Chapter Two

I hummed as I got ready for school. It was only eight thirty and already I was feeling optimistic and happy. Uncharacteristically, the sun was shining. It wasn't the almost-painful morning brightness that I used to wake to in Phoenix, but it was nice all the same to see the sun battling Fork's ever-constant cloud. It was a sight that made me so content that not even the thought of Eric's party tonight could dampen my mood.

I took more care with my appearance today than usual. I wore my usual jeans and tennis shoes, but I paired them with a dark blue cotton top, and took the time to put on a coat of lip gloss and a few flicks of mascara. I immediately regretted the decision. You're so lucky to have your father's long, thick eyelashes, Rene used to tell me. She insisted they made my eyes look dark and seductive, a trait all girls wanted, but I never really noticed. The added mascara, however, made them look freakishly long.

"Too late to change it now," I mumbled at my reflection.

Soon I was waiting on the porch for Rose. She had text me first thing this morning insisting that I simply must ride with her to school since it was such a nice day. I looked at my big red truck in the driveway. I missed driving it to school, but I couldn't deny Rose the chance to zip around town in her convertible while the sun was shining. It was moments later that she turned into the driveway.

"I really hope this nice weather holds," was the first thing she said to me once I was seated. "If it rains, it will totally ruin the outfit I've got planned for tonight."

"Hi to you, too, Rose," I teased as I buckled myself in and she shifted the sleek, black car into reverse. "I'm sure you'll look fine. Besides, Charlie said this morning that the weather channel said it should be fine until tomorrow afternoon." "Good, good. So, what are you wearing?"

I huffed and looked out at the passing scenery. "Just something casual."

"No way. You're coming over this afternoon and we're getting ready and having a few drinks before we go over to Eric's."

"I'm not drinking tonight."

"Oh, come on, Bella. Please? For me?"

"I'll let you make me pretty instead," I muttered. "But –" I warned as I saw a satisfied smile stretch across her face. "I'm only talking hair and make-up. I get to pick what I'm wearing."

"Aw, but –"

"Sorry, Rose."

"Fine. Deal. But I'll have you know I'm not happy about it."

"Aren't we picked Emmett up?" I asked, surprised as she drove right by his street without turning off. Rose rolled her eyes at my conversation changer but indulged me anyway.

"No, his Dad picked the Jeep up last night. He's so excited he insisted on driving it to school today. He's wanted his own car for so long now," she laughed, "I'm probably never going to see him again."

I laughed along with her. Emmett had been working his arse off in order to save up for a Jeep he found in Seattle. He had finally saved enough two weeks ago, and his father had said he would finalise it on one of this business trips. The long awaited Jeep had arrived last night apparently, and I could just see how ecstatic he would be with his new toy.

"Admit it, you love cars just as much as he does," I teased her.

"Yeah, I've been meaning to talk to you about that." I looked at her curiously. Her tone was sombre, and suddenly she was extremely focused on the road in front of her. "I don't know if I'm going to college at the end of the year."

"What?!" my voice rose three octaves. "You've always wanted to be a lawyer!"

"Yeah, I know. I've been thinking about it a lot though. I think I like the idea of being a lawyer – corporate and sexy, as Emmett put it. A part of me wants to be the top dog and prove to everyone that I'm not some air head blonde with no brains." I opened my mouth to object – no one with any wits about them thought Rosalie had no brains – but she ploughed on before I could. "And, I don't know, Bella. I want to help the world. I really do. I want to put away sick bastards, murderers and r-rapists." I saw her swallow thickly, but I didn't mention anything. "But I also want to just work with cars. I love them, you know? So I'm thinking I might try and get an apprenticeship, and become a mechanic for a few years. Have some 'life experience' and just, live, before I run off to Harvard."

