Author's Notes: This is written from Edward's POV as in Midnight Sun but with Bella's thoughts from Twilight, so some parts are taken from the two books. Nothing belongs to me.

Chapter 1: New Girl

And the new girl? Is she disappointed in the gossip as well?

I listened to hear what this new girl, Bella, thought of Jessica's story. What did she see when she looked at the strange, chalky-skinned family that was universally avoided? It was sort of my responsibility to know her reaction. I acted as a lookout, for lack of a better word, for my family. To protect us. If anyone ever grew suspicious, I could give us early warning and an easy retract. It happened occasionally—some human with an active imagination would see in us the characters of a book or movie. Usually they got it wrong, but it was better to move on somewhere new than to risk scrutiny. Very, very rarely, someone would guess right. We didn't give them a chance to test their hypothesis. We simply disappeared, to become no more than a frightening memory…

They're all so beautiful. Were they here before? No, I'd notice people walking about as beautiful as them. Oh, they're not accepted, just like me! I'm not the only newcomer here! And not the most interesting—Holy crow, is he looking at me?!

I turned away. Already the girl was infatuated with us. Her mind was filled with daydreams as if my family had some common ground with her. Yet another sheep that thinks it can be special.

"On the contrary, she thinks we're beautiful," I murmured back to Emmett. His face fell in disappointed. He always got a kick out of frightening the humans.

"Which one is the boy with the reddish brown hair?" I heard her ask. Oh he's looking at me again he is he is— Her inner voice was strangely breathless but, like most people, it matched her actual voice.

Oh, good luck, idiot! Jessica thought before she answered the girl's question.

When did he turn her down? She's obviously still sore about it. I wonder if I have a chance.

"Shall we?" said Rosalie. I was more relieved than usual to move away from the inane chatter—both mental and verbal—of the cafeteria.