Bella's POV
I sucked in a deep breath of fresh Irish air as I climbed into the van behind Emmett. Once onboard, I quickly took a seat next to Alice before I managed to trip and embarrass myself again. How humiliating!
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, trying to will myself not to turn tomato red again. Of all the things I had to fall on, it had to be not one, but both of the extremely hot twins! Shaking my head slightly, I turned to face Alice when she tapped me on the shoulder.
"Way to go!" she whispered feverishly, a devious smile on her face. "I should have thought of that! And both of them caught you, hell, Jasper even dived to catch you! It was the cutest thing I've ever seen!" she squealed, clapping her hands together like she was seven instead of nineteen.
"It's not like I planned to, I'm just a klutz," I muttered back, not wanting her to think I was that kind of a girl.
"Oh, I know that honey, but your klutzyness is just part of your charm! Makes men feel all strong and He-Man like to rescue the pretty damsel in distress," Alice reassured with a pat to my hand.
"I don't need or want to be rescued!" I hissed back. "And is klutzyess even a word?"
"Of course it is, made specifically to fit you Bells. And speak up a bit more, I'm having to strain to hear the conversation!"
Whirling around, I swiftly smacked Emmett over the head in the seat behind us. "I know for a fact that your mama taught you not to eavesdrop! Remember, it was right after you told Mr. Horn that his daughter was pregnant with triplets, when the poor girl was actually talking about the neighborhood cat?" I rolled my eyes as Emmett tried and failed to look sheepish, though his ears were tinged red due to Rose's wide eyed expression next to him.
"That was quite a while ago, Miss-my-pants-got-ripped-off-on-the-slide-during-fifth-gra…" Slapping my hand across his mouth, I glanced widely around to see how many people had heard that. Luckily for me, it seemed that the rest of the group were deep in conversation, though I swore I saw Jasper smirking at me from the back. Alice however was dying laughing, while Rose had a hand to her mouth.
"What is wrong with you?!" I demanded of Emmett. "Do you forget I have just as many embarrassing stories about you?!"
Removing my hand from his mouth while wiping away at the tears that had gathered due to his laughter, Emmett waged a finger in my face before composing himself enough to huff out "Yes, but unlike you, I won't die of embarrassment!" before cracking up again.
"You two have known each other for a while then?" Rose asked quietly, her eyes slightly hard as she looked between the two of us.
"Yeah, our parents have been friends since they were in high school, so it was natural that we'd become friends too," Emmett replied, ruffling my hair again in brotherly fashion.
"Em's the big brother I never had, and is just as annoyingly overprotective as one," I informed her, watching with relief as the calculating look left her eyes. Relieved that I had at least helped my oldest best friend out of a jam with his newfound girlfriend, I once again looked behind us to where the rest of the group were sitting and talking.
Jessica and Tanya were sitting across from each other, doing their nails and talking about shopping. Behind them, Mike watched with a puppy dog expression on his face, obviously too enamored to care what the conversation was about. I shifted slightly in my seat, remembering Jessica's earlier comment. I'd like to believe that it was just a joke, but her tone was anything but joking…
Mentally shrugging, I partially heard the driver say we were hitting the road, before being jostled forward as the bus was underway. Facing forward, I watched as the bus turned onto the highway before tons of green fields began passing by our windows. Turning with a grin towards Alice, I squealed right along with her as we got our first glimpse of Ireland.
"Can you believe this, its incredible!" Alice began bouncing in her seat, turning back toward the window. "Why can't the states be like this?!" I was about to reply, when from behind us I heard a sharp whistle.
Turning around with everyone else, I saw Jasper shaking his head and groaning, but a grin tugged at his lips. Beside him, his twin Edward still had his fingers to his lips, ready to give another whistle should anyone not be paying attention. Finding himself to be everyone's main focus, his eyes shifted sideways towards his brother before asking in a serious voice "Hey guys, where's Ireland?"
Blinking at the strange question, I remained as quiet as everyone else before Alice and Emmett both shouted "There it is!" pointing in different directions out the window. Completely stunned that they had actually answered, I almost missed it when Edward asked again "Hey, where's Ireland?"
Mike, Emmett, Alice, and, after glaring at his brother, Jasper, all shouted there it is, pointing out random windows. Alice tugged my arm, trying to pull me into the childish, yet amusing game. Behind us, Emmett gently nudged Rosalie, before kissing the side of her head, eliciting a small smile from the stoic girl.
Edward once again called out "Hey, where's Ireland?", and laughing, I joined the rest of the group, pointing at random windows and yelling "There it is!". Before long, Jessica and Tanya joined in, and finally Rosalie, although she did seem a bit more reserved than the rest of us. Laughing right along with Alice, I caught Jasper looking in our direction. Feeling a bit self-conscious, I mentally congratulated my friend on being checked out by a guy. I mean, Alice is everything a bad boy like Jasper would want – out going, funny, and adorable. Though I couldn't help feeling that it would be nice if he looked at me like that – even if it was only once. Throwing myself back into the game, I almost failed to realize that the bus had pulled up in front of our apartments and our new home for the next three months – Park Court in Sandymount.
AN (Where's Ireland actually did happen, as well as the limo driver fake out… actually, the where's Ireland happened throughout the whole trip)
Jasper's POV
Slowly I got off the bus behind my idiot twin, catching a first glimpse of our apartments. It was a small courtyard with four apartments leading off from it, all two stories with windows facing the accessible courtyard and a smaller concealed courtyard in the back. Perfect for climbing in late at night with no one the wiser. Smirking, I couldn't help but glance toward Bella. Giving her a once over behind my glasses, my smirk almost turned into a full-blown smile. Oh yeah, that window would be getting some use – unless the teachers were a lot more oblivious which would be a definite plus.
