By ten to nine, the small family had arrived at school. Renesmee, after saying goodbye to her family, rushed towards the gate where she waited for her friend whilst the others entered the building. It didn't take too long before Maddie rounded the corner and approached the half vampire whose eyes soon widened in complete horror "oh my god!!" she exclaimed at the sight of the younger teenagers battered face "what the hell happened?!". Shaking the girls concern off, Maddie sent her a smile "relax, I'm fine" she reassured as if her bruised and cut face were nothing to be concerned about; Renesmee refused to leave it at that "you're not fine!! Did someone beat you up?!" she furthered her questioning as they began to make their way towards and into the school. "Something like that" Maddie mumbled as they walked through the doors "can you please just drop it? I'm fine" she asked, earning a slow and hesitant nod "alright" Renesmee sighed out "but you can talk to me Maddie, about anything....you know that, right?". Taken back by the teenager's words, Maddie - just as hesitant as her friend was only seconds ago - nodded her head "yeah....I know". As the bell rung out, the two friends parted ways as they ventured through the many hallways to their separate classes; they had agreed to meet at their usual table during their breaks and lunch. The first two lessons - Science and English - went fine; Maddie noticed yet ignored the odd looks she had suddenly gained - due to her face. How she wished she were able to cover her injuries. Edward had asked about her beaten face after he had said hello at the beginning of their science lesson, as did Bella during English, but they had both received the exact same answer that she had given their daughter earlier that morning.

Now that it was break, Maddie - as arranged - met up with her friend before they sat down at their table in the corner of the canteen "so I was wondering" Renesmee began as her friend pulled out her sketch book and a pencil "if you wanted to come over to mine for dinner tonight?" that was a surprise; Maddie thought for a moment, seeming unsure "em....I don't know" she rubbed the back of her neck "I'd have to call and ask John and...will your family be alright with me coming over?" she questioned "you know I don't think most of them like me all that much". Renesmee rose a brow before shaking her head "don't be silly" she grinned "my family like you...they can't not like someone they barely know" she did have a point "and they already know I planned to ask you and approved of the idea". Thinking about the offer, Maddie couldn't deny that the idea of going over to her friend's house and have dinner sounded like something she would like to do; she had never had a friend, let alone go over to their house. "Hmm...I'll have to call and ask John" she stated as she thought "but...if he says yes, then sure" she smiled; her friend cheered with pure happiness, making both laugh in amusement. Suddenly, the bell rung once again "I'll call him at lunch" Maddie informed before asking if they were to meet at the table again; Renesmee nodded before they said goodbye to one another - as well as adding a quick hug as the half vampire pulled her friend into a tight squeeze. Unknown to her was that Maddie had to fight off groaning out in pain - her damn ribs.

Upon reaching her art class, Maddie noticed that it was once again only herself, Jasper, and Mrs Smith. Today, they were to work on their shading techniques; Maddie chose to continue with her wolf drawing that she had started on two days before. To her shock, however, Jasper had sat a seat closer to her which she honestly wasn't expecting; her shock tripled when the older teenager turned towards her and began to talk "I'm Jasper Hale by the way" he introduced "you're Maddie Hunter right? Friends with my niece?" he asked, although he already knew the answer to both of his questions; nevertheless, Maddie nodded "yeah, I am" she sent the man a small smile "it's nice to meet you Jasper". Nodding, the unknown vampire continued "my apologies if I came across as rude yesterday" he stopped drawing as he faced the younger teenager "I was....having a bad day and didn't trust my voice" it might have been a lie but Maddie appeared to believe it "you weren't rude at all, don't worry" she reassured "besides, you know what they say - if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all - right?". Returning the young girls smile, Jasper agreed with her statement "quite right" and with that, they returned their attention to their work. Maddie couldn't help but detect a slight accent hidden within the man's voice; it was as if he were trying to hide it. She wondered why? Throughout the rest of the lesson, the two held small conversations whilst they worked; neither noticed the smiles that Mrs Smith continued to send them - art wise, her two students had a lot in common and it was nice to see. Eventually, the bell once again rang. The two packed up their things and said goodbye to their teacher after showing their work to her; she was impressing of course and wished them a good day. As it was now lunch, Jasper suggested they walk to the canteen together; Maddie couldn't help but smile as she happily agreed. Upon their arrival, the two art students parted ways so that they could go to their own tables; Maddie joined her friend who was gleefully grinning. "Looks like you and Jasper are getting along" she chirped up; Maddie nodded as she explained their increase in conversations during their art class "you don't call him Uncle Jasper?" she asked. Shaking her head, Renesmee explained how it was easier to call her uncles and aunts by their names "but I call Bella and Edward mom and dad of course".

