As if having Edward Cullen as my desk mate in American History wasn't enough. It seemed that I would be very close to many members of the Cullen family this year. I don't think I've ever noticed them in my classes before... 'Maybe one of the girls has always been in the sea of students?' And I was too caught up with my own shit to see them. I shake my head, 'I would have seen Rosalie or Alice, they do not blend in here.'

I vividly remember Jessica Stanley talking about the Cullen's when they first arrived. About how beautiful they all were and most of all, she went on about their possible intersibling relationships–like romantic ones. That made me shudder. Even if they weren't blood related, that is weird.

But it is also none of my business. So I don't say anything.

I have Biology II with none other than Alice Cullen. She is incredibly tiny. It almost looks as though she floats around, she stands on her tiptoes constantly. She reminds me a bit of Tinkerbell in that way. She is very delicately shaped, I wonder what her real parents looked like.

Alice sits in the back of the class and she never looks in my direction. Not that it matters if she does.

By the end of my first day of Junior year, I'm beat. I have no escape from the Cullen family. (I have over half of my classes with at least one member of their family in it) They have never personally bothered me before but ever since Edward and I made eye contact I feel strange.

Like obviously, I can see how gorgeous they all are. I'm not blind to that fact whatsoever. It isn't the beauty that is distracting. 'Although I have caught myself staring in the past.' There is something about the way that Edward Cullen specifically looks at me?

I don't even really believe myself when I think about it. He has never given me the time of day and I don't want or need him to! I am just so confused and something about the way he seems to disappear into himself... there's something vulnerable about the way he looked into my eyes.

Ever since my mom went away, I haven't thought about crushes or boys or anything like that. To be fair, I never really did that in the first place. Living in the same town with the same boys who I've seen pick their noses and eat it... kinda turns a girl off from everyone.

I've also always kept to myself. 'Well, I didn't until freshman year.' Then the entire town was in my business and it was suffocating to have that many eyes on me. It made me wish I was older so that maybe my siblings would still be around. Jen has her own family, two kids that I've never met and then Jack is too busy in Florida.

Sometimes I find myself missing them. Seeing these Cullen's interact every day, especially when I can overhear conversations, it makes me miss my brother and sister so much. 'Maybe I should reach out...' I shake my head, 'I don't want to be a bother. They have important things going on.'

I hated bringing attention to myself for anyone besides my parents—now I avoided attention altogether. It isn't because I feel inadequate. I just feel like maybe the things happening in my life aren't as interesting as the things happening in the lives of my peers. And a lot of these people were spreading around what was happening to my family.

It was the gossip on the street for everyone else. But my family fell apart. My entire life ended the same week I turned 15. The news hit, then two days later my birthday rolled around and no one remembered it. Certainly not my father. My mom forgot too, that was the first time that ever happened...

There's no way I could ever blame her for flipping her shit like that. I just wish it didn't pan out the way it did. 'I miss my mom...' I try to ignore thoughts like that. It's hard to mourn someone who isn't dead. But god do I do a great job of it.

I mourn my father a bit too, he never comes home anymore. My head is in my hand, I have to get to the library before I'm late. When I look up from the inside of my locker–Edward Cullen is standing beside my locker.

"Uh... Would you want a ride to work?" The words sounded rushed and nervous...? 

My eyes meet his and I feel it again. It almost feels like an invisible string is in my chest and it's tugging me toward Cullen. I instinctively lean into the non-physical contact. I'm shaking my head to say no but before I can consider explaining why–he cuts me off. "It is downpouring pretty bad out there and I remember you saying you drive a bike around?"

I narrowed my eyes, "How do you know that?" I definitely haven't told anyone that I don't have a car. I'm honestly a little bit embarrassed about it. Not that I would admit that to anyone. And I wouldn't call it driving a bike around.

Something shifted and I quickly noticed a panicked look flash in the darkness of his eyes. I don't remember his eyes looking like this before, but I had avoided eye contact as much as I could.

"You told me the first week of class–" He began to lie.

"No I didn't." I'm firm with my words.

He seems to struggle to form a sentence, "The offer still stands." I tilted my head at that, he was standing his ground. 'Interesting.' It's barely 2 minutes on my bike, I bet it would be even less in his car.

I glance towards the window nearby and sure enough, sheets of rain are slamming against the glass. It doesn't look particularly violent, but the rain sure is consistent. "I accept the offer. Do you need my work address?" I finished my sentence in my head, 'or do you somehow know that too?'

Edward smiles at me, "Yes please. I drive the silver Volvo,"

Shit, "Um, where is my bike gonna go? Like how am I going to get home from work?" My bottom lip feels raw from me chewing on it. We have been making direct eye contact for a few minutes, my head feels light and there's this smell.

"I'll get it to you, how long is your shift?" We have to look away in order to walk to Edward's car.

"2 hours, I wish they had more hours to offer me..." I trail off, pulling my hood up to try and stay a bit dry.

The inside of Edward's car is impeccably clean. There are some CDs set up in the open middle glovebox. Edward listened to an array of music that I didn't really recognize. I'm more of a Paramore girl. I think about the music I grew up on, with my mom she only played Country hits on the radio. Meanwhile, my father exclusively played what he deemed dadrock.

"I work at the library. It's on South Forks and South West Bogachiel Way."

He reaches to turn on the radio, I chuckle at that. 'Is the silence so awkward that he must fill it with noise?'

"What is so funny?" Edward sounds genuinely interested, he's looking at me again. I try my best to avoid his dark eyes—I swear they were yellow!

I squint at him, "Do you wear colored contacts or something? What's going on with your eyes?"

He gulps almost audibly, he looks nervous. Edward maintains his focus on me, "I think the fluorescents mess with my eyes." Something about the way his voice wraps around the words entrances me.

My body is moving closer and I find myself less than a foot from him. The way he speaks sometimes sounds so proper and... old-fashion. I think that I hear a quiet snort coming from Edward but I can't be sure. The timing is too perfect.

It happens all the time. I will be thinking about how I don't notice the way his jawline is cut in a charming way or how... 'What is my issue?' My head is shaking as I look away. I focus on answering his stupid explanation, "That feels like such a non-answer. Fluorescents? I'm not stupid. I have a really good memory. I know what I saw."

AUTHOR'S NOTE.

Yeaaaa I am doing that thing where I force the characters to be close to one another for PLOTTTTTTT <3 Edward n Joanie will in fact be hanging out alone SOON. I do want to say that this is set in September 2004 because Bella Swan comes to Forks in January of 2005! I wanted Edward and Joanie to have an established bond before our girl landed!

I love Bella and I fully intend for her and Jacob to have a slowburn romance <3 Because he is a lil younger than her, I feel like Bella would wait until Jacob was a bit more mature to actually date him. But I think it's going to be a situation of "when will they get together" and not "will the get together?" Because in my heart, I believe that Jacob would've imprinted on Bella if not for her damn shield!!

Bella will be a human forever btw <3 Joanie however... she will turn at some point. I haven't exactly figured out how/when.