Chapter Eleven

Alice

Bella was looking around nervously as if afraid to ask for help so I dragged Edward over smiling brightly at her,

"Hi you must be Bella Swan. I'm Alice Cullen and this is my foster brother Edward. Are you lost?"

She nodded shyly not making eye contact and I knew there was more to this girl's history than I already knew. I slipped my arm through hers,

"Come on, Ill take you to the office. I'll see you in class Edward"

I pecked him on the cheek and led her off seeing his eyes begin to darken as his brow furrowed in confusion.

"So what do you think of Forks Bella?"

"Oh I've only been here a couple of days but it seems very friendly. I think I spoke to your foster dad yesterday, Dr Cullen isn't it?"

"Yes, Carlisle is a lovely man, we're very lucky to have him as our dad, anyway here we are. I'll leave you in good hands."

I watched her approach the office desk like a scared doe, was this shrinking violet really Jasper's mate? I'd seen it but could I have been wrong? Looking at her I thought I might be after all.

Bella

I was OK until I got to school when I began to panic, not because the school was so big, it wasn't, no where near as large as the one I'd come from, more because I was the only stranger and I felt all eyes on me so when the pretty elfin girl came over with a tall handsome young man who must be her boyfriend I was relieved. It was a shock when she took my arm and guided me to the office but it felt good to know at least one person now. It didn't take long to get my paperwork sorted out and then the secretary gave me a map of the small campus and marked my first class for me sending me off with a smile of encouragement. Everyone else was already in the science lab as I entered blushing furiously but the teacher was kind enough and I found myself seated directly behind Alice's boyfriend Edward. He turned as I slipped into my place beside a dark haired girl with glasses who smiled,

"Hi I'm Angie. I hope you enjoy science because I loathe it"

We got on well during the practical although I was aware that Edward kept turning and shooting strange looks at me. I suddenly realised he had the same strange golden eyes as the doctor which was odd as he was only a foster child but I didn't think much more about it. Luckily I had all my morning lessons with Angie who not only helped me find my way around but introduced me to a lot of the other students who all knew who I was of course and by lunchtime I was feeling a lot less nervous even though whenever I turned around I would find Edward close by. Was he following me around or was I just being paranoid?

In the cafeteria Angie took me over to her table and pulled a chair over for me then introduced me again to her friends, Mike Newton, Jessica Stanley, Eric something or other, a guy called Tyler and a girl called Lauren although I got the feeling she wasn't particularly pleased to meet me. It was nice to have some friends and money to buy lunch, I'd always been the odd one out at school with no money for lunch and not even something from home. I didn't eat until night time at my mothers but I enjoyed getting a lunch and eating with the others who were busy chatting away about a beach barbecue they had planned for the weekend, if it didn't rain., That was a proviso I was to hear a lot in Forks, if it didn't rain, because it frequently did.

We'd been sitting for a few minutes when I saw Alice and Edward come in and behind them were another couple that had me staring. The guy was huge, built like a giant but with a kind face and holding his hand was the most beautiful girl I had ever seen with long silver blonde hair and a figure I'd only ever seen before on a model. Her expression was the opposite of her friends, she looked unhappy and I noticed her glance at our table, was it me she was looking at? Behind them walking alone although quite obviously with them was another guy. He had his head down and walked straight towards their table then hesitated and looked up as if he'd heard someone call him. I couldn't help looking at him, although not as big built as the giant he was still muscular but it was a more relaxed kind of strength. His dusty blond hair was slightly messy and I saw he too had the same strange golden eyes. As he turned away I thought I detected faint marks on his neck and throat but it could have been shadows reflecting off the rain splashed window. All of them were hauntingly beautiful in different ways and I could feel a slight tension in those around me.

Angela noticed my gaze and laughed quietly,

"I see you've noticed our strange family."

"Are they all Dr Cullens foster kids?"

"Yes, you know Alice and Edward. The blonde girl is Rosalie but she thinks she's too good for the rest of us and the guy with her is Emmett, they are an item like Alice and Edward."

"A little strange if you ask me. Living together in the same house and being couples."

I turned to Lauren to see a look of avid curiosity,

"Do you think they sleep together in that huge place they call home?"

Angela rolled her eyes and I looked away, embarrassed by the question and doing so I caught the single guys eye. He had turned his chair so he could see our table although I didn't flatter myself that his interest was in me.

"Who's the other guy?"

Lauren smiled and licked her lips,

"Gorgeous isn't he? I wouldn't mind finding him in my bed that's for sure"

Both Jessica and Angela hushed her while Mike who seemed used to Lauren's forwardness explained,

"That's Jasper Hale, Rosalie's twin brother. They're in the year above us but I wouldn't worry, none of them have much to do with the rest of us except Alice. They seem to think we're not worth their time or effort."

Rosalie laughed at that moment as if in reply to his words but of course it was a coincidence, she was too far away to have heard his whispered comment in the noisy room. The others went back to their barbecue planning but something about Jasper had me stealing glances at him from the safety of my long hair yet I got the strange feeling that he was aware of my interest. Then I saw Edward turn and the look he gave me made me shiver as if someone had walked over my grave, he scared me and I had no idea why.

"Hey Bella"

I turned back to my new friends,

"Sorry?"

"You are coming on Saturday aren't you? We have a beach barbecue and some of us go surfing. There's music and you'll get to meet more people quickly. Everyone brings something to eat, salad or a dessert, can you cook?"

"Yes"

I smiled at the question but Mike grabbed my arm and leaned across the table to stage whisper to me,

"There are those among us who can't, trust me"

Lauren scowled at him and got up throwing her bag over her shoulder she left the room swinging her hips with a certain amount of exaggeration and I understood she liked to be watched and admired. The Cullens left soon after Edward starting at me with that strange expression until they were out of sight but I was more worried about the food for the weekend. I wouldn't ask my dad, just use some of my own money, I didn't want him thinking I was taking him or his generosity for granted.