The idea and plot of this story belongs to gaara king of the sand. Thanks to them for letting me write this story! Twilight belongs to SM.
I look away from the immediately, sinking low in my seat. "Are you okay?" Angela inquires, noticing my stressed expression. I nod my head without a word and then look back at them.
"Who are they?" I ask Angela, nodding to them. But it's Jessica who answers. Her expression is strange as she begins, looking jealous and in awe at the same time.
"They're the Cullens," She giggles, biting her lip as she looks over at them. Angela and I exchange a glance. "They're all incredibly hot, and all adopted. The parents are the same - minus the adopted part - but they don't really talk to people."
I nod, processing it. "That's nice of them, to take in so many children."
"Yes," Jessica agrees, but then her expression becomes haughty, her tone morphing to match. "But I don't think Mrs Cullen can have any children, though."
As if that lessened their kindness.
"And," She whispers, leaning forward conspiratorially. "They're all together. Like, together together. Alice and Jasper, Rosalie and Emmett. It's weird."
"Only Rosalie and Jasper are blood related Jess, it's not incest," Angela comments, rolling her eyes. At my confused expression she leans forward and informs me,"Jasper and Rosalie are the blonds, uh, Alice is the little one and Emmett is the huge one."
I dare myself to look back at them again. Sure enough there are two blonds, one with an arrogant, yet slightly bored expression and one who looks like someone is digging a dagger into his knee under the table. The other two are there as well. A small excitable looking girl is bouncing in her seat, but still somehow seems to be watching Jasper out of the corner of her eye. Then, Emmett, who has the kind of appearance of someone who looks down on others, but also has the soft expression of someone who cares very deeply. Dazed by the man and his varying dispositions, I look away only to catch sight of another boy sitting at the table.
His hair is an odd shade of red, yet still brown. It's almost bronze, really. Even though he's turned slightly away from me, I can still make out the chiseled jaw and his dark eyes glinting against the harsh light. Someone giggles, and I turn to see Jessica grinning a Cheshire cat worthy grin at me. Angela (once again) rolls her eyes at her friend.
"That's Edward Cullen," Angela clarifies, nodding over to the boy in question.
"Completely single and gorgeous of course," Jessica adds, rather loudly I might add. "Although... Clearly none of the girls here are good enough for him."
Glacing back at the Cullen table, Edward is looking away from us, but his cheek appears lifted, as if he's smiling, but no one's talking.
As if, he heard.
My immediate thought is that he can't of, but looking down at my gloved hands I change my mind. Magical powers aren't meant to be possible... So what's supernatural hearing compared to that?
I look back over at them, and I find Edward staring at me. His expression is expectant, as if I'm meant to do or say something. Maybe he's expecting the new girl to throw herself at him.
Sorry to disappoint you, Cullen. Not going to happen.
The table becomes my new best friend for the rest of lunch. The Cullens aren't normal, far from it, so I must stay away from them. I don't doubt that anything is possible, but I exiled myself here for normality. I need to stay away from them.
Just as I'm being tempted to look back at the strange collection of teenagers, the bell rings. 'Saved by the bell!' I sing in my head, rising from my chair.
Mike leads me to biology as he shares it with me and Angela, who trails behind us slightly, her nose stuck in a text book. When we enter the room, there are only three seats left. "Woah," Mike breaths quietly. "I totally forgot. Guess you'll be sitting next to Cullen. Good luck."
I grimace as I walk towards the front of the class, watching out of the corner of my eye as Edward Cullen himself clears what will soon be my side of the desk.
So much for staying away from them.
As I near his desk I trip, catching myself on a desk; the girl sitting there giggles. Giving her a 'sorry' look, I continue to the front of the class. Glacing back at Edward as I hand Mr Banner my slip, I see him sat rigid in his chair, gripping the table tightly with one hand while the other one is clenched in a fist. I catch sight of Mike, suddenly thinking of his future. So much potential, I remind myself. But then... Louise. Seven years. Only seven years left.
Don't think about that.
Mr Banner hands me my slip back, and I thank him quietly before taking my time to sit next to Edward. Once I'm sat down he stiffens even more (is that even possible?) and glares at me with almost animalistic intensity. With fear written all over my face, I'm sure, I rip my eyes away from him. But not before I see him move his bare hands away from me as I set my gloves ones on the desk.
Oh dear God.
