Chapter 21
It seems like deja vu of the first day when I stepped foot in Forks High School but this time I'm rocking a black hair style and something else that can't be washed away like this color job. Students started filling into the classroom five minutes ago. Mr. Howard looked at me one time while talking to the other students then turned his attention back to the students.
I haven't seen Bella all this morning and I'm sure she's hanging with the Cullens. I don't delve myself into her personal business when she's around them. I don't like them be it they're good or not. It's a totally big difference from her and me. She has her biology book back curtesy of Jacob. So, yeah. No confrontation with Bella yet. She has to come to Biology.
She'll sit right next to me unless her seating changed since the last time I been here. I feel a presence behind me causing me to turn around and I lock eyes with some of the students who's trying to walk into the classroom. I move out of the way to let them by. This is ridiculous. I never felt this way ever in my angel life. Guess this Monday is going to be different after all.
I look at Mr. Howard who's hanging with students by his desk. "Are you coming in, Ms. Thorne?" I hear him asks me. The whole classroom get quiet as they all turn their attention towards me.
"Yeah, I'm thinking a little bit." I say trying not to get into my feelings. How am I going to handle this situation?"You're considered late in two minutes. No student is let in after the door closes." He say to me. I look up at the clock that's hanging in the hallway. 7:18 a.m. Wow, right on time. I look back into the classroom still feeling eerie about going in.
"I will have to pass." I say to him walking up to me and putting his hand on the door knob. Some of the students in the hallway and classroom stare at me. "You're blocking the doorway." He say looking me right in the face. I move to the side and rest my back up against the lockers as the bell rings. He closes the door and lean to the side looking at me through the window on the door.
The students in the hallway looks at both him and me. It's like the hallway has got silent waiting on him or me to say something. "Ms. Thorne, you have failed my class. The semester is over." He say. The same thing I was thinking in my head. "Right, Mr. Howard. I'm not feeling good. I'm going to the nurse's office." I say turning around and still seeing students looking at me. I ignore them walking towards the nurse's office.
I'm sitting in the nurse's office while she's doing my paper work. I had to come out and tell her about the pregnancy. So, she'll check my vitals and making sure everything is okay. I been here for a couple of minutes nearly close to an hour. I guess she chalked it up as nerves as a teenage pregnancy. "I don't know what happened. Mr. Howard just got to me, Nurse." I say looking out of the window.
It's a little bit cloudy today. It might even rain before the school is over. "He does that some times." She responds still looking in my paper work. "Is anyone available to come pick you up if this problem continues?" "Yeah, I have a boyfriend. He has a car and he was worried this might happened but I told him that I had it down pat. The doctor told me that I was okay." I say noticing that she's staring extra hard at my paper work.
"Are you okay, Nurse?" I ask her. She's acting very odd for some strange reason. "How far are you?" She asks ignoring my question. "I'm going on two months." I say. I said it before but she must not had been listening to me. "It must be the rain. It's gets everybody." I say going into my pocket trying to locate my cellphone to text Jacob.
She doesn't respond. I look at my cellphone up to see that I have a text message from Bella. Right, I bet she was in the classroom. I text her back to let her know everything is fine. Class should be over in a couple of minutes. It's no need to come visit me, if she does. I still need to talk to her probably after school if she's hanging with the Cullens.
I put my phone back into my pocket as the nurse reads over my information and reach towards the office phone."You do not need to call nobody. I'm here right." I say looking at her picking up the receiver. That number is fake and I am my own emergency contact. If your pregnancy is difficult and high risk then you need to go to the hospital." She say reminding me.
"You do not need to call the hospital. So, hang it up." I say ordering her. She gives me this look and put the phone on the receiver when The Staff Only door opens up to Mr. Howard. "Your pregnancy is high risk, is it not?" He asks me closing the door behind him. "It is, Mr. Howard." I answer. The nurse turns around to him. "Do you know her?" She asks him.
"She's the student who I went to the hospital with." He answer looking me right in my face. It's always in my face when dealing with him. She turn back around to me. "You need to start worrying about the baby's health." "And, I always do. I worry each and every day." "You don't want to lose your baby, do you?" She asks with a hint of sadness in her eyes.
"No, I do not." I say shaking my head no. "Do you want to call an ambulance?" She asks again. "No, I do not. It's just nerves and I know if it was something serious. I'm okay." I say grabbing my book bag and putting it on my back. The nurse opens her mouth up then closes it. They both look at me waiting on me to say something else.
