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Did I say seven? I meant, 6:30!

"Class Act"

Chapter Nine: The Cafeteria

(Edward POV)

I mindlessly listened as Tanya—Miss Denali, a Calculus teacher—prattled on about . . . I had no idea. I was too busy pulling shit onto my tray. Then when we got up to pay, she waited—like it should be my treat.

Of course, I paid.

My mother had been aching to get us together for the longest time.

Tanya and I were one in the same. We grew up in Forks, went away to college, and came back to teach. Back then she was that statuesque, strawberry blonde every guy wanted to date—not to mention she was a genius.

And I . . .

Well, I had acne, braces, and Tanya pretended as if she didn't know me from a hole in the wall my first day here. She's a year older—graduated while I was a junior. The only things that have changed are: she's single—it looked like it was staying that way—and she was interested in me, AV geek, Edward Cullen—who used to hide in the library during lunch.

The bottom line was, I'd fuck Tanya if all I'd get was a fuck. But as soon as my dick slipped into that, she'd have the names of our children and our wedding date planned. This bitch needed to get a cat and maybe lower her standards. I don't see any princes looking for their princess here in Forks.

"Are you chaperoning the prom? We should go. I go every year—so much fun." She squealed, sitting across from me.

"Prom?" I laughed, rearranging the food on my tray. "Wow. Tuxedos and . . . dancing." I nodded, lifting my hamburger bun to put ketchup on it. "Um—" A certain giggle caught me off-guard. In my periphery, I saw Miss Swan, Miss Hale, and Miss Stanley sway their hips toward a neighboring table.

And I hated that they sat there.

How the fuck was I supposed to concentrate or even eat with Bella feet away?

That girl invades my mind like a sickness, and it needed to stop.

Girls didn't look that good when I was in high school.

That body . . . her mindset.

Truth be told; I can ignore them all, except one.

Bella.

"Don't you remember prom?" Tanya smiled.

"Uh—" I paused, shaking my head and staring at my fries. "I never went to mine."

"Oh!" Miss Denali looked like a sad puppy with those eyes. "Then we definitely have to go. My dress is pink—you can get me a white orchid corsage."

"A corsage?" I blinked, staring blankly. "Seriously?"

"Prom?" Rosalie asked, loudly.

Tanya beamed at her. "I'll be chaperoning with Mr. Cullen."

My eyes never left my tray.

"That crown has your name written right on it, Miss Hale." Tanya waved a hand with a flourish, like Rosalie was royalty. "I was prom queen when I was a senior." Like we all didn't know.

Rosalie laughed, hopefully at her. "What color is your dress?"

Tanya looked to me and then back to her. I got busy eating, while they spoke about colors, corsages, and cummerbunds. It turned out that I was thankful for Rosalie.

I had finished my hamburger, oblivious to everything, except all the tension I felt to my left—where Bella sat.

Dutifully, I ignored her, but then I felt something hit my hair. Waving it out, a spitball fell onto my tray. Looking around, I saw Bella giggling with a straw. "That was a bit childish, no?"

She eyed my table companions. "You weren't paying me any attention," she whispered through a pout.

I nervously cleared my throat, using my napkin to wipe my mouth. "Was there something you wanted to speak about? I mean, uh, needed?"

"Needed," she mouthed, sitting back a bit, her face turning into a serious mask. "From you, Mr. Cullen, always."

I laughed, shaking my head and sipping my Minute Maid Lemonade. "Right." Trying to deflect her attentions was becoming increasingly difficult, but only because I didn't want her behavior to stop. I was always available, encouraging without encouraging, and I wished I could take my balls out of my back pocket—make a bold move.

Soon, I keep telling myself.

She won't be my student much longer.

Wait, no . . .

I shook my head, chuckling at myself.

"What's so funny?" Tanya asked.

"Nothing." Suddenly thirsty, I gulped the rest of my drink.

"It'd be awesome if we could all share a limo—you guys could get us booze." Rosalie smiled at me.

"Fat chance," Tanya said.

"She's right—that'll never happen," I agreed, getting back to my lunch, and then a minute later a crumpled piece of paper landed in my lap.

"We just might happen," it said.

Faster than I thought possible, I shoved that shit into my front pocket.

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I gotta close the laptop and act like a human being visiting relatives. I'll post more when I get home! Love you guys!