A/N: So sorry this took forever - my damn computer crashed...piece of junk... Personally, I think that the story is crawling a little bit but I promise it'll pick up soon. I already have future chapters written to prove it - bwhahaha

Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns all Twilight related things in the story, because she fuckin' rocks. Simple as that ;)

Leaving the cafeteria I rummaged through my messenger bag trying to find my schedule. It was a dark teal and chocolate brown mix - the brown making butterflies, and stars, and swirls. I didn't like it very much but Renee got it for me as a good luck present before I left. I didn't have the heart to tell her I wanted to dye the thing black - she just looked so excited and couldn't stop talking about how it was on sale and the last one there.

I may not be a push-over any more but I do have a heart. So I went on about how I loved it and it was perfect. To my great surprise the thing was actually starting to grow on me - I even added a few pins to the cover flap.

The down thing about it. I had trouble finding anything since I kind of just threw things in there. It was slightly a mess. Well actually there was nothing slight about it - a person could get lost in the wasteland in my bag.

Dang. I can't be late on my first day…well later. Dad might just kill me for this morning.

"Hey Bella!"

I turned around to see who it was, but I did it too fast. I felt myself getting dizzy, could see the black spots dancing across my vision and hear the high-pitch noise that was almost a screech. Before I could fall on my butt I felt someone's arm go around my waist - holding me.

"Whoa. You okay there, Bella?"

"I'm fine," I stated as I tried to stand on my own. They were holding me a little to closely for my taste.

The spots slowly left - as if someone was dusting off my vision. Even before they were fully gone I could vaguely make out dull blue eyes and concrete hair.

Mike Newton.

"Oh, hey Mike. Thanks for saving me." I could feel my face getting hotter with the massive blush that was no doubt making an appearance.

"No problem. So anyway, what class do you have next?"

"I don't know, I was just trying to find my schedule," I answered as I continued my search for the yellow piece of paper. "Oh, thank God! Okay…um, I have A.P. Chemistry with Mr. Moreno in building 5. Ew."

"You do? That's great, so do I! I'll walk you there."

We walked in an uncomfortable silence for awhile. I was more than happy to keep it up, we were almost in the building now, but Mike decided to break it.

"Um, so, I wanted to - uh - what you said to Jessica…that was cool."

"Um…thanks?" I didn't really know what to say to that. I was still new to the whole "get a back-bone" concept so I was a little afraid that I came off too mean, when in fact I didn't want to be mean in the first place. But just by hearing her talk for about five minutes I knew that being snarky - yes, that's a real word, Google that shit - was the only way that she would actually hear what I was saying to her. It didn't hurt that thanks to Leo I was wasn't a novice when it came to sarcasm.

"No, really. I mean no one's ever talked to her that way and I thought that it was very cool of you." He was looking at me like what he thought of me mattered as much as breathing did. It took all my self-control not to start giggling.

It was ridiculous and annoying, but adding his obliviousness to the mix, and he actually looked kind of adorable. Like a little puppy. I wanted to pat his head.

"Hey Rico, I'd like you to meet the new girl," Mike called out as we walked into the already full classroom. I swear people here have never heard of last minute rushing - I'm officially a pro at power-walking at this point.

"Mike during school I'm Mr. Moreno - I've told you that," said a tall man who I assumed was the teacher. He wasn't that bad looking but I wouldn't fantasize about him. He was tan with a black buz-cut and goatee thing. I could tell that Mike calling him Rico was something that he got onto him about often.

"Mike you should get into your seat class is about to begin. Hello, you must be Isabella," he said turning to me. "Follow me and I'll get you a book." The class was pretty full - there were only two empty seats. "Here you go. You can just sit over there in the chair next to the aisle - the other seat belongs to Mr. Cullen but I guess he's absent today."

"Um, it's Bella."

"What?" he asked confused.

"I prefer to be called Bella, please."

"Okay," he smiled as he walked to the front of the class.

So there's a Cullen in this class, I wonder which one… I thought as I took my seat. He said "Mr." so it has to be one of the guys. Maybe they would do more than just stare at when they're here. God, that would be awkward.

