Previously…

As Economics ended, I sprang up and Tyler Crowley invited me to sit with him at lunch.

"Thanks Tyler, but I sort of have plans to sit with someone else."

"Who?" His voice sounded deflated and I could tell he was trying to hide his disappointment.

"Um, Esme and her friends? She gave me a tour of the school earlier and invited me to sit with her."

"Oh, all right." He sounded happier that it was Esme that had asked me. "It's okay, maybe we can have lunch together some other time."

"Sure, that'd be great."

Chapter 5

BPOV

Tyler patted my shoulder awkwardly as we walked out of the door. I was a little disoriented on my direction after a boring class of Economics. Looking around, I decided to follow the flow of the crowd.

I stiffened momentarily, my senses picking up a pair of eyes watching me. I glanced out of the corner of my eyes and I froze. My mouth gaped open slightly. There was a boy a few feet away. I came up with the conclusion that he'd been the one watching me as the other students continued walking to lunch. As soon as my eyes locked with his, we both stopped. As if we were old friends seeing each other for the first time in years instead of strangers. On top of it all, he had to be one of the most beautiful people I had ever seen in my life.

In a split second, my mind moved a mile a minute as my eyes took in the sight of him. His pale white skin was flawless, beautifully contracted against his bronze hair and piercing green eyes which were looking down at me. His hair was long, but not too long, in a beautiful disarray over his smooth forehead. I fantasized for a moment on what it would feel like to tunnel my fingers through his hair, tugging on it as I pulled him closer for his perfectly sculptured lips to meet mine.

My gaze climbed back up to his eyes and my breath came up short. There was an electric current flowing around us as the hallway emptied.

He was the one to break the spell by clearing his throat. I blinked.

"Are you all right?" He asked me. His voice was low, soft as velvet floating through the air to meet my ears.

"I'm sorry," I blushed stupidly. "I don't know what came over me."

"No, I'm sorry. I was just, uh…" his voice trailed off as if he couldn't come up with an answer.

"If we're both sorry, then neither of us is at fault. I, um, I better get going."

"Right," he whispered softly as we walked towards the cafeteria together. It wasn't as if there was any other option.

I thought the walk would be awkward and embarrassing, but it was surprisingly comfortable. I mostly kept my gaze to the floor, peeking at him when we turned a corner. I blushed, discovering he was looking at me too. His comeback was a smirk that tugged at the edge of his lips. How was it possible for him to look more beautiful with such a simple gesture?

The mystery guy suddenly quickened his pace to open the door for me as we reached the doors of the cafeteria.

"Ladies first," he grinned. I suddenly thought of Mike and how much more appealing such an act had been when this bronze haired boy was being the gentleman.

"Thank you," I managed to say as I blushed again. How embarrassing this blush was becoming.

I automatically scanned the crowd, glancing at him when he walked past me, in search of Esme. I was surprised when I found her. My mystery guy was sitting with her, looking in my direction.

Crap.

What if he was Esme's boyfriend Carlisle that she seemed to love more than life itself? It was easy to tell in the way she said his name.

"Bella!" she stood up and waved me over.

Mr. Bronze Hair's eyes widened, staring at Esme in shock.

I stood still for a moment, willing myself to move, but nothing happened. Esme's head tilted in concern. She said something to the beautiful one and came towards me.

"Hey, is everything okay? You look like you've seen a ghost," She commented when she reached me.

"I, uh, um, sorry. I just got nervous for a second, I don't know what happened." I shook my head, futilely trying to clear it. Of course, it didn't work.

Esme linked her arm through mine and led me towards her table where a small pixie like girl was now sitting next to him. Her dark brown hair was cropped short around her ears, straightened flawlessly. It seemed to work for her. I took it to be Alice as she set a beautiful new Chanel bag on the table in front of her.

"Are you sure you're okay? The others should be here in a few minutes. They had a meeting with the principal. Nothing serious, they're just all in Student Council. Carlisle is the student body president, Jasper is the VP, Emmett is the Treasurer, and Rose is the Secretary."

"That's really impressive. I could never do such a thing." I started calming down, soothed by Esme's voice as we walked to her table. I suddenly had a smart thought, wherever Carlisle was, he wasn't here. I breathed a sigh of relief that I hadn't accidentally gotten a crush on my only friend's boyfriend.

"Alice and I couldn't do something like that either but Edward started the school year late because he was in Rome with his parents for an extra month during the summer; he wanted to run against Jasper. Those boys and their competition." She rolled her eyes and we reached the table.

"Not that he would have won against Jasper anyways," the girl that I figured to be Alice stuck her tongue out to the bronze haired boy. Her voice was alto, matching her small frame.

I took a deep breath as I looked towards him. He was looking at me with the most peculiar expression on his face. Almost as if he was trying to read my mind. But he was knocked out of it as he gently poked Alice in the ribs with his elbow.

