Hello 😊 I know I take my time between chapters, but I promise I write every moment I can! I will not ask anyone to be patient with me, all I ask is that you read what I have written and if you have an opinion please voice it in the comments. All I want is to write a good story for you all to read 😊
Another sleepless night passes thanks to the howling wolves. It's not even like the sound is coming from one place, it manages to echoes from every corner of the room. The howl is being thrown back and forth, it almost feels like a conversation between the animals, which is of course stupid. Not that I am doubting animal communication, but all night and from the same spot? No way, every potential predator would be drawn there in a second. Another howl calls through the room, just to confirm my conspiracy. I throw one of the weirdly hard pillows over my head and let out a frustrated sigh. I seriously cannot be the only one noticing this!
I am of course proved wrong as I walk through the hallway of school, passing the throngs of bright-eyed students. There are a few students who stare at me with yesterday's hesitation and guess what? Not a single damn bag under any of their eyes. In fact, in the whole school there seems to be only one family who can give me a run for my money for a look of exhaustion, and they have at least a couple of decades of sleeplessness on me.
As if summoned, I find a yellow-eyed Cullen walking down the opposite side of the corridor, Alice to be specific. A chill washes down my spine as the memory of her nightmare's promise flashes through my mind. I know her eyes catch mine, but there is no way I can handle talking to a Cullen today.
I find Jess and Angela talking by a nearby locker and throw myself into their discussion, literally. I come in so fast I accidentally trip over my own feet and hit my head on the open locker door.
"Oh my god are you ok!", says Angela helping me up from the floor.
"Seriously dude what the hell!", cries Jess.
"Sorry, sorry my bad", I say nursing what will be an inevitable bump. I look to my side and see Alice pass, her hand held to her mouth trying to cover what looks like a smile. Stupid vampires.
"Don't be sorry, are you ok?", asks Angela. Without a moment's hesitation her Mother's nursing training comes out as she pulls my hand from my head to inspect the damage. I try to wave her off, but she only continues her inspection from a distance.
"Honestly, I'm all good, just not functioning today. Barely slept last night. Anyway what were you guys talking about?", I ask, trying to change the subject before she performs a full blown analysis. Angela of course looks ready to object, but Jess jumps on the chance to get back on track.
"Well, you came at the right time", says Jess grabbing my arm in excitement, "we are driving out to Port Angeles to buy dresses for the dance next week!". The announcement of the dance comes out as a quiet screech.
"Uhh dance?", I ask. I had kind of thought dances were just something made up by rom coms to create that 'magic moment' between the two leads.
"Yes! It's the winter dance! We used to do it, you know, in winter but everyone was too cold to dress up. So we are doing it earlier on this year!".
"It's a Sadie Hawkins kind of dance, gives girls the chance to do the asking", adds Angela, I don't miss the faint blush on her cheeks.
"You're coming right?", demands Jess. Every part of me wants to run as far from the idea of a dance as possible, but one irritating thought stops my refusal. This is probably the best chance to have that "high school" experience. This was why I came here, right?
"Uhh do I have to wear a dress?", I ask.
"Yes!", says Jess.
"No", says Angela.
The two girls look at each other, Angela keeping her gaze longer than I would have thought she would. They keep going until Jess rolls her eyes.
"Fine, I guess not BUT you are going to come shopping with us still, right?", she demands. A chance to be out of town and away from the Cullens, count me in!
"Yeah of course, as long as it's not this Saturday. I have to help out at work", I say.
"Oh that's right, it's the monthly sale out on the Reservation", says Angela.
"Seriously, how do you know literally every old person event in this town?", says Jess. Angela just holds her camera up as a defense.
"It pays to be the eyes and ears of the town", she says earning another eye roll from Jess.
"Whatever, so next Tuesday, dress shopping. You in?", asks Jess.
"The shop we are going to has some nice suits if you want as well", adds Angela.
"But please let us dress you in at least one dress?", begs Jess.
