Hello again. Second chapter.

Disclaimer: I own only my own characters.

Chapter 2

The next day I got up and went looking through Belle's closet. She didn't have a whole lot of pants that weren't jeans or Levis, and she was three sizes bigger than I was. I eventually found a pair of sweats that fit and a t-shirt that was a bit baggy, but nothing I couldn't hide with a jacket.

I opened the door a crack and peeked outside. It looked safe enough, so I opened it a little more and slide out into the hall. I tip-toed down the stairs and almost made it to the bottom when the last step creaked.

I flinched, and looked around the corner, but it seemed my caution was not needed. Charles must have left for work already. I sighed in relief. I dreaded the inevitable confrontation between us. But I had to worry about that later. I had bigger things to think about.

It took me about 30 minutes of driving around town lost, not to mention the time spent trying to figure out how to drive stick-shift, before I finally stopped and asked for directions. It was 9:45 by the time I got to the office, and it was quite clear that I was late to my first class.

The secretary in the office who'd given me my schedule and school map had also handed me slips of paper I was to have the teachers sign. When I finally found my first class, the teacher signed my sheet, handed me a reading list, and sent me to a seat in the back of the room.

Everyone was staring, which was pretty impressive as they had to stay facing forward to do so. I didn't pay attention to whatever the teacher was saying as I had already read everything on the list, but instead pulled out my iPhone and sent Lynn a text.

Hey u Ali yet?

Ur theory's right! Im in! OMG J HOT! *fan girl squeals* My man is WAY better than urs! XP

Of course he is! Im stuck with Wimpy Bio-Polar Edmund, who has a tendency 2 stalk me and dsn't know whether 2 kiss me or drain me dry, all in the effort 2 protect me. I would take Jay over Edmund Twinkle Toes any day.

Awwww . . . don't be such a sour-puss. It could be worse. U could be Rosa and end up with scary, skull-crusher Eli.

True. I guess I shdn't gripe, but u shdn't rub it in either.

Yeah, yeah. I still got better choice. We definitely need to talk to the parents about this strange power-thing.

The bell chose that moment to ring, bringing me out of my thoughts.

Gtg. Was L8 to my first class, can't have that happen a 2nd time. Byz!

See u at lunch!

I packed up my stuff and was headed out the door when a tall, skinny boy with black hair and skin problems stopped me.

"Hey. Jezabelle, right?" he looked very familiar, but I couldn't quite place him.

"Yeah, I go by Jez. Less of a mouthful." I looked down at the map, turning it this way and that.

"Where's your next class?" he asked.

I sighed, finally giving up on the map, and turned to the very helpful boy. "You know, I can't seem to find it. It's in building six. Gov with Jefferson. Could you show me the way?"

"Yeah, sure! I'm headed toward building four, it's on the way. I'm Derrick." He added.

I stopped, and just stared at him. Why it had taken me this long, I couldn't begin to understand, but I wanted to hit myself for not realizing sooner. Of course it was Derrick; over-helpful, chess club vibe, and quick to grab the new kid before she made better friends.

"I'm sorry. Brain aneurism. Derrick. I'm Jez . . . I already said that. Sorry. Again. New school, new people, I don't cope very well."

"This is a lot different from Phoenix, huh?" he asked, as we started walking again.

"Yeah, you could say that. Complete climate change! Kind of a shock, moving from constant sunshine to constant rainfall. Don't think I've ever seen so much green in one place."

"You get use to it. Who knows, it might grow on you!"

"That's what I'm afraid of!" I laughed. We stopped in front of a building clearly marked with a six in black paint.

"Well, good luck. Maybe we have other classes together. If not, I'll see you at lunch." He turned on his heels and walked briskly away.

The rest of the day went by in a blur. My math class, which I had been looking forward to, turned into detention. He was the only teacher I had that made me stand at the front of the class to introduce myself.

It wasn't that I had stage fright, more that I didn't like being stared at and evaluated like a bug under a microscope. When his back was turned, I flipped him the finger.

Unfortunately for me, he had a class pet who didn't appreciate me disrespecting her favorite teacher. I now had the 'privilege' of staying after school and cleaning his chalkboards and erasers.

I mostly kept to myself and texted with Lynn. When lunch finally came around, I was bouncing with excitement at meeting Jay. Lynn would not shut up about him, but I couldn't blame her. If I was in her position, I would do the same thing.

I walked into the cafeteria and immediately spotted Lynn sitting with the rest of the Rollens. She had her arms wrapped around Jay's waist and her head laying contently on his shoulder.

I pulled out my phone to text her, so she wouldn't give away that we knew each other.

So sorry to pull you from your lovely dessert, but I need to talk to you! Make an excuse and make it fast.

She immediately pulled away from Jay, her face a mask of disappointment. Then her face lit up.

Change of plans. I have an idea!

She got up and headed outside to the parking lot. I followed and when I got there, she had an arm full of air fresheners.

"Uhh…enlighten me, Lynn, what exactly it is that we need that many car Scentsy®'s for? They smell awful and they're giving me a headache!"

"That's the point! If they smell bad to you, they're even more overwhelming to vampire noses! So if you wear all these, they can't smell your blood and don't want to eat you! Brilliant, no?"

"Uhh…no! I'm sorry, but I refuse to go around school with 30 Scentsy®'s hanging around my neck like a fashion statement. Not only will my headache grow, but I will be laughed out of the social world! You're just going to have to wait to introduce me to Jay." She dropped all the fresheners to the ground, clearly disappointed.

"Oh, and I kinda got a detention after school." She immediately looked up, anger in her eyes.

"You what?! Jez! What am I going to do with you….," she sighed, rubbing her forehead. "Fine, I'll stay and help. You are sooo lucky mom's not here."

"Thanks. I better go get something to eat before the bell rings. See you after school." I said hastily. I turned and headed back to the cafeteria before she could lecture me.

When I walked in the doors, I glanced over at Edmund. He was blatantly staring at me with furrowed brows. I smiled and winked at him. He only looked more confused and puzzled, though a little shocked.

I turned away and walked over to Derrick's table. When I sat down, conversation stopped and everyone was staring at me. Derrick was looking extremely please I had sat next to him, a smile the size of Canada on his face. I smiled back and grabbed a fry from his tray of food.

"I hope you don't mind. I didn't have time to get my own food." He shook his head, clearing the cobwebs.

"No, not at all, help yourself! Everyone, this is Jez. Jez, this is Mack, Tessia, and Ashley." Everyone mumbled theirs HI's as Derrick said their names.

Derrick turned out to be on the newspaper and in the chess club. Ashley was also on the newspaper, but she was a bit shy and didn't talk much.

Mack was on the soccer team, because they didn't have a football team, but he seemed smarter than the average jock. Tessia was on the volleyball team, no surprise there. She talked endlessly.

I was greatly relieved when the bell rung. I hurried to class with Ashley. Right before I walked into the classroom to sit by the blood-challenged vampire, I was yanked to the side of the building.

"What the-?" I started to say before a very strong smelling, tree-shaped item was shoved in my face.

"Just one! Please? That's all I'm asking! One! You can hide it under your jacket if you zip it up!" Lynn's face was one of concern.

I sighed. "Fine. One Scentsy®! Now stop pestering me!" I grabbed it from her and shoved it under my jacket zipper after rubbing it a few times on my neck. She beamed at me and then took off to her class vampire speedy.

I smiled, shaking my head, then went back to the classroom. I made it into the door right as the second bell was ringing. I looked over at Edmund and the only empty seat next to him, inwardly groaning at the ordeal to come. Welcome to bloodlight.

~Jez

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