The Stars and the Sun
Disclaimer: Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn, and Midnight Sun all belong to Stephenie Meyer. Ginsie, the really awesome Ford Escape, and way too much fabric belong to me. See the difference?
Summary: What is someone from our universe entered the Twilight universe? What would she think? Do? Feel? And what if our universe was the fictional one?
Author's Note: Over 600 reviews! Woohoo! This is rather liberally taken from Eclipse in parts. I couldn't help it. I needed to have the confrontation scene still… Different reason, same result. I hope you like it!
Shooting Stars
Chapter 26
The phone rang and I groaned, covering my head with a pillow. I was up until three thirty in the morning. Edward came back home around two thirty, said his hello's to the family after Esme hugged him ferociously, and then went back over to Bella's around three. I crashed soon after. I think Gabriel had to carry me to bed but I'm not really sure.
The phone rang again and I screamed into the pillow. I did not want to get up. Ginsie, being the pup she is, decided that I just had to wake up and answer the phone. She walked up to right next to my head and kissed me. Uck! Not that I could yell at her. Instead, I reached out and pet the pup, letting her know I was awake and I was getting up for the day.
Before I could turn my head from the pillow to the annoying cell phone, I realized it should have rung again. I also realized someone else was in the room because I heard a click as the cell phone opened. Looking over towards the door, I saw Gabriel –who I kicked out last night and told him he was grounded…I must have been really loopy with lack of sleep at that point- talking on my cell phone as quietly as he could. He looked like he was about to leave the room when he caught me sitting up. His eyes were apologetic.
"I will ask her," Gabriel said as he covered the phone with his hand. He walked over to me slowly, trepidatiously really, and looked at me worriedly. What exactly did I saw to him last night that would make him that scared of me? Or was he just worried about "grumpy Lizzie" since I hadn't exactly had much sleep… "Would you be able to assist a Principal Greene with some technical problems he has at his school?" Gabriel asked me. I nodded immediately. Greene was the high school principal. I guess I get to go to Forks High School after all. This should be interesting. Even if I was dead tired.
"Yes, she says that she is willing to assist," Gabriel stated. I watched his face as he listened patiently to the person on the other end of the phone. "I am not sure but would you like to speak with her regarding this?" Gabriel asked before handing me the phone.
Groggily, I accepted the phone. "Hello?" I asked, trying to wipe the sleep from my eyes so I could actually see the alarm clock. Seven a.m.? Was that all?
"Oh hello, Elizabeth. I'm Edna Cope, the secretary for Mr. Greene at Forks High School?" she introduced herself.
I suppressed a yawn but stretched a bit as I tried to wake up. Gabriel stood only a few feet away. I patted the edge of the bed, telling him he could sit down if he wanted to, and then went back to petting Miss Ginsie. "Oh, hi, Mrs. Cope. I guess you need some computer help?" I asked. Carlisle mentioned something last night of Jasper actually making a flyer for me and Carlisle putting one up at the hospital. I think he mentioned giving one to Charlie as well…
"Yes, if it wouldn't be to much trouble. Would you mind coming over right now?" she asked, a hint of worry in her tone. "We'd like to try and get the computer system up before second period," she told me.
I pulled my legs out from under the blankets, moving around Ginsie, and stood up next to Gabriel in my nightgown he must have put me in. With the amount of times Gabriel has dressed and undressed me lately, there really won't be much left for him to see on the wedding night! "Oh, um, sure," I told her, looking around the room to see if where my jeans went. "I'll head right over," I continued.
"Oh, that will be wonderful. I'll let Mr. Greene know to expect you," she told me. We said our goodbyes and I closed the phone, looking at Gabriel. He still looked hesitant, like I was going to bite his head off or something. A vampire scared of a little human, now there was a joke!
Sighing, I shook my head slightly and looked at Gabriel. "My jeans?" I asked. I watched as Gabriel moved, vampire speed, to the dresser, pulled them out, and handed them to me. "Oh," I said, figuring he would do what I always did and throw them on the floor in some random place. "Thanks."
"Claro," Gabriel responded. I moved past him to find a t-shirt and something long sleeved to wear over it.
"What's wrong?" I asked him over my shoulder. I hope nothing had happened. I thought I remembered most of last night. I was angry at him, yes, for killing the poor homeless man but I didn't think I was that angry with him. Did I say something? Or was I being totally egotistical and this had nothing to do with me?
Gabriel took his time in answering. I had found the black t-shirt with the red fairy on it that I wanted. As I looked for a matching black and red flannel baby doll top I know I had in the other drawer, I stopped to take a look at Gabriel's face. He looked frustrated but pensive before he answered.
