Now this chapter hasn't been split up, all seven pages are what I originally planned for this chapter. I have gotten so many nice reviews on here, I want to thank everyone who has. Before this, it had been so long since I posted anything here and I forgot the feeling of getting reviews, it makes me want to keep writing rather than do all the other stuff I should be doing instead. So please review.
Homecoming Part 3
Bella's POV
"You know you won so what's the point of keeping score?"
I was nervous. . . I mean I'm always nervous with my life the way it is but today was a different kind of nervous. The bubble we've lived in this past week, floating over the real world we didn't want to return to had to end sometime, and Charlie wouldn't let me miss any more school.
When I reluctantly fell asleep it felt like only moments until I woke up in my favorite place, Edward's arms. . . Though we couldn't stay that way for long. He woke me up, or tried to wake me up for about 30 minutes before he ran home to change and get his car.
I shower quickly and dress in the new outfit (courtesy of Alice) that she insisted I wear, it wasn't worth the fight.
I force down a granola bar in the kitchen (mostly to appease Carlisle), tapping my foot nervously on the floor while I wait for my ride. There is a knock on the door and I trip on the living room rug, catching myself just before I hit the ground.
When I open the door Edward is leaning against the door frame, his crooked smile across his face. On the street behind him, his Volvo is running with Alice in the backseat. He pulls me into his arms and kisses my lips before taking my backpack from me and leading me to the car with a hand on the small of my back.
"What's it going to be like?" I ask them as we started towards Forks High. I hadn't missed those dreaded brick buildings at all.
"Do you really want to know?" Alice asked.
I grimaced. I know the bubble we've lived in the past week or so is moments away from popping. "That bad?"
"It's just people trying to find out what happened. You were gone for a week and when you get back, we're here, too. It's bound to be gossip." She replies.
This was nothing new to Edward and Alice. They were used to the stares they received and I was sure of the fact that when they came back to school, they wouldn't give a damn what others thought about them.
I'm glad I'm not alone right now. I feel out of my element and don't know if I could handle a full day of this on my own.
"What's the story?" I'm sure that I'll be the only one of us three that's deemed approachable, so I better get the story right.
"Carlisle moved us to L.A. for a job opportunity, but Esme missed the small-town life so she moved us all back." Edward answered.
"You guys didn't love the constant sun? Really?"
"Sarcasm isn't your strong suit, Love."
I stick my tongue out at him. "Do you know your schedules?"
"We have to pick them up when we get there but one of us is in all of your classes except first period." Alice answers.
"Esme came to transfer us back last week. That got the gossip train rolling. Now everyone's waiting for us because, besides Carlisle, I guess we are the most approachable." Edward adds, his hand clutching mine. He pulls my hand towards his face and kisses the back of it.
"You aren't approachable," I counter. "You mean that everyone will approach me to get the story?" I imagine all the whispers and outright open-mouthed gapes waiting for me with disdain.
Edward looked somewhat abashed as he nodded. "Sorry, Love."
"You'll be fine Bella, trust me. Word won't really spread about us being back until second period and one of us will be with you then." Alice adds.
I nod and blow out a breath as Edward pulled into his old parking space.
"Do you want me to walk you to class?" Edward asked me.
I think it over briefly and shake my head. "No, it's probably best I get there before anyone realizes you're back."
He leans over the center console and kisses me. "Until we meet again in second period."
I roll my eyes. "You're such a dork." He opens my door for me, Alice has long since gone already. I sigh, taking his offered hand.
"Stop," he murmurs, kissing my hair.
I look at him puzzled. What do I have to stop doing now? "I thought you couldn't read my mind?"
"You're overthinking this, Bella. It will be a five-minute wonder then they will get used to it and find something else to talk about. Stop worrying." He assures me. "Think of all you've made it through this last week, high school is nothing."
"I know you're right but it's all still stressful."
"You'll be fine." He says, pushing a lock of my hair behind my ear. "I'll meet you at the end of first period."
"I'll be there, probably. Good luck." I tell him before we part ways.
