Chapter One

Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns Twilight. I do not. I simply like to toy with the wonderful gifts she’s given us. No copyright infringement is intended.

“For the love of all things holy, please tell me that’s not what you’re wearing.”

I smirked and looked up from the book that rested neatly in my lap. For someone who prided themselves on a steady 4.0 GPA and a seemingly unending range of cultural knowledge, Alice could sure sound like a vapid pain in the ass. I didn’t bother to reply. I simply closed my book, stood, and stripped off the offensive — by Alice’s standards anyway — clothing. I didn’t see anything even mildly wrong with jeans and a black long-sleeved shirt, but, somewhere deep down, I knew better. It was the first day of school and I, for the third year in a row, was Alice’s paper doll.

Alice Cullen and I were fast friends, but I think that was mostly because she wanted it that way. From the moment we met, that first day of freshman year at Forks High, she had told me we were destined to be friends forever. Normally, I’d crinkle my nose and walk away from signs of sheer, perky, bubbling insanity, but Alice seemed so sure of it that I didn’t have it in me to deny her the chance. Plus, it was hard to avoid her when she was in each and every class I had that first semester. It was fate and who was I, Bella Swan, a mere mortal, to deny fate?

However, I soon found out that it wasn’t fate, per say. After a year of earning Alice’s trust, spending nearly sixteen hours per day in her company, she sat me down one night and let me in on a mind-blowing secret. Alice and her “family,” made up of an array of adopted brothers and sisters, herself included, were, in fact, vampires. Vampires, I know, the word still sounds strange rolling around in my head, and even worse when it finds its way to the tip of my tongue. But, no matter how farfetched it seemed, it was true. Alice could see the future, or, rather, glimpses of it. That’s how she knew I would come into her life and that we were destined to be friends, or so she said, and that sounded even crazier than before I knew she was a vampire. And she wasn’t the only one with abilities. Apparently, her brothers, Jasper and Edward, had abilities, as well. Edward could read minds. All, but mine. This, coupled with the fact that I was a mortal who knew their deepest, darkest secret, irritated him to no end. Alice knew that I’d never tell a soul, she’d seen I’d do them no harm, but no matter how many times this fact was reiterated to Edward, he still furrowed his brow and clenched his jaw whenever I was in the room. We were sworn enemies. Jasper, Alice’s love, was a mood ring, or so I liked to call him. He could influence feelings and moods and was always a delight to have around when Edward and I got into verbal conflicts. Emmett and Rosalie, Alice’s other “siblings”, who were actually a couple, were normal. Well, normal by vampire standards. They didn’t do any tricks above and beyond the speed and strength abilities that came standard in a vampire. Her parents, Carlisle and Esme, whom I’d grown to love and respect as my own, were quite normal, too. Normal, who am I kidding? They were an odd little bunch. A bunch that I probably should’ve feared and gone running from, but, as Alice saw in a vision, I accepted the news in a graceful manner. Simply, as if Alice told me she bought a new shirt, I shrugged and smiled and asked if I could copy her English notes because I’d fallen asleep in class that day. From that moment, there was no question that we’d be friends eternally. She was right.

“Leather or cashmere?” Alice asked, peeking out from behind my closet door. “Consider your answer carefully. This will be the last First Day of School outfit you ever get.”

“Denim,” I smirked, lying back on my bed and covering myself with the quilt. Being a paper doll was fine, but I certainly wished she’d hurry it up. It was too cold to be this naked. “And it’s not the last. There’s always college.”

“Semantics. Now, pick, or I’m picking for you.”

“Alice, I don’t own either one and unless you’re a magician and can produce these things out of thin air, which I really wouldn’t doubt coming from you, I don’t really see me wearing either one.”

Alice came over and sat at the foot of my bed. She patted a soothing, yet condescending hand on my quilt-covered calf, then presented me with a duffel bag that I must’ve missed when she walked in the door. “Bella, honey, I came prepared,” she laughed. “Now, choose.”

I sighed and covered my face with a pillow.

“Okay, leather it is,” Alice laughed, knowing I’d never give in and actually make up my mind. Not that making up my mind mattered. She removed the pillow from my face and pointed with a smirk in the direction of my closet. “Go grab your dark skinny jeans from the closet.”

When I emerged from my walk-in closet, clad in skin-tight dark wash denim, I found Alice perched on the end of the bed, laid out beside her were a long-sleeved, grey button-down and a simple black leather jacket. I rolled my eyes and thanked God that she’d kept it simple. I was half expecting a leather halter top or lace-up leather pants or something equally ridiculous.

“You like?” Alice asked, always itching for approval. I smiled and reached for the shirt. I swear, for a vampire, someone who could kick just about anyone’s ass, Alice was heavily insecure, or so it seemed. Always a people pleaser, that one. “We’re going for Badass Bella this year, I think.”

