Chapter 2
High School
Pamela didn't turn out to be much of a chatterbox, to which I'm thankful for, but she was really good at keeping the conversation going with just a few or no words. Unlike what I first thought, she happened to be older than me, and I have to admit I felt kind of proud that I was three inches taller than her. "I get it from my dad, my moms way taller than him," she'd said. I would have responded with something about where I got what from which parent, but that normally only applied to those who knew
I have second period her, as well as fifth, it was obvious someone up there wanted us to be good friends.
Second period was just Physics, I'd never been good at science but it was worse to even try and concentrate today. All of the glances and muttered words were distraction me worse than the teachers high nasally voice. Apparently my arrival had just reached the top of the things-to-gossip-about list. It wasn't only my name being tossed around though, I heard a lot out of everyone about Andrew Cullen.
There was no Pamela to pull me through during third period calculus, she was taking Algebra II, and so I had to fend for myself here. Unfortunately this Mr. Yorkie guy had me stand in front of the class and formally introduce myself. My name, or rather my last name, sparked both his and the classes attention. Figures I'd meet one of Mike's old friends or what ever he was. With a town as small as Forks it must have been really hard to turn a corner and not meet someone you've known practically your whole life.
"I was wondering what class I'd have you in," said a boy behind the seat I was assigned, chuckling under his breath. He wasn't the typical boy either; he seemed the stand out-ish type.
Dark black hair was streaked through with purple and orange, and light brown eyes were more towards hazel giving him a very multicolored persona. I have to admit this just made me grin, in turn it made him do so as well; I was kind of surprised not to see his white teeth weren't something different like the rest of him.
"Huh?" was the only response I could really give him; I mean I'd never met him before.
"Oh sorry," he seemed to realize that too. "My name's Derrick and," he extended his arm to his right. "This is Jordan."
"Hey," Jordan said. He looked the same as Derrick though his hair was streaked in a light blue just like his eyes.
"We're twins," explained Derrick.
"Triplets technically, Pam just refuses to use hair dye." Jordan added, running his hand through wavy hair.
I realized right than that if he'd grown it out it would be the same bouncy halo of curls as Pamela, his eyes were also the exact same shade of blue.
"You three don't look alike." I commented before I could stop myself.
"Fraternal, me and Pamela got the blue eyes and Derrick got the Hazel," Jordan shrugged as though he were use to this explanation; though he probably was. "Identical twins aren't as common as people think."
"You mean Pamela Cheney?" wondering if there was another Pamela in school.
"Yup," they replied in unison, loud enough that I stole a glance up at Mr. Yorkie. He was still lecturing the class about something or other.
"So you met Pam, that's cool, wonder why she didn't mention us." Jordan said, leaning his cheek onto one hand in a bored manner.
"Maybe she's ashamed of us?"
"Pam-Pam? Nah she's too sweet."
"Expect the unexpected, Jor" they both chuckled their voices nearly the other's exact tone.
The rest of the class Derrick passed me notes from previous lectures, each one surprisingly well written and Jordan explained what I didn't understand. I was sure that if Pamela had been there she would have explained what Jordan didn't understand or got wrong.
Loudly the bell rung again, nearly making me fall from out of my seat –I'd never really liked loud shrieking things. When I did stand I was dwarfed by Derrick, Jordan was about my same height. For a moment I stared up at the lanky Derrick while he stared down at me before Jordan laughed joined by his harmonized brother.
"Let me guess, you got it from you're mom?" They nodded.
"Claire, tell Mike I said hi." Courteously I departed from the room with a smile, a brother on either side of me.
No sooner had I opened my mouth to ask where Mrs. Cullen's class was that Jordan suddenly had a blonde girl wrapping her arm around his.
"Jordan, you ready for that presentation?" she bounced in anticipation it seem, her short blonde hair streaked in bright blue and pink.
"Taylor!" Jordan was started by the girls sudden appearance but didn't push her off and instead held onto her hand. "Claire this is Taylor Crew; My girlfriend."
"Claire Newton," Taylor 's voice was an octave higher than I was accustomed to and her accent was definitely very city, "everyone's talking about you. I was the new kid last year. Straight from New York, my grandpa's house was a little run down so we packed up and my mom got it fixed in a jiffy. Loved it so much that we just sort of stuck around." Obviously this Taylor person was a chatty girl, it wasn't necessarily a bad chatty. I suppose she liked to talk about herself and that was completely fine with me, there was this ease and confidence she held. Some might say she was a little snooty but that might just be the air of the city.
"Nice to meet you," I held out my hand which she promptly took but didn't shake; instead I was in a big bear hug her lips against each of my cheeks.
"Taylor, come on don't break her. We're not done having fun wit her yet." Jordan was batting at his girlfriends arm until she finally let go.
"You're not going to subject her to your guys' pranks are you?"
"That depends. We need Pam to draw them out for us first. If she says no than we're out of luck and can't do it." Derrick said.
"Did she draw out the ones on me?" Taylor's eyes widened.
