A Chat in Lesson

POV Change - Alex (MC)

Seeing her again was refreshing, I can't lie. But what was even more refreshing was the fact she seemed to be looking for me.

Her gold eyes were already looking at the door when I entered and when I did enter, they focused in on me.

The way she squinted her eyes as she smelt the air was simultaneously cute and weird. Overall, it was kinda wonderful. But ignoring such thoughts, I flashed a smile at her before walking over and sitting down, knowing that she'd most likely talk to me today.

"Hello, Edythe, I thought you'd moved class or something. Was it something I said~?" playfully smiling, I joked about her absence and it seemed to put her at ease.

She laughed a little, a sort of husky chuckle/giggle mixture, before flashing a smile which had enough force to put me on my ass. Lucky me that I was already sitting down otherwise I'd have made an ass out of myself by tripping over my own feet or something...

"No, I had to leave for...personal reasons. But I'm back now, so I can finally introduce myself properly," she composed herself with a cough before placing a hand on her chest, "My name's Edythe Cullen, it's a pleasure to meet you, Alexander," with this she put her hand out in a handshake and I willingly complied and grabbed her lithe, pale hand.

By the time I remembered, it was already too late and when our hands met, Edythe let out a breath of air before her eyes widened.

Shit. I'm an idiot, aren't I? Yeah, probably.

My body heat. A vampire is much colder than a human and even humans like Bella notice my high body temperature - so for a vampire, it must be like touching a hot metal plate.

But weirdly enough...Edythe didn't bring it up? Could she have not connected the dots? Growth spurt, muscular body, high body temperature pretty much equals a phasing Shapeshifter...Or could it be that Vampires rely so heavily on a Shapeshifters wet dog scent that if they can't smell it, they assume I'm not one of them, even with all the evidence that points to the obvious conclusion?

If so, I'm not an idiot, Vampires are.

She released my hand and I played it all off like I didn't notice anything up. Turning to her, I decided to speak in hopes of distracting her.

"Please, call me Alex. Only my mom calls me Alexander," chuckling to sell it a bit more, I looked back to the front of the room only to hear her laugh a little and I looked at her with a raised eyebrow.

Noticing my look, Edythe shook her head while speaking, "I'm not laughing at you, Alexander, I'm just remembering something," she smiled at me before carrying on, "And I'll continue to call you Alexander - it's a beautiful name and I don't take to calling people shortened things, it feels as if I'm disrespecting their parents choice when naming them...plus I hate it when my family call me Edy..." the last part was said in barely a whisper but my enhanced senses picked it up and I couldn't stifle my laughter quick enough so Edythe looked at me with a slightly embarrassed face.

"Oh, so your family nickname you Edy, huh? Well, I'm afraid I might have to start doing just that as well," chuckling while saying this, I could feel Edythe's playful glare, so I put my hands up in surrender, "Hey, it's a cute nickname, don't blame me. Plus, you were the one who let me know~"

She went to refute me but couldn't find anything to say so she let out a sigh before smiling, "Well, if you call me Edy, I'll call you Alexander - it's a compromise and both of us will get our way," she smiled mischievously as she said this and I couldn't help but wonder if she had mood swings or purely because she'd prepared her self-control that she was able to act like this.

Though I didn't mind it. I was glad we clicked so well.

Just as I was about to reply the lesson started and Edythe looked at me with a smug look like she'd won a contest by getting the last word in. Shaking my head, I just listened to the teacher and she told us that just like every other day we had history, we'd be paired up to discuss events before writing about them.

This time we were talking about the Vietnam War and Edythe was much more talkative.

"So, how'd you like the rainy weather of Forks, Edy? It must be a pretty big bummer from wherever you moved from," I said absentmindedly as I looked out the window at the rain pelting the window which was fortunately closed this time - so none of my scent could be blasted into Edythe's face and cause her to go into self-control mode.

She looked up from her work and tucked a strand of her bronze hair behind her ear before shaking her hand back and forth, "It's okay, in all honesty. I came down here from Alaska, so I'm used to the cold. Just not how wet it gets around here," she finished writing something without even looking before curiously looking at me, "What about you? Do you want to move from Forks after you graduate? A getaway from all this rain and cold weather?"

"Ehhh...I guess I will. But not permanently; I want to travel after I graduate. Go see the world, explore different cultures, and learn new things," looking back I saw her gold eyes light up for a second before she turned her head away and back to her book, though I carried on "Well, first I need to find someone to go with me."

