AN: The rest of the chapters will be a lot longer than the prologue. I hope you enjoy
Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer's owns everything Twilight.
Security and Cinnamon
The sound of the alarm clock broke me out of my state of numbness. It's the first day of my senior year of high school, and the first day of being in a new school. I had been up since 2am, and had focused most of that time on a small patch of the popcorn ceiling in the room I was given. I was trying to make out shapes and words, much like a child does when laying on the ground and looking at the clouds. I was able to see the shape of a badge, I saw a tree, and I also saw a unicorn.
The obnoxious beeping disturbed my exercise in imagination. I sluggishly brought my hand up to silence the monstrosity. I went through my routine, shower before Jessica even thinks about stirring in her bed, dress and head downstairs and wait for Mr. and Mrs. Stanley to come down and pretend that they are caring and loving people. I knew the only reason I was here, I had overheard them talking a week ago. Mr. Stanley was an accountant for the hospital, and they wanted to up their social standing in the community. I heard them mention a doctor from the hospital who had adopted his son, and they figured if they did something similar they could bond with the doctor and then the rest of the upper society that was in Forks. I had mentally scoffed at the idea, Forks was not a big town, and from what I could tell there was maybe a handful of well to do families.
I was alerted to Mrs. Stanley coming down the stairs, she glanced briefly at me and gave me a fake smile.
"Good morning Bella, are you excited for your first day?"
The overly sweet tone of her voice was not lost on me, I knew I was a burden to them, but a means to a desired ending none the less. I simply nodded and gave a small smile. I avoided talking to any of the other occupants in the house if I could.
Another set of footsteps made their way down the stairs. I had to do everything in my power to keep my humor inside. For as the feet hit the last step my gaze fell upon their owner, and all of her "look at me glory." Jessica appeared in the kitchen wearing a pair of skin tight skinny jeans, a bright pink shirt that had a scoop neck that allowed for the top of her red lace bra to show, the bottom of the shirt came barely to the top of her jeans. Before I continue I should mention that while Jessica was not by any means a large girl, she did tend to carry her weight in her hips and thighs, and skinny jeans only emphasized the point. The kicker to her outfit, that even outshone her caked on make up and overly processed blonde hair was the shoes, she had a pair of zebra stripped stilettos. I was not one for fashion, but I could appreciate the beauty of the shoes, if they were worn by someone who didn't appear desperate to have attention to them.
Mrs. Stanley greeted her daughter and they began to gossip. Jessica was talking about how she was going to have the best year, and how her and her friends were going to "rule the school." As the two continued I had to fight my laughter to the point of excusing myself to leave the kitchen in the middle of breakfast. I personally didn't see the thrill of high school, to me it was an escape and in no way was I going to taint it by being drawn into the drama that is always associated in the teenage realm.
Jessica begrudgingly drove me to school that morning and promptly ditched me as soon as her car was turned off. I sighed softly, and started making my way towards the little commune of buildings that the school was made of. I was able to find the office, staying hidden from the rest of the students, in part from their distraction and about seeing each other again and telling their tales of summer vacation.
I approached a stoutly woman with bright red hair who was behind the desk, and introduced myself. She gave me my schedule and a school map and directed me to my first class: Senior English. I took my bag and headed toward building number 4 that housed my class. I got to the room and noticed I was the first one there, and like a creature of habit I went to the front corner desk; where I'm almost guaranteed to be ignored. The quiet students usually sit in the front and by sitting at the side I'm not in direct focus of anyone.
The classroom began to fill and I could feel eyes fall on me, wondering who I was. I couldn't imagine Jessica or her friends who knew of my existence in this town bragging about me. No one dared approach me, I'm not sure if they thought it would be better to just look at me and make up their own determination about me. I had a feeling that due to my posture in the chair and my clothing, simple jeans, a long sleeve t-shirt with the logo of the Seattle Mariners in the corner and my Walmart brand blue tennis shoes, I was deemed not worthy of even an introduction. To be honest I was fine with their decision, my plan was to get through this year without drawing attention and then leaving.
I heard long drown out groan as the classroom continued to fill up with voices and bodies of students. I look through my hair which is acting as a shield and notice Jessica and her favorite co-hort of a tormentor to me, Lauren. I choose to ignore them and start by musing to myself how long it will take for Jessica to get her wish and have her parents send me back to the group home. While Jessica and her friends had voiced their opinion of my being in her home freely to her parents, their "jokes" were done behind their back.
