When I woke up the next morning felt very refreshed, it was raining outside. Of course, and the air must have got a few degrees colder since yesterday. Charlie had already gone to the police station by the time I got downstairs, so I made myself a bowl of cereal and sat down at the kitchen table. Today was my first real day back at Forks high school, and the principal was smart to get me in for a half day yesterday, so all the tearful reunions could be over as soon as possible. I slowly ate my cereal and stared out the window, wondering how Jessica would be today. She probably will have calmed down. I sighed and got up to wash up my bowl and spoon, before going to see if my coat was dry. It wasn't, so I went to find my spare one upstairs; I slipped it on over my brown shirt and grey jeans, nothing exemplary, quite boring to be honest.
The morning went by very slowly, handing my slip to every teacher as I went. Before I finally got to talk to Jessica at lunch, we sat at the usual table and she came and sat next to me.
"Hey Bella," she said sheepishly.
"Are you okay Jess?" I asked.
"...Yes, I actually wanted to apologize for yesterday," she said her eyes glued to the floor. "It was petty of me to think that just because you spoke to Edward Cullen that you had a thing for him, I mean, it was uncalled for. It just made me a little jealous that he would talk to you, out of the blue and he basically ignored me completely for months when I really liked him."
"Of course, I understand Jess, no hard feelings okay?" I said, resting an arm on her shoulder and giving her a reassuring squeeze.
"Thanks Bells, I don't mind if you... you know feel that way."
"Jessica, please I just met him, I talked to him for what? Best of five minutes."
"Oh, I...I just assumed that because he's so...good looking that you would...you know?" she said.
"There is more to a boy than a pretty face," I said with a smile.
"Yeah, actually I... don't tell anyone this but," she said, dropping her voice to a whisper. "I was kind of hoping that Mike would ask me to the spring dance, do you think it could happen?"
"Yes, come on, look at you, I'm sure he is dying to go with you, I hope it all goes smoothly." I said
"Thanks Bells, and really, it's so nice to have my best friend back," she said pulling me into a hug, beaming.
I couldn't help but smile back at her.
I had biology next, and the after the bell rang I walked with Jessica and Angela to the lab. I sat down at the desk and within thirty seconds Edward was striding over to our desk, he smiled at me and dropped himself onto his stool.
"Good Afternoon Bella," he said in his velvety smooth voice. "I trust you are well?"
"I am thank you," my voice sounded scratchy and hoarse in comparison. "And yourself?"
"Naturally," he smiled again and my breathing became uneven.
We sat in silence for a while; I couldn't help but keep stealing glances at him. It was weird, I couldn't help it, it was like his face has some sort of magnetic pull.
He finally broke the awkwardness, "so are you enjoying being back here?" he asked politely.
"It's nice, I could do without the rain, and I do miss my mother but, it was really the only choice I had, and it's nice being here with my friends and Charlie."
He nodded in understanding, "so why did you move back here?"
"I wanted to give my mom and her husband some space. I managed to convince her to move to Jacksonville with Phil." I explained.
"Why didn't you go with her?"
"Because he would be getting around a lot, he plays baseball so on away games he would have go by himself, because my mother wouldn't leave me, and that made her unhappy, so it's better off if I'm here, and she can be with him."
"That is very selfless of you," he said.
"I just want her to be happy," I said in a small voice.
He looked out the window so I couldn't see his face, just his perfect bronze hair.
"You are a very good daughter" he said quietly. "She's lucky to have you."
I smiled and looked down at the floor, we sat in silence for a moment, I felt it was my turn to break it this time, "so what about you? I hear you moved here just after I left,"
He took a deep breath. "Well I was adopted when I was eight, by Carlisle and Esme, we lived in Chicago until Esme decided she was tired of the city, Carlisle booked to transfer to the hospital here in Forks, so here I am."
"Do you like living here?" I asked, being slightly nosy, but hey it was my turn right?
"Yes, a lot more than in Chicago, it's more peaceful, I like the outdoors, my family and I go camping on the few sunny days we have, in the forest, we do things like hiking and canoeing, we couldn't do that in the city."
I nodded, "I've never been into the woods here... well since I was little anyway, I don't remember it."
He smiled showing his dazzling teeth, "Well then, I'll have to show you around sometime."
Was that the suggestion of a date...with Edward Cullen? Woah.
Such an inappropriate time for the bell to ring.
"Until tomorrow Bella," he said, flashing another smile, and walked straight out the door.
Wow...just..wow.