He. Knows.
No. I try and dispel the thought as quickly as it comes, but it's determined to stay put. Besides, what if it is true? What if he can read minds or something and just heard me thinking of my power? What if he thinks I like my power? I was just thinking of ways to manipulate Mike's future.
Or rather, his death.
Stop it, I command myself. Edward is still glaring at me, his black eyes glinting against the light. His hands are under the desk now...
He knows. He knows. He knows He knows.
He doesn't.
He does.
Oh my God.
It can't be that. Maybe he just has a really sensitive nose and I smell funny. Or maybe he has panic disorder and new people make him anxious. I mean, unless he can read minds or can somehow tell I have a power by looking at me... There's no way he could know.
Hah. Reading minds. What crap. As if.
His hands are back on the table. They're still quite far away from me, but at least he's not glaring at me. Instead he is staring ahead with unfocused eyes as if he's concentrating hard on something and it's causing him great pain. It's like this for the rest of the lesson, and every now and then I try and look at him through my hair as sneakily as I can. But even though he's not looking at me, I feel as though he somehow knows I'm looking at him; I always look away.
When the bell signals the end of the lesson, he's the first one out of his seat.
A shiver runs down my spine uncontrollably. Everyone else is packing their bags, giving me time to think. Maybe this is normal behaviour for the Cullens. Jessica did say they don't talk to people, and he's had the desk to himself almost all year. Maybe all the Cullens are like this...
Maybe it's normal. I hope so.
"Did you stab Cullen with a pencil or what?" Mike demands, appearing behind me.
Oh, so it not normal at all. Thanks a lot Mike, I did not need to know that.
Shrugging my reply we exit the classroom with Angela. Gym is next, but I don't have to change for it as it's my first day. The entire lesson turns out to be a lecture on the rules and places of basketball. But soon the hour is up and I'm entering the parking lot on my own. Sighing as I walk past the empty spot only one thought enters my mind.
The Volvo is already gone.
For a moment I look around for my car, and then remember the walk I made here. Gritting my teeth against the cold, even though not two feet away a group of boys are standing in t-shirts without coats, I button up my own coat and begin my journey home. It's just as grueling as the walk to school, and by the time I guess I'm half way home I swear a silver Volvo races past me, but it's going so fast that it's already out of sight by the time I register I saw it.
Charlie is already home by the time I step through the front door, and he's in front of me immediately. "What happened to you?"
"I walked to school," I grind out, still shivering slightly from the cold. "It's freezing."
He frowns for a moment before stepping into the open doorway behind me. A moment later he's back in front of me, having shut the front door softly. "It's not..." He murmurs as he takes in my buttoned-up coat and my still-gloved hands before smiling slightly. "Still used to Phoenix, hey Bells?"
"Well I only got here yesterday," I retort, smiling in spite of myself.
He reaches out and ruffles my hair. I cringe against it, but don't throw him off. "Go get some rest Bella."
"Okay," I mutter, making my way for the stairs. Once in my room I take off my shoes, my coat, and, finally, my gloves. The cool air hits the palms of my hands and I sigh in relief as they begin to cool down.
"Bella!" Charlie calls from downstairs. "I've been called into work! I might not be back in time for dinner, though, so don't wait for me!"
"Okay!" I call back. "Bye!"
I lie down on my old, creaky bed as I hear the front door shut downstairs. Resting my hands on my stomach I close my eyes. The silence is relaxing and I can feel myself drifting off to sleep...
And then the phone rings.
Groaning as I sit up, I swing my legs over the edge of the bed before reaching for the phone. "Hey mom," I murmur after looking at the caller ID and answering the phone.
"Hey sweetie, how are you?" She questions, and I can hear the smile in her voice. I can also hear Phil practicing batting in the background.
I nod silently. "I'm great."
"Is everyone treating you okay? How was school?" She sounds worried now, and I roll my eyes.
"Yes," I reply. "Everything's great. Everyone's really nice." Well, almost everyone. "Charlie's good."
"Is he there now?"
"No," I say, lying back down on my bed. "He just left for work."
She sighs, and I can practically hear her rolling her eyes. "He's always at work," She grumbles, and I sigh. It's one of the reasons she left him.
We talk for a little while longer before I hang up the phone. After eating I put the leftovers in the fridge for Charlie before I go upstairs, do my homework and go to bed. Charlie is already gone when I wake up in the morning.
