Chapter 3
Classes went as expected. Teachers introduced themselves and went over their syllabuses and I spent six hours fighting the urge to let their monotone voices put me to sleep. Now I had only one class to go: chemistry.
I stepped into the small classroom. I was one of the first to get to class since my previous class was only two doors down and I took the opportunity to look around. It had the usual science layout with lab tables with two stools each.
I sat down at one in the back of the classroom.
I watched as student after student walked in. When Edward walked in with a cheerleader (different from the one last night) on his arm, I rolled my eyes. So far today, Alice had been in four of my classes and I hadn't had Edward in any. I guess my luck had to run out eventually.
Lost in my thoughts, I had forgotten to look away. When he noticed me staring at him, he shot me one of those wink/head-nod combination things that guys always do.
Simultaneously rolling my eyes at him and shaking my head in disgust, I looked away. The teacher wasn't here yet so I took out the sketchbook I always carried around with me and a pencil. After taking a couple seconds to look for a subject, I settled for sketching the side profile of a guy one row up and two chairs to the left of me.
"Fancy seeing you here."
I looked up to see Jake sitting next to me.
"Oh, hi," I smiled, closing the sketchbook and placing the pencil on the cover. Maybe this class won't be so bad, I thought.
The teacher rushed in just as the bell rang. He didn't look that old but his advanced age was given away by the thinning patch of dark black hair that was turning silver atop his head. Old fashioned wire rimmed glasses hung from around his neck as he stumbled in, a handful of academic-looking folders and papers balanced precariously in one arm and a bulging briefcase dangling from the other.
Shutting the door behind him with his foot, he unceremoniously dropped his briefcase and papers onto his desk and turned towards us.
"Hello, class. I'm Mr. Marcus Volturi and I'll be your chemistry teacher for the semester. I know today is the first day of school so we're just going to get a few housekeeping things out of the way. First thing on the list: lab partners."
Almost immediately, people started giving their friends that look; you know the one. That creepy one worthy of a stalker or a pedophile? A few odd numbered groups of friends looked at each other in despair.
"Partners?" Jake mouthed to me and I nodded. The super hot new guy as my chem partner? Hell yes.
"Ah ah, not so fast. I'm picking your partners." Cue the chorus of groans...
Mr. Volturi picked up a stack of papers from his desk and started handing them out.
"To pass my class, you must learn how chemistry works, but you must also learn how to create chemistry. I chose your partners randomly and I encourage you to look past your differences and find a way to work well with the person you get partnered with whether you are fond of them or not. That, along with this two page Q and A packet, will be your homework for tomorrow."
By this point everyone was scowling. Homework? On the first day of school?
"When I call your name, stand up and sit next to your partner.
"In no particular order..." He put on his reading glasses from around his neck and picked up a clipboard from the mess on his desk.
"Jessica Stanley and Michael Newton." They both got up and sat down at a lab table together.
"Leah Clearwater and Jacob Black" Jake looked at me apologetically and stood up to go sit next to his partner.
Mr. Volturi went on and on and I drummed my fingers on the desk as I waited for my name to be called. As person after person stood up to sit next to their partner, I became aware that I was one of the only people still alone.
"Isabella Swan."
I stood up.
"And..." He trailed off as he stopped to turn the page.
"and Edward Cullen."
"What?" I blurted out involuntarily.