Extraordinary
Summary: When a gifted Bella Swan starts her new school she begins to let her shield down, just when she might need it most... AH, AU.
Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or its characters; I am not the greatness that is Stephanie Meyer.
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Chapter Five
I was nervous the next morning, for the obvious reasons and a few not so obvious. I'd had an aversion to nearly all things medical since I was young, due to my innate clumsiness and then my emerging 'power'. Hospital visits were common for me and it just made me more aware of my hate for anything to do with them, especially cold equipment. Tests were one of my worst enemies and I believed I'd had every one possible performed on me.
That was the obvious reason why I was nervous. The not so obvious was that I really didn't want to face another meal where everybody was looking at me. I knew I needed to eat something but the prospect of going down and sitting in that hall again was nauseating. Even more so when I knew I'd have to do it alone. Alice had given me her schedule last night and said she'd keep an eye on me but that if it wasn't anything truly threateningly then she wouldn't break her routine. She'd made a big speech out of it and then promptly ruined that by asking if I didn't mind. And I didn't. It actually worked quite well for me as I didn't want to be a bother to anyone, and I definitely didn't want to screw up Alice's lifestyle by my incompetency, yet I still had someone looking out for me. Someone who could let me deal with the trivial new stuff by myself but help me out if anything serious occurred. Someone who could be there before or as whatever happened actually happened. It actually made me relax slightly.
Or at least it had, until I'd finished getting dressed this morning and then realised that Alice was at the gym and so I had nobody to walk me to breakfast.
Right now I was sitting on the end of my bed fidgeting with my cardigan and mentally scolding myself for being such a wuss. I was overconfident but it wasn't like I didn't have a backbone and right now, sitting in my little room and being scared of going to the meal hall was a really low point. A low, cowardly, pathetic point. I couldn't believe I was actually doing this. Usually once I had made my mind up about something then I managed to do it. Ten minutes ago I'd made up my mind to just suck it up and go but here I was, still sitting on my bed. The only difference in my posture was my now fiddling hands playing with my cardigan.
I sighed loudly and started ridiculing myself all over again in my head. This truly was absurd.
A sudden knock at my door made me jump and I scrambled to get it, almost falling in my haste. I didn't know who it could possibly be and the chances of it being someone just knocking on the wrong door were more than likely but if it was someone I knew, even remotely so, I'd be so grateful. I took another breath to steady myself and then pulled the door wide open in one go, creating a back wind that blew my hair over my shoulders as I did. I gasped and then grinned as the person chuckled at my antics.
"Good morning Bella," Edward said smoothly, a smile playing at his mouth. "Alice reminded me not to leave you alone for breakfast and somehow I didn't think you'd be quite ready to face everybody else yet so I present to you... room service."
He was holding a wide selection of breakfast foods, all crushed in his arms and was grinning fully now as he noticed my preoccupation.
"So I guessed correctly then?" He said and I knew he was smirking.
Grabbing the front of his shirt, just below his shoulder, I hauled him into my room and onto my bed, slamming the door behind us.
"You have food," I said simply. "Gimme." He laughed and dumped the contents on my bed letting me chose whatever I wanted. "Have you eaten already?" I added as my hand hovered over the croissant and mini cereal box. I should have the cereal, because it was healthy and what I was used to, but I really wanted the croissant.
Edward noticed my hesitation and pushed the croissant into my hand before helping himself to the yoghurt. "No, I hadn't but ladies first."
"Oh, did you want...?" I asked blushing, embarrassed that I hadn't considered him after he'd brought this for me.
"No Bella. I usually just have a yogurt so if you'd picked that then we'd have had a problem." He smiled at me warmly before looking down. "I wasn't sure what you'd like so I just grabbed one of everything. I couldn't bring any of the hot stuff though, that has to stay in the dining hall."
"Edward this is wonderful." I said enthusiastically, as I unwrapped my croissant. "Thank you so much."
