Chapter 3 Interactions

I pulled into my parking spot on Thursday morning. It was going to be a long day. I had a meeting to go to in Seattle tonight. It was Order business, a part of the real reason I was in the Pacific NorthWest. Out of habit I glanced out into the parking lot at the Cullen's Volvo. It was already empty. They always got here early or at least on time. I on the other hand was running late but I was going to make it to class. I figured out that if I get there as late as possible then the fangirls wouldn't be able to ambush me in the morning. I was growing tired of that part of being here. Mckayla, the chatty girl from the first day, had chilled out a little bit but was still a little clingy and Taylor would still hit on me, like the other day she dropped a magazine with a photo of me shirtless on a beach in Monaco. All the girls blushed and looked at the magazine and then at my chest. Logan Mallory never seemed to stop glaring at me, especially that day when Taylor pulled this stunt. I had a hunch that He might have a crush on her. I had no clue as to why he was jealous of me though. I couldn't tell if he knew that I wasn't interested in any of these girls, I was just polite. I wasn't good for any of these girls. My life and my past was too much of a mess, and being near me personally could be dangerous.

I sighed as I walked to my first class. I guessed Edith wasn't going to be here again today. I figured she must be sick or something. I walked at a fast pace to first period so I wouldn't be late. I was also thinking about the meeting tonight. It was going to be more a show of force than a meeting. But that wasn't until nine tonight. In English the class was assigned to do a group project. Mckayla was in this class with me so she had asked me if I wanted to be in a group with Erica. I agreed and we moved our desks together.

"So Jaxon, how do you like Forks so far?" Erica asked shyly. Out of all the people that interacted with me here Erica has had the least interaction, well besides Edith. "I haven't done much exploring, but for the most part it has been fine. Thank you for asking." I smiled at Erica as I said that. It made her blush, and it also made Mckayla frown.

These girls were so predictable. A smile here or an intense look there, made them get butterflies. I didn't do it on purpose most of the time. I tried to be polite and that in my mind included smiling. Honestly I was thinking that most of my allure was my reputation, but sometimes I guessed it was my physical appearance. It didn't help when people could easily find photos of me shirtless on a forign beach. That was one of the most annoying things about being famous, the lack of privacy.

We finished our project and waited for the bell to ring. I decided to check my phone. It had been going off for the last fifteen minutes. I assumed it was my older brother David wanting to know if I was ready for the meeting tonight.

"Hey Jax." David.

"Jax are you there?" David.

"JAXON!" David.

"I swear pick up the phone." David.

I chuckled Dave was so impatient. I mean I couldn't blame him. If I was in his shoes I would be impatient too. Dave was the CEO of three businesses. All subsidiaries of StoneTech but more specialized on other projects. I was a member of all of them and I would coordinate with him. For some reason my siblings and I were all smart, but we were all smart in our own interests. Like for instance my sister Lexie was a fashion mogul and a genius when it came to social media and advertising. Dave was incredibly business savvy. He was also a successful attorney. He was a brilliant negotiator, he was my go to legal support. I on the other hand had a mind for the sciences. It also didn't hurt that I had a photographic memory. I could remember anything. That's why I could learn so quickly.

"What is it Dave?' Jaxon.

"What the hell man. Anyways, are you ready for the meeting tonight? It could get physical." David.

"I'm in class, remember? You tried to find a loophole but you couldn't. I'm not worried about the meeting. They will pay their respects, after all my reputation alone will keep them in line." Jaxon.

"You are right. They wouldn't dare do anything disrespectful with you present. I imagine that they are scared shitless to be in the same room as Akuma." David.

"I wouldn't know. I have to get back to class. The bell is going to ring in a bit. I'll text you after the meeting." Jaxon

I packed my bag and stood up right as the bell rang. My government class was exceptionally boring. Miss Jefferson was trying to explain the significance of the French revolution in American society. It was entertaining but so boring. I started daydreaming about what I was going to do this weekend. Would I go explore Forks and the nearest city. Maybe go hiking. That was one perk of being here, the area was perfect for hiking and rock climbing. I could stay in Seattle for the weekend. I didn't have to worry about the homework that I was being given. It normally only took me like thirty minutes to finish. My best guess was that I would stay in Seattle. I was a little giddy to be back in a city. This move to Forks had been more pleasant than I had thought. I was starting to build a routine. I wouldn't call anyone here really my friend yet but for the most part they were all relatively nice. They did have some annoying quirks like the drama of high school, but it came with the territory. Lunch came around and I sat with the usual group. They were discussing nothing that really interested me. So I started to check my email.