This seemed to surprise her because her gaze darted to me and she looked at me from the corner of her eye with a puzzled look, "Can't you just go on your own? What's the point in making the trip more expensive?"

It was a pretty cynical way of thinking but I could see where she was coming from. Though I did disagree with her.

"Wouldn't it just seem more fun to share those experiences with someone? Preferably someone close, but sharing those experiences with anyone would be better than just experiencing them on my own," I shrugged, "I guess either I'm weird or you're cynical, huh?" cheekily smiling at her, she smiled back and shook her head in slight disbelief.

"Well, it could be a little bit of both...but I'd still say it's because you're weird. Most people our age are low on money so they'd try to spend as little as possible when necessary," she gave me her own cheeky smile as she explained her thinking and I needed to suppress a laugh when she said 'people our age' but other than that, I got what she was saying.

Showing I understood, I nodded, "Yeah, I get what you mean; it would be expensive but...I guess I just think it'd be worth every penny if I could experience the world with someone," I looked away from her for a moment as I knew she'd see my blush.

Why was I opening up about my goals to a girl I've only spoken to twice?! The first time she didn't even wanna talk to me!

Letting out an internal sigh, I turned back to Edythe to see her staring at me in wonder.

"What?" I blurted out hoping the conversation would move on and distract me from my thoughts.

Realizing she was looking, Edythe brought herself out of her thoughts and if she had a drop of blood in her system, I can assure you that she'd be flushed in embarrassment for being caught staring at someone.

"Ah!" she let out an unprepared yelp as she looked at everywhere else in the room other than at me. Finally she just nervously smiled before looking at me, "I guess...I guess that I was just in awe of your way of thinking. I can't seem to think like that - as you said, I'm too cynical," she did a half-smile which seemed a bit self-deprecating.

Seeing this, I shook my head while looking at her, "We all have our way of thinking, Edy. Don't think your way is wrong because it could change, I don't know," I wryly smiled at her before putting a finger in the air, as if I had a point, "And I didn't say you were too cynical. I only said you were cynical, not that you're too cynical," I said matter-of-factly, "Plus, being cynical will probably help you in the long run. At least you won't be stranded in the middle of a foreign land because you 'had' to bring someone along when you went traveling around the world."

I emphasize the word 'had' before rolling my eyes at myself. This seemed to amuse Edythe because she started to laugh and for once her voice didn't sound...hollow.

Her laughter was like the chimes of a bell; melodic, calming, and beautiful.

Just listening to her laugh made me feel like I made the right choice coming to this world. It was odd.

Oblivious to my thoughts, as she'd always be, Edythe brought her laughter to an end before speaking, "I guess that's right," her smile faltered for a second before taking on a sad look. I was a bit alarmed but she carried on, "Thank you, Alexander. I needed something mirthful to happen today...and you helped. I thought after last week you'd think I was weird or something..."

Seeing that this was all she seemed to be worried about I let out an internal sigh of relief before smiling, "Hey, don't act as if I won't make every History lesson fun, you'll hurt my self-esteem, you know?" laughing a little, I carried on with a more serious tone, "And don't worry about it, Edy. I'm sure you had reasons for how you acted last week, so who am I to judge?"

POV Change - Edythe

As he said this, his smile seemed magnified in my eyesight. The light it radiated to me felt overwhelming and I felt myself feel...something. I don't know what, but something was pulsing in my chest.

It...it's probably just his scent causing this, right?

Saying this to myself, I went to reply to what he said but I found myself lost for words. They seemed to elude me when speaking to this boy and I once again blame his scent for being so distracting to me. Like the perfect after-shave, personally made with me in mind.

Finally, my brain started working again along with my mouth and I formed some words in my head, still distracted by my earlier thoughts and his blue eyes boring holes into me, "W-well, that's a pretty sweet of you, Alexander..." I couldn't help it as the next words slipped out in a whisper, "...if only you knew..."

I must say I was surprised when I heard the self-deprecating tone to that whisper - was I really that hung up on how I wanted to hurt Alexander? I'd only met him twice, why did I seem so...emotional around him?

But what surprised me more was how once again he heard a whisper of mine; a whisper even humans with good hearing wouldn't be able to hear. Even more confusing was how he acted like he didn't hear it and just laughed at what I said before my whisper.

"Well, I guess that's how I am. It's not my right to judge people, no matter who...or what they are," he said, surprising me once again - what did he mean by that?

