Chapter 1
The town was a silent one, though Charlie made it sound like it wasn’t. The skies were filled by clouds and the town wasn’t much different. The fog covered the road as Charlie drove, I didn’t understand how he knew where he was going when he couldn’t even see. This town felt.. depressing, though it might be better than how it was with my mother and her.. soon to be husband. “Well uh.. your hair has gotten longer” Charlie said, trying to start a conversation but I’d reply with, “Yeah.. I guess”
They finally arrived at their house, where there was Billy and someone not too familiar. “Heyo there Billy,” Charlie said, giving him a handshake, but then suddenly Billy chased him in the street in his wheels. A tall, awkward guy with long dark brown hair, that you could almost mistake as a girl, comes up to me. “U-Uh hello.. I’m Jacob..” He said, scratching the back of his neck. “Bella” I replied with, as Jacob awkwardly said, “We.. made mud pies when we were little...” I looked down for a moment, thinking then looked up right away. “Oh uhm.. I don’t remember that” I said while looking away and biting my lip.
“Are you ready?” Charlie said, holding what looked like keys in his hand that jingled. “For what?” I asked, confused. “For this baby, your father bought her off me just now, she’s all yours” Billy said while patting the older and rusty truck next to him. “Oh my gosh! You’re joking right!?” I said with my eyes wide in shock and eyebrows raised. I attempted to open the door, it was a bit stuck as I pulled it, it then finally opened as she got in and Jacob sat in the passenger seat. “Double pump the clutch” I heard, from what seemed next to me. “What?” I raised an eyebrow.
“Just-” He put his hand on hers doing exactly what he said to do, then left his hand there after words. I felt a bit uncomfortable with the situation, he realized what he was doing and calmly placed his hand on his side. “S-Sorry” He said quickly, looking away in embarrassment as I shrugged it off.
I arrived at my new school, I walked through the halls. A bit disappointed that Jacob didn’t go to my school, but whatever. “Hi, I am Eric, are you new here? I can give you all the ins and outs of this school!” I heard right next to me as a new face appeared. “Uh yes.. I am” I said, not wanting to be bothered. “What is your name?” He says enthusiastically, putting an arm over my shoulder as if he knew me. “Bella” I reply with, very nervous as I shift my body away from him.
“Do you need anything? Lunch date, school guide, shoulder to cry on, bestie for the restie--” He said with a quick pace as I just felt overwhelmed with his presence. “Just.. show me to my class please” I managed to mutter under my breath. “Who’s the cutie, Eric?” A guy with deep blonde hair and light blue eyes showed up holding a basketball. “Her name is Bella, and she just transferred here from..-” “Arizona..” I rolled my eyes, knowing I was way too pale to be from there. “Oh uh, nice... it’s good to meet you, I’m Mike” He said with a nervous chuckle. “I have to go to class so uh..” I said looking down, trying to avoid eye contact. “Ah of course, g-go ahead!” He waved me down as Eric followed me to my class.
I arrived at the door, the fan blowing right onto me as I walked in, felt like everything slowed down. My hair brushed against my back and flew to the side as my jacket tried going along with, along with my papers that flew to the ground. “I’m sorry about that! I didn’t realize students would have so many papers!” The teacher said, awkwardly turning off the fan and helping me pick up my papers. “I’m your biology teacher, Mr. Molina, pleased to meet you, you are Isabella right?” I nodded, looking up at him. “It’s just Bella..” “Right then, go take a seat over in that empty chair by that fine gentleman, raise your hand Edward” Edward raised his hand and I sat alongside him in the seat next to him. Edward immediately covered his nose as I sat down.
Did I stink? I sniffed under my arms, and all I could smell was my salted cedar deodorant. I saw there was a microscope in the front of us to examine what I think are cells. I grabbed it awkwardly and took a look at it, and wrote what it was on my paper. The teacher lectured us for the rest of the class about the cell cycles and stuff. But I couldn’t get the thought out that Edward’s eyes were on me. That they were what looked like.. red? It was probably just the lighting, no need to overthink it.
I got on my gym clothes, I had something to pull my hair and sweat back but it wasn’t too helpful. I completely sucked at sports. I even told them not to let me play. We were playing volleyball and the ball went towards me, I put my hands in position and launched the ball all the way to the boys playing basketball, hitting Mike in the head. “Oh my gosh, I am so sorry!” I said running to grab the ball. “No it’s chill” He said reassuring me. “No it’s not.. I told them to not let me play!” I said frustrated.
“Hey what’s going on?” A what looked like preppy girl showed up next to Mike. “Oh nothing, she just hit me in the head with the volleyball, but I’m fine!” He said nervously scratching his neck. “Okay.. well I’m Jessica, you’re Bella right?” “yeah..” I said looking down scratching my neck as well. “Where are you from?” She said, curiously but also awkward. “I’m from.. Arizona” I sighed. “Oh! Aren’t people from Arizona like.. super tan?” She did a nervous chuckle as she said that. “Must've been why they kicked me out...” I mumbled under my breath so low they couldn’t hear. “I’m going to uh.. head back! Bye Bella!” She said waving and running back to her post.
“Arizona girl?” Mike chuckled, “Doesn’t look like you even touched the grass!” He said continuing to laugh as I rolled my eyes at him, ready to smack him but I kept my calm.
