Oh, my gosh, has it really been a whole month since I updated? I can't even believe that! So much has happened, and I've been working so hard on this. It's literally hot off the presses, as I just finished proofreading it a second time. See any mistakes? Tell me! I will be more than happy to alleviate them.
A few more things going on in this chapter despite only a few hours going by. More time will be passing by in Keira's chapter, and don't get confused with any of the time displacements. There's a reason for it.
Now that I've gotten all that out of the way, go on! Read!
Feats of the Imagination
November, 1945
Edward
Going back to school on Monday felt more mundane than it had in two months, but I knew now that it wasn't because of the monotony of moving from class to class and listening to the droning blather of my teachers. Now, I knew it was because of everything that had transpired over the last week. I knew it was because Keira knew things about me now that made me want to keep her inside a securely locked house where no other vampire — aside from those in my own family — could reach her. The supernatural world had spilled back into my life in a seriously intrusive way, and I didn't want to go back to doing the normal things I knew Carlisle would want. I knew Connor was still in town, and that meant Piper was still in town. They were both trolling the area, biding their time and waiting for the moment to strike. I was more worried than ever of how dangerous it was for us to be anywhere near the town right now.
But in returning to school on Monday, I found myself more intrigued with participating than I had been since first starting in September. Even Social Studies was more interesting than it had been in over eight weeks. We were talking about political issues cropping up now that the war was over — or as finished as it was going to get with a treaty in place — and I found myself more able to offer my own views than I ever had before.
"You're more relaxed today than I've ever seen you," Keira said to me as we walked from Social Studies toward the school gym. Fisher had left us to get to his own World History class, and Abigail was now safely situated in her own Science class. It was just the two of us as we walked from the building to the gym as others in the period filtered in that direction with us.
"Am I?" I asked softly.
"Yes," she acknowledged. "Is everything all right now?"
I bowed my head, glancing around and leaning closer to her. "Perhaps I'm finding myself more comfortable than I have since I moved here," I suggested, to which she smiled curiously. "And perhaps I've discovered that despite the monotonous routine, this place can actually be a nice place to live."
"Because?"
The question in her eyes prompted me to spy inside her head, and she was wondering what had occurred over the weekend for me to reach such a conclusion. But I also saw that despite her fervent need to remain indifferent about her surroundings, she was glad for one thing. Me.
"Because of you," I replied honestly.
She blushed, and I eased my arm around her to guide her along the sidewalk we were occupying. We arrived in the gym together, and I released her to the girls' dressing room while I joined Emmett in the boys' room.
"Still getting really close to that girl," he teased. "Pretty soon you're gonna have to ask her out. That would really send Rose over the edge."
To that, I smiled, moving to where my gym clothes were and changing. My smile never faded.
Though it was difficult not to, my eyes seemed able to find Keira across the floor of the gym no matter where she was or what I was doing. The boys' instructor separated Emmett from me, and when he paired me with another boy in class, I made a point of doing poorly so it wouldn't look like I was usurping the other boy's abilities. We were doing running drills through most of class, and a few times, I actually saw Keira laughing when she saw me struggling with my inability to perform at the level she now knew I was capable. I tried not to laugh back. Doing so would've alerted my partner to the joke we were sharing at his expense.
Emmett chose me as a partner in the last set of exercises, relieving my less-matched opponent and taking me around the edge of the court to keep the other students from seeing neither of us sweating. It was a well-planned routine we'd fallen into, and it worked for the most part, even now with someone in close proximity who knew we were faking our own meager ability to be ordinary. She knew neither of us was ordinary, but more than that, I somehow knew she was no more ordinary than either me or Emmett. I didn't know if he could sense it, but I could. Even more now than I had ever before.
"So are you going to ask her out soon, or what?" Emmett asked as we jogged slowly around the court where other students were covertly watching us.
"And there's a reason why we should be talking about this now?" I shot back, glancing around to see Keira playing badminton with a few other girls.
"Where else are we going to talk about it? By this afternoon, something else will have happened, and I won't get a chance to do it then. Come on, man. You gotta have some idea of what you think of her by now."
Mentally, I thought back to the morning after Keira had stayed in my house over night, and I remembered thinking how amazingly innocent she'd looked while sleeping. It wasn't about keeping her safe anymore, though it was still my goal to protect her at least until I knew we were the only vampires in town again. At that point, it had been about making sure she had a chance to adjust to the way her world was changing so drastically she could hardly keep up. It had been about making sure she had a choice while her future security was still in her hands, and not mine, but watching her wake made me realize it was already different. And I would never be able to give that back to her.
