Edward POV
It has been two days since we have arrived in Forks and I am going out of my mind. I have looked everywhere and have yet to come across the scent of another vampire in the area. It would help with the search if I knew what her scent smelled like. There were a few fleeting scents of other vampires but they were quite old and stale. I knew that everyone else was disappointed as well at not finding Bella yet.
Stalking back into the house after another unsuccessful search I sit down on the couch in the living room and look over at Alice who looks just as frustrated as I am. "Anything new?" I ask her. "No, nothing new at all. I just see what I saw the first time, at least that has not changed. But its driving me insane not being able to see anything new on her or where she is" Alice says with a sigh. By now the rest of the family had joined us in the living room. "I know that we are all a bit frustrated about not finding Bella yet, but the best we can do for now is to go on like we normally do when we start in a new place. You five start school at Forks high in the morning and I start at the hospital tomorrow as well. Esme, didn't you say something about creating a greenhouse and a garden? We nee to just live our lives and let Bella arrive in her own time" Carlisle says. Everyone reluctantly agrees with him, but I know they are all still wondering about Bella.
With that I decide to spend the rest of the evening in my room alone. After putting some Debussy on I sit at my desk and decide to sketch a picture of Bella. I'm not as great as an artist as Esme or Alice. But with just going off of memory I believe that I do a good job capturing her likeness. Looking over at the clock I sigh when I realize that it has only been about two hours and I have another 7 hours before we leave for school.
To hopefully kill more time I listen in on the rest of my family to see how they are killing their time.
Alice- Hmmm maybe I should wear the red blouse with the gray pants...no. The purple one looks better...I hope Bella likes shopping as much as I do…
Rose- I wonder how many human boys are going to try and hit on me tomorrow. Thats one of the things I hate about starting again somewhere new, they never seem to get the hint that you are not interested. I wonder how Bella deals with that…
Emmett- Yes! A New little sister, a new school and new group of unsuspecting humans to play pranks on. I can wait! I really hope that Bella is into pranks and practical jokes, we are going to have a blast!
Jasper- Maybe I should go hunting again. I know that my control as been almost perfect these past few years, but with everyone's emotions running high and worrying about finding Bella I am afraid I might slip. Yeah, maybe a quick hunting trip would be a good idea. I wonder how Bella's control is…
Carlisle- I know that everyone is worried about finding Bella and so am I, but I need to be the responsible one here and keep everything running as normal. I'm sure we will find her in time or she will find us, either way we need to be patient.
Esme- Yes, I do believe that a greenhouse would look great right there and maybe a small garden attached to it. I should get started on drawing out the plans. I wonder if Bella enjoys gardening, it would be a great thing for us to bond over if she does.
Once again I go back to trying to block out my family's thoughts. 'Maybe I'll compose a new piece for the piano to kill some more time' I think to myself. With thoughts of Bella running through my head I start writing the new song that I quickly named Bella's Lullaby.
Alice POV
Finally it's morning and I'm putting the finishing touches on my artfully designed wardrobe before looking over at Jasper to make sure he is wearing what I left out for him. Once I made sure everything was perfect we headed downstairs to wait for everyone else. Carlisle had already left for the hospital an hour earlier and Esme was still busy looking over her plans for the greenhouse. Tapping my foot and looking at the clock I started getting impatient. "Relax Alice, we have plenty of time" Jasper says as he tries to calm me, but it does not help. "We are going to be late if you guys don't get your butts down here and in the car soon" I shout up the staircase. "Jeez Ali, there is no need to shout. We are right here" Emmett says as he comes down the stairs with Rose right behind him. After a few more minutes there is still no sign of Edward so I shout out again "Edward Anthony Masen Cullen you better get your butt down here right now or we are taking your car and leaving you behind. And I'll let Emmett drive it!" I knew threatening to let Emmett drive his car would get him down here and I was right. Less then 10 seconds he was down the stairs and shouting "You would not dare let Emmett drive my car, remember what he did to his last car?" shuttering I remember how bad Emmett had wrecked that car and how lucky it was that there weren't any humans involved in that accident. "Yes, but the threat did get you down here" I say with a smile before turning to head to the garage.
