I let my neighbours pass me, ones and twos
And groups; the latest said the night grew chill,
And hastened: but I loitered, while the dews
Fell fast I loitered still.
--An Apple-Gathering by Christina Georgina Rosetti

Where the Wild Apples Grow
Chapter Nine: In Which She is Followed

NOTE: Translations are at the bottom.

"I am so glad we have Spanish together, Isabella!" Jessica said as we looked at my map. We were in the middle of a busy hallway on the second floor, trying vainly to locate Ms. Goff's Spanish I room. Well, at least, I was. Jessica seemed pleased to be talking, though she didn't seem bothered that I wasn't really paying attention. "I mean, I'm half Spanish myself you know. Or, well, a quarter. On my mom's side. But that doesn't matter. And Lauren is going to be in that class!"

Ah, there. It seemed to be on the right side of the hallway, not the left. I started walking away. Jessica jogged to keep up with me.

"You, me, and Lauren are going to have bunches fun!" She squealed. "Mrs. Goff won't be able to keep us from talking. Of course, our Spanish will be perfect – my mom will be able to help with that…"

I fiddled with my bracelet and smiled at her. We reached the front door, where Mrs. Goff was waiting.

"Welcome to Spanish I, chicas. Espero que las niñas tienen un buen rato." She smiled warmly and waved us in.

Jessica glanced nervously at me. "I have no idea what she just said. Do you?"

I shook my head.

"Phew. Well, at least I'm not the only one who felt like an idiot. Oh! Look! There's Lauren." Jessica tugged at my sweater sleeve and went back to sit with Lauren, who was surrounded by boys.

Okay, there were three of them. But in my book that was practically a swarm.

"Hey, JJ. How was Mead?"

"Eh, he was okay. Nicholson?"

"Total bee-yotch. Right, Tyler?" She addressed the boy with brown hair.

"Yeah." He seemed more preoccupied with Lauren's cleavage than with the conversation. "Total bitch."

Well, she was kind of…endowed.

"She was so prissy. And her outfit, Jess. Oh my God. Someone please shoot her and bury her in a casket and get it over with, you know?" She giggled and Jessica laughed along with her.

I stood behind Jessica, dithering whether I should just go find my own seat or wait until class started.

Lauren decided for me. "Hey, guys, meet Isabella Swan. She's new." The three guys looked up from her chest to meet my eyes.

She started introducing me to her 'friends'.

"This is Tyler Crowley." She pointed out the boy with the brown hair. He waved at me. "And this is Eric." She made a face and poked him in the arm. He had black hair and lots of zits all over his face. "And this…this is Mike Newton."

He was the kid from my homeroom.

"Oh, the over-achiever. Hey." He smiled at me.

Jessica glared at me, though I didn't know why.

I waved at him. He waved back.

I stood there for an extra moment before deciding to sit down at the nearest desk. Just then, Mrs. Goff entered.

"Alright class! We will start with assigning seats!" She shut the door behind her. "I will assign you a seat, and it is where you will sit for the rest of the year. We have to be quick about it because we only have…eh, fifteen minutes or so." Right as she finished saying that, someone knocked on the door.

"One moment, por favor." She turned and let the person in

A boy, who looked to be about my age, maybe older walked in. He had tan skin with shoulder-length black hair. I looked at the other students for their reaction; he seemed to be the only one who wasn't white at this school.

"Thank you for joining us…?"

"Jacob. Jacob Black."

"Alright, Jacob, please pick a seat. We were about to start assigning seats." She smiled at him and turned to pick a clipboard.

While her back was turned, Jacob looked right at me and winked.

I slunk down in my seat, blushing furiously. I pulled some of my hair across my face and looked down at my lap.

Geesh, I embarrass myself.

"Bueno, let's start with…Jacob. You're the first on our list. Please move to this row. Yes, right at the front."

Jacob Black raised his eyebrows at me as he passed.

Mrs. Goff continued down the list. I ended up two seats behind Jessica, and an aisle away from Lauren. Mrs. Goff went over her list of rules; she kept emphasizing the fact that no gum was allowed in her classroom.