"I know she's different from every girl I've ever met," I confessed, listening to Emmett chuckle. "And I know she wants to have a life outside of the one being placed in front of her by the fact that she's a young girl in a small town where she'll be expected to be a wife and mother before she thinks of herself. She's changed my entire outlook on my existence here, and possibly further beyond this place. And I think she sees me the same way. But I've only known her two months. And things aren't so different now from when I was actually seventeen. I want to do things right. And if that means taking it slow, then that's what I'll do. Is that good enough?"
He smirked, still jogging and glancing back at Keira as she scored a goal for her and her partner. "I guess so," he conceded. "I like her too, you know. She's anything but dull, if you get my meaning."
I knew he was only being sincere about watching me react to her, but I could also see that he'd grown accustomed to her the way I had. Unlike Rosalie, he got to see Keira every day, and I knew he genuinely appreciated her effect on me. It actually reminded him of when he'd first seen Rosalie. That notion wasn't altogether lost on me, but Keira was so young. And at this moment of her life, she had choices. I wasn't about to take any of that away from her, even if in one way or another, I already had.
Gym class was over nearly as soon as it had begun. Emmett and I were "showering" before we realized an hour had gone by, and while the other boys in the class took their time cleaning up, I was glad to be outside the showers alone before Emmett. It was in those two or three moments I had to myself that I was able to hear inside the girls' showers where I knew Keira was also cleaning up from her exercises. I recognized her voice in the small group instantly as she spoke to another girl — one whose voice I'd been trying very hard to forget.
"You and Edward have been spending a lot of time together," Jennifer commented as her inappropriate thoughts drifted into my mind.
"We are doing our science project together," Keira reminded her, but I could sense a little bit of defense in her voice.
"Oh, no you don't," Jennifer chastised. "I saw you looking at him during our game. No other girl in school looks at him like that."
"And exactly how is that?" Keira asked, her thoughts running over every moment of the gym class we'd just endured.
"Like you're his girlfriend," Jennifer accused.
Keira's pulse increased, and it was quiet after that until the door to the dressing room opened. I couldn't hide my surprise when the first set of girls came out of the dressing room, and when I saw Keira, it seemed like she could see that I'd heard everything she and Jennifer had talked about.
She didn't say anything, taking my arm and directing me out of the gym quietly. We were alone before she spoke, glancing around quickly to make sure no one was close enough to hear her.
"Jennifer's nothing to worry over," she assured me. "I don't care about gossip in a small town. And the only person whose opinion I think of is Abigail's."
I glanced around also, noticing how there were quite a few other students leaving gym class who were also looking at us. "And what does Abigail think?" I asked softly.
"She thinks you're the boy who's helping her pass Advanced Mathematics," Keira informed me with a smile. "And she thinks you're nicer than any boy she's gone to school with since she was in kindergarten. It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. I know I don't care what they think."
We arrived outside the cafeteria then, and I opened the door for her to step inside and discover the room nearly half-full. We moved to the line that would take us passed the buffet-style set-up, and I spoke again despite the others around us who might hear.
"So it doesn't matter what Fisher thinks?" I inquired, grinning.
Though I expected her to become serious at the mention of her brother, instead she smiled. "Of course it matters," she acknowledged. "But he's my brother. Not my father. Or my mother. And she likes you."
I smiled again even though I knew it wouldn't always be that simple.
Fisher and Abigail were sitting with Emmett and Rosalie when we joined them, and while I noticed Abigail and Keira laugh together, I also noticed how uncomfortable Rosalie was when she saw how much Emmett and I were becoming accustomed to being around these particular humans.
"I take it you and Emmett are also going to the dance?" Fisher asked me as I sat between him and his sister.
I glanced at Keira and then Emmett, and Fisher spoke again when I didn't answer him.
"Keira and my mother are already talking about buying a new dress and maybe even getting themselves done up for the day," he commented.
I smiled, feeling like I could've blushed even though I knew I wasn't. "I asked her, and she said yes," I admitted. "I realize I should've asked her father first, but it was an impulse." I turned to face him, speaking more formally than I had in years. "Fisher, is it all right with you that I may accompany your sister to the Fall Dance? May I . . . May I have your permission?"
