Chapter 4: Vampires, Teenagers, and High School.
It had been hard to sleep last night. Iris had already started her room but had to buy furniture among other things to finish it, so she just lay in her temporary bed, tossing and turning. When midnight rolled around Iris had nearly lost her patience. She had no trouble sleeping in the rain, so the constant pitter-patter of raindrops against her window and the wind that swished alongside it; didn't bother her.
It was the constant stench of tears, self-loathing, misery, and sorrow that caused her sleepless night.
Thankfully, Iris didn't need as much sleep as her family or else she would have been in a horrible mood today. Honestly, Iris wasn't even sure if she actually needed sleep but liked it too much to test the theory. In the end, she had expanded her shield to surround her bed and blocked her sense of smell altogether. It made her uncomfortable; it went against all of her instincts, but it helped to know her shield was as hard as it was protective. Nothing and no one would get in if Iris didn't personally allow them too.
Now, at three forty-five, she was wide awake. The rain had settled into a light drizzle, but puddles littered the entirety of Forks. The sun was hidden behind dark patches of gray clouds and the wind still blew through the leaves in the endless forest. She had wanted a dress for her first day of school outfit… but due to the weather, she chose something more sensible, instead, knowing she was supposed to be chilly and worried about the potential for illness, though Iris had never actually been sick a day in her life.
She settled for a pinko-up black Taglia T-shirt, white skinny jeans, and black knee-high boots with a pair of oversized sunglasses she didn't really need but would help her ignore all the eyes on her throughout the day. She wasn't one to shy away from attention, but blatant staring, judging, and gossiping was just plain rude.
She had her Mikael Kors Ballet Pink backpack ready and waiting by the door. She didn't need books; really, she was sure that she could have tested out of high school all together if it weren't for Renee, but it would have been disrespectful to show up without proper writing utensils and color-coded notebooks to at least pretend she was listening. On the off chance they called her bluff and asked her, she was sure she'd have the answer – and most likely one more in-depth than they were expecting… so really, what could they say?
It was while she was contemplating what to make for breakfast that she decided she would add 'Remodel the Kitchen' to her to-do list. Renee had repainted the kitchen eighteen years ago when Bella was born, in an attempt to bring some sunshine into the house and Charlie hadn't changed a thing about it since. There was an old square oak table with four unmatching chairs tucked away into the corner of the small kitchen. It had dark paneled walls, bright yellow cabinets, and white linoleum floor. Iris itched with the need to repaint, retile, and refurnish everything.
She really didn't like the color yellow and though she was loathe to cook with the 1950's style oven… she set out getting her ingredients ready to do just that. Iris knew that while Bella would meet a boy named, Eric. A sweet nerdy motor mouth boy, who was tasked as the representative to lead Bella around School on tour and show her to her first class, which they had together.
Iris would be escorted by two of Forks resident vampires, Rosalie Hale and Emmett Cullen; it was her first real glance at them and though she knew what her visions wanted, how they were trying to lead her… she decided the best thing to do was to meet them for herself. Only then could she decide if she wanted to keep the visions as they are and subsequently, intervene in their fate or not.
And so, she was baking. Food was the key to many hearts; and food for a vampire who hadn't eaten in years? Emmett would lose his mind. She started with strawberry white chip cookies and brown butter chocolate chip cookies. Ensuring that she packed Charlie extra for when he got to work with plenty left to spare for Emmett and Rosalie. There should even be enough for them to take home and share with their family.
For breakfast Iris made crispy bacon, French toast, parmesan grits, cheesy scrambled eggs, and cinnamon rolls. Since, Charlie was still asleep she wrapped his plate in foil and placed it on an electronic warming tray. It was long enough to hold three plates and keep them temperature controlled until it was ready to be eaten, it was something Iris had created when she was three thanks to her power of 'creation'.
While she would have preferred if he drank lemonade with his breakfast; Iris knew Charlie was all about his Rainier Beer. When he wasn't drinking Beer, he was drinking coffee; knowing that she put a steaming cup of black coffee beside his breakfast.
