Knocked the alarm clock into the waste paper bin. Isabella! That was your alarm clock. I groaned, ignoring myself and tumbling over under the duvet. Five more minutes won't hurt. Hmmm... Five more minutes indeed: I now have ten minutes to get to school. I pulled on new underwear, a cute casual dress with leather jacket and a pair of black pumps. With a wave of my wand I'd completed my makeup and I rushed into the bathroom to fix my unruly hair. I froze in front of the bathroom mirror. Uncle Padfoot was going to die a very painful death next time I saw him. I had blonde hair with a range of brightly coloured steaks. How do I explain this to muggles? I hate Uncle Padfoot. Didn't have time to fix my hair. I just brushed my teeth, grabbed the school bag from my desk and apparated to school.

I apparated outside the school gates behind a trashcan: I had just about made it. I arrived in first period - biology - completely out of breath. I took the seat beside Mr. Cullen and was stunned to hear him speak. 'Out of breath?' I laughed breathlessly. 'A little. I'm Bella Swan... We didn't get chance to introduce ourselves yesterday.' A crooked smile appeared on the vampire's lips. 'Edward Cullen. Are you enjoying the rain?' I laughed again. 'You're - you're asking me 'bout the weather?' Edward looked puzzled for a moment. 'Yeah, I - I guess I am.' I continued the conversation, because I didn't want Edward to stop talking. 'It reminds me home.' Edward gazed intensely at me. 'Why'd you move to Forks?' I shrugged my shoulders. I didn't want to tell Edward that I'm a witch, because he'll probably think I'm a freak... And I wasn't sure if Aunt Luna would've told the Cullens about magic. 'It's complicated.' Wow. That's the understatement of the century.

Edward's crooked smile is really starting to leave me dazed. 'I'm sure I can keep up.' I hadn't noticed Mr. Banner start the lesson and I didn't notice that our voices had dropped to a quiet whisper. I took a second to formulate an answer for Edward's blatant curiosity. 'I lived with my godfathers in England: mum passed away when I was an infant. I figured I should spend some time with dad. I had - err - many problems at my old school.' I hadn't exactly lied to Edward. I did have many - err - problems at Hogwarts. I did live with Uncle Padfoot and Moony. Mum had passed away when I was an infant. I watched Edward thinking over the new information that I'd supplied. 'Why didn't you attend a new school in England?' I could see Edward was obviously a curious person. 'Well, Uncle Remus had a baby last year, and uh, they have their handful. I only caused trouble for them.' The explanation didn't seem to satisfy Edward. I was beginning to remember how difficult vampires are to talk to. Edward asked why I didn't stay with Padfoot. 'He needs to grow-up and settle down. Again I wasn't helping that happen.' The thought of Padfoot with a girlfriend made me smirk. If he ever found a woman, they'd get a pretty substantial shock when they met his goddaughter.

I hadn't noticed that Edward had been completing our class work silently as we spoke. 'But you do miss them, and now you're unhappy?' I raised my eyebrows. 'No.' Edward apologised immediately, thinking he'd upset me. 'I'm sorry... I'm just, trying to figure you out. You're very difficult for me to read.' I lead the conversation away from myself and asked Edward about his family. 'You have siblings. The people you sat with yesterday in the canteen.' Edward was surprised by my sudden observation about his family. 'Err, yes, sort of.' I pressed him for a more detailed answer. 'We're, uh, Dr. and Mrs. Cullen's foster children. There's, err, nine of us. I'll introduce you sometime.' A smile appeared on my lips. 'You're originally from?' I am pretty sure Edward isn't used to questions concerning himself. 'Chicago, Illinois.' I didn't comment and lead on with another question. 'You enjoy living with eight adoptive siblings?' Edward just nodded, so I guess that's the end of question time. He surprised me by asking me whether I had siblings. 'No. There's just me.'

xxx

I shared the period before lunch with one of Edward's sisters. I watched her sit opposite me with a smile on her face. This female vampire was special: even amongst the vegetarian variety. I was assuming this was Gemma Cullen: my godmother and Charles Goodwin's youngest daughter. Gemma's transformation had been a rare occurrence. Charles had transformed Gemma shortly after she'd been exposed to werewolf saliva. Charles venom and the werewolf saliva had mixed in a delicate combination resulting in Gemma's transformation. I knew Gemma had all the traits of a typical vampire, but she also held onto some human and werewolf traits. Her wolf transformations are nothing like Uncle Moony's: Gemma is completely in control of her wolf transformations. Padfoot had also notified me of other traits Gemma has that aren't typical of vampires. Gemma has functioning tear glands, a regular sleeping pattern to maintain her strength and an active menstrual cycle. Gemma has the ability to become impregnated under the full moon. Her and her husband have twin children, who I am sure I'll meet.

