Guarding the Angel (WIP)
Fandom: Twilight
Rating: Teen -- Eventual M
Pairings: All canon
Comments: I wrote much of this chapter in my class time, so a lot of it will be derived from some school events, which is why it's so school related.
[ Previously in Chapter 5]
Chapter Six
In the Merry-Go-Round We Go
My week had consisted of something very similar to my first day.
I would wake up, feeling groggy for no apparent reason, greet Charlie, and find my way to school in my big, bulky truck I got from Jacob. At school, my grogginess would wash away as I'm greeted by Alice in the mornings, just like that first day. Then in my classes I'd chat lightly with Jessica and Angela, but all the while still feeling like the new girl science project. I was still being watched over like a hawk by all the people who hadn't introduced themselves to me yet, and that included underclassmen and some of the seniors, but fortunately, that wasn't many. Then I'd go home, do homework, read, then entertain Charlie as I cook and eat with him. Either we'd watch TV afterwards, or I'd go back up to my room to do chores. Once, on the Wednesday, Jacob called, but I ended our conversation after about ten minutes. It was a routine I was used to now.
However, something changed on the Friday after my arrival. That was when I had been invited to sit with the Cullens.
Yes, that's right. I was invited to sit with the Cullens.
Fortunately (or unfortunately?), the object of my personal interest wasn't there that day. Alice had invited me over to sit with her family for that lunch period in the morning, and, like the curious cat I am, I hastily agreed. Even after I found out Edward wasn't even at school Friday, I would have still agreed, because all of them were just so... captivating. I was curious to see how they interacted with each other and if the rest of them were just as odd as Alice or Emmett.
I walked out of Trig with Jessica when I spotted Alice waiting for me by the lockers. Forgetting to have told Jessica, I turned to her and filled her in quickly. With her mouth agape and eyes unblinking, she briefly reminded me of a fish. Now this was a mental image I had to share with someone. Right then, Alice's tinkling laugh had just came up before me.
"I see what you mean, Bella," she giggled. Again, the cryptic greetings. Then, turning to Jessica, she said, "Sorry to steal her away, but I'm going to need her for a while. I don't know when I'll be able to bring her back." She winked at Jessica, before pulling my hand to whisk me away. I glanced back at her, and saw she still had that fish like expression.
My heart was thumping in loudly in my ears as we neared Alice's usual table in the cafeteria. One reason was because she and I were getting a lot of stares, probably due to the fact that it was obvious I was going to sit with her... a weird feat for anyone in this school. Another was reason was because, at Alice's table, every single one of her family members were stock still, as if anticipating something big. I guess this was something big, if I were to start sitting at their table. Alice then turned to me and smiled hugely with excitement and reassurance. My anxiety must have been easy to read, since she was now grasping my hand.
"Bella, I'd like to properly introduce you to my family..." she said brightly. "You remember Emmett," she gestured to the familiar brute of a man, "My sister Rosalie," I bit my lip under the scrutiny of the beautiful blonde's appraising look, "...and Jasper..." His short nod was simple yet comforting. I felt a wave of confidence fill me up and I instinctively looked at Jasper who only smiled hesitantly.
"Hi guys," I said smoothly as I sat down, which was a surprise, since I was sure it was going to come out timidly... It must have been that strange wave of confidence I had. In Alice's haste to get here, I had forgotten about getting food, so my stomach grumbled embarrassingly. Before the blush could fully form on my cheeks, I was assaulted by questions.
"Is your hunger uncomfortable?"
"Want me to go get you a super sized chalupa?"
"Shouldn't you be eating?"
"I'll go buy you something!"
I couldn't help but feel bombarded, but I noticed Alice was already up. "Really! It's okay!" I tried calling to her as she ran off to buy me lunch. I was very conscious about the fact that she would go out of her way to buy me lunch. She had been practically treating me like royalty all week, and I wasn't used to it, much less liking it. I tired to take comfort in the fact that she was buying food for herself as well. ...Then I realized I was at this table with these completely beautiful people without my closest ally, and I was still being treated as a science experiment.
A minute or two passed in awkward silence, but in all honesty, it felt much longer than that. Rosalie was still scrutinizing me, while Jasper did the same to me, only in a different way. I judged that he simply didn't know what to make of me. Emmett, however, had a wide grin.
