Bella POV
Thousands of teens are forced to subject themselves to the views and opinions of their critical high school peers. It seems like Heaven to the populars and jocks at the time, the people who peak in high school and it all goes downhill from there. For the students who aren't too busy getting plastered and partying, who actually think about their life after high school, who challenge themselves to take harder classes and get good grades, the populars and jocks don't necessarily make life the easiest on. I'm certain the majority of them don't purposely make life so hard on everyone else. It's the friends in high school that make it bearable, or really to me, there's only one reason to get out of bed in the morning. His name is Edward. I know, how cliché, that a girl's only reason for living is a boy. If you know Edward Cullen, you would understand. You take one look into those piercing green eyes and feel like you're so far melted that you'll have to be mopped up off the floor. As if that isn't enough, he cracks his perfect, whiter than snow smile and time stops.
POP! The toaster thrusts up my cinnamon toast waffles as I am forced back into reality. I hastily grab the radiating blocks of cinnamony deliciousness. I hurriedly sling my backpack over my shoulder and run out the door and close it with a slam. Jasper is already impatiently waiting in the car. Even though Jasper's my half brother, I've known him my whole life, since we are just barely eighteen months apart. He and I have the same mom, Renee, but different dads. Renee and Charlie, my dad, were high school sweethearts but my mom felt trapped in our small town of Forks, Washington and wanted to see the world. She left Charlie after they graduated high school and moved around until she settled in Phoenix, Arizona. By this time two years had passed, and she met Jasper's father, Phil Hale.
At that time, Phil was playing for the Arizona Triple A team, the Sidewinders. Renee and Phil never married, but shared a little cottage together where Renee was always waiting when Phil returned from a ten game streak on the road. It was a year after that when my mom became pregnant and gave birth to Jasper Whitlock Hale. It was shortly after when Phil was drafted into the Philadelphia Triple A team, Lehigh Valley Ironpigs. This was an awakening to Renee, who realized she would never stop moving around if she chose Phil's life. She also recognized the fact that she was ready to settle down now more than ever before. Since she was already practically raising Jasper, who was now 6 months old, on her own, she decided that she wanted to move back to Forks, Washington and go back to Charlie, who she learned had become the local sheriff and was as single as ever. She wanted to have that same life that Charlie had always wanted now, to settle down and have a family. Phil understood and since he had no time to care for a child, it was decided Jasper would be entrusted into the full custody of Renee. Long story short, Charlie had never stopped loving Renee and always hoped she would come back and she did, into Charlie's open arms. They were married shortly after and Charlie embraced Jasper like he was his own. Twelve months later, I was born. We've been one big happy family ever since and still live in Forks, the rainiest city on the western coast.
Jasper honks the horn, as he does every day. I have a daily habit of wanting to sleep longer than the alarm clock tells me too. I don't take super long to get ready or anything but certainly don't get ready as quickly as Jasper. He is a guy after all, he just has to wake up, roll out of bed, brush his teeth and throw clothes on.
I practically run down our cement steps and almost slip and kill myself on the wet pavement in the process, as if I'm not clumsy enough with out everything being wet and slippery all the time. I get to the car without slipping again and open the door of our silver 2009 Jaguar XF Premium. It's really more Jasper's than mine, it's a gift from Phil, who also has a trust fund for both Jasper and I to pay for our college educations and ensure us a secure financial future. I love Phil and all for the college money, since he didn't have to do it, since I'm not even his kid but the car is a little much for Forks, Washington. I was just thankful it wasn't a convertible, which would have looked really ridiculous in a town where it rains almost all the time. I've had my license for over a month now but Jasper drives us to school, since he's had his license for over a year and is the more experienced driver. I would rather not drive this car anyway; it draws way more attention than I'd like. Jasp and I have a quiet drive into school, we're usually both half asleep in the morning. We pull into the parking lot and set our separate ways for the next eight hours.
My first three hours drag on. First hour is always the hardest to stay awake, seven thirty in the morning is just too early to try to learn. As soon as the most boring part of my day is over, the best starts. I stroll into math as always. I hate numbers and having a teacher who's old enough to say the last time she heard that joke she fell off her dinosaur, and people would believe it. I set my stuff down like I do everyday with a plop on the desk and stride over to my only reason for existence. He forces a smile less than worthy of his million dollar one. I know something's wrong.
"Ok what's wrong?" I inquire as I raise my eyebrows in question.
Edward sighs and gives me the look that says how can you tell that something's wrong from seeing me for five seconds, but he admits, "Jessica Stanley side-swiped my car in the parking lot and my tail light is busted."
