Chapter 21

"Bella… Oohh Bella"

At easing voice brought Bella out of her reverie. Bella shook her head wondering for a minute where she was and frowning slightly as she recognized the mint green walls of her classroom in Forks. She truly hoped that she was back in Phoenix.

"Where were you?"

Rosalie asked, her smirk widening as Bella blushed

"Or should I ask with who were you?"

Jasper added from Rosalie's other side. Bella bit her lip and scowled at them both.

"She's almost salivating. Jazz you should tone the lust a bit down"

Rosalie mock scolded. Jasper's raised his hands in a mock surrender

"I am not doing anything officer"

Bella shook her head laughing uncaringly that the whole of the class was staring at the three of them.

"I think I preferred you two when you were cold, distant and lethal"

It was Rosalie's turn to laugh as it was true. Both she and Jasper had been looser around the edges lately. Actually it was as if with Edward's sentence to join the Volturi for fifty years for breaking the rules, someone flipped a switch in the family.

Carlisle and Esme suffered from it which made sense. They both viewed Edward as their firstborn and Alice was insufferable. On the other hand Rosalie was much more human while Emmett and Jasper were both balanced. There was another rift as well Carlisle, Esme and Alice wanted to stay in Italy so they'd see Edward regularly. Rosalie however missed the sunless Forks. Emmett would go everywhere his mate did and Jasper joined them as he longed for a connection to his human past.

No one was foolish enough to ask why he didn't seem to miss Alice.

With a sigh Bella rubbed her fingertips over the ring she wore on her right pointer finger. Damon had insisted she took Elena's ring before she left Phoenix. The sun didn't hurt her but it did blister her skin when she was exposed for too long..

All three vampires looked at the front of the class when the door opened. A tall guy with gelled brown hair and striking green eyes came in and strode the room as if he owned the place till he sat on the one and only empty seat in the room. Conveniently it was on Bella's other side and he grinned at her as he sat down.

"Hi"

"What are you doing here?"

Bella questioned surprised. Stefan grinned.

"You spoke so highly about this place; I thought I had to check it out"

Stefan put his phone down on his desk and the photo of a blond girl appeared. Stefan blushed and put the phone down the other way

"Tell Nikki 'hi' for me at lunch"

Bella winked and Stefan laughed lightly. It was true. He always called Nikki every day at lunch and Bella and Nikki spoke every afternoon. Bella had been determined to not lose contact with her friends again.

"Guys this is Stefan. Damon's brother who prefers animals. Stefan, these are Rosalie and Jasper. They too prefer animals"

Bella introduced them and bit back a chuckle as Stefan's eyes lit at the prospect of hunting with other animal lovers… Or haters. Really depends on how you look at it.. As Bella's thoughts turned to where they normally were almost every single minute, aka to Damon, the door was pushed open again. Jessica let out a wolf whistle as almost all the female population of the classroom sighed. Bella looked up wondering what caused all the girls to act like cats in heat and her mouth fell open

"My name is Damon Salvatore and I'm your new History teacher. Feel free to suck up to my little brother but it won't make your grades better"

All the guys in the room snickered. All the girls sighed. Stefan shook is head amused at his brother's acting.

"Can we suck the teacher?"

Bella breathed so quietly that not even gossip Jess heard her. Stefan made a gagging sound at the image while Rosalie snickered. Jasper caught Damon's eyes and he saluted. Damon grinned with the tips of his fangs glistering.

Damon looked at her, etching this moment, the slight surprise in her eyes with the lingering smile on her lips. She was everything he'd ever wanted. Everything that he could ever need.

"I love you"

He whispered in her ear under the pretense of showing something about homework to her.

Bella wanted to throw her arms around his neck and clung to him for dear life but forced herself to smile instead and sit on her hands in effort to remain calm.

"You guys are adorable"

Stefan teased.

"Talk to your girlfriend"

Bella and Damon snapped under their breaths breath making Stefan chuckle and turn to his homework as well. Damon looked at her as he leaned against a wall lost in his thoughts.

For whatever reason, someone had granted him another chance. A miracle and he wouldn't waste one minute of it.

The End