Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight. I do not.

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APOV

I had been watching her with fascination for a few years now. It is what inspired me to convince my family that Forks would be a good place to settle for awhile.

I knew she was going to be important to us and though I couldn't be sure I felt like she was meant for Edward. To say tomorrow will be the beginning of a great new adventure sounds corny, but what other way is there to describe the excitement of watching opposites collide?

EPOV

I shot Jasper a warning look and immediately felt calmer. He was sending out Alice's feelings of anticipation and excitement, and seeing how I couldn't hear anything from her mind besides her careful examination of her husband's features, I blocked her out. In the rear view mirror I could see a smug look on her face.

What was she so excited about? We'd been going to Forks High School for 2 years now, and we'd been through high school so many times I wondered how she could still find a reason to enjoy it.

The only thing different about today was the arrival of Chief Swan's daughter, though it was a new development in this tiny town, what would it matter to a coven of vegetarian vampires?

I sighed again, no, Alice's excitement did not concern me, today will be as boring as every other day and soon enough I'd be back at my piano.

Pulling into the parking lot the scent hit me, another vampire. A hiss escaped Jasper's breath and Alice hushed him.

"Alice! Did you know about this?"

She smiled broadly back at me and hopped out. Vampires are extremely territorial, and although I knew my own family was capable of being civil, I couldn't say the same for many others of our species.

I searched the lot, listening and hearing nothing but the usual inane murmur of teenagers, their thoughts focused on the Swan girl. Did no one notice another around here? The scent filled my senses, freesia, sugarcane and fresh rainfall, whoever she was, she was very close.

I felt someone's eyes on me but no one was thinking of me. I turned and there she was, just stepping out of a behemoth of a truck. The first thing I noticed was the topaz eyes and I breathed a sigh of relief, but my breath caught again when I fully saw her.

She held my gaze and though I expected her to look panicked by the sight of multiple vampires while she was alone, she looked calm. I searched for her mind, to see if it was just an act but I heard nothing. Her eyes flickered over to Jasper who was tensed beside us and she nodded briefly at him before closing the door to her old rusted truck and gliding towards the school.

Rose is not going to like this. Of course, this is what Alice had been so excited about, but why was she trying to hide it from us? She was right, Rosalie was definitely not going to like this, and I repressed a shudder at the thought of Rosalie jealous.

BPOV

Fuck.

Why didn't Charlie tell me sooner that vampires live here? I don't care if they don't feed from humans, I know our instincts!

I hadn't expected to be so attracted to one of them though. I was never really attracted to anyone. Then again, I had never met a bronze haired Adonis before. I tried to shake it off, I get vibes all the time, and I was just freaking out because this time the vibe felt different. I'm still figuring myself out, heck, maybe he was gay, and maybe that was a gay vibe. Of course I would be attracted to a gay guy.

Ahh, shut up! I'm not attracted to anyone!

Well then, here we go, round two of high school. I let out a sigh.

I told Charlie to move here 5 years ago. Besides my mother, he was the only person I've ever loved and I knew a small town like Forks would be perfect for staying discreet, hidden.

He was the reason I've never tasted human blood, the reason I stayed with James for so long, the reason I'm here now, protecting, always protecting. I hated his questions about where I've been, what I've been doing. He would be so ashamed of me.

I was ashamed of myself. I've set my priorities straight and bargained so I could return to my father for awhile and a simple, low key life.

I could feel lust emanating from all around me, even from a few girls, not that that was unusual. I wondered where the other two student vampires were. Charlie was adamant that there was no threat, but I knew he was happy to have me back and wouldn't make too much of a fuss over it.

Two years, that's as long as I need to stay here, once they were gone, Charlie would be safe and I could leave him to his natural, normal existence. He needs normalcy and I know he's ready to move on, as private a person my father is, I saw the familiar and affectionate way he and the waitress Sandy greeted each other. Now I understood why he loved that diner so much, why he went there every week. I strode past a watery eyed blond boy and felt smothered.

