Chapter 3
Forks High School's Cafeteria - Bella Swan's POV
Jessica and I finally left from the cafeteria's line; we took our food trays. Jessica hasn't shut up for moment and asked multiple questions, mostly about Dez. I only given her vague answers, I felt extremely uncomfortable the way she talked about him.
I spotted Angela sitting in one of the tables in the middle of the room. To my disappointment, she wasn't alone. Eric and Tyler were also sitting there, along with Mike and two other people who've never seen or met. Of course, I can't judge Mike and the other two people, so I need to be patience. I picked up my haste, while Jessica followed me like a lost puppy with the continuation of questions. Angela happily smiled at me and patted the empty chair next her, I kindly obliged. Jessica sat right across the table near Mike.
"Hi Bella, it's good to have you here." Angela warmly greeted.
"Yeah, we couldn't pass the opportunity so thank you for inviting us." I honestly said. Angela frowned and looked around the cafeteria.
"Where's Desmond?" She asked.
I felt an ache of pain in my stomach. My mind still boggled over leaving him alone. 'What if something did happen to him and I wasn't there for him?'
"Oh, he went to the restroom, something about taking his medication." Jessica informed; Angela looked at me with worried eyes.
"He said he'll be here. I told him if I don't see him within ten minutes, I'll go and check on him." I sincerely spoke. Hopping that will ease Angela's worried look, even though I am also on edge.
Eric scoffed. "So, the new guy is a freak and sick! Pathetic." He mumbled.
I slightly bare my teeth and deepened my frown. I've never met anyone to have so much loath in them to a stranger they barely met. Obviously, this is out of jealousy he has against Dez. Soon, I've felt my senses on my left as I have a pair of eyes on me. I looked over at Angela, who gave me knowing look with a half-smile.
'Does she seemed to know?' I thought.
"Dude! Word is spreading that this new guy tamed Mr. Varner, isn't that right Jessica?" Mike asked.
"Wait! What? is that true?!" The cornsilk hair girl with green eyes, asked in disbelief. Jessica beamed with excitement.
"Yes! I was there and so was Bella." Jessica spoke and I nodded to confirm it.
"He just spoke to him with a few words-"
"A few words?!" Jessica asked in disbelief. "No! He did more than just a few words-"
"While I'm glad you all want to hear the story, there's one crucial factor we are missing here in this table..." Angela interjects then warmly smiles at me.
"Bella, these are my friends. You've already met Jessica and Eric. But here we have our Forks High School basketball star, Mike Newton."
"Pleasure to meet you, Bella." Mike extends his hand, and I shook it.
"This is Tyler Crowley."
"Hey girl!" Tyler smirks at me with lust in his eyes, but I frowned at him. I haven't forgotten what he did back at Government.
"We have Lauren Mallory."
"Sup!" Lauren gave me a peace hand sign and I returned the gesture.
"Lastly, we have Ben Cheney." The last kid was small who wore glasses, it's evidence that he from Asian descent. He didn't seem to notice when Angela called him, he's eyes focus something on his lap.
"..."
"Ben!" Angela softly chided.
Ben slightly startled and looked around his surroundings, I can clearly see he had a comic book procession in his hands.
"W-What! W... What happened?" Ben stuttered asked.
"Dude! Welcome to the real world. Angela is introducing everyone to Bella, including you." Lauren said, gently elbowed him.
"Oh... Hello." Ben flatly said. He looked at the comic and continued to read. Angela slowly nodded her head in disapproval.
"Don't mind him, I promise he's very nice." Angela reassures me.
"It's okay, I can understand the deep dive of the imagination while reading." I said sincerely.
"What's so imaginary if its comic book that's already drawn for the reader." Lauren said in stand-offish, she sat up from her chair. "Now, what happened to Mr. Varner, dare I asked?"
"Oh right!" Jessica begins. "Well Desmond Conolly, the perfect chivalry-"
"Oh great! Another perfect guy!" Eric bemoans. "The next thing I'm going to hear is that he so handsome and how he looks so perfect..."
"Eric, shut up! I wanna hear the story." Lauren scolds him.
"What? Look if he's so perfect than he is more than welcome to hang out with The Cullens." Eric said. 'The Cullens, who are they?'
"Eric!" Angela chided.
"Wait! Who are The Cullens?" I curiously asked. Lauren ran her hands over her head and groaned in annoyance.
"You see what you did, Eric." She accusingly pointed at him.
Angela cleared her throat. "Doctor and Mrs. Cullen's foster kids. The whole family moved down here from Alaska a few years ago. The Cullens are very private and keep it to themselves."
