Chapter 1

The flashes of darkness in contrast with the light make my head spin. I can feel the cold, feel the snow crunching under my feet as I'm running, hear the wind as it's rushing by, feel my heart beating a mile a minute, smell the air from the rain. My blood is pounding in my ears as I will my legs to push me as fast as I can go, trying to outrun them, knowing I won't be able to. I'm human. A human who can do some insane things, but speed and strength are not one of those things. They are not. I know they are just letting me run, that it is a game to them. I don't know how I know, but I know they are playing with me.

I need to keep going. I can't stop. If I can reach the boy, I know I'd be safe. He's kept me safe in my dreams for months now. I really shouldn't call him a boy though, I mean, would a 107 year old vampire count as a boy, even if he's frozen at 17 forever?

I slam into something hard, and I can tell it's not him. When he touches me, I feel immoderately safe. The only thing I feel with this touch is cold dread. The hands grip my arms, tightly, too tight. I can feel my bones creaking under the pressure.

"I'm sorry for this, Isabella," I hear a thin, airy voice whisper in my ear. One of the hands travel up to my neck, and as I scream, I jump out of my bed, gasping for breath, grabbing my neck. I'm plunged in darkness, and I look at my alarm clock.

3:26 AM. I still have a few hours before I have to get ready for school, and I know I can't go back to sleep. I hear running up the stairs and Charlie bursts into my room, holding his handheld gun.

"Bella!" He says as he scans the room quickly with his eyes. "What's wrong? I heard you scream."

I blow out a breath. "I'm sorry Charlie. I guess mom forgot to tell you I get night terrors. This one just...it felt so real," because it will be, I said silently to myself.

He blew out a short breath and put down his gun. "You scared me, kid," he grumbled. It does kind of look like I shave a few years off of him. I really should have warned him. But I wasn't expecting this terrible of a dream. I've had some bad ones these past few months, but never this terrifying.

Charlie leaves my room and I turn on my light, and grab my sketch book. I need to draw it. It's the only thing to ensure I remember everything from start to finish. I'm trying to get the features of the eyes just right, with the age lines at the corners, when I hear the alarm clock go off. I sigh tiredly, and go to take a needed shower. As I'm rubbing my strawberry scented shampoo into my scalp, I put the dream aside, for now, because I have another terrifying journey ahead of me today. Terrifying, yet exciting. My first day at Forks High School. My first meeting with him.

I moved in with my dad last week. Renee, my mom, had just remarried, and wanted to travel. And I knew she wanted to travel with him, but she didn't want to leave me alone. Even though I prefer it that way.

It's not that I don't lover her, she's wonderful, and scatterbrained, and has the warmest hugs for me when I need them. But I figure if I'm the daughter that doesn't really give affection to her parents, it may be easier when I die. Because that's what my dream was last night. The same dream I have been plagued with. My death by the hands of the man with those eyes.

I feel the water run cold and shut my thoughts off about the dream again. I've had it so many times that I don't fear the actual event anymore. I'm just fearful of who and what I'm leaving behind.

As I step out, I hear a knock at the bathroom door. "I'm headed to work, Bells. I should be home by 6 tonight," Charlie called through the closed door.

"Okay, dad. I love you, be safe," I reply. I don't know how long I have until I can't say that anymore. I hear him retreat as he mumbles back an I love you, and I can't help but smile. Charlie is not the type who handles affection well. And he doesn't hover. I need that right now.

I pull into the school parking lot at 6:31 in my new-to-me truck that's from the 1960's-at least. As I grab my bag, I rush out of the cab and hear the whispers around me. I keep my head low, and make my way to the office, but I can't help myself. I look for him around the parking lot with my eyes. There's a slight disappointment when I realize he isn't here yet. I was hoping to give him a warning to go hunting before we officially meet in Biology.

As I step into the warm office, the chatter silenced as the door closes behind me. I shake off the little rain that I acquired, and walk up to the short woman at the front desk, who's head was ducked into a book.

"Excuse me," I say lightly, and she jumps slightly. She looks at me with her hand on her heart.

"Oh! I'm sorry, dear. How can I help you?" She smiles kindly.

"My name is Isabella-" I start. She quickly interrupts me.

"Isabella Swan, yes! Welcome to forks dear. I have your class schedule here all set up for you, a map of the school, and I need you to return this slip signed by all of your teachers at the end of the day today," she said as she handed me each paper individually. I smiled and thanked her as I turned to walk out the door. "Have a wonderful first day, Isabella!" I cringe slightly at the use of my full name, but don't correct her. I'll tell her later I prefer Bella.

I head to my government class, as that is my first class of the day. I meet Eric, a y'all, gangly kid with greasy hair and a bit of a skin complexion problem. He offers to lead me to my next class, Trig, where I meet Jessica. Jessica is a chatter box. Which makes it easy for me because I don't want to talk too much. She has light brown hair that's as big as her personality, well, not as big, but pretty close. Her eyes are the same shade of brown, and seem to have secrets in them. Not the kind she keeps, but rather the kind she holds and tells. Jessica kindly, if I can call it that, offered me to sit with her group at lunch. I eagerly accept, knowing that's where I'll see the only people I truly want to see here. For the first time at least. And I don't want to sit alone.