“Well, I do run with a tough crowd,” I laughed, buttoning up the buttons. I tucked in part of the front of the shirt and shrugged on the jacket. Alice was practically vibrating with excitement. I chewed my bottom lip as I analyzed myself in the mirror and raked a hand through my hair. I almost liked what I saw. Alice was good. “Thanks,” I said meekly.

“No thanks necessary. You, my dear, keep me entertained.”

I shook my head and laughed as I grabbed my backpack and followed Alice down the stairs.

Charlie, my dear ol’ dad, greeted us with a grunt as we bounded into the kitchen. I started a pot of coffee, taking pity on my father who was, very clearly, not a morning person, and waited for it to brew as I scrambled some eggs in a bowl. I offered Alice some with a tiny chuckle, knowing she, like so many times before, would decline. Charlie and Alice made small talk — very small on his end — while I prepared breakfast, then I sat down to eat with him as Alice looked on. Charlie wished me luck on my first day back and kissed the top of my head as I rinsed off our plates.

The drive to school was quick and I’d long since gotten used to Alice’s swift driving. We were the first ones there, as she wanted, and we headed over to a bank of lockers that had lovingly become known as Cullen Corner to wait for her siblings. They showed up five minutes before the first bell and received a verbal lashing from Alice. I hung back with Jasper, who was merely Emmett’s passenger and had nothing to do with their late appearance, and laughed as Alice berated Emmett, Rose, and Edward.

When the beating was through, Alice collected everyone’s schedules and compared them. To no one’s surprise, no one had to go it alone. There was at least a pair of Cullen’s in each class, except for gym, which we all had together last period. Alice nearly jumped for joy and locked arms with me and Jasper as she dragged us in the direction of first period. Alice sighed happily as we strolled down the hall. If I knew Jasper at all, I knew that he rolled his eyes at the very same moment that I did. Alice broke away from us and skipped backwards ahead of us in the hall, while Jasper shot me a look and I laughed. Alice was, as my father would put it, a piece of work.

The first day of school was always filler. Here’s your syllabus. Take this text book. Fill out this form. Read these pages before Friday. Talk amongst yourselves until the bell. Each class was the same, only with a different cast of characters, Alice forever my constant. We shared first and second period, Trigonometry and English Literature, with Jasper, third, American Government, with Emmett, then there was lunch which let us all convene together, chatting wildly across our round lunch table, fourth and fifth period, Biology and Study Hall, brought us Edward, and we were all reunited for the finale of the day, Gym. It was nice, to say the least.

After the bell rang and freed us from what would be my least favorite class of the year, Alice, Jasper, and I made our way into the hall, continuing the conversation we’d been having at our desks.

“I still don’t get it though,” I laughed. “I mean, don’t get me wrong. I appreciate that the good doctor and the missus want to put food in my belly, but, you know, it’s awkward.”

“Look, Charlie’s going to be working late tonight, yes?” Jasper asked and I nodded. “Exactly. Ignore the details, Lambchop, and enjoy the free grub.”

“This is really getting old,” I sighed. “You all look at me like I have five heads every time I take a bite of fried rice.”

“You’d do the same if the roles were reversed,” Alice noted, pointing an accusing finger at me. “Don’t even pretend like you wouldn’t.”

An image started to form in my mind of Alice hunched over her “vegetarian” dinner of a limp white-tailed deer, blood spattered across her crisp white sweater and trailing down out of the corners of her mouth. I gave me a chill. In all the years I’d known Alice, I’d never seen her, nor any member of her family, eat. I didn’t want to, and even if I did, I was sure she wouldn’t let me. Feeding frenzy and all. Wouldn’t want her to mistake me for dessert.

“Fine, I’ll be there. But, only if you get me pizza.”

“Pizza is going to make you fat,” Jasper teased.

“Well, not all of us can handle a liquid diet,” I reminded him with an eye roll for punctuation. “Where’s our next class?”

We bounded into our English class and eyed the back row, half of which was already occupied. All it took was one meaningful glance from Jasper and the girls who were taking up residency there sputtered apologies and blushed deeply, removing themselves from our seats. Astounding beauty certainly did have its advantages. I let a small grin tug at the corners of my mouth as I thought about how lucky I was to be in with the Cullen crowd. Many had tried, many had failed, but here I was, going on four years, and practically part of the family.

Syllabus. Text book. Fill out a form. Here’s your homework. Talk until the bell. Jasper and Alice scooted their desks close together and Alice reached over and made of show of how insanely difficult it was for her to pull my desk to theirs. I snickered and let myself be dragged over to them and we talked and laughed until the bell.

