Chapter Text
BellaPOV
I had always been an awkward person, cracking jokes when I wasn’t supposed to or making a situation awkward by my unrequested random information. This awkwardness had only grown along with me over the years but last year I had started to grow more accustomed to it.
Owning the weird besides feeling embarrassed by it.
That being said, I was still appalled by my foot in mouth syndrome and my flashes of clumsiness.
The worst of it being my clumsiness by far, resulting in me often sporting a random bruise or injury. The situation had increasingly gotten worse with the change of scenery from Phoenix to Forks.
It seemed to me that the elements were out to get me here in this small town, the rain creating secret puddles I’d step and trip over while the random bouts of snow created slick walkways I could not be expected to make across safely.
Charlie liked to poke fun and say I just hadn’t earned my sea legs yet.
It had been a month since my move to the quaint little town of Forks, Washington. After the initial stumble into my social life and completely opting to not initiate whatever the heck was up with Edward from Biology. I felt like I was coming more into my own.
I had gotten the hang of the truck quick enough, I hardly had the shift stick and had managed to clean up the cabin and given it a little TLC.
It almost looked good and I was proud of myself for the small little improvements I was able to do with Charlie's help on the weekends.
My spot at the table during lunch had been secured, more or less by Angela, Mike and Eric. I seemed to be the new permanent fixture to the click whenever we wandered the halls or hung out on the odd weekends.
I felt good like I was coming into my own in this dreary town much more than I ever had in the years I lived down in Phoenix.
Heck, I would go as far as to say that even constant climate changes were growing on me. I hadn’t even been upset this morning when I woke up to see snow blanketing the front yard. If anything I just felt a mild inconvenience and dressed warmer.
That is of course until the end of the school day when I slipped on some black ice in the parking lot and it sent me tumbling into a crowd of students while I struggled to keep my footing and not fall flat on my ass.
“What the-”
“Oh!”
“Sorry!” I apologize, catching my footing and smiling sheepishly through my blush as I manage to catch my balance with the help of someone holding my waist to steady me.
The person that had a hold of my waist was wearing black boots, deep blue skinny jeans and a black flowy top. As my eyes crept further up, I blanched when I realized the group of people, I had stumbled into had been the Cullen’s, or well Emmett and Alice Cullen.
I sent a little praised that it had been the much friendlier of the Cullen bunch or at least the less directly hostile, my lucky stars seeming to do me a solid for once.
I could barely keep the relief off my face that it hadn’t been Edward, he seemed to still hate me after all this time, and I had done little to soothe his weird behavior in class. We had a mutual agreement of ignoring each other and only speaking when completely necessary.
A small part of my brain was curious as to how I hadn’t noticed they were walking ahead of me as we exited the building, as I have been more or less hyper-aware of their presence around school since the first day I saw them. Especially Alice.
It was my first day at Forks High and I was just minding my own business eating my lunch with Angela and the rest of the gang when they had walked in.
The Cullen’s, the family that seemed to be completely composed of supermodels.
I hadn’t been able to keep myself from asking about the beautiful strangers only for Jessica to go into an adept description of all the members of the family. Little to say I stopped listening after she mentioned the small girl with raven hair who’s name was revealed to be Alice.
I couldn’t look away from the way she all but glided in her steps, how her spiky hair was styled just so to leave it tussled yet stylish. How she was dressed casually but it was obvious their clothes cost more than most kids here had ever spent on their entire wardrobe.
I was especially captivated by those golden eyes that seemed to quickly flicker towards me before looking back towards one of her siblings who was talking to her. Then she smiled and god that smile.
I swore I felt my entire world stop for a second at the mere sight of it.
I was prepared to fork over my entire life’s savings if only to have that smile directed at me. It seemed to light up the whole room.
I could imagine how it would feel to have that smile directed towards me, I could imagine how it felt to hold her hand. How it would feel to hold her and have her short hair tickle at my nose or chin.
She was just… wow.
I’m not a believer in love at first sight or anything like that but at that moment? I was more than inclined to bend my beliefs if it meant being with a girl like her.
Alice.
That was holding my waist to keep me steady. While giving me a curious look with those gorgeous golden eyes of hers while a smile played at the corner of her lips…
And who I had yet to say a word to during my gawking.
I shook my head out of it, managing to catch her tinkering laugh.
“You okay?” Alice giggles, moving her hands over to my shoulders to make sure I was steady.
I blush deeper, noticing exactly how close I was standing to the smaller girl.
I was taller than Alice by a few inches, the top of her spiky black hair just barely reaching my eyes. I looked down with a little gulp and was captivated by those golden orbs the entire family seemed to possess.
“Ugh, yeah.” I nod, taking a step back and willing down my blush.
