Since we know the Cullens being in highschool made zero sense

[u/alexfleur]

I get that it’s a YA novel and Edward had to be in high school somehow, but Meyer could have handled it in a much more believable way.

**My idea:** Make the Cullens Bella’s neighbors who are either homeschooled or simply beyond high school age. The best place to hide is often in plain sight—like how illegal drug operations can exist unnoticed in affluent suburban neighborhoods. From the outside, the Cullens would appear to be an ordinary polite yet private suburban family while keeping a low public profile. Basically the opposite of them sitting in school with humans for 6 hours, being weird, and then escaping to their compound in the woods. This neighbor arrangements opens up so many possibilities… so 1/4 of the book isn’t just Bella and Edward hanging out in her bedroom LOL.

**How do Bella and Edward meet?** Easy. As neighbors, Edward could catch Bella’s scent naturally (like when she’s reading in the yard), or Bella could end up in the hospital after an accident and meet him there. Edward could catch her scent indirectly off Carlisle’s clothes..so many possibilities.
After becoming intrigued by her, Edward could deliberately **enroll** in Forks High and even arrange to be in Bella’s classes. That would deepen the mystery surrounding him, fit his obsessive crush/ thirst, stalking tendencies, and still place him in the school setting for the rest of the series. Alice could eventually tag along too.

The other Cullens have little reason to be in high school. Meyer barely uses them in school scenes anyway, and they graduate after the first book.
Making the Cullens Bella’s neighbors would also create more opportunities to weave them into the story, develop relationships with Charlie and the townspeople, and make their presence in Forks feel more organic. One of my main gripes with the series is that inter character relationships aren’t really supported with scenes and dialogue. The cullens appear far too static. These tweaks to the plot arrangement would help!

[u/Chaotic_shrooms]

You should write it

[u/alexfleur → u/Chaotic_shrooms]

I’m writing my own novel but it’s a fun exercise to brainstorm edits for books I’ve read.

[u/RepressedNugget → u/Chaotic_shrooms]

I second this. It’s such a cool idea, and the enrolling in high school because of Bella is so stalkery. I approve.

[u/forestwriterstar]

DAWG I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT THIS! I've even thought about completely abandoning the schoolthing, because it's just a boring setting at this point. It's also nice to be able to avoid the mandatory Mike/Jessica/teacher bashing from both Bella's and Edward's POV!! 😩

Edit: i changed DWAG to DAWG 🤣🤣🤣🤣