Another...flashbackless chapter. :)
Charlie had already left for work when I woke up. This was saying something, seeing as I hadn't been sure if he would actually leave me by myself after I'd pretty much gone into a trance last night, and apparently mumbled something about a non-existent dog.
Nevertheless, he was gone.
Good to know my father cares so much about my mental health.
I got dressed, brushed my hair and hurried downstairs. I wasn't hungry for breakfast.
Stupid Cullen. Putting me off my breakfast. And I'd been so looking forward to it to. I'd bought this really nice new cereal with apricot bits in i-.....
Oh. No.
That'd better be a shiny silver spaceship parked outside my house that I could see through the window.
And the thing leaning against it had BETTER be a really hot alien.
Oh, who was I kidding?
I flung the door open. "Do you want me to rip your ear off the side of your head?" I demanded to the smirking...alien (What? I don't know about you, but I'm not giving up hope!)
He ignored me. "You want a ride?"
"I'd rather stick pins in my eyes." I retorted.
"Oooo, can I watch?"
I glared at him. "Why would I want a ride with you when I can drive my own truck that doesn't have an annoying alien in it?"
He raised an eyebrow. "Alien?"
I've really got to learn to control my mouth. "Never mind. Now, if you'll excuse me. I'm going to drive to school." I gave him one last glare and spun around to face my truck. "OH MY FREAKING GOD!"
"Wow. What happened to that?" He sounded like he was trying not to laugh.
"YOU JERK! THIS IS TAKING IT TOO FAR!" I screamed at him, willing myself not to cry.
"Oh, come on Bella, you've had it for ages, it belongs in a museum, not on the road."
"I'M CALLING THE POLICE, THIS IS DAMAGE OF PERSONAL PROPERTY!" No need to mention to them I was planning to buy a new car in a month anyway. That asshole. How could he do this to me?
"You can't honestly be that sad about me breaking a few of the windows and putting some dents in the old thing, right?" He sounded desperate.
"I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU'D DO THIS TO ME!"
"Bella," Edward came up behind me, took hold of my shoulders and forced me to face him. "I'll buy you a new car. Ok? But in the meantime," He gestured to the stupid Volvo. "You can ride with me."
"YOU SMASHED UP MY CAR JUST SO I'D RIDE IN THE SAME CAR WITH YOU?" Oh no...here came the tears.
Edward bit his lip. I couldn't help noticing that he actually did look quite upset. "Bells, I never meant-"
"OF COURSE YOU DID!" I screeched, wiping the tears away furiously. "YOU DID THIS BECAUSE YOU'RE A STUPID JERK! I HATE YOU EDWARD CULLEN!"
"No you don't!" He ran his fingers through his hair. "You don't. You're just mad. You don't mean it...." He seemed to be talking more to himself than to me. "Look, here's what I'll do, I'll pay to get it fixed, alright?"
I looked into his pleading eyes, trying to speak, not being able to find words.
"We both know that it can't be fixed." I muttered after a while, tearing my eyes away. I tried to make myself sound angry but it just came out as sad. The anger had all faded away. "Honestly, I didn't know you had it in you, Edward. But I guess you're doing a lot of things lately that I never thought you'd do to me."
He knew what I meant, of course he did. "Bella, for the hundredth time, please let me-"
".....Explain." I finished. "No."
We stood in silence, staring at the truck.
"I really am sorry." He mumbled. "Demolishing your truck, that was taking it too far. I don't know what I was thinking."
"When did you do it?" I asked incredulously. "I didn't hear glass breaking or anything."
He stared at his feet, looking like a guilty schoolboy being scolded by a teacher. "After Charlie left. You're a very heavy sleeper, you know."
"Honestly, Edward," I shook my head. "What were you thinking?"
"That if you didn't have a car you could ride with me." He answered honestly.
"You do realise that that'd never have worked, right?" I said. "I mean, maybe you haven't noticed, but I'm sorta pissed at you right now..."
"Yeah. I kind of figured that out...later on."
