Over the years I started to begin to realize what Edward was talking about. When we first met, anyone could see how much he hated high school. He said it was the tedium, but I never believed it. He didn't have to pay attention in any of his classes or have to worry about his grades for that matter. A virtual stress free high school existence.
Well that was over twenty years ago, I was beginning to see Edward's way. This was my third, first day of school freshman year and the boredom was already setting in. We were residing in a small town, just across the border in Canada. The population was just smaller then that of Forks. I didn't think there were towns smaller than that, yet we managed to find one.
It was seven in the morning, Edward and I were standing next to his car, he was holding me close afraid to let go. Alice and Jasper had already gone inside. I couldn't believe how upbeat Alice was. I was still out hunting with Edward when she rounded us all up and informed us that it indeed was the first day of school. As we were herded into Edward and Rosalie's respective cars, Alice still wore a smile on her face that made me sick.
"How can you be so happy? Haven't you gone through freshman year like twenty times already?" Even though I knew the answer already, I couldn't help but ask.
"Well the excitement never fades. New school, new people."
So that was why Jasper ended up with Alice, the rest of us were miserable half the time. If he had to feel those emotions all day, I don't even know what he'd do.
Emmett shifted his weight off the car and took Rosalie's hand, "Well, see ya at lunch." He sighed and walked with Rose towards the school.
I lifted my head off of Edward's chest and turned towards Renesmee, "Are you ready? Your second time as a freshman." I smiled at the daughter I loved, but we were just foster siblings here, we had to learn to act the part.
"I don't know mom." She hesitated, rolled her eyes, "I mean Bella. . . I hate this charade."
Jacob put his arm around her shoulder and sighed, "But we have to, its for our own protection you know this."
I smiled, it was a poor attempt at comforting Renesmee, but always worth a shot. It had only been twenty years since she was a baby, thirteen since she was fully grown, and Jacob had been there every step of the way. After the Voltori left, between school and his family, it seemed Jacob was always over at our house playing with Renesmee. I always thought it would be strange when the time came for Jacob to shift from guardian to lover, yet it seemed to have happened over the last few months and it was going well.
I still remember the days when Jacob was in love with me, how much pain that put Edward through. How much pain it put Jacob through when I chose Edward over him. In the end, I guess we all won. Jacob imprinting our daughter, was the best thing that could have happened. Though when he first imprinted on Renesmee, I have to admit I was horrified. Yet, as the years pasted I realized what would they would be without each other. Jacob, would probably be alone and so would Renesmee. She would have become Edward's replacement. I was glad they had each other.
"Move along." I caught Edward mumbling beside me. His face changed from calm and poised to angry.
I diverted his attention and took hold of his eyes with mine, "What's wrong?" His face loosened and he cracked a smile.
"Sorry. It's been five minutes in a new place and some guy's already having fantasies about my wife." He leaned in to kiss me and stopped short, "I can't help but be a little worried, I did find you in high school." He finished the motion and as his lips touched mine. I couldn't help but think he was just doing this for the benefit of the guy.
Out of the corner of my eye I found Jacob grow uncomfortable. His face molded into one of mock disgust and he turned away quickly, "AWK! Gross. Get a room. I don't wanna watch my in-laws make out!" Jacob's voice pierced into the haze Edward put me in. "Come on Nessie, lets give them some space." Jacob and Renesmee started to walk towards the school just as the warning bell rang.
"Hey!" Edward yelled after them. "You think this is gross, but I get to see inside your head everyday." Edward cracked a smile and went back down to kiss me again. I could hear Jacob's chuckle even though he was all the way across the parking lot.
Edward lifted his head and looked directly into my eyes. It was impossible that my knees were becoming weaker by the second, yet I couldn't help but feel it. "We better get inside, don't wanna be late on our first day!" He stressed the last part in mock excitement. Grabbing both backpacks out of the backseat, he took my hand and led (dragged me more so) towards the building.
I felt like a five year old again whining, "But I probably won't even have any classes with you. What am I supposed to do if I run into that guy you were talking about? What if his scent just drives me crazy?"
Edward stopped in his tracks. Whirling around in a millisecond, he grabbed me and pushed me up against a tree nearby in the shadows, "Well, I'll just have to prove to you I'm worth it tonight, won't I?" He kissed me hard and I once again thought I was going to pass out.
Carlisle had said the "Newly Wed" stage would fade after about ten years, but Edward and I were still going strong.
Letting his grip loosen, I slid back down the trunk of the tree. I simply nodded, unable to speak. He put his arm around my shoulders and I couldn't help but follow him this time.
