A/N: Okay, so I wrote this story and then realized you'd have no idea what it was about unless you'd read Midnight Sun. So, for those of you who haven't, the relevant portion is below.
(Edward knows Angela likes Ben, and wants to give her a 'gift' because he's been watching Bella through her mind so much and she's a nice mind to be in. So he ropes Emmett in for 'an experiment in human nature').
As I searched for a distraction, I caught sight of Ben Cheney entering the Spanish room ahead of us. Ah—here was my chance to give Angela Weber her gift.
I stopped walking and caught Emmett's arm. "Hold on a second."
What's up?
"I know I don't deserve it, but would you do me a favor anyway?"
"What is it?" he asked, curious.
Under my breath—and at a speed that would have made the words incomprehensible to a human no matter how loud they'd been spoken—I explained to him what I wanted.
He stared at me blankly when I was done, his thoughts as blank as his face.
"So?" I prompted. "Will you help me do it?"
It took him a minute to respond. "But, why?"
"C'mon, Emmett. Why not?"
Who are you and what have you done with my brother?
"Aren't you the one who complains that school is always the same? This is something a little different, isn't it? Consider it an experiment—an experiment in human nature."
He stared at me for another moment before he caved. "Well, it is different, I'll give you that… Okay, fine." Emmett snorted and then shrugged. "I'll help you."
I grinned at him, feeling more enthusiastic about my plan now that he was on board. Rosalie was a pain, but I would always owe her one for choosing Emmett; no one had a better brother than mine.
Emmett didn't need to practice. I whispered his lines to him once under my breath as we walked into the classroom.
Ben was already in his seat behind mine, assembling his homework to hand in. Emmett and I both sat and did the same thing. The classroom was not quiet yet; the murmur of subdued conversation would continue until Mrs. Goff called for attention.
She was in no hurry, appraising the quizzes from the last class.
"So," Emmett said, his voice louder than necessary—if he were really speaking only to me. "Did you ask Angela Weber out yet?"
The sound of papers rustling behind me came to an abrupt stop as Ben froze, his attention suddenly riveted on our conversation.
Angela? They're talking about Angela?
Good. I had his interest.
"No," I said, shaking my head slowly to appear regretful.
"Why not?" Emmett improvised. "Are you chicken?"
I grimaced at him. "No. I heard that she was interested in someone else."
Edward Cullen was going to ask Angela out? But… No. I don't like that. I don't want him near her. He's…not right for her. Not…safe.
I hadn't anticipated the chivalry, the protective instinct. I'd been working for jealousy. But whatever worked.
"You're going to let that stop you?" Emmett asked scornfully, improvising again.
"Not up for the competition?"
I glared at him, but made used of what he gave me. "Look, I guess she really likes this Ben person. I'm not going to try to convince her otherwise. There are other girls."
The reaction in the chair behind me was electric.
"Who?" Emmett asked, back to the script.
"My lab partner said it was some kid named Cheney. I'm not sure I know who he is."
I bit back my smile. Only the haughty Cullens could get away with pretending not to know every student at this tiny school.
Ben's head was whirling with shock. Me? Over Edward Cullen? But why would she like me?
"Edward," Emmett muttered in a lower tone, rolling his eyes toward the boy. "He's right behind you," he mouthed, so obviously that the human could easily read the words.
"Oh," I muttered back.
I turned in my seat and glanced once at the boy behind me. For a second, the black eyes behind the glasses were frightened, but then he stiffened and squared his narrow shoulders, affronted by my clearly disparaging evaluation. His chin shot out and an angry flush darkened his golden-brown skin.
"Huh," I said arrogantly as I turned back to Emmett.
He thinks he's better than me. But Angela doesn't. I'll show him…
Perfect.
So what if she's so much taller than me? If she doesn't care, then neither do I. She's the nicest, smartest, prettiest girl in this school… and she wants me.
I liked this Ben. He seemed bright and well-meaning. Maybe even worthy of a girl like Angela.
I gave Emmett a thumbs up under the desk as Mrs. Goff stood and greeted the class.
Okay, I'll admit it—that was sort of fun, Emmett thought.
I smiled to myself, pleased that I'd been able to shape one love story's happy ending. I was positive that Ben would follow through, and Angela would receive my anonymous gift. My debt was repaid.
A/N: Okay, here's the actual story. Enjoy!
