Chapter 2: The Winds of Change
Disclaimer: Not originally mine but Stephanie Meyer's with a few tweaks here and there, sorry if my grammar is not completely correct and I'm doing this as a fun recreational hobby
The next few days was better…and worse.
It was better because it wasn't raining yet, though the clouds were dense and opaque. English was great; we were studying my favourite tragic playwright, Romeo and Juliet, which I had read a hundred times. People didn't look at me quite as much as they had yesterday, which was a bonus. It was better because my sister and I made codenames for each other for the reason that she didn't wanted to be mistaken for Jessica Stanley, leading to the birth of our codenames. She was to be called Misty and I was to be called Ella.
It was worse because I was tired; I still couldn't sleep with the wind echoing around the house. It was worse because In Trig with Mr Varner, he called on me when my hand wasn't raised and I had the wrong answer. It was miserable because I had to participate in volleyball, again. It was absolutely horrid when baby-face, Mike Newton I soon learned, became my own personal golden retriever, to my sister's amusement. To my frustration, it was worse because Edward Cullen wasn't at school at all.
The first day he wasn't at school, I was dreading lunch, fearing his bizarre glares. Part of me wanted to confront him and ask what the hell was his problem was the other wanted to hide in the corner and cower. But on that day, when I walked in with Jessica-trying to keep my eyes from sweeping the place for him, and failing entirely
However ever since the cafeteria incident Misty was completely adamant in staying outside the lunchroom. Even if I tried to persuade her to eat with me at the other Jess's table, she wouldn't try to eat a bite; she'll just stare blankly at me with a poker face. So at lunchtime, since two days after the disappearance of Edward, instead of eating in the cafeteria we would go to the art room and eat the lunches I made specially, since the food here wasn't even qualified to be edible.
Today was the fourth day Edward Cullen was still missing and soon became the ghost of my every thought. What was it about him that irritated or intrigued me? None of the other Cullens reacted to me as badly as him, well…considering that I do not have any classes with them. However in Misty's schedule she had four out of the five Cullens in her classes; Jasper in History, Emmett in Trig, Alice in Art and Edward in English. From the way my sister acted after each class with them, besides Edward, they were seemingly nice and polite.
It was the Period before lunch that I interacted with a Cullen that was not Edward. I was let out early for English, since I had done all of the work required, and waited out side the art lesson to be over. As the bell rang, students, chaotically rushed out of their respective classes in the direction of the cafeteria. It wasn't until I walked into my sister's art room that I noticed she wasn't alone. Misty was in her usual spot, the lonely desk near the window but Alice was there. The black haired pixie was practically vibrating on the spot with what I assume was excitement. When I was a few metres from them I heard Alice squeal "Wow! I love the way you drew these wild animals. Who knew a fox next to a tiger could work so well! Oh hey BELLA!" I flinched at the pitch of her voice. I mumbled my salutations back. Adverting my eyes from her topaz ones to examine my sister's work.
Indeed her art was unique; the fox was beautifully sleek and elegant. What drew you in was the depth of the eyes, how they were shining with mirth as it lay down in the meadow backdrop, which by itself was a beautiful sight. The backdrop held endless amount of green trees but surrounding the fox was wildflowers with vibrant coloured petals, mostly yellow, pink and purples. Another thing that was distinct was that hovering over the fox was a golden tiger with tan stipes. This creature was in a relaxed but protecting stance and it looked upon the fox's face with wonder; both creatures had the same topaz eyes as Alice. This was done in water pencil and acrylics on cartridge paper. Truly beautiful.
Misty looked up into my eyes, her brown eyes asking for appraisal, which I gladly gave. "It looks wonderful sis." At this compliment she beamed at me but then peered into Alice's curiously and with contemplation. Biting her lip she hesitantly offered her artwork to Alice. Alice gasped, "I can't possibly take this, Jess." My sister stubbornly shook her head and pushed it towards to Alice again with a pout. I was shocked. Never in my whole life that my sister offered her art to people she hardly knew.
