I know, another story? After you have like a gazillion you have to update? I'm sorry, I just couldn't resist! So enjoy and review! Let me know if I should continue or if it sucks. And now, for your feature presentation.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot.
I couldn't believe I'd agreed to this. Not only was I practically offering to completely mortify myself in front of the whole school, (more than usual, anyway), but for what? If Emmett hadn't placed the bet in the first place, everything would be okay because none of this would've happened.
It was set at lunchtime. Because of typical Forks, Washington weather, we at Forks High School were forced, unsurprisingly, to eat inside again. In my old school in Phoenix, the student body ate outside almost every day, so we could soak up as much sunshine as possible. Plus the teachers seemed a bit anxious to all but throw us out of school any chance they got.
I'd arrived in Forks not four months ago, and gained a tremendously shocking amount of popularity in that short time. I already had a few admirers that I felt too guilty to reject, so I'd already gone through Eric, Tyler, and Mike...it was a humiliating aspect to say no to Mike, since he asked me when nearly the entire school was watching. So yeah, I had a few flings, but nothing real. Not a real relationship that might make it a little longer than three weeks. Something pure would be nice, but beggars can't be choosers.
Anyway, I was minding my own business, setting my tray down at our usual table. Alice, my best friend, took her usual seat next to me, as did Rosalie on my other side, and everything was going great. Alice had just announced another official crush of hers, the lucky man being none other than Jasper Hale, and Rosalie was asking suggestions for her date with Emmett tonight. Unlike me, Rosalie had a real, long-lasting boyfriend. Although he was a goofball, he was really nice and funny, and he was Rose's true other half.
Emmett had come to the table then, Jasper following closely behind, a little shyly since Alice had asked him to sit with her at lunch. I smiled at them easily, undisturbed by the boys' presence. They were just boys after all, another gender to the human race. Some of the girls in my grade got all worked up over guys, but I didn't mind them—they were just people.
Jessica Stanley, an unfriendly acquaintance of mine who'd first tried to befriend me because of my popularity, shot an annoyed look my way. A jealous look, as Alice would call it. Rumors were spreading that she had a thing for Mike before he hooked up with me.
"Hey Rose," Emmett said, winking at her. Rose giggled and winked back, and I sighed in happiness. They were so cute together. Jasper and Alice were laughing about something, Alice making drastic hand movements, when suddenly she turned to look accusingly at me.
"What?" I blurted, startled by her abrupt look. Alice laughed musically.
"Nothing, nothing. I was just saying to Jazz here that...well, now that you're not dating anyone—"
"Oh no, no, no," I cut her off, my eyes widening as I realized what she'd been about to say. Alice had an obsession with making no one feel left out, and she somehow miscalculated and thought I was lonely without a lover.
"Bella, c'mon! Don't be so stubborn!"
"I'm not stubborn!" I argued pointlessly.
"If you weren't stubborn, you'd let me at least finish my sentence." Alice said smugly. I shook my head and stuck my tongue at her like a child.
Alice frowned at me, but two seconds later, like a light bulb had suddenly flickered above her head, she started grinning maniacally, and I gulped. Most likely she had a very dangerous plan under her sleeve, and I really didn't want to find out. She darted to Emmett's seat and whispered something in his ear. Emmett grinned, looking at me, and nodded. I huffed in frustration—they always ganged up on me.
"So, Bella," Emmett started, like he was making a business deal with me. "I'll make a bet with you."
My eyebrows furrowed. "What kind of bet?"
Silly me to think it didn't have something to do with guys.
"I can't tell you unless you agree first," Emmett said, his grin multiplying.
"No way." I said at once. I knew I'd regret that decision the moment I heard the bet.
"You sure you don't want to hear it? I mean, knowing you, your curiosity is probably bigger than your common sense."
"So you're saying it's common sense to avoid this bet? Thanks for warning me, Emmett."
Emmett rolled his eyes at me. "I'm saying, you should agree now before we use force."
"Force? Like power rangers force?"
"Like Alice-is-taking-you-shopping-after-school-force."
I glared at them. "That's not fair though! Either way it's a lose-lose situation."
"Which is why you should agree to the bet, because maybe it's not as bad as you think."
"And maybe its some evil scheme you two have concocted to ruin my perfectly good life."
Alice shrugged. "You won't know unless you take the risk." She quoted me, since that's what I'd said to her when she was unsure of asking Jasper to sit with her. I glared at her.
"I'd rather not."
Alice huffed, all signs of joking diminished. "Listen Bella, we can do this the easy way, or we can do this the hard way. Either way—"
"Either way, you're going to agree to this eventually, so why waste time?" Emmett interceded, finishing for her.
I clenched my fists at my side, forgetting about my lunch.
"Fine, tell me the stupid bet."
Emmett gave Alice a high-five and laughed.
"Finally." Emmett said. "Alright. I bet you can't not trip in gym. If you don't, well, congrats. Alice will stay off your back. But if not..." his voice lowered dramatically. "You have to go out with someone of our choice."
