Disclaimer: I do not own nor make profit off of Twilight. It belongs to Stephenie Meyer and Summit Entertainment, etc.
A/N: This is an insert-an-OC story that will veer from canon timeline, but the actual canon events will retain great similarities.
xenocanaan: Thank you! When I write, half of the story (or more, lol) is usually made up of bonding moments, haha. It's my favorite thing to write, I think.
ColdOnePaul: You're welcome! Thanks for the review!
sherryola: I loved Charlie's gifts. Ah, Angela. Love writing her, but it's difficult not to add cynicism to her. She's just so darn nice! Thanks for reviewing!
AshesoftheFallen: Thank you so much!
Kessy63: Thanks! I'm glad you enjoy it!
Alexstarlight18: Thank you for reviewing! I'm glad you love it!
Darklarko: Thanks! I'm so glad the characterization works!
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Chapter Numbering: Because FFnet doesn't allow for Prologues/Epilogues/Intermissions (which are usually not meant to be labeled "Chapter #") my numbering within the actual chapter will be different than the link FFnet displays.
Notes:
Quick note for everyone… pairings are not disclosed, but I want everyone to know I do have an endgame for everybody in the story. Nobody gets left alone by the series' end. That's about all I can say. Thank you all for reading and reviewing. You make my day!
Previously – The Cullens took down Christmas decorations. Esme persuaded Alice to give Mireille time to herself at breakfast. Everyone prepped for Mireille's birthday and revealed a Dr. Pepper party theme. Charlie visited and gave Mireille self-defense tools. The Webers visited and gave Mireille cupcakes and a book of humorous sayings. Mireille convinced Angela to take some cupcakes home. The Cullens gave Mireille her new blue Acura. Mireille stressed about attending classes and Rosalie distracted her with car talk.
Chapter 33: Intense
Sleeplessness overwhelmed me the night before I was to attend Forks High School. I tossed and turned while Edward played Ernie Haas & Signature Sound in the alcove. The positive lyrics could barely penetrate my wired brain by the time I finally fell into an uneasy sleep that lasted only a couple of hours before my alarm blared.
Groaning at the aching restlessness in my body, I had to force myself to rise and start getting ready. Alice, bless her, had laid out my chosen outfit sometime during the night. It was the first thing to make me smile since my birthday ended. The leopard print blouse, camel cardigan, tan suede pants, and camel coat were all stylish but neutral, enhanced just as perfectly as Alice claimed by my new brown leather boots and crossbody purse.
Completing my appearance with a very light, natural sheen of makeup and a firm bun styled close to my head, I felt extremely stiff yet grateful for Alice's common sense suggestions the night before. Initially, Alice and I had planned on loose hair to provide a curtain against nosy onlookers, but a strange fear had pervaded my brain as I brushed through freshly straightened tresses.
What if Vanessa – or even some other discontented student at the high school – decided to yank on my loose hair, cut it off, or rip it out? In some part of me, I thought it was perhaps a foolish notion, but fear was a powerful motivator. After what Vanessa had done the last time she had me under her power, I held no doubts she could and would do any one of the things I feared.
Shoving the awful thought aside for a moment as I grabbed my crossbody and a tan scarf, I breathed deeply and tried once again to recall the tall grasses and rolling breeze I had imagined my first night in the Cullen house in order to help Jasper retain some semblance of calm throughout the household.
This time, however, the technique once again failed.
Sighing heavily at the lackluster attempt, I shook my head and made myself walk through the hallway and down the stairs, making my way to the kitchen for breakfast.
Each of the Cullen children waited patiently in the living room, conservatory, and computer area. Edward quietly played something I thought might be Bach while his siblings sat with remarkably equanimity. Even Alice wasn't bouncing up and down; granted, a camera waited in her small hands, but she failed to make a fuss about hurrying up.
Glancing at the clock, I could understand why.
Whatever my nerves were doing to me, getting ready had taken half my usual time. With another thirty minutes before we even had to leave, no one was going to be late today. Grateful for at least that fact, I exhaled one more time and mentally apologized to an unknowing Jasper, regardless of Edward's accompanying huff from his beloved instrument.
"Don't start today, Edward," I had to audacity to comment to the pianist with subdued anxiety, a furrow already caught between my brows while I moved through the dining room.
A deep sigh from the bronze-haired vampire barely attended my notice as I crossed the threshold of the kitchen where Esme finished my morning meal – oatmeal, fruit, and milk.
"Everyone is going to be right there with you, sweetheart," the warm vampire smiled gently at me as I began to eat, a cold hand reaching out to squeeze my arm reassuringly. "And if you need Carlisle, he's ready to leave work today if you call him for anything. You don't have to be physically hurt to call on him, all right?"
"All right," I agreed half heartedly. While the Cullens couldn't be sweeter for supporting me, I didn't want anything to happen where I needed help. That was the whole problem. Oatmeal became singularly unappetizing as I thought about it, but I forced myself to eat regardless.
Exhaling with resigned understanding, Esme patted my arm once more and left me to breakfast. In a quiet rush of air, Edward appeared beside me, engaging his usual ritual of watching me eat. The familiar habit somehow gave me a sense of minute amusement in spite of my anxious mindset. Smiling a bit grimly at the thought, Edward nonetheless seemed pleased by the development.
