Author's Note: Sorry this one took so long and is sort of short. I'm trying to decide on how to work in the plot. I have most of it figured out - I just want it all to feel natural. So I hope you all enjoy this chapter. Thanks to all the lovely people who have added this to their Favorite Stories alert - that's really quite wonderful.

"My God."

The house was beautiful. Apparently beautiful people got beautiful houses while us average people got crappy houses with screen doors that didn't open properly. Oh, yeah, I was bitter. Sitting in the front seat of my car, I scowled up at the house, still half tempted to just walk away now. But I didn't feel like that would be too polite, and Jean had always raised me to be polite. So, with an all-suffering sigh, I slid out of the car and grabbed my book satchel, making my way up the narrow pathway.

Rapping my knuckles on the door, I bit my bottom lip, staring at the door while I waited. Everything about this part of the house was windows, it seemed. I glanced down one way, peering into the house. I couldn't see anyone. Everything was neat and tidy from what I could see. Then the door was opening and I was looking up into the face of Dr. Cullen. This was one of the Cullen family I did know – he had been the one who had treated Jean and diagnosed her with dementia. Lucky man had gotten to take care of my grandmother all day while she made lewd, suggestive remarks. Ah, Jean. Put that woman on drugs and she was as high and free as a kite.

"Hey Dr. Carlyle." I waved, wondering why he was looking at me so gravely, "Grandma doesn't need your help, if that's what you're worried about."

A faint smile spread over his lips, but of course, there were no wrinkles, his face as impeccably smooth as his adopted son's. For not being genetically related, they sure as hell looked similar.

"Good to know, Amber. They're all upstairs in Edward's room."

I stared at him blankly. Having never been inside the Cullen's home, I had no idea where Edward's room was. This seemed to cross Carlisle's mind at the same time, because he smiled warmly, "Sorry – I'll have Emmett show you where...Esme and I had a very important matter to discuss..." Within thirty seconds, some giant of a man had come over, at least as tall as my rescuer on the beach. My God, this guy should be a professional wrestler...he was massive! Wondering if today was some sort of national holiday for meeting overly large strange men who happen to be extraordinarily handsome, I smiled up at him, "You must have super-hearing."

This apparently was funny, because the giant who I assumed was Emmett, tossed back his head and laughed. Loudly. I grinned – maybe meeting the Cullens wouldn't be as bad as I thought it would. They seemed normal. Extraordinarily good-looking, perhaps. But normal. For now. Then the goddess walked in.

"Another one?" Her voice was bored and slightly frustrated, her beautiful eyes fixed on me. I stared at her in bewilderment – what on earth had I done to her to deserve that? Emmett elbowed her, grinning, "Ease up, Rosalie. We haven't even met this one yet."

"You know, this 'one' has a name." Alright, so that wasn't too polite. But hey, a girl's got to stand up for herself.

The Rosalie girl looked at me for a moment with narrowed eyes, and I stared right back at her, never one to be intimidated. Emmett coughed, a grin spreading over his face, and then he clapped a hand on Rosalie's shoulder, "Come on Rose; let's get the girl up to her study group."

Rosalie tossed her head and I rolled my eyes, following them up a set up stairs, past various paintings and including one very odd display of about a hundred graduation caps. Lifting one eyebrow, I opened my mouth and then shut it. Secrets, Amber...it was all one huge secret. I sighed, shaking my head, glancing around curiously, trying to absorb everything I could see.

"Amber!" Bella didn't sound surprised to see me, and even less surprised to receive a surly glare and a grunt of acknowledgement. Edward and Jasper were sitting on what looked like it was Edward's bed, but there were so many books and CDs on it that I wondered if he fit on it to sleep.

"Hey everyone," I muttered, glancing at Alice who was sitting between Jasper's legs on the floor. She smiled brightly up at me, "You came."

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes, "You knew I was coming. Don't act so surprised...it gets old."

To my surprise, Rosalie laughed softly, her laugh as beautiful as her face. Glancing over my shoulder, I looked at her for a moment, questioningly, wondering if she was sane. I had gotten the feeling she hated me, but now she was looking at me with something akin to affection, like I was a stray puppy she could take in and take care of. She ran one hand through her blonde hair, grinning up at Emmett who was also looking amused. Then they turned and went back downstairs.

I sighed – whatever. Sitting down on the floor, I dumped my next to me, "So...what was so important that I'd score an invite to the mysterious Cullen house?"

Edward smiled, "We felt our hospitality was long overdue." I sent him a suspicious glance, and then looked to Bella, determined to get the real answer from her. However, her phone went off and, after glancing at the caller ID, she stood up, "It's Jacob. Be right back." Identical scowls flashed over Edward, Jasper and Alice's faces before they smoothed out their facial expressions. I don't know why they bothered – I knew they didn't like this Jacob guy. I didn't know why. From what Bella had told me about him, he sounded pretty damn awesome. He liked to fix up cars!

In the silence that had fallen over our little group when Bella left, we could hear her talking to Jacob.

"Jake – Jake slow down! JACOB! BREATHE. Ok, better. So, what's wrong? Ok, ok, what's...right? That sounds weird. Sorry – listening."

She was silent for a good minute, then,

"OH MY GOD. JACOB."

Bella, it turned out, had a very high pitched voice when excited. I was so going to have a headache later.

"What's her name?"

Another pause, then, "You didn't ask her? MORON."

I grinned – it always entertained me when Bella 'got mean.' It was never too convincing.

"Well, what did she look like?"

Edward cleared his throat, "Stupid mutt..."

I glanced at him, frowning, "Huh?"

"Nothing."

Bella's conversation continued, with the rest of us sitting silently in Edward's room. With nothing else to think about, my mind traveled back to the young man I had "met" at the beach, wondering who he was.

A queer noise exploded from Edward's mouth and Jasper, Alice and I all stared at him in surprise. It sounded like a mix of a gasp and a laugh. Eyeing him warily, I retreated back into the safety of my own mind, wondering what he found so amusing. Whatever – he was a Cullen...I supposed that they were all just a bit odd in the head.

I looked up as Bella sauntered in, looking quite pleased about something. Again, I felt left out. Frowning down at my math book, I decided to come up with a secret of my own. Something that they'd all be dying to find out, but wouldn't be able to. That'd show them. I glanced up at Edward, who was attempting to stifle a grin from creeping onto his face, and failing miserably. It was a peculiar feeling, sitting there with the Cullen family, all of whom had some sort of mental disorder, I decided.