High school

Ok, I know it says romance an the genre, and so far its just been…well yeah but that part will be coming up very shortly. Oh, and just to let everyone know, Everyone is human!

Disclaimer: Dont own anything.

When I woke up the next morning, my eyes were red and sore from crying all night and I felt stiff from sleeping in an awkward position. I tried to recall last nights dream, but only remembered bits and pieces. The only thing that was fresh in my mind was the horrifying image of Charlie lying on the ground covered in blood.

Charlie was faced down in the pavement, a puddle on blood quickly forming underneath him. His eyes were open, and they were staring straight at me.

So lifeless…so…dead.

I tried to shake the image out of my head as I went to the washroom and cleaned up. Unsurprisingly, I wasn't feeling any better than yesterday. I did though, care about everything related to school, going to school, and what to wear after school. Today was the dance and I wanted to look nice…ugh.

So today, I wore a thin blue and black dress about thigh length, a big black belt that went around my waist, jeans to go underneath, and black flats. I decided I wanted to leave my hair down, and I only put on a little lip gloss.

I walked downstairs to find the kitchen empty again, and sighed. I really missed Charlie…I'll have to watch the news tonight to see any updates. I poured myself some cereal, and when I opened the fridge, I saw the now moldy leftover spaghetti that I had left for Charlie. I read the note in my mind:

Dear dad.

I had a long day at school, and I feel really tired. Remember to take the plastic off! Don't microwave the fork, and put in for 3 minutes. Love ya!

-Bella.

I almost cried as the note tugged at my heart. It seemed like the only thing related to Charlie around the house.

Gosh, I made it seem like he was a child. Why did I always baby him like that? Does he think that way? Well, if he does, what should I do to make it not seem like that? Charlie not being here is really making me insane…

Don't worry, your just protecting him from stuff like the microwave blowing up. Its just for his safety.

I closed the fridge door, poured the dry cereal back in the box, (as I didnt feel hungry after dumping the moldy spaghetti in the garbage) and grabbed my bag. I quickly stepped outside locking the door behind me. The tears were slowly starting to come, and I needed the coolness of the wind against my hot face. Then I remembered the murderer. Oh crap. What was I going to do?

I was too scared to walk to school by myself, I didn't have my truck, and my friends were probably already at school.

I realized the only thing I could do, was walk and pray.

Come on Bella! You can do it! If any creepy guys come your way, just kick them in the nuts. That always works. But what if he had a weapon? Or even a gun! And the police aren't even in Forks! What am I going to do?!

I was beginning to scare myself again.

I started fast-walking to school while nervously looking around me. I looked into the forest and started making images in my mind. Not the ones when you look at a wall or clouds and you try and pick out shapes, the ones where you look into a dark creepy forest and picture eyes staring straight at you.

I quickened my pace a little- no a lot- to the point where I was basically jogging with my heavy backpack on. I was paying too much attention to my surroundings, that I didn't notice a stump in the ground. Me being me, I tripped over it and fell on my hands and knees.

"Ow…" I whispered to myself.

My hands had little scrapes on them and they were bleeding. It was only a little bit, so I didn't really feel nauseous like usual when I was around blood. My knees hurt a lot from the momentum of me running then falling with my heavy backpack, and it felt like they were going to bruise soon. I sat up against a tree holding my knees when I heard a smooth velvety voice come from above me.

"Are you alright?"

I looked up, and I was shocked by what I saw.

Edward Mason. The most popular, cutest, smartest guy in all of 12th grade, was offering me his hand.

"Why is your hand covered?" I asked him.

His hand that was reached out was wrapped in napkins. He smiled, and my heart almost skipped a beat.

"Because your hand is bleeding, and personally, I don't want your blood all over my hand."

I looked down at my hand, and I gasped. When I last looked, I only had little scrapes. But over the little time I was sitting down, the scrape turned into a small, deep, gash and my hand was covered in blood. I lifted my hand up closer to my face to see if any rocks were in it, and I started to feel dizzy from seeing the blood ooze down my arm. I started hyperventilating, then, everything went black.