I decide to walk to school again, as I'm unsure whether or not the truck will actually work, not that I'm doubting Jacob Black's mechanic skills. When the exertion begins to take it's toll and I can actually feel sweat beginning to drip down my face, I take my coat and gloves off. I'm alone on this road, and I doubt anyone driving past will want to stop and shake my hand for the fun of it.
"Hey Bella," Jessica greets me as I walk into the parking lot. She makes a grab for my bare hand as she does, however, and I cringe as her future flashes through my head.
She easily gets through school, getting into the college she wants and then marrying Mike afterwards. She becomes an art teacher, finding her talent in drawing. At twenty five she has twin girls, and then later has a miscarriage and is unable to have children after that. After Mike is killed she moves to Chicago with her children and remarries. At eighty two years old, she dies of old age in her sleep.
I can't suppress my smile as she drags me to her - our - friends. Mike greets me with enthusiasm and Tyler smiles at me. Lauren just rolls her eyes at me grabs Jessica's arm, dragging her away from me. She then starts talking about some perm one of the girls in the year got and how 'she looks like a poodle'. Jessica squeals at this.
"Hey Bella," Mike says, swinging an arm over my shoulders as I pull my gloves on. "Enjoying the rain?"
"It's not raining," I reply, looking up at the sky in confusion. But from the looks of it, it's not raining now, but it will soon.
Tyler shrugs, pushing Mike away from me. "Yeah, but it rains a lot here. It's his lame way of saying, how are you enjoying Forks?"
"It's alright," I mutter, stepping away from them. "But in Phoenix, there was more sun, and I kind of miss my mom."
"Yeah," Mike sighs, once again throwing an arm around me. I try and throw him off, but he just stays put. Like a really annoying puppy. "I get that."
"Stop trying to flirt with me," I mutter, and either he doesn't hear me, or just ignores me. I roll my eyes. "It's not working." Again, he doesn't seem to hear me, just steering me to our shared class as the bell rings across the lot.
At lunch my eyes sweep the room the moment I step into the cafeteria. At first glance I don't notice anything different, until I find the Cullens.
There are only four of them.
A sick feeling settles in my stomach. Edward wasn't sitting at the table, and to be honest I hadn't seen him at school all day. Maybe it didn't mean anything, though. He might have gone home ill (although, to be honest I can't imagine any of the Cullens being sick), or he might have come down with something over night and not been able to come to school. His dad's a doctor, so it might be a cold and his dad's being overly cautious, seeing too many things start with the symptoms of a cold and ending with death. Edward is very pale, they all are, so maybe they're all cancer patients or something and Edward's dead.
Okay, I'm getting ridiculous now, but what did I ever do to him?
"Bella?" Angela asks, nudging my shoulder. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah," I squeak, and silently curse myself. "I'm just gonna get a water."
I get an apple as well as the water, though, sitting with my food and drink with my back to the Cullens. The others get into a comfortable conversation quickly, and I try to make it look like I'm listening, but after a while I lift the apple to take a bite. But as I do I notice Rosalie and Jasper Hale reflected in the shiny red surface of it. I can see Emmett and Alice as well, but their figures are blurrier as the apple curves. As I watch I see the blurry figures of Jasper and Emmett turn to me. Dropping the apple in surprise, I turn to the Cullen table to find the boys watching me curiously. Alice is grinning at something, biting her lip and looking down at the table. But Rosalie looks angry, and very, very dangerous.
I look away as I feel the sadness creeping across my features. Edward did run away because of me. At least they're subtle about it, I think, rolling my eyes.
The next day is very much the same. I take my gloves off on the walk to school and end up seeing Jessica's future again. Mike and Tyler and Eric, a boy from my maths class, try to flirt with me. Lessons are boring and at lunch the remaining four Cullens watch me. The guilt of chasing their brother away hits me again. This goes on for a few days. Almost a week, in fact.
But one day, as my eyes rake across the cafeteria, I spot the coppery red hair that can only mean one thing.
There are five Cullens at the table.
Swallowing my fear, I step over to the line forming to buy my food. "Are you alright, Bella?" Mike asks as the line moves but I don't. Angela nudges me forward. I almost fall flat on my face, but catch myself just in time. A booming laugh echoes across the cafeteria, and I look over just in time to see Emmett and Edward Cullen look away from me, laughing.
