"Miss Swan?" "MISS SWAN!" "MISS SWAN wake up this instant!"
Bella jolted up at the sound of her teacher's angry announcement. If there was anything worse than being caught napping in homeroom, it was the feeling of a dozen sets of eyes watching her and enjoying the show.
"Miss Swan I would suggest that the next time you decide to lay your head down to rest it better not be in mine or any other of the classrooms here. You're far better off staying home and wasting your life away, than staying here and wasting my time."
Students could be heard chuckling and seen hiding their grins under their hands as if the action would prevent her from noticing them. Feeling particularly gutsy she started to eye down every one who stood watch, and she must have done so with far more anger than she intended, because eventually every one of then realized they had something far more important waiting for their attention at their desks.
Instead of wondering where the sudden urge to stand up to those around her had come from, she stifled it down quickly and managed to put herself in a position she found herself in quit often these days, submission.
"I'm sorry Mr. Avery I didn't mean to fall asleep, it was completely unintentional, and I would never try to waste your time when I know how important this information is. I apologize for disrupting the class."
Mr. Avery visibly softened at my groveling and I heard the sighs of the students around me announcing their displeasure of my cleaver ovation of his wrath.
"Be that as it may, I'm sorry Miss Swan, you will report to the principals office, and tomorrow I expect your full and undeviating attention. Do you understand?"
Mr. Avery started filling out a slip for me and I gathered my things, which was easy considering I had never completely unpacked, and went to the front of the classroom. My classmates now satisfied at my punishment could be seen hiding smiles and giggles as I walked by. I suppressed the urge to stare them down again, wondering for the second time today where all of these unusual thoughts were coming from.
As I took the slip from Mr. Avery's hands I turned to walk out the door, blocking those mocking faces from my view as I went.
"Yes, Mr. Avery." Was the last thing I managed to get out before Mr. Avery began class once more before I carefully shut the door behind me.
. . . . . . . . .
As Bella walked further into the small building after reaching the office and receiving detention, with a stern warning to never fall asleep in class again, she brushed off her leftover feelings of unease at Edward's departure, and tried her best to ignore the pain still emanating from her ear, which had returned with a vengeance as soon as she had left Mr. Avery's class. But try as she may she couldn't deny the feeling that something just wasn't right, and now that Edward was nowhere in sight she couldn't help feel as though something terrible was coming. Shouldering her backpack and rolling back on her converses she breathed on a deep breath and then another, and started walking to her second period English class, hoping this time she could manage to make it through one class without drawing any attention to herself.
On her way into class the bell rang and students began running and filling into their left over morning classes. She started running full force toward her classroom, and managed to slip her foot into the door and squeeze her way through unnoticed just as all of the other kids started to settle into their seats.
She had just managed to find her own seat, and settle her things in an array around her, when she heard someone sit down beside her.
"Hey Bella." An unmistakably male voice spoke beside her. Unfortunately she recognized this voice and knew when she turned her head she'd be face to face with a pair of baby blue eyes, and even more frustration than her morning should warrant.
"Hello Mike, what can I do for you?" she bit out, aware that even the tiniest hint of distress in her voice might very well prolong his presence. Mike hadn't always been this frustrating, he had started out as one of her first friends, and then suddenly decided to take on the role of caregiver late last year. For whatever reason she would find him suddenly by her side and eager for her approval, and it was beginning to drive her crazy. Not that she would ever say that so him, she thought the blow to his ego might very well cause more harm than good. After all what harm was it really? And having an extra pair of eyes around might help ease her impending feelings of doom. Maybe if he had been in her last period class, he could have even warned her before Mr. Avery caught sight of her.
"Bella I just wanted to see if I could sit down next to you since I noticed Edward was absent today, you know just in case you want some help with your homework." What was more frustrating to her that anything was that he genuinely wanted to help her. Because it made her more inclined to simply grin and bare his presence, rather than politely excuse her-self from the conversation.
"Sure Mike." As soon as he sat down whatever powers that worked up there in the high heavens must of heard her prayer, and her teacher, Miss Anne walked in, striding in such a manner that commanded everyone's attention and ended all chatter.
Mike flashed Bella a grimace and turned in his chair so that he was now directly facing the teacher.
"Alright class I know the last class before lunch is always the hardest, but you need to really pay attention today, because all of what we go over today in class will be on your next test, and eventually your midterm." Miss Anne started walking toward the black board, her heels causing pain to spark back up in Bella's ear, reminding her of its presence as if the very fact that she had almost forgotten had personally offended it.
With one hand held firmly against her ear and the other grasping her pen for dear life, she tried to concentrate on what Miss Anne had started to put on the bored.
After a couple of minutes, the pain became unbearable and she raised her hand to politely excuse herself from class, before the day could get any worse.
She could feel Mike beside her eyeing her with concern and it made her feel even more anxious to get out of this class and somewhere far away where prying eyes could no longer find her.
"Miss Swan is something wrong?" Miss Anne had finally noticed her raised and trembling hand, her brown furrowed with both annoyance and concern, melting into worry when she took sight of Bella's twitching limbs no longer resting at her side.
"Miss Anne I am no longer feeling very well, may I be excused?" Refusing to wait for an answer and feeling another rush of pain, she mumbled something unintelligible before gathering her scattered things and making her way to the door. Mike trailing behind her like a lost puppy.
"Mike I'm fine please leave me alone." She mumbled grabbing the door handle and twisting it out of the way.
"Michael please take Miss Swan to the Nurse." She heard Miss Anne say behind her. Not turning around to acknowledge Miss Anne, or Mike, she booked it for the parking lot, hoping to get far enough away that her head might stop spinning. Unfortunately she barely made her way to the edge of the gravel when her foot caught beneath her and she feel to the pavement with a resounding crack.
. . . . . . . . . . .
Starting toward the machine Isabella felt the absence of Thomas full force, and whimpered with the loss of her best friend and roommate. The guards behind her became impatient and shuffled her foreword, locking the gates behind them and blocking out the last of Thomas's cries of outrage behind her.
Isabella took a moment to admire her surroundings, it was different being outside, sort of like an adventure her and Thomas has long ago dreamed they would one day have. She took in the sky above her and the birds singing with quiet reverence, and couldn't help by wish that someday she might share this sight with Thomas, knowing how much he would love it as well.
Stumbling on a rock and nearly catching herself brought her back to the present, and she focused on the man who stood before her leaning against a red motorcycle whose gaze never left her face. He was built strong, but she would tell he had a heart of gold when he smiled, and the way his dimples lit up his face had her feeling as though his smile might prove to be contagious. But smiling without Thomas didn't feel right, so she quietly averted her gaze to the pavement once more.
Once she had gotten far enough away from them, the guards who were behind her shuffled forwards exchanged paperwork with the man and few choice words, and turned back to disappear back inside the compound, not even acknowledging her presence as they left.
Clutching her bag she stood her ground and remembered what she had been told, find out who this man was and how he knew about her, or shed never see Thomas again. Meeting his gaze and squaring her shoulders like Thomas taught her, she looked him strait in the eye with all of the anger she could muster, and belted out "Who are you? Refusing to move another inch before someone told her what was going on.
