Well, here you are. I put in a heck of a lot of time and work to get this to you, so I expect responses.

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight.

Chapter 3: Good God!

Ellie/Bella

I stumbled downstairs, dark circles under my eyes in the dull light of morning. Charlie took one look at me and passed me a huge cup of black coffee. After adding an obscene amount of cream and sugar, I chugged it.

"You remember the directions to school?" Charlie asked.

"Yeah. I'll be okay."

"Alright. I'll see ya later." He patted my shoulder and then left the room.

It was raining, of course, and cold, so I dressed appropriately. I pulled on a pair of dark jeans and an old black concert T-shirt. I added a black hoodie over it all and dark gray gloves. I seriously was not kidding when I said my clothes are nothing but blacks and grays. I never felt the need to wear makeup. The whole institution felt a little silly to me.

She had worn makeup, and worn it well. It was never anything heavy, like some girls do it, but it was there. She tried to teach me, but I was stubborn.

Why am I thinking about this?

I shook myself and gathered my things with determination. I moved to my monster of a vehicle and climbed in. Jacob had not lied, the heater was blissfully working. It took a minute of maneuvering, but I managed to get it running and on the road.

Forks High School wasn't anything remarkable. To be perfectly honest, it was hardly any different from my school in Phoenix. I hoped the similarities stopped there.

People stared, but I was prepared for it. I was a new kid, waltzing in smack in the middle of November, and the Chief's mysterious daughter. Ha. People had never seen me. They'd only heard about me as the chief's kid that lived with his flighty ex-wife. They didn't even know my real name. They knew nothing about me, especially about IT.

I went to the main office to get my schedule checked and whatnot. The woman there, Ms. Cope, gave me a friendly smile and got me what I needed.

I wasn't even to my first period class before I was confronted by a boy.

"So you're the new girl," a baby-faced blonde boy said in greeting. He thrust his hand in front of me. "I'm Mike Newton."

I tentatively shook it. "Bella Swan."

He smiled, and there was something hungry in it. Warning bells were ringing in my head, but I kept my head. He started going on about helping me out with getting around the school, offering me a seat at lunch, etcetera. It didn't help that he was also in my first period class. We sat together, and he was much too close.

My hands started to sweat. I gulped nervously. He was oblivious, leaning in to talk to me, despite how much I leaned back. My knuckles went white as I clutched the table. Yet still he pressed.

He wouldn't do something here. We're in public.

What if no one cares? What if they help him?

They wouldn't do that. Not everyone wants to hurt us. Right?

How can you be sure?

The voices argued all through class. I just barely stopped myself from leaping up and running out of the room when the bell rang. I told Mike I had to go to the bathroom and took off as fast as possible. I actually did go to the bathroom, pretty much collapsing against the wall of a stall and panting. Damn it all. What's happened to me?

My thoughts took a familiar dark turn. She happened. IT happened.

I used to be happy. I used to be really happy. I used to be able to trust people, to hug them and be near them. I used to be able to look at them and not constantly think they're about to jump me.

Now I can't stand them. I want to lock myself in my room, only speaking to Charlie and only going out to bathe and eat. Maybe if I made enough money in the next ten years, I could buy a private island and become a hermit. Ah, the life.

When I felt my heart slow down again and could take a steady breath, I stood up and left the bathroom.

Oh hell, I didn't realize I was in there for so long. I'd missed the whole of second period and half of third! Judas Priest!

I tried to move as stealthily as possible, scrambling to think of a reasonable excuse, but I didn't make it five steps when a harsh male voice rang out, "Stop there, truant!" I turned and groaned when a tall man who looked like a history teacher (you know, the ones who were actually hired so they could coach some blood sport) stalking toward me. Well, there goes any calm I had managed to regain.

That was how I wound up in the principal's office pacing like a caged animal. I turned to the fat lub of a principal. "Please, if you could just let me call my dad, he'll sort this out."

"Oh, rest assured, your parents will be contacted, Miss…"

I glared at the bastard. "Swan."

