Author's Note: Because of my horrible planning, the 'epic chapter' I had planned to post tomorrow will be pushed to Sunday. I hope everyone has a nice Valentine's Day (for the couples out there) or a nice SAD day (Single Awareness). I hope you all enjoy this chapter and contine to read my fic. ^^
09. And the World Keeps Spinning
The ride home was a silent one. Lucas kept his eyes on the road and I stared uncomfortably at my hands. The silence seemed to stretch on forever when finally, Lucas broke it.
"Did I frighten you?"
I grasped for the words that could have a hope of conveying what I was feeling and thinking.
"No," I began carefully, "Now that I know, I feel that I can understand you better. I'm glad that you told me."
Lucas relaxed visibly beside me.
"You don't think I'm wrong? That I'm a monster?"
"You loved her." I said simply. "You did for her what I wanted from Edward."
"Ah. Edward." Lucas tapped his finger lightly on the steering wheel.
"Do you really think it's because of Edward that I am what I am?"
"Yes."
I was going to pursue the question further, but we had arrived home and Lucas was already out of the car and waiting patiently for me, holding the car door open.
I stepped out of the car, swaying slightly.
"You look like hell." Lucas commented.
"Thanks. I feel like hell." I retorted.
"Well you have some of the weekend left still, how about you go and take a nap." Lucas suggested.
I nodded sleepily, and the last thing I remembered was Lucas carrying me to my room, and placing me gently on my bed.
I groaned when I heard my bedroom curtains being pulled open. Unwillingly, I pried open one eye, and was instantly blinded by the streaks of light streaming into my room.
"Help me! I'm burning!" I mock screamed into my pillow.
"You're so silly."
"Vampires die in sunlight." I said solemnly.
"Only in human stories."
I felt my bed sink in slightly as Lucas sat down on the edge. He pulled me up into a sitting position and I glared groggily at him.
"You woke me up so early," I complained loudly.
"School starts in about twenty minutes," Lucas said dryly.
"School starts…" I mumbled sleepily, "WHAT?!"
"You slept for more than a day. Your mouth was having a field day." Lucas laughed.
I flopped back down with a moan. The weekend had been full of so much drama and revelation - school seemed so insignificant. I kicked Lucas gently with my foot, and crawled out of bed. I prodded slowly towards the bathroom, trying to shake off the last vestiges of sleep.
"I'll be waiting for you outside!" Lucas yelled from the bottom of the stairs.
I spat out my mouthful of toothpaste and yelled back a semi incoherent reply.
I finished brushing my teeth quickly and pulled on the first things that I saw. I ran down the stairs, glanced at my reflection briefly in the hallway mirror -assessing that I hadn't put on something completely inappropriate - shoved my shoes on and ran outside.
I buckled myself in the car as Lucas glanced at me.
"Ready?"
I nodded, unhappy that my Monday was already off to such a bad start. I clutched the edge of my seat as Lucas sped off like a race car driver towards the school.
I felt like vomiting when I got of the car. I walked somewhat unsteadily towards the school. True, we had made it with five minutes to spare - but at what cost? Seeing my guts spilled on the floor wasn't the most pleasant way for anyone to start their morning. If it weren't for Lucas holding onto me, I would have in all likely hood also had a set of broken bones to accompany my morning showcase. The school was filled with the din of students chattering after the weekend. I could feel a throbbing build up in my left temple, and I moaned as I thought about the headache that was probably settling in. I waited as Lucas opened our locker, and I reached over him to grab my biology textbook. Lucas closed the locker and took my arm. He pulled me closer so that I was half leaning on him. We walked - well he walked, and I was pulled - towards my biology class. When we arrived, he nudged me gently inside. With a wave he walked off, and I turned to face the class all on my own.
I walked towards my seat, and sat down just as the bell ran. I glanced to my left and felt a mixture of relief and disappointment as I saw that the seat was empty. This feeling was somewhat short lived, because when I looked back up, I saw Edward breeze into the classroom. He saw me stare, and flashed me a smile. I looked away in response and pretended to be thoroughly engrossed in my Biology textbook.
"Good morning," Edward said pleasantly
"Morning."
"You weren't at school on Friday."
"No." I replied shortly.
"Out hunting with your friend?"
That caught my attention. Mostly because I was shocked that he would be so open about something that used to be so sensitive to him. I contemplated what I should say, but words escaped me and I only mumbled a 'not really', before turning back towards my textbook. I shifted my body slightly so that he'd get the hint to leave me alone. No such luck.
"Did you have a nice weekend?" he pressed
I pretended to not hear him, instead placing my attention in Mr. Larne's riveting lecture on enzymes. Edward still not getting the hint asked again. I glared at him, slightly annoyed and snapped a response.
"It was nice." I looked up to Mr. Larne glaring down at us.
"Is there a problem here? Mr. Cullen? Miss Masen?"
I blushed, embarrassed at being caught being so rude.
"No, I was just asking Alice about her weekend," Edward replied smoothly.
"Perhaps, if you would like to talk, you could take your conversation elsewhere," he said sternly with a curt nod at both of us.
Really annoyed now, I completely turned my back on Edward. I felt his gaze on me but I didn't look at him again for the entire class.
The rest of the morning passed by without incident and I was grateful when lunchtime finally came around. I headed towards my usual table with a can of Coke that I had bought from the vending machine. I opened it and took a sip, waiting for Lucas to show, I was almost done my Coke when I saw Lucas walk in. He looked positively murderous. He sat down with a crash on the poor defenseless plastic cafeteria chairs.
"What's wrong?"
"This girl in my English class practically peeled out her eyeballs and stuck them on me for the entire morning. She kept starting at me and following me like she was trying to get my image burned into her brain." Lucas seethed.
"You're usually not this mad about admirers'" I commented.
He looked up, past me to the opening cafeteria doors. He moaned and buried his face into his hands.
"She's here."
I took a curious glance at the new arrivals.
"Wait. That girl was watching you?" I asked in disbelief.
"Yes. Stupid bloodsucking vampire."
I felt a laugh bubble in my throat.
"You happen to be one."
"Not an annoying one," he remarked irritably.
I followed the girl with my eyes, and watched as she and her partner proceeded calmly towards us. I didn't know if I should be happy - but it had been so long since we last talked. How have you been Alice Cullen?