Ugh, Las Vegas or Forks, it's always the same.

I wondered if I would have any classes with the others of my kind. I hoped Charlie was right about them, especially the tall blond one, he made me nervous. No, I'm lying, the Adonis made me most nervous. Physical violence is nothing compared to the pain I would feel if I ever fell in love.

EPOV

We were all always beautiful, it's nothing special and whoever she was, she couldn't be Bella Swan, so she couldn't be staying here…No vampire would live with a human.

I listened to the thoughts inside the building, following her to the office where she introduced herself.

Impossible!

I looked to Alice who seemed to be enjoying herself immensely, "Yup that is Bella Swan."

Jasper's feelings of anxiety hit me and I wasn't sure who was more worried, him or me.

"Alice, why have you been hiding this from me?"

Edward, we are going to become the best of friends, and I didn't want your early 19th century sense of social decency putting her off from coming here!

A memory flashed quickly before Alice returned to her mind blocking techniques.

It was Bella, but not the clean faced hair up in a pony tail, jeans and a sweatshirt Bella that we just saw; it was Bella's face, only with slightly sharper features and with what could only be described as blond sex hair and piercing blue eyes.

So she must be a shape shifter. I wondered if how she looked today was the real her or just another disguise. Considering her posture this morning, face down, hair in front like a mask, if it was a disguise, it did not help her blend in like it seemed she wanted to.

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They each went to class and Edward resisted the temptation to watch Bella through the thoughts of others. He focused instead on a new composition to play later, but every so often, he would see her in his head, starring at him as if she saw through him.

He was anxious for lunch time, anxious to prove to himself that she was just like everyone else, wrapped up in the mundane and selfish. He wondered if she would even go to lunch or if she would hide from them.

He tried to ignore the fantasies about Bella that filled the minds of many students. He didn't like to the idea of them seeing her the way some imagined her, he felt…possessive.

Lunch time didn't come fast enough before he found himself walking towards the table he and his siblings usually sat at. The humans kept their distance from them, sensing the danger even if they didn't understand why.

She walked in and again her eyes locked on his as she strolled toward him. He noticed that the students didn't seem to shy away from her as they normally would.

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Alice had told Rosalie and Emmett about her, and while Emmett seemed almost as excited as Alice about a newcomer who was a vegetarian like us, I could see Rosalie instantly tensing up and feeling hostile. The difference in emotions seemed to aggravate Jasper and I kicked Rosalie's chair. I could hear her snarl but couldn't tear my eyes from the vision in front of me.

She strolled up to the empty chair beside me and although I was sure she could hear Rosalie's growl she didn't even spare her a glance.

"May I sit down?" The question was directed at me and for the first time in over a century I was tongue tied, her voice sounded better than anything I had ever heard, soft and sweet but still somehow slightly husky, it stirred something within me and I could feel Jasper's surprise. Lust wasn't something he'd ever felt from me before. That's when I heard his assessment of her feelings - apprehension, curiosity and an underlying but very strong and permanent feeling of self-loathing and shame. And some lust.

Alice squealed and grabbed Bella's wrist, pulling her down onto the chair. The students at the surrounding tables were watching us with interest and envy, surprised by the new girl's boldness. I suppressed a growl at Mike Newton's indignation.

Bella smiled at Alice and I was taken aback by the dimples on her cheeks. It seemed so strange to see, even if Emmett had dimples, but on him it was mischief, on her it was the one word that seemed to come up most when describing her, sweet. She was classic. I tried not to focus too much on her lips, but couldn't seem to help myself, red and full with promise. This time it was Jasper's turn to kick my chair and I sent him an apologetic smile.

"Bella! I'm so glad to meet you! This is my husband Jasper, and that is Emmett and his wife Rosalie," Alice was speaking in hushed but excited whispers, Jasper nodded curtly at Bella, his expression wary but curious, Emmett held up a hand in greeting, a dopey grin on his large face and Rosalie sniffed disdainfully and looked away.

