I'm so so sorry it's been so long since I've updated. I got super busy, then honestly forgot about this story. But here is a long chapter for you all, and hopefully I'll keep up with weekly updates. Let me know what you think!
CHAPTER 11
"What just happened?" Bella asked as I continued staring down the long hallway after Ms. Alvarez. How had she known? How could she tell I had been looking for her thoughts? In nearly a hundred years with my special talent, I had never run into problems like this.
"Earth to Edward!" Bella was now knocking me upside the head. My whole family looked for any confirmation or reassurance of what I had just heard.
"She knew," I whispered. "She could feel me in her head. She knows we're keeping an eye on her and she's not very happy about it."
"What do you mean she knew?" Alice shrilled. "That's never happened before has it? Can she read your thoughts?"
"I have no idea. I was digging around her mind looking for anything, but when she turned around she yelled at me to get out of her head. I suppose it could have been a guess if she already knew about my talent. But how could she?"
At that moment, the first warning bell rang telling us to get to our first classes.
"Well kids, best be off. You especially Eddie. You wouldn't want that math teacher of yours to have another reason to hate you." Emmett sneered and grabbed Renesmee's hand. "Come on kiddo, you're in good hands with me. No worries, we'll see them all at lunch."
The six of us remaining watched Emmett trail my daughter off to class before Jasper and Alice dispersed into a separate direction.
Jake cleared his throat while his thoughts raced a million miles an hour, worrying for Nessie's safety. "I guess that's my cue to get to class. See you at the end of the day. I'll see if I can find anything out in the teachers' lounge during lunch."
I nodded in reply with Bella tugging at my hand. "Come on Edward. Did Alice see anything bad happening today?"
I shook my head. "No, everything looks fine."
"Then let's trust her. Emmett is right, we'll see everyone again at lunch before she goes to her art class. Mr. Weston already doesn't like you, we need to hurry before we're late and get assigned seats."
We followed the remaining hoards of people to our classroom. The late bell rang right as we crossed the threshold, and kids were already seated. One new problem arose; the two seats Bella and I occupied the other day were no longer available for both of us. The blonde boy sat in my old seat, with Bella's still vacant adjacent to him. His old chair in the front of the classroom was obviously where I was supposed to be sitting. Not in this lifetime.
"Take the front one, love. I'll take the back seat next to tonight's dinner." I growled.
Be nice. She asked.
Mr. Weston entered the classroom looking irritated already. "Is there a problem Mr. Cullen? It seems you'll be rubbing me the wrong way all year wont you? Take a seat."
I started towards the back chair next to Goldie.
"Mr. Cullen, how about you take the front seat so I can keep my eye on you. Miss Hale, please take your seat next to Scott in the back there."
So the idiot had a name. He better watch himself. I sat into the front, blue, plastic chair before turning my head around seeing Scott give me a smug smile.
Stay calm. Pay attention, I'll be fine.Bella tried assuring me. It did little to help.
It was clear that this classroom would probably test my patience and strength even more than that first biology class eight years ago. No matter; if Mr. Weston wanted a straight A student, he was going to get it. I'd show him up. There's no way this clown knows his crap better than I do.
"Alright people, now that we're all settled into our seats, we're going to be jumping right into the lesson. Supposing most of you forgot the majority of your basic algebra last year, today will be a recap. I'm handing out a worksheet to see what level the majority of you are at. The first few questions will be more simple, while the end of the worksheet will advance on to beginning calculus. I don't expect many, or any of you to get those questions right, but you will not be graded on this. I'll give you a half hour to complete as much as you can. When you've done as much as you can, please come forward and but your worksheet face down, into the basket."
Mr. Weston gave stacks of stapled packets to the front row where we handed them towards the back.
Edward, I suck at math! I was expecting you to help me with this!
Bella was worried, but I knew she'd ace the test. At least she'd get through the main parts of the worksheet without any trouble. I smiled at her as she grabbed her packet and looked at it. A few seconds later, she immersed herself into it, and I turned to mine.
"Mr. Cullen, perhaps you want to use a pencil," Mr. Weston gestured at the black fountain pen I pulled out of my bookbag. "I don't like messy scribbles for mess-ups."
"I'm sure I'll be fine Mr. Weston." He sternly gazed at me, but after a while went back to reading a textbook on his desk.
Sheesh these were baby problems. I whipped through the first page in thirty seconds; making sure to show my work so I wasn't accused of cheating. Second page, still easy. Third page, I could see where other students would have problems with this one, but still no trouble. The fourth page had the supposed "calculus," but I had learned the crap dozens of times already anyways.
