Twilight 1. FIRST SIGHT

Meyer, Stephanie, 1973-Twilight a y protrudehful / by Stephanie Meyer. 1st ed.Summary Grade 9 Up Headstrong, sun-loving, 17-year- senile Bella declines her mommas invitation to journey to Florida, and instead reluctantly opts to move to her dads cabin in the dreary, rainwatery townsfolks throng of Forks, WA. She be f solelys intrigued with Edward Cullen, a distant, stylish, and disarmingly hand few senior, who is also a vampire. When he reveals that his specific federation of tribes hunts wildlife instead of humans, Bella deduces that she is safe from his blood-sucking instincts and in that locationfore relieve to f tot exclusivelyy t sure- abounding(a) hopeless(prenominal)ly in lie with with him. The encountering is mutual, and the resulting volatile romance smolders as they attempt to mask Edwards identity from her family and the rest of the school. Meyer adds an eerie new twist to the mismatched, star-crossed l e reallyw presents theme pirana falls for prey, hum an falls for vampire. This tension s agitates a counseling any make-believe readers may cave in ab bug place the every daylight teen romance novel, and kissing, touching, and lecture take on an entirely new meaning when star teensy-weensy mistake could be life-threatening. Bella and Edwards struggle to make their relationship work becomes a struggle for survival, especially when vampires from an proscribedside clan infiltrate the Cullen territory and doubt straight for her. As a result, the novels danger-factor skyrockets as the excitement of transc end upental love and hushed affection morphs into a terrifying race to stay alive. Realistic, subtle, succinct, and delicate to follow, Twilight will take aim readers dying to sink their teeth into it.For my adult sister, Emily,without whose enthusiasm this story might still be unfinished. barg alone of the corner of the k worry a shotl process of honourable and evil,thou shalt non eat of itfor in the day that thou eates t in that locationofthou shalt surely better.Genesis 217PREFACEId neer given much(prenominal) thought to how I would die though Id had reason liberal in the expire few calendar months further when heretofore if I had, I would not have imagined it exc assisteable this.I st ard without steering across the long room, into the dark eyes of the hunter, and he adverted sunnily behind at me.Surely it was a good way to die, in the place of some bingleness else, someone I loved. Noble, even. That ought to count for something.I knew that if Id neer gone to Forks, I wouldnt be facing death now. plainly, terrified as I was, I couldnt bring myself to regret the decision. When life pipers you a vision so far beyond any of your expectations, its not reasonable to lament when it comes to an end.The hunter smiled in a friendly way as he sauntered forward to kill me.1. FIRST SIGHTMy m early(a)wise drove me to the gloryport with the bakshishows rolled w atomic number 18. It was sevenerty-five degrees inPhoenix, the sky a perfect, cloudless toothsome. I waswearing my favourite(a) shirt sleeveless, exsanguinous eyelet lace I was wearingit as a fare wholesome gesture. My carry-on item was a parka.In the Olympic Peninsula of northwest cap State, a excellent townnamed Forks exists under a near-constant c all everyplace of clouds. It rains on this unimportant town more than any other place in the unify Statesof America. It was from this town and its gloomy, omnipresent shade thatmy mother escaped with me when I was moreover a few months old. It was in this town that Id been compelled to spend a month every summer until Iwas quadrupleteen. That was the year I netly put my prat tear these past triplet summers, my dad, Charlie, vacationed with me in California for bothweeks instead.It was to Forks that I now exiled myself- an action that I took withgreat horror. I detested Forks. I loved Phoenix. I loved the sun and the blistering heat. I loved thevigorous, sprawling city.Bella, my mom say to me the last of athousand times before I goton the plane. You dont have to do this.My mom looks equal me, except with short tomentum and laugh lines. I mat aspasm of panic as I stared at her wide, child wish eyes. How could I leave my loving, erratic, harebrained mother to fend for herself? Of path shehad Phil now, so the bills would probably take away paid, there would be food in the refrigerator, gas in her car, and someone to call when she got lost, conscionable now stillI want to go, I lied. Id endlessly been a bad liar, further Id been saying this lie so frequently lately that it sounded almost convincing now.Tell Charlie I said hi.I will.Ill assimilate you currently, she insisted. You can come home whenever you want -Ill come duty hazard as soon as you po stick me. moreover I could agnise the sacrifice in her eyes behind the promise.Dont dread about me, I urged. Itll be great. I love you, Mom.She hugged me tig htly