A/N: So, here's another chapter to get you into the beginning of Bella's new life. She finally meets Edward. I think I'm going to save the others for a later chapter/date. Hope you don't mind. I think you may like how I introduce them later.
Hope you had a wonderful new years everyone! Please read and review. I really appreciate the feedback. Much love!
DISCLAIMER: I'm not Stephenie Meyer. Forgive me for using her characters.
BPOV
I was in the car Monday morning with Sam. It was going to be weird calling him Mr. Atera during school and then Sam after school. The drive was pretty much silent. I didn't mind, I was still trying to figure out the best routes to each of my classes. Part of me hoped to meet someone nice today. Or maybe that Jasper could help me out, even if he did get in that fight.
We arrived in practically no time. I helped Sam grab his pile of papers and helped him carry it into his classroom. We stopped in the office so Sam could sign in. While inside, a short pixie-like girl bounded out of the Headmaster's office. She had short, brown hair and a big, bright smile.
"Hi Bella! I'm Alice Cullen. My dad told me you might need help today. Would you like me to show you around?"
Headmaster Cullen was right. His daughter did have enough energy for four people. "Um, sure Alice. Let me help Sa… I mean, Mr. Atera with these things and then you can help me figure out the best way to get to my classes."
"I'll walk with you guys. Do you have a map of the school already." I nodded I figured Alice wasn't really going to let me do much talking this morning anyway.
Once we got to Sam's classroom, Alice dragged me and my bag from the room. She first took me to my locker so I could put my stuff away. Once there she took my schedule from me. Okay, your first class is just down the hall from your locker. Here's where your English class will be, room 108" She pointed to a door across the hall from where we were standing.
"Okay, next I have Spanish in room 206." I looked at Alice as she got a big smile on her face.
"Excelente! You and I have Spanish together. Let's go." She led me up a staircase and to our Spanish classroom.
We walked my entire day, before Alice said she wanted to go in search of her twin brother. " My brother Edward might have Biology with you. We're both sophomores like you. I'll have to introduce you to him. Then, you can meet my boyfriend, Jasper. He's such a gentleman."
"Wait, Jasper? As in Jasper Whitlock?" I felt a flicker of sadness when I found out that Jasper had a girlfriend.
"Yes! Do you know him?" Alice looked at me with a confused expression.
"Um, I came in Friday to see the school for the first time and he ran into me in the office. He was in a fight or something so he had to meet with your dad."
"Oh yeah, well, James deserved to get beat up. Edward and Emmett were involved too, but my guess is you didn't see them because they were probably cleaning up the mess."
"James? Emmett?" Who were all these people who were fighting.
"Yeah, well Emmett is my other brother. He's a senior here and the star lacrosse player. James is a jerk! He moved here at the beginning of the year and has been trying to get me into bed. But I've been with Jasper since last summer. So he keeps making stupid comments and finally Jazzy and my brothers couldn't take it anymore. They pounded him pretty good. I'm surprised they didn't rip his head off."
I listened with rapt attention as we made our way towards one end of a long hallway. I could hear music coming from the last room. There was someone playing the piano. The song they played was bright, fast, and cheerful. I was about to speak when Alice made a comment.
"Oooh.. He's playing mom's favorite song." Alice started walking faster and motioned to me to stay as quiet as possible.
We got outside the door and stopped to peek inside a small window. I gasped when I saw him. He and Alice looked nothing alike. It was obvious that they weren't identical twins. He looked tall and lanky, but was gorgeous. He had a mess on wavy bronze hair. He had strong facial features and piercing emerald green eyes. The smile on his face didn't reach his eyes, and I wondered why he wasn't completely happy with his playing.
"Why isn't he happy?" I whispered to Alice.
"Huh? Edward looks happy enough, why do you think he's not happy?" Alice looked back and forth between her brother and me.
"Well, his smile doesn't reach his eyes. I guess he could just be concentrating on the music, but most people smile and it reaches their eyes when they're happy. But then again, don't take my word. I haven't been smiling a lot lately."
"Oh, yeah… my dad told me this morning about your parents, I'm so sorry Bella. If there's anything I can help you with, please let me know." Alice was completely sincere, and I felt myself smile for the first time in weeks.
