Chapter 6 Getting distracted.
Leah
The news of nuptial became talk of the Rez and Forks. While that was to be expected what irked me were the whispers behind my back people thought I couldn't hear.
"Had her sweetheart stolen from her by her cousin."
"That chick scared guys in high school.
I'd die if my ex married one of my family member.
"Maybe if she smiled more maybe she wouldn't be single."
"Lez-be honest, a girl that bitchy looking ain't looking for a Mr.Right. That's probably why she and Sam can work together along with those other guys calling themselves protectors."
The one bit of gossip that cut deeper than others was this.
"Think she'll be showing when she walks down the aisle?"
I would've been upset by all of this, well luckily the advance applied mathematical sciences correspondence courses kept me really busy, so I didn't get to dwell on what people said – much.
At 1st I scoffed at reports that this course was hard as hell with a high amount of students flunking or quieting it, thinking all I gotta do is work like crazy and I got it in the bag.
I mean as most former high school and college students would agree that if they'd showed more discipline and actually worked their butts off, they would've done a whole lot better.
I was gonna be one the exceptional ones that'll pass and in the beginning it was smooth sailing as I threw myself into my studies.
My days filled with studying, work, going to those leeches with Seth, patrol…and planning the wedding.
Emily knew how I was studying hard and didn't want my bridesmaid duties affecting my studies.
I told her I could handle this and my studies will be fine unfortunately this course as time went on I was starting to see why this course kicked so much ass.
The few fellow students on the course became even fewer as the course got harder more either transferred to easier courses or straight up just dropped out as they started to fail.
I would've done the same but depending on how you see it was either my determined persistence or dumb stubborness but I didn't change subjects when I had the chance and now I'm faced with flunking my course and losing all the money I paid or I get my money's worth by pulling off some miracle and pass this course.
It came as relief when I had an excuse to take a study break at Cullen's house where my Lil bro was getting tutored by those bloodsuckers.
Seth was going through his work with the carrot top leech when he must've picked up a thought.
"Well it's good to public schooling is raising the bar but isn't this a bit too much?"
Err it's actually Leah's…
At the mention of my name I looked at Seth with an annoyance I saw the concerned look on his face.
That look all those years ago when we were kids I had a ton of chores for barbaque get together hosted at my home, Seth decided to help me by washing the dishes.
While that was sweet the thing with kids is, the greater enthusiasm to do chores is the lesser the competence.
Showing more intelligence than expected from a 3 year old Seth pulled a chair to the kitchen sink, poured a ridiculous of dish washing liquid, opened the taps determined to wash the dishes until he heard "–Who lives in a pinapple under the sea?–" and faster than you could shout SpongeBob SquarePants, poof went his intentions of washing the dishes along with him as he sat in front the TV for the next 25 or so minutes without closing the taps!
So when mom slipped on the flooded kitchen. She screeched out our names in what would best be likened to a banshee's war-cry we came running!
When arrived we my dad and me let outa gasp as our kitchen except my little brother whose eyes bugged out as the colour drained from his face.
After the 3rd degree from Mom, Seth looked as cheerful as Winnie the Pooh's friend Piglet in baken factory slaughter house, unable to avoid looking at mom's death scowl he fessed up: "I wuss trying to help Lee-Ah!–" he said with tears welling in his eyes snot running down his nose–"I'm… I'm sowwie!"
For a brief moment I saw mom's eyes light and the corner of her mouth struggling not to burst into a smile but managed to retain her angry mask but I could practically hear Mom go aww!
After our parents scolded us, me for not keeping any eye on him, Seth for messing the kitchen I had to clean up with Seth's help.
The little turp "helped" which is to say I mopped up while he held the bucket and emptied it, all the while he kept on apologizing with those puppy dog eyes.
Those same eyes he was now looking at me with.
It was bad enough there was a huge chance I'd flunk the course but getting help from blood suckers but a whole new low level. Then I remembered life sucks and then you die and my life's already a shitstorm so what could it hurt?
Remembering those papers as best I could they made easier to figure out, there that mind reader would make notes from my memory.
The blonde leech gave me various Mathes formulae even her jock mate wasn't a clueless meathead but gosh Esme was annoyingly eager to help. When that thought crossed my mind Edward flashed a scowl at me which I mentally replied with some choice words for him minds his fucking business.
Begrudgingly Edward wrote down note from what he gleamed of my memories as the other vampires were busy helping me and Seth out. When it was time we left figured it was shifted I flew off eager to do my assignments as everything I struggled with seemed to make more sense.
This gave me euphoric buzz that made me feel I could do anything, I wasn't sure how long it'll last so figured I might ride this high while it lasted and get work done.
In no time me and a winded Seth reached home, we changed into our human forms, opening the door I was greeted by mom hugging me and the scents dinner and a human one.
"Hey guys! You're just in time for dinner, I was helping mom set the table." Charlie Swan said.
Ever since Bella's wedding and divorce Charlie Swan had hanging out with my mom, Jacob's dad but mostly mom, with mom, Seth and I either going to his house or him coming over to ours.
"Yeah about that. I've got work to do so I won't be able to join you."
"C'mon Leah, it won't be long." my mom pleaded
"It's fine Sue, you wouldn't want her grades to slip, we can do some other time." When Charlie said that mom's mood dampened a bit but she relented.
I ran up stairs to my room, I got to work.
The my pen glided over sections that frustrated me and the ones gave that me the most trouble I referred to the study notes those vamps gave me, which as loathsome to admit they really helped. I got a lot more work done than I expected.
As my buzz wore the time I lost track off caught up with me as began to tire. With my work done for now I didn't have anything to do, all I had was that dreaded nothing.