"Yeah! Cause they are like together... like together-together." Jessica adds in.
"What?" I raised an eyebrow.
"Sweety, what she meant is that they are fucking!" Lauren interjects, my face was placed with flabbergasted. 'Is that even legal, or they some kind of cult?'
"Mhm, that's exactly the look I had when I found out." Lauren said.
"Which brings my point to this guy... he's a freak." Eric said.
"Guys! Come on they are not blood related." Angela defended.
"Yeah, but they live under the same roof, Angela." Jessica argues.
"So how many kids are we talking about?" I asked Angela. She seemed the only one not to judge other people's lives or jump into conclusions, nor spreading misinformation. I appreciate she seemed more open and caring.
"They're five of them, three boys and two girls. Emmett, Alice, and Edward carry the Cullen surname. Rosalie and Jasper carry their surname, The Hales, they're twins. I believe the twins were the last ones to be adopted by Mrs. Cullen." Angela said thoughtfully.
"Speak of the freaks! Here they come..." Eric pointed out.
Everyone, including myself, stared at the direction he pointed which led to the doors outside the courtyard, two people came in first. I swear, I've never seen the most beautiful and sexy blonde girl fallowed by a tall, large weightlifter with curly hair and dimples. The blondie looks like she came straight out of a magazine model and that includes the big guy too. They truly resemble the powerhouse couple you wouldn't dare to deal with them. Which brings to my next question; 'Why do they look tense or more so pissed off?'
"Whoa, what the hell?" Mike mumbles.
"Yeah... this is new." Lauren agrees. The couple past by their tables in hastiness without heading to the lunch line.
"I guess someone stick an iron fist up on the Ice Queen's ass..." Jessica whispered with snarked.
"Jessica!" Angela chided.
In an Instant, the blondie immediately abruptly stopped and turned around, her hair glides gracefully, but her stare was nothing more than death. If looks could kill, then she has finally won the noble prize for the deathliest stare she gave to Jessica. Strange, her stare almost resembles like what Dez did to Mr. Varner.
Jessica's snarky face was immediately replaced by a horrified terror, the blondie slowly approached our table. The rest of us felt like we are being shrunk into our chairs by her full height of intimidation. Even Mike and Tyler, who have an athletic built didn't have the guts to say anything to this girl.
"I dare you to stand up and say directly to my face, Jessica!" The Blondie angrily hissed at her; Jessica's posture was frozen in place with fear.
"I'm so sorry, Rosalie, she didn't mean it. On behalf of this group, I apologized and meant no disrespect." Anegla interjects with peaceful kind tone.
"She has the confidence to have that sewer mouth open behind people's back, then she has the confidence to come out with a washed-up mouth open in front of them!" Blondie said it sharp. The big guy came up to her and put his arms around her.
"Babe, come on, not today." He whispered near her ear then gave Angela a reassuring smile.
"Sorry Angela, we had a rough morning, but we always appreciate your kindness." He said while he gently pulled her hostile lover away from us. The blondie hadn't taken her eyes off on Jessica for a while until they joined with three more people at a table near the windows.
'Wait! When did those three came in?' I thought.
"Are you okay?" Mike asked, he laid a gentle hand over Jessica's shoulder.
"Yeah..." She lowly mumbles. Angela rans her hand over her forehead and sighs in relief.
"That's Rosalie Hale and she's with that big guy, Emmett Cullen." Angela resumes. "When they arrived here a couple of years ago, everyone knew they were dating, but that didn't stop many guys trying to ask her out for a date. Rosalie gained the reputation of 'The Ice Queen' because she turned every single one of them in the most humiliating and coldest way out in public for everyone to see."
I'm not surprise, given the way she walks and talks so elegant equals beauty and power. I stared down at their table to study the three new arrivals. There was blonde guy sitting with a small girl with short dark pixie hair. Lastly, there was a tall lanky handsome boy with a tidy bronze hair. All of them have that same energy of tense.
"Now I'm not sure what to conclude about Emmett. He seems truly kind to be a gentle giant, but he can be very loud and jokester." Angela continues.
"The little dark hair girl, that's Alice Cullen, she with Jasper Hale, the blonde one who looks like he's in pain all the time." Angela said, she waved to one of them
"Yeah, be extremely careful with the little one, she's weird." Lauren said, Jessica nodded in agreement.
"Lauren, come on! She has her own way style how she dresses. I adore it, she doesn't follow with the flow like society." Angela comes in defense.
