Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight.
I hadn't slept much last night. Just knowing I was going to have to start at a new school had kept me up, tossing and turning, until I finally sank into an exhausted sleep. I was dressed in a pair of denim shorts and a t-shirt with old flip-flops, nothing really special. When Edward beeped I was dressed and ready to go.
"Hi," Alice called out the moment I slid into the back seat. She was sitting up front with Edward, who was driving. Jasper was in the back with me. "I like those shorts. But they would look much better with this pink tank top with sparkles that I saw in the mall last night. I should totally buy it for you," she said in her usual bubbly voice.
"Slow down Alice," Edward said with a chuckle. He had a beautiful laugh, like velvet.
"Sorry," she apologized. "I'm just so excited there's another girl in the neighborhood. Rose spends all her time with Emmett now," she pouted. "And I need a new best friend."
"Doesn't Bella get a say in that?" Edward asked, grinning at me through the rearview mirror. Alice blushed.
"It's okay Alice, I'd love to be friends," I assured her with a smile. She beamed back. We pulled up to the school in a few minutes. It was unfamiliar. I had left Phoenix for Forks when I was twelve, still in middle school. I had never been the Phoenix High.
"You okay Bella? You look a little green," Jasper commented.
"Just nervous," I said quietly.
"What do you have to be nervous about?" Alice scoffed. "You've already made friends, what else is there?"
"How about school work Alice? And there's also another couple thousand kids at the school," I reminded her, getting more and more nervous.
"They'll love you Bella, don't worry." It was Edward that said this, calming me in an instant with his lopsided grin. I smiled back.
"Okay. Let's get this over with," I sighed. Alice clapped her hands together in excitement, hopping out of the car. Jasper whispered something in Alice's ear and she pouted slightly.
"Do you mind if Edward shows you to the office Bella? I'm going to go with Jasper," she said apologetically.
"No that's fine," I said. "If it's okay with Edward."
"My pleasure," he replied.
"Thanks Bella! Hopefully we'll be in some classes together! See you soon!" she called, walking away and holding hands with Jasper.
"Such a little ball of energy," Edward mumbled and I laughed. We began walking in the direction of the main office.
"Alice is very energetic," I agreed. "How'd she end up with Jasper? He's so…mild." Edward laughed.
"He's perfect for Alice. He can always calm her down, when she's especially hyper. They're made for each other," he stated simply. It was silent for a few moments.
"How do Rosalie and Emmett get to school?" I asked, partly because I was curious and partly because I wanted to hear his musical voice.
"Rosalie drives, she has a two seater convertible," Edward answered, pointing to a bright red convertible in the parking lot. I nodded. Neither of us spoke. Just as the silence was getting awkward, my cell phone rang.
"Hold on a sec," I said to Edward, picking it up. "Hello?" I answered.
"Guess who?" the voice sang on the other end. My body thrilled at his voice.
"Oh hey Paul!" I squealed, jokingly. "It's so good to hear from you again."
"Who's Paul?" Jacob asked, outraged.
"Oh, uh Jacob. It's nice to hear from you too," I mumbled.
"Bella what the-" he began, but I cut him off.
"Kidding Jake. I knew it was you," I assured him.
"That wasn't funny," he muttered.
"You're right. It was hilarious!" I giggled.
"Well I was calling because I missed you but now I'm not so sure," he huffed.
"Oh lighten up," I teased. He laughed.
"I miss you Bells. School isn't the same without you," he said quietly, suddenly serious.
"I miss you too Jake," I replied sadly. I noticed Edward watching me curiously. I held up one finger, signaling I'd be off in a minute. "And speaking of school, shouldn't you be in class?"
"I took the bathroom pass," he said simply.
"Well school hasn't started yet for me. Like another ten minutes. But I have to go soon," I told him, hearing the sadness in my own voice. Edward raised his eyebrows, but didn't say anything.
"Why?" Jacob whined.
"Because I'm with my neighbor who's helping me out, getting my schedule and stuff," I explained.
"Well tell her I said thank you okay?" he asked. I didn't bother telling him that Edward wasn't a her.
"Sure Jake. Love you," I reminded him.
"Love you too. Bye Bells."
"Bye Jake." I hung up and turned to see Edward watching me carefully, almost nervously.
"What's wrong?" I asked instantly.