It was silent for a moment after she finished. She was still staring ahead at the road in front of her, lips pressed tight, waiting for my response. "Wow, Rose. I never knew you thought that way, or that passionately about cars. I knew you liked them, of course. But you've never mentioned wanting to be a mechanic before." I paused to gather my thoughts. I knew how much admitting something like this would have taken her. The whole of Forks knew that Rosalie Hale was going to be a big lawyer one day, fighting for justice and all but ruling the world. It was almost expected. But … "I think it's a great idea. You need to do what you want to do. If working with cars is that, then go for it, sweetie. Besides, we're only eighteen. We're not expected to have it figured out yet. We have all the time in the world. Working as a mechanic while you decide if you want to be a lawyer or if you want to continue there sounds like a fantastic idea. You'd really enjoy it."

Rose let out a big breath and her white-knuckled grip on the steering wheel relaxed. "Thanks, Bella. I've got a lot to think about, hey?"

"You sure do," I agreed. "What does Emmett think about all of this?"

"I haven't told him yet. I will soon. I just wanted to kind of get my head around this a bit better beforehand, and I knew I could count on you to help me."

"Of course you can."

"I'm also considering doing engineering," she admitted quickly. I blinked in surprise. "I could do mechanical engineering, or mechatronic, or something and could work in designing cars engines and stuff."

"Nerd," I teased. "That sounds like another good option, Rose. I think you'd really, really enjoy that one the most. It's completely up to you though."

"Thanks, Bella." She smiled at me, and conversation died as we turned into the school parking lot. Her shiny convertible drew looks from every student that happened to be around, and I couldn't help but hide behind my hair as I felt my cheeks heating. Rosalie laughed.

"I'm going to go find Emmett and his new baby," she said. "I'll see you later, Bella, and thanks for listening."

"Anytime," I smiled back. "See you!"

The school day passed quickly. Jess was nice enough to ask about my afternoon before going on her Mike related rant during roll call, and I had Spanish with Angela. Biology I endured a pop quiz, but Mr. Banner had to leave early for a family emergency so we got an early mark from class. I was, however, surprised to find that conversation over lunch was not abuzz with talk of Eric's party as I expected. Instead everyone was musing about the new girl that was due to start school on Monday.

"Who is it?" I asked Angela as I sat down. This was all news to me.

Jessica must have heard me from across the table because suddenly her nasally voice was shouting at me, "Oh, Bella, I found it all out when I was in the office running errands for Mrs Coop today," she reported. She was practically glowing at being the centre of attention. "I saw her forms," she said matter-of-factly. "Her name is Mary Brandon. Oh, and get this," she paused dramatically, "she's coming from Australia."

"Australia?" I asked. That was a surprise. I immediately felt sorry for the girl. Not to mention there were never new kids at Forks, but she was about to become Fork's only international student. They treated me like an alien when I had moved from Arizona. I could only imagine what this poor Mary would go through coming from Australia.

"Yeah, Australia. Weird, right? Why is she coming to Forks?" I was surprised that I was agreeing with Jessica for once. Why would this girl move from Australia to Forks, Washington?

"I bet she's so hot," Mike groaned around his sandwich. "Aussie girls are babes." I watched as Jessica's boasting smile deflated into an angry scowl. I guess Mike was still looking at other girls, then. They definitely weren't together, but Jess did act like they were. I wondered, again, what Emmett had been on about yesterday, and what was exactly going on between them.

"So what time do we come around tonight, Eric?" I asked, quickly changing the topic.

"I'd say around seven?"

I nodded. "Sounds good to me."

"Ben and I can come around earlier and help you set up if you like?" Angela offered.

"Thanks guys, that'd be great."

Everyone soon became engrossed in plans for the big party. By the end of lunch I felt like I was going to scream if I heard Mike say, 'I'm going to be so wasted, man,' and Jessica's obnoxious giggle one more time. I just really, really, didn't see their fascination with getting so intoxicated they didn't remember half the night. How did that make for a good time?

Before I knew it, Rose was dropping me home. "I'll just have a shower and get changed and then come over, alright?" I told her before closing the door behind me.

The first thing I did was start Charlie's dinner. I cooked his spaghetti quickly while I was trying to find something to wear. I raided my closet, finding clothes I hadn't seen in years. I needed to find something that I would still be comfortable in, yet nice enough that Rose would approve of my choice. It was a hard job considering the miniscule amount of clothing I owned. I finally settled on a pair of silver sandals and a dark blue dress I hadn't worn in at least a year. It was fairly plain, but I figured once Rose did my hair and make-up it would look okay.

