Hi everyone, welcome to the second chapter of Jar of Secrets.

I am sorry that it's been more than a week. I was so busy with work and preparing for the new school year, that I didn't have time to finish this chapter. But now it's finished, and I hope you'll enjoy it!

Warning: You are warned for any grammar/spelling mistakes. English is my third language and I do not have a Beta right now. All my stories will have a HEA (what can I say, I am a sucker for those). In the case of violence, I will warn you at the beginning of the chapter.

P.s. I have never been to Chicago, so every place is a part of my imagination

I will try to update every week if real life doesn't get in the way. Have fun!

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Bella POV

Here we go, I thought, as I stared at the beautiful brick building in front of me. Meyer Academy. The greatest high school in the States. ''Bella?'', I turned around to see aunt Renee standing with an amused smile. ''Shall we?'' Together we walked inside and took the stairs to the third floor. We walked past a few offices before we stopped at a white door. The Principal, it said. For the last six years, aunt Renee was the principal of Meyer Academy. That's why she could arrange a scholarship for me at a school that had a waiting list.

Before we could walk inside, aunt Renee's phone rang. ''I have to take this sweetie. Why don't you go to Ms Alan? She is sitting just around the corner. She will give you your schedule.''

''Sure''

''Good luck sweetie.'' She said with a smile.

''Thank you.'' I gave her a quick wave and made my way to where Ms Alan was sitting. She was a pretty blond-haired and grey-eyed woman, probably in her mid-forties.

''Yes dear?'' she asked with a kind smile.

''Uhm, I am new here and aunt Re-, I mean the principal asked me to come here for my schedule.'' I stammered out.

''Ah you are Isabella Platt. Ms Higginbottan couldn't stop talking about you.'' I could feel my face turn red.

''Ehm yes, that's me.'' She clicked a few times on the computer and then went to the printer behind her. After she gathered a few papers, she walked towards me. ''This is your schedule and this one here is a form that you need to fill for P.E. On the back of your schedule you will find a route to your classes.''

I took the papers and thanked her. I made my way back to the first floor. There I found an empty chair. There were only a handful of students. We had come a bit earlier since as the principle, aunt Renee had to be an hour early than students.

Looking at my schedule, I saw that I had homerun, English, math, Spanish, physics, history on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I had social studies, biology, free period, P.E. and arts. For my free period, I couldn't decide on photography or music. Hmm, maybe I could do photography in my first semester and the second-semester music, I thought.

Looking at the time, I saw that I had twenty more minutes before the first bell rang. I looked at the back of my schedule for the route but couldn't figure it out.

I stood up and made my way to two boys that were standing near the stairs. ''Excuse me, could you please show me the way to room 1.210?'' the boys turned around to face me. The one on the right answered me ''Sure, turn right at the end of the hall and then take the stairs to the fifth floor. It's the third door on the left.'' I mumbled a thank you and started walking down the hall as he told me. I quickly made my way to the fifth floor. I opened the third door on the left and gaped at the scene in front of me.

It wasn't like anything I had expected.

It was an outdoor greenhouse. There was a small roof that stretched two meters from the door. Then, there was nothing. Only the sky and the colourful flowers around me. I walked through the door and made my way slowly to the middle of the greenhouse. Everywhere I looked, I could see flowers of all kind. Everything was so lush and vibrant. It took my breath away. I walked to the railings. I could see the forest that was behind the school clearly from here. So beautiful, I thought.

I sat down with my back against the railings. I closed my eyes and leaned back. The soft breeze, the fresh smell and the quietness made me feel like I was at the lake, sitting in my tree.

Home.

DRRRIIINNNGGG

Crap. That was the first bell. I quickly stood up and made my way to the door. I still didn't know where I had to go, and the first bell rang already. I picked up my bag near the door and opened the do-

BAM!

''OUCH!'' I said rubbing my forehead.

The door opened fully, and –

''You!'' I shouted, seeing him.

He was holding his nose. After hearing me shouting, he dropped his hand and looked at me. I could see his face change from shock to disbelief and then to anger.

''This has to be a joke.'' He mumbled and shook his head.

Before I knew it, he had me against the wall next to the door holding me tightly. ''What are you doing here.''

I struggled ''Let me go''

''Not before you tell me, what the fuck are you doing here.''

''What does it look like shithead'' and gestured to my uniform. He took in the black ankle boots, black sheer hose, navy plaited skirt and my white blouse with a navy-grey sweater. ''Now, let me go!'' I struggled harder.

''I don't think so Princess,'' I scowled at the nickname. ''First, you nearly make me run you over, then you pour your hot drank on me and now, you are fucking slamming the door on my face.''

''You deserved that hot drank shithead! And this one was an accident.''

''Accident!?''

