Reivews, perchance? Just a thought…
How I made it to the Biology building without falling flat on my face was beyond me. I was barely even aware that my legs were even moving; they felt like jelly. All I knew was one second Alice was giving my hand a knowing squeeze before she hurried to Spanish and the next thing I knew I was handing my slip to Mr. Banner. He handed it back to m and directed me to an empty lab table. Perfect. Now I wouldn't have to worry about a nosy partner annoying me with senseless questions. Even better, now if that stunning girl was in my class, I could focus better on watching her.
Angela waved at me as I passed the desk she shared with Ben to go to my own. Ben smirked and muttered "lucky dog" under his breath. Lucky? Because I sat at the empty desk? What did that mean? Mike's death glare intensified as I sat at my stool. The phase 'if looks could kill' came to mind. His desk was to the left of mine, and thankfully separated by a wide berth.
I folded the signed slip into my pocket to keep my class schedule company. But my face fell as I searched through the faces in the room. She wasn't here. Did she leave early? The butterflies in the pit of my stomach abruptly died. Perhaps I had misheard her and she had a different Biology class this period. My nails started to dig into the palm of my hand as I stared at the clock. She still had a minute to get here. The clock's hands slowly ticked forward. That clock has to be wrong! She must need more time to get here. Have some pity, she's sick! Oh god, was I yelling at a clock?
Just when I had given up all hope, she strolled into the room. My breath caught in my throat. There was something about her. Who was I kidding? It was everything about her! Her soft brown locks of hair. The pale, glowing tone of her skin. But her eyes, those shimmering pools of topaz, where what sealed my fate.
She smiled slightly again as the bell rang a split second later. She froze half way into her first step into the rows. Her eyes narrowed and her head spun toward my table. No, she was glaring directly at me. I suddenly realized this table wasn't always empty. Was that why she was so angry? She inhaled sharply, her chest rising visibly. She shook her head, making her hair fly around her. With a determined look, she stormed into the stool beside me. Without a word, she slammed her books on the table.
Mr. Banner looked up from his book, distracted by the noise. "Oh, the bell has rung? Okay, I guess it's time to start class." He regrettably closed his novel. "First things first, we have a new student. Mr. Masen, would you like to introduce yourself to the class?" Several heads turned to look at me. I sat up in my seat.
"My name's Edward Masen. We moved here from Chicago because my mother was offered a teaching job at the elementary school." I chanted. At least four of my teachers had asked my to introduce myself already today. Most of the students had already heard this as I had them in a previous class. A few girls looked disappointed that they didn't learn anything new. Must have been looking for something new to spread around the school. I shrugged at Mr. Banner to show I was done.
He nodded. "Okay. Well, today we have a test going around on the integument system. Uhh. I don't know. How far did you get in the biology books in your old school? I don't want to give you this test if you're not ready for it…"
I resisted the urge to laugh. "We were well past the systems of the body." I became aware that a certain pair of topaz eyes was watching me from my right. Wait, she was watching me? I lost my train of thought, turning my head slightly to look back at her. Her eyes were no longer angry, but instead curious. Upon seeing I had caught her staring, her eyes widened and she turned away. That was strange. I knew my face was flushed again.
Mr. Banner cleared his throat. I focused my face back to him. "Well… I'll give you the test too. But if you don't do well, I won't count it against you. But this is a onetime thing, Mr. Masen." He stood up and started to pass out the tests to groans from my classmates.
As I tried to pluck up the courage to start a conversation with her, the angel rose from her seat, hand in the air. "Mr. Banner?" Her melodic voice graced the room. The teacher promptly dropped all of his papers to the floor. He cursed quietly, getting to the floor to gather them, his face red as a tomato.
"Y-yes, Ms. Cullen?" He asked from the floor.
She shook her hair to create a veil between her and me. "Mr. Banner, would it be at all possible to have his seat moved?" She pointed at me suddenly.