He tilted his head curiously, glancing at Keira and then Abigail before he looked at me again. "Of course," he nodded. "I don't see how I could stop her. Keira's willful and independent, if nothing else. I've always liked that about her. It's nice to see someone else who admires it about her."
The smile on my face only intensified, and I bowed my head then, taking my fork and absently playing with the food on my plate.
Lunch was almost over when Keira quietly stood up to throw away her uneaten food, and Rosalie's incessant thoughts caught my attention for the slightest second without allowing me to see what was happening until I could hear Keira arguing with Ethan through the commotion in the cafeteria.
"You probably don't even know anything about him," Ethan accused, clearing thinking about a set of dinners his and Keira's family had shared a few days earlier as part of some get-together for the police force her father had obliged her to attend. "You didn't even give anyone else a chance. I'm just asking you to think about it."
Keira was also thinking about these dinners, and I knew from her thoughts that she'd turned away his affections a second time. "I told you I just wanted to be friends," she insisted. "And Edward is my friend too. I know more about him than you, and that isn't my fault. Just go out with Jennifer. I know she wants to go out with you."
"That's just my point," he pressed. "You've been hanging out with him and his freak family, and things like that can get around a small town. I don't want that to happen to you. You deserve a chance, Keira. That's all I want."
"I said we could be friends," she reiterated, obviously becoming uncomfortable with his advances.
The moment he touched her, grabbed her arm and took a step closer to her, I'm not sure what I was thinking, but I knew for certain I wasn't allowing this to continue. I was out of my seat and across the cafeteria in as slow a second as I could without appearing to move too fast, and as soon as I was at Keira's side, I took action, grabbing Ethan's arm.
"Get your hand off her," I commanded, keeping my voice as low as possible. "She doesn't want you to touch her."
"And how would you know, Masen?" he taunted. There was warning in his voice, and I stepped away from him to keep from assaulting him like I wanted.
"I know her," I declared. "And she doesn't like you. So why don't you move on?"
"You'd like that, wouldn't you?" he grinned. "You'd love for all the rest of us to just lie down while you walk around here like you have something better to do. You have all the girls pining away after you, and the one girl who seems immune to you, you just can't let her make her own decisions can you?"
"I did decide," Keira exclaimed, and I knew we were causing a scene. Already the teachers were beginning to watch us as we stood at the front of the cafeteria. "I told you we could be friends," she informed Ethan.
"It wouldn't be like that if he weren't around," Ethan sneered. "Can't you see what he's doing? He's lining up all these girls so he could use them and move on to the next girl, and when he gets to you, he just going to toss you aside like you're a piece of trash. It's exactly how he's acting."
I knew I could truly hurt him if I wished, but I'd been practicing my restraint since I began spending time with Keira and Abigail, and I was fairly certain I could punch him without really causing any permanent damage.
Keira tried to stop me.
"Edward, come on," she pleaded, grasping onto my arm to pull me away. "Let's just go."
Ethan grinned again, still taunting. "And now he can't even fight his own fights," he joked. "Poor Edward has to be rescued by a dainty little girl."
I turned away from Keira then, grabbing Ethan by the collar and nearly shoving him into the wall behind him, finally garnering all the attention I possibly could from the entire room as Keira yelled for me to stop. But I couldn't stop.
"You're the one who would use her," I growled as he attempted to push me away with no success. "You're the one who would hurt her and throw her away. And she's worth more than that."
Venom filled my mouth, and I was on the very brink of doing something I swore I would never do again just as four sets of hands clamped around my arms and pulled me away from him. I realized his mouth was bleeding, and he looked like he was in pain from me shoving him against the wall. I didn't want to lose this opportunity, but the strangest voice stopped me from continuing my rampage.
"Calm down, Mr. Masen," Mr. Jennings ordered softly. "You'll just do something you'll regret later in your life."
Fisher was on my other side, and I swallowed the venom in my mouth as they continued to pull me away from Ethan. Two more male teachers were helping him, and he limped to a table nearby. I knew I'd hurt him, and I knew there would be consequences to starting a fight in school. But I didn't care. Whether it was my duty to do so or not, Keira wasn't just some girl to be had and disposed of, and whether she needed me to do it for her or not, I wanted her to know she never had to ask me to defend her.
