Well, you guys asked for it, so here it is. Thank you so much, everyone, for all the reviews! Even the death threats were flattering! ;) Just because you guys reviewed so much, I decided to post an extra long chapter.
I just had a long weekend from school, so I was able to post three chapters a day for the past two days. But alas, alack, that is no more, so I'll probably only be able to post one a day. Until next weekend that is. :)
Let's get on with the reading! Btw, this is a really intense chapter, and has a bit of swearing in it. Brace yourself!
BPOV
My first thoughts as I burst out of the classroom were frenzied escape plans. I ran and strategized until my ankle twisted painfully.
"Goddamn heels!" I paused to kick them off. Even practicing for months couldn't prepare me for a marathon run in stilettos. I began fleeing once more, running down the hallway in my pantyhose, thanking God that there wasn't anyone around to see me.
I thankfully had the presence of mind to keep my speed to a fast human-type pace, but I couldn't stop myself from speeding up when I heard sounds of someone following me.
Someone, I thought with a grimace. It wasn't a someone, it was him. God, I couldn't believe that they had to show up here, just as I was settling into a new job. My rage slowly over took all of my thoughts until I realized that I was halfway to my car without the keys.
"Crap," I hissed. I thanked the heavens for my vampire memory as I turned to the left, quickly darting past the empty fountain in the courtyard and heading towards my office. I never would have remembered an alternate route like the one I was on in my past life. My office was now only a few minutes away.
On the way there I made a list of all the things I would need to pack if I wanted to get away fast. And lord, did I want to get out of there.
I finally skidded around the corner near my office and paused only to throw open the door. The force with which the flimsy piece of wood hit the wall shook the whole building, but I was beyond caring at that point. I jumped right over my desk and grabbed my precious computer chair, then flung myself to the other side of the room. I slammed the door and locked it, after shoving the chair under the handle.
As if that could keep them out, Bella, I thought as I desperately searched around the room for a box. I finally found the one I'd brought all my decorating supplies in, and emptied it of its contents. 'Fat lot of good those fancy curtain rods are going to do me now;' those were the only words going through my head as I hurriedly began tossing random items in the box.
Car keys, house keys, briefcase. I could hear footsteps in the hallway outside. Cell phone, wallet, laptop. I could hear another set now, catching up to the other. The second was lighter; Alice, I thought. My hands began shaking as the footsteps slowed down. Purse, picture frames, rubber ducky-- wait... what the hell? iPod, diplo--
"Bella?" There was a soft knock on the door.
Crap. I was trapped.
Someone jiggled the door handle, finding it locked. "Bella, if you don't open this door right now, we will make a scene." It was Alice, obviously. "Trust us Bella. You do not want us to make a scene."
As if you haven't already, I thought as I debated what to do. And trust you! Hah, not after what you did to me.
I finally decided to just let them in, and tell them to screw off.
"Bella! We know you're in there!" Alice's voice was getting louder now.
"Alice, god, I'm coming! Just give me a minute." I took a deep breath, moved the chair, and opened the door.
EPOV – In the Classroom
The moment I saw her, I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. She looked so scared, horrified even, to see us in the classroom. Her classroom, I remember thinking.
Before I could do anything though, she turned and was out the back door. Both Alice and I just stood there for a few seconds, completely blown away.
After that, I was out the door after her. I could barely control my body; only enough to slow myself down to human speed. To see her now, after all these years, and then have her run out on me... I just wasn't going to have any of that.
She's fast, I thought, nearly tripped over a pair of red heels lying in the middle of the hallway. I could only assume that they were hers, so I stopped to pick them up. I held them in my hand for a moment, then clutched them tightly to my chest and began running again.
I could hear Alice following me a ways back, but my head snapped forward when I heard Bella yell 'Crap' to herself. The sound was from the courtyard only a few yards away from where I was, so I sped up a tiny bit. Still, I couldn't catch her. I just managed to keep seeing her whip around corners ahead of me, so I continued the chase.
Frankly, I was surprised by her speed. I just wasn't used to her moving so fast. 'You also haven't seen her in 25 years Edward,' I reminded myself, wincing.
Finally, I saw her fly into the office labelled 'Professor Swine.' I was going to knock when I decided to wait for Alice. I didn't think I could face her on my own.
APOV – In the Classroom
Edward came to his senses before I did and started chasing Bella within seconds. Me, I was too shocked to even move a muscle. Finally though, I loosened up enough to look around at the rest of the class. Seventy-five pairs of eyes were staring at the back door as it swung back and forth on its hinges.
If there was ever a time to think fast, it was now. Before I could open my mouth however, a young woman with long blonde hair strode to the front of the class.
"Everyone, a big round of applause for the Alaskan Theatre Arts Group, who just put on a fantastic show for you!" I stared at her, astonished, as she pointed at me, still in the corner of the room.
I decided to go along with it, and bowed as a few of the freshmen began clapping slowly. Soon, all of them were, and I took the opportunity to speak with the young woman.