Relieved as I eventually pushed away an empty bowl and glass, I had no trouble whatsoever letting Esme whisk away the dishes this time.
"Come on," Edward prompted me kindly. "No matter what happens, we still want to remember your experiences with us."
"Can't we just cancel this part, Alice?" I asked of the tiny vampire's photo obsession rather than respond to the bronze-haired vampire beside me, allowing Edward to guide the way back into the living area.
"I could…" Alice hesitated a long, drawn out moment of silence and stillness, before finally completing the notion with a delicate shrug, "but I wouldn't really feel it. I think you'll enjoy the memories, even if they're tempered by bad moments."
"Did you see something specific?" I couldn't help asking, catching her golden gaze worriedly.
"I haven't seen anything at all," Alice confessed, throwing out her arms helplessly. "If any of the students are going to do something – or should I say, try to do something – it isn't something that's been planned. If it happens, it'll be a last minute choice. There's the possibility someone meets you in first period and plans something for later in the day, but it hasn't happened yet."
"That's a better situation than you might think, Mireille," Jasper promised me thoughtfully. For once, he and the others all had golden eyes together. School happened to be too undecided at the present time to let it go unchecked. "More than likely that means no one has any powerful grudge against you. If any of the student body had a distinct problem with your presence, I expect they would already have plans in mind."
"That can't be true, though," I debated with a deep frown stretching the ends of my mouth. "Vanessa obviously has a huge problem, especially after Greg was arrested because of what they did to me. She hasn't planned anything yet, but I have no doubt she has hopes. How many other people will be like that?"
"Not nearly as many as you think," Edward sighed once more, tugging me to sit on the sofa with him.
"What do you mean?" I wondered, confused by his insistence as we settled on the white cushions.
Taking a breath, Edward informed me quietly, "I've been listening for it at school."
Frozen with the unexpected development, I blinked a minute or two before I was able to respond, "But you hate listening to their minds."
Smoothly and gently, Edward explained his unorthodox action, "I had to know how they felt towards you… who might be dangerous to you. Only Vanessa seems to be an actual threat. There are others who don't know what to believe, but they aren't angry or damaging about you. There are others still who just play along with Vanessa's taunting words because they don't understand how serious she is. Jessica is jealous that you're in everyone's thoughts right now and of course Lauren talks too much, but it's not an absolute aggression like it is with Vanessa."
Lost for words that he had done something he so hated, I murmured softly, "Thank you."
"You're welcome," Edward murmured in return, nodding once as an end to the topic.
"I think we're safe to take pictures now, don't you?" Alice concluded warmly, holding up the camera and tilting it teasingly side to side.
"I guess I can manage that," I half-smiled at the pixielike vampire's growing enthusiasm as she started clapping with happiness. My nerves weren't gone by any stretch of the imagination, but I felt the support around me more clearly.
Once picture time ended, Edward helped me into my coat, scarf, and gloves before we all headed out to the driveway. Esme and Carlisle preferred only two cars to be driven, which led to a choice of the Volvo and the Acura, the options fielded by two main situations. Jasper needed a break from my emotions, for one thing, and of course neither Edward nor Alice could legally drive. In the end, Edward rode in the Acura with me while the others all took the Volvo. It seemed strange for the owner of the vehicle in question to not ride in it, but Edward assured me it was fine.
"We both have Algebra first period, anyway," the eternal seventeen year old shrugged as I cautiously followed behind Rosalie's speedy takeoff. Recalling the buttons and workings from Rosalie's excellent instruction the day before, I felt fairly comfortable with the whole process, but speed didn't strike me as a good thing for my first day at school.
Bursting with a brief laugh, Edward shook his head in exasperation, "I think you'll make it, Mireille."
Ignoring his sarcasm, I continued to drive carefully all the way to the group of dilapidated red brick buildings I had only entered once before.
"Just park next to Rosalie," Edward easily proposed. As early as we left the house, there weren't many cars in the parking lot, so it wasn't hard to follow the directive, finally putting the Acura safely into park on the outer edges of the lot beside the Volvo. "We can just wait in the car or I can show you where your classrooms will be. Which would you prefer?"
"I think I'd like to see the classrooms," I decided rapidly. "I know one of you will be with me every time, but I would just feel better about it if I knew ahead of time."
Even without that qualifier… I much preferred not making a big entrance after everyone arrived for the start of school.
"Then come on," Edward agreed both to my words and my thoughts, nodding at the door for me to get out with him.
Very few students milled around the school landscape when I stood from the driver's seat, and judging by how empty the assortment of cars in the parking lot was, I figured they all probably spent their time in study hall.
"Mostly," Edward confirmed with a shrug. "Although two of them appear to be asleep."
Holding in a snort of laughter, I shook my head and followed the mind-reader up towards the nearest brick building with a good deal less trepidation, noting the other Cullens remained stationed in the Volvo.
"It would look like a production if they joined us," Edward murmured low, absently adjusting the lapel on his gray coat.
For the first time since getting up that day, I took notice of the Cullens' clothing, the belated action speaking to my intense anxiety all that morning. Edward's dark jeans and black boots didn't stand out as any wild enhancement to his vampire attraction.