Now it's not like the Cullens aren't pretty well off, with Edwards's father being a doctor and everything and can't afford to pay the damages but Edward loves his Volvo and was the principle of the thing.
"Oh," I say in a sad tone, as now Edward's disheartened mood consumes me, as he seems to always have that affect on me.
He runs his hands through his beautiful bronze hair, clearly still flustered about the whole thing. By that time it's time for class to start and Edward and I take our seats, which are of course, next to each other.
The next twenty seven minutes before lunch flew by. I zoned out as I just drowned the class out using my anti-drug in the form of a shiny yellow ipod. As I resume my daily position of head down on desk and ear buds in. I obviously can't get away with my apparent lack of attention in any other class. I'm not sure if it's because my ancient math teacher is both so old and blind, that her eyesight radius is five feet or if it's that she simply doesn't care. But who am I to question a teacher's motives of continually letting me do nothing. I break my stream of lack of concentration and turn my head on it's right cheek and open my eyes as I watch the amazing creature beside me, intently gazing on at his open math book. My stare seems to obviously have broken his concentration because he turns and looks at me. Words aren't necessary with Edward, we talk with our eyes.
Just then, its lunch time as the class stands from their desks and files out of the room hurriedly. Edward is always one of the last ones out as he has to grab his home packed lunch from his overly-stuffed backpack. Edward is my unspoken escort to lunch. He realizes I don't like to walk alone. Today Edward has to go down to the office during lunch and file an accident report about his Volvo though. He turns to the right out of our math class, towards the office and I turn left. As I'm walking alone through the crowded hallway, I feel incomplete. It seems so weird and unnatural for Edward to not be walking with me. Before I know it, my feet have brought me to the main stairs, heading towards the commons area. Walking down those stairs feels like walking onto center stage to be judged by everyone. The idea of being judged somehow seems less terrifying when being accompanied by Edward. I drudge to our regular lunch table and grimace as I look over as Edward's seat remains vacant.
Lunch seems to drag on. I don't even try to follow the lunch table conversation. I catch bits and pieces as I fade in and out of day dreaming. It's not like everyone else at our lunch table doesn't have anything interesting to say, it's just Edward's absence that throws me. Alice sits at our lunch table too. You could say she's my best friend. She also is one of the more popular girls in school, but that's not why I'm friends with her. Alice is always just so full of energy and alive. She evens me out. Her uplifting and cheery spirit evens out my negative view on life. Suddenly conversation comes to a halt as two girls approach our table. They're both wearing too tight of clothes, unflattering to the figure, accentuating their curves in all the wrong places.
One of them says, "Hey do you know where Edward is? He normally sits here right?" I realize that this is Jessica Stanley, obviously wanting to talk to Edward about hitting his car.
I answer, "You must be Jessica."
"So Edward told you about this morning?" Jessica asks surprisingly.
"Yeah, he's in the office filing an accident report." I state.
"Okay, never mind then." Jessica and her friend walk away, returning to their table.
After I finish my apple, I decide to find out what Jessica wanted, obviously something relating to the accident, and maybe it could be of help to Edward. I approach Jessica at her lunch table.
"Hey, I will see Edward after lunch and can tell him something for you if you want." I say shyly.
Jessica replies, "Oh well I just wanted to tell him that my dad's the town mechanic and can repair the damages for free, since I don't have collision insurance."
"Oh ok, I will tell him," I say and turn and walk away.
I'm about to leave the lunch room and I feel a hand on my shoulder, I turn and it's Edward, back from the office. I smile from ear to ear at the sight of him.
I say, "Oh, well Jessica Stanley's looking for you," as I motion my hand over to where she's seated.
Edward raises his eyebrows and says, "Oh really. Well I'm going to go talk to her, I'll catch up with you in class?"
He turns to go talk to her and I exit the lunchroom and sigh to myself, as I think, Another typical day of high school for me, where Edward Cullen still ceases to see how much I love him.
Alice POV
Only two more days until the weekend, two more days. Friday is the day my older sister, Rosalie, is going to take me to her boyfriend's Halloween Party. I've been to a good amount of parties, but this party will be insane! Seniors usually have "exclusive" parties, and don't invite underclassmen, but this is party is an exception. My costume was all I could think about during class, I barely noticed the lunch bell ring.
I bounced into the cafeteria with a huge smile on my face. My lunch table was already full except for a few seats, I sat down and pulled out my salad. "So, is everyone planning on going to Emmett's party this weekend?" I inquired, and quickly we all started talking about what time we'd arrive, and who else was going. It was about halfway through lunch when I realized my twin-brother, Edward, was absent from the table. Jessica Stanley and her friend Lauren came up to the table and asked where he was. But I wasn't too concerned about it, so I shrugged it off, and continued chatting about this weekend. I was about to lean over to ask Bella if she was going, but she got up and walked over to Jessica's table.
