Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight; it is the property of Stephenie Meyer. The original characters and plot are mine. I am in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Italicized means Bella's thoughts and those she can hear

Italicized bold means Edward can hear it also (wont be bolded unless Edward hears it!)

Chapter seven

Daily activities

I ate my sandwich slowly as I thought about my day. I had enjoyed my free time and I had a few days before I had to decide what I was going to do with my time. Having already graduated from high school I had no obligation to go, but the thought of spending my days with Edward was appealing to me. If I worked then I would have less time to spend with him and the family, the thought sadden me. Usually I picked a job that at least one other person had interest in usually more; though Daniel was hard to work into anything other than genetics really.

"Something the matter Bella?" Carlisle asked me, it was just he and I tonight.

"Just wondering what I'm going to do with my time." I said deciding to ask his advice, "What do you suggest?" I wondered what he might suggest. He contemplated for a moment and then smiled.

"I really don't know what you would like to do." He stated chuckling, "Anna said that you had no obligation to attend high school, that you had actually taught a third year university course on genetics a few years ago." He said impressed by this fact.

"I wanted to spend more time with Daniel he had only just joined us. I wanted to make sure he felt welcome with us." I said shrugging.

"Well then I guess a good question to consider is what do you want to do? Not what is best for the entire family?" he said and I blushed, they said pretty much the same things. I always consider them before myself.

"Yeah, only right now I have no clue. I am not sure about high school, but I would like to get to know my siblings better if I did that. Sides I doubt a hospital would higher a sixteen year old girl no matter how knowledgeable she is." I commented glumly, it would be fun to get some of the hands on experience for some of the medical knowledge I had. Carlisle looked at me interested by my remarks.

"You have medical knowledge?" he asked and I nodded, "Well." He said at a loss for words for a moment.

"I have a geneticist who was interested in medicine and got his MD." I said much to his surprise. "Daniel just couldn't deal with the idea that peoples lives rested in his hands." I retold Daniel's words. Carlisle nodded at this in agreement of the heavy burden of the loss of life.

"It is improbable that they would employ you." He said a smile on his lips. I nodded grinning.

"'Hello my name is Bella. I'll be your doctor today.' Nurse we've got another fainter." I said giggling. Carlisle shook his head as he laughed. "I think hospitals probably shouldn't higher me just for public health reasons. It's a shame though." I said enjoying the idea of freaking people out and yet being good at the job. I had made Daniel teach me a lot of what he learned getting his degree and more.

"Yes, perhaps not." Carlisle said, "You would be interested in attending high school though?" he seemed to like the idea of it.

"Yeah in theory, I mean I have never actually set foot in a high school. I bypassed all that thanks to Alastor and everybody; no one seemed to think much about me missing it." I said remembering some of the stories that Daniel and Lenora had told me about their experiences they didn't sound pleasant.

"High school is a fairly important thing to experience; it helps you deal with people your own age." He said obviously wanting me to try it out.

"True, I just imagine some of my former students and the things they pulled in class and am not sure if it's for me." I said thinking of the day Megan Seymour had run out of the room crying because some of the other girls were picking on her. I imagined high school as that times ten. "I'm not sure I would fit in as a student in high school, and I have absolutely no desire to teach at one." I said looking at my half finished sandwich and was no longer hungry.

"You wouldn't be alone." Carlisle reminded me and I had to admit I doubted anyone would bother me if I was with the Cullen teenagers. I nodded.

"That just might work." I said smiling at him. I stood up and cleaned my plate and put them away. "Good night Carlisle." I said turning to smile at him.

"Good night Bella sleep well." He said returning my smile. I padded up to my bed room, contemplating joining them next semester. It was only two weeks until the first day of school summer had passed quickly this year. I quickly changed into the tank and shorts pyjama set Alice and I had bought, I loved the sheep on them. I curled up on my bed and yawned before passing out.

