The Diary Of Alice Brandon
, Authors Note: Yay, for comments!! Thank You for all of those who took the time to comment. And thank you to my best friend, Marina for giving me the lovely compliments that she did. ;) Well, I don't own Twilight. SM does and i'm just borrowing her characters for a bit. I hope you guys like the rest of the story. Please Comment so I know what the hell I need to fix and change or if something confuses you guys let me know. Happy Reading :)
Chapter 3: Open Book
The nest day was better...and worse. It was better because it wasn't raining yet, though the clouds held promise of it later. Also, people didn't look at me as much as yesterday. I sat with Mike, Jessica, Angela, and Eric and lunch and a few others that I didn't bother to name because they ignored me (Lauren).
It was worse because I was tired. It was worse when I slipped and fell outside and got my jeans wet. And it was horrible because Isabella Cullen wasn't here.
When I walked into the cafeteria and looked over at her table it wasn't hate-filled eyes that I met. No, instead these eyes were golden, one pair brown, and they held well hidden curiousity. All of the Cullens had looked at me for a fraction of a second before moving on with whatever conversation they had been having before I walked in. I didn't really know what the hell to make of all this so I did my best to ignore the looks they gave me throughout lunch.
In biology I was happy to have a desk all to myself and that Isabella was absent. But I couldn't get rid of the nagging suspicion that I was the reason for her absence. And I knew that it was probably stupid to feel that way but I couldn't help it. I had a feeling, much like the ones I had as a child before something major happend in my life, that there was something bigger going on here. I just wish I knew what the hell that was.
When school ended I called my mom on her cell phone and asked how the honeymoon was going and to tell her I had made friends and that she shouldn't worry about me living down here with dad, Connor, and Suzie because it was all going well. I was walking to my car and was looking through my phone and failed to notice Jacob Black a few feet in front of my car.
"Hello." A deep voice startled me and I yelped loudly, earning a few stares. Jacobs deep chuckle was the next thing I heard, I looked next to him and saw Rosalie who had a small smirk on her face. I blushed and pushed the button on my keys that unlocked the door.
"Hello." I greeted them as I moved to open my door.
"You have a nice car. She runs great from what i've noticed as well." Jacob siad this in his deep voice and I smiled happily at him.
"Oh yeah, I know. I'm a fan of your cars as well. Especially Rosalie's BMW." I looked at Rosalie who now wore a smirk on her face as she looked adoringly at her red BMW.
"Thank You Alice. Looks like you know a good car when you see one." Rosalie smiled at me and got in her car, where Jasper, Emmett, and Victoria were waiting for her.
"Well, Alice I guess we'll be seeing you around." Jacob siad. I was a little hung up on the tone that he used. It sounded like he applied something that I was missing, like he KNEW that we would be closer or...something. Gosh, was all the Cullens weird?
Maybe things were getting better.
"Hi Awice!!" Connor greeted me cheerily as I walked into the door and into the living room. He had his sippy-cup in one hand and a toy truck in his other. His hair was a mess of curls and his dimples were present as he smiled at me. I grinned at him and went to sit down to sit next to him. I noticed a few of his teeth were missing.
"Hey little one." I ruffled his hair affectionately and kissed his cheek.
"Ow' was your day Awice?" I smiled at him.
" My day was awesome. How was yours?" He grinned and his eyes sparkled as he looked up at me with barely contained exitement.
"At day care I played with my friends and then when I came home, Nanny played with me. We played tag, but don't tell mom and daddy that I ran in the 'ouse please Awice." I laughed and nodded at him and he gave me one of the cutest grins i'd ever seen. My phone rang loudly in my back pocket and I looked at the caller ID before I answered.
"Hey daddy." I greeted.
"Hey sport, listen, Suzie won't be home tonight she has to do some paper work and get prepared for a. important case tomorrow so I was thinking that I would just get some pizza and come home. Maybe pick up some ice cream for dessert. That sound good?" I smiled when I heard of the evening developments. Suzie wouldn't be here so me and Connor and my father could have time together. That made me insanely happy.
"Okay, be careful driving home."
"Always am."
When dad came home we all went into the kitchen and sat around the table to eat.
"Hey dad do you know the Cullen Family?" I hesitated when I asked this.
"Dr. Cullens family? Yeah. I'm sure everyone in Forks knows or at least has heard of them. He's a great man Mary Alice. His kids are all well behaved and never get into trouble. Their records are all clean. I have a lot of respect for them. They help out the community a lot. Especially that doctor. He doesn't reall get paid a lot for his amazing skills but he works in this town anyway." I was surprised that he had so much to say about them.
"Why do you ask, sport?"
" Well, it just seems that they don't really socialize with anyone but their own family and I was wondering if that was only the kids or the parents are like that too."
My dad seemed to be contemplating this and then he finally sighed.
"Alice the Cullens are a very tight family. They don't usually get to know anyone outside there family but they are all still very polite. I've talked to them all at one point or another and they all treated everyone with respect and politeness. Also, people are a little intimidated by their looks and all the money that they have. Some people are just comfortable to stay away from them. I think the closest one to them is Jacob Black and he's dating Edward, I hear." I nodded and chewed a piece of food before answering.
"Yeah. Those two look like they really love each other you know? I've never seen two people look at each other like they do. And the other siblings are together. Emmett and Rosalie, Jasper and Victoria." I explained.