The two spoke and ate as the time ticked by. Renesmee, after collecting and paying for her tray of food, asked her friend why she only ever ate a single apple for lunch "I'm just not that hungry" was all Maddie would say on the matter before hurrying to change the topic of discussion "I'm gonna call John and ask about tonight". This earned the reaction of the older teenager's face lighting up like a Christmas tree; it earned a chuckle as Maddie retrieved her phone from her bag. Seconds passed before her phone was ringing before finally, her guardian answered "hello?" he asked, his speech slightly blurred as if he was close to being completely drunk "John, it's Maddie". A moment of silence later and the man could be heard groaning in annoyance "what do you want?" he asked, his voice stained with irritation; the teenager bit back a sigh as she asked her request "I just wanted to know if I could go over to a friend's house for dinner tonight?". Let's just say John's response was both rude yet understandable as it was "you have friends?" he asked; Maddie rolled her eyes, but a small smirk couldn't help but form "I know, hard to believe" she agreed "so can I go or not?". Not giving a thought to what he was being asked, John sighed in annoyance once again "you have a key to the apartment, why should I care where you go?" he asked, giving his blessing in his own harsh way "just be quiet when you come in" he added. Sighing herself, Maddie thanked her guardian before he hung up. Although she had heard everything thanks to her half vampire side that allowed her hearing to be enhanced, Renesmee asked what John had said "he said I could go" Maddie simply stated as she returned her phone to her bag and continued eating her apple; her friend cheered excitedly "great!!" she exclaimed "so maybe you can come over to mine more often!!". Nearly choking on her food, Maddie coughed before she spoke again "baby steps Renesmee, baby steps" was all she said. It earned a fond eye roll. The two friends continued like this for a few minutes before a loud bang startled them, pulling their attention towards a young year ten male student and three year 12 students. The older boys were bullying the younger student by forcing his tray out of his hands and onto the floor, laughing at him and calling him harsh names; Maddie noticed how terrified the fourteen-year-old appeared to be as he coward away from the older students as they terrorised him. "Who are those guys?" Maddie asked as she continued to watch the scene play out before them; Renesmee just sighed "that's Jack, Bill and Connor" she informed "three of the toughest and most brutal students within the whole school". Where had all the dinner ladies and teachers gone!?

"Isn't anyone going to help him?" Maddie asked as she looked around, noticing how everyone else just stared yet remained silent and seated; Renesmee shook her head "again, they're three of the toughest and most brutal students within the school for a reason" she repeated "no one has ever stood up to them before". Upon hearing this, her friend decided she wasn't going to allow this to continue "well that's about the change" and with that, she stood from her seat; the half vampire attempted to grab and stop the younger teen but failed "Maddie, don't". The fifteen-year-old made her way over towards the scene as one of the year twelves drew back his fist and was about to slam it into the younger boy's face; he was too slow, however, as Maddie quickly grasped onto his balled fist before he could. "Didn't anyone ever tell you that it's not nice to beat on other people?" she questioned as Jack and his friends turned to face her - she released his hand once she was sure he wouldn't hit the year ten kid; all wide eyes were on the newbie and the bullies as each and every one of them believed she was either mentally insane, had a death wish or had the biggest balls in America. The three bullies, however, just smirked "you're the new kid, right?" Jack, who was the leader of the little trio, questioned; he received no answer - only a raised brow - but that didn't stop him from continuing "you probably don't know this sweetie, but we run this place and we ain't someone you should mess with". Whilst the first statement indeed was true, Maddie didn't fight back her chuckle, ignoring the older teenagers little nickname he had given her "oh really?" she folded her arms over her chest "how terrifying!! I'm shaking in my boots" putting on a 'scared' voice, sarcasm was dripping from her mouth as everyone with the canteen burst out into fits of laughter. That was until Jack, glaring at the girl who dared to mock both himself and his two friends, yelled out for them to all "shut it!!" to which the room returned to a deafening silence; you would have been able to hear a pin drop, it was so quiet!!

