Anything Twilight-related belongs to Stephenie Meyer
I spent the rest of my weekend holed up in my room getting lost in colors. My shower on Sunday night wasn't able to get the paint off my fingers and I didn't care enough to scrub them red to get it off. Monday morning came too fast but the day seemed to be looking up when dad told me over breakfast that Billy and Jake were coming over for dinner. And with dinner so we didn't have to cook. I hadn't seen Jake since the funeral and Billy even longer. I'd missed them. Jake had called a lot in the first weeks I was in the hospital but he wasn't able to call much. I guess he worked a lot and he was hurting too. Dad beamed with pride when he told me Billy would bring the fish they had caught on their last trip. After spending the weekend in the dreaded wheelchair I was relieved to get my cane back. Dad had put it downstairs near the door so I wouldn't be tempted to use it. I had rolled my eyes at him but he insisted. which resulted in him having to help me up the stairs. He wanted to carry me but that's where I drew the line.
The ride to school with dad was getting easier every day. It went the same way with Phil's car. He drove me to my physio so often that I became a lot more comfortable with him driving and in that particular car. It was familiar and I trusted his driving. Not that I didn't trust dad. I mean, he was the chief for god's sake. But somehow that didn't make a difference. It still took some time for me to be moderately relaxed or rather not panicking.
We parked at the school and I saw Angela walking towards me when I got out of the car.
"Morning." I greeted her.
"Hi, how was your weekend?" She smiled friendly.
"Good. Relaxing. Yours?" We walked into the school and stopped at my locker. She didn't seem to mind my slow pace.
"Ok, I did a lot of studying. Hey, do you maybe want to study together for the next test? I kind of need a new study partner. Mine got himself a girlfriend and has other priorities now." She grinned at me. she really was easy to talk to. I think she would get along great with Alice. I had to make some effort to make a friend or Alice would get mad. You seriously need some estrogen in your life without me there. That was her comment when we first talked about my move.
"Yeah, sure. What courses do you have?" She thought for a moment while we walked to our first class. I knew she wasn't in my history class but that was as far as my knowledge went.
"Let's see..."
It turned out we had a lot of the same types of classes so studying together would be useful. It was also a chance to see something else besides the inside of the house, school, and the hospital. Although I feared we wouldn't meet at a library or cafe. She probably wanted to study on school grounds. I wouldn't know how to get anywhere anyhow.
I was relieved when she invited me to lunch after our class ended. She hadn't done that last week. Who knows why. It didn't really matter because it meant I wouldn't have to do the awkward let's see if you can get up the nerve to sit at a table with strangers who probably don't want you there. After standing in the lunch line I was grateful Angela took my lunch to our table for me without saying anything. I always felt uncomfortable when asking for help. There were already some people talking casually at the table when we sat down. With me being so slow that wasn't surprising.
"Guys, this is Bella, as you probably already know. Bella, these are Ben, Jessica, Mike, and Rosalie." She waved around pointing out each one as she introduced them. I had already seen some of them in my classes. Mike was in our English class and history. And I had seen Jessica and Ben in biology. But I don't think I've seen Rosalie in any of them. And I would have noticed her. She had long shiny blond hair going down to her waist and she was really tall. But most importantly, she held herself with a kind of poise and confidence that was hard to miss in a group of mostly insecure awkward teenagers. She smiled encouragingly at me.
"Hi, nice to meet you. You're a junior?" She asked.
"Yes. You?" She nodded in acceptance.
"Senior."
"Hey Mike, do you want to go racing this weekend?" The guy named Ben asked. "Sure. How is the weather forecast? Wait, forget it doesn't matter. I'll just take my dad's old work clothes." He mused. Ben laughed at his rambling.
"Dude, that would be best. I think your mom would rip your head off if you ruined another set of pants." He clapped Mike on the back.
"Sucks to be you."
"Hey, you didn't look any better last time if I remember. Get off your high horse." He snapped back glaring at him. What were they talking about? Racing?
"You don't learn do you?" Rosalie piped in with a shake of her head.
"Why? Cullen not coming this time? Shame, I wanted a rematch." Mike mocked. "I sincerely hope he's not coming or he's going to regret it. This stupid shit is dangerous." She seethed an edge to her voice.
"Oh come on. You did it yourself last year." Mike challenged. Raising an eyebrow. "Exactly. And I learned my lesson after the first time. Too bad morons like you are too slow to get it." She banged her hand on the table and swung her bag over her shoulder before storming out of the cafeteria. I gaped after her. Angela caught my look and finally explained what was going on. "She doesn't really approve of their... extracurricular activities." she paused for a moment. I guess considering her words. "Every weekend when it's not freezing the older kids go out to La Push. There is a dirt road that they prepped for motorcycle racing where no adults would go. It's a thing for juniors and seniors. Not because of the legal driving age of course. None of them have a license." My pulse started racing at the words motorcycle and race. My head immediately went to a time and place that I absolutely didn't want to visit right now. Angela, oblivious to my inner turmoil, kept on talking.
"Rosalie's a senior so she did it last year. But only once and she swore to never do it again. She really didn't like it. Don't ask me why I wasn't there. I agree with her though. It's stupid and dangerous but they do it all the time." She finished going back to her sandwich and leaving me reeling. All the summers I spend here...Why hadn't I heard of this before? I was in La Push as much as I was in Forks. And Jake was constantly fixing bikes in his garage. Emmett was fascinated with his knowledge but couldn't figure it out himself. He just liked to watch a scrap of metal turn into a polished functioning vehicle over the time we spend here. We had done everything together. I thought I would have known if something like that was going on. I had to ask Jake tonight. What if he took part in this racing? An ice-cold shudder overtook me and my mouth went dry.
The bell took me out of my musings and I headed to my next class, my lunch untouched.
"Hey." Edward greeted me when I walked into history class to sit down beside him. It was the first time he had talked to me since the first day. I had caught him looking at me once in a while but he always quickly looked away and acted like nothing happened so I chose to just ignore it.
"Hi." I took my seat next to him. I could see him watching again. It was a little unnerving.
"What happened to your hands?" He asked looking at my clasped fingers on the table. He reached out touching the back of my hand. The tips of his fingers lightly stroked the multicolored specks of paint that were still there. A hum of electricity ran through my skin at his touch.
"Oh, that's just paint. It wouldn't come off." I tried to sound casual but my voice shook a little from the shock of the effect his touch was having on me.
"What did you paint?" He asked looking up at me. His fingers still caressing my hand. What was happening?
"I... Different things." I evaded. He frowned. "You don't want to tell me." It wasn't a question. I sighed.
"No, it's just hard to explain if you can't see it."
"Can I?" I was taken aback by his interest. I needed a second to collect my thoughts. Did I want to show him? I hadn't really shown anyone except my family and only dad seemed to understand what it meant to me. And how would that work? Would he want to come to my house?
"I don't know. Maybe." I answered. He gave me a big grin apparently pleased with my answer.
"I'll take that."
reviews are greatly appreciated!