He looked thoroughly taken aback. "You're Chief Swan's daughter?"

Didn't see that coming, did ya, you fat fuck? "Yes." Then, coldly, "Now if you don't mind, I'm going to call him myself." I pulled out my phone before he could further protest.

"Bells, what's wrong?"

"Dad, I had a little… anxiety incident at school and they've got me locked up in the principal's office for truancy." I said the anxiety part quietly.

He sighed. "Put the principal on." I smirked while the jerk couldn't see and then handed him the phone. I don't know what he said to the principal, but the man paled.

"Of course, Chief." He said, and shut the phone. He looked back at me. "You can go, Miss Swan." I held my smirk until I had my phone and was out of there.

Because of that little misunderstanding, there was only ten minutes left in my last period before lunch. There was no point in going, so I made a slow passage to the cafeteria.

When other people started pouring in, I had no choice but to take Mike up on his offer and sit with his friends. The group consisted of: two girls, a blonde and a brunette, who spelled trouble from a mile away, one other girl, a brunette with olive-toned skin and glasses, who actually looked nice, and three other boys.

"Hey, guys. Meet Bella."

The boys were, predictably, very welcoming. One's name was apparently Tyler and the other two were Eric and Ben. The tan girl politely held out her hand.

"Angela Weber," she said in a light and quiet tone. She was pretty, with straight, dark hair, a bright smile, and kind brown eyes. Her glasses did not detract from her features nor did her lack of makeup; if anything, they made her seem much more approachable. I immediately felt something akin to comfort as I shook her hand. Her grip wasn't rough or firm, but warm and undemanding.

The other two were something different. Lauren, the blonde, and Jessica, the brunette, apparently. They… well, let's face it, they weren't good-looking. If I could see their actual faces, the ones underneath the makeup cake, I might reconsider. They didn't offer to shake my hand, which I was glad for because a) those fake nails were dangerous and b) I would probably have to go wash my hand afterwards.

And they were mean. Not outright, but I could feel the malice radiating off of them, particularly Lauren. Danger! Danger! I hastily took safe haven between Angela and Ben. Ben seemed nice, but ultimately unremarkable. I took note, however, of the way Angela looked at him. The girl in question turned to say something to me, but Mike interrupted before she even got a word out.

"So, Bella, how do you like Forks?"

Ugh. "It's okay. It's pretty different from Phoenix."

"I bet. Is it really super hot there all the time? Like, in the hundreds?" Angela asked. The difference between her and Mike was that she sounded honestly curious while Mike was just looking for a way to get my attention.

"No, not really. I mean, it's warm most of the year and it can get in the low hundreds in summer, but it's really pretty comfortable the majority of the time. And out in the desert it can drop below 20 degrees at night," I said back sincerely.

"Aren't people from places like Phoenix supposed to be really tan?" Why? Why did you have to say something? I looked at Lauren carefully, analyzing her forced nonchalance and snide tone. Great; it seemed I had an enemy already. One of the voices in my head whimpered, but I ignored it.

"Not always, but maybe that's why they kicked me out." The others laughed, and Lauren moved on, which was what I was going for.

I looked up for some reason and noticed a late group of people coming in.

A very… interesting group of people.

They were incredible. Unnatural beauty, unnatural grace. They floated into the cafeteria as if walking on air. There were four of them. They were all beautiful, too beautiful to be real. They were all pale, really pale, even more so than me. They were confident, with unshakable posture, swagger, and poise.