Everyone turned to stare at us. I was in shock. Did she seriously just ask to have me moved? Did she hate me that much already? Mr. Banner seemed as much in shock. "Really, Ms. Cullen? Is something wrong? Do you have a problem with Mr. Masen?" He straightened up to look at me. Every male in the room smirked at her discontent for me.
Bella huffed out angrily. "I just don't want to sit next to him, that's all." She coldly responded. I felt the heat rush to my face. Could she be anymore rude? I stood up in my seat too.
"Sheesh, what's your problem with me? I haven't said two words to you!" I glared at her the best I could, especially considering how cute she looked when she was angry. But now wasn't the time for that.
She shot me an icy glare. "Not the point." She mumbled. "Mr. Banner, I don't need a lab partner anyway. You know I do very well in this class." She sweetly added. Mr. Banner nodded fiercely, very red in the face. "Then why not pair him up with someone else? He might need to be caught up."
He seemed to be considering that. "B-but everywhere else is full up. Yours is the only table with only one person." He pointed out.
She rolled her eyes. "Can't he work in a lab trio? What do you think, Mr. Banner?" She smiled brightly.
But I was getting tired of them speaking about this as if I wasn't there. "If you had listened before," I interjected. "Then you would remember that I've already taken this course. I don't need to 'catch up', Ms. Cullen." Why was she being so difficult? And why did she have to be so adorable? Damn it, I couldn't managed to be properly upset with her when her every move makes me want to lean in and kiss her. Wow, I have to squish that train of thought right this second. She's trying to get me away from her. Now was not the time to be imagining her in my arms.
"Why can't you just leave me alone?" Her eyes lit up suddenly. But then they darkened,
"What are you talking about? I just met you!" Leave her alone? Had I really been bothering her that much?
She turned her body away from me to look as Mr. Banner with regretful eyes. But then Bella's snapped her head up to look at him. It looked like she was going to cry. "Mr. Banner…" Her voice was soft and full of sadness. "He's been bothering me. Um… in a way that is not okay." She locked her fingers together. "I really need to be moved. I… I think he's been sexually harassing me!" She squeaked out before burring her face in her tiny hands.
A moment of silence.
"What!?" Now Mike was out of his seat too. He was furious. "Bella, has he tried to touch you!?"
Mr. Banner looked just as livid. "Mr. Masen! Have you been sexually harassing Ms. Cullen!?"
I stared at her, my mouth hanging open in shock. WHAT? "What are you talking about?! I just met you! I've never come near you!" I turned away from her to shout at Mr. Banner. "She's lying! I swear!"
But Mr. Banner was already calling the office. "Yeah, Shelly? I need to get the principal out of his meeting. Now! And the guidance counselors, too, I guess. No, this is some new kid. Huh? Yeah, him. He's been sexually harassing Ms. Isabella Cullen. First let's get him down there. Yeah, we'll call the parents after that. Thanks." He hung up. He pointed at me. "Masen, go to the principals office. Now." His voice softened. "Don't cry, Ms. Cullen. We'll get this all worked out. He'll never hurt you again." He walked back to our desk. "I said go, Masen. Ms. Cullen and I will join you shortly. Don't even think of running for it."
I was about to argue more when there was a knock on the door. Little Alice ducked her head into the room. "Mr. Banner? Me and my brother were sent to pick both Edward Masen and our sister up to escort to the office." She didn't look at me once. Her eyes were glued to her sister. I lowered both of my arms. Now I had lost my only friend too.
I sighed and picked up my backpack. I wasn't going to fight them. I simply had to hope that the principal believed me. But after seeing how Mr. Banner and even my new friend Alice had reacted, I wasn't hopeful. What in the world was my mother going to say? I cringed inwardly.
Mr. Banner nodded. "You brought your brother? Emmett Cullen, right?" I could sense the relief in his voice; there was no way I'd be able to get away from him. That is, if he wouldn't kill me with his bare hands before we even got to the office.