"I don't know if i'd let them all live together like that. Honestly, I'm surprised that none of those girls are preganant yet. And don't you get any ideas Mary Alice. Keep it in your pants until you graduate and aren't under my roof."
" Dad!" I exclaimed loudly I could almost picture myself right now. Eyes wide and mouth gaping like a fish. I can't believe he actually just siad that. And in front of Connor no less!
I looked at Connor who looked to be paying no attention to our conversation. He had sauce on his hands and chin even a some in his hair. Suddenly he looked up at me and smiled.
"Keep it in your pants Awice!" He giggled up at me. I slapped myself in the forehead and looked at my dad who was smirking at me and nodding. What was I gonna do with these two?
The week had gone by somewhat quickly. I was almost completely settled in school and I made a lot of other friends besides Eric, Jessica, Angela, and Mike. The Cullens still looked at me on occasion but we never really talked although Jacob siad hi to me a few times in the halls when we did see each other. Isabella still hadn't come back to school. Everyday at lunch I would watch the cafeteria doors anxiously to see if she showed up. I wouldn't be able to relax or eat until I found out if she was here or not. Everyday they came in without her.
Mike was planning some big trip to La Push in two weeks and he had invited me. I agreed more so to be polite than any actual desire. In my opinion beaches should be warm, somewhat dry and sandy. La Push happend to be a huge mud puddle with more water surrounding it and if you were lucky It wasn't raining on the day you went.
By friday I was entering Biology with ease and not worrying about Isabella Cullen. For all I knew she dropped off the face of the earth. Or just out of school, that was a possibility too.
The weekend passed too quickly for my liking and on monday I found myself in the parking lot at school. The weekend had been amazing. Connor and I were at the house by ourselves and it gave me a lot of time to get to know him a little better. I now knew that his favorite food was italian. He loved to color and draw, which made me happy, I had showed him many of my drawings and even gave him the one I drew of him when he was just a small baby. I learned that he couldn't have his food touching, he wouldn't eat it otherwise. He also had a little bit of OCD when it came to the placement of his crayons and pencils. He was an altogther happy little boy who was happy to just sit and talk to me.
I wanted to go to the local art store in Port Angeles soon and also visit the library or perhaps a book store. I needed something to do or I was gonna go crazy with boredom. I needed a new easel and some new paint brushes. I needed a lot of suplies because I had left all of mine in California.
The rain had stayed quiet for a few days and I was thankful because it gave me time to catch up on some much needed sleep.
People greeted me when I arrived at school on monday. Some of them I knew, but I waved to all of them polite enough to greet me. It was colder this morning and I had made sure to bundle up before leaving the house. It wasn't raining though. So, that was a plus.
I had an english test on Wuthering Heights. It was easy and I was one of the first ones to finish. Mike had struggled through it but eventually got done. We walked out of class togehter and the air was filled with swirling bits of fluffy white snow. Excitement flared up in my chest and I squealed happily. I grinned happily. I loved the snow and was actually becoming to like the rain. I had worn my hair perfectly straight today so I wouldn't have to worry about it falttening.
"Wow can you be-" Mike was cut off by a snow ball that went flying through the air and hit him in the back of the head. We turned to look at where it came from and watched as Eric hurried to get to class. His cover up might have worked if only he was going the right way to get to his next class.
"Seeya Alice!" Mike began to run after Eric and I laughed and began walking to my next class.
Throughout the morning people talked excitedly about the snow and about the many snowball fights that had went on outside. Apparently it was the first snow of the year. I talked to everyone I knew about the snow also.
I walked with Jessica to the cafeteria. Mush balls of icy snow were flying everywhere and for once in my life I was thankful for my short height. I could hide behind the taller people. It gave me a lot of advantages the other bigger, taller people weren't lucky enough to have.
Mike caught up to us and began to walk with us, laughing, with ice melting in his hair. Jessica and Mike talked animatedly about the snow fights as we got in line for food. I looked over at the Cullen table out of habit and froze.
"Hello? Earth to Alice. Come in Alice. What do you want to eat?" Jessica asked.
I looked down and focused on the floor. I breathed deep and did my best not to loose my light breakfast and last nights dinner. I did my best to tell myself that I had not done anything wrong.
"Actually i'm just gonna get a water today. I'm not feeling well." I answered and I took the offered water.
I waited for them to get their food and then we walked to our table. We arrived and I took a seat next to Jessica with Mike on my other side. I pulled off the cap of my water and took a healthy swig. Twice, Mike asked me with unnecessary concern in I was in fact alright. I told him I was fine and that it would probably pass by the time lunch hour was over. Though I doubted that would really happen. Maybe I should play it up and visit the nurse so I could get out of my next period?
Ugh. Rediculous. I shouldn't have to run away. Ok. Just breathe Mary Alice.
I decided that I would look up at her and if she looked unfriendly then I would skip next period like the coward I was.
I peeked at them from under my lashes. None of them were looking my way. I lifted my head, finding hidden courage.
They were all laughing. Emmett, Jasper, Edward all had their hair full of melting ice. Rosalie, Victoria and Isabella all leaned away as Emmett shook his sopping hair in their direction. They looked like a scene from a movie. They were so beautiful.
