CHAPTER THREE – SAVIOUR
BELLA POV
I hurried my way through the hallways, keeping my head low and avoided making eye contact with anyone. It was bad enough that I was stuck in a place filled with psychos but the worst part was, was that I was the principles daughter, the daughter of one of those men who made them be here in the first place. I had moved from Jacksonville a few months ago after my farther informed me that he had accepted the offer of becoming the new school principle at Forks high school. I didn't really know anything about Forks I only knew about it from rumours and short news clippings from before all the violence had begun in high schools. Luckily the high schools and the areas in Florida never really got affected so I grew up in a law abiding town.
I was born and raised in Phoenix Arizona. When I was five my mother had an affair with another man. I guess you could say that my father was devastated, so he went to court and fought against my mother for full custody. The courts went in favour of my farther because he was a highly respected, successful businessman for some sort of big company and my mother was only a receptionist so they didn't see my mother fit to keep and support me or so I was told. I highly doubted that a job was the reason why the courts went in my father's favour so it wouldn't surprise me if he somehow fiddled the system like, he paid them off.
After the settlements my mother had moved into her so called boyfriend's house so my father moved and took me to Jacksonville to start over. I didn't know why she did it, maybe it was because my father was working all the time but still, my mother had lost everything. Her husband, her daughter and her home all because she had an affair and still to this day I wondered if what she did was worth it. I have lived in Jacksonville for twelve years and not once did my mother come and visit, not once did she even pick up the phone to call and for that I would never forgive her.
I remembered the first day I set foot into Forks and I almost died of shock. I heard the stories about this place but the stories and rumours didn't compare to what I sin for my own eyes. From what I researched, last year there were over seventy free fire zones in the USA but Forks was by far the worst one. As the year continued the amount of free fire zones were down by forty percent leaving only about thirty left. I resented my farther for bringing me here and I refused to go to this school for about a week but because we now lived in Forks and I was only seventeen it was mandatory for me to go otherwise I would have gotten into trouble with both my farther and the police.
I'm not the sort of person for confrontations and I tried to avoid them the best I could. My father told me about the two gangs and he told me to stay away from them, but let's face it that was easier said than done. We had moved into a house just on the outskirts of town so we didn't really have to worry about any break-ins because as far as I was aware the gangs stayed on their own territories and they didn't go that far out of the boarder.
I had a free period next so I used this time to relax around the lunch shelters in the courtyard. I made my way down the stairs and through the hallways then outside to the courtyard. I didn't have many friends here, I sat and talked with a few normal girls who wasn't apart of any gang in the courtyard but that was about it.
I have been here for nearly three months, I often have verbal abuse off gang members but usually they leave me alone because most of them are too scared to face the consequences if my farther got involved and besides most of the time they can't be bother to take the time to notice me or I'm just very good at blending into the background so they wouldn't notice me. I think today was the only day I actually had a proper conversation with a gang member without being verbally harassed.
In chemistry i noticed straight away when the boy, Edward sat down next to me because the seat had always been empty before today. His reddish bronze hair was what I had noticed at first. It spiked out in different directions which made him look like a character out of final fantasy or something. I wondered for a moment if he was even part of a gang because he didn't look like he belonged in one, he looked like he should be on the cover of a model magazine, but when he turned to look at the boy behind us I noticed the little black heart tattoo on his neck so I knew then that he was a gang member.
I was shocked after witnessing the disruption during Chem class as was everybody else, but I wasn't that surprised because I had witnessed similar incidences by both Ms. Conner's and Mr Harding's before. That was the moment that I first locked eyes with Edward I was so absorbed in them I had tear my vision away from him. His eyes were a beautiful emerald green colour it was like looking into... Wait why the hell am I describing his eyes for? His a gang member, his lethal and dangerous even if he was polite, charming, good looking and had a nice pair of eyes... Stop it Bella you have to stay away from him remember. I scolded myself.
The girls which included, Rosalie, Joanna and Helen waved at me as I walked over to the lunch table. They were more outgoing then I was especially Rose and Joanna. Joanna and Helen looked pretty much the same they both had shoulder length black hair with brown eyes and I was well, average looking with long brown hair and brown eyes. Rose was the most, well id say prettiest of all of us because she was the opposite too us, she had long wavy blonde hair with bright blue eyes.
