Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.

Chapter 3 – Getting into the Routine

Our second day at Forks High passed by normally and much like the first. Well, if you didn't take into account how tense Bella was whenever I saw her, and how her eyes flitted about every now and then searching for a particular face. Her eyes often straying over to the Cullen's table during lunch where one member was noticeably missing.

I patted her back in encouragement as the bell rang signalling it was time for Bella to go to biology. "Hey, he wasn't at lunch so he's probably not going to be there." I told her, knowing full well he wasn't going to be in for the rest of the week.

"…I'm not sure if that's good or bad." She admitted "I don't want to be glared at again but I also kinda want to confront him."

"Well, you won't know which unless you get to class. I gotta get to mine, see you later!" I told her, jogging over to where Jessica was waiting with Lauren who was impatiently tapping her foot. "Don't stomp your last season Prada shoes at me."

She snorted, turning as we made our way to Biochem "I've known you for two days and can already tell you're never going to stop referencing movies at me."

"You'd be right." I agreed gleefully, linking her arm with mine as I pulled her along.

Jessica jogged a little to keep up with our stride, eying our linked arms with a look of envy that she quickly tried to hide as she commented "Wow, you two really get along, huh?"

"It's always a toss up when you meet someone with a similar personality to yours." I told her "You can either end up being best friends or hate each other's guts."

"We hate each other's guts." Lauren stated deadpan causing me to laugh.

Jessica seemed a little unsure what to make of us, likely having held Lauren's number two spot for a while, before hesitantly joining in my laughter as we finally got to our class. My smile dropped a little as the short brunette entered before us, not really liking the girl who had only approached my sister to bask in the 'new girls' popularity. Honestly girl, I have no interest in your high school drama, but you hurt Bella and we'll be having problems.

I was snapped out of my thoughts as Lauren jerked me over to our shared desk, shooting me a look of confusion as to why I'd stopped in the first place. I shook my head sliding into my seat, the blonde thankfully letting me brush off her unspoken question this time as she settled in beside me for class to begin.

The class passed by quickly, nothing of interest happening, until finally the bell rang, letting us know it was time for our last period. Lauren, Jessica and I were usually some of the first arrivals, which meant we managed to get changed into our gym uniforms before the lockers got too crowded, claiming a mirror to ourselves to we could put our hair up neatly.

"Remember," I told them as we walked into the gym "try not to let the ball go to Bella."

Jessica nodded, only to hesitate as Lauren scoffed "Do you honestly have to baby her? She'll have to play eventually."

"Hey, it's as much for our benefit as it is hers." I told her, walking backwards so I could face them with a smirk "Trust me, she'll could take the other team out but it's more likely to be one of us."

That earned a snort, before she let out a put-upon sigh "Fine. But I'm not covering her."

"Never said you had to." I replied easily "Just let the others know."

Thankfully the class passed without incident, Bella and I not getting a chance to talk as I spent my time deflecting balls away from her as she spent hers avoiding them. We eventually managed to talk once both of us were piling into the truck, I being the one to start the conversation "So, how did biology go?"

She flicked her eyes over to me as she started the engine, it coming alive with a loud roar as usual "You were right, he wasn't there."

"Did you decide whether that was good or bad?" I asked as we pulled out of the lot, turning to make our way into town rather than back home.

"It was a bit of a relief." She admitted "But I'm still annoyed."

"As you have every right to be." She shot me one of her small smiles as we continued the ride to the store in silence.

The shopping itself didn't take very long, the store quite small compared to what we were used to so it was easy to find things. Bella focussed on loading up the cart with things she knew she could make meals out of for the week, whereas I kept on throwing in different junk food and ready meals, which she sighed at but didn't protest.

We checked out using the grocery money dad had graciously handed us before we left this morning, Bella pocketing the receipt as I loaded our bags back into the cart, leaving the cashier with a 'thank you' as I wheeled it over to the truck to unload, returning the cart once finished as Bella started up the engine. I hopped back into the cab, fastening my belt as we turned back the way we came to finally make the drive home.

Upon reaching home I helped Bella bring in the groceries before leaving them for her to unpack, knowing from experience she'd prefer to do it her way and if I helped she'd end up having more work to do, moving things where she wanted them rather than where I'd put them.

I took her coat and bag when she handed them to me, hanging her coat up with mine on the hook by the front door as I exited the kitchen, before making my way upstairs, quickly dropping her bag inside the door of her room before finishing the trip to my own.