****10 days later****

"Wake up Bella!" Alice called as she pounced on my bed. Drat.

"Alice I was in the middle of fencing with Samuel. I was going to win!" I cried as she began to jump on the bed, far too excited for this early in the morning.

"But it's the first day of school and I have to get you ready!" She replied laughing at me, I never won against Samuel he had way more practice then I did, not to mention skill. She pulled the covers back and I shot up in surprise.

"Mean Alice that was just mean." I said moving slowly towards the bathroom to take a shower. She almost started pushing me into her bathroom I was walking so slowly, but she had tried that before and realised it just 'made' me take a longer shower. I almost wished she would push me, a long soapy shower sounded wonderful.

"You have to look perfect for your first day of high school!" Alice stated, forcing me awake as she said it. This was just my first day of high school this was the first time in eight years I had been a pupil in a class room. It was an advantage to having several different family members who were willing to teach me anything I wanted to know. In some cases even learning with me in order to do so. I froze as I thought about this, was it too late to change my mind? "Yes" Alice stated coldly immediately aware of my change of heart.

"Fine I'm going! See Alice?" I said as I walked into the bathroom, she threw today's underwear at me and shut the door. I step into the shower hoping the hot water would calm my nerves. After a minute or two I faced the fact that some tension hot water couldn't solve. I used the strawberry shampoo that Alice had gotten me enjoying the sweet scent. All too soon it was time to get out and face Alice once more.

As soon as I had my underwear on Alice came bouncing through the door a huge smile on her face. I sat still and let her work her magic. It was only half an hour later that she had finished with my hair, a really short time for Alice. She had pulled the front part of my hair back French braiding it, the rest was down but she had managed to get it to curl just slightly. Next was make-up and Alice paused for a moment before picking up eyeliner and turning towards me.

Bella ask Alice if your locket would clash with the outfit she has picked out for you. I turned to look at Lenora as she spoke.

"Alice Len wants to know if the old brass locket I have would go with the..." I repeated as Alice vanished and returned holding the locket gently. She fastened it around my neck. Lenora smiled as Alice stood back. "I take that as a yes." I said laughing at Alice. I played lightly with the locket. "You know they picked it out in groups, well Len and Mary, and Sam and Alastor. They had no idea that they had all in fact chosen the same thing to get me for my tenth birthday. It was a riot when both groups wanted to go to the same store and then pointed to the same item. It was meant to be." I told Alice, it was the best birthday I had had in a long time.

Have you forgotten that you will be 17 soon? Len asked her voice light and happy. My eyes went wide it was September 5th today! Time had really gotten away from me.

"Wow! I'll be 17 in eight days." I whispered in awe. I had never really felt time pass and all the while I had grown up, I'm nearly as old as Joe. Alice had stopped moving at my comment and then quickly finished the last touches.

"Well why didn't you say anything earlier?!" Alice shrieked as she hugged me. "I am going to get you the best gift ever." She said letting go of me and bounced out of the bathroom in excitement. I followed the happy pixy into her room. I quickly dressed in the jeans and black three quarter length shirt, it was lower cut then I like but I was used to it after years with Len. I was thankful Alice went with neat black boots that only had a two inch heel; I wasn't as clumsy as I had been as a little kid but three inch heels just made me uneasy. The boots went over the skinny jeans and looked pretty cool. All in all I think I looked pretty hot, but I played with my locket nervously.

"We won't let the mean high school kids pick on you Bella." Alice said sarcastically as she towed me out of the room and down to the kitchen. I was thankful that Alastor had helped me get over tripping on nothing. It was nice not to meet the ground like I had then. Esme already had some cereal in a bowl for me and poured the milk as I sat down.

"Thanks." I said before picking up the spoon and digging in.

"Ready for your first day Bella?" Carlisle asked as he entered the kitchen to kiss Esme goodbye before heading off to the hospital.

