REALITY BITES

School! .... forks WA.

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THE SHORT DRIVE FROM THE AIRPORT WAS SUFFOCATING TO SAY THE LEAST. Delaney sat with her head against the window as she attempted to drown out Charlie and Bella's awkward attempts at creating conversation, with music.

It blasted in her ears, and the volume could cause risk for hearing loss, but she didn't care — she liked it like that.

Delaney wanted nothing more to be in her bed or on the couch with Charlie as they watched the game.

"So what do you think?" Charlie asked, looking at delaney through the mirror.

Delaney pulled out a headphone and cleared her throat, "What did you say?"

"I said, you should visit the reservation now that your back for good" Charlie repeated. Delaney nodded, she had missed the boys.

She always questioned the pull she felt when she was in forks, maybe it was the scenic views or the never ending hiking trials she could trek when things got too tough in the outside world.

As they pulled into the drive way, Delaney almost fell from the car as she jumped out. She hastily grabbed whatever she could fit in her arms and hurried in the door and up the stairs.

Her room was still the same brisk white, her bedding had been changed and a fresh vase of flowers sat on her desk.

She immediately dropped her belongings as she fell onto her bed. Charlie leant against the doorframe with a small smile.

"I'm happy your home, Del" He spoke happily, his smile growing wider.

Delaney sat up, leaning on her elbows with a broad smile, "So am I, I don't know how you live without me for so many months. I'm fucking amazing" The girl teased.

"Language" Charlie jokingly warned, his hand coming down to ruffle her hair. "Jake and Billy are on their way, and your car arrived yesterday" Her father informed.

Delaney jumped up, yet paused as charlie called her name. "You take your meds?" Charlie asked quietly, almost fearful of her reaction.

Delaney nodded and grabbed her backpack, she fished out her keys before running down the stairs. She trailed around the side of the house where her 1967 Chevy Impala stood in all its glory. Her hand came down over the hood of the car before she slid into it. Condensation covered the windshield caused by the dampness that overtook forks. A lighter was thrown on the passenger seat and the smell of cigarettes lingered in the car. She basked in the vehicle yet was interrupted when two others pulled into the drive way.

Sticking her head out the window, Jacob Black stood helping his father out of the car. Sliding out, Delaney jogged over with a cocky smile. "Missed me?" She quizzed with a knowing smile, leaning down to hug the man she had seen as another father figure.

"You know it, Laney girl!" Billy winked, a warm smile on his face. Delaney turned towards Jacob and sent a punch to his shoulder. The boy winced as he touched the sore area before bringing the girl into a short hug.

"Missed you round the Rez, Swan" Jacob nodded, slowly rubbing his shoulder as an ache resided.

"I would hope so" she winked before turning towards the bright orange truck. "What the fuck is that?" She asked with an eyebrow raised.

"Bella's home coming present, just bought it off Billy here" Charlie explained, his hand slapping down on the man's shoulder.

Bella's mouth opened and closed as if she was a fish out of water, "N-no way! This is, this is great!" bella exclaimed breathlessly.

"Great way to get tetanus" Delaney murmured yet somehow Billy caught it and let out a large chuckle.

Bella ignored her sister and turned towards Jake, "Do you need a ride to school, it would be nice to know someone other than Delaney?" bella asked awkwardly, her hands fiddled with the edge of her shirt as she ignored the boys eyes.

"I actually go to school on the rez" Jake informed with a shrug, his hands digging deeply into his hoodie.

Delaney laughed, slinging her arm around the boy's shoulders ( albeit, the boy was about four inches taller than her ) , "Jacob here, is too cool for us pale faces, ain't that right Jake-y" Delaney smirked viscously, before pulling his head down and ruffling his hair.

The boy laughed at her childish demeanour, as he slipped under her arm. "That I am, Swan. That I am" Jake winked, shaking his head as Charlie and billy made their way back to the group.

"Okay, school starts in twenty minutes" He sighed, holding his chest from lack of breath.

"Your bag, del" bella spoke, nodding to the backpack that was tossed onto the steps.

Delaney smiled thankfully at her sister before turning to jake and billy, "I'll come visit some time this week, got some catching up to do with all your tanned asses" Delaney called as she walked towards her car, backpack in tow.

"You better!" Billy yelled back, watching as the girl sent him a bright smile before sliding into her car.

"I have my hands full" Charlie spoke with a smile as he shook his head.

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All heads turned as they watched the Chevy Impala's loud ignition stopped and the door swung open. Bella parked beside her and the girl awkwardly climbed out, and walked to where her sister stood leaning against her own car.

"Nice car!" A boy called, looking towards Bella's truck and then towards his laughing friends.

Bella looked down awkwardly and Delaney's eyes shot a vicious glare towards the boy. "Ignore him, Bells" Delaney smiled softly, patting her shoulder awkwardly.

"I'm gonna go get our schedules" Bella mumbled, gripping the strap of her bag awkwardly as she stumbled through the crowds of on lookers.