Once inside I dropped my bag near my bed, going over to my desk to log onto my laptop, setting the internet to connect while lamenting how slow everything was in comparison to the future. I kicked my shoes off, changing into something more comfortable to lounge in now that I was home before taking a seat at my desk, first checking my emails, deleting the junk before opening my daily email from mom.

Vanessa! Bella hasn't answered any of my emails is she doing okay? If she's having trouble settling in let me know please! Love you!

Mom.

I let out a sigh, sending back a quick response that I'd make her check her emails pronto and to not worry, Bella didn't seem to be having any trouble settling in and had even made a few friends already.

Pushing my chair back from the desk I stood, making my way out of my room and back downstairs to where Bella had just finished putting something into the oven. She looked over at me curiously as I entered "You hungry? Dinner's going to be a while, but I put the snacks we bought in the upper left cupboard."

"Mom says you haven't responded to any of her emails," I told her, with a smile "think you might want to respond before she calls dad."

"Crap." Bella brushed past me, calling back as she hurried up the stairs "I forgot!"

I did the nice thing and cleaned up what little mess Bella had made preparing dinner before following her upstairs, peeking my head in her open doorway to ask "What's the damage?"

"She said she'd be calling Charlie if I didn't respond by five-thirty." She answered, flicking her eyes at me briefly as she continued typing. "Did you already tell her that her blouse was at the dry cleaners?"

"Yup."

"Okay." She finished typing, moving her mouse to click send "Safe, and with twenty minutes to spare."

"I tidied up for you so can just do whatever till you need to check on dinner." I told her, receiving a thank you as she kicked her shoes off. I patted the door frame "Well, I'll be in my room if you need me."

She nodded, already reaching for her copy of Wuthering Heights as I left. What she loves about that book so much I'll never understand, but to each their own I guess.

Re-entering my room I picked up my bag as I re-took my seat, digging out various schoolbooks, settling deeper into my seat as I started in on my homework, having always been the type to get it out of the way as soon as possible.

I had finished my homework a while ago, having moved on to sketching when Bella popped her head around my door, giving a short knock "Hey, I'm going down to check on dinner if you want to come with. It shouldn't be long before Char-Dad's home."

"Sounds good." I stretched, feeling a satisfying crack as I rose from my seat, following her downstairs where she immediately went for the oven, reaching for the oven gloves to pull out the covered dish inside.

While Bella went about her business I started routing through the cupboard she had mentioned earlier, letting out a sound of triumph as I found what I was looking for, ripping the bag open to pop one in my mouth with a happy hum.

The sound of the front door opening and closing reached us, dad's voice calling out "Girls?"

Bella answered him, calling out from her place at the oven "Hey, Dad, welcome home." As he walked further in until he was able to see us.

"Thanks." He replied with a smile, cocking a brow when he saw me leaning against the counter eating a bag of animal crackers, not helping Bella in the slightest.

"'Sup."

He shook his head amused, hanging up his gun before stepping into the kitchen fully, sniffing curiously "What's for dinner?"

"Steak and potatoes." Bella told him, recovering the dish to place it back in the oven "It's got about 10 minutes left to go."

He looked relieved at the normal answer, likely having flashbacks to what mom considered cooking, before asking a bit awkwardly if she needed help. Bella of course waved him off to go watch TV while he waited, which wandered off to do easily, the sounds of a sports game of some kind eventually making their way over to us.

"Do you want me to set the table?" I asked, throwing away my now empty wrapper.

She looked over at me briefly as she continued to make the salad "If you wouldn't mind."

I did so, also pulling out some sauces to place I the middle in case anyone wanted some, before walking over to the bread bin, pulling out the loaf "Do you want any bread with yours?" Receiving a shake of the head 'no' I stepped out in the living room to ask dad the same "Do you want any bread?"

He turned his head, looking over the back of the sofa at me "Just a slice, with butter please."

"Got it."

Getting back I set about cutting and buttering the bread as Bella placed the strained the salad before placing it in a bowl we could help ourselves from in the middle of the table. She checked on the food again, this time declaring it finished as she switched the oven off. I stepped up to help her plate things up quicker as she called dad over.

"Smells good, Bell." He commented, taking his seat at the table.

"Thanks." She replied, sitting down with her plate as she placed his in front of him. "Help yourself to the salad."