"Well we kinda paid her off in you case," Jordan responded, "I needed to get your attention some how."
"Very funny." She muttered.
"We thought so." They replied together, grins on each of their faces. Taylor grimaced.
Jordan swept his arm over her shoulder pulling her close and landing his lips against her cheek. She blushed faintly and turned her head to kiss him. The public affection was fine but it still made me feel like I shouldn't have been watching such a private moment.
"Where's your next class Claire?" Derrick finally said turning my gaze to him.
"Uhm,"
"With me." The melodious tone struck my senses harder than they should have.
Andrew Cullen seemed to part the crowd like the Red Sea, effortlessly. Next to me Derrick stiffened his hazel eyes focused on the ugly tile floor. Not even Andrew tried to meet the other's eyes. Had something gone on between them? Andrew was supposed to be new here, right?
"I've got Mrs. Cullen," I confirmed to Derrick. There was something about how he looked, like he was trying to remember something.
"Hey, Der, bro." Jordan swatted his brother against the shoulder and that seemed to suddenly wake him up.
"Sorry, guess I zoned out again. Uhm, we'll see you later Claire."
Taylor waved while Jordan followed his taller brother trying to get him to spill. All I could do was wave for a while before I realized I was standing in the middle of the hall with Andrew Cullen's eyes boring in to me.
"So Andrew," I started, testing the name like I'd suddenly offend him. My heart nearly stopped at the intensity of his gaze. Searching, he was looking for something.
"Andrew?"
"Come on." He said abruptly, as if he'd grown frustrated at not finding what he was looking for.
"You don't have to be so rude." I muttered, but he didn't reply, or if he did the late bell surely drowned it out.
His pace was quick and not easy to keep up with without jogging. I'm sure Mrs. Cullen would understand our being slightly late on the first day; after all Andrew had, had to find me first. While I'm not slow I don't know this place like the back of my hand. Andrew seemed to know it pretty well though and when we were close to the cafeteria he stopped in front of a door and held it open for me.
Peeking through the open door it was a room done in blue unlike the other classrooms that had no personal touch to it. Mrs. Cullen seemed to be a person of individuality though, and a well liked teacher as she was chatting with a few other students, her smile a splendor. The ugly yellow slicker she'd been wearing earlier was dropped over the back of a chair and underneath she wore a gorgeous chiffon sweater. I realized however that nothing would ever look simple on a woman like Mrs. Cullen, or even Andrew for that matter.
"Okay everyone take their seats." She asked, everyone did so listening as Andrew stayed close to my side walking in. "This is my younger brother Andrew Cullen."
I really tried not to show my surprise, I'd assumed wrong, he was her brother. So he did have a family, he wasn't like me –as bad as it sounds I had really hoped he wouldn't so that just maybe I'd have someone to talk about it with.
"And this is Claire Newton. I hope you will treat them all well." Mrs. Cullen's voice was serene like the sea but commanding like the ocean waves keeping everyone in line.
"Jennifer, raise your hand please." A blonde girl raised her hand up high her eager doe brown eyes gawking over Andrew's tall stature. "Claire, take a seat beside Jennifer, please." I did as asked and watched Jennifer's face turn solemn the flicker of hope die in her eyes. Apparently I'm not who she'd wanted beside her. "Caitlin."
My eyes roved to a girl a desk behind me to my right, blonde hair, blue-eyed and suntanned, what was she doing in a place like Forks? She belonged on a beach. Those fluttering mascara done eyes were the beach-bunny flirting technique.
Andrew didn't seem to pay much attention to her as he sat down in a liquid-like fashion however his dark eye suddenly pinned on something. Was I the only one who noticed his motions…so ethereal?
"He's cute."
"Gorgeous."
"I love his eyes."
"Forget his eyes, what about his hair?"
Guess I was the only one.
I sighed leaning forward to push my chin in to my hand. Perhaps I would have started paying immediate attention but Jennifer beside me suddenly felt obligated to lean over and tell me: "O.M.G. he is so looking at you." Did she really have to emphasize each letter, I mean this is English 11 right?
Frankly I didn't care, but the rest of the class certainly did as it buzzed. My cheeks turned a dark red; I didn't need a mirror to tell. Worst of all I had the distinct feeling that Mrs. Cullen could hear every single whispered word from Jennifer.
All in all the class was cooperative. Mrs. Cullen was an excellent teacher –she kept most everyone satisfied with her explanations, challenges and inspirations. There was no doubt in my mind she was having as much fun as we were. I'd have been enjoying the class far more in another Cullen wasn't burning a hole through the back of my head.
I could feel every inch of me being watched. Unconsciously I'd curled, almost as if I was going to spring and run. Andrew did have this predatory-like gaze however, that made me feel like a cornered mouse. A stupid cornered mouse who was about to get sucked dry of her life force –or at least that's what it felt like.
Before I even had the chance to turn around and glare at Andrew there was a presence in front of me, and the cool, sweet scent of an ocean breeze.
