if I hadn't had been exposed to the Cullen's, I would have thought that this specimen of man was beyond gorgeous. Tousled black hair with high cheekbones and piercing green eyes the boy before me stared back and I blinked repeatedly trying to remember how to talk.

"Yeah, I am. What are you doing?"

"The same thing. She's been chatting to that family for over half an hour now. I think she's a real chatterbox, dead excited too."

"Oh well I guess it's good we have nowhere to be."

"I'm Marco and you are?"

"Ella."

"Well it's nice to meet one friendly face."

"Are you saying no one else has been nice to you?"

"No but they haven't exactly come out and introduced themselves either. I must have a hideous face."

I laughed thought I knew I shouldn't. It wasn't a laugh actually, more of a giggle and a sound I wasn't really prepared for. However, I knew this camp experience would go a lot better if I had friends to share it with. As long as Marco knew friend's was all that I wanted. Who am I kidding? I'm getting ahead of myself. We've only just met. I'm getting paranoid like Edward – oh Lord.

"Have you been to this camp before?" I asked.

"Nope. Didn't think I'd get in to this one to be honest but I'm very glad I did. I'm hoping to learn a lot and make some lasting friends."

"That sounds like a good plan, it's pretty much what I was going for as well."

We smiled at each other. I didn't expect to find a friend so early into my summer camp experience. Of course, I wasn't going to kick the gift of friendship away but I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little bit cautious.

Marco and I were sitting on the floor when Julia finally got around to greeting us. Marco had been right; she was over excited but she meant well. There were a couple of forms that we had to fill in, things like what we wanted to focus on, our goals for the camp and personal information like who to contact in an emergency.

We were given wrist bands to wear that corresponded to which group of people we'd been grouped in for the duration of camp. Each group was made up of people staying and people commuting. I had a red band and so did Marco, I was glad that there would be at least one friendly face in my group. I hadn't realised how busy this camp would be. I would have assumed that because of the camp's location it would have been small, with most applicants travelling to sister camps in bigger locations.

I had expected a lot more to happen on this first day or perhaps I was just overly eager to get into the thick of things. I'd never been to a summer camp before though I'd seen the stereotypical ones referenced in many a teen film.

After all the paperwork, had been completed we were ushered away by Julia and pushed towards the group of teens who also had red bands on their arms. A mixture of girls and boys there wasn't anything that stood out. Everyone was smiling and shaking hands, welcoming each other to the group.

Sitting at our designated 'red bonfire' Julia danced around us shouting out rules and things we should expect from the camp. Looking around I saw other people pointing out the same rules to different bonfire groups, just with less enthusiasm than Julia. I could only imagine how annoying she'd be as a wakeup call to those in red group boarding at the camp.

I'd never really seen myself as a 'toasting marshmallow's kind of girl but here I was, happily toasting the gooey treat with a smile on my face and warmth in my heart. It was the first time I'd truly smiled since Edward left. It was much easier to pretend everything was normal with a group of people who didn't know me. None of these people knew me as the girl who'd been 'abandoned' by the Cullen's and it was most refreshing. Of course, I didn't care what others thought when I knew the truth but still it was a little hard to put up with all the gossiping that followed me in Forks.

"Hey, where do you live? Maybe we could carpool," said Marco.

I hadn't realised how close he was sitting to me and his question caught me off guard.

"I live in Forks," I answered reluctantly. I wasn't exactly going to tell him where I lived by road name.

"Bummer, I live in Seattle."

"You're driving all that way each day? That's insane. Why not just board?"

"I don't like sharing with other people."

I shivered at the glint in his eyes as he uttered those words. He looked, feral and thought I wasn't sure if he meant to look that way, I was now viewing him in a different light.

"What do you think our group project will be?" asked a girl sitting opposite from me.

I didn't respond but the group at large began talking over one another to discuss what they thought it would be. Frankly I'd lost interest. Between the eight of us sitting at the bonfire, I could already tell there were some big personalities here that were bound to butt heads at some point and I really didn't want to get involved.

It was weird having a bonfire in the middle of the day, but I supposed they had to do something to fill up the time. At one point Julia tried to get us to join her in song but she quickly gave up that idea. I did feel mildly sorry for her but she seemed to get over the situation quickly so I too dropped it.