Iris had little to worry about in terms of his health and liver condition. While clinging to him last night during a hockey game, she pretended she was asleep when in reality she was altering Charlie's physiology. He was 41, lonely, still in love with Renee (to an extent) and drank beer like it was water. She could practically hear his organs begging for a reprieve. It was her job to ensure the health and safety of her father; so, she did.
She enhanced his condition; to ensure that he had health that far exceeded any normal human. He was now physically, mentally, spiritually, emotionally, and sexually, at the top of peak human performance. Iris figured Charlie just needed a woman in his life and she knew that last one would help him with that. Now, externally and internally, he was at first-rate health and condition; devoid of any disorders that may have been lingering. Diseases, deformities, disabilities, imperfections, scars… really the list could go on. He was already 6 foot so she didn't alter his height, but she did alter his body structure. He can now consume large quantities of food while maintaining his physique and he'll wake up with muscles that were more defined than before. His biceps, pecs and abs will be visible and toned. He'll have an incredible well-being, recovery rate and immune system while being able to sustain more damage than a normal human.
Iris almost chuckled aloud imagining what her Uncle Billy would think when he saw Charlie; immediately he would assume Charlie had become a shifter. Though Iris knew Charlie wasn't strong enough to go against one or even a vampire, he was stronger than any other human and that was enough for her. Especially as a police officer.
Iris herself was a little amazed that she could do it; she had never tried to alter someone before. She had no need or desire. But it was surprisingly easy; all she had to do was picture his internal structure and she could see it…. almost like a full-bodied X-Ray or MRI that showed her everything she needed to know. She was sure had Charlie possessed some form of Cancer, she would have been able to see it and instinctively know what kind, what stage, and whether it was terminal.
Similar to her visions, however, it cut off her actual sight and so she probably wouldn't make a habit of scanning anyone's body for a diagnostic review of their health and the inner workings of their body; but it was fascinating none the less. Especially given that Iris wanted to be a doctor when she was old enough… or when she graduated College – whichever came first.
Bella was a vegetarian which meant she wouldn't eat the breakfast that Iris had made for herself and Charlie, but Iris knew she had to make Bella something. If she didn't Bella would settle for a pop-tart, granola bar, water, or a bowl of cereal. For a vegetarian she was surprisingly lax in her meal preparation. Luckily, when she was three; Iris went through a "chef" phase that ensured she learned recipes not only from all over the world but for all types of diets, including vegan, vegetarian, and pescatarian.
Truly, Iris thought Bella identified more as a pescatarian, because she'd still eat fish and the occasional burger; but it wasn't her business, so she let her identify as whatever she wanted. For Bella, she made a Vegetarian breakfast bowl with seasoned potatoes, boiled eggs, tomatoes, peppers, spinach, avocado, and feta cheese, drizzled in Italian dressing just as she liked it. Then placed it beside Charlie's plate.
Seeing that it was only four forty-five – she chose to also make lunch. She didn't like processed school lunch, anyway. Besides, Charlie wouldn't eat until later at the Diner if she didn't pack him anything and Rosalie and Emmett would enjoy their first meals in 72 (for Rosalie) and 70 (for Emmett) years; going by the information she had about their backstories. Iris was more than aware that the married couple were pushing 90 this year.
Iris thought that was pretty cool even if she didn't want to admit it to herself. Though she could never imagine wasting her precious time in high school for decades. Why did they bother to fit in with humans? There was so much of the earth that humans couldn't inhabit – Iris would simply make a home in one of those places.
None the less she made them all lunch, except Bella, of course. Crispy chicken burgers with tomato slices and honey mustard coleslaw, homemade crispy French fries, and four cheese macaroni and cheese. It was ridiculously easy to replace the egg in nearly every recipe requiring it and replace it with blood; they're very similar in protein compositions and using animal blood was actually preferrable to human; morals and what not.