The halls are mostly clear, we got here a little early, but the few people I see thankfully don't strike up a conversation. Most people steer clear of me anyways but I was especially thankful this morning because I know the happy(ish) bubble we've been in for the last week since we all survived our trip to Italy, will soon pop.
It was stressful, thinking of everyone at school, but the kind of stress I welcomed—normal, everyday stress that teens were meant to deal with. No vampires. No werewolves, just human interaction and catching up on everything I missed.
I take my seat, getting out my textbook and my phone as I wait for class to start.
Carlisle and Esme gave me the phone a few days ago so I will always be able to contact them. I told them it was too much but they ignored me completely. I have to say that it grew on me fast. There was a message from both Edward and Alice showing me their schedules, and one from Emmett.
Emmett's message was: It's a beautiful day to not be in high school.
I can't argue with that.
The Cullens had probably been through high school many, many times. I never asked the exact number. Were they punishing themselves? I'm bored out of my mind half the time, anyway, and I haven't even graduated once yet. Perhaps they were taking "eternal damnation" more literally than they needed.
The class starts to fill up and I put my phone in my pocket as Jessica sits down next to me. "Where the hell have you been?"
Honestly, I'm surprised she even noticed my absence. I know I can't get away with not answering her. "Vacation," I tell her vaguely.
She rolls her eyes. "Details, Swan."
I sigh softly to myself. God, it would be nice to be Emmett right about now, to have already graduated. Should I tell her I was home because I tried to kill myself? That might be enough for her to not question me anymore. . . I'm sure Alice is enjoying the visions my indecision was causing at the moment as I weighed the pros and cons of my response. "I didn't want to be here, Jess. I was away for a few days."
"I heard the Cullens' are back."
"The Cullens? Back from where?" I figure if I could drag this out until class starts then I won't have to answer the deeper questions I know are swimming around her mind right now.
She scoffs. "You're a terrible liar Bella. Just tell me, I'm your best friend."
I grimace internally at her declaration. I sigh. "If you're right then just ask them."
"Are you guys back together?" She pushes.
I take a deep breath, apparently, there's no getting out of this, the teacher is even late for class. "Yes, okay? You want to know what happened? We pulled a Romeo and Juliet and tried to kill ourselves then went on a little vacation to Europe for the hell of it." I say sarcastically even though that is basically exactly what we did.
Jessica frowns. "Whatever, Bella. I've stood by your side when you lost your fucking mind and now you're back and I just wanted to know what happened. We were all worried about you." She snaps.
I run a hand through my hair. "Sorry," I say but don't mean it at all. "Yeah, they're back. Their Mom, Esme, she wasn't a fan of L.A. where Dr. Cullen had gotten a new job so they moved back."
"Are they here to stay?"
I shrug. "I assume until Edward and Alice graduate but you'll have to ask them." I can't express how much I want this conversation to end.
"I bet he looks even better than before. L.A. must have been good for him."
I knew he was listening and refused to give him the satisfaction. "Eh."
"Eh?" She looked at me like I had lost my mind.
She was so outraged by my nonchalance that I had to fight the urge to laugh.
"I mean I'm sure it's hard to tell under the fluorescents but he must have gotten a tan, you can't live in L.A. and not be tan, it's like, against the law." She looks out the window, almost like she was willing him to come this way.
Oh, the picture she is painting. "Completely agree," I assured her sarcastically. She didn't seem like she believed me by the look she was giving me. "What? I haven't noticed much of a difference." Considering he hasn't changed at all since 1918, not that I'd tell her that.
"I think you've officially lost it. I mean I thought you did when he left but this is like bigger than that."
I roll my eyes, hoping her mind isn't showing him exactly what his absence did. "He's only human, Jess." I manage to say with a straight face.
Luckily (I guess) Mr. Jefferson the government teacher came in, leaving his raincoat by the door as he stumbled to the front.
