Chapter 2

2006

"Hey, Bells!"

Bella glanced up to see her best friend, Jacob Black, heading her way. She smiled. "Jake!" She met him near the school steps.

"So, Dad's given permission for a bonfire on Saturday after graduation. Quil's 'sneaking' beer from his parents' store."

"Which mean," Quil piped up, "that as long as we plead the Fifth if asked, Dad's giving it to us."

"Hello, love," Edward greeted Bella. He nodded to the other boys. "Jake, Quil."

"Edward," Jake said. He rolled his eyes at Bella. He always thought Eddie-boy was a douche. "I'll see you in Lit, Bells." He and Quil ran up the steps to their first class.

"I really don't see why you continue to associate with those rejects from La Push," Edward said as they climbed the school steps.

Bella paused and faced her boyfriend. "I've said this before, Edward. They are not rejects. I've grown up with them. Sam is Valedictorian of our class. Paul, Jared and Leah are graduating with honors. Hell, the others are in the top 15% of our class. Most, if not all, have received scholarships." She sighed. "We've agreed to disagree on this subject. Drop it."

"As you wish, love." He kissed the top of her head while he seethed internally.

"What the hell?" Ben Cheney whispered into his girlfriend's ear. "His parents are the nicest people in town and he's a racist dick."

"It's cause a few of the La Push boys have been eyeing Bella," Angela whispered back.

"They look at you too. You don't see me getting up in Embry's face about it. Or talk down about him."

"No. You would just invite him to join us," she giggled.

"Good morning, class," Ms. Reed began. "Since this is the last day of school for seniors, we're just going to read today. First, I have tokens to give you. There are from an anonymous donor. When I call your name, please come and get them.

"Wha'cha got there, Jake?" Bella asked.

"A football." He showed her the token. His name and number were displayed.

Ben came back with a football. "It's pretty heavy for a supposed stuffed whatchamacallit."

"Toy," Angela said as she took it. "You're right. It is heavy."

Class passed quickly. At the next period, Bella noticed several people putting their tokens in their lockers.

Soon it was time for lunch. Bella and Angela stopped in the restroom first.

"When have you decided to do it?" Angela queried.

"I don't know. Maybe tonight." Bella sighed. "I don't know why I said yes to begin with."

"To make a certain someone jealous." She hip-bumped her friend. "It worked."

"Yeah. You know, I feel kinda bad. At least Jake and the guys cover for me."

All of a sudden, a series of explosions rocked the school. The lights went out. All the girls could hear were the alarms and the screams of their fellow classmates. They fumbled their way to the door. After they pulled the door open, they stared in wonder at the destruction.

Where there were once lockers and walls, concrete and rubble were all that was left.

"Oh my God," Angela wheezed.

"Is that a hand?" Bella whispered.

She glanced over to where Bella pointed. Climbing over the debris, she checked for a pulse. She noticed a ring and looked closer. "It's Tyler."

"Oh God. We gotta get outta here, Ang." She glanced down the hall to where a faint light could be seen. "This way."

Charlie Swan was buttoning up his uniform shirt when the ground shook. His wide eyes met his companion's.

"Was that an earthquake?" she asked. Sirens filled the air.

"Chief?" his radio squawked.

"Go 'head."

"There's been an explosion at the school."

"Come again?" Surely he didn't hear that right.

"The junior high and high school exploded."

"I'm on my way. Try to get help from the National Guard."

"Will do, Chief."

"Oh God, Charlie. The kids are at lunch right now."

He grabbed her shoulders. "I know it's going to be hard, but I need you to stay here for ten minutes before you leave."

"But. . ."

"If one of the kids are hurt, how do you think he would react if both of us show up at the same time?"

She took a deep breath. "You're right." He gave her a passionate kiss before leaving out the back door. She glanced over at a picture of her family. "He'd kill us all," she whispered.