11. Different
Mr. Banner backed into the room pulling a tall metal frame on wheels that held a flat screen with a DVD player. A movie day - the lift in the class atmosphere was almost tangible. Mr. Banner shoved the DVD into the reluctant DVD player and walked to the wall to turn off the lights. The movie was about life before birth and the great sperm race. It was pretty interesting. I really liked the ninja that were involved.
Mr. Banner flicked the lights back on at the end of class, and I stretched my arms out in front of me, flexing my stiff arms. Edward chuckled beside me for some reason.
"Well, that was interesting," he murmured.
"Mhmm," I nodded.
"Shall we?" he asked, rising fluidly.
I almost groaned. Why did he feel the need to escort me? Sure, I could get that it was nice, but really? I felt like I had a security detail when he did this. I inwardly sighed and nodded tartly after gathering my things.
He walked me to my next class in silence and paused at the door; I turned to say goodbye. He raised his hand and then swiftly brushed the length of my cheekbone with his fingertips. He turned without a word and strode quickly away from me. I gaped at his retreating back in shock. What the hell just happened?
Coach Clapp ordered us to pair up into teams once everyone had a badminton racket and a birdy. Mike jogged over and came to stand beside me with a smile.
He tilted his head, "Do you want to be a team?"
"Sure," I grinned. We were totally going to rock at this game.
"Don't worry, I'll keep out of your way," he grinned. He knew how much I liked this sport.
We won three games out of four; go team work! He gave me a high five when the coach finally blew the whistle ending class. Lee and Conner were pretty bad at this sport.
"So," he said as we walked off the court.
"So what?" I gulped down some water.
"You and Cullen, huh?" he asked, worry clearly leaking into his voice.
I barked out a laugh that made my head fall back. I shook my head, "That is- That is beyond funny."
"I take it that means no?" relief made his face fall into an easy going smile.
I rolled my eyes, "That is a no. A resounding no."
He nodded and quietly added, "Good, because he looks at you like- like you're something to eat. As in actual food, and not something sexual."
I choked back a hysterical laughter that threatened to explode, but a small giggle managed to get out despite my efforts.
He raised his brow at me, "What?"
I shook my head and quipped before I went to the dressing room, "You're pretty cool, Mike."
I dressed quickly, wondering if Edward would be waiting, or if I get home without him trailing me. What if his family was there? I felt a wave of real terror. Did they know that I knew? Was I supposed to know that they knew that I knew, or not? Fuck.
Edward was waiting, leaning casually against the side of the gym. Guess, I still had my security detail.
"Hi," I muttered.
"Hello," his answering smile was far too bright. "Congratulations on your games," he said delightedly. His eyes shifted their focus slightly, looking over my shoulder and narrowing. I glanced behind me to see Mike's back as he walked away.
"What?" I demanded.
His eyes slid back to mine, expression tight, "Newton's getting on my nerves."
I was horror-struck. Oh God. Did that mean he was going to kill my friend?
"You're horrible," I hissed, speeding away to the parking lot.
He kept up with me easily. We walked in silence - a furious silence on my part - to the parking lot.
Once we got there, I noted that a large bevy of boys circled around Rosalie's red convertible, unmistakable lust in their eyes. None of them even looked up as Edward slid between them to open his door. I climbed quickly into my car, also unnoticed.
I angrily sped away. It wasn't at all funny with how he implied he could just kill people who annoyed him. Not. Funny. At. All.
My phone buzzed as I drove and I automatically answered it, putting it on speaker phone. I hoped it was my mom. She could talk me down from this.
"Are you still angry?" Edward's voice ran out of my phone. How did he get my phone number? What the hell? I sighed and assumed it was probably from one of my friends' minds. I wouldn't put it past him at this rate.
I kept my eyes on the road and tightened my grin on the steering wheel, "Definitely."
He sighed, "Will you forgive me if I apologize?"
"Maybe...if you mean it. More so, if you promise never to kill anyone I care about," I insisted. I hoped he knew that I included myself in that as well.
"I'm very sorry I upset you, and I will never kill anyone you care about," he stated simply. I heard him chuckle over the phone, "I'll be on your doorstep bright and early Saturday morning."
I groaned internally at the reminder, "Fine."
I finally made it to my house. I quickly parked my truck and hurried inside. I felt the bottle of holy water I always carried and slowly rubbed it on all the doorways and windows. It seemed a little crazy, but it helped me feel better.
I cooked up some carbonara with bacon and chicken for dinner, since it was my turn tonight. I unfroze a pie and hurriedly made a salad. It was easier to use cooking as a distraction than my homework right now. I had to keep my mind off of what could potentially be my doom tomorrow.
My dad came home late looking haggard. I was tempted to tell him about how the world was vastly different that how I thought it was, but decided against it. What would they do to him if he knew? I tried contacting my mom again, but the lines of communication were dead between us for some reason. For the first time in my life, I couldn't lean on my parents. It scared the shit out of me.
That night Edward haunted my dreams again. However, the climate of my unconsciousness had changed. It was darker and much more sinister than I was used to. I was just glad I had taken my nightly T3, which kept me sleeping throughout the night.
When I woke up, I felt cranky and anxious. Breakfast went along as per usual between my dad and me. We ate the frittatas my dad made and I relished the sweet treat he had gotten for me this morning.
