It's back, by popular request (turns out I'm susceptible to bribery by reviews lmaooo)
As it turns out, Edward from Earth Science is only one of several equally gorgeous, statuesque works of art that now glide through the cramped little hallways of Forks High like birds of paradise.
The Cullen family is weird, especially for the small town of Forks.
There's the twins, who Jessica has only ever seen from afar. Jasper and Rosalie are juniors who both picked up the unlucky gene for Resting Bitch Face (Jessica sympathizes). They also both have a stick up their asses the size of Lauren's ego.
Jasper's under-eye bags either scream eccentric or drug addict, depending on the time of day and angle at which she's staring. He always looks hungry for something, but never seems to eat.
"It's heroin." Mike says one day without any kind of preamble, sliding into his cafeteria seat. He thinks he's charming enough to smoothly walk into the middle of a conversation and offer his thoughts on something, but it's more of an ineffective stumble.
They're friends though, so Jessica gives him a pity-nod of understanding and continues poking at her cafeteria-grade meat and mashed potatoes combination from hell.
No wonder everyone says the Cullens don't eat anything at lunch. She wouldn't want to risk food poisoning either, but she has to save her energy for Volleyball tryouts.
"What the hell are you talking about?"
Eric has no such compunctions. Jessica's pretty sure he lost most concepts of manners in chess club. Meanwhile,her inner gossip-hound sniffs at the air hungrily.
"Jasper Hale. I'm pretty sure he's a heroin addict. I figured it out." Mike sounds really proud of himself. Lauren enters the conversation, her own tray of unappetizing cafeteria food in hand, and pats him on the head like a puppy. She slips into the seat next to Jessica's and they share a look of glee.
This is going to be interesting.
Meanwhile, Rosalie is another sort of beast. To say she's an ice queen is like saying Antarctica is a bit nippy. Jessica once saw her give a senior that approached her a look that would make hell freeze over.
She's pretty sure he cried that day. Twice.
Still, looking at her directly is blinding. She's sunshine in human form, with none of the warmth and all of the glare.
The other brother, Emmett, is built like a football star in the making. Tyler was upset that Emmett might beat him out for the quarterback spot, but he hasn't shown any interest so far, no matter how many hints Coach Clapp drops.
For a Cullen, he's downright jovial. Emmett is said to initiate conversations on his own, which is more than she can say for the rest of them. Austin Marks swears that he heard him tell a joke in class once, but Jessica's pretty sure he's lying through his teeth.
The final Cullen member is Alice. While Jessica is used to being the shortest one in the room, Alice Cullen now has her beat.
She's just as quiet and perpetually bored-looking as the rest of them, but the energy around her is more manic. Something about Alice makes her feel more energetic and more alive than the rest of the Cullen kids.
Still, no matter how they all behave, they all share the same skin pallor - a sickly looking paleness that blends into Forks' winter weather.
They're like corpses, Jessica thinks during an inner-monologue in Earth Science. She has been switching between staring idly at Edward Cullen's broad back, then Lauren's blonde hair, then back to Edward's back again in an attempt to not fall asleep.
She traces the shape of his spine with her eyes and the slight rise and fall of his shoulders as he breathes.
Suddenly, Edward jerks and spins around to face her. His chair screeches loudly with the movement and Jessica finds herself staring straight into his bright eyes.
What the hell?
"Edward, am I boring you?" Jessica barely notices the teacher's irritation.
Edward looks startled and his eyes are drilling into hers ceaselessly. It feels like the breath has been knocked out of her lungs.
He breaks eye contact first.
"No, I'm sorry. I got distracted."
By...me? Jessica feels hopeful and confused and incredulous.
Lauren's fingers skim hers and Jessica jumps. She looks down.
What was that? The scrap of notebook paper reads. Jessica flips it over and writes I don't know.
Lauren gives her one of her patented looks. They'll be having words later.
When the bell rings to signify the end of the period, Edward is the first to leave the room. Jessica moves to follow him, but his ice cold glare (Now I can see the family resemblance, she thinks of Rosalie) stops her in her tracks.
What did I do?