"Of course I would have won, Als. I'm clearly the best looking one in the group." He smirked and my smile faltered. Could he really be that type of guy? Arrogant and self-involved. But he winked at her and she laughed. Clearly it was all part of the jibe.

"As if," she rolled her eyes.

My mystery guy clutched at his stomach and laughed.

Well, I'll be damned if he didn't have the most adorable laugh.

"Edward, Alice, stop being so rude. This is Isabella Swan; she's new." I was about to interrupt her and insist they call me Bella, but she stopped me by saying, "But call her Bella. I had the pleasure of showing her around the school this morning. Bella, this is Edward Cullen and Mary Alice Brandon. Though everyone calls her Alice."

"Or pixie," Edward threw in. Alice responded by slapping his shoulder.

"Quit it!" Alice pouted.

"Knock it off, guys! Try and make a good impression. I'm sorry, Bella. They're not usually such…kids."

I laughed. "It's okay. It's actually kind of funny."

They all turned their heads to look at me and their stares varied. Esme had a look of kindness. I could tell she was happy that I accepted her metaphorical family for who they were. Edwards look was more difficult to read, though I thought I saw a hint of sorrow in his eyes that I couldn't place. Alice was flat out beaming.

She bounced up and put her thin arms around me.

"Oh!" I exclaimed taken aback. She was strong for such a petite girl.

"I can already tell we're going to be the best of friends, Bella!"

"Wow, Alice, I don't know what to say. I'm looking forward to it?" For the first time in a long time, my smile reached my eyes.

Esme and Edward laughed. Alice grabbed my hand and sat me between her and Edward.

"Hey," he whispered.

"Hi," I blushed again and cursed myself. Was I going to blush every single time he spoke a word to me damn it? My conscious told me yes, most definitely yes. I sighed inwardly.

"Have you two met?" Alice wondered out loud looking between the two of us.

I nodded and Edward answered the unspoken question we were sure was coming. "Just a few minutes ago, actually. I accidentally bumped into Bella in the hall and we walked over here together."

"He opened the door for me like a perfect gentleman." I smiled at him and caught myself getting lost in his gaze for the second time in less than ten minutes. There was a tug coming from my chest, almost as if there were magnets in our hearts, pulling us towards each other.

I had to admit it frightened me. I had never felt such a strong reaction to anyone before. Not even with Jacob. And with that thought, the pain came rushing back. I whimpered softly, doubting anyone could hear it, but Edward's eyebrows rose infinitesimally.

Edward seemed like he was about to speak but Alice interrupted with an exaggerated, "Awwwwww! Esme! Look at how cute they are for each other!"

"Alice, I think you just ruined a moment," Esme whispered.

Edward gave me that look again. It made me feel like he was really trying to see past me, into my soul. I broke contact with him and looked up to Esme. There were very pale arms in the process of wrapping themselves around her waist.

"What moment?" A smooth voice questioned. A pale boy, who looked more like a man than anything else, had came up behind Esme and placed a kiss on her cheek. Her body seemed to relax into his and I knew right away this was Carlisle. Edward's older brother.

I tilted my head in confusion. Edward looked nothing like Carlisle. In fact, they were total opposites. Carlisle was taller, thinner, though still muscular. His eyes were a crisp pale blue and his hair was a pale blond, slicked back with a light amount of gel. And though I hadn't paid much attention to Edward's physique before, I knew he wasn't as tall as him, though he was more built, but Edward was still lean and taller than most.

"You know Alice," Esme giggled as Carlisle placed small kisses along the line of her neck.

"What has my girl been up to now?" A deeper southern accented voice called out from behind Carlisle and Esme.

I jumped in my seat as a loud squeak came from the small person next to me. Alice bounced up and threw herself into the boy's arms. Jasper Hale, I thought to myself intuitively. He was as tall as Carlisle, though more pronounced than Edward. I was shocked at what an odd pair they made. Jasper and Alice couldn't be more opposite from each other. She was barely 5'2" and I took him to be at least a foot taller. He had long blond hair that reached his shoulders and reserved violet eyes. By the looks of it, I could see right away they were crazy for each other. As they started kissing, I looked away not wanting to be rude by staring.

"Welcome to the club," Edward whispered. "When they all start going at it, I'm left being the seventh wheel. They are nice enough to keep it to a minimum, or leave a couple babysitting me while the others tend to their business, but I let them go ahead and have their fun most of the time."

"That's very nice of you, Edward. You're a great friend."

"They're like my family. We have a 'can't live with them, can't live without them' type of relationship." He had turned away from the couples and faced me, picking up the apple from his tray and taking a bite from it. I tried not to stare at the way his lips wrapped around the skin of the apple and the way his jaw worked while he chewed; or even his throat as he swallowed.

"Bella?" I blinked once. "You're doing it again."

