Second Glances, Second Chances
By: HearAlay
A/N: This is my first Fanfiction, I'm trying to be elusive in regards to the summary, stay with me though. I'd prefer if you all were surprised with the course of events :).
I do not own Twilight
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One would think that living in a small town would offer some sort of comfort, knowing the same people from diapers to date nights. Well you'd be wrong. My name is Isabella Swan, Bella for short. I live in Forks, Washington with my dad Charlie.
I don't have many friends, I don't date, I have my books, my yearly visits to my moms place in Florida, Charlie and my job. Majority of the kids in town, don't have to work for a higher education, but If I ever want to get out of this dull, rainy place, I know I need to bust my butt and get in as many hours possibly before I leave this place for good. My one goal in life is to get far away from forks, like the opposite corner of the globe, how many tables do you think I'll have to bus in order to study abroad? … That was a rhetorical question, there's no way I'll make enough money to get that far away working at a diner on minimum wage, but a Girl can dream can't she?
Some days I really wish I could see what its like to live the other half, like the Laurens and Mikes of Forks, they've got the money, some would say the looks, and the connections to go far. I guess I know where I "belong" though, I'll never fit at their spot on the social ladder, and maybe I'm okay with that, I just wish sometimes it wasn't so difficult.
Let me explain a bit more about my past, most people don't know (because they would never spend the time trying!) about the reasons behind my parents divorce, but Renee (my mom) never was one for cold and damp Washington. One day, when I was 6, she just up and left Charlie to move out to Phoenix. Said she couldn't handle the rain and, well, in some ways I don't blame her, but I'm still mad she left Charlie. Charlie is the reason I stayed, it wouldn't have felt right to leave with Renee, while Charlie was all alone in Forks.
The divorce didn't officially happen until I turned 9, but I haven't lived in the same house as Renee, with the exception of 2 weeks in Florida over the summer since she left. She didn't have any resources in Phoenix, didn't know anyone, didn't have much money to her name, but somehow she made it. Renee found a teaching job at an elementary school and fell in love with the coach of the baseball team, Phil Dwyer. I make it sound like she picked up real fast but Phil and Renee were never official until about 3 years ago, when I was 14. As much as I dislike her decisions, and on occasion feel abandoned by her, I can't help but love my mom, she's wild, crazy, and young at heart. I regret that she doesn't have time for me, but I guess Charlie tries to make up for it. He really is a great father; he works hard so I shouldn't have to (were I not striving for an extremely higher education) and he gives me space, which any teenager would tell you is golden.
What about Forks though? You've heard me say it's rainy, what else is there to it? Well, really, it is rainy. It is wet. It is cold. It is damp. It is... Well... It's Washington, what more do you want? It's a tiny town, full of rich commuters working in Port Angeles or Seattle, and their devil spawn. Sorry devil spawn? Did I say that? I guess not all of them are bad, but there is one group who just make me cringe in hatred whenever I have the – pleasure—of being in their presence. This group consists of the Cullens: Edward and Alice, Emmett McCarty, Rosalie and Jasper Hale, Lauren Mallory, Jessica Stanley, Tyler Crowley and last, and definitely least Mike Newton. These 9 students have the honour of making my life a living hell; they harass me at the diner, tease me in the halls, and try and berate me in class. Lucky for me, I have a stockpile of witty comebacks just waiting in my brain. Not that I use them all too often, but Lauren is usually begging for it, her I.Q. is seriously in the negatives. But when they bug me at the Diner is probably the worst, they don't understand the fact that some people have to work for money, and they think it just magically appears whenever they swipe their credit card. Its like they know when I'm in a ridiculously horrible mood, and they choose those days to stop in at the diner, at the same time and order, reorder, complain and just generally cause headaches. They also just love their weekly regular hangout slot, Fridays at 7 pm. Do you know how difficult it is to look after the 9 while waiting and bussing other tables? If hell had a place on earth, it would be my Friday night shifts at the diner. I don't complain though, really, it may seem like it here, but I don't. I love my job at the Diner, my boss Wendy is great, and the regulars, like Hal the school's janitor, Edna and Michael an older couple that just live around the corner, and My buddy Jacob from the Rez, help to keep me in line on those days where I feel like giving up.
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After I pulled up to school in my pick-up I made my way to 1st period aah English, home sweet home. Its funny, while most things that occur in this building make me shudder in disgust, this class and this teacher make everything worthwhile. It's almost the perfect start to every morning, or at least it would be void of Edward Cullen's presence. He thinks he is god's gift to women, that egotistical, spoiled, rude, gorgeous, gorgeous piece of man.
…Did that just slip out?