"So, Bella, how are you liking our wonderful little school?" Emmett turned to me suddenly. This was the first time he had ever talked to me since my slip up in class that first day. I found his voice cheery and tone funny, which I liked much better than his angry face, but I blushed, hating to answer this question again.
Just as I was going to answer, Rosalie's expression became menacing. She had scooted up to Emmett's side so that she was now pressed up against him, and made a show of rubbing her hand on Emmett's arm. Did she think...? I almost had to laugh. She was staking a claim on him. I was going to tell her otherwise just then, when Alice came up behind me.
"Down, Rose," Alice said, with a tray in her hands. "It's definitely not like that."
Emmett's grin widened as Rose still clutched onto his arm, but Rosalie's harsh expression was unchanged. Alice plopped down in the seat between me and Jasper, lightly bringing the tray down with her. There were a couple of sandwiches, two bottles of lemonade, a salad, and a bag of cookies. It was much more than I would have normally eaten if I were to eat alone, but it could be that Alice was a big eater... even with her small size.
"Eat," she said.
"You're not gonna eat too?" I asked, horrified at the idea that I'd have to eat all this up.
She picked up one of the sandwiches, and took a moderate bite before setting it down. She looked bored to do so. She handed me the other sandwich. "Eat..."
"Unless you're allergic to anything here!" Emmett interjected.
"No, I checked," Alice replied calmly.
Wait. What? "What...do you mean you checked?" I asked, my suspicion and panic rising in my voice. She checked? For my allergies? And how did she get here so fast... did that mean she already had my food with her? I was even more creeped out when she had this cat-caught-the-canary grin. Alice opened her mouth to say something, but Rosalie interrupted.
"You should just eat," she said hastily. "They're just being weird."
"Yeah, we're all sort of... protective of each other," Emmett said, grinning at me, looking like he was holding back laughter. Rosalie elbowed him. I guess I missed the joke.
As much as I found all of this suspiciously odd, I really was hungry. And honestly, why should I be so paranoid and suspicious? It's not like these guys would pull something on me, or try to poison me, or something. I was being irrational. And besides, I liked this group; I didn't want to screw up potential friendships all because I found them odd.
Rating: Teen -- Eventual M
Pairings: All canon
Comments: I wrote much of this chapter in my class time, so a lot of it will be derived from some school events, which is why it's so school related.
[ Previously in Chapter 5]
Chapter Six
In the Merry-Go-Round We Go
My week had consisted of something very similar to my first day.
I would wake up, feeling groggy for no apparent reason, greet Charlie, and find my way to school in my big, bulky truck I got from Jacob. At school, my grogginess would wash away as I'm greeted by Alice in the mornings, just like that first day. Then in my classes I'd chat lightly with Jessica and Angela, but all the while still feeling like the new girl science project. I was still being watched over like a hawk by all the people who hadn't introduced themselves to me yet, and that included underclassmen and some of the seniors, but fortunately, that wasn't many. Then I'd go home, do homework, read, then entertain Charlie as I cook and eat with him. Either we'd watch TV afterwards, or I'd go back up to my room to do chores. Once, on the Wednesday, Jacob called, but I ended our conversation after about ten minutes. It was a routine I was used to now.
However, something changed on the Friday after my arrival. That was when I had been invited to sit with the Cullens.
Yes, that's right. I was invited to sit with the Cullens.
Fortunately (or unfortunately?), the object of my personal interest wasn't there that day. Alice had invited me over to sit with her family for that lunch period in the morning, and, like the curious cat I am, I hastily agreed. Even after I found out Edward wasn't even at school Friday, I would have still agreed, because all of them were just so... captivating. I was curious to see how they interacted with each other and if the rest of them were just as odd as Alice or Emmett.
I walked out of Trig with Jessica when I spotted Alice waiting for me by the lockers. Forgetting to have told Jessica, I turned to her and filled her in quickly. With her mouth agape and eyes unblinking, she briefly reminded me of a fish. Now this was a mental image I had to share with someone. Right then, Alice's tinkling laugh had just came up before me.
"I see what you mean, Bella," she giggled. Again, the cryptic greetings. Then, turning to Jessica, she said, "Sorry to steal her away, but I'm going to need her for a while. I don't know when I'll be able to bring her back." She winked at Jessica, before pulling my hand to whisk me away. I glanced back at her, and saw she still had that fish like expression.