But aside from their playfullness there was something different about them. I studied Isabella with careful importance. She had lighter circles under her eyes than the last time I had seen her. She also didn't look as pale, which I blamed for playing out in the snow. Her eyes...That was it!! Her eyes were an inticing butterschotch color today which was strange because I remember them being black the last time I saw her. Maybe she got contacts?
"Alice what are you staring at?" Jessica asked and followed my gaze to the Cullen table.
Isabella looked up at me then. I dropped my gaze immediately. In the time where my gaze held hers I was sure that she didn't look harsh or even unfriendly. She looked curious and slightly unsatisfied.
"Isabella is staring at you." Jessica whispered into my ear. As if I couldn't feel her eyes burning wholes in the side of my face.
"Does she look angry?" I had to ask.
"No. Why would she?" Jessica sounded seriously confused.
"I don't think she likes me." I explained sadly.
"The Cullens dont like anyone. Well actually they don't take the time to get to know anyone to even really like them at all. Your not the only one they've left out of their little group Alice." Jessica sounded somewhat harsh. I didn't really blame her though but something made me want to stand up for the entire Cullen family. I kept my mouth shut though.
"She's still looking at you." She whispered.
"Stop looking at her!" I hissed through clenched teeth. Jessica laughed wholeheartedly but complied with my wish.
Mike interrupted us then. He was planning an epic snowball battle outside in the parking lot after school and wanted to know if we wanted to join. Jessica agreed quickly but by the way she looked at Mike I knew she'd do anything to get his attention. I told him that I wasn't interested in getting my hair wet and that I was still feeling ill. But really I didn't want that cold stuff to seep into my clothes and freeze me.
The lunch period was spent with me keeping my eyes on my own table and trying (failing) to keep up with the current conversation. I was trying to fight my nerves because I knew that if I let my nervousness take over I was never going to make it to Biology. Since she didn't look unfriendly or harsh maybe today wouldn't be so bad.
I didn't walk with Mike because he seemed to be a target for snowballs. But as we got to the doors that led out to the school buildings everyone groaned. Rain pelted down over the roof and onto half of the walkway, washing away all traces of snow in its wake. I sighed sadly and walked the way to class, keeping my head down the whole way.
Once in class I was relieved that my table was still empty. Mr. Banner was walking around the room and distributing microscopes on each table. He was also placing boxes of slides next to them. Class didn't begin for another few minutes so I took out my notebook and began to draw.
I was busy drawing a rather detailed branch of a dead tree when the chair next to me scraped across the floor and the smell of peppermint assaulted my nose. My eyes stayed on the notebook in front of me.
"Hello." A quite musical voice sounded from beside me.
I looked up clearly stunned that she was speaking to me. She sat as far away from me as the table allowed but her chair and body was angled in my direction. She was looking at me. Her hair was dripping wet from the rain and strands of it stuck to her pale neck. She wore a black jacket over a white shirt. A gray scarf hung off her neck and fell gently over her torso. She had on dark denim jeans and black shoes. She looked like an angel. Her dazzling face was open, she wore a friendly smile on her lips.
"My name is Isabella Cullen, I didn't have the chance to introduce myself last week. You must be Alice Brandon."
My mind was swimming with confusion at what was taking place. Did I imagine her hostility to me last week? She was perfectly polite now. I had to speak before she began to think I was mentally challenged.
"H-How do you know my name?" Really Alice, Thats all you can come up with? Jeez!
'Hey I don't see you throwing in anything here!'
'No I figured you could manage by yourself for once. But I guess I was wrong. Look at you!! Your talking to yourself here!! You really are mental.'
'Oh shut up.'
She laughed and enchanting laugh that left me momentarily speechless.
"I think it's safe to say everyone knows your name." I noticed now that she had a slight accent. It was so faint that I couldn't tell where it was from. Perhaps Italian. Isabella was italian, was it not?
"Oh I see." I nodded and looked away awkwardly.
Mr. Banner took his time to begin class and I tried my hardest to keep my eyes somewhere, anywhere, than on Isabella. I also tried to focus on what the hell Mr. Banner was saying.
We would be putting the slides in order according to the stages of mitosis that they represented. He would be coming around to check and make sure we were doing everything right in 20 minutes.
"Would you like to go first?" My enchanting Biology partner asked. She smiled at me and she looked so beautiful. I was to stunned to speak.
"Or I could start, if you wish." Her smile had faded and I mentally slapped myself. She reached for the microscope. Great, she definetely thought a lot of me now.
"No," I siad blushing brightly, "I'll go ahead."
I was showing off just a little bit. I had done this lab before so, it shouldn't really be all that hard to accomplish. I watched as my beautiful lab partner pushed the microscope towards me. I took it with a small smile. I slid the first slide in place and adjusted the microscope to 40x objective. I studied the slide briefly.
"Prophase." I was very confident in my answer.
"Do you mind if I double check?" As I began to remove the slide she asked and her hand covered mine. Her skin was ice cold. But that wasn't why I flinched away from her touch. When her skin made contact with mine I felt like an electric shock had invaded my body and it shook me to my very core.
"Im sorry." She immediately took her hand away. However, she did continue to reach for the microscope. I watched her as she took a brief look at the slide. I was in a sort of dumbstruck trance for a moment but I finally managed to snap out of it. She took less time to look than I did.
"Prophase." She muttered while writing the answer in a neat old-timey fashion. Really, her print was beautiful.
