Dear anonymous, thank you for your wonderful review. I don't very much like Edward either. Of course he's going to come back. Eventually.
Chapter 4 – First day in school
And we went to the party down on reservation the next day. Not. (Sigh)
Nope. I called Lana, telling her my dad grounded me, and she said she wouldn't go without me. The worst thing about this grounded thing is I can't even go outside for a bit. I've already read all the school books – told you I was an avid reader – and I could just climb the walls. Did I ever mention I hate their color? I do. That sickly green just has to go.
I also called Jacob saying I couldn't go and Lana wouldn't go either. Next time, I promised.
I've also been thinking. Sooner or later, Isabella Swan will leave high school and, while I'm sure father won't mind me staying and helping with expenses, I would like to save some money, move out, do something useful with my time, besides having a 'normal' job. So, in my boredom, I decided to write a couple of chapters for a book. I looked it up in the internet, and human women seem to enjoy romances and erotic romances immensely, and I read a couple already. So I'm going to write one of those. Time travel in Scotland, I decided. And so, with my ever faithful Internet I started researching things about said concept and history. As soon as I am no longer grounded I'll go to the local library and get some books, I already checked the catalogue online.
I already have a chapter guide ready. If I can't publish it the "normal" way, I'll consider one of those print-on-demand websites. Or just sell them in digital format. Ah, ideas, ideas.
The day comes when I have to go to school. I already know where it is and I get there early, with time to spare. Guess who shows up? Jacob.
Apparently there's a school on the Quileute reservation and he attends it. He's sorry that I'm starting all over again, not knowing anybody here. I shrug and say that I'll live. I've done it before, haven't I?
He's also sorry I was grounded. He thinks it's his fault and I tell him not to apologize. I placed myself in that position in the first place, not him.
Jacob is a nice guy. We talk a bit more, he makes me laugh. We're interrupted by some other teenagers whose face I saw. I learn their names, Mike, Eric, Angela, Jessica. I don't know why but I don't like Mike. Jessica is… a normal teenager girl. Eric and Angela are a couple. All of them are so young. Was I ever this young? This carefree? My other life and its pain seem like a distant memory.
I try to answer their questions, going on autopilot. Jacob stays behind, I wave him goodbye, I'll see him later. We go to class. Gossip travels fast, everybody heard what happened and that I have amnesia. I have to repeat the story again and again – humans are so curious. And nosy, eh, eh, eh. Some teachers hate that I have to use the sunglasses but they deal with it. The ones with a bit more trouble with it pester me with questions and I answer correctly and sufficiently to all of them. No point in showing I know too much; they might think I'm being pretentious, or whatever. No point in aggravating them, indeed.
At lunchtime I'm bombarded with more and more questions, from people I don't even remember seeing in the memories.
More classes: more questions. Time goes by and before I know it, I'm heading home. We have quite the amount of homework to do, but it's nothing I can't handle.
I get to the truck and drive to the library. I pick some books on Scotland history and clans and I go home. Father's not home yet. I start making dinner, and leave it half made so I don't have to worry later. I go upstairs and start doing my homework. It's not too hard and I already know all the material so it doesn't take me that long. I put all the items I need for tomorrow in my bag and then I lay down on the bed.
I don't want to move.
The stupid phone rings.
I feel tempted not to answer. It doesn't shut up.
I get up, grumbling to myself, go into the kitchen and pick up. Lana. Yes, I know I should train. Good, I'm glad you found a place to practice. Yes, I'll dress in black from head to toe and sneak away tonight. Yes, running sounds great, I'm sure I'm out of shape. No, I didn't see Paul again. And yes, siree, tonight you will explain to me just why you are so interested in Paul. No, you're interested, and yes, you can deny it all you want and threaten to throw energy balls at me all you want, I still think you're interested. Hardy, har, har. Very funny. Bye.
I start for the couch and take a few steps toward it but the stupid phone rings again. Crap. I pick it up, some woman recognizes my voice and says she saw me being bitten by a vampire, still up and moving, and my eyes looked different, and was I turned? I realize, now with some shock, that this must be Alice Cullen.
"Bella? Are you there? Bella?" Great.
"How is Edward?" for some reason, the moment it leaves my lips, that name makes my skin crawl. I grimace.
"Well, he left." Left? "We don't know where. He shows up once in a while." I'm silent for a bit, wonder where he went. "Bella, I'm so sorry. I know it looks unfair to you. I miss you."
"Thank you, Alice. That's very kind of you."
"You sound different." I laugh.
"I am different." You have no idea. "No, I wasn't turned."
"You would have liked we were, wouldn't you?"
"I don't think we should have this conversation on the phone."
"You're right. I just… wanted to make sure you were okay. Don't do anything stupid, like jumping off a cliff. Be safe." I snort; just why would I, spontaneously, jump off a cliff? She's nuts!
"I appreciate your worry, but if you're so worried then perhaps you should visit one of these days. I'll be happy to see you. Edward or no Edward."
