AN: Thanks for the feedback, I hope you'll keep reading and rec this to your other Twilight friends! This is Stephenie Meyers' world, I just daydream in it.
I took a deep breath and let my eyes focus on the sight in front of me. Even in a PE t-shirt and track pants, she was a visual masterpiece. I was certain I was not the first person at Forks High School to develop a crush on Bella Cullen, and I was sure I wouldn't be the last. Lost in my own thoughts, I wasn't paying attention to Tyler as he hurled a basketball at me.
Under normal circumstances, I would have caught it without any difficulty. I played basketball since I was a child, but today Bella Cullen was distracting me and my face caught it instead. I pulled my hand up to my face and pulled it away quickly. I had a bloody nose too. I felt my face starting to bruise. Great.
I pulled my hand up to my face again and looked out my good eye. I glanced around the gym to see if Bella had witnessed my carelessness. I breathed a sigh of relief when I didn't see her. Maybe she went to the bathroom? Coach Clapp was jogging over to where I was standing and he looked at Tyler. "Crowley, take Edmund to the nurse."
"It's Edward." I corrected him and we walked out of the gym and headed back to the main building.
Tyler was apologizing profusely as we walked. "Eddie, damn. I'm really sorry."
I shrugged a bit and tried to laugh it off, even though it aggravated my sinus cavity to laugh. "I'm the one who wasn't paying attention!"
"Man, did you see Bella Cullen? She took off the second I hit you." Tyler explained as he opened the door for me.
"She did?" I asked. Odd. Why would she take off? Maybe blood made her queasy. I felt bad.
Tyler and I walked in and I sat down on the cot in Ms. Cope's office. She seemed surprised that we were there. She looked up from her book as we walked in. "Mr. Crowley, what brings you in? Trying to skip class again?" Her glasses lowered on her nose and gave a soft chuckle. Tyler shook his head with a laugh as well. The two almost seemed – flirtatious? I'm sure I was just reading too much into it.
Tyler then gestured to me and she scurried over to inspect. "Oh goodness!" She rushed back to her desk and took some tissues and handed them to me. She helped me lay down and then went to retrieve some things from what looked like a tackle box full of bandages. Ten minutes later my face was free of blood and I was feeling slightly better. Ms. Cope gave me an ice pack for my now swollen face and asked if I wanted her to call my mother. I nodded and knew that Elizabeth would think I managed to get myself into a fight on the first day without an explanation. Naturally, I was not the fighting type, but I knew she would be relieved that this was not the case.
My assailant sat on the cot opposite me while Ms. Cope spoke with my mother. Only able to hear one end of the conversation, Elizabeth took it a lot better than I thought she would. I was an only child and Elizabeth was a single parent, so she had a natural tendency to be over-protective, over-bearing and somewhat annoying about any little thing that might happen to me.
Ms. Cope hung up with my mother and removed my ice pack and inspected my bruise. "Well, good news is I think you'll be alright, sweetheart." I nodded and gave her a smile and she instructed Tyler to head back to the gym to retrieve our backpacks. Twenty minutes later, the bell rang and she looked to me. "Edward, do you think you will be alright to attend the rest of your classes today, or would you like an excuse to go home?"
It seemed that Ms. Cope was very easily persuaded and while I probably could have taken advantage of the situation, I chose not to. "That won't be necessary, but thank you Ms. Cope." I stood to my feet and let her evaluate me one final time. I reached into my pocket and pulled out my schedule. "If you could just tell me where my AP Chemistry class is, I would appreciate it."
She stood on her tiptoes to see what building and room I was in. "Yes, you'll just go back out and straight across the lawn is the chemistry building. Aren't you a junior, Edward?"
Her question caught me off guard, but I nodded. "I'm just… impressed. AP Chemistry is a senior-level class. You must have received some excellent education in Chicago." I felt a blush creep on my face at her compliment and she just smiled. I gave her a polite wave and headed on my way. Ms. Cope insisted that I carry an ice pack with me to class and I could hear the whispers as I walked down the hall. A fight with Tyler? Get real. I rolled my eyes in annoyance. I didn't feel the need to defend myself to anyone, but that didn't mean what they said didn't bother me.
I spotted Emmett with his girlfriend on my way to chemistry and he had a shocked look on his face as he approached. "Ed, you okay?" I nodded and shrugged, slightly embarrassed about the whole ordeal. "Who did this?" He asked, and Erin slipped out of the way for him to take a closer look.
"Tyler." I replied and saw his face turn angry. I felt the need to quickly explain before he got very upset with his assistant captain. "But it was an accident… I wasn't paying attention in gym. Basketball." I saw the relief leave Emmett's face, and I was glad also.
"Alright man, well be careful, okay?" Erin was standing against the lockers talking to some of her friends and Emmett realized he hadn't introduced us yet. "Erin, c'mere." She politely excused herself from her friends and was instantly back at his side. "Erin, this is Edward Masen, the kid Aun- er, Alice was talking about."
"Edward, it's so very nice to meet you." She had a slight southern belle accent and I couldn't help but smile. It was barely recognizable to those who had under-developed linguistic and aural skills, but I caught it. The warning bell rang and pulled us all from our conversation.
"Shoot, I gotta get to gym to watch some video before this Friday. You coming to the game, Edward?" He asked, smirking all the while.
"Sure man, wouldn't miss it." It was almost as if Emmett knew I was going to say yes.
"Awesome, awesome. Well, I'll see you tomorrow in Brit Lit, okay? Alice'll save you a seat. Bye!" He and Erin gave me a final wave and they headed on their way.
I was in no hurry to get to Chemistry, fearing the scrutiny I would receive from the upperclassmen much like AP Calculus had gone earlier this morning. I figured my note from Ms. Cope and the ice pack would serve as sufficient enough excuse for my tardiness. The bell rang as I entered the building and I trudged down the hall, just in time for attendance to be taken. I handed my slip over to the teacher who took it from me and asked me to find an open seat.
I spotted the kid I had been introduced to at lunch earlier, (whom I later remembered as Ben Cheney) as Dr. Inks went through the class roster. Well, at least I wasn't the only junior in a senior level class.
There was only one other familiar name I knew that was called right after Ben's and that was Jasper Cullen. Thank goodness Alice had disclaimed that they were not all actual siblings earlier because they definitely didn't resemble each other at all.
Class seemed to go by quickly today as Dr. Inks explained procedures for the lab we would be doing tomorrow. Before I knew it, the final bell rang and school was over for the day. I headed back to my locker to gather my books I would need to complete my homework assignments this evening and headed to my car.
Elizabeth had been insistent on buying me a car though I would admit that I definitely wasn't adjusted to actually driving places yet. Back home, I never had the need for a car. There was always the 'L' train, or some sort of Chicago Transit Authority, so there was no need to get my driver's license. I had no problem passing the examination when we moved to Washington, but I had no sense of navigation whatsoever. I hoped silently that if Mike Newton's father was able to give me a job, I could save some money and buy myself a GPS unit. Until then, I'd have to write out directions everywhere. It made life slightly more complicated than normal, but necessary nonetheless.
I arrived back at our townhome and knew that my mother wouldn't be home for a few hours. I unlocked the door, walked inside, and headed upstairs. I settled on my bed and closed my eyes as I reflected on my day. I already managed to find myself crushing on the most gorgeous girl in Forks, get a black eye, and I became a victim of the rumor mill. What a lovely start.