Against the silver of the Volvo, however, Rosalie stuck out vividly in her vibrant persimmon coat with gray fur collar and black high-heel leather boots. Alice stood near in a far more muted high-neck coat of gunmetal gray to match her darker gray suede boots. Emmett and Jasper's navy and olive coats, respectively, hardly drew any attention with their average style jeans and boots.
"Come along, Miss Fashionista," Edward remarked, long-suffering over my extensively poetic thoughts as he released a sigh and tugged on my elbow.
Given the chilly weather and the immensity of snow still covering the ground, I figured it would be better to get inside anyway, neglecting to comment on my companion's smart aleck suggestion. It didn't fit me half as well as Alice anyway, so I didn't know what Edward even complained about.
Snorting as per usual at my mind, Edward shook his head and continued our journey in silence.
By the time the other students began filling the parking lot, Edward had not only walked me past each of my classrooms for the day, but around every corner of the campus. Finding my way around wouldn't be difficult, that much I knew, and it felt wonderful to have an idea of ways to escape in a tight spot if it ever became necessary.
"Good idea to keep in mind," Edward concurred, nodding along while we walked up to the building for our first class of the day – Algebra.
"Where do you sit normally? In the back?" I queried interestedly, stepping through the doorway with Edward to find the room still empty of students. The one change since our first trip past was the noticeable presence of Mr. Varner, who looked up at our appearance with surprise.
"Edward," the math teacher nodded somewhat awkwardly at the vampire beside me, but quickly moved uneasy eyes upon my shorter form. "And this is…?"
"This is Mireille," Edward answered for both of us where we stopped just in front of the desk. As if the man didn't already know…
"Welcome to Forks High School," the teacher greeted me stiffly, but I felt it was his personality more than any personal dislike.
"Thank you, Mr. Varner," I greeted in return with a half-smile, only at the last second remembering I wasn't supposed to be incredibly cheerful after my father's supposed death a few months earlier.
"You can take your book now," Varner offered, reaching into a right side drawer and pulling out a typical hardback math book to hand over. Gesturing at the empty room and already turning back to his work, the man said, "Go ahead and sit, I won't keep you held up here."
"Nice to meet you, sir," I responded to the straight-laced sentiment, Edward proceeding to quickly lead me to the back row of desks. As we took off our coats and gloves and sat in two adjoining chairs, I immediately realized why.
Chattering about something with an unseen student in the hallway, Jessica Stanley came walking through the door as though leading the way for anyone following behind her confident tread. The sophomore wore a purple sweater with blue jeans and her full head of curly black hair had been pulled into a messy ponytail.
The similarly short girl took little notice of me, or at least pretended not to, until she took the seat right in front of Edward. He hadn't been joking about her actions – there was a glint in her eye as she briefly smiled back at the vampire – ignoring me, incidentally – with a little more flirtatious pouting than algebra strictly required.
Edward choked back a laugh, faking a cough instead as he pulled out his textbook and notebook. Reminded of my own supplies, I opened up my crossbody and pulled out a notebook and pencil case. Recalling old memories from my real high school years, I tidily arranged pencils, eraser, math book, and notebook while other students finally filed in and filled the seats. Looking down as I was, I didn't have to notice anyone's expression if they chanced a look my way.
Mr. Varner wasted no time quieting the chatter as the bell rang for the start of class, starting in on his welcome back speech with little to no enthusiasm – a personality trait which lasted the entire class period. There was no talking between students and no inquiries from the teacher as to how everyone spent Christmas break, just a straight jump into roll call and class work that would be due before the period ended.
After so many times working with Esme on Algebra and geometry, the work assigned passed through my mind much easier than I had anticipated. Edward snuffed a little laugh at my surprise, but otherwise remained seemingly engrossed in class work.
Feeling confident in my completed work some time later, I tore out the pages from my notebook and gladly rid myself of them on the teacher's desk. Edward and a few other students were the first to hand in their papers much more quickly, but most students turned in their work about the same time that I did, including Jessica about thirty seconds after I sat down. When the curly-haired girl took her seat again, her blue eyes flashed at Edward once more.
Mr. Varner already had our homework up on the board and I quickly wrote down the pages and problem numbers before packing up. When the bell rang for the end of class, I joined Edward in rising with my coat in hand, enjoying a small sense of relief that one class had been simple and straightforward. The fact it was algebra only enhanced the relief.
It wasn't until we stepped into the hallway together amidst the throng of unfamiliar students that Edward leaned in to remark quietly, "I told you so."
Rolling my eyes and offering a disgusted look up at his smug face, I declined to reply, leaving the vampire chuckling pleasantly.
So many students passed me by in the hallways that it became impossible to miss the staring in my direction. Uncomfortable, but pushing myself forward all the same, I tried not to pay attention as we walked.
Close to Edward's Spanish class, Emmett and Rosalie met up with us, the golden-haired vampire's white blouse, leather leggings, and red blazer just as vivid as the coat over her arm. The bold couple stood as extra support for my still-anxious day, but not enough to look outrageously overprotective. As the four of us fell into step, the bulkiest Cullen appeared all too eager for his upcoming gym class with me.