He did so reluctantly, shooting me a thankful glance as I slid the dressing across the table to him. "So, how do you like the school? Have you made any friends?"

Bella finished off her bite before answering "Well, I have a few classes with a girl named Jessica. I sit with her friends and Vanessa at lunch. And there's this boy, Mike, who's very friendly. Everybody seems pretty nice."

"That must be Mike Newton." He nodded "Nice kid – nice family. His dad owns the sporting goods store just outside of town. He makes a good living off of all the backpackers who come through here."

"Do you know the Cullen family?" Bella tried to ask casually, shooting me a look when she met my knowing gaze.

"Dr Cullen's family? Sure, Dr Cullen's a great man." Dad answered, not having noticed our little exchange.

"They…the kids… are a little different. They don't seem to fit in very well at school." Bella commented.

"People in this town," Dad set his cutlery down as he spoke, agitated as he ranted "Dr Cullen is a brilliant surgeon who could probably work in any hospital in the world, make ten times the salary he gets here, we're lucky to have him. He's an asset to the community, and all those kids are well behaved and polite. I had my doubts, when they first moved in, with all those adopted teenagers. I thought we might have some problems with them."

He shook his head "But they're all very mature – I haven't had one speck of trouble from any of them. That's more than I can say for the children of some folks who have lived in this town for generations. And they stick together the way a family should – camping trips every other weekend…just because they're newcomers, people have to talk."

"They seemed nice enough to me." She backtracked "I just noticed they kept to themselves. They're all very attractive."

"You should see the doctor," He chuckled, picking his cutlery back up "a lot of the nurses at the hospital have a hard time concentrating on their work with him around."

"What does his wife have to say about that?" I asked, amused.

He shook his head, swallowing his food before answering "He doesn't have one, just lives with his sister and the kids."

What? I froze with my cup to my mouth, before placing it back on the table as I asked "I'm sorry, could you repeat that?"

He raised a brow, but did so "He's not married."

I thought this over, the first thing I'd come across besides my own existence that deviated from the story I knew, before deciding 'what the hell?' and using this chance to tease my dad, asking "Do you know if he's looking to fill the position?"

He paused, pointing his fork at me "None of that."

"What?" I asked innocently "He's got a good job, he's handsome…and to finish it all off he's good with kids. He's a catch."

"He's also too old for you." He stated bluntly, though couldn't hide a flicker of amusement "Keep dreaming kiddo."

Oh, dad. I thought, letting the subject drop as I resumed eating my dinner. You have no idea.

The rest of week passed by much the same as our second day, Edward still absent much to Bella's growing frustration, the only thing new being our invitation to join the rest of our new friend group to la push in 2 weeks, Bella surprisingly having agreed to go before I did.

The only thing that broke up the monotony of our weekend was our trip to Fork's public library on Saturday, which proved underwhelming as it wasn't very well stocked, most of the 'new' releases it had added already being a few years out of date. Bella mumbling to me on our way back home that we'd be better off going to a bigger city nearby soon, to which I let out a non-committal hum.

Before we knew it, our alarms were already going off on Monday morning, Bella and I sadly starting off our school day with Mr Mason surprising our English class with a pop quiz on Wuthering Heights, something I think I scored well on, if only because of Bella's undying love for the novel.

"Wow, it's snowing." Mike commented, joining us as we exited the building.

"Ew."

He peered over at Bella at her answer "Don't you like snow?"

"No. That means it's too cold for rain." She told him "Besides I thought it was supposed to come down in flakes – you know, each one unique and all that. These just look like the ends of q-tips."

He looked a bit dumbfounded "Haven't you ever seen snow fall before?"

"Sure I have. On TV." She answered honestly, turning to me as I patted her arm.

"I want to hit you with a snowball but decided not to because I'm such a good sister." I told her.

"Thanks." She replied monotone "I feel so loved."

"As you should!" I called back cheerily, swinging an arm around her shoulder which caused her to crack a smile.

Our attention was drawn back to Mike as his head jerked forward from the pressure of a snowball hitting him harshly in the back of it. He whirled around looking for the perpetrator, which was obviously the casually retreating figure of Eric who was whistling as he walked off, hands behind his head. Obviously Mike thought the same, his gaze narrowing on him as he slowly began piling snow into his hands.

"I'll see you at lunch, okay?" Bella told him "Once people start throwing wet stuff, I go inside." He gave her a nod, not taking his eyes off Eric as he tightly packed the snow into balls.

