4. Reappearance
A/N: So, I've been feeling the flow a lot more lately, which is good news for all of you, and very bad news for my GPA, my sleeping habits, and the Poli test I have on Thursday. Meh- I'm an author- can't deny inspiration. Hope you all like this!
Disclaimer: Do we have to go through this again- I promise I'm not SM.
The next day at Forks High was a little better. At least this time I knew what to expect of people, and didn't have to go through that whole first-day ordeal again.
On the other hand, I was still left with the mystery of Bella Cullen. She, and her actions yesterday, had been on my mind all night long, from the moment I woke up this morning, and had stayed with me as I made my way into the school building.
It was in that distracted and frustrated state that I made my way to English- knowing my way around was another perk of the day. At least Jessica and Lauren now had fewer excuses to force their company on me in between classes. Unfortunately, because I was used to the sound of cars in Chicago rather than the rain and wind of Forks, I hadn't slept much the night before. It hadn't helped that my mind had been racing, trying to make sense of Bella- I just wasn't used to not understanding people.
My lack of sleep obviously was not conducive to learning. In English, the teacher asked me a question about what a quote from Shakespeare meant, calling my name several times. I had to ask her to repeat the question, and still got it wrong. Something else I wasn't accustomed to- I usually had the answers. It seemed that it wasn't going to be so easy to get used to Forks after all.
Mercifully, lunch came. Of course, Jessica invited me to sit with her at lunch. I agreed- no one wants to sit alone at lunch, even if it means enduring unwelcome and uncomfortable attention.
Soon after, Mike, then Lauren joined us. Eventually Tyler, Ben, and Angela also came over. So at least it wouldn't be awkward with just the two of us. In fact, Mike seemed to be doing a decent job of keeping Jessica's attention, and for the moment, Tyler also had Lauren distracted.
I was just considering how thankful I was that I didn't have to endure another session of ribbing between Mike and Tyler, when I was suddenly reminded of Bella, the reason they had started that childishness in the first place. I tried to nonchalantly scan the cafeteria crowds.
This time I knew exactly where to look, and sure enough, there were the Cullens. Except…there was only four of them- Bella was missing. Why wasn't she here? My mind raced as I struggled to comprehend. As I ran through every possibility, I couldn't settle on one, and wondered if there was any way I had anything to do with her absence.
I was distracted for the rest of lunch, but no one seemed to notice as I brooded at my end of the table, somehow situated between Angela and Ben. Of course, they were too distracted sneaking Victorian glances at each other to even be aware of my presence. Finally, the bell rang, and for the second time in my life, I was grateful that I could go back to class.
Probably, it was the hope I didn't realize I was holding that Bella would be in Biology that inspired this strange eagerness to give up my free time to the dulling powers that only high school can exert on the human consciousness. But, you know, stranger things have happened.
As I entered the room, hanging up my rain jacket with everyone else's, I let my gaze sweep across the rows of tables. It was apparent that Bella was not there, and I felt myself sag down a bit, giving into the reality of monotony the rest of the day would hold.
I listened to Mr. Banner's lecture, even though it was on a topic I had already learned this year, back in Chicago. I suffered through the next couple of classes before finally making my way to gym, which I also suffered through, but instead of enduring in apathy, I struggled through my disdain for institutionalized physical activity. I had no particular aversion to sports- I just didn't particularly like the ones they made you play in class. Why volleyball instead of something more exciting, like baseball?
Still, it was my final class, and the day was finally at an end. Somehow, I managed to make it out of class after only speaking briefly with Jessica before starting out to the parking lot. I climbed in the old rusted tank of a Chevy, pulled out of the lot, and pushed the car to its limits all the way home.
Arriving home, I went up to my room, and did a bit of homework while I waited for Charlie to get back. We ordered in dinner, sat in front of the TV and ate in silence, making comments on the baseball game during the commercials.
At some point, Charlie asked me about my day. I let him know that school was fine, and mentioned Jessica to him.
"Jessica's a good girl- I know her mom. They're a great family for this town." I nodded, acknowledging his answer before making another comment and changing the subject. I really didn't want to talk about Jessica.
"You know, no one seems to like the Cullens very much- they keep to themselves a lot…"
Charlie cut me off. "Darn small towns and people gossiping. The Cullens are good people- and Dr. Cullen is an amazing physician that this town should be grateful to have- lucky Mrs. Cullen likes it her. And those children haven't done a thing wrong- I was worried at first about so many teenagers, but not one problem out of them- people should mind their own business!"
I stared at Charlie in slight shock- that was the most I'd ever heard him say at once.
