After I changed back into my regular clothes I left the locker room, and before I could take even a single step, I heard my apparent best friend Jessica, "Hey Angie!"
I turned around to face her, "Hey Jess," I said with a smile as she interlocked her arm with mine and led me in the direction of what I presumed to be the cafeteria. She started talking, but I couldn't really understand her because the hallway was loud, and she was talking way too fast. I talk fast too, so I can't complain.
As me and Jessica walked into the cafeteria, the familiar hum of chatter and clatter of trays greeted us. We made our way through the crowded space, looking for the table Jessica's friends were at. I tried to keep my excitement in check, but it was hard to not feel like I was actually living in one of the Twilight books I adored.
Still unable to understand what Jessica was saying, I finally heard what she said when she turned to face me, "Have you seen the way Bella and Edward have been looking at each other lately?" she asked, her eyes glinting with a conspiratorial sparkle and her voice lowered as if sharing a juicy secret.
She leaned in closer, glancing around to make sure no one else was listening. "It's like they're in their own little world, completely oblivious to everyone around them. It's kind of sickening honestly," she said, a hint of jealousy in her voice and a sour expression on her face.
"Umm, no, I can't say I have," I responded, feeling a bit caught off guard by her question. I tried to appear nonchalant about it, but in reality I was pretty upset about it. How close are they? Did they just start talking or have they been talking for awhile now? I know it seems stupid to be worrying about how close they are, but when there's a character that you've been obsessed with for like, a whole year and who you thought wasn't attainable even if it is just a dream, you'd be pretty upset too. I mean, it's my dream, so I should be able to be with Edward, and for as long as I'm here I'm gonna try my best to get with Edward. It's only fair, it is MY dream after all.
Jessica's eyes widened in disbelief. "How have you not noticed? It's so obvious!" she exclaimed, shaking her head in amazement. A hint of bitterness crept into her voice. "I mean, every time they look at each other, it's like no one else exists. It's like seriously? Get a room. Some of us are just trying to get through the day without the constant reminder that we're not part of some epic love story."
As we found the table and sat down, my attention was drawn to the Cullens, seated at what I think was their usual table by the window. They looked even more gorgeous than in the movies, their perfect features and graceful movements making them stand out in the mundane setting of the cafeteria. Edward sat with his family, his gaze distant and thoughtful, while Bella sat at our table, still in the early stages of their budding relationship. The tension between them was palpable, a mixture of curiosity and the undeniable pull that I knew would eventually draw them together.
My heart raced as I realized that I was actually in the same room with the characters I had admired for so long, even if it wasn't real. Edward's eyes locked onto mine as I looked in their direction, his gaze penetrating and intense. There was a flicker of suspicion in his expression, as if he could sense that I wasn't just an ordinary student. I tried to keep my thoughts guarded, knowing about his ability.
Lunch passed in a blur of stolen glances and whispered thoughts and Jessica's mindless chatter. I could feel Edward's suspicion growing, his eyes on me even when I wasn't looking at him like some suffocating invisible force pushing on me from all sides making me sweat. Bella seemed unaware of the tension, her focus on her friends, but I could sense that she was starting to be drawn to Edward.
When the bell finally rang, signaling the end of lunch, I gathered my things and stood to leave. My mind racing with questions and possibilities. What did Edward suspect about me? As I walked away, I could feel his gaze following me, as I picked up the pace I heard Jessica walking faster to catch up to me. Why, oh, why did my next period have to be Biology.
Deciding to postpone my demise, I walked to the restroom with Jessica following behind me. The bustling noise of the cafeteria faded as we entered the quieter, kind of sterile environment of the restroom. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing thoughts.
Jessica leaned against the sink and fixed me with a concerned look. "Hey, what's wrong?" she asked, her voice softening. "You've been acting kind of weird since we got here. Is it about what I said earlier about Bella and Edward?"
I bit my lip, searching for a believable excuse. "I guess I didn't sleep well last night," I said finally. "I'm just really tired and a bit out of it today." It wasn't entirely untrue; I don't know if I had been technically asleep or just passed out or something.
Jessica raised an eyebrow, skepticism clear on her face. "Not sleeping well? That's it? Come on, Evangeline. I know something's up. You can tell me if it's something else."
