Disclaimer: All recognizable characters are the property of SM.

/!\ Some parts of the story aren't suitable for a young audience. I'm responsible for what I write, not for what you read. Let's not focus on the original timeline of the books. I'm not gonna put a specific date.

Beta-reader is cerealgoblin

"New beginnings are often disguised as painful endings."

Lao Tzu

Chapter 3

Bella kept her head down as she made her way to her next class, trying to blend into the crowd. But that seemed impossible because the quiet murmurs followed her like a shadow as she passed through the halls, growing louder with every step. Every curious glance made her feel like an outsider and no matter how badly she wanted—wished to disappear, she couldn't escape the unwanted attention.

Just as she reached the door to her history class, she heard a soft voice call out her name.

"Bella?"

Startled, she looked up to see a girl with curly brown hair and glasses smiling at her with a shy, gentle expression.

"Hi, I'm Angela Weber," the girl introduced herself, her tone kind. "Jessica texted me earlier and mentioned you're new here. She thought you might like someone to walk with." The girl suggested in a kind tone, and she genuinely seemed nice, like her heart was in the right place.

She didn't seem motivated to talk to Bella just because of the gossip surrounding her, like everyone else at this school. A flood of relief washed over Bella. Angela didn't have the intense, prying gaze that seemed to follow Bella everywhere today, instead, she radiated warmth and an easygoing presence. Bella nodded, grateful for the offer, a tiny smile managing to form on her lips for the first time all day.

"Thanks," Bella whispered, her voice barely audible, but her gratitude was clear.

Angela's smile widened a little. "No problem. We've got history together, so I figured we could head in together."

Bella nodded again, feeling a bit of the weight on her shoulders ease up from Angela's kind gesture. Angela turned to walk alongside Bella, toward the next classroom. Unlike Jessica, who had bombarded her with questions earlier on, Angela respected Bella's silence. This simple act was more comforting to Bella than any words could have been. It allowed her to have a moment to breathe.

Once inside the history classroom, the two girls found seats in the middle row. Angela took the spot next to Bella, and they both settled in for the lecture. The other students were slowly filling the room, chatting among themselves, but Bella was already retreating into herself, shrinking back into her chair in hopes of being invisible— insignificant to the gossip that seemed to trail her like a noose, choking her desire for conversation.

That hope was quickly thrown down the drain when the teacher, a woman with gray-streaked hair pulled into a tight, strict bun, glanced up from her notes and looked in Bella's direction. Bella sighed.

"Ah, we have a new student today. Welcome, Miss Swan," she said, her sharp gaze holding Bella in place.

Bella's heart raced, her stomach sinking. She froze in her seat, feeling the eyes of every student turn toward her. The teacher smiled politely and motioned, with her hand for Bella to stand up and introduce herself.

The last thing Bella wanted was to stand up in front of everyone and speak. Bella's palms grew damp, and her breath quickened as she slowly rose from her seat, her hands trembling slightly as she stood. She kept her gaze on the floor, unwilling to meet all of the stares she could feel on her tired form.

"I'm Bella Swan," she said softly but clearly, her voice felt like it was barely above a whisper, but it must have been louder because somehow it carried across the quiet classroom.

"I'm from Arizona, it's nice to be here. Thanks.."

The moment she stopped talking, the air in the class seemed to have stilled. Bella looked up from the ground she'd been focused on and peered around the room. Every student sat in quiet fascination, as though her words had somehow cast a spell on them. Bella's face flushed hot and she quickly sat back down as her heart pounded like a drum, wildly ricocheting in her chest.

Why was everyone reacting like this? Bella couldn't understand it. She was just a regular girl, wasn't she? Why was everyone so mesmerized by her? It was startling. She didn't want to receive countless breathless, synchronous reactions to her presence, every time she made an entrance in a room. It was exhausting.

The teacher blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the atmosphere in the room, before regaining her composure and starting her lecture.

"Alright then, let's begin with today's lesson," she said, her voice catching as she spoke, her voice a little more hoarse than it had been when she'd first walked in.

Bella sighed quietly, wishing desperately that the moment had passed unnoticed.

Beside her, Angela shot her a small, knowing, reassuring smile, as if to say, "I get it. That was rough. But it's over now."

As the teacher, Mrs Wilson began the lecture about the American Revolution, Angela subtly slid her notebook across the desk toward Bella. In neat handwriting, she'd written:

That looked intense. Are you okay?

