Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.
"Of course we are Zach; that's why we are sitting at the same table." Tanya said in a really annoyed voice.
If I was on the receiving end of her voice, I would be scared. She's not glaring at them anymore, but anyone can clearly tell she's pissed off right now. By this time I had already snapped back to sit straight in my seat. Tanya was slowing sitting back in her own seat.
"Oh um, well, I guess we'll see you guys in class or something tomorrow?" Zach asked very awkwardly.
It's clear he's uncomfortable with Tanya's admission. To be honest, I am also. Not that I mind people knowing I'm here with her; it's just she's a teacher, can't she get in trouble for hanging out with students outside of class?
"Actually, Bella, we'll see you before school right?" Grace said; doing a very good job at acting like nothing was wrong.
Even though she isn't a gossip, I know either she or Zach will tell either Sarah or Lindsay and then by tomorrow, not later than lunch, the whole school will know. I bet anything the truth will be stretched out as well.
"Ya, sure." I responded.
They both then waved goodbye, and mumbled something I didn't really hear and Grace dragged Zach over to a booth far away from us. Tanya followed them until they sat down in their own seats.
"So um, since I don't have to work, do you want to go do something?" I asked nervously.
I'm sure how I managed to get up the courage to ask her; it's not like I was asking her out on date right? It's just I don't feel like going home right now and I really don't want to hang out with anyone from school after what just happened. I just really want to get her in a better than what she is in right now.
My question got Tanya's full attention and my goal of cheering her worked. She gave me a huge grin before answering.
"Of course I would. What would you like to do, a movie perhaps?" Tanya suggested.
No, not a movie. That's way too over-done. Plus there's really nothing out that I want to see. What else can we do? I would say we could go bowling; but after how awesome I did last time, I don't want to that again anytime soon.
"How about we go to like a park or something and just talk?" I suggested.
I can't think of anything else to do; and there's always more of Tanya that I can learn about. Plus a park on a Sunday is guaranteed to be void of all my friends. It would be the perfect place to be in public with Tanya and not worry about anyone seeing us that could get her in trouble.
"Sure, that sounds nice; I actually know the perfect spot we can go to." Tanya said.
We left the restaurant in silence. Tanya only spoke when we got outside and it was only to ask if she could drive since she knew where we were going. Of course I let her. The ride took about ten minutes. She ended up not taking us to a park, but somewhere in the woods where a fallen tree was. The tree must have fallen a long time ago because there was already everything growing on it, seemingly like it was being pulled into the Earth by nature. It was actually the perfect place to sit. There was even a big enough branch that I was able to lean against while talking to Tanya.
"This place is beautiful, how did you find it?" I asked when I got comfortable.
"I didn't, Carmen did on one of her hunts. She showed me this the other day and I was planning on taking you eventually. Now just seemed like the perfect time to show you." Tanya answered.
I probably should have thought out a little more about what I wanted to talk to her about, because now I really have no idea. I guess I could just ask her some questions that have been bugging me for a while; ever since I met her actually.
"Would you mind if I asked you some questions?" I asked, hesitantly.
Edward never really answered my questions. I mean, he did give me answers, but the answers he gave me were just vague and not really to the point. It was like he was giving me answers, but not giving me answers at the same time. I hope Tanya isn't like that.
"Of course, you can ask me anything." Tanya said with a smile.
Her smile actually helped me to calm down a little. I didn't think a smile could do that.
"When we first met, my first class with you, you knew to call me Bella. How did you know that?" I asked. I figure I should start from the beginning with all the questions I've been building up, that should be the easiest.
"When Edward came here when he first met you; he couldn't stop talking about. It just happened that one of the things he mentioned was that you preferred to be called Bella. Thanks to my perfect memory, I knew to call you that." Tanya answered.
She turned her body slightly so that she was facing me a little more. I almost feel like I'm an interrogator with all the questions I have to ask her, but I really want the answers. Hopefully she won't think I'm rude with all the questions.
"Was it really just a coincidence that you and your family went bowling the same night I went with my friends?" I asked next.
"No, I heard you being asked and I decided to take the opportunity to get to know you better." Tanya answered.
I wonder how good vampire hearing really is. I thought we were far enough away to where she couldn't hear us, but I guess we were wrong.
"Were you going to kiss me that day?" I blurted out.
I didn't actually mean to ask that. I was going to wait until after I asked a few more questions then ask. Now I completely embarrassed myself. I probably read too much into what she was doing that and now she will think… well I don't really know what she'll think.
"Yes, I'm always almost about to kiss you. You are a very kissable person Bella, it's almost impossible to resist." Tanya admitted with a look in her eyes that let me know there's no way she's joking.
Deciding to change the topic quickly before something I'm not entirely sure I want to happen happens, I moved on to the next question.
"From talking with you and your family, I get the impression sometimes that you guys knew I was coming here. Is that true?" I asked nervously. Why am I so nervous with Tanya? She's proven time and time again that she doesn't think little me that often if ever. I'm actually almost a hundred percent positive I could ask her any question about anything and she wouldn't mind answering.
"You are really perceptive aren't you?" Tanya asked sounding a bit impressed.
"So I've been told." I mumbled. That's how I was able to figure out the Cullen's were vampires. Though thinking back on it, it was almost obvious they aren't normal. I guess only ever looking at their beauty helps to cloud over everything else.
"As I'm sure you know; the only vampire that has the gift of foresight is Alice. Don't ask me exactly what she saw or how she planned it all out or why she waited so long; but she knew I was for you and you for me. I've known for a few months, a little after Edward left here actually, was when Alice told us." Tanya answered.
