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...

Comments

[self_composed]

"I win," Bella says merrily, and she reads off all her cards, ascribing them to herself in turn. Renée applauds softly and starts putting away the game.

[edgeofyourseat]

"That was awesome," Alice enthuses.

[self_composed]

"It really does work better with more people," says Renée, "but yes, that was fun. Oh, it's late, I'm sure you want to go back to wherever you're staying, Alice. Do you want a ride?"

[edgeofyourseat]

"Nah," he says, "thanks, I'm good." (And grins at Bella. He can't help it.)

[self_composed]

"All right. Well, I'm sure we'll see you again later this week," Renée says cheerfully, showing him out.

[I'm glad you and her get along,] Bella says.

[edgeofyourseat]

[Me too! She's awesome.]

"See ya," he says, and trots away out of sight, and turns invisible and circles back through the air to land on the roof.

[self_composed]

The next day is beastly hot - Bella isn't bothered, but she can sure tell - and so Renée takes her bathing suit shopping, buys her a red and blue flowered bikini, and drags her along to the beach! They set up a big beach towel to sit on and a big beach umbrella to sit under and apply sunscreen.

[edgeofyourseat]

Alice approves of this outing, although he does independently wonder whether invisibly flying to invisibly hover over the beach qualifies as creepy. It's not like he's watching anyone who doesn't know he's there.

[self_composed]

[It's a public beach; everyone knows that you or someone like you could be looking at them even if they don't have the means to actually detect you in particular,] Bella says.

She flaunts, just a little, craning around to put sunscreen between her shoulderblades. Her mother might ask an uncomfortable question (probably only one, but still) if Alice appeared to help her with that.

[edgeofyourseat]

[You're really pretty,] Alice asserts.

[self_composed]

[Thanks!]

When Bella is fully sunscreened - she's not going to get burnt, but she would like to be able to explain that to her mother, who had plenty of trouble keeping her pale child uncrisp in years past - she runs out and dives into the water.

[edgeofyourseat]

Alice wonders if his invisible self will remain really-invisible underwater, or if there will be an obvious Alice-shaped absence of water zooming around. Perhaps he should test it!

[self_composed]

[If you copied mine, you won't show up in water,] Bella says. [But you can still make visible splashes and stuff.]

[edgeofyourseat]

[I'll try not to,] he says cheerfully, and wish-replaces his clothes with, whimsically, a copy of Bella's bikini.

Invisible swimming time! He ceases to breathe while he's underwater, just because it makes things easier. And if he doesn't interact with the surface, he can't make a noticeable splash.

[self_composed]

Bella meanwhile floats on the surface, letting waves bear her up and down. [I haven't been to many beaches before. I mean, besides freezing Pacific beaches near Forks.]

[edgeofyourseat]

[I haven't been to any,] he says, grinning up at her. [This one's fun!]

[self_composed]

Bella dives under. She can open her eyes, but... not see. It's dark and murky. She's been designing herself enhanced vision anyway; now's a fine time to burn the hex on it.

Ooh, fishes.

[edgeofyourseat]

Alice waves. It is somewhat easier to see things that are between you and the surface; Bella is a blurry silhouette. Also, he's using his compass again.

[self_composed]

She waves back, and swims around pretty aimlessly. She pokes her head up periodically; she doesn't want a lifeguard trying to save her.

[edgeofyourseat]

For lack of anything better to do, Alice follows her.

...It occurs to him that it is dark and murky underwater, and that he is invisible anyway, and that Bella doesn't need to breathe.

[Wanna make out?] he asks. The fact that this is an acceptable question these days still gives him happy feelings, regardless of the answer to any given instance.

[self_composed]

[Hm, sure!]

Saltwater turns out not to taste nice, but a triangle will make that go away for the duration.

[edgeofyourseat]

Underwater kisses!

Magic is so much fun.

[self_composed]

[It really is. It's the best thing,] Bella sighs happily.

She still pokes her head up now and then, and waves at her mom, who is reading a book under the umbrella.

[edgeofyourseat]

Alice pokes playfully at the ends of her hair floating in the water.

[self_composed]

Bella's hair is braided; it'd only take a triangle to untangle it, but her mom would wonder. [That's not a bellpull,] she informs him, diving back down for more kisses.