It was a relief to be getting back in my car just before four o'clock. Not that I hadn't enjoyed my first day at camp but we hadn't accomplished much and I knew the real fun would begin tomorrow. There was no use waiting around any longer when it seemed everyone was making their way to their designated camp houses, no doubt fighting over which bed they'd have.

I waved goodbye to Marco as we got in our respective cars. He looked like he wanted to say something more to me but decided against it. I had a gut feeling that he was hiding something from me but at the same time I told myself off for being overly paranoid. A paranoia I entirely blamed Edward for.

Bella had texted me earlier in the day requesting I meet her at Adrian's house. Apparently, he had some friends that were visiting for the summer and Bella was keen to introduce them to me.

I had to stop on the way home, anxious to get something in my stomach that wasn't a marshmallow but was soon pulling up in the driveway of Adrian's home.

Bella had come out to greet me, her questions thrown fast in her excitement to know how my first day had been. Assuring her that everything had been fine, and that the camp had met my standards for the first day, she relaxed against my side.

That's how Tyler found us, standing together on the front porch, Bella leaning against my right side as I leaned back upon her.

"Are you two coming in or are you just going to stand here?"

"It's Bella's fault. She's leaning on me."

"Sorry, let's go in. I'm sure you want to meet Adrian's friends."

"You're the one who was excited for me to meet them. I'm not really that bothered."

"Oh come on! It's not often new people come to Forks, granted they technically aren't people but still. Besides won't it be fine being the people in the know this time.?"

"You mean taking on the role of Jessica and Co? Being dare I say…gossipy?"

"You should try everything at least once in your life Ella."

I glared at her, sure gossiping could be fun but the negative repercussions always outweighed the good.

Adrian came out into the living room and greeted me with a hug. It reminded me how thankful I was that Bella had him in her life. They were well suited and he was now part of my extended family. It was nice to be greeted in such a way.

"How was the first day of camp?" he asked.

"Good, thanks."

"These are my friends, visiting until I get sick of them," he joked as three more people emerged from elsewhere in the house.

"Enzo," he said pointing to the tall skinny chap that looked thinner than a paperclip but whose smile was warm and friendly.

"Gellert," he said pointing to the chap with shaggy blonde hair. He had so much hair in fact that he could have passed for a girl. He waved at me as he was introduced.

"Lastly, Tristram," he said pointing to the final boy who was looking at me with a 'come hither' look which immediately set me on edge.

"Enchanted to meet you, I have never seen such a beautiful female," he said as he took my hand in his and placed a kiss upon it.

I snatched my hand away quickly.

"I'm already spoken for," I replied.

"Really? I don't see him here."

I felt a growl come from low in my throat and watched as his attention towards me invoked a protective attitude in both Bella and Tyler.

"That is neither here or there, even if I wasn't attached you aren't my type, sorry."

"For shame. I bet I could change your mind though."

"You could not ever change my mind. You have nothing to offer me."

"Feisty, I like it."

"Leave it Tristram," said Adrian.

"I meant no harm by it."

The glare Adrian sent to Tristram suggested otherwise. I was partially flattered but didn't want the attention of another. Edward, was it for me, regardless of whether he came back or not.

"Watch your step with my sister."

"Your sister? Looks like Fork's has all the pretty ladies. I'm not afraid of some competition."

"I wouldn't provoke her," said Tyler.

"I think I'm fine thanks."

"I wasn't talking about Bella. I wouldn't piss off Ella if I were you."

"You are most intriguing young Ella. All these friends who stand up for you and a mysterious man who isn't here. I wonder what secrets you hold inside of you…"

"Secrets that you'll never know."

I was beginning to feel on edge again. The cautiousness I'd felt with Marco returning tenfold with Tristram. I didn't like the feeling. I'd felt so safe with the Cullen's and without that blanket I was finding suspicion with every turn of my head.

"If you don't behave yourself Tristram, I'll send you back."

"You wouldn't!"

"You are here at my request. Let's not forget who is in charge here," growled Adrian.

The tension in the room was obvious well before Adrian put his two cents in. I wondered whether this had been the first meeting Bella had hoped for when she asked me round. Probably not, knowing her she had wanted to broaden my friendship ring but it seemed that things had got off to a rocky start.

If this Tristram knew how to keep a healthy distance from me, I could see myself hanging out with them. At least Adrian seemed to have control over him, if things got bad I could always complain to Adrian and perhaps he'd follow through on his threat to send Tristram back to wherever he came.