I looked around for her as Mr. Jennings and Fisher sat me at another table away from Ethan, and I was surprised to see her still standing where she had been before I'd shoved Ethan into the wall. She looked so scared, and I realized too late that I'd frightened her by starting a fight with a boy she was sure I would've killed had I met him on a dark alley somewhere. Kyle appeared out of nowhere at his sister's side, and he glared at me reproachfully before gently guiding Keira away from the commotion. I was surprised to see him being so careful with her, but I knew I deserved his glare. Keira was right. I could've killed Ethan. And I would have if no one had stopped me. More than anything, this was the side of me I'd never wanted her to see. And I had no way of explaining this to her, not even after everything that had already happened.
The principal stepped over to where I'd been sat by Mr. Jennings and Fisher, and I was prepared to take whatever punishment he had to give me. I knew he had every right to do whatever he thought fit my infraction, and when Mr. Jennings began to defend me, I could do nothing to hide my surprise.
"Mr. Daniels, it wasn't entirely Mr. Masen's fault," he said. "I saw Mr. Conway arguing with Ms. Jones, and Mr. Masen was only intervening before he was provoked by Mr. Conway. I'll take responsibility for him."
Mr. Daniels looked at me, thinking he'd known all along that I was the kind of boy who sought violence before anything else, and even though I wanted to argue with him, I had no way of defending myself against his thoughts since he wasn't actually saying anything out loud. And then Fisher spoke.
"Mr. Daniels, sir, I saw Ethan grab my sister," he insisted. "And he's been attempting to pursue her for several weeks. Edward was only trying to defend her."
"Thank you, Mr. Jones," Mr. Daniels said, looking at Mr. Jennings. "Thank you, Mr. Jennings. Nevertheless, the incident still happened, and we don't tolerate violence in the school. Please come to my office, Mr. Masen."
I looked up at Mr. Jennings, and he nodded to Fisher before helping me to my feet. I realized he meant to come with me, and though I was grateful for his faith, I preferred that no other people had to deal with my mistake.
"It's all right, Mr. Jennings," I assured him. "My brother-in-law will come."
"Well, if it's all the same," he said, looking at Mr. Daniels, "you're a minor, and you'll need someone to look out for your best interests until he arrives. And please, call me John."
I bowed my head then, following him from the cafeteria while the other teachers began calming the rest of the students. Ethan was sitting with an ice pack on his back, and he glared at me as I was escorted out of the cafeteria. He wouldn't approach Keira anymore, especially if it meant spurring my anger, and despite everything he'd said and done, I still felt horrible for hurting him. He wasn't a nice person, and I knew that just from listening to his thoughts, but he didn't deserve to be on the receiving end of my mood swing.
The walk to the principal's office was quiet, and I tried to think of what I would tell Carlisle when he discovered I had lost my temper for the first time in nearly fifteen years. And more than that, I'd actually hurt a student — however minimally. I hadn't meant to, but I didn't know if Carlisle would take that into consideration. I knew he would let me explain, and I was certain he wouldn't blame me for what I'd done. But it wouldn't bode if when he decided I needed to stay home from school until I could control myself.
"You must really like Ms. Jones," Mr. Jennings, John said to me as we walked. "I don't think I've seen you quite that passionate about anything since I met you. I have to admit — it seems like the two of you have gotten close."
I bowed my head even as we walked. "Keira doesn't deserve any of his advances," I insisted, to which to the principal looked at me. "She never asked for it, and the moment he grabbed her, I — "
"I know," John said. "I get it. I was like you in high school. I didn't like it when some of the guys in my class didn't treat the girls respectfully. It's good to know you've been taught values and respect. But next time, try just to walk away. It'll do you a lot more good than him."
To that, I agreed with him. "I know," I nodded.
The girl covering the office for lunch was gathering her books up when we all stepped inside, gawking at me and wondering what I could've done to get escorted to the principal's office by the principal. John nodded for her to get going, and though I knew she didn't want to go anywhere, she left quickly.
"You're giving me a very hard decision to make, Mr. Masen," Mr. Daniels told me as we all sat in his office. "More than half the school saw you shove Mr. Conway into the wall of the cafeteria. Only three people saw him grab her. Certainly, you see the difficult position I've been put in."
I bowed my head again, trying to look remorseful. I wasn't really sorry for defending Keira. But I did feel bad about giving Ethan the satisfaction of knowing he'd gotten under my skin — so to speak. "Yes, sir," I nodded.
