Hey guys, just want to say thanks to everyone who said how much they love this fic.

And for those of you who were wondering, yes the Cullens are vampires.

I stared at myself in the mirror. In my jeans and v neck jumper, and with my hair falling loose around my face, I looked utterly plain. A good thing; I didn't want to stand out. Today would be my first day at Forks High School. Unfortunately it's a place where I could but only stand out what with its miniscule number of students who have all grown up with each other and whose grandparents know everyone's grandparents. I'm the new girl, the oddity, the freak. I wouldn't be able to sink into the background if I tried.

I stared into my own face. The bruises had luckily mostly faded from my face over the past few days. Only some brown-yellow marks were left that were easily hid with my hair down. I just needed to remember not to tuck it behind my ears. I didn't want stories starting on my first day. Then I realised that they already had stories. In the week that id been here people will have talked about the sudden surprise arrival of the Chief of police's daughter. And no doubt the nurses from the hospital who lived in this depressing little town had spread the rumours of my bruises. It seemed that I wouldn't be able to avoid being the subject of the town gossip.

I moved back into my room and grabbed my bag and raincoat. The room was a bit more homely now that I had unpacked. Packing the bare essentials to come here had been easy. I didn't have much clothing suited to the weather here in Forks. I had managed to pack everything that was suitable and a few personal items that I couldn't bear to leave behind- a few photos of me with my mother and my friends from back home, a small music box that had been a present from Renée on my 8th birthday, my laptop and cell and an assortment of books. I hadn't turned my cell on since I arrived here. No doubt it had a million and one messages from Renée but I couldn't bring myself to listen to them. Not yet, anyway.

I walked downstairs and headed for the kitchen, intending to make myself breakfast but was stopped by Charlie in the hall. "Come with me, I have something to show you." I followed him outside. In the drive sat an old beat up truck. Charlie went over and leaned against its side. "Well, what do you think? I thought it would do for getting you around. To and from school, you know. Don't think it would get you much further than that though. It's not got the best gas mileage."

I stood completely awestruck. Earlier in the week we had had an argument over how I would get to school. He was determined to drive me and I was determined that I wouldn't be driven to school in the cruiser. I would rather walk through the cold and wet. I didn't have the money to buy my own car. The little money I had saved was spent on the plane getting here. And so Charlie had bought me one. I couldn't quite believe it. "It's perfect. Thanks dad." I couldn't help but smile at him; my first true smile since I came to Forks.

"Yeah, well I bought it off Billy Black. You remember him?" I shook my head. I had made an effort over the years to forget as much as Forks as was possible. "Well his son Jacob rebuilt the engine so it runs just fine. He's just a couple of years younger than you. I need to go to work now but good luck for today."

"Thanks," I said again. He gave me an awkward nod. Even under normal circumstances my father and I had never been good at sharing our emotions with each other. He turned towards the cruiser and I turned back into the house. I didn't really know what to do with my time now. I had gotten up early in preparation for the long walk but that was no longer necessary. I went back to my room and grabbed the first book I could find – Pride and Prejudice. Hmm, maybe reading wasn't the best idea. I tended to lose myself in books. I'd probably end up late. I guess if I went to school early it would give me a chance to find my first class so that I actually arrived on time and didn't look to much the fool. Plus I didn't know how easy it would be to get a parking space.

I went to the truck. Charlie had left the keys in the ignition for me. I wondered how early he must have got up to go get this. I turned they keys and almost jumped out of my skin as the truck roared into life. I'd never heard a thing so loud. Just another thing to get me noticed. I reversed out the drive and headed towards the school.

The drive was not long. I turned the car into the school's main driveway and parked in front of the office. This parking lot was almost empty and obviously not meant for students but I could always move it. The school was the complete opposite of my school back home. In Phoenix my school was once huge building with its own running track and football field; Forks high was more an assortment of small old buildings. I walked into the office and stood at the desk waiting for the school secretary to finish the call she was on. She hung up the phone and turned to me. "What can I do for you dear?"

"I'm Isabella Swan. I was told to come here to pick up my timetable."

The secretary's eyes lit up. Here was the girl everyone was talking about. I stared at the desk instead of her face. She rummaged through a pile of papers on the desk and pulled a few out.

"Yes, here it is here. And here's a map of the school for you to help you get around and you here' is an attendance form you need to get all your teachers to sign. Any questions, dear?"

"No, thanks," I said and turned on my heels and headed back to my truck. When I was sitting back in the cab I scanned over the map trying to memorise as much as possible. I headed to the student car pack and parked as close to the buildings as I could so that it would be easier for me to make a clean getaway at the end of the day. I looked at the timetable. My first class was History in the first building.

I jumped out of the truck, slung my bag over my shoulder and started walking towards History. I could feel the stares of the other students as I passed them. I kept my eyes down rather than looking at all people staring at me. I found the class fairly easily and when I arrived it was already half full. I walked over nervously to the teacher and handed him the slip he had to sign and then he showed me to my seat. No fuss, no introductions, no "tell the class something about yourself." I couldn't put into words how thankful I was for that.

The bell rung after the hour was up but it seemed much longer to me. I was sat near the front of the class beside the window; the perfect place to hear all the people whispering about me behind me. As I started to pack away my notebook a girl came over to me. "So, Isabella, right? Hi, I'm Jessica." She held out her hand for me to shake. Deciding that it was probably best not to rebuke everyone who tried to talk to me – I was trying to start fresh after all – I shook her hand. "Just Bella."

"What have you got next?"

"English."

"Me too, I'll show you the way there." I smiled my thanks. She seemed nice enough but one of those people who always had to fill a silence with noise. "So you're from Arizona? I thought you'd be really tanned. I bet its sunny all the time there, don't know why you'd want to swap all that sun for here." I looked at the ground at her last remark. She didn't seem to need to breathe between sentences like normal people. Luckily she didn't wait for my answers to her questions and comments. She just carried on nattering until we reached the class.

When we walked in she went straight to her seat and I stood beside the teacher's desk waiting for her to notice me. I took the chance to glance around the class. Of course they were all staring at me or whispering to their neighbours, but once set of eyes stood out in particular.

He sat at the back of the classroom but I could still see the complete black of his eyes boring into me as if they could see straight into my soul. His face was breathtakingly beautiful but that's not what had me captivated by him. His eyes burned with such ferocious anger but I couldn't pull my eyes away from his gaze. His eyes didn't leave mine either. I stood there transfixed.

"Ah, you must be Isabella." I jumped as the teacher said my name and I turned to her to hand her the slip, finally breaking the connection with the beautiful, hate-filled stranger.

"Just Bella," I replied. I glanced around the class again careful to avoid those black eyes that had held me so. No one seemed to have noticed the exchange between myself and the stranger. Apparently, what had felt like an eternity to me had only lasted a moment.

"You'll be sitting here." The teacher directed me to a seat in the front row. He was sitting a few seats directly behind me. I tried to focus on the reading list rather than the fiery heat from his eyes on my back. I didn't dare turn to look at him again for fear that I wouldn't be able to take my eyes off him ever again. Those eyes. They held such a black rage but I knew if I looked into them again id be captivated by them all over again.