Hello Again! This is Chapter 2! I hope you like it! Again, if anyone wants to BETA, let me know!
Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns everything.
Chapter 2: Classroom Etiquette
EPOV
At the end of my sixth period English class, I sat down, watching the mass of students leave. I noticed that there was still one figure sitting down in the back of the room with a black hoodie on. I hadn't even noticed her sitting there before. I couldn't see her face with the angle she kept her head at, her hood up, and her long brown hair curtaining the sides of her face.
I studied her closer, wondering why she hadn't stood up yet, when I saw a strawberry blonde come directly into my line of vision. She was wearing a skimpy pink halter top with a cut out to show off her ample cleavage, and a short skirt. I was fairly sure she was in direct violation of the dress code, not to mention entirely impractical in today's cold weather.
"Hello, Mr. Cullen. My name is Tanya. I was wondering, I could use some tutoring, do you think you could help me? I am horrible with Shakespeare." She said in a nasally high pitched voice. I sighed, a little disappointed to already have desperate girls hitting on me.
"Tanya? Maybe you should wait before we have material to go over. And also, I am fairly certain you are against dress code. Please come in dressed more appropriately tomorrow."
"Mr. Cullen, You and I both know that you like what you see. Maybe we don't have to study, maybe just—"
I cut her off immediately. "Ms. Denali. Don't you have a class to get to? I really don't have time, I also have a class to be prepared for."
She pouted, but left. I sighed in relief, finally able to breathe with the overly sweet cotton candy smell gone. When I looked at where the other girl had been before, I noticed the seat was empty. I shook my head, wondering if I had been seeing things.
After I finished my last class of the day, I shook my head, and pinched the bridge of my nose, feeling a migraine coming on. In every class today, I had had at least one girl come up to me with some phony excuse to try and hit on me. It was highly disconcerting. I was beyond glad the day was over as I started making my way to my Volvo. As I passed, I saw the girl from the classroom again, sitting down against the tree. I knew now I hadn't imagined her. Surely though, she should know better than to linger in the rain like this. Next thing I knew, I was walking over to her, about to suggest just that.
As I approached, the head lifted slightly, her face registering shock. That wasn't what surprised me though. Her face was deathly pale, her cheeks sunken, and she had dark circles around her eyes. And then, her eyes, they were this deep chocolate brown, holding so much pain, I could feel my own knees grow a little weak from the force. She was shivering, and soaked to the bone.
I shook myself out of my trance, and she looked down, blushing a little. "Is everything okay miss? If you are waiting for a ride, I would suggest you wait inside. It's too cold to be sitting out here. We wouldn't want you getting sick." I said.
She looked up again, and shook her head, taking her lip in between her teeth for a moment before speaking, her voice sounded hesitant, and slightly fearful. "I'm o-okay. M-my ride is c-c-coming shortly." She said, her teeth chattering with each word, but her voice was like Bells.
"Please, I insist, you must be freezing to death." I offered a hand, but she looked at it warily, not touching it, before slowly hoisting her small frame up. I noticed how she winced, and seemed out of breath just from the act. "Are you okay?" I asked, genuinely concerned, she didn't seem like it.
"Y-Yes, I'm F-fine. I will w-wait inside. I'm sorry." She said timidly, before quickly walking towards the building. She was limping heavily, and she didn't seem very steady on her feet. I would have followed just to make sure she was okay, or to bring her to the nurse, but just then my phone rang.
"Hello?" I asked distractedly as I watched the girls retreating form.
"Helloooo! How was your first day at Forks High school?!" I heard my sister Alice squeal into the phone. Before I even had a chance to respond however, in typical Alice fashion, she continued. "By the way! Jazzy and I are having a dinner party on Friday, and you should totally come! Bring a lady, pleaaaaase. Edward, everyone but you will have one!" she says, without a breathe inbetween.
"Fine, and sure, I will come. No promises on bringing a girl. You know I am not seeing anyone." I said, pinching the bridge of my nose again, and running a hand through my hair. I had been single for years, since Highschool.
"Awww, no fun, come on. You're handsome, you should have no trouble finding a girl!" I could practically see her pouting through the phone.
"It's not about that Alice. I really have to go though. I will get back to you later. Okay?"
"Fine, but you better!"
"Will do, goodbye Alice." I said, sighing as I hung up.
I looked around for the girl again, but she was no where to be seen. I figured she must have been inside, so I got into my car and drove home.
The next day, classes went pretty much the same as the day before, and I quickly learned which girls to avoid like the plague. Jessica Stanely, Lauren Mallory and Tanya Denali were among the most persistent and vile girls I had ever come across. They obviously had no respect for themselves, or anyone else. By lunch, I was fighting another migraine. I had forgotten my lunch at home, so I went to the dreaded school lunch line, intending to just grab some food like substance and bring it back to the staff room.
As I entered the line, I found myself unconsciously sweeping the room with my eyes. At first I didn't see her, but on a second time over, I found her, sitting in the corner, with her knees pulled up to her chest, and her head resting on her knees. I couldn't see her face, but I wondered why she was sitting alone, and why she was eating lunch. I wondered why she had seemed so scared the day before, and why she looked so broken. I knew in some aspects, I had a responsibility to make sure these kids were okay, safe, and healthy, to the best of my ability, without crossing a line. However I also knew the amount of my thoughts she was taking up was more than normal. However, I also had a feeling that was largely because I was sure something was horribly wrong.
"Whatcha 'aving?" I heard, and I looked at the lunch lady, suppressing a shudder at the realization that she had more facial hair than me.
