I do not own any recognizable figures. Just because I wish I did, doesn't make it so. All characters belong to the Goddess; Stephenie Meyers.

This is a story about Edward and Bella. I have changed Bella up a bit, because I can't stand the fact that she didn't have enough of a backbone. I also want to point out that even though the characters are, for the most part, canon, I have added new elements.

For those of you who are Team Jacob, I'm giving you fair warning. There will be some minor Jacob bashing. I hope you enjoy.

Reviews are appreciated. All I ask is that any criticism be given constructively. I like to learn from my mistakes.

Everything in italics are thoughts.

I am reposting edited chapters.

Chapter 1

BPOV

I knew that choosing to move into my dad's was the right choice for me. I love my erratic mother very much, but I have now outgrown her. In fact, I think I outgrew my mother when I turned eight.

My mother was always scattered brain which put me into the position of having to be the "adult" between the two of us. Although I didn't mind having to take care of my mother, I did sometimes wish I could have had a more normal childhood.

So, here I am, standing in my old bedroom in Forks, Wash., the rainiest, dullest place in the U.S.,trying to figure out why I have this feeling like something enormous was about to happen to me.

All my life, I would get these odd feelings that I couldn't describe. Sometimes, they came to my like a gut-wrenching feeling, and other times, they came to me while I was asleep. I may not know what was the cause of this feeling, but I did know that these feelings I got were never wrong. All I could do was brace myself and accept whatever was going to happen.

Today was my first day at Forks High. Yea me! I scavenged through my sparse closet to try to find a somewhat decent outfit to wear. Since Arizona is sunny and hot all the time, none of my clothes would have been appropriate to bring with me. That left me with just a few shirts and jeans. I seriously needed to go shopping. I finally decided on a pair of dark wash skinny jeans and a midnight blue, long sleeved shirt. I brushed my long mahogany hair and put it back with a headband. I grabbed my bag, noticing that I was running a few minutes late, and ran out the door.

Charlie, my dad, had bought me an old truck for me to drive. Sure, it wasn't the best looking set of wheels around, but at least I didn't have to walk. Better yet, at least I didn't have to ride in my dad's cop car. There is nothing worse than riding in a cop car with the chief of police, even if he is your dad.

I got to the school and noticed I was still a little early. Good! I rushed to the office to grab my schedule. I was hoping not to be noticed, but that was all in vain. I was approached by a guy named Eric Yorkie.

"Hi. You must be Isabella. Would you like me to help you find your way around?" he asked me a little too eagerly.

I smiled hesitantly. "Please, just call me Bella and sure, if you don't mind. I would appreciate it." I followed as he led me to my first class.

The rest of my morning went the same way. Mostly, guys were begging to escort me around. Geez! I felt like the sideshow in a circus.

As lunch time neared, that feeling that something big was going to happen kept getting stronger. I followed this kind girl, Angela Webber. ,into the cafeteria. My nerves were really bugging me now. I grabbed a can of Coke and sat at the table with her. Jessica Stanley, the girl from my Trig. Class, Eric, plus a Tyler and Lauren, Jessica's friend, were all seated.

"So, Bella, why aren't you tanned? You are from Arizona. Didn't you sunbathe?" Mike Newton asked me.

"Well, Mike," I said, "I don't tan. At all. So they all got together and opted to kick me out. I have no issues being a pale face. I'm comfortable being in my own skin." I could have sworn I heard him say "That's some nice skin," but I pretended not to hear.

Suddenly, from the corner of my eye, I saw a group of the most gorgeous people I have ever seen enter the cafeteria. " Who are they, and how did they get so hot?" I asked no one in particular.

"That's the Cullens," Mike sneered.

Someone's jealous, I thought to myself.

"The big guy and the blond girl are Emmett and Rosalie, and they are together. The blonde guy and the little pixie girl are Alice and Jasper, and they are together," Jessica told me.

I looked at Jessica and noticed a hint of anger and jealousy in her eyes. I wondered what that was about. Then, I heard the cafeteria doors open again. I looked up and saw the most incredibly gorgeous guy I have ever seen. It can't be something in the water here, because all of the guys would be that hot. Just then, he looked up . Was it my imagination or did his golden eyes just turn black? He stopped dead in his tracks and stared at me. I was mesmerized. I couldn't look away if I wanted to. I vaguely heard Mike calling my name.

"Uh, who is that? I take it he is a Cullen?" I asked eagerly.

I still couldn't turn away from the sight of his fine self. He had the most amazing copper colored hair, and by far, the sexiest grin I have ever seen. He was tall, a little over six foot, and had an incredible body. He was muscular without being overly done. He was staring intently at me. I smiled at him, and his black eyes seemed to brighten up. Just as he was about to come over to me, his sister, Alice, ran up to him, grabbed his arm, a dragging him over to their table. He sat down with his siblings all the while keeping his eyes on me. I had to fight this intense urge to run over there and grab him. What the heck is wrong with me? Why did I feel such a strong pull towards him? Could he be the reason why I have been having such intense feelings all day?

