Broken Expectations | Twilight

Part 9: Get Comfortable

Forks High School, with Bella in the Cafeteria

"I can't believe your sister is going to college part-time." Jessica tells Bella, after Clem heads to the office to drop off her slips. She only just catches the slight hint of envy in her voice as she grabs a tray to get lunch.

"She worked really hard for it." Bella says nonchalantly. In truth she couldn't remember her twin having to put much effort into much of anything except for when they were kids unless it involved social activities. She wasn't exactly sure what it was about her sister that had people hesitate around her because she certainly didn't have the same awkwardness her or Charlie did. Maybe is was Clem's bright white smile, the way her features seemed sharp enough to cut glass, how she looked as if she'd been photoshopped, or maybe even her too blue to be real eyes that seemed to pierce down to your very soul.

"I have no idea how she could manage that and a social life."

"Clem preferred doing her volunteer work. Unless it had to do with gymnastics or martial arts."

"Martial arts?" Jessica asks with a pinched face.

"Yea, I tried it before too but gave it up after I broke my finger on a wood board."

"Ouch. So that's Mariella but what about you?"

"What about me?" Bella asks nervously.

"You said she had no social life in Phoenix what about you? Give me the deets."

"I didn't say Clem didn't have a social life!"

"Did she date?"

"Well no bu-"

"Did you?"

"Once or twice."

"So basically you're the fun twin." Jessica says with a pleased smile and leading her to the table once they've paid. Despite how Bella wanted to correct Jessica, to tell her that Clem was the one that had given her the courage and push she needed to go on those dates, a part of her was happy. Bella knew most people compared the two of them and found her as the one lacking and so she couldn't help wondering if maybe this was her time to step out from her twin's shadow. Sitting down at the table it's like she's suddenly the last piece of candy in a candy store that the fat greedy kid from that Willy Wonka movie walked into.

"Smile." An tall brunette girl wearing glasses singsongs before a camera flashes causing her to blink rapidly. "Sorry I needed a candid for the feature."

"The feature's dead Angela don't bring it up again." The greasy haired boy Eric tells her.

"It's ok, I just-" Bella starts only to be cut off by Eric's assurances.

"Guess we'll just run another editorial on teen drinking." Angela says trying to smile.

"You can always go for eating disorders." Bella says and when she sees Angela and Jessica's curious eyes on her she remembers the last article Clem had written. "Speedo padding on the swim team."

"Actually, that's a good one."

"Kirk. Right? That's exactly what I thought." Jessica tells Angela, giggling, before turning to Bella. "We're talking Olympic sized." Bella smiles before her attention is caught by a group, making their way to the door, on the other side of the cafeteria windows.

At the front was a tiny pixie-esque girl with dark spiky cropped hair with skin paler then her own. Beside the girl was a lanky teen with messy bronze hair that seemed to go in every direction, which she was sure Clem had once called 'sex hair', yet for him somehow still seemed presentable. Behind them were two taller boys, one of which was large enough to block her view of the fifth person he was speaking with. He had black curls and his build was similar to that of a body builder and had her wondering if it was actually natural of if he was taking something to increase his size. He had to be the tallest person she'd ever seen. The other boy, and she's not sure if she should really be calling either of the two of them boys, had honey blond waves reaching his chin and was leaner then the last but likely just as fit. "Who are they?" The question slips out before she realizes it and the two girls turn to look.