"Ready for some sports, penguin lady?" Emmett grinned mutedly at me, downplaying his teeth for the teenagers around us.
Offering a real smile for the big vampire's never-ending humor and another nickname to call my own, I responded tentatively, "I guess so, Herc."
Emmett let loose a strong yet quiet laugh for his title and Rosalie's lips twitched lightly at the nickname, but Edward rolled his eyes broadly.
"He doesn't need any more help with nicknames," the bronze-haired vampire shook his head.
"Too late," I shrugged, coming to a stop just outside Edward's class.
"Good luck," Rosalie commented, turning to walk further down the hall for her own class, Government.
Edward simply nodded at me, eyes imparting a supportive gleam I appreciated before he disappeared into Sra. Goff's classroom.
As for Emmett, he waved me towards the doorway with the same positive smile. "Better get a move on, Mir. We don't want to be late your first day."
"Yeah, definitely not," I agreed, glad I could lead the way instead of having to follow him around. Mentally, I gave Edward a thank you for his earlier tour and hurried with Emmett to our class.
Coach Clapp was fairly nice and he made no fuss about my presence when Emmett walked me to his office off the side of the gymnasium and introduced us.
"Welcome to Forks," the coach noted the same as Mr. Varner, but it seemed more genuinely interested than the math teacher's words. Reaching for a combination lock and a uniform, the coach handed off my gear and explained, "Just pick an empty locker and let me know the number after we group up in the gym. You brought tennis shoes, didn't you?"
"Yes, I brought them," I confirmed, patting my bag. The narrow style of tennis shoes had been tucked off to one side, still allowing for my school books. I reminded myself to thank Alice for the efficiency later.
"All right, go get changed, you two," the gym teacher waved us away, rising to head into the gym.
"Thanks, Coach," I nodded my understanding and headed towards the girls' locker room further down.
"I have to change, too," Emmett informed me quietly as we walked away, "but just holler if you need help. I don't care if it is a girl's locker room."
Biting my lip to ward off both extreme sentimental gratitude and a good case of giggles at bulky vampire Emmett bursting into the girls' locker room to defend my honor, I nodded up at his serious face in thanks.
Stepping through the s-shaped doorway of the locker room, I happily noticed the t-shirt and shorts in my grasp didn't look too bad in style and the whole uniform smelled very fresh and clean. Far more willing to put on the outfit, I rapidly walked through my female classmates' midst as they chattered and changed into the same clothes.
Gym was generally easy for me, even if I wasn't the best at sports. At least I had enough coordination to participate. Poor Bella would have a heck of a time by comparison.
Purely by chance, I glanced up at the milling group of girls in search of a free locker and found my eyes drawn to a head of corn silk hair.
Freezing inside at the very idea of sharing any class with one of Vanessa's little cronies, one of the very girls who spoke so cruelly of me at Homecoming, I prayed with all of my might for Lauren Mallory not to notice me until we were well out of the locker room. Looking at the last set of lockers before I reached Lauren where she twittered with friends, I found locker thirty-six had no lock and moved swiftly to snatch it. I threw my bag and coat onto the metal shelf and pulled out my tennis shoes and extra socks with relief.
It could have been quick and easy to change and run back out to Emmett's protective support, but at the last minute I recalled the long scar on my back. I cringed at the idea of anyone seeing it – considering its newness, anyone could easily guess exactly what it was from.
"Girls, this isn't social hour!" Coach Clap's loud voice echoed even from outside the locker room as he chastised me and my classmates with a long-suffering tone. Clearly, this was a routine shout out. "We have a class to start!"
The two unfamiliar girls in my section headed back out along with the rest, Lauren and her friends not even seeing me when they passed by. Releasing a pent-up breath as they walked out, I changed into my uniform like it was on fire, remembered very clearly to lock up my belongings, and rushed back out with my gray tennis shoes tied in lopsided bows.
Coach Clapp had already begun roll call and he eyed me oddly for a moment, but to my great thanks he said nothing about my late entrance at the back of the class. Leaning against the wall not far from me with his big arms crossed, Emmett's intent expression spoke to his concern about my timing.
Reaching him with joy for the familiar company, I shrugged and whispered, "I didn't want Lauren to see me."
Golden eyes widened but barely as the big vampire realized my trouble, an unpleasant frown covering his normally happy face.
"Cullen," the coach called out before we could say anything more between us.
Emmett forced himself to turn and answer, "Here, Coach."
Chatter had started once again between the students, a low murmur in the wait for class to truly begin. Emmett didn't seem to know what to say and I certainly didn't know what to offer up, so we remained quiet.
The name 'Newton' surprised me into looking out into the class, at least until I remembered Angela telling me who she knew would be in my classes. Sure enough, Mike Newton stood with a couple other boys on the opposite side of the group.
My surrogate surname happened to be, by the most unfortunate of chances, the very last one on the list.
"Whitlock," Coach Clapp named me.
I couldn't help but reply in a soft voice, "Here."
Not for the first time that morning, I watched as every single head turned in my direction.
