612Disclaimer: The story doesn't belong to me; the characters are property of S. Meyer and the plot belongs to Ann Arston Ara. I just translate with her permission.
My son's teacher
By: Ann Arston Ara
Translation: ClaryFlynn98
Chapter 1: Anthony
London – March 1995
— Mom, we have to take a lot of photos! Mommy look at that Tyrannosaurus Rex is huuuuuuge! — said the little 6-year-old Bella looking everything she could, like a little girl, in the Oxford museum.
Bella was a brown-haired girl, with sweet curls adorning her little hair. She had beautiful chocolate-colored eyes that distilled sweetness and innocence but at the same time, there was strength in them, the strength of a Swan. She was small for her age, but her parents didn't worry as she would grow up. Her mum was a tall and imposing woman with her blonde hair, almost as golden as the sun but it was short, it only reached her shoulders.
Thin and tired from her illness, which was draining her, said almost with no air because she was trying to reach her daughter, who was running excitedly all over the museum:
— Be prudent, Bella.
While Bella was running, she observed as, in the distance, a kid, a little older than her, with coppery hair, was crying while hugging his mother. "He's lost" thought the little girl. When her mother reached out to her, Bella held her hand in fear. A fear that she understood perfectly: the fear of losing her mother, who was watching her daughter strangely. Bella took her hand; she was her big girl in many ways and rarely showed her feelings.
— Are you alright? — the woman asked bending down to the level of the little girl with chocolate eyes.
She smiled and asked with her bright eyes:
— Mommy, you'll always be with me, right?
Renée's heart was crushed. She knew that it was a promise she couldn't keep. The doctor was clear: she wouldn't resist one more operation. They had been trying it for a long time, but the treatments hadn't worked and now it was too late for an operation. She hugged her little girl, as if her life was in it for her and then whispered to her in perfect Greek:
— εναι πάντα στην καρδιά μου, εναι πάντα μαζί σας.
The girl frowned at not understanding her mother's words, who loved languages. Renée smiled and told her:
— Asterias (1), this means "You will always be in my heart, I will always be with you".
A huge smile crossed the little girl's face, but life wasn't smiling on the Swans, as two months later Bella was leaving lilac roses on her mother's grave. She was gone, she had left her with a sad man, her dad. A man 1.9 meters tall, chocolate eyes like his daughter, thin and almost hairless due to his age. His look, once sweet and bright, now only reflected the great pain felt by someone who was as broken as she was. Her little heart hurt just thinking that she was gone.
Nothing would be the same, it couldn't be.
Charlie Swan took care of her daughter as he could during years, because being a famous composer, the house that one day had shone with Renée's happiness, was now constantly full of instruments of all kinds, instruments that Bella learned to play. Her father, noticing how intelligent she was, hired the best teachers and the little girl learned all kinds of languages. She had fun and lived her childhood from concert to concert, meeting all kinds of new and famous artists from whom her father composed, but the joy was short-lived. Charlie got cancer and died.
— ¡YOU PROMISED TO STAY! ¡YOU PROMISED TO TAKE CARE OF ME! ¡YOU HAVE NOT KEPT YOUR WORD!
(Please, listen to 'Nobody Like You' by Little Mix from here. You don't have to, but I was listening to it at the same time I was writing this, and I thought you'd like the effect)
Tears were falling from her eyes, uncontrollably, at her father's grave as she screamed at him for leaving her alone. Jason Jenks breathed heavily before approaching the broken girl, who would be his responsibility.
When she was only 13, Bella was sent away by her godmother, along with her cousins, the twins, to the McCoy Fine Arts and Talent Boarding School in London, where she met the love of her life: a young scholar with the rebellious touch that would catch the age of every teenage girl. When they had the chance, they got engaged, not knowing that they were really signing another death warrant.
A day before the wedding, Bella's apartment phone rang desperately:
— Hello? — said a sleepy Bella, rubbing her eyes. She wasn't 6, now she was a beautiful woman engaged to the man of her life.
— Bella? — said a girl's voice from the other side. She sounded upset and broken up for what seemed she was sobbing.