With that said Bella pulled me with her inside where we chatted until having to split up for our next lessons, waving goodbyes as we promised to see each other at lunch as usual.

I met up with Lauren at the entrance to our art class, the girl rolling her eyes at my almost tardiness, pulling me inside impatiently to take a seat next to her. "What took you so long?"

"I walked Bella to her class first." I replied, unpacking what I needed for the class onto my desk.

She let out a huff, pausing for a moment as the teacher arrived, telling us to continue with whatever we had been working on last lesson and to keep the noise level reasonable before retreating to her desk to work on her own projects. Lauren turned back to me once everyone else resumed their conversations, commenting snidely "Do you really need to walk her to her class? Honestly, does she really need you to hold her hand wherever she goes?"

"Hey now," I stopped to look at her, eyes narrowing at her tone "she's my sister who I love very much, don't diss her just because she's getting a lot of attention at the moment for being new."

"You're new." She stated bluntly, flipping through her sketchbook harshly "If that was the reason I didn't like her I wouldn't like you either."

"Oh?" I looked back to my sketchbook, flipping to the page of my newest sketch before turning to look at her properly "Why don't you like her then?"

She remained silent for long enough that I thought she wasn't going to answer before finally sighing "It's just…she really doesn't like it here, does she? And she doesn't even bother to hide it. I just find it really annoying is all, like you told you before that you both chose to come here, she didn't have to yet still acts like she's some kind of martyr."

Ah. "You know Lauren," I started, the girl already looking at me in defiance "you actually have a point."

She blinked at me, obviously not having expected that answer before quickly retorting "Of course I do."

"You don't have to like her, but can you tone down the comments?" I requested "Cuz I understand your reasoning, but the thing is, I also understand hers. You're both different people and to be honest I doubted you'd get along anyway, but you're my friend and I'd like to keep it that way." I told her "So, will you?"

"I suppose." She agreed after a moment, turning back to her art "But only because you're my friend."

"Thank you."

The rest of our classes passed normally, Lauren and I falling back into our regular mood easily, Angela joining us as usual when we left Math to make our way to lunch.

Lauren and I got in the que behind Bella, Jess, and Mike, though they hadn't seemed to notice, too caught up in their own conversation. Well, I say conversation, I mean more of the both of them talking at Bella who was trying her best to make it look like she was listening, which she failed at as I saw her visibly freeze up upon catching sight of Edward sitting at the Cullen's lunch table once more.

I nudged Lauren, making sure I had her attention before I made a show of stepping around the three amigos to retrieve my lunch. Her mouth twitched as she followed after me, doing the same as Jessica waved a hand in front of Bella's face "Hello? Bella? What do you want?"

"What's with Bella?" I heard Mike ask as I moved on, placing a can of coke on my tray before going over to pay for my food.

"Nothing," Bella answered, finally snapping out of her daze "I'll just get a soda today."

"Aren't you hungry?" Jessica asked, though it didn't sound as if she was actually concerned.

"Actually, I feel a little sick." Was Bella's excuse as she rushed to the pay point with her bottle of lemonade, her shooting me a weak smile as I passed her with my tray, heading for what was now 'our' table.

"What was all that about?" Lauren asked once we'd taken our seats at the usual table, Angela perking up in curiosity from where she was already sat with her packed lunch.

"Oh, you know." I peered over my shoulder at where the three were finally making their way over to us, flicking my gaze to the Cullen's table briefly before turning back to the girls "Just Bella's obsession with Edward flaring up again now that he's back."

"Cullen?" Lauren confirmed, snorting as I nodded "Oh, she's one of those is she?"

"I'm sure she's not obsessed." Angela tried to defend, her being the sweet bean she is.

I patted her on the arm as I told her "She hasn't shut up about him since she met him last Monday." Thinking back to the random rants I'd been subjected to as I picked up my chips, opening the packet to poor them onto my plate next to my lasagne "Though, to be fair, it's mostly complaints about how much of a dick he was to her in biology."

They both looked like they wanted to ask more but held back as Bella took her seat next to me, Mike sitting next to her as Jessica took the spare seat next to Angela. Lauren shot me a pointed look as if to say this discussion was not over, to which I very maturely stuck my tongue out, her tossing one of her fries at me in retaliation.

Our attention was drawn to Jess as she bluntly asked "Bella, what are you staring at?"

