Twilight OC Rewrite

Chapter Two: Open Book

The next day was better and worse for us both.

Better because no one was staring quite as much as before. It was easier to expect what was coming next. Mike tried to sit close to us in English while he and Eric had a glaring match, and they both tried to walk us to our next class. Bella and I sat with a big group at lunch that included Mike, Eric, Jessica, and several other people whose names were now becoming familiar. Bella looked better in spirit and I could tell it was because it wasn't raining yet. It was better for me, because Edward Cullen, the boy who I blamed for my humiliation, wasn't in school.

It was worse because Bella still couldn't sleep well with the wind echoing through the house, so she would toss and turn and the noise of her moving kept me awake, as well. 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 miserable, because Bella had to play volleyball and hit her teammate in the head with the ball. I was supposed to play too, but ended up crouching beside the bleachers to read and got reprimanded for it. It was worse for Bella because Edward Cullen wasn't in school at all. When she told me that last fact, I looked at her surprised.

"Why would you want him to be in school? I thought you were upset with how he treated you?"

"I am. I want to demand an explanation." That was the only answer I got from her on the matter.

I had dreaded lunch all morning. I didn't want to deal with the stares of anyone who might have learned of my outburst. While I wished to avoid Edward, my sister wished to confront him, to demand to know why he seemed so repulsed by her, by the both of us. Although, she probably wouldn't; she wasn't exactly the brave type. Even if she had mustered the courage, she wouldn't have gotten her chance. As we entered the lunchroom with Jessica, I noticed only 5 of the Cullen/Hale children were present, and Edward was not one of them. Confirming Bella's suspicion that he was absent.

I breathed a sigh of relief as Bella stiffened beside me. Just then, Mike intercepted us and steered us to his table. Jessica, obviously fawning over the average-looking boy, was elated by the attention and her friends quickly joined as well.

As we entered Biology, I started to relax. I hadn't seen Edward at lunch so it was likely he wouldn't be in this class. I could've leapt with joy when I found my assumptions correct, while Bella looked more uneasy as she took her seat, alone. I had already gotten ahead in my studies so after I sat, I pulled out a book I could read instead.

Mike Newton, though, spent the class staring at Bella, I noticed when I turned to check on her, with what looked like less than a thought in his mind focused on his studies. He was so occupied with admiring Bella that he didn't notice how down she seemed, or how she kept staring to her left. He still didn't notice when he made direct eye contact with her. Bella, on the other hand, definitely noticed and looked away almost immediately. It seemed she would soon have to do something about Mike, I could tell she wasn't as interested in him as he was in her. In a town like this, though, it seemed it wouldn't be easy. Everyone lives on top of each other which made diplomacy essential and neither Bella nor I were any good with boys.

As I turned around once more to see how she was doing, she passed me a small note.

I'm happy to be sitting alone, really. I feel more relieved that he isn't here, I guess. But I feel like I'm the reason he isn't here today.

After reading it, I added on my own theory before passing the note back to her.

Maybe it was because I yelled at him?

It was ridiculous and egotistical, but I couldn't stop worrying that one of us was right. If Bella was right, we would have to figure out why he hated her so much right from the start. If I was right, I was worried he might send his family to intimidate me.