— Jane, it's me. Are you alright sis-in-law? — said Bella worried for her fiancé's cousin, the only in the Mitchell family who had accepted her.
— Bella… — she sobbed.
Bella's heart stopped at that moment, and, with pain, she said:
— Tell me Alec's okay. He was arriving today. Jane, please, talk to me…
— I'm sorry… I… don't…. I… Bella, Alec died. We just got a call. He was coming home from the airport. Apparently, he fell asleep and hit a wall that, for the impact, collapsed on him. Bella, I'm sorry, you don't know how sorry I am… — said Jane crying. But the only thing Bella Heard was "he died", "he died", "he died" …
That eco broke her heart, the one who stopped having faith and, while she was crying at the grave of her fiancé, London's rain was accompanying her. Still, she had to go on, she must. At 20 years old, she had to cope with all her pain and suffering. She promised Alec and she always kept her promises, even if her life was in it.
- Los Angeles, California | June 11, 2000 -
The emergency doors of Central Medical Angels Hospital opened, revealing Andrea Marie Cullen's unconscious body on the litter.
— Caucasian woman. 20 years. Signs of cardiorespiratory arrest, high blood pressure, 32 weeks pregnant.
The doctor listened very carefully to the paramedic while following him through the corridors.
— I need the cardiac meters now! — yelled running. They were waiting for her since Edward had already warned his father, the director of that hospital.
— The baby's coming, prep the O.R. 3! — another yelled.
The nursing staff ran through the corridors while Carlisle Cullen stopped his worried son in the waiting room.
— Dad… — said Edward watching his wife disappearing into the corridors of that horrible place.
— You know you can't go through. We'll take it from here. Sit and wait, son — said Carlisle turning and disappearing down that corridor.
Edward reluctantly sat down, waiting, watching the hours pass by through the rhythmic sound of the clock. His wife had to live; she couldn't die. She had been so stubborn in wanting to decorate the baby's room, even in her condition, and to see her lying on the floor with her hand on her chest breathing heavily, had been the worst hit to his life.
When Carlisle came out of that operating room, he felt his heart stop. He knew, for his father's face, what his words would be.
Andie hadn't wanted to have an abortion when they found out about her cardiac defect. She couldn't be operated and couldn't use the treatment.
NO.
She would rather die than to hurt a creature that wasn't to blame for her fragility.
— I'm so sorry son, we did everything we could. Her heart couldn't resist it… — Edward heard Carlisle say, who put his hand on Edward's shoulder as a sign of support and continued. — You have a beautiful son, Anthony Cullen, said Andie before dying…
Edward looked up inexpressively. Andie was gone, she had left him, broke his heart… Why would he want that child? That child who stole his wife, however, he was only able to say:
— Take care of that.
Without saying more, he buried his wife the next day and, in that grave, his heart was buried as well.
(End of the song)
12 years later
- L.A., California. 2012 | Present day -
Screams, laughs, shrieks of excitement as all sorts of words could be heard through the halls of the McCoy Fine Arts Academy. A new school year was beginning, and the teachers were preparing to face their group as if they were going to war.
— This is gonna be a new experience — said the brunette, with a friendly smile, Angela Webber, as she drank coffee, observing her study plan.
Bella smiled and told her as if nothing happened:
— C'mon Angie, it's just a new year.
— Year in which you'll have Anthony Cullen as a student. —said Tanya smiling, while she was checking her bag trying to find their damn lipstick.
— Uff, friend, I wish you luck with that. — said Victoria smiling.
Bella stood up and said:
— He's just a 12-year-old boy who doesn't talk.
— He's antisocial — Tanya clarified, arranging her books. Then she smiled at her. — You'll know when you see it.
— Bella, will you accompany me to my office? — asked Leah, the principal of the academy entering the teachers' room.
The girls, her friends since she arrived in that country, whistled mockingly. Bella, as a mature act, stuck out her tongue at them as she followed Leah, a brunette and tall girl as if she was a model instead of a principal of an academy.
When the door closed, Bella saw a woman inside. She was small and her hair was chocolate color, short and messy, but she looked beautiful and her honey-colored eyes looked at her curiously. She was dressing in a sophisticated manner, with her tight black pants and a blue blouse with sleeves, along with huge shoes that would cause vertigo.
