chapter 6: Forks High School

I wasn't sure if I was awake or not as I slowly opened my eyes to find a light blue ceiling above me. The blanket I was lying under wasn't mine, nor was the pillow or the bed. I sat up on my elbows, glancing at the unfamiliar room.

Not that unfamiliar, I reminded myself. It's your room now.

I sighed and decided it was time to get up. My eyes quickly darted to my alarm clock - packed due to Bella which I had placed on the bedside table, and I was surprised to find that it was only 6:30. Perhaps I should check in on Bella? Or had she already woken up?

My question was answered at that moment, as there was a light knock on the door and Bella peaked her head inside. "Oh, you're up," she said, her face showing her surprise.

"Yeah," I answered. "I couldn't sleep anymore." We were quiet for a moment longer before Bella excused herself again. I then decided to start getting ready for the day and got out of bed.

After washing my face in the bathroom and getting dressed, I walked downstairs, only to already find Charlie and Bella sitting by the table. It was an old and square oak one, and three unmatching chairs were standing by it. I guessed this was the first time in years that all three of them would be used.

I walked into the small kitchen, sat down by the table, and grabbed some toast. Secretly I had wished for some cereal, but seeing as there wasn't any I was just going to live with a piece of toast. Great.

There wasn't much of a conversation going, and not soon after I had joined the table, Charlie got up, wished us good luck at school, and went out of the door to drive to work.

I noticed that Bella looked a little glum, and tried to cheer her up just a little. "It probably won't be so bad you know. You're going to know one person at school after all."

The corners of her mouth turned upwards just a little bit and she lifted her head to look at me. "Thanks," she told me and she was still smiling a little.

I smiled back and we were silent again after that. I then began to scan the room, even though I already knew what I would find - I'd read "Twilight" so many times that I almost remembered every detail of the book in my head. The walls in the small kitchen were darkly paneled, while the cabinets were a bright yellow color - courtesy of Renée eighteen years ago - and the floor was a white linoleum.

It was then my eyes darted to the small fireplace in the handkerchief-sized family room. There was a row of pictures hanging there, and the one that first caught my eye was the one of Charlie and Renée's wedding. I could see the bright electrical light in the background, though I couldn't make out what it said, and I saw just how young the two of them looked back then. Charlie was smiling quite a handsome smile might I add - and Renée looked like she could have been Bella's sister, had Bella not been her daughter.

Another picture was from a hospital, and I recognized Charlie and Reneé once again, though it didn't surprise me that the little bundle in the middle was baby Bella. The rest of the pictures were Bella's school ones all up to her sophomore year I guessed. She hadn't changed much though; her face was the same in all pictures, except for her face turning more mature and her hair growing longer. There was one picture though, and I wasn't sure I was right since I couldn't see it clearly enough, in which I thought I saw her with braces.

I heard the chair next to mine move and turned to look at Bella, who was standing now, and had a clear frown on her forehead.

Oh! Right! I thought. She was feeling uncomfortable

because she knew Charlie hadn't gotten over Renée. I suddenly felt very bad for Charlie.

"Would you mind if we drove to school now?" the frown was still evident on her forehead. She probably didn't even know it was there.

I noticed that she had left out the part about her not being able to be in the house anymore, but I knew that if I had been in her shoes, I wouldn't have wanted to admit that either, so I just nodded in understanding and got up from the table too.

We both grabbed our jackets and bags and hurried outside. Bella locked the house and put the key back under the leaves by the door. I smiled to myself since I already knew it would be there, but at least now I had an excuse for how I knew it was there if I ever got locked out.

It was only drizzling today but Bella still ran to her truck and quickly got in. I walked slower, letting the rain wet my face. I was so used to rain in Salem that it didn't bother me anymore - I'd grown up with it.

A few moments later I was in the truck, a small smile gracing my lips. The tanned upholstered seats smelled exactly as Bella had described them in the book; faintly of tobacco, gasoline, and peppermint. It was strangely inviting.

Bella started the engine, and for a moment I had to hold my hands to my ears. The engine was louder than I had expected and Bella began to smile sheepishly. "Sorry," she told me.

"There's no need for you to apologize," I reassured her. "It's Grandpa truck here's fault. He's beginning to get old." My hand gestured to the steering wheel.