Lauren's snide features pinched in utmost distaste as she looked me up and down with her clique, the blonde's green eyes finally snapping away as I looked down in discomfort. Just when I wondered what changed, Emmett shifted beside me, arms dropping into my line of vision with a flex of sheer muscle that looked quite threatening. Stifling a tiny smile at his reflexive defense, I eased up with some relief when Coach Clapp called class to order.
While not my favorite sport, basketball that day offered a good solitary experience with which to distance myself from the class. The coach called for us to work in pairs on rotating tasks, and of course I worked with Emmett, no questions asked. Most pairs worked on dribbling and passing while four pairs shot hoops, one partner shooting and the other returning the ball after a shot.
Of course, Emmett made flawless shots whenever he wanted to, but he added a few intentional misses to make it look more normal. When it came my turn to shoot, I threw the ball without any kind of style in the hopes of getting it over with quickly. After I missed six times in a row, my frustration boiled over at the continued stares behind my back.
"I can't do it," I uttered for Emmett's hearing alone, arms crossed tightly over my middle.
"Sure you can," the big vampire assured me more soothingly than I knew he was capable of. Walking over with the basketball under one arm, Emmett pulled me in front of him and tried to lift my arms into position for a throw. Sighing heavily, I didn't move my arms from their crossed position.
"Come on, Mir," Emmett murmured very quietly, leaning down towards my head to whisper low, "I wouldn't do anything to make you look bad in front of these other measly excuses for humans, would I?"
Trapping an unwilling smile before it could escape, I knew I had already lost.
Judging by the big vampire's tempered smile as I looked up at him, Emmett knew it, too.
"Fine," I exhaled resignedly, uncrossing my arms and letting him pose me for a shot.
"Now, when you got your position," Emmett explained more seriously, tweaking my hands just slightly as he talked, "you have to remember to keep your arms steady. They can't wobble all over the place or you'll miss. Keep 'em steady, you hear?"
Smiling truly now, I shook my head. "Okay. Steady arms. Got it."
"All right," Emmett nodded sagaciously, "so when you shoot, you have to push the ball up and give a curve so it comes back down and doesn't fly over the rim. Let's try it once."
Once again I missed, and three more times after that, but they were at least within range of the hoop and Emmett wasn't deterred at all.
"Okay, you got the general form," he edged, pursing his lips in a so-so fashion. "But now you have to actually aim it at the basket."
His grin, while still small, lit up the room. Emmett just loved taking the mickey out of people. With a shake of my head, I took position again and tried to aim at the hoop instead of somewhere in the vicinity of the backboard.
By the time Coach Clapp called it quits, I wasn't thinking about Lauren or Mike or anyone else staring or gossiping. Emmett was a lot of fun like always and he actually taught me to get the basketball in the hoop – twice, even.
After I told the coach my locker number, I went to change out of my uniform with a more positive outlook. Lauren passed me on her way out, but a mild sneer was all the attention she and her friends paid me. It appeared Lauren Mallory talked bigger than she acted.
Another weight lifted from my shoulders and I quickly changed to regroup with Emmett. While he waited, Alice and Jasper had joined the big vampire in his vigil, both looking a little too agitated for the English class they just left.
"What's wrong?" I asked, checking that no one was around to overhear. Luckily, the gym had emptied and no new class arrived yet.
"Lauren trying to spread rumors," Jasper explained perfunctorily, leaving me to realize Alice's emotions were feeding those of her husband.
Alice clucked irritably as she absently rearranged her mustard yellow sweater, polka dot blouse, and purple jeans with great agitation. "She just doesn't know when to shut up."
"What about? Me and Emmett? That's just stupid," I shook my head at the blonde girl's silly need to spread lies.
"She'll say anything to sound important, apparently," Alice ground out, exhaling sharply.
"Oh well," I shrugged carelessly. "Rosalie knows we're all good, and anyone who means anything will know it, too, right?"
"That's about all I can agree with," Alice grumbled, but finally shook herself. "Oh, but come on. You and Jasper will be late if we don't go now."
Luckily we made it to Spanish in good time and Jasper was kind enough to walk in ahead of me rather than make me face the music head on. We settled in two seats on the same side as the door, Jasper taking the inner seat to give me one more layer of protection from the world. Given his own needs to distance himself, I appreciated the gesture more than I could say.
Sra. Goff didn't greet me as Varner and Clapp had, but she pleasantly handed me a textbook and a workbook as she started class.
Having worked with Jasper already in Spanish, speaking it beside him was no problem at all. The work passed by in flash of lecture, note-taking, and a little conversation; a repeat of what I'd been taught at the Cullens' house for weeks. Jasper's admirably calm presence remained steady in the ongoing staring contest most students engaged in.
Near the end of class while everyone packed up, however, a novelty occurred that I didn't expect.
"Excuse me," a voice from behind us surprised both me and Jasper into turning around in the middle of packing up.
Two black-haired boys behind us looked on with polite curiosity. The boy with golden-toned skin wore a pair of black-rimmed glasses while the brown-skinned boy wore a Forks High athletic jacket. I had a pretty good feeling who they both were, but waited to find out for sure.
"Yes?" Jasper answered for us, trepidation in his tone.
