Me Without You
Chapter Five
Day Two
~Alice POV~
Danny arrived at the house the next morning to take me to school. I'd assumed that I'd ride with my family to school, but they seemed to think it normal for me to go with Danny. I shrugged, saying goodbye and getting into Danny's car. He leaned across the console and kissed my cheek. "Hello beautiful."
I offered him a smile in return. If the greeting had come from Jasper, it would have melted my heart. From Danny it just sounded kind of sleazy. He talked about football for the majority of the journey to school, and I nodded and pretended to be interested. When we pulled into the school parking lot, I wasn't surprised to see that my siblings had beat us here, despite having left later. I waved at them, but Danny was pulling me away before I could go over to see them. Apparently, I didn't hang out with my family in this world.
Most of the group I'd met last night were sat on the steps leading up to school, and Fern and Kelly quickly pulled me down to sit with them. They were talking about cheerleading, and I had to pretend I knew what they were talking about when they mentioned pikes and cradles and heel stretches. When the bell went for the start of school, I realised I had no idea where any of my classes were. I tried searching the future for some clues, and that's when I realised I hadn't had any visions since I got to this place. Even now, when I was trying to see the future, I was seeing nothing but black. Panicking, I closed my eyes and concentrated as hard as I could. Still nothing.
"Uh, Mary?"
It was Fern.
"You okay?" She asked, "You look kinda...out of it?"
"I'm fine." I said, smiling at her, "Just a headache, that's all."
"Maybe you should eat something once in a while." Kelly said with a roll of her eyes. Fern laughed good-spiritedly, and both girls looked at me with a look of worry etched into their eyes.
"I really am fine." I told them, "I didn't get much sleep last night, that's all."
"Well you'd better be over it by this afternoon." Kelly said. I looked at her blankly, "Practice? It's Tuesday."
That wasn't good. How was I supposed to attend cheer practice when I didn't know the first thing about cheerleading? "Uhh, I think I might skip it."
Kelly's jaw dropped, and Fern wore a similar expression of shock, "Mary, what is wrong with you today?"
"You never miss practice." Fern agreed.
Well, crap. How was I going to get out of this one?!
"I just don't think I can make it. My family are down from Alaska, and-" I began.
"Mary, we're competing in two weeks! You're head cheerleader! You cannot miss any practices!" Kelly said, interrupting my excuse. It was starting to look like I didn't have a choice in the matter.
"You're right. I'll be there." I said, deciding that if I wanted to blend in, it would be best to just agree with her. I'd figure out the details later.
First, I had a more prominent problem to deal with; I still had no idea where any of my classes were.
Okay, Alice, just think. There must be a way to figure this out. I needed my class schedule. I would have been given one on the first day of the year, and with any luck it would be in my locker. That was where I always put in back in Forks.
I turned to Fern and Kelly, who were making their way up the steps towards the school, "Will one of you come with me to my locker before homeroom? I need to grab a book."
Fern came with me to my locker, and Kelly left for homeroom the other side of the school. I had to be careful on the way to my locker, following Fern to find out where it was, whilst acting like I knew all along. We stopped outside a row of lockers and I was relieved to see it was easy to spot my locker. Everyone had decorated their lockers differently, and mine had been strung with fairylights and sparkly stickers spelling out the name 'Mary'. Then I had the problem of the combination. Back in Forks, I'd used my anniversary for just about every password. But, if I'd never met Jasper, I wouldn't have an anniversary. So what would I use instead?
"1205." A voice said from behind me.
About time you showed up! I thought towards Meredith as I unlocked the locker, What's 1205?
"12th May - the date that you were made head cheerleader." Meredith told me. I rolled my eyes; the anniversary of becoming head cheerleader didn't really match up to the anniversary of marrying the man you loved.
I swung my locker open and rummaged through books and clothes until I found a crumpled class schedule. I scanned the sheet of paper before shoving it in my pocket. Fern was waiting for me, "You ready?"
I grabbed a random book from the locker and waved it at her, "Yep! Got it!"
It turned out Fern was in homeroom with me. We walked together, and Meredith trailed behind - unseen by everyone but me. "How are you going to handle practice tonight?"
I have no clue. I thought back, Any ideas?
Meredith laughed, "You're on your own there."
That's hardly fair! You put me in this situation!
"You're more than capable of doing a few gymnastics moves." Meredith told me. I wasn't sure I agreed.
We reached homeroom and I sat down next to Fern, which seemed like the correct choice as no one yelled at me for being in their seat. Fern was talking to a girl next to her - she'd been there last night, but I hadn't really caught her name - so I took the opportunity to question Meredith.
Why can't I see the future? I asked.
"Because I blocked your gift." Meredith said, perching on the edge of my desk.
And WHY did you do that? I asked, outraged.
