Chapter four
I was very tired the next day. After finally getting home last night, I didn't sleep so well, totally sure that they were going to attack me during the course of the night. At school the next day my eyes were red from tiredness.
I was rummaging in my bag for my iPod by my truck when Mike sauntered up to me.
'Bella?' he cried jovially.
'Hey Mike' I said slowly.
'Jeez Bella d'you stay up all night?' he said studying my appearance.
'Heh…I didn't sleep very well.' I replied.
'Well…we better go, or we'll be late.' He said, pulling me along, he starting talking excitedly about a beach trip that he was planning.
'Come with us Bella? Please! It'll be a laugh!' He said almost pleading.
'Sure, sounds fun' I said yawning.
The morning dragged on. I was on edge like a cat caught in headlights in case I saw the Cullen's, specifically that bronze haired boy that seemed so adverse to me.
But he wasn't there at lunch- the rest of his family sat around looking in opposite directions. Never speaking, never eating. I took a chance glance at them before sitting down, Rosalie Hale looked up and her vacant face deepened into a glare just for me.
He wasn't there in Biology either. I felt a twinge of relief and a feeling I couldn't identify settled in my chest.
The rest of the day went without incident, it was boring even except for the fact this feeling would not be shaken off.
The rest of the week continued in the same fashion. Boring lessons and dragging time only interrupted by Mike's and his gang's talk of a beach trip…and a feeling that intensified every time I thought of the elusive Edward Cullen.
I could not identify the feeling until he showed up again.
I parked the truck in the furthest corner of the car park- my usual spot. I looked up to see the Cullen's and the Hale's silver Volvo slotted neatly between Mikes suburban and another one I didn't recognise.
The day quickly passed, I was relieved for lunch time. I glanced as per usual at the Cullen table, and did a count of five heads.
I did a double take. Five?!
Edward was back, and looking a little flushed. He was looking nowhere in particular, but when I entered he purposefully looked away from me.
What IS his problem?
I sat down and decided to try and choke down something to eat. I was too nervous.
'Bella, are you ok?' Angela asked.
'I'm feeling a little under the weather' I said awkwardly.
Jessica giggled suddenly 'Belllla….Edward Cullen is staring at you!'
Oh Jesus…
'Does he look angry?' I asked, despite myself.
'Hmm…why would he look angry?' Jess asked puzzled
'I don't think he likes me very much' I said tiredly. Why should I care? The shrill bell echoed across the hall, and I hurried quickly to biology. If he's here then I want this over with…
I sat down and made the appropriate body gesture to show him that I don't want to talk either. My long dark hair served as a curtain between the two seats, and I was bent low over my notebook.
The chair scraped away next to me. I breathed in deeply. It was going to be a long lesson.
We were here before the teacher was. Man that is sad…
'Hello' said a low musical voice. It was so soft on the ears…
'Oh…hi.' I said swiftly.
Throughout my time here, I could see how normal humans reacted to the Vampires, they are their natural prey, and so are biologically programmed to 'fight or flight' when near them, which means they naturally avoid the vampires. I, however, am not quite human, and so am able to fake it.
'Your Bella Swan?' his voice was delicate and attractive.
'I am' I said a little breathlessly. It's hard not to be so dazzled by him.
'So what brings you to Forks?' he said lightly.
'Well...It's complicated.' I said, why was he so interested? Was he on to me?
'I'm sure I could keep up' He looked at me from under his eye lashes.
'My...mother remarried...' I started, unsure how to continue.
'You don't like the guy?' he asked instantly assuming.
'No, well...my mom and dad had a messy divorce and Phil...My mom's new husband is a minor league baseball player, so he moved around a lot...and it made her sad, so-'
'So she sent you here?' he said assuming again.
'No,' I said defiantly 'I sent myself here. I figured it was time to spend some time with Charlie.'
'I see...' he seemed a bit startled at my tone. He's probably wondering if I'm mentally competent. What annoyed me is why should I care what he thinks?
'You seem tired?' he said suddenly.
'I didn't sleep very well' I answered which is your fault Cullen I added in my head.
'I can see' he said quietly.
'What is it to you anyway?' I said irritably.
'I don't know' he whispered, more to himself than to me.
The bell rang, and like the last lesson we were in together, he was out of the door before the bell finished. I looked tiredly after him.
'Hey!' Mike bounded over 'Cullen looked...friendlier today' he said with a tone.
'Huh, yeah guess he was' Sleep was catching up on me, I was looking forward to going home, not really sure if I could make the drive home, I was just so tired.
Gym began uneventfully, I was partnered with Jessica for badminton, and we were playing doubles with mike and Taylor. For someone who was a half zombie I wasn't doing that bad, until Jessica knocked the whole badminton post onto my foot.
'Oh god Bella I'm so sorry!' she apologised incessantly.
'Jess! Really that's ok!'
'Could be sprained- Jessica, take Bella to the Nurse' the muscled female coach barked at us.
Jess let me lean on her as she escorted me to the Nurses office. We were outside, on the path to the Nurses when I realised I just wanted to sit down.
'Jess, its ok I can take it from here.'
'Are you sure? Bella I'm so sorry...'
'Jess, Jess, it was an accident- go back and play some badminton with Mike' I nudged her in the ribs lightly implying that I gave a crap about her and Mike at all.
She smiled broadly at this, and quickly ran off to make eyes at Mike.
Thankful to be alone for 10 minutes, I sat down on the pathway and massaged my ankle.
It hurt like hell, but it had already healed- just one of my many talents.
The sun darkened over, and I let my thoughts trail away as my eyelids drooped...
'Bella?' I was being nudged. Why does Charlie have to wake me up so early?
'Yeah Dad I'm up' I mumbled.
I heard a delicate dulcet laugh.
My eyes shot open.
I was freezing, and sat on the school pathway fast asleep.
'Oh god how long have I been here?' I said groggily.
'About 10 minutes, I saw you stop after Jessica was helping you along, everything ok?'
He said concerned.
Why is he so bloody concerned?
'Yes I'm fine' I said irritably 'What were you doing?' I accused.
'Listening to a CD in my Car' he shrugged.
How normal. That's odd.
He held out a hand to help me up.
'Thanks' I mumbled.
'You know...I don't think it's safe to drive home in your state.' He said seriously.
'I'm sure I'll manage.' I replied.
'I could give you a ride home' He said, a little hopefully I thought.
'Well...my truck...' I started
'I could have Alice drop it off' he said easily.
'Oh I wouldn't want to put her out!' I exclaimed, knowing that it wouldn't make a blind bit of difference for a vampire. They never get tired, never sleep, and never stop.
'It would be no trouble!' he said.
I thought it over. 'Yeah, it's probably for the best, let me just go and get my stuff, and we'll meet at your Volvo?' I said, hoping I wasn't being presumptuous.
He nodded, and 5 minutes later, we were speeding home to his tinkling laughter as I regaled him with my badminton story of why I was going to the Nurses.
'Then she took off after I mentioned that Mike was without a doubles partner' I finished laughingly. It was easy to talk to him, amazingly easy.
He pulled up outside my house.
'Well, thanks a lot Edward' I said, I started to get out.
'Hey Bella' Edward said before I could fully extricate myself from his car 'try and get some sleep' he smiled sheepishly.
'Yeah, yeah. You know Edward some of the guys are going down the beach this weekend, do you wanna hang out?' I asked casually, my whole body was hoping he would say yes.
'Thanks, but maybe another time' he waved me off.
'Alright then'
I watched him drive away, and I realised what that feeling had been in my chest when Edward wasn't there.
Disappointment.