"Um, well we… we just wanted say hi," the boy with glasses spoke first, he clearly having been the one to speak in the first place. Jasper's intent expression had him stuttering already. "M-my name's Ben. Ben Cheney."
"Hi, Ben. I'm Mireille," I inserted myself before Jasper could get too tight-lipped. "Who's your friend?"
"I'm Tyler Crowley," the athletic boy smiled a little, offering up a hand, "Nice to meet you, um… how do you say your name again?"
"Think 'fur' but with an 'm'. And then add 'ray' to the end," I explained less than expertly. Most people weren't going to pronounce it as nicely as Edward had the first night we met, so I gave the more common pronunciation.
"Murraaayyy," Tyler joked, holding out the second syllable playfully.
Hesitantly smiling at his teasing greeting, I shrugged noncommittally, "I guess so."
"Does anybody call you Ray for short?" Ben wondered, seeming to catch my reluctance better than Tyler.
"No, but you can if you want to," I allowed more comfortably. Another nickname on a growing list of them… At least Tyler wouldn't keep calling me Murray.
"Ray works," Tyler agreed with a nod. "Well, we just wanted to say hello, Ray… You know, welcome you to Forks High."
"That's nice of you," I smiled at them both just as the bell rang.
"I'll see you around, Ray," Tyler smiled in farewell and hurried off to his next class. "And uh, you too... uh… Jasper."
Jasper's simple nod conveyed the barest of tolerance, but he didn't say anything outright.
"I'll see you, too, Ray," Ben added. "And Jasper. Nice to have talked with you."
"You too, Ben," I nodded my goodbye to the boy Angela would grow to like – or perhaps already did.
"That was nice, at least," I remarked to Jasper as we walked out to meet Rosalie and Alice in the hall.
"They were genuinely interested," Jasper agreed reluctantly. "Tyler exceptionally more so than Ben."
"What do you mean?" I asked with a growing frown. Ben didn't seem superficial like that.
"You're the new girl, the intrigue," Rosalie answered for Jasper, rolling her eyes slightly.
"Tyler probably thinks you're cute," Alice shrugged, taking the lead through the crowded hall.
"Great, the shiny new toy," I murmured for only vampire ears to hear, bringing a muted snicker out of Jasper and a giggle from Alice.
"Mrs. Benson is strict about tardiness," Rosalie informed me, picking up a little speed as she checked the nearest clock.
"I'll remember that," I sighed and kept pace with the three Cullen siblings until we reached Mrs. Benson's room.
"History later," Jasper reminded me pleasantly as he and Alice headed to their shared geometry class.
With Rosalie at my side at the front of the chemistry classroom, I felt a lot more shielded than with any of the others. Perhaps it was Rosalie Hale's instinctive ice queen exterior or perhaps it was her extreme attractiveness, but whatever it was, I appreciated that many stares became directed at the blonde vampire instead of me. The class seemed mostly made up of students a little older than a sophomore, leaving me twice as glad for a familiar presence, but I did notice a greasy-haired boy with a pale and acne-ridden complexion sitting in the back. Eric Yorkie not only excelled in academics, he took advanced classes.
True to Rosalie's word, Mrs. Benson made clear her strict policies on tardiness. Unfortunately, the stiff-backed chemistry teacher also made it clear that students who made it just on time were equally displeasing. Put out by her needless harsh words for a red-haired boy who made it into the room just as the bell rang, I decided I wasn't going to enjoy such a ridiculous taskmaster for a teacher and thanked my lucky stars I would only have her for one semester. I had never heard of chastising someone for being right on time.
If that wasn't enough of a dampener on my interest, advanced chemistry turned out to be incredibly difficult. Working with Jasper and Esme at the house had made the subject far more enjoyable than Mrs. Benson's pinch-nosed lectures.
By the time it was over and homework was assigned, I had a headache forming behind my left brow and an impossible well of frustration to release while I fumbled putting the textbook back in my crossbody. In the midst of following Rosalie out of the room, I remembered only barely that Jasper and I had history next.
After a minute or two of unexpected jostling in the hallway, the sudden onslaught of students made me recognize something was wrong. Looking up with more attention, I instantly realized Rosalie was not in front of me. Stopping dead in the middle of the hall, I felt instantly unsettled. There was no one in my line of vision I knew and with the crushing crowd of people around me, I could hardly recognize the hallway from Edward's earlier walk-around.
Stamping out a vicious need to panic, I breathed deeply and tried to remember any of the posters, classroom numbers, or unique features in the corridor. Nothing caught my eye, however; every room in this particular hall was a standard numbered classroom. Given my fruitless analysis, I wondered whether I should try and turn back or just wait until one of the Cullens found me.
Just when I decided to keep walking forward, a familiar head of blonde highlighted hair burst into my line of sight. All I could remember for a moment was that harsh voice in the bathroom at Homecoming.
Vanessa Travis walked with a couple of friends – at least I assumed they were – in my direction from the far end of the hallway. One of the girls I recalled from Homecoming – Whitney Duran, the reluctant bully; the other girl with straight, dark brown hair I had never seen before. The trio hadn't seen me yet, but it was only a matter of time if I kept standing there. Panic began to surge in my veins like a spreading wildfire devouring everything in its wake.
