Disclaimer: All characters of Twilight belong Stephenie Meyer. In no way do I own them. Only the character that I invented, Adaline, belongs to me.

You may visit my ko fi page, where I post my story, if you wish to read more from me. Enjoy or not. Cheers.

Chapter 12

I was right in assuming that Alice and Emmett would corner me at school. I had left Bella with her friends as soon as we arrived and made my way to my locker. I hadn't seen the Cullen's car, so I guessed that they had not arrived yet. I was in front of my locker, taking my sweet time swapping books and trying to put the bag with the coat inside without crushing it.

"Adaline~" I suddenly heard behind me and felt someone glomp me.

I jumped in surprise and the bag fell from my hands. I only saw white blur quickly catch it then present it to me.

'Too quick. Those are not normal reflexes.'

I did as if nothing had happened, "Good morning and thank you Jasper." I smiled to him. "Alice please let go."

I turned when she let go to see that Emmett was also there , "Good morning to you two. Please spare me the ninja acts and make some noise when you approach me. And no glomping would be appreciated." I said teasingly.

Jasper nodded to me with a 'Ma'am and you are welcome.'

Alice hugged me, "Good morning Adaline! Just why did you not come on Sunday? And threatening to block us was cruel! We can't even badger you about coming anymore or else Carlisle may give us a talk again. He even threatened to ban shopping and video games for two months if we bothered you. "

'Okay, I really owe the good doctor. I'll send him a big thank you later.'

"Hello Addy! Ohh why didn't you come on Sunday? We would have had so much fun." Emmett pushed Alice to the side then unexpectedly hugged and lifted me as he said this.

"Wow a bear hug from a bear. I am so lucky. What is it with you people always invading my personal bubble? And to answer your question, I had things to do and I needed my alone time. Now quickly let go of me, that girl over there looks close to hyperventilating." I told him blandly.

We turned in unison to look at said girl and she really looked shocked. She stood there, frozen, with her mouth open. She didn't even look like she was breathing. She paled when she saw all of us looking at her. She quickly shut her locker and ran away.

"Is it really so shocking a view to see friends hugging? Why did she run away?" I asked, puzzled.

"There are going to have some amazing rumors by the end of the day." Alice said.

"Rumors are a constant. People are going to talk whatever you do so you might as well ignore them and do what you want. Anyway, Alice can you please return this to your father for me?" I said as I gave her the bag.

"Of course. I'll put it in the car."

"Thank you." I said as I shut my locker.

"Addy, how about sitting with us for lunch?" Emmett said as he put his arm around my shoulder.

"Hands off please." I said sternly to him. I waited till he had removed his arm before continuing, " I don't want to. Sitting at your table means that everyone will stare. I have had enough staring, thank you very much."

"Oh come on Adaline. They will stare at you because we talk to you anyway. So why not keep us company during lunch?" Jasper said with a little grin.

Alice hooked her arm around Jasper's, "Jasper is right. And also, you've spent most of your lunch in the library, it's not healthy. How about we compromise? You sit with us for lunch thrice a week and the other two you can spend in the library."

I rolled my eyes at them, "Okay, but only if Edward and Rosalie are okay with it. I am not going to force them to bear my presence."

Alice clapped her hands, "great then! I'll go put the coat in the car before class starts. See you later Addy!"

"See you later Adaline." Jasper said then turned to follow her.

"Rose is waiting for me." He nodded his head towards where Rosalie was leaning against the wall. "See ya laters!" He quickly hugged me then ran away.

"I said to stop invading my personal bubble, you big dunderhead." I muttered.

Rosalie turned to smirk at me then smacked his boyfriend, who was snickering, behind his head. I ruefully shook my head at them then made my way to class.

Lunch time arrived quickly. I felt my mobile vibrate as I made my way out of class. I reached into my bag and checked it.

Pixiefromhell: [Addy come join us in the cafeteria. Rose and Edward gave their okay!

P.S: Oh and I sent Jasper to come fetch you in case you run away.]

Sure enough, when I raised my head I found Jasper waiting for me a few meters away. I gave him a deadpan look.

He just gave me a grin, "I have my orders ma'am."

I rolled my eyes at him then looked back at my mobile. "Don't think I forgot about your betrayal. Next time you beg me to come save your sanity, well I'll just let you lose it." I said as I quickly sent Bella a message, telling her that I would be sitting with the Cullens for lunch.

"Oh come on. Please forgive me? I just couldn't say no to Alice. She can be so persuasive." He teased as we made our way to the cafeteria. "But more seriously,your presence really is soothing to me, that was not a lie."

'So it was not just my really are more relaxed whenever I am near.'

"Persuasive…? Really Jasper?! That was too much info, thank you very much. " I said with a disgusted face.

He just gave me a little grin, like a small mischievous boy, " I just meant persuasive in the way that she is so cute. I can't refuse her beautiful eyes and smile."