''Yes, an accident, you know when something occurs unintentionally.'' He shook his head. We were now standing nose to nose. From this position, I could see his eyes very clearly. Those had been haunting my dreams since the day we had met. I had never seen such an intense and vibrant colour. They were a brilliant shade of emerald. Then he had to open his mouth and ruin the whole appeal of it.

''You know for such a little thing; you have a lot of nerve. Be careful, this isn't like the places you are accustomed to. This already strikes two, don't make it three. Go back to the hole you came from.''

I pushed him off me and put my hands on my hips, ''And what would happen if I make it strike three?'' He let a hearty laugh. ''You don't want to know Princess; you don't want to know.''

I scoffed underneath my breath and shook my head. ''Well as much as I would love to chat with you, I have to be on my way,'' I said with a light voice as if I wasn't just 'threatened'. I picked my bag and made my way to the door. I could feel his stare when I left the greenhouse.

Shithead, I thought as I made my way down the stairs.

_J.O.S._

Since I had missed a part of homerun, I decided to skip it altogether. Skipping on my first day. Good going, Bella.

After asking around, I found my next lesson, English. I went inside. There were only a handful of people in the classroom.

''You can sit at the back, there is an empty chair there.'' Said a girl with short brown hair after seeing me standing awkwardly by the door. After thanking her, I went to the back of the class and sat on a chair. There was another empty spot to my right. The classroom filled in quickly. I could feel the curious eyes on me. Just when the second bell rang, a girl busted in and took the seat next to mine. She had straight, long blond hair and sky-blue eyes.

And then the teacher came in and started the lesson. I tried to pay attention, but my thoughts wandered the whole time to him. Like the previous weekend, my mind focused on his eyes. His beautiful, gr-. No! I am so not going there, I thought with a groan.

''Everything alright?''

Startled, I looked to my right, only to see the pretty blond girl watching me with amusement in her eyes. I shook my head to clear my thoughts. ''Yeah, I'm fine,'' I answered with a smile. She nodded slowly and turned to face the teacher.

The rest of the time flew by. I had to stop a few times my thoughts from wandering. When the bell rang, I signed in relief. The blond-haired girl gave me a slight wave and left the classroom before I even could stand. I quickly put my stuff in my bag and made my way to math. The rest of the morning flew by.

When the bell for lunch, I put my stuff into my locker and made my way to the cafeteria. I joined the queue and waited for my turn. After having my warm lunch, which was provided by the school, I tried to look for a place to sit. Not wanting to look like an idiot, I started to walk towards the back. There, I found a place by the windows. It was in the corner, so I wasn't much in the view of others. I took my book out and started reading while eating my lunch. Surprising for school lunch, it was delicious. But then again, this was a privet school. The afternoon classes went similar to the morning classes. I liked the history teacher. She knew what she was talking about and had a different approach than most teachers.

Before I knew it, aunt Renee and I stepped in her car to go back home. Home. It still felt weird to call aunt Renee's house as home. For me, the home was still the pretty little town on the other side of the country.

''Bella!'' my mom's voice shook me from my thoughts. She was waiting for us at the front door with a big smile. I made my way to her and hugged her. ''So how was your day. Come, tell me.'' She took my hand and walked to the couch. I heard aunt Renee laughing behind me. ''So, tell me.'' Said mom impatiently. ''Alright alright, so..'' And with that, I started telling her about my day. Of course, I skipped the part about him. I still hadn't told my mom about the accident thing either. God knows what she would do if she knew. She could truly be a mama – bear.

_J.O.S._

Thursday and Wednesday went similar. By Thursday I had learned the way to my classes and met some people. The blond-haired girl and I didn't talk much, just an eye contact here and there and some smiles.

''Bella! Are you ready for your first P.E. lesson?'' I heard Angela, a girl I met in my biology class, ask. Last Tuesday, I couldn't participate, because I didn't have my uniform.

''No, not really.'' P.E. and I equalled a disaster. I heard Angela laugh. ''C'mon, you'll like coach Cullen.''

''Coach Cullen?'' I had heard that name many times in the hallways. He was the most popular staff member of this school. ''I'd heard that he was a doctor?''

''He is, but he was also the star player of the basketball team of this school. When they had an opening, the school asked Dr Cullen to coach the basketball team and give P.E. classes twice a week.'' Óh. The rest of our walk to the lockers were in silent. When we arrived, we quickly dressed in our P.E. uniforms. They were navy shots that reached our knees and grey shirts. After grabbing my bag with my towel and water bottle, we made our way to the bleachers. Since it was a warm day, we used the outdoor gym. We quickly took a seat on the second row. Just when Angela turned to me, I heard a whistle.

''Alright everyone, we will start with a quick one-mile run.'' Said a short, bald man.

''That is Coach Clapp.'' Said Angela as we made our way to the line.