The beginning of lunch, and on my way to the canteen, Gemma spoke. 'Hey. I've been meaning to say. I love you hair... I'm Gemma Cullen.' A smile appeared on my lips as we reached the school canteen. 'Isabella Swan... But Bella will be just fine thanks.' Gemma followed me over to the lunch line. 'You're Edward's biology lab partner?' I just nodded. 'That's so awesome. Why didn't he invite you to sit with us?' I am pretty sure that my answer would be followed by an invitation to sit with them. I glanced over to the table were Edward's siblings had just sat down. Gemma chuckled. 'I promise we don't bite.' I could hear the amusement behind her voice. We continued through the lunch line. 'Come on. I'll introduce you.' Gemma dragged me by the elbow towards the table. I see what Padfoot means about vampires being strong.

Reaching the table Gemma let go of my elbow. 'Guy's this is Isabella. Edward's new bio lab partner.' The vampires all gave subtle nods in my direction, except one who exploded out of her seat and hugged me. Gemma giggled. 'Bella this is Alice Cullen.' Alice is a small bubbly vampire. 'Hey Bella! Your dress is so cute!' Wow. Alice reminds me of Luna Lovegood - that time we fed her too much sugar - except with fashion and not mythical creatures/magical conspiracies. Gemma interrupted Alice as she invited me shopping. 'Bella? This is Jasper Hale: he might bite. He's Alice's boyfriend... The big oaf is Emmett Cullen: next to him is his girlfriend and Jasper's twin, Rosalie Hale. This gorgeous dark haired specimen is Dave Cullen: my boyfriend.' I watched Gemma kiss her husband briefly on the lips. 'And the two - ill mannered kids - texting are my triplets: Quin Cullen and Zara Cullen.' Quin and Zara gazed momentarily in my direction and returned to tex-ting. I took a second to look around at the rest of Edward's siblings. Emmett had the build of a beater and I'm guessing he could probably crush a bludger in one hand. I instantly clichéd Rosalie as a Beauxbatons Academy student: vain and arrogant.

Gemma placed me into a seat and distracted me as I watched her siblings. 'You enjoying Forks High, Bella?' I took a few seconds to answer Gemma's question. 'Yep. It makes a nice change from my old school.' Gemma threw a maternal smile towards me: I asked her a question. 'What do you lot do for fun around here?' It seemed Gemma was just about to answer when Emmett's voice boomed through the canteen. 'Baseball!' I wasn't all that startled by Emmett's sudden outburst. I'm used to wizards and witches just apparating in unannounced. No. I was more confused by the meaning of his outburst: base ball. 'Base ball?' Gemma giggled. 'It's an American sport.' Right. Muggle sport. Probably should've attended that Muggle Studies class: instead of gallivanting around the Department of Mysteries. Gemma continued with her explanation. 'Emmett likes baseball.' I just laughed. 'I think everyone in England knows that now.' Gemma and most her siblings laughed: including Emmett.

A.N. Kinda disappointed that no one had reviewed on the first chapter yet. I'd like to know whether this story is any good. I'd also like to hear if you all like the format, or should I put paragraphs between the dialog. I haven't yet done this cause I don't particularly like how FanFic don't give the option of indenting dialog. If it's too difficult for you to understand though I'll change it. Next chapter Jacob Black arrives, just for anyone out there who's Team Jacob and thinks I've forgotten about him. I also haven't forgotten about Hermione and Ron: they'll arrive later in the story. Plus they'll be more Marauders' action because I love the Marauders. Hope you all enjoyed this next chapter. I beg you to review, even if it's a simple one word on the story. Love RoxannetheLaugh :)