Just, Breathe (Jasper Hale) (1)

2-Be Prepared

The next morning, when Bella pulled up in her new-yet-old dusty red truck, I thought I was prepared, that I could do this. How wrong I was.

"Grammy I can't find my red pen." 

"It's in your hair dear." My frantic hand reached into the messy bun flip flopping on my head, feeling the cool plastic tucked away. There wasn't even time to question why it was in there.

"Okay, I got this." I breathed, stepping out my room, "I don't got this." Swivelling around, I was about to walk back into my room, needing to sort through the pens on my desk one more time when the door abruptly slammed in my face.

"Get into the truck before I zap you into it. Lord why did you send me this child? Be good at school, and I'll see you for dinner tonight." Even with her short height, my grandmother managed to push me to the front door before swiftly shutting it, once again in my face. Bella, being the good friend she is, tried to hold her laugh back with a feigned cough before driving off, in what I hoped was not the way to school but in fact a clean escape.

"So, uh, what was that about?"

"My pen was in my hair, couldn't find it anywhere, and then I had the urge to tidy again and Grammy decided it was time for me to get out the house."

"Why was your pen in your hair?"

"Exactly!"

~

When the school came into view, all the nerves that I had tried to hard to repress sprung out like a leaky faucet, bubbling right under the surface. My introverted friend stood next to me, almost trying to hide behind me. News flash- it didn't work.

"Nice ride!" I heard a male voice to the left of me and nodded in acknowledgement before scuttling off with Bella to find the admissions office. The anxiety encasing my body faded away slowly into a feeling of comfort. I wonder where that came from since I was still riddled with worries for the day.

"You should go first, mine will take a little bit longer. Meet you at lunch?" I asked, and after her confusion settled with a light bulb above her head, Bella nodded and took the papers given to her.

"And you must be Camila. You're grandmother has filled us in, and the guidance councillor Ms Lenis will find you at some point during the school period. Should you face any troubles do not hesitate to come find us. I hope that you enjoy your time here with us at Forks High."

"Thank you. Oh, um, sorry to be a bother but could you tell me the route to my art class again please?" She smiled, and was about to show me when something distracted her.

"Mr Hale! Perfect timing, you have art class now, correct? Would you show Miss Jennings the way please." Her smile, yet blunt statement left no room for 'Mr Hale' to refuse her request, should you even be able to call it that.

"Of course, this way Miss." The young boy walking with me to class was taller in height, with a much paler complexion, that of almost sickly tones. His eyes were an amazing amber-gold, and his blond hair sat in curls even I was jealous of. And still, he seemed to be in constant pain.

"Sorry if this is an inconvenience." I apologised, fingers dancing together in a nervous twitch.

"Not at all, Ma'am, Mrs Dorothea was correct in that we share art class this period You walking with me is all but a light ray of sun." His commentary threw me off slightly, but a small smile found its way onto my lips. I looked ahead, trying to memorise the walk to the art rooms, as I had a feeling they would become a safe haven for me.

"Sorry if this is overstepping, please tell me if it is, but are you feeling alright? You look quite pale." Just like Grammy, I put everyone else before myself, and it was in my natural habit to worry for others, even if they were strangers.
"Not at all, Miss Jennings. My siblings and I have a paler complexion than most, thank you for the concern."