I had finished the entire worksheet in under five minutes, gazed around, and saw that most of the class was still adding and subtracting on the first page. I slowly stood up and walked towards Mr. Weston's desk.
"Do you have a question Mr. Cullen?" he asked.
Probably doesn't know how to solve long division, the moron. I'll probably have to stay late on school nights to tutor him.
"Actually sir, I finished."
"Didn't get that far? That's alright Edward, hand it in and go back to your seat. Are you sure you don't want to look over your answers?"
"Actually I finished the packet. I'm quite certain I've gotten them correct." The whole class now had their heads up facing our exchange. Mr. Weston's face burned red with anger, doubting my mathematical abilities. I turned back and sat in my seat.
Immediately, Mr. Weston grabbed my packet, and what I'm guessing was the answer key to his right. The next few minutes I listened into his thoughts and saw him match my answers number for number correctly through to the last page.
Show off. Bella shouted through her thoughts. I'm hardly done with the second page!
"Mr. Cullen, could I please have a word outside for a moment?" Mr. Weston looked beyond livid now, but I couldn't help but look forward to this conversation.
"Certainly." I stood up and followed him into the hallway.
When the door shut behind us, I could instantly hear all the murmurs of the students inside. Of the twenty or so students gossiping about my possible detention, one thought stood out to me clearest. That douchebag Scott was already making moves on my wife. I had to push those thoughts out for now though, so I made my best puzzled expression and turned to my angry teacher.
"Was something wrong with my worksheet Mr. Weston?" I asked.
"What I want to know Edward, is how exactly you came across my answer key before the class."
"But that's preposterous!" I exclaimed. "Why on earth would I go through the trouble to steal answers to something we wouldn't be graded on? Why would I want you to think I can solve equations when I really can't?"
"Well what other explanation is there? It would take me at least ten minutes to get through that last problem alone! You finished the entire packet in less than five."
"I have always been exceptionally good at math, sir. If you'd like to test me again, I'd be more than happy to oblige."
"Don't smart mouth with me. You have a detention after school. You'll spend an hour with me after school today to see exactly how much you can do, and how much you were cheating."
"Fine with me," I answered nonchalantly.
He huffed passed me and entered the classroom where the buzzing chatter immediately ceased. I followed in, looking straight into Bella's eyes with worried concentration.
I'm fine, really. Scott's nothing I can't handle, you know you have no reason to be jealous. Please don't get into more trouble.
I nodded once, very discretely so no human would notice and sat in my chair.
Twenty minutes later, everyone was asked to turn in their papers and return to their seats. The rest of the period was fairly anti-climactic as we went over the majority of the problems on the worksheet and solved them as a class. I was never asked to come to the front and write on the board.
The bell finally rang where we were released from my hell.
"Think about it Bella!" Scott yelled sauntering past me.
"Think about what? I asked.
"Oh hush, it's just a party. And I never said I'd go with him."
"What party?"
"That Allison girl. She was in our history class yesterday, the one with the red hair?"
The obsessive one referring Jake to Indiana, I remembered.
"I think we'll be skipping out on those festivities, love."
"I was thinking the same thing, just don't tell Alice."
"Tell me what?" Alice was already skipping towards us.
"Alice, no." I said sternly. She was already shooting me images of the entire family dressed up at some ridiculously lame high school party.
"I've already seen it, we're going."
"Alice we're supposed to be blending in remember? Trying not to get noticed?" Bella whispered.
"Oh phooey. Everyone knows who we are anyways. We might as well enjoy it!"
And before we could rebuttal any kind of response, she was gone.
"We'll have to talk to her about that later. I hate parties," Bella grumbled.
I let out a big laugh and pulled her into a hug. "Have I told you how much I love you today?"
"Yes, but I need some reminding every so often."
"I'm so glad you are still you. I love your stubbornness. I love your distaste for fashion. I love that even in the last five years I still catch you biting your lip. I love you Isabella Marie Swan," I whispered.
She looked up at me with a warm gaze. "I love you too Edward Cullen. Thanks for choosing me."
"I think we chose each other," I teased her back. I left her a soft peck on the mouth before taking a breath for concentration.
"Come on love, let's go to English."
"You know, I'm remembering now how much I hated school. Why did we come back again?"
I took her hand heading towards our next classroom. "You tell me dear. I was the one trying to talk you out of it."
"Ah, I remember why now," she said walking into English class. Already sitting in the front row was our adoring daughter; notebook out, pencils sharpened, and ready to learn. Bella took off in front of me heading towards Renesmee and the two empty seats she had saved on either side of her.
