To say the whole school was on high alert was an understatement. The students—even the teachers—were buzzing with whispers about Sheriff Swan's daughter.
"Isabella," Eric had muttered to a group of guys loitering behind us. We were in the quad area, huddled at one of the few tables sheltered under the school's roof. I rubbed my hands together, my focus on my notes. There was a rumor that Mr. Varner was planning a pop quiz in Trigonometry class, and I was determined not to fail. Over my dead body would I let that happen.
Angela, sensing my usual chill, rubbed my shoulder to warm me up. We both knew I was always the one shivering, and I was trying to avoid using the only heat pack I had left in my bag. Her attention, however, was split between our conversation and a lively discussion with Jess about the new girl's car.
Angela and I had arrived a few minutes after Isabella had made her entrance, missing the spectacle that everyone seemed to be talking about. Jess was animatedly describing the scene, her words blending with the other murmurs around us. From what I could piece together, Isabella's arrival had been nothing short of dramatic, her presence stirring up a mix of curiosity and excitement among our classmates.
As I tuned into the chatter, it was clear that Isabella had already made an impression. Some speculated about her life in Phoenix, while others wondered how she would handle the small-town dynamics of Forks. The air was thick with anticipation, and though I tried to concentrate on my notes, I couldn't help but get swept up in the current of gossip.
"Did you see her car?" Jess was saying, her voice cutting through the din. "It's an old truck, but kind of cool in a vintage way."
"Yeah, I saw it," Angela replied, her tone thoughtful. "It looks good." I glanced up, my curiosity piqued. We hadn't seen Isabella yet, but from the snippets of conversation, it was clear that she was already becoming the center of attention. From Jessica's point of view, we hadn't missed much. According to her, the new girl wasn't anything special.
"She's pretty average for someone from Phoenix," she snorted, flipping her hair over her shoulder while casting a flirtatious glance at Mike. I didn't need to look up to know he winked back at her, eliciting a giggle before she continued her tirade.
Angela, ever the peacemaker, chimed in, "Well, maybe she's a kind girl? Give her a chance." It was in Angela's nature to see the good in everyone. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case for me. I narrowed my eyes at Jessica and muttered, "Insecure much?" while flipping through my notes.
"I just don't see what's so different about her," Jessica said, nodding toward the front office behind Angela and me. Isabella was inside, receiving all the necessary information and a welcoming speech from the office secretary.
From where we sat, we could hear Tyler's enthusiastic compliments about Isabella's looks echoing through the quad.
"She seems pretty special to them," I noted, glancing at the guys who were practically falling over themselves in their eagerness to catch a glimpse of the new girl. They seemed to be in their own little bubbles, completely absorbed.
Jessica's expression hardened, and she smacked her lips together in an offended manner. "Excuse me?" she snapped, her tone dripping with indignation. I shrugged, not bothering to engage further. The tension hung in the air, thick and palpable, as Jessica huffed while Angela, ever the peacemaker, tried to lighten the mood by steering the conversation towards a different topic.
Once Jessica had turned her attention back to Mike, who seemed more than happy to offer her a reassuring smile. Angela gave me a look that was half-amused, half-reproachful. "Do you always have to be so blunt?" she whispered, her eyes sparkling with a mix of exasperation and fondness.
"Only when it's deserved," I replied, my voice low enough so only she could hear. We shared a brief smile, and I felt a little of the earlier tension ease. My mind wandered to what Isabella might be like, and I wondered how she felt about all the fuss.
Angela's hand on my shoulder brought me back to the present. "Don't worry about the quiz," she said softly, offering a reassuring smile. "You'll do great." I nodded, grateful for her support. With a deep breath, I recited my notes, pushing aside the distractions.
Yet, in the back of my mind, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of anticipation. Despite my attempt to focus on my studying, my thoughts kept drifting back to Isabella. Jessica's dismissal of her had piqued my curiosity even more. What was the new girl really like? Was she as average as Jessica claimed, or was there something more? One thing was certain: her arrival had certainly stirred the pot at Forks High, and I had a feeling this was just the beginning. Seems like life at Forks High was about to get a lot more interesting.
I did my best to return to my notes, half-listening to the conversation and responding when necessary. "What do you think?" Angela asked suddenly. I looked up, blinking at the two of them.