"Ok so yes to dress shopping, and maybe to the dress. It depends on what dress", I say.
"Don't you trust me!", says Jess, her hand dramatically flung to her chest.
As we head to class the plans are made, and I can't help but feel excited. That is at least until I get to English and try to sneak to my usual spot at the back.
"Isabella, one moment please", says the teacher interrupting my stealthy retreat. An annoying 'ooooo' echoes from the class earning a stern look from the teacher. I walk up wondering what on earth I have done now.
"It seems a final piece of your transcript came through, you are being moved to senior English to be a part of our makeshift AP class", she says.
"Transcript?", I ask. Did Father organize this? No, he wouldn't have, maybe Zio? No, I handled all the enrollment on my own, they wouldn't know where to start.
"I don't have all the details", she says "but I do know it's not just for this class. The office gave me this new timetable to give to you". Within the piece of paper I search for the hope of a replacement science only to be met with the same Biology period after lunch.
"Now you better head off, you will already be behind on your new class", she says dismissing me.
Before leaving, I look back at the class to find Angela's very confused face. She raises her eyes brows in concern, and I mouth 'later' to her. At least I hope I know how to explain later.
The concern manages to fade as I walk to my new class. Walking through the empty halls is actually relaxing. The muffled sounds of classes behind closed doors comes through but not enough to silence the sound of my shoes squeaking against the floor. With no students, no teachers, and no Cullens, the school is almost peaceful.
I try to take this newly realised peace with me as I walk into my new English class with an optimistic stride, just to be stopped in my tracks by the haunting blonde from my dream. Her entire body stiffens as I enter the room. I want to say mine doesn't but, well, whose wouldn't under her gaze? She recovers a lot quicker than I do though and retreats back to the paper at her desk.
"Umm Isabella?", asks the teacher. I cut my stare and look towards the expectant teacher. I feel like I might have missed something.
"Uhh huh?", I ask intelligently, earning a small chuckle from the class. Not the blonde. No she keeps her focus on the paper in front of her with an intensity that honestly makes me feel scared for the paper. I try to imagine her staring at me with that intensity and I swear I can feel my knees start to buckle before the teacher drags me from my thoughts.
"I just said welcome", the teacher says with a warm smile, "my name is Miss Doyle. Please take a seat at the back and I'll come help with you work as soon as I am done here. We have another AP student in the class, Rosalie would you please raise your hand", she asks. While my eyes remain on the vampire, hers refuse to meet mine. Instead, she shoots a glare at the teacher, her golden eyes a darker shade than usual. Miss Doyle clears her throat uncomfortably before regaining her stance.
"Rosalie, Isabella will be working with you through the AP syllabus. Can you please raise your hand and help her through what we have been working on", she says with as much force as she can manage. Rosalie holds her glare but slowly raises an unwilling icy hand. Rather than put the teacher though any more pain I walk to the back of the class and take a seat next to the vampire.
The desk is taken over by a large sketch book full of what looks like blueprints. The designs look like an engine, but way more complicated than anything I have seen before. I try to take a closer look but before I can even think about it she pulls the book away.
"Now for the rest of you, we are working on chapter three of Animal Farm. Specifically how the animals fit into their new found society", says Miss Doyle. I used to love that book but then Zio educated me on the animals' human counterparts. Let's just say it ticked another box on the disillusionment of humanity list.
As the class starts their work I am left in an awkward silence with the blonde. She is drawing lines across the page if she was using a feather light brush instead of a normal pen. It must be killing her to draw at such a slow pace. I don't want to break her concentration, but at the same time I have a feeling she isn't as focused as she looks.
"H-hey", I say clearing my throat from the dry lump that's forming, " what are we-". Before I can finish, she pushes a copy of Pride and Prejudice towards me. I manage to catch it before it slides off the desk. The book is bound in worn black leather with faded golden writing engraved into the spine.
"Wow the school has better quality books than I thought", I say trying to break the ice. In response she only snatches the book from my hands. Her eyes never leaving the notebook.
