All things Twilight belong to Stephanie Meyer, On Raglan Road belongs to Patrick Kavanagh. No Copyright infringement is intended.

Song: On Raglan Road by Van Morrison.

When I got home from school charlie wasn't there. I noticed a note stuck to the refrigerator.

Bella,

won't be home from work until 6:30. I'll get something to eat, I left money on the counter for you to get dinner.

Charlie.

Ok guess I don't need to make dinner tonight. I sighed wondering what I was going to do. I only had a small amount of homework so I decided to get that out of the way. When I was finished I ordered a pizza from one of the many menus that Charlie had in one of the drawers in the kitchen.

I watched tv until it arrived, after finishing the pizza I went up stairs and decided to read for a while. I was two pages in when I heard the front door open.

"Bella?" Charlie yelled from downstairs.

"Yeah, I'm upstairs."

"Okay." I heard him say in a normal tone, no more yelling.

A few minutes later I heard the television switch on downstairs. I tried to refocus on the book in my hands but I soon realised that I was no longer interested in reading. I sat the book on the floor and lay down on my back on the bed. I lay still doing nothing for a few minutes until my mind started to drift.

I was surprised to fin that it drifted to Mr Cullen. I didn't understand exactly what happened. The moment he started to talk in the classroom today everyone knew he was different, unlike the rest of the teachers, maybe it was because he was so much younger.

I always got along well with my teachers, I was a good student, quiet,polite,slightly intelligent. I done my work and I didn't disrupt the class. Teachers always liked me, they were kind but not like Mr Cullen was.

They never went out of their way to get to know me or ask if I was okay or to reassure me. I could never talk to them with as much ease as I had with Mr cullen. In all honesty I hadn't talked to much people like I had with Mr Cullen.

I was a shy person,I wouldn't start a conversation with someone, they would have to speak first. It's how I've always been. I didn't know Mr Cullen at all and yet I had talked to him, told him things that I hadn't told anyone else since I had arrived in Forks.

Mr Cullen was...I'm not sure exactly what he was, different maybe. I didn't know anything about him and yet I felt like I could trust him. It was weird

I dosed of early, before Charlie went to bed. I guess the sleepless nights had finally caught up with me. I was hoping that I was so tired that I would have a dreamless sleep. It didn't work out that way.

It was a different dream than the last few nights. This time I wasn't in the Car with Daniel.

We were at home in Phoenix, sitting on the couch in the living room watching a movie. I sat beside Daniel. I turned to look at him and he smiled at me. I turned my attention back to the movie. Watching the characters sing and dance. I recognised the movie, I knew I had seen it before but I couldn't remember what it was called.

"Daniel, whats the name of this movie again?" I asked turning my head towards Daniel. I froze at what I saw. He sat staring at me eyes wide with fear. A trickle of blood rolled down his forehead onto his face. He didn't try to wipe it away he just sat staring at me.

"Daniel.." I whispered. I didn't know what to do. Suddenly small cuts started to appear on his face. They appeared out of nowhere as if some invisible force was cutting him right on front of my eyes only I couldn't see them or stop them.

Daniel opened his mouth and spoke the words "Help Me." except no sound came out it was as if he had lost his voice. I started to panic

"DANIEL!" I screamed.

I awoke with a fright my heart pounding in my chest, covered in sweat.I didn't cry. I looked over at the clock on my side table it read 04:37 am. So much for a dreamless sleep.

I pushed the blankets off my legs and stood up from the bed and headed towards the bathroom to shower, hoping the water would some how wash the nightmare from my memory.

Breakfast just seemed to be the most awkward part of my day. It usually consisted of awkward silence or awkward small talk, both of which were well...awkward. I can't really blame Charlie it wasn't his fault.

The problem was we were too alike, we didn't talk much and when in the same room alone with one another we both remained quiet but attempted to talk. it didn't work.

So it was a relief when It came the time to leave for school, I practically ran out the door shouting a goodbye behind me. I sighed with relief, to finally be on my way to school.

I was excited, which is completely weird for me, I could try and tell myself that the reason for my excitement was the beautiful opportunity to meet new people or learn new things, but that is complete bull crap. I knew exactly why I couldn't wait to get to school...Mr Cullen.

I knew it was bad that I wanted to see him and I kept telling myself that my excitement was because I was interested in his class and what he was going to teach. I wasn't really falling for it.

