This Chapter has been edited from its original. I dont own anything twilight, S.M. does. Enjoy!
Chapter Three - November 2013: Anberliegh
'Cause you can't jump the track, were like cars on a cable
And life's like an hour glass glued to the table
No one can find the rewind button girl
So cradle your head in your hands
And breathe… just breathe
Oh breathe, just breathe
Breath: Anna Nalick
My phone buzzed in my pocket so I took it out and opened it.
Landing. Was the only word on the screen. I chuckled to myself. She wasn't very talkative. Definitely not the little girl that I once knew.
I walked over the baggage carousel that her luggage would be going to. I know she didn't have a lot, since most of it was shipped to my house already. She would only be staying a week before she went to her new home.
Her new home in Forks. Where she will live with her father Charlie. Where she will meet Edward, and change his life. Luggage started to move around the metal belt and I started to look at names. Normally the people would be here before the luggage, but a three in the morning that wasn't the case.
Finally I saw it, the name Isabella Marie Swan was written on two bags and a backpack. I grabbed her stuff and went to stand over by the stairs. I knew it was wrong, what I did. I befriended her mother during her trips to California. I befriended Charlie too. When Renee had enough of Forks and wanted a change I let her move in with me to Florida. This was back in 2004 when Bella was only six years old. They stayed with me for three years, before Renee met Phil and fell in love. They moved to Phoenix and started their life together.
I smiled and waved at her as she appeared at the top of the escalator. She waved back, her small smile was tired.
Bella…
I sent a text to Annie. Landing, one word. I already missed my mother, but the aspect of seeing Annie again had me buzzing with excitement. I loved the years we lived with her. She was really like my other-mother. Renee and I moved to Florida and Renee went on a bit of a wild streak, but Annie was there. When we moved to Phoenix I felt as though I lost my best friend, but Annie gave me a cell phone and laptop with a web cam and we kept in touch. She helped me through some difficult times, and when my mother and Phil wanted to travel with his team, she suggested I move in with my father.
Annie was there when I needed her, and even flew to Phoenix every once in a while when I needed her. Still I haven't seen her in three years.
When I stepped off the plane exhaustion hit me. I had not slept the last few nights. Spending every moment with my mother on her various Mother/Daughter bonding excursions.
I stepped onto the first step of the escalator and saw Annie waiting with my bags. She smiled and waved and I tried to do the same, but I was so tired that my face would not work. I felt whole. I was a shy person, to the point where it should be a disability. When I was with Annie, I found my courage. She brought it out in me and I felt more outgoing. She made me feel like the Bella I want to be.
When I got to the bottom Annie gave me a huge hug.
"Bella, Have you grow up or what!" She exclaimed. Already I felt lighter. In her presence I felt as though I never had to worry about anything.
"Look at you, you look exactly the same," I told her taking her in.
From when I first met her she never changed. She never got laugh lines like my mother, or any grey hairs. She was as breathtakingly beautiful as the first time I met her.
"My mother wants a picture of the two of us, but I need to shower and brush my hair before we can do that," I told her as she led us out of the airport.
"Ok, when you get enough sleep we will make a list of stuff we have to do. I have to take you around to all my favorite things," She told me animatingly. Her smile caused me to smile.
"Excuse me miss," A tall rather good looking man said as he approached Annie. "Do you need any help with your bags?"
Annie looked at me and smiled. "Oh no thank you, my husband will be around with the car."
I looked at her with my eyes wide.
"Oh, ok, well you two have a good day then," He said with a smile and walked off, I swear I heard him mutter something like, hot ones…always taken.
"You are married?" I asked her, stunned. As a car pulled up and a man stepped out, and I gasped. "To him?"
He was pretty good looking, but I knew him from the TV. His band was on a Bands You Oughta Know show. His ripped jeans and Guns 'N' Roses shirt, screamed rock god. He walked up to Annie and grabbed one of the bags. They walked to the back of the car lifting my luggage in the back. Annie set my bag in and the guy shut the trunk.
