Vampire or Human: Human

Background Info:

Edward and Bella are back for their senior year of high school, but the same people are still out to get them. Emmett may be three hours away at the University of Washington, but Rosalie and her partner in crime Alice are still causing trouble for Edward. Then, there is the subject of Jacob Black, Bella's best friend, who up until now has never put his feelings into words. Can Forks High School's power couple stay strong or will they rip at the seams?


Bella's POV:

"So…" I sighed looking at myself in the mirror. "I can't believe it's our last first day of school."

"I can." Edward laughed leaning against the door frame to my bedroom as I put the finishing touches on my back to school outfit. I decided to go with a navy blue chiffon dress and my new braided sandals. "You look beautiful. Now can we go?" Chuckled Edward walking over to me and wrapping his arms around my waist. This summer is what some would have considered uneventful, but for me it was my first summer with a boyfriend and not just any boyfriend, but Edward Cullen. Without the pressure of school, Edward and I had been able to keep our relationship private without the judgements of the town people and, most importantly, my dad nearly silent. There had been nothing lavish or crazy about our summer. Just a boy and girl continuing to learn everything we can about one another. We had gone nearly the whole summer without any of the ugliness of his past coming out to haunt us.

"I want to look perfect." I explained smoothing my dress out. "It's our senior year. My boyfriend is Edward Cullen, the most popular guy in school, and this is my chance to put myself out there as Edward Cullen's girlfriend, not that fat loser." I had been determined to make a change over the summer and that was what I had done. I had lost 20lbs, highlighted and put extensions in my hair, thrown out all of my t-shirts and bought a new wardrobe with the money that I earned at my summer job working at the library. Nothing too fancy, but something a little more worthy of the looks I knew I would be getting today.

"You've never been fat." Edward smiled squeezing my shoulders as he looked at us in the full length mirror. Despite the changes of clothes, hair and my physique I still felt just a little out of place standing with him. Although his parents gush about what a cute couple we are, I still wasn't sure we fit together. Edward's words pushed the thought out of my mind. "Okay, let's get going. We don't want to be late on our last first day." He joked grabbing my book bag off my bed and clasping my hand in his as we descended the staircase and out the front door.

"What are you thinking about?" I asked as Edward drove to school. I could tell his mind was off in another world, eyes glued to the road and both hands gripping the steering wheel.

"Oh, I was just wondering if Alice will come back for her junior year." He explained sighing as he pulled into the parking lot. Edward had been worrying about her a lot, even after what he and Rosalie had done by posting that vulgar video on the internet. His ability to move past that situation and focus on the future surprised me sometimes. While I tried every day to do the same, some days it was easier than other. I felt like today wouldn't be one of the easy days.

"When was the last time Jasper talked to her?" I enquired laying my left hand on his leg.

"A couple of weeks ago, I think. She told him that she was going to stay with her aunt in Las Vegas until after she had the baby. She's really leaning towards an open adoption, maybe." He continued rubbing my hand looking straight ahead into the courtyard as students laughed and socialized.

"That sounds like a very reasonable option. What does Jasper say?" I asked grabbing my lip gloss out of the side pocket of my book bag and pulling down the mirror to add a little shine to my soft pink lips.

"I think that he's just grateful that she involved him in deciding what to do as far as to keep the baby or not. They both agreed that they weren't ready to be parents and that it would be better for the baby to raised in a little bit more stable environment then what Jasper and Alice can give her." He replied grabbing his backpack out of the back and stepping out of the car.

"Her?" I asked smiling stepping out of the car and meeting him around the front of it.

"Yes, a girl. Erika Rachelle Brandon-Cullen." He grinned taking my hand in his as we walked towards Forks High School.

"Well, that's a mouthful." I giggled Edward opened the door for me.

"Alice wanted to use both last names, but when the baby is adopted the parents will more than likely insist on the baby taking their last name, which is understandable." He continued as we walked down the hallway hand in hand. I could feel people's glances and hear their whispers. "Oh my gosh, is that Bella Swan?"… "She looks so hot!" I smiled my big grin and strutted my stuff as Edward and I walked into first period AP Physics. Edward and I ended up having three classes together first semester: Advanced Placement Physics, Pre-Advanced Placement Environmental Science, and Advanced Placement Calculus. Edward was a lot smarter than most people knew. He just needed to apply himself and stay on the straight and narrow path. Which is easier said than done.

