OMG! You guys I am so sorry for not updating lately and thanks for being so patient! My teachers just decided that life would be so much more fun if all their students were buried under a pile of homework so far that they can't see the light! Grr... they annoy me so much. But anyway, thanks for waiting and on with the show!
Disclaimer: I own nothing. But Tali. And Kevin, but he doesn't show much.
Me: Oh Stephanie *creepy smile while holding axe*
SM: *whimpers behind boxes in a corner*
Me: Come on, Jasper? Pretty please? *pouts and swings axe at boxes*
SM: Arrrrgggh! Okay okay! Jasper only!
Me: Thank you *puts down axe and smiles*
SM: *jumps up* HAHAHAHA! THEY'RE ALL MINE! *Runs away*
Me: *Growls and chases with axe*
4. Cullen and Retriever Boy
I awoke the next day with a groan and stretched out my arms uncomfortably, my bones aching having lain on them strangely all night. I noticed with a pang that Kiv's note was scrunched up in my fist and I smoothed it out with a throbbing heart. I placed it softly back in the shoebox and then slid the box under my bed. I lay there for a moment more before my alarm spurred me into action – well I moved enough to slam my fist down on the 'off' switch. Bella would wake me up if I was too late anyway. But I found that I just couldn't get back to sleep. As soon as my brain had become active, images of the vampires at school had filled my brain and I screamed into my pillow. If these things are making me worry every waking minute then I am dragging Bella back to Phoenix with me! There was a soft tap at my door and I grunted to let whoever it was know that they could come in.
"Hey Tali," Bella said softly and I pulled my head out of the pillow to look at her. Did she sound happy? She looked happy. Despite her demeanour yesterday, Bella had a smile on her face.
"What are you so happy about?" I croaked, shielding my eyes against the morning light as Bella pulled back my curtains.
"It's not raining," Bella said, gesturing happily to the window.
"Yet," I reminded her as I forced myself to sit up. She frowned at me.
"Way to ruin my good mood Tali," she growled and stood up from where she had been resting by the window seat. "You gotta get ready by the way," she said as she walked out of the room. She should be proud; she didn't even trip over my guitar case that Charlie had thoughtfully placed in my doorway. With another groan, I stood up and stumped down the hall to take a shower.
The day was boring. Excessively boring, apart from trying to scare away some of the over-friendly teenagers of Forks High (*cough*Kevin*cough*) and now that I knew what to expect from my day, there were no surprises. The kid Bella said was Mike came and sat across the aisle from Bella and chatted non-stop to her (as he tried to do to me as well) and only stopped when I threatened to give him a black eye if he didn't shut up. In my defence, he cut me off when I was trying to talk to Bella.
I also noticed that the stares had reduced quite considerably from yesterday. Mostly the seniors. But I noticed that Bella looked a bit more comfortable, so that made me happy too. I hate seeing her uncomfortable. But I was a bit worried. Something had happened in her biology lesson, I knew that much. She hadn't been acting right all that afternoon and I was worried that it was going to happen again today. I really wanted to know what had gotten to her like that, but I knew better than to ask. If Bella wanted to tell me, she would.
By the time lunch came around, I was a walking zombie. I was so bored with all my lessons that I had been put to sleep a grand total of three times. A new record for even me! It was only once a day in Phoenix on average. But hey, this place does things to you. I caught sight of Bella trying to slip inconspicuously through the cafeteria doors and failed miserably as half the eyes in the building turned to her. Geez, do they implant trackers in the new kids and give every other student their exact whereabouts? I quickly grabbed her and pulled her over to the line for food, shielding her from the stares by standing on the side closest to the tables.
"Thanks Tali," Bella smiled at me, grabbing another salad and pulling it onto her plate. I frowned and tugged a small bowl of pasta onto it as well. She frowned back but didn't say anything. We're both as stubborn as each other and we know it.
"No problem Bells. You okay? You look a little tense?" Tense was an understatement. She waited for me while I grabbed my food and I watched her. Her muscles were tightened and her eyes kept darting to the corner of the cafeteria. Her knuckles were white on her lunch tray. "Seriously though Bells, you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. I just don't like the staring, that's all," she gave a small smile and made a visible effort to relax. That's good Bella, now make it so I believe you, I thought in my head but kept silent. Like I said, if she wanted me to know, she would tell me.
It wasn't long before Jessica joined us, and with her, Mike. He practically dragged Bella off to their table. My sister shot me a pleading glance and I let out a loud growl. Mike immediately stopped and glanced over at me. I darted over and linked arms with my sister and pulled her away from him, leading her to Jessica's table where we both sat down.
"Thanks once again," Bella smiled as she picked at her salad.
"Hey, you're my sister. I can't just let him kidnap you." She smiled again and we both dug in. I rolled my eyes as I saw Mike slip into the seat next to Bella. She seriously doesn't want me to whack him?
