Forks High School was nowhere near impressive.

In fact, it was almost painfully dull, just like town itself. Luna didn't know what she was expecting, but it was nothing like she had seen in the movies all her life. Everything she had ever watched or read had hyped up the high school experience like it was supposed to be some romantic fairytale, and now she was disappointed because she had an image built up in her head about what high school life was supposed to be like. Now that it was actually here, it was... surprisingly underwhelming. At least, for now.

She was still clinging onto the hope that it would get more exciting as time went on. She hoped as she put herself out there she would start to feel more comfortable and willing to explore. For now, she was content in sticking close to her family. She didn't feel like venturing out too far until she understood what was going on - essentially, getting a lay of the land. She was sure it would have been fine if she were any normal individual, but the most overwhelming part about this experience was all the humans. She had never been around so many in her life. In fact, she hadn't really been around them much at all growing up.

The only time she had ever encountered humans was when she took herself out into town, such as when she would go to the library. She was also the only person in their family who needed to eat, so she would run into them at the grocery store. It was different being around them when she could leave as soon as she became overwhelmed. She had never been forced to be surrounded by them for eight hours a day. It already wasn't long before her instincts woke up. What was once a dormant thirst became very strong and was hard to ignore, like a scratch in the back of her throat that wouldn't go away.

She wouldn't wish this pain on anyone - but she felt relieved she wasn't entirely alone in this unnatural experience. At least she wasn't the only one struggling. Jasper was also in a frenzy. She wondered why he had even agreed to come along, but she knew he wasn't okay with leaving Alice alone by herself. Even though her uncle was much older than her, she knew he was the newest when it came to living the vegetarian lifestyle, so he was still learning to adapt to being around humans without always wanting to eat them.

It was just proof that even the more mature vampires struggled with self-discipline at times, and it made Luna feel a little better knowing that she wasn't alone. She felt she had a decent amount of self-control but it was nowhere near as polished as it could be. She supposed that was one of the many things she had hoped to gain out of this facade of a high school experience. They just had to get through this, and they would... eventually. It wasn't going to be easy, but they'd manage. That was all that mattered.

I'm doing it for my family. For my family, for my family - because I love them.

Those thoughts played on repeat as she forced herself to get through each second of the day without snapping. As the morning waned into the afternoon, she was starting to feel proud of herself for each class period she got through while still maintaining some sense of normalcy. Maybe this wasn't going to be as bad as she thought it was going to be. Or maybe it was still too soon to tell. Either way, she was going to keep her fingers crossed just in case.

At least she had Edward. Seeing him always made her day more bearable, and the fact he was right here with her was something she was more grateful for than she cared to admit. As soon as she began to feel on edge, just looking across the room and seeing him there was enough to calm her down.

"Mind if I join you, sir?" Luna said with a playful grin as she sat down in the open seat next to him in English. She'd already sat next to him in every other class that day - for two reasons. One, so she could be as close to him as possible and feel at ease, and the other, maybe selfishly, was to make sure no one else could sit next to him. Maybe she was spiteful, but she didn't care.

Edward looked up from his notebook, his golden eyes meeting hers with a soft smile. "Not at all, Miss," he replied with a teasing twinkle in his eye, echoing her playful formality. Luna couldn't help but smile back, feeling her tension ease slightly just from his presence.

As the English teacher began the lesson, Luna let herself relax a bit more. Edward was a comforting presence, a steady anchor in the overwhelming sea of human scents and heartbeats. She could focus on him, on his familiar scent and the sound of his even breathing, instead of the chaos surrounding her. She could hear every heart beat around her, even her own was amplified and distracting.

The lesson was on Shakespeare, something that Luna found mildly interesting, though not enough to completely divert her attention from the nagging thirst at the back of her throat. She took a deep breath, trying to focus on the words of the teacher instead of the pulse she could hear from the student two seats over. God, they smelled exquisite.

If she really wanted to, she could easily follow them out into the hallway. She could have them pinned against the wall in the blink of an eye, and then...

Edward seemed to sense her struggle, and the slight movement he made brought her attention back to him, making her momentarily forget about the girl that had caught her eye. He nudged her foot under the table gently, drawing her attention back to him. When she glanced over, he was writing something on a piece of paper. A moment later, he slid it over to her.

