Hello! here is the next chapter everyone enjoy! please please please enjoy lol i need the confidence!
big thank you to Mrs. Nina Cullen for the beta! she did a great job!
I do not own Twilight Unfortunately!
thank you for reading!
Chapter 3
EPOV
I didn't sleep well at all. The constant tapping on the roof from the rain seemed to make me nervous. I will admit that I did have insomnia on more than one occasion. But this was different I'd drift asleep only to be awaken by a loud crack from the storm. It was one of the most annoying things. I finally went to sleep a little after 4 in the morning. Only to be awakened by people stomping down the stairs at 6 to start their mornings.
I looked in the mirror completely expecting my horrid appearance. I had deep purple circles under my eyes; my skin looked almost translucent, and my hair. I sighed. Oh my hair why couldn't I have normal hair. I gave up and turned to hop in the shower. The hot water helped to disentangle a little of muscles from my sleepless night but not enough. I turned off the water and wrapped in a warm towel. I brushed my teeth and towel dried my hair. I walked across to my room to look in my suitcase for something suitable to wear. I settled on jeans and a brown sweater. At my old school we wore uniforms so it was a little liberating to not have a standard set of clothes but on the other hand completely nerve wracking. I grabbed my doc martins from the other suitcase and was tying my shoelaces when I heard a knock at the door.
"Hey son, your Mother wanted me to come up and tell you that her and your Aunt cooked breakfast and that it was ready." my father stood at the door waiting for me to acknowledge his presence. I turned to look at him and nodded so he knew I heard him. He rolled his eyes and walked into the room and shut the door behind him. He was still in his pajamas and a robe with his hair looking as crazy as mine.
"Edward, I know you're upset with me." I scoffed at his understatement and he turned the other way and pinched the bridge of his nose. "God, Edward don't you understand I'm dying in this? Don't you get I'm trying so hard to make this okay, to do anything right. And you won't let me. You won't even speak to me. Your mother acts like she understands but I know that under that she's just as pissed as you are. I'm trying, and I'm going to fix this, I promise." His voice was almost at shouting level. I think the only thing that kept him from truly screaming at me was the others in the house. I had heard him say these things before. The incident had happened well over 3 months ago. But none of my anger had dissipated.
"I better go eat breakfast for school." I said as I grabbed my backpack and headed out the door. I thought I saw him hang his head in defeat as I made my way down the stairs but I didn't care. He could drown in his misery, just like I was drowning in this hideous town.
As I rounded the stairs I saw Mike sitting in the living area watching cartoons. I waved and he tilted his head up at me. He looked extremely exhausted and definitely not excited about the first day of school. I went into the small kitchen to be greeted by my Mom and Aunt. My mom was still in her pastel robe with a freshly showered head. She turned to look at me only to notice I was alone. Anticipating that the conversation with me and my Dad didn't go well, she shook her head at me while quickly making her way up the stairs.
"Do I wanna know what that was about?" my Aunt turned to me, looking already dressed for work in jeans and button up shirt. But somehow her Masen hair looked effortlessly styled as it hung in soft curls down her back. She always gave off a feel calm wherever she went. She looked up at me expectantly. I took a deep breath and looked into her inquisitive eyes.
"My mom had some hope of me and my Father reconciling because he came and got me for breakfast. I don't know, I think the woman is delusional."
"Oh so I wasn't imaging the built up tension between you guys." She laughed and shook her head. "Don't be too hard on your mom. Elizabeth is constantly hopeful, no matter the problem." She smiled at me. I nodded once telling her I understood and I'd do my best. She started serving me the best looking breakfast id ever seen. Seriously she made IHOP look like a vending machine. I thanked her, and started eating. Everything was absolutely delicious; I don't think I'd eaten this much in years. Mike eventually joined us looking a little more upbeat. He told me about his friends, and football. Mike was quarterback for the team, and most of his friends played on the team. He told me about the teachers and basically an entire rundown of the high school. Soon enough it was time for us to head out to school. Mike gave his Mom a hug and waved goodbye to my parents. I stood up and thanked Aunt Judy for breakfast and gave an awkward waved to my Mom and Dad.