So far the majority of the class stays away from me, and I am able to keep my focus away from anyone in particular. I pay attention to the sounds without actually hearing anything, it's a technique I learned while living with my mother: pay attention to the sounds so you are aware, but never hear what is being said that way you can't accidentally comment. Ignorance and acute awareness are both needed for survival. Someone sits in the desk behind me and the most intoxicating scent drifts to me, apples, cinnamon and oak. I almost have to force myself to stay facing forwards. The feelings that accompany the scent make that task even more difficult, there is some sort of force, almost electrical telling me to turn and face the person who smells divine. Thankfully the teacher begins the class and my attention is solely towards the front of the room.
The morning follows in a similar manner: I'm the first one to a class, sit in the front corner, and feel the eyes of the students on my form as they enter the room. No one has been brave enough to approach me, but they all feel the need to discuss the little foster girl that is a thorn in Jessica's side.
Apparently she had no problem keeping her mouth shut when people started asking questions about who I was. There were so many rumors about why I was living with the Stanley's that I could barely keep count: I had murdered my mother, I was a troubled girl and my parents couldn't handle it, I was abandoned at the time of infancy and my favorite was I was simply psychotic. I had no problems imagining that Jessica and her friends started each and everyone of these rumors.
As the bell for lunch rings, I head to the library, I had breakfast at the Stanley's and will have supper, two meals a day is a feast to me, so there is no need for me to go into the cafeteria and try and figure out where to sit in the mass of students. The librarian, a mousy looking woman glances at me, and then returns to her work. I found a quiet place to sit and pull out my copy of Wuthering Heights that I have checked out from the local library. I once again am sucked into the world of Heathcliff and Catherine. Before I realize the lunch hour has passed, the bell is ringing signaling me to go to my next class: AP Biology. While my birthday was coming up I was still only going to be 17, unfortunately or fortunately because of starting school early and being ahead of others my age and my life as a solitary creature with an abundance of time to study I was in the majority of the AP classes offered by Forks High School.
Due to nature's constant need to mock me, the building that my class was in is on the other side of the small campus, and I'm the last one there, barely making it before the bell rings. I notice the only seat is in the back of the class; thankfully it's in the corner so I should only have to deal with one person. I keep my head down and timidly approach the seat as all of the students follow my movements.
Once I'm settled, the same scent that engulfed me in English is now penetrating my nose tenfold. Accompanying the scent is the same very strong charge, I'm not sure how to really explain it further, but I had a gut feeling that this charge will never be out of my life.
Like in English and in every other class I've had today I used my hair as a shield to avoid everyone. I felt different eyes on me when roll was taken, but I took extra care to avoid them.
Eventually the class passed, and I was headed to my last period- gym. I didn't understand why this was still a requirement, but I figured that this was a small school so the curriculum wasn't going to be very eclectic and have a lot of other options available. I entered the gym, thankful that it was the first day of class and that no body had to dress down. I went to the bleachers and found a spot near the edge, and went back to my hiding technique.
"OH MY GOD! YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!" Shouted through the semi quiet room.
Unable to stop my heads natural movement, it snapped to the sound of the voice and onto Jessica Stanley, Lauren and who I had dubbed the evil queen of the two witches this summer, Tanya Denali. She was tall and had strawberry blonde hair, and could pull of the outfit she had on, very similar to the one that Jessica had on today. I would have found her beautiful, but the coldness that was in her gray eyes sucked all the beauty out of her and made her into a vile looking creature.
Tanya didn't come over to the Stanley's a lot, but when she did things were a hell of a lot worse for me, especially when my ability to ignore them annoyed them. While Jessica's actions were driven with a simple desire to get me out of her home, Tanya's motives to torment me were for the soul purpose of tormenting me.
Next to Tanya was a tall blonde girl, who squashed Tanya's appearance of beauty. She was just as tall and physically had the body any woman would be envious of, but the difference between her and the she devil was her blue eyes held some kindness even I could see from where I sat. Behind her was a very large boy, no man, who was looking at me with an odd expression on his face. He was tall and very muscular, he had short dark curly hair. His large brown eyes lit up and dimples shown on his cheeks when he smiled. He caught up to the blonde beauty and wrapped her up in his arms.
