Blood Moon (A Twilight Retelling)

Three

"Um," I paused to assess the scene in front of me. "Where do you think you're going? In that??" My mother had stepped out of the front door to our new home in a lilac dress. It went to her knees, but that wasn't what bothered me. The dress, stunning as it looked on her, clung to her body, hugging her soft curves and showing how alluring she was. Don't get me wrong, I loved seeing my mum enjoy herself and that outfit might have been normal in California but not in Forks, definitely not in Forks. 

Yesterday as we walked into the diner we had turned every head in the vicinity. Well mostly my mum with her confident stride, brilliant smile and gorgeous outfit. I hadn't minded much then as the diner only had about four customers excluding ourselves so not much attention to be drawn. However, she was going to drop me off at school today. High School; the place where teenagers were their most judgemental selves. I guess I had missed being eaten alive by a bear this morning only to be served up on a silver platter to a hoard of adolescents. 

"I'm dropping you off to school of course," she said as if it were the most obvious thing ever. "Unless," she continued, "You'd prefer running your way there," she winked, teasing me for the little incident that happened this morning. I rolled my eyes and opened the door to slide into the passenger seat. 

"Haha, very funny mum. You know, most mothers would be worried sick if that happened to their kid," she slid in next to me and poked the key into the ignition. 

"Good thing I'm not most mums," I resisted the urge to roll my eyes again.

She started the engine to the BMW X5; an anniversary gift from my father, and it grumbled to life. The car still smelled like new leather, showing how little time had passed since my father had professed his undying devotion. She clicked on her seatbelt before pulling out of our driveway and onto the main road. 

It was still slick with yesterday's shower and there was no sign of the sun showing face today. I sighed, already missing the way the sun rays would cast their warm embrace upon me and the pleasant feeling it had on my skin. I took in a breath before speaking.

"So what are you going to do in town today?" She glanced at me before concentrating on the road again. 

"Just have to do some grocery shopping and see if I can get someone to repair the water heater. Oh and send the divorce papers to my lawyer back home," I nodded absent minded, I noticed how she still referred to California as home, I guess it was hard to move on from somewhere you had spent the majority of your life in. It was hard for me as well, giving up on everything I had known and loved, even now I would have to apply for different colleges, maybe even work towards a sports scholarship to do so. 

It took us a little under twenty minutes to reach the school, a knot tightened in my stomach as I observed the building, well buildings come into view. It looked more like a series of houses than a school in all honesty with its red bricked façade and low roofs. 

As we entered the line of cars entering the parking lot, I could see the heads of students standing around turn to stare at the obvious new car that painfully stood out. Almost every car in sight looked to be second hand with the exception of a shiny Volvo and a red car that were parked far off. I wanted to sink into my seat and disappear. 

My mum pulled into a parking space next to a big red truck with peeling paint and huge tyres. I quickly unbuckled my seatbelt and tossed my bag over my shoulder, eager to get in as fast as possible.

"Not so fast, wait for me," the sound of her seatbelt coming undone was loud, at least to me that I could hear my own breath hitch. 

"You're coming with me?" I asked staring at her in disbelief. 

"Yes, I still have some papers to sign," well there goes my hope of fitting in and being normal. I sighed and nodded before hopping out of the car and cringing almost immediately. I had stepped in a puddle, great. As I felt the cold water bleed through the fabric of my converses I could only be thankful that it hadn't splashed onto my jeans. 

The driver's side opened and closed before the car beeped, signalling that it had been locked. I rounded the car to try and keep up with my mum as she fast walked towards the building with "Front desk" and an arrow pointing to the door on it. I could feel the eyes on us, I took a deep breath to try and steel my nerves. Remember it's normal to feel anxious. I kept my breath exercises going as I marched behind her, slowly feeling the nervousness seep away. 

My mum held the door open for me as we entered to office, it was warmer than expected in here and I could see a girl with long brown hair and a small frame standing at the front desk waiting for the receptionist to give her something. The receptionist in question looked up at us over her glasses as we approached and her eyes almost bulged out of their sockets. "Ah you must be Mrs. and Miss Lock," my mother flashed her dazzling smile.

"Yes, I was told I still have to sign some transfer forms," The receptionist nodded and handed her the papers. I looked to my side as she read through them. The girl was looking at me, curiosity and oddly enough relief flashing through her eyes. Her hands were clenched at her sides and she looked anxious. She must be new as well. I took a deep breath and approached her cautiously. 

"Hi, I'm Vivian," she looked shocked that I would talk to her as she looked up at me questioningly. 

"I'm Bella Swan," she offered her hand awkwardly and I was relieved that I wasn't the only one feeling this way. I shook it firmly and smiled. 

"So are you from around here? I moved from California," I offered up some information about myself first hoping to keep the conversation alive.

She smiled sheepishly, "Well I'm not exactly from here, my dad is, he's the sheriff, I came here from Phoenix," 

"Wow, Phoenix, that's nothing like Forks,"

"Are you kidding? California is even more different." We chuckled, before the receptionist called on both of us to give us our schedule. My mum had already signed the needed documents and she was on her phone now, talking to her lawyer probably by the serious look on her face. She started for the door before turning back and waving me goodbye then going back outside. 

I turned my attention back to the lady who was showing us the map and explaining the best routes to take to each of our classes. Bella and I had gym, English and Biology together. I smiled contently knowing I'd see a familiar face a lot. We thanked the receptionist before leaving the office and headed outside. We would separate for our first classes but agreed to meet at lunch again.

The bell rang and I looked down at my map before sighing and heading into unknown territory.