I came to some time after as my dad gently shook me by the shoulders.
I sighed, closing my eyes again before I slowly sat up, "Hey Dad, what time is it?" I asked, groggily.
"Just past five o'clock, Bells. How are you feeling, hon?" He asked, concerned as he sat down in his armchair.
I turned to look at him confused, my brows furrowing in confusion as he stared at me concerned before I remembered the events of this afternoon.
"I feel fine. I am just a little tired since I have been having trouble sleeping for the last few days. How was your day?" I asked him, looking towards the kitchen, wondering why he was so concerned.
"It was uneventful. Look, I heard that Dr. Cullen got a job offer in Los Angeles and that they moved. How are you really feeling?" He asked me, his eyes scanning me as if to check me for any abnormalities.
"Tired," I say honestly.
"Did things end between you and that Edwin fellow?" He asked, as looked down at his feet, concerned.
I could feel his apprehension from my spot on the couch. Though I always thought it would hurt me badly, I came to the conclusion that it didn't hurt a lot. Not as bad as losing myself and becoming someone I hardly recognized.
"Yes, actually, Edward came over right after school and decided to break up with me. When he said I wasn't good enough for him. I told him to have a nice life." I confessed, sitting up.
"He said what?!" He growled shooting to his feet.
His hand twitched towards his gun, and for a brief moment, I panicked, wondering if my dad would really go out searching for trouble. Or worse actively seeking Edward out and trying to shoot him only for my dad to end up hurt.
"Dad, it's alright. I realized that our relationship was not normal, and was heading for a breakup either way. I am fine. If he thinks I am not good enough for him, then he is the one who isn't good enough for me." I said as I flipped the tv on.
He stared at me, purple-faced, for a moment before he plopped down in his chair, looking as if he aged twenty years in the last ten minutes. "I am alright, dad, I promise," I said reassuringly as I grabbed the phone and dialed for the pizza place.
I ordered a pizza, some chicken Caesar salad, some wings, and a pasta bowl before turning to look at him, a small smile pulling at his lips as he sighed and grabbed the remote off the coffee table, and flicking the tv on to watching the weekly recap of his favorite sports teams.
After we settled down to wait for the food I couldn't help but let my mind wander to all those wasted months I spent with that bastard and his coven, in disbelief.
"Dad?" I softly called, turning to look at him as we both blankly stared at the television.
He turned to look at me, fingers still cupping his chin, aimlessly."Uh, yeah, Bells?" He asked, distractedly.
"Thank you— for being so concerned with me. I know you have done more than anyone realizes to protect me— so thank you, dad. I love you." I said, as my eyes brimmed.
That night—before the food arrived — my dad explained to me what the symbols meant. Handing me two of his closest friends' contact information, before telling me that if I ever needed any help— and he wasn't around— to call them immediately.
I could sleep for the rest of the night, as unusual and unfamiliar images kept coming to me, flashing behind my lids every time I closed my eyes.
The eerie feeling that came with those images caused me to toss and turn, as I tried to ignore the onslaught of images that plagued my mind.
I was in an alley, running towards the other end of the dark buildings. Steam seemed to roll out of the sewer vents as I rushed past the even tripping and falling to my knees, as I gasped for air.
A dark shadow closed in on me, and suddenly I was airborne. A groan slipped through my lips as I hit the cement wall from the building behind me. Roughly.
"The time is ticking, Little Swan… " It sneered, in a tone, so sinister, I could practically see the taunting smile behind my closed eyelids.
I opened my eyes to my father kneeling over me, with a worried look on his face.
My eyes scrunched up as I stared up at him in confusion. "Dad?" I rasped confused, as I tried to sit up only to feel an agonizing pain shoot on my lower back and right leg.
"Hey, I heard a loud crash and came to investigate. When I got here you were on the floor. Are you alright, sweetheart?" He asked, helping me get to my feet, before taking me towards the bed.
I felt my brow furrow, wondering for a second if the dream or images I had seen before I had fallen asleep were real or I had just imagined them? I decided to chalk it off as my imagination running wild due to the day's events.
"Bella, are you alright?" He asked, worried.
I sighed before stiffly nodding once in response before wincing as I laid back onto the bed. "Yes, I am fine, don't worry, Dad. I'll be alright," I said, giving him a reassuring smile.
He looked down at me, his brow furrowing as he stared down at me, before he patted my burrito-ed feet, and turned to leave the room.