"You're doing great," the note read in Edward's neat, precise handwriting. "Just keep breathing."

Needless to say, she was more than relieved when the hour was finally over. She and Edward gave each other a knowing look before they made their way out of the class quickly. Almost too quickly, but she didn't care. She just wanted to get out of there.

"Well, this is super fun," Luna remarked with a hint of sarcasm.

"Like I said before, you're doing great. Besides, look on the bright side," Edward said with a smirk.

"There's a bright side?" Luna asked, giving him a deadpan look. She couldn't deny how her heart fluttered a little faster around him. She was sure he had noticed - he could read minds, after all.

"Yeah. You're here with me," he replied with a laugh. It was a sound that made her smile, despite her attempts not to.

"You're impossible," she scoffed, shaking her head indignantly. "You should be the one that's blessed. I grace you with my presence, after all."

Edward chuckled, his amber eyes sparkling with amusement. "Well, I consider myself lucky to be graced by your presence, Luna."

Luna blushed a dark shade of crimson, but she was too flustered to say anything else. She didn't want to ruin the moment, anyway. He had given her a compliment and she wanted to savor it for a long as possible, and even though she was fully aware of the fact he could probably read every thought rushing through her mind, she didn't care. She just liked being with him.

"I like being with you too," he said seriously.

She rolled her eyes, but she resisted a grin as she linked her arm with his. It felt natural there, like they were missing pieces that were whole when they were put together. She had no doubt in her mind that he was her other half, and as long as she was with him, she was happy.

****

Everything was going well until the fourth period, then it all went downhill. Having math by herself was the worst, since she already didn't like math anyway. Luna wanted to get through it as long as she could, but it was hard when she had nothing to concentrate on.

Edward was in biology, so that meant she had to be self-sufficient. Maybe she was becoming too reliant on him for comfort, even though she didn't think there was anything wrong with having a comfort person. She could do this. She could make it two more hours - if she couldn't, then she had issues. Well, obviously she did - that's why she was here, to get over them.

She sat in the back of the class, close to the door in case she had to make a run for it. She fully intended to stay until the end, but she didn't trust herself to make it that long yet. Luna sat at her desk, trying to focus on the math problems in front of her, but the numbers blurred together as the scent of the humans around her grew overwhelming. The classroom felt stuffy and claustrophobic, the air thick with the mingling aromas of sweat, perfume, and the ever-present scent of blood. She took deep, steadying breaths, but it was no use; her throat burned with a thirst she couldn't quench, and her heart began to race.

The girl nearest to her was the same girl that she had seen in English, she was unsuspectingly perfect. Luna didn't know why, but there was something so sweet about her scent. She wanted it so bad. We don't eat humans, she reminded herself. She whined softly under her breath, a sound that she hadn't intended to make. She hoped it wasn't too loud, but no one looked over at her, so she assumed they hadn't noticed.

The ticking of the clock seemed to grow louder, each second stretching out interminably. She glanced at the door, considering a swift exit, but she didn't want to draw attention to herself. Instead, she gripped the edge of her desk tightly, her knuckles turning white.

Just two more hours. I can do this.

But as the minutes dragged on, Luna felt her control slipping. The whispers of her classmates sounded like shouts, and the scratch of pencils on paper was like nails on a chalkboard. Her vision tunneled, and her breathing became shallow. She felt trapped, the walls closing in on her.

I can't do this.

Panic set in, her anxiety building to a fever pitch. Her senses were on overload, and she could barely think. The room spun around her, and she felt herself teetering on the edge of losing control. She had to get out of there before something terrible happened.

Abruptly, Luna stood up, her chair scraping loudly against the floor. The teacher looked up, eyebrows raised in surprise. "Luna, is everything alright?"

She barely heard the question as she bolted for the door, her movements a blur. She didn't stop running until she was outside, gulping in the fresh air like it was a lifeline. The open space of the school grounds felt like a vast expanse compared to the stifling classroom.

Thank God.

She made her way to the parking lot where her family had claimed a designated spot for themselves. Her Highlander was the only thing that felt comforting to her at the moment, and the door chimed as she came near. As long as the key was nearby, it would unlock for her, which was nice because she didn't feel like digging through her bag for her keys. Note to self, though, she would need to get her bag organized eventually. That was the least of her concerns right now.

