|
Post by Amber Jefferson on Jan 7, 2009 14:02:56 GMT -5
Amber raised an eyebrow at Edward's comment, things finally slipping into place a little. It appeared Jayden had come here without telling the Cullens at all. Well, that explained why Edward was so distant when he'd arrived. He always seemed to know everything first, even before Jessica sometimes, which was a huge achievement, it had to be eating him up that something so huge as a family friend starting school would slip straight past him. She bit back a giggle, imagining how Edward must be feeling now. She almost felt sorry for him. He was always so protective of Bella, not that it wasn't understandable, she was his fiancee after all. It made sense that that might seep over to friends like Jayden, and if that was the case, he was bound to be angry at being kept in the dark about this. On the other hand, she thought, reasoning with herself, it could also be that he simply didn't want her here. The Cullens were a quiet family and never seemed to want to draw attention to themselves. Jayden was almost a link between them and the outside world, close enough to be considered 'one of them', but far more of a people person, which meant she was more likely to be accepted. Maybe he was mad because she would put them more in the spotlight because of her newness, or because she would be more easily accepted because she was so much more open than they were.
She glanced down at her fruit salad, feeling slightly guilty. Here she was automatically taking her bad mood out on Edward, if only in her own mind, when everything was simply her own interpretation. As always, she asked herself what Carlisle would do had he been there. He'd say I was being unfair she thought, feeling the irritation ebb away as she thought rationally about it. If there was one thing she had learned from working with him, it was that everything had a cause and effect, even emotions, and that it was always important to look at them before acting.
Looking up at Edward, she smiled a little, wondering if he had noticed how fake her friendliness had been, or at least had felt. She was glad he had at least agreed about supporting Jayden.
"Well, I hope you do decide to enroll" she said softly, turning back to Jayden, her smile widening a little, softening as she spoke. It was true, she liked Jayden and she would be glad to have another friend at school. "It may seem overwhelming now, but it's really nice here, and the people are nice too." She cast a glance toward Edward and Bella out of the corner of her eye. She had never considered them friends, more acquaintances, but she could never truly say she didn't like them. Bella was quiet, much like Amber herself, and although they never really talked beyond the pleasantries, Amber felt that Bella was a good person, and that was what mattered to her. Edward was a little more complicated. She had liked him the day they had met, feeling at ease around him, and although he was quiet, almost too quiet at times, she couldn't help thinking of him as one of the people here she genuinely thought of as part of her little circle, what there was of it.
"But Bella's right, the news crew are pretty desperate, they'd report on toothpaste if they found a new flavour, they'll love you. Don't worry though, Eric's a bit overzealous, but Angela's like us, she's pretty quiet. If you don't want to be news, she won't make you. And problems? Edward's right, nobody would dare mess with you as long as he's around, he's handy that way." She stuck her tongue out at Edward, hoping he'd appreciate her attempt at humour. He had already experienced the quirky side of her personality before, so she prayed that, if he had noticed her feigned cheerfulness, he wouldn't take it personally.
"Just one little warning though. In Math class? Never guess, Mr Burgess hates that even more than wrong answers." She groaned, leaning her chin on her arms, folded on the tabletop, looking up at Jayden. "If you're okay with Math, you'll be fine, the other's aren't so bad apart from Gym, though you probably know about that one already. Coach Clapp's infamous."
|
|
|
Post by Jayden Murphy on Jan 8, 2009 1:16:23 GMT -5
If words could sting, the ones Edward uttered would have hurt badly. It wasn’t how he said it, for he was been a true gentleman and openly friendly. It was more that Jayden knew she had done wrong by not telling him and his family first. First the first time since her and Bella sat joined them Jayden looked up at him and met his eyes; “Edward I am sorry. This whole event was very spare of the moment and clearly I did not think it though.” She said calmly and hoped her would understand, “I am sure it would have been easier with your help. Perhaps you and your family can still aid in my enrollment?”
