Spending a week to get used to their home, Alexis wouldn't leave Rosalie's side, she's her little shadow. Rosalie has signed up her daughter at the elementary school, and went to the High School to pick her classes. She would have picked co-op at the elementary school, Alexis's class to be exact, but it's late in the semester.
When she went into the school to pick her classes, Esme sat in the office with them, with Alexis on her lap.
Taking her time driving into town with Alexis in the back, on their way to the elementary school, Alexis is scared. Sitting up front with Emmett, Rosalie is humming to the radio letting Alexis get calmer. Normally as vampires you may drive fast, but Rosalie wants to treat Alexis safely.
"Will you stay for as long as you can, Rose?" Alexis asks quietly.
"Yes, I will." Rosalie nods turning down the music a little so Alexis can hear her better, "I don't mind if I'm late for school. You're more important."
"What about you, Emmett? Will you come in too?"
"Do you want me to?" Emmett asks turning in his seat to see Alexis. Noticing she has tears in her eyes, Emmett sighs.
"Yes."
"I will come in with you. Are you okay?"
"Scared."
Feeling the car hit the shoulder, Rosalie slowed down enough to do so. Parking the car, Rosalie checks for other cars before climbing out. Opening the back door, Rosalie frowns seeing and smelling Alexis's tears.
"Honey, if you want to, we can turn around and go back home." Rosalie speaks directly to her daughter.
"I don't want you to leave." Alexis admits, "But, I know you need to go to school." Alexis looks down at her lap as tears fall down her face. Feeling herself get unbuckled and lifted out of her car seat, Alexis buries her face into Rosalie's straight, long, blonde hair.
"How about this, Emmett and I will stay as long as we can, but on our lunch break, we will come check up on you?"
"Really?" Alexis whispers hugging Rosalie around her neck.
"I promise."
Arriving to the elementary school, Rosalie carries Alexis inside with Emmett next to her. Arriving to the office, the principal, who was waiting for them in his office walks out. Greeting them, the man smiles and leads the way to the Kindergarten classroom.
"So, little Alexis Hale, could you tell me why you stopped going to school?" The principal asks. Shaking her head not answering, Alexis hides her face holding onto Rosalie.
"I adopted her." Rosalie states, "Her family, well things didn't turn out well."
"They died?"
"Yes."
"Oh, poor girl." The man looks to Alexis, "It is so late in the school year, don't be surprised if she has to repeat."
"She's going to be fine. We both have to get used to being here."
"That's fine." The man smiles looks from Alexis to Rosalie, "So you are a teenage parent?"
"Yes." Rosalie nods, "My family is fine with it and support me."
"Good. Good. Well, get little Alexis settled. Have a good day." Watching the man leave, Rosalie gets Alexis to look up at her.
"You be good, okay? Don't go home with anyone but us." Alexis nods, "Don't accept food from strangers, either."
"I won't." Alexis whispers.
"Have fun." Emmett jumps in smiling, "Stay an angel."
"Okay." Alexis giggles. Feeling Emmett kiss her forehead, he opens the classroom door in front of them. Hearing the other older kids scream and run around, Alexis flinches and hides her face in Rosalie's shoulder. Rubbing her daughter's back, Rosalie walks into the classroom with Emmett.
Upon seeing Emmett, the kids scream and run away from them.
"Calm down!" The kids' teacher calls out. Walking over to the couple and Alexis, the teacher, Miss Nelly, smiles at them, "Your sister must be my new student."
"She's my daughter. I adopted her." Rosalie speaks calmly. Seeing Miss Nelly's surprised look, Rosalie looks down to Alexis, "Honey, could you say hi to your new teacher?"
"Hi." Alexis peeks out, tucking her head under Rosalie's chin hanging onto her tighter.
"Hi, Alexis. My name is Miss Nelly." Miss Nelly looks at Alexis directly. Her blue eyes makes Alexis feel like she's on the ocean. Not liking the feeling, Alexis looks away and at the other kids. Seeing the painting station, Alexis ignores her mom, Emmett and Miss Nelly's talking.
A while later, Alexis frowns watching Rosalie and Emmett leave. It is now ten in the morning. As the door closes, Alexis wipes her fallen tears and looks around not knowing what to do. Heading over to the paint station, Alexis picks up the brush and dips it into the blue paint.