"And that," Alice said, gesturing towards me with a knowing smirk on her face, "is Edward."

I shifted uncomfortably and gave her a small smile; she was watching me with interest and a hint of remorse. Could she tell I was aroused?

"Edward, don't be embarrassed, it isn't you. Don't trust your feelings."

What?

I glared at her, bewildered. How would she know? She looked away from me and seemed to size everyone up and offer Alice another smile before speaking again.

"It is a pleasure to meet you all. I'm sorry if you were alarmed by my arrival, let me assure you that I will not expose you and I do not wish to interrupt your lives. My reasons for being here is my father, Charlie. I apologize if I offend you, but I must ask that you keep your distance from him."

Rosalie's eyes flashed, "As if you could stop us even if we did want to go near him."

Bella smiled at Rosalie but it did not reach her eyes as it did when she smiled at Alice, "Try fighting when all you can see is stars."

Again, what?

How could someone with dimples suddenly look so cold and dangerous?

Emmett tightened his hold around Rosalie and Alice giggled, "Bella, we understand completely and please don't feel like you have to avoid us!"

"Your father knows?" It was Jasper this time.

"Yes and I trust him completely. Consider the fact that he recognized what you all are as soon as you moved here and yet he only mentioned you recently."

"And you're living with him?!"

"I love him more than my own life, I would never hurt him. He's a good man." She smiled sadly down at her hands. I thought about touching my hand to hers for comfort when Alice had a vision.

Mike is walking next to Bella towards a classroom when he deliberately brushes a hand against hers, immediately they both react, Bella jerks away and Mike gasps, his body shuddering and a pained look on his face, followed by embarrassment and stuttering before he runs off. Bella looks panicked and takes off in the other direction.

Alice shakes herself out of it and looks pointedly at me.

Edward, you must always walk with her to biology class. Mike is going to be persistent.

"Are you gifted?" Bella watched our exchange with suspicion. She was perceptive.

I looked to Alice who hesitated.

Noncommittally I said we were, without telling her specifics. A moment of silence passed and I saw Alice looking sadly at Bella who was starring back defiantly. Jasper was shifting forward, trying to block his wife.

Alice slipped and I saw another vision, Bella sitting on the end of a bed, red hair this time and curled into herself, shoulders hunched, a blank look on her face, eyes trained on the floor between her feet. She was wearing a black teddy and there was a sleeping figure behind her. So she was a succubus. I felt disgusted for my attraction and shoved away from the table, startling Bella while Alice shot me a pleading look.

APOV

Oh Bella…

I knew everything about her; she was going to be my sister after all and I always felt the connection. I knew how terrible life had treated her so far. I knew about her mother's suicide, about how she ran away from home shortly afterward at the tender age of 16, overwhelmed and smothered by Charlie's grief and her own.

I saw her struggle for independence, trouble finding employers due to her age. She met Irina then and was introduced to escort services. She was charming and she loved the money but she didn't like the close contact with clients so at the age of eighteen she turned to stripping. That's where James saw her and he felt the same pull everyone did. He knew she would be even more beautiful and alluring, that men would flock to her side and pay big for the honour, so he changed her.

I gritted my teeth as I remember the way he blackmailed her, how he threatened her with Charlie. I had to remind myself then that it was all meant to be.

She knew James could track anyone, and with his coven of Victoria, Kate, Alec, Demetri and Felix, she was scared. So she stayed. James opened his own club and she was anyone the men wanted her to be. She played her role and learned to control her thirst. She thought of Charlie often and in the early morning hours spent her time learning how to play the cello and the harp, closing her eyes and indulging in her grief and shame as the music poured over her.

Eventually she slipped away and found Charlie again. He hadn't recognized her and she ended up telling him what she was. He was scared of course, but his relief and happiness at seeing his beloved daughter again outweighed his fear. He was devastated when she said she had to go, James had called her back, but they kept in touch.

