Here's Chapter 50—I can't believe I've written fifty chapters for this story over the past eleven months! Wow...
Chapter Fifty: The First Day of School
On this gray September morning, I leaned against the Volvo in the Forks High student parking lot, waiting anxiously for the grinding growl of Bella's truck to greet my ears. Today marks the first day of Bella's senior year of high school; I refused to consider how many senior years I had spent in far too many small towns and big cities over the last century. My excitement stemmed not from yet another dull year of high school but from the beautiful girl who would soon be holding my hand as we began this school year together.
If only Charlie had been more understanding about allowing me to drive Bella to school. But last night he had put his foot down when he overheard Bella asking me about the time I would be picking her up in the morning. He had stormed about he hadn't bought her a vehicle just to let it rust away in the driveway and that he expected her to drive it to and from school and work during the entire school year. Bella had half-heartedly attempted to argue with her father, but I had shaken my head at her, silently asking her to stop. Charlie was unmovable in his stance, and I reluctantly agreed to meet her in the parking lot this morning.
But as I had left to "go home" last night, I winked at Bella, and she grinned back. Little did Charlie know that Bella and I had every class save one together this year, thanks to my casual visit to the school office earlier in the summer. Bella had been ecstatic when we had compared the school schedules which arrived in last week's mail; only our last class of the day-mathematics-was different. Bella had groaned at the idea of studying Calculus I (while I was stuck in Calculus II), but she brightened considerably when I offered to tutor her.
Charlie couldn't very well argue with that activity, and Bella and I would have more time together in the evenings, even if it was just teaching her the finer points of higher mathematics. But any time spent in her sweet presence, no matter the activity, was a positive in my book. And what Charlie didn't know wouldn't hurt him.
As we waited, Alice began bouncing up and down next to me as we both detected the familiar groaning of the ancient engine of Bella's truck. She was almost here. Although I kept my composure better than my sister, I was nearly as excited as Alice this morning. While Bella and I would be in school, at least we'd be together this year more than we were over the summer due to her work at Newton's, even allowing for her stay with us during her recuperation from her illness. I was hoping that with the busy summer season over, the Newtons might let Bella go as an employee, thus leaving her more free time to be spent with me.
Bella knew that I wasn't crazy about her part-time job at Newton's Olympic Outfitters, so she didn't talk much about her work when she was in my presence. There were definitely better topics of conversation for us to enjoy than her working with Mike Newton, and we were both loathe to start an argument that seemed to have no possible resolution. Bella stubbornly refused to allow me to pay her summer expenses, nor would she let me start a college fund for her. And I did not want my already limited time with Bella interrupted, especially by someone with a huge crush on her (and a decided lack of boundaries) such as Mike Newton.
I let out the breath I was unconsciously holding with a sigh, and Alice gave me a teasing sideways glance. She knew all-too-well about mine and Bella's differing opinions regarding her work schedule. And my sister was kind enough to start chattering at me to distract my attention from the frustrating subject.
"Bella will look adorable in the floral dress I took to her yesterday," Alice enthused. "It's just right for her: simple yet elegant, and I even provided silver metallic flats for her to wear with it. Metallics are the new shoe fashion for fall, you know. Even Bella can't complain about flats—they're practically sneakers! Of course, the dress would look soooo amazing on her with a low kitten heel—Prada makes the loveliest pair in the perfect shade of deep red—but I know her too well. Now, if I were wearing the dress, I would want four-inch stilettos—Kate Spade's Greats in Amethyst would be perfect!—but we know that Bella would probably trip and injure herself, and perhaps possibly even impale Mike Newton!"
"Sounds good to me," I muttered as Mike's Suburban entered the parking lot. According to Bella, Mike and Jessica had broken up last week, and although Bella hadn't said anything, the increased annoyance in her expressive eyes after work told me that Mike was back to pursuing my girl again, despite the fact that she discouraged him at every opportunity.
Perhaps I should involve Emmett and Jasper in teaching Newton a little lesson? Smiling slyly, I amused myself for a moment with imagining all the fun we could have at Newton's expense before we laid down the law about his leaving Bella alone. Emmett could definitely provide some creative ideas to that end...