Nothing much happened throughout the day, I avoided Mike and now his girlfriend Jessica because it seems that after yesterday she really didn't like me. Everytime I passed her in the hallway she gave me the stink eye.

Everything was the same as the last few days except for one thing. I was sitting in miss Shellie's Art class and this girl named Angela sat beside me. I had seen her all week, but we had not spoken.

We talked for the entire class. She seemed so friendly. She was tall, thin and had straight shoulder length brown hair and a heart shaped face.

She didn't ask why I moved or anything too personal, we simply talked about books,school,music, movies and I enjoyed it. After the class she asked if I wanted to eat lunch with her and I said yes.

It was nice of her to invite me to her table and it would be rude to refuse but more importantly I wanted to sit with her. I liked Angela.

We sat at a table near the back of the a round table with six chairs. it was just me Angela and her boyfriend Ben who seemed just as kind as Angela. I thought it would be weird sitting with them that maybe I'd feel a bit left out like a loner, the third wheel but Angela made sure to include me.

"So have you joined any school clubs yet Bella?" Angela asked fro across the table.

"Erm...No, Clubs aren't really my thing." I smiled. "Are you in any clubs?"

"Yeah, I'm in the Photography club." She smiled.

"Oh well that explains the camera." I smiled pointing to the camera that hung around Angela's neck. I don't know much about camera's but I could tell that her's seemed expensive.

"Oh this thing is my baby." She laughed picking up her camera and waving it around.

"I have it with me all the time you never know when the perfect photo opportunity may arise! Seriously though you should consider joining a club, what do you like to do in your free time?"

"Oh not much really, I draw a little, but I haven't done that in a long time, I mostly just listen to music or read." I shrugged.

"Do you play any instruments?"

" A little piano, but I'm not very good." I laughed thinking of how my mother had heard Debussy on the Radio one morning when I was eight and she forced me and Daniel to take lessons, we both hated it.

I managed to stick it out longer than Daniel, he lasted three weeks, I lasted just under a year.

"Well we don't have any clubs you would like other than a book club." She said.

"Yeah I prefer to read alone! besides I'm not sure I'll have much free time I'm thinking about getting an after School job." I offered.

"Oh really I heard the local library, is looking for new staff." She said excitedly.

" Really?" I asked.

"Yeah, I mean it's small, and there isn't much in it but if you like to read, Maybe you should check it out."

"Yeah, I think I will actually. Thanks Angela!" I gave her a genuine smile just as the bell rang.

I was happier than I've been in a while. I couldn't stop the smile that spread across my face as I walked from the cafeteria.

When English arrived I stopped outside of the class room door out of view. My hands were sweating and my heart was racing in my chest. I wiped my hands on my jeans and laughed at myself before entering the class room.

I walked past his desk trying and failing not to stare. He was bent over his desk rummaging through his brief case he looked up when I walked passed him and we locked eyes.

I smiled a nervous smile and he gave me a crooked grin in return, My heart melted could I be more pathetic. I continued walking and staring at him and it was going great until my stupid foot got caught on the leg of Mr Cullens stupid desk.

I tripped and fell flat on my face, on front of the entire class...and Mr Cullen. I could hear people laughing in the backround.

And I felt my face burning red, it felt like it was on fire. I wanted to die right there. I was still on the floor when I felt someone touch my back and kneel down beside me.

"Are you okay." A sweet honey unbelievable God like voice asked from beside me. I wanted to die even more than I did before.Could this get any worse.

"I'm fine" I groaned out, pushing myself up with my hands so that I was sitting on the floor rather than lying on it. I pushed my hair from my face.

I looked up at Mr Cullen realising how close he was we were practically face to face, I could smell him from were I was, he smelt like honey and fresh cut grass. I inhaled as much as I could without looking like I was some weirdo who sniffed people.

I pushed down on my hands pulling myself up from the floor. Mr Cullen placed his hand on my arm to help me up. When I was standing he asked again if I was okay.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine..perfect, happens all the time." I rushed out becoming even redder. The snickers in the backround became louder.

"Your sure." Mr Cullen asked looking concerned I noticed that he was still holding onto my arm.

"Yeah i'm good." I mumbled.

"Okay." he said releasing my arm. I felt like I had lost something as if something was missing as soon as he let go of my arm. It still tingled. I turned away from him and started to walk towards my seat at the back.

Everyone was still snickering and the blonde who sat at the front, Lauren said "Watch you don't trip." as I walked passed her, that started everyone into another round of laughter. God..Put me out of my misery.

