I walked into Biology after lunch and took a seat at the only empty table. Mike Newton was sitting in front of me – I had met him in Algebra earlier. He was your typical preppy, in-crowd type. He was cute, in a boyish way and seemed sweet enough, but sweet didn't go with new Ballsy Bella, so I was trying to discourage his obvious interest.
"Bella, I know you're new to Forks. Why don't you let me show you around? We could even drive into Port Angeles and I can show you the best place to get mushroom ravioli outside of Italy." He was leaning over the chair in front of me, trying to be sexy, I guess, but was coming off rather annoying.
"Thanks for the offer, but Alice and Rosalie are taking me shopping in Port Angeles this weekend. I'm sure they'll show me all the hot spots in the area." I hoped he'd get the point.
I heard the chair beside me slide across the tile with a screech and looked to see Edward Cullen sitting down beside me. He looked absolutely edible.
"Hey, Bella." He grinned a lopsided grin at me and leaned closer to whisper a little too loudly in my ear. "Newton here is a douche. And I've seen him in the locker room after gym. Not very impressive."
I could see that Mike had heard every word of his comment. His jaw clenched and his brow furrowed as his face became an alarming shade of purple. "Fuck off, Cullen." He turned around abruptly in his seat, but I could tell by his posture that Edward had gotten to him.
"That was mean, dontcha think?" Edward was still just centimeters from my face as I turned to look at him. His beautiful green eyes were looking deep into mine and I felt like all of the oxygen had been sucked out of the room. I tried to look away from him, but he was so close that he filled my entire field of vision. My eyes travelled down his face, taking in the straight ridge of his nose, the hint of scruff on his jaw and finally came to rest on his lips. They were full and pink and I wanted so badly to just lean over and lick him.
"Like I said, he's a douche. Besides, I think it's below you to be hit on by simple boys. You deserve a real man." He lowered his voice as he said the last part and I felt goose bumps cover my arms as the sound of his voice.
"I suppose you think you're the man for the job?" I was trying so hard not to let him get to me. He was breathtaking, but I also had a feeling he was a slut. After all, I'd witnessed him pawing some random chick in the parking lot just a few hours ago. "What about blondie that was grinding on you this morning? What would she think about you hitting on me?"
"Eh, she was just a distraction till something better came along. I got needs, you know, and Lauren gives good head."
"Eww. TMI, Slutward. I'm not one for sloppy seconds. Keep that shit to yourself, bucko." Even if he was the hottest piece of sex on two legs that I'd ever seen in my life, if he thought advertising his sexcapades was going to impress me, he was wrong.
"Aww, honey, don't be like that. I'll be sure to sanitize my cock before I let you lick it."
"You are such an ass. As if." At that moment, Mr. Banner walked in and called class to order. As luck would have it, we were assigned the seats we were in for the rest of the year. I was stuck with Edward and his arrogant attitude whether I liked it or not. Luckily, being the first day of class we managed to get out early, having received our dilapidated textbooks and syllabus.
I was ready to get away from Edward. He looked too good, and smelled too good for my own good. As much as I would have liked to lick him from head to toe, Slutward was just not gonna cut it. He'd have to clean up his act before Ballsy Bella gave him a second chance.
Jasper was waiting for me outside of the classroom. "Hey, sexy. You have gym next, right? I have to meet with the baseball team in the gym for a bit, so I figured I could show you the way. Let's walk." He held his elbow out toward me indicating that I should grab on. I looped my arm through his and we headed toward the far end of the building. When we reached the gym, Jasper bowed dramatically at me. "See you in a bit, little lady." I rolled my eyes at his dramatics.
I was eternally grateful when gym was over. We were given strict requirements for dressing out and told that we were expected to perform a variety of activities over the course of the year, designed to test and strengthen our growing bodies. Some of which involved flying balls. Like tennis, basketball, baseball, soccer. The list went on and on. And I got more and more depressed. Me and flying balls were a bad combination. As I was leaving the gym I was trying to figure out a way to get a doctor's excuse so that I didn't have to participate in anything other than running laps.
Again, Jasper was waiting for me. "Got any exciting plans for after school?" Since it was the first day of school, we weren't required to go to study hall so classes were finished. I really wasn't looking forward to spending the afternoon bored out of my mind at home, so I was thrilled that Jasper might provide some distraction.