But my curiosity was put on hold as he continued speaking, "But I do have some lines I don't like people crossing...Anyway, shouldn't we be speaking about something more interesting?"

The way he avoided speaking about that last bit worried me slightly. As I looked into his bright blue eyes I had to ask myself a question:

Who are you, Alexander Swan?

POV Change - Alex (MC)

With that, Edythe nodded her head before turning herself more towards me. I guessed she was done with her work and wanted to focus more on our conversation.

"Yeah, okay...so, Alexander?" she asked, a small smile on her breathtaking face.

"Yes?" I smiled back, raising an eyebrow.

"Your sister just moved to Forks, like me, right? If you don't mind me asking, why wasn't she living her with you and your father?"

Ah, a personal question. I guess my 'mystery' has incited her curiosity~

Mentally chuckling at my thoughts I just shrugged my shoulders at Edythe's question, "Well, it's a pretty simple and cliche story."

"Then it's a good thing I enjoy simple and cliche stories," Edythe pushed for an answer and I decided it didn't matter if I told her, so I got to explaining it.

I explained about how my parents got divorced, how I went with my dad and Bella went with our mom. I explained how I barely visited my mom and how Bella barely visited me and my dad, so her saying she wanted to come live with us was quite surprising.

At some point she started firing questions at me, seeming to enjoy me opening up to her.

"Don't tell me if you don't want to but...why didn't your mom take you when she left Forks with Bella? It's not like you were old enough to decide for yourself," she tilted her head which I found absolutely adorable but I focused on the question before thinking up a suitable answer.

I, of course, knew why I stayed with my father from both my memories and because I wished for it, so I decided to tell her what my dad had told me.

"It was because my dad fought tooth and nail for me. He knew that Bella would be better with her mom, being a girl and all that, while he sincerely wanted to keep one of his kids with him, and me being a boy, he came to a compromise with my mom and I could stay with him," thinly smiling at Edythe I could feel the sympathy she had for me. Not that I needed it but its the thought that counts.

"That must have been hard, with your dad being the Chief of Police and all," Edythe started but as she saw my slightly confused face, she explained herself, "Well, he probably threw himself into the job, right? It must have been hard growing up like that," hearing herself say this, Edythe instantly went a bit worried, "Sorry if I sounded obnoxious...It's a habit of mine to say things before I think," her thin smile made me let out a slightly loud laugh.

What a thoughtful girl. But you can tell she's either nervous or hasn't got much experience when talking to people in a personal aspect. Probably the latter.

Reassuring her with a smile, I replied, "Don't worry about it, Edy, what you said was right; it was hard. Or so I was told. My mom leaving hit him hard and he just worked all the time. I don't think I had a proper memory of him until I was around 5 and he took me fishing for the first time," I smiled gently as I was reminiscing, oblivious to the look Edythe was giving me, "That's when I met my current best friend and another childhood friend of mine. Man, I was terrible at fishing. I was either not baiting the hook right, or I wasn't pulling the right way. But hey what can you expect from a 5-year-old?" I laughed, "Though I did catch one, it was this little thing, probably only around this big," I measured out about 4 inches with my fingers, still laughing.

Edythe was now smiling and laughing alongside me now, a lot as if she was reminiscing with me floating around her metallic eyes.

Our laughing came to a stop and I went back to looking serious-ish, "But that was the first time my dad ever said he was proud of me," I smiled and felt my eyes get a little wet, "and that's when I decided I'd stick by my dad anytime he needed me. It's why I rarely see my mom, and why I was excited Bella was coming to Forks. So, sure, it was hard growing up like that, but my dad made it all worth it," I smiled a proud smile when I thought about my dad and when I looked at Edythe, I saw a sad smile on her face, "Hey, what's up with that sad smile? Were you that moved?"

Hearing my teasing, Edythe rolled her eyes a little before smiling a bit wider and shaking her head, "No, it's just...you're a nice person, Alexander."

"And? Is that a reason to smile like that?" I tilted my head, genuinely wondering how she'd answer.

In the end, Edythe shrugged her shoulders and slumped down a little before looking up and over at me, "Isn't it as good a reason as any?"

Feeling the atmosphere around us get a bit odd, I instantly kicked myself into action and just nodded at what she said before smiling, "Anyway, what about you then, Edy? What's your life story?"

Her sad smile went away and she scoffed at my question, before looking at me with teasing in her eyes, "I don't think you'd believe me if I ever told you."

Hearing this, I smiled. Oh, you'd be surprised, Edy...You'd be very surprised~