I'm sitting at their table, chatting lightly with Angela, and I honestly like her. She would be the one decent friend I could have here. The one person who wouldn't ask too many questions, and if we didn't feel like talking, could sit in silence with each other. She has kind eyes, and long brown hair that reminds me of the color of a mocha latte. Mike and Tyler are talking in front of us, and try including me in the conversation, but I just give small smiles and simple responses.

Mike is the all American boy, with the sandy blonde hair and the baby blue eyes. The guy who wears a varsity jacket and has a big smile that's contagious. Tyler, on the other hand, has a caramel complexion, with deep brown hair and nearly black eyes. His laugh is boisterous and he lacks personal boundaries, as made proven by him coming over and slinging his arm over the back of my chair. I gingerly and discreetly move forward, effectively removing his arm from touching my shoulders, when the cafeteria doors open wide. My eyes are glued to them as they walk trough the door.

It's amazing. You'd think with how many times I've seen them all in my dreams, I'd be used to their inhuman beauty, the way they don't simply walk, they glide across the floor. I take notice of their eyes, and see they're dark. I sigh inwardly at that. They're pushing it honestly. I look at each of them as they come in, feeling a sting of tears. I have to anchor myself to my chair, reminding myself that they're not my family yet. None of it has happened yet. I'll look crazy if I tried talking to them now.

My eyes land on Rosalie first. She seemed to like me the least at first, but in time she was as close to me as the others from what I could tell in my dreams. Her beauty took me for a second. Her long, wavy blonde hair was shiny, her facial features were perfectly sculpted, her body had all the right curves in all the right places, and her lips were full and a light pink. Holding her hand, was Emmett. He was the same teddy bear I remember. With large muscles, and short brown hair, and a big, goofy smile, I wanted to run and wrap my arms around him. I already know he's fiercely protective, and kind, and he gives such amazing bear hugs.

Jasper trails behind them, his shaggy blonde hair falling slightly in his eyes. His build is lean and muscled, his stance straight and proper. His eyes, though he's trying to hide it, are immersed in pain. He's newest to this life, and I know he struggles with it. It can't be easy when you feel the thirst of the other vampires around you as well. He thinks he's weak, but he's actually one of the strongest of them, and they don't even realize it. My breath catches as my eyes find Alice. Her small stature and short black hair, her pixie like figure and wide smile as she dances around Jasper, all while holding his hand. She's so graceful, and a breath of fresh air. I feel the sting of tears as I struggle to remain seated, I want to hug her so much, my soon to be best friend, my companion in crime, my confidant. But that didn't even prepare me for him.

Edward strolled in alone behind the rest of them, his hands in his pockets and his head lowered, but I know he's listening to every conversation happening around him, both out loud and internally. The dreams did him no justice. His hair is a warm copper color, with tints of brown, that make it a bronze shade I've never seen before. He's leaner than his brothers, but I can still see his muscular form peaking through his long sleeved shirt. His face is angular, and soft at the same time. His legs are long, and he uses them to stride quickly behind his siblings. And his eyes, his eyes are black. I need to warn him, or not go to class. I know I shouldn't change the event that should happen, but, I can't live with him being gone for a week because of me. I hear Jessica in my ear.

"Bella? Are you okay?" Her eyes follow mine. "Oh," she said knowingly. "Those are the Cullens. They moved here a few years ago. The blonde ones are Rosalie and Jasper Hale, the big one is Emmet, the tiny girl is Alice, and then, there's Edward. He's kind of a loner," she started on her gossip real, even though I already knew this information, I listened with rapt attention. "Doctor and Mrs. Cullen adopted them all."

"They're all together, like together, together," she whispered. I looked at her with an eyebrow raised.

"They're adopted, so what does that matter?" I asked breezily. They may not know it yet, but they're still my family, and I will always protect them. She gave me a look.

"They live together, it's weird," she started and I held up my hand.

"Couples live together all of the time. They just happened to be lucky enough to meet their soul mates because of a generous couple who took them in. That's not weird, in my book. If anything, that's a romantic story to tell," I said evenly. I could feel the eyes of everyone at the table on me.

"Yeah but Bella, they don't talk to anyone here. No one in Forks is good enough for them apparently," Mike said with a roll of his eyes. I narrowed mine.

"Well, Mike, you don't know the reasons behind that. Maybe they just don't do well with other people. Maybe they have some esteem issues. Or maybe, they just don't care for the fake friendships of high school that ultimately end when we all leave, and would rather stick together since they have a relationship that won't end. You don't know, so you shouldn't assume or judge," my voice was strong and carried as I stood up, my fist was clenched slightly and I could feel them shaking. I needed to calm down. Last thing I needed was to throw the table without even touching it.

I grabbed my bag and noticed the entire cafeteria was silent, watching me. My eyes caught the eyes of my future family. I immediately calmed as I looked into Edward's eyes. Or was that Jasper with his gift, I wonder as I look at Jasper speculatively. As I'm walking towards the doors, I know this is my chance to tell Edward he needs to hunt.

"Edward, don't come to class until you've eaten. Had a drink. Whatever you want to call it," I muttered under my breath. I heard a clash of a chair and ignored it as I went through the doors, letting them slam behind me.

Talk about a first impression.