𝘊𝘙𝘐𝘔𝘚𝘖𝘕 ° 𝘑𝘈𝘚𝘗𝘌𝘙 𝘏𝘈𝘓𝘌 ✓

07 | LA PUSH |

LUNCH WAS WEIRD for Rory.

She and Jasper Hale were in a weird place.

After the bloody biology class, Jess and Rory had entered the cafeteria to find the Cullens already sitting at their designated table. Jasper had lifted his gaze from his untouched tray to look at her as she bought her meal and sat amongst her friends. She tried not to feel so relieved he was present.

He watched her from the table he sat at surrounded by his siblings just as she watched him. Both were conflicted on what to do. She was sure she wouldn't face as much argument from him now if she decided to sit with him. She could even work on mending her stagnant friendship with Alice. Rory suspected their abrupt fall out had something to do with a moody honey haired teenager.

Rory switched her attention back onto her friends who all were excited about something. She was sure they were discussing some trip but Rory honestly zoned out.

"La Push, baby. You in?"

"Should I know what that means?" Bella chocked out a laugh while setting her backpack down next to Rory.

"Sounds like a failing Spanish grade to me," Rory tilted her head while the others laughed.

"La Push beach, down on the Quileute rez." Mike offered an explanation from his perch on the next table with Tyler. "We're all going this weekend. Big swell coming in."

Eric jumped up and posed. "And I don't just surf the internet." Mike jumped on the table he sat on to match Eric's surfer pose before being yanked down by Tyler.

Jessica rolled her eyes. "Eric, you stood up once. On a foam board."

"I'm from Texas," Rory narrowed her eyes, "No way in hell I'm gonna surf in that ass-freezing water." She was looking forward to a weekend of playing with her new dog and sleeping in, starting with a fat dog-cuddling nap after school.

"There's whale watching, too," Angela turned to Bella and Rory with a smile. "Come with."

"I think I'll pass," Rory wrinkled her nose. "Cold water, surfing and sitting in the cold...Knowing Forks, it'll probably rain at some point. I think I'll just play with Orion instead."

"La Push, baby," Eric repeated just as extra as he did before. "La Push." He got up in their faces and Rory snickered at Bella's clear discomfort.

"I'll go if you stop saying that," Bella finally relented as she chewed a cucumber slice from Angela's tray. Noticing Rory's silence, Bella prodded her, "and Texas killjoy over here is coming too."

"Bella," Rory said warningly.

"Yeah, Rory, you have to come now!" Jess demanded.

"No."

Her friend's brown eyes were alit with mischief. "What? Are you planning on staying home all day and painting a certain blon—"

Rory automatically looked at Jasper Hale, whose normally impassive face was alit with curiosity and turned towards hers.

"—I'll go! Fucking hell," Rory muttered with hot cheeks while the table erupted into cheers. Bella smiled and walked towards the salad line where Edward had, of course, joined her.

The Cullens really were a weird bunch.

Rory was infinitely glad she had grown close to Bella. While Jess was a really good friend, Bella and Rory understood each other. Bella was the soothing, sensible presence in Rory's erratic and temperamental self. And since both girls were the victims of the confusing messes of Cullen/Hale boys, Rory and Bella relied on each other to stay sane.