Bella quickly turned away from where she had been clearly been staring over at the Cullen table, trying to hide behind her hair as Jessica looked over in the same direction, sounding a bit put out as she said "Edward Cullen is staring at you."

"He doesn't look angry, does he?" Bella asked quietly, looking down at her drink that she was cradling on the table between her two hands.

"No," Jessica replied drawing out the 'o' "should he be?"

"I don't think he likes me."

"The Cullens don't like anybody… well they don't notice anybody enough to like them." Jessica amended "But he's still staring at you."

"Oh who cares?" I interjected, getting fed up with the topic "Like I've told you before, there's no reason for him to not like you, and even if he does you've still got others who do. What's one high school asshole in the long run?"

"Vanessa!" Bella scolded me for my language, though couldn't hide the upturn of her lips as a smile threatened to break free.

I shot her a smile before turning to look at where Lauren was idly patting Angela on the back as she had choked on her drink at my words, "You doing okay there, sugar plum?"

She let out a few short coughs, eyes watering a bit as she answered "Yeah, I'm okay."

"Word of advice – the drink is supposed to go down the other pipe." My words earned a snort from Lauren as Angela tossed the balled-up foil from her sandwich at me, making me laugh, the others joining in as thankfully the rest of the conversation during lunch focused on other topics than moody Edward Cullen.

Biochem passed by quickly after lunch, ending with us being dismissed before the bell rang for once, Lauren shooting off as she held up her folder telling me she was going to put it in her locker and to go on ahead, which led to me being able to meet up with Bella as she practically ran out of her biology class, almost crashing into me in her hurry.

I reached out to grab onto her arms steading her before she could slip "Woah there, where's the fire? Somehow I don't think you're this excited for gym."

Bella calmed down, sighing in relief upon seeing it was just me she'd almost crashed into, reaching an arm out to link with mine as we made our way in the direction of the gym. "…Edward rushed out of class first, I wanted to see if I could catch him."

"I didn't see him when I got there." I told her, my brows furrowing. He must've used his vampire speed to get away.

"Yeah, he's fast." She muttered, reaching up to tuck some of her hair behind her ear. "…He apologised to me today."

"As he should. He may be a teenage boy but that's no excuse to be a dick." I shushed her before she could complain about me swearing again "Do you feel better now?"

She remained silent for a moment as we walked before a small smile turned up her lips "…Yeah."

"Good." I said, patting her arm that was still linked with mine as we approached the locker rooms "Too bad your mood won't last, we're playing volleyball again today."

Her face dropped as she let out a groan, letting me pull her along into the locker rooms to get changed, before heading out into the gym with the others.

The boys' had been sent to the other half of the gym to play basketball whereas us girls had been split into teams to play volleyball. Today Jessica had been assigned the captain of the team opposing us, I having dragged Bella onto my team where I could do the best damage control after Lauren had picked me to be on hers.

Unfortunately, despite my many warnings that I'd repeated both today and whenever we had gym the week previous, the volleyball still ended up heading toward Bella, who in true Bella fashion squeezed her eyes shut upon seeing it, flailing at it in reflex, her hand actually making contact which sent it flying off of our court and over to the boys where it smacked Mike Newton right in the back of the head.

"Ow!"

"Ten points." I commented, hearing some sniggering from our teammates "Would've been 15 but you got him in the back of the head not the front."

Bella hissed my name in embarrassment before rushing over to Mike, I following behind at a slower pace "Are you alright? I warned them not to make me play."

"It's only a flesh wound." He laughed it off upon seeing that it was my sister who had hit him.

"You know, they say that if you get hit in the head you lose a few braincells," I remarked casually, peering at him as if he was an experiment "You've been hit twice today, how many do you think you've got left?"

Bella gave me a light shove as he laughed, rubbing the back of his head, obviously not realising as Bella had, that I was in fact implying that he was stupid. I reached out to retrieve the volleyball that had rolled back to lie near his feet after it had struck him, shooting him a salute in goodbye as I dragged Bella off to rejoin our game.

Well, that memory was sure to keep me amused for a while, I thought looking over to meet Lauren's gaze who nodded at me in understanding, having now finally seen why making sure the ball didn't go near Bella was actually necessary.

So originally Carlisle was going to be in this chapter but it ended up getting to be almost twice the size of the previous two so I decided to split it and leave the crash scene (which is already at 3000+ words) for the next chapter.

At least it means it gets updated sooner \(^^)/

And she at least finds out he's not married in this chapter so...