Sunlight - Book 3

Chapter 6

To my own amusement Tyler had every class with me except one. That was the obvious - Orchestra. We chatted animatedly on our way to the next class which was English and waited outside the door for the previous class to be dismissed.

"So you are the Cullen heir?" He asked.

I slightly nodded my head.

"Can I ask you something?" I replied.

"Of course. Anything." he grinned.

"Why are people so weird around me when they learn of my surname?"

This has been nagging at the back of my mind since the incident in the office.

He held out his hand towards me. "I want to show you something."

I looked at the time on my phone and glanced at the door nervously.

"It's okay to miss the first day in our general classes they just go over the schedule but I can email you a copy or something. I'm suscribed." He said reassuringly. The corners of his mouth turned up in a sweet manner.

Should I ditch with him or stay?

"Renesmee. I am a straight A student with a 4.5 gpa since I first started here 4 years ago I've missed every first day of class. Nothing bad ever happens I promise." He looked down at my hand and then moved a few steps closer and slid his fingers through mine.

I gasped from the shock of his touch and then looked quickly at my feet as I felt my face warm from the blush that was consuming my cheeks. I was touching a newly acquiantenced human that wasn't family for the first time in my life.

I looked sheepishly up at him and he began to lead me down the hall and away from the classroom. Once we exited the hall the bell rang signaling the beginning of class. Oh my god I can't believe I am doing this! What will my father think when he pervades my mind. Surely he wouldn't care right?

I followed him, our fingers still laced together, back through the path between the 800 and 600 building and across the cobblestone courtyard.

"See that statue?" He pointed to a large lion standing in the middle of the courtyard.

"It's the same one in the photograph in the office right?" I asked trying to confirm my memory from this morning.

Tyler nodded his head as we continued to walk to the far side of the campus where the track and field was located. "It was built around the end of September as a thank you to your parents for the school."

"What about the school?" I asked curiously. Did they donate funding for a new wing?

"Without your parents buying the school it would've been closed. All the staff and students would have no where to go."

I stopped before a metal chainlink fence and stared at him dumbfoundedly. "My parents bought the school? This school?"

Tyler nodded his head. "I thought you would know atleast this much."

"I know alot less then the average human being when it comes to my life." I whispered as evenly as I could.

I couldn't believe that they wouldn't care to inform me. I feel so embarrassed.

Without another word spoken between us Tyler bent down and pulled aside the chainlink revealing a large space for someone our size to fit through.

"After you." He grinned.

I looked at him and then hastily slipped through the hole. He followed quickly after.

We walked in silence for five minutes before we passed through a woodland. I stopped and let him lead since he knew where we were going and we continued inwards in silence. About twenty yard in he stopped.

He looked around nervously then held his arms out to his side before dropping them back to his sides. "I discovered this place in the sixth grade." He said before taking a seat on the trunk of a fallen tree.

I joined him, leaving some space between us. "Isn't this a high school?"

He nodded his head. "That is." He pointed back towards the path we came from. "But over there-" He pointed the opposite direction. "Is the middle school. Your parents own that too." he added.

I looked in the direction he pointed and surely enough I could make out some buildings with the same architectual structure as the high school.

I allowed my gaze to soak in the beauty of the spot. The moss hanging from the trees, the mushrooms in clusters, the sunlight cascading through the mass of evergreen branches. There was even a small river or creek flowing nearby.

"How did you find it?" I asked curiously.

He blushed. Was he embarrassed at his rule breaking? Surely we were breaking several rules from ditching class to awoling.

"Tell me." I said ardently

"In middle school I was bullied by the kids at the high school because I was the son of a teacher there. It was in the winter and it was raining as I was walking to the bus when they jumped me. I managed to get away but not before I seccumbed to their hits and kicks. I was terrified and I didn't know where to go. Somehow I found myself slipping under the fence where an animal had burrowed through and she saved me."

"Who?"

"Jamie. She is my best friend. She was bullied too."

"Oh." I dropped my gaze to my feet as I remember the day I was almost beat up. Wyatt had saved me. "I know how you feel." I blushed.

"Really?" I nodded my head.

"Tell me about it?"

I looked at my feet at a loss for words. How was I supposed to tell him about my story without breaking away from my fake back ground story.

I was supposed to be

Yulia Renesmee Carlie Bronteski. I was originally from Moscow Russia and adopted when I was 16.

I took a deep breath. Here goes nothing. I glanced up at him allowing his hazel eyes to meet my brown.

"When I was a Freshman in high school I looked like a 7 year old child. Not only did that put a target on my head for bullying but because I was smarter then the other kids the target was illuminated with neon lights. A girl had attacked me at lunch and attempted to cause harm but a boy stepped in and protected me." I said a bit rushed. I hated lying so the faster I got it over with the better.

"You seem to have inherited your mother and fathers youthfulness. How old are they anyways? What do they do?"

Great now he wanted to know about my family meaning more lies!

I sighed. "My mother is 22 and my father is 24."

Tylers eyes widened. "Impossible."

I shook my head. "I'm adopted. My birth name is Yulia Renesmee Carlie Bronteski. I was born in Moscow Russia. My parents adopted me during their honeymoon. My parents died when I was five." I lied cooly. It felt weird as the false words rolled off my tongue.

He frowned, the light in his hazel eyes fading. "Oh, I'm sorry I didn't mean to intrude on your private life."

I pursed my lips. "It's no big deal." I distracted myself by pulling my phone from my bag and looking at the time. "Class should be over soon." I murmered as I rose to my feet.

He slid to his feet to and dusted off his clothes. "I know we have all the same classes together and I could probably ask you at a better time but what are you doing after school?"

We were back through the gate as his words left his mouth. I froze in my steps and looked at him. "I have to go home."

"Are you sure you don't want to hang out or something?" He looked bummed.

Just then my phone rang. Saved by the bell. I held up my finger and brought my phone to my ear as I answered it.

"Renesmee-" My mothers voice rang.

"Uh hi." I said nervously. I should be in class right now and I bet Alice had seen me ditching and told.

"I just wanted to let you know that your grandfather and Sue will be dining with us tonight out on the town so if you want to have Roxette drop you off at the mall we can pick you up as we swing through."

"What?" I asked hearing the question but not comprehending the situation. I thought I was in trouble.

"The mall-"

"-Oh!" I brushed a strand of hair quickly behind my ear and turned around to face my friend Tyler. "Yes alright. I guess I'll see you for dinner then. I love you." I hung up the phone.

Tyler was at my side again. "Boyfriend?" He asked me, his eyebrows raised.

I shook my head. "I've never had a boyfriend."

"Ever?" He asked in complete and utter disbelief.

I gave him one nodd. "Ever." I repeated. "Anyways that was my mom and I guess we are having dinner with my grandparents on the town. She thinks it would be a waste of time for me to go home since I basically have to take a boat to get there."

"A boat?"

I gave him another quick nod as we continued nodding. "She said I could go to the mall and she would pick me up later."

"So you do want to hang out?" He asked, each of his words were spaced as if he was choosing them carefully.

I smiled. "Sure. I'm all yours for the evening Tyler."

He slowed his walk suddenly as my words left my mouth. "Actually Jamie will be joining us too."

I faltered in my steps for a second but quickly recovered. Jamie? I would be meeting his best friend Jamie. Was Jamie a guy? No I was certain I heard him mention Jamie being a girl. Wait... why do I even care?