"What is grounded?" he finally asked. I smirked a bit and turned my head towards him.
"Did they not have groundings in 15th century Naples?" I asked him, teasingly. There are a couple of punishments as old as the world for children; grounding was one of them. Spanking, based on all the mosaics, woodcuts, and other art I had seen, was the other.
"No, we did. But it is not something a wife would do to her husband," Gabriel answered. I raised an eyebrow at him as I bumped the dresser drawer closed with my hip. I wasn't his wife, yet. We had two more weeks for that. Not that I minded him thinking of me that way already by any means.
"It means," I started as I came up to him, trying not to trip over Ginsie in the short distance. "That you are not allowed to stay in my room at night. No more 'practicing' for a week, at least. And I don't want you leaving the house unsupervised," I told him. The last well, it wasn't like he'd leave the house without me anyway so it was a mute point.
Gabriel's mouth opened and closed like a fish again before his eyes narrowed. I rolled my eyes at him before he even started to speak. "Grounded?" he asked in disbelief. I nodded my head and put one hand on my hip, daring him to argue.
"You slipped up again, Gabriel. You need some reminder to help you not do it again. So, grounded," I told him, seriously.
"I need no reminders of what sins I have committed," he told me, a hint of anger in his voice. I looked down and sighed.
"Can we talk about this later, Gabriel? I need to go to school," I asked him. He nodded curtly in reply and left the room at vampire speed. His demeanor hurt me. I didn't like leaving the house with him angry at me when I wasn't angry at him. Well, not like that at least. I was angry at him but that really wasn't the right word. I guess it was more disappointed.
I got dressed, kissed Miss Ginsie on the top of the head, did my make up to cover the bruise, and headed up and out go to school. I'm going to High School. Again. It really was bad enough the first time. My books prove that.
Upstairs, Alice was waiting for me, smiling. "We get to drive Rosalie's car today!" she told me. I smiled back a bit, even though I wasn't feeling too terribly jubilant right now. Esme was at the door as well. She hugged up both goodbye and held back Miss Ginsie for me. The poor pup wanted to follow me to school.
The red convertible was ostentatious. It also was not my cup of tea. I much prefer something more along the lines of a Ferrari or a Lamborghini. BMW's just never cut it for me. Still, we got to school in plenty of time. Alice gave me the keys so I could drive home when I was done. I'm sure Rose will love that. The human driving her car.
I gave Alice a hug before she ran off to classes. Pulling out my sparkly turquoise and pink emergency computer kit that Carlisle got for me, I remember when he brought it home from Newton's Outfitters. He said the tackle box looked like something I would like. I kissed his cheek for that.
It was only a few steps from the car that I heard the rumble of a motorcycle. All the kids –damn, I must be getting old when they all look like kids to me- turned to see the owner of said motorcycle pull up right in front of the school and turn the mini beast off. Jacob Black didn't even bother with a kickstand.
I glared at him from across the parking lot. This wasn't supposed to happen. I changed it, gosh darn it! The treaty was changed! Bella and I were safe from annoying nosy werewolves who want to dictate other people's lives. Given Jacob's grin, I guess he didn't seem to think so.
I marched up to him through the gaggle of High School students. "Jacob, go home or I'm going to make Sam make you go home," I told him seriously.
Jacob crossed his arms and grinned at me like he thought I couldn't do anything about him. "I've come to talk to that leech, not you, Buffy," he stated, smirking. My eyes instantly narrowed at the insult. I was so not some blond bimbo whore of a vampire slayer. And Gabriel was way cuter than Angel.
"If you do not leave in three seconds, I will make sure to toast your entire village, you pathetic son of a bitch," I said very low, knowing he could hear me. I choose my words carefully. If anyone did hear me, it wouldn't sound too terribly unusual to them, hopefully. Although I guess a 31 year old chewing out a 16 year old was a bit much.
"Make me, leech lover," Jacob growled just a low. It was then that Edward and Bella came up next to me. Edward placed a hand on my shoulder. I turned to my cousin and immediately let go of my glare when I saw his worried eyes. I was angry but I wasn't angry at him or Bella.
"Jacob, why didn't you just call?" Bella asked him, stealing Edward's line…sort of. Edward was already shielding Bella and pretty much handed her over to me. Gently, I squeezed her upper arm, letting Bella know I was right next to her.
"Needed to talk to the parasite and this was the place I knew he'd be," Jacob answered gruffly. I rolled my eyes at him. I yanked out my cell phone and scrolled through the numbers until I got to Billy's. I thought copying the numbers down for all the council members would be a good idea. I put the phone up to my ear as Edward smirked at me.