Alice reluctantly but excitedly took what Misty has to offer. At that moment Jasper walked through the door, his posture stiff and his face blank until his eyes rested on Alice's figure. "Darling, everyone is waiting for us." He drawled out.
"I know Jazzy, but look what Jess gave me! Isn't it great!" she smiled. He nodded in agreement, sending my sister in a blush. "Well we better be heading off now, see you next time Bella, and Jess." Alice grinned and she tugged Jaspers arm to the exit of the room.
APOV
I happily skipped over to our table in the cafeteria. I was so ecstatic that Jess, also known to be Misty, gave me that picture. I truly loved it. As I sat down Emmett asked, "What's in your hands shortie."
Glaring at him I retorted "Don't call me that you buffoon, and if you must know Jessica Swan gave it to me. See" showing the whole table the piece.
"Hey it's pretty good!" he boomed. "Real likeness to you and Jazz hands"
Jasper smiled softly at me, "The fox does have some similarity to you, darling."
I pecked his cheek and whispered in his ear, "I know right, the tiger depicts you quite well. And tonight I will show you my gratitude for being my protector." Rosalie grumbled, muttering how it was sickening that a human gave me a gift, that the picture wasn't even good enough and how that reason Edward ran away to Denali was because of an ugly, insignificant human. She then stalked off towards her next class with Emmett trailing along.
I do love my sister but sometimes she's a bitch. I too am irritated that Edward ran like a coward instead of staying here where his mate is. Yes…she did smell nice like strawberries and freesia but I saw that she would complete our family. Our family has been waiting too long for Edward to find his other half, too long for him to get out of his martyred ways and too long for love. Her sister on the other hand, her future was blurry like a screen in font of a TV. Nonetheless, she was incredibly adorable and though most humans think she's dumb I can tell that she isn't through her actions.
Jessica, also known to Bella only as Misty, did not smell like her sister. Don't get me wrong she smells lovely but it wasn't as tempting, she smelled like oranges and orchids. Even my Jazzy could take her scent, which was something as he'd been on the human diet way longer than all of us. Just the other night when we were hunting alone…
"Can I tell you something, Darling," inquired my honey-eyed husband. I kissed him on the cheek, silently asking him to continue. "Well, you know how I struggle a bit more than the others when it comes to being in a crowded room full of humans, but with the new girl, it's different."
Cocking my head to the side. "Bella is in your classes, I didn't see that." Jasper chuckled and endearingly kissed my forehead. "No dear, I still have troubles with Bella's scent, however with her younger sister it's not that hard."
I frowned in confusion. "Whilst she does smell good but not like a I-need-to-drink-you-dry-straight-away kind of smell. Her emotions too are way more bearable than most of the humans here. She's always happy, content even wonder." I stared at Jasper; never in the 85 years we've been together that he felt comfortable with a human. "What else beside that she is different from the others?" I queried.
"I guess in her state I feel like she needs to be cared for, you know?" I nodded in agreement remembering seeing her in the cafeteria. "Her child-like wonder and actions it's hard to ignore in the mass population of teenager's lust, bitterness, jealously and greed. She's pure." I smiled.
"I understand, I get feeling from her as well, like we can relax a bit."
RIIINNNGG! Finally school was over, quickly I walked towards Rosalie's BMW with Jasper's hand in mine and waited until we arrived home, which with Rose's driving it was in no time at all. Stepping out of her BMW I greeted my adoptive mother, Esme. " How was your day dearies?" she sweetly asked. Rose grumbled how life was unfair and that Edward was a jerk, and then went to her room with Emmett-EEEWWW don't want to go there.
Ignoring Rose's comments and her future actions with her husband I showed Esme what I received. Her eyes widened and gushed "Oh my how lovely, did you do this Alice?"