"Hey Bella" Joanne greeted me.
"Hey" I replied taking a seat.
I opened my bag and took out my lunch which included a sandwich an apple and a bottle of water then I began to eat.
"Oh my god you never guess what?" Rosalie perked up.
"What" Joanna asked.
"I've decided to become a black heart member" She admitted.
"What?" Both Joe and Helen gasped.
I must admit I was a little taken back by her sudden comment.
"Why the fuck are you going to do that for?" Joe scolded her.
"It's because of that guy isn't it" Helen said.
I knew Rose had being seeing a guy from the black heart gang but I didn't think it was anything serious, come to think of it I couldn't even remember his name.
"No its not" She defended herself. "Well, yeah ok maybe it is"
"Rose do you know what happens if you become a member" Joe told her.
I continued to eat but I tried to listen in because I was curious as to what exactly happened.
"Yeah I know" Rose she whispered.
"What happens" Helen asked.
"They lock you in a room and knock you the fuck out that's what they do" Joe replied.
"No they don't" Helen scoffed.
Rose and I just sat there and listened to them debate.
"Yes they do, if you're a man you take beating of both male and female but if you're a woman joining the gang then you just get beating by female gang members. I'd rather join the Razor Heads at least you get better odds at surviving" Joe laughed.
"Why what do they do?" Helen asked.
"They hold you down and slit all your arms with razor blades, then they pour alcohol in it, it's their way of getting new members used to pain and dealing with it"
"How the hell do you know all of this?"
"Because some of my old mates have joined and they told me about it"
"You're full of shit" Helen laughed.
"Whatever" Joe grunted "Look the point is Rose, you can't just join the black hearts because you have fallen head over heels for Emmett, and besides your brothers a Razor Head so if you join the black hearts you will be swarm enemies" Joe told her.
Emmett that was his name, and Joe was right Rose's older brother Felix was a Razor Head so they would be conflict.
"Did someone mention my name?" I heard someone say behind us.
I spun around on my seat and saw Emmett standing behind us. I automatically hunched down and made myself look small as did Helen and Joe.
"Emmett" Rose grinned.
She got up and jumped on him. He picked her small frame up effortless and sung her around.
"Um, we have got to go, come one Helen" Joe said.
Joanna and Helen both stood up and walked away quickly and disappeared out of sight. I had ever right to go with them because this Emmett guy was absolutely huge and he scared the crap out of me. I slowly started to stand up as he lowered Rose to the ground.
"Bella, please don't go" Rose pleaded with me.
"Yeah Bella, don't leave on my accord" Emmett smiled.
It might have sounded strange but even though Emmett scared me he scared me even more when he grinned and acted friendly. Rose pulled my arm so I sat back down again. He sat down a few seats away from me then Rose sat on his lap.
"Where were you this morning?" Rose asked.
"I had to pick up my cousin" He told her. "So you giving any though to want we talked about" He asked her.
"Well yeah but I'm a little bit worried about, well you know actually joining" Rose said.
"You mean the Rave" Emmett said.
What the hell was Rose even thinking she was a little bit worried? I would be absolutely petrified if what Joe said was right. I zoned out of their conversation after that, I didn't even want images of Rose getting beaten up in my head. I glanced at my watch and I still had twenty minutes left until my next lesson. I didn't want to sit here for another twenty minutes while I listened to these talk about nonsense so I decided to go and have a chat with my dad.
"I've got to go Rose, I'll talk to you later" I whispered.
"Ok" She replied.
I didn't even know if she was replying to me or to Emmett so I just got up and left. I walked through the courtyard and back into the building. I made my way through the hallways and as I turned I nearly smashed right into two armed guards patrolling the hall.
"Why aren't you in class" One of the guards asked.
"I've got a free period"
"Last name and serial number" The guard asked.
"Swan,24891"
He ran my name and serial number through a little device that was strapped around his neck.
"Clear" The guard said.
"Proceed Mr Swan" The other guard said signalling me to leave.
