All characters belong to Stephenie Meyer

I woke to my alarm screaming at me to wake up. Reluctantly, I reached out from under my covers to turn it off. I hadn't slept very well. It had stormed all night long, and the sound of the wind and rain on the windows made me restless.

I didn't want to be late for my first day of school so I quickly got up and dressed. Charlie was waiting for me when I came downstairs. Once again he had made eggs. I was beginning to see a pattern. I would have to go shopping for real food after school.

"Morning dad."

He frowned. "Are you feeling ok Bells?" I could see the concern in his eyes.

"I'm fine. I just didn't sleep very well with the storm last night. There's no need to worry." I assured him. I knew I had circles under my eyes, but I didn't think I looked that bad.

"If you need me I'll be at the station. You have the number right?"

"Yes, and I won't need you." I insisted.

"Well if you do…" He trailed off as he shrugged into his jacket.

"I know how to reach you. Have a good day."

"You too Bells." He called as he left the house.

I wasn't very hungry, and the eggs Charlie had prepared looked anything but appetizing. I decided to skip breakfast and went upstairs to get my bag.

I wanted to get to school a little early to get my schedule before everyone started to show up. The last thing I wanted was to draw attention to myself. Being the new, clumsy kid was bad enough.

I quickly grabbed my jacket and ran out the door. As soon as I sat in my truck I noticed it smelt vaguely of pipe smoke, though I knew it had been cleaned. It was a pleasant smell. It reminded me of my grandfather, and how he used to smoke his pipe each night before he went to bed.

I smiled at the memory as I put the key in the ignition and started the truck. I jumped as it roared to life. It was a lot louder than I thought it would be. I giggled to myself as I put the truck into drive, 'at least it was dependable', I thought.

The school was not hard to find. It wasn't like the one I had gone to in Phoenix. That school was one very large building that housed over 1,ooo students. Forks High was a bunch of trailers with about 250 students.

I found a parking place near what I assumed was the main building. It was still raining and I made my way swiftly to the front door. Inside I found a rather large lady behind a desk. She had red hair and looked up at me with a smile.

"Can I help you?"

"Yes." I said as I approached. "I'm Isabella Swan."

"Ah yes. We've been expecting you." She replied seizing me up. I could only imagine what she was thinking.

"Here is your schedule, and a map." She instructed. "Get every one of your teachers to sign this form and return it to me at the end of the day."

"Thanks." I replied as I took the papers from her.

I left quickly wanting time to study the map alone before school started. I went back to the warmth of my truck and drove out back where the student parking was located. Luckily, there weren't many kids there. I found a good spot and studied the map until the first bell rang.

My first four classes were standard enough. I was disappointed to find the reading list for my English class was the same one I had the year before in Phoenix. At least I would be able to recycle my old essays.

There was a small girl with curly brown hair, who seemed to befriend me right away. She was in two of my classes. I couldn't remember her name, but she insisted I go to lunch with her. I thankfully tagged along, but I still did not feel very hungry.

I felt many eyes on me as I entered the lunchroom. I tried to ignore them as I bought an apple and a coke.

"Aren't you hungry?" The small girl asked as we sat down at her table.

"Not really." I admitted.

She introduced me to everyone around the table, and they all smiled and greeted me in return. There was one blond girl who kept giving me weird looks. I decided that I would avoid her. She didn't seem like the type of person you wanted to avoid.

The conversation flowed freely between everyone. Occasionally, someone would ask me a question and I would answer politely. I hated being the center of attention, and I felt like I was on display somehow. I looked around the lunchroom to find people staring and whispering. I couldn't help but think they were whispering about me…everyone except one table. Way in the back corner there sat five people all looking off in different directions. They looked bored. Each had a tray of food in front of them that they were not touching. They sat together, yet they seemed alone, but that was not why I couldn't seem to look away. They were all incredibly good looking. It was astounding how beautiful they all were, even the boys. There was a very large one with dark curly hair. He looked like he could be a body builder. The boy next to him was smaller yet very muscular with honey blond hair. A small pixie like girl sat next to him. She had very short black hair. The girl that sat opposite her could not have been more different. She had the figure of a model with long blond hair. The last boy next to her had strange untidy auburn colored hair. He was less bulky than the others, and looked to be the youngest.

"What are you staring at Bella?" The girl with the curly hair asked.

"Nothing." I responded quickly looking away as I blushed, but not before the bronze haired boy looked my way. Our eyes locked for a brief moment before he looked away apathetically. It was as if he had heard his name called, upon finding out who had said it, he had looked away uninterested.

"I see you have noticed the Cullen's." She smirked. "Emmett is the big one with curly hair. Jasper and Rosalie are the blonde's. They're twins; their last name is Hale. Alice is the short one with black hair, and Edward is the younger one with bronze hair."

"They're very good looking." I admitted without thinking causing me to blush embarrassingly.

She giggled. "Yes. But they're all together. Rosalie and Emmett, Jasper and Alice—and they live together." She muttered scandalously. "Doctor Cullen and his wife adopted them. Their foster children."

"That was very nice of them to take on so many like that."

She shrugged. "I guess. I think Mrs. Cullen can't have children."

"That's too bad. Have they always lived in Forks?" I asked as I dared another look at the table. They were looking off in different directions again. I surely would have noticed them on one of my visits.

She shook her head. "No. They moved here a few years ago from Alaska."