"I'll give you one last chance to turn around and we'll forget you even stood up from your seat" Conner offered, beginning to continue with 'or else' but was cut off by the new student herself; Maddie rolled her eyes "or else what? You and your mates will beat me up?". Not waiting to hear the clear confirmation she was about to receive, Maddie continued "have you seen my face?! I've already had a beating this week!!" she snapped out, referring to her cut and bruised face "and there is no way in living hell that I'm gonna have another one from a group of twats that think they're all hard and mighty!!" there was a fire within both her voice and eyes as they glared at the three bullies. Was everyone around that was witnessing this frozen in complete and utter shock? Absolutely!! Feeling his anger take over him, Jack lunged forward and swung for the teenager girl; there was no way he was going to be spoken to like that and humiliated in front of the entire school!! But what he - as well as everyone else - wasn't expecting was for Maddie to dodge the punch!! Not stopping there, Jack continued to throw punches, only for them to each be easily dodged until finally, Maddie grew bored and irritated of the weak attacks. Grabbing his arm, she twisted it until Jack was unable to move without hurting himself or completely breaking his arm "now let me make this very clear to both you and your mates over there" she nodded towards Connor and Bill who were watching only fix feet away in complete shock and....was that slight fear she could detect? "If I see, hear or even suspect that you're terrorising, bullying, hurting or upsetting anyone again, I won't go easy on you" she warned, somehow making herself look terrifying by remaining completely and utterly calm "and trust me when I say that I won't hold back, sweetie" she mocked his nickname before pushing Jack towards and into his mates. Cradling his pained arm, Jack held the girls glare before Connor pulled him away as they scurried out the door. All remained silent as all wide eyes were still trained on the newbie; they couldn't get over their complete shock at what they had all just witnessed. Did that happen?!

Looking towards the young year ten student, Maddie offered a warm and gentle smile as she walked over and bent down to help him retrieve his tray and food from the floor. "Here you go" she held out the tray for him to take "are you okay?" she asked as they stood up; the kid gratefully took his tray back as he nodded "thank you for helping me" he smiled "you sure have some guts to face off against Jack and his friends". How long had they had control over the school students? Smiling once again, Maddie shrugged "well if no one stood up to them, they'd never stop" and with that, the boy hurried away towards his friends. As Maddie came to the realisation that all shocked eyes were on her, she rose a brow "what?" was all she asked before the entire room erupted into cheers, claps and whistles; the teenager couldn't help the small blush that decorated her cheeks as her friend rushed over to embrace her tightly "that was amazing!!". Everyone quickly returned to their usual selves as the two friends returned to their seats to continue what they were doing before the loud bang; however, they were soon joined by Renesmee's family who found a seat at the table. "You, Maddie Hunter, have some of the biggest balls I have ever seen and known" Emmitt smirked as they laughed; Alice hugged the young girl as she asked where she had learnt to detain someone like she did, yet Maddie only shrugged "I don't know, somewhere I guess". None of them could believe it!! "Oh, Maddie is coming over to ours for dinner tonight by the way" she informed, earning a multiple of smiles; Jasper even went as far as to comment "that's great". And to top it off, Edward voiced his wonder on what Esme might cook for their dinner later after school. Eventually. lunch came to an end as the bell rung, and everyone parted way in order to get to class; Maddie and Alice walked together as they both had Maths to attend.