Half-way through our lunch, I glanced over at Bella, who was sitting still as stone with Mike rambling on about some random topic to her. Her eyes mostly stayed fixed on her food, but every now and then, her chocolate orbs flicked up, to the same spot she had been looking at earlier. I let out a mental groan as I followed her gaze. The murderers. Why was she intrigued with creatures that could hurt her! Damn danger magnet. But something was missing, and it took me a moment to realise the copper-boy – Edward wasn't it? – wasn't at their table. Stupid bludging mythical creature.
I looked back at Bella. She looked like she was waiting for something. Wait a minute, was she looking for the copper – no, Edward? I nearly snarled out loud. It was with great reluctance that I turned to Angela, the only sane girl at the table besides Bella. Well, was she really sane? She was looking for a murderer after all. "Hey Angela," the words stuck in my throat. I hated talking to people, but I needed information. It could be worse. I could be talking to Jessica. Angela looked up, startled that I should be talking to anyone but I smiled at her and she smiled tentatively back. "Do you know where Cullen is?" I jerked my head at the table in the corner and I felt Bella stiffen beside me.
"Ummm... no, sorry," she stammered, "It's usually just sunny days that the Cullen's aren't here." Figures.
"Do you know what lesson he normally has next?"
"Yeah, he has biology with Bella and Mike and I," Angela nodded and it was all I could do not to hiss in rage. I thanked her before I did something stupid and turned back to my pizza, stabbing it ferociously with a plastic knife. Bella was in major danger just by being in the same school as the leeches, but really, the same class! Something clicked in my brain. Bella hadn't been acting right since biology yesterday. That Cullen kid must have done something to her. Oh he was goin' down when he got back! Oh right, I can't do that. Well I can at least yell at him a bit.
My mind made up, I swung my bag over my shoulder, dumped my tray and walked calmly outside into the cold air. It helped me breathe a bit better instead of hyperventilating with anger like I had been doing earlier. I flopped down on the thankfully dry grass outside the cafeteria and looked up at the blinding white sky. I think I even saw a hint of sun poking through the clouds. The bell rang not fifteen minutes later and I caught up to Bella as she made her way to her class. Of course, she was accompanied by Mike. God, that kid will have her timetable memorised by Thursday!
"Does he follow you to every class?" I growled in Bella's ear, glaring at Mike who smiled obliviously back.
"He's kind of like a Golden Retriever," Bella giggled, though there was a strained edge to her voice. I wasn't surprised, considering the occupants of the class, but at least Cullen wasn't there today.
"Come on doggy, good doggy," I laughed back and Bella giggled. We separated at the door and I made my way over to my Government class, and held back the urge to punch Kevin in the jaw as he came over to me and tried to take my bag for me. I wasn't helpless damn it!
It was a very long lesson, but I was thankful that I had neither Mike, nor Kevin in my class. My spirits lifted as I jogged to Gym. Hopefully the coach would let us play today. I could start a new file of 'Bella's Most Embarrassing Gym Moments' which I had to unfortunately stop after she dropped it as a subject. She didn't disappoint and hit about three people on the head with volleyball – those were the ones that I wasn't in time to save for her. She seemed more distracted than usual, and I was thinking about shifting the blame from Cullen to Retriever boy but my thoughts stopped.
Edward was away the day after his first class with Bella. What if it was something to do with her blood? But surely that wouldn't be something that they would risk? Surely they would make sure everything was under control before going to a school? And poor Bella would be blaming herself. She was just that type of person. I sighed and looked sympathetically over at her. The ball was flying straight at her. I grimaced and dived in front of it, making it fly straight over the net. Bella whispered thanks to me and I went back to my position. The coach looked like he was torn between disapproval and relief. I'd let him think about it then, because it was going to happen a lot more than just this lesson. At least the students seemed thankful. Bella's face was beetroot red by the time gym was over and I had to hold in laughter as she practically ran from the locker room.
I took a little longer to get out, but when I did, I headed straight for the school parking lot. I glanced over to Bella's parking space and saw her rummaging through her bag for something. I grabbed my skateboard from the bush I had kicked it into as I had arrived that morning (that's just what I do okay? Nobody takes skateboards from bushes, not even in Phoenix) and rolled over to the truck. Not noticing me, Bella continued to dig through her bag. I knocked on her window and she jumped, letting out a little yelp. Her eyes narrowed as she glared at me through the glass. On someone else that expression might look threatening, but I knew this girl, she was incapable of causing anyone but herself pain.
"Where are you going?" I asked through the glass and in response she held up a list and a jar that was labelled 'FOOD MONEY'. Good, 'cause I can't survive on pizza, bacon and eggs alone. I gave her the thumbs up and rolled away, hearing her truck start behind me. But as I skated towards the gates, I caught sight of Kevin running straight towards me with a stupid grin on his face. Desperately I changed direction – and crashed straight into a brick wall. Since when was there a wall there? I looked up and my heart raced as my eyes narrowed. Oh perfect.
AN: Oooooooh, who'd she crashed into huh? Can you guess? But once again I'm sorry that I didn't update for a while, I'll try to a bit more now, promise. I just have to finish a few essay's now. Two major ones actually. -.- Perfect.
Anyway, this wasn't the best chapter I know but the next one will definitely be better. Hey, who else is looking forward to Tali yelling at Edward? I know I am XD