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〃My　mother　is　part　albino。〃　

He　studied　my　face　apprehensively；　and　I　sighed。　It　looked　like　clouds　
and　a　sense　of　humor　didn't　mix。　A　few　months　of　this　and　I'd　forget　how　
to　use　sarcasm。　

We　walked　back　around　the　cafeteria；　to　the　south　buildings　by　the　gym。　
Eric　walked　me　right　to　the　door；　though　it　was　clearly　marked。　

〃Well；　good　luck；〃　he　said　as　I　touched　the　handle。　〃Maybe　we'll　have　

some　other　classes　together。〃　He　sounded　hopeful。　

I　smiled　at　him　vaguely　and　went　inside。　

The　rest　of　the　morning　passed　in　about　the　same　fashion。　My　Trigonometry　
teacher；　Mr。　Varner；　who　I　would　have　hated　anyway　just　because　of　the　
subject　he　taught；　was　the　only　one　who　made　me　stand　in　front　of　the　
class　and　introduce　myself。　I　stammered；　blushed；　and　tripped　over　my　own　
boots　on　the　way　to　my　seat。　

After　two　classes；　I　started　to　recognize　several　of　the　faces　in　each　
class。　There　was　always　someone　braver　than　the　others　who　would　
introduce　themselves　and　ask　me　questions　about　how　I　was　liking　Forks。　I　
tried　to　be　diplomatic；　but　mostly　I　just　lied　a　lot。　At　least　I　never　
needed　the　map。　

One　girl　sat　next　to　me　in　both　Trig　and　Spanish；　and　she　walked　with　me　
to　the　cafeteria　for　lunch。　She　was　tiny；　several　inches　shorter　than　my　
five　feet　four　inches；　but　her　wildly　curly　dark　hair　made　up　a　lot　of　
the　difference　between　our　heights。　I　couldn't　remember　her　name；　so　I　
smiled　and　nodded　as　she　prattled　about　teachers　and　classes。　I　didn't　
try　to　keep　up。　

We　sat　at　the　end　of　a　full　table　with　several　of　her　friends；　who　she　
introduced　to　me。　I　forgot　all　their　names　as　soon　as　she　spoke　them。　
They　seemed　impressed　by　her　bravery　in　speaking　to　me。　The　boy　from　
English；　Eric；　waved　at　me　from　across　the　room。　

It　was　there；　sitting　in　the　lunchroom；　trying　to　make　conversation　with　
seven　curious　strangers；　that　I　first　saw　them。　

They　were　sitting　in　the　corner　of　the　cafeteria；　as　far　away　from　where　
I　sat　as　possible　in　the　long　room。　There　were　five　of　them。　They　weren't　
talking；　and　they　weren't　eating；　though　they　each　had　a　tray　of　
untouched　food　in　front　of　them。　They　weren't　gawking　at　me；　unlike　most　
of　the　other　students；　so　it　was　safe　to　stare　at　them　without　fear　of　
meeting　an　excessively　interested　pair　of　eyes。　But　it　was　none　of　these　
things　that　caught；　and　held；　my　attention。　

They　didn't　look　anything　alike。　Of　the　three　boys；　one　was　big　—　muscled　
like　a　serious　weight　lifter；　with　dark；　curly　hair。　Another　was　taller；　
leaner；　but　still　muscular；　and　honey　blond。　The　last　was　lanky；　less　
bulky；　with　untidy；　bronze…colored　hair。　He　was　more　boyish　than　the　
others；　who　looked　like　they　could　be　in　college；　or　even　teachers　here　
rather　than　students。　

The　girls　were　opposites。　The　tall　one　was　statuesque。　She　had　a　
beautiful　figure；　the　kind　you　saw　on　the　cover　of　the　Sports　Illustrated　
swimsuit　issue；　the　kind　that　made　every　girl　around　her　take　a　hit　on　
her　self…esteem　just　by　being　in　the　same　room。　Her　hair　was　golden；　
gently　waving　to　the　middle　of　her　back。　The　short　girl　was　pixielike；　
thin　in　the　extreme；　with　small　features。　Her　hair　was　a　deep　black；　
cropped　short　and　pointing　in　every　direction。　