"Yeah, I'll give her that, but she still weirds how she dresses." Lauren says.
My eyes accidently made eye contact to one of them, the bronze hair boy, and he in returned frown at me. I looked away in fear in case I'll be the next victim of the death stare and the humiliation in public. I hesitantly took a glance at him once again he was now looking annoyed to The Ice Queen, Rosalie.
Angela sighs. "Lastly... We have Ed-"
Angela abruptly stopped and frowned her eyes at their table. Everyone in our table, turned our gazes to what Angela is seeing. Rosalie and Alice are glaring daggers at each other with showing their bare teeth in fury. Emmett and Jasper comforted their partners to prevent a fight. Soon, the two girls looked at each other before they nodded. Calmly sitting back down and stare thoughtful in a contemplating manner of their actions.
"Seriously! What's up with them? This has never happened before." Eric asked in bewilderment.
"I have no idea..." Angela spoke in disbelief.
"Anyway, as I was saying. We have Edward Cullen. Apparently, he's the only one who's not seeing anyone at this moment nor before he came in. A lot of girls asked him out, but he sweetly turned them down, quite opposite from his sister." Angela smiled widely at the bronze hair boy, Edward, and waved at him. Surprisingly, he returned the gesture.
'Does he have a problem with only me?' I thought.
I stared at their table for moment and study each of them. I cannot believe this people looks so elegant and attractive to their own way. Like they all came straight of a magazine and were accidently dropped off into a small, lonely town. I do notice that they all seemed pale with perfect smooth skin.
I studied Edward once again and this time he's staring at Angela; almost he is processing her. Soon, he smacked his fingers with a beaming smile. Leaning over to talk to his siblings and all of them began to smile.
'What. The. Fuck?'
Not too long ago, they all were tense and angry, ready to fight, and now they are smiling. This school and town are becoming to be strange; I mean how strange can it get?
I gaze over at Edward. He does seem handsome, and I feel terribly bad for every girl that he rejected. He looks almost looks like the Greek god Adonis. He's hair is some way is remarkably interesting and his skin is like marble.
However, I don't feel a magnet towards him. Perhaps, it's because my inquisitiveness must be the first person that I've met this morning, Desmond. I have never seen such a good-looking and likable boy in my life. He is personable and well-spoken. His eyes, blue as the ocean, I could be swimming peacefully by just staring into him all day. I haven't taken the liberty to get to know him better. Especially, when we both are being bombarded with these fine folks. I'll take my chances during our last period, Gym.
Speaking of Desmond, where is he? I looked around the cafeteria, no sign of him. I gazed at the clock and my eyes instantly widened, realizing it been past more than ten minutes.
'Dez! You son of a bitch, you promised me!' I mentally screamed, I was ready to get up until.
"Jacky!" A girl's squeal could be heard. It came from one of the Cullens, Rosalie. She was standing in full height with beaming smile on her face, looking across the room. The rest of the Cullens also seemed to smile apart from one, Edward. He seemed to be in shock, like someone did something horrible in front of him for the first time. I quickly glanced to the direction they were looking at, only to have my heart skipped a beat as I spotted the person they're staring at, Desmond. This is the first time I see his hair roam freely out from his hoodie, and I have to say, impossibly beautiful.
"What are they doing?" Eric's question interrupted my thoughts.
I didn't realize the rest of the group also witness the Cullen's change of behavior. Edward seemed to have a grip on Rosalie's arm who she scowls at him. He whispers something to her that I couldn't hear, but the Cullens looked upon at Desmond in question only to have consternation on their faces.
"Who's he?" Ben asked.
"That's Desmond." Angela answered.
"That's him!" Lauren asked in disbelief.
"Yeah..." Jessica answered incredulously, she gazes him in awe.
My heart pounded slightly as I gritted my teeth, staring coldly at Jessica. We all looked back and forth between The Cullens and Desmond, he also stared at them with question.
"Does Desmond know The Cullens?" Mike curiously asked.
"I... don't know." I answered.
"Are they afraid of him?" Lauren asked.
"Look at their faces! Of course, they look like they shit their pants!" Tyler chipped in.
"It's strange, I've never seen them in fear. They always carry so much confidence..." Angela's voice sounded dubious. Desmond finally walked towards the lunch line and The Cullens seemed to be whispering within each other in frantic state.
"Does anyone know where this guy came from?" Lauren asked.
"I don't think so..." Angela said.
"Look they're leaving!" Jessica squealed.
