Bella POV
I didn't talk to Edward for a while after that. It really wasn't that long of a while, only two days, but it felt like a really long time seeing as I usually talked to him about ten times a day.
With being friends as long as we had been, Edward and I had a pretty…open relationship, I guess you could say. We just told each other about things because we were friends. So that just had me wondering why Edward hadn't told me about Lauren.
I know Edward probably didn't know how I felt about him, so that didn't make things any better. He had tried to talk to me for the last two days, but I was trying to shield myself from it. I had always known these feelings I had for him would only get in the way, and Lauren was blinding proof of that.
Being my best friend, besides Edward, Alice really helped me through it, but she also slipped in here or there comments on his behalf. I would smile half heartedly and politely turn back to the crisis at hand. Edward had come in once when I was talking to Alice but quickly left once he realized I was there.
I wondered if he was mad at me for not knocking or if he was just embarrassed. I realized I really had no idea; I would have to ask him.
"Alice. I know it's only been two days, but I really just need to know if he's mad at me."
"Bella you are being so ridiculous! Of course he's not mad. He's probably just really embarrassed and confused. Trust me, I know him; I can tell."
"Thanks Alice." I sighed. "But I still just need to ask him for myself."
"Ok, do what you need to do."
So I walked down the hall and knocked on Edward's door. He opened it promptly.
"Knocking?" he questioned.
"Yeah…I, um, just…from what happened last time… I figured it was best to…just in case."
"Oh…um…" the awkward silence was starting to take over.
"I'm really sorry. I feel really bad I walked in on…the other day." Not being able to bring myself to say Laurens name.
"Yeah, it's ok. I just didn't really expect to see you…" he trailed off.
"Yeah well I didn't expect to see…that." My anger started to get the better of me. "Edward, just because I don't like Lauren doesn't mean you don't have to tell me…"
"I know Bella, but there's really nothing going on."
"Edward. You're lying. There was a lot going on."
"Bella. No there wasn't."
"Edward. Yes there was." I felt like we were two little kids bickering.
The strangest look came over his face and spread to his eyes before he shouted "God Bella you're impossible!" Edward shut the door in my face.
Alice came down the hall. "What's going on?" she asked.
"Nothing." I responded and stormed out. I just didn't understand why he was so upset. He had always told me about other girls before and I didn't see how Lauren was any different. Just because I didn't like her didn't mean that would change anything so I left in a huff.
"Bella." Edward said into my phone message machine a few hours later. "Bella, please. I know you're there." I sighed as I thought about answering. "Bella... I know you're just sitting on your couch listening to me ramble, I know you want to pick up the phone…"
I hoped up from the couch as fast as I could. Was I really that predictable? I waited for a few minutes.
"Ok, I guess you're not there…"He sighed loudly and hung up. The line went dead right as I was about to answer it.
I did want to talk to him, but I really just didn't know what to say. This being friends with Edward was getting harder and harder. I know that he didn't like me as more than a friend but how could I just be his friend when I really wanted so much more? I felt like I would always have to pretend around him.
I just couldn't do it anymore.
Edward instant messaged me for the millionth time, but this time I decided to respond.
Bella?
Yes?
Did you get my message?
Yeah… you were right I was sitting there the whole time
I knew it! You suck. Why didn't you pick up?
I don't know
Well I'm sorry I didn't tell you about Lauren…if I had known you would have reacted so badly I would have mentioned it. But honestly she's nothing.
Edward you shouldn't treat girls with such disposal, I heard her talking about you in class today, she obviously really likes you.
I thought you didn't like her. Why do you care?
Just because I don't like her doesn't mean I don't care. I'm a girl, I can relate.
Well it's no big thing; I'll probably break it off soon.
Why do you have to be such a jerk?
Why am I being a jerk? I just don't really like her that much.
Well you should have realized that before you used her.
I didn't use her.
Yes you did.
What ever, can we talk about something else?
God, you never will change, will you?