I was contemplating turning around and leaving the classroom but before I could Mr Cullen yelled. "QUIET, NOW!"

Everyone stopped laughing and I turned to see him string at Lauren and the class looking extremely angry.

I reached my table without any more mishaps and took my seat. I sat at the table and put my head on my arms to cover my still red face.

Angela whispered from the seat beside me "Bella are you okay?"

"Yeah Angela I'm fine, really." I mumbled.

"Okay on to work, everyone." Mr Cullen said in a much calmer tone than before.

" There is a set course that I must teach you and what usually happens is that all the english teachers get together and choose, what they are going to teach and when they will teach it, but I think that is completely and utterly boring, nobody want's to do the same as everyone else especially me so, I decided to do things my way.

while the other teacher's focus on their play, a Shakespeare one, I decided to do poetry, for the people that like poetry,Yay, for those that don't though luck,get over it." everyone laughed.

I lifted my head up from my arms and looked at Mr Cullen, he was sitting on the edge of his desk looking out at the class, completely relaxed.

I liked poetry and I couldn't wait to see what he had for us.

He stood from his desk and picked up a pile of sheets.

"Oh and one more thing, feel free to call me Edward if you like, whichever you are more comfortable with I don't mind, just don't call me Eddie, or you will be receiving F's for the rest of the year." Everyone laughed again as he walked towards the front row and started handing out the sheets of paper.

When he reached my desk he smiled as he placed the sheet down on front of me and I blushed. When he walked away towards another desk I looked down at the sheet of paper and smiled.

There on the A4 page on my desk sat the poem On Raglan Road by Patrick Kavanagh. I couldn't stop the smile that was on my face, Kavanagh was one of my favorite poets, I loved his poetry.

And On Raglan Road was one of my favorite poems.

I was still smiling like a maniac, I hadn't smiled this much in I don't know how long.I looked up at Edward..Mr Cullen only to see him standing at the front of the class looking at me. I blushed and looked away. I focused intently on the poem on front of me.

On Raglan Road.

On Raglan Road on an autumn day I met her first and

Knew

That her dark hair would weave a snare that I might

one day rue;

I saw the danger, yet I walked along the enchanted way,

And I said, let grief be a fallen leaf at the dawning of

the day.

On Grafton Street in November we tripped lightly along

the ledge

Of the deep ravine where can be seen the worth of

passion's pledge,

This Queen of Hearts still making tarts and I not making hay-

O I loved too much an by such by such is happiness

thrown away.

I gave her gifts of the mind I gave her the secret sign

that's known

To the artists who have known true gods of sound

and stone

And word and tint. I did not stint for I gave her poems

to say

With her own name there and her own dark hair like

clouds over fields of May.

On a quiet street where old ghosts meet I see her walking

now.

Away from me so hurriedly my reason must allow

That I had wooed not as I should a creature made of

clay-

When the angel woos the clay he'd lose his wings at the

dawn of day.

"Has anybody read this poem before" Mr Cullen asked looking out at the class. I was the only one who raised my hand.

"Well, has anyone ever heard of Patrick Kavanagh?" Three people raised their hands he nodded to a boy at the front with his hand raised.

"He was a poet, wasn't he?"

"He was indeed a poet, an Irish one,a very famous poet." he smiled at the class.

"Can anybody tell me anything else about Kavanagh?" he asked, nobody raised their hand.

I knew lot's about Kavanagh but I really didn't want to raise my hand and draw attention to myself. My plan was to shut up and keep quiet however than plan fell to pieces as soon as Mr Cullen looked at me.

He had a look in his eyes that said - I know, you know something else about him. It was almost as if he knew I loved this poem, maybe he did, I didn't know but what I did know was that he knew something and he expected me to answer his question.Crap!

He was still looking at me.

"Patrick Kavanagh was as you said an Irish Poet, and also a farmer,born in Dublin in 1904 and died in 1967 .Most of the poems he wrote were usually about real things that he had experienced and he is most well known for his use of evocative imagery."

I felt like a text book God Daniel would be laughing at me so much right now.

Mr Cullen however was smiling.

"Good, you are completely correct, for those in the class who do not know what evocative imagery means, please explain." he asked me with a smile.

I took a deep breath.

"It's when reading the poem his words automatically conjure up an image in your mind like "On a quiet street where old ghosts meet I see her walking

now." While reading those lines you can almost see a woman walking along a quiet street. His words have the power to allow the reader to see and understand what he is trying to say. He allows you to feel as if you were there seeing it."