"Thank you so much," I began, but she interrupted me.
"Don't worry about it. I don't care why the hell she ran away from you, but you need to leave so I can take over the class. My name's Cindy, by the way," she said with a smile.
"Mine's Alice," I said, as I looked at the now still back door. "I have a feeling that you're going to be seeing me around a lot pretty soon. I'm uh... Bella's cousin. We do this kind of thing all the time."
"Sure, sure. Whatever. Please, just go, okay?" I nodded, but she was already walking to the desk to gather Bella's lesson plans.
I darted from the room while everyone's eyes were focused on Cindy. I could faintly hear Edward ahead of me, and I followed chase. The only thoughts that were running through my head were revolving around why I didn't see any of this coming and why the hell the decorators of this place decided that shit brown was an attractive hallway floor colour.
I turned a corner ahead quickly, nearly slamming into the wall on the other side, to see Edward waiting outside the office door labelled 'Professor Swine,' with his face carefully blank.
There were sounds of things being thrown around inside the office; when I looked at Edward, he just shrugged. It was then that I noticed the shoes.
"Hmm, Manolo's... the girl's finally got some taste." I said, eyeing the heels.
"Alice..." Edward sighed.
"Right, right. Sorry. Are you going to do this, or should I?" I asked, examining his face.
"You can," he said, quietly.
I knocked on the door, and I heard the noises in the room stop.
"Bella?" I jiggled the door handle; it was locked, obviously. ""Bella, if you don't open this door right now, we will make a scene." Nothing happened. "Trust us Bella. You do not want us to make a scene."
Still, there was no response from inside the room.
"Bella! We know you're in there!" I was starting to yell. I couldn't help it! How could she just run off like that, after what she did to Edward?
The yelling worked. "Alice, god, I'm coming. Just give me a minute." She shouted, just as loud.
I heard her take a deep breath. I looked at Edward as the door opened.
BPOV
They were just standing there, an identical look of anger and confusion plastered on their faces. Edward though... he... well he just looked different. Seeing his face for the second time that day made me feel like I'd been run over by a tractor. His eyes... they were so empty now. Not like how they used to be...
"Well, are you going to invite us in or not?" I glared at Alice angrily. She had the nerve to look at me with rage in her eyes after they left me?
I motioned them in with a brief wave my arm. I walked past them and peered down both sides of the depressingly brown hallway, looking for anyone that might have witnessed the incident. The halls were empty, and I considered making a break for it, but I knew that they would catch me eventually.
I turned around, slamming the door behind me.
I peered at their faces, lit by my tiny desk lamp. They looked exactly the same... I felt the rage build up within me once again.
"What the hell are you doing here?!" I hissed at them. The look on my face must have frightened them a little, because they backed up against my bookshelf.
I saw Alice glance at Edward.
"We enrolled at the university. We were getting a little bored." Surprisingly enough, I couldn't see any lies in her words.
Alice looked at Edward again. "Bella, what are you doing here?"
"I work here, as a professor. This is my second day on the fucking job and you had to barge in... god..."
"So you are Professor Swine then?" Alice asked, a little light back in her eyes.
I glanced at the door behind me. "Yes, that's me. They misspelled it."
"I gathered. Bella--"
"No Alice, no. I don't want to hear any more from you! What I want is for you to get the hell out of my office, and more importantly, leave me the hell alone!" I was shouting now, but I didn't care.
I opened my office door quickly, my face set. "Get out."
Alice walked out, slowly, and turned around in the hall, her arms crossed.
Edward still hadn't moved. I turned to him, which was a mistake. He was staring straight at me, his eyes no longer dead. They were now smouldering, just like they used to. This time though, I think, they were alight with anger, not lust.
I motioned with my head that I wanted him out too. I didn't trust my voice.
He started to leave, but then he stopped in his tracks.
"Isn't this a little far North for a werewolf?" He asked quietly.
What the hell was he talking about? "A werewolf? What?" I asked, completely bewildered. And those eyes... they were starting to dazzle me again.
"Jacob, Bella. Where is he?" He asked, angrily this time.
"Jacob? What the hell? I don't have a freaking clue where he is. Last I heard, he was on the reserve with the girl he imprinted on, and they were expecting twins. But that was ten years ago Edward. I have no idea what you're talking about."
"But I thought--"
"You thought? You thought what, that I ran to Jacob after you and your family," I spat, "deserted me? Yeah right, like he'd have me."
Edward just stood there, utterly speechless. "Deserted you? You--"
"That's fucking it! Get out of here!" With that, I put all my strength into pushing him out of the room.
I shut the door quietly, and listened, waiting for them to leave.
Soon, I heard two pairs of footsteps walking slowly away.
I breathed a sigh of relief.
And that's the end of that chapter! I was so going to leave it where Bella opens the door, but I thought that that would just be too cruel. I hope you guys enjoyed this, and don't worry; they will meet again, BUT ONLY IF YOU REVIEW! So review. Now.