"Thanks for coming Kev," She said as she gave him a hug.
"No problem, I did it because I need a favor," He said as he smiled shyly.
"What?" she asked crossing her arms.
"Replace Mark, this Wednesday at the Park?" He said holding his hands together in front of him like a prayer, begging.
"How 'bout it Bella. You want to go to a concert?" Annie asked me.
I was still a little star struck at the fact that Kevin Tony the lead singer of Heartless, my current music and celebrity infatuation, was standing here. I nodded.
"Yeah, I will be there. Bella, you ok?" Annie asked looking at me. "And no I am not married, I just say that a lot."
"You, Married? That will be the day," Kevin said to Annie, and then turned to me. "So you are Bella, I have heard a lot about you. Annie has talked about you non-stop; I almost had to go stay with Mark," He said holding out his hand.
I smiled and shook his hand.
Annie got in the car and I followed getting in the back seat.
"Bella, Kevin and I live together, I hope you don't mind. He has offered to stay with Mark if it will make you feel uncomfortable," Annie told me as Kevin drove out of the airport.
"Um, no it is fine…" I said quietly, finding my voice.
"Sweet, Mark has a super annoying girlfriend, Ashley. She and her younger sister are always around his apartment," He said then turned a little to Annie. "I told him that she isn't allowed to come back stage this Wednesday, that is why he won't play, but I know Mark. Seeing someone else fill in, no matter how good they are, he will hate it and agree with me."
"Good. Between bossing around the stagehands and telling the manager what he should be doing, I have had all I can take of Ashley," Annie laughed.
The last thing I remember is Annie reaching over to turn on the radio.
The sun was peeking out from behind the curtain. The light was low, like it was sunrise, so I reached for my phone. 6:23 pm. I gasped and jumped out of bed. It was at that point that I remembered that I didn't know where I was.
Yes I did, I was at Annie's apartment. In Seattle. With Annie, and… Kevin Tony.
I smiled a little to myself, but then jumped when the door opened.
"Good you are up. Bathroom is through that door and the living room is just down the hall. Dinner will be ready in an hour. We have a few guests, but that doesn't mean you need to hurry. Take your time. Oh and I called Renee and Charlie, I let them know you were sleeping and told them you would call tomorrow," Annie said as she set some towels on the bed.
"Thank you Annie," I told her and started to get my stuff out of my suitcase.
I walked into the bathroom and was stunned. The bathroom looked like one of those bathrooms that they put in magazines. The shower covered a whole wall and there was a wooden accordion door on the wall next to it. I opened it to reveal a large bathtub-Jacuzzi thing.
A while later I shut off the shower. I never wanted to get out, but a sweet and delicious smell was calling my name. My stomach grumbled, and I laughed. This would be the first meal that I haven't had to make myself in a while. I knew I would cook for Charlie, but at least he liked normal food. Renee liked to try new things and would often bring home things that I didn't know how to cook. I laughed at the memory of my mother. The memory did not make me sad though. I knew she was happy and I knew I would be happy here because it was stationary. I walked out of the bedroom into a hallway. Laughter filled the air and the sweet smell of food increased when I stepped out of the room. My stomach growled again as I walked into the living room.
"Bella!" Annie exclaimed from the kitchen. I looked at her as she walked into the living room. She was wearing jeans and a v neck t shirt, with an apron around her waist. "Dinner is almost done. I guess introductions are in order. You know Kevin, this is Mark, and the one hiding is Joshua. 'He doesn't bat for our team." She whispered to me and winked. One of the girls, the younger one let jealousy seep into her face for a second, and then it was gone. "The one in purple is Manny, and this is Ashley and her sister Jessica."
"Hello, it is nice to meet all of you," I told them in a quiet voice. Still shy, but I was eager to meet them. I had never been eager to meet anyone.
