BPOV
9
I go and look for Rose halfway through our lunch hour. We normally meet at the steps at the front of Forks High, but she sent me a text saying she had to go to detention in Principal Dalloway's office for talking back to a teacher.
In the cafeteria, kids throng. Claustrophobia-inducing just looking at them. On a table nearby sits Lauren, typing away on her phone furiously. I consider going over, asking how things are with Jasper. Lauren looks up as a tall figure strides through the cafeteria. Blond, sky-blue eyes, lean from sport. Jasper Whitlock. He heads straight for Lauren. Sits in the chair across from her and says something, quietly, urgently, intense eyes. Lauren's face falls; they both get up and he leads her through the glass doors, her hand in his, black and white. Some people stare. Everyone talks.
I turn to leave but the window catches my eye. It overlooks the parking lot and sidewalk that surrounds it. Through the glass, I see Rose, walking quickly with her head down. She jumps onto the motorcycle behind Royce and he passes her a helmet. He didn't have one before. I remember his friends have motorcycles too and they must have given it to him. Does that mean they know about Rose and Royce? I watch as he pulls his sunglasses on. Rose piles her hair under the helmet. If someone was to turn around now and look out the window, out across the parking lot and at the couple on the bike, they would see two slim figures. Rose is no longer recognisable. Royce starts the engine and peels out of the parking lot.
I sit in the library for the rest of lunch. My books are put on the table in the quiet area where Lauren, Angela and I sat for our art project research. I am pretending to do my homework when Angela appears from around the bookshelves. She smiles happily when she sees me and I can't help but return the smile.
"Hey, Bella," she says in her gentle voice. "I'm glad I've found you. I was wondering whether you are free tonight. I was thinking we could meet up to start work on our art project?"
She looks hopeful and I think about my plans for tonight. Homework. Giving Emmett a bath. Making dinner. Laundry. Giving Sue her pills.
"Sorry Angela, but I have to look after my brother," I say and I'm surprised to hear the genuine apology in my voice.
"Oh, that's OK; you can bring him round to my house. I have a brother and a sister who are twins and I think they're all in the same class at Forks Elementary," says Angela, still smiling.
I agree and we meet after school to pick the kids up; Bruce and Jackie fight over the front seat of Angela's car. Within the first ten minutes of arrival at their house, Emmett and Bruce announce their pledge of friendship to each other.
