CHAPTER ONE
sᴇᴘᴛᴇᴍʙᴇʀ ᴛʜɪʀᴛᴇᴇɴᴛʜ

The silvery light drifted from amongst the crackled leaves that hung proudly from the tree branches above. The stars held dull power, like little dots of candlelight on a dark, empty street, obscured from the blurriness of glass windows. It was the moon that danced against my alabaster skin, using the bushes as stencils to bathe my face in dim shadows or argent luminescence.

Slim fingers trailed the outlines of the leaves on my skin, sending unwelcome shivers down my back. Such feline hands- sharp, manicured nails were like paws, yet with such a soft, achingly adoring touch. My eyes trailed up the smooth, snow-white skin of the arm, itching forward, desperate to meet eyes with the woman who touched me so.

But, like each time before it, my eyes slipped through, staring back at the grimy, floral wallpaper across my room.

These day dreams were the closest I would ever get to sleep or the dreams that tagged along with it, and had it been anything other than the vision I repeatedly saw, I would have been keen to accept them back. But, in fact, I knew exactly what my daydream was.

Each time my eyes trailed up the arms of the woman, I expected to see Alice smiling down at me in the end, her hands moving closer and closer to my waist, pulling me up and forward. Just as she had that night at the dance, enveloped by the cool, protecting light of twilight. The very content of my imagination's productions was the reason I'd avoided the girl for the majority of the summer, seeing her only on occasions in which she sought me out, or was in the company of Bella. But school was quickly approaching, and I knew my evading of Alice would promptly have to end.

It was September thirteenth, the day of Bella's birthday. I drove to school early, the wrapped gift tucked away in the glove compartment, despite the fact she'd specifically said not to get her a present. Ageing scared her apparently.

When I pulled into the car park, Edward was waiting motionlessly for Bella by his silver Volvo. Alice was beside him too, waiting with a ribbon-wrapped parcel beneath her coat. The sight of her glowing face reminded me just how long it had been since I'd saw her, or anyone for that matter. It had been a few weeks at least. My only excuse was that a few weeks for a vampire was the equivalent to minutes in the long run.

Going back to Forks high after such a surreal experience was difficult- even for me. Perhaps it was the fact that Bella was close to dying, but everything seemed different, as if the whole planes of the world had shifted beneath my feet and yet I'd stayed in the same position. These little things seemed pointless.

Alice and Edward watched Bella as she hopped out of her truck, flecks of rust falling to the ground as she slammed the door behind her. They knew I was here of course- but they didn't show it.

"Happy birthday Bella!" Alice shouted, meeting her half way with a hug.

"Shh," Bella glanced around nervously, pulling her by the arm toward Edward.

"Do you want to open your present now or later?"

Her eyes widened and she shook her head violently. "No presents."

"Okay... later, then. Did you like the scrapbook your mom sent you? And the camera from Charlie?" Alice asked.

"Yeah, they're great."

"I think it's a nice idea. You're only a senior once. Might as well document the experience."

"How many times have you been a senior?"

Alice shrugged. "That's different."

The pair reached Edward again, and Bella slipped into his outstretched hand, a blush spreading warmly over her face. He smiled at the stutter of her heartbeat.

"So, as discussed, I am not allowed to wish you a happy birthday, is that correct?" Edward said smoothly.

"Yes, that is correct," she mumbled.

"Just checking. You might have changed your mind. Most people seem to enjoy things like birthdays and gifts."

Alice laughed, her voice like velvet. "Of course you'll enjoy it. Everyone is supposed to be nice to you today and give you your way, Bella. What's the worst that could happen?"

"Getting older," she said. From her side, Edward stiffened.

"Eighteen isn't old," I said, finally joining their little group by Edward's Volvo.

Alice glanced back momentarily, not missing a single beat in the conversation. She smiled, with beauty like blooming flowers, awake, fresh and delicate, yet without the added timeline that made them look so brittle. Her finger nails were painted a brilliant red, manicured in such a way that made my think of the reoccurring day dream that plagued my mind.

"Don't women usually wait until twenty-nine to get upset over birthdays?" She asked.

"It's older than Edward."

"Technically. Just by one little year though," she said. Her voice was always so light. So reassuring. "What time will you be at the house?"

Bella struggled to contain a groan. "I didn't know I had plans to be there."