Instead of us all squeezing into Edward's Volvo, Emmett and Rose decide to go in Emmett's new Jeep and Jasper and I rode with Edward. It takes us about 10 minutes to reach the town limits and another 2 to make it to the school. Edward decides to park at the very back of the parking lot and Emmett pulls right next to us. As we get out I can already see what few students there are already here staring at us. Ignoring the looks we are getting I grab Jasper's hand and start heading to the main office as the rest of the family follows close behind. After we receive our schedules and study them over I am upset to find that my first two classes of the day are not with any of my family, in fact they are on complete opposite sides of the school. "This just sucks" I say with a pout. "I know darlin', but at least we all have lunch together and after that we have most of our classes together" Jasper says as he tries to make me smile.
By now the halls were packed with other students, all of them staring at us and whispering comments. 'I wonder who they are?' 'They all look like models' 'I wonder if that blonde girl is dating anyone or maybe the dark haired one, she is cute' 'I bet those guys would help me pull some pranks on the Freak, that would be awesome' After that I tried to tune out the whispers. I knew that we needed to stared heading to our classes, so after saying bye to everyone I headed in the direction of my first class. By the time I reached the other side of the school campus most of the halls were empty (I really do hate going at human speed). Just as I stopped at my locker someone in an oversized hoodie sweater with the hood up rushed passed me and to a locker across the hall. As I put the last of my things in my locker I turned to see someone push the person in the hoodie into their locker and with a yelp they fell to the ground and call the person they ran into a freak as they walked away. I was a bit shocked at what I just saw, I mean I have seen bullying and stuff at other schools. But I didn't expect it in such a small place like Forks. Looking back at the person on the ground I could hear them start to cry as they tried to gather up the contents of their backpack which had spilled out.
Walking over to the person on the ground I say "OMG are you ok? Are you hurt? Why did that girl just shove you like that? Here let me help you". After I say that the person on the floor looks up at me, their hood falling away so I could see their face. With a gasp I recognize that face. It's Bella. But this isn't right, she is still human. As I look as her I notice that her being human is not the only thing wrong here. She is visible thin, too thin. She looks almost sickly. She has dark circles under her eyes from definite lack of sleep and I can see what looks like a fading bruise on her left cheek even though it looks like she tried to cover it with makeup. Of course my assessment took all to 3 seconds. "Here let me help you" I say as I kneel down and help her gather up her things. "Thank you" I hear her whisper, it was so light and quiet that if I was not a vampire I might have missed it.
After we had finished gathering up all of her things I reach a hand out to help her up but see her flinch at the gesture, as if she thought I was going to hit her. What has happened to make her this way I think to myself again. Still holding my had out I say "Here, let me help you up" I watch her look at my hand then at my face then back at my hand before reaching out for my hand. Her hand feels so small, so fragile in my hand. Like a small bird. After she is standing I remain holing her hand and introduce myself. "I'm Alice by the way, Alice Cullen. Today is my first day here. Whats your name?" I ask as I lightly shake her hand. "I..Isabella. Isabella Swan. But I like to be called Bella. It's nice to meet you" She says in such a quiet, broken voice. Where is the Bella from my vision? The Bella so full of life and laughter. I was determined to get to the bottom of this and find out what was going on here. I feel Bella try and tug her hand back and say "Thank you for your help, but we should be getting to class. What class do you have right now, maybe I can point you in the right direction" "There is no need to thank me, I was happy to help. But don't think that gets you out of telling me why that girl shoved you, we will talk about it later. As for what class I have, I have English with Mrs. Amberson" I say. I see a small smile creep onto her face and she says "So do I, I can show you the way there if you would like" Returning her smile I say "Lead the way". I let go of her hand only to hook my elbow together with hers. When I did this I noticed several things at once. First off she flinched again at being touched, second I could have sworn I heard her whimper as if in pain and third under all her layers of clothing she was bone thin.