Jessica's huff brought me back to the present and I put my head back in its natural position- staring at the floor. All through the class my body kept having this reaction towards the man. I knew it was him who was focused on me, but the feeling that my body had wasn't one of fear that would normally be associated with a man of his stature, but familiarity.
At any time during the period Jessica or Tanya would make a comment about me I could feel the man's eyes, and almost a protective edge coming from him. I didn't understand it and between him and the boy that smelled of cinnamon my mind was rolling with odd sensations about the confusion the brought me.
I can honestly say that I had never been so thankful for the end of school in my life.
Ж
The following few weeks passed including my birthday which was unacknowledged in the Stanley home. I had a feeling that Jessica had something to do with that. I wasn't upset though, it was never celebrated when I lived with my mother, and to be honest my mother and whoever her partner was at the time usually gave me the worst punishments on that day to remind me of my worthlessness.
For the most part at school I was ignored and only spoken to when absolutely necessary. No one willingly approached me with any purpose of actually getting to know me.
My body has still reacted the same way to the two boys that I noticed on my first day. The first was my lab partner, Edward Cullen, we didn't speak much, we did our work quickly and I went back hiding from everyone and he would either talk with others or do homework; no extra effort was made on either of our parts to have a conversation, but every now and then our eyes would meet and I knew that the charge I felt was not one sided. I'm a strong enough person to admit, that Edward Cullen was also the first boy that I have ever had a feeling of attraction to. He was a beautiful man, he was tall, had tousled bronze hair, and the greenest eyes anyone has ever seen. While I may be strong enough to admit my attraction, I'm not stupid enough to act on it.
There were days when I could tell that he wanted to say something to me that had absolutely nothing to do with Biology or English. However, towards the end of September he did greet me with a simple "Hi Isabella." I had never corrected the teachers and I think Jessica and her friends didn't find me worthy of being called Bella.
The other boy, I learned was Emmett Swan. I would catch him gazing at me like he was trying to solve a problem in his head without all of the answers. In gym he seemed to hover towards me and was always there almost like a protective bear preventing from some inevitable gym disaster. He never spoke to me, and when we were split into boys and girls the blonde, Rosalie Hale, would take his place. For some reason whatever look she had in her eyes stopped Tanya and her minions from whatever they were about to do. So gym, the bane of my clumsy life, also became a safe place for me, as far as my mental well being.
I did note for the first time in my life that not one, but three people didn't cause me to have the initial fear I had of everyone I met; it was comforting and terrifying at the same time. I was scared to to feel the hope, mainly because it was such a foreign notion to me.
Throughout the weeks, the number of times Jessica "forgot" to wait for me after school increased to the point that I was now walking home everyday. I would wait for the last of the cars to leave the lot before I began walking, so as not to draw attention to myself. I haven't said anything to her parents; however with it being the start of October and the cooling of the air, not to mention the drizzle, I've seemed to have acquired a permanent cold, and I've been rethinking that stance I've taken.
It was a Thursday and I was making my usual 3 mile walk to the Stanley's home when I heard a car moving a little faster than normal for this road. I turned my head and saw a newer looking Ford pickup truck barreling down the street. It took me a moment to realize that it wasn't slowing down and that it was approaching the edge of the street that I was currently walking along almost deliberately. I jumped out of the way and tumbled down the small slope as it swerved towards me and back on the road to continue its journey.
I faintly heard sirens in the distance, but my head was two foggy and focused on the pain coming from my knee that had landed on a rock during my decent. I had to fight with myself to stop from breaking down. I have not survived my life this long to become a mess on the side of the road.
I'm not really sure how long I laid there waiting for my senses to come back to me, and for the pain in my knee to dissipate when the sirens returned to the portion of the road that I was on. As I was able to make out the sounds of a car approaching and coming to a stop, the loud noise ended, but the pattern that the red, white and blue lights made continued on. I was still unable to get up when I heard footsteps approaching. I had my eyes closed in an effort to help keep my head grounded and not succumb to the pain inching its way through the back of my skull.
"Are you alright?" Came a deep, gruff voice to the side of me.
