Shit! Shit, McShitty-shit-shit. I never should have gone to the toilet so close to the bell ringing. These damn halls are all the damn same. Internal diatribe finished Bella turned down yet another identical looking hallway, frantically looking between her screwed up class schedule and the numbers on the doors she passed. It's like hieroglyphics, or may as well be for all the good they're doing me.

A good five minutes late already Bella picks up her pace yet again. She ignores the noise that sounds oddly like a breathy chuckle, knowing that she is the only person in the way. Well, the teenager had thought she was until she was propositioned from the ceiling.

"What's a girl like you doing in a place like this. Come here often, sweet cheeks?" The now familiar squawk of Clara's voice rung out clearly through the deserted path Bella trod. The somehow smirking bird fluttered down onto Bella's shoulder, thoroughly annoying the already frazzled teen.

"Dammit Clara!" She whisper yells. "Everyone will think I'm bananas if they see me talking to you, get off my shoulder!"

Her traveling companion huffs in mock indignation and flies away slowly, calling over her shoulder.

"Fine, stay lost. I live here, remember? I know where you want to go!"

Bella's eyes widened at the realization that Clara was right. "No!" She quietly called out. "I'm sorry, come back here please, I'm sorry. I'm already so late. Please!" Turning the same corner her feathery friend had gone around, Bella deflated when she couldn't spot Clara. Her desolation was short lived however, as a small squawk from Clara and a very large shriek from Bella announced her return. Trilling with glee Clara was able to give Bella clear directions to her class.

"Come on Bells, about face."

Just under ten minutes late and panting for breath Bella practically barreled through the door to her art class. Belatedly she realized the attention that would bring and the now mortally embarrassed teen prayed to whatever deity exists to let the floor swallow her whole then and there. When that failed to prove fruitful Bella slinked over to where her, very amused, teacher sat perched on the corner of a students desk. Before the brunette teen could eke out a word the teacher greeted her cheerfully.

"You must be Isabella Swan, yeah? I'm Miss Scott. It's nice to have you here in the class. Since it's your first day I'll spare you the lecture on being late. I can't count the amount of times I got lost when I was new here. Here, I'll sign that thing for ya and you can sit over there in that space beside Miss Cullen who will now wave for you." Her mood and personality was cheerful and laid back and, Bella absently noted while waiting for her slip back, her appearance reflected this. Miss Scott had wildly curly red hair that was haphazardly drawn back in a loose ponytail at the base of her neck, strands escaping everywhere got in her eyes making her blow them away every few moments. Her hands were covered in various media: Charcoal, pastels, pencil and paint to name just a few. A small smudge of charcoal sat on the side of the teachers small nose and no one seemingly had the heart to tell her, not that anyone really thought she cared. She wore well fitting and obviously well loved grey jeans. These, too, were covered in the proof of her passion for the arts. She could almost be a flower child. Bella thought with a bit of amusement. Miss Scott wore a loose fitting maroon button up shirt. The material looked almost see through and the long sleeves were messily rolled up to just past her elbows. Neither side being the same length as the other. She looks really nice. This appraisal took mere moments and the brunette teen hadn't even been aware she was doing it.

Receiving her slip back Bella looked around to find out who she was supposed to be seated next to and the blood that had slowly receded to her appendages flooded back into her face. Oh gosh, I'm sitting next to a Cullen!

Before Bella could start over to, who she now realized was Alice Cullen, Miss Scott hurriedly calls her back over. Unsure whether she could get a word out in her seemingly perpetually mortified state Bella just tilted her head slightly in question.

The kindly teacher seemed to realize how uncomfortable Bella was feeling and smiled gently as she spoke.

"Everyone else has had the entire previous term to work on their portfolios that will be assessed at the end of semester. Considering this I think it's only fair that you only need to present half the work of the rest of the class. The task is a fairly simple one, you only need to choose a particular artist and try to emulate their unique style. The subject matter and the medias you choose to use, are however, entirely up to yourself." She then handed Bella a rather thick book. "That has artwork from dozens of different artists, choose one you like and get to work. The pace we've been working at is one completed piece every week. So that's what I want you to aim for, just ignore all the work everyone has already done. Alice? Could you wave please. Thanks!" Before Bella had the chance to thank her, Miss Scott disappeared in a cloud enthusiasm and chalk dust.

Taking her seat next to Alice, Bella chanced a glance her way and locked eyes with the grinning girl. The awkward brunette shyly returned the smile with a small one of her own.

"Hi, I'm Alice Cullen." Alice rolls her eyes a tad. "Obviously I mean, since you're here next to me and Miss Scott named me for that purpose." The other girls friendly demeanor relaxed Bella somewhat and even though she wouldn't mention it to her, the pretense of needing to introduce herself was appreciated. She hated when everyone already seemed to think they knew her.

"Bella... Uh, Swan." A twitch of a smile accompanied her introduction.