"Oh, hi! I hope you don't mind, I kind of wanted to sit in the middle today if that's okay," Renesmee smiled.
My little family reunion was starting to look like a Hallmark bucket of mush any second, so I chose to move forward giving my daughter a noogie, and replying with "Sure, no problem."
The numerous times I had done that to Alice, she shrieked loudly, and caused a fit for messing up her hair. My daughter on the other hand, looked up towards me grinning her widest smile, and for just a moment you could see her young, five year-old eyes staring back at you. For just a second, she was just my little girl.
English was pleasant enough, especially after my tirade with my first class. When we were dismissed, we headed towards the cafeteria to meet up with our family.
"So, any news on next period?" I asked Alice anxiously? Her thoughts swam around with the same holes as the other day.
"Nope, whether Ms. Alvarez's position here is merely a coincidence or here for a purpose, she doesn't have any plans to do anything but paint with watercolors today."
I saw Jake make an appearance to the cafeteria only for a few minutes. He stood in a short line to grab a soda, exchanged longing glances at my daughter, pulled out his phone and sent a text message. I generally didn't listen in on people's thoughts during texting because it took too long. With these two, I made an exception.
How is everything going today? Are you alright? I miss you.
Seconds later, Renesmee was already quickly typing back on her own phone back to Jacob.
So far, so good. I have Ms. Alvarez next…I miss you too, and you look damn sexy in that suit.
"Nessie!" I yelled from across the table.
"What? I didn't ask for you to snoop. You know, most parents just have to go around guessing what kids text to their boyfriends. How did I get so lucky to have a parent that can read my every thought."
"I sense sarcasm…"
"Ya think?" She turned quickly to her thoughts.
Look Daddy, I'll always be your little girl, but I'm growing up. Sorry to be so blunt, but please please, just get over it!
I inhaled a breath to calm my senses, and without even thinking, I brought the prop soda can I had in my hands to my lips, and swallowed the nasty stuff. In seconds I was sputtering all over the place and Emmett was nearly on his knees laughing.
You idiot! You're not actually supposed to drink the stuff! It's for pretending you moron!
"Excuse me," I sputtered, then headed towards the bathroom.
A minute later, I had my finger down my throat, and my head in the toilet. Yellow, greenish liquid fell into the bowl as I idly remembered the Mountain Dew I purchased earlier. How vile. How did humans drink that stuff?
I emerged from the stall to wash the filth from my hands.
"Well, well, well…If it isn't the sissy Edward." Behind me in the mirror, I saw the Scott kid zipping up near the urinal. Great, this day just keeps getting better and better.
"Look man," I answered. "I don't want any trouble, so how about you leave me and my family alone."
"Well I guess that leaves that Bella chick to me then doesn't it? I mean, unless you're related which I gotta say is just sick man. You keep shooting me this hot-headed, angst ridden teenager charade, but I can see right through you. You're nothing but a cowardice, pansy, ass-kissing loser. Trust me when I say Bella will be mine by homecoming. She wont even remember your name, you asshole."
"Edward? Are you okay in there?" I guess Bella was more than just my savior. In that moment, she may have just helped spare this kids life.
"Oh how sweet, she checks up on you in the bathroom while you piss dude? You're probably whipped huh?"
"Yeah babe, be right out!" I yelled back.
A second later I had my hand up against Scott's neck with him pinned to the wall.
"Listen, you pompous jack ass. Bella is mine, and she will never want you. And stay away from my sister too, or I'll break every bone in your body, you got it?" His eyes were wide and frightened. He nodded slowly, and I lowered him down.
"Good." Then I left the bathroom behind me.
"Are you alright? Who was that in there? What happened?" Bella was frantic, and checked for any signs of trauma on me. Honestly, I was made of marble. What could any human boy do to harm me?
"It was that Scott kid. He was pushing me around so I told him to leave you and Renesmee alone. And yes, I'm fine. No harm done."
"You sure? It looked like you inhaled about half that soda in there."
"Oh, yeah, I'm not quite sure what happened with that. Too distracted I suppose."
"Honey, when you're distracted, you veer off center an inch on the freeway. I'm worried about you. This whole week as been completely weird, maybe this was a bad idea."
"No!" I promised. "I want you and Ness to have this experience. I'll be good from here on out, I promise. Everything is fine, really."
"Okay, if you say so. The bell is about to ring. I grabbed your bag, so we can go straight to class."
"But Ness…"
"Is fine," she cut me off. "Alice assured me of it."