My heart was thumping in loudly in my ears as we neared Alice's usual table in the cafeteria. One reason was because she and I were getting a lot of stares, probably due to the fact that it was obvious I was going to sit with her... a weird feat for anyone in this school. Another was reason was because, at Alice's table, every single one of her family members were stock still, as if anticipating something big. I guess this was something big, if I were to start sitting at their table. Alice then turned to me and smiled hugely with excitement and reassurance. My anxiety must have been easy to read, since she was now grasping my hand.
"Bella, I'd like to properly introduce you to my family..." she said brightly. "You remember Emmett," she gestured to the familiar brute of a man, "My sister Rosalie," I bit my lip under the scrutiny of the beautiful blonde's appraising look, "...and Jasper..." His short nod was simple yet comforting. I felt a wave of confidence fill me up and I instinctively looked at Jasper who only smiled hesitantly.
"Hi guys," I said smoothly as I sat down, which was a surprise, since I was sure it was going to come out timidly... It must have been that strange wave of confidence I had. In Alice's haste to get here, I had forgotten about getting food, so my stomach grumbled embarrassingly. Before the blush could fully form on my cheeks, I was assaulted by questions.
"Is your hunger uncomfortable?"
"Want me to go get you a super sized chalupa?"
"Shouldn't you be eating?"
"I'll go buy you something!"
I couldn't help but feel bombarded, but I noticed Alice was already up. "Really! It's okay!" I tried calling to her as she ran off to buy me lunch. I was very conscious about the fact that she would go out of her way to buy me lunch. She had been practically treating me like royalty all week, and I wasn't used to it, much less liking it. I tired to take comfort in the fact that she was buying food for herself as well. ...Then I realized I was at this table with these completely beautiful people without my closest ally, and I was still being treated as a science experiment.
A minute or two passed in awkward silence, but in all honesty, it felt much longer than that. Rosalie was still scrutinizing me, while Jasper did the same to me, only in a different way. I judged that he simply didn't know what to make of me. Emmett, however, had a wide grin.
"So, Bella, how are you liking our wonderful little school?" Emmett turned to me suddenly. This was the first time he had ever talked to me since my slip up in class that first day. I found his voice cheery and tone funny, which I liked much better than his angry face, but I blushed, hating to answer this question again.
Just as I was going to answer, Rosalie's expression became menacing. She had scooted up to Emmett's side so that she was now pressed up against him, and made a show of rubbing her hand on Emmett's arm. Did she think...? I almost had to laugh. She was staking a claim on him. I was going to tell her otherwise just then, when Alice came up behind me.
"Down, Rose," Alice said, with a tray in her hands. "It's definitely not like that."
Emmett's grin widened as Rose still clutched onto his arm, but Rosalie's harsh expression was unchanged. Alice plopped down in the seat between me and Jasper, lightly bringing the tray down with her. There were a couple of sandwiches, two bottles of lemonade, a salad, and a bag of cookies. It was much more than I would have normally eaten if I were to eat alone, but it could be that Alice was a big eater... even with her small size.
"Eat," she said.
"You're not gonna eat too?" I asked, horrified at the idea that I'd have to eat all this up.
She picked up one of the sandwiches, and took a moderate bite before setting it down. She looked bored to do so. She handed me the other sandwich. "Eat..."
"Unless you're allergic to anything here!" Emmett interjected.
"No, I checked," Alice replied calmly.
Wait. What? "What...do you mean you checked?" I asked, my suspicion and panic rising in my voice. She checked? For my allergies? And how did she get here so fast... did that mean she already had my food with her? I was even more creeped out when she had this cat-caught-the-canary grin. Alice opened her mouth to say something, but Rosalie interrupted.
"You should just eat," she said hastily. "They're just being weird."
"Yeah, we're all sort of... protective of each other," Emmett said, grinning at me, looking like he was holding back laughter. Rosalie elbowed him. I guess I missed the joke.
As much as I found all of this suspiciously odd, I really was hungry. And honestly, why should I be so paranoid and suspicious? It's not like these guys would pull something on me, or try to poison me, or something. I was being irrational. And besides, I liked this group; I didn't want to screw up potential friendships all because I found them odd.