Jayden didn’t look back down at the table she smiled lightly at Edward then glanced around the cafeteria trying to take it all in. She heard Amber start to talk about enrollment and how nice the school was, but to Jayden it was fascinating and mesmerizing. It was when she mentioned the school news paper that Jayden looked back at her. “I really am not news; there honestly is nothing to report about me.” She shrugged, “Just me.”
Jayden hadn’t heard anything about Coach Clapp but Amber’s mention of him brought up its own visuals. Jayden decided to set aside judgments till she met him. As for Math and Mr. Burgess, as with most of her subjects Jayden knew guessing would no be an issue. Not wanting to sound like a no it all Jayden smiled; “Guess I will just have study harder and pay special attention in his class.”
|
|
|
Post by Edward Cullen on Jan 9, 2009 15:11:42 GMT -5
Edward had to fight from turning in annoyance to Amber as he heard her mental guesses of his mood. She had thought he was jealous of Jayden, for a multitude of possibilities. Or that he was simply petty enough not to have the latest gossip at his hands first. He had to restrain himself from reacting to the information he should not be privy too. But a moment later he felt her guilt for her reaction towards Edward. Realizing she had been unfair. Edward knew he should not have even cared what a random student was thinking of him, but the fact that it did showed Edward that he had attempted to lower the wall he kept strong around him, maybe because of her connection to his father, or maybe because of her personality. But knowing that she regretted her words, he found it hard to stay mad at her, as he was knowing it would be hard to stay mad at Jayden though she was in the wrong.
Edward gave a smile as Amber said he was handy in keeping away the problems. The students of the school pretty much knew never to mess with a Cullen. No practical jokes were ever attempted on them, no attempts to make them news either. He could see that Amber was trying to make up for the attitude she had given him earlier.
As Jayden apologized and told him that it was a spur of the moment decision he had to fight back against telling her that maybe she should have thought about it longer. Enrolling in school, being what they were was not a decision to be taken lightly. She should have known better. He nodded his head as she mentioned still helping him enroll. "Of course. We'd be glad to help you go over the details"
|
|
|
Post by Bella Swan on Jan 9, 2009 22:16:14 GMT -5
As the conversation rolled on, Bella fell into the familiar silence that accompanied her presence whenever she was within a group of people. She was never the boisterous one, being shy, but she did put in a few words here and there - it was what she was comfortable with. She also noticed things, as a general rule, despite what Edward had first said about her in those first few weeks she had attended Forks High, she was exceptionally observant. Except when she had the opportunity to fall over something, or when her life was threatened, obviously. Thus, as they sat there, she did notice Edward’s muscles clench ever so slightly - if she had been on the other side of the table she wouldn’t have noticed - and inclined herself towards him a fraction. It was nothing really, but she wanted him to know that she at least noticed his tension. There wasn’t much about Edward that Bella didn’t notice, to be honest.
However, she could see that he was working hard to disguise whatever displeasure was flitting around his mind, which she could only assume was about Jayden’s presence in the school, and so she carried on shifting the food around her plate without eating much. She glanced up as Amber complimented Edward’s ability to scare off even the biggest class bully and was just in time to see her stick her tongue out at him. An unbidden smirk pulled at her lips, knowing that no one was ever that open with a Cullen. Maybe she was wrong, maybe she wasn’t the only freak that didn’t have a survival instinct. She wondered, briefly, whether Edward could read Amber’s mind - she had assumed he could, but now she was suddenly curious - and turned interested brown eyes to her fiancé. She would have to remember to ask him later.
“Yeah, I think we all say that,” she told Jayden as she protested that she was not newsworthy - she remembered saying something almost identical to Angela the first time she had her lunch in this cafeteria. She snuck a look over to what became her regular lunch table before she had start dating Edward, and her part time lunch table once their relationship was established. “They’re not all bad though,” she added, turning her head back to their little group. “Just tell them you’re not interested and they’ll leave you be.”
