CHAPTER X ―

A COMPLETE BITCH!

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐊 𝐂𝐋𝐎𝐔𝐃 𝐍𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐄𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐎 𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐓, and everyone around Nora seemed to notice that she was beside herself. The anger and sadness seemed to radiate off her in waves and everyone avoided her, including fellow peers. The first day back to school after the weekend was when the Cullen's noticed it first, especially Jasper when she brushed against him and a sudden rush of grief, anger, sadness, and self-hate filled him, making it almost unbearable for him to comprehend - that's when he told Edward.

Edward had taken it upon himself to watch over the girl that he had an unexplainable attraction to, but he knew why. He knew exactly why he was infatuated with her, but saying it made it real and he didn't exactly know if he was ready for that. He could only hear bits and pieces of what was going on inside her head, but what he heard just made him that much more concerned...

The second day of school was when Nora had snapped at Candice so harshly she'd made the bubbly blonde cry, but the moment Nora realized what she had said made her feel even guiltier. All her friends were trying to do was understand what was going on, but Nora was too involved in herself to even begin to see what they were trying to do... they were trying to be friends.

As the week progressed, Nora soon found herself sitting by herself in the lunchroom, staring outside the window at the dark clouds and rain, and not even Bella could try and cheer her up. So instead of the Cullens being the talk of the high school, it was Nora and preposterous rumors going around. Her favorite one happened to be the one where they were convinced she was on a downer because she was a druggie, that was Nora's favorite. If only any of them knew.

It was a Friday when he'd approached her. She had been sitting in the band room, staring out the window as her cello was braced against her, although she had no inspiration to play. Perhaps it was a thing of comfort, or perhaps it was because it was something she'd done so many times, it only felt right.

"Why aren't you playing?" Nora knew exactly who was with her the moment he'd spoken, his melodic voice and fresh scent of pine behind her. She sighed. "Don't tell me you've given up. From what I heard you rival me."

"I just don't feel like it." Her reply was simple and to the point, hopefully, he'd get the hint by her stiff posture and unwelcoming disposition to leave her alone.

"That's not a real reason." Apparently he didn't take hints very well.

Turning around, Nora's eyes narrowed at his beautiful angelic face. How she wished he'd jump off a damn bridge or get hit by a car. "Why are you even here, Edward?" She spat, her voice full of malice. It wasn't a question, it was a demand. He'd never gone out of his way to talk to her, so why was he so concerned now?

He was staring at her with his golden eyes, his face perfectly symmetrical. It wasn't fair how beautiful he was. There was no other way to put it, but say he was beautiful. Handsome would be too rough of a word. Edward was quiet for a moment as his eyes stared her down like he was trying to pierce her very soul and figure her out, it was unnerving.

"Maybe I'm just concerned." Nora let out a loud scoff, turning around and beginning to put her cello away in its case.

"Maybe you shouldn't be."

Edward stood there for a few moments before he took the hint that conversation was over and gracefully left the room. A sigh of relief had left Nora's lungs the moment he left, his piercing gaze no longer penetrating her back like he was forcing her emotions out of her. Edward Cullen would soon come to realize that Nora Elliot was not the girl for him.

...

"Alright, we are done with whatever this is." Looking up from her notebook, Nora raised her eyebrow to see Candice, Bella and Angela standing in front of her, the guys sitting at their normal table with curious and concerned looks, before they saw Nora looking at them and instantly put their heads down.

Looking back at Candice, Nora set her pen down. "What exactly are you done with?" Angela and Bella were looking everywhere but Nora's eyes.

"Everything, Nora Ann! You've been a complete bitch this entire week and we're all done with it, so your butt is coming with us tomorrow morning to La Push. You're going to either surf waves or enjoy the sights, I honestly could care less, but you need to get out of this funk," Candice demanded, her voice beginning to soften. "I don't know what's wrong, but we all love you and whatever this is has got to stop, or you're not going to have any friends left."

Nora and Candice stared each other down for a few moments, the entire lunchroom quiet as they watched the encounter between the two. When Nora's eyes shifted to everyone else, they all looked away and pretended to chat amongst themselves, the only ones not looking away were the Cullens. She narrowed her eyes.

"Nora, c'mon, please." It was Bella this time and she was pleading. Looking at Bella, Nora sighed.

"Alright, fine." Candice's firm features relaxed and grin replaced it. "But you're picking me up tomorrow."

Before Nora could stop Candice, she found herself picked up out of her chair and wrapped into a hug. "Oh, Nora! I've missed you!" A slight chuckle escaped the brunette's lips as she gently patted Candice's back.

"I know and I'm sorry." Nora's eyes found Edward's and the rest of the Cullens, who were all slightly relieved, she could see it in their eyes and suddenly, the guilt came rushing back in. Candice wasn't wrong, she was a complete bitch to everyone and most of all, to Edward. The one person that didn't deserve it. Taking her eyes off the Cullen's, Nora pulled back from Candice. "C'mon, let's go sit together."

"Oh my god, I have so much to fill you in on!"

Perhaps her dad was right, maybe Nora did need a few friends.

─ ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧ ─