Thanks to everyone who read my last chapter. I'm happy to have this chapter up quickly, and it's nice and long. Hopefully that with sooth anyone who was unhappy with how long my last chapter took to be posted. Please please please review! Thanks!

-a.

I was perfectly content as I lay on the soft grass of the meadow, and I was annoyed when I heard Carlisle's voice, "Lucy?"

I sat up and turned toward him. "Yes?"

"Why don't you, Tyler, Emmett, and Rosalie head back to the house. Emmett needs to get out of here," he suggested.

I pouted. I had no intention of moving, but Carlisle was so kind and Emmett was struggling, so I decided to oblige.

I heard Tyler's musical voice speak to me, "Think you can walk?" I lifted my eyes to see his sarcastic smile.

I grimaced and stood. To my chagrin however my knees faltered beneath me and I stumbled. A pair of strong arms wrapped around me, breaking my fall. As soon as I had regained my balance, though, they were gone, as if I were burning hot and touching me had scalded those arms. My thanks stuck in my throat as I looked up into Tyler's shaded eyes, his face unreadable. I cocked my head to the side curiously.

"You two coming?" I heard Rosalie call from just behind the forest's edge.

Tyler moved first, walking towards her voice. I followed, and we picked up speed, catching the other two vampires effortlessly. We made it to the house in minutes, and Tyler didn't even pause as he ran up the stairs. I heard his door close gently behind him. I shook my head, unable to comprehend his actions, and turned to the remaining people. Emmett was sitting on the couch, his head in his hands, with Rosalie standing over him. I walked over to the giant man and placed my tiny hand on his shoulder.

His pained eyes looked up to mine, "I was so weak. I'm sorry." His voice pierced me with sadness.

"No, you weren't weak. I'm just different," I spoke the truth that had been haunting me since my arrival.

"Even if you are, Tyler isn't. He wasn't trying to kill that man. He was keeping ME from killing that man. I was weak," Emmett shook with silent grief.

I felt his pain, and was unhappy that there was nothing I could say to comfort him. Before I could do anything, though, I heard Rosalie's hand connect with the side of Emmett's face. "Pull yourself together. You didn't even kill anyone. I don't know what your so upset about." She rolled her eyes. "There's nothing you can do about it now so get over it."

My jaw dropped at her bluntness, but Emmett nodded and sighed. I saw Rosalie's eyes soften, and she slid herself onto his lap. He buried his face in her hair, and I decided that this was my cue to leave. I stepped into the kitchen, unsure what to do with myself.

"Lucy?" I heard my name from the other room. I stepped back through the door and saw that Carlisle, Edward, and Alice had returned. Carlisle spoke again, "We've decided that it's time you enrolled in high school. I know it's early, but you proved today that you are in no danger of being overcome by thirst. We will send someone to look after you, though, to make sure nothing happens."

"Would you mind if Edward came with me the first day?" I asked shyly.

I heard the person in question chuckle as he read the direction of my thoughts.

"Why?" Carlisle asked.

"I would like to know what the other students think of me," I said, embarrassed.

Alice laughed, "They're going to love you."

"I don't see why not." Carlisle smiled. "I'm sure he won't mind."

I could feel the excitement play across my face. I loved school. It was one of the only things I missed about my old life.

"I can't believe your so happy about this," Alice grinned. "We all hate school."

I laughed, "I know. It's sort of weird but I've always enjoyed school. I love to learn."

"Well you won't like it after you've been through it a few hundred times," Edward chuckled.

Carlisle smiled at my enthusiasm, "You'll start tomorrow. Today is Tuesday, and the school is only a few weeks into the second semester. You were a senior, correct? You will simply pick up where you left off at your old school."

"Great!" I said happily, "So what time is it now?"

Carlisle looked at his watch, "It's about six thirty in the afternoon now."

My face fell. I had the whole night to waste. I sighed. Alice laughed and suddenly the front door opened. It was filled by six and a half feet of russet skin and black hair, and I felt my body move into a crouch as a musty smell entered my nose. A hiss rose out of my throat, and I saw the giant newcomer raise his hands in a gesture of surrender. Suddenly I felt a wave of calm enter my tense body, and I looked to see Jasper standing at Alice's side.

The smelly man spoke, "Woah, there! I'm a good guy!" he chuckled, "Who's the new kid?"

"Jacob," Edward said, "Meet Lucy."

He nodded to me, and I stood from my crouch as I saw a mess of bouncing bronze curls race out of the hall toward the man called Jacob. Bella stepped out of the hall a moment later and moved to lock herself in Edward's arms.

"Jakey!" I heard Renesmee yell as she leapt into the giant russet colored man's arms. He held her close, then placed her gently on the ground. He held her as though she was as breakable as glass and looked at her like she was the most precious of diamonds. His adoration made me smile involuntarily.

"Nessie, would you like to show me about your new friend Lucy?" He smiled at her. She nodded and lifted her small hand to his face. I saw surprise flash across his face, and I was embarrassed. He moved his eyes to mine as he regained his sight. "You bend the air?"

I nodded shyly.

"Can I see that?" he asked curiously.

The remainder of the night was spent playing with Jacob and Renesmee. They were fascinated by my ability, and I performed small tricks to please them. Before I knew it, dawn was breaking and I heard Alice's twinkling voice from the back door, "Lucy! Let's get you dressed and ready for school!"

I said goodbye to my audience and skipped inside the house. Alice had me dressed in a simple green turtleneck and dark jeans with a white scarf and a soft black jacket. She pinned my hair out of my face with a few bobby pins and brushed mascara onto my eyelashes. "Perfect!" she sighed, "This is the one thing I miss about school. Getting ready!"

I laughed and replied, "Well you can get me ready every day if you would like."

She kissed my cheek and shooed me out the door. I nearly ran into Edward, who was holding a set of car keys. "You can take my car today."

I thanked him and took the keys from his hand, "Are you going to ride with me?"

"No, I think it would be better if I ran." He seemed to remember something then, "Oh, Bella will be with me today. I hope you don't mind."

"Not at all!" I smiled. "Wish me luck!"

He tousled my hair, and I heard Alice's angry snarls as I opened the door and climbed into Edward's shiny Volvo.

I arrived at the school with plenty of time to spare, and I went to the front office, just as I had been instructed. A nice lady named Shelly gave me a map and my schedule, and I stepped out of the warm room and into the light rain. I stood inspecting my map for a moment when I heard footsteps approaching me. I looked up to see a handsome blond boy with brown eyes smiling as he walked toward me.

"Hi, I'm Henry." He grinned. "You must be knew here."

I laughed nervously, "Yeah, how could you tell?"

"I wonder," he said sarcastically, and I laughed again.

"What's your name?" he asked.

"It's Lucy."

"Well, pleasure to meet you, Lucy. Might I be your escort this morning?" he spoke with fake formality. I grinned and nodded. He offered his arm, and I took it, grateful for the jacket do he could not feel my icy skin. "What's your first class?"

I looked down at my schedule. "Umm, European History."

His eyes lit up, "Well that's what I have too! It's in building four." He led me to a large white building and took my coat to a rack by the door. He led me to a seat in the back and sat beside me.

I smiled gratefully at him, "Thanks a lot."

"Anytime," he grinned.

"Hey, Henry. Why don't you introduce me to your new friend here?" Another boy with dirty blond hair had pulled up a chair and now straddled it as he spoke.

Henry grimaced and said, "Lucy, meet Brad. Brad, Lucy."

"Nice to meet you, Lucy. Where you from?"

"Seattle," I had already formulated a story with my new parents. "I was in an orphanage there, and Dr. and Mrs. Cullen adopted me and brought me here."

He looked confused and turned to Henry. "I thought all the Cullens were creepy antisocial, right?"

Henry shrugged and looked at me. "What are they like?"

"They're all very nice and accommodating. I love it there." My enthusiasm was catchy, and they both smiled.

The teacher then called the class to attention, and I turned to face him. Before he could truly begin, the girl on my left touched my arm.

"Hi," she whispered, "I'm Marlee."

"Hi," I whispered back, "Lucy."

She smiled, "How do you like Forks?"

"I like it a lot actually."

My day passed in this manner. I met many people and managed to remember all of their names with a little help from my new memory. Multiple people had asked me to spend lunch with them, but Henry had been first, so I sat with him, Brad, Marlee, and a few other people from my history class. I excused myself early and slipped around to the back of the lunchroom to get a report from Edward. He appeared quickly with Bella glued to his side.

"So? How am I doing?" I prodded.

"Everyone loves you," he smiled, "Just like Alice said."

I sighed with relief. He laughed, "Don't get too comfortable with any of those guys, though. Half of them are already trailing at your feet, and the girls are seething with jealousy."

I shook my head in disbelief and began to walk back to the front of the building. I felt the air shift around the two vampires as Bella wrapped her arms around Edwards neck, and he pulled her closer. I sighed and wondered if I would ever find a love so pure as that. By the time I reached the door to the English room I had almost convinced myself that my thoughts had not flickered to the beautiful brown haired boy who was now captivating my life.

REVIEW! That's all I have to say.

-a.