Chapter 15: Biology (again!)
Bella POV:
That Saturday morning, I woke up with the first and therefore the biggest hangover of my life. What the hell, after I´ve only had only one beer? Alright, maybe two beers… But still, it should not have to hurt like this. Someone was banging on my head like it´s a drum. Quiet, please! My throat was too dry, the lightning in the room was too bright and I was too tired to deal with it all. Leave me here alone to rot all by myself, please.
´Wake up, sleepyhead.´
I heard a familiar female voice next to me. Could she shout it even louder? I tried to open my eyes a little bit
´Be quiet,´ I mumbled. ´And is it morning already?´
´Yes, it's morning.´
I recognised the voice as Angela´s. I opened my eyes fully as I saw her reaching out to give me a glass of water and a painkiller. Which I, of course, gladfully took. My head was killing me. After I took the painkiller, I drifted back to restless sleep.
The second time I woke up, I needed to use the toilet. I carefully got up and happily noticed my head wasn't spinning as much as the first time. After I was done, I washed my hands and looked into the mirror. Oh, I looked horrible. My eyeshadow was smudged onto my cheeks and my mascara even managed to reach my forehead. On top of that, I was still wearing last night´s clothes. I was a mess. So I quickly washed my face to remove the old make-up and went back to Jessica's room. I slipped into my casual pyjamas as I smelled someone was cooking bacon. My stomach started growling so I quickly ran downstairs.
Angela was already sitting in the kitchen, eating eggs and bacon while Jessica was cooking a new batch. They were both wearing their casual pyjamas.
´Morning,´ I said as I walked over to them.
´Morning, afternoon. Same thing,´ Jessica said with a bright smile on her face. ´Fancy some eggs?´
´How are you feeling?´ Angela asked me.
´Wait, what time is it?´
´It's 1 P.M. You´ve literally slept more than 12 hours. Now you want some eggs or not?´
´Sorry Jess, but yes. Would love some eggs right now. And to answer the second question; I´m fine, I guess. My hangover was definitely a lot worse before. Can´t believe I´ve slept that much.´
I sat down next to Angela.
´How are you both feeling?´
They both hummed something. Jessica put a plate of eggs and bacon in front of me and I hungrily attacked the plate. Oh, just what I needed. I instantly felt much better. I finished in mere seconds and looked up, to find Jessica and Angela staring at each other.
´What?´ I asked them.
´Well… now that you have, how do you put it? Satisfied your needs. I need to satisfy mine. Owen and I kissed yesterday! IEEE!´ Jessica screamed, jumping up and down.
´Wow, I didn't even know you could produce such a high note. But congratulations Jessica, tell me everything. Who leaned in to kiss who?´ I smiled encouragingly at her.
´He kissed me. I was totally not expecting it. I mean, have you seen him? God, he's so hot. And the way he kissed me. Girls, I was gone. And his hair, so soft. He had a little stubble, kinda irritated my skin a bit but I didn't care. I was like, give me more, you know? And he already texted me back today so I thought, well, he must have liked it too, right? He really has the cutest freckles I have ever seen, o my God. He's such a cutie. But also such a hot piece of ass, I can´t wait to see him again.´
Jessica kept talking about Owen and I forced myself to smile at her. I hated myself for it but hearing her enthusiasm about Owen made me jealous. I was such a shitty friend! Luckily Jessica didn´t notice, but I did see Angela raising her eyebrows at me. Once Jessica went to the toilet, she asked me about it.
´I´ll ask you again but with a different context this time; how are you feeling?´
´As a horrible friend, since I´m a little bit jealous.´
´Why?´
´Angela, you know why. Can we please just drop it?´ Angela nodded.
Jessica returned and I managed to react more enthusiastically to her remarks about Owen this time. I laughed with her, eagerly squealed with her as she told her story countless times and asked her more about him. I was an awful friend before and that needed to stop. No one deserved my moping ass right now. And I knew exactly why I was so jealous of her. The happiness she felt right now was something I hadn't felt in a long time. That irrational, exciting feeling of love. Feeling like a giggly school girl must be one of the best and one of the worst feelings in the world and quite frankly, I missed it.
During the day, I managed to delete those thoughts out of my head as the girls and I lazily stayed inside and did absolutely nothing. We even ordered pizza before I headed home towards Charlie. He shook his head at my outfit choice because I was still wearing my pyjamas but I couldn't care less. I headed into the shower and started crying. It was irrational. It was stupid. It was insensitive towards Jessica.
But I felt such regret and sadness over Edward. Here I was, feeling jealous of my best friend only because she fell in love. I was the worst friend in the history of friends. And all because of Edward. It was unfair. All I did was love him and he left me in response. Seeing him every day while ignoring him was agony. It was so hard. And it was so unfair that it was this hard. I mean, him leaving me was easy, right?