Edward and I walked into the Main Office and picked up our schedules. We had one class together, I had always loved irony, it was biology. Edward walked me to my first class and handed me my backpack, "Until tonight my love." He kissed me and left. I stood there momentarily thinking about what 'tonight' would consist of. I sighed and entered the classroom.
Freshman English, first period. If I actually slept, this would be hard discussing influential pieces of literature this early in the morning. I found a seat and thought about different topics to daydream about, only one struck my fancy, Edward.
The lecture started and all I had to see was Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice written on the board, to realize this was going to more boring then usual. I read that book maybe five times while I was human; I might just kill someone for some excitement.
Coincidently, right at the moment, the excitement walked through the door. The guy from the parking lot straggled into the classroom, I couldn't help but laugh. His face lit up as he spotted me and took the seat to my right. I inhaled deeply, I wanted to see if Edward had any competition. I felt my throat burn slightly and I had to admit he would taste good, but nothing Edward didn't measure up to.
He leaned across towards me, "Hi, I'm Andy." He smiled, clearly a friendly boy, but I was clearly out of his league; he didn't even know how far.
I saw his hand reach for mine out of the corner of my eye. My gut instinct was to avoid direct contact, the coldness of my skin would set off an alarm in his head. Then again, I've always hated these love struck boys. What a better way to deter them?
Glancing down at his hand then meeting his eyes with mine, I smiled. "Nice to meet you Andy, I'm Bella." I took his hand and the moment I did, I could sense two distinct variations. Poor Andy's heart sped and the blood seemed to have drained from his face. Andy took his hand back rather quickly, embarrassed. I was used to this reaction, I didn't take offense to it anymore. I would have to remind Edward to read his mind for me.
The day dragged on from class to class, then biology finally rolled around. I waited outside for Edward and he was walking towards me with his normal human pace, that is until he couldn't take it anymore; it was too slow. The last few steps were at a speed no human could travel. He took my hands and kissed me. Lifting his head up, he was clearly checking through the different minds around him, confirming no one had seen him.
"Shall we go in?" He lifted my hand above my head and I twirled for him. We grabbed a lab station together and I shifted my stool so it was close to his. I knew this class wasn't going to be boring.
Biology was almost too short. Compared to all the other classes, it was. Then again it was time for lunch. The eight of us found a table in the corner and sat down. None of us were in a hurry to get food, that is, except Jacob. The only one of us that ate regularly.
"Geez. I'm starved, better have some good food here." He stood up and reached out for Renesmee's hand, "Ya coming?" He smiled as she took it. Although Renesmee didn't technically need food, she got hungry faster than full vampires do. Edward and I only had to eat once every few weeks, while Renesmee ate once a day.
As they stalked away, I leaned in towards Edward, "So are we going to purchase some props?" I smiled meeting his gaze and he nodded his head getting up slowly. Jasper and Emmett followed, they would get food for Alice and Rose as well. Edward has offered to do the same, but I just don't want to be away from him.
When we got back to the table, we mostly sat in silence. There was really nothing to talk about, just being close to Edward was enough. On the other hand, I knew he was surveying his new surroundings, seeing what other people were thinking, mainly about us. At one point, he laughed.
"What?" He was looking over at my new friend Andy. I knew what it was about, but was curious on what he discovered. He smiled down at me.
"The guy from the parking lot this morning. I don't think your going to be bothered by him anymore." Another laugh. "I think the term succubus came to mind." He squeezed me a little tighter and I couldn't help but laugh along with him. Poor Andy. "What'd ya do to him?"
I shrugged, my words contained guilt and I felt a little too, "He introduced himself and offered me his hand." I rolled my eyes, "So I figured I better scare him off as soon as possible." The whole table smirked at this remark and returned to their untouched lunches.
"Man am I hungry!" Jacob had just came back from returning his tray to the lunch line. "Do you mind Bella?" he reached over in attempt to grab the fresh slice of pizza sitting on my plate. I shrugged and he snatched it. Renesmee just rolled her eyes, she hadn't eaten much, I assume this was because she'd rather go hunting after school.
The rest of the lunch went on in silence, with Edward still scanning for dangerous thoughts around us. "Well, no ones figured it out yet. We're in the clear for another day."
I arched my eyebrows and gave him a look, "Oh come on. Has anyone ever figured it out?"
Edward leaned in and whispered into my ear, "You did." I smirked and followed him out of the cafeteria.
When that final bell rang at the end of the day, I felt like a weight had been lifted off of me. Now there wasn't a limit on spending time with Edward. Although the drive home still seemed endless. Going seventy miles an hour down a side street just wasn't fast enough.