I faked a smile, taking my usual seat at the lunch table. I didn't think I'd see Bella until the next class we shared, assuming she'd prefer to eat in solitude. 'I know I would,' I thought with a twinge of envy. The idea of escaping the incessant chatter was appealing, especially on days like this. Jess's constant talk about the town was sometimes helpful but mostly mindless rambling.
Today, it was about the latest sale at the local thrift store and the drama surrounding a failed date. I sighed, trying to tune her out and looking around for Angela. She should have been here by now. Just as I was about to ask Eric, who had taken a seat nearby, I spotted Angela at the entrance of the cafeteria, chatting animatedly with Bella.
A genuine smile crept across my face as I watched them. Bella seemed more relaxed than she had been this morning, and Angela's warm, welcoming nature was likely a big reason for that. They made their way over to the table, Angela waving enthusiastically when she saw me.
"Hey, Ellie!" Angela called out, her voice cutting through the din of the cafeteria. I cringed at the nickname. "Hey, Ang," I replied, my smile widening.
"Bella," Jessica said with a hint of disdain, stopping mid-ramble as she spotted Angela with Bella. They both took their seats at our lunch table, Bella sitting across from me while Angela settled between Jessica and me.
"Ellie, this is -" "Bella. We've met," I interrupted, taking a quick sip of my drink. Bella's gaze flicked between Angela and me, her eyes widening in understanding.
"You're twins," she observed, not quite posing it as a question. Jessica snorted at the obviousness of the statement.
"Of course they are. They're identical," she said, rolling her eyes. Despite Jessica's remark, anyone who looked closely could tell Angela and me apart. My face had sharper features, while Angela's were softer. There was also the matter of the glasses—Angela wore them, while I refused to. And then there was our thick black hair, always styled differently.
"Don't worry about it," I said with a shrug. "Many people don't realize we're twins until we're in the same vicinity." I flashed Bella a genuine smile before turning back to my lunch. Bella seemed to relax a bit, her shoulders losing some of their tension. She returned my smile, though hers was more tentative.
The cafeteria buzzed around us, but for a moment, it felt like we were in our own little bubble. As we ate, the conversation flowed more naturally. Jessica, despite her initial disdain, couldn't resist peppering Bella with questions about her life in Arizona. Angela, always the mediator, steered the conversation to more neutral topics whenever Jessica's curiosity veered into uncomfortable territory.
Angela had gotten her camera out—the one the school provided—and took a photo of Bella. The sudden flash was harsh and too bright, momentarily blinding those of us who weren't aware of what she was doing. Angela quickly apologized, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment at her impulsive action.
"Sorry, I needed a candid for the feature," she explained, looking sheepish. Bella gave her a wary smile, blinking away the aftereffects of the flash.
"It's okay," she said, though her eyes still held a hint of surprise. The unexpected photo session added a moment of levity to our lunch.
Jessica rolled her eyes, muttering something about the school's obsession with documenting everything, while I chuckled at Angela's enthusiasm.
Despite her embarrassment, Angela's passion for photography was infectious, and her genuine apology helped ease the tensionI continued with my lunch, watching as Eric abruptly got up from his seat.
There was an unusual confidence in his stride, something he usually lacked. His shaggy black hair partially obscured his face as he attempted to mimic Mike's laid-back walk. It didn't work; if anything, he looked more like a child trying to imitate his father. I wrinkled my nose in disdain, feeling a flicker of irritation. Eric leaned over Bella's shoulder, his eyes narrowing at Angela.
"The feature is dead, Angela. Don't bring it up again," he snapped. The harshness in his tone was uncalled for, especially since Angela was only doing what he had asked her to. I bit the inside of my cheek to keep myself in check. Angela hated confrontations and would likely prefer to avoid making matters worse. I, on the other hand, wouldn't have a care in the world about calling Eric out, but I knew I wouldn't be the one affected by my retaliation—Angela would. Angela's face reddened with embarrassment, her eyes cast down.
Turning to Bella, Eric continued, seemingly unfazed by his uncharacteristic performance. "I got your back, baby," he said, a hint of bravado in his voice. Bella tensed at the unexpected familiarity.
Sensing my icy gaze on him, Eric awkwardly smiled, his bravado crumbling. "Uh, yeah," he stammered, quickly reverting back to his usual self. 'What a wimp,' I thought watching him excuse himself with haste, he rushed from our table and towards the lunch line, where the rest of the guys were waiting. His demeanor slightly flustered.
With Eric's departure, the atmosphere at our table lightened, and soon we were engrossed in lighthearted chatter. The conversation took a few seconds to continue from the newspaper article to something - or someone else.
Jessica, ever eager to shift the focus away from uncomfortable moments, piped up with a new topic. She launched into a discussion about the latest gossip, drawing everyone's attention away from Eric's awkward attempt at charm. As the conversation shifted, I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief.
Everything seemed to be going well until the Cullen family walked in. Many tried to hide their curiosity about them, but you couldn't escape the reality. The Cullen family was stunningly good-looking and always seemed to be the center of gossip, even though they kept to themselves.