So I cried. I cried for all the times I had to put this brave facade on. I cried for all the times I had to sit next to him in Biology. And I cried because I felt this damn sad right now.
On Monday morning, I was ready to face another week. The weather was gloomy as expected, my car was slow as expected and Jessica was over the moon, as expected. What I did not expect was our Biology group assignment.
When I entered the Biology classroom, I quietly sat down next to Edward and did not look at him. He ignored me in return. It was the same behaviour we portrayed during these past couple of weeks, as a little routine. Our teacher eagerly started to clap in his hands to get our attention.
´Alright class, are you all ready for a… drumroll please… group assignment!´
The classroom burst out in a booing sound, but it did not startle our teacher as he simply laughed sheepishly. I didn't really like group projects either, but since Biology was my favourite subject, how bad could it really be?
´I know, I know. You all don't like it that much. But hear me out, this assignment will be 50 per cent of your total grade this semester and I've already divided you all into pairs. How does that sound?´
Wait a minute, pairs? I looked around the classroom and saw that everyone was just as shocked as I was. So we couldn't even choose who to work with?! Everyone was shocked about it, everyone except for Edward. Of course, a group assignment did not scare a vampire, but it did scare me. Behave, Bella, I told myself. What are the odds you´re paired up with him anyway?
´Alright, now that I got your full attention, I´ll tell you the pairs. You cannot switch partners or else you fail, do I make myself clear? I don't have time for all your drama. Now after that is settled; Anna Brown is paired with Tom Jones.´
Oh no. Two down, six more to go.
´Brody Taylor is paired with Marco Hernandez.´
Oh no. Four down, four more to go. Please don't pick me and Edward.
´Kim Wit is paired with Nick Jackson.´
Oh no. That meant…
´And lastly, Isabella Swan is paired with Edward Cullen. And remember, these pairs are final. Now that you know who you´re working with, I´ll tell you what the assignment is. So pay attention please.´
No. No. No. I´m paired with Edward Cullen. Oh, just great!
Edward POV:
If it wasn't so heartbreaking to watch, I would have thought it was quite hilarious to see Bella this agitated. Her hands were trembling, her heartbeat quickened and she nervously looked around the room. It was quite funny to see her react like this, if it weren't she reacted like this because she had to work together with me. She was this upset because of me and that hurts. Meanwhile, for me, this was the best news I could have ever received but it was clear the feeling was not mutual.
She could not pay attention to our teacher to hear what the assignment was about, but she would not need to with me as her partner. It was something bland about cellular aging anyways and since I've already gone to medical school twice, so it would not be that hard.
After he stopped explaining the assignment, I turned my head a bit to look in Bella's direction. She was still avoiding me at all costs.
´Bella,´ I tried to grab her attention but in reality, I enjoyed saying her name and having a reason to talk to her again. She bit her lip before she turned around, her dark brown eyes meeting mine. I saw a flash of sadness, one that was quickly replaced by a bit of anger.
´Edward,´ Bella responded coldly. I was prepared for the harshness in her tone, but it still hurt my aching heart. However, she said my name again and that feeling was heavenly.
´Shall we try to switch partners?´ I asked her, even though I would never want that. However, given her current state, my best guess is that I had to offer it to her, at least. She had to think about it for a second.
´Let's try to be civil and mature, alright. Then I won't see any need for that.´
´Alright. Then we´ll work together. When do you suggest we meet up?´ She looked outside the window, contemplating her next words very carefully. I anticipately waited for her answer.
´I suggest we meet up after school. How does that work for you?´ I eagerly wanted to agree to that but I figured I had to play it cool in order to not scare her away.
´That will be fine. Where shall we meet?´
I figured she would not want to work on this project at her place, given how Charlie would react to it.
´I´d rather not explain this to Charlie, as you can imagine,´ Bella said as expected.
´I understand. So it will either be the cafeteria or my place?´
She looked troubled. I figured going to my place would bring back many unwanted memories for her, but being in the cafeteria wasn't exactly the best option either as it was always crowded.
´I´d also rather not meet up at your place,´ she quietly said with immense sorrow in her eyes. She was thinking about something, and I would give anything to know what she was thinking about. She eventually shook her head, as if she made up her mind about something.
´You know what, let's do it at your place. It will be quieter and we might get more work done that way. I´ll drive behind your car.´
´I can also drive you to our place and let Alice drive your car to your place. And once we´re finished, I'll bring you home,´ I smiled at her, but I was too forward, too eager. I was too hopeful and I ruined it. I wanted too much and she wasn't ready. Her face was ice-cold again.
´I´d rather drive myself, thank you,´ Bella was distant as she stood up and left.
My next lesson was with Alice. She had seen a vision of Bella in our house again and could almost not keep quiet. In her mind, I saw Bella and I sitting at our dinner table with a laptop in between us. It looked so normal and cozy as if the last eight months had not happened. But if the last eight months had not happened, Bella would not sit so far away from me at the dinner table in our house. And if the last eight months had not happened, I would not hear Bella talking to Jessica and Angela a few rooms down the hall right now, that she would be working together with her ex-boyfriend on some stupid Biology project.