Bella looked at the note, then at Angela, who was pretending to take notes from the board. After a moment, Bella picked up her pen and wrote back:

I hate being the center of attention. It's so uncomfortable.

Angela glanced at the response, her expression softening as she quickly scribbled back:

I get it. But, it'll calm down soon. Everyone's just curious because you're new. It's a small town, sorry :)

Bella smiled at the little smiley face that Angela had drawn and nodded in her direction slightly to show that Angela was probably right, though Bella wasn't sure she believed it. The way people looked at her; the constant whispers, stares, gossip that seemed to trail her, it felt like it would last much longer than anticipated. Still, it was comforting to have Angela be a comforting, understanding, embracing presence next to her.

A few minutes later, Angela nudged the notebook towards Bella again with another question written down:

What kind of music do you like?

Bella smiled faintly and wrote her reply:

Classical music, mostly. Sometimes pop songs and some alternative stuff.

Angela's eyebrows raised in surprise as she read Bella's response in her notebook. Her pen scratched quickly across the paper, writing a response back:

Classical? That's different. I like indie and a bit of rock, but I listen to all kinds of stuff.

Bella smiled a little more this time. This conversation with Angela, although just in her notebook, felt easy and despite all of the chaos of the day, Angela was making her feel calmer—grounded amidst her inner turmoil. Bella had been dreading being in a new school, but now, sitting next to Angela, she felt a flicker of hope that maybe she wouldn't be so alone here after all.

Their silent note-passing continued as the lesson wore on, with neither of them actually paying much attention to the lecture. Angela asked Bella if she liked reading, and soon they were exchanging book recommendations through brief, handwritten notes.

Do you like Thriller or Horror novels? Angela wrote.

Yeah, a lot. I just finished The Green Mile for the hundredth time, but I also love fantasy. How about you?

I'm obsessed with fantasy! Have you read "A Song of Ice and Fire"?

Yes! The writing is amazing. It's one of my favourite sagas at the moment.

The more they shared, the more Bella relaxed into her chair, her muscles unwinding from their earlier tense form, as she enjoyed the quiet camaraderie she and her were building. Angela was easy to talk to, and Bella felt like she could be herself without having to worry about judgment or prying eyes.

Towards the end of the class, Angela slid one more note towards her.

Are you sitting with us for lunch?

Bella hesitated for a moment, her anxiety returning. Jessica had invited her to sit with them, but she hadn't been sure if she should go. The idea of facing the lunchroom full of staring students made her stomach twist in knots.

I wasn't sure… Jessica invited me, but I don't want to intrude.

Angela smiled softly when she read the note and quickly wrote back.

You should totally sit with us. I eat with Jessica and Lauren usually, and there's always room for one more!

Bella felt a pang of anxiety at the mention of Lauren. She hadn't missed the way Lauren had looked at her earlier in the day. But still, the thought of sitting alone and the gossip the school would bring down on her seemed a worse fate than having to tolerate Lauren for half an hour.

Okay, she wrote, her handwriting a little smaller now as she became more timid and anxious as she thought about what lunch would entail for her.

Thanks.

Angela nodded reassuringly as then the bell rang, signalling the end of class. Students began packing up their things and filing out of the classroom. Bella stood slowly, wiped her sweaty palms on her desk and gathered her books. But, Bella paused when Angela moved towards the door hesitating for a second, before reaching out and gently grabbing Angela's arm, seeking some reassurance from her new friend.

Angela turned, surprised by the sudden contact, but her smile was warm.

"Don't worry, Bella," she said softly. "I've got your back."

Bella released Angela's arm, feeling a little self conscious about her reaction but she also felt completely reassured by Angela's tone and it had eased some of Bella's anxieties

———

As they walked towards the cafeteria together, Angela turned to Bella and asked, "Do you mind coming with me to my locker, first? It's just down the hall."

Bella nodded without hesitation, feeling she owed Angela one, or ten favours today and she appreciated Angela's kind tone and the way she asked Bella to join her.

"Sure," Bella responded, her voice soft, as usual.

As they walked, Bella noticed that the hallways were slowly emptying and Bella found herself grateful for the quieter atmosphere. Forks High was smaller than her old school in Phoenix, but somehow it felt more overwhelming, probably due to the small town atmosphere.

