Angelica

Matthew

When I woke up the next morning, I was inclined to think the previous day had been a dream. Was I really going to learn how to read music? It didn't seem possible. It had been my dream for much too long. Jude was sleeping on my stomach, I pushed him off. He let out an annoyed meow. The clock said I only had about ten minutes to get ready for school.

I pulled on random clothes from the floor. Jude jumped up on my unmade bed again, seeking the warmth I had left behind, "You've got it made, buddy", I patted his head before leaving. He shut his eyes and purred.

"Matt, are you up finally?" Cicely called up the stairs.

"Yeah, I'm up", I came down and headed for the kitchen.

"Your friend Edward called just a bit ago offering you a ride to school. He's taking you over to their house again after school for music lessons. Such nice friends you've made, Matthew", Cicely added for the umpteenth time.

It was her first time saying it today though. She had said the same thing about twenty times during dinner last night. So it wasn't all a dream. The day had been so bizarre though, I had been beginning to think I had imagined it. I crammed a piece of toast in my mouth.

"You're eating too fast, Matt. Maybe you should get up earlier, sweetie", Cicely scolded with no real heat, "Here's your lunch."

"Thanks, Cicely. What would I do with you?" I kissed her on the cheek, leaving bread crumbs in my wake.

Cicely smiled and shook her head as she wiped away the crumbs, "Go do something with that hair. I'd like to see both your eyes for once."

I rushed into the bathroom, hurriedly washed my face and brushed my teeth. I ran the comb through my hair but it managed to look like it always did, a mess. I get it cut and three days later it starts doing this again. My hair has a mind of it's own. No use fighting it.

Edward, Bella, and Reneesme were waiting in the living room when I came back down the stairs. I hadn't even heard the doorbell ring. Jude was in Edward's lap again but it was Bella and Reneesme making over him this time. Jude was just eating it up, purring so loudly I could hear him from the doorway.

I ran a hand through my hair, probably further messing it up, judging by the way Cicely was eying me, "Sorry to keep you waiting. I didn't know you were here."

"No worries, Matthew", Edward spoke, he seemed to be enjoying himself almost as much as Jude. He grinned as he scratched the cat under the chin.

I retrieved my bag and put on my shoes. Edward, Bella, and Reneesme soon joined me, each bending to put on their shoes and certainly looking more graceful then I ever did doing it.

"Have a good day, all of you", Cicely waved us off.

"I love your cat", Reneesme beamed at me after we were settled in the backseat.

"Yeah, Jude is pretty awesome", I agreed.

After that is was mostly silence on the way to school. That was probably partially my fault. Though no one else seemed particularly troubled by the silence. I had never heard the album Edward was playing. It caught all of my attention. It was piano music and it was lovely.

My curiosity finally got the better of me, "What is this?"

"That's Edward playing", Bella answered me, "Edward told me not to play it but I thought you might like to hear him."

My jaw dropped, "This is you playing? I'm going to learn how to read music from you? Edward, you're awesome. Why didn't you play for me yesterday? Do you write your own music?"

"Yes, I write my own music but I've had literally years of practice, Matthew, to perfect my skill. You taught yourself, you're the amazing one. I wanted to hear you play yesterday."

I blushed, I couldn't help it. Edward sounded completely sincere in his praise of me. It was hard to take. I wasn't used to friends, let alone friends who admired me.

"Thank you", I mumbled.

"You're quite welcome", Edward was looking in the rear view mirror, "Jazz and Alice have caught up with us."

I looked through the back window. A large and sleek silver motorcycle was idling behind us. Tiny Alice sat behind Jasper, looking like a little china doll on the back of the giant thing. She waved enthusiastically at us, lifting her visor to grace us with a smile. How did this happen? Just weeks ago I was a loner, a loner by choice, but a loner still. How did I end up paling around with the untouchable kids at school and actually liking them? It was a complete mystery to me.

"Because you're just as untouchable", it was Edward's voice. I was startled from my own thoughts. But Edward wasn't even looking at me, it must have been my imagination.

We had arrived at school. For the first time I noticed the surreptitious glances from other students. No doubt they were wondering what the hell king of the space cadets, Matthew, was doing riding to school with the cool kids. Emmett and Rosalie had been waiting for their siblings in the parking lot beside a tiny red sports car. I wasn't quite sure how Emmett fit in the little thing.

Emmett greeted me with his usual, "Hey, Matt", patting me on the back so hard I wanted to cough. Rosalie even smiled at my valiant effort not to.

Alice came dancing up to me with a huge smile, "Hi!" She looked me up and down with a sigh. I wasn't even sure what I was wearing. After all, I had just picked clothes from the floor this morning, "I guess white tee-shirts and black pants are classics."

"Don't mind Alice, Matt", Jasper came up behind her. I think it might be the first time he had ever spoken to me directly, "She'd dress us all if she could."

"I just like to see everyone looking their best is all", Alice sighed again.

"And some of us would like to be comfortable", Bella came up behind me, threading her icy arm through mine, "Come on, Matt, we're watching Jane Eyre today in British Literature. Don't want to be late", she stuck her tongue out at her foster sister, before pulling me in the direction of our class.