"Like I told you." I remarked and she smiled which made me smile in return. She swiftly replaced the first slide with the second and then glanced at it curiously.
"Anaphase." She muttered and began writing the answer down.
"May I check?" I asked, keeping my voice indifferent.
She smirked and pushed the microscope to me. I noticed that she was being careful not to touch my skin. I looked through the microscpe eagerly only to be disappointed. Damn. She was right.
" Anaphase." I muttered sourly. She chuckled a little and wrote down the answer.
"Like I siad." I rolled my eyes which made her laugh harder.
"May I see slide three?" I asked sweetly. Her brows furrowed and drew together. She looked adorably frustrated for some reason.
"Of course." She grabbed the slide and handed it to me carefully, again avoided any skin contact. I took the most fleeting look I could manage.
"Interphase."
We were done before anyone else in the class and that left us a lot of time to do...nothing. I could only try and not look at her...which I failed in that. EPICALLY. I glanced up at her and she was looking at me with the same frustrated expression she always had on her face when she was near me. Or even in the same room.
"Did you get contacts?" I blurted out.
She looked confused as to why I would ask such a thing. Her brows came together and she was back to looking adorably confused.
"No."
"Oh," I mumbled, "Thats funny because I could have sworn that your eyes were black the last time I saw you."
She shrugged and looked away but I caught something akin to regret in her eyes. I also noticed that she had her pale hands balled into fists again.
Mr. Banner decided it was as good a time as any to come and see why we weren't working. He looked over our shoulders.
"Isabella, don't you think Mary Alice deserved a chance with the microscope?"
"Alice," She corrected him, "Identified three of the five."
Mr. Banner looked at me skeptically.
"Have you ever done this lab before?"
"Yes Sir."
"Were you in an advanced placement in California?"
"Yes Sir."
He nodded.
"Well, I guess it's good you two are partners then." He walked off muttering something.
"It's too bad about the snow isn't it?" Isabella asked.
I had a feeling that she was making an effort to talk with me. I also had a suspicion that somehow she had heard my conversation with Jessica at lunch. If that was the case then she knew that I cared whether or not she liked me.
"Yep." I answered with a sigh.
"Do you not like the snow?" She asked curiously.
"No I love it. It's just that I've lived in California for a while and it's hard to get used to the weather change."
She nodded and I wondered why she looked so interested in what I had to say. It was like it was of the utmost importance that she got to know me. Which I found strange considering how she acted on the first day we met and how her family were so distant from everyone but themselves.
"Why did you move to Forks?" She looked down while she siad this and something passed by her eyes. An emotion that was to fast for me to read. Her jaw clenched and un-clenched and she let out a shuddering sigh. She almost looked to be in pain..
"Um, my mom got remarried and she wanted to go on a honeymoon and enjoy this marriage with her new husband Bill. I didn't want to hold them back with all that so I decided to move to Forks to spend time with my half-brother, my father, and Suzie my step mother. Are you alright?" I had no choice but to ask. By the look on her face she was fighting something.
"Yeah I'm fine. I was out of school because I was sick for some time. I just have a stomach ache." I had a feeling that was a lie. But I kept my mouth shut. I didn't want her mad at me.
"Oh." We sat in silence for a few minutes.
"Alice, are you unhappy here?" The question was so sudden and random that I couldn't help but stare at her in confusion and I was a little bit angry that she had the guts to ask me something like that by the way she treated me on my first day.
Isabella seemed to notice my posture change and she bowed her head as if waiting to be slapped or screamed at.
"I'm sorry. It's none of my business Alice. I shouldn't have asked." She siad with her head still down. She looked sorry which quelled my anger a little.
"No. It's ok. No i'm not unhappy here it's just hard to live with my dad and his new wife sometimes." I answered trying to keep my tone even. Isabella looked up and her expression was one of concern. She looked me over and frowned.
"You put on a good show Alice. But i'd bet that your suffering far more than you let on." She answered slowly as if that was supposed to take the sting out of her words.
I grimaced at her, resisting the urge to stick out my tongue.
"Am I wrong?" She asked challengingly.
I tried to ignore her.
"I didn't think so." She sounded smug. I sneered at her.
"Why the hell does it matter to you?" I was angry now. Angry at stupid Isabella Cullen. Angry that out of all the people in this school I had to be partnered with her.
"That's a very good question." It was so quiet that I could barely hear what she had siad. I scowled and faced forward.
"Am I annoying you?" She sounded amused and I turned to look at her. I sighed and shook my head.
"Not really. Im more annoyed with the situation i'm in." I didn't know why I told her so much but I felt like I could and she wouldn't judge me. Ha. What a load of crap.
"Yes, I figured you wouldn't really like changing your whole life around like that. But Alice, I would be un-comfortable too in your situation. I'm sure anyone would." Was she comforting me?
"Uh, yeah. Thanks." I didn't look at her.
Mr. Banner called for the classes attention and I was thankful to be out of this sort-of awkward conversation. I tried to listen to what he was saying but my mind was preocuppied with thoughts of the beautiful girl sitting next to me. I could feel her gaze on me at all times. She never looked away, Never even blinked really. Isabella was strange and moody. She was also beautiful and smart. Out of the corner of my eye I saw her lean away from me and her hand gripped the edge of the table. She was just so...Bizarre.
