high school is kind of boring really

[self_composed]

School plods along. Bella is native-quality fluent in Spanish, professor-level at math, well and thoroughly versed in the workings of the United States government, capable of doing actual independent research projects in biology, and she's been speaking English since she was one. Alas, these skills only make classes easier for a short time. After the novelty wears off they're just tedious. Bella winds up squaring her homework done more often than not so she can work out the kinks in her design for telekinesis, or play music, or attend soccer practice, or write little computer games, or read, or just fly around. This works out fine. Magic is pretty good at homework.

She winds up not attending most of the dances, but she does want to go to the end of year one, as she will be leaving Forks High School forever and it has some good points. Alice promised her a dress...

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[self_composed]

"Hi!" Bella calls back, waving. "This is my mom, Renée. Mom, this is Alice."

"Hello, Alice," says Renée, not batting an eye. "It's so nice to meet you. What brings you to Jacksonville?"

[edgeofyourseat]

Awwwwwww he really really likes her. Alice bounces a little.

"Do I need a reason?" he asks cheerfully.

[self_composed]

"Well, it's a happy coincidence, I suppose," Renée laughs. "Won't you join us?"

They all sit down and get menus. The prominently advertised special is a giant basket of deep fried shrimp. "So how did you two meet?"

"At school," Bella says. "We had gym class together."

[edgeofyourseat]

"Yep!" says Alice.

[Does she want the real story? I like the real story.]

The one where Bella called him a freak and he fell in love on the spot. That story.

[self_composed]

[Eenh, I'd save that for later, but maybe eventually.]

Bella orders swordfish and Renée orders salmon, and then informs Alice that it's her treat and he should get whatever he likes.

[edgeofyourseat]

"Giant shrimp basket it is," he says, grinning.

[self_composed]

"What do you do with your time?" Renée asks Alice. "You look a little older than Bella. Are you going to college in the fall too?"

[edgeofyourseat]

"Nope," he says. "Not my thing."

He wonders if he's going to end up explaining to her why he is independently wealthy at eighteen.

[self_composed]

"What is your thing, then?" Renée asks.

"He likes to sew," supplies Bella, "and cook."

"Ooh. I'm taking a quilting class at the moment," Renée confides.

[edgeofyourseat]

"Ooh!" says Alice, perking up. "Is it fun?"

[self_composed]

"It's very fiddly work!" laughs Renée. "But I'm enjoying it, yes, and my sewing machine got a nice dusting-off, and the quilt will be warm even if it isn't terribly pretty."

[edgeofyourseat]

"Yeah, it takes a while to get to where it's actually any good. But you do get there!" [Can I brag about our dresses?]

[self_composed]

[Sure, why not?]

"I keep putting things down before I'm good at them," laughs Renée. "Haven't any patience."

[edgeofyourseat]

"I know the feeling," Alice assures her. "But it pays off, I swear. You wouldn't believe the dresses I made us for the end-of-year dance."

[self_composed]

"I sent you a picture of me in mine," Bella says. "He made it for me."

"Goodness! I would never have guessed it was homemade - so carefully done, you must be so proud of yourself," says Renée.

[edgeofyourseat]

"I really, really am," he says happily. "I just love making pretty things, you know?"

[self_composed]

"Well, maybe you'll grow up and you'll be a famous designer," declares Renée, as the food arrives.

Bella swipes one of Alice's shrimps.

[edgeofyourseat]

"Go right ahead," he tells Bella fondly.

To Renee, "Maybe I will! That would be kinda awesome."

[self_composed]

"Wonderland Designs," says Bella, gesturing and starting on her own food.

[edgeofyourseat]

Alice giggles and starts devouring shrimp.

[self_composed]

Dinner concludes pleasantly, and Renée asks Alice if he has somewhere else to be or if he'd like to come see the house.

[edgeofyourseat]

"Nah, I'd love to!"

[self_composed]

So they all go to Renée's house. "Are you from Forks originally, Alice?" Renée wants to know.

[edgeofyourseat]

"Nope," he says. "I grew up in New York."

[self_composed]

"Ooh, New York. I've been there just a couple of times, but isn't it a lovely city?"