9
Despite my very vivid nightmare, it did not deter me from going to school. It did deter me, however, from interacting normally with my fellow classmates, especially with one in particular: Edward Cullen. I don't know how he managed to talk himself into it, but he seemed to have thought that since he knew my home address now, he could start driving me to school. Of course, feeling absolutely guilty with the way I had treated him yesterday, I found myself agreeing to his offer.
That was mistake number one. Mistake number two was when I greeted him good morning. That was when he noticed that there was something off with me, because he proceeded in interrogating me. I didn't give him the satisfaction of having his questions answered, so the ride was pretty much spent in an awkward silence.
As Edward parked the car in the parking lot, he stated, "Isabella, there's something bothering you."
"No," I shook my head, "there's not." I shouldered my bag and pulled the metal bar to open the door. The door didn't open. "What?" I muttered to myself. I tried opening the door again, but the result was the same as before. The stupid door wouldn't open. I was tempted to take my wand out and spell it open, but Edward's voice stopped me.
He didn't exactly tell me to stop; his voice simply…caught my attention.
"Isabella," he sighed, "I'm your friend, right?"
I watched him intently, cautious as to where he was going with this. Of course I was his friend. I think my friendship with some of the Cullen family members have been established during my outburst to Lauren months ago. And no matter of Edward resurfacing some of my childhood memories can break that friendship.
"Yes…"
"Then, it is a duty as your friend to make it my business to try and fix your problems." He turned his gaze from his steering wheel to me. I felt the breath being knocked out of my lungs at the intensity of his gaze. "Am I right?"
Gathering my bearings, I replied, "It is your duty as my friend to worry about me if I do have a problem, but not necessarily your business to try and fix it. That power relies only on me, and it can only be transferred to you if I allow it to."
A frown marred Edward's unnaturally beautiful face, and I chided myself for allowing that to happen.
"What's bothering you, Isabella?" he asked, straight to the point. "Was it about what happened by your house yesterday? I should really apologize about that. I'm sorry for prying. I was just alarmed, that's all. I didn't mean to upset you with my words."
I raised a hand, telling him to stop. "There's no reason for you to apologize, Edward. As my friend, it was only natural for you to be worried. My reaction to your specific choice of words were entirely my fault, and I think I should be the one apologizing for the way I had taken my anger out on you. You didn't know that the name 'Bella' triggers painful," I chocked on the word. Pain. How ironic. "Painful memories."
"Painful memories of what?" Edward asked. At my small sad smile, he said, "It helps if you talk about it. I promise I won't reveal anything if you don't want me to." When I didn't reply, he spoke up, asking me in a hushed undertone, "Is this the baggage you speak of?"
Nodding my head, I said, smirking, "It's just the tip of the iceberg, Edward. Now would you please open the door for me? I don't want to sit here and discuss this with you. I'm afraid that the longer I sit here, the more prone I am to let something slip." I ran a hand through my long brown hair. "You know that I don't want you tangled in my mess."
"I understand," he sighed. There was the sound of something snapping, and I saw a small metal thing on the door move. I didn't understand what happened, but when Edward opened his door, I understood perfectly. He just unlocked the doors. I watched him as he walked around the front of the car and open the door for me.
There was a collective gasp when I stepped out of the car, and I knew it was not because of my terrible fashion choices for today. A simple ensemble of skinny jeans and t-shirt doesn't seem to be gasp worthy in my opinion, not unless I'm wearing them. I was told once that I could wear a potato sack and make it look fashionable. But no, I strongly don't think the gasp was about that.
I muttered a thank you to Edward as he closed the door for me, and when he walked me into the building, I couldn't help but whisper something to him through the corners of my mouth. "People are staring."
"You don't seem to be perturbed by the staring during the past months. What made you change your mind?"
"Maybe it's because I know that there are staring for a completely different reason that from, let's say, yesterday?"
"Oh?" Edward asked, feigning mystification. "What can possibly be different now from yesterday? It's still another school day, the sky's still overcast, the cars here are still pieces of junk, and you're still beautiful."
I laughed at that. "Charming," I giggled. I didn't know what spurred me to do what I did next, but it was a decision I know I can never regret. I kissed him. Not on the lips, but on the cheek. It was an innocent gesture, like how a friend kisses another friend, but the students surrounding us must've mistaken it as something else.
And somehow, I didn't find it in me to reject their speculations. I'm already going to get hanged for a dragon as an egg, so I might as well make the most of it.
I spared a look over my shoulder and was smug when females glared at me, and males glared at Edward. I also felt smug when seconds after I had kissed him, Edward Cullen still had a shocked yet pleased look on his face. His hand, even, was touching the place I had kissed him. Yes, I was smug, and I let it show on my face.
This day was slowly turning out to be fantastic, in spite of the crappy beginning.