We looked at the group and to our surprise they are indeed leaving slightly panicky. The first one to leave was Jasper and Alice, followed by Edward but waited by the doors for Emmett and Rosalie. To my horror, Rosalie's face looked distressing with evidence of painful eyes staring at Desmond. I can see her lips moving, almost whispering towards him. The Rosalie that I saw earlier has complete vanished and now here she is all like a broken heart girl left alone. It wasn't long until Emmett gently dragged her out of the cafeteria, never leaving her eyes on Dez. Edward was the last one to leave the cafeteria before he pulled out his cell phone and aimed at Desmond.
'Did he just take a picture of him? Why?'
"What. The. Fuck?!" Lauren exclaimed.
"I know right!" Jessica face lit up like a Christmas tree.
"He scared The Cullens away, and he didn't do anything at all!" Lauren said.
Jessica looked incredibly pleased to see Rosalie for once to be put in her place. The thing is, Desmond, never engage a small talk with either of them. It seemed they do recognize him, but Dez didn't.
"Who is this guy?" Mike asked.
"I don't know, but I am gonna find out... I think I'm in love..." Jessica whispered.
'Good luck, idiot!'
"Oh! He's coming this way." Ben announced. Jessica quickly took out a heart shaped compact mirror as she fixes her hair behind her ear. She sits up gracefully and smiles widely, hoping Desmond would sit right next to her.
"If I were you Bella, don't even bother with The Cullens at all." Angela informs me.
"Actually..." I smiled widely at the now approaching Dez "...I'm not."
"I'm so sorry, Bella, I didn't pay attention to the time." Dez sincerely apologized.
"You're here, that's all that matters." I told him. He nodded in appreciation.
"Desmond, you can sit right next to me here!" Jessica excitedly patted the seat right next to her.
"Dez, you're more than welcome to take my seat, right next to Bella. I'll go and steal one of the empty chairs near the tables." Angela offered with a smile, she got up, but not before she looked at me and winked.
'Yup, she definitely knows.'
Jessica glares at Angela, a look of betrayal, which made me pleased to see.
"You're too kind, Angela, thank you!" Dez told her sincerely, Angela gave gleeful chuckle.
"What's up dude!" Lauren asked.
"Up your ass around the corner!" Dez told her with a smirk. I hope he was joking because Tyler and Eric glared at him. However, Lauren and Mike barked with laughter.
"Okay! I like this guy!" Lauren happily said. "I'm Lauren by the way. This is here is Mike, Tyler, and Ben. Your already met this two..." She pointed to Jessica and Eric.
"Nice to meet every one of you." Dez said, taking a bite from his pizza. Angela has returned with another chair and sat next to Dez.
"So, you know The Cullens before?" Ben asked.
"No, should I?" Dez asked.
"It's that group of popular kids that sit over that table near the window, you gazed at them not just long ago." Ben points his finger towards the now empty table where The Cullens sat.
Dez narrowed his eyes over Ben's shoulder to the table. "So those people who eyed me are The Cullens?"
"Yeah, and you simply scared them away." Mike added.
"I don't know them..." Dez shrugged. "... and how did I simply scare them if I have never met any of them before?"
"Well, they know you in some capacity..."
"Never mind about that, I want to know what you did to Mr. Varner?" Lauren asked eagerly.
Dez sighs. "Look the old fart was being a dick towards us, well mostly Bella, but I felt I needed to put him in his own place." He shrugs as he continues. "All I did was introduce myself to everyone and told them we will have a wonderful time, especially with the elephant in the room who can't get his head out of his ass."
Everyone had a different reaction, but overall, they were shocked. Lauren's eyes widened as her jaw dropped. Mike and Tyler had their eyebrows raised with their mouth slightly agape. Eric and Ben tilt their head and stared at him quizzically. And Angela gasped and cover her mouth as her eyes also widened.
"Oh. My. God! You told him that right in front of everyone?!" Lauren asked, he nodded.
"Dezy, you know he was being a jerk to me too, right?" Jessica asked, her voice sounded slightly hurtful.
'Dezy?! Are you fucking kidding me?' I looked over at Dez, he also had a grimace look on his face for that nickname.
"Jessica, I knew your version of the story was mostly about you, but still..." Angela said.
"Dude, you could have gotten sent to the principal's office, what happened then?" Lauren asked.
"But..."
"Shut it, puppy lover!" Lauren raised her finger at Jessica and smiles at Dez. "Sorry, Desmond, continue..."