Luna practically dove into her car, slamming the door shut behind her. The familiar scent of the interior and the silence inside offered a small reprieve from the sensory overload she'd just experienced. She took a few deep breaths, trying to steady herself, but the panic still clung to her like a second skin.

She needed to get home. Now.

Turning the key in the ignition, she backed out of the parking lot and headed towards her family's secluded home. The drive, which usually felt like a calming escape, was a blur of trees and asphalt. Her hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, her knuckles white with tension.

When she finally pulled into the driveway, she didn't bother to wait for the garage door to fully open before parking. She rushed inside, the familiar surroundings of her home offering a much-needed sense of security. Much to her relief, Carlisle and Esme were probably both working. Carlisle was at the hospital, and Esme had taken a job as a mortician downtown. She was glad they didn't have to see her in a state like this. It was so embarrassing, and the last thing she wanted to do was disappoint them.

She supposed being a disappointment to her family was her biggest fear. She had some alone time before everyone else came home, and she was fully expecting her mom and dad to lecture her.

She hated the feeling of being yelled at, but she didn't care. It was worth it to get out of there. She went to the bathroom down the hall, where she exhaled as she slid down the wall. She liked this bathroom. Since it was the closest to her bedroom, it had become "her" bathroom over the years. It was small but comfortable, like a little rectangle that had a bath for comfort. The Cullen house was grand and extravagant in many ways, but sometimes she liked the simplicity that had been woven into the design occasionally.

Luna leaned against the cool tiles of the bathroom wall, letting the chill seep through her clothes and into her skin. The sensation helped to ground her, pulling her away from the panic that had overwhelmed her at school. She closed her eyes, focusing on her breathing, willing herself to calm down. She couldn't afford to lose control, not here, not ever.

Minutes passed in silence, the only sound was the steady drip of the faucet. Eventually, the tightness in her chest began to ease, and she felt her heart rate slow. She opened her eyes and looked around the bathroom, taking comfort in the familiar surroundings. The beige walls, the simple white fixtures – it all felt safe.

She stood up slowly, her legs a bit shaky, and made her way to the sink. She splashed cold water on her face, the shock of it helping to clear her mind. Looking at herself in the mirror, she could see the strain in her own eyes, the remnants of panic still lurking in their depths. But she was stronger than this. She had to be.

The full moon was approaching soon, which always added to her nerves. Most twelve year old girls deal with starting their period for the first time. She had to deal with that too, but on top of that, she had a monthly transformation that was even more agonizing. It was the part of herself that she had despised the most, and of course, it had to be right around when they were starting school. She still had a few more days, but it didn't make it any better. The wait was worse.

At least she could look forward to mellowing out after it subsided. At least until next month.

Luna sighed, pushing away the thoughts of the upcoming full moon. She needed to focus on the present, on regaining control. She left the bathroom and made her way to her bedroom, the familiar surroundings providing some comfort. She threw herself onto her bed, burying her face in the soft pillows. The scent of lavender from her pillowcase helped to calm her further.

Luna rolled over and stared at the ceiling, trying to push away the overwhelming feelings of anxiety and frustration. She knew she had to be kinder to herself, but it was hard when she was constantly under so much pressure. Most of that pressure was from herself, so it was a vicious cycle.

Luna's resolve began to crumble as the emotions she had been holding back all day surged forward. Her vision blurred with tears, and she buried her face in the pillow to stifle the sobs that wracked her body. She felt a mix of anger, frustration, and sadness – anger at herself for losing control, frustration at the unending challenges she faced, and sadness for the burden she placed on those around her.

She hadn't asked to be born this way, but she still felt like a freak - like it was somehow her fault all along. She didn't know how anyone could love a monster like her.

She cried until she had no more tears left, her body exhausted from the emotional release. Her sobs subsided into quiet sniffles, and she lay still, the pillow now damp beneath her cheek. Despite the emptiness she felt, there was a small sense of relief from having let it all out.

The house was silent, save for the distant ticking of a clock somewhere in the hallway. The quiet was comforting, wrapping around her like a warm blanket. Her eyelids grew heavy, pulling her into a deep, dreamless sleep.