A Not-So-Muggle Life

New School

4. New School

I drove to Forks High school the next morning. After parking the car, I went straight to administrative office. As I entered. I found a completely muggle environment in contrast to Hogwarts. Beige colored walls, school trophies decorated on the side walls, a receptionist sitting on the desk...... it would take some time get used to my new school.

The receptionist looked at me inquiringly.

"My name is Florance Vincey. I got registered recently."

She gave me an acknowledging smile and went towards the storeroom, bringing out the admission forms and attendance slips.

"Here you go, honey. Get those slips signed by the teachers and get them to me by the end of the day."

I thanked her.

"Welcome to Forks High school, by the way. I hope you have a good time here."

I seriously doubted that.

I went to Calculus, my first class. Mr. Banner wasn't difficult. He signed my slip and sent me to my seat, without any introduction, which suited me. My seat partner turned out to be Jessica Stanley. I remembered her from junior school, the most talkative girl in class who left no stones unturned to bully.

"You're Flora, right?" She didn't wait for my answer. "I'm Jessica. We were in the same class in junior school. Remember me?"

How could I not remember her after all the hard time she give me? Still, she seems friendly enough now. I could give her chance.

"Yes, of course." I said, smiling at her.

"So, what brings you back after so many years?" She didn't even bother with small talk.

Thankfully, Mr. Banner called the class to attention at that moment saving me from an awkward conversation with Jessica.

The classes weren't so bad. Although they became dull after a while. One cannot be expected to be interested in Spanish and Calculus after Defense Against Dark Arts, Charms and Transfiguration for 5 years.

I did not meet any more of my old classmates. However, Jessica was as annoying as ten of them put together. I had all four of my classes before lunch with her. She kept bugging me about my life in London. I reminded myself that it wasn't her fault I was in a bad mood and answered her politely, not truthfully, of course. She even tagged along with me in the cafeteria. I wondered why she was suddenly so interested in me.

I got my answer when I saw everyone in the cafeteria staring at me. I was a shiny new toy to look at in their uneventful lives.

I sighed. This was going to be tough.

I surveyed the entire cafeteria for a safe spot without curios eyes. That was when I saw her. It was the same girl I had seen on the airplane. There were others sitting beside her as well, a girl and two boys. They had the same features as her. As I looked longer, I noticed they looked nothing like each other. How was this possible? How could they look so much alike, yet so different?

"What are you staring at?" Jessica said in an intentionally loud voice. I quickly averted my gaze from them before they could catch me staring.

"Nothing. I just don't remember seeing them in Forks before." I said, gesturing towards them, trying to get some information.

"You wouldn't have. They just moved here six months ago."

"They haven't mixed up well in these six months." I noticed how isolated they were from others. They sat alone at their table, toying with their food, not eating anything, not talking.

"They don't care to do that. They're the Cullens. You see, they are all together. Alice, short brunette, is with Jasper. He is the one with blonde hair. And the blondie, Rosalie, she is with Emmet, the big one. And there is also Edward. He is single and apparently wishes to remain so, I guess. I wonder where he is today." She mused.

Edward. He must be the one on the plane.

"But how can they be together, if they are related?" I couldn't believe I was indulging in muggle gossip.

"Oh! They are not related. They were foster kids with Dr. and Mrs. Cullen until they adopted them."

"But they look quite similar, don't they?"

"Maybe Dr. Cullen practices plastic surgeries on them." She joked.

I smiled, though the joke did not amuse me. Something was certainly wrong with them. I could feel it in my bones. I remembered how Edward Cullen had glared at me.... But where was he?

"Who were you talking about? The one who isn't here today.?"

I noticed the flicker in her expressions before she could control it. She was not pleased about my sudden interest in him.

"Edward? Well, he doesn't have a very good attendance record. But neither do they. They usually go for hiking trips together when the weather is good. But they always miss school together. He has never been absent alone." She answered me in a perfectly pleasant voice. She was a pretty good actress.

So. This was not a usual event.

"As a friend, I should warn you, don't waste your time on him, when he comes back. He really isn't interested." She said in a sincere voice, with a very faint note of annoyance.

"Oh, I really wasn't planning." I assured her.

"Would you be coming to Midsummer Eve's festival, this Sunday?" she asked, changing the subject.

This question sent the train of my though on a different track. Midsummer night has always been my favorite festival. It had been mom's favorite too. She never let me miss it. I remembered how we celebrated it in Hogwarts......

The lunch bell rang.

I came back to the present startled. My surroundings somehow surprised me. As if I was expecting myself to be in the Great Hall at Hogwarts, celebrating Midsummer Eve with Harry, Ron and Hermione.

"Yeah, I'll be coming." I answered Jessica, walking out of the cafeteria. In my peripheral vision I saw Alice Cullen returning her tray, not having eaten anything.

The rest of the school hours passed slowly. I had Physics and Biology in the last two hours, neither of them with Jessica, thankfully. I sat alone in Biology, as my lab partner was absent.

As soon as the class was over, I rushed to my car. I was truly looking forward to my new job, but even that turned out to be a disappointment. I was asked to organize manual records. It was tedious work, which I finished early, thanks to my OCD. I had hoped that working in the forest department might be little bit more adventurous.

Quite opposite to my life at Hogwarts, the week passed without any special event. School was same as the first day. Though the staring reduced to some extent. I had to present my biology project alone on Saturday. My lab partner, whoever he might be, was a no show.

I was asked to handle accountancy at work. The cello lessons, I'd rather not talk about them. I could see dad was worried about me. He frequently tried to ask me about Hogwarts, though he treaded the ice carefully. He knew it was a sensitive subject.

Nights were a constant struggle. Even if I managed to fall asleep, I would have some random dream about Hogwarts which would wake me up.

I had a common muggle life. A witch's worst nightmare.