Chapter 4

Thanks for all the great reviews and nice words! I am really having so much fun with this and have spent too much time watching Grease (Like you can do that). As you know by now we are kind of following the moive with a modern twist so expect some similar stuff and some new things too. Thanks to my Beta Bethaboo. She fixes my compulsive need for contractions and DebussyThis for constantly motivating me. And JDSK for making me laugh and thinking what I think is funny is funny too!

Song:

Cake-Short Skirt/Long Jacket

BPOV

I spent the better part of the morning in the administration office at school getting my schedule. The office was busy and filled with students, teachers and other faculty.

A tall, pretty woman walked in with an irritated look on her face. I heard her mutter to the secretary, Ms. Cope, "McCarty is already pushing my buttons, he needs to watch his step." A couple of the teachers nearby nodded and laughed.

I grabbed my paperwork and left the office. Alice was standing outside. I could feel my eyes getting big as I looked at her. Her outfit was simply amazing. I could only describe it as something Cyndi Lauper would have worn in 1984 during her Girls Just Want To Have Fun tour. She wore a black skirt with ruffles of bright purple netting underneath. A long sleeved striped shirt with the sleeves pushed up and about 40 gummy bracelets on each arm and black lace up boots to match. I had a better understanding of her love for fashion during this moment in the crowded school hallway.

"Hi Bella!' she ran up to me and gave me a hug. I smiled back warmly. It was nice to have a friend at school already. As she grabbed my arm and dragged me down the hall I noticed people looking in my direction. They were all curiously checking out the new girl.

Resolved, I lifted my chin and pushed back my shoulders. Mentally, I started my "new and improved Bella chant" and continued down the hall. Alice dropped me off in front of home room with a promise to meet me in the cafeteria for lunch. At least I wouldn't have to eat alone on my first day. That was enough to make me smile.

I found my seat in homeroom and pulled out a note book. I began doodling on a clean sheet while the announcements started. I thought about my resolution. I was always pretty shy in Phoenix even though I had enough friends and even a couple of boyfriends. I was on the gymnastics team and involved in other school activities but I always felt….repressed? Stifled? Maybe like a square peg in a round hole.

Then everything changed. I met Edward at the beach and something in me just clicked. I was able to be myself with him. He made me feel strong, confident, funny and sexy. He definitely made me feel sexy. I'd had several other boyfriends before and one very serious one, but no one had ever made me feel like that before. I thought about Edward and his sexy crooked smile and the way his hair slipped in his eyes. I could feel his hands running down the sides of my body, slowly making their way down to my hips. His touch alone sent a spark of fire down my spine.

I shivered and looked around the room. I knew my thoughts had made my cheeks turn red. Luckily everyone seemed excited about some announcement just made by the principal. Thank God. Like I needed to be known as the new girl turned on by her day dreams at school.

I learned that morning that Forks High School was not so bad. The kids seemed nice enough although they definitely looked at me like I was a novelty. For once, instead of shying away from the attention, I decided to embrace it. Several guys offered to walk me to class and then asked me to sit with them at lunch. They all looked a little sad when I told them I already had plans. As I walked into the cafeteria I spotted Alice waving from a table with a couple of girls already sitting down.

"Bella!" Alice shouted loudly and waved, "We're over here!" I wandered over, eyeing the girls at the table. There was a brunette with frizzy hair looking at herself in a compact, a smaller dark haired girl with her hair in two ponytails wearing a Hello Kitty t-shirt smiling up at me and then the blonde. I'd honestly never seen a more beautiful girl in person before. She had long hair that flowed down her shoulders and her posture was perfect. I was pretty sure everything about her was perfect. I noticed she was studying my face the whole time I was checking her out.

"Hi everyone, nice to meet you all" I smiled and tried hard not to look intimidated.