Unable to respond verbally, I nodded my head meekly knowing that I couldn't walk and that I needed help with my leg. I wasn't too proud to ask for the help. I was able to squint and looked at the man who was squatting down next to me, telling me about medical personnel and other people on their way. While he is blabbering I took in his appearance. He looked to be in his late 30's, he has dark short and slightly curly brown hair, with specks of gray shadowed throughout it, a very predictable mustache for a police officer, he seems to be a fairly large, well built man, but it is hard to tell with him not standing, and the bulkiness of his police jacket may give the illusion of him being bigger than he is. However, the thing I notice most about this man is his kind brown eyes, and the fact that I am able to look at him and again without feeling fear, much like the boys from school. I could see the resemblance that Emmett Swan held to him, and I knew that his father was the Chief of police in Forks.
I'm not able to ponder this new feeling of security that Chief Swan brought out in me for long because the sound of more sirens fades into my conscious before everything goes black.
Ж
The sound of a constant beeping brings me out of my state of blackness. As I will my eyes to open, the bright light that peeks through my lashes, causes me to shut my lids tightly and groan. The noise seems to alert a presence in the room of my now conscious state.
"Hi Isabella, my name's Dr. Cullen. I have to say you gave us quite a scare."
I opened my eyes again when I sensed that Dr. Cullen had dimmed the lights. When I looked to the man speaking, I saw a man that looked to be about as old as the police officer, but this one was dressed in a white lab coat and blue scrubs. He also had bright blonde hair, a direct contrast to the cop, and bright blue eyes.
Something shifting to my right draws my attention to the man in the corner. It is the same police officer from the road. He notices my acknowledgment of him and approaches my bed slowly, almost as if he is scared he will frighten me away with any sudden movement.
"Isabella" Dr. Cullen says quietly.
"Bella" I whisper horesly, he turns to look at me in the eye and nods slowly.
"Bella, I'm going to look over a few things and then Chief Swan here is going to ask you a few questions alright?"
Although he is asking me, I don't see how I have much of a choice. Dr. Cullen does my assessment and determines that I have sustained some trauma to my knee, but nothing that requires surgery. He states that for the weekend I am to rest, and take Friday off of school. He does inform me that I will have to wear a brace on my knee for a few weeks until I am able to put pressure on my leg without any pain. He also indicates that he will want to see me in a week to determine if physical therapy is needed.
I took notice while he was speaking to me that I was in the room with both of Emmett and Edward's fathers, and again the same feeling of stability and the lack of fear astounds me.
After he was done speaking, Dr. Cullen left the room stating that he was going to look for Mr. and Mrs. Stanley, and see if they are ready to take me home and also give them my discharge instructions.
Once the door is closed, Chief Swan clears his throat to gain my attention.
"Isabella, I first have to say that I'm sorry this happened. Also I have some bad news, my deputy was unable to catch the truck and get a good look at the license plate so we aren't sure who did this."
I nodded my head, because this is to be expected when I am involved in the equation.
"I did want to tell you that Dr. Cullen and I are both bound by some legalities, which means we did have to call your case worker. She did say that as long as you are taken care of by the Stanley's and that this just appears to be an accident nothing needs to be done."
He pauses slightly and I can tell there is more he wants to say, but seems to be having trouble wording it.
"Bella, I want you to know that Forks is a good town. I know you've had a run of rotten luck in your life, but I hope you can feel safe here."
He asks me a few questions about the truck, when there is a knock on the door. Mr. Stanley peeks his head in and says that he is ready to leave. Chief Swan says his goodbyes, and hands me a card with a phone number on it if I remember anything. I turn the card over and notice another number on the back written in a scratchy scrawl.
I leave the hospital with Mr. Stanley who is asking me if Jessica leaves me at school often. I tell him no that today I was running late and I told her to leave without me. I don't need to add any fuel to the fire of Jessica's hatred of me.
Mr. Stanley seems to accept this answer,and why wouldn't he, Jessica is a golden child, I'm the troubled foster kid.
Once back at their home, I go in my room and I fall quickly to sleep. My dreams are filled with the usual nightmares of memories from my past, but before they can frighten me awake four men make an appearance in my dreams, brown, green and blue blankets of security, shoo the tortures of my subconscious away.
When I wake up I can almost smell the lingering scent of cinnamon.