"That's fine, I've read it a few times before", I say. No response from the blonde, just more scribbling. I don't know why I am pushing for a response; I have spent the last few days begging the Cullen's to ignore me, but this? This just complete cold shoulder? Especially from her AND after no sleep. I am so not dealing with this.
"So want to catch me up on what we are up to partner?", I say, full emphasis on the 'partner' aspect. More scribbling.
"It's ok if you don't know, I know the classes can be a little challenging at the AP level", I say, again no response.
"Oh I get it, the book went a little over your head. If you want, I am more than happy to explain it to you". I hear the pen crack in her hand. I know I should stop but do you know what, screw that. This whole coven has just played with my head this whole time, now it's my turn to have fun.
"So the story really starts when the main character Elizabeth refuses her cousin Mr Collin's. If she hadn't made that mistake the whole story would have been a lot better".
"That sniveling halfwit?", she snarls. Even laced with venom her voice sounds regal.
"Yeah of course", I say not daring to lose momentum, "think about it, it would have been a sensible marriage, and she would have secured her family's place in society. Pretty selfish on her part honestly". I don't miss the growl that rings a little too loud. A girl sitting in front of us stiffens in her chair earning a pointless glare from the blonde.
"Might I suggest instead of talking about things that you could never possibly understand that you instead re read the text from the point of view of someone with at least half a brain", she growls through clenched teeth.
"Oh good so we can help each other. That should at least make half".
The glare that she finally gives is enough to cause every part of my body to want to retreat in on itself. I swear if I didn't know better, I would think there was an inferno behind her eyes.
"I would be very careful with the next words from your mouth", she growls. Most people would take that as a sign to stop, I am not most people.
"Let me guess, your good opinion once lost is lost forever?", I ask and that seems to be all the vampire can take. She pushes herself from the table and storms out of the classroom. Miss Doyle looks like she is going to intervene, but fear seems to wipe away her duty of care. The door closes with a slam that I didn't think was possible on those rusty hinges.
I spend the rest of the lesson trying to slow my heart rate down to a point where it isn't threatening to burst from my chest.
Thankfully talk of the shopping trip manage to take my mind from the chaos that has become my life. By the end of lunch I have somehow agreed to not only trying on a dress but also purchasing matching bracelets with Angela and Jess. To be fair, I think we also got Eric on board. Mike said he doesn't need any jewelry to make him more of a babe magnet, whatever the hell that means. I try not to notice that the Cullen's are only a table of four.
Erik tells me more about the dance on the way to Biology, and I can't help but feel excited. It's my first high school event and it sounds like he has put a tone of work into it. While he starts telling me about the smoke machine I look up and catch Edward looking at me with that stupid smirk. The whiplash between human to vampire is enough to make me completely miss the doorway and walk straight into the wooden door frame.
"Godammit", I hiss, rubbing the point of impact.
"Isabella", cries Erik.
"Are you ok?", asks Edward who seems to have magically popped up next to me. He positions himself in a way that completely cuts off Erik.
"Dude! Give a girl a warning before sneaking up on her!", I cry. He at least has the decency to look ashamed of himself.
"My apologies, I only wanted to ensure you were uninjured", he says with a small bow of his head. How is he completely insufferable but somewhat endearing at the same time.
"Don't beat yourself up. If I am bleeding out somewhere, I am sure you will be the first to know", I say before I can check myself. Edward forgoes any type of movement and turns into a frozen statue. This is all the doors fault!
"Why do you say that?", he asks, his voice limited to a monotonous pitch.
"Why wouldn't you be?", I say trying to cover my tracks, "your father is the Head Doctor. You can get me special access". I try to look for even an attempt at breathing but nothing happens.
"It was a joke?", I say in a last-ditch attempt.
It takes a moment but he slowly comes back to life. His looks down to me, all his previous charm taking over his features.