There was something about the intensity of the stares here, the murmur of the voices, the fingers she felt were pointed at her that she couldn't quite make out, but knew instantly that they were about her. Though, Bella found that being around Angela, was like finding a small island of tranquillity in the middle of the storm of it all.

Angela slowed her pace, waiting for Bella to catch up fully beside her.

"I think my locker's just around this corner."

Bella walked with her, trying to ignore the knot of nerves still coiling in her stomach. She wasn't used to someone sticking around, offering her such easy companionship. Angela's presence didn't demand anything from Bella, and that made her feel safe.

As the two girls rounded the corner, Angela stopped in front of a row of lockers. "Here it is," she said, fiddling with the lock. "You still have time to drop your stuff off, right?"

Bella nodded, absently patting her bag, the weight of her books suddenly feeling a little lighter.

"Yeah," she murmured.

She turned to the locker beside Angela's, checking the number. To her surprise, it was hers.

"Oh," Bella breathed out. , a soft smile playing on her lips. "That's… convenient." She said, a soft smile playing on her lips as she opened her locker and deposited her books.

Angela looked over and grinned. "No way! That's yours?"

Bella felt a quiet connection between them. It was nice, sharing something as simple as a locker location, knowing Angela was just right there if she ever needed someone.

Once they finished, Bella hesitated before reaching out to Angela again, gently taking her arm. She hadn't meant to, but it felt natural. Angela didn't seem surprised; she simply smiled and led the way down the hall.

They walked toward the cafeteria in comfortable silence, Bella feeling a strange calm settle over her. The lunchroom was still mostly empty, with only a few students scattered at various different tables. The cafeteria here was much smaller than the cafeteria at Bella's previous school but it felt much more daunting. The lunch tables were worn and looked like they had used to be white, but they were now yellowing and the finishing was peeling and falling off.

As Bella and Angela approached, some students looked up, their eyes briefly locking onto Bella before they returned back to their conversations. Although, in this moment, there were no overt stares and no whispered comments being said about her. Bella could feel a difference in the air. The atmosphere wasn't like earlier, and Bella felt a bit more at ease.

Angela gestured toward the lunch queue.

"Hungry?"

Bella nodded, though she hadn't been sure she was until just now. She picked up a tray, following Angela's lead, and joined her in the short line. As she scanned the options, something caught her eye.

Fish sticks!

Bella's brow furrowed as she stared at the pan of breaded fish sticks. She'd never been a fan of fish, having eaten it only a few times in her life, but for some reason, she felt a sudden and odd craving. Almost like it was something she had been missing without even realizing it.

She hesitated, then grabbed a serving of fish sticks, adding a small portion of salad and a bright green apple to her tray. The choice puzzled her, but she shrugged it off, focusing instead on moving forward in the line behind Angela.

Angela grabbed a similar tray, though she opted for a sandwich instead of the fish. They paid for their lunches and made their way through the cafeteria, searching for Jessica's table.

"There they are," Angela said, spotting Jessica's familiar blonde hair across the room.

Jessica and Lauren were already seated, deep in conversation. As Bella and Angela approached, Jessica nudged Lauren under the table, a not-so-subtle gesture to get her attention. Lauren looked up, her expression momentarily hardening before she plastered on a tight, fake smile. Bella noticed the change instantly, and her stomach tightened in response, The same anxious feeling that had followed her all day resurfacing once again.

"Hey!" Jessica called out brightly as they got closer. "Over here!"

Lauren didn't say anything at first. She just watched Bella carefully, her gaze lingering a moment too long. Bella felt the weight of it and shifted slightly, her fingers gripping her tray a little tighter.

"Hi," Bella said quietly as she slid into the seat across from them, Angela taking the spot beside her.

Lauren, still with that strained expression, suddenly stood up.

"Actually, I think I'm gonna go sit with Mike," she announced abruptly as if the decision had just occurred to her.

Without waiting for anyone to respond, she picked up her tray and left, making her way to a table across the room where Mike Newton sat, oblivious to her little announcement.

Jessica's jaw dropped in response to Lauren's sudden outburst, and Angela blinked in confusion.

"What's that about?" Jessica muttered under her breath, glancing at Bella with an apologetic look. "She's usually not that… weird."

Bella gave a small shrug, trying to act like it didn't bother her, though inside, she couldn't help but feel a sting of rejection. Did Lauren leave because of her? Bella wondered aimlessly. She knew she shouldn't care—Lauren barely knew her, but Lauren's reaction to her sitting at their table still left a sour taste in Bella's mouth.

