The day slipped by without much effort, the classes laughably easy. Honestly, high school felt like being asked to rewatch a cartoon you'd already memorized frame by frame, except someone had hit the slow-motion button. Every math equation was a rerun, every history fact a déjà vu moment, and the only real challenge was pretending to care enough to scribble notes.
By the time lunch rolled around, I was already in "autopilot survival mode." Bella and I took our usual seats with Jessica and Angela. Across the cafeteria, the Cullens were gathered at their pristine little island, the perfect coven of unnaturally beautiful people with their perfect untouched lunches. They whispered among themselves like they were plotting world domination or maybe just arguing over who had to hunt next but either way, I could feel their eyes flicking toward me more often than I liked.
I speared a piece of limp lettuce with unnecessary violence, chewing it like it had personally offended me. My brain drifted into dangerous territory.
Could I just… say no to Alice? Like, is that allowed?
What if I politely ghosted her? Moved seats? Pretended to be allergic to pixie-sized vampires?
Because, let's face it, in the movie, Bella didn't step foot into Casa Sparkle until she was already halfway to "Edward's my whole world, oxygen, and gravitational center." The vampire reveal came first, then the dramatic meet-the-family scene. Meanwhile, me? I had the spoilers package. I already knew their big shiny secret. They didn't know I knew. And honestly, if they wanted to keep it that way if they wanted to stay tucked in their pretty little masquerade I was more than happy to play dumb forever.
Forever sounded nice. Forever meant no vampire dinner parties.
I sighed, poking the salad again. Do I look like the type who walks voluntarily into a coven's house? That's literally a horror movie intro. Nope. Not me. I like my blood right where it is, thank you very much.
"Amara?" Bella's voice cut through my spiraling thoughts like a foghorn in the mist. I blinked and turned my head, finding her staring at me with those big, concerned doe eyes as if I'd suddenly sprouted a second head and started reciting Shakespeare.
"Hm?" I blinked innocently, twirling my fork like I'd totally been present this whole time.
"You spaced out." Her brows pulled together, voice soft but serious. "Everything okay?"
I smirked, leaning back in my chair with all the mock gravitas of someone about to deliver life-changing news. "Just thinking about your future love life."
Bella froze. Her soda can slipped in her hand with a faint crack, like it had taken the bullet for her dignity.
"My....what?!" she hissed, her cheeks going redder than the cafeteria's suspicious-looking ketchup.
"Your future love life," I repeated, savoring every syllable. "You know. Soulmates. Brooding bad boys. Eternal, tragic romance. That sort of thing." I raised my brows dramatically, like I was narrating the trailer of her life. Coming soon: Bella Swan and the Sparkly Immortal Heartthrob.
Bella groaned, covering her face with both hands like she could physically block me out of existence. "Amara…"
"Yes, darling?" I leaned forward sweetly, grinning ear to ear.
"You're impossible." Her voice was muffled behind her palms. She peeked out just long enough to glare at me, then promptly ducked back down.
"Thank you," I said, prim as a queen accepting her crown. I even gave a little nod of acknowledgment, as if I were on stage receiving applause.
Angela snorted into her juice box, failing to hide her amusement. Jessica was already leaning forward, wide-eyed, practically vibrating with the urge to pry.
"What about her love life?" Jessica whispered, eyes sparkling with gossip-hungry delight.
Bella groaned louder, sinking lower in her seat. "Nope. Not happening. I refuse to have this conversation."
"Oh, we're absolutely having this conversation," I said with mock solemnity. "It's written in the stars, Bella. Don't fight destiny."
She shot me a look that could curdle milk, but the blush on her cheeks wasn't fading any time soon.
Meanwhile, Jessica was in full prom-prep mode, animatedly describing dresses she hadn't even bought yet. She gestured with her fork like it was a wand, nearly flicking lettuce onto Angela's tray. "I'm thinking something pink, maybe sequins. Not, like, too much sparkle, but just enough to make sure the spotlight finds me, you know?"
Angela, bless her endlessly patient soul, nodded politely before smoothly changing the subject. She leaned toward Bella, voice soft. "So… what are your favorite books? I was going to ask the library to order a few more."
Bella perked up immediately, eyes lighting in a way I rarely saw outside of food and sarcasm. She launched into a list of her favorite novels, her voice warming as she talked about classics. Angela smiled the whole time, like she genuinely enjoyed listening. Honestly, it was almost too wholesome. I half expected them to hold hands and start a book club right there in the cafeteria.
As for me? I sat back, sipping my water like royalty observing her court. Maybe it was moon charm, maybe it was just me being effortlessly dazzling, but things felt… easy with them. Jessica's little flare of jealousy still flickered every time the boys glanced my way, sure, but she managed to paste on a smile when she talked to me. Progress. Angela, meanwhile, was just… nice. Real nice. Almost suspiciously nice. Like she was either a saint or secretly planning to sell cookies door-to-door with guilt as her main marketing tactic.