I gave her a weak smile. "Really, Jess, it's just been a rough night. But thanks for worrying about me," I responded, a bit of attitude probably audible in my voice. I don't know why but it just bothered me when people asked if I was okay.
Jessica sighed, clearly not convinced, but she let it go. "Alright, but if you need to talk, I'm here, okay?"
As we walked back to our classes, I tried to shake off the lingering unease. The day continued to unfold in a blur, with familiar faces greeting me as if I'd known them for years.
The bell rang and I was nowhere near my class, so I guess I was gonna be late. Great. When I walked in, the room was already filled with students sitting down, and Mr. Banner was looking at me with a look that said he wasn't surprised that I was late.
My heart skipped a beat when I saw Edward and Bella, seated next to each other, Edward looking at her with curiosity and Bella taking shy glances at him. Until Edward looked at me and I don't even know how to describe the look he gave me, but it wasn't a nice one
I was a bit surprised when I saw Mike Newton waving at me with a smile, assuming that the empty seat next to him was mine, I made my way over to him and sat down trying to ignore the feeling of Edward's gaze on me. Unfortunately, the table was right behind Edward and Bella's. Fortunately, Edward wouldn't be able to easily look at me, but I would be able to look at him.
Mr. Banner began the lesson, handing out the instruction for a new group assignment. "We'll be working in groups of four for this project," he announced. "Please arrange yourselves accordingly." I barely had time to react before Mike enthusiastically pulled me into a group with himself, and to my surprise, Edward and Bella.
Edward's gaze shifted back to Bella, who was already looking at him with a mix of anticipation and shyness. Their chemistry was obvious, and I felt like an outsider intruding on a private moment. As we settled into our group, the tension in the air seemed to thicken.
"Alright, let's get started," Mike said, trying to break the awkward silence. He handed out the assignment sheet, and we began to discuss our approach.
"So, what's our topic?" Bella asked, her voice soft but eager to contribute.
I glanced at the assignment sheet. "It looks like we're covering genetic mutations and their impacts on evolution," I said, trying to sound confident.
Edward nodded, his eyes briefly meeting mine before returning to the sheet. "We should each take a different aspect of the topic and research it. Then we can come together and share our findings."
"That sounds like a good plan," Mike said, enthusiastically. "How about I take the historic perspective on genetic mutations?"
"Sure," Bella agreed, looking relieved to have a clear direction.
"Maybe we could divide the tasks based on our strengths?" I said softly, trying to contribute to the conversation. Unfortunately, I only realized that what I said had already been said, after I said it. Great job Evangeline.
Edward's eyes flickered towards me, his expression softening slightly. "That's a good idea," he said, his voice smooth and calm. Bella looked between us, a hint of jealousy flashing in her eyes.
"Alright then," I continued, "I'll look into the scientific mechanisms behind genetic mutation. Edward, you could cover the ethical implications, and Bella, you could focus on case studies of scientific mutations and their effects."
Bella nodded, her gaze still occasionally drifting towards Edward. "Okay, I can do that."
As we settled into our respective tasks, I couldn't shake the feeling that Edward was watching me more closely than before. His initial suspicion seemed to be replaced by curiosity, and I found myself glancing at him more often than I intended.
Bella's demeanor grew more reserved as the project progressed, her attention divided between Edward and the assignment. She seemed to pick up on the subtle shifts in Edward's focus, and it was clear that she wasn't entirely comfortable with it.
"Have y'al- you guys thought about how genetic mutations can sometimes lead to beneficial adaptations?" I asked, trying to steer the conversation back to the project and catching myself before I said y'all. I don't think that many people in Washington say y'all, so I probably shouldn't either.
"Absolutely," Edward replied, his gaze intensifying. "Some mutations can increase an organism's chances of survival and reproduction."
Bella nodded, but I could see the tension in her eyes. "And there are also mutations that can be harmful, leading to diseases and disorders."
As class drew to a close, I couldn't help but feel a strange mixture of emotions. But one thing I knew for sure was that I was looking forward to Spanish class.
A/N: Hey, hopefully if you guys read the original version of this story, you're like this one, because for me, I'm definitely enjoying this version more than the original. Anyway, have a great day :)