"No, the pleasure is all mine," The one in purple, Manny said, taking my hand and kissing it.
"Jail bait, Man," I heard Annie sing from the kitchen.
He laughed and walked away. I took a seat next to the younger girl.
"Hi, I am Jessica. Jessica Stanley, we will be going to the same high school together," She told me happily.
"Good. At least I will know someone there," I said as I smiled. A small bit of relief washed over me, but it was fleeting. Hadn't Kevin said she was annoying? Oh well, beggars can't be choosers.
"Dinner is ready, girls why don't you come in and dish up before the guys," Annie told us standing in between the kitchen and living room, her apron in her hands.
"There are plenty of chairs at the dining table but if you are more comfortable you can sit in the living room," She told us.
I walked into the kitchen behind Jessica and was floored. Two different lasagnas were set out, one obviously vegetarian, next to some plates. A large bowl with salad was next to it with tons of dressings and bowls. At the end of the counter was a very large basket of breadsticks. My mouth started to water and my stomach grumbled again.
A few minutes later we were all seated at the dinner table. Conversation was flowing freely, even from me. I sat between Annie and Kevin with Joshua seated on the other side of Kevin. Manny sat across from Joshua with Jessica next to him. Ashley was across from me with Mark at the end. Being with Annie made me feel carefree and relaxed. I found myself laughing and even making fun of some of the guys.
Dinner was over but the conversation kept up. Eventually Ashley, Mark and Jessica left.
"She was starting to get fussy; he needed to get her down for a nap," Annie told us as she started to clean up plates. Everyone laughed.
"Annie, I will get that," Kevin said jumping up from his seat and gathering up the rest of the dishes. "You three can go in the living room and see if That's My Purse is on TV."
I laughed at their choice in reality shows, but followed Manny and Joshua to the living room.
"What station?" Manny asked grabbing the remote and turned on the TV. He plopped down in the center of the couch.
"Channel fourteen," Josh said sitting at one end of the couch. "Bella, have you ever seen That's My Purse?" Joshua asked me.
"Umm… no, I have heard it was funny but never actually watched it," I told him. I realized that this was the first time he spoke all evening.
They spent the next ten minutes explaining the rules. "Oh., Was all I could say.
"We like it cuz they get into knock-down drag-out fights going for that platform. Plus they are all major cougars. I think you have to be one to be on the show. I tried to sign Josh up, but they wouldn't accept males," Manny chuckled and Josh glared at him.
In the silence we could hear talking coming from the kitchen. The talking stopped and a flirtatious giggling made all of our heads turn.
"Are they together?" I asked.
"Nope. I don't want to know what is going on in there. They did date for a while, but it didn't work so they just became friends. Kev still wants her body hard core, but I mean who doesn't," Manny laughed.
"Tell me about it, I think boobies are gross but I like hers." Joshua said and I fell into laughter so hard that my stomach hurt.
Finally my laughter stopped. "Joshua, why were you so quiet at dinner." I asked.
"He hates Ashley." Manny said.
"Hate is a strong word," Joshua scolded Manny, but Manny just gave him a look. "Ok, I hate her," He said defeated.
"Before I…" Joshua paused.
"Came out of the closet?" Manny offered.
Joshua glared at him. "Before I discovered my feelings I actually dated Ashley. I met her at a convention. This was before we were as big as we are before I knew Mark, but we were together for a year. One day she shows up to a practice with her arms around Mark. He was with us for like a month by that time. Now I never let my friends meet her, or tell her what band I was in. one day she met Mark and I guess they hit it off, mind you this was after our thing on TV, and whatnot. We talked later and I told her that it was over. I tried to tell Mark, but he accused me of being jealous. We sort of had a falling out. A few months later I met Lewis, and Mark got over himself," He shrugged.
"Hey, about tonight," Kevin said as he entered the room.
"Don't worry…" Joshua started, but Kevin cut him off.
