Playlist:
1. Caring is Creepy - The Shins
2. Once - Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova
3. A Well Respected Man - The Kinks
4. Man Who Can't be Moved - The Script
5. San Diego Song - The Coronas
6. Iris - The Goo Goo Dolls
7. Let Go - Frou Frou
Popping the lasange that was going to be our dinner in the oven I trudged upstairs with my bag on my back. Study had been one of the things that had helped my cope with things throughout my life. When Charlie and Rene had split up when I had been about eight, I had learned all my multiplication and division maths tables, two by two is equal to four, three by two is equal to six. When I had been bullied in middle school by a girl called Lauren Mallory, I had learned all about the American Revolution. Since starting high school, I studied all the time, but now I had a reason to. Get good grades, go to college, get a good job. My plan was simple. Once all that was done, I wanted to fall in love.
I wanted someone to love me for who I was, even if I had no personality. I racked my brains about why Edward Cullen saying I had no personality had bothered my so much. I had thought about way too many times since he'd said it for it to be no big deal. It wasn't that I was just upset about it, I found myself curious as to why he'd said it too.
I pulled out my algebra book and stared at trying to make sense of all the x's and y's riddled on the page before me. Math was definetly my weak point. I wasn't the worst at it in my class, but then again remember we have Jessica Stanley in our class, but I most definetly wasn't the best. I would try my best at it and revise for hours on end and would get a C+ or a B- if I was really lucky.
The growl of an engine in the driveway half an hour later signaled Charlie's return. I was just done scooping the lasange onto two plates and setting them on the table, right on time, I thought to myself. Another one of my annoying habits, I like routine.
Like me, Charlie wasn't a talker so most of the meal was ate in silence. When we were done, I washed the dishes and Charlie went to phone his friend Billy Black. Billy and Charlie had been friends since years before I was even born. He was a nice man who was in a wheelchair and lived on the reserve down by La Push. The Black's had lived on the reserver forever and were just as much part of the place as the tree and the beach. Billy had a son a small bit younger than me, Jacob, or Jake as I called him. He went to school on the reservation rather than in Forks so I didn't get to see him that often. But when we did see each other we always had a good time. He was good natured and friendly. He was the closest thing I had to having a friend.
"Billy and Jake are coming over in a bit to watch the football game." Charlie informed me gruffly. Since Billy couldn't use his legs anymore, Jake had to drive him around. Even though Jake was just gone sixteen he had been driving since he was fifteen, a fact Charlie had overlooked and never mentioned. Maybe the Forks Chiep of Police was corrupt after all.
Just then I felt my cell phone vibration in my pocket, Edward must be calling, I answered the phone, gulping loudly.
"Hello," I said as I walked up the stairs to my bedroom, I didn't want Charlie to know I was on the phone to a boy, he might feel he has to give me the 'talk'. I heard him and Billy talking about it one day. Billy's wife had died leaving with him with two teen girls as well as Jacob. I could only imagine the embarrasment the poor girls had to face.
"So when are we gonna do this then?" I heard a male voice grumble down the line. Who would've thought spending five minutes of his oh so precious time on a phonecall with me would put someone in such a bad mood.
"Whenever your free, I guess." I said. Why try and be fussy when I knew I wasn't going to be gone anywhere anyway.
"Oh yeah," he sneered, "I forgot you had no social life. How does after school sound?" Huh! He really had some cheek! I was helping him, and he couldn't say "Gee Bella thanks for the help" No Edward Cullen was an ass and boy did I know it. From what I could see he was a conceited, sarcastic, stuck up bastard! But of course I wasn't going to say this to him.
"Am, sure. Where?" God, I really was going to have to see someone for all this pent up rage I had.
"Fine. You can follow me in your shitty truck home from school tomorrow and we can study then. Bye." I heard a dial tone. He had hung up without so much as to give me chance to decide if this suited me. For all he knew my truck could've broken down or I needed to drop someone home first or something.
The doorbell rang downstairs and Charlie got up from his perch on the couch to answer it. I walked out of my room and stood at the top of the stairs and looked down. Jake and Billy were standing in the doorway, Jake leaning casually on Billy's wheelchair. Dad took over pushing Billy's and wheeled him into the sitting room so they could watch whatever game it was that was on. I walked down the stairs the stairs warily in case I tripped.
"Hey Bells!" Jake greeted cheerfully. He put up his hand jokingly gesturing for a high five. I reached up and slapped his hand, being five foot five made me feel extremely small compared to Jacob's six three!
"You hungry?" Jake nodded his head and we moved to the kitchen. Grabbing the leftover lasangea I placed it in the microwave and turned to pour him a glass of milk.
"How was school today?" queried Jake as he sat down at the kitchen table, a knife and fork in his hand.