I woke a few hours later, to the sun shining through the window. I laid stiffly awake in the bed, trying to get a small amount of rest, yet, failing completely.
My dad had allowed me to stay home and rest up, noticing how stiff when I walked and sat at the breakfast table.
When he got home we sat down and watched tv silently, while eating some takeout he got on the way home.
After that night, we both became busy. Him with work, while I focused on finishing school.
I became closer to Angela and Jessica, who quickly changed her tune, after finding out about the breakup. She said she had realized Mike and Lauren were manipulating her and using her. When Edward left, they no longer needed her, so she was thrown aside like a useless knick-knack, forcing her to take a good look at herself and her crappy attitude.
Though Angela and I welcomed her into our little 'click', Ben and Steven—his friend from Chess club— were still wary of her presence. Eventually, they came around, and now we were all great friends, often taking trips to the beach and the theater in Port Angeles every other weekend.
We were making plans to go dress shopping for prom when in a change of events— the Cullens suddenly moved back.
Just a few weeks short of graduation.
We were sitting on the benches outside, talking about the plans, when the familiar silver Volvo suddenly parked right next to my steel blue 2007 Honda Element, which my father managed to get for a deal —from one of his friends who happened to be moving away and wanted to get rid of it fast. After the truck had died on us back in January.
"Well, look what the cat just dragged in..." Jessica muttered to us, as she jutted her chin in the direction of the parking lot.
I sighed turning slowly to look over before turning back and nodding in response, feeling the eyes of someone on me as I ate one of the brownies I had made the day before. "Oh God… yeah, I am going to go to class now. I'll see you guys at lunch," I replied, as I stood up, snapped my bag's strap on my shoulder, before turning and walking into the building, silently surrounding myself with a shield.
I let the shield expand to four feet away from me, as I walked, feeling the penetrating gaze follow me into the building.
The bell rang as I reached my first class.
English.
I slowly walked into the class, removing the shield that held back humans, and only keeping it for the supernatural beings, before sitting down in the back row near the window.
Angela and Jessica were the first to arrive, smiling amused as Angela sat in front of me as Jessica sat next to me, officially boxing me in. I noticed Jess as she sat in her seat practically migrating with excitement, as Keith sat in front of her, before turning to give her a wink before turning to look to the front of the room.
"Jess, is there something you would like to tell us?" Angela asked, raising a brow at her, before turning to give me a look.
"Umm… no…?" She replied, biting her lip to hide her smile.
"No? It seems like there is something but you can tell us when you are ready…" Angela said, smiling at her.
Jessica nodded biting her lip before turning to look forward, as Mr. Berty walked into the class with an annoyed look on his face, as he pushed the television into the room, plugging both contraptions into the wall before clicking the buttons on, and before turning to us.
A few students that were still filing in, he looked at in disdain before he began speaking.
"Good morning, class. As we discussed last week, we shall be watching Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet this week. I expect your notes, on my desk, at the end of class." He said before turning on the movie, and shutting off the lights.
The final few of the students had finally arrived just as the lights were shut off, two of them being—you guessed it— Alice and Edward.
They stared at me and attempted to get Angela and Jessica to switch with them only for the girls to scoff and turn away from them.
The rest of the class passed rather tensely, as we watched and took notes on the first quarter of the movie. We listened to Mr. Berty as he would pause the movie to add a certain fact about the characters or the actual place that the movie was filmed.
When the bell rang, finally ending the class, I followed Jessica and Angela to the front of the class to leave the notes on Berty's desk before heading to our next class.
Alice and Edward attempted to speak to me once again —but thanks to the shield I had placed, they were only allowed to get four feet close before being stopped.
The satisfaction I felt as they attempted to walk forward—only to be prevented—made me laugh to myself as I walked away to my next class. The shocked expressions on their faces only made the moment more enjoyable.
Even after school ended they waited for me by their car.
I had just finished putting my things into the car when I felt their presence nearing.
"Bella, we need to talk."
I scoffed, lowering myself into the seat, and pushing the shield further away from myself. "We have already said everything that needs to be said. There is nothing more to say. Now, if you'll excuse me. I have somewhere I need to be." I said, moving myself fully into the car, before shutting the door.
I watched them as they stared at me, disappointed expressions on their faces, as I drove away.
I will be extending this slowly. Enjoy. Be safe and make good choices.