"Not unless you consider lying on a blanket in the backyard exciting."
"Hmm. It could be. What would you be wearing on said blanket?"
"Has anybody ever told you that you are a horny pervert, cowboy?" I tried to give him my best serious expression, but I couldn't hold it. He was too cute and he knew it.
"I can't help it. It's your fault for walking around here looking so delectible. So, instead of lying on a blanket, how about I show you around the big town of Forks? We'll probably end up back at my place and you and me can get busy in the hot tub." He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively at me.
"I hear ya. If you can keep your hands to yourself, I'll take you up on that offer. Sans the hot tub business."
"Alright. I guess I'm gonna have to charm you for a while longer. Come on, chicka." He put his arm around my waist and turned me toward the parking lot.
"I have to run to my locker. I'll meet you out there." I walked down the hallway that led to my locker to retrieve my helmet. I dumped my books in the ratty old locker, and then swung my backpack onto my shoulders. When I got to the parking lot, Jasper and Edward were leaning on Edward's Volvo, both with cigarettes in their hand, looking like something out of a magazine. If I had known such yummy eye candy existed in this little hole in the wall town, I would have volunteered to move here a long time ago.
"What's up, boys?" I tried to put on my sexiest walk, swinging my hips wide, as I went to join them.
"What's with the helmet, Bella?" Edward looked at me with strange curiosity.
"Safety first, Slutward. Can't have my pretty face scratched if I wreck my bike, now can I?" I swung my leg over the seat of my bike with exaggerate motion and set the helmet on the tank between my legs. Edward looked like he was about to bust a vein in his head and Jasper looked like he was about blow his wad right there in his pants.
"That's yours? Well, I certainly wouldn't have pegged you for a biker chick, Bella. You seem more like a Mustang type of girl."
"Shows what you know, Slutward." He grimaced every time I used the nickname I'd given him. Dick. I looked over at Jasper and smiled sweetly. "So, Jazzy, how bout you follow me home so I can drop my bike off? Then you can have your way with me." I winked at him and pulled my helmet down on my head, then roared the bike to life. Jasper climbed into a red Corvette parked beside Edward's Volvo and was behind me by the time I pulled out of the parking lot.
On the drive back to my house I was very conscious of the fact that every time the wind blew across me, my skirt would flip up a little. I didn't know how much of a show Jasper was getting, but I was sure that whatever it was I would probably hear about it. Thankfully, the bike made up for my lack of self-confidence. It gave me an assurance in my sexuality that I'd never had before. I was still fighting the insecurities while trying to flirt with Edward and Jasper, but it felt liberating to let that side of myself come out without having to worry about fitting into some predetermined shell that had been assigned to me as a little girl. My shyness was going to take a while to get over, but I was determined.
I pulled up in the driveway and parked my bike where Charlie had left it. I walked over to the driver's side of Jasper's car and he rolled the window down. "I need to drop off my stuff and leave my dad a note. Wanna come in for a minute?"
"Sure. You gonna show me to your room?" He looked suggestively at me. I graced him with another eye roll.
Without waiting for him, I turned and walked up the steps to the porch and unlocked the door. I found a notepad and pen in the kitchen by the phone and left a message for Charlie that I was with Jasper and gave him my cell phone number again. I knew he had it, but knowing Charlie he'd never remember where he put it if he got to looking for it. Then, I headed up to my room to drop off my bag and grab a purse for my wallet and keys. Jasper had been leaning against the wall by the stairs and he followed me up to my room.
"Wow. This is so not how I pictured your room. I figured it would be all black and red and dungeonish." My bedroom had changed very little over the years. It was still a pale yellow with lacy curtains. My double bed had a light blue comforter on it and with the sun shining in my window, it looked light and airy.
"Sorry to disappoint you, cowboy. I'm much deeper than you give me credit for." I nudged his shoulder playfully with my finger. "So what exactly are we doing? If we're going mountain climbing or anything of that sort, I need to go change." I had no idea what he had in mind, but if it was going to involve more than sitting on my butt for the majority of the afternoon and evening, I wanted to put some jeans on.
"You don't need to change. Dresses make for much easier access."
"Jasper Whitlock! You will not be getting in my panties today, so stop trying so hard!" I put my hands on my hips and tried to look stern, but he just laughed at me.
