Chapter 1: Gotcha, Mr. Player
BPOV
"Ugh, Jazz I'm coming," I shouted to my best friend who was asking me to hurry up for the eighth time in the last ten minutes. I pulled my long mahogany curls in a tall side pony and smacked a shimmering layer of clear lip gloss on. I looked in the mirror to see my 5'4" self staring back at me. I was wearing a tight fitting gray sweater dress with black leggings and white fringe boots. My face was pale but slightly sparkly and the red tint in my hair shone in the rare sunlight. The cozy cream and gray striped scarf wrapped delicately around my neck, resting gently on the skin exposed by my dress's v-neck. I put my silver heart rings on my long fingers with my nails painted baby blue. My brown eyes glowed with excitement of going to a new school.
I skipped down the stairs and grabbed my Hollister bag. Outside, Jasper was waiting for me in his silver BMW 335 convertible. Jasper and I were best friends since kindergarten. As soon as Jasper turned 18, which was 2 months ago, I begged my parents and his to let us move and experience a change by ourselves. Surprisingly, they all agreed. Today, we'll be starting our junior year. Jasper and I have a very close relationship, but we never held any romantic interests for each other. For outsiders, we probably look like a very flirty couple. But our actions are always perceived friendly by each other. Maybe the different perspectives were the reason why both of us were never able to hold serious relationships. Once I got in the passenger seat, I looked at him and smiled.
"Enjoying the view?" he asked with a smirk on his face. He was very handsome, typical American dream boy- shaggy blond waves, piercing blue eyes, and the ability to make anyone calm and friendly.
I ruffled his hair and smirked as his scowled at my action.
"Of course, you know the greenery is beautiful here." I laughed as he rolled his eyes. I pecked him on the cheek and said, "Hurry up; you don't want to be late, do you?"
He mumbled something like stole my line but started the engine. I smiled at the soft purr of our prized possession as the car zoomed smoothly along the never-ending trees.
Forks High was a cluster of small dull buildings. We parked along the first space next to the office door and got out. The campus was empty so far since we were 30 minutes early. We weren't sure how long it would take to get all the packets.
As we enter the cozy room, the red haired lady looked up and her eyes widened. I nudged Jasper playfully as her eyes landed on him. He mumbled shut up and swatted at my hand.
"Hello, I'm Jasper Whitlock and this is Isabella Swan. Nice to meet you, uh…" he glanced at her name plate, "Mrs. Cope."
"Hello!" she said brightly. I secretly wondered how much caffeine she digested in the morning. "Welcome to Forks High. Here are your schedules and a map around the campus. Have a nice day!"
Jasper and I smiled at her politely and walked out the office, his arm around my shoulders. This was how Jasper and I acted around each other. We moved the car to the student parking lot and walked in. By then, students had started filling the hallways. As we walked by, I felt glares and envious stares on us. Some were simply in awe. I glanced up at Jasper and he was trying not to burst out laughing. I stifled my own giggles. I pinched his hand to let him know that he could put it down now. He raised his eyebrow as if to ask a question. We walked our separate ways to our lockers.
As I neared my locker I saw that a guy was leaning on it. He had his arms around two girls and was making out with the blond one. The curly redhead watched with an unattractive pout, her eyes trying to hide the hurt. I sighed and rolled my eyes. My first day and the school player had already decided to make my locker his bedroom. I walked over and tapped his shoulder a little rougher than necessary, ignoring the four other girls surrounding him. They were, unsurprisingly, wearing the littlest outfits possible and the thickest make up I'd ever seen.
"What?" his piercing emerald eyes stared into mine, his annoyance quickly changing to surprise then, eww, lust. His messy bronze hair was sprayed across his green eyes in disarray. His angular features were beyond handsome. But I'd dealt with too many pretty boys to let my- for a lack of better words- admiration show.
"You're in my way, get your slutty fan club and find some other place to have your make out fest," I said, not caring that he was way too close. I've dealt with players before, and if I want any peace, I would need to act very carefully. A perfect balance between nonchalance and interest.
His face was shocked and I smirked. This was obviously not what he expected. I shoved him gently, but firmly, out of the way and opened my locked. I took my stuff out and walked away ignoring his gaping face. I turned back, letting my hair sway a little, and gave him an innocent smile. This was going to be interesting.
I made my way to first period, AP Journalism, and gave my slip to the teacher. Mr. Mason pointed me to the empty seat in the back, next to a humongous guy with dark curls and green eyes like Mr. Player. I smiled politely as I sat down, and took my stuff out. The stuff was going to be too easy. I listened to the teacher babble about some book we have to read and sighed. The guy next to me looked at me, his face cutely- as in puppy cute- confused.
"Sorry," I whispered, "I'm just a little bored." He chuckled quietly.
"My name is Emmett Cullen, you wanna sit with my friends at lunch?" he asked.
