Dearest In The Forest

Chapter 7

The next day Arabella was practically sprinting out of the door to head to school. She decided that it would be better to close her eyes when her alarm went off, and now she was late. When she arrived to school she was drenched in sweat and panting like a dog.

Suddenly, she heard giggling from behind her and hushed whispers. When she turned, Ari was met face-to-face with the schools biggest gossip and Edward's bitch of a girlfriend. Jessica and Bella.

"Hey newbie, you're a bit late for class! Better run on, hm?" Jessica taunted but Ari paid them no heed and continued her walk to class, but was interrupted by a ring from her pocket.

Arabella fumbled to retrieve her phone from her pocket, trying to maintain her composure despite the mocking glances from Jessica and Bella. As she answered the call, relief washed over her as she heard a familiar voice on the other end.

"Hey, Arabella! It's Jacob. I saw you from across the hallway and thought I'd check if you're okay," Jacob's warm voice resonated through the phone, momentarily distracting her from the awkward encounter.

"Oh, hey, Jacob! Yeah, I'm fine. Just running a bit late today," Arabella replied, grateful for the friendly interruption.

"Well, no worries. I was thinking, maybe after school, we could grab something to eat together? You know, get to know each other better," Jacob suggested with genuine enthusiasm.

Arabella's heart skipped a beat. She appreciated Jacob's straightforwardness, and his invitation sounded like a welcome distraction from the strange dynamics with the Cullens. "Sure, Jacob. That sounds great. I'd love to."

As she hung up, Jessica and Bella exchanged glances, their curiosity apparent. Arabella, however, chose to ignore their silent scrutiny and continued her way to class.

Throughout the day, whispers and glances followed Arabella like a shadow. The news of Jacob Black asking her out had spread like wildfire through the small town of Forks. The Cullens, who had overheard the gossip, were quick to react.

In the cafeteria during lunch, Arabella approached the familiar lunch table, but this time, the atmosphere was different. The Cullens were seated, yet their usual warmth was replaced by an icy indifference. Alice avoided eye contact, Jasper seemed disinterested, and even Emmett, who was usually boisterous, kept his focus on his food.

"Hey, Arabella, heard you got a date with Jacob Black," Jessica announced loudly, a malicious glint in her eyes.

Arabella felt a pang of discomfort, realizing that the Cullens were listening to every word. Trying to downplay the situation, she responded, "Yeah, we're just grabbing something to eat after school. It's not a big deal."

But as she glanced around the table, she was met with stony expressions and cold shoulders. The Cullens, jealous and hurt by the news, had decided to distance themselves from Arabella.

Throughout the day, Arabella noticed the change in their behavior. They ignored her in the hallways, gave curt responses in class, and avoided any interaction outside the bare minimum. Confused and hurt, Arabella couldn't comprehend the sudden shift.

When the final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day, Jacob appeared at her side, ready for their post-school plans. As they walked together, Arabella couldn't shake off the feeling of being watched.

Little did Arabella know, as she walked alongside Jacob, that the Cullens were discreetly shadowing her every move. Edward, his expression a mix of turmoil and regret, couldn't tear his gaze away from the scene unfolding before him. Jealousy and a sense of loss consumed him, and he struggled with the realization that Arabella had chosen to spend time with someone else.