The next period, I hardly listened to another word of this poor teacher. My thoughts were completely concentrated on Alice and Renesmee's thoughts. When they were assigned to start another art project, Ness kept crawling into my mind. I'm fine Dad, really. Pay attention to your class!
Then again a few minutes later.
Seriously Dad, if you're still listening that's kind of sad. You need to get a life!
And near the end of the lecture.
Still unscathed Daddy dearest. See you soon, love you.
I smiled at the last one which went didn't go unnoticed by Bella.
Everything okay? She asked.
"Totally fine." I whispered back. This reassured her enough before Bella was out the door in seconds where we were greeted by our daughter in the hallway after class.
…which got a little weird to be honest.; at least to the public eye. No girl should be cradling any other girls head like that.
"Erm, Bella,we got psychology." I said shrugging her away from an awkward "supposed-to-be just-friends" embrace from Ness.
"Right. See you after class Nessie?"
Our daughter giggled. It was rare her mother used that nickname on her.
"Yep. See you after class."
Psychology was even more dismal than class the few days before. Our teacher was a short, stout woman in her forties, and very stern. She had us all take turns reading from the textbook before and gave us a worksheet to complete for homework.
Then, at long last, the day was over. Our family regrouped near our lockers to set out for the parking lot. That was until I was reminded my day wasn't over yet.
"Mr. Cullen, are you ready for your detention?" Mr. Weston stood at the end of the hallway near his door looking right at me."
Damn, I forgot. I looked over at Emmett, who was tight-lipped, and trying very hard not to laugh.
A detention? Man Eddie boy, you're losing your touch! Oh man, I can't wait to tell Carlisle!
"Right. Be right there Mr. Weston."
I turned to my family who looked abashed at my newly found out punishment.
"Ness, you ride home with the others, I'll bring Edward home," said Bella.
"No it's okay, I can work on my homework while we wait." Renesmee chimed in.
"Oh, good idea. I guess we'll meet the rest of you at home then. Tell Jake we'll be there soon."
I guess it would be a bad idea to be seen with Jake driving me home huh. Renesmee asked.
"Mmhmm…" I mumbled discretely.
"Nice one, Smart Alec." Rose teased. I shrugged it off, gave Bella a kiss, and headed towards my next hour of hell.
"Next time Mr. Cullen, don't take your time. I have a personal life too." Mr. Weston complained as he closed the door behind me. His personal life seemed very limited from the small glances I saw into his home life. In his classroom on the front and center desk lay a stack of papers with equations.
"I take it you want me to solve these?" I asked.
"Don't sass me boy. Of course I do. And in case you were wondering, I printed these all off various books less than ten minutes ago. I haven't even yet printed the keys to them. No chance for you to cheat this time."
"Whatever," I scoffed back.
I sat down at the desk and reached again for the black fountain pen.
"You may want to change your mind with that pen Mr. Cullen. On tests, I take points for illegible papers."
I recounted my handwriting that I had perfected for over a decade. He would have no problem reading it. So I huffed at him and started at the first page. There were sixteen pages all together- the last three being advanced calculus. I still went through each problem with ease. It took me nearly thirty-five minutes to complete every page, but when I was finished I stood up and handed the paper over to my overbearing teacher.
"You sure you're ready to hand those in?" he asked.
"Positive. I'm 100% for every answer."
"Very well," he replied.
He clicked a button on his computer and a few pages printed from his printer. I returned to my seat and watched steadily as he reviewed each answer.
This is impossible. This is a college test! I should have taken hours to complete.
After five minutes, he stood up again and spoke.
"I don't know how you're doing it Cullen. Whether you're some undiscovered genius, or pulling my leg in any way, I'll find out. You're dismissed. See you Friday."
"No tricks Mr. Weston. I just said I was very good with numbers."
I headed down the hallway, turned a corner running right into Jake.
"Sheesh bloodsu..I mean Edward. Done already? Ness told me about your detention," he droned the last word out in a mocking tone.
"All done. Where are the girls?"
"The library. I'm going to head out." See you home?
I nodded. "Catcha later."
I found my two beauties in the small, empty school library with their hair flowing over their shoulders, hiding their faces. I had come in quietly, but my scent must have given me away. Renesmee looked up first and was up and running towards me before I had time to take another step. Lucky for us, the librarian was in the back room, logging checked in books into the system and organizing them onto carts.
By the time Ness reached me, I lifted her up, spinning her around like I did when she was a child. Her arms immediately wrapped around my neck as she set her head back, letting her hair flow in the circle we were spinning in. She was a total daddy's girl, and I loved every second of it.
