I awoke in the morning still tired. I was only able to fall asleep at all because the constant crash of rain against the roof lessened around four A.M. It was six now. Grudgingly, I got out of bed and glanced out the window. Fog again. Of course. Sighing again, I set off to get dressed in the outfit I had picked out the night before; Skinny blue jeans, A light grey T-shirt, a red flannel with only the bottom two buttons fastened, socks, and my skinny fit black combat boots. I grabbed my brush and then went into the bathroom. Hesitating for only a second, I looked in to the mirror, I had dark circles and bags under my eyes from the lack of sleep the last two days. I frowned, wishing I still had the concealer my mom gave me for my birthday a year ago. I ran a brush through my hair and decided to pull my long brown hair into a low ponytail in the back. Finished, I brought my brush to my room before grabbing my backpack and heading down stairs to eat a quick breakfast.

When I got downstairs, I grabbed a small bowl, a box of frosted flakes, a spoon, and a carton of Skim milk. After adding the contents of the cereal and milk into the bowl, I quickly ate and put the dishes in the sink to wash later. A glance at the clock tells me I have ten minutes to get to school and class on time, so I grab my keys, rain coat, and backpack and head out to my truck.

I managed to make it to school in two minutes, giving me plenty of time to make it to class. I began my trek to class slowly and grudgingly. It had started sprinkling as soon as I had stepped out of my truck, though not enough to really do any damage. I had to go to building "3" first for English. Simple.

I was hoping that since it was no longer my first day, I would receive a lot less stares and would be able to blend in like I did at my old school in Phoenix. Of course, my hope was pointless, because as soon as I entered my English classroom everyone's heads turned to stare and while there was talking before I entered, it was now deadly silent. My face immediately turned beat red and in my attempt to get to my desk as quickly as possible I tripped over one of the desk legs and would have fallen if it weren't for a muscular chest and two strong arms that wrapped around my waist. I followed the chest and arms slowly upward with my eyes to find gorgeous tufts of golden blond hair, honey gold eyes, and a pale, beautiful face that could only belong to Jasper Hale. In a movement that was quicker than a normal human was capable of, he quickly set me on my feet and swiftly walked away to his seat with out so much as a second glance in my direction. I shook my head in disbelief as I made my way to my own seat, confused as to what just happened. I decided to drop the subject until after school when I would have more time to ponder it and in the mean time, focus all my attention on what my AP English teacher was saying. We were watching a movie today. Shakespear's Romeo and Juliet. I had already done this unit at my old school. Simple.

The rest of my classes went by quickly after that and before I knew it, it was lunch time.

But when I walked into the cafeteria with Jessica - trying to keep my eyes from sweeping the place for him, and failing entirely - I saw that his four siblings of sorts were sitting together at the same table, and he was not with them.

Mike intercepted us and steered us to his table. Jessica seemed elated by the attention, and her friends quickly joined us. But as I tried to listen to their easy chatter, I was terribly uncomfortable, waiting nervously for the moment he would arrive. I hoped that when he came, he wouldn't simply ignore me. God, even I knew I sounded crazy. I barley knew the guy, and had never had a boyfriend in my life, so why start now? Besides, according too Jessica, he didn't date, so there was no point anyway.

Just after the thought occurred to me though, he walked into the cafeteria, and my previous resolve was thrown away to the wind. He didn't spare me so much as a glance as he sat down with his adoptive family. He hadn't even bothered to get a lunch, but I pushed the thought to the back of my mind, figuring he probably just wasn't hungry.

The bell rang signaling the end of lunch and I quickly through away my trash in hopes that it would give me a little more time to get to class so I wouldn't be late on my second day of school.

I walked to Biology with more confidence when there was still a lot of people not in class yet. Mike, who was taking on the qualities of a golden retriever, walked faithfully by my side to class. Edward Cullen, my new lab partner, was sitting at the table before me again today. I exhaled and went to my seat. Mike followed, talking about an upcoming trip to the beach. He lingered by my desk till the bell rang. Then he smiled at me wistfully and went to sit by a girl with braces and a bad perm. It looked like I was going to have to do something about Mike, and it wouldn't be easy. In a town like this, where everyone lived on top of everyone else, diplomacy was essential. I had never been enormously tactful; I had no practice dealing with overly friendly boys.