"Alright everyone, let's learn our numbers." Miss Nelly calls out getting the attention of the other kids. Putting down her paint, Alexis gets up and joins the other kids. Staying silent, Alexis doesn't know what to do.
As her teacher calls on everyone, her included, they learn their numbers. Alexis is way ahead of the game too. Looking longing at the paint station, Alexis slowly moves in the direction hopefully without her teacher knowing. Reaching the table, Miss Nelly sighs and walks over to Alexis.
"Alexis, we're not done." Miss Nelly speaks up. Staying silent, Alexis ignores Miss Nelly's outstretched hand and starts to paint, "Alexis, go join the others."
Alexis shakes her head.
"Now!" Miss Nelly roars, making Alexis jump and start to whimper. Looking up at her angry teacher, tears form in her eyes and her chin quivers, "It's not paint time. Get over there."
Knowing she made her teacher mad, Alexis lets her tears fall. Hugging her knees to her, Alexis curls herself into a ball. Hearing laughter from the other kids, Alexis cries harder.
"Sweetie, why are you being bad?" Miss Nelly frowns kneeling in front of her new student. Hearing no reply, her teacher's frown deepens, "Alexis, please talk to me."
"No." Alexis shakes her head, "Rose says I'm not bad." Alexis peeks up at Miss Nelly.
"It's not nice to ignore your teacher. That's being bad."
"No."
"Yes. It is, Alexis."
"I want. I want Rose." Alexis whispers.
"You have a couple more hours here, Alexis."
"I. Want. Rose!" Alexis growls, narrowing her eyes at her teacher.
"Go to the naughty chair. Right now."
"No."
"Now, Alexis." Feeling Miss Nelly take her wrist into her hand, Alexis struggles as her teacher walks her over to the chair in the corner.
"LET ME GO!" Alexis screams. Getting picked up and sat down on the chair, Miss Nelly is furious.
"Stay here, Alexis. You have been a very bad girl."
"Shut up." Alexis snaps turning away from her teacher, she crosses her arms and stares at the wall.
By lunch hour, Alexis refuses to eat and no matter how many times Miss Nelly tells her to stay in the chair, she always heads back to the paint station.
Hearing a knock on the door, Alexis has her face hidden in her knees, sitting on the naughty chair.
Feeling someone touch her back, Alexis flinches.
"Honey, are you okay?" Hearing Rosalie's voice, Alexis pulls away making Rosalie's hand fall from her back, "Honey, why are you acting this way?"
"I hate it here." Alexis admits frowning.
"Honey, this does not give you the right to act this way."
"I wanted you. Why did you leave?" Alexis whimpers starting to cry. Kissing Alexis's cheek, Rosalie strokes her hair out of her face.
"I have to go to school. You know that. If I had it my way, I would have gotten Esme to be your teacher. But you wanted to come, remember?"
"Stupid me."
"You're not stupid, sweetie. You're scared."
"Am I bad?" Alexis sobs.
"No. This is a new town for you. Just try to listen to Miss Nelly."
"She is mean."
"Why do you say that?" Licking her lips to get them wet, Alexis slowly lifts the sleeve of her shirt up for Rosalie to see the forming bruise around her wrist, "What happened?"
"She," Alexis stutters, "She hurts."
"Did she hit you?"
"No."
"Did she touch you?"
"Yes." Alexis nods, "She scares me." Alexis whispers like she is telling her mom a secret.
"Miss Hale, I have to ask you to leave. It's time for the kids to get back to work." Miss Nelly speaks. Looking at the young teacher, Rosalie glares.
"Never touch my daughter again." Rosalie snaps, gently picking Alexis up and sets her on her hip. Miss Nelly goes to speak, but seeing that Alexis has shown her, the bruise, the teacher goes silent.
"It was by accident."
"That's a lie." Rosalie turns away and picks up Alexis's backpack and coat. Setting her daughter on the ground, Rosalie changes her indoor shoes into her boots and slips on her coat. Putting the shoes into the backpack, Rosalie notices that Alexis's lunch has not been moved, "You never fed her either?!"
"Rose." Alexis sniffles earning herself Rosalie's attention, "I wouldn't eat."