"I just miss everyone and everything back home. I miss my parents, my friends. But thanks Alice. You're making it easier on me."
"That's what friends are for." Alice hugged me and the door to the music room opened abruptly causing Alice and I to tumble inside. I heard the most perfect laugh above us as Alice and I broke apart and tried to stand.
"I see my sister is getting you into trouble alrea…." he stopped when he looked at me fully. "Um, already. Hi. I'm Edward."
He was dazzling, and those emerald eyes were even more beautiful up close. "Bella. Bella Swan…" I was going to have to be careful. I had a feeling that Edward would dazzle me into speaking the truth one of these days. "You are amazing… at the piano that is."
"Well, our mother wouldn't let me quit. She said it would be good for me, I don't know. Maybe she's right.."
Edward began walking with me, and Alice started asking him questions. I pulled my red hair forward to block him out, but couldn't stop myself from peeking at him from the corner of my eyes. I noticed him looking at me a couple times. By the time we got back to the main hallway where my locker was, there were a lot of students around.
"I'll see you later, Alice. I'm going to see if I can remember where every class is. It was nice meeting you both." I looked back at my feet.
"Bye Bella. See you in Spanish." Alice bounced away, looking for Jasper I'm sure.
"It was nice meeting you Bella Swan. You should sit with us at lunch. That way you don't have to spend time searching for a seat. I mean, you don't have to if you don't want." Edward seemed unsure for the first time this morning.
"Yeah, I'd like that. It'll be nice to have some friendly faces around for lunch. And from what Alice tells me, you guys can keep me safe from unwanted guys." I smiled up at him and he chuckled softly.
"I guess you'll have to let us know who to protect you from. Have a good morning Bella." And with that, he turned away and began walking to the opposite side of the hall from my locker.
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A couple hours later, and about fifty pounds of homework later, I was stumbling into the cafeteria. I followed a couple people into the lunch line. I felt like I was in a haze. My body aimlessly followed while my mind wandered back to my last trip through my old lunch line with Tammy and Susie. They had been fighting over celebrities as usual, and I watched as they animatedly talked about their favorites. I was happy, the last time I had truly been happy. That afternoon, everything changed, and I would never again see my best friends again.
I felt an arm wrap around my shoulders as I was shaken from my daydream. Soft hands reached up and wiped the falling tears from my cheeks. I looked up through my tears that it was Edward. I tried to compose myself and instead felt my body begin to tremble. I dropped my book bag, my lunch tray, and I ran.
I ran out of the cafeteria and down the barren hallway. My footsteps echoing off the walls and lockers. I ran until I got to the entrance of the school. I threw myself through the doors and down the stairs. I tripped and tumbled down the steps, but I quickly picked myself up and continued to run. I ran across the street and down the sidewalk, doing my best to avoid other pedestrians.
Soon, I was running into my new house, up the stairs, and into my new room. I couldn't call it home. I couldn't feel safe or comfortable or happy. Everyone I loved thought I was dead or had died themselves. And here I was, alone and scared beyond belief. I was sobbing into the mountain of decorative pillows that Cassie had bought.
Anger and anguish flooded my system, and I began throwing pillows against the wall. I sobbed and screamed out. I wanted my parents, my friends, my home back in sunny Florida. I was rainy here and I hadn't seen the sun since I got on my plane. I hated this place. I hated everyone here, I hated that they all couldn't know me, that with any luck, I would be leaving before any of them had the chance for me to bring them down. I'm nothing special and I don't want all this drama. I collapsed in a heap beside the bed and went numb.
I vaguely heard the door to the bedroom open, but no one made a sound, and I assumed they had left. I'm sure Cassie or Sam came in with dinner at some point, but I never moved. I stared at the wall and the window that allowed no light in. Surprisingly, after many hours of sitting in the dark, I was able to see stars out of the window. I stood and felt my bones and muscles creak as I walked towards the window.
A silver Volvo was parked in front of the house, but I paid no attention to it. Instead I drew my gaze to the sky and the stars that I had not seen in quite some time. A falling star caught my eye after a few minutes of looking for familiar constellations. I closed my eyes and wished to be back with my family safely and soon. I hoped that it didn't count as two wishes.