I learned the hard way not to daydream during AP American Lit. The teacher, Mr. Brownings, asked a question I didn't hear. In my daze, I finally heard, "Miss Swan?"
I blinked, and saw the entire class looking at me, most of them with a mean grin on their faces.
"Could you please repeat the question?" I asked, embarrassed.
I could hear snickers of students up front and to the sides of the room, as Mr. Brownings questions, "What did Upton Sinclair say about the subject of his novel, The Jungle?"
I let a few more snickers air out before answering, "He said that he aimed for the heart, but instead got the stomach."
"And what did he mean by that?" Mr. Brownings added, implying I continue.
"He intended his novel to show the hardships and the plights of immigrant workers in Chicago, but all people saw was how the meat was handled in the meat-packing industry," I replied.
Pretty much everyone looked stunned after I had said that, while Mr. Brownings looked pleased.
"It's nice to know people down south know their literature," he said out loud.
I quietly paid attention the rest of the hour, all the while feeling multiple glares sneaking my way.
Class eventually ended, and students made their exodus out the door. Rose, Emmett and Jasper remained behind.
"We'll walk with you, since we have next hour together," Jasper explained, giving me a small grin.
I felt the corners of my mouth lift up as we strolled out of the classroom, Rose and Emmett following behind me and Jasper.
"Can I ask you something?" Jasper questioned as we exited out into the cold air outside.
"Sure," I responded, nonchalantly, shivering a bit from the dramatic temperature change.
"Why have you just moved here?" he asked serious confusion on his face.
"I probably would have chosen to live here," I answered, honestly, "if I was given the choice."
Jasper waited silently for me to continue.
With a sigh, I explained, "When I was about a year old, my mom got into a car accident. Ever since, she's been in a coma. She gave my aunt, Bella's mom, custody of me if anything happened to her. Which is why I lived in Phoenix instead of Forks.
"Hold it!" Emmett interrupted from behind us. Looking over my shoulder to glance back at him, he watched me with a confused, yet stunned expression as he queried, "You and Bella are not only sisters, but cousins too?"
"Twice the family, twice the heartache," I replied, nodding. Looking forward again, we walked the rest of the way in silence.
"Wow, where'd you learn to paint like that?" Rose asked, peering over the left side of her easel at mine.
I glanced at her in surprise, and then back at my painting, which was of a shadowed figure in a barren forest.
"I took art lessons back in Phoenix," I explained. "I've always liked art, so I wanted to learn more. I paid for my lessons at a local art class.
"It's…amazing," she enthused. "Most people in this class paint something about love and broken hearts, so yours is a nice change."
"You—you really like it?" I stammered, utterly surprised.
"Why wouldn't I?"
"Most people find my art…disturbing."
Rose's face scrunched up into a pondering look, which was aimed at me.
"What?" I inquired, cautious.
"I'm trying to figure out why people don't like you," she responded, her golden eyes sincere, "because, honestly, I can't figure it out."
Rose went back to her painting and left me alone again, with a happy glow inside.
"Class, it seems we have a new student," Mrs. Abernathy, my gray-haired, wrinkle-covered and whimsical music teacher, announced at the beginning of Music. "Would you care to stand up?"
Awkwardly, I shifted out of my seat in the circle of students and stood up, smiling shyly. I waved slightly and greeted, "Hi."
"Miss Swan?" she assumed.
I answered with a nod.
"What musical attributes do you possess that you would like to share?" she questioned aloud, gesturing grandly to the class. Everyone, including Jasper who sat next to me, looked at me expectantly.
"I-ah-uh-I…okay," I stuttered nervously, edging out of the spot I stood in and over to the worn piano. I sat on the bench, placed my foot on one of the pedals and let my fingers start a sad melody.
Story of my life
Searching for the right
But it keeps avoiding me
Sorrow in my soul
Cause it seems that wrong
Really loves my company
He's more than a man
And this is more than love
The reason that the sky is blue
The clouds are rolling in
Because I'm gone again
And to him I just can't be true
And I know that he knows I'm unfaithful
And it kills him inside
To know that I am happy with some other guy
I can see him dying
I don't wanna do this anymore
I don't wanna be the reason why
Everytime I walk out the door
I see him die a little more inside
I don't wanna hurt him anymore
I don't wanna take away his life
I don't wanna be...