Very beautiful, Bella thought.
The girl smiled at her and stood up from her chair saying:
— I'm Alice Cullen, you must be Isabella Swan.
Bella smiled and extended her hand answering her:
— Just Bella.
The girl, instead of taking her hand, she went up to her and hugged her. Bella smiled widely at that show of affection and returned it. After the presentations, Alice talked again.
— I'm here about my nephew Anthony Cullen. I wanted to talk with his new teacher. Bella, Anthony is very special and, according to Miss Leah, you are one of the best teachers at the Academy, so I wanted to ask you to help my boy. I wanna see him laugh, enjoy his childhood, which he strangely does. He spends the afternoon in his room, I rarely see him smile. We've tried everything, the psychologists say he's fine, but I know he's not. I need to know, if you could help me, please.
Bella noticed the affliction in Alice's eyes. She had confidence and in the two years that she had been practicing her master's degree in LA, she had earned the title of best teacher the hard way. Every student loved her, she was the teacher who didn't exist or was rarely seen. She approached Alice and told her:
— Don't worry, I'll try it. I will try to make Anthony a super kid.
Alice smiled and hugged Bella again. When that conversation was over, Bella opened the door and discovered her friends behind it listening. They blushed and said at the same time:
— We have to get to class.
At the same time, Bella smiled and, raising her index finger, pointing at them said:
— Gossips…
The girls disappeared down the corridors laughing, leaving Bella, who headed to her new salon. She had to change her technique completely, she couldn't be the same teacher every year. She had to win over a boy who had a reputation for being antisocial. She had heard of Anthony Cullen. Everyone said the kid was strange, he didn't talk to anyone and this would be a new challenge, no doubt.
Anthony, on the other hand, like every day he woke up early, kissed the portrait of her mother, the one that smiled at him every day and got ready.
A new year began at the Academy, where he was practically forced to go. He looked at himself at the mirror and tried to fix his messy copper hair, his green eyes with a touch of blue, smiled at him. Many times, he had been told how similar he was to Edward, his father, and day by day he realized that his aunt Alice was right. He was tall for his age and thin-bodied. He was smart and had talents that few knew about, or rather, anyone except himself knew.
He went down the stairs of the giant mansion and, like every day, Anthony spied his dad, who was on the studio submerged in his laptop, while drinking coffee. It was always the same. His dad never paid any attention to him. He wanted to have breakfast with his dad, so they could enjoy the silence that the huge Cullen mansion had. A big and sad mansion.
However, he didn't have the courage, or the weapons, to get his father's attention or even the guts to ask him to have breakfast with him.
His father avoided him. Whenever he could, he would arrive late and get up early to lock himself in the studio to drink his coffee. Even on his birthday, he didn't see him. He just got a present, which he knew that the secretary, the heron as he called her, sent him.
The same present every year.
— You should be having breakfast, Anthony boy. — said Sue, scaring him.
Sue, the perfect nanny that any child could have. With her black hair that, despite her age, made her look strong and determined. Her honey-colored eyes made her warm even though she was small but when she was angry, she seemed to be bigger.
— Nana, what are you? You scare me. — said Anthony following her.
Sue turned around and told him in a terrifying voice, or at least he thought she did:
— A vampire.
Anthony smiled and walked confidently to the table. After breakfast, alone, the driver drove him to the academy on time. He ran through the halls and entered his new classroom, fearful. He had good teachers, but this year he feared that he would be assigned another teacher who would try, in every possible way, to win his affection hypocritically. He sat down at the end and waited.
When Bella came through the door, everyone smiled in silence. She was the best teacher, according to everyone. They had heard histories about her teaching. Bella didn't talk, took her Arteline 509 (2) and wrote on the blackboard:
Ms. Swan
She turned and said:
— I need to know, who knows what the capital of England is?
Nobody answered.
Bella knew that her course was young, and they were just begging to learn, but she wanted to get everyone's attention and fill them with a little fear. Yet, she saw a child with green eyes raise his hand in fear. His hair was messy, and his cheeks red, probably because he was embarrassed. He was tall and wore his uniform formally. His deep look had sadness, a sadness that was difficult to hide.