"No, I told him no more. I don't like that girl hanging around. I especially don't like her in my house. He said he was coming alone, but then showed up with her. I was furious but Annie told me to forget it. Yesterday I told him she is not allowed backstage anymore," He told them.
"What did he say?" Manny asked.
"Said, fine then, I don't want to play," He laughed. "So Annie will."
"He won't like that," Manny warned.
"I know, not because of Annie, but because he doesn't think we will really do it. What he seemed to forget was that Josh and I started this band. Over a year ago, we were just a guitarist and a singer. Annie stepped in and was our first drummer, she told us what we needed to do and that we need a bassist. Her and Josh got us that gig in L.A. and Josh got us on the show by getting the producer to check us out."
"Or getting the producer of the show to check him out. The producer of the show is Lewis," Manny whispered.
"When did you quit?" I asked Annie.
"Three months ago. A month before the show," Annie told me.
"We need to talk though, as a band," Kevin said seriously.
"Do you want me to leave?" I asked.
"No, Not at all. You are part of this family, too,Kevin said smiling at me. "I forget that it is strange for you. Annie has been telling about this for months, so we all feel like we know you already."
I laughed.
"On a more serious note," The room went quiet. "What are we going to do about Mark?" Kevin said into the silence.
"Let's wait, the show is Wednesday. If he talks to us Thursday, we will figure something out. If not we tell him he is gone on Friday and look for a new drummer Saturday."
"I can fill in until you find one," Annie said with a smile.
"You already have someone in mind." Manny accused.
"Maybe, He might be the one who taught me." Joshua choked on his water.
"We might let Mark go anyway," Manny laughed.
"No, we will give him a chance," Kevin said.
"This is kind of like a situation in The Second Hand Ticks. But Josh isn't in love with a man that could be his brother, Kevin doesn't have multiple personality disorder, and is keeping his good twin in the basement. And Manny doesn't dress up like a women each night," Annie exclaimed.
"That we know of," Kevin told her and they both looked at Manny.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Manny asked.
"Annie has been watching day time television. Soap Operas are like heroine to her," Kevin explained.
"Don't make fun. Tomorrow we are going to find out if Kiki is the mother of her child," She told us.
"Isn't she still pregnant with said baby?" Josh asked confused.
"Exactly!" Annie and Kevin shouted. The room dissolved into laughter.
We finished watching the TV show, and then Joshua and Manny said goodnight. Feeling exhausted I went to bed soon after.
I woke up to rain. Instantly my mood changed. I felt gloomy. I got ready for the day and went into the kitchen.
"What shall we do today?" Annie asked me as she handed me some chocolate chip pancakes and bacon.
I sat down and she poured me some milk. Her energy affecting me and lightening my mood like she always does.
"It is raining." I told her.
"It is always raining. That is one of the reasons this place is beautiful. You will learn to love it, or as least live with it. We can go to some museums, or there is a great mall. You do need some warmer clothes, and I need a girl to go lingerie shopping with me. Josh will, but he won't try anything on."
I blushed at the thought of trying on lingerie at a store. Annie saw and just laughed at me. It was never something I could do with my mom, but Annie was my best friend.
"We can't go to Forks, your dad is at that convention and the house is locked up tight. We can go to the bookstore too and Bella, how old are you?" She asked me.
"Fifteen," I told her knowing that she knew how old I was.
"Do you want to go do something kind of crazy?" She asked me with a wild smile.
"Like Felony crazy or Hey you remember that one time…crazy? I asked her.
"Umm, your father might think it is a Felony," She said and I laughed.
Four hours later I was lying on the living room floor and I had a new winter wardrobe, a few new books and a new belly button piercing. I glanced down at my bare midriff and sighed.
"Okay everything is put away" Annie said and sat down by me and started to pull out small baggies with different rings in them.
"You didn't have to get it done," She told me.
"No I wanted to. I always liked yours so much. I was always secretly jealous of it," I laughed.
