Here's Chapter Two! Please let me know what you think!

CHAPTER TWO

FIRST DAY AT FORKS HIGH

A loud, belching noise came from Bella's truck as she parked beside my jeep. All eyes turned to her as she climbed out of her truck and stepped into a puddle. I sat in my jeep for a moment, watching silently. I didn't want to come out yet. I didn't want to go to school.

But Bella came over to my window, ear bud in one ear, and knocked lightly, "Did you take them?" I sighed and nodded, opening my car door and getting out. After locking up my jeep I followed Bella to the office to get our class schedules.

It was the middle of the term. This should be great.

We went our separate ways then. I went through the motions of going to classes and handing my pass to every teacher, as well as a medical note. After that, all I got were concerned looks that made each class pass slower than the last.

I was relieved when the lunch bell rang. I felt so tired and drained already. I just wanted to go home and crawl into bed. I didn't want to go into the lunch room. I didn't feel like eating. But I needed to find Bella. I needed to see one familiar face in this hell hole. School was never my thing. But having my sister there with me made it bearable.

I found Bella with two people, a blonde guy and a girl with straight brown hair, carrying their trays to a table. I walked over, about to take the seat next to her when an Asian boy squished into it. He looked at the blonde guy while I just stood there, staring, not willing to speak out, "Mike, you met my home girl Bella."

'Mike' gave him a look, "Your home girl."

The brown haired girl caught sight of me standing awkwardly with my hands in my pockets and stuttered, "Can we help you?"

I couldn't say anything. I just stood there. Bella looked behind her and saw me, "Callie! Come sit." She seemed happy to see me, which made me relieved. Bella gave the Asian kid a look and he scooted over, closer to an Asian looking girl.

I took the seat and Bella gave me an one-armed hug. Suddenly a flashbulb blinded us. We looked up and saw that the sweet looking again girl had taken a photo of us. She smiled shyly, "Sorry, needed a candid for the feature-"

But she was interrupted by the Asian boy snapping, "Feature's dead, Angela. Don't bring it up again." He looked at Bella, "I got your back, baby."

Angela looked disappointed, "Guess we'll just run another editorial on teen drinking."

I don't know why I said it. Maybe seeing Angela look so let down made me want to make it better. But I piped up then, "You should do one on disorders. They're not as uncommon as people would like to believe. I think too much attention is put into the alcohol and drugs and people make it seem like those are the only problems teens have to go through."

Bella looked at me wide-eyed and shocked. But Angela smiled and said, "That's good... Thanks."

I looked to Bella when I felt her arm go slack on my shoulders. I looked to her to see her staring at the cafeteria door. I looked that way to see the double doors of the cafeteria swing open as four of the most astounding people walk in. Two guys, two girls, all chalky pale, purplish shadows under their eyes... and all devastatingly beautiful.

They moved through the room with effortless grace and took a seat at the table furthest from ours. Bella leaned over to Jessica and Angela, "Who are they?"

"The Cullens," Angela answered slowly after she looked to who Bella was referring. I kept starring at them, sitting at the table, with no food. I had no room to talk though, I wasn't eating either.

Jessica leaned in, in gossip mode, "Doctor and Mrs. Cullen's foster kids. They all moved down here from Alaska two years ago."

"They kinda keep to themselves," Angela said.

I heard them talking while I starred.

"Because they're all together. Like, together together. They blonde girl, Rosalie, and the big dark-haired, Emmett..."

I saw the pale girl with long platinum blonde hair, model beautiful, next to a big, brawny, dark haired guy with a playful glint in his eyes.

"... they're a thing. I'm not even sure that's legal."

"Jess, they're not actually related," Angela was saying.

"But they live together. And the little dark haired girl, Alice, she's really weird..."

I saw the pixie-like, rail thin, light on her feet girl with short hair going in every direction. She hovered over a boy with honey-blonde haired, tall and lean boy with a slightly tortured expression on his face.

"...and she's with Jasper, the blonde one who looks like he's in pain. I mean, Dr. Cullen's like this foster dad slash match maker."

"Maybe he'll adopt me."

I heard Bella laugh. Then she got quiet and I knew something else distracted her. Soon enough I saw a lanky guy with untidy bronze hair walk over and sit at the table with the Cullens. He was more boyish than the others.

"Who's he?" I heard Bella.

"That's Edward Cullen."

Suddenly Edward looked over, as if he heard Jessica from across the room. His eyes locked on something beside me, and I knew he was looking at Bella. But he had this confused look on his face. I couldn't help but think that we should be the confused ones.

"He's totally gorgeous, obviously. But apparently, no one here is good enough for him. Like I care. Anyway, don't waste your time."

I wanted to snort. It was obvious that she did care. And I wondered when Edward turned her down. But I kept silent, my eyes on the pale ones.

"I wasn't planning on it," I heard Bella answer. But she was obviously discouraged and disappointed.

I saw Edward look at Bella again with a frustrated expression on his face, outright staring now.

After school that day, Bella and I went to the administration office to turn in our passes. We saw Edward there, trying to sweet-talk the enchanted administrator into something. He didn't seem to know we were there. "There must be something open sixth period. Physics? Bio chem?"

The middle aged woman shook her head sadly, "No every class is full. I'm afraid you'll have to stay in Biology. I'm so sorry."

I looked to Bella as she blanched, looking deeply offended. The administrator saw us and gestured for us to wait one moment. But Edward suddenly straightened as if sensing us. He slowly turned to glared at Bella with hate-filled eyes. She backed into the wall with what seemed to be fear. I wish I could have been a better sister, and defended her in some sort of way. But I couldn't. I felt so hopeless, helpless. Useless.

Edward turned to the administrator, "I'll just... endure it." He strode out of the door with a chilling air behind him.