"Well, like any ego centric asshole, he didn't take it kindly and demanded me to head to the principal's office, but not before he was going to yank my hoodie. Which I don't appreciated." Dez pointed out with an edge on his voice, he sighs. "I grabbed his wrist firmly and he yelped in pain, demanding me to let him go. I just told him he needs to be humble, and I won't be going to the principal's office, he obliged. That's it."
Dez waited for their response as they seemed fazed by his insanity. Mike, Tyler, Eric, Ben, Lauren, and Angela looked at me for moment, I nodded them to confirm the truth. Hopefully, this will die down in the next couple of days
"Do you have like... telekinesis?" Ben curiously asked.
"I don't think so..." Dez flatly answered.
"Dude! Who are you?!"
"Well-"
"Where are you from?!"
"I... I'm from-"
"Can I have your number, Dezy?"
"Wha-"
"You are freak like The Cullens." Eric said.
"Guys!" Angela chided them. "Give him a break, will you! If you want him to answer your questions, it's his choice."
"Thank you, Angela!" Dez then looked at the rest. "And no, I already feel anxious throughout this morning." Mike, Ben, and Lauren smiled and nodded in understanding as they finally ceased to interrogate Dez any further. Tyler just shrugged it off in 'whatever dude' manner. Eric on the other hand, continued to stare Desmond with daggers looks into his eyes, almost as if his studying him.
"My man! You and Bella more welcome to stop by at my dad's store, Newton Olympic Outfitters. First purchases will be a discount is on me." Tyler smacked Mike's arm.
"What the fuck, bro?! You didn't give me a discount when we met." Tyler said annoyable, Mike just shrugged.
"What? Dez finally got Mr. Varner's thumb out of his ass, and I respected that." Mike explained, Lauren nodded in agreement.
"Although..." Dez cleared his throat. "I am curious about that group, The Cullens, who are they?"
"Ugh! I'm going to get something from the salad bar, anyone want to join?" Lauren asked as she got up. Ben, Tyler and Eric followed her, leaving only the four of us.
"Well... The Cullens are-" Angela was kindly to go over and explain everything from what I have learned about The Cullens; I'm beginning to like her. She seems so kind, patience, and gentle. Almost like a big sister in the group. Mike seems like a good kid for now and even offered us a discount, might have to check out this store. Ben seems in his own world of comic books, which I can respect. Lauren can be stand-offish but seems to be coming as the cool girl in the group. Lastly, we have the worst three in the group. Jessica is a blind moron who thinks I can't see the false friendliness towards me just to get close with Dez. Tyler who is confidently cocky and has a disgusting lustful eye on me, gross. And we have Eric, the guy who failed miserably to impress me in the most cliche way and hold an animosity towards Dez.
I gazed to the empty table that The Cullens once sat. They are so mysterious, and it almost seemed they knew Dez. I heard a name, and it surprisingly sounded like Rosalie's voice, but in a chipper tone. What was the name? Jacky? It's got to be short for Jack or Jackson, but why? Where did they run off to?
-15 Minutes Earlier-
Elk Creek River - Edward Cullen's POV
We sat quietly near the river, out in the opened where no human could hike or camp. My siblings and I have been trying to contemplate our minds of what we have learned earlier ago. Each one of them trying to register into their own way.
Rosalie sat on a large boulder over looking at the river flow while hugging both of her knees. If vampires were able to cry, then Rosalie would have been sobering by now. Emmett sat next to her; his arm rested over her shoulder for comforting her while he used his other hand to throw stones into the river. Jasper and Alice sat on wooden log not too far from Rosalie and Emmett. Jasper is also comforting Alice while she covered her hand over her face and was deeply thinking.
'My little Jacky! What happened to you?!' - Rosalie
'I hate seeing Rose, this way. I must keep this group together.' - Emmett
'Does he still have the venom within him, if so, can this new persona deal with it?' - Jasper
'This isn't right! I can't see anything else about Jack, do the humans know of our existence? How will the Volturi take this if they found out? Ugh!' - Alice
I've at once sent the message to Carlisle and Esme after we left the cafeteria. Thankfully, they did agree but Esme bombarded me with more questions. I told her that we would inform her and Carlisle once they arrived, I didn't want to give them any false hope or at least indicating we have Jackson with us. I also withhold the photo that I have taken of Jackson, just to show her proof of what we saw and why we left him.
"What happened?! Did you find him?! Was he there?!" Esme and Carlisle finally appeared. Her voice sounded frantic with worry. We all stood up and slowly approached them. We glanced at each other with distress, waiting to see which one of us would be breaking the news.
"Where is he? Is he-" Esme looked around the area for a moment. "Jackson! Sweetheart, please come out. I'm not angry at you, honey, I just want to see you!"