He hands Eric a stack of quizzes to hand back that I must have missed last week. Next, he collects the homework that I didn't do. I know I'll need to talk to him after class is over and I riffle through my backpack for the doctor's note Carlisle gave me. I don't think it'll work as a valid excuse considering most people don't know they're back, but it's worth a shot.
He hands out the assignment for tonight after his brief lecture as the bell rings.
"Bella I need to speak with you." He tells me.
I nod, packing up. There's a traffic jam in the door, not letting anyone leave. I have a feeling that's because Edward is waiting for me. I smile briefly in his direction before making my way to the teacher's desk.
"Where have you been this last week? Have you been sick?" He asks.
I nod, handing him the doctor's note. "I haven't been feeling well and my Dad wanted me to stay home." It's not a complete lie but what am I supposed to say?
"I'm glad you're feeling better. You missed a quiz and a few homework assignments. You have to turn in the missed homework assignments by the end of the week but you don't have to make up the quiz, I'll count your next quiz twice."
"Okay, I can do that. Thank you." He hands me the note back and I leave as quickly as I can.
The room has emptied so I won't have to fight to get through the door. Edward opens it for me before I reach it.
He takes my backpack for me, wrapping his arm around my waist. "How'd it go?" He asks.
I roll my eyes. "As if you don't already know." I scoff. "It was manageable. Jessica wanted gossip but I think my thinly veiled sarcasm pissed her off."
His lips curve into his crooked smile. "Romeo and Juliet and a vacation to Europe? I have to say that is a very positive way of looking at it."
I giggle. "I figured if I gave her a dramatic recap of last week that she wouldn't believe me anyway. She wants to believe what she wants."
He seems determined to make up for lost time and to flaunt our relationship. I dislike the attention that goes with this uncharacteristically open display of affection and I steadfastly keep my glowing face turned down to avoid meeting too many inquisitive glances, yet I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.
"Did you hear Jessica thinks you got tan in L.A.?" I tease him.
"If only."
As content as I am to walk by his side, with his arm around me, I can't hold back a groan when we're in sight of our math class. Edward chuckles, "come on, it won't be that bad." He urges.
"Yes, it will."
We get there just in time as the final bell rings again. Alice is sitting at the row of desks in the back. She gets up so I'll have the middle seat between them.
"Why did you take this class? This isn't what you took before."
"It had the smallest class and according to our transcripts, we finished the first semester in L.A." Alice answers.
You'd think that being in the back row would mean we had fewer people watching us but everyone seems to be turned in our direction. I feel my face heat with the attention causing Edward to chuckle softly.
Finally, Mr. Varner calls everyone's attention to the front as he started his Calculus PowerPoint on the next chapter.
By lunch, everyone knows they're back if they hadn't already. Edward goes through the lunch line with me, filling up a tray as if it were for both of us. I reach back for my wallet that's in my backpack over his shoulder but he hands the lunch lady his credit card before I get the chance.
The corners of his lips twitch as he raises an eyebrow at me. I narrow my eyes at him in a mock rebuke and he has the good grace to look a little contrite.
"Sorry, Love. I have a lot to make up for."
"Paying for my lunch won't do that."
He shrugs. "It can't hurt. So where do you want to sit?"
I look at the options, with my human 'friends' or our old table. "Which option's best?" I ask him.
He considers it for a second. "The inquisition will be over sooner if we sit with your friends."
"Friends." I scoff but come back with a sigh. "I was afraid of that."
Alice comes in from the opposite side of the lunchroom, heading straight for the three empty seats at the end of the table, sealing our fate.
"Let's get it over with, rip off the bandaid."
"That's the spirit." He teases.
Alice sits next to Angela and the one open seat on her side of the table. The seat on the other row's end is empty and Edward sits down so I'm next to Alice. I appreciate it. Poor Edward is next to Jessica whose other side is taken by Mike.
"So Cullen, when did you get back?" Mike asks, his arm across Jessica's shoulders.
"About a week ago." Edward answers.
"What happened? Are you guys back together?" Angela looks around Alice to ask me, her voice in a whisper.
