Chapter Two
"Humiliation"

(Bella's POV)
- Monday 19th March 2017 -

I rolled my shoulders to try to calm myself, stepping out of my truck and directly into the world's biggest puddle. I nearly burst into tears right then and there. Instead, I scrunched my eyes shut—praying to the Lord above me that no one was watching—and I took a deep breath through clenched teeth, before yanking my foot back in the car and slamming the rusty door shut.

I released a long, frustrated sigh.

After smacking my head on the roof and a battle with the gearstick, I made it out alive. I could conclude then that today was not going to be a good day.

As if my morning wasn't going just peachy already, I caught my boot in the door frame and nearly fell into my first class. That's nothing new, though, I actually do that quite a lot. A few people snickered but it says more about them than me so I didn't let it bother me.

I huffed as I sat down in my usual seat next to Angela to wait for our teacher.

"I don't even have to look at you to know something is wrong," she said, laughing quietly.

"I stood in a puddle."

"Lovely," she said, scrunching up her nose when she noted that one side of my pants were a little dirty-looking. "How bad?"

"It was massive."

"Don't overthink it," she said, yawning into her hand.

"Angela, the puddle was the size of half my truck and I still drove in the space without seeing it. I'm starting to think my lack of observation is becoming a genuine issue," I said, unable to let myself just forget about the incident and move on with my life like a normal person would.

I let my head fall to the desk, already 73% done with the day.

"How unfortunate," she muttered sarcastically.

Mr Banner practically flew through the classroom doorway, skidding to an ungraceful stop by his desk. His buttons were done up wrong and his tie was sitting at an awkward angle. Some muffled laughter sounded around the room in response to his appearance. I, however, couldn't relate to anyone more than I related to poor Mr Banner in that moment.

"Don't judge me." He shook his head. "I've had a terrible morning." He ran his hands slowly down his face. "I swear I've had the worst luck..."

His voice became distant as my attention was suddenly solely focused on who had just walked through the door. I am already used to the same late comer every morning in this class. I've never really spoken to him properly but everything about him was enough to catch my attention. He's extraordinarily attractive, with very pale skin like mine, bright green eyes which I avoid contact with completely, and absolutely beautiful bronze hair.

"Mr Cullen, late again," Mr Banner mumbled tiredly, dragging me out of my trance.

"And I'm still having a better morning than you by the looks of things."

"You are," he agreed humorously. "Anyway, as I was saying," he continued whilst Edward took a seat next to Tyl—me.

Well, that doesn't usually happen.

"I just don't think it's fair for everyone else's bad luck to be placed on me. I'm a nice guy, you know?" he said, causing an eruption of laughter from my classmates, before he took a seat at his desk. I could only smile at him empathetically because I knew exactly how he felt. Perhaps he was born with whatever defect I have.

"Bella can relate," Angela said, grinning mischievously.

"Having a bad morning?" he asked, throwing me a smile. It was hard to remember sometimes that he was once a student. He knew better than anyone how most of the kids in this room were probably feeling right now.

"I've had worse," I admitted, knowing there was a blush spreading across my cheeks in response to the unwelcomed attention. I could feel the eyes of nineteen other students on me and I had never felt more uncomfortable.

"What happened to you?"

"I wouldn't know where to start," I mumbled, completely embarrassed.

"How about the puddle?" a deep, smooth voice said from beside me. "Or the gearstick, perhaps?"

I couldn't physically breathe for a few moments due to the shock of his sudden involvement in the conversation. Not only that, but the realisation that he'd somehow seen me this morning almost resulted in hyperventilation. The surprise in my thoughts must have been written across my face; his short laugh confirmed that.

I sighed, knowing there was nothing I could do but explain.

"I stepped in a puddle so massive that I don't understand how my truck didn't sink like the Titanic when I drove into the space," I said, my eyes locked only on the teacher. I refused to even glance at Edward, though I knew he was staring at me like everyone else. "I had to climb over the console to get out the other door so I hit my head on the roof, and then the gearstick was—well, it was sort of just... in... the way..."

"Kinky," Tyler said, whistling loudly.

Ground, please swallow me whole.

Angela looked is if she was about to explode next to me, the way she was shaking violently with silent laughter. The rest of the class weren't fighting as hard to hide their amusement; they simply let it out. I didn't think it was possible for my face to get redder but in that moment, I was sure it turned six shades darker. I was also positive that I was about to break out in a cold-sweat because I was so worked up.

"Tyler," Mr Banner snapped, shaking his head disapprovingly.

"It is," he defended, holding his hands up in surrender. What a tool.

"Well, Bella," our teacher continued, ignoring the idiot at the back of the room. "It can only get better from here. You've got an hour of Algebra to enjoy!"

Because the day had been pretty shitty so far, in my mind at least, I was beyond relieved when lunch time arrived. I wanted nothing more than to get away from everyone else for a little while, including Angela. I wasn't mad at her or anything. It's just that I was still having palpitations after my morning class so I needed a little bit of time alone. As level-headed as I am, anxiety is a problem I deal with on a daily basis.

I released a long sigh when I exited the building. There was a thick layer of fog surrounding the area, meaning I couldn't see further than a metre in front of me. It would be terrifying if I wasn't so used to it now. Sadly, because of today's angst, I did admittedly become slightly more paranoid than usual that someone was following me. I kept close to where cars were parked as I moved my way forward, worried that someone would drive through the lot and not see me until it was too late to stop. Wouldn't that be wonderful?

"Woah," a voice said from directly in front of me, startling me to a halt.

Being jumpy already didn't help the situation, meaning I nearly collapsed to the concrete in terror. In that moment, I don't know how on earth I managed to keep my composure and not burst into hysterical tears. I just wanted to pick up my little sister and go straight home to forget about this entire day.

"Sorry," I said quickly, my voice cracking embarrassingly.

"It's alright," Edward replied, smiling down at me warmly. "Are you okay?"

"Um, I think so." I paused. "Maybe."

I couldn't help myself from checking behind me again. I couldn't even see the school from here, nor could I see my truck anywhere ahead of me. The fog was ten times worse than I had initially thought. I should have known, seen as I didn't see Edward until he was practically touching me.

"Your truck is over there," he told me, pointing behind him and to the left. "It's right next to my car."

"Thanks," I whispered, only just realising how eerily silent it was in the lot.

"No problem." He shrugged as if it was no big deal, slowly manoeuvring around me to head towards the school. "Take care of yourself."

And then he disappeared into the fog, leaving me alone and paranoid again.

I'll try, I thought wryly, inching blindly in the direction he had pointed.