Twilight Reimagined

Chapter 2

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Chapter 2:

The next day was better...and worse.

It was better because it wasn't raining yet, though the clouds were dense and opaque. It easier because I knew what to expect of my day. Mike came to sit by me in English and walked me to my next class; which was admittedly flattering. People didn't look at me quite as much as they had yesterday. I sat with a big group at lunch that included Mike, Eric, Jessica, and several other people whose names and faces I now remembered. I began to feel like I was treading water.

It was worse because I was tired; I still couldn't sleep with the wind echoing around the house. It was worse because Mr. Varner called on me in Trig when my hand wasn't raised and I had the wrong answer. It was worse because I had to play volleyball and the one time I didn't avoid the ball altogether, I hit my teammate in the head with it.

And it was both better and worse because Edward Cullen wasn't in school at all.

All morning I was dreading lunch, fearing his menacing glares. I knew that I couldn't say anything to anyone just because of some stares. Part of me wanted to confront him and demand to know what his problem was. While lying sleepless in bed, I even imagined what I would say. But I knew that I couldn't do it, or at least would have to in a place with other people.

But when I walked into the cafeteria with Jessica-trying to keep my eyes from sweeping the place for him and failing entirely- I saw his four siblings were sitting together at the same table, he was not with them.

Mike intercepted us and steered us to his table. Jessica seemed elated by the attention, softening her expression as Mike approached. Her friends quickly joined us. But as I tried to listen to their easy chatter, I was terribly uncomfortable, waiting nervously for the moment he would arrive. I hoped that he would simply ignore me when he came, and prove my suspicion false.

He didn't come, and as time passed I grew tenser.

I walked to Biology with more confidence when, by the end of lunch, he still hadn't shown. Mike, who was talking about nothing in particular, walked faithfully by my side to class. I held my breath at the door, but Edward Cullen wasn't there, either. I exhaled and went to my seat. Mike followed and had moved onto talking about an upcoming beach trip. He lingered by my desk till the bell rang. Then he smiled at me wistfully and went to sit by the tall girl with braces. Mike seemed to be overly friendly, hinting at something I wish he hadn't.

I was relieved that I had the desk to myself, that Edward was absent. I told myself that repeatedly. His behavior the day before pointed to me being the reason he wasn't there. Was I not giving him the benefit of the doubt? Was I the reason he was gone? Was it egotistical to think that?

When the school day was finally done, and the embarrassment was fading from the volleyball incident, I changed quickly back into my jeans and crewneck. I hurried out successfully avoiding Mike and the height of the student rush at the end of the day. I got in my truck and dug through my bag to make sure I had everything I needed.

My Dad's cooking was painfully white, underseasoned, and overcooked. That morning we had decided to do meal prep every week, and I needed to go shopping so we could have something to eat for the rest of the week. On the counter near the sink, my Dad had left a sticky note and debit card for me to buy groceries with before he left. The sticky notes said:

Enzo's Dark Roast Coffe

Peanut Butter

Bananas