''On your mark…'' and he blew his whistle. Angela and I started running together. I could see a few people catching us up. ''Those are the basketball players. The stars of our school'' Said Angela, gesturing with her chin to the group in front of us. ''Since this is Coach Cullen's class, they join us.''

''Fabulous,'' I said with an eye-roll.

''I just have an aversion to the whole cliché thing at schools. Just because they are basketball players, doesn't mean that they have to be the 'stars' of our school. I'm sure that a student who won a science tournament doesn't even get acknowledged. Right?'' I answered after seeing the question on her face.

''Well yeah, but this is how it always is.''

''My point exactly'' I grumbled out and started to run faster. I could hear Angela panting behind me.

''Bella. Bella!'' I looked behind me when I heard Angela's voice.

''Ye-'' OUCH! I felt myself bumping in something hard and fell.

''What the fuck!'' Oh no, no, no, no. I knew that voice. I closed my eyes and started praying that I didn't just slam into him. I haven't had seen him since that day at the greenhouse, not that I wasn't looking for him or anything.

''Are you fucking serious.''

I opened my eyes to see him on the ground, across from me. Our feet were tangled.

''Can't I just have a piece of peace? I swear it's like the universe is laughing at me.'' I heard him rant.

''Uhm, well it's not like I want to cross paths with you too, especially like this.'' I could feel the eyes on us.

''You should come with a warning sign. So, everyone will know what kind of a disaster you are.'' I narrowed my eyes. I could feel the anger growing inside of me. It wasn't like I did it on purpose.

''Listen, shithead, it was an accident yo-''

''Yeah, like it is always with you'' he interrupted me.

I stood up, ''I am not going to argue with you. Because in the end, you still won't get it airhead.'' And without listening to his reply, I started running again.

''What the hell shithead'' I shouted after he grabbed me and pulled me to a stop.

''You can't just go after insulting me. Do you know who the fuck I am?'' he said through his teeth. I could feel his breath on my face. I struggled free and took a step back. ''A shithead who is airheaded enough not to know what an accident is or how to act towards a lady,'' I answered.

He was fuming. I could see it. I could feel it.

''Listen, you-'' he was interrupted by another voice. ''If you guys are done flirting with each other, I would like you to join the others after you finished your one-mile run.'' I could feel myself going red.

Just a few feet from where we were standing, a tall blond guy in his thirties was looking at us with amusement.

''You got to be fucking kidding me Coach C.!''

''As if!'' We said at the same time, pointing to each other.

''Language Mr Masen! Now, if you guys are done, start running.'' And with that, he turned his back towards the big group that was standing near the bleachers. They were done with the one – mile run.

With a grumble, we started to run. ''This is not finished, Princess.''

''Stop calling me that shithead.''

''Never, I like the disgust I see on your face too much to stop calling you that.''

I let a low chuckle ''Like the disgust I saw on your face when you tasted my chai latte? Better yet, like the disgust, I will see on your face when you eat my dust.'' Without waiting for any reply, I started to run like I hadn't before. I could be a disaster at anything that had to do with sport, but I could run. Growing up in a little town with great forest and lakes, taught me that.

I could hear him running behind me. He was just a little behind my right side. We both were panting hard. I could hear a few people shouting. If I looked to my left, I knew that I would see everyone watching us. That thought gave me the last energy I needed to finish this little race. I would never let myself live down if I gave him the satisfaction of a win against me, in front of the school no less.

''Don't try to eat too much dust, wouldn't want you to have brain fog,'' I said as I crossed the line.

I could hear gasps and some cheers.

''Bella! Oh my Gosh! Can't believe it. You just schooled the captain of the Basketball team, the star of our school!'' said Angela.

''What did you say?'' I ask facing her.

''Edward Masen.''

''That was Edward Masen?'' I managed to ask. I was stunned.

''Yes, why, are you okay.''

Holy Fucking Crow. ''Yeah, sure, totally.''

But truthfully, I wasn't okay. Not in the slightest. Edward – fucking – Masen. I wasn't here for a whole week and even I knew that name. Edward Masen, son to Edward senior Masen and Elizabeth Masen. Heir to the Masen fortune. The Masen's practically owned the city. They fucking owned this school!

I could feel my breath come in short pants. I sat down at the bench and leaned my head against the railing behind me.

1. I poured a hot chai latte on Edward Masen.

2. I ram a door on his face.

3. I bumped into him.

4. I sort of humiliated him in front of the school.

5. I insulted him every chance I got.

I groaned and looked at the sky.

''I would have made you regret the day you were born.''

''This isn't like the places you are accustomed to.''

''This already strikes two.''

''Do you know who the fuck I am?''

''Fuck.''

''Bella are you okay?'' Asked Angela hearing me swear.

''No, I am not. I am screwed.'' And with that, I closed my eyes.

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A/N:

This was the second chapter. I hope you enjoyed it!

Don't forget to share your thoughts with me

Lots of love and hugs, MoonShinee