'That was not the way you meant it at all! Your intonation hinted to something more suggestive!'

I gave him a look that said 'who are you trying to fool?'

"Yes, I am sure that her eyes and smile really made your day. Betrayed for some hanky panky." I drawled sarcastically.

"Ma'am please remove all unholy thoughts from your mind. I am a pure-hearted man." He tried to say with a straight face.

I gave him a bland look, "the only one whose mind is filled with unholy thoughts is you. And pure-hearted, really? Let me go ask Emmett." I asked as we entered the cafeteria.

"Wait, no I was joking! Don't ask him!"

"My,my just what kind of blackmail material does he have on you?" I said with a smirk.

"He doesn't. I have nothing to hide. I just don't want him to traumatise you with his explicit explanations." He said as we reached the others.

'Didn't you just say that you were pure-hearted?' I thought sarcastically.

I was doing my best to do as if the cafeteria did not fall into silence as soon as we entered. I nonchalantly sat down next to Alice and greeted the others.

'What is wrong with those people? Can't they mind their own business and stop staring? They are acting as if I went and sat near the queen. Is that what the Cullens have to suffer through everyday? I do not envy them.'

I gave them a sympathetic look and got one that said they were used to it. Fortunately, the usual chatter started again and most of them returned to their lunch. Some still glanced over here occasionally but I could deal with that. I glanced at Bella's table to see that she was getting bombarded with questions.

'Poor Bella. I am sorry to have you go through this sister. Alice would have dragged me sooner or later, so it is better that you go through the interrogation sooner. I am sure that the gossip is going wild but whatever.'

Emmett boisterously said,"don't listen to him Addy! He just doesn't want to get scolded by Car.."

The rest of his phrase got cut off by Jasper. The latter had quickly leaned across the table to cover Emmett's mouth with his hand. Alice and Rosalie swiftly hit their respective boyfriends behind their heads.

Edward had a disgusted expression on his face and muttered, "bad mental image."

Alice asked menacingly, "Just what were you alluding to Jazz?"

At the same time Rosalie said, "shut your mouth. I am sure that you would have answered her and that it would have been explicit. In the end, you would have gotten scolded too."

Both of the boys cowered in front of their partner and tried to appease them. Alice casually put a sandwich in front of me while still lecturing Jasper. I glanced at her then stared dumbly at it.

Edward pushed it further towards me, "eat please. We took too much food anyway. You would be helping us by eating it. If you see anything you want to eat on our tray, just take it."

"Thank you." I said as I unwrapped the sandwich.

'What is it with them always buying me food? Anyway, so they would have gotten scolded by Carlisle for mentioning explicit things? I bet that it would have been Edward and Rosalie that told the good doctor. Carlisle sure has a lot of authority in his family. They respect him a lot.'

The rest of lunch passed with casual chatter and teasing from Emmett's part. Many times, I caught Edward glancing at Bella and tilting his head towards her table. He seemed to be listening intently to something. Sometimes he would smile or let out a little laugh out of the blue.

'Dear little Edward, you seem mighty invested in my sister. I hope you tread carefully and take into consideration the consequences of your actions. If you mess up, I'll show you hell.'

It was the end of school and I was waiting for Bella inside the car. I took that time to send Carlisle a big thank you for reining in Alice and Emmett. He responded pretty quickly and reminded me that I owed him a dinner. I sent him an 'I know' and that I would keep the end of my bargain.

I looked up just in time to see Bella come out together with Edward Cullen. Bella seemed awkward and happy at the same time.

'So you already forgave him huh. You sure must be ecstatic to be talking to him.'

I glanced at Edward's siblings only to find them staring at the pair. Amongst them, only Alice seemed happy and Emmett was neutral . The other two had disapproval expressed on their face. Rosalie, specially, looked angry.

'Why do they look like they are not happy with Edward talking to Bella? They did not have that reaction when I talked to them. Rosalie was reserved, not angry… What is it with the different treatment?' I frowned.

Jasper happened to glance in my direction and I mouthed 'are you okay' to him. He nodded tersely to me and tried to give me a small smile. It looked more like a grimace. He must have said something to his siblings because they all glanced at me, waved me goodbye and got in the car.

'Strange.'

I watched as Bella parted from Edward and made her way to the car. I closed my door and looked forward, just in time to see Edward grimace before getting into his car. He quickly turned on his car and rushed out of the parking lot.

'Oh oh, given by the change in expression, I think that Edward just got chewed up by Jasper and Rosalie. Well mostly Rosalie. Jasper is more reserved, he would have waited until he reached home and diplomatically voice his concerns.'

I got distracted from my thoughts as Bella entered the car. I turned on the ignition and slowly left the parking lot.

"I won't even bother asking how your day was. I can see that it was a good one just from your smile. "

"Yea, it was okay. Edward apologised to me as you said. We even had a conversation." Bella said as she hugged her bag.

