Chapter 7

…If the wolf was there…

I never thought I could surprise Alice, but she was silent for a few seconds before stuttering goodnight. Well, it will have had the merit of shocking them enough not to ask them why I called Alice for help. I go to bed and fall asleep quickly. The next day, Alice picks me up, not without having organized my new wardrobe and assembled outfits for the week of classes.

We spend the morning in her room discussing old fashions and coming around laughing hysterically, interrupted only by Esme telling me my lunch is ready. Like yesterday, no one bothered to play the masquerade of the meal and so I savored my plate without feeling the slightest embarrassment. Emmett and Jasper offered to play Xbox after dinner and I gave in. Jasper kept sneaking glances at me, but I focused on car racing, and there was plenty to do.

"Bella," Emmett roared, "are you aware the finish line is on the other side?"

It's not my fault ! After the rolls that you made me do, I lost my sense of racing, I complain.

Remind me to get you a compass for Christmas.

Even with I get lost… I mutter under my breath, pouting a bit. »

Emmett laughs before crossing the finish line and doing a victory dance. I laugh at his grotesque movements and he drags me with him, laughing. The afternoon passed in a good mood and I returned home relaxed and happy. Neither Edward nor Rosalie joined us. Carlisle worked at the hospital. After a restful night, I leave for school and see the Volvo in the parking lot along with the entire Cullen family.

After greeting them from afar, I head to my classroom feeling eyes on me. Apparently, Alice had hit the nail on the head with the outfit she had recommended to me this morning by text message. Unfortunately, my regular sheepdog, aka Mike, was in my first class of the day and stared at me like a marrowbone for an hour. I swear I saw a little drool come out of his lips. Jessica sitting next to me was disgusted.

"Seriously ! she rages. Is it an animal in heat or what?

I'm sorry Jessica, I answer, embarrassed. I don't understand his behavior. I am dressed normally. »

And it was true! I had certainly put on a skirt, but with opaque tights and a turtleneck. You couldn't say that my outfit was provocative. Jessica shakes her head asking me to let it go and concentrates on the trigonometry lesson. When the hour ends, a blue window appears:

"Secondary quest: Keep Mike away from you… Reward: an invitation… Penalty: a hand on the buttocks… Duration: until the next ringtone"

Mike runs up to my table to offer to carry my bag. I politely decline and walk out of the room with the pot of glue stuck to my heels. I pass Alice, grab her by the arm and we go to the toilet. At the last moment, the little elf turns into a room and closes the door, asking me to remain silent. After a few seconds, she whispers to me:

"He will wait in front of the ladies' toilets until the bell rings, then will be caught by a supervisor.

It's us who are going to get caught, I tell him in the same tone.

The teacher is absent. »

Holy psychic sprite! His gift would have been so useful to me 20 years ago. The bell rings and she gets up pulling my right arm. I swear if she keeps doing this he'll grow several inches taller. I then take the time to look at the room where we are. This is the music room. There is a piano to the side, as well as closed cupboards, probably containing sheet music and smaller instruments. Bella is not enrolled in music class. That's a shame. I could have practiced discreetly. At home, we'll have to wait for Charlie to leave so as not to blow my cover. From memory, Bella took some piano lessons and I'm not doing too badly myself. I approach the instrument and pass my hand over the keys.

" You want to play ? »

I look up at Alice.

"Do you think I can?

-The room remains open to allow students who wish to play when there is no class, explains Alice. »

I think for a few seconds and sit down on the bench. I start playing one of my favorite songs, an acoustic version of Love The Way You Lie. As soon as the first notes resonate in the room, I relax and start singing. The song ends and I look up, realizing that I've forgotten everything about my surroundings, including the pink Energizer bunny looking at me excitedly.

"It was beautiful Bella.

Thanks, but I'm a little rusty. I would need a little practice to be a little more fluid.

Come practice at home. We have a grand piano. »

I'm about to refuse when I think of the splendid piano that I saw from afar during my last visit. It's true that it must be another feeling to play on such an instrument. I sigh and Alice claps her hands with a bright smile. She's already seen my decision, of course. Anyway, I had to come to their place tonight to do my literature homework. At lunch, I take my usual vegetables, my bottle of water and, great madness, a corn dog. I take my tray and get ready to join my usual table when I see Alice waving at me. I approach, curious and she invites me to her table.

Aside from Emmett smiling at me, none of the other people at the table seem happy with the proposal. I hesitate for a few seconds, then decide to let it run. I sit down and start chatting fashion with Alice, then she tells me she'll be waiting for me at the exit so I can follow her with the truck.

"Fortunately I put on flat heels today, I point out to him. It would be difficult to play with the boots you recommended to me at the start.

What are you going to play? Emmett asks.

We're not going to play sports, Emmett, Alice told him. Bella goes to practice on the house piano.