"I guess we'll just have to wait until tomorrow, then. Be sure and wear a dress to school again. I'll find us an empty janitor's closet." He winked at me and I just rolled my eyes. I grabbed my purse and stuffed it with the necessities and started to walk past him out the door, when he seized me by the waist and pulled me hard against his lanky frame. When I looked at him, his eyes were filled with lust and it was having an interesting effect of my body. I could feel a tingly sensation between my legs and I knew if I didn't get out of there soon and put some space between us, there was a very real chance that Jasper would be getting into my panties today.
"What did I tell you about not touching the goods? Hands off, cowboy." I grabbed his hands and pulled them away from my body, making a show of returning them to his sides. I walked out of the room and stomped down the stairs. He was right behind me by the time I reached the front door and he leaned against it preventing my escape.
"You are such a cock tease, you know that? Do you know that it was all I could do to watch the road instead of your scrumptious little ass on the drive over here? Every time the wind would blow I'd get a glimpse of your panties. It was extremely distracting. Just the thought of seeing them again is making it very hard to keep my hands to myself. All I want to do is see them up close. Is that so much to ask?" His voice was deep and husky as he murmured these words to me. That tingly feeling was getting all too familiar.
"I can't help it if you are a perv. Now let me by or I'll just stay home and be bored by myself instead of gracing you with my presence." I gave him my best bitch stare.
That was enough of an incentive that he moved out of the way and let me leave the house. I closed and locked the door behind me and followed him to the car. I was pleasantly surprised when he went around to the passenger side of the car and opened the door for me. "Who says chivalry is dead, right?"
He chuckled as he closed the door behind me and went around the car, getting in the driver's seat. "It wasn't chivalrous. I was just hoping I'd get to see your panties again." He winked at me and this time I blushed. That wasn't what I was expecting.
"You'll pay for that remark, Whitlock. Now where are you taking me?"
"I'm gonna show you the big town of Forks, then take you back to my place, like I said."
I looked suspiciously at him. "Is this another attempt to seduce me? I'm not giving in that easily, you know. You are not as charming as you seem to think you are."
"Don't worry, beautiful. It's a thing we do. Edward, Emmett, Alice, Rosalie and I usually hang out for a while after school. Not every day, but more often than not. We meet at somebody's house and just chill. Our folks have been friends since we were little and we like one big family."
"That's not gonna be awkward for me at all, huh? I barely know you guys! When do you do homework and study and stuff if you're always together?"
"If you haven't noticed, Forks High School isn't exactly a big school. We mostly have the same classes so we study together. And it won't be awkward. The guys have taken to you already. Alice was absolutely giddy about you going shopping with them."
"So tell me about Slutward. Is he really as bad as he comes across."
"I love that name you gave him, by the way. And yes, he is as bad as he seems. I think he has slept with every decent girl here, and some that I wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole. But that's just Edward. He's been like that since he hit puberty and nobody expects anything different from him."
"When you say everybody, does that include Alice and Rosalie?"
"Rosalie, yes. Alice, no. Alice says that high school boys are beneath her." He shrugged his shoulders. "Rosalie was his first; but they are just friends now. It's really weird to watch them together knowing that. They act more like siblings now."
"What about Emmett? And you, for that matter. Are you as big of a slut as you seem?" I was curious because as much of a flirt as he was, I got the impression that Jasper wasn't nearly as promiscuous as Edward.
"Emmett is a big teddy bear, but don't you dare tell him that I said that or he'll kick my ass! He is as loyal a friend as you can ask for. And as much as he has girls falling all over him, he doesn't sleep around. The only time I know of that he's had a one night stand it was because he was drunk after his dad's funeral. Can't really blame a guy for that." He smiled at me and looked like he was finished explaining.
"And?" I questioned. He hadn't said a thing about himself.
"And what?" He tried to look innocent, but it wasn't working.
"And what about you? Are you a manwhore, Jasper Whitlock? Because if I ever let you get your hands on my panties, I need to know where they've been first."
He had a stupid grin on his face when he looked at me. "I'm not sure I want to answer that, beautiful. You might think less of me."
"Trust me, the truth can't hurt you any more than my imagination." Boys. Whatever.
"Honestly, no I'm not a slut. I've had a few relationships, but compared to Edward, I'm a saint. That does not mean, however, that I will give up on my pursuit of your delicious looking panties. I will be victorious." At that he let out an evil laugh. It gave me chills. In a good way.