I grimaced as I closed my eyes. My heart ached in pain as I was not prepared to see her heart to be shattered. She has already lost her own child once, and now she would have to go through with it again, in a different circumstance.
"Esme..." Rosalie began. "He's not here... with us."
"Then where is your brother? What's going on? What are you not telling us?" Carlise finally asked, his voice was a bit on edge. I can read his thoughts and I don't blame him. Carlisle also does want to see his mate to go through years of torment of losing another child.
Rosalie sighs. "Edward, show them."
I quickly ducked into my pockets and grabbed my phone. Unlocking the screen; opened my photo gallery and pulled the photo of my little brother to show it to Esme. She quickly used her speed to grab my phone to observe the photo closely. Carlisle soon appeared behind her as he laid his hands on top of her shoulders. They both smiled widely.
"Oh! My baby!" Esme said gleefully. She slowly ran her fingers down on the screen of my phone. Almost like she wants to reach out to him. However, soon both their smiles faded, and their eyebrows frowned in confusion.
"Wait..." Esme slowly looked at us. "Why are his eyes blue? He originally had blue eyes before he-"
"Ma..." Jasper whispery interjected. "Jackson is not the same person as he was before."
Carlisle and Esme deepened their frown as they looked beyond bewildered. I knew this was going to be difficult to break the news, but it is best to get on with it and see what we decide. The only thing that I am concerned is Esme, her behavior is almost loosed as she can be unpredictable.
"What do you mean?" Carlisle asked.
"He's trying to say he didn't even recognize us-"
"He completely ignores my calling to him-"
"Carlisle, he is officially in-vamp-"
Of Course, every one of my siblings had to speak at same time as we are still young adults. I am aware we have lived more than a hundred years, but once we turned, our age and mind have frozen at that moment. We may never age but we sometimes never mature because our minds are still young. Carlisle pinches the bridge of his and sighs in frustration. He raises his hand to silence everyone.
"Tell me exactly what happened?" He looks up. "Slowly..."
"We waited by our table like I had my vision. When he finally showed up and spotted it us, he didn't recognize us. He stared at us like-" Alice stops to gather for moment, her bottoms lips trembles. "...we were nobody to him."
"He didn't even approach us, he just walked away without looking back at us. I even called- No! I whispered out his name, hoping he would hear me, but he didn't..." Rosalie breath hitched in pain, she hugged herself while Emmett comforted her.
Carlisle shook his in disbelief. "Edward... Were you able to read him?"
I release long sigh. "Everything happened so fast. All I read was that he didn't know any of us, and that he questioned himself if we knew him. Something about an accident that happened to him. Perhaps, that's why he even doubted himself. That's all."
"No!" Esme shrieked "You mean like he has amnesia?!"
"Possibly-"
"Edward! You know well that we can still survive from our limbs being taken apart as long we don't burn on to the fire. Especially a head injury, we heal due to the venom." Carlisle carefully explained.
"Yeah... well the thing is, Carlisle, we also discovered something shocking about Jack." Emmett began. Carlisle and Esme waited patiently, and I didn't need to read their minds to see they are tensing up.
"Jackson is alive." Emmett flatly said, Carlisle and Esme were dismayed by this information.
"P-Pardon?"
"Jack has a heartbeat. He is no longer a vampire, Carlisle!" Alice chimed in.
"That explains why he's eyes have returned blue. Look at the photo! He's skin also shows warm, not pale like us." Jasper pointed at the picture of phone, which Esme still possessed. Both gaze at the photo once again, but this time they examine it closely. Their eyes slowly widened at the realization. Esme slowly turns to Carlisle, a horrified look on her face.
"C-Carlisle-"
"That's not possible! Over my three hundred years of life, there has never been a single vampire to be returning to its original human life!" Carlisle slowly shook his head. His eyes were widened in alarmed as he stared off into space.
"What do we do, Carlisle?" Emmett asked.
"Give me a minute..." He whispered. Carlisle walked away a few feet and stood there, pondering what to do next.
'This is indeed terrible news. If the humans have found a way of our existing and Jackson was possibly their main subject test to turn him back as a human. Then the entire vampire world is in grave danger. Aro will put the blame and responsibility on me, my entire family. The Volturi will order our execution and plenty of witnesses will be there. How did the humans found a way to turn a vampire into a human once more? What did they do to my son?' - Carlisle
"I know what I am going to do! I am going back to that school and drag him out of there if I have too. I will be bringing our son, your brother, back to our family!"