I sighed. "I guess....as long as you're here......" He looked up hopefully. "...I'll walk." Is snickered. "Ha. You thought I was going to let you give me a ride. Yeah right."
"If you walk, I'll just drive along beside you." He threatened. "Talking."
I pulled my Ipod out of my pocket, grinning. "The sound on this thing goes up extremely high."
Then, before I knew it, he'd stolen it out of my hand and was holding it behind his back. I opened my mouth but he held up his hand to stop me. "I know, I know." He grinned the crooked smile that I'd always loved.....in the past. "Damn Edward and his lightening fast reflexes, right?"
I pushed past him, giving him the dirtiest look I could manage. "It's damn Cullen and his lightening fast reflexes, actually." I called over my shoulder. "Last name status, remember?"
"How could I forget?"
*
"You're a really slow walker. You know that, right?." Edward commented, driving along beside me at a snail's pace.
I ignored him.
"Kind of like a turtle...."
"Shut up." I said through gritted teeth.
"...Or a really old, paralyzed person."
"I could change my mind about the calling the police thing." I warned him.
Edward sighed and we walked (and drove) along quietly for a minute.
….
"You know, I'm pretty sure a fish could walk faster than that....."
"OH MY GOD! SHUT UP!"
"I'm just saying!" He cried.
"Well stop saying." I growled. "In fact, do us all a favour, and stop breathing as well."
"If I did, would you come to my funeral?"
"Yes....."
He punched his fist in the air. "Gre-"
"....For the food." I finished with a grin.
"That's cold, Be-.....Swan."
"That's me, Ed.....Cullen." I snickered.
"Ha ha. Funny." He grumbled.
"Why are you doing this?" I asked suddenly. "What's the point of driving along beside me like this? I mean, honestly! Why?"
"You mean, other than to annoy the hell out of you?"
"Oh, I didn't realise there was another reason."
He shrugged. "I don't know, Bella. Probably because I feel bad for smashing up your car and I'm scared that if you get mugged while walking, I'll feel guilty because it's my fault you had to walk in the first place."
I stared at him. "You're capable of guilt."
He kept his eyes on the road.
"You actually care about me?"
Edward glared at me. "Two days ago, you wouldn't have asked that question."
"Two days ago, I knew the answer to that question. At least, I thought I did...."
I didn't expect him to shout. "BELLA! WILL YOU JUST LET ME EXPLAIN ABOUT THE WHOLE THING WITH TA-"
"Don't. Say. Her. Name." I growled.
"But I-"
"Quiet."
"You don't underst-"
"Zip it."
"Can you just-"
"I'm not listening." I stuck my fingers my ears childishly. "La la la."
"Why won't you j-"
"You're still talking? Really?"
The Volvo braked suddenly and Edward rummaged around in his car for something. After a few seconds he held up a piece of paper with writing on it.....
STOP INTERRUPTING ME DAMMIT!!!!
I smirked. "Nah. It's too fun."
*
There wasn't a single person in the parking lot when we arrived at school.
"Oh crap, we're late!" I cried, running forward, then tripping.
"I told you you were slow." Edward muttered.
"And I told you to shut up."
He cleared his throat. "Ok. Well, I guess I'll see you....around."
I stared at the concrete, wishing he would just go already so I wouldn't blurt out what I was about to say...
Oh God, too late.
"Um....Edward?"
"Yes?"
His face when I said I hated him ran through my head......
"No you don't! You don't. You're just mad." He'd insisted, almost as if he was trying to reassure himself. "You don't mean it...."
"Edward......I'm really mad at you. But...." My eyes flashed up to meet his. "I don't hate you."
He smiled and I couldn't help smiling back. Maybe I'd been wrong not to listen to his explanation...
"I know. You could never hate me." He said smugly, walking in the other direction.
….The again, maybe not.
"I WAS KIDDING!" I yelled after him. "I DO HATE YOU! ALOT!"
I folded my arms as I watched him walk away. Then I turned to look at the Volvo.
A couple of little scratches couldn't hurt...right?
Do you want Bella to...hurt...the Volvo? Let me know! REVIEW!