You play ? interrupted Edward, gritting his teeth for the first time.

I'm a little rusty but yes. I'm more guitar actually. I hope I won't bother you too much.

I'm sure you'll do just fine, Alice intervenes. What you played last time was wonderful. »

I see Edward giving a small smile, looking distant. I look at Alice who gives me a wink. Did she show him her memory? Rosalie grunts, grabs her tray, and walks away with Emmett in tow. I'm a little annoyed with the way she treats her husband. Always undergoing his mood swings. It would be too much to ask to take a little on her for a change. I meet Jasper's gaze, who raises an eyebrow, probably in response to my emotions. I stare at him, daring him to protest. He raises his hands in surrender before getting up to go back to class with Alice. Edward grabs my tray and his and we head off to our joint lesson.

Mitosis… To think that it was one of the last lessons I gave to my students, what… barely ten days ago. I grab the microscope confidently and place the thin slide on the stage. Within seconds, I focus and give my verdict, turning the lens to Edward to check. He nods after glancing, then writes the answer on the handout. I hand him the next blade defiantly. I'm definitely in a playful mood today… He brushes against my hand as he brings the microscope closer, electrifying me as he goes. So that's the bond between companion. I smiled looking at his shocked eyes. I quickly pull himself together he places his thin blade and quickly identifies the anaphase.

I let him write down the answer and move on to the next card, quickly stating:

"Interphase! Normally the next one is either metaphase or telophase.

You learned your lesson well, Edward notes.

No, I have already done this exercise. »

Hundreds of times, I almost added. He looks up at me, announcing:

"Telophase! »

I retrieve the microscope and check that it is indeed the metaphase, then write the answer on the sheet. Edward doesn't even bother to check. Instead, he begins a full interrogation.

"So you play piano and guitar,

Yes and you ? I ask, even though I already know the answer.

Some piano. How long have you been playing?

I took small piano lessons and learned the guitar on my own some time later. »

He raises an eyebrow, impressed before resuming his questions.

"Who is your favorite composer?

Yiruma, I reply, not without an inner wry smile.

I also like it a lot, he says smiling, even if Debussy remains number one.

Oh ! Moonlight ! I like too. »

He becomes serious and observes:

"You have an impeccable French accent. »

Probably because it's my mother tongue, I think, frustrated that I can't be honest. I smile at him to hide my mood.

" It seems. I have a good ear. »

He nods, a little skeptical. Now the roles are reversed, it's me who invents lame excuses and he who suspects that I'm hiding something from him. Crap ! I decide to direct the conversation on less slippery ground:

"You know the French accent well. Have you ever been to France?

Yes, he replies, nodding especially Paris and the mountains.

Alps, Massif Central or Pyrenees? »

He freezes for a few seconds before answering:

"The Massif Central has fewer people.

It's true, I approve, before noticing my dumpling.

How do you know ?

I have family over there. »

He doesn't look convinced and I have to say that I pulled out the first thing that came to mind. Let's hope he doesn't go and do a thorough search, because I'm pretty sure Bella doesn't have any family in France at all. I swallowed before we were interrupted by Mr. Banner checking in on our work. The bell rings. I'm about to leave when Edward grabs my arm. An electric current runs through my body again. He lets go of me quickly and says to me in a bitter tone:

"You asked me not to lie to you, I would like you to return the courtesy.

I'm not lying to you Edward. »

I'm just hiding the whole backdrop from you, I think.

He sighs and walks out of the room, the word "disappointment" written on his face.

"Main Quest: Earn Edward's Trust… Reward: Date… Penalty: Hidden… Duration: One Month"

I sigh. They were only missing that ! At the end of the day, I follow Alice home by truck. We quickly do our homework and she steers me towards the grand piano lying in the center of the living room. I take a deep breath and launch into the first song that comes to mind, "Give me time" by Jenifer. My voice and the melody I play resonate in the room without any noise overlapping them. I am taken by the song and do not take my eyes off the piano. When the last note fades into silence, I look up and see Alice has been joined by her brothers, Emmett has a smirk on his face, Jasper an indescribable but intense look, Alice is applauding wildly and Edward stares at me, looking serious.

"I hope I haven't broken your ears too much?" I ask, a little embarrassed by all the attention.

It was great! Emmett exclaims. »

Alice and Jasper agree, Edward remains silent.

"You, on the other hand, I had to pierce your eardrums…I said looking at the latter"

He gets up, sits on the bench next to me. I start to get up, but he holds me back and starts playing. I recognize "Do you? from Yiruma and smiled. We exchange a look and he understands that I recognized the music. I let myself be carried away by the melody and close my eyes. My smile, I kept it all the way back to Charlie's house. This one informed me that Billy and Jacob would come by tomorrow evening. I spend a restless night and wake up frozen. When I turn to the window, it is open. The stalker has begun his work!