"Oh, be fair, Bella," Alice complained. "You aren't going to ruin all the fun like that, are you?"

"I thought my birthday was about what I want?"

"I'll get her from Charlie's right after school," Edward cut in, completely ignoring her as we began to walk slowly toward the school, prolonging the minutes before first class would begin.

"I have to work," Bella argued, earning a charming smirk from Alice.

"You don't actually. I already spoke to Mrs Newton about it. She's trading your shifts. She says 'happy birthday'" she said smugly.

"I still can't come over," Bella stuttered, searching for an excuse. "I haven't watched Romeo and Juliet yet for English."

"You have the book memorised!" I said, earning a short glare. I distinctly remember her saying so once when we skipped gym.

"But Mr Berty said we needed to see it performed to fully appreciate it and that's how Shakespeare intended it to be presented," she said. Edward rolled his eyes.

"You've already seen the movie?"

"But not the nineteen sixties version. Mr Berty said it was the best."

Alice finally lost it. She turned on her heal, fingers clenching into fists by her side. Her topaz eyes took on a heat glare, like a fire set among dark trees and a white backdrop.

"This can be easy, or this can be hard, Bella. But one way or another-" she began, her voice raising.

Edward interrupted her. "Relax Alice. If Bella wants to watch a movie, then she can. It's her birthday," he said, eyebrows raised. "I'll bring her at seven. It will give you more time to set up."

Bella groaned, annoyed, before stopping us again, a finger raised. "One more condition," she said.

"What else?"

Bella glanced at me quickly. "I'm not going unless Elide goes."

Alice stopped, eyes sliding toward me, narrowing obviously.

"Elide is always invited. It's up to her if she shows," Alice said, voice suddenly dulled and serious. Then she turned again, smiling sweetly as if she'd never said a thing. "Anyway, see you tonight, Bella. It'll be fun, you'll see."

Despite (figuratively) being a year older, in terms of school, nothing had changed. We had the same classes, the same teachers and the same seating plans in each lesson. The only minor detail that was different, was the work load, and considering I'd done it all before, I could cope more than easily.

So it was simple, even when sitting next to a chatty Mike, to think of anything other than the work that sat in front of me during Biology. To think of Alice. Her anger at me was warranted. I'd ignored her for far too long for my own selfish reasonings, of which I couldn't decipher a name for. But whenever I tried to think of anything else, my head would go straight back to the fact that in a few months time, it would have been a year since I arrived in Forks.

"Miss Masters, the answer to the question on the board please," Mr Banner shouted, eyeing the closed book in front of me.

"It's not passive. Active transport uses ATP," I said, watching as his eyebrows raised.

"Um, thank you, yes," he said, before shuffling to continue the lesson.

After biology had finished, I managed to pull Bella by the arm, dragging her away from Edward for just a moment. It seemed she never left his side, nor his hers, so I hurried her quickly along the corridor before I spoke.

"I got you a gift," I said, pulling the wrapped present from my bag.

"You too?"

"Unlike Alice, I'm not letting you go until you open it," I said, watching as she took it hesitantly.

She unfurled the brown wrapping paper, crunching it into a ball before she finally looked at the gift underneath. It was an old copy of Jane Eyre that I'd had for a long time, with beautiful detailing across the cover.

Bella actually smiled. "Thank you," she said as she stroked the lettering on the cover. "The one birthday present I'll be able to tolerate."

"They mean well," I said as we continued to walk down the corridor.

"You promise to be there tonight?"

I nodded. "I'll be there. But what's with me being a condition?"

Bella flushed. "It's been months since we got back from- from Phoenix. You still haven't met Carlisle and Esme-" she said, slipping over the true nature of our trip.

"I met them on the field."

She rolled her eyes again. "That doesn't count. When was the last time you spoke to Alice before today?" I didn't answer, so she pressed, "Hm?"

"Three weeks ago," I sighed.

Bella began to walk away, heading toward Edward who already waited by their classroom for English. She glanced back over her shoulder toward me as she walked.

"Just be there, okay. If I have to suffer through a birthday party, so do you," she shouted.

☾

Here's the first chapter of new moon part
Anyone got any predictions for what Elide's storyline might entail? -its leading up to something surprising in eclipse!
May go back and edit this