I know I was supposed to post for Lamb/Wolf, but man did I feel this story today.
The Cullen's watched Bella during lunchtime. Edward put his back to the cafeteria wall and sat watching Bella. He looked like a caged animal. "I don't like it." He seemed substantially calmer since Rosalie had talked to Bella. "She's my science partner. I have to talk to her every day."
"So, switch classes," Alice said while watching Bella.
"Alice, if you keep staring at her you're going to burn a hole in her head."
"I want to talk to her," Alice murmured. The whole table looked at Alice. "I just have this feeling that we're going to be best friends."
"Does that seem wise?" Edward questioned her.
"Carlisle said to relax and get to know her. She might be stressing us out for no reason."
"I think that's a good idea!" Emmett agreed. "I want to be her best friend too!"
"She called me the pretty Hale," Jasper said smugly. "I like her already."
"I am the pretty Hale," Rosalie said while tossing her hair back.
"Not according to Bella," he taunted her.
Edward looked between them, annoyed. "Why do I feel like I'm the only one taking this seriously?"
"Because you are," Emmett smirked.
"Alice, go introduce yourself," Rosalie encouraged her sister. "If you're going to be friends, might as well start now."
"No, I can't."
The entire table looked at her. "Excuse me," Jasper asked quietly, "but are you afraid to go talk to her?"
"What if she doesn't like me? Like, what if she doesn't want to be my friend?" They all continued to gape at Alice. The bright, sunshiny, friendly Alice Cullen was feeling shy?
"Fine. I'll handle it." Rosalie didn't wait for an answer. She simply got up and walked away. Alice tried to grab her sister's coat, but Rosalie was too fast. She walked over the Bella. The closer she got, the quieter the cafeteria got. A Cullen approaching a student in the cafeteria was unheard of. Rosalie stood by Bella's table an waited for Bella to look up.
"Hale, what did I say about hello?" Bella asked without looking up from her food.
Rosalie sat down on the table and took the empty seat next to Bella. "Hello, Swan," she said Bella's name like an insult.
Bella looked up at Rosalie with a smile on her face. "Well, hello to you too. What can I do for you?"
Bella seemed oblivious to the silence in the cafeteria, and the amazed and afraid looks of her friends. "My sister thinks you two are going to be best friends."
"Ah," Bella sighed, "Little Cullen would like to be best friends?"
"She would."
"Okay," Bella seemed to take a moment to consider it. "I don't know about best friends. I think best friends have to talk first. Here," Bella pulled out a notebook and wrote a number down in an elegant, flowing script that looked like it had taken centuries to perfect. Bella ripped the top half of the paper out of the notebook. "You tell Little Cullen that if she wants to be best friends, she's got to put in the effort."
Rosalie took the paper. She seemed satisfied. "Thank you, Swan. I'm sure I'll be speaking with you soon."
"Don't forget to say hello!" Bella called to Rosalie's back.
Rosalie returned to her table. She dropped the piece of paper with Bella's number in front of Alice. Alice caught it as the cafeteria resumed its chatter. They were much quieter than before, clearly thrown by the strange display. Bella's friends surrounded her, demanding answers about the interaction that Bella simply didn't have. "I assume," Rosalie said to Alice while moving the food around on her plate, "that you listened to all of that?" Alice nodded. "Well, as the kids say, the ball is in your court," Rosalie smirked. She threw away her untouched lunch and left the cafeteria.
Edward looked at Alice. "What are you going to do?"
"Obviously," Alice huffed, "I'm going to have to talk to her."
Edward considered skipping Biology, but he knew that would show weakness. He was not weak. Anxious? Yes. A little over the top? Yes. But he was not weak, and he would not be scared from his boring science class. He got to class first. Edward took a few deep breaths to center himself. Carlisle had told him to relax, and he would. He could sense Bella's presence when she entered to room. Bella sat down at the desk and did not acknowledge Edward. Bella had been early to class too, so they sat mostly alone. Edward was determined to maintain the silence, but he couldn't take it any longer.
"Why did you call me Masen?" He asked. Bella didn't answer. "Hello? Are you ignoring me?"
"Masen, I would never. Hale told me that I was bothering you and that I shouldn't anymore. This is me trying not to bother you."
He glared at her. The longer he did, the more irritated he seemed to get. "You're not bothering me. You're frustrating me."
"Am I? Why is that?" Bella took out her notebook and worked on the sketch from that morning. She seemed unbothered by him. When he took too long to answer, she looked up. He was gripping the table tightly, and his eyes had darkened a shade. "Masen, if you keep up like that, I'm pretty sure you're going to crack the table."
He let go in surprise. "Stop calling me Masen."
"That's your name, isn't it? I mean, I supposed I could go with Moody Cullen, but Masen seems nicer."
