A/N: Hi! I'm glad to know you all loved the ballsy Bella. ;)
Let's read on, shall we?
Chapter-11: Misery Loves Company
For a long moment, I sit on my bed, laying my head on top of my bended knees as I look out the window.
Two and a half weeks, I count mentally.
Nineteen days.
Nineteen days without Edward.
Outside my window no birds sing because I don't live in a fairytale and that's not how birds act. Aside from the absence of never-present chirping birds, however, the day looks exactly the same. No dark clouds overshadow the sun rays like I feel they should.
This is stupid and irrational, I remind myself. But then my eyes find the stuffed minion I slept clutched to my chest and my rational mind goes out the window.
Why did he have to be a criminal? I ask myself for what must be the thousandth time since the night of our last date.
For a moment, I curse the bright blue sky spreading the spring time joy everywhere when my life feels like it's lost the brightest point of light there was. I may even let a few teardrops escape my eyes before pushing aside the hurt that seems like a part of my life now and getting out of bed.
I won't let Edward Cullen make me miserable today, I promise myself.
I manage to keep my promise … in a way. I don't let him make me miserable, but I still end up feeling shitty. At least I'm making my own choice about being miserable, I console myself.
When I drive my mopey ass to the school, the announcement for an unscheduled school assembly is there to greet me. Whoever came up with the phrase 'misery loves company' clearly never had to deal with a hall room filled with scrutinizing eyes of students when all one wants to do is avoid any and all human contact.
"Wow! You look like shittier than you did yesterday."
"And your greeting is sunnier than yesterday's." My response to Rose's greeting brings a little semblance to normalcy until …
"I doubt anyone so pretty can look anything but perfect."
We both turn to look at the unexpected defender of mine to find a black-haired, blue-eyed all american looking man standing there.
Rose's eyes narrow threateningly at him. "Hey, wannabe knight in harris tweed, this is my cousin I'm talking to. So why don't you beat it?"
"Now, now, Ms. Hale, that's not the way to welcome our new colleague."
A moment of stunned silence follows Principal Banner's mild chastisement. Thankfully, it's Rose who recovers first. "Co-colleague, Mr. Banner?"
Mr. Banner nods pleasantly. "He's our new math teacher, Alec Winters." Turning to Alec, he says, "Mr. Winters, follow me, please. I'd like to introduce you to the whole student body."
Mr. Winters starts to follow Mr. Banner, but then looks back and smiles. "It's nice to meet you," he says, his eyes trained on my face.
"You wish, screw boy," I hear Rose mutter from beside me.
After the assembly, like the dutiful shepherds we are, we point our students toward their classes. I make my way through the hallways, making the stragglers hurry up before the final bell. And that's when Alec Winters finds me.
"Logan," I call to one of my AP Chem students, walking up to place a hand on his shoulder. "Do you feel real at home at school?"
He looks taken aback by my question. "Uhh … I guess. I like school, Ms. Swan."
"Does it feel like home to you though?" I stress.
"No ..."
Tightening my hold on his shoulder, I stage-whisper, "Then why are you doing your homework at school when you should be in class?"
The way his eyes bug out would've seemed comical if I had been in the mood. Instead, it makes me feel like shit. My miserable ass is spreading the misery. Taking in a slow breath, I attempt to smile understandingly at the boy. "Is it mathlete season already?"
A little color returns to his cheeks as he nods vigorously. "Ms. Young gave us a lot of work for the weekend, and I didn't get to finish this one essay on the history of graphic design for her computer workshop." The words come out of him like seamless waves, a nervous tick of him. "I promise I won't repeat this, Ma'am. Please don't report me to Principal Banner."
"Logan ..." I say, holding my hands up to quieten him. "I'm not going to report you to anyone. Go to your class and you can finish this during lunch break, okay?"
He closes his eyes and lets out a sigh of relief. "Thank you so much, Ms. Swan. You're the best," he says with a smile before closing his locker and rushing off in the direction of Eric Yorkie's physics class.
"Impressive," a voice says from behind me, making me look back.
"Mr. Winters," I greet when I see him standing there, his back resting against one of the lockers. "I didn't see you there."
"Just Alec, please," he insists, coming to stand in front of me. "I don't believe we've had the pleasure of being formally introduced yet. I'm Alec Winters, Math Geek."
I offer him a slight smile. "Well Just Alec, I'm Isabella Swan, Chemistry Chick," I respond, shaking his outstretched hand.
He laughs at that, showing a bright white smile and looking more boyish than before. "It's nice to meet you, Isabella." He pretends to look around for someone before adding, "I hope your cousin won't chew my head off for using your first name."
The twinkling light of mischief in his eyes tell me that he's joking, but my cheeks heat up anyway. "I'm sorry for that. Rose is very protective of us. She's more like an elder sister than cousin, really."
He shakes his head, waving off my apology. "It's sweet that you have someone to look out for you."
"Yeah," I say, not knowing what else to say.
An awkward pause follows as I wonder if Rose was right and he was indeed hitting on me. Thankfully, the bell rings, saving us both from the need to answer. "That's our cue," I say, taking a few steps away from him. "Welcome to Greenview High."
"Thank you, Ms. Isabella," he responds, his eyes following me until I step into my classroom.
Well, that was weird, I think, feeling like I was cheating on Edward by even allowing Alec to shake my hand. Damn you, Cullen! Will you ever leave my head?
A/N: So … thoughts? Share them with me and leave a review.
For me, I chose Ian Harding, who plays Ezra Fitz in Pretty Little Liars, as Alec here.
Thanks for reading.
Oh and to all my Muslim readers, wish you a happy, safe and prosperous Eid. Eid Mubarak. :)
And to those of you who joined me on the journey with Bewitched, it's been featured on twifanfictionresblog and has been nominated for the top ten poll. So do consider voting if you enjoyed the ride with DukeWard.
Also, there's a new event in works: Fandom for Domestic Violence. Check out the website for all information and do consider donating if you can. Thank you!
.com
See you next week.
Take care.
Ann