The murmurs and whispers of gossip followed me everywhere. I heard them before and after lessons; I heard them during lessons; I heard them between lessons, and I even heard them during bathroom breaks. I sighed. This town really was sad. Surely they have something better to talk about than a simple peck on the cheek? Of course, it was not just a simple peck on the cheek.
He was a vampire, and I was Veela, not that the students of Forks High knew that.
He was a single and gorgeous. I was single too, and equally gorgeous if I do say so myself.
He has feelings for me, and, unknowingly to him, I have feelings for him too.
So yes, it wasn't just a simple peck on the cheek. Not even close.
The way towards the cafeteria was cramped full with other student filing that way, the same way as I was going. I was annoyed at that. Shouldn't the school have planned this happening, and shouldn't they have made another way to go to the cafeteria? Some of us aren't that patient…
I was so busy verbally abusing the people who planned out Forks High in my head, that I was caught off guard when someone grabbed hold of my arm and with a strong pull, hauled me into a niche. I groaned in annoyance – the last time I was dragged into a niche, I was attacked with kisses, not that I had minded since they came from Edward. But the hand that's clutching my arm wasn't cold, meaning this wasn't Edward.
Wait a minute; someone other than Edward was dragging me into a niche! Everything about this situation screamed danger, and my body reacted to those warnings. Not particularly caring about who had grabbed me, because I know that that person clearly meant harm, I dug into my boot and took out my dagger. I then brought it to my capturer's neck. It didn't bother me at all that if I place more force on the blade, I might draw blood.
"W-wait, wait!" my capturer screamed. "Isabella, it's me! Please don't kill me. Don't kill me. Isabella…" the guy sniveled in fear. "It's me, Mike!"
I blinked. Mike? I gasped when I inspected the guy closer. It was Mike…the blonde hair and chubby cheeks, it was unmistakable.
"Mike?" I asked, "Why did you grab me?" I relented a little bit on the force on the dagger, but I wasn't foolish enough to place it back in my boot. For all I know, Mike could still be planning on attacking me. His baggy clothing could easily hide weapons.
"I – I'm sorry, okay? I was just…" I pressed the dagger harder. He wasn't answering my question. Why did he grab me? Did someone ask him to attack me? If so, then who sent him? I need names, or so help me…
"Okay, okay!" he screamed, his voice octaves higher. "I was just – I wanted to ask you out, on a – on a date, but there were too many people around, and since you're already going out with Cullen, I thought I had missed my chance. So I grabbed you, to ask you out in private where no one can see me do so…I planned on kissing you first, but then you…" his eyes trailed down to the dagger in my hand and against his pulsating neck.
Growling in aggravation, I said, "Don't you ever do that again to me, understand? If so, then maybe it's not just a brief introduction to my dagger that you will experience…" I know I was being a bit harsh, but the boy thought he has a chance with me! Ludicrous. How could he think that? And he planned on kissing me? Am I the only girl in this school for him to practice his skills on? I know enough to know that he knows nothing about kissing. Believe me, I've been kissing boys since I was thirteen. I think I have enough experience.
"Y-yes," he squeaked. I let him go and watched him scurry away. He didn't look back, not even once.
Happy that that was one crisis averted, I sheathed my dagger back in its holster in my left boot and made my way to the cafeteria. There weren't many people now, but that just meant that there will be a long line. I know I should've packed my lunch, but I was so distraught this morning to even think ahead to the next hour, let alone until lunchtime.
I entered the cafeteria surreptitiously and was proven right when I saw the huge line for the food. I am not lining up like that. No way. My patience was worn enough thin as it is. It's Mike's fault that I'm going hungry right now.
"Stupid hormonal teenage boy…" I muttered darkly. I glared at Mike as I walked around the cafeteria, who was seated with his friends. He looked away when he met my eyes.
"Isabella!" I stopped dead on my tracks, and apparently, so did the entire student body when the instantly recognizable voice of Edward Cullen called my name. He was waving me over to sit beside him. For once, he wasn't seated next to his family, but alone. I did a double take; alone. What was he thinking?
"Isabella, come over here. I've saved you a seat."
Immediately, eyes glued themselves on me and Edward smirked. I swear he did this on purpose. "Idiot…" I hissed under my breath, knowing full well that he heard me. Hearing me, in fact, just made that smirk of his bigger.
I sat down in front of him, and seeing his tray full of delicious looking food, I didn't hesitate to grab a slice of pizza and take a bite. It's not like he's going to eat it anyway. Human food tastes terrible to vampires. This must be my lucky day.
A/N: Only two review for the last chapter? Now I'm sad. Well, anyway, I hope this chapter will get more responses. I particularly like the whole 'Edward is protective' thing, not to mention the 'Bella kissing Edward on the cheek in front of the whole student population' thing.
=]