"Smooth." Bella flinched at the slightly muffled voice that carried through the closed window. Looking past Alice, Bella was appalled to see the very fortuitously placed branch. Fortuitously placed for Clara, who seemed to plan on being the bane of Bella's existence. Bella, however, wanted nothing more than to take a saw to her friends perch. No, she's going to hear everything. And I know she isn't going to be a silent spectator.

Bella and Alice spoke sporadically throughout the class, about innocent things like the weather and how Bella is finding Forks. Even though the conversation was harmless Bella still blushed often, unnoticeable at first but in increasing intensity as Clara calls through the window.

"Bells, you're looking a little hot there, might want to crack the window." Clara trilled in delight, which caught Alice's attention. The chipper, dark haired girl smiled fondly at the small bird through the window before turning back towards Bella.

"I didn't know ravens could make such pretty sounds, I thought it was all harsh caws." Bella threw a glare at Clara through the window and murmured that she was being a bitch. Looking at Alice to answer her directly Bella was embarrassed to find the other girl smothering her giggles behind a delicate hand. Shit, how loud did I say that.

"What did the poor bird ever do to you?" It was said in jest but Bella decided to supply Alice with an answer, hoping that she would believe the awkward teen was simply being silly. Not that she was crazy. I couldn't bear it if Alice thought I was insane.

"She knows what she did." Adding in a very over acted glare to the small bird outside Bella was relieved to hear her raven haired companions laughter increase in volume. Woo. Bella mentally swiped her hand across her forehead. Crisis averted, well played Swan.

Turning to her still blank page a flash of inspiration hit Bella. Having drawn the animals she spoke to for years Bella had developed quite the talent for it. Seeing as how Clara was determined to stay and make a nuisance of herself Bella thought that she may as well take advantage of the situation.

"Now hold still birdie, I'm drawing you." she started sketching with charcoals, resolutely ignoring Clara.

"Why'd you call me birdie, we named me Clara remember Bells! Claaaaa-raaaa." She spoke long and drawn out, like Bella was mentally addled. She was just trying to get a rise out of the brunette but the human was determined to ignore the prodding.

Alice giggled beside Bella, remarking "It's almost as if she's talking back to you. I get the feeling you're really great with animals right?" It wasn't just a feeling, Alice had seen several visions since the other girl had arrived in Forks. All showed her either petting, or sketching the local fauna. The local fauna which had no problems being scant inches away from the girl.

Bella blushes at the attention and the insinuation made. "Yeah I guess, animals just tend to like me for some reason..I'm non threatening I suppose. I like that they trust me though, makes drawing them easier." By now Bella was almost finished the sketch she'd made of Clara preening her feathers. Alice looked on in wonder.

"Wow, Bella that's really life like. You're very talented. Damn, you're going to breeze through this class. Means more time for chats! Yes." Bella sees Alice nodding and smiling to herself with her words out of the corner of her eye and can't help the affectionate chuckle that escapes her. This girl is too adorable for her own good, I mean really, it should be against the rules to be so cute. She blushed at her own thoughts but then responded to the other girl.

"Thanks, but I don't know about talented. I normally just use pencils so all of these other things are going to be hard to use. I don't think chatting will be any problem though, this teacher seems really lax on that." As she spoke Bella realized that the art teacher up front hadn't once told off any students for talking... or yelling rather as they seemed to be doing now.

"Yeah Miss Scott is a bit of a free spirit, and she believes that we find out muse when we're at our most content. Which, for a bunch of teenagers, means when we're talking to our friends the most." She grinned rather goofily at Bella before continuing excitedly. "And now I have a friend in the class to talk to too! So exciting. So Bells what's the scoop? How much are you hating our quaint little high school so far?"

Bella had to laugh at that, the sound was light and free and had Alice captivated. She's so shy, it's nice to hear her let her guard down a little Alice thought appreciatively. "Well Alice, had you asked me that this morning the answer would have been that I detested it already. But since then I've made a few friends who seem like pretty cool people, so it's not so bad really."

"Oooooh do tell, I'm one of those awesome people right. I mean, I know I got it going on." Alice popped an imaginary collar on her shirt before she continued much more seriously. "It's great you've made some friends on your first day. Moving is very sucky, at least when my family moves we all have each other to fall back on."

"Yeah, I can agree with that. Moving is terrible..." She paused for effect, purposefully leaving out the other part of Alice's words. The raven haired girl seemed to squirm in anticipation for Bella to continue. "And yes Alice, you're one of those people."

"Yes!" She squeaked, jubilant that Bella liked her, though she had no idea why she was being quite so friendly with the girl. Before she had entered the classroom Alice had told herself she was going to be the exact right amount of friendly, just so the girl would feel welcomed and not suspect anything about her family. All of that however went right out of her mind, the girl possessed an awkward type of charisma that had simply charmed Alice. She felt helpless to stop the flowing conversation and teasing.