It happened every time I saw him. It made me look like an idiot, of course. When I talked to him it was even worse. My face on fire, my throat dry, making it hard to talk normally, my palms turning wet and clammy and my shoulders automatically hunching. Every time I stood next to him I bent my knees, willing myself to shrink so we would be eye to eye. Cursing my long legs that my mother said were my best feature. That's probably why he never looked twice at me. My best feature were my legs, and while they were closer to his eye level than they were to mine, they were also what made us totally incompatible.
I normally just saw him in the corridors. We only had one lesson together- Trig. He sat just to my left. Sometimes I would gaze in his direction, pretending to be looking at the clock on the wall above his head. The first time we spoke had been in Trig, when Kylie, the girl who normally sat between us, was absent and we had to do work in partners. He'd moved up closer to me, on to Kylie's usual seat, close enough for me to see my reflection in his glasses. We were working on problems, discussing an analysis question. I liked the way he spoke; his voice wasn't smooth or sexy or anything, but I liked the way it sounded anyway. When he'd leaned over I could smell him, and he smelt nice, like deodarant or aftershave, although I doubt he'd be able to grow a beard if he tried. His face was completely smooth, and I wanted so badly to touch it, to stroke it, but I couldn't. I could hardly even talk to him without getting my words mixed up and sounding like an idiot.
I had- stupidly- thought about asking him to the Spring Dance. But I couldn't bring myself to do it. What if he said no? What if he was already taking some one else? What if he just looked at me and laughed? I didn't think he would do that, but still, I couldn't ask him. Besides, I was supposed to be going with Eric Yorkie. Jessica had suggested it- she said I shouldn't go by myself. Only losers did that, apparently. And after being rejected by Bella, Eric was happy to be going with anyone. I didn't particularly like Eric; he was kind of awkward, and the same height as Ben anyway. Jess was my friend, but sometimes I thought she could be a little selfish. I was sure the only reason she'd made me come with Eric was so she had someone else to talk to if Mike ditched her. Which he might, seeing as Jess had been his second choice. Like Eric, he had wanted to take Bella.
I didn't envy Bella, even though almost every boy seemed to like her. Ben didn't seem to, so it didn't bother me. I couldn't really understand her appeal- she was as shy as I was. She was pretty though, in a pale, fragile way. And she wasn't almost six foot. Lucky her.
I saw Ben enter the cafeteria when I was sitting there, eating my lunch with the others. He was with some of his friends that were in his Spanish class. I was sitting down so I didn't look as ridiculously tall, but I still hunched my shoulders just a little. I watched him out of the corner of my eye, trying to concentrate on Jessica as she chatted in my ear. He stood in line, waiting for his food, looking around the cafeteria. Like he was looking for someone. Then he looked at me and caught my eye. I almost looked away, but I didn't. I felt myself going red, and I cursed myself. But I couldn't tear my eyes of his face. Because he was smiling. Smiling at me! And then, after he'd bought his food, he walked over to our table. Jess looked at him critically- she had never liked Ben much. She said he was a nerd. But i didn't care what she thought.
"Hey Angela." Ben said.
He looked a tiny bit nervous- he shifted his weight as he stood next to my chair and fiddled with the hem of his shirt- but his dark eyes stayed locked on mine.
"Hi Ben." I managed to get out. My face was burning and my throat was dry.
"I was just wondering..." he paused, then seemed to make up his mind. "Would you like to go to the Spring Dance with me?" he said very quickly. He was a bit red as well now.
I nodded like a mute, then remembered my voice.
"Yes. I mean, yeah, that would be good. That would be really good." I stammered.
Ben nodded, grinning.
"Cool," he said.
One of his friends from Spanish called him over, and he glanced at them.
"I'll see you in Trig then." he said.
"Okay." I said.
He grinned again and walked off to his table. I watched him go, stunned.
"That was so random." Jessica said. "I didn't know Ben Cheney liked you."
I didn't look at her, I kept watching Ben as he talked to his friends. He was still smiling. He turned his head slightly in my direction and caught me looking at him. I blushed again and he did too, then we both smiled.
I turned back to jessica.
"No." I said, "I didn't either."
A/N: Hope you liked that. I know it wasn't hugely related to Twilight but I like Angela and I thought she deserved a story. As always, please review and tell me what you thought.
