James McQueen

I hate my closet. None of these clothes fit and the ones that do make me look like I just walked out of the cabbage patch. I thought Thursdays were supposed to be good, but my head was already hurting and the rain was pouring outside. I have to talk to the class today and I don't want to look like a loser.

I settled on the navy blue sweater and a pair of jeans. It didn't really matter, the red from my face was sure to be enough of a distraction from my clothes.

For some odd reason I had been in charge of telling the senior class about the impending dance. It was a tradition at Forks High School. I hated dancing and anything that was sure to make me fall flat on my face, but the dance was important. We needed it to graduate. Honestly, that was a joke. The Black and White Ball was just an excuse for the staff and parents to say we had a good high school experience.

Experience? The only experience we got from this school was how to tell time and learn are ABCs. The best experience would come when they handed us our diplomas.

I hoped I could deliver a good enough pitch to the class, though. We really did have to go; there was no way around it.

I heard a noise coming from outside and I saw as Edward slammed his bathroom door and headed off to school.

It looked like he was going to be late, too.

Sighing, I made my way downstairs. I was too rushed to eat breakfast so I grabbed a muffin and headed out the door. There was no sign of Renee's car so she must have left for work already.

There was only Renee and myself in our small white house. She worked at the elementary school in Forks. We had a decent life. Our house wasn't as glamorous as our next-door neighbors, the Cullens, though.

A large castle in the sky is what I liked to refer to it when I was a child. It was so big and rich. Esme was a great decorator and it showed in her home. I missed that place and the people who live there.

I shook my head and stepped into the rain. There was no need to dwell on the past. It was all over and the damage was done.

How I managed to beat Edward to school I had no idea. I pulled up to school and I couldn't find his car anywhere. I raced inside, skipping the office, and landed in Mr. Banner's room.

He gave me a stern look but he didn't fuss. I walked up to the front of the class to give my little speech. Of course I tripped on Emmett's big feet as I passed his desk. Yes, there was the red faced Bella.

I started talking about school spirit and pride, trying to coax the class into the requirement of the dance.

The door opened and Edward stepped in. His golden locks were dampened in the light drizzle from outside.

"The Black and White Ball will be December 13th. It is mandatory for all senior," I blurted out to keep my thoughts away from Edward.

I didn't hear the groans from the class but I could faintly make out Emmett's voice. I was too focused on Edward's bronze hair and I couldn't pay attention to what was going on.

I told them they had to go and tried to explain how important it was that we all attend. A bunch of bull was all I could muster up before I went to my seat, my seat which was next to Edward.

The bell rang quicker than I expected and I was glad it did. The friction in the air was too much for me to handle. If only Edward and I could avoid one another, my life would be much better.

As the day went on nothing truly exciting happened. I went around to all the senior classes to tell them about the dance. More students groaned and complained, but there was really nothing I could do about it.

Lunch came and went, followed by English. It was my favorite class and Mr. Mason brought out some books from the cabinet.

Romeo and Juliet, it was my favorite. I had read at least a dozen times but it was such a classic.

Mr. Mason said we needed to pick partners so that we could perform the play in front of the class in two weeks. I stood up to find James.

James McQueen was the captain of the football and Homecoming King. He was gorgeous. I hoped we could go to the Ball together but he had yet to ask me. James was a man of little words.

"So, McQueen will you be my Romeo?" I tried to bat my eyelashes at him but he was looking down at his book.

"Sure. I guess. I don't really understand why we have to read this shit anyway."

I was appalled. James couldn't understand why the great work of Shakespeare should be read in the classroom setting. I looked around hoping to find someone to appease my disgust.

I was met with two green eyes staring intently into mine. Edward looked like he was going to have a heart attack. What was the matter with him? He stood up and waltzed over to Angela's desk.

I looked back at James and he smiled at me. God, he was perfect. I wished that we could be together. It seemed impossible with his lack of verbal skills and flaky attitude, but a girl could hope.

As I approached my car Rosalie was waiting for me, leaning up against my old Chevy.

"So Bella, are you going to the game tomorrow?"

Rosalie was perfect. With her long legs, blonde hair, and icy blue eyes, I wondered why she was even talking to me. I was nowhere near the most popular and I wasn't an outsider either. People like Rose and I, we didn't mix. We hung out with similar groups but we had never been connected in anyway.

"Yeah, I guess. Why?" I was shocked to be having this conversation with Miss Queen Bee.

"Word is that James as a nice, big plan to ask you to the dance. I thought you'd want to know."

"Th-thanks. I'm going." I stumbled trying to comprehend why she was being so polite.

Three years ago when Rosalie and Jasper first moved to Forks, I was scared to even look at the girl. She was deadly in the high school mean girl kind of way. James and Rosalie had dated off and on. Up until recently I was terrified to even talk to the boy, but after Rose and Emmett got together I had started getting a nicer glare from her. This was strange.

Before I could say anything else, Rosalie walked off and I was left there speechless in the cold.

By Friday night I was a train wreck. I couldn't believe James was finally going to ask me out. As I approached the field I saw him waving at me. I waved back and made it to the football stands before I tripped in front of him.

I sat down beside Angela Weber. She was the closest thing I had to a best friend and I knew I would need the support when my knees gave way.

I was so nervous that I was oblivious to the things going on around me. James scored a few touchdowns and Emmett tackled the rival's quarterback. I have never understood football and I didn't understand why anyone would want to play it in the rainy Forks.

By halftime by nerves had calmed down and I was able to focus on the band's show. Edward was playing the snare drum in the back. He looked so focused and content. We had a really good band. Thanks to Edward and his amazing musical talent. As far as I knew Edward could play quite a few instruments. The drums, piano, guitar, and who knew what else.

Finally the halftime show was over and I scanned the field in search of James. I found him by the fence. He was talking to one of the cheerleaders from the other team. He was laughing and talking. Talking, James McQueen knew how to speak.

I felt hurt by the fact that this blonde beauty could steal him into conversation so quickly. Maybe he knew her from somewhere. There was nothing to worry about. He would ask me to the dance.

The game went on and we scored the last touchdown, another victory for the Spartans. It looked like we would be headed for the play-offs.

I waited with Angela and Jessica for the team to finish in the locker room. When they finally came out, I went to talk to James, but I suddenly stopped when he approached the cheerleader from earlier.

I heard a gasp near Jessica and Angela, when James leaned down to plant a kiss on the girl's lips. Then the gasps started coming from somewhere closer by and it wasn't stopping.

"Bella, are you okay? Come on lets go." It was me, the one making hysterical noises.

"No he can't. We were going to the Ball together." I started rambling and Angela walked me over to her car.

"It's okay Bella. I'm sure you can find someone else." Jessica looked at me sympathetically.

"Sure. Sure," I said, not truly believing those words, I was banking on James to be my knight in shining armor, not the loser who had led me on. Who would possibly go to the dance with me now? It looked like I would have to find another date.

I clumsily fell into the backseat of Angela's car and shouted: "Prince Charming is a dick. Bring on the frogs."

A/N: Yikes! Bella sure is a thinker. That was pretty long. Let me know what you think.