"Fine," I said as I handed him his drink and went to stand by the microwave waiting for the beep to signal it's finish. "Mr. Banner is making me tutor Edward Cullen in biology for the rest of the year, Ugh!" The microwave finished and I carefully transferred the piping hot plate onto the table for Jacob. Jake didn't seem to notice, his face had darkened and his eyebrows were furrowed.
"Bella, if I were you I'd stay away from Edward Cullen, he's bad news." Jacob informed me, as if I didn't already know that.
"Jake, you don't even know him, neither do I. I'm going to try not to judge him until I can do it fairly," I said calmly, Jake had a red hot temper. I'd only once been on the receiving end of it once, when I'd drove skidded on some black ice with Jacob in the car with me. If he hadn't grabbed the wheel we would've hit the wall across the street.
Do you remember last month when the beach was trashed?" I nodded. "When Quil's car was found burnt out on the side of the road?" Jacob was starting to list out all these things on his large fingers "Who crashed Jared's party last year with all his friends from the football team and their various skanks?"
"Edward Cullen?" I suggested.
"Damn straight," said Jake pounding his fist against the wooden table making the whole thing shake, I raised and eyebrow at him, "Sorry Bells, I just got a bit carried away." He smiled bashfully and began to shovel the lasange into his mouth. I shook my head, Jacob Black's temper might be quick to flare but he relaxed just as quick.
"What are you doing Friday?" blurted Jacob, his sallow skin turning red.
"Nothing? Why?" I felt a feeling of unease begin to creep up on me. I knew Jacob had no girlfriend, but no way was I keen to fill that role. We had known each other too long in my opinion for me to see him that way. Jake apparently thought otherwise.
"Well, since your not doing anything and neither am I, I was wondering, if maybe you wanted to go to the cinema? You know in Port Angeles?" He was looking at me like a hopeful puppy might if you were teasing him with a treat.
"Okay," I said nodding, turning my head down to the table to hide my embarrassment. I didn't want him to mistake it for anything else.
"Cool, pick you up at seven then!"
***
The next morning as I walked to my locker, I could see a small figure, with short black hair leaning against my locker. It was unmistakably Alice Cullen. What could she want with me. To tell me to stay away from Edward, that I was messing up his social life?
"Hi! I'm Alice! You're Bella Swan right?" Alice said perkily. If I hadn't stopped it in time I swear to God that my jaw would have hit the floor. I always thought Alice Cullen disliked me! I nodded my head shakily.
"Edward said that Mr. Banner has arranged for you to tutor him. I can't thank you enough! That's what we were fighting about yesterday in class. Edward is failing so many subjects currently, he'll be lucky if the coach doesn't kick him off by the weekend! I'd help him myself, but biology wouldn't be my best subject either!" babbled Alice at a million miles an hour.
"But I guess you already know that, we're in the same biology class!" I nodded again weakly. Damn this girl had a lot of energy, for someone so small she sure co
uld make a lot of noise.
"It's no problem really, I don't mind." Lying through my teeth, Edward's sister mightn't be an ass but Edward certainly was! Alice through her arms around me giving me a hug.
"I have a feeling we're going to be great friends! I have a sixth sense about these things!" she pulled back, smiling from ear to ear. "And don't worry about Edward, he's not as obnoxious as he seems once you get to know him!" she winked at me before walking away.
***
As the bell rang that signified the end of school rang, I trudged slowly out of the crowded hall and into the cold car park. Edward Cullen was already sitting in his shiny silver Volvo, he had his seat tilted back and his ipod on. He must have ditched last period. No wonder he was failing. I heaved a sigh, and walked down to his car, tapping lightly on the window with a gloved hand. His head shot up. He opened the car door.
"Y-you s-s-said that I should follow you 'cos I don't k-know where your house is?" I stuttered. This stuttering thing around him better not be a regular thing, it was a real pain.
"Yeah, I know I did." He said grouchily. Fine, I thought, if he wants to make all this out to be my fault he can. I nodded my head curtly before trekking up the five spaces to my jeep.
We speed down the main road through Forks, or rather Edward speed and I slowly followed, and out the far side, driving towards the woods. About five minutes later, he turned up a small driveway. I most definetly wasn't prepared for the sight of his house.
It was a large white colonial style house but it had a large glass side. It was magnificent. Trees surrounded it, adding the already obvious privacy of the area.
Edward pulled his Volvo into the garage and I parked my truck outside the front door. This was going to be and extremely fun Tuesday evening.
A.N. I know I said i'd update on Sunday or Monday but time got away from me with school and homework. I hope to have the next chapter up before Friday. Thanks to all who reviwed, Jacob included especially for grovergoldgirl! I know this is a Twilight fic but I was wondering would anyone be interested in reading a James/Lily fiction for Harry Potter? It would be completely canon. It isn't ready yet though, I'd also be looking for a beta for it. XD