Everything's Fine
AN: There has to be some angst to balance it out.
Monday comes too soon for Bella, way too soon. Throughout the day Angela and Jessica have been looking at her as though she's a dead man walking, and she has no idea if they're right or not, it's not like Tan- Ms. Denali's behavior gave anything away. Okay, so her behavior did give Bella an impression of how she might react to seeing Bella today, but that impression has to be wrong. It has to. There's no way in hell that Ms. Denali was into her and even if she was, Bella isn't interested, not even a little bit. Sure Ms. Denali was pretty, okay so she's drop dead gorgeous, but that doesn't matter because Bella is 100% not interested in her maths teacher.
Okay so Bella's fucked, but as long as she pretends that nothing is happening, because nothing is happening, then she's going to be fine. Everything is fine. It's not like Ms. Denali had called Charlie to rat her out, but why didn't she call Charlie? Is she planning on holding it over Bella's head to get Bella to do unmentionable things? Well that doesn't sound so bad, no wait, Bella isn't interested in her teacher! Fuck she's fucked.
Wait. All she has to do is push Ms. Denali and all of this will go away. Problem solved. Then why does her stomach do that weird churning thing when she thinks about pushing Ms. Denali? She's done it before so doing it again should be as simple as counting to three, so why does Bella suddenly feel like she can remember what comes after one?
Bella's fine, it's all going to be fine. Everything's fine...and yet, Bella still hasn't entered the classroom. One deep breath and she'll go in...two deep breaths and she'll go in...three, "Fuck it." She grumbles to herself and pushes into the room. Ms. Denali is fucking looking at her, no it's fine, the teacher always looks at the students, relax.
"Good morning, Ms. Swan." She's doing that purring thing again, how is Bella supposed to respond to that? Oh right, she's supposed to ignore it.
Bella gives her head a little shake and gathers herself. "Morning Ms. Denali." She comes off as aloof, good that's a start. She walks past Ms. Denali's desk, resisting the urge to turn around and look, then takes her seat behind Jessica.
"Well she hasn't ratted on you yet, maybe that's a good sign?" Bella can tell that Jess is at least trying to look positive, but she's horrible at it. Bella sighs and slumps back into her seat.
"Everything's going to be fine." Bella repeats out loud, and hey, maybe everything will be fine. She chances a glance to the front of the class and she's smirking at Bella...fucking great.
Ms. Denali smirks at the class, but Bella knows it meant for her. "I hope everyone had a fun weekend," Bella groans quietly and kicks the back of Jessica's seat when she hears a small snicker. "I know I sure did."
Did she? No, that's, Bella shakes her head because there's no way that her teacher just winked at her, right? "Dude, she just winked at you." Jessica hisses back at her, not turning around to avoid getting in trouble.
Bella kicks her seat again. "No she fucking didn't." Bella hisses back, but Bella really thinks that her teacher just winked at her. Bella reigns in her resolve, she's going to have to push Ms. Denali and that's all there is to it.
Everything's going to be fine.
The final bell rings and Bella's slow to pack up. When Jess gives her a strange look all Bella does is shrug and tip her head toward Ms. Denali. Jessica nods, "Good luck." She doesn't stick around after that.
Bella waits for the class to empty as she awkwardly approaches Ms. Denali's desk, but someone else seems to have the same idea. Edward is faster to approach the teacher's desk, effectively putting himself in between herself and Ms. Denali. She waits for him to move, but he just stands there. Bella sidesteps him, "Ms. Denali...can I speak to you about the homework over the weekend?"
She nods right away. "Of course Ms. Swan. Mr. Cullen, I'll see you tomorrow." She dismisses him without so much as a look. Like a drama queen, Edward huffs and stomps toward the door.
"Attractive." Bella scoffs at his back before the door clicks shut. A chuckle makes her tense and look to her teacher. "Listen Ms. Denali-"
"Tanya." She cuts in.
Bella stares at her. "Ms. Denali," she insists as she moves closer, letting her voice lower a bit. "I'd appreciate it if-"
"Well Bella," again Ms. Denali cuts her off. "If you're worried about me telling your little secret, don't worry." She smirks at Bella and Bella did not look at those lips just a little too long, not a bit. "I was young once too." Mirth coats her words as she gives a little laugh and a small, sweet smile tugs at the corner of Bella's lips at the sound. It's a beautiful sound.
