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DISCLAIMER: I am not Stephanie Meyer. I am not doing this for any profit.
New Beginnings
The next morning, I reached school on time. When I got off the car, I saw two girls leaning against the Ford parked next to my car. The girl on the right had a short hair-do with bright pink streaks on her originally blonde hair. The other girl, a red-head had bangs on her forehead which accentuated her grey eyes.
When they were gaping at me, I didn't know what to say. So, I just said, "Hi". They didn't answer for a minute, and then the blonde asked, "Is it a Valentino from the Winter Collection?", pointing at my jacket. Wow. I didn't expect fashionistas roaming around in Forks.
I deliberated, "I guess so."
To which, their faces lit up. The red-head said, "Wow. But it hasn't come to stores yet. How did you get it?"
"Oh, my aunt got it shipped from Italy." I replied honestly. I didn't know if I should have lied here.
They gawked even bigger at this. After a minute, they recollected themselves. The blonde said, "Um, I am Robin. And, she is Amanda." She pointed to her friend.
"Renesmee. It was nice to meet you." I replied.
"Nice to meet you too." Amanda exclaimed.
"Alright then, I'll see you later. I am getting late for the class."
"Sure". They squeaked in unison.
I had Economics in the building three, so I found my way to the class. As I entered the class, I noticed Skye sitting in the first row, skimming through her book. I took the seat next to her. She didn't acknowledge my presence.
"Hi." I wondered, what was wrong with her.
"Hey." She didn't even look up.
Before I could say another word, the class began. Mr. Abel taught Macroeconomics. He asked a question to Skye, but she was apparently oblivious to what was going around. I whispered the answer, and she repeated it to Mr. Abel. Okay, so this girl had her mind preoccupied with something, and Economics wasn't that thing right now.
I didn't try to force a conversation throughout the class. I had a lab in Biology II later. I was disappointed when I was paired with Amanda, the red-head whom I met in the morning. She was elated, and couldn't stop blabbering about how fabulous my fashion sense was, until the class began. She would surely get along with Aunt Alice, I thought.
We had to make slides of the different permanent tissues in plants. Amanda let me do the lab all by my own. I finished it before anyone else, which left a lot of time to talk.
"So, are you new in town?", she asked interested.
"No. Actually, I was home schooled after my parents died." – I felt like stabbing myself every time I said that – "until recently."
"Oh," was all she could say. I probably made her feel awkward.
"You've been here for a while, I suppose." I changed the topic.
"Yeah, I was born here. My mom run's a boutique in Port Angeles. I stay with my dad, he owns the Dowling's." She said it in a matter-of-fact manner.
And, then the bell rang. I got up and gathered my books into a stack.
"So, since you don't know anyone here, will you join us at the lunch?", she asked.
"Yeah, sure." I replied. I didn't want to hurt her feelings, plus she didn't seem like any of the mean pretty girls from some girly movie.
I had government and Algebra II in the next two classes. I didn't find either of my admirers anywhere there. At lunch, when I entered the cafeteria, I found both of them waiting for me, at a table on the left side of the hall. They smiled at me. I smiled back, picked up a tray and took a piece of pizza, a bowl full of spaghetti with meat balls and a glass full of milkshake.
I took a chair beside Amanda. I saw Skye entering the cafeteria. I tried not to look at her. I still couldn't find a good reason why she was acting weird in the morning. One thing was sure, she didn't like me. I wasn't going to force my company on her.
She obtained her tray of food; she came up to my table and asked me, "Can I join you guys?"
I was taken aback for a second. Before I could answer, Robin lashed at her, "Of course not, weirdo! You have no place here." Amanda was as stunned as I was.
Skye was surely hurt, and I felt bad for her. I got up and said, "Well, I would like to sit with you. Let's go over there." I pointed at a vacant table nearby. Robin's jaw dropped. Amanda looked at me, her expression hasn't changed much.
Skye followed me and sat on the chair, in front of me. She didn't speak a word.
"Just ignore them." I didn't know how else to make her feel better.
She nodded, and replied, "I am didn't mean to ignore you this morning. I am sorry for that."
"You are forgiven. If something is bothering you, then you can tell me. That is, if you want to. There is no pressure." I said, genuinely wanting to help.
"Um, I guess I can tell you. But I don't know what you will think about me if I confide in you." She measured her words.
"Don't worry about that. Just go on." I persuaded her.
Before Skye could utter another word, someone called my name and I turned around.
"Renesmee, listen, I am really sorry about what Robin said to your friend." Amanda nudged Robin a little nearer to us.
Robin unwillingly stepped forward, and she studied Skye face for a minute. Skye raised her eyebrows, waiting for Robin to speak.
"Look, I know I was rude, but I didn't want to hurt you, and I am sorry for what I said. But seriously, you need some grooming. I mean, look at your glasses. They are hideous" Amanda cleared her throat; Robin paused and she gave Amanda a puzzled look. Amanda just shook her head. Skye rolled her eyes. I was fighting a smile all this while. And then she continued, "I can help you in this department, if you want me too." Robin was still staring at Skye searchingly.
"I'll think about it." Skye replied glumly. I was surprised at this. How can one apology mend things between people? I assumed that the past was left behind by either of them.