With our arms still linked she lead me down the hall a few doors to a closed door. Letting go of my arm she opens the door and enters. "Ms. Swan, why are you once again late for my class. Do I need to send a notice to your father again?" A person I assume is the teacher Mrs. Amberson says. "I...I..No, please don't. I'm sorry...I" I hear Bella stumbling over her explanation to the teacher and decide to step in and help. "I'm sorry, it's my fault that she is late" I say. "And who would you be?" The teacher asks with a raised eyebrow "I'm Alice Cullen. It's my first day here and I had gotten a bit lost, but Bella was kind enough to show me around the school, where my locker was and where my first call was" I say with a sweet, innocent smile. "O..ok. Ummm...ok. Bella you can go to your seat now, and thank you for showing Miss Cullen around" The Mrs. Amberson says. I watch Bella make her way to the back of the class, all the way there receiving what looked like death glares from the rest of the class. I could hear several people whisper "Freak" under their breath as she passed and I even saw someone try and trip her. But she caught herself before falling, but the action received several laughs from some students. I wanted nothing more that to rip them all apart for treating my sister that way; because that is what she was, my sister. Even though she does not know it yet.
Before I can follow behind her the teacher turns to the call as announces "Class, we have a new student today. Please say Hello to Alice Cullen. Alice why don't you tell us a bit about your self before taking a seat" I smile, but internally cringe. I hate it when I'm asked to do this in front of a new class, but the sooner I get it over the sooner I can get back to Bella. Smiling I give the them the whole just moved from Alaska blah blah blah speech. Once I am done I start moving towards the back so I can sit with Bella. There are plenty of open seats all around and I can see the other students eager for me to sit with them, but I ignore them and head to the back where Bella is.
Bella has her face buried in a book when I get to the back of the class and she looks over at me surprised when I sit down next to her. As the teacher called the class to order I decided the I would find out a bit more about Bella. Taking out a sheet of paper I wrote: (A) Do you want to be friends? I have feeling we are going to be great friends. I slip the paper over to Bella and wait for her response. After a couple minutes she slips the paper back to me. (B) Ummm I guess. But you will regret it, no one wants to be friends with me, the freak. Even being seen talking to be can ruin your chances of having any sort of social life here or even making friends. She passed the paper back to me and when I read it I'm a bit shocked and pissed off as well. I respond furiously. (A) DO NOT CALL YOURSELF THAT! You are not a freak, you may be a bit quiet, but that does not make you a freak. I want to be your friend and I could care less about the social life here or making tons of friends, in fact at our last school my sister, my brothers and I were considered the outcasts and didn't really have any friends. I pass the paper back to her and see a look of shock go over her face, but its quickly replaced with a small smile and I can see her eyes well up at bit as she responds. (B) Yes! I do want to be your friend. Thank you for saying that. Everyone here has treated me like I am nothing; like a freak, for so long that I started to believe it. I don't know who the rest of your family is, but I can't see you being an outcast or not having friends, your so kind and friendly. I smile at what she wrote and send back a response. (A) Good, we are friends now. What class do you have next? I have History with Mr. Franklin. What about lunch, I have 3rd period lunch. Do you want to sit with me and my family? I know that they would just love to meet and want to be friends with you as well. I can almost see her face light up at the idea of us being friends as she responds. (B)Yay friends! Unfortunately I have Art with Mr. Johnson, but it is right next to Mr. Franklin's class so I can walk with you to class at least. I do have 3rd period lunch, but I usually just spend it in the library or out sitting at the edge of the woods reading. After seeing her response I write back (A) Oh please sit with us today! I know that my brothers and sister will just love to meet you. Please please please! I give her back the note and see another smile grace her face as she responds. (B) Ok, you win, I'll sit with you and your family at lunch.