"About what?" I asked, completely at a loss. I knew I couldn't hide that I hadn't been paying attention, and I wasn't particularly ashamed. Jessica, on the other hand, was clearly exasperated, her patience with me wearing thin these days.
I rolled my eyes just as the bell rang. 'Thankfully, luck is on my side,' I thought, quickly shoving my books and notes into my bag.
"You'll be eating lunch with us, right?" Angela asked, rising from her seat as well. I bit my bottom lip, glancing between her and Jessica, who was now waiting on the side, flirting with Mike.
The idea of spending lunch listening to Jessica's ongoing rants was far from appealing, but seeing the pleading look in Angela's eyes, I knew she felt the same way. With a reluctant nod, I agreed.
Angela mouthed a quick "thanks," before dragging Jessica away from Mike and towards their building for class. I quickly made my way to Mr. Varner's room, the rain starting to sprinkle down, adding to the chill in the air.
I pulled my jacket tighter around me and hurried across the quad, determined not to let the weather or the impending pop quiz dampen my spirits.
After Trigonometry's pop quiz, I felt a wave of relief wash over me as our quizzes were handed back to us, a weight lifted off my shoulders. Mr. Varner was impressed with both Edward and me, declaring it a tie yet again.
No matter how well or poorly I did, Edward Cullen always seemed to be in the same boat, which sometimes rubbed me the wrong way. 'Was he trying to make it seem like we were cheating?' I wondered, the thought nagging at me.
The rain had stopped, leaving only the chilly winds and the slick, icy floor. As I made my way up the flight of stairs to my next class, the cold air biting at my cheeks. I couldn't shake the memory of Edward's smug grin when he looked at the quiz, almost as if he could hear my thoughts and knew how threatened I felt.
Our eyes met briefly, his golden gaze gleaming with what I perceived as mockery. It was almost as if he was letting me tie with him on purpose, which, of course, irked me to no end. Yet, as quickly as the feeling came, it dissipated.
I trudged up the stairs, the cold seeping through my clothes, making me shiver. The chill in the air seemed to mirror the icy tension between Edward and me, an unspoken rivalry that neither of us acknowledged aloud. Edward's mysterious demeanor and the unsettling feeling that he was always one step ahead gnawed at me. It wasn't just his perfect scores or his effortless charm—it was the way he seemed to understand more than he let on, always keeping me on edge.
I tried to push those thoughts aside, focusing instead on the steps ahead of me. As I continued on, I glanced around, noticing how the usual chatter and noise seemed slightly muted, as if the entire school was holding its breath, waiting for something significant to happen. Maybe it was just the anticipation surrounding Isabella's arrival, or maybe it was the lingering tension from my brief encounter with Edward.
My stomach bunched up in knots, causing an overwhelming feeling of vertigo. It was the same sensation that crept up my skin whenever I thought about him. Grabbing onto the railing, I lost my footing for a second, my train of thought abruptly interrupted as I nearly fell backward. My heart slammed against my ribs, a panicked rhythm that echoed in my ears. 'Close call,' I thought, glancing at the steps of the stairs I had just climbed—a disaster waiting to happen for those of us less than graceful. I narrowed my eyes at the step that could have been my downfall. 'Literally.'
The cold is only nice when I'm not in it, I mused, shivering as the icy wind bit through my clothes once more. Regaining my composure, I cautiously made my way into the classroom. My seat, always a welcome sight, was empty and waiting for me. But what caught my attention was the person seated next to it—someone I never thought I'd meet.
There, sitting calmly with an air of quiet confidence, was Isabella Swan. She glanced up as I approached, her eyes meeting mine with a mixture of curiosity and friendliness. I took my seat, still slightly shaken from my near fall, and offered her a small smile. She returned it, her expression warm and open.
"You must be Isabella," I said, taking my usual seat at the front and sitting next to her. It felt strange to have someone beside me now.
She gave me a small smile. "It's Bella," she corrected. "I'm sorry, Bella. I'll remember that," I replied, cringing inside. 'How awful. She's going to be correcting a lot of people today.' From the looks of it, Bella kept to herself and tried her best to be nonchalant about starting anew.
Unfortunately for her, this was Forks, and everyone was talking about her. Whether it was for transferring in the middle of the year or her looks, she was the center of attention.
