Isa & the Happily Ever After System

13. Sweet Angela

The 7th of March was the start to a sunny week.
I was happy to be free of my shadows for now.
I didn't have anything against them, they were all kind and helpful. And overprotective.

I was not accident prone but you would think I was from how much they protected me from things.

With my protectors gone I decided to chance the hormone filled halls and try to be friendly with the teens my physical age. Which meant no eating in my car.

Taking a deep breath I ventured into the cafeteria with my packed lunch. I refused to pause from my pursuit of Angela even as I heard the din quiet slightly when I entered.

"Isa!" Angela got up and waved from her table towards the back of the cafeteria.

I made a beeline for her and was met with a big smile.

"That lunch offer still on the table?"

"Absolutely!" She scooted over and told the boy next her to scootch further down before gesturing for me to sit.

As I sat down careful with my skirt as I put my leg over the bench.

"Cute outfit."

I smiled, I could tell she was genuine even if some of her other friends eyed me with a slight sneer.

"Thanks I've always found myself leaning towards classic shapes in my fashion choices."

"Classic, as if." A girl with white gold hair and big green eyes scoffed.

"Lauren, not everyone can have your impeccable fashion sense." A girl with well kept voluminous chocolate curls smirked.

Angela gave me a sheepish look, "This is Jessica and Lauren."

Despite the less than kind welcome I still nodded respectfully to the girls, "A pleasure to meet you." A small smirk appeared on my lips before disappearing.

"And this is ..."

"Oh Angela you don't need to introduce us. Everyone knows of the Cullen's pet, Isabella Swan."

If Lauren hoped to get a rise out of me she was going to be sorely disappointed. A few times for a mission I dealt with palace intrigue, her comments were small potatoes compared to that.

"Yes, the Cullens have been ever so kind to me after the accident. It truly can be hard to find friends that won't stab you in the back as soon as you turn, but I'm sure you two understand. You are truly lucky to have such a kind and loyal friend as Angela."

Angela blushed and chewed on her carrot as I smiled gently at her.

"Yes well..." Lauren gaped for a moment before she turned her nose up, "You are right, I am lucky."

I began to eat from my bento box when Angela eyed the little panda rice balls I'd made. I might lean toward light/dark academia for fashion but I've always had a soft spot for the kawaii.

"Those are cute."

"Thank you." I ate with chopsticks smiling down at my chicken terrayaki bento. I looked at Angela, "If you want you could come over some time and I could show you how to make a whole bunch of cute homemade lunch items."

She almost sparkled, "I'd love that! Oh I never got your number..."

I handed my phone to her and she took out her own for me to enter my contact into hers.

"There we go. You can text me anytime."

---

Charlie loved Angela. He thought she was the sweetest kid he'd met and I couldn't help but agree.
She was a breath of fresh air, so genuine unlike her so-called friends.

Our bento making night went well.
We made plans for the weekend to go thrift store shopping in Forks. There were actually a couple of stores surprisingly.

Before I knew it, the Cullens were back in town.

"Why do you want to sit with those girls again?"
Edward nearly whined.

"Because the diamond in the rough is worth it."

Rosalie glared at the table across the way. I was standing by the Cullen table about to head over to Angela's.

"You know what those girls' call you?"

"Yes, yes..." I waved it off, "Your family's pet."
I sighed and looked at Rosalie, "I promised Angela I'd check out her lunch today. She tried some new things I taught her and she wants to .."

"Oh no," Edward whispered as he looked over towards Angela's table.

I watched almost in slow motion as Lauren 'accidentally' tripped and caused Angela's bento box to empty into her lap.

A big exaggerated, "Oops! I'm so sorry Angela. I guess you'll just have to eat the cafeteria food like the rest of us."

And Jessica just sat back and laughed.

A flicker of something I hadn't felt in a long time came to life in my chest. Rage.

I marched over to Lauren and took her milk and poured it over her head.

"Oops! I'm so sorry." I copied the same inflections she made to Angela before turning and seeing Angela tearing up staring at the lunch in her lap.

Alice appeared by my side, "Come along, Angela, Rosalie has some spare clothes that should fit you. "

Angela nodded and I helped her clean up her food before helping her up. Alice slipped her arm through hers on one side and I on the other side.

We were halfway to the doors before Lauren awoke from her shock.

"You...bitch!"

I barely glanced over my shoulder, "How adorable, is that the best you can do?"

Rosalie followed up behind us, a big grin on her lips.

Alice already had the bag of clothes. We took Angela to the gym bathroom away from everyone else.

"Thank you." A whisper came from the stall.

"You deserve better friends than them." Rosalie spoke up and I could tell Angela was stunned for a bit before she replied.

"I've known them almost my whole life. They just are rough around the edges..."

"I'm rough around the edges, they are bullies." Rosalie continued undettered.

Angela came out her head hanging low.
"They are all I have."

I stepped forward, and held out my hands and she placed hers in mine only hesitating slightly.
"That's not true anymore. You've got me."

Rosalie's voice sounded, "Would you like Alice and my numbers?"

Angela looked up surprised, "Really?"

Alice bounced by her side, "Isa is a good judge of character. I'd love to have a sweet friend like you too."

Angela sniffled before grabbing all three of us in a hug, "Thank you."

I watched as Alice inconspicuously took off a tag on Angela's shirt.

And that is how Angela Webber began sitting with me at lunch, with the Cullens.