"And I would have no reservation about suspending you for the rest of the week," he deduced.
"I understand, sir," I acknowledged.
Next to me, John spoke up. "Um, sir, I think that would be a little excessive," he argued. "Especially since Mr. Conway knows the school rules. Mr. Masen is still new to our school system, and I don't think it would be fair to punish him so drastically for his first infraction."
"I'm well aware of how new Mr. Masen is to our school, Mr. Jennings," Mr. Daniels stated plainly. "And let us not forget how new you are to the school. I only said I would have no reservations. However, until I have the whole picture, I will delay deciding on a punishment. For right now, you may take Mr. Masen to his next class. I'll call Ms. Jones and Mr. Conway into my office, and once I've spoken to them, I'll make my decision."
John stood up then, and I followed him. "Thank you, sir," I said.
We stepped out of Mr. Daniels' office then, meeting the secretary and then stepping out into the hallway as it began to fill up slowly.
Some of the students looked at me about as covertly as any human gawking at another possibly could, and John bypassed the main hallway to take me upstairs where my French class was residing. Once we were alone, I spoke softly.
"Thank you," I persisted, and he looked at me. "I wasn't expecting you to defend me. Or stop me."
He smiled crookedly. "Well, you're welcome," he nodded. Then he continued. "I was new here once, about six years ago. It took me almost an entire semester to get any of these kids to trust me, and it took even longer for their parents. Being in a small town isn't the best place to be new, especially when you're not from a small town yourself."
I looked at him as we arrived on the second floor. "You're not from here?"
He shook his head. "Philadelphia," he informed me. "We did things differently in Pennsylvania. Much differently."
I nodded, looking around as students began filling these halls as well. Luckily, we arrived at the door to my French class. "I know what you mean," I agreed.
"Now," he addressed, holding onto my arms. "Are we going to have a problem until you get to my class?"
I shook my head, noticing Kyle coming closer with Keira. "I'm all right. Thank you."
John nodded. "Good. Remember what I said."
I bowed my head. "I will."
He stepped away from me, moving on down the hall back to the stairwell that would take him to his own class, and within a few seconds, I was faced with Keira and her oldest brother as he still glared at me.
"I knew you were a juvenile delinquent when I first saw you," he accused. "And just because you apparently defended my sister against that sleaze Ethan Conway doesn't change anything. Got it?"
I nodded. "I do. I should've handled the situation better. It won't happen again."
He appraised me immediately. "Yes, it will, and you know it will. And you should also know that I'll be telling my father how much I think you're spending too much time with my sister. If at that point he still thinks it's okay for you to be around her, it still won't change anything between us. We clear?"
Again, I nodded.
He looked at Keira, and she lifted her eyes to mine, still holding a small amount of fear inside them. In an interesting change of behaviors, he leaned in to whisper to her, gently kissing her cheek and then nudging her into the room.
I didn't want to push my luck, allowing her to walk to her seat without any interference from me and then sitting beside her as she remained silent.
Ms. Lockhart was writing out lessons on the chalkboard, and I knew I would only have a few more minutes to say anything to Keira. I was afraid to say anything, but before I could, I heard a thought leave her head purposefully.
It's okay, Edward. Let's just wait until after school.
Stunned, I didn't notice that several of the people in class were glancing at us over their shoulders, and I sat up straight, trying harder than I had all day to pay attention to the class even though there was absolutely no need for me to pay attention since I could do that and listen to what every person in the class was thinking at that very moment.
At the end of French class, Kyle appeared at the door ready to take Keira to her next class, and I was forced to let him walk her a few paces ahead of me to the first floor where Study Hall was currently filling up with other students. Fisher and Abigail were already sitting at one of the tables, and while Kyle again whispered to Keira, I sat opposite them realizing that I would have to sit next to Keira the same way I had in French class and the same way I knew I would in English class in an hour.
"Don't worry about Kyle," Fisher said as I sat down. "He just wants to look like the responsible older brother since everyone is watching. Give him a day or two, and he'll be back to normal."
I glanced back to see Keira moving closer to the table, also seeing Kyle with his eyes on me, and for an instant, I somehow knew Fisher was only saying that for my benefit. I knew I'd done something to change Kyle's attitude toward me instantly. And I knew exactly what I'd done — his job.