"Nothing. Who was that?" he asked. He sounded casual but his eyes were smoldering."
"Jacob. My…boyfriend," I admitted. I didn't know why a wave of guilt washed over me then, but I felt awful telling Edward that.
"Oh. I didn't realize you were seeing someone," he said thoughtfully, not looking at me. "How long have you been together?"
"Almost a year," I whispered. I felt uncomfortable, awkward and I desperately wanted to change the subject. "What about you?" I asked quickly, before he could talk. "A guy as gorgeous as you must have a girlfriend." He stared blankly at me for a minute while I looked back, triumphant. Only then did what I say catch up to me. I had called him gorgeous. A blushed a fire engine red.
"No, I'm single," he finally said.
"Oh." I couldn't think of anything else to say. We were at the office now.
"I'll wait outside. Go ahead and get your schedule and I'll help you find your next class. If you want," he added hastily.
"Of course," I answered gratefully. Edward really was sweet. It was mind boggling to me that a guy like him was single. I took a deep breath and stepped into the office. A woman in a pale yellow sundress looked up when the door opened and smiled at me.
"Hello," she said politely.
"Hi," I replied. "My name's Isabella Swan. I'm new."
"Oh yes, you went to middle school here right?" she asked. I nodded. She clicked a few buttons on her computer and I could hear the whir of the printer. She reached over and handed me my new schedule, still hot from the printer.
"Thank you," I said.
"No problem dear. Have a nice day." I nodded again and went outside to find Edward leaning against the wall, talking to a pretty girl with blonde hair.
"…And I was just thinking that maybe we could go to the movies tonight? I mean I'd like to spend some time alone. Just us," she was saying in a seductive purr. I wondered briefly if Edward had lied about being single but from the barely covered up look of disgust on his face I could tell that wasn't the case.
"Listen Lauren I've told you countless times that I'd rather we just stayed friends. My patience is wearing thin," he said, struggling to remain calm.
"Sorry Edward. I thought you might have changed your mind," she mumbled. Then she took a step closer to him, pressing her stuck out chest against his. "I can be very persuasive," she purred. Edward looked about ready to throw up and I felt the need to save the day.
"Oh there you are honey," I called to him. I skipped over and scooted in between him and Lauren, wrapping my arms around his waist and hugging him. I moved my lips up to his ear and whispered, "Play along." I kissed his cheek and he wrapped one arm around my shoulder, holding me to his side.
"Who are you?" the girl asked, Lauren.
"I'm his girlfriend," I said as if I was talking to a two year old. "Bella."
"Oh. Well Edward you could've told me you had a girlfriend before coming on to me like that," she half shrieked. She smirked at me and I beamed back.
"Oh Edward you're such a flirt sometimes," I muttered, leaning against his shoulder. "But that's what I like about you." Lauren looked shocked that her words hadn't affected me more than that.
"I'm going to…go," Lauren said. She turned around and strutted off to a group of her girlfriends, shaking her head.
"Thanks for that," Edward sighed once Lauren was out of earshot.
"I saw she was torturing you. It was either that or call the police for assault. But the police take so long so I thought 'why not?'" I said.
"Well thanks," he said again. I realized then that his arm was still wrapped around me and mine around his waist. I let go and we separated a little awkwardly. My actions caught up with my mind a few minutes later. In Forks, I could barely talk to cute boys, until Jacob came along. And here I was strutting up to a complete stranger and wrapping my arms around him, kissing his cheek even! Either I had a new strange boldness from moving to Phoenix or Edward was just really easy to be around. I decided to go with the latter. Edward reached over and snagged my schedule from my hands.
"Hey!" I yelled, trying to grab it back.
"I'm just looking," he replied. "English, math, science, lunch, Italian, history and free block," he read off. "Well we're in the same free block and lunch."
"Good. At least I'll have a friend," I sighed in relief.
"Come on, let's get you to class," he said with a smile. He walked with me to my English class and chatted with me about the teachers. We stopped outside of the classroom and Edward smiled at me.
"Thanks again Bella," he said.
"Thanks for showing me my class," I replied.
"See you later."
"Bye Edward." I watched him until he turned the corner and walked away. Then I turned and stepped into my English class.
A/N: I guess it's kind of a cliffhanger but not too bad. Now when I normally write these types of stories they can get really long but I'll try and keep it to the good stuff in this one! Please review! Thanks a bundle!