I shook my head and raved, "I know right! But no I didn't draw this, Jessica Swan did. And I know she did this with Jazzy and me in mind. See the black fox totally represents me and the form and gaze of the golden tiger sums up Jazzy superbly! Oh thanks Esme I would love it to be in a frame that you have, preferably the dark brown one with the small intricate carvings" Esme smiled and gently took my present to be framed. I walked towards my husband's and my room and stared out the window. When the hell was Edward going to back? He keeps changing his mind between saying a while longer in Denali and coming back and face Bella, which terrifies him completely. I hope the latter if the family were to be completed sooner...
BPOV
It was a cool night and I was currently standing in the kitchen in front of the stove, deep frying chicken that has been seasoned with special flour. It was the second night of being in Forks that I had discovered that Charlie couldn't cook much beside bacon and eggs. So I requested that I be assigned kitchen detail for the duration of our stay. He was willing enough to hand over the keys to the banquet hall. I also found out that he had no food in the house. So in the end I would go grocery shopping with Misty for food using the cash from the jar in the cupboard labelled Food Money to purchase staple needs and dinner requirements.
Misty was helping out by tossing the vegetables that I had already cut into a salad. She was humming a tune as she tossed the salad. I recognised it as one of her favourite cello music I Will Wait, by 2Cellos. As I dabbed the chicken to get rid of the excess oil, I heard the jingle of keys and the front door opening. Charlie was home. Entering the kitchen he gruffly said, "Smells good Bells, Jess," before grabbing a beer and walked to the couch to watch sports.
After dinner Misty and I retreated into my room to hang out as usual on a Friday night. She sat down on the comforter and started tell me things, most things she ever said to me were vague and often had hidden meanings to them. Most people that she talked to, which hardly happen, they would laugh how adorable she was; never actually taking her seriously. Although I may be a hypocrite as until I was the age of twelve, I really taken her words into account. I thought back to the time of that incident…
It was at lunchtime at school, we were eating our fruit salads and yoghurt in the music room. Misty was staring intently at my face. "What's the matter?" I implored.
She shrugged nonchalantly, but being my curious self I questioned her more. Looking deep into my eyes with her dark, coffee brown eyes she took a big breathe and whispered, "Beware of those who slither around with their beady, black eyes." I frowned in confusion. It didn't make sense at all at that time since I was practically invisible; my peers had not bullied me.
It wasn't until later that day it happened. We were walking from school back to home. I as usual was worrying about the bills and utilities as I held my sister's hand. However, I wanted to go for a detour to the bookstore to see if Mr Roberts had any new books. Making the quick decision I tugged Misty's hand to the usual route we take to the bookstore. Usually we go on the weekends and take the long way but I needed to get home quicker so I took the short cut. Where the alley lies. On my way to the alley that cut straight through the block, I heard heavy steps. At first I thought to myself that this person is just coincidentally going in the same direction. But after a while, I realised something didn't feel right. I turned my head and saw a huge figure walking quite fast towards us and my skin went cold. I harshly whispered to my sister "Run. Do not stop. Never look back," and pushed her ahead of me. Once she left the confines of my hands I too started running. Horror enveloped me as I heard the steps quicken even more, praying that more importantly my sister got out of here and cursing that the alley was so long. Staring straight ahead I was relieved when I saw Misty out of the narrow alley, but that was short lived when I was tackled to the cold hard floor. "Oomph!" Desperately I tried to scramble up, ready to dash with all my might; even though there was a high chance I wound fall. However as I was half way up, a strong hand yanked me back and my head hit the floor. I squeezed my eyes in pain and looked up to see my attacker.
He had sleek dark hair falling into his beady eyes and those eyes is what made my paralysed with fear and dread. They were black and with and had an evil glint in his eyes; enjoying my fear. "I'm going to enjoy this," he rasped, smiling cruelly as tears pricked my eyes. This cant be happening, I had a life to live for. I struggled and wriggled as his hand started wandering, from the inside of my thighs to my small, underdeveloped chest; leaving his prints on my body. He laughed as I tried to fight him, gaining even more painful bruises, saying that I was making this experience more enjoyable by the minute.