"...so she'd better be wearing the matching silver headband I bought to go with her dress, too. I mean, I had to look everywhere to find something that would both match perfectly and was comfortable enough for Bella. Why that girl insists so strongly on comfort is beyond me. Fashion requires sacrifice, you know, and..."
Alice spun to look at me, despite the fact that Bella's truck put-putted its way into the parking lot at that moment. "Everyone thinks that Jazz and Emmett are across the country at Dartmouth, so you can't let them help you with Mike. On the other hand, I would be more than happy to assist, however..."
My mind was immediately distracted from my sister's diabolical plans for Mike Newton when Bella's warm chocolate eyes met mine as she steered the truck across the lot, parking it beside my Volvo.
I barely noted Alice's groan of disappointment as I flashed around the back of Bella's truck to open the door for her. Offering her my hand, I helped Bella down to the ground, my eyes lost in hers for that magical moment of reunion that we both savored after being parted, even for a mere hour or two.
Alice was beside us immediately, her eyes downcast. Whydidn'tBellawearthedress?Itwastheperfectfirst-day-of-schoolstatement:nottoofrillybutfeminineandlovely.Itmadeherwaistlooksotiny,andthecolorsweresobeautifulagainstherskin.AndIknowyoulovedit,Edward.Ijustdon'tunderstandwhysherefusestoletmehelpher.Ijustdon'tunderstandwhyshethwartsmeateveryturnwhenitcomestofashion,andI...
Nudging past Bella, I leaned into the cab of the truck, grasping her bookbag from the seat and slinging it over my shoulder along with my own bag without breaking our handclasp. Bella slammed the door of her truck then conscientiously locked it one-handed before turning toward Alice.
"Hey Alice," she greeted my sister tentatively, and I noticed the slightly sheepish expression in her large brown eyes. "Did you and Jazz have a good hunt last night?"
My sister gave Bella her best sad, injured, pouty look, and Bella cringed. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Alice! I just hate wearing dresses to school! You know I prefer jeans..." Bella trailed off, motioning to her well-worn jeans and deep green button-down shirt—also a gift from my sister—which skimmed her slender figure perfectly.
"I love what you're wearing, Bella," I assured her, glaring at Alice for trying to guilt-trip my girl. "You look beautiful...as always."
Bella blushed at my words, casting her eyes to her sneakers. "Um, time for class?" she said, trying to change the subject while also avoiding Alice's sad eyes—which mercilessly glared at me behind Bella's back as we three walked across the lot. Alice tossed her head with a final glare at me as we parted ways, Alice continuing to her first class alone, thinking, Bellacouldhaveatleastworntheflatsandmatchingheadband—theywouldlookfinewithjeans,too.MuchbetterthanthosecheapcanvassneakersfromWalMart.Ihavesomuchtoteachthatgirl...andEdwardtakingherside!Ofcourse!MydearbrotherisgoingtoneedtowatchhisbackwhereIamconcerned.Icanonlybepushedsofar...
But with Bella's fragile hand in mine, I could easily and happily ignore my sister's intrusive thoughts and her plotting of revenge upon me for taking Bella's side in their never-ending fashion struggles.
I smiled down at her as we walked. Bella truly had no idea of her beauty or of the attraction she evoked in so many of the male students. I tried to ignore the volley of admiring and downright lustful thoughts that hit us as we rounded the building on our way to our English class. Of course, Mike's thoughts were the most detailed and offensive; he was going to be fortunate to survive the first week of school if he continued with such thoughts of my Bella. I tried to ignore his vile words, but couldn't as they assaulted me once again:
Man,BellaislookingFINEtoday.Herassinthosejeans—wow.Andthattop—itreallyshowsoffherrack.IfonlyCullenwasoutofthepicture.IwasreallyhopingthatworkingwithBellathissummerwouldmakeherseehowgreatIam,butshe'sstillstuckonCullen.Mustbehismoneyandlooks—he'sahardpissertobeat...
I gave Mike a truly vampiric glare as we passed him on our way to class, smugly registering the real fear in his thoughts as he subconsciously took a step backward, away from us as we passed.
That's more like it.
Bella looked up at me as we entered the classroom, asking wordlessly where we should sit, and I indicated the back row of desks. Our hands still clasped, I allowed Bella to lead us to the last chairs in the center two rows, and we slid into our seats, at last (and to my chagrin) breaking our mutual touch.
