Chapter 2: Information
The Cullens and the Hales. Foster children of Dr. and Mrs. Carlisle Cullen, according to the file I was in charge of putting away as my fourth hour Office Aid job duties required. I remember my Dad mentioning the hospital having a new doctor on staff. Apparently he met Dr. Cullen a week earlier as part of the professional welcome wagon. He didn't mention that the doctor had children, especially one who looked as if she had fallen straight from heaven. Only an angel could be so radiant.
I am normally more professional in my Office Aid duties; never looking in the files of the other students. Today I had to know the name that belongs to the angel. This was so not like me. I am not interested in people here at Forks High. I am not interest in meeting new people. I hadn't even planned on talking to this girl. Then why was I so compelled to know her name. I had to look. Thanks to the copy of the student IDs that was a part of every file; I knew that my brunette beauty's name was Isabella Cullen. Did I just say MY beauty? Where did that come from? The blond female was Rosalie Hale and the blond male was Jasper Hale, twins; seniors. The spiky black haired female was Alice Cullen, a junior and Emmett Cullen would be the teddy bear; also a senior. Isabella was a junior. I hoped I had at least one class with her. Why do I wish we had classes together – I had no intentions on talking to her? I am sure she has been hit on enough today by the loads of guys here. I wasn't really shy but I just chose not to talk – sort of. Besides what would I say to someone who was more radiant than words would allow. No-I would give her some space – one less drooling boy. What am I going on and on about? I don't even know if we have classes together. That almost made me tempted enough to go further through her file to search for her class schedule. I wouldn't do it. This is totally not me. I was becoming worst than the other male student body of this school. I was worst; I was boarder line stalking at this point. I immediately closed the files and shoved them into place, alphabetical order by last names in the old fashion file cabinet. I must have closed the drawer a little too hard.
"Edward, dear, are you okay," asked Mrs. Stone, the office salutary. She looked at me wearily over her wire brim glasses.
"Sorry Mrs. Stone. Guess I don't know my own strength today."
"Do you . . ."
"No, I don't need to leave early I am fine." I hurried to finish her sentence. She looked at me puzzled, trying to figure out how I knew what she was going to say. I didn't even know how I knew. I sat down in my corner chair with nothing more to do. I pulled out my American History book and decided to get a jump on my reading for the night. Office Aid, Study Hall – It is all the same.
Reading didn't go as well as I hoped. I would "read" three pages when I suddenly realized I didn't remember a thing I just studied. My mind kept going back to her face. The way her hair waved in the breeze. Her large almond shape eyes. Her long slender neck. Here I sat daydreaming about a girl. Before this morning I don't even think I ever had a crush and now I have by passed all that to full blown infatuation. Bell rang – time for lunch. I tossed my history book into my backpack and walked from behind the wall-length counter. I smiled and waved goodbye to Mrs. Stone. She still looked bewildered that I knew her thoughts earlier.
I stopped at my locker and switched out my books for my P.M. classes. Just as I closed the locker door, I felt a shove from behind and suddenly Mike Newton was leaning against the lockers to my right.
"What's up Swan? Come on man, let's go eat."
"Yeah, I'm behind you." I didn't care much for Mike Newton, but he was easier to ignore than most people in this school. Mike and I grew up together, just as most of the people in this town did. When all there was to deal with was mud pies and cowboys and Indians, Mike was a decent guy. As we got older and the onset of hormones, growth spurts, sports, and popularity reared its ugly head, Mike became more of a convince than anything else. I didn't feel bad about this revelation. I was pretty sure he felt the same way. I suspected he only dealt with me because I attracted a lot of attention from our female peers.
"Man, I saw Jessica and Lauren speak to you this morning. You need to stop trippin' and hook up with Lauren – that girl is hot. Than you can hook me up with Jessica," he said as he walked backwards to the cafeteria.
"No thank you. I prefer not to be the fall of a friendship."
"Then at least put in a good word for me with Jessica. Help a guy out."
I shook my head and let out a light laugh. Mike was being serious and that made it even funnier. We made it to the cafeteria line and were suddenly joined by Erick Yorkie, an awkward kid who properly had less experience with girls than I did, and Tyler Crawley, the captain of the football team and the basketball team; in other words-cocky. I didn't have much of an appetite, so I settled for a lemonade. Just as I paid for my drink Mike blurted out:
"Man did you check out the new kids today? The girls are super hot!"
"I know. Every guy in the school is looking at them, but I am going to put you all out of your misery and ask them out first," said Tyler, as he strode to our usual table.
Jessica Stanley, Lauren Townsend, and Angela Weber were already at the table. Jessica and Lauren were waiting on me specifically. I rolled my eyes; I am sure no one even noticed. I slowed my walk to make sure Mike and Tyler each took one of the empty seats on either side of the girls. I opted to sit in between Tyler and Angela. Angela was easy to sit by. Although I know she considers me one of the good looking guys as well, she didn't flirt aimlessly and didn't constantly think about it. I was not paying attention to Tyler and Mike's conversation at all until Mike said:
"Bella is the hottest. Tyler, man, you can have the other two. I am taking Bella!"
I was suddenly furious as I looked up with ferocious eyes at Mike Newton. I think only Angela Weber noticed. Why was I suddenly so upset? Why did I want to protect her from this sleezball? Her particularly, not all of them – only her. My mouth ached to say something. I thought I was going to explode, so I said the safest thing on my tongue:
"Who is Bella?" They didn't know I had already looked in the entire family's file, but how did he know to call her Bella?
"The long haired brunette. Her name is Isabella Cullen but she prefers Bella. I talked to her today in History. Trust me she was so into me"
Furry filled me again.
At that moment beauty walked into the room.