Enter Eric, sliding into the conversation with all the subtlety of a cat crashing into a window. He adjusted his glasses and cleared his throat like he was about to announce breaking news. "Breaking story: cafeteria pizza has been confirmed as a biohazard. Details at eleven."
Jessica snorted into her soda. Angela hid a smile. Even Bella cracked a grin.
"Seriously," Eric continued, deadpan. "If I don't make it to gym class, tell my family I fought bravely and went out doing what I loved eating lunch."
"Dramatic much?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Hey, every hero needs a story," he shot back, waving his carrot stick like it was a sword.
Before anyone could reply, Mike swooped in, tray loaded, plopping into the seat like he was making a grand entrance. "Or, we could all just admit that cafeteria pizza rules. You guys are weak. I ate three slices yesterday, still alive. Strongest stomach in Forks High."
He flexed his arm as if that proved something.
Jessica rolled her eyes. "Wow, congratulations. Do you want a medal?"
"Uh, yeah?" Mike grinned. "Preferably one that says Pizza Champion 2004. I'd wear it every day."
Angela giggled. Even Bella looked vaguely amused, which for Bella was basically fireworks.
I leaned back, sipping my water. Eric with his mock headlines, Mike with his pizza-bragging. It was like watching puppies chase their tails adorable, chaotic, and ultimately harmless. Cute, but hopeless.
Still, I had to admit… for cafeteria entertainment, it wasn't bad.
The conversation kept rolling, with Eric making dramatic proclamations about cafeteria food and Mike still campaigning for his imaginary Pizza Champion 2004 medal. By the time the bell rang, we were all laughing more than eating, which probably said a lot about how thrilling Forks High cuisine was.
As we packed up our trays, I leaned closer to Bella. "By the way, after school I'm hitting the grocery store. Need to restock a few things."
She adjusted her bag, thoughtful. "I can tag along."
In my head, I pictured her truck chugging into the grocery market parking lot, coughing up smoke like it was auditioning for hospice. Yeah, no. I'd like to live long enough to unload the groceries.
I smiled instead. "That's sweet, but nah. I'll be quick. In and out."
Bella shrugged, clearly relieved she didn't have to make her truck suffer for soup and bread.
After lunch, I started toward my next class, swinging my bag lazily over one shoulder and mentally debating whether math or slow torture was the greater evil. Spoiler: I was leaning toward math.
"Hi!"
I nearly launched myself into orbit. Heart doing jazzercise, I spun around to find...yep. Hyperactive fairy at twelve o'clock. Alice Cullen, bouncing like she'd just downed three espressos, and Jasper, standing beside her like her broody emotional support statue.
I plastered on my best polite smile, the kind you use when your great-aunt asks if you remember the family dog from 1992. "Alice. Jasper."
Alice practically sparkled. "So, what did Chief Swan say? Can you come to our house?"
My brain scrambled for an exit sign. A flashing neon one. Preferably with an arrow pointing to anywhere else. "Uh....yeah. Yes. Totally." The words came out like I'd swallowed marbles. Smooth.
"Perfect!" Alice clapped her hands, so loud I swear three freshmen jumped. "Let's go today!"
My soul left my body. Nope. Not today. Not walking into Casa Dracula this early in the semester. I'd like to survive at least one more sunset before dealing with the coven family field trip.
"Actually…" I forced a grin that probably looked like constipation. "How about tomorrow? Tomorrow sounds great. Love tomorrow. Big fan."
Alice tilted her head, all curious-pixie-meets-serial-killer, then nodded. "Tomorrow it is! But let's exchange phone numbers now!"
Before I could protest, bam phones were out. Sleek, shiny little rectangles that looked like they belonged to adults with careers, not teenagers with algebra homework. Meanwhile, I was rocking my 2004 flip phone that could barely send a text without threatening to combust.
By the time my brain caught up, both Alice and Jasper had my number saved, probably under "Target #1." Efficient little vampires. I could practically see Jasper fighting not to laugh, his lips twitching like he was this close to losing his cool.
"Cool!" Alice chirped, sliding her phone away like she'd just made a business deal. "Talk soon! Bye!"
She bounced off, Jasper following like a bodyguard-slash-babysitter, and I was left blinking after them, feeling like I'd just been hit by a supernatural tornado.
"Uh… bye," I mumbled, raising a weak hand in their direction before speed-walking to class like my life depended on it.
Internally? Great. I've officially been adopted by the supernatural Energizer Bunny. My obituary will read: "Cause of death..peer pressure from a vampire bunny."
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