— What's your name? — asked Bella trying to instill confidence in him.
— A… Anthony… — he said, stuttering.
Bella smiled.
Anthony was her challenge. The boy sitting in the last seat for some reason. That reminded her of when she had to go to that boarding school in London. Then, she asked him confidently:
— Well Anthony, tell me, what is the capital of England?
— London — he quickly answered.
Bella smiled. She had managed to get his attention and then, continued.
— I see that you're more than just pretty eyes, Anthony. Well, London is my hometown.
The class laughed at the joke and Bella said:
— Okay, ladies and gentlemen, the jokes for later. I am Isabella Swan, your group counselor, and music teacher. If you need something, anything, come to me, anything but kisses, of course, I don't give those away – said Bella making everyone laugh nervously. — I'm here to help you. If you have nail or tooth pain, let me know. Now, why don't you come in, introduce yourselves, and tell me which instruments and tell me which instrument you'd like to learn? Whatever it is, even if it's the xylophone, the harmonica, the harp, or even the bell.
Bella sat down and listened closely to all the children who passed by and happily said their first and last names next to the instrument they would like to play. Some of them took advantage of the occasion to say silly things. When the turn of her challenge came, he, squeezing his hands and looking at the floor, just said:
— My name is Anthony Cullen — and he sat down.
Bella didn't force him to continue and that surprised him. All the teachers forced him to talk but Bella, on the other hand, hadn't forced him to do anything. She just got up and went to the piano, which was in her classroom. It had all kinds of instruments since she had taken care of gathering most of them, but the most beautiful instrument of all was the piano, identical to her father's.
She sat down and started playing. The soft tune flooded the room, drawing the attention of Anthony, who looked at the piano with desire. That was a secret he kept. He wanted to learn to play it. He had heard her aunt Alice say that his mother was magnificent on that instrument and he wanted to learn, so he could feel her close to his heart.
Everyone applauded when Bella finished playing Debussy's Claire de Lune, and she said:
— Music is not only sad tunes. The music has the meaning that we give it, even more, when it comes from the heart. I hope this year I can teach you the value of a musical note.
The bell rang and everyone left, except Anthony who, like every year, stayed in the room avoiding contact with the other children.
— Anthony, would you erase the blackboard, please? — said Bella smiling from her seat. Anthony smiled back and answered.
— Sure.
He walked cautiously, approaching the board, and began to erase. Bella just watched his movements for a while and then asked him:
— How old are you? — She knew the kid's age, she had read his file, still, it was a good way to start.
— Twelve — answered this one in a whisper. Bella nodded and took some melted cheese sandwiches out of her bag.
— Do you want some?
Anthony took the sandwich and said politely:
— Thank you — and ate it while enjoying it.
He saw in Bella the sincerity and the friendship, without interest, that she showed him. That day Anthony made a new friend, a real one and, although Bella didn't know it because Anthony didn't mention it, he liked her. She was different and he could think about trusting someone as maternal as her, someone in whom he imagined his mother. That woman of whom he couldn't remember anything since she had died the day he was born. He felt guilty and sad, and despite the words of his grandparent, his grandmother, his uncle and his aunt, he only wanted to hear the words that weren't said by his father. That was all he wanted and that was his insecurity.
But instead, Bella saw in him that day a child who only needed love and attention, and she had a lot to give.
(1) Asterias: Greek. Means "starfish"
(2) Arterline 509: is a type of pen. Just google it and the image will come out 😊
Hello lovely people on FanFiction!
So, my name is Clara, and this is my first ever translation so please if you see any mistake, tell me! I'm not perfect!
Lately, but not less important, I wanted to thank all of you who favorited and followed the story, especially gorgo67 and SunflowerFran for their reviews!
Update June 2020 - I'm editing this firsts chapters because I know there were some mistakes so I think I corrected all of them.
When will I update? Monday, Wednesday and Friday
How long the chapters are? Quite long, actually
And the story? Around the 60 chapters! (Yep, this is gonna be interesting)
Time? Well, the author wrote the story around 2012-2013 so...