"Sure." I said between bites, he smile and was off. Edward was sitting across from me watching me eat; the Cullen's did that sometimes. Emmet had said that it looked like pencil shavings. But this was different Edward always seemed to watch me; I loved the attention but was uncertain of the reason behind it.

In the passed week and a half everyone settled into some semblance of a routine. I would be bounced awake by Alice usually, get made up by her and sometimes Rose, play video games with Emmet and Jasper, generally losing every game but it was fun, Edward would collect me for lunch then he and I would hang out talk about either one of our families, sometimes others would join in the conversation. Like when the subject of their pasts came up each person in the family told me the story themselves, it was really neat to hear it from them and not from Edward. They weren't happy stories in the beginning but they ended up together as a family, who says happy endings don't exist?

It was a few days ago that I realised I had more then just a crush on Edward I loved him. As way more then a foster brother, I was head over heals in love with him I just wasn't sure if he felt the same way. He would watch me, but they all did that, he didn't touch me unless he thinks I'm upset and he's never done anything to suggest it. I wanted to tell him but the thought that I would destroy our closeness stopped me. I noticed that Jasper seemed to know what I felt for Edward but Edward never commented on his thoughts, so I wasn't sure if he was keeping my secret. I walked with Edward and Alice and Jasper to Edward's car my thoughts everywhere, and I felt sick but I said nothing. Jasper sent me a wave of calm and I blushed which always got him laughing.

"Thanks Jasper, I think I'm more nervous than is normal." I said sliding into the front seat. Looking over at Edward I felt my heart skip a beat, I wasn't one for subtly. Jasper and Edward laughed as my blush turned purple. I wanted to die, for a moment then I just looked out the window and tried to Zen out. It was less then five minutes at vampire driving speeds so I was walking up to the school far sooner then I wanted. Thankfully not many people were here yet they walked me to the main office to get my schedule, I would have a class with at least one Cullen for the whole day and lunch with all of them. It had been the one thing I asked Carlisle to arrange for me.

****

Everyone stared at me as I walked towards my first class with Alice. She had told me that this would be the case it was just unnerving, like when I had taught only way worse. We entered English two minutes early and Alice went to her seat as I handed my slip to the teacher to sign.

"Welcome to Forks, Bella!" He said warmly, I smiled back in return and made my way to sit with Alice. When I turned back he was bothered by my ease next to her and his expression nearly had me giggling. But I knew better then to laugh at a teacher that can see you.

"See not hard at all." She whispered in my ear. I turned and smiled at her, I wasn't afraid of teachers I had been one, I was afraid of students. More accurately teenagers, I had never really understood teenagers they were like aliens to me. The bell rang and the last of the students took their places some how managing to stare at me even though I was at the back of the room. It was uncomfortable until Mr. Mason started the lesson and went over what we would be doing in English. I rolled my eyes. A note appeared at my elbow, nothing like being taught what you already know! Alice had written I nodded slightly, too true. As he lectured about 'how to properly read,' Alice and I passed notes chatting about how Mr Mason could make the subject matter more appealing.

I parted with Alice and headed Spanish with Rose. I had only learned a little Spanish but they put me into a senior class at Carlisle's reassurance that I would learn it easily and it would be a better pace for me to learn at. I entered the class to find a bunch of girls obviously gossiping about me. Lovely, I wonder if I'm a slut or a prude considering my clothing, I think slut. I handed Senora Hernandez my slip and took an open seat and waited for Rose to arrive.

"I wonder who she thinks she is." Said a snarky voice behind me loud enough that I could easily hear her, they wanted me to hear them, peachy.

"Doesn't she know her place?" Said another, this one sounded out for a fight. I remembered my former student and didn't push it by tell them to shut their mouths. I could tell that my lack of a response was beginning to piss them off, joy.

