Twilight: Gods among us

A/n: been awhile

With that, Jaxon turned and strode out of the cafeteria, his strides confident yet casual. He didn't glance back at the Cullens, though their piercing gazes burned against his back. As he moved through the bustling hallway, the energy shifted. Fellow students glanced his way, some whispering in hushed tones, while others greeted him outright.

"Hey, Jaxon!" one girl called with a cheerful wave.

He smiled politely at her, offering a small nod. A group of younger boys on his left nudged one another, their excitement evident as they whispered among themselves. Jaxon acknowledged them with a quick grin before continuing on, his expression calm. His presence seemed to brighten the atmosphere wherever he passed, though he didn't let it distract him.

Reaching his math classroom, he entered and made his way to his usual seat near the middle of the room. Around him, students were already chattering animatedly.

"Did you see the Cullens staring at him earlier?" one boy whispered to his friend behind Jaxon.

"Yeah, like they were trying to figure him out or something," the friend replied. "It was so weird."

Ignoring the conversation, Jaxon took out his notebook and leaned back in his chair, his sharp gaze sweeping the classroom as more students filtered in. The hum of voices quieted slightly when the teacher walked in, her heels clicking against the tiled floor.

"Alright, everyone, settle down," the teacher called, setting her materials on the desk at the front of the room. As the noise died down, she glanced over the class. "Let's pick up where we left off yesterday. We were working on quadratic equations."

The teacher began reviewing a problem on the board, occasionally turning to ask questions.

"Who can tell me the first step to solving this equation?" she asked, pointing at an expression written in neat white chalk.

Several hands shot up, and the teacher nodded at a girl near the front.

"Isolate the variable?" the girl said tentatively.

The teacher smiled. "Good start, but there's one step before that. Anyone else?"

A boy in the back raised his hand confidently. "You factor it first," he answered, his tone assured.

"Exactly," the teacher said, nodding. "Good work. Now, let's move on to the next step…"

Minutes passed as the class worked through more examples, the pace steady. Jaxon kept his focus on the lesson, jotting down notes here and there, his mind sharp and engaged. However, a sudden knock at the door broke the rhythm.

The classroom fell silent as the teacher looked up. "Hold on a moment," she said, walking toward the door. She opened it slightly, revealing a middle-aged man wearing a school board badge. He leaned in and whispered something to her.

The teacher nodded, her expression professional. Turning back to the class, she clasped her hands together and addressed the students.

"Class, it seems we have a new student joining us today," she announced, her voice carrying easily across the room.

The news sparked a wave of murmurs.

"A new student? At this time of year?" someone whispered.

"Wonder who it could be," another chimed in.

Jaxon glanced around briefly at the reactions before his eyes flicked toward the door, his curiosity piqued. The teacher stepped aside, gesturing toward the doorway.

"Come on in," she said warmly.

The door creaked open, and a girl stepped into the room. She had long, dark brown hair that fell in waves over her shoulders, and her pale complexion was tinged with a faint blush. She hesitated for a moment, her gaze darting nervously around the room before she took a step forward.

Jaxon's eyes widened slightly as he took her in, a faint flicker of recognition crossing his expression before he schooled it back to neutrality. He leaned back in his chair, watching the scene unfold in silence.

The girl stood awkwardly at the front of the room, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. The teacher gave her an encouraging smile.

"Please introduce yourself to the class," the teacher prompted gently.

The girl shifted her weight, her eyes darting briefly to the floor before she looked up again. "Uh… hi," she said, her voice quiet but clear. "I'm Bella Swan. I just moved here from Phoenix, so… yeah. I hope we can all get along."

Her awkward introduction was met with a mix of reactions. Some students grinned or exchanged amused glances, while others gave her polite smiles.

Jaxon noticed a girl near the window whisper to her friend, "She looks so nervous. Poor thing."

Another student in the back muttered, "Phoenix? That's a big change from Forks."

The teacher clapped her hands lightly, drawing everyone's attention back to her. "Alright, thank you, Bella. Now, let's find you a seat." Her gaze swept the room before landing on a girl near the middle. "Jasmine, please raise your hand."

A girl with curly hair raised her hand, offering Bella a friendly smile. The teacher gestured toward the empty seat beside her. "You can sit next to Jasmine for now. Jasmine, help Bella get settled in."

"Of course," Jasmine said brightly, waving Bella over.

Bella nodded timidly, clutching her bag as she made her way to the seat. The soft rustle of movement accompanied her steps, and a few students whispered as she passed.

"She's so quiet," a boy near the back remarked softly.

"Probably nervous. First day and all," his friend replied.

Jaxon watched Bella for a moment longer, his sharp eyes tracking her movements. a sense of vulnerability He didn't dwell on it, though, turning his attention back to the lesson as Bella settled into her seat.

The teacher resumed the class, diving back into the quadratic equations on the board. As minutes passed, the whispers died down, and the room fell into a focused quiet. Jaxon glanced occasionally at Bella, who seemed to be doing her best to blend into the background. Jasmine leaned over to explain something on her worksheet, and Bella nodded gratefully.

Despite the routine of the lesson, the air in the room felt subtly charged, as though something unspoken lingered just beneath the surface. Jaxon couldn't shake the feeling that Bella's arrival might carry more significance than anyone else realized.

Still, he kept his thoughts to himself, his pen gliding over his notebook as he took notes with practiced ease. Whatever mysteries Bella might bring with her, Jaxon knew they would reveal themselves in time. For now, he had other things to focus on—and a growing awareness that his presence in Forks was already beginning to stir the waters.