Twilight: Vampire From the Start

Chapter 2: New School

When we first moved to Phoenix, I had to start school right away. Mom wouldn't even allow me one rest day.

She worked on the house while I was at school. By the time I came home nearly everything was in its place.

My first day of school seemed very long. It was probably because we made it to Phoenix a little after eleven last night. To top it off I had a hard time sleeping.

I was crying very hard after we got to our new house. It was a small, one story house. It looked cute, but it was also really dark out.

Mom unlocked the door, and led me to the kitchen.

"Sit down Bella," she told me.

I obeyed her order, and sat at the old table. "Where did this furniture come from?"

Mom looked at me sadly. Tears were almost forming in her eyes.

"We need to talk, Bella."

I nodded ok to let her know I would listen.

"Your father and I are divorcing. We've been planning it for quite some time. He helped with the furniture, but it's probably more for your benefit than mine. We both love you very much, but this is for the best. We tried to keep you out of as much as we could. We didn't want to make your last few days at your school terrible. I'm so sorry Bella.." and then my mom did something I wasn't expecting. She started to cry.

I know now that she had been very unhappy in Forks. She hated the rain, the clouds, even my father spending so much time at the police station. There was nothing he could do to make her stay. So he did what he thought was best for me. He let us move.

After I was finished talking to mom, she showed me my room. Then she walked away to let me sleep. I needed to be up early for school.

Mom didn't start her new job for another week. She was allowed to take it easy until then.

My mom woke me at six the next morning so that I could search through all my stuff and find my clothes. Then I took a quick shower, and got dressed. Mom made me eat breakfast before she drove me over to the school at 7:40.

"Why do we need to be here so early?" I complained to my mom when she parked in the school lot.

We were at Alhambra Traditional School. It's a weird name, yeah, but mom picked it because she heard so many great reviews. Most people said they loved it because the kids did awesome and easily got into honors classes.

"Well... because you need to get your schedule," was her reply.

"Wait, I'm already signed up?" I half yelled at her.

She looked at me apologetically. Wow. She really had been planning this for a while now. How could I have not seen it?

I took a deep breath, then opened my door. Mom did the same, and locked the car. Then she led me into the school to help me get my schedule.

"Hello, I'm Renee Swan. This is my daughter Isabella. She is supposed to start today." mom told the secretary.

She looked at me, then gave a quick nod. She rummages around her desk until she found the papers she was looking for.

She handed me a map of the school, and a list of my classes.

Mom took one look at my classes, then spoke to the secretary. "When will she be in advanced classes?"

"Mom!" I complained. But mom ignored me and stared at the lady behind the desk.

The secretary answered her question after a minute of thinking. "We'll give it time, see how she does here first. Maybe by next year, or next week. Only time will tell, but that is up to her teachers to decide."

Mom nodded her head, then she looked at me. "I should go, honey. Pick you up at 3:15." Then she gave me a quick kiss, and left.

As soon as I left the office, the bell rang signaling first hour. Oh boy.. At least it was language arts, which was only two periods long.

We spent the first half of class reading. When first hour ended, we got a bathroom break. As soon as everyone was in the room, out teacher handed out worksheets. Luckily I finished before we had to check them. I scored a 99%.

Third hour was art. Thank goodness for that! Gym wasn't until later, and that I was dreading.

Fourth hour was social studies. I think this is honestly my worst subject, but I guess I did alright for my first day. The teacher seems to think so.

Lunch was next. Very uneventful since I was sitting all by myself. But that's ok. There were so many kids, I couldn't believe it! I definitely wasn't going to get used to this school very easily.

After lunch I had music, which is required by everyone. Definitely better than having gym sixth hour.

Gym is probably my new worst class. Every other day we go run the mile. If that's not bad enough, the other days we play sports. I'm very uncoordinated. I've never been good at sports, my balance has always been terrible. That's the whole reason I've never signed up for any.

Of course, one time when I was in kindergarten, my mom made me take ballet.. But that ended with me always stumbling into the other girls. They always went down with me.

Eventually my ballet instructor had a long talk with mom about my nonexistent coordination. Apparently she didn't believe my balance could be so bad. Needless to say, I never went to another class again.

Luckily, gym ended sooner than I'd hoped. Science was my seventh and final class. It was great to finally have a class I could definitely pass.

As soon as school ended, I ran to the parking lot to find mom.

"So, did you make any friends?" she asked as soon as I got in.

"Nope!" I replied. No one had really spoken to me, and I never spoke back. I think I'll live. And so will mom.

Mom didn't answer me. She continued the drive home in silence.

As soon as we got inside, she told me to unpack my stuff. I went ahead and did as I was told. I made my bed first. Then I folded clothes and put them in my dresser. I walked over to my closet, and hung up my sweatshirts and the few dressy things I had.

I definitely wouldn't be needing them for a long time. Unless I happened to visit Forks. But I was still unsure about that.

At about six, mom knocked on my door. "Let's go eat," she suggested. I agreed, and we got back in the car. She decided on Applebee's.

I had a great time, but I missed dad so much. What is he doing? Does he miss me too?

Eventually I got used to him not calling. Not talking to me or my mother. I just didn't care.

School was the same. Every day a repeat of the last. I got excellent grades, and even got moved to advancement classes like mom wanted.

I didn't really have friends, that is until I turned sixteen. I was in the tenth grade when I met them. The first people to really start talking to me. The first to want me to hang out with them outside of school.