Name: The Lion Tamer
Author: Lile
Disclaimer: Twilight belongs to Stephanie Meyer.
Genre: Angst, suspense, romance, hurt/comfort.
Author's Note: Here's chapter two! I decided to keep it going!
After the appointment with Mrs. Parsons, I'm in free time. Laboutier has a strict schedule. We wake up at six, have breakfast at six thirty five, and start our first lesson at seven. Each class is an hour and a half long, so we have three lessons before a break at eleven, two before an hour lunch break at one pm, and two more before the official end of the day at four in the afternoon. After that, there's revision sessions, catch-up, practise, and homework- which is mainly practice. Our "free" time turns into self-teaching.
My phone rings. I keep it in the inside pocket of my Academy blazer. Taking it out, I see Mike's name flashing on the screen, under a picture of his face I took once when he was asleep.
I press the phone to my ear. "Hey," I say, walking towards my locker. I need to pick up my Rubix cube. It's a toy that I've had for almost eight years- the last thing my mother ever gave me. She was good with puzzles, and games. She loved intricate stories, murder mysteries, new boyfriends.
Mike's voice is sharp and excited, his voice strained after a morning of unending exercise. He's a baritone opera singer, and an actor, and plays the cello. An overachiever, but it feels good to have someone that ambitious give me their time. He doesn't know much about my past, but enough to know that I have these meetings.
I mean, I told him. He didn't weasel it out of anyone or follow me or
-calm down calm down.
"Can you get down to E5?" Mike asks. He never starts with hello- says he doesn't consider phone conversations actual conversations.
But he's still talking to me, so he adds a 'please' after a beat.
"Okay," I pause, keeping the cell to my ear with my shoulder as I unlock my locker door. "What do you need me for?"
Mike laughs, a strange low-pitched giggle that gets cute if you listen to it enough. "My sanity? Your friend Alice is a mean critic. I'd also appreciate it if you played a little for us."
I stare at the contents of my locker. There's almost nothing in it- I've been using it for four years, but the only things inside are the Rubix cube, books, and some stationary. Alice's is filled with make-up, pictures of herself with friends. There's one magnet I got her when we were fifteen, too, a little glass thing that looks like a fairy mid-flight. It's still in perfect condition. She's proud of that.
My head is pounding.
My Rubix cube has been solved.
I left it in a complete mess this morning, so I could have a go at solving it before bed. Or maybe I forgot to mess it upethos morning? Tuesdays are always the days where I do silly little mistakes.
"Bella?" Mike's voice is tinny.
I blink back tears, staring at the cube.
I pick it up, feel the warmth emanating from it. It's been touched.
A drop rolls down my cheek, and I wipe it away. My shoulders stiffen out, and the phone falls to the floor. I hear a crack as the screen takes the hit.
This is the kind of thing Edward would do. My fingers shake as I hold the cube, trying to keep cool. I can feel the resignation building already, helpless knowing tears building up in tepid acceptance.
This might not be Edward's doing. I could be losing my mind. Especially with the stress of today. I'm linking everything to him for no real reason, without proof. For all I know he hasn't even arrived at the school yet.
I slam the locker shut, heaving a deep breath, fear swarming inside.
"Say my name" His lips brush against my neck, and I can almost feel his excited pulse bursting from under his skin. It feels strange, like a stranger pressing an arm around my shoulders. An insistent sigh escaped from his mouth, reaching my ears. I say nothing, but kiss him, loving the little defiances that let him know how aware I am of him. His wicked green eyes close, but I keep mine open, letting the lion in him breathe me in. I'm in control with him- hell, I always am. Edward Cullen is my boyfriend. We're a golden couple, with talents that match each other perfectly. No one can ever take that away. He deepens the kiss, and I let him take over, moving out breaths in time, wrapping his fingers around my wrists. My heart goes out of control, and I try to wrap my arms around his neck, but he keeps me pinned. Need is like a rope between us. I cant get enough of him. He's so strong- I love him so much that it hurts.
My wrists hurt.
"Edward," I pant against his lips. His eyes open, meeting my stare. Brown and green. He says we're like a tree together. Lion and lamb- though it's never certain who is which. We're so many things.
"Sorry," he whispers, smiling, releasing me. He buries his nose in my hair, and I relax completely, enjoying the haven of his hugs. "I never want to let you go. I need-"
"BELLA!"
The voice isn't tinny. It's right next to my ear. I look up and see Alice, her hand on her hip, glaring down at me. My head pounds.
I'm in the fetal position. "I thought you were with Mike." I get up slowly, realizing my hands are shaking like crazy. Adrenaline.
Alice bends down, then hands me my phone. "I offered to come get you after you stopped answering." She's scared. Her eyes are wide, and I take the phone avoiding her gaze.
"Um. And Mike?"
"He has Tyler playing for him until I bring you down. Are you...okay? What was that?" Alice crosses her arms over her torso. She doesn't play an instrument or perform- she's a costume designer. One of the best in the world, if I'm any judge. Which I'm not. I have one of the worst fashion senses on the planet, according to everyone.
I shrug. "I just...panicked. Exams are coming up soon. I think I need to eat more. I have really gross skinny legs. I should cook more. There's a recipe with squash and feta cheese that I want to test out soon."
She gives me a weird look, then pulls me into a giant hug, her little arms strong against my ribs. "You're going to do just fine," she whispers into my shoulder. "Okay? Just don't suddenly stop talking. It scares the crap out of me."
I hug her back, a pathetically grateful lump in my throat. I love my awesome best friend.
"I'm sorry, Alice," and I mean it.