I quickly showered, taking extra time to scrub any leftover mascara off my face for Rose, and washed my hair. I shovelled my dress, sandals, and a pair of pyjamas into my bag before grabbing my keys and heading out the door. On my way out I paused, wondering if I had forgotten anything. Charlie's dinner was cooked, and there was no way he could make a mess of using a microwave, right? I bit my lip as I thought before running back into kitchen and scribbling a note for Charlie: Please don't put anything metal in the microwave. Dinner is in the fridge. Crack the lid and heat it up for a few minutes. I'm going to the party now, I'll stay at Rose's tonight. See you tomorrow. Bella.

I was ambushed as soon as I knocked on Rose's door not ten minutes later. Half of her hair was clipped on top of her head, she wore nothing but a daggy singlet and panties, and her face was flushed from running but her makeup was still immaculate. "Thank God you're here. If you were any later we wouldn't have enough time to get ready."

"It's only four thirty."

"Exactly!"

I rolled my eyes as I followed her into the Hale's massive house. She quickly ran back upstairs. "Come dump your stuff in my room, and show me what you're wearing."

I laid my dress out on the smoothest part of Rose's crumpled bed I could find, and placed my sandals next to it. She put her straightener down to come look at it, then me, and then the dress again. Finally she nodded her approval. "It's a bit longer than I would have picked, and very simple, but I like it. Good work, babe. I've done my make-up, so I just need to finish my hair before I get started on you."

"It looks great," I told her as I looked at her flawless make-up. She looked sultry, yet classy, with just the right amount of make-up. If only Lauren and Jessica knew the importance of quality over quantity as well.

"Thank you," Rose smiled. "Hey, pass me a cider? They're over there." She nodded to a cooler that was shoved under her desk. "Grab yourself one too."

"No thanks, Rose."

"Why not?"

"I need to drive."

She frowned hard at me, calling my bluff. "Eric lives down the street."

"I don't like to drink."

She sighed. "Fine, okay. But one now won't hurt you, with just us."

I took the top off the drink before passing it to her. I sighed. What damage could one cider do, here getting ready with Rose? So I took the lid off another and took a long sip. It tasted deliciously refreshing.

"That's my girl!" Rose laughed. Then, after a moment of smoothing her hair and running the rod down the perfectly straight stands again, "Okay, I'm done. Your turn. Come, sit here." She patted the space at the end of her bed, in front of her full length mirror, while she sat behind me. I dutifully sat, careful not to fall and burn myself on the hot straightener, or spill my drink. Rose rumpled my long, dark, frizzy hair. "You have such beautiful natural curls. They look great today, so I think we should work with this." She pulled some strands back away from my face, and then some more. "Hmm."

I tuned out in the end, and focused on my drink. The cider was making me a little light headed already and I cursed myself for being such an easy drunk. Rose wandered into her private bathroom and came back with a curling iron. She quickly set to work with curling, crumping, and twisting my hair into an elaborate half-up half-down up do. The finished product was stunning. Little curls and whisps of hair framed my face, making me look older and more mature than usual. The back was a complicated knot of tiny little plaits and twirls of my thick curls. I looked like a princess.

"It's beautiful. You're a genius, Rose." I smiled at her gratefully. If I was left to my own devices my hair would be hanging around my shoulders like it usually did.

"It is." She looked at her masterpiece proudly. "Just let me grab another drink, and then I'll do you're make-up. You should see yourself then. You'll take everyone's breath away."

I was sceptical at first, but once was Rose was done with my make-up, I hardly recognised the girl in the mirror looking back at me. Her hair was artfully arranged, her eyes were accentuated by a modest amount of eyeliner, alluring shades of eye shadows, and a lip gloss that made her lips look shiny, red and plump. "Wow, Rose," I breathed. "Thank you so much!"

