Three days later……and here it is, as promised
Chapter 6 of THAT Girl…………… (I'll update with the next chapter when I can but I can't guarantee that it will be within the next 5 days.)
The weekend was entirely uneventful. The roads into town are filled with snow and my parents thought it best to stay at our home for the remainder of the weekend. I would have gone to Angela's house, however she was unavailable for the majority of the weekend. But she's agreed to spend time with me after school today to make up the time lost.
Now Angela, Ben, and I are on the way to school. We've given up on the crowded busses and Ben has offered to take us to school in his buggy every morning even if it means waking up at all odd hours of the morning. Those horses must be plenty cold. We have to wake up a bit earlier though, because the snow blocks many of the usual routes to school.
I am overflowing with joy at the sight of those two. Nevertheless, it saddens me as well to know that it will be much longer before I am able to experience these same joys and them being shared with another who feels the same, as they are able to so plainly do.
We've arrived at school now. But I fear my entire body is so numb that I won't be able to climb out of the buggy. Ben helped Angela down out of her seat and then tried to do me the same. But since I always seem to have bouts of unfortunate clumsiness at the most inconvenient of times I couldn't quite get out.
But we managed somehow and soon I was walking to the school building with them. Actually I wasn't so much walking with them as I was walking behind them because they were having what seemed to be a conversation that was far too intimate (no matter how innocent the subject they were discussing was) for me to intrude upon. I didn't mind walking behind them very much though.
I can actually sympathize with Ben for not really wanting to share too much of Angela now that he's found her. I feel the same way, just perhaps not quite exactly to the same extent. The same level of emotion is aimed at her from both of us, they only differ when you think of his passion versus my love towards her as a sister.
Passion seems like such a dramatic word, but I feel as though it is all too appropriate for their companionship.
I had come up to the school house stairs by now. I put my foot out, my aim was for it to make contact with the step but the snow and ice in my surroundings had other plans. Plans that sent me stumbling and slipping backwards. But I didn't make contact with the frozen grounds.
Instead I felt two protecting arms encircle my waist, and a voice saying, "Steady there, Bella. That wouldn't have been a particularly fun fall." A voice that I knew all too well, one that talked to me frequently in my dreams. Edward.
"T-thank you," I stammered, blushing at the same time.
"No problem, it rather makes me feel like a hero being able to catch you when you are falling. Although you do it so often, I may have to let this become my full time occupation," he joked.
I made an attempt at laughing but mostly I just blushed in embarrassment.
"Class is soon to start," he said. "Shall we?" He offered his arm, which was just as well with me considering my reputation with gravity wasn't very well thought of.
We took our seats and I murmured my thanks once again. Then class started. We were done asking interview questions with our partners. Now was the time to share any information we thought valuable to our partners.
I hadn't much to tell. Edward, however, told of his childhood a bit. He told me of a time when he had the highest marks in his entire school and then he went on to tell me of a time he won $50 at a fair. But the way he told of his victories was in such a manner that told me for sure that he wasn't much of a one to brag. He seemed almost reluctant to tell me of them if anything.
Class was coming to a finish so I wrote down a few quick notes about Edward and them focused my attention on Mr. Wilds at the head of the classroom. I felt almost as if I was betraying Edward's trust by writing down too many notes on what he told me during the time we had for this project in class.
That is utterly silly though, because that is the assignment and he knows that I will write down some of what he says. He does the same with what I write as well, but I still feel that way about it.
Nevertheless, Mr. Wilds continued to gather the attention of the class. Once he had maintained the majority of the class's interest, he began speaking. "Class, you have been doing a fine job with this assignment. For your final piece – the one you will have to eventually hand over to me – I would like you all to write a letter addressed to me. The letter should include what you have found out about whomever you've interviewed over the course of this week and the remaining 1 and a half weeks. I would like you to either give me a written copy of the letter or recite it in front of the class. I would like it for the Wednesday after next. Whatever you include in your letter, your partner must approve, by the way. Is this reasonable, class?" he asked.
"Yes," we all said in unison and then we all proceeded to gather our things and leave. My belongings consisted of my thick schoolbook and the various papers of notes about Edward.
I was halfway to the schoolhouse door when I tripped over the hem of my dress. I stumbled, tried to regain my footing, and just barely managed to, but all of the papers I was holding were now scattered around the room and my book was in a crumpled mess.
I bent to retrieve three of the closest papers to left of me and when I straightened again Edward was there on my other side, the rest of my school papers and the book in his arms and a smile on his face.
"Thank you, Edward," I said gratefully. "You do seem to always come to my rescue."
"It's really my pleasure, Bella," he said, flashing yet another heartbreaker of a smile in my direction.
And then somehow we made our way out of the classroom, Edward still holding my books. I reached my arms out the take them but he just shook his head kept a hold of them.
"I can carry them, you know," I said, still trying to persuade him to give me back my schoolwork.
"No, it's no bother, really. They aren't heavy," he just said and we continued to walk.
Angela was talking to Ben quietly near one side of the school building. Angela was seated in his buggy and he was standing near it. Edward and I ambled our way through the snow over to where they were.
"If you would like, I could take you home Bella," Edward said warily after a moment or two.
"Really?" I asked, excitedly. And then I remembered what I had promised Angela about spending time with her and my mood fell.
Edward must have noticed because then he asked, "Is something wrong?"
"Oh, I just recalled that I had promised Angela that I would spend time with her this afternoon. I was to go home with her…" I said, leaving it hanging a bit at the end. I had been so excited to make up for lost time with Angela this morning but now I really wished I were able to go with Edward.
"Oh," he said a bit sadly, "that's just as well I guess. Maybe some other time?"
"Most definitely," I said to him, thrilled that he would still like to be around me even if I had told him no this time.
Soon, once we arrived at Ben's buggy, we had parted ways and said our goodbyes. Edward spoke a few words to Ben but neither Angela nor I could hear what they spoke of.
Ben dropped us off at Angela's home and I stayed. We talked for hours, enough time for it to get dark. Angela's mother was home and fixed us a light supper to eat. Angela told me about Ben, about how she thinks she may even like to marry him. If he asks that it. I told her that of course he would ask. She didn't seem entirely convinced though. She doesn't see herself the same way I do. She just seems shy and keeps to herself a lot. But there is so much more to my dear friend.
Angela's father arrived minutes before supper was ready and then accompanied Angela and I to my house so that Angela wouldn't have to travel back alone.
I had a really nice time with Angela. I did not realize how much I've missed her company as of late. I am glad that I didn't go with Edward this afternoon, although I am a bit disappointed that I couldn't do both.
No matter, there will be other times. At least, I hope.
I talked to my mother a little about my day. We had a cup of tea together and my father joined us for a while. And then I went to my quarters and went to sleep.
Read & Review folks…..BUH-bye till next time