|Chapter Four|

BLACK ICE

I was accustomed to snow, I either enjoyed it or hated it. It depended on my mood. Maman would often be found in the middle of the fields in France with her head tilted back and letting the snow fall onto her head.

She was at peace.

She never told me the reason why she would go out and stand out in the snow, only that it reminded her of someone. I wouldn't have been surprised if it happened to be a family member of hers, perhaps it was the estranged brother she had (rumors had spread he favored the same sex, and once his family learnt of his sexuality he had been disowned and thrown out into the streets). Perhaps they would go out and let the snowflakes touch their tongues or throw packed snowballs at each other in the fields outside of their village before his disownment.

On Monday, which in return marked my first week complete here at the high school, I chose obsidian and white as my theme for the day. A black stylish sweater covered a white long sleeve shirt, while I wore Houndstooth jeans and black slip-on shoes. A crimson pea coat covered my hands and black leather gloves finished off the look. Maman took one look at my outfit before she pinned one of her crystal flower brooches onto my sweater and kissed me on the forehead as though to tell me to have a good day at school.

The drive to school was slow, I made sure not to drive too fast or too slowly, in fear I would end up getting in a wreck. The last thing I needed was for my car to be out of commission on the very first day I would drive it. I loved my car, it was a crimson Beetle Bug, maybe it was too cliché, but it was my car and I loved it. The seat covers were pure Italian black leather, a gift from Maman, for I had saved up all my money for the car.

As soon as I arrived, I took a deep breath of air, patting my steering wheel in approval. I seemed to be not too hopeless with American driving. I gave one last smile at myself in the review mirror of the car, going to get out of it, only for knocking against the car window to jolt me.

"Qu'est-ce que c'est ?"

It was a good thing Maman was not here, or else she would have thought it was unlike for me to say: what the fuck? She made sure to raise a well-mannered daughter, not one who used profanity all the time like some of these teenage girls did. They could learn a thing or two of etiquette from my maman, she'd make them into true ladies.

My eyes went up to the person who had been knocking on my window. Tyler was standing outside with his hands in his pockets now, excitement present upon his dark-skinned features. He reached one of his hands out and ran it through his short locks, hopefulness there for all to see. It would only things more awkward for me when it came to rejecting him.

I let the car window down, my eyes looking expectedly up at Tyler, patience outward but irritation swallowing me whole on the inside. "Hi, Tyler."

Tyler blushed before he greeted me, "Hey, Bella. I was wondering if I could take you out on a date this weekend, so I can prove I haven't lost all my manners. I'm still sorry about the whole kissing your wrist without permission."

I frowned, displeasure appearing, before I shook my head, "I don't think so, Tyler. I just got here."

In other words, in your dreams, I thought.

Tyler opened his mouth a moment later, as though he was going to ask me again only for me to shake my head. I opened the car door once I unbuckled my seatbelt. I hopped out of the car, grabbing my black designer leather purse, along with my backpack. I earned some looks from the girls, a Valentino Garavani would be worth more than all their clothes put together. I didn't ask for it, of course, it was another hand-me-down gift from Maman.

"Excuse me, but I need to head off to Mr. Mason's class."

I went around him and left that part of the parking lot, my hair ruffling some from the cool wind that came along with the snow. My hair was down today, lightly curled with the curling iron. I had to be careful with where I was going, or else I would fall on my tailbone and break it due to the black ice. It would be a nightmare waiting to happen.

Stopping a moment later, I frowned, as a sudden sensation of eyes staring at me hit me full force. I narrowed my deep brown irises before slowly turning from my spot. My eyes landed on the familiar silver Volvo I had seen on Monday, where Edward Cullen was leaning against the car with his trademark pea coat draped over him. He had his hands stuffed into his jean pockets and he was conversing with his sister, Alice. His eyes were on me, dark and intense, but I tilted my chin up and arched one of my eyebrows up in challenge.

He smirked and shook his head, in amusement, before his eyes went towards his sister again. I rolled my eyes before I went towards Mr. Mason's classroom again. I guess I couldn't be intimidating in Edward Cullen's eyes. Then again, he was a vampire, and humans couldn't intimidate him no matter how hard they tried. I liked to think I was at least a little bit intimidating.

Entering Mr. Mason's classroom, I felt my shoulders loosen some, since I only shared this class with Jessica (and Lauren, but she never even acknowledged me). I picked up one of the copies of Wuthering Heights from the front teacher desk and went to my usual unassigned but assigned in the eyes of the students desk. I knew I could be in my thoughts during this class today, since Mr. Mason would have the audio tape of the book playing.

