03. Lunch Time
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After Jasper had left the class, time seemed to pass at an excruciatingly long rate into the next class, till finally, the bell for lunch rang. Magnolia shot up from her seat, messily shoving her binder and textbook back into her bag and rushing off to the lunchroom.
She sat at her table, pulled out her phone and quickly dialled her mom's number. "Sweetheart? Why are you calling during school? You could just come to my class." Ariana's worried voice sounded through the small phone. Magnolia took a deep breath.
"My magic," She whispered. "It worked somehow, and no, none of the humans saw." She answered her mother's question before it was answered. Her hand shook slightly, recalling the way Jasper had looked at her.
"Humans? Are you saying one of the Cullens saw?"
Magnolia cringed. "Yes. Jasper. He saw and immediately left class. I think he went to tell the others or call Carlisle or both I'm not sure but I'm worried mom."
Ariana sighed. "Sweetie it'll be alright. I'll have a talk with Carlisle about all this but in the meantime try to calm down and keep your powers under control. Okay?"
Magnolia nodded, and hummed, looking around the lunch room filling quickly up. There were too many students to continue the conversation. "Mom, I got to go now. We can talk after I go for pizza with Elton."
"Oh no that's not happening after what you just told me. Get Bella to drive you home and we will continue training," Magnolia groaned in response, readying a but. "No buts, you will come home after school. Tell Elton something came up. Goodbye."
With a click, the phone call ended, and Magnolia felt herself wanting to throw her phone across the lunchroom. She breathed heavier, the tingle in her hands returning. The grip on her phone grew harder and harder, her normally bright happy blue eyes turning to a dark, glowing sapphire. A loud crack snapped Magnolia from her trance. Looking down, her now normal eyes widened.
Held in her hand was a broken phone. "How did I...?" She whispered. There was no question Magnolia had done that.
"Maggie! What's up my girl!" The obnoxious voice of Mike Newton rang through her ears. Magnolia looked up at him and frowned. He noticed the broken phone clutched in her hand. "Woah! Did you do that?"
"You could say that," Magnolia said, turning away from him and pulling out her lunch. Her mom never let her buy from the cafeteria, said it was practically poison. Mike laughed, and sat across from her, soon after being joined by Eric. Of course, he commented on her phone too.
"Yo, what happened to your phone, girl?" He laughed, taking a large bite from an apple. Magnolia scrunched her face at the bits that flew from his mouth as he spoke, a string of spit hanging from his lower lip.
"I threw it. Ok? I was pissed off from...history class."
Both boys' eyes widened. "Wow, Siren didn't know you were so hardcore." Mike winked at her.
"Mike, leave Maggie alone. It's hard enough for us to hear your sad attempts at flirting," Jessica had come into the scene, sitting in between Magnolia and Mike. "I'll keep you safe from him, Maggie. Don't you worry." She laughed, nudging Mike ruffly.
Magnolia smiled the best she could at Jessica. It's not that she didn't appreciate the distance she put in between her and Mike, it's just that over the years Magnolia had grown to become annoyed at Jessica. They've never been real friends, just in school friends, so she tolerated her. "Thanks, Jess."
Mike looked up and smiled brightly. "I'll be right back!" He got up and rushed over to the front of the lunchroom, where Bella stood nervously with her tray. Magnolia smiled at her; which calmed the new girl, waving for her to come over. Mike had taken her arm, bringing her over and pulling out a chair next to Eric. "It's my pleasure, madame." He smirked as Bella sat down, and he retook his seat.
Bella smiled sheepishly at her old friend. "Hey Magnolia."
Eric stopped talking to Magnolia about whatever it was, she wasn't listening. "Hey Mikey, I've seen you've met my homegirl, Bella!"
"Your homegirl?" Magnolia question, with a slight laugh. Eric was defiantly not the type of person Bella would drift toward, in fact, the more Magnolia studied Bella, the more she saw how awkward and nervous she was. Softly, she placed a hand on her arm and smiled. Bella tensed at first, a little shocked by the sudden touch, and she was already overwhelmed by the kids of Forks; but when she looked and saw the kind, baby blue eyes of Magnolia Siren, she felt for once, at ease.
"My girl!" Tyler had rushed up behind Magnolia and Bella, quickly kissing Bella on the cheek, winking at Magnolia, then pulling Mike's chair out from under him, causing an almost kindergarten-like chase to ensue between the two.
"O-Oh my god," Jessica chuckled awkwardly, scooting down next to Bella, replacing Mike's spot. "It's like first grade all over again, you're the shiny new toy." She laughed once more. Magnolia almost couldn't breathe, the awkwardness was so thick between the two girls. She started slowly running her thumb over Bella's arm, causing Bella to give a look of thanks over at her.
"Smile!" A sing-songy voice rang out, and the flash of a camera directly after. Angela held her camera for the school newspaper in her hands, a large grin on her face. Bella shut her eyes at the flash, rubbing them from the brightness. "Sorry," Angela apologized. "I needed a candid for the feature."