Alice's well pronounced smirk grew wider as she caught the hesitance in my eyes.
"What are you getting out of this, Emmett?" I stalled.
"Alice is treating Rose and me out," Emmett shrugged. Figures. Alice's family had an unlimited supply of money, so much that she threw it around religiously, and I wasn't surprised Emmett would take that deal. I growled at them.
"No way—this is stupid. I'd be an idiot to agree to this." I huffed.
"You already agreed." Emmett pointed out.
"But I didn't have a choice," I tried.
"There's always a choice, Bella. You could've come up with a brilliant compromise, but you didn't." Alice chimed in.
"I didn't shake on it," I hacked my brain for something, anything, that could pass as an excuse. "It's not official unless you shake."
"Nice try, Bella." Emmett said. I crossed my arms, about to protest, but thought better of it.
"Who's the guy?"
Alice narrowed her eyes at me. "Lunch is over, Bella. Good luck in gym."
And she walked off with Rosalie gushing at her side, Jasper and Emmett trailing after them and shooting glances my way. I sat there for a few moments, too angry to get up. I hadn't even agreed, dammit! Well, let them have their fun. I would just go to gym as if the bet hadn't even been voiced. I knew what they were doing, after all. By putting the thought of not-tripping in my head, I'd most likely trip more, 'cause I was trying not to. But I would ignore their bet and act like I normally acted in gym and hope for the best.
I growled and got up. No matter how angry I was, I was much too cowardly to risk being late for class. I had Biology, which didn't help my mood. It darkened even more when I thought of who I'd be sitting next to...didn't I have enough to deal with without him?
I sat next to Edward Cullen in Biology. Unlike most of the boys at Forks High, Edward wasn't very nice to me. Actually, that might be an understatement. He always taunted me and got under my skin, which, trust me, was not fun. He was arrogant, he pointed out my flaws, and was just so mean. And I was so lucky to be the only one he paid attention to—throw the confetti! I trudged to Biology, now in a worse mood than usual thanks to Emmett and Alice.
It's weird to think that Alice and Rose agree how hot he is. I mean, honestly. The day I thought of Edward Cullen's messy bronze hair as "hot" and his annoying green eyes "penetrating" was the day I flung myself off a cliff, or turned myself into a mythical creature.
"Hey Bella," Edward smirked at me, cracking his knuckles. I cringed. At the beginning of the year, when I'd been tricked into thinking he was an okay guy, I'd let it slip how much I hated the sound of cracking knuckles. It gave me the shivers. Now whenever I came in the room, he started cracking them. Hoorah.
"Edward, I'm not in the mood," I told him, throwing my books on the desk for emphasis. Edward grinned.
"Why? Did you and Mikey get in a fight?" Edward asked, clearly out of the loop. Mike and I had broken up a week ago—but I didn't expect him to keep up with that stuff. He was about as interested in school gossip as I was.
I ignored him, twiddling my fingers impatiently as I waited for Mr. Banner to get in the damn room.
"Ooh, she's not talking. Maybe she tripped and hit her head again." Edward said breezily. I glared at him.
"For your information, asshole, I have enough problems on my plate without receiving idiotic comments from you." I whisper-shouted frostily.
Edward leaned in. "Why are we whispering?" he whispered.
I took my binder and whacked him on the arm, but it hit his elbow instead. Edward's eyes danced—he was obviously enjoying my chipper mood.
Luckily, Mr. Banner finally entered, and Edward shut up. Thank god.
The rest of the day passed quickly, and the dreaded end came. Gym this period.
Of course the bet was on my mind in gym. Since it was January, we played basketball indoors. Because there was an uneven amount of people, we rotated who played. I stumbled over my feet as people ran for the ball. I stayed out of their way, smiling as I realized Emmett had said tripped, not stumbled. Maybe this would be easier than I thought. I could get through one period without tripping, right? Maybe I got myself worked up for nothing—it wouldn't be the first time. I looked around the gym, not wanting to be associated with the sport at all, and caught sight of a figure on the benches, staring into space. I recognized the untidy bronze hair and rolled my eyes. He was listening to an iPod. I ground my teeth together—why should he get to skip gym while I had to endure it?
While I was preoccupied, it happened.
Someone stuck his or her foot out—Jessica Stanley, I later found out—and that was that.
I tripped.
Alice, who was in my gym class, laughed at me from across the gym while she skillfully handled the ball.
I was screwed.
--
Gym flew by after that. I rushed out, eager to escape Alice and Rose before they could rub it in my face. I couldn't see them anywhere, so I sighed happily and went to my locker to get my books. My short good mood disappeared when I realized I had Spanish, my next class, with them too. I groaned and opened my locker to get my books as a yellow sticky note fell out.
Bella:
Just wanted to rub it in your face a little. Have fun with Edward Cullen tomorrow at three-o-clock. He'll be waiting, we'll be watching, and you'll be asking him out. Lots of love,
Alice, Rose, & Emmett.
P.S. Don't blame Jasper for any of this. It was clearly our doing.
Dammit!
XDBxE soon, stay tuned!