When class ended, Isabella was the first to leave the classroom and she was out the door as soon as anyone was out of their seats. I stared after her and shook my head. She was so...Isabella. Strange, Mysterious, and Bizzare.
"Cullen seemed friendly enough today." Mike muttered.
I shrugged and walked out of class to my next period.
Chapter 3: Open Book
The nest day was better...and worse. It was better because it wasn't raining yet, though the clouds held promise of it later. Also, people didn't look at me as much as yesterday. I sat with Mike, Jessica, Angela, and Eric and lunch and a few others that I didn't bother to name because they ignored me (Lauren).
It was worse because I was tired. It was worse when I slipped and fell outside and got my jeans wet. And it was horrible because Isabella Cullen wasn't here.
When I walked into the cafeteria and looked over at her table it wasn't hate-filled eyes that I met. No, instead these eyes were golden, one pair brown, and they held well hidden curiousity. All of the Cullens had looked at me for a fraction of a second before moving on with whatever conversation they had been having before I walked in. I didn't really know what the hell to make of all this so I did my best to ignore the looks they gave me throughout lunch.
In biology I was happy to have a desk all to myself and that Isabella was absent. But I couldn't get rid of the nagging suspicion that I was the reason for her absence. And I knew that it was probably stupid to feel that way but I couldn't help it. I had a feeling, much like the ones I had as a child before something major happend in my life, that there was something bigger going on here. I just wish I knew what the hell that was.
When school ended I called my mom on her cell phone and asked how the honeymoon was going and to tell her I had made friends and that she shouldn't worry about me living down here with dad, Connor, and Suzie because it was all going well. I was walking to my car and was looking through my phone and failed to notice Jacob Black a few feet in front of my car.
"Hello." A deep voice startled me and I yelped loudly, earning a few stares. Jacobs deep chuckle was the next thing I heard, I looked next to him and saw Rosalie who had a small smirk on her face. I blushed and pushed the button on my keys that unlocked the door.
"Hello." I greeted them as I moved to open my door.
"You have a nice car. She runs great from what i've noticed as well." Jacob siad this in his deep voice and I smiled happily at him.
"Oh yeah, I know. I'm a fan of your cars as well. Especially Rosalie's BMW." I looked at Rosalie who now wore a smirk on her face as she looked adoringly at her red BMW.
"Thank You Alice. Looks like you know a good car when you see one." Rosalie smiled at me and got in her car, where Jasper, Emmett, and Victoria were waiting for her.
"Well, Alice I guess we'll be seeing you around." Jacob siad. I was a little hung up on the tone that he used. It sounded like he applied something that I was missing, like he KNEW that we would be closer or...something. Gosh, was all the Cullens weird?
Maybe things were getting better.
"Hi Awice!!" Connor greeted me cheerily as I walked into the door and into the living room. He had his sippy-cup in one hand and a toy truck in his other. His hair was a mess of curls and his dimples were present as he smiled at me. I grinned at him and went to sit down to sit next to him. I noticed a few of his teeth were missing.
"Hey little one." I ruffled his hair affectionately and kissed his cheek.
"Ow' was your day Awice?" I smiled at him.
" My day was awesome. How was yours?" He grinned and his eyes sparkled as he looked up at me with barely contained exitement.
"At day care I played with my friends and then when I came home, Nanny played with me. We played tag, but don't tell mom and daddy that I ran in the 'ouse please Awice." I laughed and nodded at him and he gave me one of the cutest grins i'd ever seen. My phone rang loudly in my back pocket and I looked at the caller ID before I answered.
"Hey daddy." I greeted.
"Hey sport, listen, Suzie won't be home tonight she has to do some paper work and get prepared for a. important case tomorrow so I was thinking that I would just get some pizza and come home. Maybe pick up some ice cream for dessert. That sound good?" I smiled when I heard of the evening developments. Suzie wouldn't be here so me and Connor and my father could have time together. That made me insanely happy.
"Okay, be careful driving home."
"Always am."
When dad came home we all went into the kitchen and sat around the table to eat.
"Hey dad do you know the Cullen Family?" I hesitated when I asked this.
"Dr. Cullens family? Yeah. I'm sure everyone in Forks knows or at least has heard of them. He's a great man Mary Alice. His kids are all well behaved and never get into trouble. Their records are all clean. I have a lot of respect for them. They help out the community a lot. Especially that doctor. He doesn't reall get paid a lot for his amazing skills but he works in this town anyway." I was surprised that he had so much to say about them.
"Why do you ask, sport?"
" Well, it just seems that they don't really socialize with anyone but their own family and I was wondering if that was only the kids or the parents are like that too."
My dad seemed to be contemplating this and then he finally sighed.
"Alice the Cullens are a very tight family. They don't usually get to know anyone outside there family but they are all still very polite. I've talked to them all at one point or another and they all treated everyone with respect and politeness. Also, people are a little intimidated by their looks and all the money that they have. Some people are just comfortable to stay away from them. I think the closest one to them is Jacob Black and he's dating Edward, I hear." I nodded and chewed a piece of food before answering.
"Yeah. Those two look like they really love each other you know? I've never seen two people look at each other like they do. And the other siblings are together. Emmett and Rosalie, Jasper and Victoria." I explained.
"I don't know if i'd let them all live together like that. Honestly, I'm surprised that none of those girls are preganant yet. And don't you get any ideas Mary Alice. Keep it in your pants until you graduate and aren't under my roof."