Her facial expressions shifted to what Amber was saying about math and then gym, her expression darkening with each mention. They had to be her two worst subjects and she had come to a sticky end in both of them, though her math was more or less tolerable if she tried hard. Gym, though, gym was put on this earth just to make sure that she got her weekly trip to the nurse’s office, or, more often than not, the hospital. She loathed the class with a passion. It seemed that she and Amber had quite a lot in common, after all. She glanced at the other girl and added a very sympathetic. “Tell me about it.”
She looked away after a moment, as Edward mentioned that his family could help Jayden enrol, not entirely sure her poker face could hold up to Amber’s scrutiny. Instead she busied herself with shovelling a forkful of macaroni into her mouth and concentrated on chewing and swallowing, her nose wrinkling up against the overly, somehow, mustard flavour of the pasta.
|
|
|
Post by Amber Jefferson on Jan 11, 2009 11:12:35 GMT -5
Holding back a sigh of relief, Amber allowed her smile to broaden a little as Edward returned it, glad he wasn't angry at her. She had never been very good at hiding her feelings around friends. She seemed to have a sort of fence around her, that she could raise and lower at will. The only problem was, it only had two settings. Around people she didn't trust, it was like the surrounds of a prison, blocking everyone and everything. Since she had come to Forks, though, it had dropped almost completely, making it hard for her to keep anything hidden. Unfortunately, it seemed as though it still had enough height to trip her up now and again, leaving her to fall flat on her face in embarassment as she jumped to some ridiculous conclusion or blurted something she shouldn't be saying at all. I've really got to do something about that she thought in annoyance at herself, making a mental note to work on being more patient.
Catching Bella's smirk at her comical expression, she glanced at her, grinning conspiratorially. She knew a lot of people would have been shocked at her gesture and was glad Bella shared her sense of humour, at least in that department. Following Bella's glance, she looked over to the 'in-crowd' table, smiling fondly when she saw Mike there, his usual cheerful grin in place as always. She hadn't yet told Bella or Edward about them being together, and it amused her to still be pretending to be thinking of him as just a friend. In a way, it made her glad though, because it meant she could sit here with Bella and Edward. As much as she loved being with Mike, that table never felt comfortable to her, and she was glad to be sitting here instead, much as she hated being away from him.
"Mmmmmhmmmm", she popped a piece of pineapple into her mouth as she turned back to the table, agreeing with Bella, "What Bella said. Even though they take their jobs very, very, very seriously, they're still pretty good about that whole privacy thing." She smiled sympathetically at Bella, hearing her agree about the classes.
"You too huh?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "I think I might start bringing shin pads. And a spare brain. Maybe then I'll make it through a day without getting bruised or becoming a babbling idiot. Not likely though." she added nonchalantly, shrugging. Her face lit up at Edward's words, taking her attention away from thoughts of school.
"Yay!" she exclaimed, giggling as she realised how ridiculously over-enthusiastic she sounded. She blushed, lowering her eyes to the table before glancing back up at Jayden. "Sorry, it's been a slow day, any possible news is good news" she said quietly. "Besides, it'll be nice having a new friend around here." Smiling, she popped a piece of apple into her mouth, thoroughly happy now.
|
|
|
Post by Jayden Murphy on Jan 11, 2009 23:32:26 GMT -5
Jayden sat and took in Edward, Bella and Amber’s words each in turn. She was finding it all over whelming; their words and the atmosphere adding together to make her feel faint. Even seeing that Edward wasn’t going to make a scene here she still worried. Also the prospect of been news scared her so much she considered leaving right there. A million different scenarios spun through her head about the prospect of some would be Clarke Kent discovering her own true identity and history. Then the girls managed to add to this mounting fear and apprehension with the talk of terrible teachers and a dangerous sounding gym class. She knew she didn’t actually have to fear injuries in gym class, but she fear the prospect of the class itself. Suddenly her whole idea and expectation seemed to be crumbling around her as she sat there.
Looking around the room once again her eyes fixed on the way out across the far side of the room. She calculated it would take less then seconds to exit and be done with this whole thing. At that exact moment she realized she would be leaving Edward to explain her sudden exit, as well as the speed of it. At the thought of his name she looked over to him and tried to catch his eye. She spoke in a tone so low no other at the table would catch it and her lips moved to quickly to be recognized as making words. “I made this mistake. I was wrong.” She finished still looking at him.