Delaney's hands fumbled in her pockets as she plucked out her ear phones and hastily shoved them in her ears, the music drowning out the stares and voices that loomed the car park.

Yet her serenity was interrupted as a curly haired girl jumped infront of her. "I'm Lucy" Lucy, bubbly introduced.

"Hi Lucy, i'm Delaney" The girl spoke warily. She seemed, kind and very. . . energetic.

"Oh I know! You and your sister are the talk of the town, literally. Anyways, i'm sure you'll need a friend around here" Lucy smiled brightly, Delaney let out an involuntary groan yet it didn't dampen Lucy's demeanour.

"My sister is going to hate that, speaking of which I need to meet her to get my schedule" Delaney nodded, her lips coming inwards as she attempted to escape the situation.

"Great, i'll come with!"

Delaney didn't reply, just began walking towards the entrance where Bella stood. the brunette lifted up the paper and shook it. omce delaney reached bella, she grabbed both schedules and looked over them.

"Ugh," delaney groaned, handing back bella her paper, "We only have lunch and biology together" delaney spat, she mentally cursed bella for not choosing AP classes which in cause left the girl alone.

Lucy peered her head over delaneys shoulder, she clapped her hands together giddily. "We have english, PE and spanish together! That is amazing" The girl gushed, linking her arm with an uncomfortable Delaney.

The bell rang, and this allowed Delaney to slither away from the pair and speed to her class. She, although hated school, was excited for her first class. Delaney swan was a proud history buff, and she'd told her father multiple times 'I want it on my grave stone'.

She noticed she was one of the first students to filter into the classroom, "You must be Delaney Swan?" The teacher asked, Delaney nodded.

"I'm Mr Boyle, and you can take the last seat on isle A" He spoke before chucking slighthing. "I know the isle abc is slightly strange but it helps keep the class organised" Mr Boyle explained.

"O-kay then" Delaney nodded, quickly finding her seat. It was a nice place, at the back in a dim corner where one could simply go unnoticed. Delaney took this opportunity to stick one ear bud in, and pulled out her book as she began flicking through it.

She felt the presence that sat beside her, cold emitted from whoever it was. She peered her head to the side, catching a glimpse of the boy. His golden locks cascaded into short curls and his skin looked like porcelain. His eyes were golden and he looked like he was in genuine pain. Delaney's eyes flickered to Mr Boyle as he began to speak.

"Today we are continuing the Civil War," He paused then looked towards Delaney and the girl instantly perked up, "I'm not sure if you did this at your old school before but we have been on this topic for some weeks now."

Delaney's eyes narrowed as her fellow students turned back to look at her. She shrugged at the teacher as he began to speak.

"Now, can anyone tell me what the union strategy was during this time?" Mr Boyle asked, two hands shot up.

Delaney and mystery boy.

"Mr Hale, as much as I would love to hear your answer let's let Ms Swan try this one" Mr Boyle spoke before turning to delaney.

Delaney cleared her throat, "The strategy for the U.S was to surround the territory of the south in the Anaconda Plan, backloading the Atlantic and controlling Mississippi to keep goods from going into or out of the south — aswell as forcing them to surrender" The girl spoke proudly, watching as her teachers eyebrows raised in surprise and students mouths gaped.

"Well done, Ms swan" The teacher nodded, quickly resuming the class.

"You seem to know a couple things about the Civil war" The boy beside her spoke up, Delaney couldn't miss the southern twang in his accent.

The girl chuckled, "I'm basically a walking encyclopaedia when it comes to history."

"I'm much the same, I'm Jasper Hale" The boy introduced, holding out his hand.

Delaney shook his cold hand, "Delaney Swan. So your from the south?"

"Houston Texas ma'am, born and raised" Jasper smirked proudly. As much as the scents in the room compelled him, Delaney Swan was the calm during the storm. He could barely smell her blood, he was confused yet welcomed the mystery with ease and content.

"Okay cowboy, and ma'am makes me sound old" Delaney spoke with a pointed look before a toothy grin overtook her features.

"I assure you, Delaney Swan, you are anything but old" Jasper chuckled shaking his head before feeling the slight nudge of delaney bashing against his shoulder.

"I'm seventeen if you must know, wouldn't exactly call that young either"

if only she knew, Jasper thought.

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PE was probably one of the three classes Delaney tolerated. She was captain of the volleyball team back in Phoenix and she was damn good at it.

Her hands shot up, spiking the ball over the net. She watched as the oppiste team dived — attempting to hit the ball back over but when they failed Delaney cheered. It was the winning point.

"Whoop! go swan!" A large boy cheered, he wasn't overweight — no, he looked like a body builder on steroids.

"Thanks. . . muscle guy" Delaney nodded, her eyebrows drawn together in confusion on who he was.

"Emmet Cullen" he smirked, cracking his knuckles.

Delaney's eyebrow rose, "Am I supposed to know who that is?"

