DC: on chapter 1
Thank you to my reviewers! Love ya! So I read the first chapter of Breaking Dawn and OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMG!! HAPPY DAY! I am totally psyched about the book. He had better bite her or I'll be seriously annoyed. Stupid non-biting vampire. In other news I finished my other Twilight story, Demons and it is good so I highly recommend reading (nope. Not above shamelessly plugging my own stories lol)
But anyway, for some reason my fingers just could not seem to type Carlisle! I blame my school papers for my inability to move my fingers properly! Anyway, if his name is misspelled it was totally by accident. I tried to catch them all as I was typing but you never know...anyway, onto the story!
Chapter 3,
"How's class going?" Carlisle asked as Edward came home.
"Fine," Edward said, dropping his bag on the sofa and sinking into it. "How was the hospital?"
"Fine," Carlisle said. "What's on your mind, kid?"
"Nothing," Edward lied.
"Alright, when you want to confess just let me know," Carlisle said going back to his book. "By the way, your mother wanted to know if you'll be feeding tonight."
"No," Edward said. "I'm not in the mood."
"Edward you know the rules," Carlisle said lightly but seriously, "you're in charge of your own diet but you must feed at least twice a week."
"Dad, do you ever wonder if the humans want to go the Banks?" Edward asked.
"Well, I don't suppose they'd really like our kind hunting them," Carlisle said with a shrug.
"I know, but still. I wonder if they feel like...farm animals."
"You'd know better than I would," Carlisle said with a sigh. "Speaking of, how are your abilities coming along?"
"Fine. I can read up to a mile now."
"Good," Carlisle said, "I'm proud of you son."
"I don't think peeping into people's minds is something to be proud of," Edward muttered.
"Maybe not," Carlisle said, "but you're learning control. Remember when you were young? You could hear every thought I had! It made getting you any presents harder, but you've come a long way since then. You're more in control than you were before."
"I suppose," Edward sighed. "But I don't really like being one of those with powers."
"Why not?" Carlisle asked. "You can do so much good with it."
"Like?"
"Police work, for starters."
"Because all teachers become officers," Edward said with a smile.
"Superheroes by night," Carlisle said with a playful shrug. "Right?"
"That's right, but don't tell anyone."
Carlisle laughed and put his book aside. He stood up and ruffled Edward's hair. "You keep me young."
Edward smiled. He stood up and announced that he was going to go get some work done. He pulled his bag over his shoulder and walked upstairs to his room. He sat at his desk and took out his books. He set them perfectly on his desk and looked at the display before him.
"Here is where I realize all these are useless," he sighed, looking at the books on education. One, a paperback that cost him fifty dollars, merely discussed the methods of teaching. He sighed. What a waste of time those classes were. Observing Mr. Grunge had taught him one thing...school didn't teach him a damn thing.
He took a pen out of a clay cup he had made when he was younger. He pulled out the stack of papers he had to grade. That's what he was supposed to do for the first couple weeks. Observe. Take notes. Supposedly teach, but that was only in the other classes. He wasn't allowed to teach Bella's class.
He graded the first three short quizzes and sighed. He looked at the picture on his desk. There were two of them. The first was Carlisle and his stepmother Esme, and the other was of his mother, Elizabeth. She died when he was young. She had been a teacher as well. She taught grade school.
There was a knock on the door. "Come in," Edward said.
Esme walked in with a bright smile on her face and a fresh pile of clean clothes, neatly folded and sorted by category. She put them gently on Edward's bed and sighed.
"Just think, in another week you'll be in your own apartment. My baby boy is flying away!"
"Oh come on Esme don't be sad," Edward said in a pained voice, "you know I can't stand it!"
"I know, I know, but it's just, well you're my baby and I'm going to miss you so much."
"I'm going to miss you too," Edward said. "But I'm just moving into an apartment, I'm not leaving forever."
"Your father won't admit it but he's upset too," Esme said. "Perhaps you should wait another year...or ten."
"Well the problem with that is I'll probably be settled down in ten years, and I don't think you would want to hear what I'll be doing with my wife."
"You're terrible," Esme sighed. "Anyway, your father and I are going out tonight. Will you be okay?"
"Esme, I'm twenty two. I think I'll be fine."
