Destiny

~4~

The boys' basketball team ran drills on half of the basketball court. A girls' volleyball game occupied the other half. Bella avoided the volleyball like it's radioactive, causing Destinee to hold back a laugh.
An energetic, athletic team captain named Jessica, motivated the players.
"Block it, Chloe! Yeah! Good attack!"
Unfortunately, the volleyball headed towards Bella. She closed her eyes and flailed at it, smacking it away. It flew off the court and beaned a basketball player in the head. It was Mike Newton, affable, with blond spiky hair.
"Ow!" he exclaimed.
Bella hurried over to him, clearly being embarrassed.
"Are you alright? I warned them not to make me play."
"It's only a flesh wound", Mike said grinning and Bella smiled, relieved.
"You're Isabella, right?" Mike asked.
"Just Bella", the pale girl mumbled.
"I'm Mike. Mike Newton."
He looked at her a second too long, clearly taken. Suddenly, Jessica appeared, stepping between them. Subtle, but possessive as she nudged Mike.
"She's got a great spike, doesn't she?"
"So, you're from Arizona, right? Aren't people supposed to be tan down there?"
"That's why they kicked me out."
Mike laughed, and because he did, Jessica did. Bella just felt uncomfortable with the attention.

Meanwhile

Just when the ball beaned Mike, the teacher came up to Destinee.
"You're Destinee Swan, right?"
The girl nodded.
"The secretary called me and told me that you wanted to take part in the Annual Gymnastic contest."
"Yeah, that's right."
"Well the jury is already here, but they're not going to start until last period. You could prepare now."
"You mean you let me do gymnastics in the middle of your lesson?"
The teacher nodded.
"Yeah."
"Thank you very much."
"Good luck."
Destinee went into a corner and stretched her arms and legs. Then she started to practice a move she wanted to perform later.

She didn't notice that she slowly got some audience. Even the teacher watched. When she noticed and stopped, everyone clapped. She blushed and bowed.
"That was great. Well, I don't know about the others, but when you compete... I'll definitely be there and cheer for you", a boy said.
The others agreed and when the bell rang, signaling that the class was over, everyone went to the gym lockers. Destinee went there too and while she changed she noticed some teens looking into her direction or she heard whispers. It lasted till someone came up behind her when she had almost completely changed her normal clothes.
"Hey, Im Jessica. What's your name?"
"Ehm, Destinee Swan."
"Your Bella's sis-..."
"Adoptive... sister."
"Oh... Well, your performance earlier was really good. I'm definitely going to come and watch."
"Thank you. I appreciate that."
"Do you want to eat lunch with us?"
"Yeah, I would really like to accompany you."
Bella, Mike and Jessica carried their trays to a table, while Destinee was only carrying a bowl with some vegetables and fruits. Eric appeared and squished himself into a seat between Destinee and Bella.
"Mike, I see that you already met my home girls Destinee and Bella."
"Your home girls?"
"It's first grade all over again, and you two are the shiny new toys", Jessica said to the other two girls.
Bella smiled awkwardly, while Destinee ate her healthy food in silence. Suddenly, a flashbulb blinded Bella. She looked up at the photographer, Angela, Jessica's friend.
"Sorry, needed a candid for the feature."
"Feature's dead, Angela. Don't bring it up again."
Eric stood up and turned to the new girls.
"I got your back, baby."
Angela was looking disappointed.
"Guess we'll just run another editorial on teen drinking."
"Sorry. There's always eating disorders, or Speedo padding on the swim team."
"Wait, that's a good one..."
"Or Destinee as the new gymnastics queen", Jessica cut in.
Angela immediately beamed happily when Destinee nodded. But Bella's attention was now riveted to the double doors of the cafeteria. They swung open as four of the most astounding people Bella's ever seen entered. Two guys and two girls, all chalky pale, purplish shadows under their eyes and all devastatingly beautiful. They moved through the room with effortless grace and took a seat at a table furthest from the girls'. Bella leaned over to Jessica and Angela.
"Who are they?" she asked and that also got Destinee's attention.
"The Cullens", Angela answered.
Jessica leaned in, swinging into her gossip mode.   "Doctor and Mrs. Cullen's foster kids. They all moved down here from Alaska two years ago."
"How come I've never met them? I lived here for eight years."
"They kinda keep to themselves", Angela said.
"Because they're all together. Like, together together. The blonde girl, Rosalie and the big dark-haired guy, Emmett..."
Rosalie was an 18 year old teen with long blonde hair and she was looking extremely beautiful like a model. Along her side was Emmett. He was big, brawny and looking like a weight lifter, but he had playful glint in his eyes.
"... they're a thing. I'm not even sure that's legal."
"Jess, they're not actually related."
"But they live together. Oh and the little dark haired girl, Alice, she's really weird."
Alice was a 17 years old, pixie-like teen, being rail thin and light on her feet with short black hair going in every direction. She hovered over Jasper, 18 years old, with honey-blond hair, tall, lean and looking slightly tortured.
"... she's with Jasper, the blonde who looks like he's in pain. I mean, Dr. Cullen is like this foster dad slash match maker."
"Maybe he'll adopt me."
Bella laughed, liking them. Then she saw the last Cullen enter.
Edward, a 17 year old. Lanky, with untidy and bronze colored hair. He seemed inwardly turned and mysterious. More boyish than the others. But the most striking of all, which Destinee noticed, was that Bella couldn't take her eyes off him. "Who is he?"
"That's Edward Cullen."
Then Edward looked over, as if he heard Jessica from across the room. His eyes met Bella's. But he seemed confused about something. Bella quickly looked away.
"He's totally gorgeous, obviously. But apparently, no one here is good enough for him. Like I care."
'She obviously does', Destinee thought.
"Anyway, don't waste your time."
"I wasn't planning on it", Bella replied.
But she couldn't help but peek at Edward again. He was staring at her right then, with a slightly frustrated expression which unnerved Bella. She hid her face behind her hair till lunch was over and Destinee watched it with a bit of amusement.