p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(-font-family-text); margin: var(-paragraph-margin) 0; line-height: var(-paragraph-line-spacing);"I arrived with two minutes to spare. Angela had said a quick goodbye over her shoulder then she sprinted to the end of the hallway and disappeared around a corner. I entered the classroomspan class="pwa-mark decorator" style="box-sizing: border-box; background: -1px bottom repeat-x; padding-bottom: 1px;" data-pwa-id="GzILOb33n1V8" data-pwa-category="grammar" and/span the lesson had already started./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(-font-family-text); text-indent: var(-paragraph-indent); margin: var(-paragraph-margin) 0; line-height: var(-paragraph-line-spacing);"Everyone was looking at me./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(-font-family-text); text-indent: var(-paragraph-indent); margin: var(-paragraph-margin) 0; line-height: var(-paragraph-line-spacing);"I let some of my hair drop in front of my face./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(-font-family-text); text-indent: var(-paragraph-indent); margin: var(-paragraph-margin) 0; line-height: var(-paragraph-line-spacing);"Attention made me nervous./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(-font-family-text); text-indent: var(-paragraph-indent); margin: var(-paragraph-margin) 0; line-height: var(-paragraph-line-spacing);"Renee had told me more than once that I had social anxiety but I knew that wasn't it. I had no problem presenting projects in front of a class and I knew for a fact that was not it because in just my Junior span class="pwa-mark decorator" style="box-sizing: border-box; background: -1px bottom repeat-x; padding-bottom: 1px;" data-pwa-id="BaQ7sAR4NJee" data-pwa-category="grammar"year,/span I had to present a three-part presentation to over a hundred students. I think it was more of span class="pwa-mark decorator" style="box-sizing: border-box; background: -1px bottom repeat-x; padding-bottom: 1px;" data-pwa-id="5o3tDl5lx00L" data-pwa-category="style"the fact that I did not fit/span in very well at all and people could tell right away./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(-font-family-text); text-indent: var(-paragraph-indent); margin: var(-paragraph-margin) 0; line-height: var(-paragraph-line-spacing);"It made me seem more vulnerable./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(-font-family-text); text-indent: var(-paragraph-indent); margin: var(-paragraph-margin) 0; line-height: var(-paragraph-line-spacing);"I have no problem being my span class="pwa-mark decorator" style="box-sizing: border-box; background: -1px bottom repeat-x; padding-bottom: 1px;" data-pwa-id="YRWeQkkgNmzB" data-pwa-category="style"own /spanperson but it span class="pwa-mark decorator" style="box-sizing: border-box; background: -1px bottom repeat-x; padding-bottom: 1px;" data-pwa-id="5wlMLDZlTGWW" data-pwa-category="grammar"isnt/span noticeable by just assessing me./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(-font-family-text); text-indent: var(-paragraph-indent); margin: var(-paragraph-margin) 0; line-height: var(-paragraph-line-spacing);"I preferred being out of the spotlight if I could help it./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(-font-family-text); text-indent: var(-paragraph-indent); margin: var(-paragraph-margin) 0; line-height: var(-paragraph-line-spacing);"As soon as I saw my new Biology teacher, I knew that he would make me introduce myself./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(-font-family-text); text-indent: var(-paragraph-indent); margin: var(-paragraph-margin) 0; line-height: var(-paragraph-line-spacing);"It was typical span class="pwa-mark decorator" style="box-sizing: border-box; background: -1px bottom repeat-x; padding-bottom: 1px;" data-pwa-id="vM43aGl5XfBd" data-pwa-category="grammar"for/span male teachers but not for female teachers./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(-font-family-text); text-indent: var(-paragraph-indent); margin: var(-paragraph-margin) 0; line-height: var(-paragraph-line-spacing);"I pulled my hair out of my face and quickly introduced myself./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(-font-family-text); text-indent: var(-paragraph-indent); margin: var(-paragraph-margin) 0; line-height: var(-paragraph-line-spacing);""Hi, I am Bella and I just moved here from Arizona." I gave span class="pwa-mark decorator" style="box-sizing: border-box; background: -1px bottom repeat-x; padding-bottom: 1px;" data-pwa-id="vj42MXWFhwF4" data-pwa-category="style"a little wave/span and walked over to the only empty seat./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(-font-family-text); text-indent: var(-paragraph-indent); margin: var(-paragraph-margin) 0; line-height: var(-paragraph-line-spacing);"Everyone was still staring at me./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(-font-family-text); text-indent: var(-paragraph-indent); margin: var(-paragraph-margin) 0; line-height: var(-paragraph-line-spacing);"I frownedspan class="pwa-mark decorator" style="box-sizing: border-box; background: -1px bottom repeat-x; padding-bottom: 1px;" data-pwa-id="I5fXjTvzIpx3" data-pwa-category="grammar" and/span when I looked up the boy from the lunchroom was staring at me./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(-font-family-text); text-indent: var(-paragraph-indent); margin: var(-paragraph-margin) 0; line-height: var(-paragraph-line-spacing);"I span class="pwa-mark decorator" style="box-sizing: border-box; background: -1px bottom repeat-x; padding-bottom: 1px;" data-pwa-id="giVdC1ek27zD" data-pwa-category="grammar"hadnt/span realized that the only empty seat was at his table./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(-font-family-text); text-indent: var(-paragraph-indent); margin: var(-paragraph-margin) 0; line-height: var(-paragraph-line-spacing);"His eyes were topaz pools. My attention quickly went to his hand that brushed through his bronze hair./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(-font-family-text); text-indent: var(-paragraph-indent); margin: var(-paragraph-margin) 0; line-height: var(-paragraph-line-spacing);"He had a look of confusion written on his face which quickly turned to anger./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(-font-family-text); text-indent: var(-paragraph-indent); margin: var(-paragraph-margin) 0; line-height: var(-paragraph-line-spacing);"I leaned against my hand and turned away. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(-font-family-text); text-indent: var(-paragraph-indent); margin: var(-paragraph-margin) 0; line-height: var(-paragraph-line-spacing);"My first day and Ive already messed up. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(-font-family-text); text-indent: var(-paragraph-indent); margin: var(-paragraph-margin) 0; line-height: var(-paragraph-line-spacing);""Mr. Banner, may I please span class="pwa-mark decorator" style="box-sizing: border-box; background: -1px bottom repeat-x; padding-bottom: 1px;" data-pwa-id="QtdmhtcHUccf" data-pwa-category="style"be excused/span to the nurse?" His voice was smooth as he choked out the words. His hand clenched into a fist on the table, his knuckles about to tear his skin with the tight grip./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(-font-family-text); text-indent: var(-paragraph-indent); margin: var(-paragraph-margin) 0; line-height: var(-paragraph-line-spacing);"He looked like he had just span class="pwa-mark decorator" style="box-sizing: border-box; background: -1px bottom repeat-x; padding-bottom: 1px;" data-pwa-id="r6dMph17fInT" data-pwa-category="style"been stabbed/span./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(-font-family-text); text-indent: var(-paragraph-indent); margin: var(-paragraph-margin) 0; line-height: var(-paragraph-line-spacing);"Mr. Banner gazed at him, a look of worry as he answered, "span class="pwa-mark decorator" style="box-sizing: border-box; background: -1px bottom repeat-x; padding-bottom: 1px;" data-pwa-id="vZuCjn4V5jqI" data-pwa-category="style"Of course,/span Mr. Cullen." He signed a slip and Edwards swiftly hopped up from his seat and collected his books. In the blink of an eye, he took the slip and span class="pwa-mark decorator" style="box-sizing: border-box; background: -1px bottom repeat-x; padding-bottom: 1px;" data-pwa-id="18ge2x5Qmgev" data-pwa-category="style"was gone/span./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(-font-family-text); text-indent: var(-paragraph-indent); margin: var(-paragraph-margin) 0; line-height: var(-paragraph-line-spacing);"Am I that scary? Or was he really sick? He seemed fine until I sat down next to him, but then again, I didn't see him eat anything at lunch and maybe he has been feeling ill all morning./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(-font-family-text); text-indent: var(-paragraph-indent); margin: var(-paragraph-margin) 0; line-height: var(-paragraph-line-spacing);""So Bella, what did you do?" Mike caught up with me in the hallway before gym./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(-font-family-text); text-indent: var(-paragraph-indent); margin: var(-paragraph-margin) 0; line-height: var(-paragraph-line-spacing);"I turned around in confusion, "What do you mean?" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(-font-family-text); text-indent: var(-paragraph-indent); margin: var(-paragraph-margin) 0; line-height: var(-paragraph-line-spacing);"He laughed, "Cullen looked like he wanted to kill you." He paused, whispering under his breath. "Makes sense, he has to be a serial killer."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(-font-family-text); text-indent: var(-paragraph-indent); margin: var(-paragraph-margin) 0; line-height: var(-paragraph-line-spacing);""What?" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(-font-family-text); text-indent: var(-paragraph-indent); margin: var(-paragraph-margin) 0; line-height: var(-paragraph-line-spacing);""He refuses to talk to any of us, his entire family won't interact with anyone here so he must be a serial killer and his family is trying to hide it." He was making me nervous with the look in his eyes. Like he had just found the meaning of life./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(-font-family-text); text-indent: var(-paragraph-indent); margin: var(-paragraph-margin) 0; line-height: var(-paragraph-line-spacing);""Okay, Mike." I will have to ask Charlie about Mike./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(-font-family-text); text-indent: var(-paragraph-indent); margin: var(-paragraph-margin) 0; line-height: var(-paragraph-line-spacing);"Especially since moments later, he walked away, whispering under his breath./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(-font-family-text); text-indent: var(-paragraph-indent); margin: var(-paragraph-margin) 0; line-height: var(-paragraph-line-spacing);"The rest of the day was uneventful. Before I knew it, the bell had rungspan class="pwa-mark decorator" style="box-sizing: border-box; background: -1px bottom repeat-x; padding-bottom: 1px;" data-pwa-id="o2BpC75eQI7X" data-pwa-category="grammar" and/span I collected my books from my locker./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(-font-family-text); text-indent: var(-paragraph-indent); margin: var(-paragraph-margin) 0; line-height: var(-paragraph-line-spacing);""Hey, Bella!" Angela waived to me as I zipped up my jacket./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(-font-family-text); text-indent: var(-paragraph-indent); margin: var(-paragraph-margin) 0; line-height: var(-paragraph-line-spacing);"She caught me just as I was leaving campus, her long legs having no problem running to catch up. "Are you free on tomorrow?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(-font-family-text); text-indent: var(-paragraph-indent); margin: var(-paragraph-margin) 0; line-height: var(-paragraph-line-spacing);"I nodded./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(-font-family-text); text-indent: var(-paragraph-indent); margin: var(-paragraph-margin) 0; line-height: var(-paragraph-line-spacing);""You should come out with Ben and I to Port Angeles, we can spend the day helping you catch up on work and maybe explore a span class="pwa-mark decorator" style="box-sizing: border-box; background: -1px bottom repeat-x; padding-bottom: 1px;" data-pwa-id="jzMRYWe80GOV" data-pwa-category="grammar"little bit/span."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(-font-family-text); text-indent: var(-paragraph-indent); margin: var(-paragraph-margin) 0; line-height: var(-paragraph-line-spacing);"I span class="pwa-mark decorator" style="box-sizing: border-box; background: -1px bottom repeat-x; padding-bottom: 1px;" data-pwa-id="CBy4zJ5dSmUt" data-pwa-category="grammar"couldn't/span stop the grin that spread across my face. "I would like that, I don't have a car yet though."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(-font-family-text); text-indent: var(-paragraph-indent); margin: var(-paragraph-margin) 0; line-height: var(-paragraph-line-spacing);"She shook her head and laughed, her black hair bouncing around her shoulders. "It is no problem at all, Ben can drive us."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(-font-family-text); text-indent: var(-paragraph-indent); margin: var(-paragraph-margin) 0; line-height: var(-paragraph-line-spacing);"We exchanged numbers before she ran back to where Ben was leaning against a black car, his gaze locked on us with a slight smile on his face. She threw her arms around his waist, burying her face into his shoulder./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(-font-family-text); text-indent: var(-paragraph-indent); margin: var(-paragraph-margin) 0; line-height: var(-paragraph-line-spacing);"They are so adorable./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(-font-family-text); text-indent: var(-paragraph-indent); margin: var(-paragraph-margin) 0; line-height: var(-paragraph-line-spacing);" /p