A/N: two chapters in one day, don't you feel lucky!

a few things:

bella's power will be revealed in the next chapter…probably. everyone seems pretty excited about learning what it is. I'm pretty proud of it, I think it fits with bella's personality.

speaking of bella's personality, one reviewer though she was a little out of character. I see it a little differently. my bella is a definitely different than stephenie meyer's-she's a 100 year old vampire. that's a 100 years to gain a little more confidence, a little more self-assuredness. plus her gift has changed her a lot as well (but more on that later). I totally believe that after 100 years as a vampire bella would be comfortable riding a motorcycle to school. and at the core she is still bella-timid, unsure, self-conscious. I'll make sure she never gets to ooc

disc-not mine

All morning Edward was plagued by the thoughts of the students of Fork's High. This wasn't an unusual occurrence, but today all the thoughts were centered around one thing…or rather, person.

Her name was Isabella Swan, although from what Edward had gleaned from the simple minds around him, she had corrected everyone who addressed her as such, telling them she preferred "just Bella." She was quiet, answering the overabundance of questions simply and politely. She gave intelligent and succinct answers in class. She seemed a normal, if exquisitely beautiful, seventeen year old girl. Edward, however, knew better.

Their awkward stare-off in the parking lot had ended abruptly with the bell ringing; they had not even had the chance to make introductions. As soon as she was offered an escape, Bella had darted off, and Edward noticed that while she was good at keeping up the charade, moving at an acceptable human pace, blinking and fidgeting at regular intervals, there were the differences that even the humans could pick up on. She was unearthly graceful, her movements as fluid and dance-like as Alice's. She also had a penchant for scrutiny. Several students had noticed her looking at them intently, only to have a knowing smile cross her face in seconds. She was an enigma.

And the most frustrating thing was that Edward was certain that even without his gift, she would have still been in his head all morning.

It wasn't only her beauty that intrigued him, or the fact that she was a fellow vampire. He had seen-through the eyes of others-moments when her mask would drop and he would see a sadness in her eyes. It stirred something in him he had never felt before, a feeling he could give no name to.

Edward mused on all this and more as he sat in his third period English class, the last before lunch. Alice sat next to him, smiling to herself and giving him knowing looks every now and then. It was maddening, she would not share any of her visions with him and was currently replaying vivid memories of her and Jasper's…private exploits, making sure he wouldn't listen in. He had a feeling she knew much more than even he guessed.

The bell rang signaling lunch and they rose to their feet, making their way to the cafeteria. Edward had a feeling this would be one of the more interesting lunch periods of the year.

So far the day was pretty much what Bella had expected. The same cliques, the same disheartened teachers, the same linoleum floors and harsh overhead lighting.

Different however, were the five other vampire students.

Bella knew she could have been a little friendlier this morning, could have at least introduced herself before running off. She had been fully prepared to extend the arm of friendship-they were the same, after all. She had seen their golden eyes, fellow animal-eaters were extremely rare, and she had never met any others. But that boy with the bronze hair…she had not been expecting him. She was totally blindsided, which had never happened to her in almost a century of vampiric life.

As soon as she stepped into the cafeteria for lunch she knew she was about to be ambushed. All eyes were on her but the only ones that mattered were the bright topaz ones coming straight at her.

"Hi! You're Bella." It was not a question.

"And you're Alice."

They looked at each other for a moment, and then Bella allowed Alice to link their arms and escort her to a table somewhat separated from the rest. Bella saw that they were all there. The tall, lanky blonde one she knew belonged to Alice, the humongous dark haired one with his arm wrapped around the impossibly beautiful blonde. And the copper haired boy who gazed at her so intensely she almost turned back the way she came.

Alice took her place beside the blonde male and Bella sat silently in the only other open chair at the table. She smiled timidly and Alice opened her mouth excitedly. "Everyone, this is Bella. Bella, these are my brothers and sisters. Jasper," her blonde, "Emmet," the big one who smiled widely, "Rosalie," the beauty who nodded briefly, "and…Edward."

Bella met each of their eyes. "Hi. It's nice to meet you all." She kept her gaze up, even though she desperately wanted to lower it and waited for their questions.

Emmet was the first. In a voice too low for any of the humans around them to hear he asked, "Are you here alone? Are you part of a family?" Bella noticed his use of the word "family" rather than "coven." She shook her head. "No, it's just me. I've made a few acquaintances over the years who I travel with from time to time, but when I settle its just me." Emmet opened his mouth to speak but Bella beat him to it. "To the human world I am an orphan and an emancipated minor. I little more suspicious, but I blend well. Especially if I have an 'uncle' or 'aunt' come to visit from time to time." They all smiled, all except Edward.

She could feel his gaze burning into her as she answered more trivial questions: Where was she living? How often and where did she hunt? Finally she turned towards him, the look on her face inviting his question. He opened his mouth but seemingly could not think of what to say. She waited a few moments, and almost turned away when he suddenly blurted out, "Why can't I read your mind?"

She had not been expecting this, it was incredibly frustrating. She sighed and shook her head. "I don't know. Why don't I know anything about you?"

Emmet laughed. "Well that's easy Bella, you two just met." Her eyes remained locked on Edwards as she muttered, almost too low for even vampire hearing, "That's not what I meant."

Before any more questions could be asked, the bell ending lunch rang. Bella breathed a sigh of relief. She stood and turned to leave but stopped when she heard a voice behind her.

"We'll see you tonight, at our house," said Alice, still smiling. Bella thought for a moment, and then nodded almost imperceptibly. She started walking and Emmet called after her "Meet us after school, you can ride with us, it's kind of hard to find."

Bella turned back and smiled. "I think I can find it ok myself." And with that she walked out of the cafeteria and on to her next class.

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