Pretty soon after she finished her story about how her fifth period class last year was the best class Spanish I class she ever had and how she expected us to live up to their standards – which of course made every one feel very welcome – the bell rang for the next class.

"Have a good day class, and be sure to bring your supplies for class tomorrow!" Mrs. Goff called as we all left.

Right.

"Hey, new girl!"

I kept walking, trying to ignore the voice of Jacob Black. Maybe he would think that I hadn't heard him or something. I hurried past a few more people.

But he caught up with me.

"Hey, Isabella." He said, tapping me on my shoulder. He sounded out of breath.

"It's Bella." I corrected.

"Bella, right."

I continued walking, waiting for him to talk first.

"You a freshman?" He asked.

I nodded.

"Sophomore. Do you need some help getting to your next class?"

I shrugged carelessly, trying to ignore the big black eyes staring directly at my person.

"What's your next class?" He asked patiently.

"Algebra." I said.

"Which teacher?"

"Uh…Philips."

He nodded. "That's on the first floor…and whaddya know, right by my next class." He acted surprised when he looked down at his schedule.

I nodded again, biting my lip.

"Guess we'll get to know each other pretty well this year, eh, Bella?" He chuckled, nudging me playfully.

I forced a smile.

"C'mon, it's just down this way."

I shuffled after him.

He led me down a staircase, and then took a left, and then a right and then down another short hallway.

"Here you go, Bella. Have a nice day." He smiled at me and entered a classroom.

I sighed in relief and entered the Algebra room. A couple people were already there. I didn't recognize anyone, which made me sort of pleased, and I took a seat near the back and right next to a window. I slid my backpack off, got out a binder and labeled it algebra.

I stared out the window while I waited for class to start.

Someone slid in next to me, and I sighed, trying to keep my concentration on the outside world.

"Still spacing out, I see." A female voice commented.

I turned to see who it was. Angela.

I nodded and went back to looking outside.

"You know, normally, I'm considered the quiet one, but you far surpass me. Maybe you can take the title of Most Quiet this year."

Really? She was considered quiet? She never stopped talking.

"See? Another person would respond to that, but you don't. I find it kind of refreshing."

I turned to her and gave her a confused look.

"Oh, you know, our school is mostly made up of talkers." She gave me a pointed glance as she got out her stuff. "But you aren't. It's like your own little world or something."

I smiled. "Lots of people at this school seem very close."

Angela tried to hide her surprise by me talking. "They are. Everyone is always hugging or laughing or kissing or tickling each other. And when someone new comes along, they're just part of the group immediately. It's like they expect you to become friends with them, like, right then."

I nodded, thinking back to Lauren's and Jessica's response to me, like we already knew each other forever.

"I was new here last year, so I know pretty well."

As if to prove her point, someone passed her and mussed her hair. Angela blushed and slapped his hand away.

"Ben, stop it." She rolled her eyes at me.

"Sorry you find my hand so offensive, Ang." He replied in mock hurt.

She rolled her eyes again and Ben sat behind us.

I tried to stifle my sigh.

"I heard from Samantha that Mr. Philips lets us pick our seats."

"That's awesome. I'm going to be bugged by you all year."

I pulled back my sweater sleeve and began fiddling with it.

"I'm not that bad, Angela." He tugged on her braid.

"This is going to be a long year," Angela moaned.

I wholeheartedly agreed.

---

"Are you sure you don't want to sit with us, Bella?" Lauren asked, as we entered the lunch room.

"I promised Alice." I shrugged at her.

"Well, you'll have to sit with us tomorrow then or sometime soon." She said as she headed off in the opposite direction.

I didn't say anything, and she kept walking away. It was like in English class, which was where we just left. She kept talking, I didn't say anything, and she didn't notice.

I leaned against the wall, wondering where Alice was. After a few minutes of restless waiting, I spotted her. She was holding hands with her boyfriend, Jasper. It was kind of weird seeing her outside the house. I walked over to her.

"Hey, Bella." She said. "I'm going to go get some lunch. Want to come with?"

