Disclaimer: All these characters belong to Stephanie Meyer.
After Edward left I plopped down on the couch and stated to read. After many failed attempts to concentrate, I finally gave up in frustration. It was going to be a boring night. I didn't know what I was going to do but I couldn't sit home. I went to the phone then and decided to call Alice.
"Hey Bella what's up?" She answered on the third ring.
"Hey, nothing I was just wondering if you wanted to do something tonight?"
"Yeah, I'll join in, what do you and Edward have planned?" Of course she assumed that Edward was going to be with me.
"No actually its just me. I was wondering if you had anything in mind."
"Oh" Her voice sounded surprised but then she started to sound excited. "Hey we can go to Emmett's away football game and surprise him. It takes about an hour to get there though." I thought that was a better option then sitting alone so I agreed and told her I could come.
The car ride went pretty quick. I mostly concentrated on the damp roadway while Alice chatted away about the school gossip. Alice seemed to know about everyone and everything and it was nice having someone to keep my mind occupied. As I pulled up to the packing lot, I saw that it was jammed packed with cars. We both got out and started to make our way towards the field where the game seemed to have already started. Alice pointed over to the section of the stands in the distance. The familiar color of Forks high school fans were visible. From this distance it looked like there were many kids from school that had made the drive to come to the game. We slowly made our way over and saw our friends Angela and Jessica waving to us from the top of the bleachers. I didn't really go to sporting events, only the one or two home games with the Cullen family to support Emmett. Forks high school's field wasn't in that good of condition, so home games were limited. Once we made our way up the bleachers I took a seat in between Angela and Alice.
"Wow Bella, I haven't seen you at a game in a while." Commented a girl named Jessica.
I gave a weak smile. "Yeah well I thought I would come with Alice to surprise Emmett."
"Awe that's nice, I'm sure he will be happy to see you guys." Angela added. She was my second favorite out of the girls besides Alice. It was nice to be around females for once, even though I enjoyed my time with Edward more. I was completely myself in front of him, I never had to put up a front and try to fit in. My best female friend was Alice and I was comfortable around her but there was some things that I couldn't even talk to her about that I could with Edward.
"So where is your other half Bella?" I turned to see a girl named Lauren directing her question to me sarcastically. I knew she meant Edward, even without her mentioning his name.
"He uh.. had to do some other stuff tonight."
Thankfully our team scored a touchdown and the line of questioning was cut short. Everyone stood up shouting and cheering. Alice grabbed my arm and forced me up with the others.
"Who scored that one?" asked Lauren.
"Hmm looks like number 30?" Angelia commented.
"Oh! That's James Woodland!" Jessica squealed.
I felt a nudge on my arm and turned to see Alice wiggling her eyebrows at me suggestively. "Hear that Bella, James Woodlands scored the touchdown."
I glared at her, warning her not to talk about that anymore. She laughed at me but luckily dropped it. Half time started soon after and we sat and watched both of the schools' bands take their turns on the field. I was focusing on the music and zoning out when I heard something that Lauren said that grabbed my attention.
"Oh Jess look! I think that's the Victoria girl from our sociology class…. at least I think that's her over there."
Jessica arched her head and looked to see where Lauren was pointing. I followed her gaze now as well.
"Yeah that's definitely her…who is she with?" Jessica replied.
I found Victoria in the crowd of people walking this way and caught my breath when I realized who she was with. I couldn't see his face in the sea of people blocking him but I could recognize that bronze head of hair anywhere. Soon enough Lauren and Jessica recognized him too.
"Hey that's Edward Cullen she's with." Jessica shouted in shock.
Alice turned her head right away and looked in their direction. "My brother's here?"
She then looked at me quickly with narrowed eyes. "Bella Swan have you been holding out on me with gossip about my brother?"
"No I….I didn't know he was coming here…." The hurt face I tried to mask wasn't fast enough for Alice to miss and her annoyed face soon turned to confusion.
"He didn't tell you he was coming to the game?"
I just shook my head. Unfortunately Lauren stood up on the bleachers and started to wave and yell frantically at Victoria. "Victoria!! Over here!"
I looked over at the two of them. Victoria had spotted Lauren and was walking towards us. Edward strolled casually by her side with his hands in his pockets, his face expressionless. He still didn't see me sitting a few seats down and I tried to lower myself to avoid his gaze. Just then however his green eyes flashed to me. Once he recognized me his face looked shocked then guilty. He ran his hand over his forehead quickly and then proceeded up the bleachers.