"Bella." Rose said looking down at me, as my head shot up surprised by her sudden appearance. "I sit up by the front by the windows, come on." I stood and moved to where Rose directed. "Don't worry about those Ho's" she said loud enough for them to hear, "Their just jealous that you have taste." She finished and I could practically hear them grinding their teeth. None of them pushed Rose because of basic survival instincts.

"Thanks Rose." I said relaxing into my seat. She nodded and smiled at me. It was still a little awkward between her and I but we were becoming quite close. "Hey I was hoping you would consider teaching me about cars. I really won't be learning much here so I figure I might as well learn something useful." I told her, I hadn't seen her this morning when I was originally going to ask. She smiled at this clearly happy to learn of my interest.

"I'd love too." She replied with a much larger smile which I returned gladly. I wanted to learn and she was the mechanic in the family so the best one to ask. That she happened to be the one that I wanted to get closer to just worked in my favour. The class passed quickly and I was grateful for Carlisle's suggestion even at a higher level the language was easy for me to pick up.

"Seriously do they dumb it down our what?" I said as we left class with Rose trying to make sense of high school. "I mean a monkey could learn at this pace." Rose chuckled and the three girls from earlier pushed past me though carefully away from Rose.

"They barely passed last year." Rose explained at me confused look.

"Oh." I said, "Well if that doesn't explain it all." We both laughed at that before parting ways.

I was completely happy as I entered my class with Emmet, he waved at me as I walked in and I giggled waving back. The entire class just stared at me; trying to avoid a repeat of last class I quickly handed my slip to the teacher Mr. Whick and took the seat in front of Emmet.

"Welcome to hell little sister!" Emmet said just before class began, I turned to look at him curious.

"Miss Lewis! Your attention on the board now!" he shouted at me causing me to jump and the kids around me to snicker. My eyes were wide with surprise as I straightened. "I do not tolerate lollygagging Miss Lewis so please try to keep up with the rest of the class." He finished coldly I knew I wasn't going to like this class or Mr. Whick. As the class went on I began to hate math with a passion, well what it was that he was failingly try to pass off as math. Mr. Whick was completely unable to teach math, I could tell he knew the steps he was leaving off the board but only because I knew the principle he was scrambling to show. By the time the bell rang I wanted to kill him. Emmet took one look at my face and began to laugh once we were in the hallway.

"Not a fan of Mr. Whick Bella?" he asked still laughing. I wanted to hit something.

"How can that man consider himself a teacher? I mean in all practical sense all he is teaching is gibberish! He barely knows basic mathematical theory! How can you stand it?!" I exclaimed finishing my rant for the moment.

"Most high school math teachers teach exactly the same way Bella." He said as if it was obvious.

"But he missed nearly every other basic step! I mean obviously one plus one equals two but if you just randomly put a two on the board without explaining how it came to exist it makes no sense! Just like saying that 'x' will equal 'y' doesn't tell you why they are equal or why it matters!" I explained to Emmet as he chuckled and pushed me into my next class. I marched up to the teacher holding out my slip for her to sign. I looked over and found Jasper in the second row against the windows and joined him. I prayed that history would be better then math, or at least not worse. Mrs. Reddington sat at her desk staring at the ancient computer that rested there.

"Not a fan of math Bella?" Jasper questioned obviously having heard my rant.

"I blame the education he had to have received in order for him to teach that badly." I said softly, "Please tell me this isn't going to be as painful?" I begged. Jasper chuckled.

"If Whick is poorly educated, Reddington was never educated." He replied destroying my hope. "But she doesn't pay much attention so you can read through the text and teach yourself, if you don't already know it all." He finished obviously having read this text many times. I flipped through the text book she had handed me; it was basic and never went into any detail. I wanted to cry, this was basic knowledge.

"Well this should be fun, will she scream at me if I take a nap?" I said giving into the fact that high school couldn't suck more. He shook his head.

"You are not getting out of this class if I have to be conscious so do you." He said with a small smile on his lips.