At that moment I heard a piercing shriek, almost like a banshee, an angry roar; his slimy hands momentarily off me to grab hold of the tiny hands ripping his hair. Once I escaped a few meters from him, I realised who had intervened. Misty with her blazing eyes, was fighting the man. She had jumped on his back and yanked his head backward, riding and directing him like a pony. Making him slam is head on the building a couple of times. My throat went dry and my body went numb when I saw him grab and flip her over his body; her body landing with a hard thump. Misty was unconscious…He was heaving heavily with rage; blood dripping from his forehead to the ground. Just as he advanced on my little, helpless sister he was roughly pushed aside by another man. Not paying attention to the fight, I crawled to my sister's body. I nudged her arm, begging for her to wake up, apologising for this to happen…no response. I gently raised her head and placed it on my lap, but I felt a something sticky. I lifted my hand and saw her life essence, bright crimson on my hand. My stomach lurched as the smell of iron and rust wafted to my nose.
"Miss are you okay?" questioned the Samaritan reaching a hand to touch my shoulder. Flinching away from his hand, all my emotions just slammed into me. My eyes were overflowing with tears, dropping onto her face. I wiped them away with frustration with my hands, smudging her blood onto my cheek.
"Don't worry the guy's knocked out and I had already called an ambulance. I'm Phil Dwyer." I nodded in thanks.
I was thankful for Phil, not only he saved my sister and my life, he made my mother happy. I remembered when we were brought to the hospital…
"Bella!" cried Renee as she hugged my to my chest as my sister laid in the stiff white hospital bed with a bandage, wrapped around her head. "I was so worried, when the cops called me at work. Why did you take that alleyway?" she sniffed. We both looked upon Misty with blurry eyes, she looked so peaceful. The door opened, revealing Detective Watson and Phil. "Miss Higginbohtam I know this is a bad time but it is lucky that your girls survived from a wanted child rapist." My mother's eyes widened. "Mr Hunter, has been wanted for dead or alive in three states. He often chooses his victims over a period of weeks, stalking them and watching their every move. The girls he had killed were all in the age range of eight to fifteen; and we have been searching for this man for his heinous crimes for over five years. I'm sorry that these young ladies were hurt and possibly scarred for life but we, the FBI are thankful that he was caught before he could move onto new victims." The detective left once all the pleasantries was over. Mom's lipped quivered at the thought of both Misty and I dead, her only family she had left. Phil looked at my mother with caring eyes and held his hand out, "Hello, I'm Phil Dwyer and I think your children are the most bravest kids I've ever met. Especially that spitfire there, I was walking on the street when she grabbed my hand and pulled my to the alleyway; racing ahead when she saw the young girl there," he gestured towards me "in trouble and attacked the sick man. I also think that a pretty woman like you should be crying, both of them are safe and little one over there just got a concussion." Renee stopped crying and hesitantly smiled at him and offered him to walk her to the hospital cafeteria.
Looking over my sister's form, listening to her iPod, I smiled; recalling the time she woke up…
She was sitting upright in her bed, munching an apple cut into the shape of rabbits. "I'm sorry I made us take the short cut. I should've known that it's dangerous and now you're here with a serious concussion." She stopped mid way chewing her apple and reached over to pat my hand. "How did you know that this was going to happen?" Smiling intuitively she shrugged, "The fairies told me to watch out."
Misty has always been a firm believer of the unnatural, from ghosts to angels. She also had an imagination that always fascinated me. Renee often said that as a child whilst I was buried in my book,Misty was always off with the fairies. Unlike my sister I believed that if there is proof behind it and I can see it, then it is real.
"Bella?" my sister question me, breaking me out of my thoughts.
"Yea?"
"Life isn't always what it seems…accept the impossibilities." She eerily said before skipping out of my bedroom and into her own.