"So I feel like a shopping venture is in order in the near future." Alice sounded gleeful and Bella paled at the mention of her most hated task.

"Uh, no. Thanks. But. Just no." Alice looked put out and her lower lip jutted out dejectedly. Bella had to look away, blushing slightly as her resolved faltered immediately. Looking away had unfortunately set her staring at Clara who had the Cheshire Cat of bird grins on her face. How can birds even smile with a beak.

"Oh Bells, do my little ears deceive me or did that sound like a date preposition! I think she liiiiiiiikes you Bells. Oh, and if you were wondering: Yes, she's still looking at you like that. And you still look like a tomato." Then the trilling started and Bella groaned at the mention of her blush because it, of course, just made it more prominent.

"But Bella, just look at your shoes. I don't even think they can really be called that anymore. Put the poor soles out of there misery and let them die." When Bella finally turned to Alice she was wiggling her eyebrows and giggling like a madwoman. "See what I did there? Shoes, soles."

Bella snorted without her conscious permission and rolled her eyes. "You are just the best kind of dork, yes I saw what you did there. Very punny Alice." It was Bella's turn to grin goofily and Alice's to groan.

"Nooooo." She moaned piteously, "Not pun wars. Anything but pun wars." A glint entered her eyes. "You should be punished for even suggesting something so juvenile."

"Oh Alice, weren't you ever taught that you should just roll with the punches." Alice laughed gleefully at the continued game.

"Poor, sweet, delusional-" "I get the picture Allie." "misinformed Bella, I hate to puncture your bubble but with my far superior wordplay skills I'm sure to win... Wait, did you just call me Allie?" Alice looked, to Bella's mind, offended and Bella quickly backtracked.

"Yeah, I'm sorry, just slipped out I guess, I didn't mean to-" She was forcibly cut off by a hand covering her mouth gently, predictably her ears felt like they were on fire.

"I love it, no one's ever called me by a nickname before." Alice cleared her throat, ridding herself of a small lump that had developed there. "Now, where were we before some punk tried to distract me. Ah yes, I believe I was two up on this delightful game."

Bella was still reeling from the tingling sensation Alice's cool hand had left on her lips. She blinked absently a grand total of four times and Alice started to fear that maybe she'd gone too far, that she really shouldn't have touched her new friend like that. Or even at all really, but the heat emanating from the other girl had been drawing her closer over the class like a moth to flame. She had felt helpless to the allure of touching that heat directly and had taken the first opportunity that had presented itself to do so.

Shaking herself out of her Alice induced stupor Bella wracked her brain trying to come up with something that would even the score up a little in their little game. She was coming up blank however as all her mental powers were presently engaged in keeping the memory of Alice touching her out of her mind. It was no big deal Swan, friends do things like that all the time and lets face it: You can be a bit of a motormouth when you think you've put your foot in it. Her hand was so smooth... No! I mean it was cold! I hope she's not getting sick. The concern for her newest friend pushed her confusing thoughts from her mind and Bella resolved herself to conceding defeat.

"Well... you should... uh... Oh I give up Allie!" Bella threw in the nickname as a distraction hoping the girl in question would make her gloating brief. "You win, I can't think of any more."

Alice was just pleased that she hadn't scared off Bella and responded jubilantly and somewhat smugly.

"What did I tell you Bella! My wordplay skills are far superior but you performed admirably. Really though, I can't believe we could think of so many like that." Alice grinned positively devilishly and the brunette adjacent who'd just breathed a sigh of relief eyed her warily.

"So, seeing as how I am the victor of our unplanned little game can I claim a prize?" It was said innocently and genuinely enough but the gleam in her eyes had Bella a little unsettled. Try as she might though she couldn't think of anything that should make her refuse the request.

Bella had nodded slowly and tentatively said "yeah sure I guess," when her eyes widened and she'd realized her novice mistake. She balked and tried to backpedal. Hastily. But Alice was already almost shouting victoriously, arms raised above her head and drawing absolutely everyone's attention in the room.

"Shopping!" Cackling with glee before she sobered, Alice smiled over at the ashen faced Bella. "You really can't tell me that you don't need to get new shoes, I figured it might be fun to spend some time together outside of school at the mall." She looked down at her work as she continued and Bella had the distinct feeling that her emotions were being played and dammit(!) it was working. "You don't have to though if you really don't want to."

Bella breathed out a heavy sigh.

"Cheater." A cool hand gently squeezed hers once before retreating.

Predictably, the answering blush spread like wild fire.


Hi guys, have a longer chapter as A: a slight apology for being absent so long and B: I couldn't find a good place to cut this.

As some of you would know, moving sucks, lack of internet sucks and immobility due to surgery sucks... Add them all together and it's a heady cocktail to be sure. I'm at my parents visiting for the night however so I thought I would get this uploaded for your viewing pleasure. Hope you guys like it.

As always, drop me a line for a bit of feedback and also as always, stay awesome guys!