╭ ⊸⊸⊸⊸⊸⊸⊸⊸⊸⊸⊸⊸⊸⊸⊸⊸⊸⊸ ╮

𝑮 𝑳 𝑰 𝑻 𝑪 𝑯
❝ 𝚕𝚊𝚛𝚛𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚕𝚘𝚋𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛 ❞

╰ ⊸⊸⊸⊸⊸⊸⊸⊸⊸⊸⊸⊸⊸⊸⊸⊸⊸⊸ ╯

ㅤ𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐄'𝐒 𝐁𝐄𝐄𝐍 𝐔𝐍𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐅𝐔𝐋, to say the least. Life at Forks, specifically. It's been a couple of weeks since Maria arrived. Other than the Cullens, there's nothing else that can be considered interesting.

Speaking of the elusive family, she's become a friend to both Alice and Jasper, and acquaintances with Rosalie, Emmett, and Edward. Rosalie tried to blatantly ignore her when she first sat at their table, but with her charming good looks and personality, the blonde open up to her, just a tad. Emmett was just constantly with his girlfriend. But Edward...

...Edward was a different situation entirely.

Every time she gets near, his hand races up to his head to clutch it, as if her presence gives him headaches. But that's probably not possible, is it?

Still, Maria continued to make friends with everyone, even the teachers. Despite being already popular, she just gained more popularity when everyone realized that she wasn't just a rich girl from Malibu, she was also a nice and friendly rich girl from Malibu.

Letting out a yawn as she stretched, she began getting ready. News spread that another new girl would be moving into town, and Maria couldn't wait to make a new friend. She decided on wearing a black hoodie, with a bomber jacket on top to keep her warm, along with some black jeans and white t-shirt. Then she paired them with white sneakers. She wasn't really going to school to impress anyone.

Eating a quick breakfast with Aunt Vic who had a day off, she bid her goodbye and quickly raced to the school. The parking she parked in during her first day had pretty much become her own parking, as no one dared to park next to the Cullens, apparently. After killing the engine, a rumbling caught her attention immediately after she stepped out.

With her backpack slung on her shoulder, she turned to face the source of a rumbling. She grimaced at the sight of the old, rusty, bright orange truck that came into view; she and her dad spend way too much time looking (and often buying) sleek, nearly flashy cars to really find the appeal of cars like those. But, she won't judge the choices some people make in life, and knows that sometimes, people can't really choose.

Eyes were trained on the new girl, her hair loose on her shoulders, wearing a coat that covered her outfit. Even from a distance, Maria could tell that the poor girl had no sense of fashion.

Quickly deciding, she walked approached the new girl and introduced herself. "Hey, you're Isabella Swan, right? I'm Maria."

"J-just Bella," the poor girl stuttered. Despite being the same height, Bella felt small under the girl's stare, and felt overwhelmed by her obvious extroversion and designer clothing. "Nice to meet you."

"Come on, I'll show you the ropes," Maria offered with a friendly smile. "Especially before Eric gets a hold of you. I'm new too, by the way, transferred just a month before you."

"Oh, uh, thanks," Bella couldn't help but mutter, letting the girl pretty much drag her to the office.

"Hey Mrs. K," Maria greeted the receptionist, which caught Bella by surprise. This simple interaction made Bella doubt that Maria was new like her. "Here's the new student."

"Good morning to you, Mia," Mrs. Kader, aka 'Mrs. K' teased. "Ah, yes, Isabella Swan. Let me just grab your schedule. I assume Mia will be showing you around?"

"Uh," Bella began to mutter, looking at her new friend hesitantly.

Maria took notice of her timidity, giving her a reassuring smile. "Of course, new kids gotta stick together."

"Well, that's great," Mrs. K grinned while sifting through her files. She gave Bella a look. "You know, you should stick to her. Girly knows her way around so well you might think she's local."

Maria giggled. "Oh, stop it, Mrs. K, you're making me blush."

"Here's your schedule," the receptionist handed the new girl a piece of paper. "Also, here's a slip that you have to let your teachers sign. Give this back to me at the end of the day, alright?"

"Okay," was all Bella could say before she was whisked away, watching as Maria bid farewell to the woman over her shoulder. "So, your nickname's Mia?"