"Hey guys mind if we sit with you." Victoria asked with a cheerful face.
"Of course you guys can." Lauren replied happily. I officially did not care for that girl at all.
They sat down two bleachers in front of us and Edward seemed suddenly transfixed on the game, unwilling himself to turn around and look at me. I had a feeling he was going to pretend that he didn't really see Alice and I. I wouldn't look at him either then.
"So what are you two up to tonight?" Lauren asked with what seemed like a hidden agenda in her tone .
Victoria turned around to face us to talk. "Well Edward and I grabbed some dinner and we thought we would stop and see the game for a bit." Lauren and Jessica both looked at each other with a sly smile on their faces after she said this.
Victoria's blue eyes flashed toward Alice and I and she seemed surprised. "Oh hey Alice, hey Bella! Edward you didn't tell me they would be here." He rubbed the back of his neck with his hand and then slowly turned around with a unconvincing smile on his face.
"Oh hey guys, I didn't know you were going to the game." He glanced at my face just then. I didn't have the strength to muster up a smile and just said, "Like wise", before turning my attention back on the game.
I had to act like this didn't bother me. Once and a while I would feel his eyes on me but I never made eye contact.
As soon as the game was over I stood up and made my way down the bleachers with Alice by my side. I just wanted to get to the field to see Emmett and then get the heck out of there. Of course my fast pace and the slippery bleacher step didn't agree with each other and next thing I knew I was falling forward. Two familiar arms reach out and caught me however and I looked up to see Edward staring down at me. It caught me by surprise and soon I felt myself melting at his gorgeous face back at me. I quickly remembered my situation and shook out of his arms roughly. Alice was by my side just then. "Bella are you ok?"
"I'm fine, lets just go say good job to Emmett and get out of here please?" She nodded and we made our way onto the muddy field. She tried to tip toe around the muddy holes in her pink flats but I just stomped on through them. The second Emmett saw us he grabbed us both into a bear hug and lifted us off the ground.
"Ewe Emmett, your all muddy and gross, let us down." Alice whined. He gave us his hearty laugh and put us down.
"I'm happy you guys got to come! Good game huh?"
"Good job Em, you played intense out there." I added giving him a smile and playfully punching his arm.
"Aw thanks Bells" He said as he ruffled my hair. James suddenly ran by Emmett's side.
"Hey Emmett, come on the bus is leaving." His blank face soon turned into a smile when he noticed me standing there. "Hey Bella." I gave him a feeble smile.
"I'll be there in a second, tell them to hold up." Emmett responded. James then ran off. I felt a sudden charge in the air and knew that Edward was at my side. "Good game Em!"
Emmett looked thrilled to see Edward. "You came too! Thanks man that means a lot. Alright I have to go before the bus leaves without me, see everyone at home." The second he left I started to walk across the field with Alice towards the parking lot ignoring the fact that Edward was standing near me. As I started to pull away he grabbed my arm. I turned around and stared at him blankly.
"Do you guys need a ride home?" He looked at me with worry in his eyes.
"No I drove my truck here." I said coldly and turned away again.
"Bella…" He called out desperately. When I turned back to face him however he seemed at lost for words.
"Just go back to your date Edward." I said harshly, seeing him wince at my tone before walking off. As we approached my truck I felt my blood boiling. I tried to open my old truck's door and it wouldn't budge. I started to pull on it aggressively and then kicked the door. "OPEN UP YOU STUPID DOOR!" I shouted before kicking it again.
"Whoa calm down Bella." Alice appeared next to me. "Here let me drive."
I gave her the keys willingly. We drove in silence for the rest of the trip home. Alice knew I wasn't in the mood to talk and thankfully didn't ask me any questions. When we finally made it home she started talking.
"Bella tomorrow I'm coming over and we are getting breakfast." She said this as a statement not a question. Alice had been nice enough to give me a question free night so I owed her and just nodded in agreement. She hugged me and then made her way next door.
The house was dark as I made my way to the kitchen. Charlie was working the night shift so I knew he wouldn't be home until the next morning. I turned on the kitchen light only and threw my stuff down on the table. The sound of foot steps came from the doorway. I knew it was him but chose to ignore it. I took my time to go over to the sink to get a glass of water. I felt his eyes follow the back of my head the whole time. After five minutes of silence he finally broke.