Phantom pain burned in my back, a sharp stabbing agony I would never forget as long as I lived. Had Vanessa felt anything when I screamed? Did she even care that a human being lay under her power, more than likely going to die because of her hate? That's all it could have been; only hatred could have pushed someone to treat another person with such cruel violence.
I couldn't be sure Vanessa had held the knife that night in the woods, but her very presence reminded me what she had gladly done to me for merely existing.
My throat closed in on itself and I knew I had already lost the battle with panic. The memory of that horrible night wouldn't leave my mind. I pitied Edward for his gift in that moment more than I ever did before; I hated that I couldn't hold everything back after how responsible he had felt.
The longer I stood there, the closer Vanessa came to me and the harder it would be to get away, but I stood frozen to the spot by fear and memory.
In a heartbeat of time that felt infinitely longer than my twenty-one years of life, Vanessa looked up, sharp gaze catching my stare with a quick snap of recognition.
I waited too long, it was too late now.
"Hey, Mireille!"
In the midst of my dark memories, the happy, welcoming voice threw me completely and startled me with a shock of familiarity into somehow looking away from my abuser.
Katie Marshall, Conner Packham, Lee Kirkland, Ben Cheney, and an auburn-haired boy I didn't recognize walked in stride towards me, the quintet of sophomores looking pretty pleased with their find.
The redheaded girl reached me first, a glad smile on her face as she offered a funny little wave of greeting, "Hi, Mireille! I told you we'd see you at lunch."
The group's joined laughter, so light and unfettered by fear, brought me back only a little from my continuing panic. None of the five sophomores could see my seething discomfort or the blank anticipation in my eyes. It amazed me how little one saw when absorbed in the utter normalcy of an uncomplicated life.
"Hi," I belatedly answered, half-comprehending the fact it was not time for my next class, but lunchtime. Waiting for the hammer to fall, I thought surely Vanessa stood at my heels by now…
"We know you want to sit with your family, like Angela said," Conner amended Katie's statement, making the redhead roll her eyes.
"I didn't forget," Katie countered irritably.
"We know you didn't," Lee shrugged, answering in Conner's stead.
Ben turned suddenly, gesturing at the unknown auburn-haired boy as he said, "Oh, Ray, this is Austin Marks."
"I thought it was Mireille?" Austin asked, gray eyes confused as he looked back to me.
"Short name," Ben lifted one sheepish shoulder. "Mireille said it was okay to use it."
"Gotcha," Austin nodded, smiling back at me. "Nice to meet you, Ray."
"Ray?" a sneering voice interrupted our group. My time had run out. "Well if that isn't a great nickname for a girl."
Reaching deep down, I drudged up enough gall to at least face the senior who tormented me in November.
Up close, Vanessa looked just as awful as she seemed from afar; pretty but fake, feared rather than liked. Knowing power filled her light blue eyes; there was cruelty there – a meanness – I didn't want to examine. I wanted to run, even surrounded by new friends. I only wanted to be with the Cullens again, to be somewhere I felt truly safe. Where were they?
"Who asked you?" Katie confronted Vanessa head-on while my mind whirled. None of the sophomores were smiling anymore, a frown on every young face. I hoped they wouldn't become a target for Vanessa after this interlude. Without Greg, I knew this acidic girl was still capable of succeeding at terrible things.
"Oh, look at the little sophies protecting their own," the dark-haired girl laughed with Vanessa and Whitney.
The brunette didn't seemed to realize what Vanessa really was, or perhaps she thought it was all just talk.
Even buried under pressure and sheer anxiety as I was, I could, however, see the burden on Whitney's tired face. The strawberry blonde looked as exhausted as I felt. From somewhere inside I couldn't quite access in that moment, I felt sorry for her.
Didn't the teachers ever wonder about their students? Did Whitney's parents even care? It felt like they didn't, if they could let someone live under such terror. I couldn't imagine Whitney did very well in her classes.
"Mind your own business, Allison," Conner remarked rudely to the brunette, arms crossed.
"Yeah, what do you care what we call our friends?" Lee had the guts to say, daring to call me a friend. Perhaps I underestimated him at the Christmas party.
"You should watch who you get close to, Ray. I wouldn't want any of them to stab you in the back," Vanessa's hard voice chilled my bones.
"That sounds like a threat," I found my voice at last, a thrill of confidence jolting up my spine.
Maybe Lee's courage wasn't entirely his own, after all.
Chancing a desperate glance around, I saw the honey-blond vampire I expected, heading our way from behind Vanessa, Allison, and Whitney. Had he not been in so much human company, I firmly believed Jasper's face would have been even darker than it already was.
"How strange. I was thinking exactly the same thing, Mireille."
That ice cold voice reached my ears like a blessedly cool rain after working in the summer sun, Rosalie Hale's teeth almost clacking along with her succinct enunciation. Looking back, I found the beautiful vampire stepping up just behind me, waves of fury rolling off her statuesque figure.
"You should watch yourself, Vanessa," Rosalie nearly hissed at the senior, her hate all the more intimidating for its soft spoken tone. "Our family takes such twisted amusement very seriously."
Faced with an angry vampire, however unwittingly, even someone as awful and unafraid as Vanessa Travis found the good sense to stand down.