We hopped into Mike's suburban and he continued to chat animatedly thorough the drive. I was finding myself more and more at ease with Mike. He talked a lot which didn't leave me room to try sound at all excited for the day to come. He tried to calm my fears and say that it would be ten times less stressful than my snooty private school as he called it. What he didn't understand is I had been going to school with those kids for almost my entire life. They all knew to leave me alone, and only talk to me in passing. They didn't think it was weird anymore that I didn't eat lunch in the cafeteria that instead I went to the music room and practiced. Or that my closest friends were the teachers. They knew all these things and accepted them to just be who I was. This was a small town; I was going to be the new kid. A mystery ready to be unfolded and I'm sure the scandal with my father had reached the towns gossip already. So I had that hanging over my head as well. I looked out the window to be welcomed by a collection of small buildings. I wouldn't have known it to be the high school if it wasn't proclaimed on the sign in the front. Mike parked by the front office and told me to go in and ask Mrs. Cope for my schedule that he was going to go park in the student lot. I got out sloshing my way to the door in the rain.
The office was extremely small with only a few desks behind a counter with bins of papers thrown all over on top. There was a plump red headed woman behind the desk who I assumed to be Mrs. Cope.
"Hi, I'm Edw-"she cut me off as soon as her eyes landed on my face.
"Edward Masen, my gosh it's like I've been transported to 20 years ago. You look exactly like your father. It's unreal, if I didn't know better I would think you were here to flirt with me and cheat off my algebra homework." She laughed. The idea of my father flirting with another woman no matter the context was still revolting considering his past activities. But good to know lying and cheating was always his forte. I smiled at her and tried again
"Hah, yeah I assure you I'm just here to get my class schedule." I smiled again trying my best to be polite. A look of recognition came to her features as she started bustling around the crammed office space for my schedule. She located it, giving me a brief description of the school's layout along with a map. While I was standing there the first bell rang. She told me my English class was just around the corner in building 3. I told her thank you and made my way out into the rain. You'd think in a town that rained this much you wouldn't have to walk outside to most of your classes. But oh of course not, I was cursing the stupid weather when I walked into class.
Lots of the kids were already seated, I walked up to my teacher who I found out was Mr. Berty. He showed me to my desk and handed me a text book and wished me luck on my first day before starting class. I was happy to know I had read all the books on the reading list for this semester. I could soon tell I was going to have no problem. The class went on like most first days with a basic rundown of what would be in the curriculum. The bell rang releasing us to second period when a girl with a head full of light brown curls came bounding out of nowhere to give me a hug. I grimaced while she touched me. But luckily she wasn't thinking of anything much besides that she was happy to see me again. I quickly understood that this must be Jessica. She let me go finally after a minute to look up at me.
"Edward, I'm so glad to see you, oh my gosh. I like saw you when I walked in. but I was late so I didn't get to say anything. You look great. How's your first day going?" She talked just as fast as I remembered but it made me feel good that she seemed so happy to see me.
"Well, we just got done with first period. So I haven't had much of a day." I laughed and gave her a small crooked smile. When we use to visit summers up here when I was a kid, Mike and I would always terrorize Jessica. It was one of my favorite past times. Mike even back then always had a way to make me feel normal. Jessica lived behind my family and we did all types of horrendous things to her over the years. She looked only a little different than 5 years ago. Her hair was still a curly mess, but she looked more womanly than I had ever noticed. Secretly I always kind of wondered if Mike had a thing for her. I smiled at her who led her into a spill of the last 5 years and of course a rundown of Forks High. I came to find that I had Jessica in my Spanish and Trigonometry class. I was happy to know someone in all my classes but then again not as I don't think Jessica took a breath in the entire walk to trig. I was man of little words and Jessica had a lot of words. She didn't touch me again; I think she might have recalled I didn't like to be touched too much, which I praised whoever for that. We got to class and it passed in a blur, I also was well above the curriculum in this class as well. Jessica walked with me to Spanish as well, where Mike luckily was.
"Hey Man, how's your first day been so far, besides the fact it looks like Stanley has talked you till your heads about to blow up." He laughed
"I did not!!!" Jessica screeched. I don't think dogs reached that octave. She playfully hit Mike in the arm. He swatted her away before reaching down and snatching her books. He held them above her head and laughed as she jumped up to get them. I couldn't help but smile as I looked at them; they both were in some of my favorite childhood memories. Although I was missing Chicago a lot right now I couldn't help but feel a little at home. I was about to help Jessica out before a melodic voice came from behind me. I turned to see what they had said when I realized I was standing in the doorway. I mumbled an excuse me and sorry before turning my gaze on to the person who had spoke it. There she was this little bitty thing. She made Jessica look like an NBA star. She was absolutely beautiful in a pixie way. All her features were small and angular, complimenting her short haircut that was sticking up all over head. She was staring at me with an odd expression. It was then I noticed her odd eyes. They were a golden hue, like butterscotch. And she was staring straight at me but looked to be lost in something completely different. She shook her tiny head like she was coming out of a trance and gave me a huge smile.