I woke up to a brightly lit room, lying on a big brown thing with crinkly paper underneath it. Was I at the hospital?

I tried to get up using my hands for balance, and I realized my hand was bandaged up and I wasn't feeling dizzy anymore.

At least its not bleeding…I thought to myself

Then, the school nurse walked into the room. She was an old woman wearing all white, and she placed a hand on my forehead.

"Are you alright dear?" She asked me.

"Yes, I'm fine, thank you." I realized that I was sitting in the schools health office.

Then, something hit me. Not physically, but mentally.

"How did I get here?" I asked the nurse politely.

"Oh, a young man brought you here in the morning. He was kind enough to ask the secretary to inform all your teachers that you might be missing a couple of classes. He wasn't sure how long you would be passed out for"

A million questions started running through my mind. I asked her the most clearest one.

"What time is it, and how many classes have I missed?"

"It is 9:10, you've missed about more than a half of your first class. Would you like to leave?"

"Yes please." I answered.

I groaned. Great way to start off the ONE day you're actually trying to make a good impression on. I thought to myself.

I slid off the crinkly paper and started walking towards the door. When I opened it, Edward was sitting on a chair in the administrators office, head resting in the palm of his hand and elbow on the arm of the chair. When I stepped in, he stood up and walked straight to me.

He didn't even get to ask if I was ok, because I interrupted him.

"Ok mister, how did I get here?" I tried to look stern, but failed miserably.

He looked shocked at first, but then grinned at my pathetic attempt to be mad.

"Come on, lets get out of here first." He said while still smiling.

We started walking out the door, and into the front area of the school.

"Aren't you going to finish your class?" He asked me

"I don't feel like it. I'll go to my next one. We have about 20 minutes to spare"

I was surprised at how easily I was talking to him.

"Oh, and you still haven't answered my first question." I reminded him.

He smiled, and said in a matter-of-factly voice,

"Well, its kind of obvious. I carried you here."

I opened my mouth, then closed it. I did that several times, being that my mind totally went blank. I mean, I am not exactly the lightest person, and to have him carry me to the school…

"Don't worry, I didn't have to travel far. The school was only about 5 minutes away." (A/N: Edward CANNOT read minds. It just kind of fits in with the story because he sees the look on Bella's face)

Then, I realized yet another thing.

"Why were you walking?" I asked him.

"I decided the world could use a bit less fuel waste in the air. I needed a good walk anyways. Besides, If I hadn't come, who would have been there to save you when you passed out?"

My heart fluttered at his words, and he smiled a crooked grin.

We walked around school, talking about random stuff, telling each other a little about ourselves, just well, talking. I now know that his dad died when he was a baby, and he lives with his mom Elizabeth. (A/N: I'm making one parent alive so he can still keep his last name.) He has no brothers and sisters, but his best friends are Emmett Johnson (A/N: Made-up last name), and Jasper Hale. They both have girlfriends, Emmett with Rosalie Hale and Jasper with Alice Brandon. I've never talked to any of them before, but maybe just because I am totally different from them. I am just a normal girl that blended in with the crowd, and they are all so…popular. I told him about Charlie, and him not being home since yesterday, and I also explained to him why I was running to school today. He didn't laugh once. This was reassuring, knowing that I could tell him anything and have him not laugh at me for my idiotic mind.

"That would be quite frightening. I haven't heard about the murderer, but if I did, I would probably drive to school."

When the bell finally rang, I said my goodbyes to Edward and we went off in separate directions.

The next 2 classes were just me sitting in a class thinking about Edward Mason.

The last class of the day; P.E.

I sighed as I changed into my P.E. strip and slowly made my way into the gym. Mike Newton was waiting for me, as usual, and he waved franticly at me. I didn't even reach him when he started drowning me with questions.

"Hey Bella! Are you going to the dance tonight? Oh it will be so much fun! Are you going with anyone? I mean, I know you don't need a date but I was just wondering. So are you going with anyone? BAH! I am SO exited!"

