Experiment #11 - Twilight - Chapter 4

[itsjustthemads]

Twilight - Chapter Four
By Stephanie Meyer


Kotetsu: Alright. Let’s see what this is all about. Trucks, right? Not so bad.
Sasami: [tilting her head] Trucks? Nuh-uh. Wonder why they would send it, though...
Kotetsu: But Pinkie told me there were trucks.
Isa: What about trucks?
Kotetsu: That’s what Pinkie said this story was about.

In my dream it was very dark, and what dim light there was seemed to be radiating from Edward's skin.

Sasami: Ew...!
Kotetsu: Maybe he should have that looked at.

I couldn't see his face, just his back as he walked away from me, leaving me in the blackness.

Kotetsu: *sings* Go on now go! Walk out the door! Just turn around now! ‘cause you’re not welcome anymore!

No matter how fast I ran, I couldn't catch up to him; no matter how loud I called, he never turned.

Isa: *Sings* When you walk away, you don’t hear me say, “Please, oh baby, don’t go.”

Troubled, I woke in the middle of the night and couldn't sleep again for what seemed like a very long time. After that, he was in my dreams nearly every night, but always on the periphery, never within reach.

Kotetsu: *sings* But just before the dawn, I awake and find you gone. I can’t help it! I can’t help it, If I cryyyyy!

The month that followed the accident was uneasy, tense, and, at first, embarrassing.

Sasami: [clicking her tongue] You should have gone before you left!

To my dismay, I found myself the center of attention for the rest of that week.

Kotetsu: Well, if it was that kind of accident, I can imagine so.

Tyler Crowley was impossible, following me around, obsessed with making amends to me somehow. I tried to convince him what I wanted more than anything else was for him to forget all about it — especially since nothing had actually happened to me — but he remained insistent. He followed me between classes and sat at our now crowded lunch table.

Kotetsu: Tyler was a bit of a stalker.

Mike and Eric were even less friendly toward him than they were to each other, which made me worry that I'd gained another unwelcome fan.

Isa: So she’s also a bit of a hypocrite?

No one seemed concerned about Edward, though I explained over and over that he was the hero — how he had pulled me out of the way and had nearly been crushed, too.

Kotetsu: Hey, I’m liking this Edward guy already!

I tried to be convincing. Jessica, Mike, Eric, and everyone else always commented that they hadn't even seen him there till the van was pulled away.

Sasami: So, she wets herself AND she’s hallucinating. I worry about her...
Kotetsu: Yeesh, me, too.

I wondered to myself why no one else had seen him standing so far away, before he was suddenly, impossibly saving my life.

Kotetsu: He’s a NEXT! With teleportation powers!

With chagrin, I realized the probable cause — no one else was as aware of Edward as I always was. No one else watched him the way I did. How pitiful.

Isa: How pitiful that they aren’t obessesed.
Sasami: ...I’m scared now.
Kotetsu: How many stalkers are in this chapter, anyway?

Edward was never surrounded by crowds of curious bystanders eager for his firsthand account. People avoided him as usual.

Kotetsu: Maybe it was because he smelled kinda like old socks.

The Cullens and the Hales sat at the same table as always, not eating, talking only among
themselves. None of them, especially Edward, glanced my way anymore.

Sasami: Not special anymore, apparently.

When he sat next to me in class, as far from me as the table would allow, he seemed totally unaware of my presence.

Kotetsu: *as Bella* Even when I started poking him with my pencil. Totally oblivious!

Only now and then, when his fists would suddenly ball up — skin stretched even whiter over the bones — did I wonder if he wasn't quite as oblivious as he appeared.

Isa: I don’t know, the only oblivious one here seems to be Bella.

He wished he hadn't pulled me from the path of Tyler's van — there was no other conclusion I could come to.

Sasami: But, he’s a super hero! He has to!
Kotetsu: He didn’t know she’d turn right around and start stalking him.

