Jasper stops me as I'm getting into the car, so I open the passenger door and offer him a ride to school. His face looks like mine probably did yesterday when Emmett talked to me, and I feel bad for not making an effort before now. If I feel lonely and left out every day, I can only imagine how Jasper must feel. He's not only ignored, but he's also kind of tormented.
He kind of brings it on himself. I mean, it only took a haircut for me. What would happen if he stopped wearing his pocket protector and proclaiming Darth Vader the Lord Ruler of the Universe? Still, everyone needs a friend, I've discovered recently. Maybe I could be that for Jasper from now on.
We walk up to the school doors together and run into Alice immediately. Jasper turns bright red and runs before I can say another word. I didn't get much out of him on the ride to school, so I decide I'll catch him before lunch. Alice watches him go with a funny expression on her face, and I wonder if she's about to insult my old friend.
"He could use a haircut, too," she muses. "He's got a pretty face, doesn't he?"
I give her a look that says, "What am I supposed to know about it?" She takes my arm with a laugh and walks with me to our first class.
"So I have some possibilities for you. I've been watching all the girls in my classes, and there are three that fit the description you gave me. There's Angela Weber in my home ec class, Bella Swan in my chem class, and Jessica Stanley. She's on the cheerleading squad with me."
I shudder and shake my head. I know for sure it's not Jessica. Plus, she's always been a bit of a bitch.
"It's not Jessica, but I don't know the other ones."
Alice scoots our desks together and plops down with a sigh. It sounds like relief.
"I couldn't help you hook up with Jess in good conscience," she admits as we pull our books out. "But the other two seem nice. I don't really know them, but I can get to know them, if you want?"
I feel kind of helpless. Without seeing either of them, I have no idea if she's even close. She could be talking about anyone. My girl could be a freshman or a senior. She could be in all the gifted classes or struggling in the remedial ones. Something tells me she's intelligent - probably the spark I saw in her eyes, but I just don't know.
"I'll start with Angela. She sits right behind me in home ec, so it will be easier to start a conversation. Maybe I'll break my pen again." Her eyes glitter with humor, and I can't help but laugh with her.
I dig the hand wipes out of my bag and hand them to her, give them up happily in return for her planned sacrifice.
With a plan in place, it's easier to pay attention during our study session. Alice already has a great outline, but she's happy to let me make suggestions. Her séance idea still seems a little flaky to me, but I'm willing to let her do anything she wants since she's so gung-ho about helping me-a veritable stranger-find the girl of my dreams.
When lunchtime arrives, I wonder if Emmett remembers inviting me to sit with him. I know the table he's talking about. There's always two dozen people or so crowded around the table, so they won't even notice a new person. Rosalie may say something, but I have the feeling Emmett can defuse the situation. Still, if he doesn't even remember asking me, things could get awkward.
I stand inside the door for a minute, staring at the group in question. Most of them have their own lunches from home, so I'm at least prepared with my own brown bag. Still, I don't know how to approach them without calling attention to myself. Before I can change my mind completely and flee for the library, Emmett looks up and catches my eye.
"Yo, Edward. I saved you a seat, man."
About a hundred people turn to see whom he's talking to. Some of the girls keep looking for a moment, wondering if I'm someone they should have noticed before now. Slowly, I make my way to the corner, feeling eyes following me as I walk. Most people turn back to their lunches, but I still feel like someone is watching me closely.
I glance around quickly, hoping to catch whoever it is in the act, but no one seems to be looking. The feeling sticks with me even after I turn back to the table and take my seat. I wonder briefly if it's her-Angela or Bella or some other brown-haired, brown-eyed girl.
"Over here," Emmett says, pointing to the chair next to him. "You can see the whole caf from here."
As I sit down, Alice plops down across the table from me. "I hope it's not Angela," she whispers. "She told me she's got a boyfriend. That's just asking for heartache."
Her little face looks so sad, and I'm touched that she seems so invested in my happiness. I can't imagine this girl, whoever she is, telling me that I'm beautiful when she's already involved with someone else, but I don't know anything about her. I guess anything's possible.
"Do you see her?" Emmett asks, gesturing to the crowded room.
"See who?" Rosalie asks, setting her bag down on the table.
She doesn't look surprised to see me, but she also doesn't look happy about it. I can't help but wonder if she remembers me. She's grown to be absolutely gorgeous, of course, but I still remember her as the little blonde girl with pigtails and a grape juice stain on her dress. She'd probably kill me if I shared that.
"Edward's looking for his girl." Emmett reaches across the table for a fist bump, and I hesitantly comply.
"You don't know who she is?" Rosalie looks supremely uninterested, but that changes when Emmett and Alice take turns telling the story.
"That's really sweet," she says grudgingly. "I know who Bella is. She's in my government class. Really quiet, I think."
Her eyes scan the room, and her gaze stops somewhere in the distance. I turn to see what she's looking at, and my breath catches as she and Alice speak.
"That's her," we all say at the same time, but I sound like I've been punched in the gut.
"Wait," Alice says. "Which is her? She's sitting next to Angela."
I study her from across the cafeteria, feeling my pulse race. She's even prettier than I could have hoped, with pale skin that seems to glow under the fluorescent lights. Her blue shirt is kind of flowy, so I can't see her curves, but I know they're there. That amazing hair is down and spilling over her shoulders, and her face is lit up in laughter at whatever the others at her table are saying.
"Blue shirt," I mutter. "Wow."
"Ohthankgod," Alice says in a whoosh. "That's Bella. I still haven't talked to her yet, so I don't know if she's got a boyfriend, but at least we know now that it's not Angela."
I'm not following a thing Alice is saying because I can't take my eyes off of her - Bella. I can't believe how pretty she really is. I knew she would be, but seeing her finally - all of her-somehow exceeds the fantasies I'd concocted.
"Why isn't she over here?" I wonder aloud.
She's certainly beautiful enough to give Rosalie a run for her money. She belongs among the elite if anyone does. Instead, she seems happy enough in her own little world, completely unnoticed by the popular crowd until they are forced to see her.
"What now?" Rosalie asks, leaning forward with interest. "Will you go talk to her?"
I freeze. I hadn't really thought past the point where I found out who she is. The logical thing would be to go talk to her - to maybe introduce myself. I wonder if she's even thought about me since Monday. Was it really only three days ago? I can't believe it's only taken three days for my whole world to turn upside down.
Thank you again to TiffanyAnne3 for being an amazing beta!