Alice began introductions and pointed to the girls, "Jessica, mirror. Angela pig tails, and Rosalie. "She said nothing to define Rosalie who still had her eyes on me. I was about to tell her to knock it off when she spoke. "Bella, so how are things in Phoenix?"

I eyed her carefully, "Fine. Hot and dry. That's pretty much it." Rosalie gave me a huge fake grin. "How nice." she said and turned her attention to Jessica. "Jessica! What's up with that stupid mirror?" and Jessica finally looked up and snapped the compact shut. Okay. I could see who was in charge of this lunch table.

I head a rushing noise and looked up to see a girl headed our way. Just before she got to the table Rose quietly said, "Lauren Mallory, the bad seed of Forks High". Alice, Angela and Jessica all giggled.

"Hi girls, I feel so bad I have not come over to introduce my self to Bella. Bella," this rushed out of her mouth like she was on speed as she turned to me," I'm Lauren and I'm captain of the cheerleading squad. Welcome aboard!" My head was spinning from the sound of her enthusiastic voice. What have I gotten myself into? Soon she'd be announcing activities on the Lido Deck.

"Nice to meet you, Lauren" I said, trying to meet her volume. I started to mentally hum. The New Bella, The New Bella. I chanted my mantra like a yogi in an ashram. It actually was a little calming. Rose gave her a look and Lauren scurried off. She leered at me, "Well that sounds like fun. Rah Rah Sis Boom Bah!"

Alice came to my rescue, "Rose, Bella is a gymnast and since Forks does not have a team she is cheering instead. Isn't that nice?" Rose gritted her teeth. A hard look passed between her and Alice. Huh? Maybe there was more than one person in charge over here. I needed a scoreboard to keep up with the dynamics of this group.

"So, Bella, "Angela said, clearly trying to change the conversation, "Alice tells us you met some kind of Adonis at the beach this summer. Tell us all about it!"

"Well…I don't know." I stammered and looked over at Alice. She nodded for me to continue. I sighed. Relationships were about give and take. If I was going to make friends I knew I had to open up and share a little about myself. "Yes, I met a guy. He was really nice and sweet." I could hear my voice trailing off at the end. Every time I thought of him I drifted.

Jessica raised an eyebrow before asking, "What did he look like?"

I blushed and thought about Edward. "I admit he was really cute. He had long eyelashes and these, gorgeous green eyes and beautiful reddish hair. You could cut paper with his cheekbones." I think I may have drooled a little and reached up to wipe my mouth. Jessica nodded approvingly. "But really, the thing I liked best about him was how romantic and fun he was.' I could feel myself getting upset. I knew the tightening of my chest was going to start and my breathing would start to come out in gasps. Ever since the day we said goodbye on the beach this is what happened if I thought about him for too long.

"Really" said Rosalie and she rolled her eyes at me. "Sweet? Nice? Romantic? Doesn't sound like any of the guys around here!" Thankfully, the bell rang and she grabbed her books. Alice and the other girls had already left the table before she made her last statement. Rosalie slung her bag over her shoulder, flipped her hair out from the strap and looked at me with a question on her face.

"You need something else?" I asked her. I was already tired of Rosalie and her attitude.

"Well, Bella, I was wondering what was the name of your Prince Charming?" she said with a sickly sweet tone. This girl must be on meds for bi-polar, her moods switched so much. I had no idea why I'd share this with her if she was only going to use it to make fun of me. But I didn't see how it would matter anyway, it's not like she would know him.

"Edward. Edward Cullen" I dropped a book as I said it and bent down to pick it up. I heard Rosalie choke back a laugh.

"What's funny?" I asked as I stood back up. I knew I shouldn't have said anything. I looked at her and saw her smile had been replaced by a strange look. Rosalie brushed past me and glanced over her shoulder.

"Nothing. But if you really like this guy, maybe he's worth waiting for." And she walked out of the room. Surprisingly, I couldn't agree more. But it was just wasn't in the cards for Bella Swan and Edward Cullen to be together.