On Monday, people greeted me in the parking lot. I didn't know all their names, but I waved back and smiled at everyone. It was colder this morning, but happily not raining. In English baby face Mike took his accustomed seat by my side. We had a pop quiz on Wuthering Heights. It was straightforward, very easy.
All in all, I was feeling a lot more comfortable than I had thought I would feel at this point. More comfortable than I had ever expected to feel here. When we walked out of class, the air was full of swirling bits of white. I could hear people shouting excitedly to each other. The wind bit at my cheeks, my nose. Great, just when I was getting used to the weather.
Throughout the morning, everyone chattered excitedly about the snow; apparently it was the fist snowfall of the New Year. I kept my mouth shut. Sure, it was drier than rain-until it melted in your socks. I walked to the canteen with Jessica Stanley after Spanish. Mike caught up to us as we walked through the doors, laughing with ice melting the spike in his hair. He and Jess were talking animatedly about the snowball fight as we got in line to buy food, well in my case drinks. I glanced around the table in the corner out of habit. And then I froze where I stood. There were five people at the table.
I felt sick to my stomach. He was back? After all this time, he comes back when I had just acclimatised to his lack of presence in Biology. I kept my head down and glanced up under my lashes and stared at them. They were laughing; Edward, Jasper and Emmett all had their hair entirely saturated with melting snow. Alice and Rosalie were leaning away as Emmett shook his dripping hair toward them. They were enjoying the snowy day; just like everyone else-only they looked more like a scene from a movie than the rest of us.
But aside from the laughter and playfulness, there was something different, and I couldn't quite pinpoint what the difference was. I examined Edward the most carefully. His skin was less pale, I decided-flushed from the snow fight maybe-the circles under his eyes much less noticeable. But there was something more. I pondered as I waited in the line to pay for the sodas. Staring at him, trying to isolate the change. As if he can feel my stare he turned to look at me. His topaz eyes caught my gaze but they didn't look harsh or angry; more like curious in a unsatisfied way. With my cheeks blazing from embarrassment I quickly paid for the sodas and headed straight to the art room.
Ounce lunch was over I headed toward Biology, and was relieved when I saw that my table was still empty. Mr Banner was walking around the room, distributing one microscope and box of slides to each table. Class didn't start for a few minutes, and the room buzzed with conversation. I kept my eyes away from the door, doodling idly on the corner of my notebook. I heard clearly when the chair next to me moved, but my eyes stayed carefully focused on the pattern I was drawing.
"Hello," said a quiet, musical voice. I looked up, stunned that he was speaking to me. He was sitting as far away from me as the desk allowed, but his chair was angled toward me. His hair was dripping wet, dishevelled-even so, he looked like he just finished shooting a commercial for hair gel. His dazzling face was friendly. Open, a slight smile on his flawless lips. But his eyes were careful.
"My name is Edward Cullen," he continued. "I didn't have a chance to introduce my self last week. You must be Bella Swan."
My mind was spinning with confusion. Had I made up the whole thing? He was perfectly polite now. I had to speak; he was waiting. But I couldn't think of anything conventional to say. "H-how do you know my name?' I stammered. He laughed a soft, enchanting laugh.
"Oh I think everyone knows your name. The whole town's been waiting for you and your sister to arrive." I grimaced. I knew it was something like that.
"No," I persisted stupidly. "I meant, why did you call me Bella?"
He seemed confused. "Do you prefer Isabella?"
"No, I like Bella," I said "But I think Charlie-I mean my dad-must call me Isabella behind my back, that's what everyone here seems to know me as," I tried to explain, feeling like an utter moron.
"Oh." He let it drop. I looked away awkwardly.
Thankfully, Mr Banner started the class at that moment. I tried to concentrate as he explained the lab we would be doing today. The slides in the box were out of order. Working as lab partners, we had to separate the slides of onion root tip cells into the phases of mitosis they represented and label them accordingly. We weren't supposed to use our books. In twenty minutes, he would be coming around to see who had it right.
"Get started," he commanded.