The first to enter was a male with gravity-defying bronze hair. He was lean and lank, reminding me of a cougar. Not far behind him was a total bear. He was huge, with muscles bulging on his arms. He had huge hands, short, black hair, and a decidedly devilish smirk plastered onto his face. His eyes, which were honest-to-god butterscotch gold, met mine suddenly, and his smirk got even wider, showing a pair of perfect white teeth. Then he looked away, going up the bronze one and taking his hand. The next to enter were a curly blonde male and a tiny black-haired girl. The male looked pained, but he moved with strength and a discipline that immediately reminded me of those commercials for the Marines and the Army. The girl was… well, she was something. Short compared to the blonde, tiny compared to the bear, she literally danced into the room, holding onto the blonde's arms. Her smile was radiant and hypnotizing. She had short, spiked hair, onyx earrings, and what may very well have been the most expensive designer clothes I'd ever seen. She, like the big male, mysteriously met my awestruck gaze. She smiled at me, really, really, really wide, and gave a brief little wave. I didn't even realize that I returned it until she giggled. The four of them moved to a table not far from mine, and I distinctly noticed how all of their eyes briefly turned to me. Then they moved back to the door. As if compelled, I followed their golden gazes.

Oh.

My.

Dear.

Sweet.

God!

My jaw hit the floor. My mind was hit by a train. A blonde train. A blonde, female train.

"Sweet mother of leggy vixens," I breathed. That's what she was. The Queen of leggy, angelic women. She walked in already set with a glare. I could tell she absolutely loathed this place. Her golden blonde locks were long and shining, stretching down her back like a waterfall of forbidden treasure. Her face was perfection down to the last detail, even with the grimace set upon it. Her skin looked like milk, cold and smooth. Her red, red lips were two of Cupid's bows and in such stark contrast to her pallor. She walked with a sway to her hips. It drove me nuts just like everything else about her. Her body was like her face, perfection. From her supple curves to deceptively delicate hands to legs that went all the way up to Alaska, she was a goddess.

Like the pixie and the bear, she looked directly at me, as if she felt my gaze. She looked… surprised. She paused in her saunter towards her fellows and just looked at me. We stared at each other for what felt like an eternity, her golden hues melting my chocolate browns.

Then she blinked, and just like that the moment was gone. She looked away and finished the walk to her table, but I was still caught and stunned. Her friends were all smiling, from her to me and then back at her. She said something, and the pixie laughed and responded. The goddess's eyes flashed back to me and then away again too fast. Now she looked pissed. She glared viciously around at her tablemates, and their grins only made it worse. Then she glared at me, and I felt like I should be on fire. My god, if looks could kill.

Did I do something? One little voice whispered, terrified. I decided I would call it Fear. Stop staring! You're making it worse.

But I couldn't bring myself to break away. Even wearing that most harsh expression, she was too beautiful to turn away from.

"I see you've noticed them," said Angela. I nearly jumped out of my seat. At her words, the goddess turned away again, the spell was broken, and I was able to turn back to my own table. I kinda forgot I was there.

"Wh-who are they?" I stuttered, a sign of how truly shaken I was.

She grinned knowingly at my expression. "The Cullens." She pointed to the big bear. "He's Emmett. Super huge, a little intimidating with those muscles, but he's actually sweet and really funny." She pointed to He-of-the-gravity-defying-hair. "That's Edward. Totally gorgeous, kinda quiet. Always seems bored for whatever reason. He and Emmett are together, like in a couple." Onto the blonde male. "That's Jasper, the one who looks like he's in pain. He's with Alice, the bubbly, little black-haired girl. Jasper keeps to himself. They all do, really, but Alice and Emmett are really nice."

And then, finally, she pointed to the goddess. "And that's Rosalie. You should watch out for her."

I didn't look at Angela when I asked why. "She's kinda… hostile. Most of the time she just goes around glaring at everyone who isn't her family. Oh, I forgot to mention that. They, all of them, are Dr. and Mrs. Cullen's adopted kids. Anyway, just be careful around Rosalie. She can scare off Lauren with a look, and I doubt she'll do any less in a fight."

Rosalie. Rosalie Cullen. That name floated around in my head, wrapping around my mind like a gold colored ribbon.

The bell rang, signaling the end of lunch. I took note how the Cullens left rather hastily.

I moved to my next class, English apparently, in a daze. The teacher, Mr. Varner, absently pointed me to a seat in between two others. For my own sanity, I hoped they stayed empty.

Class started like any other, until two latecomers arrived with hall passes.

Oh come ON!