I wanted very much to talk to him, and the day after the accident I tried. The last time I'd seen him, outside the ER, we'd both been so furious. I still was angry that he wouldn't trust me with the truth, even though I was keeping my part of the bargain flawlessly.

Kotetsu: Well, duh. It’s kind of important for a hero to keep his secret identity!
Isa: Maybe being a crazy stalker wasn’t in the bargain?
Kotetsu: *shrugs*

But he had in fact saved my life, no matter how he'd done it. And, overnight, the heat of my anger faded into awed gratitude.

Kotetsu: And twu wub~
Isa: That’s not healthy.

He was already seated when I got to Biology, looking straight ahead. I sat down, expecting him to turn toward me.

Kotetsu: Didn’t you just spend the last few paragraphs describing how he ignored you? Yeesh, she is delusional.

He showed no sign that he realized I was there.

Sasami: [as Edward] Just ignore her. Maybe she’ll go away...
Kotetsu: Sounds good to me.

"Hello, Edward,"

Isa: *as Edward* Crud.

I said pleasantly, to show him I was going to behave myself.

He turned his head a fraction toward me without meeting my gaze, nodded once, and then looked the other way.

Kotetsu: Progress! ...poor Edward.

And that was the last contact I'd had with him, though he was there, a foot away from me, every day.

Kotetsu: *as Bella* Due to our lack of communication, we failed the lab.

I watched him sometimes, unable to stop myself— from a distance, though, in the cafeteria or parking lot.

Kotetsu: *as Bella* Behind the bushes, from around corners, in trash cans - sometimes with binoculars.

I watched as his golden eyes grew perceptibly darker day by day.

Sasami: Edward’s batteries are running low.

But in class I gave no more notice that he existed than he showed toward me. I was miserable. And the dreams continued.

Despite my outright lies, the tenor of my e-mails

Kotetsu: ...how does that work?
Isa: *deadpan* Sing-o-grams.
Kotetsu: Ooooh.

alerted Renée to my depression, and she called a few times, worried. I tried to convince her it was just the weather that had me down.

Sasami: [as Bella] The weather made fun of me and called me names!

Mike, at least, was pleased by the obvious coolness between me and my lab partner. I could see he'd been worried that Edward's daring rescue might have impressed me, and he was relieved that it seemed to have the opposite effect.

Kotetsu: Yeah, ‘cos saving someone’s life is soooo impressive.

He grew more confident, sitting on the edge of my table to talk before Biology class started, ignoring Edward as completely as he ignored us.

Kotetsu: With all this ignoring going on, it’s gonna be a short story. Not that I’m complainin’.

The snow washed away for good after that one dangerously icy day. Mike was disappointed he'd never gotten to stage his snowball fight, but pleased that the beach trip would soon be possible.

Sasami: [as Mike] Sandball fight!

The rain continued heavily, though, and the weeks passed.

Kotetsu: *as Bella* The whole town flooded. For some reason, Edward wouldn’t come save me when I ended up stranded on the roof of a car. I think he’s still ignoring me.

Jessica made me aware of another event looming on the horizon — she called the first Tuesday of March

Kotetsu: *as Bella* ...just to say “Beware the Ides of March!”

to ask my permission to invite Mike to the girls' choice spring dance in two weeks.

Sasami: “Girls’ choice spring dance”? Does this mean the girls get to decide what happens at the party...?

"Are you sure you don't mind… you weren't planning to ask him?" she persisted when I told her I didn't mind in the least.

"No, Jess, I'm not going," I assured her. Dancing was glaringly outside my range of abilities.

Kotetsu: Besides, it takes away from her Edward-watching time.

"It will be really fun." Her attempt to convince me was halfhearted. I suspected that Jessica enjoyed my inexplicable popularity more than my actual company.

Kotetsu: Oh, the pains of popularity... *eyeroll*

"You have fun with Mike," I encouraged.