I shook my head. I already had packed my lunch.

"Okay, well, our table is over there – where Rose is sitting. You see? Okay, well, I'll see in a few." She smiled, and Jasper wrapping his arm around her waist, walked over to the long lunch line.

I blushed, watching them, and then I hurried over to the table.

A couple kids watched me in shock as I made my way over to their table. Even more watched as I sat down near Rosalie. Their eyes swung over to her, awaiting her reaction.

But she didn't say anything except a simple, "Hello, Bella." And she went back to texting on her cell phone.

I bobbed my head at her in greeting, though she didn't seem to notice. That was a first for today. I decided I liked it. I got out my smushed brown paper bag out from my back pack, and laid it out on the table.

I stared at it for a second before taking out the sliced apple and juice box. The apple's white insides were now a little brown, but I liked it that way. It made it taste sweeter.

"You brought your lunch, really?" Rosalie asked as she flipped her phone off and stuck in it her pocket.

I nodded and took a bite of my apple.

Rosalie grunted and played with a straw wrapper.

Someone tapped me on the shoulder. I turned. Jessica.

"Hiya, Isabella. How was the rest of your –" and then she faked surprise. "Oh, hello Rosalie. How are you today?"

"Fine."

Jessica looked absolutely delighted at the response. "Well, I hope you sit with us soon, Bella. And, of course, Rosalie, you're always invited."

She nodded and got out her cell phone again.

"Bye, Isabella." She tapped me once more on the shoulder and bounced away.

"She seems nice." Rosalie observed.

I shrugged. "She's been following me all day."

Rosalie laughed. I smiled and took another bite of my apple.

Alice slide in next to me then, Jasper on the other side of her. She had gotten a taco salad and strawberry milk.

"Yo, Bella. How was your day?"

Rosalie answered for me. "She's being stalked by a freshman."

Alice raised her eyebrows at me. "Boy?"

"No, girl." Rosalie replied.

Alice looked disappointed. "Well, I guess the sweater didn't work then."

"Oh, don't worry. I saw plenty of guys checking her out." Rosalie comforted. She winked at me, while I stared at my apple in horror.

Apple, why must I be surrounded by weirdos?

Alice squealed. "Yay! Bella's becoming a hottie!"

I winced.

"Who's becoming a hottie?" Emmett broke in. He slid into the seat on the other side of me, next to Rosalie.

"Bella."

Emmett laughed and clapped me hard on the back. I almost choked on my apple.

"Oh, sorry."

"It's okay."

"So Bella's becoming a hottie. How do we know?"

"Oh, you know, guys checking out her ass. The usual." Rosalie said.

Again, I looked down at Apple in horror.

"Rose, watch the language." Alice scolded.

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever. Bella can stand it." She winked at me.

"Well, you know I don't like it."

"Don't like what?" A new voice broke in.

I dared look up from Apple. Edward.

I tried not wonder to much about why I blushed.

"Rose cursing. Or you cursing. You're the worst of them all."

Edward snorted and sat in the seat across from me. I took a deep breath and held it for five seconds, before letting it go.

"Hello, Bella." Edward smiled politely before he dug into his spaghetti with abandon.

"Hi," I replied shyly. I was so quiet I could barely hear myself.

Edward smiled at me again before taking another bite.

His smile was a nice smile. I liked his smile.

Smile, smile, smile…

I had a sudden memory of Dad; it hit me with a sudden force that I lost my breath for a second.

"C'mon Bella. Let's go play some ball." He smiled that reckless smile, his skin crinkling up, and his eyes sparkling.

Dad had always loved baseball.

I had always hated baseball. I would much rather play on the computer or watch T.V. then do it.

But when Dad smiled like that, I was helpless.

Groaning, I stood up slowly from the computer chair. "Fine."

He smiled even wider.

"'Atta girl, Bells. Go get dressed. I'll wait down here."

I pulled back violently from the memory. Tears had suddenly filled my eyes. I stood up abruptly from the table, and ignoring the stunned looks, I left behind my lunch, and ran out of the cafeteria. I looked around wildly for a bathroom to hide in.