"Because using it would be cheating. You need to learn this lesson properly. You can't just skip to the end and see how it plays out." Meredith said. I glared, "Oh, don't look so angry. It's only for a little while."
How long? I demanded to know.
"However long it takes, Alice." She said with a sigh.
"Mary Cullen!" The teacher was calling my name for role call.
"Here." I replied, copying what the other students had done. The teacher moved on, and I turned my attention back to Meredith. Only she wasn't there anymore. She'd vanished, yet again. Thanks a lot.
~o.O.O~
When I walked into third period - US History, as my schedule informed me - I saw Rosalie sat towards the back. I was about to head over to her, when the empty seat beside her was filled by Edward.
"Mary!" Kelly called, giving me an odd look. The seat in between her and another girl from last night - Jade - was empty. I assumed that it was mine. I smiled and sat down in the empty chair.
The teacher came in and began teaching our lesson on the Civil War. I almost groaned; must everything remind me of Jasper?! The teacher - Mr Darka as I soon found out - began to lecture on the triumphs of the Union. I had to resist the urge to roll my eyes as I remembered Jasper's never-ending insistence that the Union did not win fairly. He always stayed faithful to the Confederates even though they'd lost the war years ago.
When Mr Darka set us an essay question, I was able to answer it with ease. I'd heard enough stories from Jasper to know pretty much every detail of life during the Civil War. I finished the essay in in no time, whilst the rest of my classmates had barely done the first page - looking up all their details in the ratty textbooks provided.
I sat back on my chair and tapped my pen on the desk until the girl in front of me turned around and glared, giving the pen a pointed look. I set it down and sighed.
I turned my thoughts to cheer practice. I still hadn't figured out a way to get out of it. Maybe I could fake feeling ill...
"Won't work." Meredith said from behind me, making me jump, "You're a vampire - you haven't had a sick day in the last three years."
Help me out here, Meredith! I begged, How do I get out of this?!
"You can't." She said simply, "You haven't missed a practice since you joined the team."
So what do I DO?! I asked.
"You'll just have to go." Meredith said.
Right, and it won't look strange when I don't know the routine and can't do any of the moves? I said, internally rolling my eyes.
"You can easily do the moves." Meredith told me, "You're far more advanced than any of the others."
And the routine? I asked.
"Make something up." Meredith said, waving her hand dismissively. She walked around the tables, looking at the answers people had written, "These are so far off the truth it's unreal."
Tell me about it. I said, thinking of Jasper's stories again. Then I had a thought, How old are you, Meredith?
"You're not supposed to ask a lady her age." Meredith told me. I rolled my eyes at her and she shook her head, "Older than anyone you know."
That was interesting. Meredith much have seen so much. No wonder she seemed to know everything.
Meredith laughed, "I'm flattered, Alice." I saw her take out that shiny golden hoop that I'd seen before. This time, a slightly larger section of the hoop was black, "I should go. I'll check in with you later."
She disappeared, and I went back to slumping in my chair.
"Mary, have to finished?" Mr Darka asked, standing in front of my desk.
"Uh-huh." I said, handing him my paper. He took it back to his desk. At the end of the lesson, he asked me to stay behind.
"Mary, this is excellent work." Mr Darka told me. I smiled, but I didn't really know where he was going with it. I quite regularly did good work - especially in history, given that I'd been alive for most of it - but teachers rarely commented. "It's a lot better than your usual work."
I raised an eyebrow. I had actually thought my essay had been quite mediocre, compared to my usual standard of work. Although, perhaps this other Alice didn't put as much effort in as I did. "You seem to know a lot about the Civil War. There's content in here that isn't in the textbooks, and I certainly haven't taught it to you. Do you have a tutor?" I shook my head, "Hmm. I find your viewpoint interesting."
"How so?" I asked when he didn't continue.
"At times you talk almost from a Confederate point of view." Mr Darka said, "You seem to really understand both sides of the battle. Most students simply see the Union side, and they don't see that the Confederates had some good points to them too. Very black and white; Union good, Confederate bad - you see the grey area in between."
I flinched a little. Jasper always said the same thing; neither side was all good or all bad.
"My...brother was very interested in the Civil War." I said.
"Edward?" Mr Darka asked. I shook my head. He looked doubtful, "Emmett?!"
"No." I said, only just able to hold back my laughter, "Jasper. He's uh, my real brother. He was adopted by a family in Texas."
"Ah," Mr Darka said, as if it made sense now, "Well I'm very impressed with your progress, Mary."
"Uh, thanks." I said.
When I left the classroom, I found Kelly waiting for me outside, "What did he want?"
Judging from Mr Darka's reaction to my essay, I realised that this Alice probably didn't try hard with her school work. My guess was that this was a feeble attempt to fit in with the 'popular crowd'.
