Moonrise | Paul Lahote

1

"Oh my god, that's her!"

"Where?" Jenna whipped her head around.

"There," Jessica pointed. "Next to your seat."

They weren't the only people to notice. Multiple people were craning their necks to catch a glimpse of the dark-haired girl who sat at the very back of the class, looking like she was desperately trying to blend into the table.

"Next to mine? Perfect," Jenna whispered. "I'm gonna go introduce myself!"

"I thought you already knew her?"

"She probably doesn't remember me. I'll see you during lunch?"

"You better!" Jessica nudged her shoulder once before disappearing into the crowded hall to her class.

Jenna approached Bella with an easy smile. As the girl's eyes met her own, she shrank back slightly, like a cornered animal. Jenna ignored this, sliding into the seat next to her. "Bella?" she guessed.

Bella startled from where she was hiding behind her backpack. "You know me?"

"You're the new kid. I'm pretty sure everyone knows you." Jenna joked. At Bella's blanch, she hurriedly corrected herself. "Sorry. I'm Jenna."

"It's nice to meet you," the girl replied awkwardly.

Jenna stared at her for a full three seconds. "You really don't remember me, do you?"

Bella's blank look said it all.

"We knew each other as kids," Jenna prompted.

"We did?"

"Yeah. Our dads are best buds."

"They are?"

"We played together all the time, when you visited for the summer."

Bella just gave her a confused look.

"You really don't remember? At all?" Jenna deflated. She'd expected it, but still...

Bella cocked her head, looking Jenna up and down. Jenna grinned hopefully. Finally, recognition lit in her eyes. "We used to visit you. At the beach."

"Yes!" Jenna cheered. "You probably remember my sisters better. I think you played with them more than me."

"Down at La Push?" Bella said, quickly catching on. "I remember that. We used to watch the tide pools together." Her eyes glazed slightly, like she was imagining some far away time. "They're older than us, right? Where are they now?"

"Rachel goes to a fancy college, and Rebecca married a surfer dude in Hawaii."

"Married!" Bella looked mind-blown. "But she's really young!"

"I know, right?" Jenna shook her head. "I still can't believe it."

The two of them quieted down as Mr. Mason began the lesson. The man was notorious for punishing kids for talking in class, so Jenna kept her mouth shut and doodled in her notebook to pass time. She occasionally glanced over at Bella, who still looked incredibly embarrassed. Despite sitting in the back, people were still managing to stare at her, and Jenna watched in amusement while she tried to hide behind her backpack. Thankfully for her, It wasn't long before the bell rang, and they stood up, scooping their stuff into their bags.

"What class do you have next?" Jenna asked, following Bella out of the room.

"Ummm," the girl rummaged through her bag and pulled out her schedule. "Government, building six."

"Sweet. Me too."

Government passed quickly. Bella was obviously relieved to have someone she knew with her, and sat next to her for the entire class. When the teacher wasn't looking, Jenna would chat with her, explaining things about the school and Forks. The conversation was fairly one-sided, but Jenna didn't mind. Both her father and Charlie had charged her with the mission to prevent Bella from feeling lonely, and she wasn't going to let them down.