Annie smiled and rolled up her shirt. I noticed that she didn't have one in and watched as she opened a small dainty silver belly button ring. A small jewel on the bottom made it look so pretty.
The next two days I spent time a lot of time with the band. I listened while they rehearsed. We watched movies, and went to play laser tag. That was something that I never would forget. By time it was Wednesday. I was standing in the front row with one of Annie's friends when they finished their last song. The audience roared and Kevin stood in the middle of the stage.
He gestured for Annie to come over to him. She walked towards him and drew the attention of the male portion of the audience. Her leather boots disappeared into the tight fitting dark blue jeans. She had on a white tank top with a light grey vest. She had on a necklace with a small feather on it. Her hair was in loose ringlets down to the center of her back. She smiled at Kevin as he pulled her to him.
"This is my girl right here," He said and the audience screamed. "I am sure she will treat us to a little song if y'all cheer loud enough."
If I thought it was loud before, I had no clue. The stadium erupted in the greatest noise I ever heard. A stage hand brought out an acoustic Guitar. The rest of the band wet to the side of the stage as she sat on a stool in the middle. Someone scooted the microphone closer.
To say her performance was unique was not enough. I felt different after she played that last note. I smiled as Annie ushered us to come back stage and security let us in. Everyone's attitude changed when we got to the dressing room.
Mark was in the dressing room when we entered. He looked at Kevin. "We need to talk."
Fifteen minutes later Kevin was back in. "He quit."
We were all silent for a moment, and were startled by a knock at the door. Annie got up to answer it.
Annie was followed by a man in a suit. "Guys, this is Peter. He taught me how to play the drums."
I sat there in Annie's living room the night before my father would come pick me up. I absentmindedly played with the jewelry in my belly button.
"Annie?" I asked.
"Hmm?" she responded.
"You never talk about your past," I stated. I never heard her talk about her parents or where she grew up. What I did notice was that when I asked this Kevin who was watching television stiffened.
"All in good time Bella," She said and smiled at me sweetly. She sounded… old, wise. I was completely confused with her statement.
I thought about that for a second. Maybe over time I could spend time with her and she would open up to me.
"Do you think that it was a good idea that I came here."
She turned to me and looked at me. "I think you will find that it is the best decision you ever made," She smiled like she knew something.
I gave Annie one last hug and turned to my dad.
"Are you ready Bells?" He asked me.
"Yep, bye Annie, I will come up as often as I can and you come see me any time possible," I told her.
"Of course Bella," She told me. I waved goodbye and got in the car.
"Bye Annie, it was sure nice seeing you again. Thanks for taking care of Bella."
"No problem Charlie, See you soon," Annie waved.
We sat in silence for a while. I was more upset about leaving Annie than I was leaving my mom. At least she wouldn't be that far away.
"You all ready for classes tomorrow,." Charlie asked me.
"Yes. Annie got me everything I would need. I even met a girl that goes there. Jessica Stanley," I said.
"That is good. I know the Stanley family," He said.
We were pretty much silent the rest of the way home. Charlie showed me to my room and told me where everything was. He had to move houses since my mother and I left. The old house held too many memories and he couldn't stand it any longer. The new house was only one story, but had three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Charlie gave me the master bedroom. He said it was because I would get more use out of the bathroom.
I finished unpacking and went downstairs to eat. Annie had sent us home with leftovers, so now we were at the dinner table finishing up yet another delicious meal.
"How do you feel about going to Annie's for Thanksgiving next week?" He asked.
My mood lit up. I didn't think that I would be seeing her again that soon. "Yeah, of course."
"Good. We can stay up there a few days," He said getting up with his plate. "Bells? It is good to have you home."
"It is good to be home dad," I told him with a smile.
I cleaned up and went to sit with Charlie in the living room. A football game was on and to tell the truth, I didn't know what was going on. Charlie started to explain it to me, but got frustrated and gave up. He laughed at me and told me I was hopeless.