Esme gave Edward a kiss on the forehead and fixed his messy hair as best she could before leaving. Edward shook his head and sighed. Esme was the perfect stepmother. She used to be good friend's with Edward's mother and that was how she met Carlisle. They had met a few years before Elizabeth died and married a few years after. Edward knew he was lucky. Not many women were as wonderful and devoted as his mothers were. Most important of all, in Edward's opinion, was that Carlisle was happy.
Edward rested his chin on his palm and sighed. He tapped the capped pen on the stack of papers in an uneven rhythm that matched his uneven thoughts. That girl, Bella, once again she was on his mind. There was something about her that was so interesting. The moment he caught her scent he felt his throat tighten and his body stiffen, and yet, he longed to speak to her, to hear her musical voice.
With a groan he let his head fall against the papers. Her voice was like music to him and her laugh was like the sweetest of songs. He banged his head against the desk. His first week of student teaching and already he was screwing his career into the ground. He knew he should have gone into elementary education.
--
Bella was in a good mood. She had a smile plastered on her face and she and Alice walked arm in arm to their classes, giggling the whole way. Jasper sat with them at lunch and brought his friend Emmett to join them.
Bella liked Emmett instantly. He was funny and likable. He didn't seem to mind Bella's bloodline and that alone gave him high points.
"So you're the famous Alice Brandon," Emmett said turning on the little pixie of a girl. "You're the one dragging my poor boy here around by the heartstrings with no intention of ever letting go."
"You're correct sir," Alice said proudly. "Jealous?"
"Well, no. You can have him. He's a handful."
Jasper laughed nervously. "See, this is why I never introduced you two."
It was a lie of course. Emmett had just recently moved from the north and spent only a few weeks at the end of the last school year in class. His popularity followed him from his old school and he was instantly boosted into popular status. He knew Jasper from elementary school.
"So you girls into sports?" Emmett asked, before taking a drink of his lunch.
"Not really," Bella said quietly. "I'm a little too...clumsy."
"She can't walk across a completely flat surface without tripping," Alice added.
"Thank you for that," Bella said dryly. Alice laughed and nudged her.
"Aren't you girls going to eat today?" Jasper asked.
"Nope," Alice said. "I have to get like, super skinny for, like, the dance."
"Seriously," Jasper said. "Honey I don't want you to starve yourself."
"Mmm you're so cute when you worry," Alice teased, kissing Jasper on the tip of his nose. "I'm fine. I ate this morning."
"What about you, Bella?" Emmett asked.
"I try to avoid human blood if I can," Bella said, "what with being half and all."
"And this is the part where I get embarrassed," Emmett said with a nervous grin.
"Don't worry about it," Bella said quickly. "I get asked that a lot actually."
It wasn't a completely lie, but it made Emmett feel better. Before long he and Jasper left to shoot some hoops before class. Alice turned to Bella and smiled. "So? What do you think?"
"About?" Bella asked.
"Emmett. He's cute right?"
Bella looked at his retreating form. He was bulky, curly haired and had dark red eyes. Not her type.
"Are you trying to set me up?" Bella asked suspsciously.
"Not yet," Alice admitted. "But I can get Jasper to pull some strings."
"I'd rather live to see the end of the year," Bella said, "thanks though."
"What's that mean?" Alice asked. "He's cute, sweet and might be in to you."
"He's Roselie's man, remember?"
"Not officially," Alice reminded her. "Besides, you're a much better catch."
"Still," Bella said quietly, "I'd rather stay off of her radar if it's all the same to you."
"Fine," Alice sighed.
"You okay?" Bella asked, poking Alice in the shoulder.
"Hm? Yeah. I just want you to be happy with someone," Alice said.
Bella raised an eyebrow and a dry smile spread her lips. "I thought you were all about female empowerment and we don't need med to survive," Bella said.
"I am. But Bells, you need to get laid."
"Nope. Bad things happen when people get laid."
"I beg to differ," Alice sighed.
"You and Jasper?" Bella asked mildly shocked. "Oh my god when?!"
"We're going to do it tonight. Oh Bella I'm so nervous! You know it'll be like two years tonight right? Well we thought we'd try it. You know, see how it goes."
"I'm torn between wanting details after and never wanting to hear about it."
"What if I'm bad at it?" Alice asked, suddenly genuinely worried.
"Everyone is at first," Bella said with a shrug. "I mean it's not like they offer classes about this. I think the only way you know is by trial and error. Unless you want to ruin the mood by telling him all of your hot spots and ask about his."
