Ch 1: Reminiscence

"How did I meet Bella?" I ask myself in response to Carlisle's questioning. "I would have to say it all started back in Chemistry class…"

"Hello class, I am Mr. Glover, and I will be your Chemistry teacher this year. Let me take attendance and then we will get started. Sasha Newton?"

"Here"
"Ted Avery…" I drowned out the stupid teacher's role call. Damn it, why did this stupid school not take my transfer credits? I already know all this crap! I can't believe that this Podunk town called Forks is really better than Embry Riddle in Aerospace.

"Jeffery Heinkel?"

"Here," I replied, "and I prefer to go by just Jeff if it's all the same."

"Very well." The stupid teacher makes a stupid mark in his stupid book. If you haven't realized I am in a bad mood you haven't been paying much attention. I drown out the teacher until he calls out "Bella Cullen?"

"Here" came a voice that sounded like a thousand harps playing perfectly in harmony. I look over, and gawk at the sight. There sat a goddess "amid the sea of ugly" as my old aerospace teacher would say. Her skin was white as a piece of paper then again, this place is perpetually shrouded in darkness, and her hair was raven black. Her eyes were liquid gold. "Alice Cullen?"

"Here" came a voice sounding like the tinkling of bells. I look next to Bella, and there sits another goddess. Her sister I infer from the resemblance and the same last name. I noticed with interest that she also has liquid gold eyes. I am sitting two rows in front of them, and they are both sitting in the back corner, as if to avoid everyone else. I notice with some humor that everyone else seems to be subconsciously leaning away from them. I, in contrast, find myself fascinated with them. The girl on the left, what was her name? Alice? Leans over towards Bella and seems to whisper something. It looks like she said something embarrassing because Bella tries to hide herself behind her text book (which, by the way, happens to weigh a ton).

"Hmm… I'll have to remember to ask Alice just what she said to Bella."

"So, where was I? Oh yes. At the end of the class…"

When the bell rings, I walk over to where Bella is still picking up her things. Somehow I don't notice the absence of Alice.



"Hey," I said, "my names Jeff." I hold out a hand. As my cursed luck with women would have it, my hand just hangs there, un-met.

"Hi, I'm Bella. I hope we can have a good year together." She says in her harp-like voice, and flashes me a dazzling smile. I am stunned for a second, and in that second she is past me and halfway across the room. By the time I shake my head and lower by arm, she is already out the door.