"Are you going to talk to me?" He asked me with frustration in his voice.
I turned to see his aggravated face staring back. I knew I didn't have a right to be mad at him for going on a date, but at the same time I was hurt that he didn't tell me. I also wished that it was me who went out with him.
"Well you don't seem to talk to me." I said while trying to maintain a straight face.
He ran his hand through his hair like he usually does when he is anxious and then his eyes turned pleading. "Bella I'm sorry I didn't tell you…. I just…I just didn't think it was that big of a deal."
"I thought we told each other everything." I whimpered. His eyes took me in and then softened slightly.
"I do tell you everything, and technically I did tell you…..about two months ago." He gave me a half smile trying to make the conversation take a different turn. I rolled my eyes at him, remembering his vague question about if I knew Victoria two months ago. That was hardly a confession about him liking her. Was she his girlfriend? My throat clamped up a that thought and I swallowed.
"You could have told me that she was your girlfriend, I would have been fine with it." I lied.
He looked at me confused and then smiled. "She's not my girlfriend Bella, we've only gone out on a few dates that's all." The sudden wave of relief at hearing that she wasn't his girlfriend was cut short by his last few words. He had been out with her before and had been keeping it from me. Edward seemed to realize what he admitted and his smile vanished. He looked regretful.
"Well I'm happy that's cleared up then, goodnight Edward." I muttered as I stormed past him heading to my room. He was following close behind me.
"Come on Bella, I know I should have told you, I'm sorry I didn't." I turned around sharply and he almost bumped into me.
"Edward, maybe you shouldn't sleep in my room tonight, I don't think that Victoria would like you sleeping in another girl's room."
He looked shocked at me and then gave me a crooked smile. "Bella, I've slept on your floor for the past twelve years now and don't plan to stop…. and not that it matters but there is hardly anything for Victoria to worry about." His words felt like a slap in the face.There is hardly anything for Victoria to worry about… So there it was, his confirmation to me that he didn't see me that way. Nothing would happen between us.
I felt tears sting my eyes, but I couldn't let him see them fall. "Right… no girl would have to worry about me, who would ever want me.." I whispered. He looked at my face questionably and then a wave of pain showed on his.
"Bella that's not what I", but I cut him off. "Don't worry about it Edward." I said as I walked past him now out of my room.
"Where are you going?" He asked.
"To sleep on the couch…please just leave me alone tonight."
I made my way down stairs and laid face down on the couch. My lips were pressed into a thin line so he wouldn't hear me cry, but my eyes finally spilled over. It was dark in the room so I knew he couldn't see my face. I thought I felt his hand touch my hair as I started to fall asleep but I couldn't look at him. When I woke up in the morning, the blanket from my room was covering me. I had never gone to sleep on bad terms with Edward before and I did feel bad, especially after seeing he cared enough to put a blanket on me.
I made my way upstairs to get changed remembering that I was going to have breakfast with Alice. When I looked at myself in the mirror, my eyes were puffy and red. My hair looked greasy and limp as it hung flat on my head. A sudden realization hit me. Edward was right, how could anyone ever want me.... Well if this Bella wasn't good enough for him, then I would be someone else. I quickly ran into my room and got the shoe box I had stashed under my bed out. Over the summers during high school I had worked at the Newton's sporting goods store in town and had saved my money. I had planned on saving up to go on a trip around the world with Edward after college. We had talked about all the places and things we wanted to see. As I counted the money I knew that I had enough to do whatever I wanted with it. It wasn't very good of me to not put this kind of money in the bank but it was my own personal savings and I wanted it close. The door opened downstairs and I heard Alice's familiar voice calling up the stairs. I grabbed the box, ran down stairs, dragged her into the kitchen with me, and shoved her into one of the chairs. I took the seat next to her and looked at her seriously. She looked surprised at my face but waited for me to start.
"Alice I have a favor to ask you."
She looked me over confused and then nodded. "Okk... what is it?"
I didn't say anything and just gave her the box of money. When she opened it up and counted it she looked even more confused. "Bella there is five thousand dollars here, what do you want me to do with this?"
I looked her directly in the eye and answered her. "Make me different."