"I guess," Alice sighed. She suddenly smiled and Bella saw the remnants of the blood from breakfast tint her cheeks slightly.
"You're blushing," Bella teased.
"It takes a while to digest blood okay!" Alice cried. Bella laughed and hugged her. "Geez, what am I going to do with you?"
"I suppose you're going to have to keep me," Bella said with a smile.
As the bell rang, the girls stood up and walked to class. They took their seats in lit but they spent the time penning notes to each other under their desk. Jasper rolled his eyes at them from down the row and Emmett was too busy doodling to know what was going on. Bella noticed that whenever the teacher wasn't looking, Jasper was stealing looks at Alice. Bella almost giggled when she realized that Alice hardly took her eyes off of him.
U R crazy 4 him
OMG u have no idea
U think he is the 1?
God I hope so. Otherwise tonight will be awkward.
So I don't know exactly how the vamp preg thing works but please PLEASE be safe.
DUH!
Alice glanced over at Bella after she passed the notebook and they both gave a silent snort of laughter. Or at least, they hoped it was silent.
"Brandon, Swan, will I have to separate you two?"
"No, Mrs. Barnes, I just had a question and Bella answered it," Alice said.
Mrs. Barns couldn't argue with that so she went back to teaching. Alice and Bella looked at each other and bit their lips to keep from giggling again. As the lecture grew duller and duller Alice's mind wandered. Bella was doodling and quiet distracted.
Alice closed her eyes and there it was again. The strange dreams. The bell ringing startled her out of this one. Someone had been yelling at Bella who had a black eye. This one wasn't scary. Actually it was just weird. But once again, when Bella asked, Alice lied and said she was fine.
--
James creeped Bella out to no end. They played volleyball. The players stood very far apart in the massive gym and hit the ball with the force only a vampire could keep up with.
Unfortunately, strength wasn't Bella's forte. While she was stronger than a human, she was weak by vampire standards. So there wasn't much she could do about the ball hitting her in the eye and knocking her painfully to the ground. She wasn't the least bit surprised when she saw it was Victoria who hit it.
"Ow," Bella muttered. She sat up and put her hand to her eye. That was going to leave a mark. She could already feel the welt from the ball on her eyebrow. She stumbled into the locker room after class and changed slowly. She was feeling dizzy so she sat and waited for it to pass. She sent a text to Alice telling her she was running late and that she would see her tomorrow. She didn't wish her luck or anything because Jasper was most likely there.
Finally, when everyone had been gone for a while, Bella realized that her bag was in the gym. With a groan she walked down and picked it up. She saw it sitting on the bleachers where the others had been. She was annoyed to find someone had tapped a message to it.
LOSER
Was that the best they had? Bella wondered. She picked up her back and looked over when she heard a noise. It was James. Bella's cheeks flushed when she realized what he was doing. She barely saw it through his half closed office door but she knew what the sounds meant. She saw a flash of vivid red hair. She wanted to disappear quickly. She ran at top speed out of the gym and into the parking lot.
The dizziness didn't fade so with much difficulty, Bella finally called Charlie to have him pick her up. She told him she was feeling really dizzy and didn't want to be driving. He said it would be about an hour before he could get away.
"Great," Bella sighed, sitting.
"Miss Swan, a moment."
It was James. Bella's mouth went dry and her heart began to race. But she rose and followed him into the school.
"How's your eye?" He asked smoothly. Bella touched it automatically.
"Tender, and sore."
"I'm sorry to hear that."
Bella swallowed hard. His voice was too casual and smooth. He arrived at his office and closed the door. "Have a seat," he said.
"No, thank you," Bella said.
His eyes flashed. He put his hand on her shoulder. "I said have a seat."
"I-I have to get going, my father will be here soon."
"I'm sure you can spare a few moments," James snapped. "Now I said sit down."
When she didn't, James squeezed her shoulder tight and pushed her into the chair. He put his hands on the arm rests and leaned in.
"Are you going to tell anyone what you saw?" He asked, drawing close to her. She could feel his cold breath on her face.
"N-no, s-sir."
James grabbed her shirt. Bella's heart began to race. His dark eyes held hers. He smelled of sweat and deodorant. "Are you going to behave in my class from now on?"
"Y-yes s-sir."
"Good," James whispered. His eyes left hers, but instead of letting her go his hand remained. His eyes traveled slowly down her face and her neck, resting momentarily on her underdeveloped chest and continuing down to her hips. "Good," he whispered again.