"I'll just have a PB&J. Thanks." That was probably the safest bet. I took my sandwich, and was going to head in the direction of the girl, but I realized it wasn't the best idea. I would see her next period anyway. I reluctantly went off to the staff room.
When I got there, I saw Mr. Banner, the Biology teacher. I sat down next to him and sighed. I figured maybe I could get answers from another teacher. Maybe there was a perfectly reasonable explanation to her. "Hey, Do you know that young lady who sits alone at lunch? With the long brown hair?" I asked.
Mr. Banner sighed a moment, taking a moment to think about . "Yeah, I think so. Wears a black hoodie all the time, right?"
"That's her."
"What about her?"
"Do you have her in any of you classes? Is there something wrong with her?" I ask, trying to pass off my anxiety as innocent curiosity.
"Honestly, I know this is bad, but I can't even remember her name for the life of me. I am pretty sure she is in one of my classes though. She doesn't really talk, quiet type. I never had any trouble from her I don't think. She's just kind of invisible I guess."
"So you don't know if she is sick or something?" I asked, a little irritated that it seems that even the teachers here ignore her.
"I don't know. I never noticed anything." He shrugged. "Don't worry too much. I sure she's fine."
"Sure." I said, throwing away the second half of my soggy sandwich. As the bell rang, I got up, still irritated as I made my way to my classroom. As I got there, I noticed she was already sitting there, the only one in the room. She had her hood up still. Before I could approach her, the rest of the students started filtering in.
This class, I did attendance. When I reached the name Isabella Swan, I heard her give a quiet affirmation. So her name was Isabella Swan.
The whole class, she stayed there, quietly paying attention, but never offering anything. When the bell rang, I noticed she was the last one to get up, the same as the day before. She moved slowly, like she was in pain. I had to know if she was okay. I didn't give any thought as to why I cared so much.
"Miss Swan? Could you stay behind a moment? I will give you a late pass." I said quietly. When she looked up, it was like a deer caught in the headlights. "You're not in any trouble. Don't worry. " When I said that, she seemed to relax. She was just as pale as before, if not a little more so, and I noticed how her eyes were not focusing. Not in the way that is usually caused by narcotics, but by extreme exhaustion, or illness. "Is everything alright Isabella?" I asked.
She looked a little taken back, but nodded slowly. "Yes, Mr. Cullen. Everything is fine. Why do you ask?" She asked quietly, her voice timid, and even though she was trying to keep it even, I could hear the weakness behind it.
"You look like you might not be feeling too well. Do you want to pay a visit to the nurse?"
"No! definitely not—" she took a deep breath. She had answered far too quickly. "I mean, I'm fine, really. I just didn't get a lot of sleep. Thank you though." I could tell she wasn't being entirely honest.
"Well, I hope you are feeling better tomorrow, Ms Swan." I said, knowing I wouldn't get anything more from her. "If you need anyone to talk to, I am here." I added, and she nodded, before leaving as fast as she could, which wasn't very fast with her limp.
I ran a hand through my hair, sighing, closing my eyes. There was definitely something seriously wrong here.
At the end of the day, I stayed behind a few minutes to organize the next day's lesson plans before leaving. I was driving home when I noticed a hooded figure walking slowly through the pouring rain on the side of the road, it had to have been about twenty degrees outside. As I got closer, I slowed down. The figured seemed to be swaying unsteadily, before stumbling, and falling. I quickly pulled over, and got out of the car when the person didn't get up. I ran over, getting soaked almost immediately.
I felt my heart drop into my stomach when I realized it was Isabella Swan, and I was right, she wasn't okay. She had fainted. I picked her up, noting how light she was—too light.
I set her down in the passenger seat of my car, and turned on the heat on full blast, having felt how cold she was. "Ms Swan, are you alright?" I asked, patting her cheeks. Her eyes fluttered open slowly, her eyes unfocused.
"Huh?" she said slowly, her voice slurring. "Where am I..?"
"In my car, you fainted. I am taking you to the hospital." I said seriously.
Immediately she bolted up, her breathing quickening. "I can't! I'm sorry, thank you, but I can't go! I'm fine. I just didn't get a chance to eat, and that and not getting enough sleep.. I'm fine, really." She said, though her voice betrayed her, she was still slurring.
"Isabella, then I will bring you home. Make sure your parents bring you to a doctor. If you don't feel better tomorrow, you should stay home. Does that sound like a deal?" I said, not happy, but I couldn't force her to go anywhere.
She looked like she was weighing her options. She nodded slowly, bringing her knees to her chest. "Alright. Thank you, Mr. Cullen." She said quietly.
I sighed. "No problem, just please.. Take care of yourself, Isabella."
"Bella." She said, no louder than a whisper.
"Do you prefer to be called Bella?" I inquired. She nodded slightly.
She directed me to her house, and when we got there, I got out to help her to her door. She could barely stand anymore. "It doesn't look like anyone is home. I really think you should go to a doctor… I am not sure I am okay with leaving you here alone.." I said thoughtfully.
"Mr. Cullen. I am not trying to be rude…" she said timidly, her voice shaking. She seemed afraid. "However, it really does not concern you… I assure you, I am capable of handling this myself. Thank you for your concern, but it is unnecessary. "
I just stared at her. She honestly looked afraid as she said that. I couldn't figure out why though.
"Alright, Bella. Just take care, all right?" I ask quietly, hoping I am not making her more upset. She nods though, and I sigh, leaving against my better judgement.
Please please pleaaaase read and review! Better than a ride home from the hot teacher! The more reviews I get, the faster I will update!