That makes a lot of since, but it only adds of more questions. It actually makes me really mad. If Alice knew, why did she leave? Why did she let Edward and I get so close; why put me through all the pain of losing my family. Which I haven't gotten over, by the way, I'm not sure when or if I ever really will.
"Don't be mad at Alice; she knows what she's doing. Like I said, I don't know why she went about this the way she did, but I know, without a doubt, that it was the best way or she wouldn't have. Have faith in her, I'm sure when we see her next, she'll explain for us." Tanya said in a gentle tone.
She grabbed my hand that was in lap and held it in hers, gently caressing my palm with her thumb. I didn't think my emotions were showing that much on my face. I'm glad Tanya told me the truth, but I don't like it, at all. Tanya's words though did help me to calm down. It's not like there's much I can do about it anyways. What's done is done.
"Why don't you ask me another question, I'm sure you have more." Tanya said as she continued to hold my hand.
It took me a few seconds to be able to clear up my mind. I wanted to make sure that I was calm enough to talk with Tanya and not say something about something she had no control over. There are several smaller questions I have for her, but those can always wait for another time. There is one though that I do want to know.
"Why a math teacher?" I asked with a disgusted look.
No offense to the people that like math; but it's such a boring subject. All you do for math is look at numbers. I would much rather prefer to teach something to do with literature; but then again, that's just my preference.
As soon as I asked my question Tanya full out laughed at me. She didn't even bother to attempt to not laugh. She just threw her head back and laughed at me and my question. When I had her attention again I attempted to glare at her. If anything the glare made her want to laugh again, but fortunately she didn't.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to laugh. But of all the questions I thought you would have asked, you ask about my chosen profession. If you must know, Alice let me know that math happens to be your weakest subject. I figured if you were really persistent in ignoring me, I would use that to my advantage." Tanya said.
"Which you have." I reminded her.
She made me stay after school and work on my homework with her. In retrospect, I'm actually glad she made me do that; it helped. I'll never tell her that of course.
"And I'm sure I will again." Tanya said with a smirk. "I love the perks that come with being your teacher."
That comment brought back the encounter earlier. If Tanya loves her job like she claims, why would she risk losing it?
"So why risk losing it?" I asked.
Tanya gave me a confused look for a second, and then I saw realization fly across her face.
"Are you worried about me Bella? That's very kind of you." Tanya purred, edging a little closer to me.
"Um, well. It's just I don't want you to lose your job." I stuttered because of the closer proximity of Tanya.
This time Tanya didn't full out laugh at me, instead she just giggled at me.
"Didn't I tell you before; I really don't care about human laws; as long as you don't get in trouble of course. If they decide to make a fuss of it, I'll just quit and they'll never see me again." Tanya said.
I felt my face drop at that. If they find out, then they'll leave? I doubt just Tanya would leave; she would take her whole family with her. Just like with the Cullen's, when something unfortunate happens with humans, they disappear.
I don't know why I'm feeling so sad about it. I had told myself from the beginning this would happen. I knew it would. It was really just a matter of time before Tanya and her family left me.
I tried to pull my hand out of Tanya's grasp, but she held on tight. Her hand cupped my face and forced me to look at her.
"What's wrong Bella? Are you truly that upset that I could lose my job? If you are, then I won't say or do anything that will jeopardize it, I promise." Tanya said softly.
I felt a few tears fall from my eyes. As soon as they started down my face, Tanya was quick to wipe them away.
"That's not it." I barely said, since I was trying not to break down.
This will end up just like last time, I knew it. I knew it and yet I let myself get close to them. I should have known better. I should have continued to ignore her. I probably should have even stopped working for Kate.
"What's wrong Bella? Please tell me so I can fix it." Tanya said, sounding almost desperate.
I took a few deep breaths before I could answer. I don't know why I'm telling her. I should just leave now and try to forget about them, to forget about all vampires. There's just something telling me that I need to answer Tanya; that I need to give her a chance to fix it.
"If the school finds out and if authorities get involved, you're going to leave. You and your family are going to leave, just like the Cullen's." I rushed out before more tears started falling.
Once the words were out of my mouth, Tanya pulled me onto her lap and held me close to her. She started rocking us back and forth in an attempt to get me calm down. It only took a minute, if that, for the tears to stop falling.
"Please never think that. I've told you, even if you wanted me to, I will never leave you. When I said they'll never see me again, I meant every human but you. I would just stay on my property. I have a P.O. Box, so they don't know where I live. I also live so far in the wilderness that I haven't seen a human in miles of the place for several decades now." Tanya said.
She moved our bodies so that I was straddling her lap and facing her.
"Never, ever, doubt I will never leave you. If there's one thing I can guarantee it's that I could and will never leave you." Tanya said.
I don't know if it's because my emotions had gotten the better of me. Or if maybe it's because of the emotions I got from Tanya, but my next action seemed to throw Tanya off just as much as I was thrown off.
Tanya was so sincere in what she said. Her voice was filled with such care, honesty and love, that I couldn't help what I did next. I didn't give my action a second thought, especially since Tanya's already made perfectly clear what she thinks about the topic.
I wrapped my hands around Tanya's neck and attacked her lips with mine. As soon as our lips came into contact I felt a sense of complete and utter bliss wrap around my body. Her lips are so smooth and melded perfectly to mine. I threaded my hands through Tanya's hair as she pulled me closer to her; both of us desperate for more contact.
A/N: It's all downhill from here for these two… until I add in the next curveball. The Cullen's and Victoria have yet to make an appearance, and I promise they will.