Mimic | Jacob Black

4. Investigation

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"Make sure I get your permission slips," Mr. Milona said as several classes of students congregated by the buses in the parking lot. It was the following week and they were going on a field trip. River had the weekend to rest up and recover. A fresh bandage was back on his temple, larger than the last. It wasn't that far off fully healing, but he was still stuck with a big wound on his head for even longer than he should have. The stitches were slightly uncomfortable, but he would manage.

He stood by Bella, who was staring at the dent in their truck. She was clearly in deep thought about what happened last week.

"I still can't believe that actually happened," she said. "Have you thought of anything? Maybe radioactive spiders, kryptonite?"

"Bella, this isn't a fantasy world," River said, then thought it over. "Well, if you asked me three days ago, that would be my stance. But now I'm not so sure."

She leaned closer. "So what do you think? Any theories?"

"None," River gestured to the left, "but speak of the devil..."

Bella looked up to see Edward arriving with Alice and Jasper as Mike walked over to them.

"Well, look at that. You guys are alive!" he said, doing a Frankenstein impression.

The pain in River's head had receded to a minor headache, but it was still enough for Mike's voice to annoy him more than usual.

"Yep. Still breathing," he murmured.

"Not much for talking today?" Mike asked. When he got no response, he turned his attention to Bella and River tried to tune him out. Edward was watching the three of them, and Bella was watching him back.

"...so, yeah... even though it's still a while away, would you wanna go?"

Bella looked at Mike. "Hm? Go where?"

Mike looked nervous. "To Prom... with me?"

River stifled a laugh. Even if Mike was more tolerable, he knew Bella hated social gatherings and anything to do with dancing. He wondered what he would do for Prom, seeing as he had no one to go with.

Bella looked horrified. "Uh... Prom, right. As in dancing. I–I can't go. Got this thing in Jacksonville that weekend."

"Can't you go another weekend?" Mike asked.

"No, it's a family thing," Bella said.

"So are you going as well?" Mike asked River.

"Yeah," River said.

Guess I'm not going to Prom, then.

"You should ask Jessica," Bella quickly added. "I know she wants to go with you."

Mike followed Bella's eyes across the lot to Jessica, who smiled at them.

Later on, after they had left school grounds, Mr. Molina and a tour guide led everyone through a greenhouse. Bella and River kept an eye on Edward who was up ahead with Alice and Jasper. He stopped by an ancient staghorn fern, alone. When River and Bella passed him, he spoke up.

"What's in Jacksonville?" he asked.

"How do you know about that?" Bella said accusingly.

"You didn't answer my question."

"You never answer any of mine, you don't even say hi."

"Hi."

Dry.

"And are you going to tell us how you stopped the van?" Bella asked.

"Adrenaline rush. Very common. Google it."