"C-can I go now?" Bella asked.
"Yes," James purred. "Just watch who you talk to."
Bella nodded and stood up quickly. She ran out of the gym and stopped in the parking lot. She was shaking so bad she had to sit.
"Bella?"
Bella turned to see Edward. He was walking towards her with his bag over one shoulder.
"What happened to your eye?"
"Volleyball," Bella muttered.
"Jesus that looks bad," Edward said sitting. "Can I take a look?"
"I-I guess."
Edward's hands were gentle and cool. His fingers pushed her hair back and tilted her head slightly. "Yeah, that's a bad one. It'll take a few days to heal. Put some ice on it when you get home."
Bella would have much rather used his hand. It felt so good on her face.
"You're warm," Edward said.
"Excuse me?"
"You're warmer than vampires. Not as hot as humans, but different from the other vampires."
"Well incase you haven't noticed I am a little different from the other vampires," Bella sighed.
"Are you okay?" Edward asked.
"Fine," Bella replied softly, looking away towards the street, "I just had a bad day."
Edward tried to read her mind but failed. Mentally he sighed. "Do you need a ride?" he asked.
"N-no, my dad is coming to get me."
"Can I stay and keep you company at least? I feel bad leaving you alone. Especially when no one is really here."
"I suppose," Bella said, "I mean it is up to you."
"Splendid. I'm surprised your friend isn't here. Alice is it?"
"Yeah," Bella said with a small smile, "she has a date."
"With that boy, Jasper, right?"
"How did you know?"
"Word travels fast. I already know the hot couples here," Edward said with a smile. He just left out the bit about Alice's mind screaming I love Jasper Hale, and he especially left out the part about Jasper mentally preparing and guessing how their night was going to go.
"So are you going to actually teach?" Bella asked. "I mean you've just been observing us."
"Grunge won't let me teach some classes."
"Which ones?" Bella asked.
"The one you're in."
"Ah, I guess that would be because he likes hating me."
"I guess so," Edward said with a small smile, "you really don't get along with him do you?"
"Is there any emotion deeper than loathing?" Bella asked. Edward chuckled.
"He seems to fancy Roselie and Victoria," Edward said. Bella nodded in agreement.
"Everyone likes Roselie, even if you don't want to."
"My friend has a thing for her," Edward said, "but he knew her when they were younger. So he's torn between how she is now and how she was."
"How she was?"
"Yeah, she used to be really quiet and sweet. I think it's that Victoria. She comes from a family of irritating people."
Bella shook her head and laughed. She found that shaking her head made her eye throb so she stopped. She jumped a little when she felt something cold on her eye.
"You're eye is starting to swell again," Edward muttered. The back of his hand was cold against her bruised eye.
"That feels good," Bella sighed. She flushed instantly.
"I figured I should use the back of my hand to avoid any confusion by onlookers."
"That would be best," Bella muttered. "Especially when my dad comes."
"I didn't think of that," Edward groaned. "But then again this doesn't look too suspicious."
"Nope."
They shared an awkward silence. Bella noticed her father's car in the distance and pushed his hand away with a quick warning. She stood up. "Thank you for everything, Edward."
"No problem," Edward said with a smile. He zipped off to his volvo before Charlie could see him.
--
Bella wasn't allowed to go back to school until her bruise cleared up. Charlie said it was a precaution, but she knew that he really was worried about her getting picked on worse than usual and for that she was grateful.
The problem was that the mansion was boring. She spent the afternoon in the nursery playing with her sister. They played with dolls and the massive house in the corner. Crimson pulled out her blocks and they built towers. Finally, the little girl crawled into Bella's lap for a nice nap.
So for the next hour Bella was stuck in the cushioned arm chair with her sister dominating her lap and a book. In the end it was fine. Bella ended up falling asleep herself. When she woke up Charlie was grinning from ear to ear with a camera in his hand.
"Daaaaaad," Bella moaned.
Crimson stirred at that and woke up. She yawned and looked up at Bella. "Hi, sissy."
"Hi," Bella said back.
--
"So where were you?" Alice asked.
"Dad kept me home," Bella said, walking through the lunch line with her.
"You going to get anything? You know you have to drink blood every once in a while."
"Brought it from home," Bella said. "Mmm...mountain lion."
"You're weird," Alice sighed. She settled on some O positive and they took their seats.