"You alright Claire, you don't look so well." Mrs. Cullen's voice was low and I flushed turning to her in a slight embarrassment. My thoughts had carried right through the loud and terrible sound of the lunch bell. Students were out the door quicker than it took for me to completely grab a hold of myself. Well that is except for Andrew and me.
"Fine, sorry 'bout that Mrs. Cullen." Muttering it mostly to myself, I didn't think she could hear me until she nodded to confirm it.
"Do you know where the cafeteria is, maybe you're just hungry." It was a pretty silly question, her classroom was right outside the door of the cafeteria. Nonetheless I was polite and shook my head.
"No, I don't really eat a lot. Probably just nerves." I tried to put a smile on my face, to reassure her. Somehow it didn't work out that way and she took on a slight look of discomfort to my not eating a lot comment.
I started packing my things back into my bag and through the dark red slicker over me. Andrew's voice stopped me.
"Must be hard, being in Forks that is." He was behind his sister now, closer to the door. Part of me wanted to walk right past him without answering the question but Mrs. Cullen seemed just as interested in me.
"It's not so bad. California was hot but I lived near the coast so it got pretty cold too." My lip quivered some thinking about it, the family had been really nice but with their third child on the way it would have been better for me to go.
"How long were you there?" Mrs. Cullen asked.
"Four years," I responded. "Before that I lived in Colorado with an old woman, she was just a foster mom though. I stayed with her three years and before that my longest home was in Florida." Mrs. Cullen started, or at least I thought she did because she was completely composed about half a second later.
"Jumping around was probably hard." She said.
"Not really, I like to travel so it had a new experience for me every time. This is my first adoption though." I hadn't meant to say that much and nearly regretted it with the piteous look Mrs. Cullen had given me. Pity. I'd always hated how people looked down on me like I was some stray cat you could feed and let sleep under your awning when it rained. There was no way I felt like being belittled by a woman like Mrs. Cullen, or even Andrew for that matter.
"So, he's you're brother-in-law, right?" My question surprised her and she took a moment of hesitation before saying anything.
"Yes, my husband and I lived in Europe for a short time with his family. They sort of grew up here and when we decided to come back Andrew told us he'd rather come back than stay there."
"In Europe? Who wouldn't want to stay there?" I turned to Andrew who smirked devilishly, his inky eyes turned toward the window watching the rain drip. "What part exactly?"
"Paris, I tired of the city life though. I get bored easily you could say."
Paris, I mouthed it. I'd always wanted to go to Paris, I'd always wanted to learn French and order French toast. Okay so maybe they aren't exactly French but it would still be an amusing thing to do.
"Not a lot of kids catch that, congratulations on being the first." She was a woman of flattery and it was hard for me to keep my mouth shut.
"Well I see things differently, I always had this bad habit of thinking to much."
She chuckled, an elegant sound. "Actually I think it's a very god habit. How old are you, Claire?"
"Sixteen, I'll be seventeen in three weeks." I said. Mrs. Cullen let her gaze fall, almost as if she were ashamed by something. There was something she was hiding, and it showed on her face. A moment later she was composed once again and smiling tenderly.
Andrew behind her was inching closer to the window his eyes closing.
"A good age, you're still young. Did you skip a grade?" I nodded and she seemed satisfied, almost proud. "How about hobbies, do you have any?"
I hesitated. No one ever really asked me these questions unless they had planned to adopt me or were interviewing me for my papers. The Newton's didn't even know this much about me, well maybe Natasha, she asked a lot of questions. Why did she suddenly want to know?
"Well I'm pretty good in sports," that seemed to surprise her. "I used to be on a softball team and I did swimming for a while too."
"I can sing sort of, but I can't really play any instruments, my second home had tried to teach me how but…it didn't go so well. Other than that I guess I like to read a lot. Nothing really special." It all seemed to please her though; in some way it made her really happy. That surprised me.
"Claire you still in here?" That was Pamela's voice. I looked around. Andrew was leaned up against the wall breathing deeply through his mouth like he were sleeping, Mrs. Cullen was sitting in the desk in front of me, I hadn't even realize I was sitting back in mine.
Pamela's hair was matted to her cheeks; Jordan behind her was waving over to grab my attention.
"You made friends with the Cheney triplets I see." This made her grin, and even Andrew seemed comforted by it just like Mrs. Cullen.
"Yeah, they're really nice. I guess I should go." Pamela was bouncing in the doorway her gaze slowly roamed over to Andrew before snapping back to me. Taylor peeked out from under Jordan's arm grinning madly. "Come on Newton we got people we want you to meet before fifth." All of them were wet, and I found it amusing that Derrick was the only one in the background with his hood up like a sensible person.
"Afternoon Mrs. Cullen can't wait for class." Taylor said.
"Likewise Taylor." She turned back to me. "I was nice getting to know you Claire, I'll see you tomorrow." Her smile was contagious and not cured easily because I smiled right out of the room Jordan and Taylor jumping around me with a childish joy.