"Yeah, but generally you can call me anything, that's just what most people call me," she shrugged, her bright smile blinding. But then it faded at the sight of Eric from behind Bella. "Uh oh, here comes Eric," she muttered to the girl, who frowned in confusion.

"You're Isabella Swan, the new new girl," Eric greeted Bella who jumped and cringed away in shock. "Hi, I'm Eric, the eyes and ears of this place. Anything you need? Tour guide, lunch date, shoulder to cry on?"

"Uh, I'm really kind of the more...suffer-in-silence type," Bella replied with a tight smile. "And I have Mia here with me."

Eric gave Mia a look, who poked her tongue out in reply. "Good headline for your feature! I'm on the paper, and you're news, baby. Front page."

Maria couldn't help but roll her eyes. "You need a new pick-up line, baby. Besides, as Bella said, she's got me."

"And, uh, please don't--have any sort of..." Bella quickly added, her head shaking as she thought of being on the front page.

"Woah, okay, no feature," Eric quickly amended himself, before turning to Maria who gave him a victorious look. "And I guess I'll see you at lunch."

The secret heir to the Stark fortune gave him a wink before she turned back to her new friend. "Now, that was the mess you may refer to Eric Yorkie. He's...going through a phase, I don't know," she shrugged, beginning to walk, which Bella mirrored. "Now, let's check your schedule and see if we have any classes together."

Bella smiled, handing her the piece of paper. "You're actually a life saver."

"New girls look out for each other," Maria teased before looking at the girl's schedule. "Well, we only have gym and lunch together." She sighed in annoyance. "I have no classes with any of my friends other than the Cullens, that really sucks."

"The Cullens?"

"They're really cool," Maria promised. "You might not want to listen to Jessica's ramblings about them during lunch."

"Jessica?" Bella furrowed her brows.

"Don't worry, you're most definitely going to be sitting with Eric during lunch," Maria quickly reassured. "I just...I promised my friends, the Cullens, that I'd be sitting with them today at lunch. Don't worry, I'll be sitting with you tomorrow."

"Oh, okay."

"Just...try not to punch Jessica when you hear her rants, okay? She's..." she grimaced. "Well, you'll see. Anyway, here's your first class, my lady." She mocked a curtsy to Bella, who blushed when she noticed the people looking at her. "I'll see you at lunch, Bella!"

Bella was left watching the girl run to her next class. She couldn't believe that the girl who just moved a month ago was high-fiving random students, even a teacher.

As Maria walked into her first class, she was greeted with Jasper's mop of hair. As she walked closer to her seatmate, she ruffled the mop sitting on top of his head. "I swear, I don't get how Alice doesn't force you to at least gel it down. It honestly looks like a blond clown wig."

"Nice to see you too, Mia."

Gym flew by without a hitch, except for when Bella hit Mike directly on the head, which Maria proceeded to cackle at.

And as lunch rolled in, she walked right beside Edward Cullen. "So, how's your head?"

The man in question turned to her with a frown. "What do you mean?"

"Don't think I don't notice how you clutch your head whenever I'm near," she rolled her eyes. "It's like I'm giving you headaches or something. What are you, a mind reader?" Maria continued on walking towards Alice and Jasper, who pushed open the doors. She didn't notice how Edward stared at her in shock.

Over at Bella's table, Jessica began to gossip. "Now, you've probably met Mia, right?"

"Yeah," Bella replied, curiosity brewing within her.

"Well, she's the only, like, normal human being to hangout with the Cullens," Jessica held back an eye-roll. "Well, not really normal, you know? You see her car in the parking lot earlier?"

"Which car?"

"The Audi," Jessica replied as if it was obvious. "Anyway, she's pretty loaded."

Maria was well-aware Jessica was gossiping about her as she sat in between Alice and Emmett. She didn't know what it was specifically about, but it always gave her great joy when she sees the twitch in Jessica's mouth when her jealousy seeps through.

"Ali," Maria greeted, kissing her friend on the cheek. "So, as much as I already love Bella Swan, I can't help but notice her abysmal taste in fashion."

Alice was quick to lean closer to Maria. "I know!" She whispered with a giggle. "But don't worry, her style will improve."