"Excuse me" she said again obviously a little perplexed as to why I was standing in the middle of the doorway.
"Oh yeah, sorry." I said and quickly turned to follow Mike and Jessica to their seats. They were still talking among themselves but I was transfixed on the little pixie prancing her way to the teacher's desk. I had to crane my head to hear what was being said.
"Miss Cullen, what do I owe the pleasure?" Mr. Varner asked. She gave him the same award winning smile before she spoke.
"I was going to tell you I got switched to be your teacher's assistant this period instead of 6th period. Mrs. Cope said this class was more occupied and you'd need more help." Her voice was high and girlish almost. But it had to be the most bewitching voice I'd ever heard, I continued to stare.
"Oh okay, that's great! I'm sure you'll be able to help me, I think you know more Spanish than I do" he laughed and patted her on the shoulder before giving her a stack of papers to hand out to the class. He started writing on the chalkboard and she started passing out papers when she reached my desk she stared at me before turning on her heel and quickly continuing her task. At the sound of the teacher's voice I broke my gaze at her and looked at the handout. It again was an overview of what'd we learn this semester. I once again had already learned all of it. I tried to listen to the teacher but my thoughts kept drifting back to the girl. I wondered why she stared at me like that; it was like she was seeing through me. And her eyes they were the oddest shade I'd ever seen. The bell rang for lunch. And Mike and Jessica were waiting on me when I heard him speak.
"So I see like all other breathing males you have a thing for little Alice Cullen?" he said with slight smirk on his face
"No it wasn't that, I mean she is pretty. She just was kind of odd. I don't know it was weird." I realized I sounded incredibly stupid. Just because the girl looked at me funny doesn't make her weird. What was my problem?
"Yeah the Cullen's are a little odd. Ill gives you that. But if you think she was hot you should see her sisters. Whew" he made a whistling sound to which Jessica rolled her eyes. We were walking to lunch now, and to my surprise it wasn't raining outside. We entered the lunch room, which was a brightly lit room with long tables scattered everywhere. Mike handed me some money saying my mom had given it to him this morning. I took it and started picking out my lunch. There wasn't much to choose from I eventually settled on some pizza and a drink. Mike loaded up his tray till it was practically over flowing. Jessica made a comment about him being a pig before leading our way to the table. We sat at relatively crowded table with a different assortment of kids. Much to my embarrassment Jessica introduced me to everyone quite loudly. I gave an awkward wave and quickly took my seat. I was listening to the conversation around me when I noticed the little pixie walking into the room. With a tall blonde guy on her arm, Mike must have noticed me staring because he followed my gaze to Alice.
"See she's taken bro sorry." He laughed. I gave him quick glare before he shut up and that's when Jessica overheard the topic of our conversation.
"Yeah taken by her brother." She said sarcastically I stared at her wide eyed before I could form a thought. But Mike interrupted me thankfully
"Oh EW Stanley, your gunna make him think that Forks encourages incest. They aren't really related, they all live with Dr. Cullen like foster kids I guess. They're both way to young to have kids that old. But there's 5 of them and-" but he was interrupted by Jessica
"And they're all together, that's Alice from Spanish which you know her boyfriend is Jasper, and then there's Rosalie and Emmett. You can't miss them Emmett's the size of truck and Rosalie is well" she stopped unsure of what to say before Mike quickly took the opportunity.
"The hottest girl ever! Like she puts all models, all actresses to complete shame, I think I had a small heart attack when she was in my Algebra class last year. But unfortunately she's a complete bitch, all of them are standoffish but she's the absolute worst" he shook his head and turned back to his food. Jessica had turned to some girl who I recalled name was Lauren and was talking. I looked over my shoulder to see if I could spot the unusual family when the rest of them walked in. I could easily pick out Emmett and Rosalie, which were exactly what was described. That I was expecting but I wasn't expecting the girl that walked in behind them. She was absolutely perfect, her long brown hair was swept out of her face behind her ears and she was in a deep blue sweater that looked amazing against her fair complexion. She walked less graceful looking than her family, almost as though she didn't want to be noticed. She looked up from the ground to meet my stare. Her eyes were different than her sisters. I couldn't think of an exact color. She stared at me as she walked to her table and sat down. She turned her back to me to look at her siblings. I felt a magnetic pull to her I wanted to get up and talk to her. Anything to be in her presence, I had to look away from her table or I'd most likely wind up doing just that. It was then I noticed Mike was saying my name.
