Thank you to my Beta Lil Miss Golden Eyes
A big 'I heart you' to my girls Amanda, Michelle & ecandme (check out her story - Crooked Halo's and Ink Junkies)
The secret side of me, I never let you see
I keep it caged but I can't control it
So stay away from me, the beast is ugly
I feel the rage and I just can't hold it
As promised, Charlie woke me in the morning. He kissed me goodbye, wished me luck and left for the police station. I dragged myself from the warmth of my bed and sulked across the cold floor to the window. Just like yesterday, it was raining.
"Surprise, surprise," I muttered as I shook my head and pushed my hands off the window sill. I stood staring out the window, mindlessly toying with the silver and onyx cross hanging around my neck. My mother had given it to me for my sixteenth birthday. The necklace had been in our family for generations, passed down from mother to daughter. In the center of the cross sat a large round onyx stone. Embedded in the top, left and right points of the cross were four smaller onyx stones, while the bottom held six. It hung on a long silver chain that caused the cross to hang low on my chest. It was the only piece of jewelry I wore.
After a few wardrobe changes and what seemed like hours, I finally found something I almost felt comfortable wearing.
I walked over and studied myself in the full length mirror. The black turtle neck sweater stopped mid thigh, clinging nicely to the contours of my upper body and my legs were hugged in a pair of dark, worn, boot-cut jeans. My hair fell loosely around my shoulders, cascading half way down my back. I applied black liner and mascara to my eyes and a clear gloss to my lips.
I sighed. "I guess that's as good as it's going to get."
I grabbed my jacket, which I had thrown over the rocking chair when I unpacked, pulled on a pair of black boots and headed for the kitchen. There wasn't much in the way of food and I made a mental note to go grocery shopping after school. I had almost forgotten that Charlie rarely cooked, which was fine with me. I didn't mind taking over the cooking. It was something I did regularly in Phoenix. Cooking was not my mother's strong suit either.
I decided to skip breakfast and instead headed for the coffee pot. I dumped the day old coffee in the sink and hunted down the items required to make a fresh pot. As I waited for the coffee to brew, I turned around and leaned against the counter, anxiously tapping my foot against the white linoleum. Just like my bedroom, everything here was still the same. Pictures cluttered the fireplace in the adjoining family room; photos of my parents when they had married, infant photos of me and an array of my school photos set up in order of age progression. Unsurprisingly, I hadn't really changed much over the years.
I quickly grabbed a travel mug, prepared my coffee and tugged on my jacket. I would probably be early to school, but since I wasn't really sure where the school was, I figured I'd rather be early than late. Plus, it would hopefully give me time to get my schedule and find my way around the building without being too obvious.
I pulled my hood up, walked out into the rain and half ran, half tripped my way to the Jeep in an attempt to stay somewhat dry.
Nothing beats looking like a drowned rat on my first day of school.
Sitting for a moment, I watched the rain slide in intricate patterns down the Jeep's windshield. My Jeep - the only purchase I had made with the insurance money from mother. The rest sat in the bank for a rainy day.
"I guess that's everyday in Forks," I mumbled out loud. Finally I started the engine and backed out of the driveway.
The school wasn't nearly as hard to find as I had anticipated. Of course it helped that it was right off the highway, but then again, everything in Forks was right off the highway. One lone sign reading Forks High School marked the maroon colored buildings. I pulled into the lot and parked near the front office. After a quick mental pep talk, I climbed out of my Jeep, walked up the stone path and opened the door.
Inside, the small office was mercifully warm. I stopped and shook the beaded rain off my jacket before making my way to a red-haired woman who was stationed behind a cluttered desk. As I reached the desk, the woman looked up at me. "Good morning, dear. How can I help you?"
"I'm Isabella Swan. I'm new," I answered, putting on my best fake smile. Instantly her face lit up with recognition, then a look of sympathy washed over. Of course she would know who I was and of course she would know about my mother's accident. In a town this size, how could everyone not know? In that moment I missed Phoenix more than I ever had before. It reminded me of the anonymity of living in a big city.
"Of course, I am so sorry to hear about your mother." She frowned. "We went to High School together. A damn shame it is."
