Midnight Secrets
Chapter 1: First Impressions
Edward
Hell.
That's what high school is. Pure, unadulterated hell. I can't imagine anything else less worthy of my time. At least having Emmett and Jasper here make it worth something… I would have dropped out by now if it weren't for them. Not many people can say that they liked their brother or sister's boyfriend, but they were my best friends.
I looked around the lunchroom. The topic of discussion today: a new girl from Arizona has arrived for her first day of school in lovely Forks, Washington. Everyone was talking about her, everyone was watching her, and everyone wanted to be her friend. Her name, I gathered from all of the talk around me during the day, is Isabella Swan. She was the police chief's daughter. I turned to look at the table she was sitting at, to see her watching me. I caught her eye for a moment before she realized she was caught staring. I chuckled and looked away.
"What's so funny?" asked Alice as she sat down next to Jasper.
"New girl was staring. I guess she heard about the freak," I said more bitterly than I intended. Alice frowned and Emmett shook his head.
"Just because you are the smartest person alive doesn't make you a freak. Besides, she could be asking who the gorgeous guy is that's sitting alone," said Alice, always the optimist.
I looked over at her to see her looking again. She had big brown eyes, with such depth that you could probably see into her soul if you looked close enough. I chuckled as I watched her face grow red from being caught again, and looked away. Like anyone could be interested in me.
Everyone started to get up to head to class so I picked up what was left of my mostly untouched lunch and headed to Anatomy. I got there a few minutes before class started so I spread my books out across the lab table that no one shared with me, and started on today's class assignment. I looked up when the class became suddenly silent to see her walk in.
She handed Mr. Banner her form quietly, her head hanging down. If it wasn't attached, I'm sure her head would have rolled off of her shoulders by now. She shuffled towards my lab table, since it was the only seat available in the class. I wanted to ask her if she knew how to walk. The shuffling was getting on my nerves already.
I glared at her. Why do some people insist on being to lazy to pick their feet up off the ground properly when walking?! As she sat next to me, I had to hold my breath… she had the most horrendous smell coming off of her! She smelled like rotten eggs! How can anyone smell so awful?!
"Hi," came a quiet, timid voice. She sounded like a mouse squeaking. "I'm sorry for the smell. Apparently someone decided to throw a stink bomb in the cafeteria right before I left. A bunch of us got caught in the aftermath," she said by way of explanation.
I just glared at her. Why didn't she go home?! Why didn't she skip the rest of the day and put everyone around her through hell?! The nerve of some people! Only thinking of her self! When I didn't answer her, she shrugged and pulled her hair in front of her face and acted like she was listening to Mr. Banner talk about Anatomy like it was her favorite subject in school.
I spent the next hour in class glaring at her, trying to hold my breath as much as possible and hating her. Hating her for her lack of consideration, her lack of decency, her lack of hygiene, and her lack of … common courtesy! Every once in a while she would toss her hair, sending a fresh wave of the stench my way.
As soon as the bell rang, I ran out of class and out to the parking lot. I didn't want to have to sit next to someone else in Spanish that may be hygienically challenged. I sat in my car listening to a CD trying to figure out a way of not going back to class with her again tomorrow. I realized that I could probably change my class since I really didn't need this one.
I ran up to the office and opened the door to see Ms. Cope standing at the counter, like she was waiting for someone to come in. She looked spotless so she must be waiting for the mail man to show up… everyone knew she had the hots for the man. Everyone but him apparently, since he has yet to ask her out.
I smiled at her charmingly, for I can get almost any older woman to do whatever I want when I was charming.
"Hello Ms. Cope," I said in a quiet, slightly husky voice.
"Oh! Hello Mr. Cullen. What can I do for you?" she asked somewhat flustered that I wasn't the man she was waiting for.
"I was hoping you could change my class. I would like to take something more challenging than Anatomy, if anything is available."
"Let me check. I don't think there is anything available, more challenging or not. Yep, look here. All classes during that period are full." She shuffled some papers and pulled one out on top. All classes read "Unavailable".
I heard the door to the office open, but I didn't bother to look. I was going to see if she could do me a huge favor.
"Is there no way, no other class whatsoever that I can change to?" I asked in a slightly more husky voice, smiling ever so charmingly at her. "I will even take Study Hall, if nothing else is available."
She fluttered a bit before replying. "No, I'm really sorry Mr. Cullen, there is nothing I can do. I'll be right with you dear," she said behind me. I turned to see who was disturbing us. It was her. Was she following me with her stench?
I glared at her before turning back to Ms. Cope. "Never mind. I can see that there is nothing you can do. Thank you." I stormed out of the office as quick as I could. I ran out to my car and jumped in waiting impatiently for my passengers to arrive.