"Um, yeah. It's. . . complicated." For lack of a better word.
"I'm just worried about you. Do you want me to kick his ass?"
I laugh at Angela's offer, and Edward pretending he didn't hear it. "It's fine, Ang. It was a misunderstanding."
"Are you sure? I don't want you to get hurt."
"I promise."
"Do you want to get together this weekend? We can go see a movie in Port Angeles."
"I can't. Charlie grounded me for the foreseeable future."
"Why?"
"I left the cou- I mean state, without telling him." I admit, hoping she doesn't focus on my slip-up.
"Where'd you go?"
"I went to California to see Alice and Edward." I'm sure the only reason my lies are somewhat convincible is that they're not entirely false.
"I gotta say: I don't like it." Mike butts in. "You can do better than Cullen." Mike breaks through our bubble.
Edward flashes me a smile. "Yes, she can. I was lucky she took me back, didn't even make me beg."
"Much," Alice added.
I scoff.
"Say the word, Baby and I'll beg on my knees." He told me, his eyes never leaving mine.
I reach for my bottle of coke but Edward gets it before I can, opening it easily and handing it back to me. I roll my eyes at him. "I still haven't forgiven you." I remind him. The pain was still there, throbbing dully at the thought of anyone but him.
"Where'd you guys move to?" Jessica asked as if she didn't already know.
"Our Dad got a job in Los Angeles so we moved down there but our Mom didn't like the big city life and wanted to move back." Alice answered with the same story I gave Jessica before. She took a French fry from my tray and pretended to eat it and I watched her curiously to see what she did with it. I couldn't tell.
My phone vibrates and Edward and Alice try to hide their amusement before I take it out. It's the same message from Emmett that he sent before.
Alice leaned on my shoulder so she could see the screen. "He'll keep texting until you respond. He has nothing better to do."
Another message comes through: Watcha doin'?
I send him a picture of the lunch tray in front of me.
His reply is almost instant: looks gross.
I type back: Well it's no irritable grizzly.
"You started something. No one else will text him back." Edward tells me.
"Not even Rosalie?"
"She set up an automated response that sends back 'no' whenever he sends her a text." Alice answers.
I laugh but can't tell if they're joking.
Edward watches with a slight frown as I pick through my lunch, I'm not hungry. "You should eat more," Edward urged softly.
I roll my eyes as I look up at him. "I will if you will."
Now Edward rolls his eyes but doesn't comment. It was too easy to ruffle his turn-of-the-century feathers.
I eat as much as I can, which granted isn't much, and get up to throw away my tray. Edward has my backpack over his shoulder as he meets me. We say a quick goodbye and leave the lunchroom, his arm across my shoulders.
"Chemistry?" He asks.
"What will it take for me to convince you to ditch the rest of the day?" I don't know if I'm joking or serious, but I've had enough.
"They'll call Charlie." He replied.
I groaned. "Well, that answers that."
". . . So chemistry?"
I nod reluctantly. "No one ever took your seat next to me so you won't have to bully anyone away." I tell him.
He smirks. "You know me so well."
He opens the familiar door to Mr. Banner's room with all the grace of the turn of the century. Mr. Banner's class schedule changed from last year, now Bio is before lunch and chemistry is after.
As we sit down, a grimace briefly flashes across his face before he's collected again.
"What?" I know that look.
"Nothing of importance. Lauren Mallory."
The way he spits her name made me smile. "Ah."
"Is she still your friend?"
I smile at him, amused by the obvious discomfort he is trying to play it off. "When I'm looking."
Edward arched an eyebrow, mirroring my face. "You need better friends."
"Are you volunteering?" I couldn't help it. He was too fun to tease.
"I thought we were well past friends, Love. You did agree to marry me."
"Shhhh!" I look around to make sure no one caught his words.
He casually slings his arm over the back of my chair as Mr. Banner calls for the classes' attention. I steal a sideways glance at him and see he is smiling broadly, his golden eyes alight with mischief. If only I had something to hit him with.
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