Disclaimer: Content and characters belong to their respected authors, i.e. Stephanie Meyer.
March, 2012
~13~
I sit at lunch, apple in hand, a sandwich untouched between my resting forearms. I am zoned out, staring off to where Jessica Stanley, Tanya Denali, and Lauren Mallory are perched, giggling with their heads together. All three are bottle blond, hair straightened and falling to mid-back, and wearing tight t-shirts over their severely padded bras.
I've seen them in the locker room. I know what's up.
Looking at them now, after everything, it's amazing that I was ever friends with them for so long. I think my head was just so clouded with Edward Cullen that I ignored how fake and plastic these girls were, are. I guess my breakup with Edward did one thing positive; it reminded me of who I am, brought my head back down to earth.
Of course, the first day of school this year made my place in this social jungle abundantly clear.
Timidly, I walk through the doors of Forks High. Since breaking up with Edward in July, as well as Alice leaving, I haven't spent much time with any of my school friends, and I really hope it's not awkward or anything. I hope that they understand I just needed some alone time, some time to collect myself.
But I'm worried. Without Alice here, and without Edward, who has been by my side for so much, I feel lost. Trying to boost my self-confidence, I put extra time and energy into my hair this morning, and I'm wearing brand new clothes.
Walking down the main hallway, I notice a small crowd surrounding the area where the locker I have had for the past three years is. Pushing my way through, I immediately see the defacement my locker has sustained. 'SLUT' is written in bold, red paint across the locker door. Red paint drips down and pools on the floor.
My face feels hot. Unwanted tears cloud my vision and a lump has formed in my throat, making it difficult to swallow. The crowd, so boisterous and loud only moments ago, has fallen silent. I look through the faces, picking Jessica, Lauren, and Tanya out immediately. They are standing together, noses in the air, eyes lit with amusement.
I turn away, only to face Jasper Hale. The boy I once did almost everything with, back when he, Alice, Edward, and I were inseparable, is laughing.
The tears spill over.
Angela, quietly sitting beside me, notices where I am gazing. She rests her hand lightly on my arm, squeezes, and, when I turn to her, gives me an understanding smile. Despite not fully opening up to me, still intimidated by my tough exterior, I am so lucky to have her.
~SW~
I sit at a small bistro table of the Forks Café, the same table I sat at almost an entire year ago with Edward. I am trying to determine where the photographer would have been to get the correct angle of the photographs. I have narrowed the field of possibilities to the small butcher shop across the street or the other café table not far off.
Just as I am taking the photographs out from my messenger bag to get another look, the chair across from me slides out.
Jasper Hale sits down, his eyes cold stones in his skull.