The Other Swan

7. Invites

Thursday rolled around, and with it some warmer weather. Saturday was supposed to be nice and sunny, a rarity in Forks, but today was still a bit rainy despite the increase in temperature. With the warmer weather came the rest of my lung function. Even just walking around the house felt a lot easier. That heavy feeling, like someone was sitting on my chest, was all but gone by now. While I was sure it would come back eventually, I was relieved to not have to deal with it.

The flowers Emmett had given me were now starting to wilt, a fact I was quite disappointed by. I had grown quite fond of the petite little foxgloves, and I resented the temporary nature of life. If only they would last forever. But all good things must come to an end eventually. Still, I couldn't bring myself to throw them out quite yet. I gave them one last sniff, taking in the sweet smell, before sitting down on my bed with my math textbook and loose papers sprawled in front of me.

This week I was focusing on getting through the newest unit and the assignment that came with it. I had never been good at English but math I excelled at. Math and music were my strong suits. Anything else could go burn in a dumpster fire for all I cared. Math and music made sense to me. They clicked in my brain.

When I was younger, about eight years old, Dad needed to sign me up for some sort of after school activity. Something to keep me busy while he finished his shifts at the station. For obvious reasons, sports weren't a great option. No ballet or softball for me. That pretty much just left me with music. So piano lessons it was. I practiced on my mother's old piano that sat in the living room. Dad told me once that she played the most beautiful music, but he never mentioned it again. I think it hurt to remember her. The only other connection I have to her musical side is the few pieces of sheet music I found tucked inside the bench. I loved learning piano, and I loved it even more once I was able to play my mother's songs, but eventually I grew old enough to stay home myself so the lessons came to an end in order to save on money.

Dad did have a well-paying job but the medical bills, mortgage payments, etc. still took a toll on his finances. Most families around here were dual-income households but not ours. He made enough to get by and a little extra for us to have some fun with, like the complete in box Zelda games, but that was about it.

I cracked away at my functions homework until I heard the front door open and shut, earlier than I was expecting. It was Bella.

"You're home early." I said, coming down the stairs.

"Yeah. They were blood-typing in Biology and well... I kind of passed out." She explained. Before I had a chance to tease her about that she continued on.

"You know that beach trip that was postponed?" She asked me as she set down her backpack in the hallway and started taking off her jacket.

"Yup."

"Well it's back on for this Saturday. We're meeting at Mike's dad's store at ten. Are you still planning to come?" She asked, now walking into the kitchen to start on dinner.

"Yeah, that's still the plan. Hey, do you think they'd mind if I invited Emmett?" I asked her.

"I don't see why they would. I invited Edward today, but he wasn't keen on going. He thinks Mike hates him. Doesn't want to rock the boat too much I guess."

"Hmm... he might be right. Doesn't Mike have a thing for you or something?" I asked her. She nodded awkwardly before quickly assuring me that she was not at all interested in Mike.

"Don't worry, Bella. Mike and I have been done and dusted for a couple years now. No hard feelings." I replied. And it was true. Mostly I was just hurt by that fact that he, along with the rest of my old friends, seemed to move on so easily.