I went down the hallway corridor I was currently in. After I passed a few doors, I found one.

There were a few older girls in there, checking their make-up.

As I passed, one of them asked, "Hey, are you okay?"

I ignored them and went all the way down to the last stall.

I slammed it shut behind me and locked it. I leaned against the toilet, trying to weep as softly as possible.

I heard echoes of the girls voices from down the way.

"I hope she's alright." The girl from before asked.

"She's probably PMSing or something. C'mon, let's go." Another girl said.

"Okay." She sounded a bit guilty. I heard some shuffling, a door opening, and then silence.

I waited a few moments before letting loose.

Sobs made shudder hard. My pain ached with loss and missing him.

I want my daddy. I want my daddy. I want my daddy back.

I slammed my fists against the wall, trying to make the pain go away. If I could spend the rest of my life numb, I would.

…

I don't know how many minutes passed before Alice was there.

"Bella?" Her voice called.

I stifled my cries, trying to hide. It was hard. I couldn't breathe.

"Bella? Please come out." Alice's voice sounded desperate.

I shook harder. I bit my lip so hard the skin broke and I was bleeding.

I was embarrassed. Maybe if I kept quiet enough, she would go away, and I could cry in peace…

"Bella. I know you're in here. Please come out."

"A-a-alice?" I finally said.

"Bella." Her voice sounded relieved.

"I'm in the last stall."

"Okay." Her footsteps came quickly. She shook the stall door gently. "Bella, the door's locked. You have to open it."

I stood shakily up, having to grip the toilet for support. My hand was shaking as I unlocked the door.

Alice looked worriedly up at me.

I threw myself at her, sobbing into her neck. Her smell made me feel safer. I tried to sniff harder. She smelled like cinnamon – like Christmas.

"What's wrong, Bella?" She soothed, smoothing my hair down.

"I-I-I miss my d-d-dad." I snuffled.

"Really?"

I nodded.

"We were worried we said something wrong." She patted my back.

I shook my head.

"I h-had a m-memory of my dad. I-It hurts, Alice. It hurts so bad."

"I know. I know how you feel."

I pulled back to see her face. She was crying too.

"I don't have a dad either, remember?

Right then, I felt like Alice got me. She understood where I was coming from.

I felt like our relationship changed at that moment.

---

The rest of the day passed in a blur. After Alice calmed me down, she made me look presentable enough to leave the bathroom and go back to the lunchroom. When I returned the table, there was an awkward silence. But Emmett made it go away when he brought up the totally random topic about squirrels and what they were doing to the environment.

Everyone laughed. After a while, things settled down, and everyone glanced at me every fifteen seconds instead of five. Alice glanced at me once in a while as if to check on me, and I gave her a reassuring look in return.

When lunch had finished up, Lauren and Jessica practically attacked me with questions about why I ran out of the lunchroom earlier. I shrugged off their questions and went to go look for my next class. I got lost looking for my science class, but a helpful teacher pointed me in the right direction. It turned out Mike was in that class as well; thankfully I didn't have to sit by him. I sat happily half-way across the room.

My freak-out was still in my mind as I went to the rest of my classes. It made the day drag on unnecessarily. I hoped I would eventually gain enough self-control over my emotions that I wouldn't have to go to the bathroom and sob every time I had a memory of my Dad.

But finally the day ended. Aunt Esme was waiting outside for us in her car.

"So, how was everybody's first day back?"

Alice glanced back at me and turned on the radio. "It was great."

Aunt Esme looked back at me for conformation.

"Yeah. Fantastic."

She smiled at me.

"Well, that's good, because you're going to have to go back tomorrow!"

Alice groaned good-naturedly. I just smiled. Or I tried an approximation of a smile.

--

When I went to bed, I wept quietly into my pillow.

I really didn't want to go to school tomorrow.

TRANSLATIONS:

chicas = girls
Espero que las niñas tienen un buen rato = I hope you girls have a good time
Por favor = please
Bueno = Ok, well

As always, review! :) It would be much appreciated!