Mr. Moreno was going on about Transverse and Horizontal waves - something I already learned about back in Phoenix. The class passed by in one big sluggish blur while I thought about which Cullen I would be sitting next to when he finally showed up.

"Hey, Bella."

I looked over to see an eager Mike standing next to my desk when class was over. Yup, he was definitely a puppy.

"Hey Mike."

"So you like Rico's class? He's just about the coolest teacher here. Very easy too. So what class do you have next?"

"Um, I have gym."

For the love of all that's frickin' holy. This school is trying to kill me!

"You do? That's awesome!" Was he going to do this every time he found out we shared a class? It was a small school - us having a few classes together was inevitable. The urge to hurt myself was getting stronger.

Gym was actually better than I thought it would be. Mainly because I didn't have to play today since I wouldn't be able to get a uniform till the next day. It wasn't so much that I was clumsy all the time, it was more like my equilibrium was picky. I could play soccer like a beast and there were some types of dancing that I could do effortlessly - like waltzing, but that's another story all together - but when I try to walk across a flat sable surface and there was a ninety-nine percent chance that I would face-plant. I didn't understand it.

Instead of going home after school I decided to go to the grocery store. I didn't really have time to go during the time when I was here, what with trying to get everything settled and all, but I knew I had to do it soon when there was nothing but sandwich meat for dinner and absolutely nothing for breakfast. Honestly I had no idea how Charlie's survived on his own for this long. It's a miracle to say the least.

It took a little while but after driving around aimlessly for about ten minutes I saw the familiar Meijer sign. An hour later I was pushing my cart out of the store and it was full of everything. There was nothing we would need for awhile…okay more like a months tops but that didn't make me feel as B.A. After making it home and three trips in and out later I was in the middle of making lasagna - one of my many favorites.

"Bella?" I heard Charlie ask from the front hallway.

"In the kitchen dad!"

"Hey, something smells good," he smiled as he stuck his noise up and breathed in. My dad loved dramatics, it always made things fun.

"Thanks," I said smiling. "Dinner should be done in about, oh I don't know…twenty minutes. You can go watch t.v. - I'll call you when it's done."

"Thanks Bells."

While the food was cooking I went upstairs to my room and turned on my laptop - my mom made Charlie get internet so she could still talk to me. After signing into my Yahoo! account I found I had not two, not three, but five new emails - all from my mom. I decided to work my way up to the latest ones - read the paranoia progress. I not mean, just easily entertained. Insert evil smirk here.

Bella, hey it's mom! How are you liking Forks? Is it raining? Me and Phil are doing great. Oh! I joined a new Pilates club, my old one was getting boring. I miss you. Write back soon! Phil says hi.

Love you tons, Mom

It took three. Three emails in and she was freaking out. Poor Renee. I

Isabella why haven't you written me back yet? You've been there for two days already? Are you okay? Do you hate it? Did something happen? If I don't get an email by tomorrow night I'm calling Charlie. I mean it.

Mom

I went through and deleted the rest - not bothering to read them - and opened up and blank email so I put my mom out of her worries.

Mom,

I'm okay. Breathe. In. Out. In. Out. Just relax.

Forks is fine - still the same as from when I was little. Of course it's raining, but it isn't that bad once you get used it, or so I've heard. That's great - are you liking anyone there? I have to go finish making dinner so I'll talk to you later. Tell Phil I said hi as well.

Love ya,

Bella

Rushing down stairs I attacked the fridge - getting things out to make a salad - and took the lasagna out of the oven. It was perfect - all the cheese was gooey and not crispy burnt. I think my best yet. …I tend to forget about time and burn a lot of what I cook - but I can proudly say that I'm getting better at it. I just have to remember that I'm cooking something.

"Dad dinner's done," I called out in the general direction of the living room.

Me and Charlie ate in a comfortable silence - something I could tell would be a regular thing for us - but I didn't mind. That was something that me and my dad had in common - we didn't need to fill the silence, we liked it just the way it was.

After dinner I did the dishes, finished my homework, and got ready for bed - my new routine. I maybe…might have…some OCD tendencies - it wasn't a bad thing, but it made me need some sort of routine in my life - any routine that could act as a constant really.