Keira sat down quietly then.
"Are you okay?" Fisher asked his sister.
She glanced at me, bowing her head and then speaking softly. "I'm fine."
"Ethan didn't have any right to do what he did," Abigail insisted. "And if anyone should get punished, it's him. None of the girls I talk to think he's worth the time to get to know, and Jennifer is the only girl who thinks he's anything special. If you ask me, they're made for each other."
Fisher snickered, glancing at me and then Keira. "Well, when I talk to the principal, I'm going to tell him what I saw. No matter what Kyle says or does, I know who the bad guy is."
I was grateful for his vote of confidence, but I couldn't tell him exactly who he was defending. I was sure if he knew, he wouldn't be defending me so valiantly.
"Fisher," Abigail said, "didn't you say you wanted to look over my math homework before school was out?" She paused. "Um, over there," she pointed to a couple of chairs at the front of the classroom.
Keira blushed, and it was clear what Abigail and Fisher were doing. After a minute or two, they both stood up, and even though I knew they were trying to help, I felt even more tense sitting with Keira after having been left there intentionally by the brother she had that I liked and someone she considered her best friend.
And despite all of that, Keira spoke less than half a minute after being left alone with me.
"My brother," she said. Then she added, "Both of them."
I inhaled deeply. "I can definitely relate," I commented. She looked at me, and I cleared my throat softly. "Emmett and Rosalie are kind of being intolerable."
She glanced back at Fisher, quietly turning her attention to me. "About me?"
I leaned in closer. "None of this has anything to do with you," I swore. "Rosalie will simply have to accept that you're a part of my life now. You're my friend, Keira. And she knows you're not going anywhere. That's the only reason she'd not happy about this. It's like Emmett said. She doesn't like change."
"And I'm too much change?"
"No," I insisted. "You're just right — for me. And Emmett and Esme are just as ready to accept you as I am. Carlisle is being cautious, but he won't risk your life, and I — I'm sorry about what happened at lunch."
She sighed softly. "I told you that it was okay," she repeated from her thoughts in French class. "It wasn't your fault. Ethan provoked you, and I was just surprised. I never thought I would ever see that side of you, and I was scared someone would know something was different about you. I can't even think of what would happen if someone else knew what I know. I promised Carlisle I would keep your secret, and you need me to do that just as much as I need to do it for you."
I was surprised by her revelation, again glancing around and noticing how Abigail and Fisher were watching us closely. Then I looked at Keira, keeping my voice low. "So you weren't scared of me hurting him?" I asked, stunned. "Because I know what you were thinking."
"You're not going to hurt anyone," she proclaimed. "We've been spending time together for two months, and you've never hurt me."
I opened my mouth to argue, and she stopped me. "And it doesn't matter what Emmett did. He didn't want to hurt me, and it won't happen again. Don't beat yourself up over something that wasn't your fault."
I couldn't keep from smiling, the same way I had in the cafeteria. "Are you sure?" I asked softly.
"Of course I'm sure," she nodded
I bowed my head then, thankful for once that I hadn't done permanent damage to the friendship we'd been able to build over the last two months.
Keira was called to the principal's office just as English class was starting, and even though she and John both gave me reassuring smiles, I wasn't as trusting that Mr. Daniels wouldn't punish me for instigating a fight in his school. He was a simple man and saw things in black and white. There was no grey in his world, and I was a grey area — especially since I hadn't really interacted with much of the student body. And I had no idea how he would treat Keira. Being in a small town wouldn't help, and I knew I would have to do everything in my power to not overreact if the end result wasn't to my liking.
Though I didn't do it on purpose, after Keira was gone, and after John began his lesson for the day, I unconsciously found myself listening to Keira's thoughts as she walked to Mr. Daniels' office with the office aide. Students were still hurrying to class, and some of them looked at her. It was like she was a new student all over again — garnering the unnecessary attention of nearly everyone who saw her. Even the office aide sent to retrieve her couldn't contain her thoughts without speculating relentlessly about what was so special about Keira to warrant the attention of not one, but two boys in school.
She's pretty, the office aide, whose name was Robin, thought. But really? Two boys? She's only been in school two months. Only been in town a little more than that.