The next day, I was surprised that Jessica wasn't her usual gushing self in Trig and Spanish. She was silent as she walked by my side between classes, and I was afraid to ask her why.

Kotetsu: *as Bella* Besides, it wouldn’t be right to exclude her from all the ignorings going on.

If Mike had turned her down, I was the last person she would want to tell.

My fears were strengthened during lunch when Jessica sat as far from Mike as possible, chatting animatedly with Eric. Mike was unusually quiet.

Kotetsu: AUGH! So much non-communication! Can we even have any semblance of plot like this?

Mike was still quiet as he walked me to class, the uncomfortable look on his face a bad sign.

Kotetsu: Uh-oh, did Mike have the burritos for lunch?

But he didn't broach the subject until I was in my seat and he was perched on my desk. As always, I was electrically aware of Edward sitting close enough to touch,

Kotetsu: *as Bella* If only I’d shuffled my feet on the carpet before I sat down.

as distant as if he were merely an invention of my imagination.

"So," Mike said, looking at the floor, "Jessica asked me to the spring
dance."

"That's great." I made my voice bright and enthusiastic. "You'll have a lot of fun with Jessica."

"Well…" He floundered as he examined my smile, clearly not happy with my response. "I told her I had to think about it."

"Why would you do that?" I let disapproval color my tone,

Kotetsu: Wonder what color disapproval is... Mauve? Puce?

though I was relieved he hadn't given her an absolute no.

His face was bright red as he looked down again.

Sasami: ...did you go, too? Ewww!

Pity shook my resolve. "I was wondering if… well, if you might be planning to ask me."

I paused for a moment, hating the wave of guilt that swept through me. But I saw, from the corner of my eye, Edward's head tilt reflexively in my direction.

Kotetsu: *as Edward* Gossip sense... tingling!

"Mike, I think you should tell her yes," I said.

"Did you already ask someone?" Did Edward notice how Mike's eyes flickered in his direction?

Sasami: [as Edward, shaking her head] No, no. No.

"No," I assured him. "I'm not going to the dance at all."

"Why not?" Mike demanded.

Kotetsu: *as Bella* Because I’m far to popular to attend such a plebeian event!

I didn't want to get into the safety hazards that dancing presented, so I quickly made new plans.

Kotetsu: *as Bella* I’ve gotta go... paint... my horse! Yeah.

"I'm going to Seattle that Saturday," I explained. I needed to get out of town anyway — it was suddenly the perfect time to go.

"Can't you go some other weekend?"

"Sorry, no," I said. "So you shouldn't make Jess wait any longer — it's rude."

Kotetsu: Says Miss Snubs-a-Lot...

"Yeah, you're right," he mumbled, and turned, dejected, to walk back to his seat. I closed my eyes and pressed my fingers to my temples, trying to push the guilt and sympathy out of my head. Mr. Banner began talking. I sighed and opened my eyes.

And Edward was staring at me curiously, that same, familiar edge of frustration even more distinct now in his black eyes.

Kotetsu: Whoa! They did get dark!

I stared back, surprised, expecting him to look quickly away. But instead he continued to gaze with probing intensity into my eyes.

Sasami: Staring contest! [Stares right back]

There was no question of me looking away. My hands started to shake.

"Mr. Cullen?" the teacher called, seeking the answer to a question that I hadn't heard.

"The Krebs Cycle," Edward answered, seeming reluctant as he turned to look at Mr. Banner.

Sasami: [thrusts arms up] I win!
Kotetsu: *applause!*

I looked down at my book as soon as his eyes released me, trying to find my place. Cowardly as ever, I shifted my hair over my right shoulder to hide my face. I couldn't believe the rush of emotion pulsing through me — just because he'd happened to look at me for the first time in a half-dozen weeks. I couldn't allow him to have this level of influence over me. It was pathetic. More than pathetic, it was unhealthy.

Kotetsu: She’s just now noticing this?