"Why?"
"Scared." Picking her daughter back up, Rosalie storms out of the classroom with Alexis in her arms. Slamming the office door open, Rosalie signs Alexis out and informing them that she is Alexis's mother.
"Give us a call if she's off tomorrow." The front desk informs Rosalie. Nodding, Rosalie lied saying Alexis is sick. Leaving the school, Rosalie sets Alexis on the ground. Taking her daughter's hand, they begin their walk down the road to the High School.
"Rose." Alexis whispers stopping to pick up some snow.
"Yes?" Rosalie turns to Alexis to only end up with snow on her coat. Cracking a smile as Alexis giggles, Rosalie gets a handful and tosses it at her daughter, making her squeal.
Laughing with her daughter, Alexis goes to join her again when she slips and falls. Catching her in time before she could hit her head, Rosalie picks her up right away. Alexis starts to cry in shock.
"Shh. Shh. I got you." Rosalie whispers beginning her walk to the school again. Scared, Alexis hugs her mom tightly. Arriving to the school, Alexis has a few tears still in her eyes, but she's out of the shock stage.
Spotting Emmett, Alice, Edward and Jasper, Rosalie walks over to them, as they stand by their two cars.
"What happened?" Alice asks spotting the bruise, "Who do I hurt?"
"She's not going back any time soon." Rosalie states sadly.
"Who hurt her?" Emmett growls.
"Her teacher. She said it was an accident." Rosalie rolls her eyes.
"Bullshit." Emmett mutters angrily.
"I'm taking her home. Tell the office I went home because I'm sick."
"Okay." Alice agrees.
"Thanks, Alice." Rosalie smiles sadly at her sister. Climbing into her car after setting Alexis in her car seat and buckling her up, Rosalie buckles up before leaving the school.
On their way home, Rosalie is furious, not at Alexis but at her daughter's teacher. Sure, they don't know of Alexis's past, but if Alexis reacted fearfully, wouldn't it have been a big clue?
Lost in her thoughts, Rosalie drives numb all the way to their home. Arriving there, Rosalie parks in the garage before climbing out. Helping Alexis out, Rosalie takes her backpack before taking her hand. Helping her up the stairs and into the house, Alexis is calmer. Gently closing the door, Esme walks into the kitchen to see her furious daughter, and a nervous looking Alexis.
"Alice called and told me. How are you, sweetie?" Esme informs Rosalie before kneeling down in front of Alexis.
"Hurts." Alexis admits looking up at Rosalie, "Rose, help."
Picking up her daughter, Esme quickly grabs a little ice pack from the freezer and wraps it up in a towel. Esme hands Rosalie the ice as Rosalie speeds into the living room. Sitting down, Esme removes Alexis's boots and coat before Rosalie gently sets the ice pack on her wrist.
"Cold." Alexis whimpers knowing she has to stay still.
"I know. Just hang in there, honey." Rosalie closes her eyes knowing that Alexis is in pain. Grabbing the ice pack as it burns her wrist, Alexis starts to cry. Throwing it onto the ground, she hides herself against Rosalie's side, "What happened?"
"Burns." Alexis cries.
"Honey, may I look at it?" Feeling Alexis shiver and shake her head, Rosalie sighs, "Can you move it?" Hearing a crack before Alexis sobs, Rosalie fears the worst.
"It's sprained." Esme sighs after forcing Alexis to let her see, "But we will go see Carlisle to make sure."
"No." Alexis shakes as she cradles her arm.
"Please, honey?" Rosalie begs. Looking Alexis in the eye, the little girl sighs. Getting up, Alexis goes to crawl off the couch, but trips over her own feet. Catching her daughter in time, Alexis immediately pants in fear. Carefully setting Alexis on her feet, she has tremors. Grabbing onto Rosalie's arm, Alexis tries to climb up onto her lap without using her sore arm. Lifting Alexis up gently, Esme puts on her boots and coat.
Carrying Alexis out to Esme's car, Alexis refuses to release Rosalie, which makes her sit in the back next to Alexis. Having her arm wrapped around her, Alexis cuddles up to her, while sitting in her car seat.
Arriving to the hospital, Rosalie carries Alexis in as Esme went ahead to speak to the front desk. Following Esme down a hallway, Rosalie spots Carlisle. Speeding up her slow walk, Rosalie approaches her dad.