"Gee thanks for that Jasper." I replied carefully keeping my eyes focused on him I could feel their eyes and didn't want to deal with them. "I think I might actually be looking forward to gym." I said softly as Reddington settled the class ten minutes after the bell had rung. Deciding all my classes were write offs I decided to play a game with the sibling that I shared the class with. During the entire class I thought of different moments or things that would change my emotions. Just before the bell rang I managed to find something absolutely hilarious, I nearly had myself laughing at it, Jasper twitched and nearly laughed. I wasn't co-ordinated as a kid, but I was signed up for a dance class and in the middle of the recital I tripped and brought everyone down with me. It was priceless. The bell rung and Jasper eyed me clearly amused by my emotional games

"Tomorrow's your turn but nothing too extreme, like getting my kicked out of class." I said as we walked to lunch.

"I take it changing your emotions amused you?" He questioned as we walked.

"It was much better than math, so what do you say? Emotional manipulation tomorrow? Your turn to try to get a reaction?" I asked getting down on my knees and clinging to his legs. "PLEASE OH PLEASE!" I said a huge smile on my lips. He looked embarrassed and highly amused.

"Oh definitely! Now get up!" He said pulling me to me feet and towing me to the lunch line. Alice waved us down to her and we walked passed everyone to help her as she had grabbed two full trays of food. Jasper grabbed the trays and Alice took my hand.

"I am definitely in for your game tomorrow in English!" she said obviously having seen it. I smiled and twirled her around in my excitement. She giggled and returned the favour and soon we were both far too hyper for our own good.

"Sweet so what's better a guess my future? Or craziest thing I would actually do?" I asked knowing the entire cafeteria was staring at us. I blushed a little but let it go who cared what high school kids thought about me.

"I like both we can alternate them. But tomorrow is definitely crazy things Bella might do!" Alice answered obviously having fun with my idea.

"Something tells me to ignore any visions Alice has tomorrow morning." Edward said with a small shake of his head. I sat down next to him.

"I think we should play a game in our class but I don't really know what." I said he was the one class where I couldn't think of a game. Rose was Spanish insults to confuse the bimbos or name that car part in Spanish. Emmet was going to be fun. "Rose what should we play Spanish insults to confuse the dimbos? Or name that car part and function in Spanish?" I asked completely changing the topic.

"Dimbos?" Emmet asked laughing at my term.

"Yes the three girls that were insulting me in Spanish before Rose arrived." I said, "They apparently ain't smart and well obviously..." I finished rolling my eyes, Emmet burst into laughter and I could feel the attention of the cafeteria refocus on us.

"I say Spanish insults for the first few days while you pick up the language then car part and function." She answered smiling.

"Sounds good, now I don't have to study with Alastor all night." I said relieved.

"So what game are we going to play Bella?" Edward asked feeling left out. I shrugged.

"I couldn't come up with one." I replied, my stomach rumbled and I finally dug in eating some of the fries and the salad and washed it down with Alice's coke.

"Hey!" she said stealing it back, I pouted and tried to grab it back from her. Finally she caved and gave it to me. I found the whole thing really amusing and so did the rest of the cafeteria. Oh well, let them think I'm a twit no bother to me.

"Why are you hogging a drink you don't want Alice, its mean." I said ignoring Edwards pout. Finally I turned to him, "I honestly don't know, maybe you could think of one." I suggested.

"What about me?" Emmet asked and I smiled and evil grin.

"I am going to get back at that destroyer of math. We are going to play many, many different games. Tomorrow I say passing notes, as many as possible to everyone in the class if we can. It should drive him nuts if we're subtle enough." I said plodding revenge for the math he butchered.

"Okay, but I get to say what the next thing is." Emmet agreed I nodded not caring as long as it distracted Whick and couldn't get us suspended or anything. It's not like I could fail math when I was like my first language.

"Awe you have a game for everyone but me." Edward said pretending to be hurt by this. I flicked him and laughed when he faked being hurt.

