He was making something. I could see the muscles in his forearms move with every stroke as his brow furrowed in concentration. I couldn't see what it was though. The front of his motorcycle was blocking it. I was imagining him sharpening a knife or maybe carving something profane into the metal of his bike, but no that would be predictable. And he was anything but predictable.
It was an unseasonably warm day for Forks. The sun was out so he had taken off his leather jacket. He was sitting on his motorcycle in the Forks High parking lot in a white t-shirt, defining his muscled arms and chest. I could make out some ink creeping below his right sleeve and found myself desperate to find out what it was. I was itching to pull the sleeve of his shirt up and discover his secrets hidden underneath. I imagined a skeleton or maybe a flame, but no, those were too ordinary for him.
"Earth to Bella," Jessica all but shrieked in my ear even though she was sitting right next to me on the worn school picnic bench. His head snapped up at the unexpected sound. Before I could look down in shame we made eye contact, and his piercing green eyes stared at me with no shame. I couldn't make out the expression on his face. There was a little bit of anger and some annoyance, although I think that was aimed at Jessica's shrill voice. But there was also hurt.
After what felt like an hour I turned my head, my normal blush beginning its descent from my forehead down my body.
"You were staring," Jessica accused.
"No I wasn't," I retorted, but had a hard time sounding convincing.
'You know," Jessica looked down and started picking at her apple, probably analyzing if it was worth the calories. "Cullen doesn't talk to anybody. I don't know why you think he'll talk to you." She subconsciously adjusted her cheer uniform.
"I never said I was trying to talk to him." My blush of embarrassment grew darker in anger.
She turned toward-me, apple forgotten.
"I know he's mysterious Bells," Jessica said rolling her eyes to the sky. "Everyone wishes they would pay attention to him. But he's dangerous. You have Jacob, don't mess with that." She gave me a pointed look then returned to her apple.
Yeah, Jacob...football team captain, big, handsome and desperate to go out with me since sophomore year. I've interacted with him during group hangouts, but his loud voice and touchiness turned me off. There was something that kept me saying no whenever he asked me out. Not like that stopped him. He spent so much time looking for my attention, everyone thought we were together and he never said anything to the contrary.
I sighed deeply, risking one more glance at Cullen, who was surprisingly staring in my direction now. I suddenly felt even more self-conscious than usual in my cheer uniform. I dreaded game days when we had to wear it to school because I felt like everybody was staring at me. Under Cullen's hot gaze I tried pulling the short skirt down, but it was no use. I could tell Cullen knew what I was doing as soon as his rare but coveted panty-dropping smirk graced his face.
I stood up suddenly, giving Jessica some lame excuse to leave. As I walked away toward the school's building, desperately trying to pull my skirt lower inconspicuously, I could feel Cullen's eyes burning a hole into my back.