Lunch ended, and I still had no idea what I was going to wear. The day was a blur, the Halloween party was filling my thoughts; I don't know how I am going to make it through the next two days of school. Finally the school bell rang and I headed to my locker. I was grabbing the stuff I needed when I felt someone's presence next to me. I turned, and a huge smile crossed my face.
"Have you seen my sister?" I sckeptically scanned this oddly handsome, blond haired, senior, to believe that he was actually talking to me.
"Umm, n-n-not lunch since, I mean--" I sighed, I hated myself for always getting tongue tied around Bella's brother. I've known him since we moved to Forks when I was 6 years old. We used to live in Alaska, but my father was offered a better job, so we moved. Since their dad was the police cheif and the ten-cent welcoming committee, our families became fast friends. Our mom's also met in a pottery class, and quickly set-up play-dates between Bella, Edward, and me. We are close in ages, so it was fun.
He chuckled, "Thanks." Then he was gone. I pursed my lips, and shut my locker, to find Edward just now coming to his. Our lockers have always been right next to each other, because it's alphabetical. Well, whatever the reason, I wish they were further apart.
I leaned up against the wall of lockers, and crossed my arms, "Where were you at lunch?"
"Office, Jessica Stanley hit my Volvo," He answered. "I bet you're glad you rode with Rosalie this morning?" He smirked.
"Yes, I am. Otherwise I would have been humiliated. However can I... hitch a ride home with you? Rose is going to Emmett's," I hopefully asked.
"Sure, but I don't understand why you don't just drive your Porsche to school," Edward commented. "You had to have the yellow one, after we went to Italy." I rolled my eyes, because he already knew the answer I always liked having someone to talk to. We walked out to the parking lot, and hopped into the Volvo. The drive home I played with the radio station, and was still thinking about Friday's party. "Could you leave it somewhere, please!" My thoughts were interrupted by my brother yelling at me.
"Are you going Friday?" I sat back, and left the radio on some oldies station.
"To the party? I haven't decided yet," He turned down the volume. "I think so though, someone will have to drive you." I folded my arms and gave him a dirty look. I spent the rest of the card ride listening to Edward whine about Jessica and his little car; usually I would object but I was content thinking more about Friday. After a few songs, we pulled into the driveway and parked right next to my car in our five-car garage.
"How was school?" Our mother, Esme, greeted us in the kitchen. "Rose at Emmett's?"
I nodded, "School was good, but Edward's Volvo has a boo-boo." I smirked over my shoulder at Edward. Mom started worrying about him and his car. I heard him mention that Jessica's dad was a mechanic or something, but it was one conversation that I didn't care about being involved in. I walked up the stairs and plopped down on my bed. I pulled out my math book and attempted to start my homework.
Dinner came and everyone was home except Rosalie. I helped my mom set the table, and bring out the food. "You kids, going to Emmett's Friday with Rosalie?" My father, Carlisle asked. I looked at Edward with a does-everyone-in-the-world-know-about-the-party look.
"Yeah, we were planning on it," I answered. "I have no clue what I am going to wear though."
"Alice, it's only Wednesday don't worry about it," Edward sneered. We continued on with dinner. My dad talked about his day at the hospital and all the interesting cases he had to deal with today. It was Edward's turn to clear the table, so he and my mom headed into the kitchen. While I headed up to my father's study with him. As we were walking up the stairs, I heard Rose come trotting in the garage door.
He sat down behind his desk, and I walked over to the window to look at the river. Once in a while we have our father-daughter talks; ever since I turned 13 he's been reminding to make sure boys respect me, and stuff like that. Today was different though, he didn't really have his concerned father of a pretty teenage daughter face. "This party Friday..." He faded off.
"Yes?" I took a seat in front of his desk.
"I just don't want any of you to get into trouble. I have to go out to Seattle tomorrow morning, and I won't be back until Saturday. I would talk to Edward but I think you'll listen to me more." I nodded, and smiled due to his confidence in me. "I know what kids do at these parties, and I just want you all to be safe, and responsible."
My smiled faded, and I sat forward in my chair so I could lean on the desk and put my face in my hands, "Dad, I promise that we will all make good choices." I smiled, and added, "We'll let's see, I can only really guarantee it for myself." We laughed together knowing it was true. I walked around behind the desk and gave him a hug, "Love you Dad." I walked up to my room for the night.
End Notes: Our first story, reviews are always nice :)