"About this Saturday..." he began, walking across the kitchen and turning on the dishwasher as we cleaned up our morning meal.
I nodded, "Yes, Dad?"
"Are you still going to Seattle?" he asked. He looked vaguely worried. Maybe he changed his mind about this package? Was I free to blow off my strange vampire stalker?
"If you still want me to," I shrugged, cracking my back. I felt the delightful pops and sighed.
He leaned against the kitchen counter and let out a deep sigh, "Sorry, sweetheart. You need that package though."
I nodded sadly, "Okay."
He walked over to me, kissed my cheek, and smiled warmly, "I love you. Come back safe when you do go, okay?"
"Will do, chief," I pulled on a strained smile. I really hoped that I was able to come back safely.
My dad left then, with a goodbye wave, and I went upstairs to brushed my teeth and took a speedy shower. I quickly gathered my things and threw my hair into a braid. I hoped that my Katniss braid would help give me a little more bravery. It felt stupid, but I was running out of coping methods. I bounded down the stairs and out the front door. I spotted a familiar looking Volvo outside and sighed. I wondered how long this bizarre routine would continue. He'd have to give up sometime, right?
He leaned against my truck and smirked, "Good morning. How are you today?" His eyes roamed over my face, as if his question was something more than simple courtesy. I shivered inwardly. He was as creepy as ever.
"Good, thank you," even if I was creeped out...my mom raised me to be polite. That was what I had to fall back on now.
His gaze lingered on the circles under my eyes, "You look tired."
"I had a rough night," I snapped, getting into my car. He nodded and walked back to his car. I drove to school at my usual pace with Edward trailing after me.
We made it to school eventually and he continued his relentless following of me from there as well. While we walked, he asked, "What music is in your phone right now?"
I rose my brow, and gave him a confused look. That was an odd question to ask, "Happy pop usually. I don't really mind listening to anything though."
"Debussy too?" he raised an eyebrow.
I shrugged, "Sure."
He seemed content with that answer. It continued like that for the rest of the day. While he stalked me to English, when he met me after Spanish, all through the lunch hour, he questioned me relentlessly about every insignificant detail of my existence. Movies I'd liked and hated, the few places I'd been and the many places I wanted to go, and books - endlessly books. I felt like I couldn't breath around him. My friends sent me worried texts, but I reassured them that I as fine. That I could handle it.
I couldn't remember the last time I'd been bothered so much. He was startlingly difficult to shake. When he did pause, it was only for a very short while.
"What kinds of flowers do you prefer?" he fired off.
I let out a long suffering sigh. Here we go again.
Biology was the same as yesterday. Gym passed quickly as Mike and I throttled people in badminton. When I drove home, Edward didn't' call to bug me. Instead he popped out of the back seat of my truck, and almost caused me to crash. I gaped at him in bewildered shock when he continued his stream of questions. This guy really didn't know what boundaries meant.
He wanted to know what I missed about Phoenix, insisting on descriptions of anything he wasn't familiar with. How it was like to have a beating heart. How it felt to feel the sun on your skin without burning. What sleeping was like. I bet he could've Googled all this shit, but knowing him, it wouldn't have been as nice.
His quiet, probing questions kept coming throughout the entire drive, and I couldn't help but feel sorry for him. Finally, when I had parked in my driveway, he paused instead of responding with another question.
"Are you finished?" I asked in relief. Thank God. He was worse than a curious two year old.
"Not even close, but your father will be home soon," he murmured.
I smiled. It was nice that my dad was getting here at a decent hour. I nodded, "Bye then." I stared up at the sky and noted that dark rain clouds had gathered in the sky. I mentally noted that I didn't have to water my garden today.
"It's twilight," Edward murmured, looking at the western horizon, obscured as it was with clouds. His voice was thoughtful, as if his mind were somewhere far away.
I raised my brow at him, "And?"
"It's the safest time of day for us," he said, smiling bitterly.
"Charlie will be here in a few minutes," he glumly stated. He followed after me as I got out of my truck.
He straightened up and stared past me. "Not good," he muttered.
"What is it?" I followed his gaze.
He glanced at me for a brief second. "Another complication," he said stiffly.
The flash of headlights caught my attention as a dark car pulled up to the curb just a few feet away, facing us.
"Charlie's around the corner," he stated, staring at the other vehicle.
I raised my brow at him. Why he was keeping tabs on my dad, I did not know. I walked over to the car as Edward was illuminated in the glare of the new car's headlights. He was still staring ahead, his gaze locked on something or someone I couldn't see. His expression was a strange mix of frustration and defiance.
In a blink of an eye he was out of sight in seconds. I shook my head at that.
"Hey, Eliza," called out a familiar voice from the driver's side of the little black car.
"Jacob?" I asked, squinting through the dimming light. Just then, my dad's cruiser swung around the corner, his lights shining on the occupants of the car in front of me.
Jacob was already climbing out, his wide grin visible even through the darkening light. In the passenger seat was my godfather.
"Hi, uncle Billy," I waved slightly.
He sent me a grave smile, "Hello, Chippewa." His eyes lingered on where Edward had stood. I shot him an understanding look. Yeah. I know I had a vampire stalker, godfather.
He stared at me with intense, anxious eyes. I nodded and he looked deeply worried. I sighed in a way that silently said, I have no fucking clue as to what to do.