"Ladies first, partner?" Edward asked. I looked up to see him smiling a crooked smile so beautiful that I could only stare at him like an idiot.
"Or I could start, if you wish." The smile faded; he was obviously wondering if I was mentally competent.
"No," I said, flushing. "I'll go ahead." I was showing off, just a little.
I'd already done this lab, and I knew what I was looking for. It should be easy. I snapped the first slide into place under the microscope and adjusted it quickly to the 40X objective. I studied the slide briefly. My assessment was confident. "Prophase."
"Do you mind if I look?" he asked as I began to remove the slide. His hand caught mine, to stop me, as he asked. His fingers were ice-cold, like he'd been holding them in a snowdrift before class. But that wasn't why I jerked my hand away so quickly. When he touched me, it stung my hand as if an electric current had passed through us.
"I'm sorry," he muttered, pulling his hand back immediately. However, he continued to reach for the microscope. I watched him, still staggered, as he examined the slide for an even shorter time than I had. "Prophase," he agreed, writing it neatly in the first space on our worksheet. He swiftly switched out the first slide for the second, and then glanced at it curiously. "Anaphase," he murmured, writing it down as he spoke.
I kept my voice indifferent. "May I?" He smirked and pushed he microscope to me. I looked through the eyepiece eagerly, only to be disappointed. Dang it, he was right. "Slide three?" I held out my hand without looking at him. He handed it to me; it seemed like he was being careful not to touch my skin again.
I took the most fleeting look I could manage. "Interphase." I passed him the microscope before he could ask for it. He took a swift peak, and then wrote it down. I would have written it while he looked, but his clear, elegant script intimidated me. I didn't want to spoil the page with my clumsy scrawl. We were finished before anyone else was close. Which left me nothing to do but look at him…unsuccessfully. I glanced up and he was staring at me and it struck me what about him was different.
"Did you get contacts? I blurted out unthinkingly. He seemed puzzled by my unexpected question. "No."
"Oh," I mumbled. "I thought there was something different about your eyes." He shrugged and looked away. In fact, I was sure there was something different. I vividly remembered the flat black colour of his eyes the last time he'd glared at me-the colour was striking against the background of his pale skin and his bronze hair. Today, his eyes were a completely different colour: a strange ochre, darker than butterscotch, but the same golden tone. I didn't understand how that could be, unless he was lying for some reason about contacts. Or maybe forks is making me crazy in the literal sense of the word
Mr Banner came over to check our work, which turns out to be correct. He questioned Edward if he gave me the chance to identify some of them; with Edward swiftly commenting back that I had identified three out of the five slides. After he left I went back to doodling on my notebook again. "It's too bad about the snow, isn't it?" Edward asked. I had the feeling he was forcing himself to make small talk with me. Paranoia crept into the depths of my mind, again. What was it to him that I absolutely loathed snow? Has my perfect mask of indifference to smother my real emotions of the beloved weather of Forks, broken?
"Not really," I answered honestly, instead of pretending to be normal like everyone else. I was still trying to dislodge the stupid feeling of suspicion, and I couldn't concentrate. "You don't like the cold?" It wasn't a statement.
"Or the wet."
"Forks must be a difficult place for you to live," he mused.
"You have no idea," I muttered darkly.
He looked fascinated by what I said, for some reason I couldn't image. His face a distraction that I tried not to look at it any more than courtesy absolutely demanded. "Why did you come here, then?" he inquired. No one had ask me that-not straight out like he did, demanding.
"It's complicated."
"I think I can keep up," he pressed. I paused for a long moment, and then made the mistake of meeting his golden gaze and without any thought I answered him.
"Misty's, my sister Jess, my mother got remarried," I said reluctantly.
"That doesn't sound so complex," he disagreed, but he was suddenly sympathetic. "When did this happen?"
"Last September." My voice sounded sad, even to me.
"And you don't like him," Edward summarised, his tone still kind.
"No, Phil is fine, though he is too young, he is nice enough. He's a champ with Misty and he saved her life."
