Disclaimer: I don't own anything Twilight related.

TAS - First Impressions Last (part 3)

I could hear the noise from the hallway coming in through the library's double doors and I made a half-hearted attempt to stand up. It was time to go to class. I had holed myself at the very end of the library in one of the more hidden cubicles, tucked away between a wall and several bookcases.

I hadn't done much while I sat there, head resting against one side of the cubicle, staring blankly as I waited for my remaining thirty minutes to be over. All I could do was think about what I thought was inevitable and be afraid.

I wondered what dying felt like. Would Edward simply snap my neck and that would be the end of it? Goodbye, Lena…Bella…or both?

Or did he, in his blood-lust, like torturing his victims, watching them suffer while he drained the life out of them?

Or would he be self-righteous and first drag me off to where the other Cullens were and have them collectively decide my fate?

I don't know what was worse. I didn't want to know.

I sank back down into the chair.

"Bella?" a small, timid voice called out of nowhere. I lifted my head up and twisted around so I could see the person behind me. I was surprised to see Angela Webber there.

"Oh, hey," I replied. I could feel myself grow hot with embarrassment. I had been silently crying for a good ten minutes and I must appear entirely miserable-looking. "I think we'd better get to…"

Angela bent halfway down and enveloped me in a hug. "You're going to be fine, Bella. You'll see. It ain't so bad here," she whispered.

Her awkward but well meant reassurances were like a balm to my aching heart. I didn't know what to say and I let her soothe me. She told me other things. I didn't mind at all that her words were ill-founded. I didn't miss Arizona; my mom wasn't going to visit me anytime soon; and I wasn't going to visit them either. It was the thought that counted right?

A few moments later, I moved away from her. "We should go now. Won't we be late for our next class?" I asked her.

Angela smiled and said, "Don't worry. Mr. Banner's usually late. We'll get there before he does."

I had to smile at that and I followed her out of the library. We arrived at the classroom (after a quick stop to the comfort room -- I really couldn't go to class looking as I was) and sure enough, Mr. Banner was nowhere in sight. I stood still at the front of the classroom, not knowing what to do next. Angela passed by me and took her seat by her partner and gave me an apologetic smile.

Someone tapped me then on the shoulder and turned around to come face to face with the tall, sandy-blond haired guy. He smiled and introduced himself as Mike Newton. I smiled back. "So you're Isabella Swan, am I right?"

I nodded.

There was an awkward silence before he blurted out, "So you and Angela are buddies now? I saw you two walking to class together."

I laughed and shrugged, "Yeah, I guess so."

"Well, we'd better get moving, Mr. B's coming any moment."

I automatically followed Mike, only to realize too late and to my dismay that he already had a lab partner.

'Of course he has a lab partner, you idiot!' I mentally berated myself.

Mike looked at me sheepishly. "Sorry, Bella."

He paused and looked behind me. He frowned. "Cullen's the only one without one, I'm afraid."

I glanced back and saw the same guy from the cafeteria. My blood ran cold. I quickly looked back at Mike who still stood beside me. He touched my arm and gave me an encouraging smile.

He bent down a little bit so that he could whisper into my ear. "Wish you were my partner though." I wanted to tell him I felt the same way but kept my mouth shut. His reasons were probably far different from mine.

The final bell rang and everyone still standing scrambled to get to their desks and I made my way to the only vacant seat left.

Mr. Banner entered the room. He was a no nonsense sort guy and didn't care for introductions. He signed my slip, gave me a huge textbook and promptly started his lesson even before I got back to my desk.

I noticed Edward looking at me as went back to my seat but when he had seen me staring back at him, he quickly turned his face away. 'He won't kill you right now,' I told myself but that wasn't much as self-reassurances go. I couldn't look at him again. If he could read my thoughts what did it matter now? I was dead sooner or later.

In a morbid sort of way, I was hoping he'd just do it now and get it over with. How could I carry on living like this everyday, knowing that he could just kill me anytime he thought convenient? I'd go insane having to constantly look over my shoulder, hoping he wasn't there. At least if he did it now, I'd be expecting it.

Similar thoughts invaded my mind and I couldn't concentrate in class at all. I was so tense that I felt like my whole body would break from all the stress. Mr. Banner couldn't end his lecture fast enough and by the time it did, I was quite ready to get out of there and away from him. I didn't even wait for Mike or Angela and when I stepped out of the classroom, I let a huge sigh of relief.

Mike emerged from the classroom before I could move away and disappear into the crowd of people. He waved and motioned for me to come over.

"I've got P.E. next, where are you headed?" he asked me.

"I'm headed for the gym too," I replied. He seemed pleased with my answer and we started walking together in the direction of the gym.

I wasn't up for much talking but I listened to Mike as he spoke about random things. He amused me by talking about his younger twin brothers and how "terrible" they were and that it drove him nuts because he couldn't do anything about it since they were only two-years-old. He admitted though that he loved them despite it all and he couldn't wait for them to grow old enough for him to teach them baseball.