I felt a pang of sympathy for them. It was clear they had never really been accepted by any of the students. Just then the bronze haired boy looked up at me and locked me in his gaze. I looked away as fast as I could, blushing again. He looked confused, and frustrated somehow. I mumbled a quick good bye to everyone at my table and rushed off to my next class.

I was mortified. I had been caught twice staring at them. Could I be a bigger freak? I found my next class, biology, with little trouble. I tried the door, but it was locked. I decided to drop off some books at my locker while I waited.

As I walked I couldn't help but think about that family. There was something strange about them. They all had very pale skin, paler than mine. They had deep purple circles under their eyes, but it did not take away from their beauty in any way. It was hard to say who was prettier, the tall blond girl, or the bronze haired boy.

The bell rang pulling me from my thoughts, and I quickly made my way back to my next class. I kept my head down as I walked towards the teacher with my slip of paper. Thankfully he didn't make me introduce myself. He pointed to a table in the back and told me to take a seat. As I looked at my new seat I stopped abruptly realizing who was sitting in the seat next to me. The bronze haired boy, Edward, sat motionless staring straight ahead at the board. I carefully made my way down the aisle to my seat tripping once over someone's bag. Thankfully, I caught myself on a table before my face could meet the floor. I blushed as I heard the others laugh around me.

I was thankful to get to my seat and slid into my chair without a word. I chanced a glance at the beautiful boy next to me to find him sitting tensely, staring at me confused. I tried to look away, but was caught up in his gaze. His eyes were almost black; there was just a hint of topaz around the edges. I could feel my breathing increase as he continued to stare.

"Are you all right?" I heard him ask. His voice sounded as smooth as velvet. It was hypnotizing.

"Y-yes." I stammered blinking my eyes slowly.

He pursed his lips, nodding once incredulously and looked away. Did he know something he shouldn't? He was the son of a doctor—had he found out about my secret? I dispelled my thoughts quickly. There was no possibly way for him to know that I was sick. His father wasn't even my doctor. I still looked healthy enough, so there was no reason for him to think other wise. He must have been referring to my near face dive into the floor.

It took me a second before I could regain my composure and look away. I moved my hair to rest over my shoulder to hide myself from him as the teacher started his lesson. I tried to pay attention, but I couldn't get my mind off the seraphic creature sitting beside me.

At one point I chanced a look at him, instantly regretting it. He was looking at me again, or rather frowning. He seemed unnecessarily frustrated, as if he was expecting something. His eyes were darker somehow. He seemed to get more annoyed as the minutes passed. I had no idea what I had done to make him look at me like that.

I was thankful when the bell rang signally the end of class. I gathered my books together, turning my back to him.

"Hi. My name is Mike. You're Isabella right?"

I looked up to see a cute, baby faced, blond boy in front of me. His smile was warm and friendly. After the hostility I had just received from Edward it was nice to see a friendly face.

"Bella." I corrected.

He smiled. "What's your next class? I could walk you."

"Gym." I answered happily. I hated gym, but because of my condition I wasn't allowed to participate. This was a perk to being sick.

"Cool. Me too." He replied excitedly—a little too excitedly for me. He was cute and all, but I didn't date. It just wouldn't be fair. I would have to discourage him before he got any ideas.

I walked beside him to gym listening as he rambled on about this and that. I handed my note from my doctor to the coach. He frowned upon receiving it, and instructed me to sit on the bleachers and do my homework until the end of class. I happily complied.

By the end of class I was ready for a nap. It had been a long day, and my body was tired. I still had groceries to do, and a doctor's appointment. I turned in my signed slip to the office and then lumbered to my truck. I started the engine and turned the heater on. My eyes felt very heavy. I decided to lie down on the seat for a moment to rest before I drove anywhere. It wouldn't be good to drive this tired.

I must have fallen asleep because when I opened my eyes I noticed the sun had almost set. I sat up quickly looking at the clock. It was already 4:30! I had been asleep for two hours! I rubbed my eyes and looked around to find the parking lot completely empty. Shaking my head to clear it I put my truck in reverse and headed straight for the hospital. Groceries would have to wait. I had a doctor's appointment at 5:oo and I couldn't be late.

I rushed into the main entrance after quickly parking my truck. I was unfamiliar with this hospital, and I wasn't sure where to go.

"Dr. Spencer?" I asked the receptionist.

"You follow the green squares on the floor and they will lead you to the wing his office is in." She pointed down the hall. "Just follow the green squares all the way."

I nodded in thanks and took off down the hall. I walked faster than normal just in case I managed to get lost. I wasn't watching where I was going and bumped right into something very hard.

"Sorry." I mumbled as I blushed. I looked up and there in front of me stood the most beautiful doctor I had ever seen before. He had blond hair, and the most beautiful smile. He looked too young to be a doctor. I noticed his nametag--Dr. Cullen. This must be their father.

"That's quite all right." He smiled steadying me in my place. "Do you need help finding something?" He offered in a smooth voice, almost as angelic as Edward's.

"N-no." I stuttered. "I'm on my way to Dr. Spencer's office. I think I can find my way."

Just then I saw Edward walk around the corner and stand next to his father. My eyes grew wide as I watched him frown and narrow his eyes at me. I swallowed once, blushing as I dropped my head.

I noticed Dr. Cullen had not missed the exchange. "Have you met my son Edward? You two must go to school together."

"Yeah, we met." 'Sorta,' I added under my breath. I looked up quickly to find Edward smirking for some reason. I found myself getting incredibly frustrated with him and I scowled.

"I have to go. I have an appointment." I mumbled as I walked away.