'Jessica is a liar,' I concluded, scanning Bella's features. She wasn't the stereotypical Arizona beauty, but she was definitely pretty. 'That explains it,' I thought, noticing the few guys who kept eyeing her.
It confused me why people were still so fascinated with her—most new students would have been old news by now. But not Bella. Her long, luscious hair framed her pale complexion perfectly. Her heart-shaped face was clear and unblemished, and her big brown eyes reminded me of Hershey's Kisses—the kind Ang and I would sneak out of Mom's office during the holidays.
Her lips had a faint blue hue. 'She's cold,' I realized. It made sense; Washington's climate was a stark contrast to Arizona's, and the change in weather and temperature must have been a shock for her. Reaching for the heat pack I had saved for later, I hesitated for a moment. 'She needs it more than you,' I reluctantly thought. With a sigh, I pulled it out of my bag and placed it on Bella's desk just as our teacher started the lesson.
"Here, it should help with the cold," I muttered softly, not wanting to draw attention. Bella looked at the heat pack, then at me, her eyes widening with surprise.
"Oh, thank you," she whispered, her cheeks flushing slightly as she accepted the small gesture. As she activated the heat pack and felt the warmth seep into her hands, she gave me a grateful smile.
"How are you finding Forks so far?" I asked her quietly, trying to make conversation.
"It's... different," she admitted, her voice soft. "A lot colder than I'm used to. I didn't realize how much I'd miss the Arizona sun." I nodded, understanding all too well how harsh the climate could be, especially for someone new to Forks.
"It's a big change," I agreed, sympathizing. "Yeah, it takes some getting used to. But you'll manage." Throughout the class, Bella seemed more at ease, the heat pack providing some comfort against the chill. I could see her relaxing, her shoulders losing some of their tension.
We kept to ourselves for the rest of the lesson, Bella and I falling into a comfortable silence. She didn't seem to mind the lack of small talk, understanding that I was too focused on jotting down notes to engage in conversation.
As the class came to an end, Bella seemed to relax enough to whisper a few words that I might have missed during my note-taking frenzy. I flashed her a small smile as thanks before returning to my work.
"So, is everyone in Forks usually this welcoming?" Bella asked, her tone tinged with uncertainty. It was clear she didn't appreciate all the attention, something I was all too familiar with, especially during church gatherings. I shrugged, casting a glance at the students who were muttering and waving at Bella as we made our way out of the classroom.
Giving her a slight grin, I replied, "You'd be surprised. It's a small town, so word travels fast." But my attempt to reassure her seemed to fall short.
Bella sighed, adjusting her bag on her shoulder. Angela, I realized, would have been much better at comforting others than I was.
"Don't worry too much about it," I offered, though I could tell my words did little to ease her mind. Bella huffed, a puff of smoke escaping her lips, her warm breath contrasting sharply with the cold air.
"I sure hope so," she muttered under her breath. It felt strange talking to someone I hadn't grown up with. I had become accustomed to not needing to talk about myself or engage in small talk, but Bella wasn't a native of Forks. As far as I was concerned, she was still finding her place in our small town. Her struggle to find topics of conversation made me feel oddly at ease.
'It's not just me,' I assured myself, grateful for the company nonetheless. We continued our small talk as we parted ways, heading off to our respective classes. We waved goodbye, and I found myself thinking, 'She's not so bad.'
"See you later," she said with a hint of a smile.
"Yeah, see you," I replied, feeling a bit lighter.
I walked through the bustling hallways, the lingering chill from wind still clinging to me, I couldn't help but admire Bella's presence. It had a calming effect, on those around her.
The hallways buzzed with the usual chatter, but now Bella's name was on everyone's lips. Snippets of conversations about her floated past me, a mix of curiosity and speculation.
Despite the whirlwind of attention, Bella had handled herself with a quiet grace. She seemed genuine, a trait that was hard to find nowadays. She was definitely a stark contrast to Jessica's superficial interactions that I had grown accustomed to in our small town. I felt more at ease in her company than Jess'.
By the time I reached my next class, the initial tension I had felt that morning had dissolved. Settling into my seat. With a deep breath, I pulled out my notebook and prepared for the lesson, a small smile playing on my lips. It seemed that today was turning out to be more interesting than I had anticipated.