Part of her wanted out of here. Wanted him to help her leave and return to ignorance. Amber’s recognition of her as a friend scared her, it put her out there into someone else life and opened her up to a unique scrutiny. She wasn’t ready for that. Yet a very small part of her was thriving on this unique situation and adventure.
|
|
|
Post by Edward Cullen on Jan 12, 2009 14:01:38 GMT -5
Hearing the dramatic change in her thoughts, Edward was no longer able to stay irritated at Amber. He could see she had a good heart and did mean well. Jayden was lucky that she found someone like that already, even if Jayden wasn't reacting as well to the situation.
Edward ignored their talks of gym, math class and the school paper while focusing on Jayden's increasingly uncomfortable thoughts. If Jasper hadn't graduated yet he'd be very useful right now in keeping her calm, but since he wasnt there, Edward would have to try to do the best he could. He heard her thinking about bolting, knowing he had to stop it. He looked over at her as she told him she made a mistake and was wrong about it. It was too late for her to think this was a mistake, he wouldnt let her endanger the situation by running out now, it would look too suspicious in front of Amber.
"Jayden, why dont you come with me, I'll buy you an ice cream, its sure to make your first day seem better" He told her with a smile for the others benefit, hoping she would understand he was trying to get her out of the situation for a moment so they could talk before he would take her back.
|
|
|
Post by Jayden Murphy on Jan 13, 2009 17:07:59 GMT -5
The chair almost flew backwards to the floor with the speed that Jayden stood when she heard Edward’s get away plan. She caught it in time to avoid any looks from people at the table or further a field. Keeping her eyes averted form the other two girls at the table she made her way over to Edward at a more human pace. She afforded them a simple "Excuse me" as she moved away from the table. As they began to cross the lunch hall towards the ice cream Jayden took a deep breath and spoke in a voice only low enough for him.
“Thank you, Edward. This was a terrible mistake. I am not ready to be around anyone, let alone humans.” Her head had remained down as she spoke, not she looked up and glanced at him. “Perhaps it is best I wait a few more decades before trying this again.” She gave him a quick smile hoping he would share her humor about been able to wait so long to try anything again. She turned her head and faced forward trying hard not to look around the room at the other students. She realized with what she was feeling and the ways things were, that what she had witness on television was not a true representation of the truth as far as school was concern. No, far more emotions and experiences.
|
|
|
Post by Bella Swan on Jan 14, 2009 12:02:48 GMT -5
“Shin pads don’t work,” Bella murmured, continuing to stir around the pasta on her plate in a dissatisfied manner. She was highly distracted by Edward and Jayden, wondering what was going on, but she knew she would have to wait, Edward would tell her later. Similarly, she knew that she should keep Amber occupied in normal, human conversation to distract her from the weirdness. In fact, she couldn’t even tell if there was any weirdness at all, because she knew it was there. It was all very confusing, but a conversation about falling over in gym was something she could definitely handle. “Last time I wore shin pads the elastic unfastened and I tripped over my own leg…”
She cringed in the memory. It was hockey, she was running, half-heartedly towards goal, some foolish person had passed her the puck and it had resulted in Bella flying head first into the little net, whilst the puck bounced around the gym. She shook her head a little and laughed, though embarrassment was ripe on her cheeks.
“Luckily Mike was there. If it hadn’t been for him, I don’t think I would have a face just now. It‘s okay if you‘re not so coordinationally challenged, though, so I‘ve heard.”
She quietened as Amber enthused over Edward offering to help Jayden enrol into the school and smiled at her good nature. She looked over at the auburn haired girl with a quieter, but no less genuine, smile of her own. She noticed the increasingly uncomfortable look on the girl’s face and thought it best to not overwhelm her, she clearly had a big decision to make and she didn’t want to scare her off. Thus, she didn’t add anything to Amber’s enthusiasm, a good decision, she decided, as she saw the blur of Jay’s lips. She knew she had said something to Edward, though, of course, would never be able to distinguish what by herself. Her suspicions were only increased as Edward offered to buy the new girl an ice cream, and she worked hard keep her expression jovial and unthinking. She grinned at Amber as the two of them left.