Jessica of course came and sat down next to me, though Lauren sat behind her. I dismissed either of them, not in the mood to talk to either of them. Well technically I wasn't in the mood to talk to Jessica, then again, I wasn't in the mood to talk to her that often. I merely listen to her, well sometimes I acted as though I was listening to her even though I tuned her out most of the time.

Mr. Mason shot looks towards anyone who seemed as though they were in chatty moods. I didn't know why anyone would want to talk so freely and happily this early in the morning. In France there were about the same amount of chatty girls, ready to gossip about anything they had learnt on the internet or had heard from other gossipers.

The audio book tape began, and I opened the book, to the first chapter. Emily Bronte's melancholy love story started, and I listened intently to the book. I was happy I was listening to the book instead of reading it. My copy at home was in French, and I knew Mr. Mason would rather I have an English version of the book in case someone was missing a couple days of class, and he had decided I would be the one who would let them borrow my copy.

Class ended, and I gathered my things, only for Jessica to mention Tyler's attempt of asking me out. "So, did you say yes to going on a date with Tyler? He really is sorry about what he did last week. He's always thought he's smoother than he is."

Lauren listened intently herself, rumor had it she had a huge crush on Tyler Cowley. She wouldn't be pleased at the knowledge Tyler had asked me out. She would be glad I had said no, for she smirked in satisfaction when I had said no. She must have thought she would have a chance at dating him, though he never asked her out before.

Mr. Jefferson handed me back my quiz he had given me earlier last week, where I had gotten a C+ for the grade. I didn't question it, partly because I had a feeling, I earned the proper grade. Another being, neither of us seemed excited to even converse to each other outside of him asking me questions to make sure I was listening to him.

Trigonometry wasn't too bad; we were going over something I had already learnt back in France. Mr. Varner was pleased I made good grades, I was a little above the average grade my class had, though not by much. He wouldn't have to worry about asking me to stay after class so he could see about giving me a tutor in the end. It would have been a nightmare if he did, along with being embarrassing since I never needed a tutor back in France.

Mrs. Goff held me after class, asking me if I needed to have me stay after school some days so I could have better confidence in the language. When I had nothing more than a blush cross my face, she knew she shouldn't pressure me just yet. She would probably come back to the topic after the end of the month so I could catch up. She was too nice and open hearted for me to not accept the help if I needed it by the end of the month.

The loudness of the cafeteria still was overwhelming for me. I went into the lunch line and got one of the premade meals from the cafeteria ladies, just like many of my classmates. I was spoiled back in France, the villages I had stayed in made most of their food handmade, though here everything was frozen and thrown into ovens or microwaves to warm them up again.

Sitting down at my usual spot with the rest of the gang, I took a long sip of my water bottle while Mike was telling everyone about the latest camping he had done with his parents. Jessica listened to rapt attention, obviously hanging onto every word he said. He was her crush, and though he showed interest in me he was intimidated since I had slapped Tyler across the face on my first day here.

My eyes drifted to the Cullen table without thinking, my eyes landing on the golden eyed vampire family. Maman claimed she was about to go hunting within the next few days, she had gone if she could before she knew she would have to go back. Thankfully she had gone centuries with this diet so she wouldn't have to go that often to satisfy her hunger.

Every single one of them had a tray of food in front of them. I rolled my eyes, if anyone noticed without being intimidated by them, they would have seen how none of them ate the food in front of them. Maman had told me long ago how human food was disgusting to vampires, both in taste but also in smell. She had gotten a little used to it while raising me though sometimes she would cringe her noise back when something smelt too disgusting to her.

"Ooh, find someone you like?" Jessica teased me, I shook my head no, though my eyes kept drifting back between Edward Cullen and Jasper Hale. Both were looking at each with an intensity, one that made me look away quickly when they started to turn their heads in my direction.

I managed to keep myself from looking at them, as I forced myself to keep paying attention to the humans around me. Something about a few of them wanting to go surfing when we would go to La Push, though you couldn't pay me enough to even swim or dip my toes into the water. It was too cold to even let any part of my skin touch that water.

I had barely sat down in Biology when an ethereal voice appeared next to me.

"Hello, I'm Edward Cullen. You're Bella Dupont, right?"

I arched my eyebrow at him, before I nodded my head. I didn't ask him anything, instead I turned my head away from him and looked at Mr. Banner.

I didn't get to look at him that much longer when Edward spoke once again, "I'm sorry for being closed off last Monday. May I ask what you think about Forks so far?"

"You may not," I remarked, without turning to him still. I almost wanted to turn and glance at him to see what his reaction would be.