One slaughtered pig would be the equivalent to between 3 to 6 dozen eggs, depending on the pigs' body weight and size. One of the first things she would ask them was why they had never thought to simply mix blood into human ingredients and eat it – she already knew it would work. As far as drinks go, simply make their drinks three fourths blood and one fourth whatever else…. and voila. A meal fit for a vampire.
When she was finished; she packed each lunch into an electronic lunch box with heating capabilities. It ran off never-ending battery power that Iris altered to rid of any possible limitation (such as needing to be recharged). They could be set to any internal temperature and would stay that way until turned off. Renee simply assumed Iris, tech-savvy as she was, had upgraded them to work on battery power instead of plug-in… she wasn't technically wrong.
Renee never seemed to connect the dots between something that Iris had created and something that already existed. Living with Charlie it would be impossible to hide that she created things to make her day-to-day life easier; though he would assume they were "inventions" and Iris supposed, in a way, they absolutely were. People just couldn't invent things like she could…. as far as she knew, but maybe she was wrong.
Maybe Thomas Edison didn't create the first lightbulb with lightning as modern children are led to believe; maybe he simply possessed a gift that allowed him to control light or electricity itself and he utilized it to bring the world the very first means for indoor lighting...
Maybe he succeeded where Humphry Davy failed 40 years prior, not due to innovation – but due to evolution.
With a mental shrug, she turned her focus on making Bella lunch because she may not be fond of Bella, but she was still her sister until further notice. Veggie cakes and chickpea salad sandwiches were packed in Bella's lunchbox – and Iris of course finished it all off with classic Shirley temples. Extra cherries, extra ice and ¾ infusion of blood in two of the four drinks. They were kept in a temperature controlled, vacuum sealed, insulated 64 oz. sports bottle. It held 1.89L of liquid and should last them through-out the entire day.
For Charlie, she put two ice cold cans of beer in a twin pair of insulated beer cozies that would keep them cold for up to 18 hours in his lunch box. Two more inventions courtesy of Iris… maybe she should patent them some day; simply to prevent anyone else from trying to take credit for her work.
"Up, already?" Charlie asked as he stumbled into the kitchen half asleep, interrupting her inner monologue. He had work at 6:30 and it was now five twenty five. She handed him a cup of coffee – Black. Just the way he liked it.
"I made breakfast," She motioned toward his still steaming plate of food. "And started my room."
"Iris." Charlie sighed into his coffee, torn between exasperation, gratefulness, and guilt according to his scent. "I'm supposed to be the adult."
"And you are!" She insisted, taking the foil off his food, and placing his plate in front of his chair at the table. "But you can't cook. Renee can't cook. Bella has the appetite of a mouse and can only make vegetarian meals or spaghetti. She tries to make meat but can only make it two ways and is disgusted with the very idea; I can cook, I love to cook. I studied recipes and techniques from all over the world. You take care of us; it doesn't make you any less if you also let me take care of you."
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The quiet purring of her car's engine was drowned out by the loud roaring of Bella's truck as she started her engine and then the constant idling at top volume. She could already see how red Bella's face was and they were only pulling out of the driveway. Iris resisted the urge to speed as she trudged along at a snails pace behind the grandfather truck; Bella still wasn't happy that Iris had her own car, even after she saw that it was indeed a child's size car. Too small for an adult but perfect for anyone 15 and under.
The thick fog that seemed to permeate the ground receded the closer they got their new school. Forks High had a frightening total of only three hundred and fifty-seven – now fifty-nine – students. To put a little context on why Bella still smelled of misery and self-loathing but now with the spicy adage of dread; there were more than seven hundred students in her junior class alone in Arizona.
It was easy to find and even if it wasn't the huge sign declaring it 'Forks High School' would have been a dead giveaway. The school was like a collection of matching houses built with maroon colored-bricks but surrounded by an abundance of trees and shrubs. Iris followed Bella as she parked in front of the first building, a small sign over the door reading 'Front Office' – no one else was parked here, but clearly Bella didn't want to walk around in the rain.