" Dad!" I exclaimed loudly I could almost picture myself right now. Eyes wide and mouth gaping like a fish. I can't believe he actually just siad that. And in front of Connor no less!
I looked at Connor who looked to be paying no attention to our conversation. He had sauce on his hands and chin even a some in his hair. Suddenly he looked up at me and smiled.
"Keep it in your pants Awice!" He giggled up at me. I slapped myself in the forehead and looked at my dad who was smirking at me and nodding. What was I gonna do with these two?
The week had gone by somewhat quickly. I was almost completely settled in school and I made a lot of other friends besides Eric, Jessica, Angela, and Mike. The Cullens still looked at me on occasion but we never really talked although Jacob siad hi to me a few times in the halls when we did see each other. Isabella still hadn't come back to school. Everyday at lunch I would watch the cafeteria doors anxiously to see if she showed up. I wouldn't be able to relax or eat until I found out if she was here or not. Everyday they came in without her.
Mike was planning some big trip to La Push in two weeks and he had invited me. I agreed more so to be polite than any actual desire. In my opinion beaches should be warm, somewhat dry and sandy. La Push happend to be a huge mud puddle with more water surrounding it and if you were lucky It wasn't raining on the day you went.
By friday I was entering Biology with ease and not worrying about Isabella Cullen. For all I knew she dropped off the face of the earth. Or just out of school, that was a possibility too.
The weekend passed too quickly for my liking and on monday I found myself in the parking lot at school. The weekend had been amazing. Connor and I were at the house by ourselves and it gave me a lot of time to get to know him a little better. I now knew that his favorite food was italian. He loved to color and draw, which made me happy, I had showed him many of my drawings and even gave him the one I drew of him when he was just a small baby. I learned that he couldn't have his food touching, he wouldn't eat it otherwise. He also had a little bit of OCD when it came to the placement of his crayons and pencils. He was an altogther happy little boy who was happy to just sit and talk to me.
I wanted to go to the local art store in Port Angeles soon and also visit the library or perhaps a book store. I needed something to do or I was gonna go crazy with boredom. I needed a new easel and some new paint brushes. I needed a lot of suplies because I had left all of mine in California.
The rain had stayed quiet for a few days and I was thankful because it gave me time to catch up on some much needed sleep.
People greeted me when I arrived at school on monday. Some of them I knew, but I waved to all of them polite enough to greet me. It was colder this morning and I had made sure to bundle up before leaving the house. It wasn't raining though. So, that was a plus.
I had an english test on Wuthering Heights. It was easy and I was one of the first ones to finish. Mike had struggled through it but eventually got done. We walked out of class togehter and the air was filled with swirling bits of fluffy white snow. Excitement flared up in my chest and I squealed happily. I grinned happily. I loved the snow and was actually becoming to like the rain. I had worn my hair perfectly straight today so I wouldn't have to worry about it falttening.
"Wow can you be-" Mike was cut off by a snow ball that went flying through the air and hit him in the back of the head. We turned to look at where it came from and watched as Eric hurried to get to class. His cover up might have worked if only he was going the right way to get to his next class.
"Seeya Alice!" Mike began to run after Eric and I laughed and began walking to my next class.
Throughout the morning people talked excitedly about the snow and about the many snowball fights that had went on outside. Apparently it was the first snow of the year. I talked to everyone I knew about the snow also.
I walked with Jessica to the cafeteria. Mush balls of icy snow were flying everywhere and for once in my life I was thankful for my short height. I could hide behind the taller people. It gave me a lot of advantages the other bigger, taller people weren't lucky enough to have.
Mike caught up to us and began to walk with us, laughing, with ice melting in his hair. Jessica and Mike talked animatedly about the snow fights as we got in line for food. I looked over at the Cullen table out of habit and froze.
"Hello? Earth to Alice. Come in Alice. What do you want to eat?" Jessica asked.
I looked down and focused on the floor. I breathed deep and did my best not to loose my light breakfast and last nights dinner. I did my best to tell myself that I had not done anything wrong.
"Actually i'm just gonna get a water today. I'm not feeling well." I answered and I took the offered water.
I waited for them to get their food and then we walked to our table. We arrived and I took a seat next to Jessica with Mike on my other side. I pulled off the cap of my water and took a healthy swig. Twice, Mike asked me with unnecessary concern in I was in fact alright. I told him I was fine and that it would probably pass by the time lunch hour was over. Though I doubted that would really happen. Maybe I should play it up and visit the nurse so I could get out of my next period?
Ugh. Rediculous. I shouldn't have to run away. Ok. Just breathe Mary Alice.
I decided that I would look up at her and if she looked unfriendly then I would skip next period like the coward I was.
I peeked at them from under my lashes. None of them were looking my way. I lifted my head, finding hidden courage.
They were all laughing. Emmett, Jasper, Edward all had their hair full of melting ice. Rosalie, Victoria and Isabella all leaned away as Emmett shook his sopping hair in their direction. They looked like a scene from a movie. They were so beautiful.
But aside from their playfullness there was something different about them. I studied Isabella with careful importance. She had lighter circles under her eyes than the last time I had seen her. She also didn't look as pale, which I blamed for playing out in the snow. Her eyes...That was it!! Her eyes were an inticing butterschotch color today which was strange because I remember them being black the last time I saw her. Maybe she got contacts?