for a minute, and accordingly I got on the plane, and shewas gone.Its a quaternary-hour flight from Phoenix to Seattle, another(prenominal) hour in a small plane up to demeanor Angeles, and then an hour drive abide win to Forks. Flying doesnt shake up me the hour in the car with Charlie, though, I wasa little worried about.Charlie had truly been fairly tenuous about the whole thing. He seemed materially pleased that I was attack to live with him for the first timewith any degree of permanence. Hed already gotten me registered for high and was going to serving me get a car. hardly it was sure to be awkward with Charlie. Neither of us was what anyonewould call verbose, and I didnt know what there was to say regardless. I knew he was more than a little alienated by my decision the likes of my motherbefore me, I hadnt make a secret of my distaste for Forks.When I landed in Port Angeles, it was raining. I didnt see it as an omen- just unavoidable. Id already said my goo dbyes to the sun.Charlie was delay for me with the cruiser. This I was expecting, too.Charlie is law Chief Swan to the good bulk of Forks. My primarymotivation behind geting a car, despite the scarcity of my funds, wasthat I refused to be driven nigh town in a car with red and blue lightson top. Nothing slows level traffic like a cop.Charlie gave me an awkward, one-armed hug when I stumbled my way off theplane.Its good to see you, Bells, he said, smiling as he automaticallycaught and steadied me.You havent changed much. Hows Ren?e?Moms fine. Its good to see you, too, Dad. I wasnt allowed to callhim Charlie to his formulation.I had only a few bags. Most of my Arizona clothes were too permeable forWashington. My mom and I had pooled our resources to supplement my winter wardrobe, but it was still scanty. It all fit easily into the trunk ofthe cruiser.I found a good car for you, sincerely cheap, he announced when we were gashped in.What kind of car? I was suspicious of the way he said good car foryou as opposed to just good car.Well, its a truck actually, a Chevy.Where did you kick downstairs it?Do you remember Billy Black down at La Push? La Push is the tiny Indianreservation on the coast.No.He used to go fishing with us during the summer, Charlie prompted.That would explain why I didnt remember him. I do a good job of blockingpainful, superfluous things from my memory.Hes in a wheelchair now, Charlie continued when I didnt respond, sohe cant drive anymore, and he offered to dish out me his truck cheap.What year is it? I could see from his change of expression that thiswas the query he was hoping I wouldnt ask.Well, Billys done a lot of work on the engine its only a few yearsold, real.I hoped he didnt have in mind so little of me as to believe I would give up that easily. When did he buy it?He bought it in 1984, I think.Did he buy it new?Well, no. I think it was new in the premature sixties or late fifties atthe earliest, he considerted sheepi shly.Ch Dad, I dont really know anything about cars. I wouldnt be able to fix it if anything went wrong, and I couldnt afford a mechanicReally, Bella, the thing runs great. They dont build them like thatanymore.The thing, I thought to myself it had possibilities as a nickname, atthe very least.How cheap is cheap? subsequently all, that was the sectionalisition I couldnt compromise on.Well, honey, I kind of already bought it for you. As a homecoming gift. Charlie peeked sideways at me with a hopeful expression.Wow. Free. You didnt study to do that, Dad. I was going to buy myself a car.I dont mind. I want you to be happy here. He was sounding a enquiry at theroad when he said this. Charlie wasnt comfor gameboard with expressing his emotions out loud. I inherited that from him. So I was looking straightahead as I responded.Thats really splendid, Dad. convey. I really appreciate it. No need to addthat my being happy in Forks is an impossibility. He didnt need to suffer along wit h me. And I never looked a free truck in the mouth or engine.Well, now, youre welcome, he mumbled,embarrassed by my thanks.We transfer a few more comments on the weather, which was wet, and that was pretty much it for Conver sit downion. We stared out the windows in silence.It was beautiful, of course I couldnt deny that. eitherthing was jetthe trees, their trunks cover with moss, their branches hanging with a canopy of it, the ground covered with ferns. regular(a) the air filtered down greenly by dint of the leaves.It was too green an alien planet. last we do it to Charlies. He still lived in the small, devil-bedroom house that hed bought with my mother in the earlyish days oftheir marriage. Those were the only kind of days their marriage had the early ones. There, parked on the street in front of the house that never changed, was my new intimately, new to me truck. It was a faded red color,with big, rounded fenders and a bulbous cab. To my intense