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CHAPTER FIVE - INFATUATING SCENT

LUNCH WAS SOON over, forcing students to get up and leave for their next class. Sadly, Bella had mistakenly been given the wrong time table for her Biology class and was now in another, leaving the sisters to part ways when they came to their separate classrooms. Mike escorted Bella into their's and introduced her to the science teacher.

Laura sighed, watching them go in, and the walked into her class with Mr. Molina. The students had already taken their seats, so by the time Laura had walked in all their eyes were on her. Laura had never really cared about attention or being stared at, but the brains she was on must have had some sort of anxiety because her stomach was doing flips.

"Mr. Molina." Laura greeted, clutching to her bag strap on her shoulder as she tried not to run straight back out. Yep, she had definitely ate a social anxiety brain. The zombie glanced at all the faces she remembered. Edward Cullen being one of them.

"Laura Swan, welcome back." Mr. Molina replied, just as she walked in front of the fan, the cool wafts of wind lifted her hair.

Edward clutched his nose as her scent reached him. It was a strange one that he had only ever smelt around the dead, yet to him it was also sweet. In a way, he liked it, enough to want to stay near her at all times because it blocked out everyone else's scent that tempted him. And then, at the same time, he wanted to rip her throat out.

But he couldn't. Laura was Rosalie and Alice's friend. He wouldn't take away their only sense of normality in their lives. And Laura deserved better than having her throat ripped open in biology.

Edward scoffed because now he knew why the pixie vampire had got close to the human. Alice knew that this would happen someday. That Edward would stop being able to read Laura's mind at one point and become infatuated with her scent. He concluded that something must have happened to the Swan girl during her absence, and he intended to find out why she was now a mystery to him. 

Edward uncovered his nose and gripped the table in anticipation as she gave the teacher her pass and walked over to the empty seat next to him.

Laura sat down, glancing at Edward with a small smile as she did so. They didn't really talk to each other or interact, but she was oddly comfortable around him. However, she did notice his little reaction to her smell when she was in front of the fan it confused her. 

She didn't smell bad did she? She had a shower that morning and put on a lot of deodorant and perfume just in case she actually smelt like a zombie. She smelled the neck of her cardigan, but nothing smelled bad to her. Laura figured that was it. That she had put on too much perfume and it overpowered his sense of smell.

Edward passed her a glass jar along the table after releasing his grip on it and moved his own closer to him. She flinched as she heard Mr. Molina talking about zombie worms, which didn't go unnoticed by the vampire sat next to her.

"Don't like zombie worms?" Edward asked, lowering his voice so that the teacher couldn't hear them. His brows were permanently furrowed as he failed to invade her mind again and again, unlike how he used to. It sounded creepy, but looking into her mind a few months ago had always gave him a sense of peace, her mind was always happy and positive and it distracted him from hearing other people's negative thoughts instead.

"Do you?" She retorted awkwardly and brushed her platinum fringe behind her ear. Damn that brain for making her act so feeble. "It's not the worm part that gets me."

They didn't really converse after that, except for them glancing at each other from time to time and then looking away. Laura was becoming even paler then she already was every minute, increasing his curiosity about her.

By the time Edward was about to ask her why she looked so sick, the bell rang and she had bolted out of the classroom, taking her belongings with her.

He was used to people avoiding him, but Laura was never one of them.

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Laura washed her hands in the girl's toilets and splashed some water on her face. She had never thrown up brains before, no other brain had affected her so badly like anxiety brain had. She was second guessing everything she did, everyone she talked too and even how her handwriting looked. The Swan girl couldn't help but think of negative thoughts as she opened the door and left the toilets. They continued until she met up with Bella, who wanted to hand in their passes together, instant relief washed through Laura when she realised that she wouldn't have to talk to the receptionist alone.

"Hey, Laura, are you all right? You're looking really pale." Bella asked, taking in her sister's even paler complexion. "And for you that's something. Are you getting flashbacks from back in Phoenix?"

"No. No, I'm fine. Just nervous being back, is all." Laura assured as they began walking to the office. She really was feeling much better after visiting to toilet and throwing up what felt to be her entire insides. "How was your day?"

"Well, I have to sit next to Nathaniel Cullen during Biology, he looked like he was in pain. And he was staring at me the whole time!" She ranted and shifted her books in her arm to get a tighter grip.

"How strange. The almost exact thing happened to me with his brother, Edward." Laura replied, opening the office doors. They walked in to see the two Cullens talking with the receptionist. "Speak of the devil's."

"There has to be something open for us." Nathaniel pleaded, leaning on the desk. 

"Physics? Biochem?" Edward added, sounding almost as desperate.

"No, every class is full." The receptionist told them. She noticed the Swan twins enter the room, "Just a minute dearies." Then she turned back to the boys, "I'm afraid you'll have to stay in biology."

"Fine. Just..." Edward thought, going off track when he saw Laura staring at him with judging eyes.

"We'll endure it." Nathan finished, glancing in between the sisters and then dragged Edward with him out the door, past the girls.

Laura scoffed, "Wow. Never knew that Nathan was an asshole. Appearances do deceive."

Bella bit her lip in reply and then walked back out the office, completely forgetting what they had intended to do.

"Bella! Bella, wait!" Laura said, running after her sister who had already made it outside and climbed into the driver's seat of her truck. Laura jumped into the passenger seat just as Bella turned on the engine. "What was that about?"

"We're late." Was all she had said and pulled out of the school's parking lot.

"Dad wanted to have dinner with us tonight." Laura remembered, smacking her hand against her forehead lightly. "We could still make it, if you drive faster."

"I don't want to crash like you did." Bella laughed, completely forgetting her previous sudden mood. They pulled up to the restaurant and saw Charlie sat inside by the window. Laura was the first to get out and go inside, leaving Bella to lock up the truck.

"Sorry, we're late dad." Laura apologised, taking a seat beside him at the table.

"Don't worry about it, you're here now." He smiled. Bella came in and took the empty seat. "I knew you'd get here eventually so I ordered for you."

"Cool." Bella voiced.

"Thanks, dad."

"I just can't get over how grown up you are." Cora, the waitress, said to Bella as she set the food down in front of them. "And so gorgeous. Laura, you dyed your hair! It looks beautiful."

"Thank you." Laura replied quietly, her lips quirking upwards slightly from the praise.

"Hey. Bella. You remember me?" Waylon asked, coming over to them. "I played Santa one year?"

"Yeah, Waylon, she hasn't had a Christmas here since she was four." Charlie informed.

"I bet I made an impression though, didn't I?"

"You sure did." Laura laughed, "Butt crack Santa."

"Hey, kids love those little bottles though!" Waylon defended, imitating a little bottle with his thumb and index finger.

"Let the girls eat their garden burgers, Waylon." Cora scolded, playfully pushing him away. When he was gone, she turned to them, "When you two are done, I'll bring you your favourites - berry cobbler and cherry pie. Remember? Your dad still has the cobbler. Every Thursday."

"Thank you, that'd be great." Bella replied, smiling.

"Thanks, Cora." Laura added and watched as the waitress left. Bella and Charlie both reached for the ketchup bottle, causing the to pull back awkwardly. Charlie grabbed it, giving it to Bella as he used the brown sauce instead.

The whole exchange was awkward and it caused Laura to giggle to herself as she watched them.

After they had dinner, they all went home. Laura stayed downstairs and watched TV with Charlie whilst Bella went upstairs to talk to their mom.

❝I AM ALREADY DEAD.❞