The plump 40 year old woman turned to us with a cheery smile, "How'd your first day go?"

After settling everything in the administration office, Bella and I drove to a quaint diner to meet Dad for something to eat.

We found ourselves all sitting silently at the table. Cora, the waitress, set a sirloin steak in front of dad and a plate of cod in front of Bella. She beamed at both of use, "Can't get over how grown up you two are. And so gorgeous."

Bella glanced at Dad, who kept his eyes on his steak. She then looked at me, looking for someone to share in her embarrassment. But she knew she wouldn't get that from me. I was too disconnected to feel any kind of embarrassment. And it was nice to have someone notice me for something other than a hospital bracelet or the colorful pills I have to take.

A bearded, hippy logger, in his fiftys, walked up behind Cora, smiling at Bella, "'Member me, honey? I was Santa one year."

"Waylon," Dad but in with a weary look on his face, "she hasn't had a Christmas here since she was four."

Waylon grinned, "Bet I made an impression, though."

"You always do," Dad agreed.

Cora smiled and lightly smacked Waylon's shoulder, "Let the girl eat her cod, Waylon," She then smiled to Bella, "When you're done, I'll bring your favorite – berry cobbler. Remember? Your dad still has it. Every Thursday." Dad looked down, uncomfortable. I know I would have felt jealous. That Dad had Bella's favorite every week, when I'm closer to him. But I didn't feel much of anything.

I could see on Bella's face that she didn't remember anything at all but she just said, "That'd be great, thank you."

Cora put a hand on my shoulder and asked concerned, "Are you sure you don't want anything, Callie? I can bring out your favorite – apple pie." She laughed to herself as if remembering a joke, "Your dad has that too. Orders in every Friday."

That, I know, would have made me feel better. That dad brought my favorite into the house, our home. But, yet again, I couldn't feel much of anything.

So I shook my head, "No, thank you. I'm fine. Really."

Cora didn't look convinced. She looked like she wanted to cook me up a buffet and shove it down my throat. I would have given her some semblance of a smile to appease her. But I could only give her a blank look. She shooed Waylon away and went to the kitchen.

Alone now, it was silent again. Dad and Bella both reached for the salt and knocked hands. Dad went to take the ketchup instead. A burst of laughter from a nearby family only served to emphasize our discomfort.

Bella awkwardly tried to bridge the gap, "So... you eat here every night?"

"Better than washing dishes."

"I can cook," Bella offered.

Dad looked up, as if confused by the concept of home cooking.

"Callie and I did the cooking at home – in Phoenix. Mom's not great in the kitchen."

Dad eyes crinkled at the corners like mine did when I wanted to smile but couldn't, "I remember."

Bella and Dad laughed, and I wanted to.

"How was school? Meet anyone?" Dad asked.

He looked at me first so I just shook my head, "I'd like to forget the whole day, if at all possible."

Dad looked at me sadly, and I could tell that he just wanted to fix everything inside me that was broken. But we had to wait it out, like the doctors said. "I'm sure it will get better, Callie."

I nodded, not convinced, "Maybe." I stood and slid into the seat right beside him and laid my head on his shoulder. I felt his tense body soften as he moved to put his arm around me.

"Do you know the Cullen family?" Bella interrupted.

Dad looked up sharply at him, "Are people talking about them again?"

"No," Bella started, "...well, a little."

Dad looked frustrated, "Just 'cause they're newcomers. We're lucky to have a surgeon like Dr. Cullen at our Podunk hospital. Lucky his wife wanted to live in a small town. Lucky his kids aren't like a lot of the hell-raisers around here."

"...okay," Bella muttered, awkward.

"I just don't like narrow mindedness," Dad explained. He returned to his food.

I piped up, "I like them. They're weird. Like me."

Bella and Charlie burst out laughing happily as if I said the funniest thing in the world. I wanted to smile so badly.

Later that night Bella and I were in her room hanging out when Mom called. Bella was looking out at the fog as she talked to her. It was on speaker.

"If spring training goes well, we could be living in Florida permanently."

We heard a telephone operator say, "Please insert 25 cents to continue."

"Mom," Bella started with a smile on her face as if to say 'she's done it again', "where's your cell?"

"Okay, I didn't lose my power cord. It ran away. Screaming. I literally repel technology now." Bella smiled, missing mom. "Now, tell me more about your school, baby. What are the kids like? Are there any cute guys? Are they being nice to you?"

Bella hesitated, "They've all been really... welcoming."

I heard mom sigh, "Oh, dear, tell me all about it."

Bella started pushing around her text books and said, "No... it's really fine. Why don't you talk to Callie?"

I heard mom sigh again, "Alright..."

Bella handed me the phone and I tried not to let tears show in my voice at the obvious chore it must be to talk to her inflicted daughter. "Hey mom."

"Hey honey. How's Forks? How's school?" I heard it in her voice that she was being very cautious what to say to me.

I sat in Bella's desk chair, "Forks is very green. There's woods I can walk in. That's nice."

I heard the optimism in my mom's voice when she answered, "That's really good. I know how much you loved hiking. Even when you were little. Just don't go too far, okay, sweetie?"

I nodded before saying, "Okay."

"What about school? Make any friends?" I heard the hope in the question everyone wanted answered, yes.

"No, mom. You know how I am about school. I'd really like to take Phil up on his offer to pay for online classes." I asked again. We'd be going over this for five months.

"I know you do but honey, you need to be around kids your own age. You need to get the social experience. Hiding away isn't going to help you any." I wanted to cry. But Bella was here.

"I know, mom. I'm actually really late with some homework. And I'm sure Bella needs to get some sleep. And I need to take my pills. I'll talk to you later, okay?"

"Okay, honey. I love you."

"Yeah. Bye."

The next day at school, Edward Cullen didn't show.

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