Bella laughed. She actually laughed at my joke - it made me laugh too. In fact, I had to clutch my stomach to keep from shaking.

"Thanks for trying to cheer me up," she said again as we had stopped laughing and were on our way to school. "It makes the day seem less dreadful."

I blushed a little at her comment and hoped she didn't notice. To be praised by Bella, was like being praised by...

well it definitely meant something big.

"No problem," I answered and turned on the antique radio. I was flickering through the various channels when I found the one Edward was going to choose once he and Bella had been to the meadow. It made me smile like a goofy idiot, but nonetheless, I stayed on that channel.

Bella looked at me like I was pulling off some kind of joke. "You like fifties music?"

I just giggled and shook my head. This was all courtesy of my dad - my taste in music I mean since he was a professor of Music History at Salem State University. "You'll come to find that I have the weirdest taste in music," I told her and this time it was her turn to shake her head.

There was a bit of silence after that and I wondered if I should ask her a few questions too. I mean, we were going to be in the same house for quite some time - if I could conceal my thoughts from the Cullens long enough so it was probably a good idea if we got to know each other better.

"So," I started, feeling just a tad bit nervous. "What kind of music do you like?"

For a second Bella turned her head to stare at me with the weirdest look in her eyes, before she shook her head and turned it towards the road again. "I have quite a... weird taste in music too," she finally answered, and for a moment I had actually thought she wasn't going to because she thought me to be crazy.

"Like what?" I pressed. I knew I was going to get something out of her like she was going to get something out of me once she answered.

"Um..." Bella pondered for a minute. "Phil gave me this Linkin Park CD for my birthday. It's too loud for my taste, but other than that I like it."

How she liked to avoid answering questions directly about her feelings and thoughts. Ugh!

I chose my next words with caution, hoping she would at least answer back when I was finished. "Linkin Park is good," I had to admit that before going on, "But The Cure,

now that is music."

Bella turned her head to give a "you've-got-to-be-kidding" look. I was right about her having to answer back. It made me feel just a little proud that I could make her do that.

"You like The Cure?" she asked and I nodded enthusiastically, which just made Bella shake her head. "I wouldn't have guessed that about you." she then said.

I laughed and began to sing the first verse of "Friday I'm in Love".

No one ever guessed that about me. I looked slightly tomboyish - with my oversized flannels, band t-shirts, and Converse shoes though I also had a touch of girly, with tight blouses and sometimes skater skirts and mostly that was really who I was. People usually assumed that I listened to pop punk, emo, metal, or nü-metal. What people tended to forget was that looks could be deceiving. Especially with a dad "neerding" about music in your immediate vicinity, while you grew up.

We finally saw the sign reading "Forks High School" It was just off the Highway - and Bella drove into the parking lot by the first building with a small sign over the door reading FRONT OFFICE.

The whole school was a collection of matching houses built in maroon-colored bricks. Surrounding it were trees and studs, making me feel like I was suddenly in the middle of the movie "Jurassic Park", instead of in front of Forks High School. I shuddered before getting out of the car with Bella.

We both walked down the little stone path lined with dark hedges that led to the front office and stopped in front of the door.

"Are you ready for this?" I asked Bella, just in case if she wanted to back out and return home. I had to keep her here at all costs, or else "Twilight" would never happen.

"Not one bit," she answered back. "Let's go." And then she opened the door.

I smiled and shook my head at her ridiculousness.

The inside of the office was brightly lit and slightly

warmer than I had thought. It was small, with a little waiting area with padded folding chairs, notices, and awards cluttering the wall, an orange-flecked carpet, and a big clock on the wall, ticking loudly. Plants were growing in plastic pots, and I smiled at the sight of more nature. Bella, on the other hand, seemed to frown at the sight. I almost chuckled out loud at the absurdness of it all.

I then noticed that the room was cut in half by a long counter, cluttered with baskets full of papers and brightly colored flyers taped to its front. One of the flyers said, "Go Spartans!" and I had to bite the inside of my cheek, just to keep myself from laughing again. It was no better than the posters of the "Salem Witches" back home.