"Thank you," I replied through my teeth, keeping the fake smile plastered on my face.
She nodded and rummaged through the stack of papers on her desk. "Just give me a moment. I know it's here somewhere."
After a few minutes of searching, she produced the papers she was looking for; my schedule and a slip I was to have signed by every teacher and return at the end of the day. I thanked her, grabbed the papers and headed back to the parking lot.
I drove around the back of the building to where the secretary informed me the student parking lot was. I must have spent longer than I thought in that small office, because as I pulled in, nearly every parking space was claimed. I drove two laps around the lot before pulling into an empty space beside a silver Volvo. I untucked my head from my hood, thankful that it had stopped raining while I was in the office. I took another deep breath, reached for the handle, and stepped out of my Jeep.
My hopes of going unnoticed were quickly dashed as every student loitering around their cars turned to look in my direction. I felt like the main attraction in some small town circus. I ducked my head down and exhaled slowly.
"Fuck me…" I mumbled under my breath as I slammed the Jeep door shut. I turned to head towards the school at the same time as a leggy blonde emerged from behind me, bumping my shoulder as she passed.
"Excuse you," she sneered.
The logical half of my brain begged me to just shut the hell up and keep walking, but the temperamental part had already had enough. Dead mother, new school, center of attention…before I could stop myself, my mouth opened.
"It's not like you couldn't see me," I hissed in her direction. Barbie stopped walking and spun around, her eyes narrowing as she glared at me.
"What did you just say?"
"Oh, so now you're blind and deaf?"
"You stupid, insignificant hu--…." Barbie was cut off as a tiny girl grabbed her arm and pulled her back.
"Enough, Rose," the petite girl warned. Rose looked between me and the girl before turning on her heel and stomping off, grabbing the muscular arm of who I assumed to be her steroidal, grizzly wrestling, monkey man of a boyfriend; who looked entirely too amused with situation and entirely too old to still be in High School.
Where the hell did he come from, I thought as I finally looked around me. It was then I noticed that I hadn't been alone. Leaning against the back of the silver car next to me was a tall, muscular, blonde boy. An equally tall, but lanky, bronze haired boy stood just outside the driver's side door, his hands resting on the roof.
They must have been in the Volvo…shit. Nice first impression, Swan.
The blonde looked almost as amused as the boy who left with Barbie, but the bronze haired one, the better looking of the two – though both were inhumanly beautiful - had an expression of pain and confusion twisting up his flawless face. As I locked eyes with him, everything around me seemed to melt away into the background.
My eyes greedily drank in everything about him. His hair was unruly and disheveled, yet looked perfectly styled. His nose was straight and his jaw was strong and squared, which became more prominent as he clenched his teeth together behind plump, red stained lips. He was pale, too pale, his skin an almost alabaster white that seemed to shimmer slightly. Dark bruises hugged the bottom of his onyx eyes, giving him a dangerous and animalistic look.
Still he was the most perfect thing I had ever set my eyes on. Something inside me clicked and a feeling of calm washed over me, enveloping me entirely; like my soul was a puzzle that just found a piece I never knew was missing. My fingers twitched, silently begging to touch him.
Without permission, my body took a step towards him. A cold hand wrapped around my forearm, pulling me from the fog and back into reality. As awareness flooded my brain, I blushed a deep scarlet, embarrassed that I had almost thrown myself into this stranger's arms.
He inhaled deeply through his nose and his eyes closed, the muscles in his arms tensing as his hands clenched into unbreakable fists on top of the car's roof. The blonde one suddenly stiffened and walked around the side of the car, putting one hand on the boy's shoulder. He gave a small nod at the blonde, almost like a silent affirmation, and both boys visibly relaxed.
"Isabella?" I turned my head and looked down at the girl next to me. My eyebrows pulled together in confusion when I noticed that it was her hand tightly secured around my arm. She smiled up at me, her teeth unnaturally white and perfectly straight, and gently uncurled her fingers, dropping her arm back down to her side.
"Um…it's just…Bella," I stuttered, still trying to understand what had just happened and why I had felt an overwhelming urge to be close to the strange boy across from me.