I looked into his eyes, trying to read his intention. They were clear, only friendliness, no lust or anything like that.
"Sure, can I bring my friend along?" I asked, remembering Jasper. I suppressed a sigh, reminding myself that I would see him next period at history.
"I thought you just moved here?" he was not disappointed, but genuinely confused. It's been a long time since I've seen a guy just pure friendly.
"I moved with my best friend; he's my guardian," I whispered back, wondering if I'm giving out too much information. His eyebrows wrinkled at the word "he", like an overprotective brother.
"Sure," he said enthusiastically, seemingly decide to ignore whatever was bothering him. I said good bye to my new friend as the bell ring and went to my history class. I met Jazz at the door and we walked in. The stares all focused on us, and I saw that Mr. Player was in this class too. Mr. Wallace placed us in two seats next to each other in the back, directly behind him. I sat down in my seat and turned to Jasper, determinedly ignoring both the guy in front of us and the teacher.
"So, Jazz, how's first period? Any surprises?" I smiled at him as I remembered the giant friend I met.
His eye widened accusingly and he whisper-shouted, "You knew?! How could you keep that from me?" I furrowed my brows.
"What are you talking about?" I asked. What the hell happened?
"Oh, never mind. I thought you knew," he mumbled, realizing he had just accused me randomly of something. Jazz and I could never lie to each other. It was like we had telepathy. We were both perceptive in our own ways. Jasper could subtly detect the emotion of other people, no matter how well they hid it. I could read other people's face easily, and is a pro liar.
"So, you going to tell me or not?" I asked, getting impatient. I hated it when he stalls like that.
"Um, you know, my cousin Rosalie?" he was still mumbling.
"Yeah? The one that looked like a freaking model?"
"She kind of goes here…" he trailed off. Rose goes here? I had only met her twice, but she was very nice despite her stunning beauty. We kept contact through e-mail. She never mentioned anything when I told her we're moving her. Ugh. She knows I hated surprises.
The teacher shushed us. It was then I noticed that the boy from the "locker incident" was leaning toward us, trying very hard to hide the fact that he was listening to our every word. I sniggered. He spun around to face me.
"Hello, hot shot," he shot me a dazzling smile, "missing me?" I raised my eyebrows. Typical player line. If you get flustered, you lose. I kept my nonchalant face.
"Not really, you're really in the way back of my brain today," I said, shooting him my own version of a dazzling smile. His eyes widened. I stifled a giggle.
"Don't play hard to get, that's so overrated," he smiled, regaining his façade. So it's the you know you want me type.
"You think so?" I said angelically, looking up at him from under my eye lashes and widening my eye innocently. I could almost hear his heart speed up. I motioned for him to lean closer. He grinned, expecting a victory that would never come.
I leaned in and whispered, "Going for the new girl is so overrated, too." I leaned back and smirked. I high-fived Jasper under the table; he'd seen me deal with players so many times; he'd just decided to sit back and enjoy the show. I winked at Jazz as Mr. Player went into shock the second time today and he chuckled. My smile turned into a glare as Jasper patted my head. I told him about Emmett and lunch. The bell rang, and I walked out with Jasper, turning around to give Mr. Player, who was still staring, a friendly smile. I'd have some fun with this one.
The rest of the day passed in the same way. I met a nice girl named Angela in AP Calculus. She seemed shy but was really friendly. Nothing interesting happened until locker room after PE with Jasper and Emmett. They were on their way to becoming fast friends. I strolled into the girl's locker room in my too small gray and green uniform to my locker. Just as I was about to change, two girls cornered me. I recognized the two around Mr. Player earlier this morning.
"Swan," the blond sneered in her nasal voice, and it took me everything to not burst out laughing at the expression on her face that was supposed to be intimidating.
"Hello, slut number one and two," I said in a cheery voice, smirking at the sight of their faces.
"How dare you? I'm freaking head cheerleader," she said and I rolled her eyes.
"And I care because?"
"Change your attitude now!" the redhead reached out to slap me. I sighed internally as I stopped her in mid air, my fingers position exactly where it would hurt.
"Leave me alone, well you? I'm going to be late to lunch," I sighed hoping they were smart enough to leave now. I started counting to ten in my head as her swelling face finally turned normal, or as normal was a wall of makeup could be.
"Just stay away from Edward you bitch!" Edward? Who the hell was Edward? I know perfectly well the last time I saw that name was at Edwards Cinema. And that was two months ago. Jasper knew well that I disliked movies but that doesn't stop him from forcing me to go with him every once a while.
"Nah, I don't know who he is, but if you're that annoyed by it, I'm not going to stop," her face turned outraged and she struggled against my grip. You asked for it. I pressed down on her wrist and she screamed.
"Oww! What the hell did you do?" now I was really annoyed. I'm hungry and if they don't leave now, I'm going to hack their heads off, well not literally.