He huffed angrily as students started to come into class. "Fine."
"Fine, what?"
"Masen is nicer than Moody Cullen."
"I know. So, gonna tell me why I make you so mad?" Bella worked on getting the shape of the trees in her sketch just right. There didn't seem to be quite enough detail in them. They didn't quite capture the beauty from that morning.
"I don't know what you're thinking," he growled.
Bella looked at him, green eyes sparkling. "So, ask."
"How do you know my name?"
"Ask something else."
"What?" He growled under his breath.
She responded just as quietly. "I said ask, I didn't say I'd answer."
The teacher began the lecture, and Edward got quiet. His face never relaxed. About ten minutes into class he quietly said, "Where are you from?"
"Phoenix," she answered with no hesitation.
"Where are you actually from?"
"Next question."
"Where are your parents?"
"Gone."
He eyed her, assuming if he asked anything else, she wouldn't answer that either. "Do you have any siblings?"
Bella looked pained. "I have a few."
"Where are they?"
"Here and there."
Edward looked at the board, pretending to take notes. "Do you get along with them?"
"Not all of them. Not most of them, actually." Bella shrugged. "Family."
"How old are you?"
"Seventeen," Bella murmured. They were silent as the teacher passed out worksheets.
"Actually?" He questioned. Bella looked at him, her eyes sparkling again. He knew there was something she wasn't saying like she was telling a joke only he understood. "Why are you in Forks?"
Bella smiled. This was an easy question. "Looking for a quiet place to settle down for a while." Edward could hear the sincerity in his voice. "I thought the Olympic Peninsula would be a fun place to be."
"Are you dangerous?" Edward asked.
"Aren't we all?" Bella answered. The teacher glared at the two of them. They were silent for the rest of the class. A small smile never left Bella's face. As soon as the class ended Edward was out the door, just like before.
"Weber," Bella said as Angela joined her, "That is one interesting man. He doesn't seem to like me much."
"Bella, you are an interesting girl."
"Woman," Bella corrected as she held the door open for Angela. "And you have no idea," she smirked.
Bella wondered how long she would have to wait for her phone to ring. She had seen the Cullen's watching her across the parking lot again, while Edward no doubt described their classroom conversation. Turns out, the answer was exactly sixty-nine minutes. Sixty-nine minutes after she left school, her phone let her know she had a text message.
Hello. The message read.
Hello, Little Cullen, how are you?
How did you know it was me?
Psychic, Bella answered. She laughed out loud then sent a quick follow-up text. Actually, this is a new phone and you're the only one with the number. To what do I owe this pleasure?
To be honest, I have this really strange feeling that you and I are going to be best friends.
Bella responded with, That's strange. Do you begin all friendships like this?
Not exactly, but I also don't have too many friends.
Really? Sending Hale out to pick your friends doesn't always work?
Rosalie is a bit much. I mentioned I'd like to get to know you and she just went for it.
I'm impressed with her tenacity. I don't have very many friends, so how does this work?
Alice dropped her phone on the bed as Rosalie knocked on the bedroom door. "Alice, I'm coming in!" Alice rolled her eyes as the door opened. "So, how's it going?"
"How's what going?" Alice said, tucking her phone under her.
Rosalie jumped at Alice, pinning her down and getting the phone out from under her. "Is this flirting?" She yelled as she pinned Alice down with a knee on her stomach. "Oh look, she likes my tenacity."
"I'm not flirting! I'm making friends!" A dangerous glint came into Rosalie's eyes. The gold shined brighter as she typed a quick message. "Rosalie, give me my phone!" Alice squirmed under Rosalie. She shoved her sister aside.
"Too late!" Rosalie hopped up and tossed the phone to Alice, who caught it easily. She read the message Rosalie had sent: I believe that friendship requires we hang out. When's good for you?
Alice's jaw dropped. "Rose! Why would you do that?"
"I'm bored, honestly. Also, how will we learn more about her if we don't get to know her!"
Alice's phone buzzed in her hand. How about now? I don't have anything better to do. Was the quick response. Alice stared at the phone.
Rosalie walked back over to her, read Bella's response, and sent a new message. Now sounds great. See you soon! Rosalie typed out their address and some helpful directions to make sure Bella didn't get lost. She slid Alice's phone back into her hand. "I suggest you get it together. She'll be here soon.
Bella jumped up from her bed. It was time to make friends. This was always her favorite part of moving to a new place. The excitement of making new friends, the people she met, helped, and sometimes hurt was different no matter how many times or how many places she did it in. "Charlie!" She called the hulking dog. He came barreling into her room from his. She had set up a dog bed and a few toys for him in the first bedroom, even though he usually chose to be wherever she was. He barked in her face. "Who's a good boy? Wanna go for a ride?"