"I'm just sick of the hospital and I know my baby is okay. I was checked out two days ago, Nurse. It's just nerves. You'll feel it too if you was in my situation." "And, I was." She boldly. Mr. Howard make eye contact with me. "I don't want to sound off as rude but that's a personal experience and I feel that's something you shouldn't share with me. I don't have a problem with my pregnancy. I was gone for two months and it's a big change. That's all." I say feeling that vibe coming back.
I said the right thing. I look at the clock hanging on the wall. Second class is about to begin in a couple of minutes. It's get silence as Mr. Howard sadly looks at the Nurse. She looks heartbroken. "Ms. Thorne, why don't you go back to class." He say. "Right, I'm okay. I'm sorry." I say walking past the nurse and Mr. Howard open up the door for me.
I can't even make eye contact with him. He closes it behind me when I leave out. That was awkward and way to personal for me. I get a sudden need to throw up and I make my way towards the girl's restroom feeling the need to throw up. I open all of the stalls making sure no one is around before throwing up in one of the toilets. I grab some toilet paper and wipe my mouth before using it to flush the toilet.
I walk out of the stall and look in the mirror. I walk up to the mirror and wash my hands. I should text Jacob and let him know what happened. Wait, I shouldn't bother him. He's too busy dealing with Victoria. He's way too busy for me. I grab a couple of paper towels and dry my hands. I dump them in the trash can when I leave out of the restroom along with the toilet paper.
I walk out to find Mr. Howard waiting in the hallway along with the Nurse. Now, that's a problem. "Do you mind coming back to the office so that I may check you out?" She asks me. "I do kind of mind but sure if it'll ease you both." I say nodding my head. "It will." She say. I walk back into the Nurse's office along with the Nurse. I take my seat back on the bed as the Nurse sits back down at her desk.
Mr. Howard makes his way back in. Don't he have class. I take my bookbag off putting it back on the bed. I guess I can let her check me out. It's no harm in that. I shake my head when Mr. Howard looks at me again. Oh, my god. He can't take one moment not to look at me.
"Who do you live with?" The nurse asks me. "I live with my parents but they are always in the air." I answer looking down at my feet. "And, does your mother knows that you're having difficulties?" "Yes, she does. The doctor gave me the okay and it was nothing but honey tea and raw chicken that upset my stomach." I say trying to leave out of the room and looking back up to see Mr. Howard is still standing by the wall.
"Raw chicken?" She asks writing in her book. "Yeah, my boyfriend don't know how to cook and it tore up my stomach. You ate it, Mr. Howard?" I ask him. She turns around to look at him. "I passed. It did not look done." He say making me chuckle. You passed. I nod my head. "How is your pregnancy?" She asks me. "It's just like any other teen pregnancy. I don't want to talk about it." I say trying to end the discussion.
I don't trust neither of them. She nods still writing. Oh, no. She rips a piece of paper and hand it to me. I take the piece of paper looking at the number. "I'll call if I need anything. I need to get to class." I say putting the piece of paper in my book bag and hopping off the bed. I exit the office before either one of them can speak to me.
The school day went by smooth. So, everything that happened that day and the following week. I decided to head to the little cafe. Things are getting out of control. I needed to get away from everything. The school, Jacob, Bella, Mr. Howard and basically everything. So, I decided to head to the little cafe in Port Angels. I'm starting to like it. Nice. Small. And, mostly quiet.
I need to get my thoughts together. People are doing nothing but lying around me. I still need to speak to Bella. Let her in on what's been going on and ask her some questions. I could've looked in but I'm too tired too and I don't wanna upset my stomach. It's a pain that I never felt in years. I look out of the big cafe window. It's still cloudy. Thank god, I beat the rain.
It might wash out my hair dye. My phone vibrate in my pocket and I take it out. It must be Jacob. I answer it not even looking at the caller ID. "Hello." I say. "Where are you?" Jacob angrily asks nearly shouting. Right, he was going to pick me up after school. I look around to see if anybody else heard his loud voice. It looks like they didn't seeing how they're not paying me no mind.
"I'm at the Cafe in Port Angels. I needed to get away. You remember the one I told you about." I say looking at the menu that's hanging over the register. "Bella told me what happened with you and the teacher. Are you alright?" "I'm okay. It was just nerves and he just got to me, Jacob." "Do you want me to come get you?" "No, I'm okay. Bella, Jacob. I'm good. I am strong. Look, I got to go. Someone is calling me. I'll call you later." I say lying and hanging up the phone.