"Bella…got it. I'm Alice Cullen, and this is my boyfriend, Jasper…" Turning, she pointed at the blonde. "And that's my brother Edward." She spun back around to face me. "The two who just left were my sister Rosalie and her boyfriend Emmett."
"You mean the bitch and biceps?" I asked without thinking first. Fuck…and now I just insulted her family. Two points for that.
Alice laughed and nodded. "Yep, that would be them." Out of the corner of my eye I saw Jasper grip Edward's upper arm and pull him towards the school. Edward walked backwards a few feet, still starting intently in my direction, before allowing Jasper to turn him around and followed.
"So you're the Chief's daughter right?" Alice asked.
"Uh…yeah," I answered, my eyes still following Edward. "Listen, is your brother OK? I mean…he looks a little…distressed," I asked, snapping my attention back to the pixie before me.
She was at least a good five inches shorter than my five foot, four inch frame. Her black hair was cut short and stuck out in a hundred different directions. Like her brother, she was unusually pale with the same slight shimmer to her skin. Where his eyes were a deep black, hers were a bright honey-gold. With the stark contrast of her eyes, pale skin and black hair she was absolutely stunning; just like Edward.
She turned her head in the direction Jasper and Edward had walked off and smiled. "He'll be fine. He just doesn't believe me," she paused, shoke her head and looked back at me. "So what's your first class?"
It didn't escape my notice how she had quickly changed the subject, effectively cutting me off from further questioning. She was definitely a sly little thing.
"English. Building three I think," I answered.
"Ohh! Jasper's in that class! At least you'll know someone. Come on, I'll show you where it is. Can I see your schedule? Maybe we will have some classes together," she asked as we began walking towards the school. I fished it out of the back pocket of my jeans and handed it to her.
"Hmm…just gym. Damn. I was hoping we would have more than that." She shrugged her tiny shoulders and handed it back to me. I followed Alice around the cafeteria and down the hallway of building three until she stopped in front of a generic brown door.
"This is you. Good luck and I'll see you later, okay," she said. I nodded and entered the small classroom. I made my way over to the tall, bald headed man behind the desk and handed him my slip. Sympathy clouded his eyes as he read my name. I let out a sigh. Really…wasn't there anyone who didn't know about Renee?
Luckily he said nothing, handed me some papers and sent me to an empty desk in the back. As was my luck, the desk was next to Alice's boyfriend. Still embarrassed about this morning's events, I hid myself from Jasper behind a curtain of curls and read through the reading list Mr. Mason had provided. Fairly basic, all books I have read and owned.
I kept my head down until the bell rang. As I was packing my bag, a hand touched my shoulder, startling me. A let out a small yelp and dropped my bag on the floor. Jasper snorted as he knelt down and began collecting the scattered papers.
"A bit jumpy aren't we, Bella?" he asked, a slight southern accent lacing his voice. He was much more muscular than he had looked in the parking lot. His hair was a soft, golden blonde and his eyes were the same exotic shade as Alice's. How can they both have that eye--
"Do you and Alice wear contacts," I blurted out. I slapped my hand over my mouth and looked at him apologetically. Jasper laughed as he stood back up and handed me my papers.
"No, we don't. It's our...diet. It changes our eye color," he explained.
"What the hell kind of diet changes your eye color?" I asked skeptically as I stood from the desk. My head barely reached his shoulder. He motioned towards the door and I followed him into the hallway.
"Well, Alice and I…we're vegetarians. As is our whole family. Where's your next class, Bella?" Jasper asked, holding his hand out for what I assumed was my schedule. I grabbed it from my back pocket as I had done for Alice and handed it to him. "Building six, okay." He folded it back up and handed it back.
"Wait, what do you mean your 'whole family'? I thought you were Alice's boyfriend?" I asked as I put the schedule back in my pocket.
"Oh I am. But we all live together. Rose, Emmett, Alice, me, Edward, and our adoptive parents…Carlisle and Esme." He looked down and smiled at me. "Rose and I are twins. We were adopted by Carlisle and Esme about ten years ago. Alice and Edward were already with them by the time we came along. Emmett came into the family about a year or so after Rose and I."
"Wow. They sound like amazing people to adopt so many children."