"Huh?" I turned to look at him. Mike and Jessica both were staring at me exasperated, along with a few other people at our table. I felt my skin turn hot at all of their awkward stares. I quickly turned my eyes to face Mike.
"Gosh, I thought I was going to have to slap you. I see you noticed the other Cullen's, they're kind of hard to miss."
"Who's the other girl?" I asked innocently
"Um that's Bella." I would've sworn he almost chocked at her name. And he was turning beat red. I raised my eyebrow at him wondering what was with his strange behavior. He diverted his eyes from me to take a drink of his soda. Jessica was obviously aware of our exchange because she rolled her eyes and laughed under her breath before turning to me.
"Mike is kind of in love with her, he has been for the past 2 years since they moved here from somewhere in Alaska." Mike obviously just figured out what she had said and started chocking before he spewed soda all over the other side of the table.
"What the hell dude?" a boy yelled as he stood up to wipe the soda off his clothes. I think his name was Eric but I didn't know. The boy had ink black hair and little bit of an acne problem. He started yelling at Mike before turning and leaving the cafeteria.
"Well shit" Mike said under his breath. "Dude, Eric. I'm sorry." Mike yelled to no prevail from Eric. As he stormed out the doors of the cafeteria, Mike sighed under his breath before looking at me again.
"I'm not in love with her." He said with a pointed stare in Jessica's direction, which she retaliated by sticking her tongue out and flipping her hair into his face. Then she turned once again to talk to Lauren. Mike gave me small grimace.
"I kind of have had a crush on Bella for awhile. She totally doesn't want anything to do with me. She's really nice and stuff, she just refuses to go on any dates with me. I don't know, its kind of known knowledge I have a thing for her." he looked away quickly embarrassed. I patted him on the back and gave an understanding look. Although I didn't understand I had never liked a girl. I had never showed any interest in a girl what so ever till Bella Cullen walked through the door.
BPOV
I was walking into lunch behind Emmett and Rosalie because really there is no better way to avoid attention than walking with Rosalie. This was another one of those awkward moments, being the strange Cullen not paired which in result got me way too much attention from human boys. Mike had been trying for 2 years. I will admit I was easier to like and be comfortable around with humans than my siblings. Alice scared people off because she always so excited, Emmett was just huge, where Rosalie and Jasper were just plain frightening. I was also polite to the people I interacted with. I sometimes regretted this because it made people single me out to be the nice Cullen when really I wanted nothing to do with anyone.
As soon as we walked into the doors, I made eye contact with who I guessed was the new kid here in Forks. The ever scandalous Masen Family, the gossip had been going non-stop since Mike blabbed his cousin would be coming to Forks. I felt so bad for the kid, but luckily he had Mike as a cousin. I thought highly of Mike, I found him to be a very nice young man but that didn't mean I could date him. I noticed the Masen boy's eyes were a spectacular shade of green, almost emerald with gold flecks in them. I was so entranced by his eyes that I forgot I was staring right at him and quickly hurried to my table and turned around. He was fairly attractive for a human. The contrast between his bronze hair and pale complexion made him very unique looking and those eyes. Wow! I turned to Alice to get some gossip on the boy because I was oddly curious about him. And if you could find a person that loved gossip more than Alice it was an accomplishment. She was so in tuned with celebrity gossip that she knew a week before Brad and Jenifer broke up. She acted like her dog had died. I turned to see Alice already staring at me of course already knowing what I wanted to ask.
"So what's with the new kid?" I asked offhanded
"Um. I have him in Spanish 3rd period. He seems nice." She looked down at her uneaten food. Hm... That was odd Alice always had dirt. She was also wearing her 'I know more than you do' smirk.
"What's the deal Alice you're acting strange?"
"I am not. You don't have to know everything all the time Bella. I don't know anything about Edward that you already don't. He seems quiet and reserved. That's about it."
"O—kkkaayyy"
Edward was his name. It seemed to fit his look for some reason. I turned to get one last quick glance at the boy. He was attractive, very attractive. This was really weird. I don't find humans attractive, what was my problem?
The bell rang releasing us to our fourth period; I got up and threw away my uneaten food before following my siblings out of the room.
"What's wrong?" Jasper suddenly said from my side.
