Okay I got the title from the book 'Catalyst' by Laurie Halse Anderson. I haven't actually read the book yet, but I know the gist of it. I got some ideas from the book but not many seeing as I haven't actually read it. Anyways, read and tell me what you think!
Bella's Pov
I read the letter over and over. Seeing that same word.
Rejected.
"What does it say?" My boyfriend, Mike, asked. (AN: Gag, much?) I just shook my head and read it again. Mike came behind me and read over my shoulder. Immediately, he put on the caring boyfriend act.
"It's okay. It's there lost. I'm sure you'll get into other colleges." He said trying to sooth me. I looked up at him, and I lost it.
"Okay!" I screeched. "It is not okay! You don't know how damn hard I worked to get into this college! Do you know how many hours I put into homework? Into studying? When I could have been doing something fun! How many hours of sleep I've lost? Do you know how hard my mother pushed me to get into the same college she did? And for what? Nothing!Absolutely, fucking nothing!" I calmed down a little after my rant. Mike didn't deserve this, I knew that, but I had to get it off my chest.
"It's okay Bells. There's other colleges-" Again my temper flared. I actually stomped my foot.
"There are no other colleges! I didn't apply to any other colleges! I don't want to go to any other college! My future was at Dartmouth!" I yelled. Then I began thinking.
"It's a mistake. That's it. Things like this happen all the time, right?" I looked at Mike for reassurance. He didn't say anything. Just stood there. I continued. "Yeah, just a mistake. They'll call me apologizing for the mistake." I muttered. "Oh who am I kidding? Damnit, Damnit, Damnit!" At this point I was actually jumping up and down screeching. I was slightly aware of Mike leaving the room, probably for his own safety, but I didn't care. I threw my lamp against the wall and watched it shatter. I took a few, deep calming breaths. It didn't work.
"This is all a dream. You'll wake up and it will all be a dream. The lamp will be perfectly fine, Mike want think you're a nutcase, and you're acceptance letter will be in the mail. Hell, you may even laugh about this later." I closed my eyes and opened them. The lamp was still broken. I pinched myself. Nothing. I saw the letter laying on the floor and broke down crying. I don't know how long I stayed like that but eventually Charlie came home.
"Bells, did you get the mail?" This sent me into another hysterics. Either Charlie didn't hear me or he didn't know what to do with an emotional teenage girl. I'm going to go with the latter. I heard Charlie ordering pizza, and I heard the guy come. I didn't come downstairs when Charlie called for me. After another hour or so of moping. I stood and headed downstairs.
"I'm going out." I said to Charlie without even looking at him. He nodded, his attention focused on a baseball game. I grabbed my keys but didn't bother with a jacket. It was starting to warm up. I drove around till I ended up at a small diner at the edge of town. My stomach rumbled, and I sighed but got out of the car. It was 9:30 and no one was there except for a couple teenagers. I sat down at the bar and put my face in my hands.
"Are you okay?" A velvet voice asked. I looked up to see the Edward Cullen. I rolled my eyes. Edward was the residential bad boy. All the girls(except me and of course his sister, Alice) dug his laid back attitude, his rebel style, and his lack of respect to authority figures. It didn't help that he was probably the most gorgeous boy in Washington, no the United States. What with his bronze sex-hair, dazzling green eyes, and a crooked grin that would make any girls panties drop it wasn't hard to see while every girl in town(besides me and Alice) swooned at the sight of him. Despite being Forks own Greek God, he didn't have much friends. I believe this was a result of his own doing, though. He wanted to be respected, admired but only from a distance. Like a four-hundred year old China vase. Look but don't touch.
"I'm fine." I grumbled. He rose his eyebrow in disbelief.
"You don't look fine. In fact, you look like shit." I scoffed. Coming from the boy who always looks like he just rolled out of bed...
"I thought the customer was always, right?" I was beginning to wish I had just ate pizza at home. What was I thinking getting out of the house? Of course I look like shit. Plus, the little ride around town did nothing to make me feel better. It made me feel worse realizing I was going to be stuck in this town for longer than I planned. Maybe forever. I sighed.
"I'll just have a burger and fries. And coffee." I said to Edward who had decided to keep his comments to himself. He went into what I assumed was the kitchen. I looked around the room. I had been here before with Charlie a couple of times but not many. I usually cooked. Something I'll have to keep doing I thought bitterly. Edward returned with my coffeee and said my food would be a while longer. I shrugged. A couple in the corner, who I was sure I had seen around school, began to chatter happily.
"I can't believe I got in!" The girl squeaked. I froze and began listening more intently. The guy scooted his chair closer and hugged her tightly.
"I knew you could do it! This is so great! We'll be going to the same college." I choked up as the guy began talking about going wherever to look for apartments. Suddenly, the nearly empty diner couldn't feel more full. I began to hyperventalate. Breathe Bella Breathe. I was not going to have a nuclear meltdown in this shabby restraunt while Edward Cullen watched. I was fixing to leave when a plate dropped in front of me.
"Enjoy." Edward said before turning to wash the dishes. The aroma from the food brought my attention back to how hungry I was, and I was able to forget about the couple. I devoured the food to Edward's great amusement.
"Whoa slow down. You'll choke, then die, I'll get fired, and I need this job." He said slyly. I rolled my eyes but chewed slower, taking smaller bites. I still finished the in a record.
Edward was still amused. "Have you eaten anything all day?"
"I had cereal this morning. I think." I furrowed my eyebrows as I tried to recall. This morning seemed forever ago. Had my future really crumbled in such a short time? The answer was yes, yes it had. It can only get better from here I thought.
Little did I know that this was only the beginning.