"Again correct ms Swan." he smiled.

" I want everyone to spend five minutes reading over the poem and then tell me what it is about." He said looking over at the class. He was once again sitting on the edge of his desk.

I didn't need to read over the poem, I already knew exactly what it was about but I looked over it anyway. I didn't want Edward to think I was bored by his class because on the contrary I was intrigrued.

Eventually he spoke again.

"Okay so can anyone tell me what are the themes of this poem?" he asked the class.

"Love" a girl from the front said.

"Yes" Mr Cullen nodded to her with a smile.

"Anything else."

"Loss of love." A guy from the front row eric I think his name was.

"Very good. anything else?"

"The past." A blonde haired girl said.

"Yes it's all of these but there is one theme in particular that I'm looking for does anyone know what it is?" he asked the class.

Nobody said anything. Just as Mr Cullen opened his mouth to tell us the answer I spoke up.

"...Regret?.." I asked it more like a question, unsure if this was the answer he was looking for.

"Yes, exactly...REGRET!" he beamed at me.

"How do we know this poem is about regret?" he asked me.

"Well in the first verse"That her dark hair would weave a snare that I might

one day rue;" The word rue means regret."

"Very good, it does mean regret and we also see in the last verse "Away from me so hurriedly my reason must allow

That I had wooed not as I should a creature made of

clay-" we see again that he realises and regrets that he had not wooed as as he should. He realises that she is only human and not an Angel or Godly thing he thought she was.

In the last lines we see a bit of his ego "When the angel woos the clay he'd lose his wings at the dawn of day." He is calling himself an Angel and her only a mere mortal he is implying that he realised that she was not perfect and that it was her fault that he " Lost his wings" or lost his ability to write poetry for a while. He believed that she was inferior to him."

I was completely fascinated with his speech and I couldn't help but stare his views and ideas were amazing and so insightful. It blew my mind.

"Ok great work everyone for homework I want you to choose your favorite lines from the poem. Explain what they mean, talk about weither it contains rhyme, the language, imagery and lastly why those line are your favorite and I also want you to do the same with the lines you like the least.

I want that done for tomorrow, have a good day." just as he finished speaking the bell signalling the end of class rang. I took my sheet and carefully folded it before putting it between the pages of my book and packing up my bag.

Angela and I were the last two left in the class she stood waiting for me to finish packing up. I noticed Mr Cullen sitting behind his desk looking over some papers out of the corner of my eye.

I zipped my bag closed and slung it over my shoulder.

"Wow Bella, I guess you really do like to read!" Angela laughed from beside me.

"What do you mean?" I asked confused.

"Erm Hello! do you not remember what just happened in this class, you were on fire!" she giggled.

I laughed and shrugged.

"No seriously you knew like everything, and I know you knew more than you said, how did you know all that stuff?" she asked

I blushed.

" Like you said I read a lot and I love poetry, Patrick Kavanagh is one of my favorite Poets, that's one of my favorite poems and it helps that it was turned into a song and sung by Van morrison my all time favorite singer. It was just pure luck that Mr Cullen chose that poem, he could have chosen any other and I most likely would not have known it as well as that one." I shrugged again.

"So basically you love everything about that poem" she laughed.

"Well not everything...Just most of it." I blushed.

I realised that we had stopped walking and were standing at the door of the class room. I heard a throat clear and jumped completely forgetting that Mr Cullen was sitting at his desk within hearing distance. I turned around to see him staring at me with a smile.

I blushed.

"You girls better hurry or you'll be late for your next class."

"Okay" Angela said before leaving the classroom just before I exited the room Mr Cullen called out.

"Good class today Bella!" he was smiling. I stopped and mumbled a thanks before rushing out of the class my face even redder than before.

While walking home that day I decided two things. One, that I was going to apply for that job at the library and Two, that "On Raglan Road" was most definitely one of my most favorite poems ever to be written. If Kavanagh were still alive I would have sent him a gift basket.

A/N: I cannot say how sorry I am for the late update. My computer crashed. I managed to fix it but it crashed while I was at the end of writing this chapter so I lost everything. So again sorry and as a "Please forgive me" Gift here is my longest chapter ever. Hope you enjoy. Please review.

P.s if your not a fan of Vans version of "On Raglan Road" I suggest you try the original version by Luke Kelly. xxx Aoife