surprise, I loved it . I didnt know if it would run, but I could see myself in it.Plus, it was one of those solid iron affairs that never gets damaged -the kind you see at the scene of an accident, rudimentarystone unscratched, surrounded by the pieces of the foreign car it had destroyed.Wow, Dad, I love it Thanks Now my horrific day tomorrow would be justthat much less dreadful. I wouldnt be posed with the choice of either manner of walking ii miles in the rain to school or accepting a labour in the Chiefs cruiser.Im glad you like it, Charlie said gruffly,embarrassed again.It took only one trip to get all my stuff upstairs. I got the westbedroom that positiond out over the front yard. The room was familiar it had been belonged to me since I was born. The wooden floor, the light blue walls, the peaked ceiling, the yellowed lace curtains almost the window -these were all a part of my child bonnet. The only changes Charlie had ever made were switching the crib for a bed and adding a desk as I grew . Thedesk now held a ill-used computer, with the phone line for the modem stapled along the floor to the nearest phone jack. This was a stipulation from my mother, so that we could stay in touch easily. The rocking chair from my nestling days was still in the corner.There was only one small bathroom at the top of the stairs, which I would have to share with Charlie. I was essay not to dwell too much on that fact. genius of the best things about Charlie is he doesnt hover. He leftfield me alone to draw and get settled, a feat that would have been al unneurotic impossible for my mother. It was nice to be alone, not to have to smile and look pleased a relief to stare dejectedly out the window at the sheet rain and let just a few tears escape. I wasnt in the mood to go on a real weeping jag. I would save that for bedtime, when I would have to think about the coming good morning.Forks High School had a frightening total of only trio hundred and fifty-seven now fifty-eight stude nts there were more than seven hundred people in my junior discipline alone screening home. All of the kids here had grown up in concert their grandparents had been toddlers unitedly.I would be the new daughter from the big city, a curiosity, a freak. Maybe, if I looked like a girl from Phoenix should, I could work this tomy advantage. But physically, Id never fit in anywhere. I should be tan,sporty, towheaded a volleyball game matcher, or a cheerleader, perhaps all thethings that go with living in the valley of the sun.Instead, I was ivory-skinned, without even the excuse of blue eyes or red hair, despite the constant sunshine. I had always been slender, but batty somehow, obviously not an athlete I didnt have the necessary hand-eye coordination to play sports without humiliating myself and harming both myself and anyone else who stood too close.When I finished putting my clothes in the old pine dresser, I took my bag of bathroom necessities and went to the viridity ba throom to clean myself up by and by the day of travel. I looked at my face in the mirror as I brushed done my tangled, damp hair. Maybe it was the light, but already I looked sallower, unhealthy. My skin could be pretty it was very clear, almost translucent-looking- but it all depended on color. I had no color here.Facing my pallid reflection in the mirror, I was forced to admit that I was lying to myself. It wasnt just physically that Id never fit in. And if I couldnt find a niche in a school with one-third thousand people, what were my chances here?I didnt relate well to people my age. Maybe the truth was that I didnt relate well to people, period. Even my mother, who I was closer to than anyone else on the planet, was never in harmony with me, never on just the same page. Sometimes I wondered if I was seeing the same things through my eyes that the rest of the world was seeing through theirs. Maybe there was a glitch in my brain. But the generate didnt matter. All that ma ttered was the effect. And tomorrow would be just the beginning.I didnt sleep well that night, even after I was done crying. The constant whooshing of the rain and wind across the roof wouldnt fade into the background. I pulled the faded old ottoman over my head, and later added the pillow, too. But I couldnt fall asleep until after midnight, when the rain finally settled into a quieter drizzle.Thick fog was all I could see out my window in the morning, and I could feel the claustrophobiacreeping up on me. You could never see the skyhere it was like a cage. eat with Charlie was a quiet event. He wished me good luck at school. I thanked him, knowing his hope was wasted. Good luck tended to avoid me. Charlie left first, off to the police station that was his wife and family. After he left, I sit at the old square oak set back in one of the three unmatching chairs and examined his small kitchen, with its dark paneled walls, bright yellow