Just to let you know I don't own the characters but I have great fun playing with them!

Chapter One

Bella

I had regretted my decision to move in with Charlie as soon as we pulled up at the house and had to run for the door as the rain was sheeting down. I hated the rain, and the cold, and Forks was both. How I longed for Phoenix, the heat and the sun. I would try to make the best of it but it wasn't going to be easy. My room hadn't changed since I was last here, years ago. The walls still a baby pink, which I hated and my childish drawings of animals and people still on those pink walls, cello-tape peeling, colours faded. I looked at the bed, pink cover, oh god!, that would have to go. Then at the old desk Charlie had acquired to put my computer on. It had seen better days. but then so had the computer. I guessed the internet here would be slow but I hadn't realized it was just one step up from the Wet String. Homework research would be fun!

I heard a loud clattering noise from outside and looked through the window. There were two trucks parking up in the driveway. One blue, one red, and both looking as if they had come straight from a motor museum. I watched curiously as the drivers got out. A tall boy with long black hair pulled back in a braid jumped from the red one and handed the keys to Charlie before reaching into the back and pulling out a wheelchair. Then he helped an older man who was so alike that they must be father and son. I recognised the older man, it was Charlie's friend the Quileute Elder, Billy Black. So the youth was probably his son Jacob. I'd played with Jake when I used to visit in the summer, but that had stopped a long while ago and I'd almost forgotten him. Charlie saw me looking and beckoned me down.

When I came out through the front door I was met by Jake and another boy only slightly smaller, with the same long glossy black hair. "Hi Bella. Remember me?" It was Jake so I smiled, "Yeah. It's been a long time Jake. Still making the mud pies?" He grinned, happy that I'd remembered. "This is Embry, my friend". I said hello then went to greet Billy, I'd always liked him. He gave me a bone crushing hand shake, "My you've changed since I saw you last Bella". Well it was a few years and the last time he'd seen me I was dripping wet, having fallen from the fishing boat into the river. "We're all real glad you've come home to live with Charlie".

When I found out the old red truck was my homecoming present from Charlie I was thrilled, my meagre savings would stretch a bit farther, maybe even to getting my bedroom decorated. And that was the start of the whole thing. It was summer recess so I wouldn't meet any of the other kids for weeks. Jake offered to help me decorate and drove me round to familiarize myself with the town and things just happened. I started hanging out at the Reservation with Jake and his friends all of whom were great fun although the teasing about us as a couple got on my nerves a bit. Jake would hold my hand or put his arm around my shoulder and from there it went on to kissing, by the time school started we were an item, I guess.

Charlie and Billy both approved heartily of this and I spent so much time with the Quileutes I was given a nickname, Black Squaw. Charlie and I spent most weekends while he wasn't working at the Reservation, him fishing with Billy and Harry while I either spent my time in the garage with Jake, watching as he rebuilt his car, or with Emily and the other girls. Poor Emily had terrible scars down one side of her face which I was told were the result of a bear attack. Yet another good reason to stay out of the woods. I only went there with the gang, never alone. It was wet, drippy, scary and for someone who could trip over a flat surface, an obstacle course. This led to many hours of entertainment for Jake and the others as I tripped my way over tree roots on the way to the beach. That was something else I couldn't quite get the hang of why anyone with a brain went to spend time on the beach in Washington State. Beaches were meant to be warm, sun-kissed places not wind-blown Arctic wastelands, but I smiled and went along just for the company.

When the first day of the new school year came round I was nervous yet again. New environment, new people, new classes. I almost wished I could go to school on the Reservation. At least I knew almost everyone there. The school was tiny compared to the one in Phoenix so at least it wouldn't take long to learn the geography of the place. As I parked my truck I saw heads turn, Yeah, new girl, novelty. I cringed as everyone turned to look at me. Of course they all knew who I was, Chief Swans daughter from Phoenix. At the office I was given a map of the school and a schedule of classes. The first was P.E, Great! now they could all see the new girl fall flat on her face, it just got better and better. Luckily the first class was all about the theory of volleyball. Theory? Didn't you just whack the ball over the net as hard as you could and pray?

I tuned out after the first few minutes, I would suck at it anyway. The girl sitting next to me turned to speak quietly as the teacher droned on, "Hi I'm Angela Webber. It's nice to meet you at last. We've heard all about you from Chief Swan. He's really nice. How are you finding it here?" I didn't want to be rude so I just said, "Still getting used to it, it's wetter". She smiled, "Yeah I guess compared to Arizona it would be. I think we have English together next. Do you want to walk to class with me?" I smiled and nodded, "A friendly face would be nice. Thanks Angela" By the end of English we were chatting like old friends and I liked Angela, a lot.

We walked into lunch together and she introduced me to her boyfriend Ben and another couple Mike and Jessica. He was kinda cute but she watched him like a hawk so I just said hi before getting in the queue to buy lunch. I wasn't very hungry so I got a soda, some fruit, and a granola bar and sat back next to Angela as they all started to chat about what they were going to do at the weekend. I looked around, same as school cafeteria's in phoenix. Then my attention was grabbed by two girls walking in, arm in arm. "Who are the two supermodels?" I asked gesturing to the two girls who had taken trays of food to a table in the furthest corner of the dining room.