"The features dead, Angela," Eric snapped. "Don't bring it up again." He got up from his chair.
"I-It's ok." Bella tried to soften Eric's comment.
Eric patted Bella's shoulder, a sad attempt at flirting. "Don't worry, I got your back baby."
Magnolia rolled her eyes, groaning. "Just leave her alone, Eric. You're just as bad as Mike, now scram."
Eric put his hands up defensively, smirking at the blue-eyed beauty talking to him. "Sorry, Maggie. Next time I'll do better, see ya!" He turned and walked away, most likely trying to find Mike and Tyler.
Angela sighed. "It's fine. I guess we'll run another editorial on...teen drinking." She shook her head, sounding defeated.
"You could always write about eating disorders," Bella piped up, giving Angela a sympathetic smile. "Or speedo padding on the swim team?"
Magnolia couldn't help but let out a snort. "That's good Bella, really funny too." She smiled at the still obviously nervous girl beside her.
"Yeah," Angela added. "That's actually a good one." She pulled out a notebook from her bag, writing the idea down with a relieved smile.
"Right?" Jessica laughed from beside Angela. "I was thinking the same thing." The two girls laughed.
Magnolia smiled to herself and took a bite of her sandwich. Suddenly, she felt a harsh shiver move up her spine, and she turned to see the Cullens, arriving in the lunchroom. "Who are they?" Bella stared, intrigued.
Magnolia rolled her eyes, and Angela and Jessica exchanged a knowing glance. "They're the Cullens," Angela stated, looking from Bella to the people of interest.
"They're...Dr. and Mrs. Cullen's foster kids," Jessica added. "They moved her from Alaska like, a few years ago."
Magnolia chuckled lightly to herself, hearing what the girls thought of the Cullens. Obviously, they couldn't know their secret, but it was entertaining to see the stories they'd cook up to tell the people of Forks.
"They kind of keep to themselves," Magnolia added, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
"That's because they're all together," Jessica whispered with a smirk. "Like, together together," She glanced around, making sure no one would listen in. "The blonde girl, that's Rosalie, and the big dark-haired guy's Emmet—they're like a thing. I'm not even sure that's legal."
Bella watched in awe, listening to every word Jessica spoke. "Jess, they're not actually related." Angela sighed, shaking her head at the girl disapprovingly.
"I know, but they live together, it's weird." Jessica groaned, rolling her eyes.
Right when they entered the room, Magnolia could feel a pair of piercing eyes on her. She looked up reluctantly, knowing whom they belonged to. Her blue eyes met his yellow ones—he smiled sympathetically at her, suddenly feeling all of her emotions at once. It was a mixed-up mess of sadness, confusion, and the strongest; anger. Jasper felt himself grow weary, as her eyes turned dark. He'd never seen her like that; powerful, terrifying. She was normally happy and smiling whenever she saw him, but whatever he had done to her, it had triggered something.
"Ok, the little dark-haired girl's Alice. She's super weird." Jessica whispered. Magnolia glared at her.
"And my friend." She said, her voice harsh and stern.
"Right," Jessica smiled with sarcastic sorry. "Sorry, Maggie." Magnolia rolled her eyes, not trying to start an argument she'll ultimately grow tired of and give up on.
Jessica started back up with giving Bella the lowdown on the Cullens. "And um...that's Jasper, the one that always looks like he's in pain."
Magnolia couldn't help but laugh, earning a smile from Jessica and Angela. Jasper had obviously heard her—he just chuckled, glad she was getting some amusement out of Jessica's petty gossip. "Dr. Cullen's like this foster dad slash matchmaker." Jessica rambled, picking at her food, a small blush coming to her face.
"Maybe he'll adopt me." Angela giggled, that same blush appearing across her cheeks as well. Bella's eyes widened, as the last Cullen emerged into the lunchroom. Edward strode in, all eyes on him. He didn't smile, but Magnolia knew he loved the attention. She scowled at him and crossed her arms.
"W-Who's he?"
If even possible, Jessica's blush grew redder. If she wasn't careful she might have had a nose bleed. "That's Edward Cullen. Totally gorgeous, obviously," Magnolia audibly scoffed at Jessica's comment, earning a glare from the girl. "As I was saying...apparently nobody here's good enough for him like I care," She laughed, trying and failing to cover up her disappointment. "So yeah...seriously though, don't waste your time."
Bella nodded, a tight knot forming in her chest as she looked over her shoulder, to see Edward and the Cullens looking at her. "Wasn't planning on it." She mumbled. Magnolia watched, seeing how Edward was eyeing her.
"She's not a piece of meat, Edward." She thought while staring him down. She received a glare from him; a growl coming from his throat as he reluctantly turned away from Bella's gaze. Magnolia placed her hand on Bella once again, gaining the girl's attention. "Hey, you have biology next, right?" Bella nodded, not maintaining eye contact. "Great! We have it together. I'll walk you there when lunch is over."
Bella looked up and smiled. Magnolia could tell her mind was still on the Cullens; on Edward. "Thanks, Maggie."
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