"You think so?"

"I know so."

Maria took notice of the staring session between Edward and Bella, and whistled under breath. "Guess Danny Zuko has a crush on little Sandy," she smirked.

Emmett snorted at her comment, and Rosalie tried to hold back her smile. Edward, on the other hand, gave her a glare. She teasingly raised her brows at him while he brooded. As she devoured her lunch, she snuck a look towards the Cullens' trays, always taking note of how they didn't eat. But she never voiced her growing suspicion about what the Cullens are.

Her mind began to rapidly go back and forth between thoughts again, and just a look in Edward's direction, she knew that in some form or another, he could read her mind. At first, she thought she was going crazy, but she decided that, to test her theory, she'd forcefully make her already running mind run faster at some points of the day. Now, she just does it to mess with him.

As she finished her meal, she turned to Rosalie, who she was actually becoming close with. "You ready for the next class?"

Rosalie scoffed. "As if you're learning anything new."

"Yeah," Emmett cut in. "Must be nice to be a genius."

"Says the two of you," she rolled her eyes. She shared two classes with Rosalie, and one class with Emmett—she's seen their grades. "Or all of you, for that matter."

Emmett smirked in her direction, sharing a look with Jasper. "Well, you better hurry and finish your food, the bell's gonna ring soon."

"Aye, aye, Captain."

As she walked out of her last class, Maria turned to Rosalie who walked right beside her. "So, where do you want to do the project, at your place or mine?"

Rosalie thought for a moment, meeting Alice's eyes from across the hall for a split second. "We'll do it at mine." She then shrugged. "Carlisle and Esme have been curious about you, ever since Emmett came home and complained to them about your nickname for him."

Maria snorted. "Larry the Lobster?"

"That's the one."

"Well, I'll need to go home first to pick up some supplies--"

"Don't worry, we'll have everything at my house," Rosalie gave her a small smile, which she beamed at. "Just follow after me in your car so you know the way."

"Gotcha. Let me just grab a few things from my locker and I'll meet you outside," Maria gave her finger guns with a wink.

Rosalie rolled her eyes with a smile, watching as her only human friend walked away. She turned to see Alice looking at her expectantly.

"Well?"

"You were right," Rosalie sighed as she began walking, with Alice skipping next to her with a grin. "She is growing on me."

"Nice," Maria nodded in approval once she's stepped out of her car. She gave a thumbs up to Jasper who was shaking his head at her, a smile on his lips. Alice quickly bounded to her, dragging her inside.

"Come on, I'll give you a tour!"

"Slow down, Thumbelina."

Yet she let the tiny girl drag her away, her laughter immediately filling the air. Unbeknownst to Maria, her happiness was infectious, especially to her empath friend, Jasper. Every time they're together, the vampire would drink her emotions in like fine wine, often so positive and happy that his bloodlust is forced into the back of his mind.

Reading his brother's mind, Edward patted Jasper shoulder in reassurance. "Come on."

Maria had never seen anyone more attractive when her eyes fell on Carlisle Cullen. Of course, she's a Stark, she doesn't blush...but she almost did when they met eyes. She quickly cursed in her head; he's married for Christ's sake. So she turned her attention to Esme who gave her a soft smile.

"You must be Maria," the matriarch stated, her hair swaying despite there being no wind. "We've heard so much about you."

"Good things, I hope," Maria grinned, her eyebrows raised teasingly. "But with Emmett, I highly doubt it."

"Calling him Larry the Lobster definitely put a damper on his mood," Carlisle smirked.

Maria tsked. "Why was he so appalled by that nickname? He's clearly Larry the Lobster."

"Am not!" Emmett protested as he walked in, his lips pouting.

Rosalie snorted. "Yes, you are."

"Well, I'm gonna give Mia a tour," Alice announced, bringing the attention to her. "I'll keep her busy for a bit while you guys finish making the food."

"Ooo, food," Maria muttered. But she didn't have enough time to say thank you to the two elder Cullens before the tiny pixie dragged her away again.

Carlisle turned to his wife. "She's definitely just like they described."

"You can see just how much she lights up a room," Esme smiled. "She's wonderful."

"She's a pain in the ass!"

"Emmett!"