"I just want to make your welcome here as easy as possible." He said quietly. "And like I said last night, I'm really just being very selfish and taking advantage of the fact you don't want to be in the hall. I'm going to be very lonely when you get used to this place." He added jokingly but there was a hint of truth in his words and before I could help it I blurted out what I was thinking.
"I'd stay with you."
Edward raised an eyebrow at my sudden blush, not knowing why it was there or that he'd just caused me to speak without thinking, and then smiled gently although it didn't reach his eyes. "You wouldn't have to Bella. Besides I'm used to it."
"Doesn't change the fact that I'd stay." I replied before adding with an attempt at humour myself. "I never get used to crowds; I have like a crowd phobia."
"As do I." He grinned. "Now hurry up and eat. You have a busy day with Carlisle ahead."
"Yes, joy of joys." I grumbled.
"Not looking forward to it?" Edward asked gently.
I shrugged. "I've just had so many tests done and none of them were really good experiences so I... I just don't like them and-"
"It's okay Bella." Edward wrapped my hand in his and I smiled shyly up at him. "Carlisle will take good care of you and I promise, it won't be like any of those other tests."
"What is it like?" I asked quietly, my eyes suddenly finding my non-descript duvet cover very interesting.
"Well, it is slightly uncomfortable, to begin with." Edward started slowly. "But Carlisle and Sue do all they can to make you fell at ease. And it is different for every person, as our powers are all different."
"What was yours like? If you don't mind me asking." I added quickly, tensing up as I stared up at him.
He smiled reassuringly and I relaxed.
"I don't mind Bella. It was very difficult, for the staff not me." He laughed noticing my sudden expression of shock. "It was before Carlisle worked here, he was just joining the staff, and I didn't have a very good relationship with medical personnel; similar to yourself although I wasn't as exposed as you were. I didn't trust anyone around me so that kicked my power into overdrive. I knew every thought of every person for miles. It should have knocked me out, that much mental stimulus and at my age, but I was so focused on the doctors, on finding out what they wanted from me, that I only responded to them. Their thoughts told me what tests they were doing and reactions they wanted so I responded. Of course they were thinking different things so I kept giving different responses; they were very confused about the whole thing until Carlisle clued them in."
"What happened then?"
"Things were run very differently back then." Edward said after a moment's silence. "Carlisle changed many of the procedures the school uses and for the better. But he was a new member of staff back then, not even properly working here yet so he had no say in their conduct."
"Edward?" I asked worried. "What happened?"
He took a deep breath and stared off into the distance, not really seeing my desk where his eyes were focused. Something bad had happened to him then and I knew he'd been caused pain.
"You don't have to tell me." I said quickly, trying to pull away from him. "I'm sorry I asked."
He squeezed my hand and pulled it back towards him, resting on the bed between us. I hesitantly looked up at him only to see him smiling and looking straight at me.
"It's not a problem Bella, really. I'm sorry I got lost in myself; you'll find I do that a lot I'm afraid. Everyone's always saying I spend too much time caught up in myself."
"Can't be easy." I said softly. "Hearing everyone else around you too."
"No, but I'm used to it." He squeezed my hand again and this time a small part of my mind acknowledged what it felt like.
"But don't worry yourself Bella, ok?" He said suddenly. "Things are very different here now. Carlisle almost had a heart attack when they told him what he'd done. Aro hadn't really known what was going on, just that the doctors were getting answers but as soon as he found out he was livid. I know he doesn't have the best aura but he's a good man and he's dedicated to his students; he was crestfallen when he'd found out. He founded this place to be a safe haven and a place of learning for people like us, children like us; he didn't expect his own staff to go against that."
"Carlisle and Alice said that too."
"He just takes a bit of getting used to. But then again I think that will apply to everything here."
I grinned at that and butted my shoulder into his which caused him to grin. We ate after that, both of us lost to our thoughts. It wasn't uncomfortable though, like I was sort of expecting it to be. Just sitting there with Edward didn't make me feel pressured or self-conscious at all; the usual reactions people's attention stirred in me. It felt almost natural.
