Chapter 5
The bus ride went normally. Edward and I sat next to each other in the back. We talked, listened to each other's iPods, texted the other four in our group who lived in every other corner of town but ours. Forks Middle School isn't too far away… maybe ten minutes or so.
When I exited the bus, I wasn't surprised to see Mike conspicuously gawking at me. He was surrounded by his own group: his girlfriend, Jessica; his best friend, Eric; and Eric's girlfriend, Angela. I've been with Jessica, Eric, and Angela one time or another in a class, and they all were pretty nice. Eric's had his share of crushing on me. Jessica is nice, but an avid gossiper. Angela is probably the best out of the four. We've gone shopping a few times when Edward, much to his dismay, was on vacation.
I looked down at my outfit, wondering if that could possibly be the reason Mike was staring at me. (One time during a heat spell in Forks, I dared to wear a denim mini skirt and a tank top to school. Other girls were definitely dressed skimpier, but Mike apparently found me more appealing.) I was in jeans, my favorite Converse sneakers, and my usual black rain parka covering a plain long-sleeved tee with buttons going down a quarter of the way. Nothing real special.
"Don't look at him," Edward whispered to me.
I looked down and bit my lip to keep from smiling. I didn't want to sound like a serial dater or anything, but it was so funny when Edward got jealous. Although protective would be a more appropriate word. I loved how he was always so chivalrous, like my knight in shining armor.
"Wish I could say that to every girl who checks you out," I told him. He laughed, and every girl turned.
"I see your point," he agreed.
Did he see I was flirting? Every time I spoke to him, I tried to get flirtier and flirtier until he got the hint. While Edward was the smartest person I knew, he seemed to be oblivious when it came to girls. Then again, I was pretty much the only girl he had ever spoken to. There was his mom of course, and Rosalie and Alice, but they didn't count much. I started wondering if he was ignoring the flirting on purpose. It didn't want to go back to the whole I can't give you what you want conversation. That entire night still gave me a headache.
Our first class was bio. I enjoyed bio. Despite the fact that Forks Middle School only had about 200 kids, its classrooms were pretty cool. We had portable laptops in the computer lab with Wi-Fi throughout the school, a pretty hi-tech science lab, and smartboards in the classrooms. I liked the cool, orderliness of the science lab in bio. And the fact that Edward was my partner.
After dropping my parka and books at my locker (next to Edward's thanks to a little bit of sweet-talking), we headed to class together. When we walked the halls, heads turned. I heard many a rumor about us being "together". How I wished they were true.
Edward and I sat in one of the back tables, as usual. Unfortunately, Mike and Eric were next to us. Since Edward insisted on sitting on the side closest to Mike, I couldn't easily look at him without Mike thinking I was staring at him. So I was stuck actually paying attention to Mr. Molina's lesson or staring out the window at the rain. I could read my science book and pass the test easily; the Olympic Peninsula rain was extremely boring after fourteen years. Despite those little details, bio was pretty fun.
"Okay, adolescents…" Mr. Molina started. Edward rolled his topaz eyes toward me. I struggled not to giggle. "Today we will be talking about the stages of mitosis!"
Edward and I exchanged another glance, almost bursting with laughter. Mr. Molina must have been on the topic of mitosis for at least a week. Most likely longer.
I stared at random objects throughout the room, daydreaming about Halloween. This year was going to be better than the rest. I could feel it.