Keira seemed to know what this girl was speculating to a degree, and she tried to ignore it, concentrating on what she was going to tell Mr. Daniels about what had happened in the cafeteria. She was worried he wouldn't believe her, the same as I was, and she wasn't very confident he would think she was telling the truth. I wished for the ability to make her a little stronger in that department, but I could do nothing but listen.
The secretary was sitting behind her desk when Keira arrived in the front office, but before she could say anything, Mr. Daniels called to Keira from his office.
"Ms. Jones," he beckoned. "Please."
Slowly, Keira moved into his office, and he cleared his desk.
"Please close the door," he requested.
Her pulse increased slightly as she eased the door closed, thinking of me for a split second and then sitting in the chair he gestured to for her.
"It's been quite an eventful day," he began cordially, and I could sense he was attempting to make her comfortable even though it didn't work.
She bowed her head. "Yes, Mr. Daniels."
He smiled lazily. "I don't think I've ever seen such a spectacle over a girl in our school before," he commented.
She blushed, obviously ashamed that she earned so much attention as it had not been her intention.
"Can you tell me what happened?" he asked, becoming aware of her discomfort.
She hesitated, still going over all of it in her head. "Well, I got up to throw away my tray, and Ethan followed me. He talked about the dinner we attended with our parents the other day. He asked me if I enjoyed myself," she recalled, pausing as she thought of more.
Mr. Daniels interrupted her before she could continue. "And did you?"
She looked at him. "I'm sorry?"
He grinned. "Did you enjoy yourself?"
Again, she hesitated. "It was just a company dinner," she insisted. "Our fathers work together, and it was a gathering meant to settle what they would do for the holidays. It wasn't fun, if that's what you're asking. My father made me go."
"Did you like being there? With Ethan."
I wondered where his questions were going, and Keira picked up on it as well, arguing with him. "We barely spoke," she said. "He asked me to the Fall Dance — "
Mr. Daniels inhaled then, leaning back in his chair, and in his thoughts, I could see the musings of an older man going back to where he'd been younger — fighting over a girl with another boy in school.
"I told him I was going with Edward," Keira continued. "And that's when he started trying to persuade me to go with him. Relentlessly."
"I see," Mr. Daniels grinned. "And of course, I understand. A pretty girl like you. I can certainly see where Mr. Conway would want to vie for your affections. Mr. Masen as well. I've seen you with Mr. Masen quite a lot since you began school."
Still confused, Keira attempted to defend herself — and me. "We're science project partners," she informed him. "We've had good reason to spend a lot of time together. And Edward is a very nice person. He's a gentleman, which is more than I can say for Ethan."
"And you're sure you never felt anything for Mr. Conway?" he accused, doing so in a slightly condescending way I wasn't too thrilled about.
"I told you," Keira said, her voice coming out of a whisper. "We've barely spoken. And whether I do or not, he had no right to grab me the way he did. Edward was only defending me. He might have gone about it in an undesirable way, but he meant no harm."
"Clearly, you've already chosen whose side you're on," Mr. Daniels nodded.
Keira had no words of retaliation, but Mr. Daniels gave her no opportunity to continue.
"That will be all, Ms. Jones," he said abruptly. "Go back to class."
Stunned, she stood from the chair, turning to leave as he picked up his phone, and he spoke before she got too far.
"Would you please send Mr. Masen back to my office?" he requested.
Keira bowed her head. "Of course, Mr. Daniels."
She left then, and I waited until she was in the hallway outside the office to lift my eyes to the front of class where John was continuing in his lesson. Much to my surprise, he wasn't even looking at me. His thoughts were simplified to instruct the other students, but he was purposefully avoiding me. It was almost like he knew I had no desire to pay attention to him with Keira in the principal's office.
He noticed me looking at him, raising his eyebrows expectantly, and I nodded slightly, allowing him to know everything was all right for the time being. And then Keira stepped into the room. She looked at me, and then she looked at John.
"The principal has asked to see . . . Mr. Masen," she announced, struggling with whether to say my first name or not.
John looked at me, and I stood up, glancing at the clock and seeing only half an hour had passed. Carlisle worked about ten minutes away at the Community hospital in Aberdeen. I knew it would be nearly three o'clock before he arrived, and I knew Mr. Daniels was calling him now to tell him of the situation. I met Keira at the door, passing her with a nod and then stepping into the hallway alone to make my way to the principal's office. Absently, I knew Emmett would never let me live this down.