Bella fidgets with the strap of her backpack in a nervous tick but she releases a relieved sigh. "Thank you, Ms.-" Her teacher glares at her and Bella takes a sharp inhale. "Tanya. Thank you, Tanya." Bella receives a brilliantly white and radiant smile in return and Bella thinks she just might call Ms. Denali by her name as she requests, because that was a smile she'd like to see, but in a totally platonic way. "I'll see you tomorrow...Tanya." Bella smiles and backtracks toward the door.
"Until then, Bella." Tanya responds.
"Hey Bells!" Charlie calls from the front door. Bella looks up from her homework and leans back into the kitchen chair.
"Yeah?" She calls back, waiting for him to round the corner.
"How about we go out to eat tonight? Give you a break from cooking for your old man?" He asks, not bothering to take of his jacket or holster.
Bella jumps at the chance, "Yeah, that sounds good." She closes her science book and stands to stretch.
Charlie grins, "Load up then." Bella shakes her head and walks past him, dodge his hand when he goes to ruffle her head. She slips into her jacket and they head out the door. The ride over to the diner is pleasant enough, Charlie asks about school and listens patiently as Bella rants about the amount of homework she has in science and how easy maths is, and if he sees the blush that coats her cheeks when she talks about Tanya, he doesn't mention it. Bella asks him about word in turn and though he doesn't talk as much as Bella, she still listens intentively, something she knows he appreciates.
"So, tell me more about this Edward fellow." He gruffs out around a fork full of steak.
Bella waits until she finishes chewing. "There's really not much to say. I think he has a crush on me or something cause I always catch him staring at me but I've already told him that I'm not interested." Bella shrugs.
Charlie's eyes squint for a moment as he puts down his silverware. "If he gives you any trouble, you tell me okay? I know his father, good man, and I'll handle it." Bella's heart swells at his protectiveness.
"Of course dad." She grins at him and laughs when he blushes. The diner door chimes behind Charlie and Bella groans when she sees Edward and his sister, Bella thinks her name is Alice, come in and take a table near them. "He's here."
Charlie turns around and spots him. "Well it is the only diner in town, so let's not overreact, okay? If he does that staring thing tell me and I'll have a word with him on our way out." Charlie states with his 'cop' voice and Bella agrees. Of course Edward does stare at her and as Charlie pays for their meal, she mentions it to him.
Like he promised, Charlie stops by his table on the way out and Bella stands back, amused by what's about to go down. "Edward Cullen, right?" Of course Bella already knows that Charlie knows who the boy is. Edward smiles at him and goes to stand but Charlie places a hand on his shoulder to prevent him from doing so. "No need to stand boy. I just wanted to stop by and say that I know your father, and I bet he taught you better than to stare, especially if you're staring at my daughter." Bella holds in a laugh as Edward's face drops and his mouth opens, probably to defend himself, but Charlie cuts in before he has a chance. "Now I want you to do something for me son. I want you to stop staring at Bella, because as you can imagine, it's quite uncomfortable to have someone staring at you all the time, especially if you don't like that person, and Bella doesn't like you. You understand me son?"
Edward nods and smartly keeps his mouth shut. Bella notices the Alice looks smug and disappointed at Edward, but that doesn't hold Bella interest for long. Charlie leaves the conversation at that, even if it was a one-sided conversation. Bella waits until they're outside to laugh, and laugh she does. "That was awesome dad!" She laughs even more as Charlie puffs out his chest at the compliment. She's too busy laughing that she doesn't pay attention to what's in front of her and rams into a hard, cold body.
Gentle hands reach out for her and stops her from falling and she's met face to face with Tanya and another blonde. "Easy there Bella...are you okay?" Bella's actually touched by the concern written across her furrowed brow and lacing Tanya's voice.
"Tanya? Hey!" Bella steps out of her grasp and chides herself from sounding so excited. "Dad, this is Tanya, my-"
"Bella friend." Tanya interrupts and it makes Bella frown, but she doesn't correct Tanya's claim. "And this is my sister, Kate. Kate, this is Bella and her father, Chief Swan." Tanya flashes that beautiful smile and it makes both father and daughter blush, which Kate seems to find endlessly funny.
"Aw Bella you're blushing!" Kate all but squeals.
"Enough." Tanya, wait, did she just growl? Either way, Kate shuts up immediately and sends Bella a sorry looking smile.
"No, Tanya, it's fine, really." Bella implores, without thought, reaching out and placing her hand of Tanya's covered forearm. Tanya captures her eyes and holds them captive, until a previously quiet Charlie clears his throat.