By the time I finished reading her response The bell was about to ring and we started gathering up our stuff. As we exited the class into the hall I decided not to link arms with her this time in fear that I might hurt her again. As we made our was down the hall I could see the other students giving off putting glares at Bella and could hear some not so friendly comments whispered about her. I knew that she could hear some of what was being said about her by the way she kept her head down and tried not to look at any of the other students. Right then I made a vow that this was going to end. She was my best friend and would soon be my sister; my family, and no one treated my family like that. I knew that I needed to talk to the rest of the family and let them know what was going on. Once we make it to my next class I say to Bella "Ok, I will meet you outside your class when class is out and we can walk to lunch together." She just nods before heading to the class across the hall.
Once I am done with the whole introducing myself to the class and I am in my seat in the back I pull out my phone and send a quick group text to the rest of my family (but not Carlisle or Esme)
Meet me at the car in 10 minutes, need to talk. Very important. After a few minutes and receiving responses from everyone I ask the teacher if I may be excused to go to the restroom. Once out in the empty halls I run at almost vampire speed to the parking lot. Everyone is already there and waiting for me. Knowing that Edward would be trying to read my mind to find out what was going on I did my best to block him out. 'Whats going on?" Jasper asks me. I try to keep a calm face, but he knows that something is not right. "Yeah, what was so urgent that we needed to meet out here?" Rose asks. "And why are you trying to block me?" Edward asks. Sighing, I say "Ok let me get this out before you all start asking a million questions. First off, Bella is here..." I can see that everyone is stunned and excited, but I am cut off by Edward before I could finish "What! Where is she? Why didn't she come out with you?" I put my hand up for him to let me finish "As I was saying, she is here. But there are a few problems. First, she is still human..." I knew that that would be a shocker and was expecting the interruption. "What?! What do you mean she is still human? But you vision, she was one of us" Rose says. "I know what my vision showed and its still the same. It just means that it has not happened yet, she still is going to be one of us and part of our family...someday"
"What is the rest Alice? There is something that you are not saying, something you are blocking from me" Edward says. Nodding I say "There is more. There is something wrong, something going on with her" "What do you mean something wrong?" Emmett asks with a very concerned look on his face and I know he is going into big brother mode. "I'm not sure but I know that is not good. She looks sick, and not your typical cold or flu sick. I mean really sick. She is way too thin, she has dark circles under her eyes like she has not slept well in a long time and she is almost as pale as us. It looked like she had a large bruise on her face that she tried to cover up and when I took her arm on out way to class she whimpered as if in pain but I barley touched her" Everyone's faces turned instantly angry but it was Jasper who spoke "Someone must be hurting her, doing these things to her to cause her pain" I nodded in agreement and said "That's the other thing, way the other students were treating her was horrible. Pushing her into lockers, giving her death glares, whispering rude comments about her, tripping her, calling her a freak or The Freak" "Wait, I have heard a bunch of people talking about someone and calling them The Freak, are you telling me that its Bella?" Edward ask. I just nod "Yeah, some guys were talking about some pranks they wanted to pull on someone they called the Freak. If they think they are going to pull anything on Bella they have another thing coming. They have to get through me first" Emmett says, everyone else nods in agreement. "
We need to get to the bottom of this and find out what is going on with her, I have invited her to sit with us at lunch so you all can meet her. Edward, I want you to read her mind. See if you can find out what is going on. Jasper, see if you can get a read on her emotions. Emmett, just be your self and try to make her smile and rose, you have more experience with these things. Look for any signs of abuse. Maybe if we can gain her trust we can confront her about it and hopefully stop it before it gets any worse. We will talk to Carlisle and Esme tonight and let them know what is going on after we find out more at lunch" With that we all head back to our classes with a game plan ready to be set in motion.
So I wanted to make this chapter the whole day, with everyone meeting Bella at lunch and more stuff that happens after that. But the chapter was already getting too long so i am splitting it up and working on the other half right now.
Hope you enjoy. Please R/R
