Chapter 2:
It's been months since the change. Today, all of us are going to Forks High School for the first day. Of course it will be everyone's first day but we are the new kids in a small town, people will be talking. They will probably be talking for weeks. I've discovered I have gifts like the rest of my family. I am super fast, vampires are fast anyways but I'm exceptionally fast. I also have the ability to block anyone out of my head, which drives Edward the craziest.
We pull up to the average high school. There are people talking in the parking lot. Others are rushing off to class. It is cloudy today, of course, Forks is always cloudy. The school is surrounded by trees, so that's nice. But, other than that, it doesn't look really welcoming. I just keep thinking about all the voices that are going to be talking about our arrival and all the stares we are going to get.
When we walk into the school, all eyes turn to us. This was expected, of course, it's part of our making, to be beautiful, to draw people in, and to get them to stare at us admiringly. When we walk down the hall everyone clears the way for us. I look to Rose and she smiles to me, obviously enjoying the attention. I look at Emmett, who was beside Rose and he seems to enjoy it as well. Alice has a smile on her face, as usual. Edward, who has a tight hold on my arm because he is worried I'm not strong enough to not want to kill the whole school, seems a bit uncomfortable but he is used to the attention. Jasper is the only one I could relate to about being uncomfortable. He has a harder time than I do on resisting the thirst. I smile to him a little and he returns the favor.
We go to the office and get our schedules. All of my classes I am with Edward, Alice or Jasper, and this makes me less nervous. Edward won't let go of my arm until it's time for us to part ways when I go to my first period class. Even after he lets go he gives me his worried look as he walks away from me. Alice loops her arms around mine but it's not like the way Edward did, she knows I'm not going to crack and kill everyone. Alice smiles to me as we walk to class.
"I'm excited," she chimes, "so many new people." I smile at this comment. Alice always is so optimistic and cheery. She probably can't tell that I was so nervous and I hated all the attention we got. I'm not used to all the attention, I wasn't ugly before but I wasn't this attractive. Also, I was shy; I hardly talked to anyone until I got to know them better. I am nowhere close to being used to the attention, I might never get used to it.
Lunch came slow, but I was happy for all of us to finally be together. I'm not used to not being with everyone. I mean usually we aren't together all the time, but it was relieving for all of us to be together at one table all enduring the stares together. Of course, some of us enjoy it more than others but we are still going through it together. I feel stronger with them around me. Looking at Jasper makes me a little bit more relieved, he looks as miserable as I do. Edward grips my arm tightly and I turn to look at him. I'm fine. I think to him but the worry doesn't fade.
I look around the oddly quiet cafeteria. Everyone is watching us, and if they aren't they have been watching us. The cafeteria is pretty plain with white walls. It kind of reminds me of one of those zoo exhibits, where the animal is locked in there and has to take everyone staring at it. That's how I feel, locked up and for watching purposes only. Of course the cafeteria doesn't have the trees or "natural habitat" that the exhibit usually holds, but it still has the same feeling.
"It's supposed to be sunny tomorrow," I say softly, the whole cafeteria was practically quiet just wondering what we were going to do or say.
"We'll be going camping tomorrow," Edward says softly as well. I nod and smile.
"I'm going to go get some food," I say and I stand up. Edward stood up with me still holding my arm and the worry increases. I sigh. "Some of the salad over there," I point, "relax, Edward, you worry too much." I smile and he reluctantly lets go and sits back down. I have to admit I love Edward being protective over me, but he needs to trust me and he needs to know how far he was supposed to go to protect me. I don't need to be held tightly like a child at a fair, tempted to run away. But I love Edward, I would never tell him that I love him, it would just confuse things, and I know he doesn't feel the same. I mean who could ever love me?
When I was getting my salad a boy with blonde hair drops a fork on the floor. I quickly bend down and pick it up for him. He goes down though as well so I can't just jump back up. "Here," I smile, I hand it to him, and his scent rushes into my nose. It smelt sweet, like chocolate, with a little tinge of rust and pine. Oh how I missed chocolate. I stand back up (normal human speed) and he does as well.
"Thanks, you're one of the new girls right?" He smiles big and foolishly. He is already drawn in, if it isn't by my looks it is by my smell. I bite the bottom of my lip and nod. Biting my bottom lip is always a habit of mine when I get nervous. "What's your name?" He asks and he moves a little bit closer, his scent increasing as he does this. He's a human, not an animal. Don't crack Annabeth. He's like Kyle, you would never hurt Kyle. I think and the desire weakens a little bit.
Kyle had been my best friend when I was alive. I told everything to him. He was like the brother I never had; he protected me and loved me. Maybe I even loved him, but we were doomed at a chance of a romance, we fought almost as much as we got along. Not to mention the change, I think for sure he would notice the difference if he ever saw me again.
"I'm Annabeth," I smile and he inches closer. I really wish he would stop doing that.
"I'm Mike," he introduces himself and it seems as if he's contemplating on moving closer or sticking out his hand for me to shake. I wish for the moving closer but he does both. Edward shows up beside him and looks as intimidating as ever. I smirk up to him but I take Mike's hand hoping it will make Edward a little bit jealous. I pull my hand away. "Woah, your hand is really cold." Mike states and Edward glares at me but I just smirk up to him. Then I smile to Mike.
"Yeah, I'm anemic," I say. "It was nice meeting you." I say and I turn away. I think about being graceful like Alice and beautiful like Rose so maybe it looks better when I walk, like I belong with these beautiful creatures.
As I walk away I hear Mike mumble a "you too" and I sit back down right as the lunch bell rings. I stand up and I start walking toward the door in the cafeteria, I don't wait because I think Edward will catch up to me. Instead of Edward though, Japer and Alice come up beside me. I smile to myself, proud that I was able to handle the situation and drive Edward a little bit mad all at the same time.