"Oh, I'm so sorry. I was just thinking about something." I lied lamely. I 'm sure he could see right through it.

He smiled crookedly and my heart skipped a beat. What was about him that was having such a huge effect on me? I grabbed my bottle of lemonade as I figured out the answer to that question.

"Everything," I mumbled underneath my breath.

"I'm sorry?" Edward asked, having heard me apparently.

"Oh, nothing." I shook my head and uncapped the bottle. I tilted my head back and took a few gulps.

This time it was my turn to catch him staring. I put the bottle down and raised an eyebrow. "Edward?"

"Huh?" His eyes were glossy, dazed almost, glued to my mouth.

I snapped my fingers in front of his face and he looked back up to my eyes.

It was then that he and I realized the others were staring at us as if we were a television show. A burly looking guy with short black curly hair and brown eyes had joined them, along with a statuesque blond with violet eyes and perfect figure. Emmett and Rosalie.

Each of the boys had an eyebrow raised. Alice and Esme shared a look that I couldn't quite understand before huge grins took up their faces. And Rosalie was looking at her fingernails, seemingly uninterested in what was going on.

"Hey guys, what's up?" Edward asked and they all seemed to break out of their own trance. Emmett plopped down in the seat in front of Edward with two trays of food.

"Nothing much, man. The meeting was bo-to-the-ring." He looked at me. "Who are you?"

"Oh, I'm Bella. It's nice to meet all of you officially. Esme has told me a lot about you guys."

Emmett looked up from his meal. "Like what?" he mumbled with food in his mouth.

"Emmett! Manners!" Esme chided him.

He swallowed and asked, "What'd I do?" His eyes were wide and clueless. His lips turned into a grin as Rosalie sat down in front of me and next to him.

She slapped his arm. "Your food, baby. Swallow before you talk."

"Oh, right, sorry about that."

I giggled and the others sat down. Alice was next to me again, with Jasper to her right and Carlisle was seated in front of Jasper with Esme to his right where she was facing Alice.

The cafeteria was buzzed with activity as our surrounding peers talked and laughed. Edward had his arm slung on the back of my chair and I was trying not to be too conscious of the fact.

Jasper and Rosalie introduced themselves during lunch and they were both very beautiful. They all were and it made me feel a little self conscious. Jasper was the quiet one out of the group, which surprised me because he was with someone as eccentric as Alice. I suppose it made sense that they would level each other out. Carlisle and Esme, they were the mother and father of the group. I could see that right away. In my opinion they were the heart of their little family.

Emmett and Rosalie were a little difficult to figure out. They seemed to have a passion that existed between honeymooners. When I asked how long they'd been dating; I was shocked to say the least when they answered at the same time, "Three years."

"We've been together since the summer before we started high school. I was so worried that I was just a summer fling for him but we've never been apart since." Emmett gave her a cheeky grin and she kissed his cheek.

"That's so sweet. I hope I can have what you all have one day." I was glad I was enjoying myself here. I had to admit, I didn't think I would, but it was altogether a pleasant surprise.

"That might happen sooner than you think, Bells," Alice said matter-of-factly.

"Yeah, Bella, you never know. Your soul mate could be right in this very room at this very moment and you wouldn't know it because you're walls are built so up high," Esme advised.

I took in a deep shaky breath, "It's a little crazy how you all know me better than I know myself. Probably a little pathetic, too."

"No one's judging you, Bella. We just wouldn't want to see you hurt." Jasper empathized.

"You're a part of this family now," Carlisle smiled from his corner of the table.

"Yeah, whether you like it or not!" Emmett managed to throw his two cents in and we all laughed.

"Since I haven't gotten a chance to say much, how about I come up with a masterful plan?" Edward wiggled his eyebrows and grinned mysteriously. "How about we all go out tonight? Show Bella the spots. Maybe go to the carnival that just came into town last week?"

"Awesome idea, Edward!" Alice clapped her hands.

Emmett pumped his fist into the air. "YES! CORNDOG TIME!"

"Ew," Rosalie muttered referring to Emmett's unusual taste in food.

"Em, you know those things give you some major gas and I am not riding back in the same car as you while you're loaded up on those things."

Esme and Carlisle nodded in agreement.

"Aw man," Emmett pouted and Rosalie rubbed his forearm.

"It's okay, baby. You can have all the cotton candy you want." Rose tried comforting him with other options.

"It's not the same," he sighed and his massive shoulders drooped.

Author's Note: So there it is. Edward and Bella finally met. What did you all think?

I want to give much thanks to whisper915for putting my story into her favorite's list and to PrincessQF for reviewing.

PrincessQF: I figured it was something like DUN DUN DUN. I was just in such a hurry to put up the next chap. Lol. Thanks so much for the words of encouragement and I hope you read the previous chapters. They'll be vital to the story later on.

Hope I did a good job, it was sort of rushed so excuse any typos.

Till next time…

Later.