I only own Ian this chapter. Everyone else is owned by Stephenie Meyer/Meg Cabot. If there are any confusing p.o.v. switches without labels, it's because this story was initially written in 3rd person. Also, this chapter was originally the prologue and the first chapter, and that was before the story became a crossover. That is the reason there is no Mediator characters in this chapter. Read and review.
Carlisle P.O.V.
"Do I have to be a freshman?" Alice asks me.
"I'd like you to. You and Renesmee. Renesmee because she's never been one, you because, well, you're the smallest." I reply. I wasn't going to force her into anything, but it would be the easiest thing to explain.
"Fine. But I'm not sure Jacob can pass as a junior. He can pass for twenty-five. Then again, he was a junior when he dropped out, and he hasn't aged physically any since then. So, technically, he is a junior, even if he is six years older than most of them and about a foot and a half taller."
"Anything else, Alice?"
"Nope." And she dances away, eyes twinkling.
The next morning, just after Renesmee and Jacob wake up…
"Okay, here's the deal," I tell them, "This is the most complicated charade we've ever needed to put on because there are so many of us now. I've drawn up believable familial relationships. I will read each person's name and any sibling information off, one at a time, then leave you to decide the details.
"Bella Cullen. You are adopted, a sophomore, and Emmett is your biological brother.
"Emmett Cullen. Adopted, junior, biological sister is Bella.
"Jacob Cullen. Obviously adopted, junior, obviously you have no biological siblings."
"Alice Cullen. Adopted, freshman, no siblings.
"Edward Mason. Foster child, sophomore, biological sister is Nessie. Sorry about that one; you two are just so obviously related there was no way around it, and that was the only way; in a human's mind, there is no way you could be her father.
"Renesmee Mason. Foster, freshman, brother is Edward.
"Jasper Whitlock. Foster, junior, sister is Rosalie.
"Rosalie Whitlock. Foster, junior, brother is Jasper. You guys are twins again."
"Let's go!" Emmett says, excited as usual, "Come on, little sister!" He says to Bella.
Bella P.O.V.
Our family is now too big to travel in a single vehicle, so we split up. Jacob, pretending to be the oldest, drives my Ferrari with Renesmee riding shotgun. Edward and I relax in the back. Rosalie drives Alice's Porsche, Emmett in the passenger seat, and Alice and Jasper holding hands in the back.
It is our first day, we want to arrive with a bang, and that is the only reason we drive the flashiest vehicles we own.
And when we arrive, we do arrive with a bang, the way we had planned. But, as is actually usual for the us, it isn't the cars so much as the people who cause the commotion.
Since we, as well as our cars, are already receiving stares, we know it won't really hurt to show how close we are. We silently clasp hands, forming an eight-person chain. Jacob is on the far left clasping Nessie's left hand in his right. On her other side is me, holding hands with my daughter and my husband. One place to Edward's right is Alice, followed by Jasper and Rosalie. Finally, on the far right, stands Emmett.
Everyone watches as our family walked toward the office. Of course, we're all, with the possible but unlikely exception of Jake, undeniably beautiful. Not one person in the parking lot isn't gawking at our gracefulness, Alice in particular, when we silently slip through the school's front door.
As soon as we receive our schedules, we compare classes. The only reason we hadn't before is that Alice wouldn't tell us what they were. Edward and I share five classes, Alice and Jasper three, Emmett and Rosalie all seven, and Jacob and Nessie four. It still amazes me how easily vampires can persuade humans to give them the exact schedules they want.
Nothing eventful happens…until lunch.
We sit down in the most secluded area of the cafeteria that we can find. Although we all buy food, Jacob is the only one to eat any of it. But he can eat all the food on everyone's tray, anyway. He is halfway through his third plate when we hear footsteps behind us. The sound is ignored until—
"Well, well, well. If it isn't Bella." A loud voice drawls. We all turn. There stands a tall boy, with hair so blonde it has to have been bleached.
"When did you move here, Ian?" I reply without missing a beat.
The boy blinked once, obviously taken aback. Whether by my new voice, appearance, family, or just by the fact that I remember him is anyone's guess. He quickly regains his composure. A snarl is building deep in Edward's chest, obviously responding to Ian's thoughts. Luckily, it is quiet enough that Ian misses the sound altogether.
Eventually, Ian says, "Bella, you're being rude. You didn't introduce me to your friends."
I groan then say, "Everybody, this is Ian Masters. He is the brother of a friend from Phoenix. Ian, my sister Alice, my brothers Jacob and Emmett." When I say their names, Alice waves, Jacob nods, and Emmett cracks his knuckles threateningly. I then point at the other four in turn saying, "Edward and Renesmee Mason—we call her Nessie; and Jasper and Rosalie Whitlock. They are foster siblings."
"Hmmm…I never thought your mom was on for adoption or foster care…especially for this many kids."
"She's not."
"Then why…? Ian trails off.
"She isn't well." I reply; in the seven years since Nessie was born I have become a passable liar. "I was put into foster care when she went crazy. My dad, Charlie, had passed away. Eventually, Carlisle and Esme adopted me, as well as my brother, Emmett."
"You don't have a brother. At least not an older one." The boy accuses me. Edward's fists clench under the table.
"He grew up at my dad's. We weren't close, but when Charlie died he came to live with Renée and me. Then Renée lost it." I convey the story the rest of my family and I concocted and memorized this morning without so much as an incorrectly placed blink to give me away.
"Ah. I see." Comes the reply. "Lunch is almost over. You should eat." And he walks away, leaving us to watch as Jacob shovels in the remaining food.
On our way to our next class, Edward says, "Nice job telling that cover story, Love. But I'm worried."
"There is nothing to be worried about," I say, attempting to console him, knowing it's probably just him being worrisome again.
"Yes, there is." He insists, "He knows he was supposed to graduate seven years after you…and now he's graduating two years before."
"Crap."
"You see the problem."
"Well, we can address that problem when we come to it. Wait…"
"Bella, Love, tell me."
"If he asks, we can convince him I was friends with Amber, not Amelia. Hopefully."
"And that would help how?"
"Amber Masters, the girl in our French class, is his younger sister. Amelia is his older sister and the one I was actually friends with. Conveniently, Amber is currently a sophomore."
Edward's eyes sparkle. "Brilliant." He whispers. Then he kisses me on the cheek, just before entering our next class as the bell rings.