Alice dashed into the room, her arms firmly around her sister's waist. The two girls exited the room before I did. As I was about to follow them, I felt a sharp pain in my right arm. Someone had thrown the biology textbook at me. I looked back to see Mike grinning from ear to ear. Mr. Banner smiled slightly, but pretended not to see it. "Get going, Masen." The teacher growled.
I shook my head and walked out off the door. Emmett was leaning against the door waiting for me. He shut it quickly and was at my side an instant later. I just started at the floor as we walked. I wasn't going to bother defending myself. These were Bella's brother and sister. They would believe her no problem. Alice looked over her should once at me, but I avoided her eyes.
After a minute or two, the girls stopped. So did Emmett and I. I knew we could be at the office yet, so I could only think Bella's large brother was going to beat the tar out of me. But Alice surprised me by turning to her sister and smacking her across the face. From the loud sound of impact it made, I knew she had hit her hard.
"Alice!" Bella spat out. "What was that for?"
"You know very well what that was for, Isabella Marie Swan Cullen!" Bella took a step back at her sister's razor sharp tone. "What were you thinking?! He would have been expelled! Maybe even have criminal charges!" Alice charged into her sister's face. Emmett jumped forward to hold his smaller sister off. But Alice still fought at it. "That was a stupid way to handle this situation, Bella! Getting rid of the problem! It's just as bad as if you had-"
"Enough Alice!" Bella was shaking. She wrapped her arms around her body, turning away from her diminutive sister. After a few minutes, she spoke again. "Well, we can't do anything about it now. The deed is done. Like you said, he'll be expelled. And that will be the end of that. Unless you'd prefer… the other way. Just giving in." She retorted.
Alice struggled against Emmett's grip. "Or you could change him. Ever thought of that, Isabella?"
I was completely lost. "Would anyone mind explaining things to me?" I growled, glaring at the office building about 100 feet away. "Are you planning on getting me expelled or not already?" I bitter asked. It didn't matter at this point. I was screwed now.
Bella ignored me. "Alice, just get him out of here. I can't… he-he isn't safe." She fell to the ground, her face once again in her hands. "I can't stop… " I could see her body shaking. She held her hand over her mouth, but not before a dry sob tore from her mouth. Her long hair fell over her face, hiding it from view.
I hesitated slightly, not sure if what I was doing was smart. But I could hardly just stand here. So I stooped down beside her and pet her back. She flinched slightly, but then relaxed under my touch. I wasn't quite sure why I was trying to comfort her. She was only feeling remorse about trying to get me expelled because she got caught. But… I couldn't stand to see her so upset. Was it wrong to think of this girl still as an angel? To still want to see her smile? Yes, it was very wrong. Perhaps even stupid beyond all belief. But that didn't stop it from being true.
She shook her head. "Please… "She whimpered. "Just… just go away."
"Come now. I hardly think that's fair." I turned her face up to mine. Her lovely topaz eyes had darkened considerably. I knew I hadn't imagined it this time; not after the length of time I had spent staring into those entrancing orbs. "You haven't even told me how you could have grown to hate so far as to want me expelled after one day." I chuckled in ill humor. "Not even. I believe it had been just twenty short minutes."
Bella's eyes were near black now. She must have realized I was staring into them for she shut them suddenly. "W-would you believe me if I said I only did it because I care?" She bit her lower lip, now turning her face to the ground.
"Well, it's not like I have much of a choice." I stood up and offered her my hand to stand. She watched me with careful eyes, but accepted my hand. Her skin was icy cool against my skin. She released my hand as soon as she was on her feet.
Alice sighed deeply. "Well, now what? Thanks to Bella's stupidity, you do know you're sure to be expelled, right?" Emmett released her.
I shrugged. "I guess so." I ran a hand through my hair. I swear, this had to be some sort of record.
"Alice, I'll handle it. This is my fault." Bella refused to even look at me. She walked up to her sister and hugged her. Bella turned her back to me and tensioned up. "…I'm sorry about all that Edward. I thought I had better control then this. Obviously, I was wrong." She whispered almost to low to hear. Then she hurried towards the office doors.