I turn around when I hear the door opening up and I automatically assume that it's Mr. Howard but it couldn't be him. School doesn't end right away for the teachers. That man stays on my mind and last I checked he should've been in hell from what everybody told me. So, something is not right about that. He was the right target and you don't question the council.
He must not been the target or he just has a twin brother. Who else was in that house with me? The pregnant lady was but you don't send a pregnant woman into hell especially not with an innocent child in her stomach. I would not know what happened and Mr. Howard said that he didn't have no children and he could've been lying. He did suspect me of attacking him in his home while his pregnant girlfriend was there.
I'll have to do some more digging. Maybe visit a couple of places. Talk to a couple of people. This is the biggest mystery ever in my life and that charge who I lost to another nationality doesn't count. I hear the door opening up once more.
"Excuse me, Waiter. Can I have green tea this time?" I shout at the female waiter who's at the register. She nods her head letting me know that she heard me. "Can you make that two?" I hear Bella voice shout out and I turn around to see her and Jacob. Both of them make eye contact with me before heading towards my table. I slide over to give Jacob some space to sit next to me.
Bella sit on the other side in front of me. Jacob peck my cheek. "Expecting to have some alone time not expecting any visitors." I say while he rubs on my stomach. "Yeah, we kind of came over after Bella told me what happened today. Are you okay?" He asks still rubbing. "I'm okay. I just needed some time to myself. How you doing, Bella?" I ask her.
Her appearance has changed. Her hair is more fluffy than it used to be and she looks more happier. I guess. That trip to Italy must've did the trick followed by having her ex-boyfriend back. So, it's half and half. I wonder what Paul is going through. "I been fine, Lacie. How you been?" She asks me. "Oh, I been swell but the weeks could've been better considering I'm back in school now." I say cheery holding Jacob hand.
He squeezes it. "Yeah, I seen what happened between you and Mr. Howard." "Yeah, I didn't know he was back. Did you know?" I asks. Maybe she knows more seeing how she been in school. "Yeah, he came back a month ago. I thought you knew." She say as the female waiter brings over our order. Jacob push the tea cup right in front of me.
"No, I didn't know that. I guess he decided to come back or something." I say taking the cup and sipping it. Still no taste buds. "So, what happened?" He asks me. "I panicked. He called me out and that was it. I went to the nurse's office. He came and checked up on me then went on with the rest of the school day." "Did you turn your paper in?" That's what I forgot to do.
"No, I did not. I guess tomorrow or something. Let's change the subject. You went to Italy without telling me." I say drinking the green tea. "Yeah, I didn't want to worry you." She nervously say playing with her tea cup. "I understand and it was something personal. I'm just glad that you're alright and things. You are, aren't you?" I ask seeing she's not going to go further with it.
"I am." She answers nodding her head. Okay, I'll leave it alone. "That's good to hear because that's all that matters. I'm sure you noticed that Mr. Howard has it out for me." I say joking but serious at the same time. She laugh a little bit. "Everybody seen it. He's like that with all of his students." She say smiling. "That's the same thing the nurse said about him." I say offering Jacob some tea.
He shake his head no. "How's the baby?" She asks. "The baby's okay. I think my body is adjusting to the pregnancy. I'm two months." I say looking in Jacob's face. He gives me a small smile. "Meaning what exactly?" She asks. Jacob squeeze my hand. "I don't know and I guess Vera was kind of wrong on that the baby is going to come early." "Unless she's nothing but a liar." Jacob growls out.
I shrug my shoulders. "I have my reservations but the council doesn't lie, Jacob." He just shake his head. "It is a baby, ain't it?" Bella asks looking at Jacob. "What the ultrasound say. We heard the heartbeat and everything. She is a hundred percent human. So, I guess we're working with a normal baby. Maybe a normal pregnancy. A girl in seven more months." I say looking in Jacob's face for his reaction.
He gives me another smile. "You're not happy, about it?" Bella asks him. "No, he is not because he never should've went that far with us plus his dad kicked him out. I'm trying to get him to move back home and leave me alone but he doesn't want to go nowhere." I say before he can say anything else. Bella looks at Jacob. I do too waiting on him to say something.
"I don't want to leave." He say looking in my eyes. "Bella's back, Jacob. You can't stay in Forks and you're stressing me out." "I'm sure that wasn't the only reason, Lacie." She say. "I know it's not but I am too stressed out and I am fine. No more trouble or anything. Jacob, I'm sure your dad wants you home and so do Sam. Sorry." I say dropping the subject while looking out of the window.