"Leave." I said icily, dropping all façade. They took a look at me and ran, tripping over the bench and screaming you better leave him alone at me.
I finished changing really fast and fast walked out of the locker room. Jasper, being the loyal puppy he is, was waiting for me outside. Isn't he so sweet, my perfect southern gentleman?
"What took you so long?" he asked, annoyance overshadowing his concern when he saw I was alive and well. I take my former comment back.
"Got held up by some bitches," I replied, rolling my eyes. We walked into the cafeteria and saw the giant form of Emmett waving at me. Sitting next to him, was Rosalie. When we reached the table, Rose stiffened at first, and then relaxed as she saw Jasper. I raised my eye brows at her, confused, and she mouth later to me.
I was pulled into a tight hug by Emmett and Rose. I noticed that next to a petite girl with beautiful hazel eyes and black spiky hair, was Mr. Player himself. He had one of the sluts in his lap, but I was too lazy to look at her face. Besides, they all looked the same to me.
"Hello! My name is Alice, I'm Emmett's sister!" she chirped happily. "Don't mind Edward, he's a jerk like that." She rolled her eyes and I giggled.
"Hi Alice," then something registered in my brain, "wait, you're Edward?" I looked at him, waiting for a confirmation. That would explain the little incident in the locker room.
"Yup," he said, directing all his attention to me, the girl in his lap already forgotten, "missing me?"
"Don't you have any other line?" I scoffed.
"Sure, how about remember my name 'cause you'll be screaming it later tonight?"
"Old." I said, rolling my eyes.
"I could go on and on with the list, but you should eat first," he smiled. I smiled back angelically. I was sitting down to start my lunch when I noticed all eyes at the table on me, well besides Jasper; he was too busy staring at Alice. Looks like someone's got a little crush.
"What?"
"You know Edward?" Alice asked.
"Um, kind of?"
"We'll be going on a date in less than a week," Edward said, smiling smugly at the stunned faces of the table.
"In your dream,"
"Ohhh! Eddie got dissed," Emmett sang, very childishly, I might add.
"Shut up, Emmy," I burst out laughing at this part, and everyone turned to look at me. The girl in Edward's lap seemed to have given up on trying to reclaim his attention and settled for kissing his neck instead.
"What? It's funny," I defended myself. The bell rang then, sending me to AP Chemistry with Edward. I walked into class only to see that the only seat open was next to Edward. Great, wonderful, I though sarcastically.
"Mr. Banner? I'm new here. My name's Isabella Swan." I said to the balding teacher.
"Well, Ms. Swan, well you please introduce yourself to the class." I nodded at him and sighed internally. I hated these introductions. There's nothing to say.
"Hello, my name's Isabella Swan, but please call me Bella. I moved here from Phoenix, Arizona with my best friend. Nice to meet you all." I smiled at the class and turned back to Mr. B. As predicted, he sent me to the seat next to Edward.
"Hi," he whispered seductively as I sat down. I turned toward him and smiled.
"Hello, Mr. P." I whispered back, a smirk in my voice.
"Huh?" he was confused. Aww, his face is soo cute. Wait, must not think like that.
"Mr. Player," my tone added the duh.
"My name's Edward, I would like it if you'd call me by it,"
"Hello, Eddie."
"Please don't call me that," he grimaced.
"Why? You let Emmy call you that." I pouted, giving him my best puppy face.
"Uh… Because……," he stuttered, with uneven breathing. I smirked internally.
"If you let him, why can't I?" I said, fully aware that the entire female race in this classroom was shooting daggers at me with their eyes.
"First, I didn't let him, and second, because calling me Eddie makes you sound like those girls and that is not a good thing," he stated calmly, recovering already.
"Fine. But I'm going to call you something else. Edward reminds me of unpleasant things." And I am so not leaving you alone, it's too fun to mess with them, I added under my breath. But apparently it was not quiet enough.
"Too fun to mess with who?" he asked, his eye sparkling from the first part of my comment.
"Your fan club," I sighed, knowing he wouldn't give up until I told him.
"What did they do?" he tried asking calmly, but anger flashed in his eyes.
"Some sort of talk, even though they never really formed any logical sentences," I snorted at the memory.
"I'm going to talk to them,"
"Do whatever you want, I don't care," I knew that if he talked to them, it would get worse. And some part of me wanted them to bring it on; it's too much fun to miss.
"Ok. Can you just call me Edward," wow, talk about random subject change.
"Nope, nice try," I popped the "p".
"…" he was cut off by the bell. I never even heard what the lecture was about. I'll have to ask Jazz later. I am so not messing up my straight A's just for him. I stuffed my things into my bag. As I walked out, I turned and blew him an air kiss. I laughed at his stunned expression. I met Jasper in the parking lot and we exchanged our stories.
"Today is… interesting," Jazz mumbled.
Yeah, tell me about it.