Alice walked me into the school, Jasper tagging along behind me. I was thanking whatever God there was that he was there. His ability to calm me down was working perfectly and I felt serene and happy. Obviously those weren't my real feelings at the time but I was glad to not feel nervous and thirsty...
The inane chatter pouring from Alice's mouth was perfectly designed to distract me but I began to look around at the school.
We had arrived early but there were a few people walking around the parking lot and heading inside the school. I couldn't smell any blood yet and I was simply excited for the day to really begin. In seventy years I hadn't attended school Not even as a human but that was because of different reasons. For centuries I had spent my time with Tanya, helping her and the coven get settled while welcoming other vampires like us.
"Here's Bella," Alice said suddenly and a minute later Edward and Bella appeared and I stared at her, testing my boundaries. Her blood called to me just as strongly but I was more in control, with Jasper's help at least.
Bella looked terrified as she took in my stunning, pale face and wide eyes. I couldn't look away from her. I was wondering what it was about her that had me wanting to drink her blood so badly.
"I don't believe that you two have officially met," Edward said carefully, his hand laid protectively on Bella's back, his body turned somewhat towards her.
His caution was for good reason but I felt slightly offended that he still felt the need to protect her from me.
I held out my hand, once again pushing my limits. Bella took it after a moment's hesitation and I felt her shiver as my freezing palm closed around hers.
"Aubrey," I said softly and she nodded.
"Bella," she replied faintly and I grinned.
"I hope there are no hard feelings from the last time we met," I said gently and she smiled weakly. She nodded, the movement releasing a glorious scent from her hair.
"Perfect," I mumbled, releasing her hand and taking a step back to stand closer to Jasper who made me feel calmer in seconds.
Bella looked wary and Edward excused them from the situation, leading Bella away from me.
"That was good," Alice said with a happy smile and I rolled my eyes.
"It wasn't as hard as I thought," I replied and her smile grew wider.
"The problem was, I think, that you were thirsty when you first turned up. You hadn’t had a meal for a few days and then Bella must've taken you by surprise," she said and I raised my eyebrows.
"How did you know?" I asked.
"Your eyes were pitch black," she said as though it was obvious but then her face grew cheeky. "And Edward was reading your mind the entire time. Apparently you know a lot of bad words."
I laughed at the pixie-like expression she was wearing and even Jasper let out a rare chuckle.
The bell suddenly rang and as I looked around me I realised that there were more students milling around the school grounds. A scent so strong was beginning to tug at me but I ignored it, relying once again on Jasper's peculiar gift to keep me relaxed.
I was fearful then as I thought about how I would behave without Jasper there.
"Don't worry. You have first period with me and second with Jasper. As soon as second period is finished come out into the parking lot and we'll meet you by my car," she said referring to the yellow sports car we had driven to school in.
I grinned and thanked her with a small hug before bidding Jasper farewell and letting Alice lead me to my first class which was Biology.
Alice had already picked up my schedule and everything I needed which I was very appreciative about. She seemed to have everything planned out perfectly. All of my classes were specially chosen so that I had none of them with Bella but the majority with the Cullen's.
In class I handed my schedule to the teacher who eyed me suspiciously.
"Aubrey Cullen?" he questioned and I flashed a smile.
"Cullen?" I heard a few scattered whispers through the room but ignored them to focus on the teacher. I also had to ignore the smell of blood which wasn't as strong while I was concentrating.
"I'm new. I just moved in with my cousins," I said and the teacher nodded, handing me back my schedule which I took with my pale fingers.
He was staring down at my hand which was flawless and long, as white as marble except for the empty blue veins that ran endlessly through my skin. His grip on my schedule remained for a moment before he let go and smiled weakly.
"Thank you," I chirped brightly before walking to the back of the class where Alice was seated beside an empty desk.
"Today we will be doing a lot of written work..." the teacher spoke from the front of the class but I tuned it out to stare around the class.
I noticed that almost every pair of eyes was turned towards me. Every time I found someone staring I'd look directly at them for a minute and wait for their gaze to shift.
After nearly ten minutes of that I leaned towards and spoke so low that only she could hear. "Why was the teacher so surprised?" I asked and she smiled softly.
"I think he's wondering how many more of us will turn up. Edward told me that he suspects something isn't quite right with my family," she replied and I grinned wickedly.
"Do you think he'll figure it out?"
Alice gently shook her head. "No, he won't. If he does then Edward and I'll be the first to know."
I chuckled lowly and kept looking around at the students. Most of the females were ignoring me tensely. I got the feeling they felt threatened and wasn't really surprised. A vampire's beauty is oftentimes breath-taking and intimidating. A small smile curved my cold lips as I realised that almost all of the males were gazing at me. Some more openly than others.
When the class ended I asked Alice about the Cullen's reputation at the school. She wrinkled her nose but laughed good-naturedly.
"Most people are scared of us... Others are jealous. There are those who think that we're pretty aloof from the student body but their opinions about me specifically often change because I find I'm pretty friendly with everyone. When Rosalie and Emmett were here they were more wary. Rosalie always acted a little stuck-up and Emmett just terrified them!"
I laughed and I bit my lip, thinking. "Will they be scared of me?" I asked and Alice shrugged.
She stopped walking outside a classroom and gestured that it was my second period class.
"They will if you try and drink them," she said with a grin and I rolled my eyes. "But if you act friendly enough then they should be alright. You want more human interaction, right?"
I nodded and smiled.
"Then be good and socialize!" she said, hugging me briefly before turning and heading off to her own class.