A murderer
I feel it in the air
As I'm doing my hair
Preparing for another date
A kiss upon my cheek
As he reluctantly
Asks if I'm gonna be out late
I say I won't be long
Just hanging with the girls
A lie I didn't have to tell
Because we both know
Where I'm about to go
And we know it very well
Cause I know that he knows I'm unfaithful
And it kills him inside
To know that I am happy with some other guy
I can see him dying
I don't wanna do this anymore
I don't wanna be the reason why
Everytime I walk out the door
I see him die a little more inside
I don't wanna hurt him anymore
I don't wanna take away his life
I don't wanna be...
A murderer
Our love, his trust
I might as well take a gun and put it to his head
Get it over with
I don't wanna do this
Anymore
Uh
Anymore (anymore)
I don't wanna do this anymore
I don't wanna be the reason why
And everytime I walk out the door
I see him die a little more inside
And I don't wanna hurt him anymore
I don't wanna take away his life
I don't wanna be...
A murderer (a murderer)
No no no no
Yeah yeah yeah
I finished off the last few notes, letting them air out before sliding my fingers of the keys and letting my eyes glance up.
Everyone watched me with stunned faces, their mouths open in shock. Mrs. Abernathy, on the other hand, looked pleased.
"That…was…breath-taking," she summed up, her voice airy. "You wrote this yourself?"
I bobbed my head up and down in agreement.
"Have you considered music school?"
"I'm going to Julliard," I answered, excitedly.
"Marvelous!" she returned happily. "Well, you may take your seat."
Before I could even get my footing to stand up, I heard Jasper blurt, "Actually, I was wondering if we could hear another song from Miss Swan?"
Everyone gawked at him as if he had grown a pair of antennae and three new heads. I stared at him in surprise, which he returned with a roguish grin.
"Finally deciding to talk, Mr. Hale?" Mrs. Abernathy questioned, somewhat astonished herself.
He shrugged mutely in response.
Nodding once, Mrs. Abernathy moved her dark chestnut eyes back to me, and suggested, "Perhaps another original song?"
Grinning to myself, I returned to my playing position and started to play another sad melody.
I miss those blue eyes
How you kiss me at night
I miss the way we sleep
Like there's no sunrise
Like the taste of your smile
I miss the way we breathe
But I never told you
What I should have said
No, I never told you
I just held it in
And now I miss everything about you
I can't believe it, I still want you
After all the things we've been through
I miss everything about you
Without you, whoa...
I see your blue eyes
Every time I close mine
You make it hard to see
Where I belong to
When I'm not around you
It's like I'm not with me
But I never told you
What I should have said
No, I never told you
I just held it in
And now I miss everything about you (still you're gone)
I can't believe it, I still want you (And I'm lovin' you, I never should have walked away)
After all the things we've been through (I know it's never gonna come again)
I miss everything about you
Without you, whoa...
But I never told you
What I should have said
No I never told you
I just held it in
And now I miss everything about you (still you're gone)
Can't believe it, I still want you (And I'm lovin' you, I never should have walked away)
After all the things we've been through (I know it's never gonna come again)
I miss everything about you
Without you, whoa, no, no...
"Very pretty," Mrs. Abernathy approved as I finished the song, smiling as she began to clap.
In response, everyone else began to clap too, making me blush as I stood and walked back to my seat. I smiled shyly as I sat down; thinking that maybe this school will be different.
"Well, let's start our lesson, shall we?" Mrs. Abernathy inquired.
Disclaimer: I own only OC character(s), and the plot. The songs are "Unfaithful" by Rihanna and "I Never Told You" by Colbie Caillat. So how was this chapter? Was it good? Bad? Since it is spring break now, I'll be able to post more than one chapter before next weekend. So be prepared to find a new chapter within a couple of days. I am stunned by the response that this story has gotten. I'm so very happy that everyone seems to enjoy this. I didn't think this story would get such…numbers of likes. Please continue with your support by commenting, commenting, and commenting! Happy reading.