He raised his eyebrows, asking me politely for an expansion which I didn't want to give.
Seeing my hesitance he asked, "Why didn't you and your sister stay with them?"
I couldn't fathom his interest, but he continued to stare at me with penetrating eyes, as if my dull life story was somehow vitally and interestingly important.
"Phil travels a lot. He plays ball for a living." I half-smiled.
"Have I heard of him?" he asked, smiling in response.
"Probably not. He doesn't play well. Strictly minor league. He moves around a lot."
"And your mother sent both you and sister here so she could travel with him." He said it as an assumption again, not a question.
My chin raised a fraction. "No she did not sent us here. I sent us both.
His eyebrows knit together. "I don't understand," he admitted, and he seemed unnecessarily frustrated by that fact. I sighed. Why was I explaining this to him? He continued to stare at me with obvious curiosity.
"She stayed with us at first, but she missed him. Also my sister isn't always easy to handle before she would break out in terrible fits and often didn't listen to a word she said; making mum's life harder. It made her unhappy. So I decided it was time to spend quality time with Charlie." My voice was glum by the time I finished.
"But now your unhappy," he pointed out.
"And?" I challenged.
"That doesn't seem fair." He shrugged, but his eyes were still intense.
I laughed without humour. "Hasn't anyone else told you? Life isn't fair."
"I believe I have heard of that before," he agreed dryly.
"So that's all," I insisted, wondering why he was still staring at me that way.
His gaze became appraising. "You put up a good show," he said slowly. "But I'll be willing to bet that you're suffering more than you let anyone see."
I grimaced at him, resisting the impulse to stick my tongue out like a five-year old, and looked away.
"Am I wrong?"
I tried to ignore him.
"I didn't think so," he murmured, so quietly that I wondered if he was talking to himself. However, after a few seconds of silence, I decided that was the only answer I was going to give get. I sighed, scowling at the black board.
"Am I annoying you?" he asked. He sounded amused.
I glanced at him without thinking…and told the truth again. "Not exactly. I'm more annoyed at myself. My face is so easy to read-my mother always calls me her open book." I frowned.
"On the contrary, I find you very difficult to read." Despite everything that I'd said and he'd guessed, he sounded like he meant it.
"You must be a good reader then," I replied.
"Usually." He smiled widely, flashing a set of perfect, ultra white teeth.
Mr Banner called the class to order then, and I turned with relief to listen. I was in disbelief that I'd just explained my dreary life to this bizarre, beautiful boy who may or may not despise me. He'd seemed engrossed in our conversation, but now I could see, from the corner of my eye, that he was leaning away from me again, his hands gripping the edge of the table with unmistakable tension. I tried to appear attentive as Me Banner illustrated, with transparencies on the overhead projector, what I had seen without difficulty through the microscope. But my thoughts were unmanageable.
When the bell finally rang, Edward rushed swiftly and as gracefully from the room as he had last Monday. And, like last Monday, I stared after him in amazement. Mike unfortunately skipped quickly to my side and start to blabber how the lab was hard and made a snide comment how I was lucky I had Edward for a partner, which I found insulting. I ignored him and continued to hell, Gym.
The rain was just a mist as I walked to the parking lot with Misty twirling by my side, but I was happier when I was in the dry cab. I got the heater running for once not caring about the mind-numbing roar of the engine, I unzipped my jacket, put the hood down, and fluffed my damp hair out so the heater could dry it on the way home. Once Misty was seated and strapped, I looked around me to make sure it was clear. That's when I noticed the still, white figure. Edward Cullen was leaning against the front of the Volvo, three cars down from me, and staring intently in my direction. I swiftly looked away and threw the truck into reverse, almost hitting a rusty Toyota Corolla in my haste. Cheeks blazing, I took a deep breath, still looking out the other side of my car, and cautiously pulled out again, with greater success. I stared straight ahead as I passed the Volvo, but from a peripheral peek, I would swear I saw him laughing.