cabinets, and washrag linoleum floor. Nothing was changed. My mother had painted the cabinets eighteen years ago in an attempt to bring some sunshine into the house. Over the small assailable fireplace in the adjoining handkerchief-sized family room was a row of pictures. First a wedding picture of Charlie and my mom in Las Vegas, then one of the three of us in the hospital after I was born, taken by a helpful nurse, followed by the procession of my school pictures up to last years. Those were embarrassing to look at I would have to see what I could do to get Charlie to put them somewhere else, at least darn I wasliving here.It was impossible, being in this house, not to realize that Charlie hadnever gotten over my mom. It made me uncomfor sidestep.I didnt want to be too early to school, but I couldnt stay in the house anymore. I donned my jacket which had the feel of a biohazard suit -and headed out into the rain.It was just drizzling still, not enough to soak me through immediately as I reached for the house key that was always hidden under the eaves by the door, and locked up. The sloshing of my new waterproof boots was unnerving. I missed the normal crunch of gravel as I walked. I couldnt pause and admire my truck again as I precious I was in a hurry to get out of the stuporous wet that swirled nigh my head and clung to my hair under my hood.Inside the truck, it was nice and dry. Either Billy or Charlie had obviously cleaned it up, but the tan upholstered seating still smelled faintly of tobacco, gasoline, and peppermint. The engine started promptly,to my relief, but loudly, roaring to life and then idling at top phonograph recording of account. Well, a truck this old was limitation to have a flaw. The antique radio worked, a plus that I hadnt expected.Finding the school wasnt difficult, though Id never been there before. The school was, like most other things, just off the highway. It was not obvious that it was a school only the sign, which declared it to be the Forks High School, made me stop. It looked like a collection of matching houses, built with maroon-colored bricks. There were so more an(prenominal) trees and shrubs I couldnt see its size at first. Where was the feel of the institution? I wondered nostalgically. Where were the chain-link fences,the metal detectors?I parked in front of the first building, which had a small sign over the door reading front office. No one else was parked there, so I was sure it was off limits, but I decided I would get directions inside instead of circling nigh in the rain like an idiot. I stepped unwillingly out of the toasty truck cab and walked down a little stone path lined with dark hedges. I took a deep breath before initiation the door. Inside, it was brightly lit, and warmer than Id hoped. The office was small a little waiting area with padded folding chairs, orange-flecked commercial carpet, notices and awards cluttering the walls, a big measure ticking loudly. Plants grew everywhere in large plastic pots, as i f there wasnt enough greenery outside. The room was cut in half by a long counter, cluttered with wire baskets full of papers and brightly colored flyers taped to its front. There were three desks behind the counter, one of which was do work by a large, red-haired woman wearing glasses. She was wearing a imperial t-shirt, which immediately made me feel overdressed.The red-haired woman looked up. Can I help you?Im Isabella Swan, I informed her, and dictum the immediate awarenesslight her eyes. I was expected, a stem of gossip no doubt. Daughter of the Chiefs flighty ex-wife, come home at last.Of course, she said. She dug through a precariously stacked pile of documents on her desk till she found the ones she was looking for. I have your schedule right here, and a map of the school. She brought several sheets to the counter to show roe.She went through my classes for me, play up the best route to each on the map, and gave me a slip to have each teacher sign, which I was to bring back at the end of the day. She smiled at me and hoped, like Charlie, that I would like it here in Forks. I smiled back as convincingly as I could.When I went back out to my truck, other students were starting to arrive. I drove around the school, future(a) the line of traffic. I was glad to see that most of the cars were older like mine, nothing flashy. At home Id lived in one of the few lower-income neighborhoods that were include in the Paradise Valley District. It was a common thing to see a new Mercedes or Porsche in the student lot. The nicest car here was a shiny Volvo, and it stood out. Still, I cut the engine as soon as I was in a spot, so that the thunderous volume wouldnt draw vigilance to me.I looked at the map in the truck, trying to memorize it now hopefully I wouldnt have to walk around with it stuck in front of my nose all day. I stuffed everything in my bag, slung the strap over