"Why did your dad keep you home?" Alice asked, opening her bottle. She took a drink. "Eew."
"No good today?"
"I think she gave me some A by mistake. Yuck."
"Want some of mine?" Bella asked, offering her own bottle filled with mountain lion blood.
"Nope, I'd rather eat crap."
"Gee thanks," Bella muttered. "I think it's good."
"So tell me why you got to skip school!"
"I had a black eye from gym. Victoria hit my eye with the volleyball."
"That sucks," Jasper said from her other side. Bella jumped.
"How long have you been there?!"
Jasper grinned and put his arm around her. "Aw, did I scare widdle Bewa?"
"Did someone get mad at you after?" Alice asked suddenly.
"No," Bella lied. "I sat in the locker room and called my dad to come pick me up."
"Oh," Alice said.
"I'm going to regret this but, why?"
Alice sighed. "I just had some weird dream where you had a black eye."
"Gee thanks. Really."
"Aw you know I don't want to think of you getting your ass kicked."
Bella responded by taking a drink.
--
Bella was kept after class. James brought her into his office and sat her down. She obeyed this time but she was stiff.
"You've been bad," James said, "slacking in my class. I expect one hundred percent from all of my students."
"I am trying, I promise," Bella said. "I can only do so much."
"Yes I suppose that human blood is," he paused and looked at the general flush in her pale skin, "slowing you down."
Bella shifted uncomfortably. Her gym uniform wasn't exactly covering everything. "Can I...go?" Bella asked.
"Stand up."
Bella was shaking so bad she couldn't so James pulled her to her feet. Bella's heart began to race but not in the way it did when Edward smiled at her.
His eyes were on her face. He touched her cheek. Bella pulled away and he grinned. "Are you going to resist me?" he asked.
"I-I need to g-go."
"Sweet little half blood. You smell so sweet," James purred in her ear. "I love the blood in your cheeks."
"Please, sir, I have to..."
James pushed her against the wall. He put his hands on either side of her and his body hovered over hers. Bella felt her knees shake and her body was weak. Her mind raced over and over. She squeezed her eyes closed. This wasn't real. It was a dream. Her breathing was becoming thin and fast.
James ran his finger along her neck, feeling her pulse under her skin. "Right here," he purred.
Bella felt tears in her eyes.
James ran his thumbnail against her skin in the place he touched before. Bella whimpered as his nail dug into her skin. James's eyes flashed with delight when her blood seeped out. He squeezed the cut and Bella winced.
"You're a good bleeder," James purred. He leaned down and licked the wound. "God your blood is so sweet."
"S-stop, p-please," Bella sobbed. James grinned. He dug his nail in again. He leaned in and licked the fresh blood. Bella froze. She shut down. James sucked on the cut and drew out more blood.
"I wonder," he supposed against her skin, "if I sucked out all your blood would you die?"
"Oh god," Bella whimpered. James pulled back and his eyes were redder.
"Can you keep a secret?" James asked in a throaty whisper. "Hm? Can you keep a secret for me?"
"Y-yes," Bella sobbed.
"If you do tell anyone, who will believe you?" James asked. "I mean nobody will believe a little halfbreed like you."
"P-please let me go," Bella was getting hysterical.
"If you tell anyone, I'll cut your sweet neck and drink your blood, and then we'll find out if you can live without it."
Bella didn't say anything. She just cried silently. James pulled back and grinned. "Clean yourself up, you look disgusting."
Bella stumbled out of his office and into the locker room. She stumbled into the showers and threw up. She left the school in a daze, forgetting that she had to meet Alice out front. She got into her car and sat. She gripped the wheel and bit her lip. She started the car and drove home with the radio blasting rock music.
She didn't say anything to anyone when she made it home. She went up to her room, locked the door and peeled off her clothes. She went into the bathroom and started the shower. She looked at her reflection in the mirror. The mark on her neck was beginning to bruise. She covered it with her hand. She looked like she had a hickey.
Strangely enough that was the one worry that was sticking out in her mind. What would her parents say when they noticed? What would Alice say? Would Edward think she was a slut? Was it cold enough to get away with a turtleneck?
She heard her father knocking on her door. "Bella?"
"I'm showing!" Bella called.
"With the door locked?"
"YES! GO AWAY!"
Bella stepped into the shower and the hot water burned her skin. She sank to the floor and cried silently into her arms.
TBC
Nothing much as far as end of story commentary goes. Review and enjoy!