The secretary looked at me the same way she'd looked at Keira, and I looked passed her into Mr. Daniels' office. He looked up, motioning for me to come forward. I didn't say anything to the secretary, moving into the office and then closing the door without him saying anything. He sat up slowly, putting down the pen in his hand and folding his hands over the desk in front of him.
"You know what you did was wrong," he said to me, trying to sound very authoritarian as opposed to being horribly condescending the way he'd been with Keira.
I played along with his attitude, nodding. "Yes, sir."
"And you know I would be well within my rights to suspend you from school for the rest of the week," he continued, knowing very well Carlisle was on his way.
Again, I nodded. "Yes, sir."
"Do you think you deserve to be punished?"
I was surprised at his question, considering his thoughts had not led to this particular question. I answered him honestly. "No. I was defending Keira, and he had no right to grab her. She said 'no' to him once before already, and it's not right to disrespect a lady's wishes. Surely, a man of your stature would agree with that."
He was pleased with my flattery, and for a few seconds, he considered simply letting me go with a warning. But he replayed Ethan's version of the incident in his mind, and he was still inclined to consider that someone needed to be punished.
"Ms. Jones certainly is a very beautiful young girl," he commented. "I can see why you would wish to fight over her. She seems quite fond of you. But, all the same, you provoked an altercation on school grounds, and I'm sorry to say, I can't look the other way. When your brother-in-law arrives, I'll be informing him of my decision, and I'll give you time to work things out with your teachers. I'm suspending you for the next two days. And when you return to school, I hope you remember that we don't go around shoving our fellow students into brick walls, no matter what they might say or do. Is that understood?"
Two days. I couldn't believe it. I was tempted to argue with him. But I couldn't step out of line again, or I thought he might feel the need to expel me. That would surely get a rise out of Rosalie.
"Mr. Masen?"
I lifted my eyes to his. "Yes, sir. It won't happen again."
"Very well," he nodded. "You may wait in the outer office for your brother-in-law, and he can accompany you to your classes to retrieve your lessons."
Still, I wanted to argue, confused over the injustice, but it only proved what I'd said to Keira. No good deed. I stood up silently, leaving his office and moving back into the outer office where the secretary was trying desperately trying not to look at me.
Carlisle hurried through the door to the office less than ten minutes after I sat down, and when I saw him, I was expecting him to be disappointed in me. I'd nearly lost complete control of myself, and he was always reminding me to be careful. But instead of what I was expecting, he surprised me by hurrying to me and pulling me to my feet.
"Are you all right?" he asked, his voice full of panic.
I nodded. "I'm all right."
"And Keira? Was she hurt?"
"No," I assured him. "I think I scared her, but she's all right now."
He inhaled deeply, looking around to see Mr. Daniels waiting at the entrance to his office. Carlisle looked at me. "I'll be right back," he promised.
I nodded again, and he moved toward Mr. Daniels, shaking the man's hand and then stepping into the office quietly.
I paid no attention to their conversation, thinking of what I would say to Keira and John when I returned to class. When Carlisle came out of Mr. Daniels' office, he wasted no time stepping back to my side and then guiding me out of the office.
"Where is your last class?" he asked softly.
"It's just down this way," I pointed, and he nodded.
We walked silently, and he nudged me toward the door, silently urging me to hurry so we could get back to the house.
Neither John nor Keira could hide their surprise when I told them what the principal had decided, and even though I knew they were both sympathetic, I assured them everything would be all right. I even asked Keira to come by the house after school if it was all right her father so we would be able to finish our science project. I didn't say anything to anyone else, retrieving my journal from my desk and then returning to the hallway where Carlisle waited. He didn't say anything to me, allowing me to lead the way out of the school to where he'd parked. He wasn't disappointed in me like I'd thought. He was actually very relieved that Ethan was still alive, and he silently promised me Emmett and Rosalie would be keeping an eye on Keira and her family until I was able to do it myself. At least during school.
Before we discuss the injustice of Edward being suspended, I'll argue that I was trying to show the differences between John and the principal. There were also a few role reversals that I hope you noticed. Like why was Kyle walking Keira to class?
Anyhoo, the next chapter shouldn't take as long as this one did. Hopefully, real life, and the electricity, will remain cooperative so I can see about posting a few more chapters to some of my other stories too.
That's all for now! See you next time! And I'll have milk and cookies for all those brave souls who drop me a line - especially one with a hook on the end. Yep.