"Oh nothing why?" I asked confused
"Well let's see you started out curious, and then admiring then confused, then you had a little bit of lust in your emotions. You can't hide from me, Bella. I don't know what's going on with you or my wife, she was throwing off all types of emotion at the table." he stopped to take a deep breath as a group of humans walked past. Poor jasper, I wonder if he'll ever completely tame the monster inside him. He collected himself before continuing. "Look I'm use to Alice's emotions being all over the place but you aren't emotional I know something is up" he raised his eyebrows waiting for an answer. Like with all of my siblings, I and Jasper had a unique bond, we both knew that outside this family were horrible things that had nothing to do with high school cafeterias. I was just the lucky one who had Carlisle from the beginning. I think with us being like this we had lost touch with a lot of our humanity, and if it weren't for his gift he wouldn't understand humans at all. I sighed and looked back up at him. He was waiting patiently for me to work this out in my head. I noticed that the hall was almost clear of students. And we were gunna be late if we walked normally.
"Ugh, were going to be late. I tell you later." I looked up at him with pleading eyes. I had no idea what was going on with me or Alice for that matter. He rubbed the back of his neck, before rolling his eyes. He had surrendered.
"Fine, but this isn't done, it's bad enough having Alice be secretive and your emotions being on a roller coaster. I'm gunna have to resort to drugs to keep from jumping out of my skin."
"Jazz we can't take drugs."
"Well we should, my emotions would be easier to control." He laughed. "What's your next class?"
"Oh umm, Biology, I'm going to be late." He gave me one last look before turning and going to his class. I walked just above a human pace to get to my class; Mr. Banner was already writing on the chalkboard, the bell rang as soon as I stepped into the doorway.
"Miss. Cullen, there is an empty seat next to Mr. Masen. Your textbook is sitting on the table. I'm going to let your lateness slide this time but from now on you are to be seated when the last bell rings to be excused from tardiness." He said in a stern voice.
I knew for a fact that if I were human I'd be red from head to toe. I hurried to the seat he had directed before I realized what he had said. Mr. Masen, which meant I was going to be sitting by the boy I had been so curious about at lunch. I took a deep breath which wasn't needed. But before I got to my seat, my head was rushed with sounds. I almost buckled under the immense pressure. It took me a minute before I realized that these were thoughts.
....I'm so ready for this day to be over....
......I wonder if the new kid plays sports....
...I'm so nervous about cheerleading......
...why is she just standing there....?
...I'm hungry.....
...Mr. Banner needs a new haircut.....
The first thought that came to my mind as I was trying to sort through this was that Aro was here. The leader of the leader of the Volturi, he had a special gift that with one touch he could read all thoughts you had ever had in your entire life. But that was inconceivable, not only that he'd be in Forks but that he'd come to my high school. That can't be it; it must mean that another vampire is here. I went on defensive mode immediately searching the room and the outside window for any sign of an attack but I saw nothing. I tried sniffing to see if I could detect, another vampires scent but nothing. This power felt stronger than Aro's; when I was with Aro I multiplied his gift by being able to read peoples thoughts throughout their life without direct contact with them. Right now I felt like I could read everyone's thoughts simultaneously in the whole school. I shook my head to get a grip on myself. I had to go sit down; I was just drawing unnecessary attention to myself. I looked up to see everyone's eyes on me, including the piercing emerald eyes of Edward Masen. I walked to my seat without another word. But when I got there the thoughts became worse. I could no longer filter them out or organize them. It was this loud buzzing sound in my head, like being in the middle of a beehive. I put my hands to my temples. Trying desperately to get my gift under control, the worse part was I had no idea where it was coming from.
Mr. Banner had started class. But I couldn't hear his voice; I couldn't hear anything but the buzzing of constant thought in my head. My head was down in my hands when I felt a warm touch on my shoulder. I raised my head and saw Edward staring at me concerned.
"Hey are you okay? You don't look too good?" he said right by my ear. I don't think I would have heard him other wise. He took his hand off my shoulder quickly with a bewildered look on his face. I assumed from the complete coldness of my skin.
"Um ya, ill be okay." He nodded his head but didn't look convinced. I didn't know what I was going to do. I couldn't just get up and leave. I tried to put up my shielding ability but it kept getting broken through with thoughts. I couldn't feel where I was absorbing this from. I couldn't do anything but be crippled down by the loud noise in my head. I buried my head in my hands and tried to sort through the thoughts and try to put up my barrier to stop this gift but I couldn't. I couldn't do anything
