{Sister, I'm not much a poet, but a criminal and you never had a chance. ~Thank You For The Venom, My Chemical Romance~}

Chapter One

There was a new boy today.

Everyone was talking about him and his "hotness". According to the rumors-which were most likely not true-he was tall, probably well over six feet, with crazy bronze hair and deadly pale skin. No one really knew his eye colour. Some said it was a brown colour, others said gold. Some even said that it was black at times.

I just ignored the whispers that I heard all around. But one thing stood out to me the most-a velvety voice.

"Lauren, I'm not like that. Please, just let me go back to the cafeteria."

Who that was, I didn't know. I would suspect the new boy-no one turned down Lauren Mallory, the school's biggest slut.

I didn't eat lunch today, which wasn't a huge surprise. I lounged around, all alone. No one talked to me anymore, not after it happened.

And that, too, wasn't very surprising. I used to be the top dog, the Alpha of the pack, until that one day, when everything happened. Ruining my life was what people did for fun now.

The bell rang, and I dragged my feet along till I got to the Bio room. Mr. Banner was outside the door today, so I couldn't wait until the bell had rung to walk in. I sat down at my usual seat in the back, where no one would sit. Not even Mike Newton came and talked to me anymore before class, seeing as no one else would. He was more of a follower. He followed the flock of major sluts.

Me, I'm just Isabella Marie Swan, outcast, at your service.

"Ah, Mr. Cullen!" I heard Mr. Banner say. The new guy. "Come sit over by…"

I looked up to see Mr. Banner meet eyes with me. He noticed the empty chair next to me, and frantically looked for another open desk. Nope, mine was the only one. "Uh…Ms. Swan. Please raise your hand Bella."

I rolled my eyes and looked back down. I was guessing the new guy wasn't that dense.

I heard the chair pull out next to me, and it made a noise against the floor, although I didn't wince from the high-pitched squeak. Poor boy had to sit by me.

I looked up again to see the strangest eyes I'd ever seen. They were a soft golden colour, and they looked to be natural. But how could they be?

And the rumors did him no justice. His strange bronze hair was messy, yet soft looking, and for some reason it took all my willpower not to run my hand through his hair. His face was boyish, yet angular, his cheekbones defined. His lips were pink and full, and his skin so pale that he could've been taken for dead. And his figure was muscular, ever so muscular.

At that moment, he looked over at me, and smiled a crooked smile that melted my frozen heart. I flushed red, something that hadn't happened in forever. I attempted a smile, but it came out a grimace. I felt a twisting in my stomach, and it sure felt like butterflies.

That's not right. I don't fall for anyone. It's just not fair.

"Hey," he said. His voice was velvety…like that one guy's.

I just nodded.

"I'm Edward."

"Bella."

He sighed, and ran a hand through his hair. "You smell nice."

I frowned, but nodded. "You're new."

It wasn't a question, it was a statement.

"Yes," he answered slowly, hesitantly, like he wasn't sure what to say.

"Where are you from?"

He laughed. "You mean what's my story?" I was about to shake my head, but he held up one perfect hand. "It's fine, I'll tell you. I was born in Chicago, but my parents died, so I was adopted. I moved to Alaska, and then my parents moved down here. Carlisle and Esme Cullen-maybe you know my father."

Well, duh. Renee went on all the time about the doctor. And I had my share of hospital visits, when Carlisle would sub. "Yeah, I know him. Dr. Cullen."

"That's the guy. Well, here I am." Edward smiled that smile again, and I just about died.

I nodded, then turned my attention to our teacher. Mr. Banner was going on about mitosis, sadly. That was his favorite topic. I already knew the stages of mitosis, I mean come on. Prophase, Metaphase, Anaphase, and Telophase. Easy as pie.

I looked around the room to see Mike Newton glaring at Edward and looking longingly at me. I stared at him long and hard, until he looked at me. I shot him a glare, then wrote furiously on a piece of paper.

(Bella, Edward)

This is so stupid.

I thrust the paper at Edward, and sat waiting for an answer.

Right.

I didn't reply.

After class, I swept out of the room, annoyed that I had even thought this new guy was different. He sensed that I wasn't just someone he could screw over. I bet that's all he really wants.

I heard someone walking behind me, and I turned to look at them in an annoyed way.

"Well?" I asked, not realizing who it was. It was Edward Cullen.

"What is your problem?" he asked, furious. He was so pretty when he was mad…

"It's hard to pronounce," I told him.

"I'm not stupid, Bella. Why do you shy away from everyone?"

"Wouldn't you like to know," I muttered. I started to walk away before I felt a cold hand grasp my wrist. A shock of electricity ran through my veins.

"You're the only slightly normal person here. What is up with you?"

"Most people tell me I'm easy to read. Why don't you figure it out yourself?"

Edward grimaced. "Well, I don't think you're easy to read."

"Whatever, Edward." A shock ran through my body when I spoke his name. "I don't even care, so why do you?"

Edward jumped back, surprised. "You're right. Why do I care about some rude girl who won't even talk to me?"

"Good question," I complimented him before turning away. I walked away briskly, heading in the direction of the gym. Pshh. Like I'd actually go.

I headed toward my old truck, and left school early. Once I got home, I was glad to see Charlie hadn't decided to grace Renee and I with his stupid presence. Like he really cared about us.

My father, Charlie Swan, had left my mom, Renee, and I alone when I was four. He said he didn't really care. But at night, at about eleven, he'd call to talk to me. This went on for about two years, and then Renee found out. She was supporting us on a small budget, and I usually got clothes from consignment shops. It was a hard knock life.

When my mom found out, she banned me from talking to my dad. One night he came home and beat my mother up bad, and then told me he'd take me away and support me. I didn't understand at all why this was happening. I was only about seven then.

Nobody at school knew. It wasn't until I was fourteen that everyone found out.

By middle school, I was queen of the kingdom called school, and everyone wanted to be my friend. I was twelve when school started in seventh grade, my mom was getting money from a trust fund in Florida, and I got the latest clothes. Then eighth grade came, and Jessica Stanley came over one night. Charlie came over that night too, and beat my mother, and he screamed that I had hindered any chance of a relationship between them. By that time, I absolutely despised my father. Jessica told the whole school about what happened, and then everyone hated me for my dumb dad. Really sucks.

I pulled out a book, and started reading. It was a new favorite of mine, The Summoning. It was about this chick, Chloe Saunders, and she could see ghosts. Awesome.

I got up to get a drink from the fridge, and I caught my reflection in the mirror.

I was wearing a pair of black skinny jeans with a grey tank top the color of the clouds in the sky. I was wearing my All-Star Converse that was all black. A bit of eyeliner and mascara, black shadow, and you could pretty much call me a punk.

I was also wearing a green studded belt.

I grabbed some Mountain Dew, and headed back up to my room. I played Don't Trust Me, by 3OH!3, which made me feel better.

Don't trust a hoe

Never trust a hoe

Won't trust

Cause a hoe won't trust me

I started laughing bitterly. That's right, never trust Lauren.

I heard a soft knock on my door, and a "Honey?"

It was my mom. I opened the door to see her tired eyes. She was still wearing her soft blue waitress dress, minus the apron. Her cell phone was in her hand, and her lipstick was still intact. Her hair was up in a bun, and there were very few flyaways.

"Hey, mom," I greeted her.

"Hi, Bells. How was your day?" She walked in and sat on my bed, patting the spot next to her, even though it was my room. I giggled a little, and sat down.

"It was okay. The same as always. But there was a new guy-uh, Edward Cullen," I told her quickly. She knew no one talked to me.

"Oh, like Dr. Cullen's son? I hear he's nice."

"Mom, I don't want a boyfriend. I'm perfectly fine being alone until college."

"Oh, Bella. You know I feel bad that you have no friends-no offence," she apologized. I shrugged. "But if you never even get married…"

"Then that's how fate put it," I told her simply. "No big."

But it was a big. I wanted kids, I wanted acceptance. I wanted a boyfriend. But that didn't matter. I learned a long time ago wanting gets you nowhere.

"Honey…" my mom said. She stopped herself, and then just started stroking my hair. "Whatever you want."

I gulped, and nodded. I was not going to cry in front of my mother.

"All right, well, I'm going to go make some dinner. Spaghetti's good, am I right?"

"Delish, mom. Thanks."

My mother smiled, and headed out. That's when I let the tears fall.

I shouldn't care, that's what I tell myself. Yet I still do.

The phone rang, and I picked it up before my mom could, which was just a game between us. I laughed, and then composed myself enough to say, "Hello, Swan residence."

"Bella! Thank God you picked up!"

I quickly figured out who was on the phone, and I started to gasp for breath.

"Bella? Are you there?"

Charlie wanted to talk to me?! What a retard.

"Come on, Bella, answer me, damn it!"

"Don't ever call us again, Charlie." I hung up the phone.

I only started crying again, and Renee came upstairs.

"Bella, please open the door. Please, Bella."

I opened the door, and my mom held her arms out. I cuddled myself into her embrace, and sobbed. "Shh, baby. Don't pay any attention to him. Shh."

I just sobbed and sobbed. Soon enough, Renee pulled me downstairs and gave me a glass of water.

"What did he say?" she demanded as soon as I could talk.

"He didn't really say much. He wanted to talk to me, and he asked if I was there when I didn't say anything. Then he cussed at me when I was still quiet, and then I told him not to call again," I told Renee. She sighed deeply, and picked up the phone, cradling it in her grasp.

"I'm going to call the police, so they can stake out the house. We can't stay home tonight, I don't think. He's probably going to come."

I let out a soft cry of fear. "You think he might come right now?"

Renee looked at the clock for a second, thinking. She turned back to me and shook her head. "I would think he'd wait until about ten or so. It's only seven. Go pack some stuff into a bag, please."

I nodded solemnly. Damn Charlie. He had condemned us into a life full of fear and anger. My mother and I could never count on waking up every morning after he called. I was often so scared of my father that I wouldn't even talk to him on the phone. It took a lot of bravery just to talk to him today. My father was the predator, and my mom and I…we were his prey.

That's my life. And frankly, it sucked.

AN: Well hello again! I noticed that FanFiction broke (at least on my computer) and I couldn't even sign in, so I didn't expect so many reviews. I really enjoy writing this story and I figure since TBOTE is nearly finished, better start on another story, eh? I hope now that it's all been explained about Charlie that the preface may make a little more sense. This isn't the longest chapter (only 2, 125 words) but I really want some feedback. Reviews?

Now it's time for questions! Basically all I'll do is ask a few questions, completely random, and all you have to do is sit back, relax, and answer the questions in a review. (:

What is your favorite movie of all time, other than Twilight? (Mine would be Sweeney Todd.)

How do you waste time? (Like texting on your phone, going on the internet, Facebook, etc.)

I can't think of anymore questions – my brain's all mush since today was the first day back to school. We actually got homework. :P

Hope you enjoyed the chapter! Please answer the questions and review!!