Esme briskly ran towards the direction of the school. I hurriedly ran up in front of her and place both of my hands on to her shoulders, firmly gripped her to a halt.
"Edward! Get out my way!" She spat angrily.
"Mother, no!" I shouted at her, hopefully to wake her up before she does anything absurd. Carlisle soon appeared beside me followed by the others.
"He's right my love." He grasped her face tenderly. "If you go in there and drag him out. You will be rising a lot of attention. The school will call the authorities and we will be hunted down. We do not want that attention."
"Then we will move, just like we always have!" Esme argued.
"I believe it's best that we continue to proceed with caution..." I interjected. Everyone looked at me quizzically.
"What do you mean by that, Edward?" Jasper asked.
"What I mean is that we get to know this, Desmond, and befriend him-"
"What?! You want to forget about Jacky!" Rosalie accused me with hatred in her eyes.
"No! What I'm saying Jackson and Desmond both have the same consciousness in their minds." I explained and pointed at Alice. "Alice, you've foreseen Jackson stuck in darkness, like he's pain, right?"
Alice slowly nodded. "We didn't see any of those things or he has shown any signs. I know deep into my gut Jackson is still in there, trying to escape. We get to befriend him first and then leave small key pieces or notes that can hopefully break him out into the light, it's the only way to get him back without drawing the authorities or someone worse..." I said, hopefully I made it clear to everyone to what I'm suggesting.
My brothers and sisters looked at each other for a few moments before they nodded in agreement. Carlisle and Esme gazed each other and understood my plan before they looked at me and nodded.
"Your right, Edward, this is the best solution we can get him back without the eyes of The Volturi. We can investigate further where he lives or who he lives with..." Esme growled at the thought who has her son in possession.
"Go back to school everyone, now!" Carlisle commanded; without any hesitation we sped off to school. By now we missed lunch, so I have Biology next period. Hopefully, I can catch Jackson and introduce myself to him.
-Present-
I arrived just a little earlier than before the rest of the students. I had no luck finding him while walking through the hallways. He wasn't even in the cafeteria anymore; did he leave early? Hoping the rest of my sibling were able to find him elsewhere and introduce themselves to him.
Anyway, I sat in my usual desk near far end of the window. I only took out my notebook and pen from my personal vehicle who I lend it to Alice and Jasper this morning. Angela and Mike finally came into class and greeted to Mr. Molina as usual. Angela happily waved at me, and I waved at her with a smile. Mike on the other hand, I refused to greet him. Knowing everybody see him as 'the good kid' in the Newton family. Mike's mind is more perverted than Tyler. He has a sickening way of scheming his plans in order to get girls with him, it's sickening.
I leaned back to my chair as I closed my eyes and release a deep sigh. High School, or what I like to call purgatory. It is so colorless, always taking the same classes, same lecture every year. It is so repetitive and unnecessary to do this. I know my siblings enjoy it as they feel they will forever be young and want to experience the normal way of life while being a vampire.
"Ms. Swan, welcome to my class." Mr. Molina said.
I snapped my eyes opened and was in shock to find Isabella Swan taking the same class as I do. She looked almost stunned to see me here, I wonder if she finds me attracted? Could that be it? Is that why my siblings find me annoying when I'm moody? Am I missing a mate of my own? Alice said she is connected to me; I still don't see why-
GRRR...
My breath hitched as I took a swift of her scent. Her blood! It's calling to me, no, it's calling to the beast. I have tamed the monster so many years ago. I had to sustain my nose and mouth using my hand in order from continuing to obtain more of her scent. I closed my eyes and did everything in my strength to not lunge on to her. My other hand gripped hard on the edge of the table.
"Alright, Ms. Swan, please find an empty seat and we'll get started soon." Mr. Molina's voice told her. I could hear her footsteps approaching to me, before pulling the chair right next to me?!
'No! You frail woman-child!' I mentally screamed.
I slowly opened my eyes and to my horrifying realization she is right next to me. My singer is sitting with me. She looks almost bewildered while she sniffed her hair. My baked and desiccated mouth is so thirsty, but there's a room full of witness; collateral damage. The beast is desperately clawing out of his cage, but I cannot control it anymore. I would have to take down the girl first, but then her blood would get cold while I take down the rest of them. Afterall, the cold food is gross.
In the corner of my eye, I could see Angela giving me with a concern look. Her beautiful soft eyes gaze with distress. No! Angela is among one of the few students who I deeply fond of her. She has so much potential and opportunity for life. Killing her along with everyone in this class would be another bucket list to haunt me for the rest of eternity. Once again, Bella shakes her hair and sniffs it.