It would have been priceless, but I kept myself calm. Mr. Banner began to talk about the microscopes and box of slides in front of us. We would have to identify the three types of slides: prophase, anaphase, and interphase. I picked up the first slide and put it on the microscope before looking in it, telling him what the slide was.

Edward wrote in perfect calligraphy; I was a close second. His hand almost blurred as he wrote down what type of slide it was. I was a little bit slower, partly because I was becoming accustomed to writing in English more than French. The other reason I wanted to make sure Mr. Banner would be able to read what I had written.

I made sure we paid attention to only the subject we were having in Biology. Edward seemed to learn quickly how I wasn't in the talkative mood. I wasn't up to him asking me anymore about my life story, he knew enough for me to not add anything to it. It was a small town, it was a small high school, all he needed to know was already said by classmates.

By the end of class Edward seemed as though he wasn't as dumb-witted as I thought he could have been. He was able to read the vibes around him, letting me know he wasn't going to persist. Partly because we weren't alone (and Mr. Banner could easily tell Edward to stick with the assignment, not ask me the story of my life), while the other reason he knew I had a little bit of bite to me. I wouldn't budge no matter how hard he tried his vampiric charm.

Gym was more awkward than I wanted it to be. I was aggravated and wanted to let out some steam as we were playing Volleyball, but I was still very uncoordinated. I kept on tripping on my feet and missing the Volleyball. There was also the fact Lauren Mallory happened to be nicknamed the Volleyball Queen at Forks. She had broken so many records in the three years she had been at the high school, on the Volleyball Team.

The moment I ended up in my car I berated myself, probably wasn't good for my mental health. I didn't have the best mental health, but I couldn't complain. I sometimes had nightmares of the Volturi learning the truth, which in return would make me see my maman murdered right before my eyes. The Volturi would kill me, or they could have decided I should join them—it all depended on what Aro's decision was in the end.

Maman was an intelligent woman, she was the most intelligent person I had met. She constantly studied; she was up to date with medical advantages in the world. She would often be found reading a book whenever we would have down time.

So, it made sense she was reading a book when I paced back and forth (unable to keep myself from telling her about Edward "Fuck-ward" Cullen).

I was justified with this though, he had been nothing more than a creep the whole time I had been in his vicinity, and I was so not in the mood to deal with his gros con (dumbass) any longer than the hour-long class I had been given with him. Too bad Mrs. Cope couldn't have him change his Biology class for another time period.

Maman silently put her bookmark into her book, before she shut it softly and sat it down on the side table next to her. She drifted away from the sitting area of the living room section of the room, before she passed by the dining room section and went into the kitchen section of the room. She moved around in her vampiric speed, a blur to me if I was noticing her (I had already fallen onto the loveseat and had my arms crossed against my chest), before she came back with my signature teacup full to the brim of my favorite herbal tea from France.

Eventually, after having a mini therapy session with Mamman, since I obviously couldn't go to a therapist about it, she surprised me when she laughed and said, "Carlisle has some gifted children, doesn't he? Edward can read minds. His sister, Alice, has precognition and Jasper is an empath. It's not a secret, darling. A coven with so many gifted vampires cannot stay hidden."

"That explains a lot, why he's been so interested in me and looked aggravated last Monday, he can't read my mind!" I realized, excitement lighting up across my face.

Maman had always told to keep my secrets to my chest and never let them go, along with emotions if I could help it, so it would make sense I could possibly be a shield without realizing it.

The next morning, it was snowing even worse, which in return made me a little more than aggravated. I dressed in a large cow neck cream sweater that fell around my Mid-Thy, obsidian leggings and black leather boots that almost went all the way up to my knees. My hair was pulled in a low braided bun, Maman's locket she had given me last year was tucked underneath my sweater. One of her older antique rings was on my right pointer finger, a sapphire and silver ring.

I had just left my car and was going around the back trunk when screaming of tires appeared behind me. I stiffened, before I slowly turned around. Tyler's van had locked onto the black ice.

Wow. So, this was how I was going to die.

Wait, I knew one of the Cullens would heroically come and save me at the last time, giving me some lame ass excuse that would work for anyone else. Yep, I knew this was going to happen.

I was proven correct when my eyes went towards the Cullens, though surprise lit across my features when I saw Jasper struggling, while Emmett had his arms locked around him tight enough it would probably break someone's bones if they were human. Desperation was across Jasper's eyes, his golden irises showing nothing more than complete fear at what was happening. My heart stopped; it was as though I could feel his desperation like it was my own.

The next moment a body hit against my own and I fell onto the hard asphalt hard enough I knew I would end up having a bruise run from the top of my hipbone to the bottom. I flinched before my eyes went upwards, eyes meeting Edward's.

