Disclaimer - I sadly don't own Twilight or any recognisable characters, but did you know that the book was turned down by several publishers before Meyer finally got it accepted? My friend told me that anyway...
4: Four Simple Things
There are four simple things you need to know about me:
1. I don't like doing things I don't want to do, that includes moving across the country so mom can live her little fairy tale for a while.
2. People can be creeped out by my eyes, but if they say anything then I may get the tiniest bit hot-headed. The tiniest bit.
3. I hate talking about my dad even though it helps me a lot of the time to think about him. My dad is in my memory, not on my tongue.
And 4. School, school is my worst enemy.
That's probably why I wanted to do a runner more than before as I took my first steps toward the Tribal School, I felt so light-headed it was maddening. Mom honked once before I heard the roar of the Mercedes engine driving off. There was no going back now, not unless I wanted to do a hike through the forest anyway.
I remembered my first day at James Island HS, all the faces measuring me up like they were doing now. Only I didn't really care what they thought of me, I just wanted to get out of here. Subconsciously my path went slightly to the left, towards the line of trees and I had to force myself to keep heading towards the main entrance. I wish I'd worn my hoodie, so I could pull the hood up and just glide by everyone without them seeing my eyes. Glancing at a small group of girls sitting on a bench, they were looking at me and whispering. No, not whispering...giggling.
I turned my gaze back down to the concrete slabs under my feet and then someone tapped me on the back, turning I realized it was one of the girls from the group. Seeing my eyes she instantly recoiled slightly but then...she...smiled? I was almost as surprise as when I saw Leah really smile.
"Nice eyes... you're new, right?" She asked, tracing me once more with her chocolate eyes. It seems all the people on this reservation had the same looks, dark hair, dark eyes and tanned skin. All beautiful too. This girl was extremely beautiful.
"Ah-huh," I nodded, glancing at the girls behind her. They'd turned away, whether as if they weren't paying attention or only pretending not to I didn't know.
"My name's Kaylie," She smiled even wider, showing her dimples.
I repressed another urge to run and mumbled, "I'm Anna."
Kaylie continued to just smile and in the end I started to walk again, but she caught my arm, "Anna, sit with me and my friends at lunch?"
"Okay," She let go and I continued towards the doors faster than before. Pushing them open, I felt some sort of triumph. Maybe it was just the relief of getting away for the prying eyes for at least a few seconds or the fact that it wasn't below a hundred degrees inside. Seriously, the central heating system hit me like a tidal wave and I smiled to myself slightly. It was good to feel some sort of warmth, seeing as the radiators at Lewis's house seemed to be dormant. And I wasn't going to go and ask those...tall guys for a hug again anytime soon.
I noticed a small, mousy lady sitting behind the counter in the main office, she was sizing me up with furrowed eyebrows. I guess those few seconds had been drawn short. Putting on my best fake smile I walked towards the counter and slowly cleared my throat, "Err...I'm new...?"
I'd never done the whole 'I'm new' 'Welcome!' 'Okay...' thing before, so when she responded by nodding slightly and then getting up and going to a metal cabinet I couldn't help but wonder if she would pull out a tazer from the draw and shoot it at me. That way the school would literally shock me. But instead of proving my theory, she pulled out some papers and came back to me, pushing her glasses back up her nose.
"What's your name?" She asked me, turning her gaze down to the computer screen that sat below the counter.
"Reynolds, Anna Reynolds." I mumbled and she typed something in and then a moment later the printer was jittering. She went to retrieve whatever it had produced and came back, sliding it across the counter to me.
"This is your timetable," She told me and then slid the other papers over, "This is a map of the school, though I'm not sure you'll need it and a slip for your parents to sign once you get home - bring it in tomorrow before homeroom." It was amazing, almost as if she had said it in one breath. I was pretty sure she had, maybe she rehearsed different octaves of monotone in her free time.
"...thank you?" She turned back to her work, as if I'd never been there at all and I sighed, shoving the slip into my backpack. I looked at my timetable, I had History then Spanish for starters - my two worst subjects. See, school is my worst enemy.
Room 17... room 17... room 17... where the heck was room 17? As I entered the hallway, I saw that I was opposite room 3, so...17 had to be near-ish. Wrong, after looking at the map I realized that it was on the second story and reluctantly I marched up the stairs, avoiding eye contact with anyone. Finally I found the classroom with seconds to spare before the bell went, unfortunately the rest of the class was already in there and I recognized no one. They all turned to me as I came in though, I bit my lip and walked over to the teacher; a balding man in a tartan suit. I've got to say in any other circumstances if I'd seen him I would've burst out laughing.
"Ah, the new girl. Anna, am I correct?" He said, turning to face me with arms folded across his chest.