I don't know what you're talking about; I don't think I used her.
I think she would beg to differ.
Bella Swan has signed off.
…….
Edward and I were ok after that I guess. We definitely drifted apart though.
"Bella why are you still mad at me?" Edward asked me one day while we were at his house.
"Because you have no consideration for anyone except yourself when it comes to girls."
"I have consideration for you." He put simply.
"Yeah only because we're friends. Every girl that's more than that to you, you act like they're not even a person."
"That is not true."
"Yes it iss." I sang and Edward rolled his eyes.
"No it's not and I'll prove it."
"By doing what?" I scoffed.
"I don't know…what would prove it to you?"
I thought about this for a minute. As much as I knew what I wanted to say, I knew that I would never have the guts, so I settled for something else.
"You have to go out with Lauren, be her boyfriend."
"Easy."
"-Until she breaks up with you." I added.
"What?!" he shouted. "Bella come on, that's not fair."
"What ever." I shrugged. "If you can't handle it…" I trailed off.
"No! You're on, I can handle it."
……
EdwardPOV
Two months. Two freaking months with Lauren. I was miserable.
I'm not sure why, but today I couldn't stop thinking about Bella.
Well, actually, I knew exactly why I was thinking about her.
Ever since we had made that bet, that stupid, stupid bet, I wanted to spend as much time with her as I could, anything to stay away from Lauren. If I spent too much time around Lauren then I would lose, she drove me crazy. I don't think she would ever break up with me.
And the more time I spent with Bella…the more I sort of realized how much I would rather be with Bella than be with Lauren. And Lauren was my girlfriend…so what did that say Bella should be? Well at least when I was with Lauren I could think about things, she only ever wanted to go to the movies and make out. So the making out wasn't too good for thinking but I kept that to a minimum. No need to make Lauren want me more, I certainly didn't want her.
Bella kept trying to tell me she felt bad about the bet because of the way it was leading on Lauren, but I refused to budge. Lauren was getting increasingly worse though so I wasn't sure how much longer I was going to last. But this was what I had to do to prove myself to Bella.
I just wished that I could prove myself to her with her instead of with Lauren. But now I was caught in this very delicate web. I had to be with Lauren all the time instead of Bella and I'm afraid I want too much to spend more time with Bella, and I shouldn't want that. Because if I told Bella how I felt then technically I would be being a bad boyfriend to Lauren and I couldn't prove to Bella that I was right about our bet.
So I was still stuck with Lauren no matter how I looked at it.
"So where are we going tonight Eddie?" Lauren asked as I drove away from school
Oh did I also mention how annoying it is that she calls me Eddie? She thinks it's some cute nickname she came up with, but I hate it.
"Please don't call me that," I asked for the millionth time. "And I didn't really have any plans to do anything tonight."
"But it's Saturday night! We have to do something." She complained.
"Why don't we stay in and watch a movie at my house or something?" I offered.
"Alright." She sighed. "Will we be home alone?" she asked suggestively.
Oh did I also mention that Lauren has become increasingly…sexed up…and I really have no interest. It is quite a dilemma. Maybe if I keep turning her down she'll break up with me.
"No, my sister and Bella will probably be there."
"Ugh, why is Bella at your house so much?" I didn't particularly like the way she said Bella's name.
"Because Bella is my best friend and she's Alice's best friend too." I explained.
Lauren scoffed and let herself out of my car, walking up my front steps.
"Hey guys." I sat down on the couch next to Bella and Alice and Lauren stood there awkwardly.
"Hi Lauren." Alice smiled, she didn't really like Lauren much but once Bella explained our little wager…Alice was much more interested.
"Hi," she acknowledged her, "Edward, let's go up to your room." She suggested.
"Alright," I sighed and got off the couch. "Later guys."
"Later," Bella laughed and she and Alice went back to their conversation.
"Lauren," I tried to stop her as she basically attacked me on the way to my room. "I'm not feeling very well; I think you should go home."