"We'd better hurry up." Edward said suddenly, tensing before he started to clean up the unused foods on the bed.
"You don't have to do that." I said quickly, straightening up to try and help him but he just shot his crooked grin at me and pushed my hands away.
"I brought it, I'll clean it up." He said simple. "Besides what kind of room service would I be if I didn't clean up? You'd complain."
"I'd let you off, for being such good company."
"Well that's nice to know for future reference."
"Future reference? You're planning on doing this again?" I asked, trying hard not to smile.
Edward shifted as he piled the foods up, talking down to the bed as he replied. "If you'd like."
"I'd love that."
"Really?"
I grinned at him happily, the thought that I wouldn't have another stupid morning like this one again putting me in a very good mood.
"Of course! I mean, I could definitely get used to the room service..."
He laughed openly at that before running a hand though his messy hair as he looked at me from under his lashes. "That just makes it sound like you're after me for the food." He accused.
"Was there another reason?" I asked politely.
He laughed again and bent to gather the food up in his arms, leaving me standing there with a massive grin on my face and wondering over my sudden change in character. I was never this bold or trusting around other people. But then I was never this comfortable either. Could this be who I really was, coming out now that I wasn't under suspicion or surveillance from the people around me? I hoped so; it'd be nice to not be a nervous wreck afraid of what I could unintentionally do all the time.
"Come on." Edward said dragging me from my thoughts. "I'll show you where Carlisle's office is so you won't be late."
"What about you?"
"I'll drop this stuff back at the food hall, of if I run into Emmett I'll give to him for his morning snack, then I'll get to class."
"I'm not making you late, am I?" I asked nervously, feeling slightly self-conscious after my mental revelation; although nowhere near what I could usually be.
"No." He smiled. "I'll make it on time."
"Good. I'd hate to get you into trouble."
"It'll be fine Bella. Now, do you mind getting the door? I've kind of got my hands full." He grinned.
"Oh sorry!" I ran to get the door for him, almost tripping in the process but keeping my balance just, and opened the door for him then doubling back to get my things that I'd need fro the day and most importantly my room key.
Edward waited patiently for me outside and then started leading the way to Carlisle's office, which I vaguely remembered from my trip upstairs with Alice yesterday. There were only a few people milling about the hallways so I got minimal stares. Edward would glance in their direction and either smile or scowl; the people who he scowled at usually left our company pretty quickly although I couldn't tell if it was Edward or me unconsciously using my power.
We walked in silence but again it wasn't uncomfortable and again my thoughts returned to this possible new version of me. There were only a few people around us but they were staring and that action usually caused only one response in me; defensiveness, and then consequent use of my power. But with Edward there it didn't seem to bother me so much. Or maybe it was just because there were so few of them. I wasn't sure.
Within a few minutes we were standing outside of Carlisle's door and I found myself wracked with anxiety. Edward bumped my shoulder gently and I turned to face him, not quite being able to manage a smile in return of his crooked grin.
"It'll be alright Bella." He said soothingly. "Carlisle will take good care of you, and he won't put you through anything uncomfortable or that you don't want to do; that's just not his way."
I knew I couldn't say anything in response so I tried for a weak smile but I had a feeling it probably looked more like a funny frown.
"We'll see you tonight. Alice says we're all going to be dining at our place, living room take-out. Think of that if it gets too much."
I nodded and again tried fro a smile with marginally better results.
"I'll see you tonight." Edward said softly pausing before he left, then striding down the hallway quickly.
I watched him go and then raised a shaking hand to the door knocking as firmly as I could.
"Come in."
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I know, terrible place to leave it but this chapter ran away from me and I want to really get into the exploration of Bella's power. For all you who can't wait for that and have been asking for it then it's coming next chapter - promise. Any feedback would be fantastic.