When the bell rang, Skye stood up and said to me, "Let's go. We have English now."
I nodded, and the two followed us. We were already late for the class, so we took the seats whichever were empty. After the class Skye and Amanda took off to attend Calculus.
Robin had PE with me, so we walked to the Gym. After changing into Gym clothes, she grudgingly walked to her gym partner, a rotund blond boy. We had to play tennis doubles again. I was surprised when my partner, Kevin smiled at me before we began the game. Most of the time, I covered up for him; I had sharper reflexes. We won all three games. When the game ended, he came up to me. He deliberated for sometime, and then he said, "Hey, I am Kevin. You play quite well."
"Thanks. You play well too." I replied.
"Well, then – I'll see you around". He said grinning. I guess I should get used to the small talk.
"Yeah, sure." I breathed, turning to the changing room.
I drove my car through the main road, and then something on my mind made me hault at the shoulder of the road. I fished my cell phone out of my pocket, and speed dialed Jacob's number.
"Hello?" , greeted a gruff masculine voice.
"Jake?", I asked, though I already knew it was him.
"Hey kid, how are you doing?", he called cheerfully. I hated it when he called me kid.
"Um, good. Actually I was hoping to talk to you after school yesterday. Were you busy?" I tried not to sound pushy.
"Uh, yeah, I was a little busy. Quil had to go out of the town for a while. So I had to look after the garage on my own. What is it that you want to talk about? Is anything wrong?", he asked, his voice now distraught.
"No, nothing's wrong. It's just that we don't spend time together that often. I really miss you."
"Yeah, I miss you too. Um, hey can we talk later? I am actually in the middle of something." He asked distracted.
"Sure, sure." And then, there was silence on the line.
That's not like him. He never behaved in this way before. He would leave his most important work even if I needed someone to baby-sit me. Even, if there were so many people around, he would volunteer to look after me. Then, I thought maybe I was being unreasonable. He has his own life, besides now I am a grown up. I don't need anyone to look after me. I tuned on the radio, it was a Pink Floyd song. I increased the volume, in an effort to push all the thoughts out of mind.
As I got out of the car, when I reached home, my cell phone rang. It should be Jake. He said he'd talk to me later. I pressed the green button and pushed the phone to my ear.
"Jake?" I inquired earnestly.
"No, its your mom."
"Oh, I was talking to him half an hour back. He was busy, so he said he'd call back."
"Maybe, then he's busy and he'd talk to you when he gets time. Anyway, sweetheart how's school? Do you like it? Did you make any friends?" She asked worried, probably remembering her first time in school.
"School is good. Yeah, I liked school. It's all new to me. And yes, I did make a couple of friends, Skye, Amanda, Kevin and Robin. They are very nice to me." I replied, trying to appease her.
"That's really good. That school has a special place in my heart. That's where I met your Dad. I am glad that you like it, or else you can move to Hanover with us anytime. You know we miss you." She'd persuaded me to move to Hanover every time she'd talk to me. She either missed me too much or she felt guilty of leaving me here, or maybe both.
"I know what it means to you. I like it very much here."- I enunciated, hoping that she'd stop bringing it up again. –" Yeah, and I miss you both a lot."
"Hey, your daddy wants to talk to you". And, she handed the phone to dad.
"Hey, how's my little girl?" A smooth baritone replaced my mom's voice.
"Hey, dad. I am fine. How are you guys doing?" I missed him a lot. Whenever I missed him, I'd play his piano; the same symphony he used to play for me when I was small.
"Honey, we are doing well. We don't like to leave you alone over there. Are you sure you don't want to come and stay with us here?" He asked hoping I would change my mind.
"I miss you Dad, but I think we had had this talk before. I don't want to leave Forks, and that is final." I snapped.
"Whoa, you have your mom's temper." He breathed. I could imagine mom rolling her eyes. "Okay, if you do not want this, then I would not ask you again."
"Dad, I just reached home. And I am really hungry. I'll talk to you tomorrow. Okay?"
"Oh, yeah. Sure. Love you. Bye." And I hung up the phone.
The next day Kevin and his two friends joined our table at lunch. One of them, Jim had glossy black hair with bangs of various lengths in the front. Later, I realized the other guy, who had a dark complexion was Sean. He was lean and was taller than almost all the kids. All the animosity between the girls was gone. Skye was planning to get a pair of contact lens this weekend. And, none other than Robin was going with her to help her out. It was fun to watch their new found camaraderie. Skye did not get a chance to tell me what she was about to tell me yesterday. I thought of calling her, but then I felt it was better if I let her decide when she feels like talking to me about it again.
Things with Jacob were getting weirder. He never had time to meet me. And whenever, I would go over to La Push, he would very conveniently, have to go out of Forks. Whenever I called him, we would exchange the usual pleasantries, talk for another minute or so, and then he would find some or the other reason to hang up on me. I could imagine all bad things that were worrying him. But that's not the Jake I knew, he has always been carefree, at the worst times. He wasn't as upset when the Italian vampires were out at our doorstep to kill us. I asked him, if it has to do anything with Billy or Seth or anybody that I know. He would just deny it saying that I was the one imagining things. I decided that I couldn't put my mind to rest until I get to meet him. And I have to find a way to do so.
Thanks for reading this chapter. I hope you liked it.
