This is the re-written first chapter of 'Picking Up the Pieces.' There have been changes made, so I suggest reading this to keep up with the pattern. I do NOT own Twilight, Jared, or any of the other characters created by Stephanie Meyer. I only own Hazel at this point.

o.O.o

Hazel's POV

I shuddered as the chilled wind, formed over the rough waves of the Pacific Ocean, rushed past me and burned my skin with its frigid touch. Its harsh caress was enough to unnerve me, and I found myself trembling beneath my multiple layers of clothing. Washington was far too cold, even in the midst of August, and no matter how hard I tried I was never warm.

I'd been living with my aunt for all of two weeks, and I'd already found a severe distaste for the constant cloud-cover, the lack of familiar sights, and the stares and alienation that came from being paler than anyone else on the Reservation.

"Heads up!"

I jerked at the sudden call and spun on my heel just in time to see a boy in a letterman jacket dart past me to catch a football as it spiraled through the air in the direction of who I assumed to be the school's cheerleaders. I don't consider myself a very judgmental person, but I'd never once seen skirts as short or lips as perfectly painted as theirs. Their squeals didn't deter from my original assumption either; they screamed, but they did so in flirtatious way by giggling and swatting at the boy as he neared them.

I trudged past the rapidly developing attempts at flirtation and carefully slipped in between several of the jocks who, even while slouched against the wall, seemed to tower over me. Their appearances were daunting, and the sudden urge to cower crept into my mind.

"D-damn it...d-don't go there." My voice was nearly silent, but my purpose was clear to me: I couldn't lose myself to the memories of my past, and I couldn't surrender myself to the fear and pain the memories would bring about. If I did something so idiotic I would lose touch with myself completely; I'd already been broken once, and I didn't have the strength to pull myself back together again.

I needed something to focus on, something to put my mind at ease, and I found myself listening to the soft scuffing of my shoes against the pavement as I trudged toward the doors to my newest hell: high school. I tried to reassure myself everything would be alright, but before I could get far in my little pep-talk a hulking mass slammed into my side and knocked me off balance.

"The hell? Watch where you're going, bitch," a rough voice growled.

I was suddenly being pushed toward the group of cheerleaders by a set of sweltering hands, and I narrowly missed the beauty-queens whose painted lips had formed perfect Os of surprise at the new freshman's abuse.

I tilted my head back and made eye-contact with the aggressive student, and I was stunned to come into contact with the deepest brown eyes I'd ever seen. The boy froze at the sudden look, but before I could even utter a word he shoved me into the nearby wall and took off running with incredible speed.

"I-I'm sorry," I managed to choke out as he raced toward the forest, but he gave no reply. I doubted he was able to hear me, but for some reason I felt rejected. I attempted to brush off the lingering disappointment as I righted myself and stumbled toward the doors, but as I moved to walk into the school my heart suddenly lurched, and I crumbled to the ground in pure pain. Seconds later, as I clutched my chest desperately, the tortured howl of a woodland creature joined in my momentary heartburn, and I felt the animal was somehow sympathizing with me.

"Hey, are you okay?" a husky voice suddenly asked from above me. I tilted my head back and caught sight of a handsome boy with the stature of a body-builder. "I saw you fall...did something happen?"

Before I could answer, he lifted me by my arms and settled me on my feet without the slightest bit of difficulty.

"H-how did you-"

"You're not very good at introductions, are you?" he teased. His forehead was suddenly pressed against mine, and I jerked away at the sudden rush of heat radiating off of his skin. "Hm...no fever."

"H-how would you e-even be able to t-tell?" I stuttered in response while I attempted to jerk myself away from the stranger who seemed to have taken an interest in invading my personal space.

"Hm? Dunno, I just wanted to try it out once on someone who wouldn't punch me for moving so close..." He shot me a goofy grin, and I felt my fears ease away until I was left with nothing to do but stare into his strange, childlike eyes. "Oh, my name's Seth; you might be less freaked out if you know who's talking to you." His grin turned sheepish, and he pulled away to give me a bit of space. "I'm glad you seem alright. When you collapsed I thought I'd have to take you to the nurse."

"T-the nurse..."

"Yeah, do you even know where you are?" He leaned close and poked my forehead with mischief radiating from him. "We're in Vegas," he whispered suddenly, "We're secret agents searching for a thief in the city of casinos!"

"We're in W-Washington...in t-the city of e-eternal rain," I argued in a mumble.

He shot me a smile when I responded coherently, showed his stunningly white teeth, and encased my hand in his massive palm. "What's your name, new girl?"

"M-my name's...i-it's...H-Hazel..." I settled my gaze on the forest, attempting to hide from my embarrassment, and stared as the trees swayed in the harsh wind and tried to withstand the budding storm the weatherman had predicted only hours before. But, after several seconds of observation, I caught sight of something large and grey. I tried to lean around Seth, who had moved to obstruct my view, as he chatted about the school and his friends, but his frame was far too large for me to see around without shuffling away from him completely.

By the time he shifted enough for me to stare at the spot the creature had already darted off. I moved to take a step forward, enticed by the possibility of something so large running around in the trees, but Seth caught my wrist and reeled me back to his side.

"You'd think a girl would pay attention when you try to give her a compliment," he grumbled, trying to appear insulted, but his elated smile gave insight into his true feelings. "Your name's the same as your eye color."

"Y-yeah...I t-think my parents were j-just unimaginative-"

"-School's going to start soon," he interrupted with a wide, cheeky grin. "You're new, obviously. You're pale, short, and look confused...it's not hard to tell where you want to go. I'll take you there." He tugged on my wrist once more, and I stumbled into his side with a startled, incredulous expression.

"W-what-" I couldn't believe he'd changed the topic of conversation so quickly; I was struggling to keep up with him in more ways than one.

"We're going to the main office," he explained as he tugged me through the crowd of students who, with Seth's appearance, began to part like the Red Sea. "You probably haven't even gotten your schedule yet, have you? You're so far behind, Freshie. You're going to be late if we don't get a move on." He tugged on my wrist until I followed him, but with his nearly inhuman strength it was difficult to resist. "C'mon, I bet you'll have a great first day."

God, I hope so...I thought to myself as the doors to Hell opened, and I was encased by the scent of perfume, sweat, and paper.