It became obvious the longer they sat that Bella was having a mini breakdown in the cab of her truck; so, Iris chose to start without her. Turning off the ignition and pocketing her keys; Iris got out, ignoring Bella's stare as she walked up the small stone walkway lined by hedges and opened the door. An abundance of warmth hit her as soon as she stepped inside. It was a brightly lit, small, and quaint office. A 'waiting room' with padded folding chairs directly off the side by the desk. Indoor Spider plants grew everywhere, and Iris's fingers itched with the need to reach out and touch them.
"Hello?" A voice called from behind the counter… most likely responding to the door that had swung closed behind her.
Iris looked around and found a much sturdier chair, pushing it toward the counter and climbed on top of it so she could actually see. Thankfully, her boots were neither wet nor muddy. "Hi." She smiled at the surprised redhead behind the counter, her bright purple shirt a direct contrast with her bright pink reading glasses.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, dearie. I didn't see you there." She cooed, rushing toward the desk littered with wire baskets, papers, and brightly colored flyers. "How can I help you? Are you lost?"
"I'm not lost." Iris assured, pushing her sunglasses into her hair to reveal her eyes. She smiled, unintentionally dazzling the woman behind the counter with her 'cuteness'. "I'm Iris Swan, It's my first day."
"Oh! Oh, of course!" She gushed, eyes lighting up in delighted awareness. "I'm Mrs. Cope. We've been expecting you, dearie. So excited your daddy was when he came to sign you up – a child genius, can you imagine!? Oh well I'm sure you can, given that it's you – "She laughed to herself, a sound filled with amusement, joy, and sheepishness (though Iris had only been able to identify the array of emotions due to her scent) and Iris chuckled along with her. She wouldn't be the first to be somewhere between amazed and disbelieving of Iris's intelligence. It didn't bother her; they'd learn. "Listen to me, just going on. I have your schedule riiiiiiiight – "She extended the word unnecessarily while she flicked through a stack of papers until she found what she was looking for. "– here! Along with a map of the school and the name of your school appointed guide."
The door opened behind her. Iris knew from the scent it was Bella; she had finally decided to leave the safety of her truck. "I'll be right with you!" Mrs. Cope called without looking up from where she was highlighting the best route to each of her classes on the map. She also went through each of the classes Iris was signed up for; thoroughly surprised by all of her advanced classes. Finally, she gave Iris a slip to have each teacher sign which she was to bring back at the end of the day.
"I hope you have a beautiful first day, Miss Iris and if you need anything I'm here til five most days." Mrs. Cope promised overenthusiastically as Iris hopped off the chair and pushed it back toward the wall.
"Thank you, Mrs. Cope! See you at three!" Iris called with another smile and a wave, mentally cursing when Mrs. Cope's face slackened, and her eyes glazed over. She really did need to learn how not to do that to people...at least not when she didn't intend too.
She sighed and made her way back toward her car. Following the line of traffic, she drove around the school to park with the rest of the student body. Her car stood out like she knew it would; the nicest car in the parking lot before she parked was Edward's 'Call me Daddy' Volvo and Iris had already known it was a rarity.
Before she got out, she took a glance at her schedule:
AP English Language and Composition
AP Calculus
AP French Language and Culture
AP Algebra Based-Physics
Lunch
AP U.S. History
Gym
Fairly basic, she was hoping for a small challenge but couldn't complain; though she already knew French – it was either that or Spanish, another language she spoke fluently.
"What could possibly go wrong, Iris?" She whispered to herself. "It's only vampires, teenagers, and high school."
With that she slipped her backpack on, slid her glasses down, opened her door and finally stepped out to face her day.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
OmegaWolfe
OmegaWolfe Sorta filler but people should really get out of the habit of excusing lazy fanfic writers who simply don't want to take the time to write details. *Shrugs*
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