I suddenly felt dizzy. "Don't even bother with Edward, Bella. He doesn't date. No one here is good enough for him," Jessica said angrily.

I laughed loudly. "Geez, Jessica. Are you mad that he turned you down. To each his own. You just might not be his type. Don't take it personally," I said to her. Jessica's face turned a bright shade of purple. I guess I hit close to the mark.

"What , Bella? Do you think you have what it takes to get Edward Cullen's attention? You're not even that pretty. I don't even know why all the guys have been hanging all over you all day"

Wow.! Someone is getting catty. "Actually, Jessica, I didn't imply anything about getting his attention. I would rather a guy ask me out than to behave like a whore and throw myself at a guy who clearly isn't interested."

Everyone snickered, trying to hide their laughter. I had just implied that Jessica Stanley was a slut. Guess I was right again. This girl was such a fake. Obviously, no one has ever called her out on it before. Guess I have my work cut out for me.

"Listen, Jessica, I don't know what crawled up your posterior development and died, but I can honestly tell you that there isn't a guy on this planet that will give you the time of day if you go around acting like you are all that." I had had enough of her attitude.

Mike, Eric, and Tyler were a little too entertained. I decided to cut the showdown short. I had much more interesting things to do. "If you guys will excuse me, lunch is almost over. I'm going to head on over to my Biology class." I grabbed my bag and headed out the door.

EPOV

When we got to school today, the only thing that seemed to be in the thoughts of the students was Isabella Swan. It's days like these when I wish I didn't have the ability to read minds.

My "siblings" and I are vampires. We are able to be around humans because we sustain ourselves on animal blood instead of human blood. If being a vampire wasn't odd enough, some of our kind are "born" with extra abilities. My sister, Alice, can see the future, and her husband, Jasper, is an empath. Then, of course, there is my telepathy. I wish I could turn it off, but no such luck.

It never ceases to amaze me how perverted teenage boys are. I wonder if Ms. Swan was even aware of the effect she had on the male population at this school. I tried my best to block out the unwanted thoughts. Really. What interest could I possibly have in the new girl?

It was like that all morning. All I could hear was the lustful thoughts from the males around me for Isabella. Bella, as she prefers it. I could see her appearance in the mind of others. Yes, she was very attractive. As far as I could tell, she didn't walk around like Jessica or even Lauren did, acting like they were God's gift to mankind. Little did I know that my opinion was about to change.

It was lunchtime, and I was headed to the cafeteria to meet up with my "siblings". We had to keep up the facade that we were human. They had gotten there ahead of me. When I walked through the doors, I looked up and glanced into Bella Swan's eyes. It was then that I felt like my entire world, everything that was important to me, no longer mattered.

Edward, don't talk to her yet. You have to wait. I've seen it. You'll scare her off. My sister , Alice warned me. We were use to these this silent form of communication. I shook my head. Why should I wait? After a hundred years of loneliness, I have found her.

I'm not kidding ,Edward. If you do as I say, everything will work out beautifully. Alice's mental voice yelled at me.

I continued to gaze into Bella's gorgeous brown eyes. Then, Alice ran over, grabbed my arms, and dragged me over to our table. I sat down without ever breaking eye contact. I wondered if she felt the pull like I did. I tried then to listen to her thoughts, but I couldn't seem to hear them. Wait. That's wasn't possible. In my over a hundred years of existence, I have never encountered anyone whose thoughts were silent to me.

I listened to her conversation with Jessica. Apparently, she felt the need to put the other girl in her place. Finally! Someone who will call her out. Bella hasn't even been here a full day, and she already figured out that the reason I wasn't interested in Jessica was for the fact that she behaves like a whore.

"Wow!" My brother, Emmett, exclaimed. "That new girl sure has no issues with speaking her mind. She sure put Jessica in her place. That shade of purple on her face was hilarious!"

Everyone laughed at that. Rosalie, who is usually too wrapped up in herself, actually approved of Bella. "Well, I like her. Any girl who can stand up for herself like that and shut Jessica up at the same time, is all right in my book," she said.

Well, that through me for a loop. I wonder what she'll say when she finds out that Bella is my mate.

Don't say anything yet. You have Biology with her next. You're going to be given a project ,and you will both be partners. Invite her to the house. That will give you the chance to get to know her. I'm so excited! She's going to be my best friend, Alice advised me.

Perfect! This will give me the opportunity that I need to get to know her, without freaking her out.

Just then, I saw Bella get up from her table and storm out of the cafeteria. Jessica must have gotten on her last nerve. She better get use to it.

I got up to follow. I glanced at my brothers and sisters. "I'll see you after school," I said to them on the way out the door. I tried to not look too enthusiastic. I didn't want to give myself away. As it is, I was pretty sure that Jasper could pick it up in my feelings. Knowing Alice like I do, she will probably pull him aside and have a chat with him.. Thank God for Alice. She's always helping me out.

I entered the classroom and saw Bella being bothered by Mike Newton. I'm going to have a lot of work ahead of me, and it's only just begun.