Unlike the past couple of days here sleep didn't come so easily tonight. Lately I've been so busy running around and getting everything in order that as soon as my head hit the pillow I was out cold. Sometimes exhaustion was a very good thing. And to add to my bonus list I've only fainted three times and thrown up once - things were definitely getting better.

It was raining hard outside, a sound that I'm still not too accustomed with, so that was keeping me from beautiful REM, but if I was being completely honest what was really keeping me awake was the pain. At night t just seemed to get worse for some reason and tonight was not one of my better moments. I felt like I was being sucker punched and stabbed with a burning knife all at the same time. I was considering banging my head against a wall until I was unconscious just to get away from it. So just like back in Phoenix, I laid there tossing and turning to try and get comfortable and curling into the fetal position when it increased from moving too much.

It felt only second passed when sleep finally managed to drag me under with its black claws, but the next thing I knew I was beating the shit out of my alarm clock.

The morning passed much like the one that day before, but this time I was a little excited. It wasn't for school, God no it wasn't for school, but I was curious about the Cullens. I wanted to get to know them - except maybe Rosalie. She made me fear for my life like nothing else did. It would be nice to get to know them…and maybe my curiosity would wake me up a little more.

I moved experimentally to see if I was in the clear and did a more than embarrassing happy dance when I didn't feel the sucker punches or the knife. After rushing through my shower I skipped to my room and rummaged through my cluttered closet. Somehow, even though I haven't even been here a week yet, I managed to destroy the inside of my book bag and my closet. I think it might be gift. I wanted to do something the sheep of Forks haven't seen yet, something someone could buy at Hot Topic - a store I'm sure people here are afraid of. Dorks.

Barreling into my mountain of goodies I came out with my silver and black leopard skinny pants and my all time favorite Hello Kitty "Dorks Need Love Too" shirt. My favorite combo. I decided on black extra high high-tops for my feet and red clip on bows for my hair after straightening the heck out of it - they matched the giant heart on my shirt - and stepped back to examine my handy work.

Not bad, if I may be so smug.

I slathered on some black eyeliner and ran down stairs.

"Morning Bella," Charlie said as I entered the kitchen.

"Morning dad. Hey, do we have any more of those chocolate covered donuts left?" I asked, rummaging through the cupboards. I couldn't find them anywhere.

"Actually I hid them," he stated grimly.

"What?" My voice was the epitome of flat.

"You probably shouldn't eat today Bella."

"Why not? If you're hinting at what I think you're hinting at you must have a death wish." I emphasized the threat by cracking my knuckles nice and loud.

"Bella you have your first Chemotherapy treatment today. I don't know what you can and can't do. Now I don't think they're actually doing anything today, actually I'm pretty sure it's just a formality appointment - you know just telling us all the information that we need to know. However, I'm not taking any chances, so no. You can't eat."

It was the most I've heard him say since I've been here. Maybe the most I've heard him say all my life. And the thing is - it was a lecture about me eating.

I was shell shocked. From him talking so much or maybe from just finding out I have a chemo appointment today. I didn't know and I didn't care. I was starting to feel trapped, so I took this as my gut telling me it was time to leave.

"Sure, fine, whatever. I'll even skip lunch. See ya later Char - dad," I yelled over my shoulder as I rushed out the door.

I wasn't excited about school anymore. Quite the opposite actually.

Please leave lots of love...or hate...or a "hi"...hell I'll even take a picture of a squirrel humping a - going to stop there (If you get it - hehe XD If you don't get it read Boy in the Red Sweater by Starrynytex - I cannot tell you how amazing that story is *Yes, I realize I'm gloating like a proud PTA mom*). So follow my favorite arrow, it will lead you to happy things...

P.s.

(*)I'm hoping and praying and begging and meditating for 10 reviews. You guys are amazing and I love seeing all the alerts and favorites and review notices in my inbox - they make the characters in my head do a happy dance ;P

(*)Heads up: For those of you who are reading Never Ending I started working on that again - the mental block is letting up little by little :)

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