'Why are you shaking your hair at me? You encourage the monster! You taunt him! All. Will. Be. Los-'
"Well, hello! You must be Mr. Conolly?"
I instantly broke gaze from Bella and stared shockingly at the one person who I've been looking for, Jackson, my little brother. Standing in full height with a sheepish smile while waiting for Mr. Molina finishing signing his syllabus. The beast within me has finally cease its hunger and stayed within the cage. Jackson may have possibly saved me from committing a massacre in this room. It was to the point I would have been planning who to kill first before I get to her.
"I'm sorry if I'm late." Jackson told Mr. Molina sincerely.
"No worries, first time for everyone right?" Mr. Molina smiled at him, before picking up a chair and bringing over to my table. "I'm sorry, Edward and Bella, would you mind if Desmond would join you as a third partner for the rest of the semester?" He asked.
"No fair!" Mike whine in the back, while Angela lightly smacked him in the arm.
"I'm perfectly fine with it." The Singer, Bella, has finally spoke up.
I didn't even bother looking at her. Our main priority is bringing my bother back into his old self. However, just by looking at him right in front of me. He looks so human, not even a hint of his vampire key features on him. His skin is smooth but looks warm. Strange, his eyes are truly blue like before he became one of us, no significant of evidence of using contact lenses. I must hear his heart, there must be at least something...
THUMP-BUMP... THUMP-BUMP...
THUMP-BUMP... THUMP-BUMP...
Its heart rhythm sounds almost healthy, but there's a delay with his chambers. I wonder if Carlisle will find a way to examine Jackson, without him raising suspicious of us. The last thing we need is for him to panic and leave. To him not realizing that the only thing we want is to help him and bring him home. I hope the rest of my family will be able to keep calm and cautiously approached this without haste, especially Esme and Rosalie.
"Edward?!" Mr. Molina's voice interrupted my thoughts. I blinked and gaze at him. Him, Jackson, and Bella stared at with puzzlement.
"Y-Yes, Mr. Molina?" I asked.
"Is it okay for Desmond to join you as your lab partner?" He asked.
"Of course." I looked at Jackson, his sheepish smile never left him. "Please, have a seat."
Jackson nodded and sat right in front of me and Bella. I can't genuinely believe that he is here, in front of me. After twenty years, I deeply missed him. I had to resist the urge to lunge at him, hugging him and tell him that everything will be all right.
"We're you able to get a water bottle?" Bella asked him.
"Yeah, sorry I couldn't catch up with you... Damn, busted machine!" Jackson replied with a smile. Do this two know each other? Have they become friends on their first day of school? If so, this will be very problematic for me.
THUMP-BUMP-BUMP... THUMP-BUMP-BUMP...
'What was that?!' My eyes land on to his shirt where he is holding on to his chest. Jackson coughed and slightly expressed pain. He cleared his throat twice as he swiftly took out a water bottle and drank it. I could hear his blood incredibly rushing through his veins upon his throat. Then that is where I distinctly audibly heard it where no human can hear; Grrr...
'His Hunger!'
"Are you okay, Dez?" Bella asked him in concerned tone.
Jackson cleared his throat. "Yeah... It'll go away."
"Do you need to take your medication?" Bella asked.
"No, it's every four hours. So, the next ones should be after school." Jackson explained. Soon, he was right. His heart returned to healthy rhythm beat and blood returned to a normal pressure.
'Pills? Every four hours?' I knew my brother is still in there. I just need to find out what this medication he is taking and who gave it to him. Was it after the supposed accident? Carlisle needs to perform a full examination in Jackson, but how?
'So, this must be Edward Cullen. Honestly, the way the everyone described them made me feel sympathy for the family. I don't relish when people outcast others due to not engaging within others in the community of this town. Perhaps they like to keep it private within their lifestyle. I genuinely want to get to know them if they allow me.' - Jackson
I looked at him astonished. He kindly smiles at me, it really felt good to see him again. Of course, he has always been welcome to our family.
"Hi, I'm Desmond Conolly." Jackson stoked out his hand. I hesitantly reached out...
"E-Edward Cullen." The moment our hands grasped. We both instantly felt our difference of temperature. However, it also felt a familiar connection between the two of us. A connection that you would bond without blood, a brotherly bond. He and I slightly gasped and gazed upon each other with our eyebrows raised in surprised.
"Your warm..."
"Your cold..."
"So... it begins."
-Edward Cullen