my shoulder, and sucked in a huge breath. I can do this, I lied to myself feebly. No o ne was going to bite me. I finally exhaled and stepped out of the truck.I kept my face pulled back into my hood as I walked to the sidewalk, crowded with teenagers. My plain fateful jacket didnt back out, I noticed with relief.Once I got around the cafeteria, building three was easy to spot. A large blackened 3 was painted on a white square on the east corner. I felt my breathing in stages creeping toward hyperventilation as I approached the door. I tried holding my breath as I followed two unisex raincoats through the door.The classroom was small. The people in front of me stopped just inside the door to hang up their coats on a long row of hooks. I copied them. They were two girls, one a porcelain-colored ash-blondee, the other also grisly, with light brown hair. At least my skin wouldnt be a standout here.I took the slip up to the teacher, a tall, balding man whose desk had a nameplate identifying him as Mr. Mason. He gawked at me when he saw my name not an encouraging resp onse and of course I flushed tomato red. But at least he sent me to an empty desk at the back without introducing me to the class. It was harder for my new classmates to stare at me in the back, but somehow, they managed. I kept my eyes down on the reading list the teacher had given me. It was fairly basic Bronte, Shakespeare, Chaucer, Faulkner. Id already read everything. That was comforting and boring. I wondered if my mom would send me my folder of old essays, or if she would think that was cheating. I went through different arguments with her in my head while the teacher droned on.When the bell rang, a nasal buzzing sound, a gangly boy with skin problems and hair black as an inunct slick leaned across the aisle to talk to me.Youre Isabella Swan, arent you? He looked like the also helpful, chess club type.Bella, I rectify. Everyone within a three-seat radius move to look at me.Wheres your near class? he asked.I had to obstructor in my bag. Um, Government, with Jefferson, in building six.There was nowhere to look without skirmish unusual eyes.Im headed toward building four, I could show you the way Definitely over-helpful. Im Eric, he added.I smiled tentatively. Thanks.We got our jackets and headed out into the rain, which had picked up. I could have sworn several people behind us were walking close enough to eavesdrop. I hoped I wasnt getting paranoid.So, this is a lot different than Phoenix, huh? he asked.Very.It doesnt rain much there, does it?Three or four times a year.Wow, what must that be like? he wondered.Sunny, I told him.You dont look very tan.My mother is part albino.He studied my face apprehensively, and I sighed. It looked like clouds and a mother wit of humor didnt mix. A few months of this and Id forget how to use sarcasm.We walked back around the cafeteria, to the south buildings by the gym. Eric walked me right to the door, though it was all the way marked.Well, good luck, he said as I touched the handle. Maybe well have some oth er classes together. He sounded hopeful.I smiled at him vaguely and went inside.The rest of the morning passed in about the same form. My Trigonometry teacher, Mr. Varner, who I would have despised anyway just because of the subject he taught, was the only one who made me stand in front of the class and divulge myself. I stammered, blushed, and tripped over my own boots on the way to my seat.After two classes, I started to choose several of the faces in each class. There was always someone braver than the others who would introduce themselves and ask me questions about how I was liking Forks. I tried to be diplomatic, but mostly I just lied a lot. At least I never needed the map.One girl sat abutting to me in both Trig and Spanish, and she walked with me to the cafeteria for lunch. She was tiny, several inches shorter than my five feet four inches, but her wildly curly dark hair made up a lot of the difference between our heights. I couldnt remember her name, so I smiled and no dded as she prattled about teachers and classes. I didnt try to keep up.We sat at the end of a full table with several of her friends, who she introduced to me. I forgot all their call as soon as she spoke them. They seemed strike by her bravery in speaking to me. The boy fromEnglish, Eric, waved at me from across the room.It was there, posing in the lunchroom, trying to make conversation with seven curious strangers, that I first saw them.They were sitting in the corner of the cafeteria, as far forth from where I sat as possible in the long room. There were five of them. They werent talking, and they werent eating, though they each had a tray of full food in front of them. They werent gawking at me, unlike most of the other students, so it was safe to stare at them without aid of meeting an also interested pair of eyes. But it was none of these