The Date

45.

I wished I could say I was strong every day. I wished I could lie about missing him. Sigh. What a fool I was to go back to school. That first week, Mom was determined to fix my papers, it went by like a flash. Grandma Esme visited us and begged me to come to stay over. I caved in and spend two days at her house. She stuffed me with food. Hugged me like I was some terminally sick kid. Grandpa Carlisle was careful around me. Alice dropped by briefly and showered me with gifts. I think she has issues showing her affection and compensates with the gifts.

I turned to the front of the class. I'm attending the same school where Mom and Dad met. How ironic. I was the hot subject in this rural high school where nothing major ever happened. I had to roll my eyes mentally. Since there were so many paranormal activities going on; I find it outrageous that the humans didn't already turn Forks into a new Rosswell for Werewolves and Vampires, to attract tourists. Think about it, tour buses, and fangirling conspiracy theorists raiding this dull part in the middle of nowhere. That could be a nice change.

The bell rang snapping me from my gloomy thoughts. I looked around the room for my new friend if only I can call Genni like that. We barely talk. She shared a couple of classes together and somehow, we hang around in the cafeteria at lunch.

"Renesme," she waved from the front. I quickly gathered my books and slammed them into my bag and joined her. A tall guy with a baseball jacket was standing behind her. When our eyes met I recognized him from the restaurant Reka and I went to. The guy who approached me. The one Reka tried to eat. What was he doing here?

"Do you mind if Jared joins us?" ask Genni. He stared with pleading eyes. I didn't want things to be awkward between either of us. I nodded with a tight smile. "Cool," Genni turned to the guy with a sparkling gaze. I didn't have to probe her mind to know she was interested. I've started training with Grandpa to master my powers. He promised he will be someone appropriate to help me grow them. But that past week I was able to block others out of my head and shield the whispers away. Also at night, as I lay in bed, I reach towards Jacob. He whispers my name longingly.

I settled at a table with Jared and Genni chatting about Maths problems. I can barely hear them. I chewed in my burger. It's dull and tasteless. The sound of the cafeteria is overwhelming. Laughter, metallic plates cl.i.c.k.i.n.g, chairs scraping the floor. And among the high surge of teenage energy something lurked. I looked up from my lunch. Scanned the room for the source.

"Renesme? Will you come to the party?" asked Jared as he snapped a fry from my plate.

"What party?" Genni let out a burst of nervous laughter.

"The one we were talking about for the last ten minutes," she frowned.

"Sorry, I was distracted," I put down my half-eaten burger. That feeling of evil eyes spying on me made the hair from the back of my neck stand up. I quickly peeked over my shoulder. There were happy smiles and oblivious teenagers sitting at the next table. Nothing suspicious so far.

"Something wrong?" asked Jared. "You're a little pale," he turned around to watch what was bothering me. I quickly flashed him a grin.

"You were talking about a party, right?" his eyes lingered to the group at the next table before turning back to me. Was that sadness I saw in his eyes or envy?

"Yeah, it's Mason's birthday. His parents will be out of town. So he is planning to make it big," it sounded like a bad idea. Maybe I should tell Grandpa about this strange sensation. "You should come," I blinked to focus on him.

"I don't know, my parents are very strict with me being around alcohol," I remembered the preaching I got from Mom the next day of the drinking incident. He looked clearly disappointed.

"Please come," Genni leaned in, placed her hand on Jared's arm. "I'm sure we can get you something without alcohol, right Jared?" he pulled his arm away with a shy smile.

"Take it as a get-together to know more people," the corner of his lips curled up," I fought to stay on track with the conversation. But something else was here, in this room.

"I'll have to think about it," I pulled my phone from my pocket, scrolled to Grandpa's number.

"Take my number," my head snapped towards Jared and his fumbled with his phone. He grinned at me. He got the wrong idea. He thought I got my phone out to get his number. Should I correct him?