The real me knew that this was petty and pathetic, but I also kind of didn't want it to stop. In my real life, I had my family - sure - but I didn't really have friends. Not like this. Here people actually liked me rather than feared me. Here, I was popular.
I shrug at Kelly, "He said I need to try harder."
Kelly nodded, "He gave me the same lecture last week. Talk about boring!" I grinned at Kelly and she grinned back, "Lunch at ChiChi's?"
"Sure." I said, and I followed her through the corridors until we met up with Fern, Danny, and Leo. We went out the back of school, and through the forest. It was then that I realised we weren't strictly allowed to leave campus at lunch times.
When we arrived from ChiChi's, the same waitress from last night was there. She brought me water again, whilst bringing burgers for the boys and salads for the girls. Whilst they began to talk, Danny slid an arm around me, "Excited for tonight?"
"What's tonight?" I ask him.
"Our date." Danny said, a slight frown crossing his face. We were going on a date?! Me and Danny...on a date...alone. Ummm, I don't think so!
"I have cheer tonight." I say, glad that I have an excuse.
"Cheer finishes at five thirty." Danny said, "We're going out after, remember?"
Great. So I really couldn't get out of it. I smile, "Of course. Sorry, things have been hectic recently."
A bit of an understatement, I thought.
"So I'll pick you up fro practice?" Danny asked.
I nodded, "Uh-huh."
Danny leaned over to kiss me, but I turned my head so his kiss landed on my cheek.
On the walk back to school, Danny and Leo walked ahead, presumably talking about football yet again. Kelly and Fern linked arms with me, one either side. Once the boys were out of earshot, Fern turned to me, "What's up with you and Danny?"
"Nothing." I said quickly.
Kelly nudged me, "Come on, spill it! Did you have a fight? Did he, you know, ask you to do stuff?"
"What?!" I almost shriek, "No!"
"What is it, then?" Fern asked.
"Nothing. There is nothing wrong with me and Danny." I told them, "I'm just in a bad mood today, that's all."
Fern shrugged, "As long as you're okay."
"Fern, get over here!" Leo called from up ahead.
"What's up?" Fern called back, reluctant to unlink her arm from mine.
"Just come here, I want to show you something!" Leo called. Fern shrugged and skipped over to see him. He picked up a worm and threw it at her. She shrieked and patted it away, glaring at him.
"You are so dead Leo Finley!" She screamed, chasing him around the trees.
Leo grabbed Fern by the waist and slung her over his shoulder, threatening to throw her into a whole pile of worms if she didn't apologize for the fact that she just threw leaves in his face.
"Cute, aren't they?" Meredith asked from behind me, "They really ought to just get together already."
I frowned. Quite frankly I was getting annoyed at her just showing up at random moments and never really offering any proper help.
"If you feel that way, I'll leave." Meredith said in an annoyed tone. I'd forgotten about the mind reading.
Mind reading...I should ask her about why Edward couldn't read my mind.
Meredith had already left however, and I felt like I'd shot myself in the foot there.
"Be straight with me now." Kelly said, her voice turning serious, "What's really up with you and Danny?"
"I told you-"
"I said be straight with me, Mary." Kelly interrupted, "I know you! I know when something's wrong! You've been acting strange since yesterday!"
I look across at her with a sigh, "I dunno, Kelly."
I didn't know what to tell her. I sensed that she and I - or at least this other version of me - were good friends. I felt like I could trust her...but Meredith's words kept coming back to me, telling me there'd be consequences if I told anyone about who I really was. I couldn't tell her, I knew that. Like she'd believe me anyway.
"I guess recently...I'm just not sure about the relationship, you know?" I said instead.
Kelly nodded, "I get it. You've been going out a few months and you're starting to have second thoughts."
"Uh-huh." I said. Something like that.
"Stick with him though." Kelly said, "It might just be a phase you're going through."
I doubted it.
"Besides, it would be super dumb to break up with him." Kelly said, "I mean, he's captain of the football team, you're head cheerleader...it's just meant to be!"
I frown as she pulls me forward to catch up with Fern and the guys. Meant to be? That wasn't right. I wasn't meant to be with some captain of the football team. I wasn't meant to be here at all! I was meant to be with Jasper, back in Forks, where we were happy together. I mean, we'd been fighting a lot recently, but we were still happy together! Weren't we...?
A/N: I feel suuuuuuuuper bad because it's actually been more than a year since I last updated! (Ummm...what?!) Time seems to be just flying by at the moment and I'm so super busy! Plus I kind of had some writers block with this story, but I'm trying to get over it so hopefully I'll start posting a little more regularly (and by that I mean within the next year...whoops!)
ANYWAY, if anyone's actually stuck with me for that long and is still reading, I'd like to thank you all for the reviews! Please don't hate me for disappearing from this story...and maybe keep reviewing...am I pushing it here? ;)
Anyway, see you soon for another update ;)