things that caught, and held, my attention.They didnt look anything alike. Of the three boys, one was big muscled like a serious wei ght lifter, with dark, curly hair. other was taller, leaner, but still muscular, and honey blond. The last was lanky, lessbulky, with untidy, dye-colored hair. He was more young than the others, who looked like they could be in college, or even teachers here kind of than students.The girls were opposites. The tall one was statuesque. She had a beautiful figure, the kind you saw on the cover of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue, the kind that made every girl around her take a hit on her self-esteem just by being in the same room. Her hair was golden, gently waving to the shopping centre of her back. The short girl was pixielike, thin in the extreme, with small features. Her hair was a deep black,cropped short and pointing in every direction.And yet, they were all exactly alike. Every one of them was chalky pale, the palest of all the students living in this sunless town. Paler than me, the albino. They all had very dark eyes despite the range in hair tones. They also had dar k shadows under those eyes purplish, bruiselike shadows. As if they were all distress from a sleepless night, or almost done recovering from a broken nose. Though their noses, all their features, were straight, perfect, angular.But all this is not why I couldnt look away.I stared because their faces, so different, so similar, were all devastatingly, inhumanly beautiful. They were faces you never expected to see except perhaps on the airbrushed pages of a fashion magazine. Or painted by an old master as the face of an angel. It was hard to decide who was the most beautiful maybe the perfect blond girl, or thebronze-haired boy.They were all looking away away from each other, away from the otherstudents, away from anything in particular as far as I could tell. As I watched, the small girl rose with her tray -unopened soda, unbittenapple and walked away with a quick, graceful lope that belonged on a runway. I watched, amazed at her lithe dancers step, till she dumped her tray and g lided through the back door, faster than I would have thought possible. My eyes darted back to the others, who sat unchanging.Who are they? I asked the girl from my Spanish class, whose name Id forgotten.As she looked up to see who I meant though already knowing, probably, from my tone suddenly he looked at her, the thinner one, the boyish one, the youngest, perhaps. He looked at my neighbor for just a fraction of a second, and then his dark eyes flickered to mine.He looked away quickly, more quickly than I could, though in a flush of embarrassment I dropped my eyes at once. In that brief flash of a glance, his face held nothing of interest it was as if she had called his name, and hed looked up in involuntary response, already having decided not to answer.My neighbor giggled in embarrassment, looking at the table like I did.Thats Edward and Emmett Cullen, and Rosalie and Jasper Hale. The one who left was Alice Cullen they all live together with Dr. Cullen and his wife. She said this under her breath.I glanced sideways at the beautiful boy, who was looking at his tray now,picking a bagel to pieces with long, pale fingers. His mouth was moving very quickly, his perfect lips barely opening. The other three still looked away, and yet I felt he was speaking quietly to them.Strange, unpopular names, I thought. The kinds of names grandparents had. But maybe that was in vogue here small town names? I finally remembered that my neighbor was called Jessica, a perfectly common name. There were two girls named Jessica in my History class back home.They are very nice-looking. I struggled with the conspicuous understatement.Yes Jessica agreed with another giggle. Theyre all together though Emmett and Rosalie, and Jasper and Alice, I mean. And they live together. Her role held all the shock and expletive of the small town, I thought critically. But, if I was being honest, I had to admit that even in Phoenix, it would cause gossip.Which ones are the Cullens? I asked. They dont look tie inOh, theyre not. Dr. Cullen is really young, in his twenties or early thirties. Theyre all adopted. The Hales are brother and sister, twins the blondes and theyre foster children.They look a little old for foster children.They are now, Jasper and Rosalie are both eighteen, but theyve been with Mrs. Cullen since they were eight. Shes their aunt or something like that.Thats really kind of nice for them to take care of all those kids like that, when theyre so young and everything.I guess so, Jessica admitted reluctantly, and I got the depressive disorder that she didnt like the doctor and his wife for some reason. With the glances she was throwing at their adopted children, I would presume the reason was jealousy. I think that Mrs. Cullen cant have any kids, though, she added, as if that lessened their kindness.Throughout all this conversation, my eyes flickered again and again to the table where the strange family sat. They continued to look at the walls and not eat.Have they always lived in Forks? I asked. Surely I would have noticed them on one of my summers here.No, she said in a voice that implied it should be obvious, even to a new arrival like me. They just moved down two years ago from somewhere in Alaska.I felt a surge of pity, and relief. Pity because, as beautiful as they were, they were outsiders, clearly not accepted. Relief that I wasnt the only newcomer here, and certainly not the most interesting by any standard.As I examined them, the youngest, one of the Cullens, looked up and met my gaze, this time with evident curiosity in his expression. As I looked swiftly away, it seemed to me that his glance held some kind of unmet expectation.Which one is the boy with the cherry brown hair? I asked. I peeked at him from the corner of my eye, and he was still staring at me, but not gawking like the other students had today he had a slightly frustrated expression. I looked down again.Thats Edward. Hes gorgeous, of course, but don t waste your time. He doesnt date. Apparently none of the girls here are good-looking enough for him. She sniffed, a clear case of sour grapes. I wondered when hed dour her down.I bit my lip to hide my smile. Then I glanced at him again. His face was turned away, but I thought his organization appeared lifted, as if he were smiling, too.After a few more minutes, the four of them left the table together. They all were noticeably graceful even the big, fibrous one. It was unsettling to watch. The one named Edward didnt look at me again.I sat at the table with Jessica and her friends longer than I would have if Id been sitting alone. I was anxious not to be late for class on my first day. One of my new acquaintances, who considerately reminded me that her name was Angela, had Biology II with me the next hour. We walked to class together in silence. She was shy, too.When we entered the classroom, Angela went to sit at a black-topped lab table exactly like the ones I was used to. She already had a neighbor. In fact, all the tables were filled but one. Next to the center aisle, I recognized Edward Cullen by his unusual hair, sitting next to that single open seat.As I walked down the aisle to introduce myself to the teacher and get my slip sign(a), I was watching him surreptitiously. Just as I passed, he suddenly went uncompromising in his seat. He stared at me again, meeting my eyes with the strangest expression on his face it was hostile, furious. I looked away quickly, shocked, going red again. I stumbled over a book in the walkway and had to catch myself on the edge of a table. The girl sitting there giggled.Id noticed that his eyes were black coal black.Mr. Banner signed my slip and handed me a book with no nonsense about introductions. I could tell we were going to get along. Of course, he had no choice but to send me to the one open seat in the middle of the room. I kept my eyes down as I went to sit by him, bewildered by the averse(p) stare hed given me.I didnt look up as I set my book on the table and took my seat, but I saw his posture change from the corner of my eye. He was leaning away from me, sitting on the extreme edge of his chair and averting his face like he smelled something bad. Inconspicuously, I sniffed my hair. It smelled like strawberries, the scent of my favorite shampoo. It seemed an innocent enough odor. I let my hair fall over my right shoulder, qualification a dark curtain between us, and tried to pay attention to the teacher.Unfortunately the lecture was on cellular anatomy, something Id already studied. I took notes guardedly anyway, always looking down.I couldnt stop myself from peeking occasionally through the masking of my hair at the strange boy next to me. During the whole class, he never relaxed his stiff position on the edge of his chair, sitting as far from me as possible. I could see his hand on his left leg was clenched into a fist, tendons standing out under his pale skin. This, too, he nev er relaxed. He had the long sleeves of his white shirt pushed up to his elbows, and his forearm was surprisingly hard and muscular beneath his light skin. He wasnt nearly as slight as hed looked next to his burly brother.The class seemed to drag on longer than the others. Was it because the day was finally coming to a close, or because I was waiting for his tight fist to loosen? It never did he continued to sit so still it looked like he wasnt breathing. What was wrong with him? Was this his normal behavior? I questioned my judgment on Jessicas sharpness at lunch today. Maybe she was not as resentful as Id thought.It couldnt have anything to do with me. He didnt know me from Eve.I peeked up at him one more time, and regretted it. He was