The R & D guys sent me those blueprints. I decided that if I didn't spend the entire weekend in Seattle then I would play with this drone idea. It looked interesting and it could have many applications. I already had an idea about the launching sequence. I put my idea in my notes section for the project.

Halfway though lunch I glanced over at the Cullen's table and the little redhead still wasn't here. So I guess I was right that she was sick. I had no animosity towards the girl even though she had been rude to me the first day. Maybe she was just having an off day and I was just being self centered. I was known to do that sometimes. I did hope if she was sick it was nothing too serious.

The bell rang and lunch was over. I walked slowly to biology. I had heard that we were doing a lab. I was prepared to do it quickly so I could draw out some ideas for the new drone project that I was going to be starting. I walked into the biology classroom and to my surprise, there sat Edith at our table. She was wearing a peachy colored sweater with the sleeves pushed up her arms, and black jeans.

I walked over to our table and sat down. I began to pull out my notebook when Edith started to talk.

"Hello" she said with the most lovely sounding voice I had ever heard. It was so lite and calming. I turned my head in her direction keeping my face in check. This was a complete one-eighty from Monday. I looked at her as she continued. "My name is Edith Cullen, I didn't have a chance to introduce myself the other day." "Hi, it is nice to meet you, I'm Jaxon Stone." I said my voice not giving away my amusement. I was kind of thrilled talking to her. She giggled "I know." She said, smiling at me. Wow, her smile was breathtaking. She had two dimples and it was literally gorgeous. I had met and went on dates with models, but this girl just was unreal. I was actually on the verge of blushing. Luckily Mrs Banner called the class to attention so I looked away from Edith.

"Ok, today we are going to be doing a lab to put these slides of onion root in order by the phases of mitosis. You will work with your partner at your tables. Good luck." Mrs Banner finished as she began to walk around the room.

Edith grabbed the worksheet from the desk and wrote our names on the paper. Her handwriting was a form of calligraphy. It was at that moment that I realized I had been spelling her name wrong. It wasn't "Edith" like I had thought it was spelled "Edythe". It suited her better, it was unique.

Edythe looked at me then " Ladies first partner?" she said in her cheery voice. I nodded like an idiot. "Sure, go ahead." I added. I slid the microscope over to her. She grinned and put the slide into place. It only took her a glance. "Prophase" and she wrote it on the first line. She looked up."Would you like to check it?" she challenged. "No, I'm good."

She exchanged the slide out for the next one, and again it only took her a second to study the slide. She then wrote anaphase on the next line. She then looked up right before Mrs Banner called her name.

"Miss Cullen?" "Yes, Mrs Banner?" she said as she slid the microscope closer to me.

"Perhaps you should let Mr Stone have an opportunity to learn?"

"Of course, Mrs Banner." Edythe looked over at me, to signal me to go ahead

It wasn't like I was going to actually learn anything new. But I didn't want to get Edythe in trouble. I looked at the slide and it took me a second longer than it had Edythe. "Metaphase." I said.

"Do you mind if I look?" She said, her hand stopping mine from moving the slide. Her hand was ice cold. I wondered if she had bad circulation or something. She realized something and added "Sorry," and looked down. I slide the microscope back to her

"No go ahead." She had not been in this class with me yet really so she didn't know to go with my answer. "Metaphase" she said as she wrote the answer down.

I felt a little ticked that she didn't believe me. "Like I said." she looked back up at me with a grin. " Well then the last has to be telophase," she said. She wrote metaphase and telophase on the worksheet and we were done. It didn't take us that long, but the rest of the class was still doing the lab and it appeared to be difficult.