Charlie had the same carefree ways as Annie, but was more reserved. He was a bit shyer than the average person. With how outgoing Renee was I was surprised that they ever got married.
A doorbell going off startled me and Charlie chuckled as he went to answer the door.
"Hey, glad to see you made it," He said.
"I hope it isn't too late. We got stuck at work then Jake remembered this homework assignment that was going to be due tomorrow, so I offered to bring it for him," A deep male voice said.
"Well thanks, Bella, come out here I have a surprise for you," Charlie said from the front door.
A surprise? Granted I loved surprises, but I didn't like Charlie, well anyone, spending money on me. I walked outside to see a very tan, very muscular boy, and a big red truck. Like the one in the picture of my grandma Swan when she was young. At least that is what it reminded me of. Wide eyed I looked from it to Charlie.
"I got you a truck. I figured that is better than walking. This truck can make it to Seattle and back right?" he asked the boy.
"Yup, Jake made it so she still has a long life ahead of her. And he put in that GPS that you wanted him to," The boy said smiling.
"Good, Bella this is Jared, Jared Bella," Charlie said as I shook Jared's hand.
"Hi. Jake has been talking about getting to see you again, but his English grade will be in bad shape if he doesn't finish his homework," He said with a smile and I looked at Charlie.
"Jake is Billy's son. We used to go down to the Reservation, La Push, and you two would play together," Charlie explained.
"Oh, ya I remember him. Gosh, how could I forget? But seriously this truck is mine?" I asked walking over to the truck.
"Yes, I knew you would need something to go see Annie in. I don't like you driving to the city alone, so she said she would meet you halfway whenever you wanted to go see her," He told me.
I opened the car door and noticed the expensive GPS system that was put where the heating and cooling controls go, and I frowned.
"All the controls have either been moved to the right next to the wheel or in the middle console between the seats. And the CD player is on the left side of the wheel," Jared explained pointing at the updates.
"You didn't spend a lot did you?" I asked Charlie.
"No. This was Billy's old truck, so I didn't have to pay him too much. Jake fixed it up and said I don't owe him anything but maybe you could tutor him in biology if you have the time. He is a year younger than you."
"What about the GPS?" I asked him.
"Annie sort of got that for you. I asked her if she could pick one up for me and I would repay her. This arrived in the mail three days later. When I called her she said that she just had it lying around and she did me a favor by taking it off her hands. I can't find how much it costs."
I looked at the seven by seven inch screen and the rest of the completely re-done dashboard.
"We figured how much it cost," Jared told us. Looking at the ground instead of at us.
Charlie frowned and I knew what he was thinking. Did we want to know? He looked at me.
"How much?" Charlie asked.
"Well when you gave us Annie's number for any questions about the GPS she asked for Jakes address and all this custom dashboard stuff started to come. I guess she knew this guy that works on older trucks and he completely customized it and sent it to us. We did a little research on the GPS though so we could get a little bit programed into it. We found it online for over four grand. It had a six month waiting list though," He said shyly.
We thanked Jared and he left refusing a ride and telling us his friends were at the diner. Although I swear I saw him take off into the woods across the street instead of going to the diner. When we got back inside we called Annie.
"Hello?" she asked innocently.
"We know what you did, about the GPS," Charlie said.
"What GPS?" She asked.
"The rather expensive one that is in Bella's truck. That I will repay you for."
"Charlie I honestly have no clue what you are talking about. I never bought a GPS for Bella's truck."
"Annie. We know you are lying," I told her.
"I can assure you Bella, that I have no clue what you are talking about. Even if I did I know that the only thing that would be repayment would be a thank you," She said.
Charlie and said our thank you and after we hung up the phone we decided to do something nice for her later on.
We sat there for a while then I told Charlie that I was getting tired. As I made my way up to bed I decided that I kind of like Forks. I couldn't remember why I had such an aversion to it before.
That joy was short lived, for when I woke up the next morning, I remembered why I liked phoenix.