And　yet；　they　were　all　exactly　alike。　Every　one　of　them　was　chalky　pale；　
the　palest　of　all　the　students　living　in　this　sunless　town。　Paler　than　
me；　the　albino。　They　all　had　very　dark　eyes　despite　the　range　in　hair　
tones。　They　also　had　dark　shadows　under　those　eyes　—　purplish；　bruiselike　
shadows。　As　if　they　were　all　suffering　from　a　sleepless　night；　or　almost　
done　recovering　from　a　broken　nose。　Though　their　noses；　all　their　
features；　were　straight；　perfect；　angular。　

But　all　this　is　not　why　I　couldn't　look　away。　

I　stared　because　their　faces；　so　different；　so　similar；　were　all　
devastatingly；　inhumanly　beautiful。　They　were　faces　you　never　expected　to　
see　except　perhaps　on　the　airbrushed　pages　of　a　fashion　magazine。　Or　
painted　by　an　old　master　as　the　face　of　an　angel。　It　was　hard　to　decide　
who　was　the　most　beautiful　—　maybe　the　perfect　blond　girl；　or　the　
bronze…haired　boy。　

They　were　all　looking　away　—　away　from　each　other；　away　from　the　other　

students；　away　from　anything　in　particular　as　far　as　I　could　tell。　As　I　
watched；　the　small　girl　rose　with　her　tray　—　unopened　soda；　unbitten　
apple　—　and　walked　away　with　a　quick；　graceful　lope　that　belonged　on　a　
runway。　I　watched；　amazed　at　her　lithe　dancer's　step；　till　she　dumped　her　
tray　and　glided　through　the　back　door；　faster　than　I　would　have　thought　
possible。　My　eyes　darted　back　to　the　others；　who　sat　unchanging。　

〃Who　are　they？〃　I　asked　the　girl　from　my　Spanish　class；　whose　name　I'd　
forgotten。　

As　she　looked　up　to　see　who　I　meant　—　though　already　knowing；　probably；　
from　my　tone　—　suddenly　he　looked　at　her；　the　thinner　one；　the　boyish　
one；　the　youngest；　perhaps。　He　looked　at　my　neighbor　for　just　a　fraction　
of　a　second；　and　then　his　dark　eyes　flickered　to　mine。　

He　looked　away　quickly；　more　quickly　than　I　could；　though　in　a　flush　of　
embarrassment　I　dropped　my　eyes　at　once。　In　that　brief　flash　of　a　glance；　
his　face　held　nothing　of　interest　—　it　was　as　if　she　had　called　his　name；　
and　he'd　looked　up　in　involuntary　response；　already　having　decided　not　to　
answer。　

My　neighbor　giggled　in　embarrassment；　looking　at　the　table　like　I　did。　

〃That's　Edward　and　Emmett　Cullen；　and　Rosalie　and　Jasper　Hale。　The　one　
who　left　was　Alice　Cullen；　they　all　live　together　with　Dr。　Cullen　and　his　
wife。〃　She　said　this　under　her　breath。　

I　glanced　sideways　at　the　beautiful　boy；　who　was　looking　at　his　tray　now；　
picking　a　bagel　to　pieces　with　long；　pale　fingers。　His　mouth　was　moving　
very　quickly；　his　perfect　lips　barely　opening。　The　other　three　still　
looked　away；　and　yet　I　felt　he　was　speaking　quietly　to　them。　

Strange；　unpopular　names；　I　thought。　The　kinds　of　names　grandparents　had。　
But　maybe　that　was　in　vogue　here　—　small　town　names？　I　finally　remembered　
that　my　neighbor　was　called　Jessica；　a　perfectly　mon　name。　There　were　
two　girls　named　Jessica　in　my　History　class　back　home。　