"Well, it seems you've all finally arrived. You should have been here an hour ago!" Turning to face the speaker, I caught sight of one of our teachers, Ms. Bradely. Behind her, Mr. Kechko stood, arms folded and a frown on his face. "Oh whatever, lets get this run down over with."
Coming near to the group, Ms. Bradely pushed her short brunette hair out of her eyes. "I take it everyone was introduced to the other class day members, yes? Good. Then here's who're you're going to be rooming with for the next three months. In 26, Isabella Swan, Alice Brandon, and Rosalie Hale. In 27, the Cullens, Emmett McCarty," I groaned softly. Why the hell did people make me a single entity when they combined me with my brother? Turning my attention back to Ms. Bradely, I couldn't help but raise and eyebrow at who was left.
"And why does the golden retriever get to room with two of the girls? Why not have everyone mixed?" I interjected, trying not to laugh when I saw Ms, Bradely's annoyed expression.
"Cause this is how we made the list, and we are not going to change it now," Mr. Kechko ground our through his teeth. "That means that nothing should be going on it apartment 28 – or at least we don't want to know about. That goes for the rest of you. You're big boys and girls now – if you're too stupid not to know how to prevent pregnancy, you're all on your own." Well, no need for windows now. Sweet. Glancing toward Ed, I couldn't help but wonder if my face mirrored his – a boy told Christmas had come early.
Glancing around the group, Mike looked like he was about to pass out from his good fortune, while Jessica and Tanya sent meaningful looks in our directions. So not gonna happen, especially when Bella will be just next-door. As for Mike…. That guy just annoys the hell out of me no matter what, so I don't hate him anymore than I already do. Emmett looked like he was ready to beat the pulp out Mike if he even stepped a hair out of line – it looked like Emmett had a severe brother complex toward all the girls, which meant trouble for me if I wanted to get any later in the trip. I'm not an ass who doesn't get to know a girl first, so I have some time to figure out how to get around the whole Emmett problem. As for Alice and Bella, Bella was about as lobster red as one can get, while Alice continued to whisper in her ear about something.
Shaking my head, I dimly was aware that I had completely tuned out to all of the instructions about the apartments and how things worked. Oh well, it's not like we couldn't have figured them out on our own. "Alright, tomorrow begins your first day of "class". I use that term loosely, because you'll be seeing the sights on your own. Each day we will have a list of items you need to see, turn you loose, and expect you back, ready to discuss by 6 pm. You get a passing grade for that day if you contribute to the discussion reasonably well – meaning you had better see what we tell you to see, or you can expect to fail this class. As for contacting us, I have my cell phone on me always, but if you're lost or wind up in jail, don't call me. You have a map and money – figure it out. If for some reason you have wound up in a hospital or are dying, call me," Ms. Bradley finished. "Any questions? No, good. I'll turn you guys loose. You have the rest of the day off to unpack, be sure you all are up and ready to go by 8 am. Good night!" Picking up my stuff, I watched her and Mr. Kechko all but run into their apartment. Hmm. I wonder if we delayed them for a little… action.
My trademark smirk back in place, I neatly side stepped my brother and began nonchalantly walking to our apartment. Suddenly I felt my Ed whiz by, trying to push me into racing him to the apartment and whatever room I wanted. Oh, what the hell. Catching up to him in a few short strides, I mock wrestled him as we opened the door and started exploring the apartments. Striding up the stairs, I quickly tossed my shit into the room that had a window ledge that butted up to the all girls apartment. Grinning triumphantly at my brother, I leaned back against the headboard as I watched him process the fact that he had lost this room.
"You are so sharing that window ledge," Ed finally replied, turning to make his way to the other upstairs bedroom. Which meant Emmett had the downstairs bedroom, which meant that Ed and I didn't need to worry as much about him catching us making the jump to the girls' ledge.
Going back downstairs, I decided to wander over and scope the layout of the girls' apartments. Apparently I wasn't the only one with that idea, as Ed and Emmett came bounding behind me. Rapping on the door, I heard Mike, Jessica, and Tanya's voices inside as well. Catching a faint "I'll get it!", I couldn't help but shake my head ruefully at the sound of someone tripping over some shoes and catching themselves against the wall.
The door opened to reveal a flushed Bella, her eyes widening as she looked at me. "Co-come in," she stammered out, trying to hide her blush. Stepping aside, she carefully made her way across the sea of shoes and suitcases back to sit on the sofa near Alice. Walking inside, Edward went and found a seat on the floor near Alice and Bella, while Emmett made his way across to Rose and kissed her gently before sliding into the seat next to her. I was still somewhat surprised by the whole thing – I didn't even move that fast. But damn, the man deserved some credit, especially for landing Rose. She barely talked, yet alone showed more than just a passing emotion.
Opting to lean against the door instead of sitting down, I raked my eyes over the apartment, trying to map the layout quickly in my memory. "So what are we gonna do tonight?" Mike asked enthusiastically, eyes shimmering with what he probably thought was roguish charm. Instead he just looked pathetic. God that guy annoys me. Sharing a glance with Edward, my twin's eyebrows were raised, silently asking if I was game. It wasn't that hard to figure out what he was getting at.
Crossing my arms, I grinned, giving my brother the equivalent of a thumbs up for us. "Anyone up for Temple Bar?" I asked smoothly.