They walked off in the opposite direction as I continued down the hall. I have been stopped before by them. The guards usually patrol the hallways and try and find anybody truanting. If you're caught outside while a lesson is in process you have to give your name and serial number which is also your locker number to them. Everybody's schedules are all on the computer database so the guards knew if you were lying or not.
I proceeded up the main hallway and entered the office. I walked through the sliding gate and up to receptionist.
"Isabella what a nice surprise" The receptionist grinned at me.
"Is my farther in his office?"
"Yes dear let me just buzz you in"
She pressed a button under her desk and another gate slid away. I walked through that then stopped at the chain linked fence and waited for the gate to close behind me before another gate in front of me slid open. I walked into a nicely furnished hallway the headed straight to my dad's office.
"Yes I know that" I heard my dad speak on the other side of the door.
He must have been on the phone.
"But Mr Langford, the program was running smoothly but..." he paused.
"Yes, I will agree with you that the kids are beginning to get back into learning but not at the expense of..." He paused again.
"I know that, but from what I've been witnessing I don't think the punishments are suitable for the..."
"Everything alright" I heard someone behind me.
I jumped and spun round to see another member of staff.
"Yes thanks" I replied.
I knew he was watching me so I couldn't ease drop anymore. I knocked on my dad's office door.
"Alright we will see how the program goes, I've got to go someone's here" My dad said.
"Come in" He shouted.
I entered as he just put the phone down.
"Ah, Bella what a nice surprise" He said getting up from behind his desk.
"Hi dad" I said hugging him.
"Is everything alright?" He said pulling away.
"Yeah"
He returned to his desk and sat back down then I sat in the chair in front of his desk.
"So why are you here?"
"I just wanted to see you that's all"
"Well you can't stay long kiddo I've got an important meeting in a few minutes" He said looking at his watch.
"Ok"
"How's your day been?" he asked.
"Alright" I sighed.
"Listen, I'll be home a little late tonight so make sure you lock up alright"
"Ok"
There was a knock on the door.
"Come in" he said.
Another staff member entered.
"Mr Swan the board of directors are here" She informed him.
"Thanks Diane"
I stood up and he walked me out the office.
"I'll see later Bells, be good" he said ushering me out the door.
I hugged and followed the wall as a row of tall men in black and white suits shoved me out of the way.
"Charlie Swan" My dad introduced himself by shaking their hands at the door as they entered into his office.
I turned around and proceeded back out the sliding gates and back into the reception area. As I entered the main hallway again the bell rang. I headed straight to Math class with Mr Bryans, I tried to stick to the locker wall and ease my way passed all the fleeing students. As I turned and walked down the left hallway a fight broke out between two guys sending everybody in hysterics shouting and cussing. They were all rooting for their teammate as the two guy's pulverised the crap out of each other.
Before I knew what was happening I got shoved by someone and I felt myself fly backwards but the ground never came up to meet me. Instead I was lifted back up and stood upright again on both my feet.
"I wouldn't get in the middle of that if I were you" A musical voice laughed.
I spun around to see who my saviour was and blushed as I looked into his emerald green eyes.
"Thanks" I said looking down.
"Let's get you out the way" Edward smiled a crooked smile.
He placed his one hand around my waist and guided me through the crowd of students, shoving them out the way with his arm when they bumped into us. A few seconds later a dozen guards flew past us. When we were clear he removed his hand and for some strange reason I got urge to grab his hand and put it back.
"Thanks" I said again.
"Don't mention it" He smiled.
"So have you enjoyed your first day so far" I asked biting my lip.
"Apart from wanting to gouge my own eyes out in History then yeah it's been just peachy" He replied.
I didn't really know what to say to that.
"Um,what lesson you got next?"
"I've got a free period" He told me. "You?"
"Math, third floor" I replied.
Again there was a moment of silence.
"On a good note I've met some, um" He paused tiring to consider his choice of words. "Interesting people" He smiled.
I don't know what made me do it but I smiled back mirroring him. The second bell rang which was not good because now I would have to run like hell up three flights of stairs to get to Maths.
"Sorry, I, um"
"Hope you're a fast runner" He smirked before walking off.
So do I, I thought to myself. I ran to end of the hallway and began to ascend the steps with a smile on my face.