Usual mandatory disclaimer: S.M. owns all. Still unbeta-ed, so all mistakes are my own.

Just to clarify: Bella won't behave like she did in the first chapter for the whole story. Her behavior in chapter one will be exclusive to that section of the timeline.

Now on with the story :)

Bella POV

And then reality struck. I opened my eyes slowly, allowing them to adjust to the morning light –although there wasn't much of it since it was a bit cloudy. Great, as if I didn't get enough clouds in Forks. Maybe I should've gone to Florida. I'd begun to have my not-so-unusual inner monologue until the calendar to my left caught my attention. There, mocking me from its place in the wall, was a date that held a completely different meaning to me now.

Today was Monday, September 13th, and it was six in the freaking morning. I hadn't even realized my birthday was so close until right now. Of course it would be on a Monday, I thought, rolling my eyes. It was so tempting to simply close my eyes and pretend this day didn't exist. Maybe, if I just covered my face with my linens, I could just pretend this day didn't exist and then come back to the real world when it was the 14th.

Not that it would be any better, but it was still better than the 13th. Or a Monday.

I sighed. I'm definitely going to need coffee if I want to live through this day, I thought –or maybe I said it out loud, who knows. I had never developed much of an addiction for the substance, but it was definitely required on the days where I knew I would meet more than one challenge.

It was only after the first sip, when the warm liquid was running down my throat, that I realized what had woken me up this morning. Had I not been standing next to the sink, I would've had very hot liquid dripping onto my feet –and probably a couple of shards of ceramic from the broken coffee mug as well. But, apparently fate had decided to give me a break just this once given that the mug simply landed on the metal frame, preventing any shards from piercing my skin. Nothing that hasn't happened before on this date, the small voice muttered dryly.

It was only a dream. I sighed, slowly cleaning up the mess I'd made. A part of me knew that there was no possible way that my dream would ever become anything more than a figment of my overactive –and ever hopeful- imagination, but another part of me could only wish. And it was my birthday after all, so I was entitled to wishes –no matter how absurd- at least for today.

It's been almost two years since he left, although the days after my birthday shouldn't really count since he wasn't the same Edward I thought I'd known. He wasn't my Edward, even though I loved him all the same.

I just begun my sophomore year in Dartmouth, classes have started and everything is going as well as it can go, considering the situation. My roommate was supposed to be here already but apparently she had fallen a little behind schedule so I haven't met her yet. Another thing my dream had gotten right –I didn't know the girl's name. I hadn't even bothered to ask the office since I would know her name eventually once she arrived, so there was no point. I had all the time in the world to get to know her. But not as much time as other creatures you know, the small voice said. Not for the first time, I wished I could shut that part of my brain off for just a minute. Maybe that's how he felt when he had to hear everyone –except me, of course. I huffed, knowing there was nothing else I could do to calm the voice in my head that wouldn't end up with me in a white, padded room.

Although my personality hadn't changed much since, well, since that day, I had still managed to make some friends. Or rather, they had managed to get me to speak. I would never be close to anyone else if I could help it, I'd had enough heartbreak to last me a lifetime thank you very much, but it was nice to have people speak to you. It was nice to have people who completely ignored how you had been broken and looked at you without pity in their eyes. Although they've figured out my shy nature, they try to get me to socialize and they invite me to parties, but I just don't feel like going; instead I stay locked in my room studying. Fun and wild, isn't it? But it's not like I can do anything else –I've placed too many restrictions in my life in order to shelter myself from more hurt. Nothing really holds my interest for long; it's like I belong to a different world, a world full of happy memories with him.

I looked at the time, realizing that I had to stop procrastinating and face the rest of the day. I crossed my fingers, hoping none of my new acquaintances figured out what today was; it had never come up in conversation, and I had no reason to offer it. After showering and doing a few more things, I was as ready as I could be for what would come.

"Hi Iz!" Michelle, one of my new friends said as she barged into my room. She reminded me of Jessica in a way. God knows that I would hate to have her know anything about my past, because she would have it spread around the whole campus –which was terrifyingly big- by the afternoon. Don't get me wrong, she was nice, but not exactly discreet.

"Hey" I answered back shyly. I insisted on being called Bella but Michelle, along with my (or should I say her?) other friends, insisted that my nickname had to change so I gave in eventually.

"Stop being so shy, Iz! Anyway, since I know you have nothing to do at lunchtime, meet us at the cafeteria, at our usual table. We have some gossip to discuss about some new students arriving today."

When she said 'we' it was mostly her and her friends while the guys were busy staring at them and I would most likely get lost in my own thoughts, nodding here and there when it was required. Not that she would notice.

"Ok fine, I'll meet you guys there." I said and with that she took off. I felt chills run up my spine. Her demeanor today reminded me all too well of my former friend, especially when she began to fill me in on who the Cullens were. Shaking my head, I made my own way out of the dorm and into my morning classes.

I don't know how but by the time I came back to reality it was already time for lunch.

"Better get over this" I thought, the small voice seemingly gone for now. If it was a temporary thing, the least it could do was last at least the remainder of my birthday. I could do without its sarcasm for the day.

I was running a little late since the teacher gave me an extra assignment due to my lack of attention (it's not like it's my fault he's so boring), so I wasn't surprised when I tripped while I was running on my way to the cafeteria. I gathered all the books that fell and the little dignity I had left and placed them in my locker (the books, that is) and continued the rest of the way accident-less.