I had gym after biology, and to my extreme disappointment, I had to change today and to make matters worse, we were playing volleyball today.

When the school day was finally done, and the blush was fading out of my cheeks from the volleyball incident, I changed quickly back into my jeans and navy blue sweater. I hurried from the girls' locker room, pleased to find that I had successfully evaded my retriever friend for the moment. I walked swiftly out to the parking lot. It was crowded now with fleeing students. I got in my truck and dug through my bag to make sure I had what I needed.

Last night I'd discovered that Charlie couldn't cook much besides fried eggs and bacon. So I requested that I be assigned kitchen detail for the duration of my stay. He was willing enough to hand over the keys to the banquet hall. I also found out that he had no food in the house. So I had my shopping list and the cash from the jar in the cupboard labeled FOOD MONEY, and I was on my way to the Thriftway.

I gunned my deafening engine to life, ignoring the heads that turned in my direction, and backed carefully into a place in the line of cars that were waiting to exit the parking lot. As I waited, trying to pretend that the earsplitting rumble was coming from someone else's car, I saw the two Cullens and the Hale twins getting into their car. It was the shiny new Volvo. Of course. I hadn't noticed their clothes before - I'd been too mesmerized by their faces. Now that I looked, it was obvious that they were all dressed exceptionally well; simply, but in clothes that subtly hinted at designer origins. With their remarkable good looks, the style with which they carried themselves, they could have worn dishrags and pulled it off. It seemed excessive for them to have both looks and money. But as far as I could tell, life worked that way most of the time. It didn't look as if it bought them any acceptance here.

No, I didn't fully believe that. The isolation must be their desire; I couldn't imagine any door that wouldn't be opened by that degree of beauty.

They looked at my noisy truck as I passed them, just like everyone else. I kept my eyes straight forward and was relieved when I finally was free of the school grounds.

The Thriftway was not far from the school, just a few streets south, off the highway. It was nice to be inside the supermarket; it felt normal. I did the shopping at home, and I fell into the pattern of the familiar task gladly. The store was big enough inside that I couldn't hear the tapping of the rain on the roof to remind me where I was.

When I got home, I unloaded all the groceries, stuffing them in wherever I could find an open space. I hoped Charlie wouldn't mind. I wrapped potatoes in foil and stuck them in the oven to bake, covered a steak in marinade and balanced it on top of a carton of eggs in the fridge.

When I was finished with that, I took my book bag upstairs. Before starting my homework, I changed into a pair of dry sweats, pulled my damp hair up into a pony-tail, and checked my e-mail for the first time. I had three messages.

"Bella," my mom wrote...

Write me as soon as you get in. Tell me how your flight was. Is it raining? I miss you already. I'm almost finished packing for Florida, but I can't find my pink blouse. Do you know where I put it? Phil says hi. Mom.

I sighed and went to the next. It was sent eight hours after the first.

"Bella," she wrote...

Why haven't you e-mailed me yet? What are you waiting for? Mom.

The last was from this morning.

Isabella,

If I haven't heard from you by 5:30 p.m. today I'm calling Charlie.

I checked the clock. I still had an hour, but my mom was well known for jumping the gun.

Mom,

Calm down. I'm writing right now. Don't do anything .

I sent that, and began again.

Mom,

Everything is great. Of course it's raining. I was waiting for something to write about. School isn't bad, just a little repetitive. I met some nice kids who sit by me at lunch.

Your blouse is at the dry cleaners - you were supposed to pick it up Friday.

Charlie bought me a truck, can you believe it? I love it. It's old, but really sturdy, which is good, you know, for me.

I miss you, too. I'll write again soon, but I'm not going to check my e-mail every five minutes. Relax, breathe. I love you. Bella.

I had decided to read Wuthering Heights - the novel we were currently studying in English - yet again for the fun of it, and that's what I was doing when Charlie came home. I'd lost track of the time, and I hurried downstairs to take the potatoes out and put the steak in to broil.

Soon after I finished dinner and we ate, I headed up to my bedroom to turn in early in hopes that I could get more sleep then the night before.

My last thoughts before I fell asleep were of Jasper Hale.

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Author's note: I know it took me forever to update and I don't know if I will update again. My life is crazy right now and I don't know if I will have time to be on fan fiction any more. As a matter a fact, I think I will put this story up for adoption, as well as my other fics. Let me know if you would be interested!