Bella considered asking the Cullen's if Charlie could come but decided against it. He liked to be close to wherever she was, so she would let him lose in the wood before she got to their house. Bella was excited to get to know the Cullen's better and unravel the mystery of what they were, but she was no fool. If things got dangerous she needed Charlie to be close by. Bella tried to imagine what the Cullen's could be. Unfortunately, she just didn't have enough clues to guess. "Why can't I just know everything?" She asked her dog. He nudged her hand and she pet him. "Dad knew everything." Charlie glared at her. "Yeah, you're right. He didn't know anything." She laughed as she went outside to get in the truck. Charlie leaped into the truck bed. He was simply too big to fit in the cab with her.
Bella slid open the back window and asked Charlie, "How do I look?" He leaned in and licked her face. She assumed that meant good. Her jeans, hiking boots, tank top, and plaid shirt would have to do. She hoped it made her look like she was comfortable in the Olympic forest, but not so comfortable she could walk around in shorts and a tank top with no shoes on for hours. Because, honestly, she could. She didn't know if she could get to that point with the Cullen's, but they were clearly something different. She hoped they would accept that she was, too.
As Bella hit the turnoff to the Cullen's house she pulled to the side of the road. "Karolos, páei!" Charlie leaped from the truck bed. "Stay close!" She called as the dog took off into the woods. When Bella pulled up to the Cullen's house, she was in awe. No one she had met in a long time was wealthy enough to build a mansion that could even compete with this one. The '20s tried, but their idea of splendor paled in comparison to the Cullen's beautiful house. It was a modern work of architectural art. Standing three stories tall and at least half a football field wide, Bella whistled in appreciation. Her truck felt out of place on this beautiful piece of paradise. The yard was perfectly manicured, and a beautiful flower bed was flourishing in front of a wraparound porch. Bella jogged up to the porch, the awe never fading. A white wooden swing was on the porch. Bella wanted to swing on it, but she saved the impulse for later.
Bella raised her hand to knock on the door. It whipped open before she could touch it. "Swan!" Emmett shouted. He grabbed her and wrapped his arms around her. He held her tightly to his chest. He was cool to the touch. Not ice cold, but definitely colder than a human should be. She coughed once, and he let her go. "I'm so happy to finally meet you for real!"
Bella reached out a hand. "Big Cullen, it is a pleasure."
He reached out with a big smile and shook her hand happily. "Come on in!" Emmett stood back, and Bella walked past him into the home. It was as extravagant on the inside as it was on the outside. The first floor was wide open. The majority of the walls were missing. The living room, kitchen, and dining room could all be easily accessed. A beautiful spiral staircase was off to the side. It was here that Edward and Jasper stood.
"Pretty Hale, hello! It's nice to finally meet you."
"It is quite nice to finally meet you too, ma'am."
Bella was taken back by his formality. He had an underlying Southern accent. Bella saved that information for later. "Masen," she nodded to Edward. He looked nervous. "Bet you didn't think I'd be in your home."
"I truly did not." He sighed like his next sentence was painful. "However, it is nice to have guests over."
"Bella," someone said warmly. Bella looked into the kitchen, where a beautiful woman who could be no more than 30. Bella guessed she was probably closer to her mid-'20s. She looked like she had been glaring at Edward to make him be polite. "My name is Esme, and it's nice to meet you. I've heard so much about you."
"Mrs. Cullen," Bella said politely. "I can't imagine who you would have heard so much about me from. I just got here yesterday!" Emmett glared at Edward. "Ah, it was Masen. Not surprised."
Rosalie appeared suddenly from behind Emmett. Bella had no idea where she had been. "Swan, welcome. Alice is upstairs changing her clothes for the seventh time."
"You said welcome, Hale!" Bella laughed. "That's not quite a hello, but I'll take it!"
"I have not changed seven times!" A voice echoed faintly from somewhere upstairs. Alice was yelling, clearly angry.
"How did she hear that?" Bella asked.
"Wouldn't you like to know," Rosalie taunted.
Emmett laughed. "Bella, while you wait for Alice, you want to play video games? I just got this new game that's based in Greece, and mythology is hella cool!"
Bella's eyes sparkled. "Indeed it is, I would love to-"
Alice appeared at the top of the stairs. She pouted. "Are you here to hang out with your best friend, or what?"
Bella noted how cute it was when the woman pouted. She tried not to smile too wide. "Sorry big guy looks Little Cullen has dibs on me." Bella whispered conspiratorially to Emmett, "though if she thinks she's my best friend, wait until she meets my true best friend. He's a dog." Bella laughed as she followed Alice upstairs.
The Cullen's left downstairs looked stunned. "I like her a lot," Esme said simply.
I'm having fun.
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