First Day

The rain hadn't let up by the time Bella parked her ancient red truck in the Forks High School lot. It drummed softly on the roof, a soothing rhythm that contrasted the nervous energy buzzing in her veins.

She took a steadying breath, gripping the steering wheel as she surveyed the students milling around in clusters. They were all as she remembered: teenagers wrapped in jackets and scarves, gossiping and laughing as they tried to ignore the drizzle.

Her heart thudded as her eyes instinctively searched for a familiar group. The Cullens.

They weren't there yet—not that she expected them to be. She'd spent enough time poring over Twilight in her previous life to know they'd arrive in style, separate from everyone else. Still, the thought of seeing them in person made her palms sweat.

"Get it together," she whispered to herself, grabbing her bag and sliding out of the truck.

The damp air was a sharp contrast to the dry heat of Phoenix. She tugged her jacket closer and headed toward the front office, careful not to meet the curious gazes of her classmates.

Inside, the secretary greeted her with a warm smile and handed over her schedule. Bella thanked her and quickly escaped, clutching the piece of paper like it was a lifeline.

English, Biology, Gym. The lineup was familiar and yet surreal.

As she navigated the halls, students offered polite smiles or stared openly, their curiosity evident. She felt like a zoo exhibit, but she supposed that was inevitable. The chief's daughter from Phoenix was bound to be a novelty.

Bella found her locker, stashed her jacket, and took another steadying breath before heading to her first class.

English was uneventful. The teacher introduced her to the class, and she muttered a quiet greeting before slipping into an empty seat near the back. The material was easy, a comfort she clung to as the minutes ticked by.

By the time the bell rang, she felt a little more grounded. That grounding shattered the moment she stepped into the cafeteria.

They were there.

The Cullens sat at their usual table near the windows, as beautiful and inhumanly graceful as she remembered.

Rosalie's presence hit her like a freight train.

She was impossibly radiant, her golden hair falling in perfect waves around her shoulders. Even from across the room, her sharp features and piercing gaze radiated a cold, untouchable beauty.

Bella froze, her feet glued to the linoleum as her heart raced. This was it—the moment she'd anticipated and dreaded.

It took every ounce of willpower to tear her eyes away and shuffle to the lunch line, forcing herself to focus on the mundane task of grabbing a tray. She couldn't afford to draw attention. Not now.

But as she turned toward the tables, she felt it—a faint, electric awareness prickling at the back of her neck.

She glanced up and met Rosalie's eyes.

The contact lasted less than a second, but it was enough. Bella's breath hitched, and she nearly dropped her tray. Rosalie's gaze was sharp, assessing, and gone in an instant as she turned back to her family.

Bella hurried to a corner table, her pulse pounding in her ears. She picked at her food, though she couldn't taste a thing. Her mind was spinning. Had Rosalie noticed something? Or was that fleeting look just her usual disdain for humans?

The rest of the day passed in a blur. Bella moved from class to class, avoiding attention and keeping her head down. By the time she reached Biology, she was exhausted.

And then Edward Cullen walked in.

He stopped short, his golden eyes locking onto hers with a look of shock and confusion. Bella's stomach sank. She knew what was coming—the look of revulsion, the hand covering his nose as though she were toxic.

But it didn't come.

Instead, Edward tilted his head, his brows furrowing as if he were trying to decipher a puzzle. He nodded once in polite acknowledgment and moved to sit at their shared table.

Bella blinked, caught off guard. She hadn't expected that.

"Hello," he said softly, his voice smooth and pleasant.

"Hi," Bella replied cautiously.

He smiled faintly, though there was a guarded curiosity in his expression. "You're Isabella Swan."

"Just Bella," she corrected automatically.

Edward nodded, his gaze lingering for a moment before he turned his attention to the teacher.

The lesson passed uneventfully, though Bella felt Edward stealing glances at her throughout. It wasn't the reaction she'd expected, but she didn't have the energy to unravel it.

By the time the final bell rang, Bella was more than ready to retreat to the safety of her truck.

As she drove home, the rain tapping against the windshield, one thought dominated her mind.

She'd seen Rosalie Hale. And for one fleeting moment, Rosalie had seen her too.