I managed to survive until lunchtime. Prue, the blonde-haired girl who had sat behind me in Trigonometry, and Cassie, the red-head, seemed to have firmly attached themselves to me, making it their responsibility that I didn't get mobbed. It worked fairly well, instead of nerdy boys hanging onto my words I had a couple of their friends casually trying to walk along with me.
As we sat down at a table, I noticed that Danny, Leo and basketball jock were already there, having a rather animated discussion on baseball. They stopped in their conversation as I sat down opposite them, flanked by Prue and Cassie.
"Hey Nessa," Leo said, breaking the silence. "How was English?"
I pulled a face. "Dull."
Danny and basketball jock sighed in empathy. "Well we had gym," basketball jock said eagerly. Leo and Danny flicked his head.
"Ugh, gym," I groaned. Cassie nodded as if to say she could see that already. Well, I was physically able to do most things in gym. I had a bit of a mental block though.
Prue laughed. "Well you're good at English. I'm lucky I sit next to you. I'm terrible." Cassie giggled, patting Prue's arm.
"Oh yes," she agreed. "I had her all last year, nightmare child." She tutted affectionately. I drank slowly from my soda, admiring the way everyone seemed to be so cheerful even in the silence. Then I saw thunder cross Danny's face.
I heard a crunching as he squeezed his milk carton. The milk trickled down his arm, not that he noticed. I was wondering whether I should question his sanity. "Bloody Cheswins," he muttered. Prue followed his gaze, also glaring.
"Who does she think she is?" she growled.
"Look at him, prancing around," Danny said through gritted teeth. "Prat."
I tried to see what they were looking at. "Er, what?" Their eyes flickered momentarily towards mine before glaring back at the Cheswins.
"Nicole and Matthew Cheswin," Cassie told me. "Rich kids, joined last year. Nobody likes them, except for a couple of the wannabes." I studied them.
Nicole was an exceptionally stunning brunette with golden skin and just a little too much make up. Matthew was almost her opposite, pale, greasy-haired with small watery green eyes. I took an instant dislike to him from the way he swaggered. And the way he tapped someone on the back as he walked past, just to get them to notice him.
"They seem… odd," I admitted. Nicole seemed to be the envy of most of the girls in the year. "But she's very pretty." I heard an angry noise coming from Prue.
"Got nothing on you," Prue hissed. "She looks like fat, ugly frogspawn next to you."
"Don't we all," Cassie sighed.
Grimacing, I wondered what they'd say if they met Rosalie.
"Luke went out with Nicole in her first term," Leo added, keeping the conversation going. I blinked.
"He did?" I gasped, trying not to let them know that I wasn't sure who Luke was. Basketball jock looked sheepish. I switched my gaze. "You did?"
Luke grinned. "Well, she was pretty cute…" He ducked his head. Danny stopped glaring at Matthew Cheswick to chuckle at him. When Luke emerged his cheeks were bright red. "She was quite nice too, at first."
"How would you know?" Leo asked, a glint in his eye. "You never really spoke to her. It was much more… physical." Danny and Leo sniggered as Luke's cheeks burned. "She was a good kisser, was she?"
"As if you don't know!" Luke said hotly. Leo rolled his eyes.
"He's still angry because she dumped Luke to go after him," Danny explained. Leo groaned.
"She attacked first and asked questions later!" he said indignantly. "I didn't kiss her back, I swear!"
It was Luke's turn to chuckle. "She is pretty good-looking, Leo. And, after all, you're only human." Everyone laughed at Leo's reddening cheeks. Danny pinched his cheeks affectionately.
"Aw. Poor Lee-Lee."
"Shut it," he grumbled. Prue looked sideways at me, conveying something with her eyes that I couldn't decipher.
"Hey Nessa," she said loudly, an invitation for the rest of the group to listen. "How's about you meet up with us on Saturday? We'll mainly go around Forks, but later we have our first term party." I tried to remember the weather forecast. I would have to ask Alice.
"Sure," I said, beaming. "Let me ask my mom first though. So protective." That seemed a normal enough reason. Everyone nodded in empathy.
"My mom wouldn't let me buy my first pair of heels until I was fifteen," Cassie said angrily. "I need high heels! I am so short!"
"I wouldn't say short, Cassie," Prue said kindly. "Fun size."
"I only made it over five foot two last year," Cassie groaned. "And now I've, like, stopped growing."
Luke grinned. "At least you won't be a basketball player."
Cassie laughed a lot louder than she should have and smiled at him. Even I could spot the early days of romance, but it looked like they weren't together, yet.
"Hey I'll text you the times after school, alright?" Cassie said. I hadn't realised we were getting up, lunch must have finished. "I need your number though."
"Yeah." I scribbled my number onto her hand. "I can't wait." I grinned, feeling normal.
Suddenly I remembered that I wasn't normal. I was a hybrid, a weirdo, even by vampire terms. It hit me quite hard. I stood up quickly, silently, and found my way out. Then I stopped, took a deep breath, and tried to calm myself down.
Leo appeared behind me.
"Are you alright?"
I rolled my eyes. "Yes I'm fine."
"Where are you going now?"
"Oh… Spanish."
"Hasta mañana," he said, grinning. I rolled my eyes again, smiling slightly.
"Adios." Even in the mood I was in, I couldn't help beaming back at him, like he was literally radiating happiness. Then he shoved his hands in his pockets and quickly walked off in the other direction.