Hello! My test week has been taking up most of my time, but any free time I have is used typing up. Thanks for reading!
Disclaimer: Of course I don't own Twilight.
Flashback:
Mom giggled, her long brown hair bobbing around her waist. Sometimes it was like she really was my older sister, not my real, biological mother.
"Well, you're going back tomorrow!" she laughed happily.
"Yeah, tomorrow," I said quietly, remembering Danny's words.
The next day came quickly, too soon for my liking. I would have to hang out with Danny's "crew" today, something I was not looking forward to. I would also have to tell Eliza my plan; maybe she would appreciate my offer to help her.
My mom and dad were driving me to school again. They dropped me off outside, waving enthusiastically, and I hurried into the hallway.
"Hi, Nessie!" Eliza greeted me as I walked in. I smiled at her rather nervously.
"Eliza, I have to talk to you for –"
"Ellz!" Jenny shouted, interrupting me. Eliza turned to smile at her.
"Eliza!" I whispered urgently. "I really need to talk to you!"
I pulled her along into an empty corner. Eliza's eyes were mixed with confusion and annoyance.
"What is it?"
"I have to hang out with Danny and his friends today."
"What?"
"Don't worry; I am doing this for you."
She blinked and shook her head, bewildered. "How could hanging out with him possibly help me?"
"I'll tell him about you, drop hints and stuff. Once he gets to know you he might be interested," I explained. I expected her to say something like, "I can get him by myself, I don't need your help!", but I was wrong. Instead, she threw her slim arms around my neck.
"Thank you, Nessie, you're so sweet!"
"It's fine, really," I insisted, smiling.
"He's coming!" she said, stepping away from me quickly and smoothing down her already perfect hair. I couldn't understand why he didn't like her, she was an amazing girl.
"Hey, Nessie," Danny said, standing beside me. I saw Eliza's eyes burn with jealousy for a few seconds before she calmed down, remembering why I was doing this.
"Danny!" She beamed, her carefully glossed lips spreading into a huge, beautiful smile.
"Mmm," he said, not even looking at her. "Come on, Nessie."
He put one hand on my shoulder, like he was about to steer me out of the room, and gestured to his friends standing outside. They all wore expensive, designer clothing, indicating that they must be rich, although nowhere near as rich as my family. He led me over to them and I stood uncomfortably next to a tall girl with dark, red lipstick painted onto her pouting lips.
Danny introduced me to all of them like Eliza had yesterday, a fake smile etched onto his handsome face. He wasn't that good looking, though – not when you spend all your time with possibly the most beautiful people on the planet.
Danny's friends mostly ignored me, talking endlessly about what holidays they were going on and what their dads were going to buy them next week. Danny didn't join in the talks, but leaned casually against the wall and stared at me.
"So, Nessie," he said after a while. "What do you wanna do?"
The bell rang as he spoke, clearly stating it was time for class.
"Um, shouldn't we go to class?" I asked him.
"Nah, we could skip it."
My mouth fell open. "You mean ditch class?"
"Why not?" His eyes glinted as he put his arm around Lucy. "It'll be fun!"
I shook my head in disbelief. "But it's only my second day, I can't get into trouble! Sorry, I'm going to class."
Danny's eyes burned in fury at my rejection. "Fine!" he spat.
I hurried to my first class, art, feeling Danny's angry glare on my back. People didn't usually disobey him.
I sat down in a seat next to Jenny, who had clearly been told about my plan.
"What have you said so far?" she gushed, practically jumping in her seat.
"I haven't said anything – if I start to go on about her they'll know exactly what I'm doing."
Jenny nodded. "What did that leech say? Is she horrible?"
I thought back for a moment. "She didn't say anything, really."
It wasn't a lie. Lucy had stayed attached to Danny the whole time, mirroring his movements and hanging on every word he said. Sometimes, Danny would shake his sleeve in irritation, sick of her always sticking onto him. Not that I cared.
The rest of the lesson was so easy I could do it with my eyes closed, just like every other class I have. I tapped the pencil impatiently on the desk while the teacher droned on, bored of hearing what I already knew.
"Read chapter seven by tomorrow, that will be your homework," she said, seconds before the bell rang for lunch.
"Good luck with the populars," Jenny said as I got up. "You'll need it."
I thought about her words as I walked to the cafeteria. Danny and his friends were sitting at the same table as they were yesterday, except this time, there was an extra chair.
"Hey, Nessie!" Danny called, pointing at the table and waving me over. The chair was right next to Lucy's.
I studied Lucy for a moment. She was quite pretty, with shiny brown hair and big, green eyes, but nowhere near as beautiful as Eliza. As I sat down she glanced at me, taking in my appearance, and her hands tightened around Danny's arm. Huh, like I was going to steal him from her!
There was a huge pile of food in the middle of the table. Everyone was lazily picking on it, chomping down the best bits of pizza and the most expensive bit of cake. The popular kids got first choice, no surprises there. I nibbled a toffee muffin as Danny watched me, his eyes still a bit angry from earlier.
"So, what are your parents' jobs?" he asked me. Carlisle and Esme were playing the part of my parents; I told them that my dad was a doctor. I thought for a second – how could I be so rich with just one parent working?
"And my mom is a . . . celebrity wedding planner," I added quickly. There were some murmurs of wonder round the table, and Danny smiled.
"Cool."
I turned my head to look at my friends, who were staring expectantly at me. They immediately twisted around when Danny looked at them.
"They're your friends, right?" he asked me.
"Yes, especially Eliza. She showed me around when I first got here; she's really cool." I grinned, happy with what I said. Danny studied Eliza for a moment, before turning back to me.
"So, who's your boyfriend then? You must have one."
I shook my head, embarrassed. "No, I don't."
"Awesome," Danny said, his grin widening.
"Hey!" Lucy scolded. Her voice was very pure – she probably had a good singing voice, if not fantastic.
"Your friends do, though," he told me, gesturing towards several of Eliza's male and female friends holding hands and standing close together.
"Eliza doesn't – I don't know why, she's really pretty," I reminded him. Again, he looked at her for a few seconds, but he didn't say anything. Soon, it was time for class.
When the day was finally over, Eliza rushed up to me in the hallway.
"What did you say to him? You didn't over do it, did you?"
"It's okay, he looked interested," I assured her.
She smiled at me appreciatively. "Thanks so much! Will you hang out with him and his friends tomorrow?"
I shrugged. "I don't know." All of a sudden, I didn't want to leave Eliza. It was weird, like my feet wouldn't let me go home without her.
"Do you want to come to my house?" I suggested, trying to sound casual.
"Sure!" She sounded excited. My feet relaxed and let me lead her to my car where my "brother and soon-to-be sister-in-law" were waiting. They looked curiously at Eliza when I walked her right over to the car.
"Da . . . I mean, Edward, can Eliza come over?"
Mom frowned, but dad nodded, a smile on his face. "Of course!"
"I'll just call my mom," Eliza said, taking a pink phone out of her bag. She spoke whilst I explained to my mom and dad what I had felt in a quiet voice, not loud enough for a human to hear.
"I couldn't leave her . . . it was so weird. She's been nice to me; can she come over, please?"
"If that's how you feel - we hunted this morning, so there's really no risk," Dad said, and Mom agreed.
"I can come!" Eliza said excitedly.
"Great!"
We climbed into the back of the car and began to drive to my house. Dad was being careful not to go too fast. My parents were exchanging confused glances, but I didn't blame them, not really. After what seemed like a lifetime, we pulled into the Cullen driveway.
Sorry it took so long, I had problems with my computer (again!)
In the next chapter Eliza and Seth will meet – yay!