Visions of her come randomly and I'm always amazed at how well I've been able to keep Edward from seeing her. But Edward was a drifter, he blocks our thoughts as well as he can and keeps to himself.

I remembered the way she would detach afterwards, the way she would slide away from whoever it was and sit on the end of the bed. This wasn't who she was, she had learned once to love it, but she was older now, if not in body then in mind and I knew when it was time to go to Forks, time to let our paths cross.

Edward shoved away from the table and sneered down at Bella before slamming out of the cafeteria. Bella seemed to cower in to herself, she may not read minds or feel all that we feel, but her sense of self-worth had her convinced that he knew and a moment later she was up and gone as well.

Emmett and Rose starting talking animatedly, her seething and him trying to calm her down and then speculating about Edward. Jasper gripped my hand, he could feel my worry.

Please Edward, you don't know her.

BPOV

I'd seen that look many times before – disgust. What else did I expect? He could probably smell them on me, I felt like I could. I didn't blame him, but my defiance and whatever little pride I had left demanded that I not let it happen like this again.

I was so sick of feeling like the scum of the earth, my whole coven, even Kate always looked at me like I was contaminated. Fuck them, if it weren't for me, they wouldn't have been driving around in the best money could buy, they wouldn't have worn top labels or lived in our mansion. They would have to work for it. It all meant nothing and only I knew it.

I would have traded it all for dignity. But I knew it was more than that, I would have traded it all if I had just figured out money and material meant nothing when I was human, but I knew that was beside the point. The damage was already done for me; I couldn't let James figure out another way to make quick money. I shuddered to think of the way the crime rate would have shot up in Las Vegas and the danger my father would have been in for my insolence.

James had no qualms about killing humans, the only reason he didn't was Kate's connection to a blood donor clinic and her art of persuasion.

With these thoughts in mind I paced the floor of the girl's bathroom before steeling myself for my next class.

The annoying blond boy, Mike Newton, had stolen my schedule off my desk and I knew he would be there in biology with me.

I was halfway to class when Edward caught up to me, but he said nothing. My anger disappeared, confusion taking its place. I watched him from the corner of my eye. His jaw was tense and I realized he didn't intend to say anything.

I thought about talking to him but as I studied him I forgot all about that idea. He was beautiful, bronze hair in disarray, clean lines, and strong rakish features. He wasn't buff like Felix; he was long and lean, probably very agile. I knew he could feel my eyes on him, assessing him, but he ignored me and when we reached the class he stalked away to a desk at the very back. I could feel the hum of energy from his lust, he didn't look pleased about. I could feel the tingling pull in my lower abdomen and I wasn't happy about it either. He was repulsed by me and I refused to be used again.

EPOV

What is she thinking?

I wanted to turn and look at her too, but I wouldn't. I knew my own appeal and I did not want to be a conquest. This is lust and I didn't need it. I need her to stop looking at me, I need to ignore her, not encourage her. I thought about Tanya and realized how annoying it would be to be actively pursued at school like that all the time.

How could someone with dimples and a smile like hers be promiscuous? She looked like the kind of girl that should be loved, cuddled and protected.

Why am I thinking like this?

I took my place at the back and gestured towards her to sit by me. I already knew she would have to; the seat next to mine was the only available one left. Mike walked in a second later while she was walking down the aisle towards me; his eyes ran down her body and lingered on her legs.

What I wouldn't give to have those legs wrapped around me.

I growled and Bella froze, she saw the direction of my glare and turned towards Mike. For a moment she was angry and embarrassed, but as Mike's fantasy escalated along with my frown, she looked quizzical, glancing from me to him and back again.

She finally reached me and her scent flooded my senses, I bit back a groan.

"Edward?"

"What?"

"Can you…hear thoughts?"

I turned on her quickly; some others noticed our whispered exchange, though they couldn't hear what was being said. I starred them down until they looked away.

How could she have figured it out so quickly? She glanced towards Mike as if in answer. Did she want to know what he was thinking? Anger boiled within me.