Edward and I took two empty desks in the back of the classroom as the 8:00am tardy bell rang.

"Welcome to 1st period AP Physics seniors. Can you believe that you all are seniors? I've had most of you in the past years in either Biology or Chemistry. Ms. Anderson, Mr. Nichols, and… Mr. Cullen. I trust we won't be having a repeat of last year's incidents?" Mr. Ball questioned leaning against his desk at the front of the room. A few students giggled and/or turned around to stare at Edward.

"Uhh… No sir." Nodded Edward looking up at the front of the room at Mr. Ball. Unlike Edward I would have turned bright red and wanted to hide under my book bag.

"That's good to hear." He smiled turning around to grab a stack of papers off of his desk.

"What an ass-hole." Edward whispered in my ear as Mr. Ball had his back to me.

"You can say that again." I commented leaning back in my seat as Mr. Ball handed out the 1st semester symbiosis. The first four class periods of our last first day seemed to drag by so I was looking forward to lunch when the bell rang at 11:30. As I walked into the cafeteria I spotted Jacob standing up and waving to me to join him. I felt bad that I had hardly given Jake the time of day since the summer began.

"Some of us are going to Pacific Pizza for lunch, wanna go?" I heard Edward whisper in my ear behind me as he took my hand in his.

"Well, I was gonna…" I began nodding towards Jake, but Edward cut me off.

"Forget about him. He's like a sad puppy." Replied Edward turning me around to face him.

"I know, but we've been friends since middle school." I explained smiling up at Edward.

"I guess you can invite him, but do you really think he will have fun with us?" Shrugged Edward eyeing Jake. He had a point. I'm sure Jake would feel out of place with us, but I still felt it was my friendly duty to invite him. "I'll wait for you in the car."

"Ok." I mumbled as I began walking over to Jake. "Hi, stranger."

"Hi, to you too." Jake grinned standing up and giving me a hug. "We hardly talked at all this summer."

"Yeah, I was pretty busy." I explained feeling guilty. I kept making notes to call him to hang out, but I always got caught up with work, doing stuff with my dad and, of course, spending time with Edward.

"Here, sit." He gestured to the empty seat next to him. Guilt continued to twist in my stomach.

"I can't. I actually came over here to invite you to have lunch with Edward and a few other guys." I suggested clasping my hands together in front of me.

"I don't think so." He frowned turning back to his empty table. "Anyways I already have a lunch, but you should go ahead and catch up with your boyfriend."

"Are you sure?" I asked again. "Who knows maybe you'll make a new friend."

"Somehow I doubt that." He replied looking down at his bologna sandwich. Dad had mentioned that Jake had been making some new friends in the neighboring town of La Push, which I was thankful for, but I desperately wanted him to feel comfortable with Edward and me. Jake had always been there for me and I didn't want to lose his friendship.

"Ok." I frowned backing away and out the side door to the student parking lot.

"He didn't go for it?" Questioned Edward as I fastened my seatbelt and he pulled out of the parking lot.

"I can't really blame him. It's not really his crowd." I explained running my fingers through my hair smoothing it down in the back. I made a mental note to text Jake after school to come over for dinner.

"Judging from his lunch table. He doesn't really have a crowd." Chuckled Edward tapping the steering wheel. Edward hadn't mentioned much in the way of Jake all summer and Edward's jealous protective nature only pushed me to work harder to keep Jake in my sights.

"I know." I replied folding my arms over my chest.

"Doesn't he have any friends?" Asked Edward pulling into the parking of Pacific Pizza.

"I'm his friend." I stated unbuckling my seat belt and looking over at Edward.

"Really?" He remarked raising one eyebrow. I could tell where Edward was going with this. "Wasn't it you that ditched Jake to go to Wild Waves last month?"

Edward had a point. I had been a crappy friend in the past few months. I continued to hope that once Edward and Jake got to know each other they could at least tolerate each other. It was true that they were different in character, but their affections for me shouldn't be the force that drives our friendship apart.


I look forward to publishing a new chapter to this story soon! Thanks for reading!