Chapter 9- butterflies and strength
Bella's POV
Edward grabbed my hand and never let go as he drove my truck to school. Butterflies fluttered in my stomach, both through nervousness over what was coming and the fact that Edward held my hand. His touch was cold, but irresistible. I never wanted him to let go, so I clung tight as we got ever closer to the Forks high school. I panicked slightly as we turned into the student parking lot, my breathing quickened and I squeezed Edward's hand harder than before, I could feel the sweat coming off my palms. What was the school going to think? My friends? The teachers? News would travel fast, before long everyone would know. All the attention would be back on me again. Edward noticed the fear that had consumed me, and stopped the truck in a parking spot. He turned to me and held my head between his hands. "Everything is going to be fine Bella. People will understand and then after a couple of days we can start to move on. I love you Bella and I won't let anything happen to you". Edward kissed my head a couple of times and then led me out of the car and into reception.
When we entered I immediately noticed Charlie sat in one of the plastic chairs next to the principal's office door. Charlie ushered me to take the seat next to him, but before I had managed to sit down the door opened and the head teacher emerged. "Mr. Swan, Miss Swan… and who do we have here Mr. Edward Cullen isn't it?"He said shaking each of our hands and sounding rather surprised to see Edward was accompanying us. "Would you like to take a seat inside?" the three of us followed the principal into his office and sat down in the chairs placed at the other side of his untidy desk. Edward sat on my left and Charlie on my right. Both held my hand, but I couldn't help but feel anxious. "So then Bella, What is it you wanted to talk about?" he began. I sat in silence, unsure of where to begin.
Charlie answered for me though. "Bella needs to tell you about something that happened a little while ago, with Mike Newton. I feel it is important the school is informed of what has happened so that Bella can receive the support she needs and that other students understand the dangers of this boy, if they should happen to know where he is." I winced at the thought of Mike hurting another person. The principal looked slightly taken aback at the accusation my dad had just made about the boy who had always appeared to be friendly, and a decent student. But he was prepared to listen none the less. "Start at the beginning then Bella" he ushered. I took a big gulp and then started telling how Mike reeled me in and then attacked me. Once again I left out the part that I had been stabbed, feeling it wasn't necessary for people to know and not wanting Carlisle to get in to trouble for treating me on his own. I was crying again by the time I had finished, and could see the look on the head teachers face.
He was stunned, and shocked, but I could tell he believed every word I had said. By the way he put his head in his hands, for a couple of seconds, before speaking. "Miss Swan, Bella. I am so very sad that this has happened to you, and we as a school and a community are going to offer you as much support as we can. It's important you tell us if you need help Bella, and I wish we knew about this earlier. We will tell the school about Mr. Newton, but we won't include your name, for confidentiality reasons. I take it Edward is here to look after you; we all need friends Bella especially at a time like this." He said. The principal was shaking his head still, clearly gob smacked that all this had happened. "T-thank you" I squeaked, my voice still high from crying.
"Do Mr. and Mrs. Newton know all this yet?" the principal asked looking at Charlie. "No, not yet a couple of my colleagues are visiting them in about an hour" Dad replied. "They will be so upset, the poor Newton's how could their son put them through this and you're family too". He said with sympathy. "Me and Bella should probably get to class" Edward suddenly spoke. "Oh, you don't have to return today miss swan, you may go home if you like", this was strange since when did the head of a school turn round and say I didn't have to stay. "Um if it's ok I would like to be here when you tell the school, if I'm missing, it will be obvious who it was, also I want to get back to normal, and Edward has promised to look after me". The principal smiled at me, and Charlie gave me a small wink of approval. "Of course Bella if that is what you want". I nodded and Edward and I left the principal talking to Charlie.
We made our way to our next lessons. Edward had Spanish, I had Trig. He walked me all the way to class and waited at the door to pick me up an hour later. I managed to give a small smile as we entered the canteen for lunch. Edward ushered me over to the table where the rest of the Cullens' sat. "I see it went ok then" Alice said giving me a quick hug as I took a seat next to her. "As well as it could" Edward answered. I wasn't really paying much attention though; instead I was looking over at the table where Angela, Eric, and Tyler sat. Jess wasn't there. "Damn it", I said out loud. All the Cullens' turned to stare at me. "What? What is it Bella?" Edward said, clearly worried. "Um nothing much, sorry. It's just I wanted to talk to Angela and Jess, before they heard from the principal what happened with Mike. I need to explain my outburst the other day. They're my friends and they have a right to know firsthand. I wanted to tell them together. But it looks like I'll have to talk to them separately". The Cullen's, especially Edward let out a sigh of relief. "Do you want me to be there with you? When you tell them" Edward asked smoothing down the back of my hair. "No, I think I should be alright by myself, it's only Angela. But thanks". I said getting up from my seat.
I made my way to where Angela was sat. "Can I have a word, please, in private" I asked feeling slightly awkward. "Sure Bella" Angela answered, immediately getting up and following me out into the deserted corridor. "What is it Bella? Is everything ok? What was wrong the other day?" she asked all at once. "Um that's sort of what I wanted to talk to you and Jessica about, do you know where she is?"I said. "Sorry Bella, no I gave her a ring this morning but no one answered, she must be ill or something" Angela said slightly curious. "Oh, ok, I'll have to talk to her later. It's just I wanted to explain about the other day. Well a little while ago, Mike Newton attacked me; it was the night he disappeared. That's why I lost it in class" I continued to explain what had happened that night in Portland "I just wanted you to know before you found out from someone else, the principal is going to make an announcement, warning people, but you're my friend and I wanted you to know. I don't want to keep things from you, and Jess was close with Mike, I didn't want to upset her either." I finished.
Angela just looked at me for what seemed an age and then suddenly lunged forward clinging onto my neck. "Oh my gosh Bella, I'm so sorry, are you ok? I can't believe it, how could he do such a thing? If you need anything just ask." She said into my ear. "Actually there is one thing. Please can you not tell the others, it's just I don't want everyone knowing that it was me Mike hurt. I'll tell Jessica when I see her, but I would appreciate it if you didn't mention it to anyone else" I asked slightly embarrassed. "Of course I won't" Angela replied. I thanked her, before walking back into the canteen and taking my seat back at the Cullen table. I nodded my head at Edward to show him I was ok and then sat for the rest of the hour listening to the others talk normally.
Edward and I made our way to Biology. I took my usual seat next to him, and Angela gave me a small smile from where she sat. I acknowledged her, before turning to hear what Mr. Melina was saying. Half way through the lesson a boy came in with a bit of paper, he gave it to our teacher and asked him to read it aloud to the class. I knew what it was going to say and clung to Edward's hand underneath the table. Angela gave me a reassuring glance from across the room. Mr. Melina began to read. "There has been an incident in the last month, which involves a number of students' from this school. We would like to make all students aware that Mike Newton a boy who used to attend here attacked a female student severely, one evening, before he disappeared. The local police are doing everything they can to find this boy, but would like to warn student's that he is dangerous and if they know where he is or see him somewhere, they should contact the police and not approach him them self. Please take extra care when out, Mr. Greene, The principal. The whole room erupted into talk, everyone was muttering about what Mr. Melina had just read. Edward and I sat quietly, still clutching each other under the table. I would be happy to go home tonight, where Edward and I wouldn't have to hide all our feelings from everyone.
When the bell rang for the end of class, I decided I would skip gym and go home early with Edward instead, or maybe I would call Jess and see if she was ok for visitors this evening. It seemed important to me that the people, who needed to know, knew, then after today we could start living again. Me and Edward could be together, and Mike wouldn't be a problem anymore until he decided to come back. We could deal with that when the time came.