He was crouched next to me; his hand had crunched the side of the van. I didn't look away sheepishly or stare at him with marvel, instead I stared at him as though he had just put the noose around his own neck before he would make sure to kick the stool underneath him. He was doing the one thing vampires weren't supposed to do, show a vampiric power in the presence of humans.

"You just signed your own death wish," I whispered, knowing he would be able to hear me easily though Mr. Varner and Coach Clapp were pushing the van as far as they could in order to get to me and Edward.

Edward's face craned to the side, in interest, as though he was still trying to probe my mind, to learn its inner workings.

Edward didn't have time to say anything, because Mr. Varner and Coach Clapp managed to push the car away (they had to have some of the male athletes help them). I groaned in irritation inwardly as they told us not to move. Edward the slime ball was able to charm them into not getting put into an ambulance while I had to be subjected to the embarrassment of the whole process the E.M.T's would have to do in order to make sure I wouldn't hurt myself further if I was already injured without knowing it.

Each mile that brought us closer to the clinic, brought me closer to officially meeting the patriarch of the Cullens, Dr. Carlisle Cullen, himself. I could only imagine the sickening sweetness that was soaked in him, he'd be a martyr for his family even if they could never ask him to. He was too golden hearted, too pure, and it aggravated me. Extremely happy and cheerful people were too much to handle, for someone reclusive like me and Maman.

Arriving at the clinic I sighed as I readied myself to meet the vampire. The E.M.T's were speaking about him as though he was the messiah of medicine. I rolled my eyes, believing my maman would be doing the same thing as I was doing. Both of us could agree this was possibly worse than having a broken bone, since I didn't need to see the doctor for any injuries whatsoever.

The florescent lighting made me flinch as we went into the emergency room, and they helped me onto one of the cots. Tyler was wheeled in seconds later, the broken leg he had was almost disgustingly crooked. I turned my head away, not wanting to see his leg. I didn't know how bad of a fracture it was, but it was bad enough I knew he would have a subconscious limp for a while (now that I thought of it Edward had pushed against the driver's car door a good bit, so this was a result of the vampiric strength he had used).

I closed my eyes and took deep breaths, my nose cringing some from the cleaning medical supplies around me. I hated the clinical smell of hospitals and emergency rooms. Maman was someone who people could consider was hardcore, she helped through natural births and had nothing to do with epidurals. It also was very dangerous, since the woman would have more tearing and bleeding while she would be giving birth.

"Maman, please get here soon," I moaned, my ears perking up as footsteps came towards me.

Clicking of dress shoes against the linoleum tiles allowed me to know it must have Carlisle Cullen who was coming to be my savior. I didn't know if I wanted him or his son to be considered my saviors, but then again, they saved my lives so I should be more grateful.

"Hello, Miss Dupont," a smooth voice spoke, with a tinge of a British accent still there.

I opened my eyes and turned my head, noting Carlisle Cullen standing right in front of me. He was a little above average in men's height and had the perfect lean but muscular figure. His features reminded me of a soap opera doctor's face, only handsomer by tenfold. His golden irises were warm, welcoming, and his marble hued arms were on either side of him. His hair was the same color as his eyes, though it was combed down in such a straight precision only a vampire could accomplish.

I was contemplating on what to say to him, when the emergency doors opened and Maman came into view. She was still wearing her midwife dress, and devoid of makeup but Maman was still glamorous despite her appearance. She rushed forward, her coiled curls were bouncing a little, and her smooth but delicious (in the eyes of most men and some women) figure catching the attention of everyone in the room. She reached me, putting her hands in mine and began to mumble sweetly at me, venom rising in her topaz eyes.

"Ma'am, may I ask who you are? Only family are allowed back here," Carlisle probed, careful but polite. I didn't think there was a rude bone in that man's body, he wasn't someone who wanted to hurt someone else's feelings. A lover, not a fighter.

Maman was not one over the other, Maman was both a lover and a fighter. A damn good one too. She made sure she brought her head up and turn to look at Carlisle as though he had asked the most moronic question in the world.

"I ahm Sylvia Dupont, Isabella's maman."

DARLING SHIP RESULTS:

JASPER: 4 VOTES

DEMETRI: 2 VOTES

UNDECIDED: 1 VOTE

Jasper has won! Please keep reading the fanfiction though even if you didn't get the ship you wanted. I understand if you don't want to continue.

I would also like to thank a. Lace. a for giving me the idea of Sylvia already knowing about the gifts. Perfect because they inspired me about another life Sylvia had done when she was a vampire other than being a midwife.

If anyone else has any ideas in the future for me, please let me know! You will be acknowledged in the bottom of the chapter if I like the idea. - Emmy

edited: 12/18/2021