High School

The sky was a thick blanket of clouds, heavy with the threat of rain, as Garnetta stepped out of Raphael's car and onto the grounds of Forks High School. The moment her boots touched the pavement, she felt it—a shift in the atmosphere, a ripple that spread through the student body like a wave. Heads turned, eyes widened, and the whispering began.

Her supernatural hearing picked up on every murmur, every hushed conversation that rippled through the crowd.

"Who is she?"

"Have you seen her car? It's so cool!"

"That accent—did you hear it? She must be French."

"She's gorgeous…like, model-gorgeous."

"Why would someone like her move to Forks?"

The students weren't the only ones intrigued by her arrival. Teachers, too, glanced her way, their curiosity barely concealed behind polite smiles. Garnetta moved through the sea of whispers with the grace of someone who had lived through centuries, her expression composed, though she could feel the weight of their stares.

Her car, a sleek black vintage model that Raphael had gifted her years ago, was parked in the lot, drawing as much attention as she did. It wasn't the typical vehicle for a town like Forks, and its presence only added to the aura of mystery that surrounded her.

As she made her way to the front office to collect her schedule, Garnetta could feel the intensity of the students' gazes. She was no stranger to being noticed, but the attention here was different—more focused, more curious. It reminded her of the way predators observe new prey, though she knew that in this scenario, she was the true predator.

Inside the office, the secretary, a middle-aged woman with kind eyes, greeted her warmly and handed her a piece of paper. "Welcome to Forks High School, Miss Briars. If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask."

"Thank you," Garnetta replied, her voice carrying the faint lilt of her French accent. She could hear the secretary's heartbeat quicken slightly at the sound, and she smiled inwardly.

As she left the office and walked down the hall, the whispers followed her like a shadow. She could hear every word, every speculation about who she was and why she was here. But she paid it no mind, her focus on the task at hand—finding her place in this strange new world.

It wasn't until lunch that Garnetta's path crossed with the Cullens. The cafeteria was abuzz with activity as she entered, the scent of food mingling with the unmistakable presence of others like her. As she made her way through the room, she became acutely aware of a group seated near the windows—the Cullens.

They were impossible to miss. Even among the other students, they stood out, their beauty otherworldly, their skin pale and flawless with that faint shimmer that betrayed their true nature. Edward Cullen was the first to notice her, his eyes narrowing slightly as he caught sight of her. Alice smiled, clearly delighted by her presence, while Jasper and Emmett exchanged a look that Garnetta couldn't quite interpret. Rosalie, however, regarded Garnetta with a cold, appraising stare that spoke volumes.

Garnetta could sense the tension even before she reached their table. The Cullens were a close-knit family, and her arrival was an intrusion into their carefully constructed world.

"Hello," she greeted them, her voice calm and composed as she approached.

Alice, ever the social one, was the first to respond. "You must be Garnetta," she said brightly, her smile warm and welcoming. "We've been looking forward to meeting you."

Garnetta returned the smile, though she could feel the weight of Edward's gaze on her. "It's a pleasure to meet you all," she replied.

As she sat down, Edward continued to study her, his brow furrowing in frustration. Garnetta knew exactly why—he was trying, and failing, to read her mind. It was a gift she had long ago learned to shield, a talent that Raphael had taught her to hone. Edward's inability to penetrate her thoughts only added to his curiosity and frustration.

"You're different," he said finally, his voice low and controlled.

Garnetta met his gaze, unflinching. "Yes, I am."

The tension between them was palpable, but Alice quickly stepped in, her voice light. "We're different too," she said with a grin. "It's nice to meet someone who understands."

Garnetta nodded, though she could feel the iciness radiating from Rosalie. The blonde beauty had yet to say a word, but her disapproval was clear in the way she sat stiffly in her chair, her gaze fixed on Garnetta with something akin to resentment.

Rosalie's feelings were no mystery to Garnetta. She had encountered others like her before, those who saw her beauty as a threat rather than a gift. But Garnetta had long since learned to navigate such tensions with grace, and she chose to focus on those who welcomed her rather than those who didn't.

Emmett, ever the jovial one, broke the tension with a grin. "So, what brings you to Forks?" he asked, his tone friendly.

Garnetta smiled faintly. "My sire and I were looking for a place to settle for a while. Forks seemed… right."

Jasper, who had been quiet until now, nodded thoughtfully. "There's something about this place," he said, his voice calm and measured. "We felt it too when we first arrived."

Rosalie finally spoke, her tone clipped. "It's not exactly Paris."

Garnetta caught the subtle dig in her words but chose not to rise to it. "No, it's not," she agreed, her voice steady. "But there's something about Forks that drew us here. I'm still figuring out what that is."

Edward continued to watch her, his frustration evident. "I can't read your mind," he said bluntly, as if the admission pained him.

Garnetta raised an eyebrow, her expression neutral. "I know."

The rest of the lunch period passed in a mix of tension and curiosity, with Alice doing most of the talking, while Edward continued to struggle with his inability to read Garnetta's thoughts. Rosalie remained distant, her displeasure clear, while Emmett and Jasper kept their observations to themselves.

When the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch, Alice stood and offered Garnetta a warm smile. "You should come by our house sometime," she suggested, her tone genuine. "I think we'd all like to get to know you better."

Garnetta returned the smile, appreciating the invitation despite the mixed feelings she sensed from the group. "I'd like that."

As she walked to her next class, the whispers followed her once again, but this time they were tinged with the excitement of her having been seen with the Cullens. Garnetta could sense the speculation, the gossip that would undoubtedly spread like wildfire through the school. But she paid it little mind. Her focus was on the Cullens themselves, on the mysteries they held, and on the frustration she had seen in Edward's eyes.

Garnetta knew that she had just taken the first step into a deeper, more complex world, one where her past and her future would collide in ways she had yet to understand. And she was ready to face whatever lay ahead.