I couldn't help sighing as I withdrew a notebook and pen from my bookbag in preparation for class. I was able to keep my composure as long as I was near Bella, preferably touching her somehow. But when her lovely scent was no longer torturing me, when my eyes could no longer drink in her beauty, and especially when her warm touch no longer calmed me, I reverted to the nervous wreck I had been for the past two weeks when once again I was confronted with Alice's visions.
Alice had held me for hours that night, the two of us who loved Bella most wrapped around each other as we struggled with the constant visions Alice kept seeing of a separation between Bella and myself—between Bella and our entire family. Alice and I tried to console the other, but we both felt such sadness that it had taken Jasper using his gift to bring us any sense of peace that night, and only with prolonged and concentrated effort on his part.
We had to change these visions.
I just didn't know how.
But we had an idea of the timing. The autumn landscape featured in some of Alice's visions alerted us that our time was short and becoming shorter every day. I felt some small consolation in being able to somewhat reassure my sister who had borne the burden of her visions all summer, not wanting to ruin the joy of first love for me or for Bella. Jasper, of course, had known her feelings and had helped her as much as he could, but it took someone who loved Bella even more dearly than she did, namely myself, to truly bring Alice a fragile sense of peace.
But it was an extremely tenuous peace for both Alice and myself, and we tried not to hover over Bella too much as Alice constantly scanned the future and despite my sister's recent purchases to add to Bella's scanty wardrobe. Alice's shopping for Bella had become more and more out-of-hand, but shopping for her best friend was one activity that calmed my sister, so I said little, despite Bella's quiet rebellion in refusing to wear the vast majority of Alice's selections...
"Edward!" Bella's insistent hiss intruded on my less-than-pleasant mental meanderings, and I sat up straight in my seat. Immediately I realized that Mr. Berty, the senior English teacher, was calling roll and I hadn't responded to my name.
"Here," I spoke quietly, smiling slightly at him as I raised my hand.
The teacher looked at me quizzically as thoughts ran through his mind: I'veneverhadtocallonaCullenmorethanoncebefore,noteventhathugeoneinmyclasseslastyear.Elliott,Ithinkhisnamewas?Anyway,perhapsthisCullenwillbelessthanperfect,foronce.LastyearIkeptfeelingliketheyknewfarmorethantheywerelettingon.Perfectscoresoneverytest,too.ButthatRosaliewasquitethelooker...
I rapidly shut out Mr. Berty's thoughts as they turned to my beautiful sister who graduated last June along with Emmett and Jasper. Mr. Berty proceeded down the list, calling names and noting our seats on his chart, an easy method for human teachers to recall their students' names.
If only our teachers had the perfect memory recall that we vampires possessed...
But really, they, and all humans, should be thankful that their memories were so sieve-like. I possessed many perfectly-clear memories that I would joyfully forget: the murders of so many humans during my vigilante days, Bella's injuries and her pain in that ballet studio, the interminable days of her painful recovery in the Phoenix hospital, Bella's near-death this summer from the sudden fever that had almost taken her from me once again, Alice's most recent visions...
There was so much that I wanted to forget, yet so much that I wanted to remember, all of those memories centered around the beautiful human girl sitting beside me in this dull and repetitive English class.
Eric Yorkie, seated in front of me, passed an inexpensive Signet paperback over his shoulder to me as Tyler Crowley, sitting in front of Bella, handed a copy of the same book to her. I mentally groaned...
We would be starting the year off with RomeoandJuliet. Lovely.
I glanced at Bella beside me, and her expression was strangely reverent as she touched the cover art of the cheap book. She smiled to herself, seemingly amused, then glanced quickly at me, blushing a deep red when she saw that my eyes were fixed upon her.
Mr. Berty started his lecture on Shakespeare's life and times, Bella taking comprehensive notes while I sat back, puzzled by Bella's reaction to the book and somehow troubled.
I had the strangest feeling that as much as I despised the Bard's tale of "star-crossed lovers," RomeoandJuliet would figure prominently in our future...
And not in a good way.
I apologize for not posting last week. I was sick and spent an entire week in bed, trying to recover. I'm hoping that I can return to a normal school day tomorrow and be able to catch up with all that's piled up for me to do over the last week.
Please REVIEW! I would LOVE to have more reviews, especially as this story draws to a close soon...
-Cassandra :)