"Any time. I told you I would make you look pretty. Now, go get dressed and let me touch up." She leant towards herself in the mirror, dapping an imaginary fault in her makeup under her eye with a tissue.

"Me?" I asked. "When Emmett – when all the guys see you, actually – they're going to be absolutely gobsmacked."

She straightened and fixed her hair. "I'm not even dressed yet," she laughed.

Emmett arrived just before we left to walk to Eric's. His loud, rumbling Jeep pulling into the drive way gave him away before his boisterous laugh did. Rose went downstairs to meet him while I lurked in her room upstairs to reply to Charlie's text. His message was straight to the point: Stay safe. Don't get into trouble. Be responsible, stick with Rosalie, and I don't want to hear about any underage drinking. I sighed. What kind of daughter did he think he had?.

"Come on Bella! Come see my new girl!" Emmett's booming voice shocked me out of my thoughts. I chucked my phone in my bad and raced down stairs. I was a little too fast and I tripped on the bottom step, nearly crushing Rose as she instinctively caught me.

"Sorry," I mumbled, blushing. She laughed as she followed Emmett outside.

"Just look at it, girls. Look at how big, and shiny, she is. These wheels? They have traction so good that even in the rain and sleep environments I'm able to …"

I sipped on the last of my drink until I finished it, and perfectly, that was when Emmett and Rose stopped fawning over the new car and declared it was time to leave. We grabbed their drinks and locked up before wandering a down the street to Eric's place.

After the fourth time I stumbled, Emmett asked, "How much have you had to drink, Miss Goodie Goodie?"

"Hey, I'm not a goodie goodie," I protested. I ignored Rose's snort and Emmett's chuckle. "I've had one." Emmett laughed outright at that.

The front of Eric's house seemed as it usually did. A tall, double story white brick home with a picket fence. However, the thumping, too-loud music defied the picture of domestic bliss the house portrayed. The front door spewed open moments before we reached it, and a very happy Eric stepped out. "You're here!" He focused and then said, "Wow, Rose, Bella, you ladies look lovely tonight. Can I offer you a drink?"

"Hell yes," Emmett said, barging past everyone and into the house. Rose sighed and followed him, stalking past everyone in her tall gold heels.

"Bella," Eric called as I wandered after the couple. I looked over my shoulder as he skipped over. "You know the new girl, right?"

I frowned at him. "No, I don't know her. I just know what Jessica's been telling everyone. Why?"

"Well, when I was in town, I ran into her. She was behind me at the super market. I could tell it was her from her voice, you know? The way she spoke. Her – her …"

"Accent?" I supplied.

"Yeah, accent!" Eric laughed loudly. I internally sighed. Oh boy. "Anyway, we got to talking, and she's coming tonight. I know you're staying sober, so can you, you know, keep an eye out for her?"

"Sure," I promised. "I'll try my best."

"She's so sexy," Eric reported. He swayed as he closed his eyes and threw his head back, hooting. "So hot!"

"What does she look like?" I asked. I needed a little bit more than that to go off.

"Interested, hey?" he laughed, opening one eye and peering at me.

I frowned as my face flamed. "What? No. I just want to know how to find her."

"Sure, sure, Bella," the drunken idiot laughed. "She's tiny. Shorter than you for sure. Black hair, kind of boyish looking."

"Alright, thanks. Hey, wow, okay, do you want me to grab you a glass of water?" I asked nervously as I watched him sway and almost crumble in the doorway.

"No, no," he mumbled. "I've got my beer, and then when I'm not drinking that, I have soda in the fridge. No alcohol." He laughed hysterically and winked at me before stumbling away, chasing after a girl I didn't know as she disappeared upstairs.

I shook my head, trying to clear some of my own dizziness, and wandered off in search of the gang. I reminded myself to look for the new girl, Mary. It was certainly a surprise to know that she would be coming. She was sure to turn up soon, and it would be daunting walking into a strange house, full of people you had never met, totally alone. I would have to stay in the front of the house to keep an eye out for her arrival. I wondered what she would be like, and if we would become friends as I settled down to wait.