Chapter 2 - Déjà vu

Edward and I managed to get the same schedule, when I say, managed, I do mean he dazzled his way into the heart of the guidance counselor and convinced her to switch all his classes to match mine. So after lunch we headed to Biology, a walk we used to make everyday almost 20 years ago. The same shocking energy flowed between us; I loved him more and more everyday. The only thing different now was my hand felt warm enclosed in his and their wasn't an ounce of doubt as their had been before - this was forever.

We took the same table we'd shared before, he sat to my left, and I to his right. Even little Mike Newton sat in the back of the room. I kissed Edward on the cheek before settling into my seat before the bell rang. Mrs. Cole was starting to pass out microscopes for the day's lab. I already knew we were going to be identifying the cells of an onion; I could smell the pungent odor from underneath the damp paper towel keeping it moist.

"Does this feel a little like déjà vu to you too?" I asked Edward.

"Yes!" He answered.

"Do you think we should pretend to get some wrong?"

"No, this time you are going to get better grades."

Being a vampire changed me - I remembered everything I saw, smelt, and tasted. It would be harder to get bad grades than good ones, and when you don't sleep there is no excuse to not getting your homework done. I hoped that maybe one of these teachers would give me an assignment I hadn't already completed or assign a book I haven't already read. It could happen, right?

We finished looking and naming the slides before the rest of the class had even completed the first. Being able to see the slides without the microscope does make a big difference. But we went through the motions while having a conversation in a voice low enough for no one to hear what we were saying.

"How's Renesmee?" I asked.

"You know how she feels about me checking in on her."

"Just tell me, I already know you're doing it. You read minds, I read you!" I said and poked him in the chest a little harder than I was meaning to. His chair tipped back but he was on his feet before anyone could see.

"Be careful, we're still the new kids and everyone is watching us."

"I'm sorry."

"It seems that attraction to you runs in the Newton family." Edward said, as he rolled his eyes in Mike's way.

"What do you mean?"

"Mike Newton. He can't stop thinking about you, comparing him to me." He said. "He seems to think I am not good enough for you. Any of this sounds familiar?"

"Stop it! You are changing the subject. Renesmee?"

"It seems that not much has changed in Forks over the last 20 years. All the boys want to be Jacob and all the girls want to be her."

"But how is she?"

"She is fine. Jacob won't let anything happen to her."

It was hard to pretend to not be your daughter's mother, but to not to, meant either exposing how not normal we were, or Nessie and Jacob would have to be alone.

After biology we met up with Jacob and Ness and headed to gym class; another treat Edward had dazzled us into. Gym was the hardest of all classes to pretend in - part of being vampire or werewolf nature was to be entirely too competitive and stronger than any human teenager. At least if we paired together and played against each other we could have a small amount of fun. Edward had it set up so that the other four would have gym together too 0 at least until we all got used to playing nice.

In gym Mr. Boone gave out locker assignments and uniforms, and then sent us all to the locker rooms to change. I traded lockers with the girls next to Nessie, so we could be together. I was going to ask Edward later when she was asleep how she felt about it.

"Mom, I mean Bells?"

"Yeah Ness?" I chuckled at hearing the nickname Jacob and Charlie used for me coming from her.

"Am I going to be okay?" I could see the concern in her eyes and when she touched her hand to my cheek I saw she was afraid she was going to hurt one of the children.

"Of course baby, just pretend you are playing with Grandpa or Grandma."

I could see how my words comforted her; she was 17 years old but still so much my little girl. "Aunt Alice said everything was going to be fine." I reminded her.

Mr. Boone blew his coaches whistle and yelled for everyone to meet in the gym. Memories of my mortal clumsiness overwhelmed me; this time I was going to be better at sports.

"You're lucky you didn't inherit my balance and grace kid!" I said to Renesmee as I pulled her back out to the gym. Seeing Edward's pale skin in shorts and a tank top was a sight I'd never experienced before, you never notice how white we are until you get a good look at us under fluorescent lighting.

"Don't even start." He said to me.

"You don't look so bad." I said - I lied.

He looked strangely uncomfortable and more aware of his skin pigmentation - or lack their of. I chuckled. He scowled.

"It's okay, we match." I said holding my leg up to his. He wrapped his arm around my leg and picked me up in to the air, he spun me around and set me back down before anyone really knew what had happened. All they saw was him and I laughing, Jake and Ness rolling their eyes, and Mr. Boone; who didn't look happy at all.

"Sorry Mr. Boone." Edward apologized as he still laughed with his gold flecked eyes.

The rest of the class went by slowly; free for all was what Mr. Boone has called it. A group of boys asked Jacob to join them in their basketball game. He looked to the rest of us as if asking for permission.

"Go ahead." I encouraged him, "just be careful." I reminded him. With Jacob it wasn't so much a concern him hurting someone, as much as someone hurting them self on him; like I did the one time I tried to hurt Jacob as a human. The wolves were hard; unless covered in fur. None of the rest of us got asked to join in any games, we just watched Jacob; and Nessie cheered him on.

"Go Jacob" She'd yell, whenever he had the ball. I could see him struggling to find the balance between too good, not good enough, and average. He was 6'7" now, he had to be good, but if he ran too fast or jumped too high he risked the possibility of unwanted attention. The concern read clearly on his face, he'd hear the encouragement from me or Nessie and especially Edward and he'd know he was doing okay. Slowly more kids stopped the games they were playing and for the last 45 minutes joined us watching the game - we blended in - like all the rest of them. Any time I would start to feel awkward I'd remind my self of the days when I was human - I felt just as awkward then. I truly believed with all my unbeating heart that we'd make it through.