"I was just making an observation- they seem great…" The conversation died from there, and after while I slipped away to do homework before going to bed. I could feel the beginning of a pattern.
The rest of the week passed slowly, involving the same basic cycle every day. I would get up, eat some cereal (which I was advancing from dislike to hate of), go to school, suffer through classes and Jessica, Mike, and Lauren, then come home, order in dinner, eat silently in front of the TV with Charlie, do homework, then head to bed. Bella didn't show at school for the rest of the week, even though the other Cullens were there every day. I was still sure that her absence had something to do with me, even though I had no clue what it was. Thankfully, by the time the weekend arrived, though I hadn't forgotten about her, Bella and her absence had moved to the back of my mind.
By Monday, I was ready to try and move on. Maybe she had dropped out, or gotten deathly ill, or switched schools. I had no idea, and I was no determined to not care. That was my resolve as I entered school on Monday morning, making my way through English class, this time alert and ready for questions. When class ended, we all began to head outside to change classes, but the first few students out the door froze, blocking us in. Quickly, a murmur built- it was snowing.
I smiled- snow I was used to- Chicago got plenty of it. I shrugged on my jacket and made my way to class through the crowds, enjoying the falling snow. That is, until I felt a snowball hit my back, obviously coming from Tyler, who was walking in the wrong direction for his next class. I quickly retaliated, then turned the corner, and ducked into my class, where Mike Newton accosted me. He prattled off a plan for a snowball fight after school in the parking lot. I smiled- I thought it was a great plan.
Lunch eventually came around, and I enjoyed walking through the snow before ducking into the cafeteria and getting in line with Mike. We were going through when I reflexively looked toward the corner. There was the quartet of Cullens, but I was taken aback at the sight of long chestnut hair. Bella was back. I felt my heart leap a little in my chest, right before it jammed itself in my throat, efficiently killing my appetite.
"Dude, what's wrong- you look kind of pale." Mike brought me out of my reverie, and I forced myself to work my feet and slide my tray forward.
"Nothing- it's nothing." I said. We sat at our usual table, and I commenced pretending to focus on what was happening there, while I snuck looks over at the Cullens. Just as had happened before, Bella met my gaze. I quickly averted my eyes, putting sincere effort into concentrating on Mike and Tyler's conversation.
"Dude," Mike started again- he really should work on his sentence structure and variety, "Bella Cullen is definitely staring at you."
I clenched my jaw in an effort to not look. "What does she look like?"
Mike looked at me like I had grown two heads. "What do you mean? Like she always does- hot." Tyler gave him a high five. I sighed in disgust and exasperation- was he serious? How could anyone…? Ugh. Fine, I would simplify.
"I mean, does she look like she's angry or something?" Again with the 'you're the strange one" look. Oh well.
"No- why, did you do something to make her angry?"
I ignored the question, looking up at her, expecting to see her black eyes boring back into mine, possibly with the menace I remembered in them.
Instead, I was greeted by the sight of Emmett and Jasper shaking snow out of their hair at the girls while they tried to lean away, laughing. Of course- they were just enjoying the snow day like the rest of us. I shook my head at myself, thinking about how silly I was being, not to mention self-centered. I returned my attention back to my table, and this time, kept it there for the rest of lunch.
For once, I wasn't overly-eager to head to class, except for the prospect of sitting beside of Bella again. I tried not to count on it though- who knew, maybe she would leave early. After all, the snow had turned to rain during lunch- didn't seem like the kind of day to hinge your bets on anything. I mentally hit myself in the head- why did I care so much anyway, and why was I nervous? This was stupid, I mumbled to myself, making my way to my seat.
I pulled out my notebook, along with my IPod, listening to it for a few minutes before class started. I had arrived a little early, and students slowly trickled in. I had my eyes closed, nose pinched between my forefinger and thumb when I felt a presence beside of me. I opened my eyes, pulled out the earphones and looked up at her, realizing she was looking at me expectantly. The moment she saw that she had my attention, the most beautiful, melodic, tinkling sound in the world emitted from her perfect strawberry colored lips.
"Hi, I'm Bella Cullen…I didn't get a chance to introduce myself last time- Edward, right?"
A/N: Sorry for the cliff, and sorry for cutting this chapter in half, and that its mostly building action. I know its short, but its two AM, and I have class at 9:30 in the morning, and I want to do the rest of this right. So, I will try to post soon- I post sooner if you review . Oh- and you should check out my other story, La Tua Cantante- what if Edward couldn't help but bite Bella the first day? BTW, I know there are WAY more people reading this than reviewing- hundreds- so- just let me know what you think, and I think its way awesome that people from places like Mexico, Philippines, Sweden, etc. are reading my stuff!