"Of course, I was simply partaking", he says with a light chuckle. I let out an internal sigh of relief. We stop blocking the door way and the lesson starts.
"Ok class, rather than add to the piles of homework you probably won't do, I figured we could use today's class to work on starting the theory part of the assignment. That way I can make sure you are all on the right path rather than finding out the day before it's due. A lesson I am sure Mr Yorkie has learnt by now", says Mr Molina. The class lets out a cluster of giggles as Erik turns bright red.
"I just didn't want to add the vinegar too early!", defends Erik.
"That is the exact reason I am here to help you all from the beginning so we can plan for these questions!", says Mr Molina, "Now you have 20 minutes to discuss an idea, then another 20 to start creating a plan. I'll walk around and help you all at that point. Until I get to you, just keep going".
Even though it pains me to admit it, I don't actually hate working with Edward as much as I thought I would. Without all the vampires, Res, and everything else, he is tolerable. More than that, we actually manage to enter a flow state where the whole world seems to vanish apart from the assignment. We work off each other to the point that in the first 20 minutes we manage to not only agree on the same topic but also create a plan from start to finish. I am about to tell him that we should work on it as soon as we can, but of course he has other ideas.
"I understand you had a class with my sister this morning", he says. Just like that the safety created by science is broken and we are back on the all too familiar playing field.
"Yeah I did, why?", I ask trying to regain my footing.
"No reason, I just wanted to enquire about your interaction?", he asks.
"It wasn't much of an interaction", I admit, "why you want me to put in a good word for you?". I swear at that moment I saw for the first time the equivalent of a vampire's blush.
"No", he says a little too quickly. He clears his throat and tries to start again.
"I just, wanted to make sure that, she was polite towards you", each word seems to be carefully chosen. This isn't a throw away question, he is searching for something. Well, I haven't ever been one to make things easy.
"Is there any reason she wouldn't be?", I ask.
"Rosalie has always been, well, distant from people", he says.
"No! I would never have thought it!", I say, the sarcasm clearly lost on Edward as he lets out a solum sigh.
"We have tried to encourage her to be more interactive with people", he says.
"Why? People suck", I say. Edward's head whips around faster than is humanly acceptable.
"Life is precious, everyone should enjoy every moment they have. Every interaction is something to be cherished and held. If you have the chance to experience a moment or conversation with someone that makes you feel something, you should", he says. I would laugh if he wasn't so serious. Instead, all that comes out is a scoff of disbelief.
"You don't understand what it means to miss out on experiences, it is enough to cause a life of regret", he says looking out the rainy window. I hold back the urge to roll my eyes.
"Not every experience is worth living", I shoot back.
"Every chance for living is worth experiencing", he insists.
"Then you have a very naive understanding of living", I say.
"Or you have an under appreciation of it", he says. The two of us lock eyes, pity building up in both. Yet the further I look into his eyes the more I realise it's not as simple as pity, there is something more.
"You know everyone wishes they had something they don't".
"Its not as simple as that", he sighs. Before I can respond Mr Molina comes to ask about our progress. As thrilled as he is, he still insists that Edward and I set a time to work on the project outside of class.
"I am available whenever works for you", says Edward.
"My work changed from Friday to Saturday so I can do tomorrow night", I admit under the teacher expected stare.
"Brilliant!", announces Mr Molina, "I can't wait to hear your progress on Monday!"
"So", says Edward as Mr Molina moves to the next desk, "where should we meet?". Maybe I can still get out of this.
"Well I can only do directly after school. I have a thing at 7pm", I say. No sun means no vampire.
"Well the school closes at closing bell tomorrow, so we should meet at mine then", he says. Before I can laugh in his face Mr Molina turns around to face us.
"See, this is the enthusiasm I want from you all. Isabella and Edward realised they could meet in school so they are meeting at his house! Come on guys, we need to make this communication work".
I don't know who to look at, the teacher with beaming smile, the sea of confused and shocked faces around the lab, or the vampire with a small smile that doesn't meet his eyes.