"It's fine," Bella said softly. "I can, um, eat somewhere else if—"

"No, no!" Angela interrupted, her voice gentle but firm. "You're staying right here."

Jessica nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, don't even worry about Lauren. She's just in a mood or something."

Bella wasn't convinced, but she appreciated the girl's reassurances. So, she stayed, placing her tray down carefully and settling into the conversation as best she could.

"So," Jessica said, trying to lighten the mood. "How's your first day going so far?"

Bella hesitated. "It's… okay." She felt awkward admitting the truth, knowing the gossiping masses were always watching, like she was under a microscope. "Getting used to it, I guess." Bella lied as she weakly smiled in Jessica's direction.

Angela nodded sympathetically. "It's gotta be tough, starting mid-year like this."

"It's just… different," Bella said, her voice trailing off.

She didn't want to complain too much, not seem too self-centered, especially after Angela and Jessica had been so welcoming. She forced herself to change the subject to something lighter, a subject not about herself for once.

"But, um…thanks for being so nice. It really helps." Bella said, giving a big smile in the direction of the two girls.

"Of course," Angela said with a warm smile. "And hey, you'll get the hang of things soon."

For a bit, the conversation faded and the three of them began to eat in a relative quiet. Bella picked up her fish sticks and inspected them, surprised by how much she was enjoying them.

The crispy exterior gave way to a surprisingly tender inside, and she found herself oddly satisfied, despite never being much of a pescatarian. She took a sip of water and turned her attention to Angela and Jessica, who were now deep in conversation.

"So," Jessica said as she glanced in Bella's direction.. "Do you have any plans after school? If you're not in a rush to get home, you could come and watch my volleyball practice. It's not super exciting, but it's something to do." She said, shrugging.

Bella blinked, a bit surprised by the kind gesture but she got nauseous at the notion of playing volleyball among peers—who had just met her..

"Volleyball?" she repeated, buying herself a moment to think. "I uh, don't really play sports." Bella admitted, shying away from the truth— that she was so bad at playing sports that she'd definitely injure anyone in her vicinity.

Jessica waved a hand dismissively. "You don't have to play. You can just hang out and watch. It's better than sitting around, right?"

Bella smiled faintly. "Maybe," she said, not committing to anything.

She liked that Jessica seemed to take her quiet responses in stride, not pushing her too hard.

"I'll think about it," Bella responded, giving Jessica a small smile, but in reality trying to buy time to think of an excuse to get her out of sports.

Angela glanced over at Bella with a knowing smile, sensing that Bella still needed a bit of coaxing to feel comfortable.

"If you want something less… active, there's always the journalism club," Angela offered. "I'm the editor-in-chief, and I also do a lot of photography. You could join us if you're into writing. We're always looking for new contributors." She told her and Bella and Bella perked up at the mention of writing , her interest piqued.

"What kind of stuff do you guys write about?" Bella asked Angela, curious.

"Anything really," Angela replied, her eyes lighting up. "We cover school events, sports, and opinion pieces… but we also do fun stuff like book recommendations or creative writing features. If you're into reading, maybe you could write a piece recommending some of your favorite books. You know, give our school paper a bit of personality."

A genuine smile spread across Bella's face at that idea.

"That actually sounds… really cool," she said softly. "I'd like that!"

"Awesome!" Angela said, her excitement contagious. "We meet after school on Thursdays if you ever want to stop by."

"I'll think about it, but I think I'm interested," Bella replied, her thoughts already swirling with potential book recommendations.

The idea of writing for the school paper felt far more appealing than watching a volleyball practice, though she didn't want to outright decline Jessica's offer either. She was grateful for both of their invitations, even if the social aspects still felt a bit daunting.

The conversation at the table shifted again.. They talked about music; Angela sharing more about her love for indie and rock bands while Jessica admitted she was more of a pop music kind of girl. Bella, true to her earlier words, stuck to her love for classical music, though she let slip that she enjoyed a bit of alternative rock on the side.

As they chatted, Bella found herself relaxing little by little. She wasn't saying much, but she didn't need to. Angela and Jessica seemed content to let her be herself, allowing her to contribute in her own quiet way. Bella realized she appreciated the dynamic—they didn't overwhelm her with questions or expect her to act a certain way, the way some of the other students have.