I look at the passing cars while silence fills our table. "I'll leave your house, Lacie." He say. "That's all I'm asking." I say seeing Mr. Howard walking down the street but I'm sure it's my imagination. He's always wearing that black trench coat. It looks like it's about to rain. He stop walking and make direct eye contact with me.
I shake my head sipping on the tea. I'm definitely going crazy now. I turn back around to see Jacob looking at TV and Bella texting on her phone. I rub on Jacob's back. The same male waiter who served me my order last time looks at me when walking out of the Employee's door. He keep his eyes on me before going back to the register. Jacob turns around and look at me.
No need to be jealous, Jacob. "I don't know him. He was the one who served me my order last time. It looks like it's about to rain." I say taking out of my wallet and putting a five dollar bill on the table. He doesn't say anything. "Let's head home before my hair dye washes out." I say reaffirming him. "It's not permanent?" Bella asks getting out of her wallet.
"No, it's hair dye. I'm still grey." I say scooting to let Jacob know that I want to get out. "It's not going to rain today." He say not moving. "Okay, I still wanna go home. I have to finish the biology work then more school work." I say seeing that he has an attitude. "Jake." Bella call at him. He sigh getting up and I get up right behind him. "Keep the change." I say to the waiter who served me. She nods her head.
I look at Jacob one more time before walking out of the cafe with Jacob following behind me. "Now, look it's drizzling." I say looking up at the sky and feeling the rain falling on my hair and face. I put on my hoodie as I look at Jacob to lead me to his car. "We came in Bella's truck." He say. Bella looks at the both of us. "Let's just go, Jacob. Lead the way." I say holding my hand out. He takes it leading me to Bella's truck.
"Nighttime, Jacob." I yell from my computer desk. I'm finishing up my last worksheet. He walks in wearing a white T-shirt and drying his hair. "Does your father know you're here on a school night?" I ask him. I wait for him to answer me but he just sits down on the bed tossing the towel in the dirty clothes bin. "Now, you're worried about my dad." He say with an attitude.
I see he's still mad. "Jacob, I just wanted some space considering everything that happened. I asked for space and you told me no." I say putting down the pencil. "Last I check you're having a difficult pregnancy, Lacie. Are you not?" He asks me. "That's what the doctor told me but I passed it." "You passed what?" He asks confused.
"That stage of it being difficult and now I'm all good. There's nothing wrong with me. It's has not been no incident or anything. Jacob, it's over with." I say while he shake his head at me. "What are you talking about?" "I am no longer labeled a difficult pregnancy." I say causing him to sit up. It get silent in the bedroom. "What do you mean?" He ask walking over to me and kneeling in front of me.
He takes my hands into his. "Jacob, I am not having no more problems. You didn't just hear what I just said? I'm still pregnant." I say assuring him. "Lacie, I don't think you understand what it means when it's a difficult pregnancy." "I know exactly what it means but the doctor told me that everything is going fine and I am healthy. You didn't want, Dr. Cullen ." I say reminding him.
"I didn't want a leech taking care of my imprint and being around my daughter." He growls out. "From what you and everybody else is saying, I may not be your imprint." I say. "Still my daughter and no leech is going to be holding my daughter." He growls out. "I understand that I'm stronger and healthier now. I just asked for you to move out of my house to give me some space and you told me no." I say shaking my head.
"I'm not taking that chance in case something else happens to you or the baby." He say. "And, I understand that again but you're more needed on the tribe and you all act like I can't take care of myself. I am capable of calling 911 or going for upper help." I say taking my hands out of his. "You're breaking up with me?" He asks standing up. "No, I'm asking for space. You're sixteen year old boy and you have priorities, do you not?" I ask him.
"My daughter, you, and Bella. You're all on the same street." He say. Right, okay. "Okay, Jacob. You're not going nowhere?" I ask him. "No, I am not." He say laying on the bed and pulling the covers over him. "Okay, I'm done with it." I say closing the biology book. He's not going nowhere and mostly not going to leave me alone in the house by myself.
I hit the little lamp off and see him staring at me in the reflection of the computer. I shake my head walking towards the bed and getting under the covers. "Going to class tomorrow?" He asks pulling me into his arms. "I'll try. I got something for that Mr. Howard." I say kissing on his chest. He rubs on my shoulders as we both stare into the darkness. Neither one of us falling asleep to later on in the night.