"Alice what are you staring at?" Jessica asked and followed my gaze to the Cullen table.
Isabella looked up at me then. I dropped my gaze immediately. In the time where my gaze held hers I was sure that she didn't look harsh or even unfriendly. She looked curious and slightly unsatisfied.
"Isabella is staring at you." Jessica whispered into my ear. As if I couldn't feel her eyes burning wholes in the side of my face.
"Does she look angry?" I had to ask.
"No. Why would she?" Jessica sounded seriously confused.
"I don't think she likes me." I explained sadly.
"The Cullens dont like anyone. Well actually they don't take the time to get to know anyone to even really like them at all. Your not the only one they've left out of their little group Alice." Jessica sounded somewhat harsh. I didn't really blame her though but something made me want to stand up for the entire Cullen family. I kept my mouth shut though.
"She's still looking at you." She whispered.
"Stop looking at her!" I hissed through clenched teeth. Jessica laughed wholeheartedly but complied with my wish.
Mike interrupted us then. He was planning an epic snowball battle outside in the parking lot after school and wanted to know if we wanted to join. Jessica agreed quickly but by the way she looked at Mike I knew she'd do anything to get his attention. I told him that I wasn't interested in getting my hair wet and that I was still feeling ill. But really I didn't want that cold stuff to seep into my clothes and freeze me.
The lunch period was spent with me keeping my eyes on my own table and trying (failing) to keep up with the current conversation. I was trying to fight my nerves because I knew that if I let my nervousness take over I was never going to make it to Biology. Since she didn't look unfriendly or harsh maybe today wouldn't be so bad.
I didn't walk with Mike because he seemed to be a target for snowballs. But as we got to the doors that led out to the school buildings everyone groaned. Rain pelted down over the roof and onto half of the walkway, washing away all traces of snow in its wake. I sighed sadly and walked the way to class, keeping my head down the whole way.
Once in class I was relieved that my table was still empty. Mr. Banner was walking around the room and distributing microscopes on each table. He was also placing boxes of slides next to them. Class didn't begin for another few minutes so I took out my notebook and began to draw.
I was busy drawing a rather detailed branch of a dead tree when the chair next to me scraped across the floor and the smell of peppermint assaulted my nose. My eyes stayed on the notebook in front of me.
"Hello." A quite musical voice sounded from beside me.
I looked up clearly stunned that she was speaking to me. She sat as far away from me as the table allowed but her chair and body was angled in my direction. She was looking at me. Her hair was dripping wet from the rain and strands of it stuck to her pale neck. She wore a black jacket over a white shirt. A gray scarf hung off her neck and fell gently over her torso. She had on dark denim jeans and black shoes. She looked like an angel. Her dazzling face was open, she wore a friendly smile on her lips.
"My name is Isabella Cullen, I didn't have the chance to introduce myself last week. You must be Alice Brandon."
My mind was swimming with confusion at what was taking place. Did I imagine her hostility to me last week? She was perfectly polite now. I had to speak before she began to think I was mentally challenged.
"H-How do you know my name?" Really Alice, Thats all you can come up with? Jeez!
'Hey I don't see you throwing in anything here!'
'No I figured you could manage by yourself for once. But I guess I was wrong. Look at you!! Your talking to yourself here!! You really are mental.'
'Oh shut up.'
She laughed and enchanting laugh that left me momentarily speechless.
"I think it's safe to say everyone knows your name." I noticed now that she had a slight accent. It was so faint that I couldn't tell where it was from. Perhaps Italian. Isabella was italian, was it not?
"Oh I see." I nodded and looked away awkwardly.
Mr. Banner took his time to begin class and I tried my hardest to keep my eyes somewhere, anywhere, than on Isabella. I also tried to focus on what the hell Mr. Banner was saying.
We would be putting the slides in order according to the stages of mitosis that they represented. He would be coming around to check and make sure we were doing everything right in 20 minutes.
"Would you like to go first?" My enchanting Biology partner asked. She smiled at me and she looked so beautiful. I was to stunned to speak.
"Or I could start, if you wish." Her smile had faded and I mentally slapped myself. She reached for the microscope. Great, she definetely thought a lot of me now.
"No," I siad blushing brightly, "I'll go ahead."
I was showing off just a little bit. I had done this lab before so, it shouldn't really be all that hard to accomplish. I watched as my beautiful lab partner pushed the microscope towards me. I took it with a small smile. I slid the first slide in place and adjusted the microscope to 40x objective. I studied the slide briefly.
"Prophase." I was very confident in my answer.
"Do you mind if I double check?" As I began to remove the slide she asked and her hand covered mine. Her skin was ice cold. But that wasn't why I flinched away from her touch. When her skin made contact with mine I felt like an electric shock had invaded my body and it shook me to my very core.
"Im sorry." She immediately took her hand away. However, she did continue to reach for the microscope. I watched her as she took a brief look at the slide. I was in a sort of dumbstruck trance for a moment but I finally managed to snap out of it. She took less time to look than I did.
"Prophase." She muttered while writing the answer in a neat old-timey fashion. Really, her print was beautiful.
"Like I told you." I remarked and she smiled which made me smile in return. She swiftly replaced the first slide with the second and then glanced at it curiously.
"Anaphase." She muttered and began writing the answer down.
"May I check?" I asked, keeping my voice indifferent.