As Bella continued to relax in the rhythm of the conversation with Angela and Jessica, she allowed herself to observe the cafeteria more closely; the noise of students talking and trays clattering seemed to blur into the background as she started to feel a small sense of belonging at the table with her new acquaintances.

She wasn't saying much, but she didn't need to. Angela and Jessica seemed content to let her exist in her own quiet way, neither demanding too much nor making her feel uncomfortable with prying questions. It was a relief. Bella was grateful for their patience presence.

Just as she was about to take another bite of her fish, something in the cafeteria shifted. The buzz of conversation grew softer, and Bella felt the energy in the room change. Curious, she looked around and noticed that many of the students had turned their heads toward the entrance.

Following their gaze, Bella spotted a group of people walking into the cafeteria, gliding gracefully, with stoic expressions as if they were completely oblivious to the sudden attention they commanded. Bella froze, caught off guard by their appearances and her fork hovered in midair.

The first one in the group she noticed was a girl. She was tall, with long, golden blonde hair that seemed to catch the light just right. She was striking, perfect, breathtaking.

Bella had never seen someone so beautiful in person before, and it was almost disorienting. The girl's face was flawless, sculpted with sharp angles and high cheekbones, her skin glowing like porcelain. Her eyes, a piercing shade of amber, scanned the room with a cold, detached gaze, but there was something about her presence that Bella couldn't look away from.

She felt her stomach twist, a strange pull that was half awe, half unease. The blonde, flawless girl felt like she was drawing in hypnotic energy. Bella was barely able to tear her eyes away from the girl's ethereal beauty. The girl seemed untouchable, like a living statue that belonged in a museum rather than an old, dirty, high school cafeteria.

Next to the beautiful blonde was a boy, equally as striking and flawless but in his own way. He was huge; muscular and broad-shouldered, with the kind of strength that seemed effortless, as though he could lift a car without breaking a sweat.

His dark, curly hair contrasted sharply with his pale skin, and his face, though softer than the girl's, was just as perfectly sculpted. He had the kind of features you might expect to see on a Greek statue—strong, chiseled, and impossibly handsome. The dark, curly-haired boy, unlike the girl, seemed more approachable, though Bella could sense something simmering just beneath the surface—Restrained power.

Bella blinked, realizing her heart was racing for reasons she couldn't quite explain. Who are they? she wondered, her thoughts a jumble of fascination and unease. She leaned toward Angela, her voice quiet, almost hesitant.

"Who are they?" she asked Angela, Bella's gaze flickering back to the blonde girl who had now taken a seat by the window, the boy beside her.

Jessica followed Bella's line of sight and let out a soft laugh as if she had been expecting the question.

"Oh, them? That's Rosalie Hale and Emmett Cullen," she said, her tone casual, but Bella could sense a hint of something else lurking beneath her words—maybe envy, maybe admiration or maybe Bella thought, perhaps she was being far too perceptive. Angela seemed like a nice girl.

Bella glanced back at them again. Rosalie had settled into her seat, her head turned slightly toward the window, her profile sharp and regal. Emmett was more relaxed, lounging comfortably next to her, though his expression seemed unusually tense.

"They're… different," Bella murmured, still watching them.

She couldn't shake the feeling that there was something otherworldly about them, something that set them apart from everyone else in the room.

"They are," Jessica agreed, her voice lowering a little, as if she were about to share a secret. "They're part of the Cullen family, though technically Rosalie and Jasper Hale are supposed to be adopted by Dr. Cullen and his wife. They moved here a few years ago. Everyone knows them, but they mostly keep to themselves. And, well, you can see why." Jessica's eyes flicked toward Rosalie, her tone filled with admiration.

"I mean, look at her. Rosalie's like, I don't know, the most beautiful person you've ever seen, right?" Jessica whispered, her tone filled with lust and jealousy.

Bella nodded absentmindedly, ignoring Jessica's tone, still captivated by Rosalie's presence. She had never seen someone who seemed to command a room without even trying. There was a quiet confidence in the way Rosalie held herself, as though she knew exactly the effect she had on people and didn't particularly care.

"And Emmett," Jessica continued, her gaze shifting to the hulking figure beside Rosalie. "He's like this giant teddy bear—though no one would say that to his face, obviously. He's strong, like ridiculously strong. He's on the football team but never really plays. Guess he doesn't need the attention." Jessica drawled on, describing the group.