I guess I can't hide it from you any longer, Edward Cullen is beautiful, I just really wish he wasn't such a jerk, I mean really, is it so typical that the hottest man in existence, or at least that you had ever seen with your own eyes just has to belong to the stupidest, most arrogant group of people—"Isabella Swan?" Oh shit, I should be paying attention, "uh, yes Mrs. Masen?" "Could you please tell us what you think of the relationship between Romeo and Juliet?" Damn right I can, oh I mean "I think that their love is so powerful and strong, The way that they just fully devote themselves despite their horrendous social situation, its so admirable, its pure true love, it has gone through so much which just makes it all the more legitimate. And there was so much passion between them! But also, the suffering they had to go through that lead up to their eventual death, is so crucial to the strength of their relationship, they gave so much effort to try and manoeuvre around their battling families, it just speaks so much of their--"I had to stop when I heard a scoff off to the left, what is with it and people interrupting my train of thought today? "You would believe that bullshit Swan." Mrs. Masen tried to interrupt, but I wouldn't let her, "Excuse me? Is there something wrong with what I think?" "Yeah, I think there is, you see Romeo is a dipshit. The fact that he didn't have the balls to stay with Rosaline, and ran after that skank Juliet, just shows how much of a pansy he is. True love and passion my ass."
Wow, its like he's trying not to make sense! I thought everyone understood the love that Romeo and Juliet shared, its just so blatantly obvious! "Excuse me? What the hell would you know about true love and passion? The only relationship you have is with your mirror!" I yelled back. "Admit it Swan, you want a piece of this", ooh yes, yes I do Edward. I mean NO! " For the love of all that is holy--"
"Bella and Edward, kindly desist, or would you prefer to continue this argument after class, in our comfortable and spacious detention hall?" When I looked to Mrs. Masen, she looked relieved to have finally gotten a word in, oops, I didn't realise it got so heated so quickly. "Sorry Mrs. Masen, it won't happen again" I hope she believes me; it was never my intention to disrupt her class. "That's quite alright Bella, you and Edward have inspired me to maybe try our share at a few debates this year? What do you say class?" I looked over at Edward and saw him grinning while all that could be heard after Mrs. Masen's question was a smattering of groans, and one or two sarcastic comments from around the class. "Okay class, not today, but don't think that I'm not considering it!" Before I could turn back Edward mouthed to me "Your place or mine?" Whoa! What? I felt myself blushing and couldn't turn quickly enough. What was that supposed to mean? Okay Bella, calm down, he's a jerk; he's probably just trying to get a rise out of me.
The rest of the class continued on in a slightly less exciting fashion, I'd practically memorized the story at this point in time so contributing to discussion from then on didn't require too much effort on my part. I spent the rest of class paying attention, and keeping my eyes, and my blush away from Edward Cullen. As soon as the bell rang I jumped up quickly grabbing my things, so I could run off to my next class. Hopefully I won't run into anyone in the halls, before trig today. Lauren is usually kicking somewhere around here this time of day, I bet she'll just love what I'm wearing today.
Before I could go any further, I felt a cool breeze on my neck, "You didn't answer my question Swan, what'll it be?" I was frozen… wait what happened? What is he talking about? "Wh-what?" I could hear the tremor in my voice, and could feel the blush creeping over my pale flesh once more; I just hoped I was the only one. No Bella, get a hold of yourself. "Come on Swan, your place or mine?" "I – who? What? NO! God no! Gross never, Edward you disgust me!" Yeah, play it cool Bella, so cool, who would ever believe that with the stuttering in your speech.
I could feel his breath even closer now, as his breathing slowly sent chills down my spine, and I heard his reply. "Stop denying yourself the pleasure Swan, everyone knows you want me." I had to get out of there, fast, I jus—I felt lips on my neck. I felt soft, beautiful lips on my neck, wait Edwards lips, on my neck, Edwards lips on my neck? I think I just let out a squeak, talk about embarrassing. I spun around quickly, almost losing balance but checking myself last minute, "Get away Cullen, now, j-just leave me alone." I managed to get it out, I had to, I know the only reason he does this is to make fun of me. He smirked a little and raised his eyebrow, that sexy crooked smile, but he didn't push me any further, and I allowed myself to take a few steps back before turning and almost sprinting to Trigonometry.
Wow. Wow, wow, wow, and wow… WOW! I can't believe that just happened, I couldn't have just let that happen, there is no way that happened!
Okay, breathe Bella, your cheeks are back to normal, your breathing is back to normal, your life, sadly, is back to normal. Just get through this day and you will be okay. Just finish up trig, move on to lunch, sit through Bio, and deal with gym, you can do this, you don't have to see hear or speak to Edward Cullen anymore today. Wow, Edward Cullen, lips on my neck. On BELLA SWAN'S NECK! Wait, did I just say Bio? Edward is in bio… Edward sits beside me in Bio. I let out an audible groan, could this day get any worse? I can't be around him without turning absolutely fire engine red after what happened just now.