I opened my notebook and began to draft a schematic for the drone. I could see Edythe in my peripheral vision looking at me. I wondered if she wanted to talk to me. I wouldn't be opposed. She seemed bright and she acted differently too, like when she laughed at what I said it seemed like genuine humor.

"So how are you liking Forks?" she inquired

This was the second time I had been asked that today. I wanted to give a nicer response to this girl. "It's been manageable, I guess."

She nodded. "It must be different from where you used to live, I take it?"

"Yeah you could say that. I'm more used to the city than a small town like this," I looked at her eyes. They were the color of honey. I had never seen eyes like hers. So sweet yet so fierce.

"Well why did you move here then if it's difficult?" Her voice picked up a little agitation to it. I looked away. "It's hard to explain." I replied, my voice becoming firmer, trying to avoid this discussion. I didn't like the reasons I was here, the simple one and the complicated one.

"I'm sure I can keep up." her voice becoming seductive. It caught me off guard for a second. I couldn't tell this girl the real reason I came to this area, but I could tell her part of it, the part that was a public cover story.

"The board of directors for StoneTech informed my Father and I that I would need to complete high school before my position would be reinstated," my voice picked up part of the anger that I had for those sheep, but I tried to keep my voice from level. This girl didn't deserve to be talked to rudely.

"So they pushed you out?" she asked and she seemed genuinely concerned. "Yeah our hands were tied so I had to pick a school."

"What made you pick Forks of all places, I mean you are Jaxon Stone you could have gone to a private school." her voice going up higher. I was distracted for a second, the way she said my name it was so calming and alluring.

"My mom went here, only for a year though. I wanted to go to the same school she had. She said her time here was fun," I said, smiling.

"Does she like that you are here?" she asked honestly. I flinched a little. She must have noticed because her expression became sympathetic, "Sorry. Did I say something or…." I cut her off it was an honest mistake and she shouldn't feel bad for my pain

"No it's nothing," I said with a fake smile on my face to make her feel better. But she didn't buy it.

"Please forgive me, I was being rude, I shouldn't have been so nosey." She seemed a little ashamed.

"No, please don't feel bad, if you want to know, uhmm. My mom died a few years ago. You didn't do anything wrong, it's just I don't think about her much." I said unemotionally. The fake smile didn't work on her.

"Oh, I'm sorry that can be hard," she said, totally genuine. Her hand twitched like she wanted to touch my hand that was near hers.

"Seriously don't worry about it, it's okay, I promise," I tried to say convincingly enough to change the subject. I couldn't tell if she bought it but she didn't press further about that topic. She started to twirl her hair in her fingers. We still had thirty minutes of class left, and I wanted to keep talking to her. She was different from anyone else I had talked to. That included back home. She was real and I could tell that by how she acted and reacted.

"So were you sick?" I asked looking back at her. She seemed taken back. "Beg your pardon?" she asked sheepishly but still smiling.

Were you sick or something, you know cause you were gone for two days," I looked at her smiling back at her.

"Oh yeah, I had a sore throat and my mom was being precautious. She doesn't play when it comes to colds," she said grinning so her dimples would pop out.

I couldn't help it, those dimples were gorgeous, I couldn't help but smile more. "Oh, yeah your mom is a doctor."

"Yeah she's a surgeon at the county hospital." She replied in a warm tone. I could tell she had a lot of respect for her mom.

"What does your dad do?" I asked. I was truthfully interested. It wasn't everyday I could have a normal conversation with someone.

"He is like an interior designer and renovates old houses," she still spoke with that respectful tone.

The bell rang and Edythe and I both got up to leave. Edythe looked up at me, she was smiling with her dimples on full display.

"It was nice working with you today," I said , smiling too. This girl did something to me. Something I didn't understand yet.

"Yes it was, I enjoyed our conversation as well," she said, sounding cheerful.

"It was fun. We should do it again." I was hopeful. I did really enjoy talking to her. I wondered if I might be able to ask her to get coffee with me.

"Well I have to get to class. I'll see you tomorrow ," she smiled really big and started to turn to walk off.

"Bye," I said, sounding a little disappointed. As she turned to go around the corner she waved two fingers at me and smiled.