Jasper walked with us to our next class where he traded us to Emmett in exchange for Rosalie. I toed impatiently at the slick tile with my well-worn boot as the couples kissed and said their goodbyes. Even though I was used to the exchanges, Alice kissed Jasper like she was sending him off to war and that, no matter who you are, got old after a while. I cleared my throat loudly and Jasper pulled away from the kiss with an arched brow.

“Problem, Lambchop?” he smirked.

“If you think watching me eat is fun, just wait until you see me puke,” I teased, clutching at my stomach for effect. I grabbed Alice by the arm and said, “We’re going to be late. His lips will still be there after Government. I promise.”

“Jealousy doesn’t suit you, my dear,” Alice giggled, waiving to Jasper as he linked arms with Rosalie and walked off.

“Yeah, you know, if you want to change that, I hear our little Eddie’s single,” Emmett laughed heartily before making kissy faces at me. If he wasn’t five times my size and made of stone, I would’ve kicked him in the shin. Instead, I just walked into class and found myself a seat, plopping down with a huff. Emmett took the desk behind me and wrapped his gigantic tree trunks of arms around my shoulders. “Aw, baby girl, you know I was kidding. I wouldn’t let him near that pretty face of yours. He’d eat it right off.”

Emmett playfully pretended to nip at my cheek and I curled my lip in disgust, trying my best to wriggle out from under his forearms. Alice’s laughter tinkled beside me and I folded my arms on the desk and let my head rest upon them, inhaling the delicious scent of my leather, willing myself to nap.

Syllabus, text book, forms, homework, talk. I slept through all of it.

The bell rang and I was awakened by Emmett cold, strong hand shaking my shoulder.

“Rise and shine,” Alice coaxed in a sing-song voice beside my head. I grumbled and swiped at my eyes with the backs of my hands, a yawn escaping my lips. “Come on, you can sleep at lunch.”

I followed Emmett and Alice to the lunchroom and curled up in a stiff plastic chair at our usual table while Alice kindly procured a salad for me from the lunch line. She was quick and nimble, while was, well, not, so when, after I dropped my third tray of food freshman year, Alice offered to get my lunch for me on a daily basis, I couldn’t resist. The rest of our table’s attendees filed in and took their usual seats. Alice to my left, Jasper beside her, followed by Edward, Rosalie, then Emmett completing the circle to my right. The only problem with this set up was that it left me and Edward directly across from each other. I looked away, down, anywhere, as he approached the table. I wasn’t in the mood for his snide comments today. Jasper jumped right in, always my hero, and started talking to Edward about their last class.

“Extra tomatoes,” Alice grinned, taking her seat and sliding the tray in front of me. “Eat up.”

I picked at my salad and spaced out for the whole of the lunch period. Well, until I heard my name, anyway.

“…study hall with me and Bella,” Alice was saying.

My eyes drifted over to Edward, who she was obviously in conversation with, and his locked onto mine. I quickly found the floor insanely interesting.

“Yeah, and don’t fuckin’ think I’m going to pal around with you just ‘cause we’re in the same classes,” Edward spat at Alice.

“So moody,” Alice laughed and patted Jasper’s hand, which rested on her knee. “Honey, would you?”

Edward glared daggers at Jasper, who, despite whatever harm Edward wanted to inflict upon him, worked his magic regardless. Edward let out a sigh and picked at the hem of his shirt.

“You’re such an ass,” Edward announced calmly as the bell rang.

Study Hall and Biology weren’t as awkward as I thought they’d be. Edward kept to his side of the classrooms, burying himself in a novel, and Alice and I kept to ours, chatting about various things like movies we should rent or which weekend would be best to go into town for what Alice claimed was a much needed shopping adventure. When the bell rang for last period, we all walked together, kind of, over to the gym. Rather, Alice and I walked together and Edward huffed along at her side.

Eternally the cool kids, we hung out at the top of the bleachers and paid no mind to the teacher’s instruction to play a round of basketball. I laid down on the hard bleacher between Jasper and Emmett, both of which had their girls in their laps. Edward took a seat a bit away and continued whatever book he’d been reading in Biology. I spaced out and finally dozed off. A few minutes before the final bell of the day, I was awakened by Jasper and Emmett listing states and countries, loud and boisterous. Confused, I looked up and listened in on what they were saying.

“Michigan,” Jasper said.

“Canada, in general,” Emmett countered.

“Florida!” Rosalie interjected with a laugh. Emmett kissed her cheek and rolled his eyes. “I know, I know.”

“Montana.”

“Greenland.”

“Alaska.”

“Dare I ask?” I whispered to Alice, who had laid down on the bleacher below mine.

“Silly Bella. We’re moving.”

And just like that, with those four word, I felt like my entire world was about to cave in.

Introductory chapters tend to be boring &, for that, I apologize, but stick with me. Also, nothing is as it seems. It gets better. I promise.

Reviews are supremely appreciated.

:)