"Oh, really?" she sounds hopeful about it. "No hard feelings then?" If only you knew…
"None whatsoever. See you around. Bye." I disconnect the call. Hey, it's the truth. Fine by me, I'm curious. Besides, it's not like she's actually going to visit. I'm sure they'll simply think poor Bella's heart wouldn't be able to take it.
Lana and I run through the woods. It's dark but I can see rather clearly. No fancy tricks for tonight, just running around like crazy, pulling some stunts, testing how I've adapted to this body and how much can it take, now that I've been making a few changes to it. I can't wait to stretch it to its full potential, thanks to my soul and gifts.
In the meantime, we have a run in with a vampire and Lana dispatches it, since she has more experience with them. Apparently the woods already have protectors taking care of those matters. We're surprised by them in the process of destroying the vampire, and now we're being hunted. The wind blows through the trees, they whisper softly to us. Wolves. Wolves.
Not the usual type of wolf, apparently. They are big and mighty fast. Well, so are we; running like maniacs till we reach the cliffs. Lana is slower to reach me, as she was disguising our scent from the wolves, but as she stands on the cliff, we both tense, getting ready to jump. Then, it happens.
"Bella, don't do this." I look towards the soft, pleasant-sounding voice and gape like a fish. It looks like a ghost, but more solid, in color. If I'm not mistaken, it's Edward Cullen. "This is dangerous." He frowns at me; I'm over the shock and glare at him.
"You think?", I retort; and jump at the same time as Lana. Cold water envelops us. I can feel the wolves high above us, so we let ourselves sink a bit more. Stupid Cullen is there too. I ignore him and start swimming towards the shore, underwater; the ghost-like figure following me as I surface. The wolves are gone.
The whole week passes in a breeze. I go visit Jacob a couple of times. I enjoy being with him, I miss him when we're not together. I know why we feel right, but I try not to think about it. I'm glad for my sunglasses, this way he doesn't see me looking at him all the time, like a love-seeking puppy. Lana asks about Paul but never seems to find the courage to come and see him. I know she's fighting the pull; a bit pointless, I think.
I can understand her hesitation; we're not entirely human. How am I going to explain this to Jacob? I sigh, I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.
I'm not grounded anymore, thank goodness. I can't wait to visit Lana. I invited my friends from school but only Jessica came along with me, we're already in Neah Bay and I pull the truck over. We have to cross the street, Jessica babbles away and I nod and make committing sounds here and there. Someone calls us, a bunch of bikers yelling they have beer and whatever, inviting us for a little ride. I stop and stare at them, in the distance. And guess who shows up, again.
Edward Cullen, looking like death happened. Oh, my, oh pie.
"Keep walking.", he says in that calm, melodic voice.
"No.", I whisper, smirking at him. "Screw you. You don't own me, last time I checked."
"You promised me.", he scowls.
"Bella…", Jessica suddenly stops babbling. "Did you say something? What's wrong?"
"Sorry, Jessica, I just have the feeling I know those guys. Do you think they were acquaintances of mine?", I muse.
"I don't think so, and I don't like this, Bella. Did you hit your head again?", I laugh at her.
"Sorry, Jess. Let's go, shall we? It's just across the street." I discreetly smirk at Cullen, who's looking at me strangely, all the way to the pub. "Here it is."
"Bella, don't."
This time it's no wonder he keeps pestering me. I'm sure it looks like the most ill-omened pub in this world. Jessica hesitates and I tell her everything's fine. We enter and Cullen's form appears on the inside. Jessica wows at the place.
John, the other owner to "Old man's pub", sees us. The inside of the pub is inviting, something no one could tell from the looks outside. I know Lana has been pestering John, who is said "Old man", to change that, but he doesn't want to. Business is slow now, it gets much better at mealtimes and after dinner, though. Popular place to be at, nice cocktails and they also serve simple but good tasting meals.
Lana suddenly shows up and gives me a hug. I introduce Jessica and John takes her to the booth closer to the vertical piano and starts talking to her. I'm glad he does. Jessica lost her grandfather a few weeks ago and seems to take to him. It's all part of John's charm, I guess, and I smile fondly at them. I have the feeling Jessica is going to find a surrogate grandfather in John if she's willing to.
Lana takes me behind the counter – I lean onto it – and gets busy, fixing us drinks. Cullen's left; she whispers furiously.
"You look strange. What's wrong? We didn't have time to talk since the other night." I take a few plates and place a slice of cheesecake on one, then go for the heavenly looking brownies.
"It's Edward Cullen." I tell her of his appearance today.
"Promise? What did Bella promise him?"
"Probably to stay out of trouble." Lana smirks.
"Between being bitten from a vampire, running in the woods at night and jumping off a cliff… you don't seem to be doing a very good job at that."
"What can I say? I try.", I reply seriously. Lana sees through my act and giggles.
I'm thrilled with my over 80 visitors to this story, but reviews would be nice. They would ensure an update.