As busy as I kept myself I could only do so much.
I was either going to burn myself out or I'd have to deal with those hated twilight moments when I'm lying in bed at night trying to sleep, all those feelings I kept at bay came flooding back with vengeance and I was too tired to distract myself.
Edward
When they say things can't get worse they usually do. After that day Seth's sister came over, Seth told us about the pack's meeting and the resolution taken, that came as a blow, sure you could say having Seth come over less is better than not experiencing his brightness at all but dealing with Leah was a nightmare.
After we began tutoring Leah we got to see Seth more often but Leah's presence and thoughts eclipsed whatever pleasure Seth's limited visits brought.
It wasn't Leah's hostility and suspicion that weren't the only problem it was also the agony of Sam's and Emily's engagement. Try as she might to be nonchalant about it featured at the back of her mind.
Feeling Leah's anguish, brought back feelings of my own broken heart.
Funny how with my power I never suspected I'd be cheated on and divorced yet here I am.
I thought push a shopping trolley as I was picking groceries that we didn't need was for 2 reasons. I did to put to rest my family's concerns I wasn't getting crushed by my melancholy another was to force myself from becoming agoraphobic. Doing that meant being in public while a change of scencary would be as good as holiday.
In the grocery store the air was charged the excitement of upcoming Easter holidays people stocking up either to host visitors or take a trip, which meant a larger than normal crowd.
Walking down the aisles I made sure to pick those hot dogs and Doritos Seth's wild about, it was always a pleasure to see the delight on his face whenever we treated with some delicious food and snacks pity I couldn't say the same about Leah!
Having finished I was standing in line to pay for groceries felt like I was in my own personal circle of hell going nowhere slowly in a gauntlet as I'd be stuck in a chaotic cacophony of thoughts.
Standing there I couldn't hide and those who recognised me would momentarily stare at me.
The curse of my extraordinary enhanced hearing I could hear their whispered gossip. The situation with Bella, me and Alice was the sensational talk of the town, even now.
The whispers weren't the worst at least I could tune them out it was their thoughts I couldn't block out.
They ranged from speculation, scandalous amusement at the situation, to jealousy fuelled satisfaction at my failures but they all had one thing in common I was trying to get out mind... Bella.
As I finally reached the checkout then there a girl. I vaguely remember from high school who's now a senior at Forks high.
"That'll be 311 dollars and 67 cents." She said as she tallied the total.
Handing her the cash she got distracted counting the money by her lustful predatory fantasies of me and her.
She struggled to focus on calculating my change as her lust addled mind kept thinking of ways she could replace Bella and to find the change.
Trying to get away I said "Look if you're out change I'll just let you keep the change."
She was stunned enough to stop her lustful daydreaming as it was little chunk of cash.
"It's fine." I said flashing a glamorous vampire smile that mesmerized humans it got her blood creeping over her cheeks making her blush she relented.
Taking for my things I headed out the store to my car when I got a whiff of a scent that was a feint whisper of the most alluring blood I've ever known but exponentially paled in comparison to it's temptation.
"Umm – hi. Fancy bumping into you here Edward. How you holding up these days?" My ex-father in-law awkwardly greeted.
"Hello Mr. Charlie Swan I've been doing fine." I said in neutral voice.
Look err… I was wondering if you or your family heard anything from Bella or –" he hesitantly added "–Alice.
"I heard from Rene they visited her and she had the impression they might be heading here." He cautiously said to me.
"This is news to me!" I said trying be nonchalant, as I experienced relief, resentment equal measure.
"If Bella or Alice ever contact you or the rest of the Cullens please tell them to Bella, I need to speak to her." He said the last part with some desperation.
I promise you I'll do it." I solemnly told him.
"Oh one more thing, Edward hang in there, time heals all wounds." He said remembering his own experience with divorce.
He was wary of me when I 1st began a relationship with Bella but then disapproved of me when she was fleeing from James and then it got worse when she sank into a deep depression after getting lost in the forest when me and my family left Forks and then when she absconded to Italy to save me, of course add to that he preferred Jacob be with Bella and I was never his favourite.
When I was engaged to Bella he politely but begrudgingly tolerated me now the pity he looks at me makes long for the days he begrudgingly tolerated me. Now he looked at me with sympathy if not pity maybe it was a sense of déjà vu of when his marriage disintegrated he looked at with pity that Bella was following his ex- wife's foot steps. Getting in the car alone it seemed no matter what I did I could never escape thoughts of Bella. Driving back home I recalled all the thoughts I encountered envy, schadenfreude and even the cashier's lust I could handle but the pity was the worst.
I hated how pathetic I looked, each time they thought of me the pity they had was just nauseating.
The drive back home was mercifully silent but too short reaching home I hauled my purchases into the house family was at the dinning room table our defacto meeting place for serious discussions.
Something about about the palpable thick tension and their tenor of their muddled thoughts put me on edge, even Emmett lost his characteristic levity in the face of serious situations.
"What's going on?" I asked no one in particular.
Carlisle walked up to me he extended his hand heavy to give the source of everyone's anxiety.
In it was an ornately decorated bejewelled box it's insignificant weight at odds with its colossal importance. I opened the box, inside was a pendant diamond necklace surround by a dozen tiny gemstones. Elaborately gold woven cords coiled into a rope. Further above was a small rolled parchment note tied with a red ribbon.
My family eyed me nervously their minds wanting me to read the note, untying the ribbon the note read:
"Congratulations on the wedding and felicitations in your marriage. I eagerly look forward to seeing the new Mrs. Cullen in the flesh." Aro.