"I was hoping that Biology would be okay, I mean I love the subject and really it's hard to mess up Bio." I said shrugging. Edward got up and I followed him dumping one of the trays and walking to Bio.

"It wont be interesting Bella, you know that." Edward said preparing me for high school biology. I nodded with a frown.

"Oh well, if he teaches it decently I will be pleased at least." I said sitting down in the seat Edward pulled out for me after I had my slip signed. Mr. Banner began the lesson promptly but Edward was right I knew more then the teacher did there was no way I was going to enjoy this class. I smirked and silently thanked Alice for keeping my game for Edward to herself.

Edward? I was wondering... I thought cutting off my thought before I said anything. It was a mean game but fun no less. A note appeared be side me. What are you wondering Bella? He wrote, I smiled and flicked my eyes back to the front of the room. Well I was wondering what you thought... I felt him twitch when I cut off the thought.

Alice said something I thought was interesting yesterday... I stopped there letting him ponder what Alice had said. I managed to push down my amusement and not show my emotions. It helped that I kept my eyes on Mr. Banner as he went over the basic structure of a cell. I was trying to figure out what she meant maybe you can tell me? I asked, he quickly wrote a note of course what is it you would like me to explain? I realised I could say anything and he would answer, the desire to ask him he felt the same I felt for him. Well she mentioned that Jasper was sensing... I trailed off hoping he would fill in the blank.

He looked completely flustered, I wonder what he thought I meant. What was he sensing? I'm not sure I understand Bella. I tried to think of a way to get him to tell me how he felt. Well that your feelings had changed... about me? I thought narrowing my focus to just the front of the room so I couldn't see Edward's reaction. I felt the note touch me arm. I am not sure what to say. Alice has said nothing to me about it. I know that you know I love and care for you deeply.

I needed to just tell him, I read the note again and again until I only read the last seven words. 'I love and care for you deeply' was something you said to a friend. Never mind Edward I'm sure I miss understood what she meant. It was a little more defeated then I had intended but you can't hide your emotions in your thoughts. Bella have I upset you? He wrote and I merely shook my head. I had to get over this; Edward is my foster brother nothing more. Why would he care for me? I mean I'm nothing special.

"Bella?" Edward's voice surprised me. "The bell rang a little while ago."

"Oh! I guess I zoned out!" I said getting up and making a quick drop at my locker and then walking with Edward towards the gym changing rooms. We parted and I walked into the room and sat glumly on the bench next to Alice. "You could have warned me that that would suck." I told Alice as she handed me my change of clothes.

"I'm not sure that it did." She said my heart and my stomach didn't move from the six feet under position. "Oh come on Bella you need to change!" she said and I numbly began to strip and pull the shirt over my head.

"Alice?" I asked as we walked out into the gym and I froze as I saw Edward looking at me with a huge smile on his face. I was stunned he looked gorgeous even in the same cruddy gym cloths everyone was wearing. He walked towards me and spun me around and hugged me fiercely.

"You just could have told me you felt that way Bella." He said loosening his grip. I stared up at him blinking and trying to remember how to talk. "Silly girl, I love you too." He said kissing me gently before releasing me.

"Great Edward she might not come out of her stupor now!" Alice said pulling me to the bleachers. I'm pretty sure a goofy grin was spreading across my face. He loved me!? I wanted to bounce or scream or kiss him. HE HAD KISSED ME! I wanted to melt into the floor I was so happy. Alice pushed me into my seat and Edward chuckled and he sat beside me taking my hand. I had to make sure I had heard him right.

Do you really? Do you really love me? I asked him mentally wanting him to respond now. He looked at me and smiled his crooked smile and bent to my ear.

"I do." He whispered, "I love you my Bella." He said just before the short man in front of us shouted for our attention. I don't recall a thing the short man said, Edward's words rang through my mind much too loudly to hear anything else.