"So uh how do you know Bella?" He asks and Bella folds her arms across her chest, throwing a challenging look at Tanya, but Tanya just smirks.
"We met on Bella's first day here and I've persuaded her ever since," Bella's eyes grow as wide as saucers and coughs into her hand. What the fuck is going on, because Bella sure doesn't have a clue. Tanya is her teacher for fuck's sake. "She makes for an amazing friend, no doubt her wonderful personality is because of the way you've raised her, Chief Swan."
Okay, she's laying it on a light thick, but Charlie buys it even as his face turns a permanent shade of red. "Well…" He trails, probably unable to form a response. "Bells, if you want to spend time with your friends it's fine with me."
Tanya's face lights up at the suggestion and Bella jumps in before Tanya can. "Oh no, that'd be fun and all, but I've got a lot of homework to do, and I still haven't started my math homework yet." She stress the word, hoping Tanya will catch the hint. She doesn't of course.
"Well if you need help Bella, it'd be no problem to come over. I am a teacher after all." Bella stares at Tanya, unable to even speak, what the hell is Charlie going to think?
"A teacher?" Charlie asks and Bella can hear the suspicion in his tone.
"Oh yes," Tanya beams and Bella can see how much it takes CHarlie off guard...can Tanya do what Bella can? No, that's impossible, right? "You see I met Bella and then we found out that she just so happened to be placed in my math class, of course it was a little awkward but we had already started a friendship." Bella scrunches her eyebrows, suspicion creeping in at the way Tanya said 'just so happened'. What the hell is going on? Bella's missing something huge, and why aren't Tanya's lies bothering her?
Charlie scratches at his cheek and he looks from a silent Kate to Tanya and then to Bella. "Well as long as it doesn't interfere with your schooling then you're old enough to make your own decisions, I guess. Yeah, that's what Renee would do." He says almost to himself and Bella's too shocked to confirm or deny.
"No," Bella's stern voice takes them all off guard. "I don't need help with my homework." She locks her eyes on Tanya. Tanya tenses but nods in agreement. When her eyes clears, Tanya looks pissed, but she quickly hides it with a tense smile.
"Right, well we better be on our way." Kate grabs Tanya by the arm and starts pulling her away. "Nice to meet you, Bella, Chief Swan!" She waves and walks off with a clearly reluctant Tanya in tow.
Bella gets into Charlie's cruiser without a word, even slamming the door as she goes. "No need to slam the door, Bells. I don't know why you're so mad, did you want me to get upset about her being your teacher, because I can do that? I can do that." Charlie nods and Bella can see that he is more uncomfortable with the situation than he had let on.
Bella sighs and relaxes back into the seat. "No Charlie, it's fine, I just need to get home and do my homework." She looks him in the eye and lowers her voice. "Everything's fine. You don't need to worry about Tanya, and it's okay that Tanya and I are friends, no need to worry. Okay." Charlie nods.
"Alright kiddo" He grins at her, now completely at ease over the situation, but Bella feels bad, she's never liked pushing her parents, it's wrong and she tries not to do it at all, but she knows that he needed peace of mind right now, and really, honestly, Bella can't stand the thought of Tanya getting into trouble over her.
Bella doesn't know what's going on, but she just wishes it'd stop on it's own. She's too tired for this crazy fucking shit.
Again, Bella finds herself waiting after class to talk to Tanya and she wastes no time when the last student leaves the room. "That wasn't okay! What you did yesterday was not okay. I don't want you talking to my dad and I don't want to be friends with you. You're my teacher and that's all there is to it. I never asked for this complicated shit." Bella huffs and puffs trying to catch her breath and she ignores that shooting pain she feels in her heart, there's no need for it. "Do you understand?"
"Are you ordering me or asking me?" Tanya glares and it doesn't help that hurt feeling Bella feels.
"I'm begging you." She gasps out and turns toward the door. A cool hand reaches out and stops her by holding onto her wrist softly.
"Bella wait, I'm sorry." Tanya sound like she is the one begging, but Bella has resolved herself. What Tanya, no, what Ms. Denali did was wrong and she crossed a line.
"No." Bella doesn't turn around. "You crossed a line and that's not okay." Bella tells her and pulls away from her grasp. "I'll see you tomorrow, Ms. Denali." She leaves without another word, or glance, to Ms. Denali.