“I remember when he used to buy me ice cream,” she told her in a joking tone. She allowed her fork to fall to her plate with a muffled clink, having decided she had enough and laughed. She bent down to get her water from her bag and exclaimed as she saw the three library book spines sticking out the top.
“Oh, no!” she muttered, righting herself with the books in hand. She glanced up at Amber. “I’d forgotten all about them! Are you okay watching my stuff while I go take them back? I‘ll just be five minutes… maybe ten.”
Without waiting for an answer she stood, tripped over the leg of her chair, dropped one of the books, picked it up with an almighty blush and walked out of the cafeteria towards the library.
|
|
|
Post by Edward Cullen on Jan 17, 2009 23:29:06 GMT -5
Edward glanced over watching Bella excuse herself from the table. He saw her stumble on the way out. That girl never did watch where she was going, although she could just as easily trip without anything in front of her, as she had shown him on more than one occaision. Edward then quickly turned his full attention back to Jayden, knowing that she needed it right now. Jayden looked like she was either going to bolt, or have a panic attack, possibly both.
Edward shook his head as Jayden told him she wasnt ready to be around human yet. He leaned in close, keeping his voice low. "It's a little late for you to be deciding that now." He told her, trying to keep from sounding angry when he really was trying to help her right now. He gave a slight frown as she mentioned waiting a couple decades before trying again. "You can't leave, just walk out when there's someone over there who will have a lot of questions if you do. Calm yourself and we'll go back." Edward took a deep breath, to help calm himself as well. "If after today you still think you're not ready, you wont have to come back, but Jay..." He said, saying her name softly, with true compassion there. "I know you can handle this. You're plenty strong enough and you are ready, everyone gets nervous their first day...just don't think you have to take it all on by yourself"
|
|
Alice Cullen
Dazzled
Vegetarian Vampire, Seer
It sounded like you were having Bella for lunch, and we came to see if you would share
Posts: 115
|
Post by Alice Cullen on Jan 19, 2009 5:20:33 GMT -5
There had been a nagging feeling in Alice gut, though she felt it was more due to her thirst more than anything, but she'd felt a little empty through-out the day as her vision seem to be blocked or blurry in other ways. Todays lessons hadn't been to enjoyable and everything the teacher had been talking about she'd learnt already even able to quote the teacher word for word, it was also good that she could see what he would say next.
It was lunch now and it was always a quieter time for the Cullens, and Bella, since their older "siblings" had moved on and were off to college. It couldn't be more from the truth but she'd sneaked off a couple of times in order to see Jasper and Esme...though Alice knew it was frowned upon since people would question her absences. Sighing, the petite girl walked from her classroom to meet up with Edward and Bella in the cafeteria, she'd gotten in line to pick out her props for the day when the familiar sense of nothingness blanketed her eyes.
The hybrid was here.
Alice turned her head, her eyes quickly scanning the crowd, before she spotted the hybrid sitting with Amber and the remaining members of her family. It wasn't that she hated Jayden but the fact that her gift was incapacitated when she was around and it frightened her since especially she was keeping constant tabs on the Volturi and her family members. It was a tool she used as well when it came to someone becoming to suspicious. Edward would listen into their mind while Alice watched their every move until a new decision was made.
