Edward Cullen wasn't okay.
He stormed out of biology so fast it was practically teleportation. One second he was brooding at his desk; the next he was a blur of tortured vampire angst slamming through the hallway like a bat out of hell with cheekbones.
Annabelle watched him go, chin resting on her palm, lips curled into a satisfied smirk.
"Still got it."
Bella, sitting two rows over, sent her a confused glance. After class, she caught up with Annabelle outside the door.
"You said something to him."
"He said something to my soul. That man was ready to jump out the window."
Bella folded her arms. "What did you say?"
Annabelle leaned in, deadpan. "I told him I bite."
Bella blinked.
"Because he's a vampire," Annabelle added.
"…What?"
Annabelle put a hand over her heart. "Don't worry, Bella. I'm here now. You don't have to suffer through this plot alone."
Elsewhere: Edward is Spiraling
In the woods, several miles from the school, Edward paced in tight circles.
"She's different. She smells like—like protein powder and glitter. Her blood is—wrong." He ran a hand through his hair, eyes wide. "And she talked back. No mortal has ever… flirted with me like that. I think she threatened me. And she wasn't even trying to be seductive. She just… exists like chaos in lip gloss."
Carlisle, ever the patient vampire-dad, nodded slowly.
"Well, son. Perhaps you've met your match."
Edward blinked. "You don't understand. Her mind is quiet. It's not like Bella's. It's not blank—it's just… confusing. Like someone screaming inside a rainbow."
Back at School – Gym Class: Return of the Bro
It was dodgeball day. Forks High gym was about as intimidating as a yoga class run by toddlers, but Annabelle stood by the bleachers with a dull sense of dread.
"Please don't make me run in public. Please don't let me remember how to do a push-up and make it weird."
Coach Clapp, who looked like he retired emotionally fifteen years ago, blew his whistle. "Swan twins, split up. Bella, red team. Annabelle, blue."
Annabelle trudged across the court with her pastel hoodie tied around her waist. She glanced around. Her team was… not hopeful. The other side had Mike Newton, who was already cracking his knuckles like he was prepping for Wrestlemania.
"Alright. Keep it low-key. You're a delicate flower now. A gentle sister."
First round: a ball came flying toward her.
Without thinking, she side-stepped, caught it with one hand, and flung it back so fast it knocked Tyler clean off his feet.
The entire gym froze.
Annabelle blinked. "Oh no."
"The Bro is awakening."
Second round: She dodged two balls, rolled forward, and beaned Eric in the gut. The other students started clapping.
Coach Clapp muttered, "Good arm."
Annabelle broke into a light sweat. Not from effort—from panic. Her years of bench pressing 300 pounds were coming back with a vengeance.
"Keep it cool. Just… play gentle."
Next ball: She accidentally hurls it through the wall mat.
After Class – Panic and Protein
Bella cornered her in the hallway.
"You just obliterated the sophomore class."
Annabelle rubbed the back of her neck. "It's not my fault I have mysterious upper-body strength and killer aim."
"You threw a ball so hard it broke the clock."
"I'm… athletic."
"You wear slippers shaped like cats."
"I contain multitudes."
Later That Night – Existential Stretching
Annabelle lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, a pink face mask slowly drying on her cheeks.
"Okay. So. You're Marcus. You died. You got reincarnated. You were forced to grow up as a girly girl, and you liked it. And now you're inside Twilight, next to a vampire who smells like iced tea and regret."
She turned on her side and groaned. "What's next? Do I fall for Jacob? Do I imprint on a baby? Do I glitter?"
From the bathroom, Bella shouted, "You left your exfoliating brush in the sink!"
Annabelle stared into the void.
"…I am so doomed."