Emmett who was standing just behind Alice chuckled, “Lucky Alice was here to catch you, huh?” he asked, nudging the shorter girl with his elbow whilst seeming to hold back a laugh.
I furrowed my brows, the way he phrased it made it sound weird, but I just brushed it off as the Cullen’s just being an odd family in general.
“Ye-yes, um, thank you Alice.” I stutter, shuffling my hands into my front pockets for a lack of knowing what to do with them other than flail around like an idiot.
Alice smiles with a little nod, “No biggie.” She shrugs, with a little wink.
My heart flutters in my chest at that and I must only hope the blush isn’t creeping its way back up my cheeks.
We smile at each other for a second or longer before Emmett clears his throat with a little smirk playing at his lips.
“Well, I have to go find Rose before she goes all… well you know. See you guys around.” He chuckles, patting Alice on the back before giving me a little nod and walking towards their car.
“So... how are you adapting to Forks?” Alice asks, bouncing at the balls of her feet with a perfect smile.
I had to pull my eyes away from staring and force myself to look around us quickly to play it casual.
“It’s… moving along. I can’t lie and say I don’t miss the hustle and bustle of the city but small towns do hold a certain charm.” I shrug, looking back into those golden orbs.
Alice nods, “I know the feeling.” She states.
I raise an eyebrow, “I thought you guys were from Alaska?” I ask, confused.
Alice seems to purse her lips for a fraction of a second, her eyes roaming around quickly before she chuckles. “I meant before I was adopted, I used to live in Biloxi Mississippi. Big city, crowded streets and the works. But once I was adopted, Carlisle and Esme didn’t think the city was an appropriate setting to raise children, so they started moving from small town to small town.” She explains, running a hand through her hair.
I wondered what her hair felt like for a second, overcome with the sudden urge to reach out and tuck a small strand that was brushing against her forehead back up into place.
I shoved my hands deeper into my pockets before nodding at her statement.
“Ah, you guys moved around a lot I'm guessing?” I ask.
Alice nods shrugging her shoulders, “I think I’ve lost count of how many times.” She says more to herself than to me.
I grimace, clicking my tongue. “God knows to move from Arizona to here was a hassle all on its own. I’d hate to imagine having to do it all the time what with your dad probably getting job offers all around.” I mention, scuffing my shoe on the ground.
I shuddered to remember the weeks of preparations that had to be made for me to make the full day travel and to ensure all my things got here before me.
Alice smiles as a certain look crosses her eyes, “It does get easier to move around after the years.” She chuckles, probably at her inside joke.
I humor her with a smile.
A honk from the parking lot catches her attention and she turns to look in the direction of where I assume her sibling's cars are parked.
A frown gracing her face as she stares for a moment too long before looking back at me with a tight apologetic smile. “I have to go… it was great speaking with you.” She says, taking a step back.
A flicker of disappointment fills me, I had been having a great time talking to this girl. She seemed nothing like her odd brother.
I take advantage of a small bout of courage that overcomes me, I just had to keep talking to this girl.
“Um, maybe we can hang sometime? Exchange new kid horror stories.” I shrug a playful smile at my lips.
Alice grins, “I’d like that.”
I smile back with what I am sure is an idiotic dopy smile, “I’ll see you around, yeah?” I ask.
She bites at her lip, eyes roaming my face for a quick second. “Oh, I can see us hanging out in the future.” She mumbles with that gorgeous smooth voice of hers.
We smile at each other for a moment before another honk is heard and she rolls her eyes with a little annoyance covering her lovely features. She sticks a thumb over her shoulder, “Siblings, never ones for patience.” She huffs as an explanation before turning to walk away.
She calls out a bye over her shoulder, her golden eyes peeking over her shoulder before she’s off down the lot.
All I can do is stare as she goes, “Bye” I mumble but she’s already across the lot.
I shake my head out of the stupor, “New kid horror stories? Can I be any more of a dork.” I mumble, facepalming for a second before running a hand through my hair.
“Hey, what was that about?” Jessica asks from behind me.
I turn quickly, startled at their sudden presence.
Mike, Angela and Eric were all standing there with equally intrigued looks over their face.
“Um, I slipped, Alice caught me before I face-planted.” I chuckle, scratching at the back of my head.
“Oh, Bella.” Angela laughs, shaking her head amusedly.
Jessica eyes me warily, “I don’t know… there was a look on her face when she was talking with you…” she probes, elbowing me playfully.
I scoff, “Probably annoyance at me keeping her here as long as I did.” I brush off.
Jessica looks unconvinced but Angela starts talking to Mike about something that happened during gym class and I can’t be more grateful for this girl than I was at this very moment.