Her bright smile lifted my spirits from my shoddy day, and in setting her down, I looked over at my dear wife watching us with loving adoration. How did I get so lucky? Sure days like this seemed like hell, but what I got in return at the end of the day was worth any pissed off teacher or loser teenage boy trying to get on my nerves. My family was all I ever needed.
"Ready to go?" Bella asked gathering hers and Renesmee's book bags.
"Yep, let's blow this joint." I was so ready to leave this school. When was graduation again?
The sky was overcast as always, and my new Volvo was one of the few cars left in the vacant lot.
"Shotgun!" Renesmee yelled, running towards the passenger door.
"Ugh, fine! But I call it on the way back from school tomorrow!" Bella replied.
"No way, you have to call it when you're outside, and about to leave. That's the only way it works!"
"We'll see Renesmee. I can run faster than you, ya know." Bella was playful today. Maybe tonight would make up for my crappy day.
After we were all settled into the car and on the road, Bella decided here to be more vocal in thought.
So is everything okay with Mr. Weston, or will we be staying late after school every day from now on?
I shook my head.
Renesmee interrupted our private exchange. "You know, I can tell when you two are having private conversations in your head. How about we talk out loud like normal people for once!"
"Well Ness, your mother was asking whether I would be attending detention after class for the rest of the school year, and as far as I know, I'm not."
"What did you do to piss him off so bad Daddy? Teachers usually love you!"
"It seems Mr. Weston doesn't like know-it-all people who can upstage their intelligence."
"Oh honey, what did you do?" Bella asked worriedly.
"Nothing wrong. I just got every problem right on the worksheet and he accused me of cheating. Then he had me do another worksheet after school to try and bust me, but I got all of those right as well."
"Maybe they'll hire you to teach the class, Dad."
"I would probably take it. It would be worth giving that Scott douche a detention every day for the rest of his life."
"Edward, he's an innocent, hormonal boy. Just leave him be." Bella was my better half, always taking the high road.
"Wait, wait wait, who is Scott?" Renesmee asked curiously.
"Just a pretentious jerk who tried convincing me today that your mother was his next girlfriend." I answered wryly.
Both Bella and Renesmee busted up with laughter.
"Seriously Daddy, and you got jealous? On what planet would Mom leave you for an ugly, pig-headed jerk?"
"I don't like hearing his thoughts," I muttered angrily, remembering his vivid imagination of him and Bella straddling each other in some bedroom.
"Well no one asked you to listen to them. Maybe you should keep your nose out of other people's business. It will get you in trouble someday."
"You mom is my business Nessie Bug. Let's just say it's a good thing your mother came to check on me in the bathroom when she did. Three seconds later Scott would have been drinking toilet water."
"Boys…" Bella muttered.
"In other news, was there anything else interesting in Ms. Alvarez's class today Ness?"
"Not really. We learned watercolor techniques. She didn't single me out at all or talk to me individually. No weird stares, no nothing."
"Hmm, hopefully Jake got some more dirt on her then. He should be home by now."
A few minutes later, I turned into our long driveway, pulling into the cul-de-sac near the front door. As soon as I turned the car off, Ness was jumping the steps two at a time and inside by the time I had gotten out. What a long day. Maybe I'd call in sick tomorrow.
"Come here Edward." Bella pulled me in by the waist where my arms reflectively pulled her in closer. I took a in a deep breath, smelling the strawberry shampoo that she still used. It was a comforting remembrance.
"I'm so glad to be home," I whispered.
"Me too. I'm sorry you had a crappy day, want to talk about it?" she asked.
I shook my head in response. "No, I'd really just like to forget about it and enjoy my wife till this monstrosity called school steals her from me tomorrow."
"I know it's a few days off, but I was talking to Alice after you left to your detention. Tuesday and Wednesday next week will be sunny. I guess we'll be needing that doctor's note after all." She smiled eagerly up at my tense face.
"Really?"
"I was thinking we could leave Monday night and spend a few days with Charlie."
My father-in-law had stayed exceptionally close to us throughout the years. We had traveled a lot, but always veering back to the little town of Forks. Of all the places I had lived in the world, or will ever end up, Forks would always be our home.
"That's actually a fantastic idea. Ness will be excited. I suppose Jake will tag along to check on the tribe."
"Perfect." She gave me a peck on the cheek and started leading me inside.
What I encountered inside was anything but welcome. Carlisle stood at the base of the stairs with his arms folded and a scowl on his face.
"Edward Anthony Masen Cullen. What is all this I hear about a detention on your first week? We need to talk."