𝙃𝙀𝘼𝙑𝙀𝙉𝙇𝙔 𝘽𝙊𝘿𝙔 | 𝙅. 𝙃𝘼𝙇𝙀

25| Trying to hold the heart that you once tore

The weeks that followed that night were uncomfortable. Orion returned to his natural routine, simultaneously avoiding the Cullens.

He didn't want to hear any of them out. He didn't care if the Volturi would chase him down; there is a chance to change his future-he has the opportunity to live his human life. He won't let anything stand in his way-not the Cullens, not the Volturi, not anyone.

Ignoring them made the days at school difficult. Today was one of those days. Isabella carefully pulls her truck into the school parking lot. Orion, in the passenger seat, could already see a group of familiar pale faces eyeing the truck.

He's nervous. It was a feeling he grew accustomed to fairly quickly. "If we run fast enough, we could dodge them." Bella's voice came out rushed, as if she were running a list of escape plans through her mind.

It's comical, and it eases his nerves. She didn't like that he turned down the Cullens' offer, but she understood why. Bella gave them a second chance, but he isn't ready for that. not yet.

Orion smiles, slinging his backpack over his shoulder. "It's fine, Bells." His hand latches onto the car door's handle. Bella nods her head at him, checking for confirmation that it really is okay. He returns the nod.

Taking a step out of the car, feet planted on the cool concrete. Clouds covered the sun, allowing no light to peak through. He briefly looks over to the group he'd been trying so hard to avoid. They were already staring at them.

Adverting his gaze, he walks over to Bella, linking their arms together. He could see the girl struggling to avoid making eye contact with them. "Just wave to them." He mutters lowly into her ear.

He wouldn't deprive her of talking to them, especially Edward. Even if he weren't on the best terms with them.

She waves awkwardly. Orion watches as they return the wave. Unintentionally, his eye is caught by a certain blond. With his hand still raised, he now redirects the wave to him, offering a small smile along with it.

Rye pauses. Does he return it or not? A question that shortly stumps him. He won't do it. He tears his gaze away from him, walking straight to the school building.

Bella follows right behind him, catching up to him. "Are you okay?" She asked, stopping him before they walked through the doors.

He takes a sharp breath, running his sweaty palms against the thick material of his jeans. "Yeah, yeah," he sighs, bringing a hand to move the hair that stuck to his forehead. "This is harder than I thought it was going to be."

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Orion couldn't have been more right. It seemed to have slipped his mind that he had most of his classes with at least one of the Cullens.

He is in the last class of the day. Attempting to seem occupied with the classwork when in reality he's trying not to pay any mind to the blond sitting next to him.