Angela leaned in to add, "You'll probably notice the rest of their family at some point, too. There's Alice, Edward, and Jasper. They're all… well, kind of like Rosalie and Emmett; gorgeous, mysterious, and basically untouchable. Jasper's the only one who isn't paired up, though. Alice and Edward are together, and obviously Rosalie and Emmett…"

"Yeah, it's like this weird, perfect family of supermodels." Jessica huffed out as she puckered her lips, lowered her brows and made a face, annoyed at the genes the group has been gifted, despite all being adopted.

Bella turned her attention back to Rosalie and Emmett, still fascinated by the strange pull they seemed to have over everyone in the room. But something odd happened then—something that made her stomach flip.

Rosalie was looking directly at her.

Their eyes locked for a brief moment, and Bella felt her breath catch in her throat. There was no malice or annoyance in Rosalie's gaze, as Bella might have expected from someone so strikingly beautiful and seemingly aloof. Instead, there was a flash of surprise, something soft and… almost affectionate? It was brief, but Bella swore she saw it,a moment of warmth that didn't quite match Rosalie's otherwise cool demeanor and Bella felt like the look had been a shared secret between them.

Bella's thoughts raced. Why is she looking at her like that? The question bounced around in her mind, but no answer came. It was almost as if Rosalie recognized her, though Bella couldn't imagine how that would be possible. She had never met the Hales or the Cullens before. But, Rosalie's smile felt like a mutual kindness— a shared connection.

Emmett, too, seemed to notice Bella. His expression mirrored Rosalie's—surprise, curiosity, and something else Bella couldn't quite place, almost a hint of a knowing look. But unlike Rosalie, Emmett's gaze was more straightforward and less guarded. He gave her a quick smile, a simple acknowledgment before turning back to Rosalie, who had shifted her attention towards the window again.

"What just happened?" Bella thought to herself, feeling a strange sense of unease settle over her, like they knew something that she didn't.

"Everything okay?" Angela asked softly, noticing the tension and confusion in Bella's expression.

Bella shook her head, her brows furrowing as she tried to make sense of what she had just experienced.

"Yeah… I'm fine. It's just—never mind." She stated, not trying to delve into the introspection of her staring.

Before she could dwell on it any longer, she noticed that Rosalie and Emmett were already getting up from their table. They hadn't even been seated for five minutes but now they were standing. Rosalie was leading the way with her usual graceful, almost ethereal movements, and Emmett was trailing behind her, his broad frame moving with a surprising lightness for someone of his size.

"They're leaving already?" Bella asked, confused.

Jessica shrugged. "Yeah, they do that sometimes. They don't really stick around much. They just come and go whenever they feel like it. No one really knows why."

Bella found that odd. Bella watched as the two of them exited the cafeteria, disappearing through the doors without so much as a glance back. The moment they were gone, the cafeteria seemed to return to its usual noisy, chaotic state, as if a strange calm had lifted the second the Cullens were out of sight.

"Do they always act like that?" Bella asked, still trying to piece together what had just happened.

"Pretty much," Jessica said, returning to her food with a dismissive wave of her hand.

"Like I said, they're different," Jessica stated more abruptly, as if a little annoyed that she'd had to repeat herself.

Angela offered Bella a reassuring smile. "You'll get used to them. They're nice enough, just… a little distant. But that's how they are with everyone." Angela said, offering Bella a reassuring smile.

Bella nodded, although her mind was still on Rosalie and the way she had looked at her—like she was seeing something that Bella herself couldn't see, although the meaning of the smile that Rosalie had given Bella felt purposeful, knowing, caring—like one might give to a close friend, not a stranger.

There was no way to explain it, and yet Bella couldn't quite shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of something that she had yet to grasp—understand.

As the conversation at their table resumed, Bella tried to refocus her thoughts, though she kept sneaking glances toward the doors where Rosalie and Emmett had just left. She had only been in Forks for a short time, but already she could sense that there were layers to this town and its people—layers that she hadn't even begun to scratch the surface of.

Something about the Cullens in particular, intrigued her in a way she couldn't quite put into words.

There's got to be more to them— to that family, Bella thought to herself. And then, she finally returned her attention back to her lunch, although her mind continued to wander back to the Hale girl and the Cullen boy.

So much more...

Hello, this is user_arabella.

For everyone who read so far, a big thanks. I have lot of chapters ans I have so much inspiration. Tides of Fate will be uddapted every friday. Stay Tuned!