"Hey, little lady." Carlisle greets Alexis. Seeing him, Alexis relaxes but still hides her hurt arm against Rosalie's body carefully, "Come into my office." Opening the door, Esme, Rosalie and Alexis head inside. Closing the door behind them, Carlisle sits down on his desk, "Rosalie, I know this will hurt both of you, but I need to see her wrist."
"I know." Rosalie frowns. Walking up to him, Carlisle reaches out for Alexis's arm.
"May I please see, little lady?" Hearing her whimper and flinch, Carlisle gently takes her upper arm and turns it for him to see. Carefully rolling her sleeve up, Alexis lets out a cry and tears start to fall, "Don't cry, little lady. I'll give you a treat for all your hard work soon." Gently turning her arm from side to side, and front to back, Alexis lets out a scream and sobs when Carlisle gently presses on it, "I will get you to take her to the x-ray to make sure. I doubt it's broken. Just sprained and tender."
Walking with his wife, daughter and granddaughter, Carlisle takes them to the x-ray and the girls sit and wait for their turn.
When it does arrive, Alexis goes in with Carlisle. Helping Alexis on the table, the x-ray lady frowns seeing the bruise. Doing her job, she takes pictures of Alexis's wrist. Giving Alexis a sucker, Carlisle opens it and gives it to her. It's red. Sticking it in her mouth, Alexis signals for him to pick her up. Doing just that, Carlisle carries her out and sets her on Rosalie's lap.
"You gave her sugar?" Rosalie smiles as Alexis cuddle into her and rest her head on Rosalie's shoulder, content.
"She was my best patient today. And she's my granddaughter; of course I would give her sugar." Carlisle chuckles, "We have to wait for the x-rays to come back. Feel free to stay here or go to my office."
"We'll stay here." Esme smiles.
"Good. I have other patients to see, but when I think the x-rays are done, I'll return."
"Sounds good."
About an hour later, Carlisle is furious when he returns with casting supplies and the x-ray results.
"I thought it was sprained?" Rosalie roars making little Alexis jump and whimper.
"It is. But she had a previous injury that healed wrong. That would explain why she's in so much pain." Carlisle explains.
"You have to re-break her wrist?" Esme asks quietly.
"Yes."
Taking the supplies and the girls into his office, Carlisle gets Rosalie to hold Alexis tightly, with her vampire strength. Esme covers Alexis's eyes before a loud crack is heard on the count of three. Alexis lets out a scream and goes to pull away but Esme holds her arm in place tightly. Feeling Alexis give up struggling, she sobs.
"I know this is a bad place to ask, but what colour of a cast do you want?" Carlisle asks Alexis sadly.
"Her favourite colour." Rosalie answers for her daughter. Nodding, Carlisle makes Alexis's purple cast and puts a splint with it to keep it in place. Giving Alexis a couple of choices of candy, Alexis makes Rosalie carry her out of the hospital after getting a sling for her wrist to make it more comfortable for her.
While waiting for Esme, Alexis and Rosalie are in the car with the heat on for the little four-year-old.
"Mom," Alexis whispers getting Rosalie's attention from her sitting in the front passenger seat.
"Yes, honey?" Rosalie asks turning to face her.
"Why did he do that?" Alexis asks softly.
"It's to make you feel better."
"It hurts more now, though."
"I know. But it will take time to get better."
"Do I have to go back to school?"
"I'm not going to make you. But when you feel ready, if school is still open before summer break, you'll go back. If not, then you won't until September." Watching her daughter nod, Rosalie sighs, "What is bugging you?"
"I don't like school."
"I bet from how today went and from what you told me." Rosalie frowns remembering how Alexis was bullied and made fun of from what Alexis told her lightly. Rosalie knows it was worse than what Alexis made it seem, "Do you need help?" Rosalie questions watching Alexis struggle to open one of her candies. Passing it to her, Rosalie opens it before giving it back to her. Sticking it in her mouth, Alexis smiles.
"Thank you, mom."
"No problem, honey." Rosalie smiles back gently reaching out for Alexis's good hand. Placing it in her own, Rosalie leans over and kisses the back of Alexis's tiny hand.