CHAPTER 8 – THERE MUST BE HOPE
Things Can Only Get Better - D:Ream
I sometimes lose myself in me
I lose track of time
And I can't see the world's formed trees
You set them alight, burning the bridges as you go
I'm too weak to fight you
I got my personal health to deal with
A/N: Thank you for your reviews – mean a lot to me. Welcome InLoveJA – thank you so much for your awesome review. Hope you're planning on sticking around. Shout out to Valentine Rain and sujari6 and ribuxoxo – my reviews. Any other new readers I welcome you and hope you're enjoying it so far. Also shout out to the ones following and favoring – awesome support guys.
Lunch had gone better than I had anticipated when I met Angela and Ben – I even began to tolerate Tyler, Mike and Eric though Lauren and Jessica now regarded me with an unusual coldness. Everyone else, however was interested about my life in New York and I tried my best to answer them but worried my memories were outdated.
After lunch, Angela had asked to see my timetable which hadn't played in my luck as Mike and Eric decided I needed him in order to find Biology which evidently was their next lesson so now I was in a rushed pace with them trying to match my steps but I could hear both of their breathing grow ragged.
"Here we are" he announced even though I'd arrived at the door first.
Stepping inside, I was met with another male teacher – this one was younger however, wearing an ironed light blue shirt and slacks, his black-rimmed glasses sliding down his nose. He wore a small grin unlike the other teachers that I'd met today.
His dark brown eyes caught mine before a grin grew wider, "Bella Marie right?" he asked and I was perplexed because he knew who I was. I'd had to introduce myself to every other teacher. He must've seen the look on my face because he chuckled before adding, "You're the talk of the staff room" he explained holding out a green textbook from his desk.
With a small smile, I stepped forwards and took it from him, tucking it under my arm before asking, "Mr. Banner right?"
His eyes lit up in an almost childlike manner as he confirmed it with a nod, "That is me" he grinned before cheerfully adding, "Your AP biology teacher"
Advance Placement huh? Thank God for that – it would certainly be less of a bore and had a better chance at being more challenging.
He crossed his arms over his chest and used his index finger to push up his glasses as they slid down his nose again, before he inquired, "What were you studying last in your school?"
Good. A Safe Question. Thinking back to my last time in question, I voiced what I could recall, "Oh we were on dissection"
His features lit up "That's good coz we've passed that" he inclined his head to the board and I followed his line of sight catching sight of the cell diagram then turned back to him as he continued, " we'll be studying the stages of mitosis"
I forced a grin hoping it was more convincing than it actually felt as I replied half-heartedly, "Haven't done that" For a while, I mentally added with an internal sigh before following his orders to find an empty seat.
While my eyes scanned the room, I took note of Mike's crest-fallen expression when he glanced at the seat next to him which was occupied by a raven haired girl who was staring at me like the rest of the class. Thank the Heavens for this silver lining.
Without hesitation, I took the first seat available and it turned out the whole table was available because no partner was beside me. With this revelation, I released a hitched breath in relief – maybe I'd get to gather my thoughts instead of having another human question my life.
To make this lesson better, the teacher hadn't asked me to introduce myself but he had also quickly began to teach which diverted some attention away from me.
With my notebook open to a blank page, I tried hard to listen to what he was saying though it all sounded like a stuck CD so I gave in and only half-listened while the other part of me dwelled into the day I had.
Last lesson was Gym.
Way too easy.
Of course there was no doubt that the thought of leaving early crossed my mind but I was trying to keep a low profile which evidently meant I had to stick it out. I could handle one hour every day of human's gym though I did tire of pretending I couldn't keep up with the boys or lift heavier weights than they could.
Low profile. I reprimanded myself as the thought became too tempting.
"Bella?" Mr. Banner's voice had risen and I jumped startled with this but then calmed my erratic heart realizing he'd been calling me for a while.
Blinking away my day dream, I stared at his expectant eyes then glanced at the board to his notes but couldn't draw up the question, "Sorry, I didn't catch that" sending an apologetic expression not wanting him to quickly judge me and label me as one of the 'bad ones'. He was the only teacher in this school that I had found to be tolerable though Mrs. Williams, my World History teacher wasn't too bad – it was just the subject itself that had put me off.
"Why isn't interphase considered to be part of the mitosis stage?" he asked – thankfully there was no sign of anger in his tone.
