"Now, care to tell me what is going on?" Edward was still looking at me. He was trying to hide the concern that was right there on the surface, but I could tell he was worried about what I was going to say.
I sat down cautiously on the side of my bed, keeping Edward to my side. As unfair as it was I just couldn't look at his beautiful face while we had this conversation.
"Here goes... My friend Cooper is coming to see me here in Forks. In a few days. I am not entirely sure when, he is supposed to call. Anyway, we have been friends since we were 7. Best friends really. And I am really excitted to see him. But I think you are going to have a problem with him, and I don't want this to become a problem. There are things about Coop that you are not going to approve of. He is loud, sometimes obnoxious, thinks he is always right, loves to have fun, even the not so safe kind, and most of the time, at least in Phoenix I was right there with him when he was taking pretty crazy chances and getting into trouble."
I finally stopped to take a breath, having just laid the first wave of cards on the table. I continued before I lost the nerve for the rest.
"With all that being said", I finally looked over at him,"I just thought that it would be a good idea for you to go hunting or find something else to do while Coops here because I really don't think you will have fun with us." Ok, so that wasn't all of it but I figured it was a good jumping off point, so I waited for Edwards reaction. And waited. Finally he spoke.
"Bella, I understand your concerns. Its very sweet of you to think of my entertainment, however, I am not going anywhere." Edward just sat there staring at me. After several minutes I felt uncomfortable and came to the realization that he was not going to add to his statement. Now things might get messy.
"Why?" I flatly asked him.
"First of all, I would like to meet your friend. If he is important to you, I would like to at least talk to him, introduce myself. Second, I get the distinct impression there is more to this than you want to tell me. Thats, ok Bella, you will eventually, but for now the unknown makes me curious and a little cautious. "And third", He paused then, taking a breath, "Alice had a vision of the very near future, so as I said....I am not going anywhere."
He looked like it was already written in stone, almost smug though I am sure that's not how it was supposed to appear. In that moment Jakes words came back to me. This was the moment I needed to prove him wrong, and to set my mind at ease. I had always been an independent person. My mom trusted me so did Charlie and even Phil, so I had very few rules to follow. I never really understood those girls that let their boyfriends tell them what to do, I had my mind set that I wouldn't be one of them, so I had to put my foot down. Now, it wasn't going to be a request. Oddly enough I wasn't even nervous anymore, I had become angry which gave me courage.
I got up and leaned back against my desk, facing Edward.
"Edward, I want to spend time with Cooper. He is coming all the way up here on his break to see me. I am more than willing to introduce you, however, while he is in town we are going to catch up, hang out and have fun. We won't be able to do all that if you don't find something else to do on your own." I finished quieter than I started because I realized that last part didn't come out right, and of course Edward caught it.
"You don't think you can have fun with your friend while I am around?" Now he looked hurt. I hated it when he looked like that. Hated myself for causing it. I walked across the room and sat on the bed facing him.
"It's not like that, Coop is the kind of person that you either like or dislike practically from minute one. I just don't think you will like him, he's not your kind of person and because of that I don't want you to worry about me spending time with him. Besides, you know that when you are around I can't focus on anything else, and thats not really fair to Cooper since he is coming all this way." I smile at him, hoping is was reassuring.
Apparently it wasn't
"Ok, how about a compromise?" He smiled back, but I knew something was up.
"What?"
"I will meet Cooper, then give you some space during the day, see if Emmett and Jas was to do something local, maybe introduce them to your friend. And still be able to be here at night." He leaned foward and brushed his lips just below my left ear. I forgot entirely what we were talking about which I bet was the point, then he sat back.
"So?" Back to reality.
"Well, Cooper is going to be staying here at the house. He used to stay at my house in Phoenix alot and we would stay up all hours talking."
"He is? He did?" The thought had never even crossed my mind that he might think something of that.
"Yeah, oh, oh but we were only friends. Nothing there, Swear!" I hope I hadn't reacted to strongly but it was true. Edward had been the only one I had ever loved. Not even any puppy love before him.
He chucked, "I believe you. Well we have a few days to figure it out, you need to get some sleep." He motioned for me to get under the blanket. Feeling the effects of the hour, I didn't hesitate, I crawled over. Very soon after kissing Edward goodnight I was asleep.
After what seemed like just a few minutes Edward was wispering in my ear that the dreaded time had come to get up. It was Friday, the last day before Fall Break so at least it was going to be an easy day. Or so I thought.
When I finally sat up and looked around I saw Edward sitting at my desk facing away from me,
with his shoulders slightly slumped.
"Edward?"
"How did you sleep?" Though he was asking, I got the feeling it wasn't a real question.
"I'm sleepy. Why?"
"You talked all night." There was an edge to his voice.
"Wh-What did I say?"
"Alot. You know I think I will head to school. You can take your truck right?" Again I don't think it was a question.
"Sure", I whispered. "Did I say something wrong?" I felt like I could cry. Just knowing he was upset with me caused my heart to hurt.
"I just need to...I will see you at lunch." With that he was out my window and gone.
How did this happen? I sat on my bed in shock. In the span of meer hours I had gone from a strong independent girl who was going to lay down the law to an emotional wreck at the thought that Edward was, well I wasn't sure if it was hurt or angry, but he was less than happy and that made me forget what happy was altogether.