"What are you doing?" Jacob asked, a hint of worry in his voice.
"Calling your father. He'll know what to do with you. Causing a public disturbance! Really Jacob, you have got to learn how to behave appropriately and things like times and places," I argued with him.
"Hello?" I heard an older voice answer the phone.
"Hey, Billy. It's Elizabeth," I answered. Meanwhile, Jacob, Edward, and Bella were continuing their own conversation.
"…just coming to point out to your leech some of the finer points of the new treaty," Jacob said in response to something Bella asked. Edward's jaw tightened and he glared at Jacob like he was about to take the kid's head off himself.
"Hey, kid. What's up?" Billy asked me concerned. I looked over to the three kids in front of me.
Jacob raised his eyebrows but looked slightly smug at the same time. "There really isn't anything you can do about. The new terms are for me to…show Charlie. If I don't, then you can't do anything without starting…a fight," he said. I glared at Jacob.
"You son is causing trouble. I assume he'll be home in less than an half an hour but he is causing a public disturbance. Not exactly a good thing if we want…everything to go well," I told him. Jacob glared right back.
"I see. I'll handle it when he gets home," Billy told me.
"Thanks," I muttered before hanging up and turning to Jacob. Edward, Bella, and Jacob were already involved in another conversation.
"Jacob, I'll call you tonight," Bella told him sadly.
"Sure, sure," Jacob answered as his grin got bigger. I glared that boy down as quickly as I could when I saw Edward cringe. Bella's face went pale.
"Stop it!" she yelled at Jacob, hugging Edward's arm worriedly.
"It's his own fault if he doesn't like the things I remember," Jacob told her, smiling.
"I'm sure Mr. Greene is on his way. Unless you want him to call Charlie to come and lead you away in handcuff's, I suggest leaving, now," I told Jacob seriously.
"Let's get to English, Bella," Edward murmured to her. Bella nodded sadly.
"What, not allowed to have a little trouble? Let me guess, you're not allowed to have fun, are you?" Jacob asked. You know, when I read all of this in the books, it wasn't nearly as scary as actually being here. Bella looked like she was going to go into shock, Edward looked like well…a vampire, and Jacob looked like the ignorant jerk he is in the setting of the school grounds on this extremely overcast day. I bet it would rain. Again. In a hour.
"Edward, take Bella inside, please," I muttered to my cousin. I'd deal with Jacob Black. Edward nodded once and started to lead Bella inside. I could see Bella about to say her "shut up, Jake" but I gave her a look. Luckily, I think she understood because she just hung on to Edward and went towards the school building.
Jacob looked after them, angry. "If you ever feel like having a life again, I've still got your motorcycle," he shouted after them. I saw Bella tense and Edward whisper something in her ear before carefully leading her towards the school building doors.
"Okay, get to class," a heard someone who was clearly an adult say. "Move along, Mr. Crowley."
"Go home, Jacob Black," I told him before moving past him in the direction of the voice. I felt an overheated hand on my shoulder. If we had been anywhere other than a public place, the idiotic werewolf would have lost said hand right then. I glared at him hard, breathing through my nose like I would kill him with my eyes alone.
Jacob actually retracted his hand, slightly confused, as Mr. Greene managed to get through the gaggle of students. "I mean it," the man began to threaten. "Detention for anyone who's still standing…," he started to say. Mr. Greene did get to say his entire line but I ignored him. All the kids left the ground quickly as soon as the world "detention" was uttered.
"Ah, I'm sorry, are you new students?" Mr. Greene asked with a disapproving look at our little show.
"No, I'm Elizabeth. Edward and Alice's aunt?" I stated. Recognition flickered in the principal's eyes as he appraised me before turning to Jacob.
"Nope," Jacob answered with a slight smirk.
"I'm sorry for the disruption, Mr. Greene. Jacob was, unfortunately, attempting to bully my nephew and Bella again. I believe he goes to the reservation school but I know you would not allow such ignorant behavior on your school grounds," I said, glaring at Jacob the entire time.
"Quite right, Ms…?" Mr. Greene asked me.
"Miss Bruin," I answered. Ms was made up in the 60's for a bunch of ultra feminists who wanted to be whores and show that they were better then men, not equal to them. I refused to even sign papers that didn't give the Miss option. I wasn't married –yet- and I had zero problem with showing that in writing. Only regretful old cougars did.
"Bruin," Mr. Greene said kindly before turning back to Jacob.
"If you are not a student here, then I suggest you remove yourself from school property at once, young man, before I call the police," Mr. Greene told him in a very authoritative tone. I guess you get that when you are principal of the school.