"Ok, fine." She sighed. "I'll call you tomorrow."
I walked her out and took a place back at the couch where Bella and Alice were.
"Lauren had to leave already?" Alice faked sadness.
"Yeah, I told her I didn't feel well."
"Ew, you're not going to hurl or anything, are you?" Alice asked.
"No, I feel fine; I just lied to her so she would leave."
"But why would you want your lovely girlfriend to leave?" Bella teased, I threw a pillow at her.
"Shut up, you know the only reason I'm still with her is because of you."
"She should thank me." Bella added.
"Yeah…sure. And I should kill you."
"But you wont." She smiled.
"Yeah… So what are you guys doing anyways?"
"We were trying to pick a movie," Alice gestured towards the screen; the on-demand menu was pulled up.
"Didn't the new Batman movie just come out?" I asked.
"Edward, where have you been, that's been out for months."
"Oh…well what do you suggest then?"
"Let's see Mamma Mia!"
"Ugh, I'm so out of here." I got up to leave.
"Oh no you don't!" Bella grabbed my arm, "You have to watch so you can sing the guy parts."
"No way," I moved to take her arm off of mine.
"Pleaseee?" she made a puppy dog face. I could kiss her right then and there. But of course I didn't.
"Fine…" I gave in and sat back down next to her.
The movie wasn't too painful since Bella was sitting next to me and after getting up for a drink I sneakily put my arm around the back of the couch behind her.
…………
The next day Lauren was calling me non stop. I was about to turn my phone off.
"What Lauren?" I finally answered.
"Let's go somewhere; you aren't still sick are you?"
"Yeah I am."
"Oh, I'll bring you some soup." She offered.
"No, please don't…"
"Don't be silly Eddie. I'll see you in a little bit." She hung up and probably started on some soup.
I ran downstairs and found Bella asleep still on the couch. Alice was up and about in the kitchen. I jumped on the couch and got under the covers that Bella was under.
"Quick hide me! Lauren is bringing me soup!" I groaned at the last part.
"Edward," she laughed, "Get off of me!"
I moved over but I was still next to her. She was smiling and she turned to face me. Something in her expression caught me off guard and before I knew it I was kissing her.
My lips barely touched hers before she pulled away and slapped me in the face.
"What the hell are you doing, you have a girlfriend."
Thank God Alice hadn't seen, she would kill me. "Sorry…I wasn't thinking." I quickly scrambled up and went to the door, wow Lauren sure does move fast.
Lauren led me into the kitchen and insisted I eat her soup.
"Really, I don't feel much like eating anything…"
"Ok, eat it when you feel better then." She smiled her fake plastic smile that I despised so much.
"Thanks."
"I know something that will make you feel better…" she got closer and closer to me. Her lips were on mine and were a big down grade compared to Bella's. She sat on top of my lap and began a circular motion with her hips. "Lauren, stop…"
"It's ok Eddie, don't fight it." Ugh she was repulsive.
Her lips we back on mine then and Bella walked into the kitchen.
"Oh…uh, sorry." She left quickly and shut the door behind her.
………
Bella made it very clear in the next couple of days that she was mad at me. I couldn't say that I completely understood why she was mad though. Lauren was my girlfriend, it's not like I did anything wrong in kissing Lauren because it was Bella that encouraged me to stay with her in the first place. It must have been when I wasn't thinking and kissed Bella.
I tried calling her but she usually didn't answer. But I decided to try once more today.
"Hello?" she answered.
"Bella." I sighed, I loved hearing her voice. "Can I please talk to you?"
"If you must…" she sighed. I could tell the irritation in her voice, but I was so thrilled that she hadn't hung up on me yet.
"Would you mind terribly if it was in person?" I asked hopefully.
"Yes as a matter of fact I would mind terribly."
Then she hung up. This conversation had started out pretty well, but I guess I shouldn't be surprised it ended like all the other ones.