"Only okay?" I glanced at her dubiously. "Then perhaps you should stop hugging your bag so giddily and put it to the side." I teased.

She blushed and quickly let go of her bag, "anyway, it was nice to receive an apology, even though the excuse sucked. I was quite shocked when he continued talking to me after his apology. I thought that he would just say sorry and ignore me. Instead he asked me questions about myself."

"Hmm well from what I have observed, he is quite temperamental. You can't really predict his moods and reactions. They are quite sudden. Anyway, the boy has to sit next to you till the end of the year. So he was bound to talk to you again, specially if you got shared assignments. It is good that he is taking the initiative to talk to you civilly."

Bella frowned, "his moods really do change quickly. When he was talking to me he would look curious then suddenly looked as if he regretted asking. Sometimes he would look as if he didn't want to talk to me but just couldn't help himself from doing so. Then he would shift to being happy and then get broody…do you think he is bipolar?"

"I don't know. You would have to ask him." I answered as I scanned the road ahead.

I suddenly hit the brakes and came to a abrupt stop.

Bella hanged onto her seat belt and turned to me, "why did you brake so suddenly?!"

I am sure that I looked like a fish with my mouth opened wide, "didn't you see that?! Merlin that scared me! Fortunately I wasn't going fast and was looking ahead."

"What? What was it?" Bella asked while frantically looking outside.

I was going to answer her when my mobile suddenly rang.

"Can you get my mobile from my bag please?" I asked Bella while peering at the dense forest.

She took my bag and pulled my mobile from it.

"Here." She said as she handed it to me.

I glanced at the caller ID, "thank you."

I took the call, "Alice."

"Adaline, is everything okay? Where are you?" She asked hurriedly.

From the background I heard Carlisle asking for the phone.

"Adaline, sorry for calling abruptly." The good doctor greeted.

"It's quite okay." I said distractedly.

"You seem preoccupied. Is something the matter? Are you driving? I can hear the sound of the motor."

"I was driving but I stopped at the side road."

"Why?" Carlisle asked worriedly.

"I just saw one bloody big wolf run across the road a few meters ahead of me! It came out of nowhere! What is there in the water here?! That wolf was bigger than me!" I exclaimed.

"A big wolf ? You are both okay, aren't you?" Carlisle asked.

"Yes we are. Nothing serious. Just had to brake abruptly." I said as I leaned my head against the steering wheel.

"Addy." Bella suddenly whispered.

"Yes?" I asked as I lifted my head.

"Am I going crazy or is there a big wolf staring at us from other there? Is that the wolf you saw?" She whispered shakily.

"Oh" I let out dumbly as I stared in the direction she was indicating. From the phone I could hear Carlisle calling my name frantically. "Yes, that's definitely the wolf I saw." I whispered back.

I suddenly threw my mobile at Bella and floored the accelerator, "talk to him. I can't talk while driving."

"Hello?" Bella squeaked while scanning the surrounding forest. "Yes a big wolf."

" No we are okay."

" Adaline is driving."

" No it's okay! You don't have to come. We've nearly reached home anyway."

" No I can't see it anymore so I don't think it followed us."

I let out a breath of relief at the sight of houses. I decelerated now that I was sure that we wouldn't encounter any wolves.

"There are houses around, so we will be okay." Bella continued answering.

I was relieved when I saw our house. I gratefully parked in the driveway and turn the ignition off. I leaned against my seat and closed my eyes.

Bella,"Yes, we've just arrived."

I suddenly burst out laughing from the adrenaline.

"It's just Adaline laughing." Bella looked at me.

"Okay." She then handed the phone to me, "here he wants to talk to you."

I took a big breath to calm my laughing then took the phone, "hello?"

"You okay?" The good doctor asked worriedly.

"Yes I am. I was just shocked really. I never saw a wolf that big. It didn't seem like it wanted to attack, weirdly. It just stared at us."

As I said that, Bella got out of the car and made her way into the house while staring suspiciously at the trees near our house.

"I am glad that you are okay and that you arrived safely. Do you want me to ask Alice and Jasper to drive you and your sister to school tomorrow?"

"No that's not necessary, thank you. It's quite improbable to encounter any wolves again. The car would provide some protection if we did encounter one again anyway."

"A wolf that big could easily overturn a car. There are scary things out there Adaline." Carlisle said somberly.

"I know." I whispered.

'Do you count yourself amongst those scary things?'

"I have to admit that now I am worried about you driving again tomorrow. Today was the first time I felt such intense fear."

"Don't. Everything will be okay. If there is anything, I'll let you know. Please reassure Alice for me."

"I'll try. I will reassure her, don't worry."

"Thank you. I have to go now. I will talk to you later okay. Thank you for worrying about us Carlisle."

"Always Adaline. Talk to you later then. Rest well."

"I will. Byebye." I whispered then hanged up.

I took my bag, got out of the car and wearily made my way into the house. I could have sworn that I felt someone staring at me from the forest.