"They are. The most amazing people you could ever meet," he responded. We turned a corner and I noticed that everyone in the hallway moved out of his way as he passed them, giving him a wide berth. I couldn't understand. They seemed almost…afraid.
"So where are you from?" he asked.
"Phoenix."
"Phoenix huh? You're awfully pale to be from a place with so much sun," he joked.
I smirked. "I'm part vampire."
Jasper stopped mid stride and stared at me. Apparently my use of sarcasm would go to waste here. "I'm kidding, Jasper."
"Right," he replied quietly and continued walking. We reached another door, which looked identical to the one Alice had walked me to, and he stopped.
"Well, have fun."
"Thanks," I said sincerely. He smiled and turned, heading down the opposite hallway.
The rest of the morning passed by rather quickly, with only one teacher making me stand and introduce myself to the class. Mostly the other students stared – I realized quickly that nose piercings and tattoos were not a common thing in Forks – but some were kind enough to introduce themselves and ask the same routine questions.
One girl, Jessica, sat next to me in two of my classes. Thankfully, one of those classes happened to be the one right before lunch, and she walked with me to the cafeteria. She was a few inches shorter than me, thin, with wildly curly hair. She talked endlessly about teachers and classes as we waited in line for our food. After we had paid, she motioned for me to follow her to a long table filled with her friends.
"Hey Jessica," A tall, thin, brunette said.
"Hey guys. This is Bella," Jessica announced proudly, waving her hand at me as if I was some prize on a cheesy game show. "That's Angela, Lauren and Mike." She pointed at each person as she introduced them, and then sat down next to Angela – the girl who had greeted us. I gave the table a small wave and sat down next to a baby faced blonde boy with pale blue eyes.
"Hi, I'm Mike." He held out his hand. I shook it and gave him a small, polite smile.
Across the table sat Lauren. A pale, blond haired girl with wide, green eyes and a thin, pointy nose. Her mouth seemed to be set in a permanent scowl and she wore entirely too much makeup. Her eyes narrowed as she noticed me looking at her.
"So what's with the nose ring and tattoo? Playing the part of the tormented teenager much?" she asked as she rolled her eyes and snorted.
"Well I guess someone has to seeing as how you landed the role of bitch." I bit back, smiling sarcastically at her before turning to look around the rest of the lunchroom. As I looked at the other students, I found myself getting significantly more annoyed with each pair of curious eyes I came in contact with. Frustrated, I turned back around and started pushing the food on my tray around, half listening to the conversation around me.
"Oh goodie, the Cullens are here," Jessica scoffed. At the mention of the Cullens, my head snapped up and followed Jessica's line of sight.
The five of them were entering the cafeteria in a V formation and gracefully walked towards the back. As they passed by our table, Alice smiled and Jasper waved. I returned the gesture and focused in on Edward. He kept his eyes on me as he walked passed. My eyes followed them as they settled into a table behind us, far from the other students in the room
"You've met the Cullens?" Jessica asked incredulously, smacking her hand down on the table to get my attention. I turned back towards her and nodded. "But they don't talk to anyone!" she whined.
"They were perfectly nice to me," I confessed. "Well except the blonde Barbie. She and I got in to it in the parking lot this morning. And I don't think Edward likes me too much, but Alice and Jasper were very friendly. I haven't actually spoken to the big one, but he seemed nice enough." I shrugged my shoulders, trying not to make a big deal over it.
Jessica stared at me slack jawed. I guess it was a big deal.
"Well don't waste your time on Edward. He doesn't date. No one here seems to be good enough for him," she sniffed.
"What's the matter, Jess? Still pissed he blew you off?" Lauren asked. I bit my lip, desperately trying to hide a smile. Even though I didn't like the girl, Lauren had a point. It sure sounded like pure jealousy to me.
"He didn't blow me off, bitch. I wasn't interested," Jessica defended. Lauren snorted and continued picking her bagel apart.
The rest of the period passed quickly in a blur of useless gossip, weekend planning, and mundane questions about me, the new girl. Thankfully I learned that Angela had Biology next hour as well and she graciously offered to show me where it was.
As the bell rang, I quickly grabbed my tray, threw out my uneaten lunch and followed Angela towards the Biology lab.
~****~