I wondered if Bella knew that about Mike. How affectionate and caring he could be. I wondered if all she really saw in him was how much of a nuisance he was. I wondered if she knew that he even had brothers or sisters. But most of all, I wondered if she saw any good in any of her so called friends besides the things she could get out of them.

"You seem quiet. What's wrong? Did Mr. B's lecture make you brain dead or something?" he asked jokingly, snapping me out of my reverie.

I looked up at him and smiled, a little embarrassed he had caught me not listening to him. I shook my head. "No, just a bit tired that's all."

We had reached gym then but he stopped me before I could enter. "If you're really tired maybe you should head for the clinic instead of attending class. I could tell Coach Clapp that you got a headache or something."

I blinked. "Do I really look that awful?" I blurted out without thinking. I saw him visibly wince.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to offend you, Bella. I just…well you do look a bit worn out. It looked like something spooked you in Bio."

I couldn't say anything to that so I let him continue.

"And," he said, sounding very reluctant. "Your partner, you know, Edward Cullen, well he didn't look too great either. Both of you left the classroom in such a hurry, it was kind a weird. Never seen him act like that before."

I sighed but I tried not to show him my discomfort. "Well, um, we should go inside, I think," I said.

He probably saw that I didn't want to talk about Edward Cullen anymore, he dropped the matter and we headed inside. He left me to go to the boys' changing room and I went to look for Coach Clapp.

Coach's reaction to my asking if I could join the volleyball team was exactly how I expected it would be. He didn't look too convinced I was meant to be playing volleyball at all not that I could blame him. I was in the body of a somewhat gangly, thin girl and didn't look like she had the strength to hit a ball much less get it over the net. But he gave me the "we'll see" look and asked me to come to his office after school on Friday for the last batch of try-outs this season.

That got me really excited and perked me up. I couldn't wait for try-outs and I planned on training as much as I could before then. 'I'm walking to school tomorrow,' I thought. This body was probably out of shape.

By the time classes ended, I felt a whole lot better. I saw Mike again and he offered to meet up with me before classes tomorrow morning. We talked for a bit before I told him that I had to get going.

I was driving back home, listening to the radio crackling out one of the new songs from this country-pop singer I could never remember the name of. I was in even better spirits now because I hadn't bumped into Edward in the office like Bella had which was great. I had given the receptionist my signed slip of paper and I was out the door just like that. I was hoping tomorrow was relatively as good as it had been today.

I was passing through the town now and I instantly remembered that Charlie and I and the lack of food in the house. I slowed down a bit as I looked around for a grocery store but something else caught my eye.

I quickly moved to the side of the road and parked. Grabbing my backpack, I climbed out of the truck and locked it.

It was this small music store that caught my eye. It didn't look like one of those chain outlets and nobody seem to notice it. I watched people pass it by without much as a glance. Pulling up the straps of my backpack higher up my shoulders, I marched up and went inside.

The old-fashioned bell over the door tinkled as I opened the door and again when I let the door close behind me. The small shop was stock full of instruments and music equipment, books, and other things. But nobody seemed to be around.

I noticed an old upright piano, shoved to one corner at the very end. I didn't look like it was used much which was a shame. I slowly walked up to it and opened lid. My eyes widened to find pristine white black and white keys underneath. Somebody took the time to clean it often.

Hesitantly, I pressed one of the keys. I was half expecting a discordant sound to come out but instead the clearest sound escaped and echoed in the small space.

"Do you play, miss?"

I jumped and turned around. An elderly man, maybe in his late 60s, was standing in front of me with a bemused smile.

"I-I'm so sorry. I didn't mean…I should probably go…" I blurted out, embarrassed.

He frowned then and I thought he looked…sad. This startled me. Why should he be sad to see me go? Shouldn't he be angry that went snooping around his place? Was this even his store? For all I knew he could be a customer that had just walked in.

How mortifying, looking like a complete idiot in front of this old man. I wondered if he thought I was completely loony.

"Well, I better go," I said again and made to leave when I saw him smile sadly and nod his head.

"Alright, dear. Maybe I'll hear you play my Kate's piano another time," he said. He went over to the piano, quietly closed the lid and just like that, walked to the back of the store.

I just stood there looking very surprised. So, this was his store. My eyes shifted to the piano. And that was his wife's piano. How strange. I wonder why it's even here and not in their house where it belonged.

I stepped out and the wind hit my face harshly. Pulling the lapels of my jacket up, I jogged back into my truck where it was warmer. "I better get home," I mumbled to myself as I looked at the darkening sky. It was getting late and I still needed to buy some food for Charlie and I.

All the way home, I couldn't stop thinking about the mysterious man and that piano. For once, Edward was the farthest thing from my mind.

NOTES:

Omg. I finally got to update! So sorry for the very long period of "un-updated-ness". Thanks a lot for all the reviews, alerts, and/or faves. I absolutely LOVE getting those. *wink* Haha. I can't wait for Christmas break. Two weeks to go!

-TFT