"Hey Bella, are you alright? You look as though you're waging an internal war between life and death? Why so serious?" I heard my friend Angela through the smog that was my thoughts. "Oh, sorry, I guess I just got distracted… thinking about the, uh, things? And what...I… am. …Going... to... do... About those…uh things?" Smooth Bella, because that doesn't just scream that you horrendously attempted to make that one up on the spot. "Oh, alright Bella, if you need anything let me know. I know we don't hang out much, but I'm here." Angela told me after my blunder. "Thanks Ang, that means a lot to me." It really does, remember I told you I don't have many friends? No no, Bella Swan's best friend is the librarian at Forks public library, and even then, well its not like the woman has a choice I'm there pretty much everyday that I don't work. Which, granted is not often, but that's not the point. Point is, Angela is sweet and I should make more of an effort.
The bell rang. Time for lunch, ooh boy. Okay, calm down Bella, lunch, bio, gym that's it. Keep your head up the day is almost half over. I attempted to walk confidently from the room, but all that faltered when my toe caught on the edge of the doorway. Great, just great, I thought as I prepared myself to meet the floor. I put out my arms, and was surprised when I felt a familiar sensation that was much softer than the expected floor. Too familiar, uh oh. "I thought Swans were supposed to be graceful" he drawled out in his beautiful voice, Edward, yeah you guessed it.
Were you wondering why his arms feel so familiar to me? Well let me give you a small sampling, I think the first incident was around 9th grade, walking through the lunchline, stepped in some spilt Jello and before I could meet the floor was caught by Edward Cullen. Then there was the time in the grocery store, I was reaching for a box of cereal on a high shelf, and when I stumbled back, into Edward, might I add, I again felt the need to get horizontal with the floor, where again, Edward had the skill to catch me before I went down. There was also the homecoming assembly of 2005, the last day of History last year, the first day of Biology this year, and many, trust me, many others.
I finally snapped back to the present only to realise we'd been blocking the doorway for quite some time now. I regained my vertical position, thanked Edward tersely and walked away. Nicely done, not even a glance behind Bella. But again, only I could have this luck, I distinctly heard him exhale and his footsteps following me "Go away Edward" maybe he'd get the message today.
"I'm afraid that's not possible, babe, someone's got to watch over you to make sure you don't hurt yourself" Wow babe? That sounds good, too good. Uuughhh seriously brain, can I get a reprieve just for today? I'm trying to be good. "Edward 'I'm perfectly capable of looking after myself, thank you for your concern, but I'm afraid it is unnecessary Now if you'll excuse me--" "Can't do that Bella, I need your help with something." My help? Need my help with what? "What makes you think I'd want to help you?" I replied, trying to inflict at least a little venom into my words.
Edward grabbed my arm, and pulled me aside. I noticed that there were less people around than there were before. "I really need your help, I wouldn't ask, but … I'm failing English" He was looking straight into my eyes as he said this and I could feel his sincerity. "What? But you're smart?" wow, good one Bella. Me Jane, you Tarzan. He scoffed at that one. I was not surprised. "I meant to ask you earlier, but was a little… distracted. Mrs. Masen decided that since we seemed to respond so passionately to each other's ideas in class today that you would be an ideal tutor. I just can't seem to wrap my head around what she wants us to believe in these god-awful plotlines. So what do you say Swan? Want to be my tutor? I'll make it worth your while." He added the last part with a little smirk in my direction.
"No, sorry, Edward but I don't have the time, unlike most students here I actually need my part-time job" Its true, plus I don't see how spending more time with Edward will be good for my brain, and oh lord what will Lauren do? She'll think I asked him! "Please Bella, you're the only one who can help me. I know you can find maybe one or two hours a week...?" I looked into his dreamy green eyes as he asked for the second time and couldn't help but feel how genuine he seemed. I felt my resolve breaking, sighed, time to cave, "I can make time for you after school on Fridays, I don't work until 5pm. you've got 2 hours every Friday Edward. We'll be meeting at my place, and you will not share any of the information discussed with anyone at Forks high. No one will know of our agreement. Understood?" The smile that replaced the pleading look on his face was breathtaking. "Got it Swan, see you in a few days." With that, we both walked the final 8 steps to the cafeteria and went our separate ways.
The rest of the day went by smoothly, I managed to sit through biology with little disturbances from Edward, and I must admit, I was starting to enjoy our increasing banter. Usually he limits himself to taking stabs at my apparent lack of experience with boys, and my total lack of coordination, but today seemed to turn over a different leaf. He slipped me a piece of paper as I got up to leave, but I didn't stop to see what it was, and simply placed it in my pocket to await a more isolated viewing environment.
Gym passed by quickly and without any major incidences, before I knew it I was back in the safety of my pickup. I rolled out of Forks parking lot without a backward glance and made my way home to analyze my day I'm sure.
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