Jacob grinned widely before saying "yes, sir" in an almost mocking tone. Climbing on to the bike, he started it on the sidewalk and raced out of sight. The tires squeaking the entire way. I turned to Mr. Greene after Jacob was gone.
"Thank you, Mr. Greene. That child has been nothing but trouble for my family, lately," I told him.
"Of course, Miss Bruin," he told me politely, still looking at me curiously. What? I dressed fairly normal today…for me. "If you wouldn't mind helping us out with a few computer problems? My computer has been acting odd and I'd much rather have a…professional look at it," Mr. Greene said with pursed lips. I nodded in response as we walked towards the office.
Holding open the door for me, he looked at me again. It's not like I'm going to take a computer apart in a business suit so were jeans really that uncalled for? "If you don't mind me asking," the principal started as I stepped through the door and headed to the main office. I could already see the faded red hair of Mrs. Cope from behind a desk. "but well, you do look young enough to be one of the students and," he started to say. I burst out laughing and quickly bit my bottom lip to keep from laughing any more.
"I'm sorry," I managed to say after he opened the next door for me and I went into the main office. "But I was in college when Esme and Carlisle adopted Edward, Alice, and Emmett," I told him, smiling. Of course, I was lying through my teeth. They were probably all in college –again- when I was born!
"Ah," he said. Maybe it was just all the make up I had on that made me look younger. And poor lighting. And maybe he was just so much older that anyone ten years or younger looked like a high school kid to him. Something like that.
After showing me the computer –and the problem with it- I set to work. I began to upload drivers, roll-back a few, and defragment the computer. I will never understand why more people don't defrag their computers. It makes the computers so much faster and they don't hang up nearly as much.
It turns out that a lot of computers needed help. The one in the history class room was acting up just as I finished with the principal's computer. Mr. Greene walked me through the mini-maze of buildings over to the classroom in question. Turns out it was a class that Alice was in. She grinned happily when she saw me enter. I smiled back and then looked at the two boys and the grown man standing around a laptop and a projector system. Nothing was on the screen.
"Well, maybe it just doesn't recognize the cable," one of the boys said.
"Now, guys, I'm sure there is a logical reason for this. We'll just have to…," the teacher –obviously- said. "Oh, hello, Mr. Greene." I suppressed a giggle at the sounds of kids shifting in their seats when the teacher acknowledged the principal and the two boys quickly turning to go back to their own seats.
"Mr. Anderson," the principal said in greeting. With all the kids' eyes on me, I felt like it was my first day of class! Ugh, I hope I don't have to repeat High School when I'm a vampire. I'd be a nightmare. I was a nightmare the first time around. It's a problem with being more informed than the teachers…
"This is Miss Bruin. She's been gracious enough to help us with all our tech problems today," Mr. Greene said before gently pushing me forward. I nodded to the man as we exchanged pleasantries. I checked the cable, the wiring, and quickly found the problem. They had a switch on the back of the projector on output rather than input. I flicked it and smiled at Mr. Anderson as the screen suddenly flickered to life, much to the delight of the students. They began to giggle, laugh, and clap at seeing their teacher become embarrassed, in front of the principal.
"All better," I said, happily before turning towards the door. It reminded me of the time I was in high school when the English teacher I loathed called me up to help with a computer problem in the yearbook room. Turns out, no one plugged the computer in.
Mr. Green quickly said goodbye and followed me out. He showed me a couple of other computers that needed help and gave me a couple hundred dollars –cash- for all my help. Not bad for only a couple hours of work. I think I rather like my latest occupation.
My good mood fell as I drove the M3 back to the house. At least Rosalie didn't look angry about me driving it. Instead, she flipped her hair back and looked around the edges of the car. "I need to tune it anyways," she stated.
"I promise, I only drove it from the school to here. It's fine," I told Rose. She muttered something about it smelling like human now. I rolled my eyes. "I'll get you a car air freshener, Rosalie," I said as I rolled my eyes at her.
Rosalie was quiet until I was almost out of the garage. "Pine. I…I like pine," Rose told me. I turned to look at her and smiled.
"Balsam & Cedar good?" I asked, thinking over the Yankee Candle car gels that might smell like pine.
"I haven't smelled those before," Rose told me, but not with her usual harshness.
"We'll have to find a Yankee Candle store and go then," I told her. She nodded and I went back in the house. I just wanted to crash –three and a half hours of sleep was not a good thing- but I also knew that Gabriel would probably want to talk. I prepared for the worst.
Author's Note: Mini Cliffy! For what ever reason, I'm not getting the reviews via email right now so I can't respond to them. My guess is it's an FF problem and not a gmail problem…given the track record. But, please, don't let that stop you from reviewing!!