〃They　are…　very　nice…looking。〃　I　struggled　with　the　conspicuous　
understatement。　

〃Yes！〃　Jessica　agreed　with　another　giggle。　〃They're　all　together　though　—　
Emmett　and　Rosalie；　and　Jasper　and　Alice；　I　mean。　And　they　live　
together。〃　Her　voice　held　all　the　shock　and　condemnation　of　the　small　
town；　I　thought　critically。　But；　if　I　was　being　honest；　I　had　to　admit　
that　even　in　Phoenix；　it　would　cause　gossip。　

〃Which　ones　are　the　Cullens？〃　I　asked。　〃They　don't　look　related…〃　

〃Oh；　they're　not。　Dr。　Cullen　is　really　young；　in　his　twenties　or　early　
thirties。　They're　all　adopted。　The　Hales　are　brother　and　sister；　twins　—　
the　blondes　—　and　they're　foster　children。〃　

〃They　look　a　little　old　for　foster　children。〃　

〃They　are　now；　Jasper　and　Rosalie　are　both　eighteen；　but　they've　been　
with　Mrs。　Cullen　since　they　were　eight。　She's　their　aunt　or　something　
like　that。〃　

〃That's　really　kind　of　nice　—　for　them　to　take　care　of　all　those　kids　
like　that；　when　they're　so　young　and　everything。〃　

〃I　guess　so；〃　Jessica　admitted　reluctantly；　and　I　got　the　impression　that　
she　didn't　like　the　doctor　and　his　wife　for　some　reason。　With　the　glances　
she　was　throwing　at　their　adopted　children；　I　would　presume　the　reason　
was　jealousy。　〃I　think　that　Mrs。　Cullen　can't　have　any　kids；　though；〃　she　
added；　as　if　that　lessened　their　kindness。　

Throughout　all　this　conversation；　my　eyes　flickered　again　and　again　to　
the　table　where　the　strange　family　sat。　They　continued　to　look　at　the　
walls　and　not　eat。　

〃Have　they　always　lived　in　Forks？〃　I　asked。　Surely　I　would　have　noticed　

them　on　one　of　my　summers　here。　

〃No；〃　she　said　in　a　voice　that　implied　it　should　be　obvious；　even　to　a　
new　arrival　like　me。　〃They　just　moved　down　two　years　ago　from　somewhere　
in　Alaska。〃　

I　felt　a　surge　of　pity；　and　relief。　Pity　because；　as　beautiful　as　they　
were；　they　were　outsiders；　clearly　not　accepted。　Relief　that　I　wasn't　the　
only　newer　here；　and　certainly　not　the　most　interesting　by　any　
standard。　

As　I　examined　them；　the　youngest；　one　of　the　Cullens；　looked　up　and　met　
my　gaze；　this　time　with　evident　curiosity　in　his　expression。　As　I　looked　
swiftly　away；　it　seemed　to　me　that　his　glance　held　some　kind　of　unmet　
expectation。　

〃Which　one　is　the　boy　with　the　reddish　brown　hair？〃　I　asked。　I　peeked　at　
him　from　the　corner　of　my　eye；　and　he　was　still　staring　at　me；　but　not　
gawking　like　the　other　students　had　today　—　he　had　a　slightly　frustrated　
expression。　I　looked　down　again。　

〃That's　Edward。　He's　gorgeous；　of　course；　but　don't　waste　your　time。　He　
doesn't　date。　Apparently　none　of　the　girls　here　are　good…looking　enough　
for　him。〃　She　sniffed；　a　clear　case　of　sour　grapes。　I　wondered　when　he'd　
turned　her　down。　

I　bit　my　lip　to　hide　my　smile。　Then　I　glanced　at　him　again。　His　face　was　
turned　away；　but　I　thought　his　cheek　appeared　lifted；　as　if　he　were　
smiling；　too。　