Despite her decision to walk away, Vanessa left with a nonetheless unpleasant expression in my direction, the one person in the Cullen family she could antagonize without feeling the subtle, inescapable fear of a prey for its predator.
In my case, Vanessa was the real predator. How had a senior in high school become so vile? I wondered fruitlessly at the answer as my attacker abruptly strutted past as though she had done nothing wrong.
Rosalie failed to relax in the aftermath, stepping off to the side once the threat passed. With the same strange kind of ignorance I had witnessed at the Christmas party, my classmates easily overlooked the blonde vampire's waiting presence.
"I can't stand them," Katie made the remark about Vanessa's little posse with a groan.
"No one can stand them," Austin added with a roll of his eyes.
"I'm sorry you had to run into them on your first day," Ben told me apologetically.
The notion I had never met Vanessa seemed oddly comical in the wake of my escape from any more drama, but I knew there was nothing actually funny about it. Jasper appeared by my side in two quick strides, hand grasping my arm with understanding and a touch of calm I desperately needed before I edged into the hysterical.
"Dang, we missed half of lunch!" Conner remarked with concern.
"Aw, man, all the pizza will be gone," Lee complained, turning with Conner to hurry back down the hall. Behind their backs, they both called out, "See you guys!"
"We better go, too," Austin explained for himself, Ben, and Katie, both of whom nodded along.
"Yeah, I promised Angela and Jessica we'd decide what movies to watch for the sleepover," Katie smiled again. "See you tomorrow, Ray."
"Bye guys," I was able to force out for their sakes.
As the three of them followed in the wake of Conner and Lee, one would think nothing had happened in that hallway.
With Rosalie and Jasper still holding themselves as rigid as steel beams, I knew very well that was not the case. We moved as one unit to the cafeteria, finding only Emmett waiting at the table for us. Having a very good idea why Alice and Edward had disappeared, I once again felt badly for their gifts having such horrible consequences, but it was Edward I really worried about for the time being.
"You should eat something before class," Jasper quietly suggested while Rosalie joined Emmett at a table settled by the windows and the exterior doors.
Forgoing any argument or speech at all, I let the former soldier lead me through the line to pick out something so I wouldn't be sick later. That's about all I was capable of doing for the present time. When we sat down with Rosalie and Emmett, silence reigned over our table until the bell rang. I barely picked at my food, something Jasper didn't look very pleased about, but he said nothing on the way to history.
Mr. Abbott seemed to be a very engaging teacher, but after what I experienced with Vanessa, I simply wasn't invested enough to care. Angela waved as we sat down, but something in her face told me she heard what happened and knew it was more than a simple altercation with a stuck-up senior. Telling her the whole truth was impossible, of course, but I would have to tell her some part of it if she asked. And if Edward failed to show up for English, Angela would almost undoubtedly sit with me and I would be stuck with the hardship of finding a good enough lie. In a most difficult juxtaposition, facing Edward in English after living with my terrible memories seemed impossible. The conundrum left me fit to be tied all through history, Jasper feeling it right along with me.
The bell's shrill noise filled me with an edgy sensation bordering on desperation. Which of my conundrums was the more impossible? Seeing Edward's dark emotion or successfully lying to Angela? I couldn't possibly decide, even up to moment I passed Angela's desk on the way out of history class.
"Is it okay if I walk with you both?" Angela, kind and considerate, queried of me and my tall companion.
"Of course," Jasper answered for me, ignoring the growth of tension I felt.
"I heard about Vanessa at lunch," Angela wasted no time airing her knowledge while we walked. She seemed to hate hiding anything from anyone. "I'm so sorry you had to deal with that."
"It's over," I lied, probably unsuccessfully, but I couldn't make it more convincing when it was so far from over. Until Vanessa left school and Forks for good, it would never be over. Cold blue eyes had convinced me of that single fact in a mere moment of contemplation.
"If you don't want to talk about it, that's okay," Angela quietly offered, a small smile crossing her face.
"Thanks," I accepted her offer with ease, rapidly changing subjects onto something normal, "Did you decide on your movies?"
"For the sleepover?" Angela clarified, and I nodded. "Not really. Jessica wasn't sure, so we'll think up some more ideas."
Form the hesitance in Angela's gentle voice, I suspected Jessica wanted to see her personal choice of movie and only her personal choice of movie, but I neglected to mention it to my kindhearted friend.
The English classroom wasn't nearly as far as I would have liked, and it was only once Jasper left me there with Angela that I saw the vampire in my thoughts – sitting at the very back of the room at one of the double-wide desks. Stormy and brooding beneath a mess of bronze that looked to have been combed through one too many times, Edward's clouded features held my utmost attention.
"I'll see you afterward," Angela whispered as she took a seat up front.
"Yeah," was my only response, feet carrying me to a very particular empty seat.
Coming up beside the desk to lay my coat and crossbody over the chair back, my eyes keenly caught upon the pale clenched hands hidden beneath the level of the table. Heart clenching in time with those clawing fingers, I took my seat without a single clue what to do, say, or think.
A/N: Thank you to everyone who read and reviewed Chapter 32: Imminent!