Bella and I walked to the counter, behind which were three desks, only one occupied by a large, red-haired woman with glasses. Mrs. Cope, I noticed. Her hair was a more vibrant red than mine -- she'd probably dyed it - my hair was more orange than red. And naturally so. She was wearing a purple t-shirt, which made me long to take my big, fluffy coat off.

Mrs. Cope finally looked up as I was about to clear my throat and get her attention. "Can I help you?"

Bella immediately answered, "I'm Isabella Swan," and there was an immediate light of awareness in Mrs. Cope's eyes. "And this is Katherine Henderson." Bella gestured towards me.

"We're here to get our schedules," I continued for Bella before Mrs. Cope could interrupt with some sort of ramble of hers. I wanted this to be done as quickly as possible, not to think about the gossip both Bella and I were causing.

I immediately started to feel a little sick. Gossip. I. Hated. Gossip. Especially if it was about me. But I had to endure it. What else would a little town like this have to talk about?

I wanted to groan in frustration.

I hadn't even noticed that Mrs. Cope had already pulled out our schedules and was explaining the different shortcuts to every class on the maps she handed us. I tried to pay attention but I simply couldn't. My stomach was in knots and I had this feeling that something was going to happen - I just didn't know what.

At last Mrs. Cope handed us the slips that each teacher was supposed to sign, wished us both good luck, and hoped that we would like it here in Forks. I could already answer for myself, I liked it here already, but Bella of course, didn't. She liked sunlight and heat. It was interesting how different we were when it came to the weather.

When we went back out to the truck, other students were beginning to arrive, and we quickly got inside the car to follow the line of traffic. Most of the cars were older, just like the truck, and I suddenly noticed a blue Volkswagen van parked to my left. I couldn't help but smile in recognition, even though I had never actually seen the car. That smile was immediately wiped off my face though, as my gaze fell upon a silver Volvo.

Okay Kathy, don't panic! I tried to tell myself, but I was already starting to shake. Just think about something else than them - oh damn it! Come on you can do this! Just think about... I could already feel the sweat on my forehead. Think about potato chips, think about potato chips, think about potato chips... it helped a little, though it was beyond me how I had come up with that.

One potato chip, two potato chips, three potato chips, four potato chips... I was still reciting when Bella's voice suddenly broke through my concentration.

"Are you alright Katherine?"

I turned to look at her and noticed that we had already parked, far away from the Volvo, which made me relax just a little bit, but not enough to be completely calm.

"I don't know," I answered her, and it wasn't so much of a lie. "I guess I'm a little nervous." That was an understatement though. I was terrified to death that the Cullen's might find out about me.

Dang! Think about potato chips, think about potato chips, think about potato chips...

Bella gently put her hand on my shoulder. "I'm nervous too, but we're going to go through this together, okay?"

My thoughts stopped altogether when she said that.

I turned to look at her and noticed that we had already parked, far away from the Volvo, which made me relax just a little bit, but not enough to be completely calm.

"I don't know," I answered her, and it wasn't so much of a lie. "I guess I'm a little nervous." That was an understatement though. I was terrified to death that the Cullen's might find out about me.

Dang! Think about potato chips, think about potato chips, think about potato chips...

Bella gently put her hand on my shoulder. "I'm nervous too, but we're going to go through this together, okay?"

My thoughts stopped altogether when she said that. It was so unlike Bella to say something like that, she was actually admitting what she was feeling and being considerate at the same time! That was when it hit me she probably had to be that way towards her mom since she could be very childlike at times. Bella had to grow up so fast. And maybe - just maybe she was opening up to me because we were slowly becoming friends.

Yet, I also knew she was feeling ten times worse than she was admitting.

I let out a sigh and nodded. I knew that if I started saying anything, I would just end up blowing the whole story apart.

Potato chips, potato chips, potato chips...

Bella got out of the truck, and so did I. We both pulled up the hoods of our jackets, before wandering to the building in front of us. "I guess this is where our paths part," I said, trying to make a little joke. I knew Bella was headed off to English, I had read it in the book, but I hadn't expected that / was going to get a different schedule. I was going to have Biology morning classes, something I did not look forward to. I was surely going to fall asleep one of these days if I didn't get enough sleep at night.

Or got some coffee during breakfast.

I walked towards the science block, silently praying that this day wouldn't be the worst of my life, while still trying to think about potato chips the whole way.