I tried very hard not to be aware of him for the rest of the hour, and, since that was impossible, at least not to let him know that I was aware of him. When the bell rang at last, I turned my back to him to gather my things, expecting him to leave immediately as usual.

"Bella?" His voice shouldn't have been so familiar to me,

Kotetsu: *as Bella* ...since he’d been ignoring me for almost two months and all.

as if I'd known the sound of it all my life rather than for just a few short weeks.

I turned slowly, unwillingly. I didn't want to feel what I knew I would feel when I looked at his too-perfect face.

Kotetsu: *opens his mouth, but... remembers there are kids present and slumps back in his seat*

My expression was wary when I finally turned to him; his expression was unreadable. He didn't say
anything.

Sasami: Unreadable, unspeakable...
Kotetsu: Communication standstill.

"What? Are you speaking to me again?" I finally asked, an unintentional note of petulance in my voice.

His lips twitched, fighting a smile. "No, not really," he admitted.

Isa: Then what the heck was that?

I closed my eyes and inhaled slowly through my nose, aware that I was gritting my teeth. He waited.

Kotetsu: But what were her eyebrows doing? Or her ears? I must know!

"Then what do you want, Edward?" I asked, keeping my eyes closed; it was easier to talk to him coherently that way.

Kotetsu: *as Edward* Nothing. Your buttons are just so easy to push!

"I'm sorry." He sounded sincere. "I'm being very rude, I know. But it's better this way, really."

I opened my eyes. His face was very serious.

"I don't know what you mean," I said, my voice guarded.

"It's better if we're not friends," he explained.

Kotetsu: *as Bella* ...his voice parried.

"Trust me."

My eyes narrowed. I'd heard that before.

Sasami: [as Bella] He totally digs me...

"It's too bad you didn't figure that out earlier," I hissed through my teeth. "You could have saved yourself all this regret."

"Regret?" The word, and my tone, obviously caught him off guard. "Regret for what?"

Kotetsu: Yeah, good question.

"For not just letting that stupid van squish me."

Kotetsu: ...oh, that.
Sasami: ...I’m sorry, but she keeps whining. Is she like Rarity?
Kotetsu: Nah, Bella doesn’t have a convenient sofa.

He was astonished. He stared at me in disbelief.

Isa: For Bella’s madness was unfathomable.

When he finally spoke, he almost sounded mad. "You think I regret saving your life?"

Kotetsu: I bet there’s plenty out there that are regretting it, actually.

"I know you do," I snapped.

"You don't know anything." He was definitely mad.

Sasami: [as Bella, childish] I know you don’t, but what am I?
Kotetsu: *ditto* You’re rubber and I’m glue! Whatever you say bounces off of me and sticks to you!
Isa: *likewise* Sitcks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me!
Kotetsu: *once more* I’m gonna just ignore you now, so nyah! ...waitaminute...

I turned my head sharply away from him, clenching my jaw against all the wild accusations I wanted to hurl at him.

Kotetsu: All... one of them.

I gathered my books together, then stood and walked to the door. I meant to sweep dramatically out of the room, but of course I caught the toe of my boot on the door jamb and dropped my books.

Isa: Karma is swift and to the point.

I stood there for a moment, thinking about leaving them. Then I sighed and bent to pick them up.
He was there;

Kotetsu: *as Bella* ...checking me out.

he'd already stacked them into a pile. He handed them to me, his face hard.

"Thank you," I said icily.

His eyes narrowed.

Kotetsu: ...stonily.

"You're welcome," he retorted.

Kotetsu: ...granite-like.

I straightened up swiftly, turned away from him again, and stalked off to Gym without looking back.

Kotetsu: I dunno about you guys, but I think I’m gonna stalk off here without looking back.
Sasami: Wait, there weren’t any trucks in here. Just... people ignoring everyone!
Isa: I can’t say I really blame them...
Kotetsu: That’s a great idea, though. I say we join in the ignoring. ...starting... now!