She smirked and pushed the microscope to me. I noticed that she was being careful not to touch my skin. I looked through the microscpe eagerly only to be disappointed. Damn. She was right.
" Anaphase." I muttered sourly. She chuckled a little and wrote down the answer.
"Like I siad." I rolled my eyes which made her laugh harder.
"May I see slide three?" I asked sweetly. Her brows furrowed and drew together. She looked adorably frustrated for some reason.
"Of course." She grabbed the slide and handed it to me carefully, again avoided any skin contact. I took the most fleeting look I could manage.
"Interphase."
We were done before anyone else in the class and that left us a lot of time to do...nothing. I could only try and not look at her...which I failed in that. EPICALLY. I glanced up at her and she was looking at me with the same frustrated expression she always had on her face when she was near me. Or even in the same room.
"Did you get contacts?" I blurted out.
She looked confused as to why I would ask such a thing. Her brows came together and she was back to looking adorably confused.
"No."
"Oh," I mumbled, "Thats funny because I could have sworn that your eyes were black the last time I saw you."
She shrugged and looked away but I caught something akin to regret in her eyes. I also noticed that she had her pale hands balled into fists again.
Mr. Banner decided it was as good a time as any to come and see why we weren't working. He looked over our shoulders.
"Isabella, don't you think Mary Alice deserved a chance with the microscope?"
"Alice," She corrected him, "Identified three of the five."
Mr. Banner looked at me skeptically.
"Have you ever done this lab before?"
"Yes Sir."
"Were you in an advanced placement in California?"
"Yes Sir."
He nodded.
"Well, I guess it's good you two are partners then." He walked off muttering something.
"It's too bad about the snow isn't it?" Isabella asked.
I had a feeling that she was making an effort to talk with me. I also had a suspicion that somehow she had heard my conversation with Jessica at lunch. If that was the case then she knew that I cared whether or not she liked me.
"Yep." I answered with a sigh.
"Do you not like the snow?" She asked curiously.
"No I love it. It's just that I've lived in California for a while and it's hard to get used to the weather change."
She nodded and I wondered why she looked so interested in what I had to say. It was like it was of the utmost importance that she got to know me. Which I found strange considering how she acted on the first day we met and how her family were so distant from everyone but themselves.
"Why did you move to Forks?" She looked down while she siad this and something passed by her eyes. An emotion that was to fast for me to read. Her jaw clenched and un-clenched and she let out a shuddering sigh. She almost looked to be in pain..
"Um, my mom got remarried and she wanted to go on a honeymoon and enjoy this marriage with her new husband Bill. I didn't want to hold them back with all that so I decided to move to Forks to spend time with my half-brother, my father, and Suzie my step mother. Are you alright?" I had no choice but to ask. By the look on her face she was fighting something.
"Yeah I'm fine. I was out of school because I was sick for some time. I just have a stomach ache." I had a feeling that was a lie. But I kept my mouth shut. I didn't want her mad at me.
"Oh." We sat in silence for a few minutes.
"Alice, are you unhappy here?" The question was so sudden and random that I couldn't help but stare at her in confusion and I was a little bit angry that she had the guts to ask me something like that by the way she treated me on my first day.
Isabella seemed to notice my posture change and she bowed her head as if waiting to be slapped or screamed at.
"I'm sorry. It's none of my business Alice. I shouldn't have asked." She siad with her head still down. She looked sorry which quelled my anger a little.
"No. It's ok. No i'm not unhappy here it's just hard to live with my dad and his new wife sometimes." I answered trying to keep my tone even. Isabella looked up and her expression was one of concern. She looked me over and frowned.
"You put on a good show Alice. But i'd bet that your suffering far more than you let on." She answered slowly as if that was supposed to take the sting out of her words.
I grimaced at her, resisting the urge to stick out my tongue.
"Am I wrong?" She asked challengingly.
I tried to ignore her.
"I didn't think so." She sounded smug. I sneered at her.
"Why the hell does it matter to you?" I was angry now. Angry at stupid Isabella Cullen. Angry that out of all the people in this school I had to be partnered with her.
"That's a very good question." It was so quiet that I could barely hear what she had siad. I scowled and faced forward.
"Am I annoying you?" She sounded amused and I turned to look at her. I sighed and shook my head.
"Not really. Im more annoyed with the situation i'm in." I didn't know why I told her so much but I felt like I could and she wouldn't judge me. Ha. What a load of crap.
"Yes, I figured you wouldn't really like changing your whole life around like that. But Alice, I would be un-comfortable too in your situation. I'm sure anyone would." Was she comforting me?
"Uh, yeah. Thanks." I didn't look at her.
Mr. Banner called for the classes attention and I was thankful to be out of this sort-of awkward conversation. I tried to listen to what he was saying but my mind was preocuppied with thoughts of the beautiful girl sitting next to me. I could feel her gaze on me at all times. She never looked away, Never even blinked really. Isabella was strange and moody. She was also beautiful and smart. Out of the corner of my eye I saw her lean away from me and her hand gripped the edge of the table. She was just so...Bizarre.
When class ended, Isabella was the first to leave the classroom and she was out the door as soon as anyone was out of their seats. I stared after her and shook my head. She was so...Isabella. Strange, Mysterious, and Bizzare.
"Cullen seemed friendly enough today." Mike muttered.
I shrugged and walked out of class to my next period.