When they all piled in, I sped out of the parking lot, tires squealing.
"What's going on? What are you so pissed about?" Asked Emmett.
"I heard he has Anatomy with the new girl. And… they she had to sit by him at his lab table. I guess he didn't like the way she smelled after being hit by a stink bomb," Alice teased.
"Stop, please," I groaned. I wanted to forget the girl and her horrendous scent. I shuddered at the memory. She really, really smelled bad.
I dropped them off at our driveway and sped away to the hospital where I knew Carlisle would be able to help me figure out what to do.
Bella
Hell.
That's what the first day at a new school made me think of. Everyone was staring at me like I had a third eye. I guess in a small town like this I was unusual for them, being from a big city where the sun actually shined more than ten days a year. I made it to school early enough to find my way around to all of my classes before school started, hoping I didn't get too lost.
As the day went by, I met some interesting kids. I couldn't remember all of their names, but there was the blonde cheerleader, the quiet dark haired girl, the jock, and his buddies. They asked me to sit with them at lunch. Why not? It's not like I knew anyone else to sit with. I would stand out more than I already did if I sat by myself.
I sat down next to the quiet girl, Angela, who had kindly reminded me of her name. Jessica was on the other side of her and then the boys sat on the other side of me. The jock tried to claim me as his by putting his arm around my chair, attempting to be casual about it. I let him, for now.
"So, I thought people in Arizona would have more of a tan. What's up with dead look?" asked Mike, the jock.
"I'm part vampire. I can go out in daylight, but I still have their great complexion," I said. They looked at me like I was nuts. I guess people around here didn't have much of a sense of humor. I smiled and looked around the cafeteria. I saw the most gorgeous kids sitting at a table on the far side, alone. It's like no one wanted to sit anywhere near them. They had on the most expensive looking clothes I have ever seen. They must be rich. I looked away as the younger, good-looking guy looked towards me.
"Who are they?" I asked tilting my head in their direction.
"They're the Cullen's and the Hale's. Emmett, Alice and Edward Cullen. Rosalie and Jasper Hale. They all live together, and are together. It's weird," said Jessica with a shudder.
"Yeah, the Cullen's and the Hale's are best friends, so when the Hale's parents decided to move out of state, the Cullen's agreed to let them stay here with them. Emmett and Rosalie are a couple and Jasper and Alice are a couple. Edward is the only single one, but that's because he's … different," Angela said with a shrug. I think it was the most I heard her say all day.
I looked over at the table and saw that the younger looking boy was talking to the others, as he looked my way. I felt my face grow hot as I was caught staring. I quickly looked away.
"What makes him different? Is he gay?" I asked. I noted his well styled, messy-looking bronze hair and his fresh, very new looking couture.
Everyone chuckled a little, but Angela answered, "No, he's not gay. He's just completely anti-social. He's our resident genius. His parents are making him finish high school at the normal pace hoping to get him to act somewhat 'normal' around other people."
I looked over at him to see him staring at me. He looked away and chuckled, like he heard Angela's explanation. I watched as they all got up gracefully and walked out, their food mostly untouched. I guess that's one way to stay absolutely gorgeous, don't eat!
I got up as everyone else at the table got up to go to class. I stayed longer than I normally would have. I didn't want to be late to my classes on my first day. That would make for a bad first impression with my teachers. As I got the cafeteria door, a bunch of rowdy boys came running past me, shouting and throwing things. I realized from the smell that it was a stink bomb, and I ran out before I could get caught in the horrible stink.
I walked to my next class, barely smelling the horrendous odor on me. I should be ok for my next two classes.
I walked into my Anatomy class and handed Mr. Banner my slip to sign. At least he didn't make me stand in front of the class and introduce me. I think we could get along. Mr. Varner on the other hand, had made me stand in front of the entire class and introduce myself. We did not get off on a good start.
Mr. Banner pointed me to the only available space in the room. I looked to see that Edward Cullen was sitting there. He pushed his books over to give me room. He is hot! I took a good look from under my lashes while I walked slowly to the lab table. His bronze tousled hair, his sculpted body under his grey t-shirt, his dark eyes. I slipped into the chair next to him. I wonder what made him anti-social? How can someone that gorgeous be afraid of anyone?
I soon found out. As I turned to say hi and introduce myself to him, I saw him glaring at me. I realized that maybe the stink bomb got me more than I thought.