Huh. Subtle.
"I'm just gonna get a lemonade," I tell Mike, stepping away form him slightly to purchase the drink. "I guess I don't feel very well."
"You alright?" Angela asks as we sit down next to Jess and the others. Lauren sneers at me as I sit down. I resist the urge to punch her. People here just seem to hate me instantly.
"I'm fine," I reply quietly, sinking low in my seat. Jessica giggles suddenly.
"Edward Cullen is staring at you," She whispers, grinning slightly, but I can see and hear the envy she tries to hide.
I bite my lip, avoiding meeting his eye. "He doesn't look angry does he?" I mutter, folding my shoulders forward and sinking even lower in my seat. My neck feels as though it's level with the top of the seat now.
"No," She replies, confused, but a bit of the envious tone disappears. Clearly I'm not much competition if the famous Edward Cullen and I don't get along. "Should he be?"
"I don't think he likes me very much," I admit, and she nods, her envy having completely disappeared.
"The Cullens don't like anybody," She tries to console me, but even I can see it's half hearted. "Or at least, they don't notice anybody enough to notice them... But he's still staring at you."
"Well stop looking at him!" I order, glaring at her slightly. She giggles again and complies.
The rest of lunch is uneventful, and I contemplate leaving an skipping biology. I don't want to face Edward. I don't want to face any of the Cullens. But in the end I find myself making my way to biology with Mike and Angela. Taking my seat next to him, I avoid looking at the man who could ruin my time here. Who could ruin my normal life. My almost normal life.
"Hello," He says quietly, formally, after the lecture ended and everyone began setting up the practical. I had done this practical before, and so I was already bored. "My name is Edward Cullen."
I wonder why he introduced himself. Surely he is aware of Jessica's obsession with him. Surely he has seen me with her, and knows we're friends... kind of. Surely I'd know his name by now.
Which I do, and his entire families'.
"I didn't a chance to introduce myself last week," He continues. Yes you did, but you were too busy pretending I'm the devil, I correct in my mind. "You must be Bella Swan."
"How do you know my name?" I demand. This is another sign he's not normal. I wonder how he'll get around it.
"Oh, I should think everyone knows your name," He replies "The whole town has been waiting on your arrival."
He's good, but not good enough. "No," I say, cocking my head in fake confusion. "You called me Bella. Everyone else called me Isabella, and I think that's what my dad calls me behind my back."
"Ah," He stutters, nodding and looking away, clearly uncomfortable.
Bella one, Edward zero.
I'm not entirely sure why I'm doing this, calling him out on the less obvious things that separate him from the rest of the human race. He just makes me angry, somehow. He is just like me in some ways, trying to be normal when he so clearly isn't. But in other ways it angers me, as I'm sure if people found out his secret they wouldn't care, just because of his looks, whatever his secret is. If they found out my secret though...
I'd probably be dissected.
"Begin," Mr Banner tells us, and I hear some people groan before starting the practical. Chuckling, I snap in the first slide and quickly look into the microscope.
"Prophase," I say confidently, and as I look up at him I notice something else different.
"May I?" He asks, leaning forward to move the microscope in front of him. Clearly he doesn't trust my judgement.
"Swan!" Mr Banner calls suddenly. "You're not outside, gloves off."
I curse under my breath, and slowly remove the gloves. I had done well in hiding the fact I kept them on from Mr Banner over the past few days, but today I was too distracted.
Damn you Edward.
I look over to see him smirking as he writes on the sheet. Looks like I was right, the word Prophase written in the top box proves that. As I watch he snaps another slide in place, and looks into the microscope. "Did you get contacts?" I ask, hoping to catch him off guard. He looks up in shock, gold eyes meeting brown ones.
The thing is, almost a week ago it was black eyes meeting brown ones.
"No," He says after a moments hesitation, looking confused, clearly wondering why I asked.
"Oh," I mutter, looking down at the table, trying to act surprised. "I guess I thought I saw something different."
"Oh," He mimics me, and as I look over I can tell he's berating himself.
Bella two, Edward zero. Ha.
I pull the microscope towards me after he says his answer out loud. Anaphase, apparently, although I don't have any doubt that he's right. I hate that.
He is right, and I hold my hand for the next slide. He hands it to me, but as he does our hands brush. I'm not wearing my gloves.
I freeze as I look into his future.