"I'm not going to help you figure out who would be most willing."

"What?" She was visibly taken aback by my tone.

"If you want Mike, he's more than interested, but from now on, don't look to me for help."

She recoiled and slapped me across the face. All eyes turned towards us once more, as shocked as I was. My jaw stung - the advantage I usually had of thought before action meant this was a first for me. She got up and walked out before I could say anything. A second later I found myself standing and realized I wanted to go after her, but as soon as I was in the hallway she was gone. Should I follow her scent?

My cell phone buzzed with a text message from Alice.

Give her a few hours to calm down.

After that she was all I could think about. The rest of the day seemed to take longer than ever and my regret built within me when she didn't return to school. Her first day of school here and she's skipping class to avoid me. Following this line of thought it registered with me that I had only known of her existence for a few hours, on top of which I had only conversed with her for a few minutes.

What was wrong with me? I was quick to judge.

I knew she must be good, the way she spoke of her father. But the vision of her was just too familiar. Vampires who indulged in physical intimacy with humans always seemed to follow the same pattern. Anticipation, bliss followed by a lonely remorse. I saw it in her face, like any junkie, she was crashing down.

Still, she's alone; of course she would crave connections. I just couldn't see her that way, as anything other than an adored and respected partner, it seemed so unnatural. Of course that is what she is, what we all are, unnatural.

Wrapped up in my thoughts I hardly noticed my siblings waiting for me at my car after the last bell of the day.

"Edward! How could you?" Alice's thoughts were much harsher than her spoken words, and I was amazed by the coarse yet creative language, more than anything though, it was her disappointment that struck me.

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A week went by and although she came to class she avoided me like the plague. I even overheard her trying to get out of biology. That one hurt. I had offended women in the past, albeit not so brutally or intentionally, but she reacted in a way that made me want to get down on my hands and knees and beg for forgiveness.

The only other woman who became completely put off by my behaviour was Rosalie. With her, she cultivated a dramatic disdain towards me, sneering at me until she caught my gaze and then turning away with a huff. I think she knew I had offended Bella somehow and she relished in my depressed mood.

Bella reacted with complete and total indifference. She acted like I didn't even exist except for in biology where she would acknowledge me with a curt nod when I'd fall into step beside her in the hallway and a cold politeness when we were forced to work together. It was excruciating.

The day after it happened I started to tell her how sorry I was, but she brushed it off and said she didn't want to hear it, it didn't matter. But it did matter, oh how it mattered.

Mike Newton continued to actively pursue Bella and she handled it with a patient gentleness I admired. He never seemed to get the message. I could see it in his head, his plan to be persistent. As far as he knew, despite her being a Goddess to his humanity, no one else was trying to get her attention and maybe eventually she would think him sweet and give him a chance. I knew this wasn't an act, I followed her through the thoughts of others and she was always the same when confronted with an advance.

By the end of the week I was positively morose, driving my family insane with my brooding. By Friday night Alice was kicking me out of the house, telling me to go hunt and "cheer the fuck up" (ladies and gentlemen, my sister).

I reluctantly agreed much to Jasper's relief and flew into the woods of Forks, wandering aimlessly for hours when I came across her scent. I knew it was a bad idea to follow another vampire while they are hunting, but all rational thought was out the window, especially once I found her.

I followed her from a distance, downwind; I was caught off guard by her attire. I simple white slip, she was fast, her long toned legs barely grazing the ground as she swept over the ground it in pursuit of my own personal favourite – mountain lion. The moment she caught up to the lion I started to see hunting in a very different light. The sensuous dance of predator and prey, the way her body wrapped around his as she sunk her teeth into its neck, her eyes closed.

The next moment she was standing over the limp feline, her dress as clean as it had been before but her hair in disarray. A drop of blood lingered at the corner and my breath hitched when her tongue snaked out and curled around it, pulling it into her mouth. Then her eyes flashed open, locking on mine and I realized that she was very much aware of my presence and probably had been for awhile.

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