"Mike…calm down. Don't die from lack of oxygen on me. I am going to the dance-"

He said a little 'yes' like when you get something you want or you get a question right, and continued listening.

"I am not going with anyone-"

I saw him jump with glee. I couldn't take it anymore. Here I was, feeling all depressed from going to the dance, and Mike is just a big energetic ball of…well, Mike.

"Damn it Mike! will you stop being so cheerful? Its just a dance for crying out loud…"

He looked a little hurt, but he quickly got over it and started talking about what songs he wanted the DJ to play. I swear with this attitude, he could put on a wig and pass for a girl so easily.

PE was dreadful. We played indoor soccer, and my team didn't seem to get the point of 'not passing to Bella because she really sucks at sports'. I tried to kick the ball, but I ended up kicking it into our own goal. I really wanted this day- dance and all- to end.

P.E. ended, and I was starting to walk home when someone called my name. I was expecting it to be Mike with all his stupid questions about the dance, but it was someone who I wasn't suspecting.

"Hey Bella!" Edward called me.

"Hey Edward…" I said shyly. Why was he talking to me? I mean, wouldn't he care about his ego too much to be talking to a girl like me?

"Do you want me to drive you home?" He asked me.

"I thought you walked to school today" I asked. I was truly confused.

"I did, but Emmett drove to school today and I didn't think you would want to walk home again after the last incident. Besides, I don't want you hurting yourself running away from invisible murderers."

I thought it was a prayer from heaven.

"I'd love to!" I said.

I was smiling so big, it hurt my cheeks.

I turned to follow him and I almost jumped out of my skin.

Standing in front of me, was a gigantic, red jeep. It fit the drivers personality perfectly, as I could see Edwards friend Emmett standing beside it waiting for us.

We walked to the car, and Edward politely locked his fingers together and put his hands below me so I could step of them and get up. Awe…He is such a gentleman.

The whole way, me and Edward talked about the dance. Turns out he was going too.

I mean, why wouldn't the most popular guy ever go to dances? Meh...

His friend Emmett dropped me off at my house and I waved them goodbye until their car turned the corner.

I was smiling to myself when I walked towards the house, then I thought of something that made me nervous.

If Edward is like this to every girl he meets, wouldn't that just make me another girl he comes across?

I went into the house to find the house empty once again.

"I really wonder where Charlie is…" I almost forgot about him. I was too busy talking, thinking, and visioning Edward all day.

I looked at the phone and there was one message. I clicked play, and quietly waited.

"Twelve Thirty, Wednesday." The automatic voice said.

Someone called me while I was at school…Who could it be? I wondered. Then, Charlie's voice came onto the answering machine.

"Hey Bells…Uh I am actually going to be gone for more than just a couple days. Hope your doing ok, and have fun at the dance!"

His voice brought calmness too me. At least he's safe.

He sounded so cheerful… While I was here worrying about him. What could possible be so fun about chasing a murderer? He reminded me of Mike's overhappiness, and Mike's overhappiness reminded me of the dance.

Damn it…The whole dance thing, me just being another girl to Edward, Charlie not being here…Why me? I thought

I went to my room and picked out something I would probably never wear in Forks. I picked out a short jean skirt, and a white blouse. I mean, dances get hot. Right?

"5:30..." I said as I saw the electric clock on the desk beside my bed.

I had about half an hour until the dance started, and I went downstairs and called Angela to see if she could pick me up. Fortunately, she hadn't gone yet and she would be over to pick me up in about 5 minutes. I went to the bathroom, checked if anything needed a little fixing, and went back downstairs to pick out a pair of shoes that were suitable for dancing.

"Um…Runners, no. Skater Shoes, maybe…Ha!" I smiled as I picked up a pair of white flats.

"Perfect!"

I heard Angela's car outside and went to go meet her. We drove to the school, talking about who we wanted to dance with, and who we didn't want to dance with. I felt like I was in elementary school again.

We got to the school, and walked to the gym that was blaring music out of the walls.

We stepped inside the gym, gave out coats to the coat check people, and stepped inside the darkness.

We were engulfed in darkness, flashy lights, loud music, and new beginnings.