Alice and Rosalie sauntered into the room, Alice eagerly taking the seat to my right and Rosalie very reluctantly taking the one on my left. Oh. Crap.

Alice turned to me. "We haven't been formally introduced. I'm Alice Cullen. You're Bella." I shook her hand and was shocked by how cold her skin was. I mean, it wasn't unpleasant, but people shouldn't be that cold. Alice didn't seem to notice my discomfort but instead looked over at Rosalie, who was looking anywhere but me.

"Rosalie, aren't you going to say hello?"

"Hello," she said sharply under her breath. I think I flinched because Alice patted me on the shoulder.

They started paying attention to the teacher, but I couldn't get back into class. I admit it; surrounded by two people like this, I was scared. Every instinct told me to either run or curl up in a ball and rock. It was stronger than it was with everyone else, but I didn't know why. I think it was because they were so beautiful. It was the kind of beauty that you'd give up your free will for if you were such a person. Humans shouldn't be so perfect. You wanted to trust those faces; with your secrets, your heart, your life.

Yes; that was why I feared them. I knew what could happen when you trusted another person completely.

And I never wanted to risk that again.

Rosalie

To say that I was getting irritated was a grave understatement. I was way past irritated.

My entire family has been hiding something from me. I knew because after living with each of them for at least 50 years, I was better at understanding them than at doing my hair, which was saying something big.

It started with one of Alice's visions. I was reading Vogue for some reason while Jasper and Emmett were competing at Call of Duty. Edward had been off talking to Carlisle, I think, and Esme was in her office working on a remodeling project she'd been hired for. Alice was laying on the railing of the stairs staring off into space when suddenly she jerked up, eyes clouded with the future. It lasted a good five minutes before she came back to us. When she did, she just turned and looked at me. Just stared at me. Then Edward was staring at me, having heard Alice's thoughts. They refused to tell us what she had seen, but the moment I left the sneaks told the rest of the family.

Ever since then, they've all been giving me these weird, knowing looks when they think I can't see. Anytime Alice got a long vision, she wouldn't tell me about it. And we're sisters! If Alice saw something about me, especially something that would give her five minute visions, she should tell me!

But no.

So yeah, I'm pissed.

This morning Alice was even more hyper than usual, and it affected the rest of the family too. They were all unexplainably giddy, even as we headed toward the architectural and intellectual vomit that was Forks High School. Ugh.

Apparently there was a new kid. Oh joy! The Chief's daughter, apparently. I hadn't bothered to find out anything else. Why should I? She would just be some other naïve, stupid and possibly bitchy human for us to have to look at every day.

As usual, I just sat and doodled in class. Why should I pay attention when I've learned the same material thirty, forty, a hundred times before? There was only one thing this whole place was good for: chemistry classes ('Cause you set things on fire. Duh!). But other than that, no.

1 period, 2 periods, 3, 4, 5. Ah, lunch (only for humans). I met my infuriating siblings outside. Alice, damn her, she was giddy to the point of hyper bouncing. I just glared at her silently.

They went in first. I sulked for a moment or two before following after. As per usual, my senses were rudely bombarded by the obnoxious noises and odors of the human world. I grimaced, a typical glare dominating my expression.

Then I felt something… odd. I paused to investigate. It was decidedly a force, one that was gently pulling my gaze to the side. It touched me like a caress, stroking the side of my face and my neck temptingly. I followed it, turning my head. I met the most beautiful pair of brown eyes I'd ever seen. Human eyes, alight with awe and something else I couldn't decipher. They were set in a striking and alarmingly pale face; heart-shaped, with a finely crafted chin, high cheekbones, a strong, straight nose, enticingly pink lips, and an inquisitive brow. The skin of this face was almost as white as mine, but with just enough rosiness to be a sign of health.

Something suddenly snapped into place as I gazed upon the face, the face of a human female. I felt… I felt… complete. The longer I looked upon her, the stronger the feeling of wholeness. I couldn't understand why I felt this way, but I did, and I couldn't bring myself to break the spell.