I noticed Bella glancing at Edward as he made his usual entrance, following his siblings. She glanced a few more times at the family sitting farther away from the rest of the students. She tried her best to hide her curiosity, not wishing for any unnecessary attention to herself, but she seemed to have lost the battle as she made eye contact with me.
"Who are they?" she asked. Jessica seized the opportunity, snorting at Bella as if mocking her for knowing so little. I rolled my eyes at the thought.
"They're the Cullens," Angela replied kindly, setting down her fork. Jessica leaned in closer to Bella to add more. "Doctor and Mrs. Cullen's foster kids. They all moved down here two years ago."
Bella's eyes flicked back to the Cullens' table, taking in their otherworldly beauty and their odd, detached demeanor. I could see the curiosity burning in her eyes, the way she was drawn to them just like everyone else. But there was something more in Bella's gaze—an intensity of curiosity.
I noticed Bella slyly glance at their table. "They usually keep to themselves," I added. Bella nodded, acknowledging what I had said as Jessica continued rambling about the family.
I tried my best to tune out the conversation. It was less entertaining than I had hoped having Bella with us would be.
"The guy you keep glancing at," Jessica sneered, looking at where Edward was sitting. This grabbed my attention.
"That's Edward. He's totally gorgeous, of course, but save your time. He doesn't date. Apparently, none of the girls here are good-looking enough for him."
'Here we go again,' I thought, sitting up straighter and leaning my elbows on the table. I grabbed my fork, ready to respond.
"No need to get upset over a few rejections," I teased. Although it sounded like a joke, my comment had an undertone of disdain for Jessica's passive-aggressive remarks. I took the last bite of my lunch before setting my fork to the side.
Jessica threw a death glare my way, making me smirk at her as I took a sip of my water. This infuriated her more. Bella seemed to notice the tension but didn't comment, her gaze flickering back to the Cullens' table. Jessica continued her ramblings, saying how this certain someone—Edward—thinks no one is good enough for him. She snorted out of annoyance as she continued, "Like I care," though it was clear she did.
I glanced at the Cullen's table just as Edward looked over at Bella, who seemed to get caught looking over. I smiled, realizing the new girl might find Edward attractive. Angela, tired of the endless Cullen talk, managed to switch the conversation to something lighter. Despite the change, I couldn't shake the feeling of watching a brewing storm. The next few minutes of eating and talking felt like an eternity until the bell finally rang.
Jessica added a few more comments about the Cullens, hoping to dissuade Bella from any potential interest in Edward. I doubted it had the intended effect, but I wasn't about to tell Jessica that. As we gathered our things, Bella caught my eye and gave a small, grateful smile. Jessica, oblivious to the silent exchange, continued her tirade as we left the cafeteria.
"Hey," I felt a tug on my arm, stopping me from continuing to class.
"I'll see you after school?" Angela asked, letting go of my arm to fix her glasses. Bella stopped next to us as Jessica had already left the room with Mike.
"Yeah, you're driving," I replied, raising an eyebrow at Bella before questioning her. "Did you need something?" I inwardly cringed at how rude I sounded. 'I definitely need to work on that,' I thought, biting the inside of my cheek to keep from saying anything more unwelcoming.
Bella hesitated for a second, quickly glancing at Angela before focusing on me. "I—uh," she paused, seeming to struggle with what she wanted to say. "Angela mentioned we had gym together?" she asked. Angela nodded, patting Bella's shoulder.
"That's right, I'm sorry. I kind of offered that you'd help Bella find the lockers for gym class," Angela said, giving me a guilty smile. 'Nope, I changed my mind,' I thought, pursing my lips at Angela's need to help everyone. 'There was a good reason why I sounded rude.' It was like an instinct, knowing when Angela would volunteer us—or usually me—to help.
I softened my tone, trying to be more approachable. "Sure, I don't mind." It wasn't a lie; I wasn't going out of my way, and Bella wasn't annoying like some of the other friends Angela had befriended. Bella was okay. Angela left us, waving goodbye before rushing off to her class.
"Thanks for helping," Bella said softly as we walked together. She seemed more relaxed now, the initial awkwardness fading.
"No problem," I replied, giving her a small smile.
"The lockers are just down this hall and to the left. It can be a bit of a maze at first, but you'll get used to it." Bella nodded, her expression appreciative. "It's just... everything's so different here. Smaller, but somehow more overwhelming."
I chuckled. "Yeah, Forks has that effect on newcomers. Don't worry too much about it. You'll get the hang of it. Just give it some time."
Walking along the halls, I noticed her glance in the direction where we could see the backs of the Cullens. They were heading to their own classes, engaged in conversation amongst themselves.
"I don't think that's a good idea," I mentioned to Isabella—Bella Swan.
"Jessica hates competition," I added as we took a left turn, the Cullen family nowhere near us now.
"I'm pretty sure she has nothing to worry about," she replied nonchalantly. I smirked, giving her a once-over.
"I wouldn't be so sure about that." I added before gesturing towards the Auditorium where we usually had gym class inside due to the inclement weather. Bella glanced in the direction I indicated, her expression unreadable. Despite her calm demeanor, I sensed there was more to her than met the eye.