I nodded and he smiled slightly, "Take a seat at the back, next to Scott." I looked and saw one of my estranged welcomers, he waved at me slightly and I bit my lip harder. I slid down the aisle to the back and sat down next to him. There were a few murmurs and backwards glances to me but the teacher, whose name if I remembered correctly from the timetable was Mr Hunter, started the lesson.
"Hey," Scott whispered and I tucked my hair behind my ears.
"Err, hi," I mumbled back, trying to keep my voice quiet. I tried to pay attention once I had my stuff on the desk, I really did. But the odds weren't in my favour for doing well in this class and the two guys sitting in front of me turned round, smirking.
"I'm Ron and this is Owen," The blond one told me and I just rocked back on my chair. "Your eyes are pretty damn cool," I almost fell backwards with surprise, but caught myself by grabbing Scott's arm. He glanced at me, smiling slightly and moved his boiling arm as to tug me back upright. I looked back at Ron and Owen.
"Thanks," Was all I could say, unsure actually of what to say.
"You're welcome," Owen said, smirking broadly.
"Mr Gero, Mr Parks, is there a problem?" Our history teacher called suddenly and Ron and Owen snapped their heads back around immediately, glancing at each other as if to get an explanation.
Knowing I'd probably regret it, I spoke up, "I didn't understand what you were saying about Napoleon's tactics, sir... so I just asked them, sorry...?"
Mr Hunter did a double take and grumbled something before turning back around to the board and droning on about the battle of Trafalgar.
"We owe you one," Owen whispered and I rolled my eyes, rocking back on my chair again, only this time the leg slipped and before I could grab Scott it buckled and I fell to the floor with a loud thud. Great start Anna, great start, you're on your ass in front of people you don't really know. Great start.
"Are you okay?" Scott asked me, I knew everyone was looking as he helped me up again. Mr Hunter was scowling darkly at me and I bit my lip.
"The chair...it slipped and...ow?" Some people snickered but Mr Hunter actually didn't say anything and once again went back to writing something on the chalk board.
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Spanish, Home Ec and Chemistry passed without me falling backwards off anymore chairs and soon I was standing in the lunch hall, tray in hand, looking for anyone I recognized. Ron and Owen were sitting with their friends in the corner, throwing what I think was slices of cheese into their mouths. Boys...they had weird ways of entertaining themselves. I saw Kayla sitting with four other girls on the other side of the hall. Then I saw Scott with the rest of his friends at the back, keeping to themselves. I didn't know who I should go to or even if I should go to them.
Someone grabbed my arm, pulling me to face them gently, "Hello."
Seth was wearing a shirt, but still kept his shorts as did the rest of his little - big - group. His hair was untidy but he still looked as handsome as a male model. Wait, he wasn't handsome, not in my eyes anyway. He's my step-cousin not eye candy.
"Hi," I said, glancing down at my tray. The food on it consisted of a baguette, a bottle of Oasis and a muffin. Seth's tray on the other hand...it had enough to feed a small family, let alone a single teenage boy.
"Scott told me you made friends...that's good, I guess." They were spying on me now?
"Yeah, I guess I've made some friends." I muttered, looking back up at him. He was still staring at me.
"So...do you want to sit with me?" He offered and I opened my mouth to answer, but no words came.
Thinking back, I realized I had promised Kaylie I'd sit with her and her friends even though I didn't really know them, "I made plans, sorry,"
"That's...umm, fine." After a few seconds of neither of us moving, I dodged round him and headed slowly to Kaylie's table. She looked up and smiled that genuine smile at me again and patted the open seat next to her, I sat down and her friends all looked up from their food at me.
"This is Anna, remember I told you about her?" They all nodded in unison.
"Sup?" The one with the high pony-tail said, reaching a hand out to me to shake, I did so, "I'm Naomi, this is Valerie, Paula and Ashley." She introduced her friends and they went back to their lunch and conversations as I picked the lettuce out of my baguette.
"Not keen on veg?" Paula asked me, brushing her streaked bangs out of her eyes.
"Not really," I muttered, picking the last bit out. My mother was the most creative person when it came to cooking, in fact for Christmas last year we had turkey stuffed with spinach and pineapple. Though it may sound interesting, the taste certainly wasn't. I don't like vegetables because of her, fruit is fine as long as it isn't tampered with though.
I sneaked a look over to Seth's table, he was looking at me too and we both instantly looked away.
"What do you think Anna?" Naomi asked me and I raised my brows, not knowing what they'd been talking about at all.
"About what?" I said sheepishly and she just sighed. They didn't bother to tell me what the question had been, but continued into a different topic; fashion. I didn't listen again.
