9 Golden Onion.

''Hey, Jack. I am your partner today.'' Alice said with a smile.

''I thought you weren't part of this class?'' Jack asked with curiosity.

Alice hid her sly smile and answered, ''My classes changed suddenly...''

Jack was about to open his mouth, but then...

Their biology teacher, Mr. Molina started talking.

''In front of you is cells of onion roots.'' Mr. Molina said and continued, ''Separate them and label them on different phases of mitosis.''

''And the first partners to get everything right, will win...'' Mr. Molina grabbed a golden onion from the desk.

''The golden onion.''

''Yeah...'' Some of the students cheered with fake enthusiasm.

''Ladies first,'' Jack said and gave her the Microscope.

''What a gentleman,'' Alice said with amusement.

Jack chuckled.

Alice looked at the microscope with concentration, but then she opened her mouth, ''You have been close with Jessica... You two dating?''

Jack was about to answer, but then Alice gave the microscope back and said, ''Prophase.''

Jack nodded and wrote Prophase on the paper.

''You didn't even check it? What if I am wrong?'' Alice asked with curiosity.

''I am dumb... I will have to count on you with this.'' Jack said and continued, ''And no... I am not dating Jessica or anyone.''

''I see...'' Alice hid her smile and grabbed the microscope once again.

Jack with curiosity asked, ''What about you...?''

''What about me?'' Alice innocently asked while gazing at the microscope.

''You dating anyone...?'' Jack asked with slight nervousness, 'Why do I want her to deny it so much?!' He thought to himself.

Alice heard his heartbeat going rapid.

''I am not...'' Alice said and controlled her facial expression; otherwise, she might have the widest smile on her face.

Jack's heartbeat relaxed, and he nodded with a smile.

''Anaphase,'' Alice said and gave the microscope back to Jack, just in time to see his smile.

''Why are you smiling?'' Alice asked with a shy smile.

''I am glad that we might be winning the golden onion,'' Jack said a quick lie and wrote anaphase on the paper.

Alice pouted and grabbed the microscope once again.

''Metaphase.'' Alice instantly said.

Jack smiled and wrote it down.

After a minute of back and forth talking, they filled up the paper.

Jack gave the paper to Mr. Molina.

''Wow... Congratulations Miss Cullen, and Mister Mikaelson. Golden onion is yours.'' Mr. Molina said with a smile and gave the onion to Jack.

''Thanks.'' Jack smiled and walked back to Alice.

Alice gave a thumbs up with a cheerful smile.

Jack sat next to her and showed her the majestic golden onion.

''Who is going to keep it?'' Alice asked with a smile.

''I mean... I did work hard for this.'' Jack said.

''Yeah, is your hand numb after all that writing?'' Alice asked with an amused face.

Jack looked defeated, ''That was not fair.''

Alice chuckled.

*Ring*

The school bell rang, signaling the end of the class.

Jack put the golden onion on his backpack and stood up.

Alice stood up and left alongside him.

''I heard from Emmett that you were in Chicago before coming here.'' Alice opened the conversation while they were walking in the corridors.

Jack nodded, ''I was,''

''Why did you come here? And where are your parents?'' Alice asked the questions rapidly.

Jack chuckled, ''Why so curious?''

''You are mysterious.'' Alice said, 'I like it...' She thought in her mind.

Jack decided not to answer because she could tell if he was lying.

Him saying that he is from Chicago isn't a lie; it is a half-truth.

Alice decided not to inquire more and enjoyed the walk.

But then... She felt incredibly annoyed after a certain girl approached Jack.

''Jack!'' Jessica waved her hand and approached Jack with Angela.

''Hey, Jessica,'' Jack said simply.

Jessica smiled but then saw Alice standing next to Jack.

''Why are you walking with her?'' Jessica raised an eyebrow.

''We were partners in biology class,'' Jack answered.

*Ring*

Another bell rang, signaling the start of the second class.

''Jessica, gotta go!'' Angela said anxiously.

Jessica sighed, ''See you later, Jack!''

She left with Angela towards the class.

Alice narrowed her eyes.

After Jessica and Angela were far enough.

Jessica opened her mouth, ''Why is that weirdo hanging out with Jack?''

''Right, all Cullens are weird, but Alice is the most creepy one,'' Angela said.

But Alice still heard them clearly.

She was about to part ways with Jack to go to different classes.

But their words made her face downcast.

'Creepy... Does Jack think that as well..?' She touched her face, and her long-rooted low self-esteem started surfacing.

Jack saw her face turning sad all of a sudden, ''Alice, what's wrong?''

Alice quickly shook her head, ''I-Its nothing.''

Jack didn't believe her one bit.

'She must have heard something to make her sad... But who the fuck... When I find out... I will rip their throats out!' Jack's eyes went bloodshot, but he quickly regained his sanity.

''See you later...'' Alice said quietly and started walking away.

Jack stayed in his spot until he couldn't see her figure anymore.

He looked around the corridor and managed to see Jessica's and Angela's laughing figures.

He narrowed his eyes and clenched his fists.

Flames flickered in his eyes.

''Hey, Jack!'' But then he was brought out of his state by the loud voice.

He turned his head and saw a muscular giant waiting in front of the classroom.

''Class is starting!'' Emmett shouted and entered the classroom.

Jack looked at his hands and saw slight smoke appearing.

...

*Ring*

The bell rang, signaling the end of the school day.

*Yawn*

Emmett yawned, even though he can't feel tired.

''Finally, the day ended,'' Emmett said and looked at Jack who was daydreaming the whole day.

''What is wrong with you?'' Emmett asked.

Jack shrugged and stood up, ''Nothing.''

Emmett didn't completely believe him, but he stood up and left the classroom with Jack.

They left the school building and saw the rain had stopped entirely.

''See you.'' Emmett waved his hand and went towards the other Cullens.

Jack nodded and started walking towards his motorcycle.

He took a glance towards the Cullens and saw Edward looking at Bella.

While Alice was standing silently in the middle of Jasper and Edythe, and they seemed to be worried about her.

Alice saw Jack, but she quickly averted her gaze, trying not to act weird or creepy.

Jack wasn't concentrating and had already walked close to Bella when suddenly a van appeared in the parking lot.

*SKRRR*

The van suddenly spun around and started sliding towards Jack's and Bella's figure.

*Beep* *Beep*

Jack heard loud beeping noise, and with shock, turned his gaze towards the sliding van.

'This happened today?!' Jack shouted in his mind; he saw him being a few meters in front of Bella, which meant the van would definitely hit him.

But then...

Two blurs appeared.

Edward appeared in front of Bella, protecting her.

While Alice appeared in front of Jack and put her arm forwards.

*BAM*

The van stopped like it crashed into the wall.

But Alice was holding the van effortlessly while a significant dent appeared on the side of the van.

Alice shakily turned her gaze towards Jack, who must be shocked, or creeped out.

But what she saw... Shocked her.

Half of Jack's face was on fire! She even saw his bones being lit in a fire.

Jack was taking deep breaths, his heartbeat was on the rise, and he saw Alice's shocked face.

He touched his face, and slowly the flesh started again appearing, and his face became normal.

The surroundings went quiet.

Only Alice saw his flaming skull.

Bella was shocked while looking at Edward and Alice.

She saw something which she will never forget.

But before she could open her mouth.

Edward stood up and left the scene.

Alice looked conflicted but left as well.

After they left, a swarm of students came to see are they alright.

Jack turned his gaze towards Alice and saw her gazing back at him.

He thought that she might be scared or disgusted of him.

But instead...

He saw the sweetest smile he had ever seen on her face.

The face of relief, and love.