Walking straight over, after having paid, she kept her eyes on Edward, occasionally looking over at Bella, Amber than stopping on Jayden. Had the hybrid decided to join their school in order to be able to be within the vincinity of Carlisle? Whatever her reasons, Alice didn't like the feeling and the slight headache she had whenever she was around. Talking an available seat, Alice placed her tray down, "Hey everyone!" She smiled brightly, though there was dull ache in her temples.
|
|
|
Post by Jayden Murphy on Jan 19, 2009 18:41:02 GMT -5
Jayden listened to Edward and it was exactly what she had expected form him. Ever the logical thinking except when it came to his choice in mate, there was not logic or thought there, Jayden didn’t think so anyway. Despite his logic Jayden couldn’t help but feel she was been told off like a child. Admittedly he was older then her and better at this human charade, but he didn’t have the right to scold her. She was about to snipe back at him when she became aware of the scent of another in the room. Turning Jayden saw Alice approach the table as Bella left. Jayden fixed eyes with the other vampire and was about to mention her presence when Edward shocked her and used her informal name. Turning back to him she smiled.
“Thank you.” She said honestly her anger gone. “Perhaps if I can get through today I will get through the rest. I appreciate and welcome your help. And your family’s help, also.” She said nodding backwards towards the table they had just left.
“Perhaps this will be a good experience.” She said more to herself then Edward. “However, I’m still very afraid and so nervous. How do you do it everyday and not fear them finding out?”
|
|
|
Post by Edward Cullen on Jan 21, 2009 14:35:12 GMT -5
Edward looked over from his place in line and saw that his sister Alice was now at the table. At least she'd be able to keep Amber distracted while he tried to talk down Jayden. He knew that Alice was frustrated with her lack of visions while Jayden was around. But his sister was calm, and he knew she'd keep her cool. Edward turned his full attention back to Jayden, watching her reactions and knowing how hard this was for her right now.
"You can get through the day, you will" Edward told her, sure of it. She had a better chance of making it here than his family did. The only difference was that they had more practice. "And you're welcome, you'll always have our help"
Edward looked back over at the table again for a moment as she asked him how he did it everyday without fearing people finding out. "As long as we've been doing, I still fear them finding out." He said looking back to her. "It's the fear that keeps you careful."
|
|
|
Post by Jayden Murphy on Jan 24, 2009 0:12:12 GMT -5
The reassurance in Edward’s words did little to truly calm her, though they did encourage her a little. She wasn’t sure if it was his belief that she would get through the day or the face that despite this impulse action he still offered his family’s support. She smiled at him in a thanking gesture and continued to listen to him. She needed to know hoe he hid his true nature, how people didn’t suspect.
As Edward looked back at the table Jayden again felt her eyes drawn to the table and to Alice. She felt a guilt where Alice was concerned, though she knew there was little she could do about incapacitating Alice’s gift or stopping the girl’s headaches. Jayden wondered if distance helped or if it was something they could both work to over come. Alice was nice and one Cullen she didn’t want to alienate.
Hearing Edward’s words she turned back and looked at him. He was handsome, no doubt breathe taking to humans and their kind alike. Yet Jayden couldn’t see him in that way, she looked at him and saw a friend, or at least someone she though of as a close friend and hoped would feel the same one day.
“Perhaps I need more fear. I second guess every move and every word. I worry that I am more likely to give myself away been too careful then not.” She said with a half hearted, stifled laugh. “At least I have no fear of been tempted by those around me. As to the other matter; my father always said that practice makes perfect. I only hope that rings true here, perhaps you can tutor me?” She said with a more open smile and laugh.
|
|
|
Post by Edward Cullen on Jan 28, 2009 22:45:17 GMT -5
Edward wished that Jasper were here right now. He knew Jasper would be able to help calm Jayden's mind. Even if it were just momentarily, it seemed like she could use a dose of relaxation. It was one of his favorite aspects of Jasper's power. He was like an instant drug, but without the hangover. Unfortunately Jasper along with Rosalie and Emmett had graduated already, so his abilities weren't available.
"Fear is very useful to have" Edward said with a nod. "But right now you can feel comfortable knowing that the only thing anyone is wondering about you now is about you being the new girl, and at the moment why you're talking to...and I quote "that Cullen freak". " Edward told her with a smirk on his lips. "No one suspects anything more, and you havent given them reason to"
"Oddly enough practicing does help, but I think you're better at it naturally than you know" Edward told her. "But I would gladly help tutor you or at least do some practicing with you"
|
|