The rain drizzled and the air was so humid that I was pretty sure my tonsils would turn into gills. I sighed at the sky and walked to my truck, unsure if I was ready for the first day of my new school…
Tears blurred my vision again. This time I was unable to blink them away and they started to spill over again. I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand.
You're being stupid. I told myself. I turned onto my street and was able to see my driveway. I didn't even realize there was another car in the drive way until I walked inside my house and saw Annie standing there.
"Bella, come here," She said wrapping her arms around me. I started to cry even more.
"Annie… I …" I started but she stopped me.
"Bella, we can talk later. Right now is the first hour of your Christmas break. We are going to Seattle. Charlie will come up for a few days around Christmas. I already packed your things and what I forgot we will buy another of," She said happily as we walked to her car.
When the doors were shut and the car was on the road Annie looked at me. "What has you so sad this cold day?" she asked.
"It's stupid," I mumbled.
"Bella, nothing that makes you cry is stupid. Unless it is something you can't change, like the weather."
"You can't change what people think of you," I told her starting to tear up again.
"If there is anything you can change it is what people think of you. Bella, people are so easily influenced," She told me patting my arm. "Now who has you feeling this way? Is it Jessica?"
"No. It is the kid I sit next to in Biology. Edward Cullen," I said hating the way I longed to say his name.
"A boy, well that is interesting. Bella, you don't have to tell me anything you don't want to. I can wait until you're ready."
"It's just; I don't know what else to do," I told her after a few seconds, I sounded as frustrated as I felt. "The first day at school I sat next to him in Biology. At first he looked like he wanted to kill me. Then for the rest of the day he just looked like he hated me. I never even talked to him. Even other people in the class commented on how hostile he was being. He was gone the rest of the week and part of the next. By time I got to your house for Thanksgiving I completely forgot about him. That was until I got back to school. He caught me off guard by being there and he was even polite. He talked to me the first few days, but then just stopped. He started to ignore me like I didn't even exist," I was breathing fast and I was a little less annoyed by being able to talk to someone.
"Wow, and I thought teenage girls were bad. No offense," She said and smiled at me.
I chuckled, and then sighed.
"There's more?" Annie asked.
"Yes. I was kind of over him, and was ignoring him as well. Today when I got to class he said hello. He hasn't said hello for weeks. I nodded not wanting to acknowledge him much when Mike, another guy in my class, came up to talk to me. Ok, so maybe he came over to flirt," I took a breath and was slightly unsure if I could go on without crying.
"Mike asked me to go to the dance," I told her looking out the front window.
"What did you say to him?" She asked me.
"I didn't get a chance to talk to him in class. When he asked me Edward laughed. I caught up to Mike after class and told him that I wasn't going at all. It is next Saturday, and I really don't want to go. Plus I will be in Seattle," She said as she smiled at me. "But that still wasn't the end of it. After my last class that day I was walking to my car and Edward walked up beside me. He asked if I was going to the dance with Mike. I asked him what it was to him and he told me that he was just curious because he saw Mike and Jessica making out. I guess he thought he was being noble or something. So I told him that I wasn't going to the dance with Mike because I was going with someone else."
"Oooh, drama," Annie said dramatically.
I laughed. "Funny. He got really serious then and asked if I really already had a date. His eyes did this thing where they… smolder; I guess that is the right word. For some reason I couldn't lie so I told him that I didn't have a date. Then he got all weird again. He said, well I could take you if you want to go, so you don't miss out or anything, I am not big on dances. I told him that I wasn't going at all."
"And the plot thickens," Annie said with mock horror.
"I know right. He slides a piece of paper into my hand and whispered in my ear, I don't know it might be fun. Call me when you change your mind and decided that you want to go," I finished doing an extremely poor impersonation of him.
"Wow. That is like soap opera shit. We could film it and make money, call it Rain Drops in Forks. I was expecting you to say and he wasn't even the father, his twin brother was, at any minute."