After　a　few　more　minutes；　the　four　of　them　left　the　table　together。　They　
all　were　noticeably　graceful　—　even　the　big；　brawny　one。　It　was　
unsettling　to　watch。　The　one　named　Edward　didn't　look　at　me　again。　

I　sat　at　the　table　with　Jessica　and　her　friends　longer　than　I　would　have　
if　I'd　been　sitting　alone。　I　was　anxious　not　to　be　late　for　class　on　my　
first　day。　One　of　my　new　acquaintances；　who　considerately　reminded　me　
that　her　name　was　Angela；　had　Biology　II　with　me　the　next　hour。　We　walked　
to　class　together　in　silence。　She　was　shy；　too。　

When　we　entered　the　classroom；　Angela　went　to　sit　at　a　black…topped　lab　
table　exactly　like　the　ones　I　was　used　to。　She　already　had　a　neighbor。　In　
fact；　all　the　tables　were　filled　but　one。　Next　to　the　center　aisle；　I　
recognized　Edward　Cullen　by　his　unusual　hair；　sitting　next　to　that　single　
open　seat。　

As　I　walked　down　the　aisle　to　introduce　myself　to　the　teacher　and　get　my　
slip　signed；　I　was　watching　him　surreptitiously。　Just　as　I　passed；　he　
suddenly　went　rigid　in　his　seat。　He　stared　at　me　again；　meeting　my　eyes　
with　the　strangest　expression　on　his　face　—　it　was　hostile；　furious。　I　
looked　away　quickly；　shocked；　going　red　again。　I　stumbled　over　a　book　in　
the　walkway　and　had　to　catch　myself　on　the　edge　of　a　table。　The　girl　
sitting　there　giggled。　

I'd　noticed　that　his　eyes　were　black　—　coal　black。　

Mr。　Banner　signed　my　slip　and　handed　me　a　book　with　no　nonsense　about　
introductions。　I　could　tell　we　were　going　to　get　along。　Of　course；　he　had　
no　choice　but　to　send　me　to　the　one　open　seat　in　the　middle　of　the　room。　
I　kept　my　eyes　down　as　I　went　to　sit　by　him；　bewildered　by　the　
antagonistic　stare　he'd　given　me。　

I　didn't　look　up　as　I　set　my　book　on　the　table　and　took　my　seat；　but　I　
saw　his　posture　change　from　the　corner　of　my　eye。　He　was　leaning　away　
from　me；　sitting　on　the　extreme　edge　of　his　chair　and　averting　his　face　
like　he　smelled　something　bad。　Inconspicuously；　I　sniffed　my　hair。　It　
smelled　like　strawberries；　the　scent　of　my　favorite　shampoo。　It　seemed　an　
innocent　enough　odor。　I　let　my　hair　fall　over　my　right　shoulder；　making　a　
dark　curtain　between　us；　and　tried　to　pay　attention　to　the　teacher。　

Unfortunately　the　lecture　was　on　cellular　anatomy；　something　I'd　already　
studied。　I　took　notes　carefully　anyway；　always　looking　down。　

I　couldn't　stop　myself　from　peeking　occasionally　through　the　screen　of　my　
hair　at　the　strange　boy　next　to　me。　During　the　whole　class；　he　never　
relaxed　his　stiff　position　on　the　edge　of　his　chair；　sitting　as　far　from　
me　as　possible。　I　could　see　his　hand　on　his　left　leg　was　clenched　into　a　
fist；　tendons　standing　out　under　his　pale　skin。　This；　too；　he　never　
relaxed。　He　had　the　long　sleeves　of　his　white　shirt　pushed　up　to　his　
elbows；　and　his　forearm　was　surprisingly　hard　and　muscular　beneath　his　
light　skin。　He　wasn't　nearly　as　slight　as　he'd　looked　next　to　his　burly　
brother。　

The　class　seemed　to　drag　on　longer　than　the　others。　Was　it　because　the　
day　was　finally　ing　to　a　close；　or　because　I　was　waiting　for　his　tight　
fist　to　loosen？　It　never　did；　he　continued　to