"What the hell did you just call me?"

CLANG! CLANG!

There was Renee, throwing pans at Charlie again. I tossed and turned in bed. I just wanted to fall asleep and ignore the world. But Renee's screeching could wake someone up from a three-year coma.

"Calm the hell down, Renee! I don't need my deputies trampling over here!" Charlie shouted.

More shouting ensued. It was 11 p.m., and I had a biology test tomorrow. Luckily, the new guy, Edward, was a good lab partner. I had mixed feelings about being paired up with him, but I have gotten used to his little quirks.

The more shouting I heard, the more I wanted to escape. After another round of clanging, I got out of bed, threw shoes and a sweater on, and snuck downstairs.

They moved their fight to the bedroom. I quietly walked through the kitchen and headed for the front door. I noticed that at least Charlie's gun belt was still hanging up by the door. Charlie had to start taking the bullets out of the gun after work. One night, Renee decided to shoot at the trees while drinking.

I slowly shut the door behind me and walked to the woods. I loved walking on the trail at night. Charlie wasn't a fan. He often reminded me of the wolves or bears that could attack me. But I wasn't scared.

I strolled up the trail and listened to an owl calling nearby. I took a deep breath and calmed my body. Maybe after the walk, I could sleep well tonight, after all.

Two angry voices ruined my peace. There's no way it was Charlie and Renee out here. I looked around, but the only light came from half the moon hidden by clouds. I usually didn't worry about taking a flashlight with me. 

There was a large tree I jumped behind at the edge of the trail. The voices drew closer, and shoes crunched the leaves.

"Mike! Stop!" Victoria called out.

"Why should I?" Mike was angry.

"Listen to me. I told you nothing was going on." Victoria sounded like she was about to cry.

"I've seen you flirt with Edward several times in the last few months!"

"I'm just being friendly! He's new!"

"Ha! I have never seen you being that friendly to James when he moved here!"

Victoria started to cry. "I haven't done anything wrong."

"Jessica told me you and Edward were fooling around. Why would she lie to me about that?"

"You idiot! It's because she wants you for herself!"

"You're crazy! She's just a friend. I thought she was yours too." Mike scoffed and took off down the trail.

"Mike!" Victoria ran after him.

I guess my parents weren't the only couple to fight around here. When I couldn't hear them, I stepped back onto the trail and continued my walk.

I secretly hoped I would run into one of those wolves or bears, and they would eat me.

The next day, during biology, everyone was taking the test. I kept glancing at Edward and wondered if he and Victoria were hooking up.

Edward noticed me looking over at him.

"If you need the answers, you can just ask me." He smirked at me.

"Heh, no." I returned to my test.

After answering a few more questions, I looked over at him again.

"Are you and Victoria a thing?"

Edward choked. "W-what?"

"Are you and Victoria a thing?" I spoke slowly, mocking him.

"Of course not. Victoria is with Mike, right?" Edward sounded almost disgusted by my accusation.

"Hmm. Okay." For some reason, I trusted him.

"Why are you asking?" Edward dropped his pencil on his desk.

"I hope we're not sharing answers, Mr. Cullen and Miss Swan." Mr. Banner looked up from his desk.

"No, Mr. Banner." Edward and I said in unison.

"Get back to the test." Mr. Banner continued to read something on his desk.

It was silent until the class bell rang. I quickly gathered my folder and textbook and got out of there. I didn't want to admit to Edward I was interested in the gossip I overheard.

In the hallway, I saw Angela. The only other person I could tolerate at this school. Even though she hung out with Mike, Victoria, Jessica, and the other popular kids, Angela was always kind to me.

Angela noticed me and waved. I smiled and walked up to her.

"Hey, I heard something interesting last night." I told her.

"Your parents fighting again? I feel sorry for your dad. I can't believe your mom hooked up with the baseball coach." Angela sighed. "Your dad is too sweet for that."

"No, no. Not that. Mike and Victoria were fighting by my house." I whispered to her.

"Really? I haven't heard anything yet. What were they fighting about?" She was curious, too.

"Jessica told Mike that Victoria and Edward hooked up. Victoria told Mike that Jessica made it up because she wants Mike."

Angela sighed. "I like Jessica, but I can see her doing that. She's been in love with Mike for years. She cried the night Mike asked Victoria out." She paused. "Or do you think its true?"

"I don't think so. I asked Edward about it in Biology." I laughed. "He doesn't seem like the playboy type."

"Hmm. I don't know. All the girls seem to hover over him. They're waiting to pounce when he gives them attention."

"I don't know. I guess I haven't talked to Edward much outside of Biology."

Angela and I continued to walk to our next class. We passed Jessica, Mike, and Victoria standing by their lockers. Jessica glared at Mike and Victoria kissing. They acted like they were in love again.

"Well, I guess that didn't last long." I chuckled.

Jessica spotted us. "Angela! Come here!" She shouted over the other students walking by.

"I should go." Angela said quietly.

"Yeah." I said curtly.

I watched Angela shuffle over to Jessica, and I ignored the dirty look Jessica gave me. I knew the rest of them didn't like me. They often asked Angela why she hung out with me. I don't know why, either. 

For the rest of the day, I avoided Edward. I hoped he had forgotten my question, especially since Mike and Victoria had made up. Unfortunately, not only did I run into him, I ran into the rest of his strange family. 

We were all still getting used to the fact that they were all dating each other. Jasper was with Alice, and Rosalie was with Emmett. Poor Edward was left out, another reason all the female students were on top of him.

When James first moved here, he wasn't nearly as popular as any of the Cullens. I thought he was a decent-looking guy. Though, he did seem to be rough around the edges.

"Hi, Bella!" Alice grinned at me.

"Hi, Alice!" I mocked her enthusiasm, which always seemed to go over Alice's head.

"I heard you thought Edward was seeing Veronica." Alice giggled.

"Heh, yeah. I was verifying a rumor." I confessed.

"Oh, Bella. You're better than that." Rosalie scolded me.

"Right." I rolled my eyes.

For some reason, the Cullens have been inching closer and closer to me. They kept talking to me. It might have been because I didn't fit in at this school as much as they didn't.

"Have you been to La Push beach?" Emmett asked me.

"Yeah, why?" I hadn't been there in a few years.

"We heard it's a good spot for surfing. Is it true?" Emmett seemed excited.

"I guess." I had no idea. I never surfed.

"Sweet." Emmett and Jasper smiled at each other.

"Come with us and show us around!" Alice grabbed my hand.

I winced and slid my hand out of hers.

"No, thanks. I don't do well with wet."

The Cullens all looked out the hallway windows. It was raining again. It always rained.

"Yeah, I know. I should be used to it, but I'm not. I'd rather lay in bed all day."

They frowned at me.

"Please, Bella!" Alice gave me her puppy eyes.

I shielded my eyes from her.

"No! Stop it, Alice! You can't get me this time!" I turned and walked out to my truck.

The last time Alice gave me that look, she and Rosalie dragged me on a shopping spree. I found out just how wealthy their family was. I had to refuse the clothes they said they would buy for me. They were all so annoying.