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Gym was my last lesson, I'd made it through the whole day without having to scream.
But then again, we had dodge ball and if I was hit too hard then screaming would be high on the probability scale. Once we were all changed into our gym clothes the coach lead us into the gymnasium where the boys were already throwing the balls at each other. Seth was spinning one on his finger when I came in and it fell as he looked at me. Kaylie grabbed my hand, dragging me over to the some girls I hadn't met before.
"Right, team captains; Manson and Clearwater. Take your pick," The coach went to go unpack the duffle of dodge balls whilst Seth and a short girl with heavy eyeliner came to the front.
"I pick, Robert." The girl announced and a boy with thick eyebrows went over to her, now it was Seth's turn. I was actually interested in seeing who his friends were in this class.
"Anna." It took me about 3 maybe 4 seconds to understand that he meant me and my eyes widened.
"W-what?" I choked out and Seth tilted his head, meaning for me to come over. I shot Kaylie a glance of desperation, but she was in deep conversation with her friends. Sighing deeply, I reluctantly made my way over to Seth, who just smiled at me. There was a difference between his smile and Leah's, his was carefree and simple, easy as breathing. Leah's seemed to be forced, or draped over some other emotion.
"Tyler," The other team captain said and then it was Seth's turn again, but he didn't speak. He was just staring at me with his deep, dark eyes.
"Seth! Pick already!" Some guy whose name I didn't know shouted, but Seth acted as if he hadn't heard it.
"Seth." I murmured through gritted teeth, "Pick someone." His eyes shot away from mine and he looked around innocently.
"Oh, Jonathan." The rest of the teams were picked without more delay, and then the coach blew her whistle, telling us to go to one end of the court and the other team to the other.
"I can't play dodge ball," I told Seth quietly and he just winked at me as the whistle blew again, announcing play.
Balls were flying everywhere but strangely enough not one of them hit me throughout the game, mainly because Seth knocked aside each one with protective ease. Then finally I had a chance to hit one back, I did so and ended up knocking their team captain out. She glared darkly at me - it was even more menacing because of her heavy liner - and she went to join the others on the bench.I got the chance to hit two more balls, however I didn't get anyone else out. Then the whistle blew again, ending the match now that it was only Seth and I left on the court.
"Clearwater's team wins!" She announced and some cheers erupted from the bench before we headed out of the gym again.
"Well done," Seth said to me and I raised an eyebrow at him.
"If it wasn't for you I would've been out straight away," I replied and he laughed before I turned and went back into the girls changing room. As I walked in I earned more glares from the latter of the girls in my class and I groaned inwardly and went to my stuff. Obviously hanging out with Seth as a taboo if you weren't popular enough. I'd seen how most of the girls on the court had watched Seth with lustful brown eyes and I knew I'd felt a little jealous. Why? I wasn't sure.
I got changed back into my old grey jeans and striped shirt then before I knew it the bell rang again. 2:30, finally. Grabbing my stuff, I didn't wait to say goodbye to the supposed friends I'd made and dodged out of the doors only to bump into him.
"Were you waiting for someone?" I asked Seth and he opened his mouth to answer but closed it again, thinking.
"N-no, not really. Just...hanging." I snorted and raised an eyebrow.
"You were just hanging?" I repeated and he nodded, "Just hanging outside the girl's locker room?" He nodded slightly again, flushing, "That's creepy."
"Hey, I saved your ass in dodge ball," He retorted and I swung my backpack onto my shoulder.
"I said thanks," I started off out of the sports hall and wasn't surprised when Seth found himself in step with me.
"Actually, you didn't say thank you." He pointed out and I just pulled my hair out of the loose bun I'd tied it in for the period.
"Fine then. Thank you, Seth." He laughed as we walked to the main entrance. We were both quiet, neither knowing what to say. As we came out the doors I saw Embry, Jacob and Quil by the bench...shaking cans of soda at each other. I also saw the Mercedes opposite, mom had the windows rolled down and was reapplying her make up, she'd done it at a stop sign this morning.
"I'd better go," We both said at the same time and then we both laughed.
"Yeah, I'll see you tomorrow," I told him and he just smiled that carefree smile. He walked over to the bench and I sprinted to the car, mom gave me a welcoming smile.
After I got in and she restarted the car she asked, "How was school, darling?"
"Not as bad as I would've thought." I mumbled and she lit up immediately.
"So it was good???" Mom asked, pulling away from where she'd parked and starting down the road.
I glanced back at the bench to see they were already gone, sighing I turned back around.
"No, I just said it wasn't that bad, not that it wasn't bad."
A/N: Wow, so many reviews so far! I'm ecstatic, truly. Thanks to everyone that has reviewed so far!