"Iz! Where have you been? We've been waiting forever!" Michelle asked me, exaggerating as was true to her personality, before I reached doors that would lead to the cafeteria, earning a couple of glances from the people around us.

"I was running a little late. I'm sorry. Come on, let's not keep the others waiting."

She linked my arm with hers and we started walking (more like running) to the cafeteria. We got to our table in record time not even bothering to get something to eat since our trays were already at the table.

"Hey Iz!" said the most annoying boy I'd ever met (including Mike Newton) aka Justin. Yes, he was even worse than Mike . . . and Tyler . . . . and Erick … put together.

"Hi, Justin" I answered back lamely. No matter how much anyone irked me, I still bothered to at least attempt to be polite.

As I said they started talking about gossip and as I normally did, I tuned out and just stared out the window. On any other day, I would've bothered to at least attempt to be a part of the conversation; but today, I'd rather be left alone. Keeping my mind as blank as possible, I began to play with what was in front of me. Or maybe I should be planning how I would keep myself busy the next few days when there was nothing else for me to do.

". . . did you see how they all look alike?" I wasn't sure who had said it, but for whatever reason it had been enough to draw me in.

"Yeah! Creepy isn't it?" I willed myself to stop listening once more, but I clearly wasn't in control of my own body.

"Totally! I mean they're not even related! Isn't it weird that all of them would come to the same school? I mean, most of us come to school to get a little more independence" said someone else. This time, I bothered enough to notice it had been Daniel –one of the less annoying ones.

"Same eye color, perfect features and all beautiful." And it was like hearing Jessica all over again in the Forks High cafeteria, gushing about the only group I had yet to meet. The only exception is that Michelle's description didn't hold the bitter edge that Jessica's had since she'd been rejected by him.

I froze.

I can't be.

"How many are there?" I asked, my throat all of a sudden dry and my appetite (which hadn't been too noticeable) completely gone.

"Now look who's interested" Mary commented, emphasizing on the 'now'. She was the only one that hated me in the group or at least the only one I knew about; she was the Lauren of this school.

"Eight. Three of them are siblings, then there's three blonde ones and two brunettes. I don't know the relation between them though." Michelle was all too happy to fill in the gaps for me, overjoyed that she'd finally caught my attention on something she seemed to be an expert about.

"Oh" I replied lamely. Although I would never admit it if anyone asked, my shoulders hunched in disappointment once she mentioned the number. Eight was wrong. There should only be five. I guess It wasn't the Cullens then . . .

"Oh look! They're coming inside!" Mary practically yelled, making it a facepalm worthy moment.

Everyone noticed what had Mary's attention and swiftly turned in direction to it . . . or them. And just like it had been when I'd arrived in Forks, I was the last to turn, and when I did everything that I had kept locked in the empty space were my heart used to be came out with such force that it could've easily knocked me down had I been standing.

Oh shit, the voice said.

And it's back, ladies and gentlemen. Quite the timing, too.

I didn't care what I left behind or what people thought of me but as I caught the sight of the first one of them I knew I had to get away, and I swear I tried! But my legs wouldn't move. They were frozen in place, not willing to take a step.

I saw all of the familiar faces and some new ones before I saw him, still as God-looking as ever . . . hugged by a blonde beauty.

That's when my whole world crashed. Again.

He wasn't alone, he was with the type of girl that belonged with him, unlike me. Had I still had a heart, they might've heard it break … again. Into even smaller shards.

"Of course he's not alone! Unlike you, he can get anything and anyone he wants!" And this is why I disliked the small voice.

None of them had noticed me but when I thought I would be able to get away safely he locked his eyes with mine for a split second. A second that changed everything. When I looked in his eyes they didn't have a single expression in them, it's like if he were staring at any other person; but of course my luck could only get worse so the others saw what captured his attention and the stares held mild shock. Except for hers: my best friend's, my sister's. Alice's.

Her eyes showed a thousand of different expressions in them. At first surprise, then sadness and finally happiness . . . but she didn't come near me. It was so rare to take Alice by surprise, but I guess I shouldn't have expected her to see me since she obviously wasn't looking into my future any longer.

"At least she recognized you" I thought sourly, the voice not required to share its thoughts since they mirrored mine (for once).

"I need to go for a second" I excused myself, glad to see my body was back under my control.

When I passed the cafeteria doors I literary ran as fast as I could to my dorm. I couldn't be happening, not to me, not today! All the pain that I'd thought I had long since beaten washed over me and I couldn't help it. I got to my dorm and locked the door, not wanting anyone to bother me. I felt as if the walls were closing in around me; if anyone saw me now, they'd think I'd probably gone mad.

And maybe I was.

"Bella . . . ?" a soft whisper came from behind me.

For a second, I had stupidly forgotten she could outrun me, no matter how hard I tried. I tried to regulate my breathing before turning around to face someone I had wished (but never thought) I'd see again.

"Alice."

Penny for you guys' thoughts? We'll be seeing different POV's as the story moves forward, but it'll be mostly Bella's.
I'm having a really hard time sticking to a good posting schedule, but I promise to start trying a little hard for you guys. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed and favorit-ed :)

Until next chapter!

-Anna