Midnight Sun (Twilight #1.5)(90)

It was a good thing that my teachers no longer bothered to call on me. Today might have been the day that they would have caught me out, unprepared and answerless.

"I wouldn't call that a good thing," Jacob pouted.

My mind was in so many places this morning; only my body was in the classroom.

Of course I was watching Bella. That was becoming natural - as automatic as breathing. I heard her conversation with a demoralized Mike Newton. She quickly directed the conversation to Jessica, and I grinned so wide that Rob Sawyer, who sat at the desk to my right, flinched visibly and slid deeper into his seat, away from me.

Ugh. Creepy.

Well, I hadn't lost it entirely.

"And you want to be creepy?" Jacob said. "This guy is weird."

I was also monitoring Jessica loosely, watching her refine her questions for Bella.

I could barely wait for fourth period, ten times as eager and anxious as the curious human girl who wanted fresh gossip.

And I was also listening to Angela Weber.

I had not forgotten the gratitude I felt to her - for thinking nothing but kind things toward Bella in the first place, and then for her help last night. So I waited through the morning, looking for something that she wanted. I assumed it would be an easy; like any other human, there must be some bauble or toy she wanted particularly. Several, probably. I would deliver something anonymously and call us even...

"Would it really be that easy to please someone?" Bella asked, she couldn't really think of a 'thing' that would make her happy.

"Probably," Jacob said, thinking about the master cylinder that he needed for his car

But Angela proved almost as unaccommodating as Bella with her thoughts. She was oddly content for a teenager. Happy. Perhaps this was the reason for her unusual kindness - she was one of those rare people who had what they wanted and wanted what they had. If she wasn't paying attention to her teachers and her notes, she was thinking of the twin little brothers she was taking to the beach this weekend - anticipating their excitement with an almost maternal pleasure. She cared for them often, but was not resentful of this fact... It was very sweet.

Bella smiled, she was definitely going to have to make friends with this girl.

"Well, it looks like you're not so unique after all," Jacob said. "There are other humans out there that aren't selfish."

"I never thought I was unique," Bella shrugged.

But not really helpful to me.

There had to be something she wanted. I would just have to keep looking. But later. It was time for Bella's trig class with Jessica.

Bella grimaced and the annoyance was back in her voice now.

I wasn't watching where I was going as I made my way to English. Jessica was already in her seat, both her feet tapping impatiently against the floor as she waited for Bella to arrive.

Conversely, once I settled into my assigned seat in the classroom, I became utterly still. I had to remind myself to fidget now and then. To keep up the charade. It was difficult, my thoughts were so focused on Jessica's. I hoped she would pay attention, really try to read Bella's face for me.

Jessica's tapping intensified when Bella walked into the room.

She looks...glum. Why? Maybe there's nothing going on with Edward Cullen.

"That's not it," Jacob said chuckling. "I bet you're glum because you have to talk to her..."

"And I know that Edward will be listening," Bella added, her voice was even more annoyed than it was before."

That would be a disappointment. Except...then he's still available... If he's suddenly interested in dating, I don't mind helping out with that...

Bella had hissed the last words out and Jacob chuckled harder than ever.

Bella's face didn't look glum, it looked reluctant. She was worried - she knew I would hear all of this. I smiled to myself.

"Tell me everything!" Jess demanded while Bella was still removing her jacket to hang it on the back of her seat. She was moving with deliberation, unwilling.

Ugh, she's so slow. Let's get to the juicy stuff!

"What do you want to know?" Bella stalled as she took her seat.

Jacob groaned and chuckled at this. "You're not going to make this easy on her are you?"

"No," Bella shook her head.

"What happened last night?"

"He bought me dinner, and then he drove me home."

The chuckling got louder now. "You really are going to annoy her... and Edward, too, of course."

And then? C'mon, there has to be more than that! She's lying anyway, I know that. I'm going to call her on it.

"How did you get home so fast?"

I watched Bella roll her eyes at the suspicious Jessica.

"He drives like a maniac. It was terrifying."

This time both Jacob and Bella were chuckling.

She smiled a tiny smile, and I laughed out loud, interrupting Mr. Mason's announcements. I tried to turn the laugh into a cough, but no one was fooled. Mr. Mason shot me an irritated look, but I didn't even bother to listen to the thought behind it. I was hearing Jessica.

Huh. She sounds like she's telling the truth. Why is she making me pull this out of her, word by word? I would be bragging at the top of my lungs if it were me.

"That's not Bella's style," Jacob shrugged.