´Don´t worry, Bella just needs to vent,´ Alice growled at me so that I was the only one who could hear her.
´You did not see her face, Alice. She was so upset and I felt horrible,´ I growled back at her.
´She agreed to come to our house, right?´
´Yes, she even suggested it.´
Alice looked back at me in surprise.
´What do you mean, she suggested it?´
´She did not want to meet at her place. So only the school´s cafeteria and our place were left. She said she didn't want to meet at our place. But then she had a change of heart and suggested it would be better anyway since it's way quieter. But then I ruined it by proposing to drive her and she got upset and left,´ I quickly said as I relived the short talk Bella and I had.
´Don´t worry, Edward. She suggested coming to our house, so that's good. Just focus on that, okay?´
So I just focussed on that. It was a mantra I had at the back of my mind the whole day. She suggested coming to our house, and that was good.
At the end of the day, I impatiently waited next to my Volvo. She could show up any second. Alice and Jasper already went to our house so Bella and I were alone for the drive. Both in separate cars, but it was the thought that counted.
She came outside the school building, waved goodbye to Jessica and Angela and walked over to me. Jessica shot me angry looks but I was too mesmerized by Bella. She stood still in front of me while nervously playing with her keys.
´I´ll go get my car.´
She turned around to get her car while I also started mine and positioned it in front of her car. She gave me a signal that she was ready to drive off, and we left the parking lot. Driving to my house with Bella driving behind me was something we had never done before. The feeling was surreal. After months, she would enter the Cullen estate again. The last time she was here, her party went horribly wrong and I could not help but wonder what she was thinking about right now.
We arrived. I got outside my car while Bella turned her car off and walked over to me. She was nervous, I could tell her heartbeat was irregular and she had trouble keeping her breathing calm. I opened the front door and guided her towards the kitchen where we could work on our assignment. I felt her body stiffen as she entered the house, probably thinking about her failed birthday party eight months ago. However, she tried to make light conversation to keep her mind from thinking about something else.
´Where is everyone?´
I smiled at her to reassure her that I also heard her second, unasked question (´can we talk about literally anything else other than my failed birthday party?´)
´They are away and giving us some privacy.´
I had to give it to my family, they tried to make this little meeting with Bella as comfortable for her as possible. Even though she was only here because of an assignment, her time here must be pleasant. I bought some snacks for Bella during our lunch break and put them in our fridge, so she could recharge her energy resources whenever she wanted. And every Cullen was away, to give us some privacy and to not overwhelm her with our presence.
´That wasn't completely necessary. I hate to think they cannot be in their own house, because of me.´
She. Was. So. Completely. And. Utterly. Good. How can she still think about our wellbeing after I´ve left her?
´Well, we don't want to get distracted from our work by them, now do we?´ I tried to keep the mood light, as I said so with a smile.
´I suppose,´ Bella answered, her brow slightly furrowed as she thought about my words.
´In that case, we better get started then.´
We managed to work for a good hour until her stomach started growling. I mentally thanked myself for the snacks I had bought. This way, Bella did not have to leave straight away which might have given me a few more minutes with her. She noticed her growling stomach too.
´Alright, I´ll better head out,´ Bella said, already getting up. I wasn't ready for us to separate already.
´Because you're hungry? Esme left some food in the fridge, in case you would like to eat something small now.´
I could not tell her I did that, it would only scare her away more. She started to disagree with that, but her stomach had other plans and started to growl again, way louder this time.
´Alright. Might indeed eat a snack now.´
She walked over to the fridge and opened it. I heard her heart literally skip a beat. I turned around to see why she reacted like that. She still had the door in her hand, unable to react to what she was seeing in front of her. The fridge was packed with food. No, the fridge was packed with Bella's favourite foods. From dark chocolate bars to mangoes. From Gouda cheese to hummus. I wanted her to have some options, but instead of just picking a snack and coming back to the dinner table to work further on our assignment, Bella was quiet. She was more than quiet, it was as if she was afraid to turn away. Afraid the food would magically disappear if she looked away.
´Bella…?´ I asked her.
Then, I noticed a tear welling up in her eye.
A/N: I just wanted to say; thank you to you all. I mean it. Writing this, I just sit down and go with the flow. I´m Dutch, so I will make some grammatical errors and whatnot, and I have no previous writing knowledge. I just see where it goes...
But to see that people actually read this makes me so tremendously happy. You have no idea. I´m treating reviews as presents; I wait a bit before I open them, already being happy by the fact someone took their time to write a review. And then carefully reading them, enjoying the moment. Calling my boyfriend in the next room; ´look what someone said about it,´ meanwhile he isn´t allowed to read this fic.
Anyways, I just wanted to say thank you. Really. You guys rock.