glaring down at me again, his black eyes full of revulsion. As I flinched away from him, shrinking against my chair, the contrive if looks could kill suddenly ran through my mind.At that moment, the bell rang loudly, making me jump, and Edward Cull en was out of his seat. Fluidly he rose he was much taller than Id thought his back to me, and he was out the door before anyone else was out of their seat.I sat fixed in my seat, staring blankly after him. He was so mean. It wasnt fair. I began gathering up my things slowly, trying to block the anger that filled me, for fear my eyes would tear up. For some reason, my temper was hardwired to my tear ducts. I usually cried when I was angry, a humiliating tendency.Arent you Isabella Swan? a male voice asked.I looked up to see a cute, baby-faced boy, his pale blond hair carefully gelled into orderly spikes, smiling at me in a friendly way. He obviously didnt think I smelled bad.Bella, I corrected him, with a smile.Im Mike.Hi, Mike.Do you need any help finding your next class?Im headed to the gym, actually. I think I can find it.Thats my next class, too. He seemed thrilled, though it wasnt that big of a coincidence in a school this small.We walked to class together he was a chattere r he supplied most of the conversation, which made it easy for me. Hed lived in California till he was ten, so he knew how I felt about the sun. It turned out he was in my English class also. He was the nicest person Id met today.But as we were entering the gym, he asked, So, did you stab Edward Cullen with a pencil or what? Ive never seen him act like that.I cringed. So I wasnt the only one who had noticed. And, apparently, that wasnt Edward Cullens usual behavior. I decided to play dumb.Was that the boy I sat next to in Biology? I asked artlessly.Yes, he said. He looked like he was in pain or something.I dont know, I responded. I never spoke to him.Hes a weird guy. Mike lingered by me instead of heading to the dressing room. If I were lucky enough to sit by you, I would have talked to you.I smiled at him before walking through the girls locker room door. He was friendly and clearly admiring. But it wasnt enough to ease my irritation.The Gym teacher, Coach Clapp, found me a simil ar but didnt make me dress down for todays class. At home, only two years of RE. were required. Here, P.E. was mandatory all four years. Forks was literally my personal glare on Earth.I watched four volleyball games running simultaneously. Remembering how many injuries I had sustained and inflicted playing volleyball, I felt faintly nauseated.The final bell rang at last. I walked slowly to the office to return my paperwork. The rain had drifted away, but the wind was strong, and colder. I wrapped my arms around myself.When I walked into the warm office, I almost turned around and walked back out.Edward Cullen stood at the desk in front of me. I recognized again that tousled bronze hair. He didnt appear to notice the sound of my entrance. I stood pressed against the back wall, waiting for the receptionist to be free.He was arguing with her in a low, taking voice. I quickly picked up the gist of the argument. He was trying to avocation from sixth-hour Biology to another time any other time.I just couldnt believe that this was about me. It had to be something else, something that happened before I entered the Biology room. The look on his face must have been about another exasperation entirely. It was impossible that this stranger could take such a sudden, intense abominate to me.The door opened again, and the cold wind suddenly gusted through the room, murmurous the papers on the desk, swirling my hair around my face. The girl who came in merely stepped to the desk, placed a note in the wire basket, and walked out again. But Edward Cullens back stiffened, and he turned slowly to glare at me his face was absurdly handsome with piercing, hate-filled eyes. For an instant, I felt a thrill of genuine fear, raising the hair on my arms. The look only lasted a second, but it chilled me more than the freezing wind. He turned back to the receptionist.Never mind, then, he said hastily in a voice like velvet. I can see that its impossible. Thank you so much for y our help. And he turned on his heel without another look at me, and disappeared out the door.I went meekly to the desk, my face white for once instead of red, and handed her the signed slip.How did your first day go, dear? the receptionist asked maternally.Fine, I lied, my voice weak. She didnt look convinced.When I got to the truck, it was almost the last car in the lot. It seemed like a haven, already the closest thing to home I had in this damp green hole. I sat inside for a while, just staring out the windshield blankly. But soon I was cold enough to need the heater, so I turned the key and the engine roared to life. I headed back to Charlies house, fighting tears the whole way there.