"Really Annie. You watch too much TV. He was positive I would go with him. I just get so frustrated. One second it is like he is looking into my soul and the next second he is avoiding me like I have the plague. What do I do?" I asked as I looked at Annie.
"First let's go up and get relaxed," She told me as we pulled into her parking spot.
We grabbed my things out of the back of the car and made our way upstairs. Once we were all settled in we went into the living room.
"Second, we formulate a plan. Okay, so do you like him?" She asked.
"Umm, I don't know him."
"But on a physical level are you attracted to him?"
"Annie, Edward is supermodel hot. No, more than that, he could be compared to a god," I told her.
"What about personality?" She asked.
I thought about it for a minute. "Well, I don't know him that well, but he is always respectful to the teachers and his family. He is usually nice to me except when he is ignoring me, but he has horrible mood swings."
"So we have a guy who is sex on legs, with the ability to keep a girl on her toes. Sounds like he is fighting what he wants," She told me.
"I doubt that, he is beautiful and I am plain," I said sadly.
"Bella, trust me. I know things. One thing I know is that he wants you and the other thing is you are not plain. The only thing plain in this apartment is my couch. He wants you and by the end of this dance he will know that for sure," She told me as a diabolical smile grew across her lips.
"Annie, I can't dance."
"You won't be dancing; you just need to make an appearance. I just need to make a phone call."
I looked at her run to get her phone. And a small uneasy feeling grew inside of me. Annie could get evil if she wanted. A half an hour later Annie and I were sitting on her couch when Kevin came in with a devious smile.
"Annie?" I asked as I looked at her.
"Now Bella, you have to trust me," She said.
I just looked at her. Disbelief colored me as she made her next request.
"Bella now I need you to call him."
"What! No. I can't call him. I can't even stand him. He is infuriating," I told her.
"Oh I bet he is. You like him," Kevin said.
I glared at the two. "I do not."
"Bella, this will be a chance to make him extremely jealous. It is payback. So to speak."
"What I think is that he is probably nervous. He likes you and is trying to overcompensate. Nothing gets a person to make a move like jealousy."
"What makes you think I want him to make a move?" I asked still glaring at them.
They both just looked at me with a knowing expression on their faces. "Okay, he is a little amazing," I said and we all started to laugh.
Twenty minutes later I was standing with my finger on the call button and starting to hyper ventilate.
"Bella, be calm, you can do this," Annie told me for the hundredth time.
I ran through the conversation in my head again and decided that I just have to get it over with. I hit send and put the phone up to my ear.
"Hello?" A smooth, confident voice said.
"Hello Edward, its Bella," I replied trying to sound confident.
"Bella, it's nice to hear from you, does this happen to be about the dance?" He sounded so smug, and I found my courage.
"Yes. You see, I already told a friend of mine that I would go with him. So I apologize if I led you to believe I would go with you."
"Oh... I… Umm… who is your friend?" He asked sounding a little… hurt? Disappointed? Jealous?
"Just a friend from Seattle. I just thought I would let you know, that way you could make other plans."
"Oh, thank you," He said, definitely jealous.
"Well I will see you at the da… I was going to say dance, but I remember you saying you're not big on dances. So instead I will see you in class after the break."
"We don't have to wait that long, if you want we could hang out sometime if you want," He said.
"I am in Seattle for the break. Sorry, Edward," I told him.
"Okay then I will see you after break. Goodbye Bella."
"Bye Edward," I finished and I hung up the phone.
"Annie, he said see you after break, he isn't even coming to the dance," I told her.
"Oh, He is going to that dance. He told you he isn't so he could catch you by surprise. Now to more important matters, you need a dress and I need a tux," Kevin said.
"I know the perfect place," Annie told me.
"I am so excited; I get to go to a high school dance!" Kevin said jumping up and down.
I laughed at him, suddenly excited to be going to a dance, excited to be getting a dress. I might even dance.