AN: Hello! Thank you for the new follows and favorites on the last chapter, you are awesome!


Chapter 13: Normalcy

BPOV

The kitchen was stiflingly quiet on Monday morning. My knife cut through the toast with deliberate precision as I glanced at Charlie, his forehead creased with unease.

"Any plans for today, Dad?" I attempted nonchalance, hoping for a shred of normalcy in our conversation. This was made even more challenging by the constant flashbacks from the previous night that kept coming back to the front of my mind.

He folded the newspaper, eyes fixed on me, still struggling to process the events of the past week. "Not much, might catch a game later. I just need to stop by the station for a few hours this afternoon too. Some hikers went missing again last night." He frowned thoughtfully.

I nodded, searching for words that wouldn't make things more awkward. "Okay, Dad. I've got a few assignments due soon. Maybe I'll work on those."

Charlie sighed heavily, grappling with the weight of the revelations. "Bells, I wanted to… hmm, about… the other night—" he started, preventing my escape.

"It's okay, Dad," I interrupted softly, trying to ease his burden. "I know, it's a lot."

He leaned back, rubbing his face, a mix of confusion and worry etched in his expression. "Werewolves and vampires, Bella. It's hard to wrap my head around all this."

"I understand." I offered a sympathetic smile. "It was overwhelming for me too, at first."

His gaze avoided mine, darting around the room. "Sue's been asking about you. She's concerned."

My heart warmed at the mention of Sue Clearwater's concern, thankful for her efforts. "I'll call her soon, Dad. Maybe invite her over for dinner?"

Charlie nodded, saying it'd be nice while fiddling with the newspaper. "She's… supportive. It's weird, you know, all of this."

"I know, Dad." My voice softened with understanding. "But you're handling it better than you think."

Silence settled between us, laden with unspoken thoughts and emotions. We'd never been really good at expressing our emotions. I cleared my plate, feeling the need to retreat. "I better get going. I'll see you later, okay?"

Charlie nodded, a touch of sadness in his eyes. "Yeah, Bells. See you later."

As I retreated to my room, I yearned for the easy connection we once shared. But the revelation had created an unbridgeable divide, and despite our efforts, we struggled to navigate the altered landscape of our relationship.

The high school corridors felt oddly familiar yet distant when I walked in later that morning, as if I was observing life through a different lens. I could see the normalcy, the routine that everyone seemed to thrive in, but it felt alien to me now. After an intense week, where every moment was filled with the extraordinary, coming back to this semblance of normalcy was unsettling. Marcus had dropped me off early at my request. I wanted to avoid unnecessary attention as much as possible. God knew how much I usually gathered.

Lessons went smoothly, in a quiet hustle as the teachers very much rushed us towards the finish line with our last assignments and exams approaching. It was easy to get back into the business of learning and before I knew it, the midday bell went off.

At lunch, I sat with Jessica and Angela, their chatter a welcome distraction as I did not feel like talking much. I looked around briefly, noting with relief that Alice had yet to make an appearance, which would have reignited the rumor mill for sure. Jessica, ever the extrovert, was animatedly discussing prom plans, while Angela listened attentively, interjecting with thoughtful comments. I found myself smiling at their antics.

"So, Bella, have you thought about prom?" Jessica asked, eyes gleaming with excitement.

I paused, trying to shift gears from the surreal world of vampires to the impending high school dance. "Uh, not really. I've been caught up with some things." I tried to come up with an excuse so that I could skip the dance altogether.

"Come on, Bella! It's our last prom in high school. We've got to make it memorable!" Jessica grinned, nudging my shoulder.

"Yeah, Bella, you've been super quiet today. Everything okay?" Angela's concerned tone pulled me back from the abyss of my thoughts.

"Oh, yeah. Just some family stuff," I replied, not wanting to delve into the intricacies of the supernatural complexities. " I'm good, really, Ang," I said, trying to be a bit more convincing.

The conversation continued, transitioning to spring break and mundane teenage gossip. I smiled and nodded, participating in their discussion with 'hmms' of agreement where needed, but my mind was elsewhere, lingering on the memory of Marcus and what happened the previous night, each sensation etched into my being. His touch, tender yet commanding, had sent ripples of an unfamiliar but intoxicating desire through me. I replayed the moment his eyes had met mine just before… A shiver of pleasure ran through me at the memory and I shifted on my chair, trying to control the growing heat that I felt manifesting itself on my cheeks. My heart fluttered at the recollection, and while my thoughts swirled with uncertainty, a part of me yearned to explore the emotional and physical depths of this irrevocable bond further still.

As the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch and calling me back to the present moment, Jessica shot me a quick smile. "You'll join in on the prom excitement soon, right, Bella?"

"Sure, Jess," I replied with a weak smile, gathering my books and my thoughts. "See you guys in class." I rushed a little too much and I felt their thoughtful gazes on me as I walked out, eager to find some privacy to calm down my racing heart and soothe the heat now blazing on my cheeks.

Later, as I walked through the bustling corridors, I couldn't shake the feeling of disconnect. The world around me continued, unperturbed by the secrets I held close. The transition back to school after a week of emotional intensity left me feeling like an outsider, a stranger in a world that was never really my own anyway.

The final moments of the school day were a relief, a chance to escape the whispers and curious glances that followed me inexorably. A chance to go back where I truly and irrevocably belonged, in my mate's arms.

Exiting the school gates, I spotted Marcus leaning casually against his car, a comforting sight amidst the too plain surroundings. He walked up to meet me, taking my bag while I kept hold of my English literature books.

"Hey," I greeted him with a relieved smile, happy to see him and feeling a weight lift off my shoulder. I knew for a fact that this was what felt right, normal. School was now the foreign place where I needed to wear a mask instead of being myself.

"Hello, Mia Bella," Marcus responded, his presence offering a sense of tranquility in contrast to the gossiping students who not-so-subtly observed our interaction.

As we strolled towards his car, the hushed conversations around us grew louder, even to my ears. It was clear my absence during Spring break, paired with the Cullens reappearance, had stirred curiosity and fueled the gossip mill. The sidelong glances and murmured speculations didn't escape my notice, but I focused on the now-so-familiar comfort of Marcus's presence, finding solace in his unwavering demeanor. He tucked me close under his arm and I wished I could have disappeared in his cool embrace in that instant.

The whispers were audible enough for me to catch snippets: "Did you see the Cullens?" "Where have they been?" "I heard something about them coming back to town." "Who is that?"

Marcus opened the passenger door for me, continuing to shield me from the prying eyes and the growing rumors that swirled around us.

"Thank you," I murmured, sending Marcus a grateful glance as he closed the door.

He nodded in response, his expression calm as he rounded the car to the driver's side. The engine purred to life, drowning out the remnants of the gossip that still lingered in the air.

As we drove away from the school, I glanced back at the building, contemplating the whispers that would soon transform into speculations. The enigmatic nature of the Cullens' sudden departure and return would undoubtedly fuel many conversations, and I knew the gossip would spread like wildfire, mixing our names in whispered tales that would be in every corner of the school by tomorrow morning. I sighed, resigned to being the center of attention once again.


AN: I am really anxious to know how you like the story so far, is it going in a direction you like? Would you like me to write a scene into the story for you? Please review :)

Love Xx

Ada