In a flurried panic, my thoughts rushed back to everything I knew about mitosis which then fell from my lips without thinking, "Well interphase isn't technically part of mitosis as it encompasses stages of the cell cycle. These being, G1 which is gap one referring to how the cell grows and functions normally. During this, a lot of protein synthesis occurs and the cell doubles in size. Stage S stands for Synthesis which is when the cell duplicates its DNA but it's also known as the Swanson phase and lastly, G2 is the Gap two where the cell goes back to it's normal growth and prepares for division and because interphase is just a phase of the cell cycle and not a stage of mitosis" exhaling when I finished but then grew scarily aware of everyone's widened eyes
"I was gonna ask from the textbook but great that you know that" his awed expression was strange to me as I couldn't understand why he was astonished. "You sure you haven't done this unit"
"Well I left when they were just starting it"
Thankfully the rest of the lesson went without me being called on again so I was able to sit back and relax until the bell finally rang signaling the end of lesson.
Standing up, I began to slip my books into my bag when a figure approached me, my instinctive cautious nature flared and my back arched slightly ready for attack but when I caught sight of my teacher, I relaxed my pose and straightened up, slinging the strap of my bag onto my shoulder.
He was about to say something when he looked to his left and I followed his line of sight to catch Mike awkwardly standing there as if waiting for me and I looked away in anger.
Could I file a restraining order?
"Run along to your next lesson Newton" Mr. Banner ordered and I liked him even more and I watched from the corner of my eye as Mike shuffled out of the room unwillingly.
Once he was gone, Mr. Banner turned to me crossing his arms, a pensive expression rested on his features, "That was a college grade answer" he complimented and my eyes widened with what I could detect as pride. "What lessons were you taking in your old school?" he inquired.
Thinking back, I recalled my days in England as I answered, "AP Biology, AP Chemistry, Music, Geography and Art"
He nodded accepting my answer before commenting, "Quite a mix"
Shrugging with a small smile, I answered nonchalantly, "I know but enjoy trying new things"
He seemed to accept my explanation as he uncrossed his arms before clapping his hands together and adding, "Well welcome to Forks High School, I hope your first day wasn't too bad" he grimaced.
"No. Not at all" I shook my head not wanting to cause him any offence by degrading the school.
He stood up straighter and walked around to pick up the textbooks that were left on the table. As he picked the first few, he commented, "Mr. Newton can be quite persistent" his tone amused and I found myself grimacing at the thought of the human boy. Persistent was just one of the words that came to mind.
I then recalled how he'd sent Mike away and I was glad that someone finally got it which is why I voiced my gratitude, "Thank you for that"
He turned to me and looked at me faking innocence as he asked, "For what?" and I almost believed him if it hadn't been for the smirk that broke through as well as the mischievous glint in his dark eyes.
-XXX-
Gym had been lifeless as the lesson consisted of running around the track which I missed out on because I didn't have the gym clothes so I'd simply watched them trek around the track. Mike had tried to converse with me a couple of times but thankfully Coach Clapp kept berating him.
That boy may just be the death of me.
It didn't help that Jessica and Lauren were glaring at me through it all but I forced them away from my thoughts not wanting to tap into that part of me that I had taken months to finally master and lock away.
Now as I drove home, I thought back over the day and came to conclusion that it had been a success. Sure there was Lauren and Jessica but they weren't such a big threat that I would leave Forks plus it I'm sure there are other Jessicas and Laurens and Mikes in other towns.
Hope flooded me with the thought of making a home in this quaint town and I allowed myself this moment of peace as I rested back into the chair leaving one hand on the wheel as I relaxed with the sight of the house ahead when rolling down the trail that lead towards it.
Closing the truck the door behind me, I looked out at the lake and smiled, the feeling of home filled me as I watched the gentle waves lap at the rim of the land.
Scanning the perimeter, I found nothing but I could hear the animals in the distance, feel some of their eyes on me as they watched from the comfort of their shadowed habitats.
Again I was under the spell and I began to walk over to it, the burning in my chest grew fiercer as I stepped closer sparking the power within me but didn't jump in as much as I wanted to. Instead I took a seat on the grass, crossing my legs under me and placing my palms flat on the ground while keeping my eyes trained on the serenity of the scene.
Bright sunrays fell down into the clearing, making the ripples in the water glisten as well as warm my skin to the point that I could feel it through the layers of my clothes.
In the distance, I could hear the soft thudding of an older deer as well as the whispering of the newborn deer as it hobbled deep in the forest as the thudding of his hooves were less rhythmic and its heartbeat was quicker.
A shy smile played on my lips at the amazing feeling I always got when I was in control of it all.
A/N: I thought I'd give Bella a few more moments of peace before we'd jump into it. She's gonna be in a bit of a shock tomorrow…. Love for Mr. Banner? Love to Bella? Love to the story?
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