"Hi," I said quietly. "I'm sorry for the smell. Apparently someone decided to throw a stink bomb in the cafeteria right before I left. A bunch of us got caught in the aftermath,"
He glared. I felt my face flush red again and quickly moved my hair in front of me so I wouldn't have to see him. I guess I can see the anti-social part now. Every once in a while during class, I would take a peek at him through my hair to see him still glaring at me. He looked like he hated me. It's not like I had any control over what happened!
I looked ahead most of the class, trying to take studious notes, even though I already knew everything he was talking about. I just couldn't bring myself to sulk about being glared at… at least not in front of Edward. He would not get satisfaction for being so rude and callous! I wasn't going to let him win by letting him see how his behavior effectively irritated me. Someone needed to teach that boy manners!
As soon as the bell rang to end class, he was running out of the room. I put on a smug smile; I guess I won that one! I thought.
I walked to my next class: PE. There was nothing worse than PE. I was clumsy at best, treacherous to be around at worse. I groaned not looking forward to the humiliation I was bound to deal with.
"So, what was with Cullen in Anatomy?" I heard behind me. I turned to see Mike Newton smiling at me, his eyes moving up to my chest when I turned around. I gave him an innocent look. "It looked like you tried to steal his puppy from under his nose," he chuckled.
"Oh? Was that Edward Cullen? I'm not sure what was wrong with him. Maybe he just didn't like me checking him out," I said as innocently as possible. He finally looked me in the eyes and I raised an eyebrow at him, smirking. He looked appropriately uncomfortable and walked into his locker room rubbing his neck in embarrassment.
During gym, Mike offered to be my partner in Badminton. It's a good thing he's a jock, he had to play for both of us after I nearly took his head off and gave him a bruise on his arm. He told me to stand in the back and just watch after that. I felt his beating was justified for the unwanted stares.
After gym, I went to the office to turn in my slip with all of my teacher's signatures to Ms. Cope as she had instructed me to. I saw him there. Edward Cullen. It sounded like he was trying to charm Ms. Cope into taking him out of his Anatomy class. I guess he really was anti-social. When he turned and saw me standing there, he mumbled something to Ms. Cope about "never mind" and "thank you" before stalking out of the office.
"Hi Ms. Swan. How was your first day?" asked Ms. Cope with a smile.
"Great! I think I'm really going to like it here," I lied with a smile. I handed her the slip and left. When I got to the parking lot, I saw Edward in a silver Volvo speeding away. Immature ass! Hopefully he doesn't hurt anyone with his insane driving!
I drove home in my brand new (at least to me it was new) red Chevy truck. It was a 1954 pickup that my dad Charlie bought for me. His way of saying that he was happy I finally moved up here with him.
"Hey kiddo, how was your first day at school?" he asked when I got home. He was sitting at our kitchen table reading the newspaper and drinking a beer.
"Great. Wonderful. I couldn't be happier."
"What happened? And leave out the sarcasm please?" he said with a raised eyebrow and my brown eyes looking back at me, tired.
"What are the Cullen's like? I didn't do anything to Edward but he was a complete ass to me in class. The guy doesn't even know me!" I said as I jumped up on the kitchen counter. I could tell my dad anything. It was from years of talking over the phone and emails. He had become my best friend.
"Edward is a genius. Unfortunately, with that comes some form of social dysfunction. He's anti-social, mostly because no one takes the time to get to know him and he doesn't make the effort to be nice. I wish the people in this town would grow up! He's still a kid with a lot to learn. Give him a chance. He may come around with you. He's only completely comfortable with his family, but then no one has tried to be his friend from what Dr. Cullen has told me. Give him time," said Charlie. "How was the rest of your day?"
"Fine. Some kids threw a stink bomb in the cafeteria today as I was leaving. I think I have some of the smell still on me. I'm going to take a shower. I'll cook dinner when I'm done." I said as I headed upstairs.
This was a two bedroom, one bath house, but when Charlie found out I was moving up here while Renee and Phil went off on a world cruise, or whatever they were doing on their honeymoon, he built me a bathroom in my room. I couldn't be happier with that! He may be my best friend, but he was still my dad and I didn't want him near my toiletries.
I shut the door to my new room, which he had expanded as well and grabbed my "home clothes" which was a pair of sweats and a tattered t-shirt. While I was in the shower, I thought about my day. It could have gone worse. Mike wasn't bad, but not my type. Eric looked like he had a thing for Angela. I'll have to ask about that someday. Jessica was practically drooling over Mike. Tyler was a creepy sort, pretty much drooling over anything with boobs and legs. Angela was the nicest one that I met today. We may become good friends. I hoped so.
Edward can kiss my ass! I refused to give him more thought than that. Tomorrow I will give him another chance, for my dad's sake. After that, he can go screw himself!