But then the human child next to her, Angela, said something. The girl jumped, almost out of her seat. Understandable after being startled, but, if I may say, a little extreme. The strange beauty looked terribly apprehensive for a moment before settling again. It was odd; I'd never seen a human react so… fearfully towards another friendly human. Was the girl frightened? Of Angela Weber? Nonsense; Angela would sooner crash her car than run over a worm. What was there to be scared of? The girl must not know her well; she did seem to be new.

The girl turned her attention away, and I was free and wondering what the hell just happened. I moved to my table confusedly, very much aware of the girl's chocolate eyes following me. My siblings were all smiling wildly.

"What?" I asked defensively.

Alice laughed. "You've met her. That's why we're smiling."

"Met who?"

She giggled again. "Your mate, Rosalie. The new girl, Bella Swan is your soulmate."

"What!" I hissed. They just kept smiling. "You're lying! She can't possibly be my mate."

"Why not?" Emmett asked, undeterred.

"Oh, I don't know, maybe because she's human!" I turned and glared at the girl, who was still staring at me, viciously. How… how dare she? And how dare they to keep this from me? To allow that temptress here!

The girl flinched and shuddered minutely under my stabbing gaze. It was faint but I heard a weak little whimper. Good, she should be afraid. But at the same time, I felt horrible for provoking such a response. Deep down I wanted only to comfort, to touch, to hold…

Too fast for humans to see, I roughly shook my head. I shouldn't be having such thoughts. Oh, curse them! My family and that frail wisp of a girl!

I all but threw my siblings outside when lunch ended. "How dare you!" I hissed at them. "You knew the whole time? Why didn't you tell me? Of all people, don't you think the one who is directly affected by this has the right to know they're going to be affected?"

Alice only smiled apologetically. "Trust me, it's better that you don't know the details. I've seen it, Rosalie. It's going to happen whether you fight it or not, so you might as well go with it."

"Go with it?" I shouted. "Go with what? She's human, weak, breakable. I'm a vampire, designed to break her. We'd never work! I'd probably kill her before we even to second base. And it's not like I can go up and say 'hey, I'm a vampire who could possibly kill you, wanna date?'"

Emmett laughed at that, so I punched him. "Ow! Damn, Rose, that one hurt!"

"It serves you right," I snapped back.

"Rose, honey, calm down. It's going to work. I've been having visions of it for weeks. Just let it happen. I promise you, it'll work," Alice said, touching my shoulder.

I shrugged away from her hand. "We're late for class. Let's go." Unfortunately, Alice was next to me in my next class. We split up and went to our respective rooms, Alice and I walking in tense silence. At least, for me it was tense. She was as bouncy happy as ever.

I smelled her before I entered the classroom. Groaning, I followed Alice as she handed the teacher a carefully forged late slip. He directed us to our seats, which were of course on either side of that wretched little girl.

She looked just as frightened, if not more so as we sat down. She gulped loudly (at least to my ears). Alice wasted no time, boldly extending her hand. "We haven't been formally introduced. I'm Alice Cullen. You're Bella." They shook hands and I could tell how taken aback the human was by her cold skin. Gonna work, huh? My ass! I refused to look at either of them.

"Rosalie, aren't you going to say hello?" Alice said in a sickeningly false innocent voice.

Damn you, Alice! "Hello," I said harshly. The human flinched, and Alice, that traitor, patted her on the shoulder. I tried to focus on the class (first time for everything, I suppose), but my mind kept floating back to the infuriating girl next to me. She seemed to be getting more and more agitated with each passing moment, fidgeting and squirming in her seat. Her eyes flickered nervously between Alice and me.

When the bell rang, she was out of there like a horse at the track. Alice was still smiling peacefully as she gathered her things. I was glaring again.

So our dear Rose isn't particularly happy about Ellie being her mate. But that changes, of course. How is Ellie going to react when things start coming together and secrets are revealed? Not well, I imagine, but I didn't tag this story as romance/angst for nothing. See you next time. Review!

Russia has signed off.