His face fell, "It's me.." Emmet chuckled slightly before roughly sitting down on the bench.

"Okay, and?" Delaney asked, although she didn't exactly care for the asnwer.

"This is the part where you introduce yourself" Emmet nodded, his eyebrows raised as his arms folded.

"It seems you already know who I am."

"Humour me" He shrugged.

"Delaney swan, seventeen, hates people although enjoys long walks on the beach" Delaney informed monotonously, watching as the boys face remained stoic before he burst out into a boyish laugh, slapping his knee.

"My girlfriend would love you" Emmet exclaimed, calming down slightly.

Delaney shrugged, reaching up to her hair as she roughly pulled out the bobbin and let her hair fall freely against her shoulders.

"It seems I have that talent when it comes to girlfriends" She smirked, folding her arms against her chest.

Lucy bobbed over and through her arm around Delaney. She looked over at Emmet and gulped slightly. "Sorry have to grab her. Lunch starts now so..."

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BELLA HASTILY GRABBED HER SISTERS ARM ONCE SHE ARRIVED IN THE CAFETERIA. Delaney was now being dragged by both her sister and Lucy through the cafeteria to a crowded table.

"Oh great! Another one" A brunette muttered.

Lucy glared at the girl and stood in front of Delaney who had began clenching her jaw. "Shut up, Jessica." Lucy snapped. Jessica chuckled awkwardly before straightening her back.

Lucy pulled out a chair for herself and Delaney. The blonde was sat between Bella and Lucy as she awkwardly fidgeted with the edge of her seat.

"Who are they?" Bella questioned, which caused Delaney to look up in confusion. Following her sisters eyeline she watched as a beautiful couple walked through the doors.

"The cullens" Angela spoke up with a smile.

"They're uh, Doctor and Mrs cullens foster kids. They moved down here from Alaska like a couple years ago" Jessica interrupted, speaking quietly as if they could hear her.

"They kinda keep to themselves" Angela added.

Jessica's head whipped from the door then back to the twins. "Yeah, cause they're all like together! Like together, together. The blonde girl, that's Rosalie and the big dark hairs guy is Emmet. They're like a thing... I'm not even sure if that's legal" Jessica ranted. Delaney looked at Jessica with confusion, wondering how any of this was her business.

"Jess they're not actually related" Angela reminded the girl.

"Yeah but they live together, it's weird!" She defended. "Okay, the little dark haired girl is Alice, she's really weird. And she's like close with Jasper the blonde one that looks like he's in pain. Uhm, Dr Cullen is like this foster dad slash matchmaker" Jessica chuckled.

"Maybe he'll adopt me" Angela shrugged.

Bella nodded, then looked to the door. "Who's he?"

"That's Edward Cullen. Totally gorgeous, obviously — but apparently no one here is good enough for him" Jessica bitterly explained, moving around the salad that was on her tray. "Like I care, you know? But seriously, don't waste your time."

Bella laughed, "wasn't planning on it" she stated, yet looked back at the table where they all sat.

Delaney leaned forward. "Hey Jess?" She asked with a sweet smile.

The girl looked up, "yeah?"

"Do you, you know — ever keep your nose out of other peoples fucking business?" Delaney snapped, all traces of her smile gone and replaced with a condescending look that caused her pale neck to flush a crimson red in anger.

Delaney had never been one to tolerate mean girls. Even ones that came shaped in pretty faces and false smiles.

Jessica stuttered for a moment, seemingly shocked by the sudden hostility.

Bella noticed her sister had began to furiously snap at the rubber band that was around her wrist and tapped on her shoulder. "It's one, maybe head to the bathroom?" Bella encouraged softly, causing confused stares directed towards Delaney.

Delaney huffed and swooped up her bag from the floor. As she stood so swiftly, the chair skidded against the tiles creating an annoyingly loud sound and walked out of the cafeteria without noticing the stares from the Cullens.

Quickly Delaney walked through the school halls, and found the closest bathroom. Dumping her bag on the ground, she gripped the sink and looked in the mirror.

With a few deep breaths, she grabbed her bag and found the yellow pill bottle. Popping it open she shoved the capsule down her throat and harshly swallowed.

The door opened, and Delaney swiftly pushed the bottle into her bag. The girl Jessica had pointed out waltzed in, feigning a look of surprise as she saw Delaney.

"Oh, hi! I'm Alice!" She greeted sweetly.

"Delaney" The blonde responded.

Alice smiled, "Pretty name, hey are you okay? You look a little pale"

Delaney nodded, "Yup, just the forks lack of sun" And with that she walked out of the bathroom narrowly brushing the girl and out the doors to the car park.

Unlocking her car, Delaney all but collapsed on the seat. Texting Bella — she explained that she felt sick and was going home. Delaney twisted the key and drove out from the parking lot and continued until she was home.

She finally felt secure.

ERIN SPEAKS

Sooo hello. I hate first chapters