The Transfer
A/N: Have you ever danced with someone who had the worst dance moves known to man?
Chapter 7: You Call That Dancing?
EPOV
I wandered into the main living room of the dorm to hear Emmett's big speech. People were beginning to file in slowly and sit together. I went to the farthest corner from the entrance and sat on a low bench, with my legs stretched out in front of me and my back against the wall.
These meetings were a pain in the ass, but I was here to support Emmett. It still surprised me that he was interested in being an R.A. He had always been looking to play pranks on people, and now here he was, in a position to squelch those kinds of things in others. Somehow it didn't seem right. Maybe he had just run out of ideas and was looking to others for inspiration. I'd be surprised if he made it to the end of the school year without having to go before some disciplinary board and beg for his life.
He appeared across the room, near the entrance, and his eyes scanned the crowd. When he saw me he squeezed through the people milling about and came to stand before me.
"Edward, do I look all right?" He nervously ran his fingers through his hair and I don't know that I'd ever seen him do that move before.
I shrugged. "Yeah. Why?"
"No, I mean it. You didn't even look at me. Does this shirt look okay?"
"Yeah, it looks fine. You look fine."
"What about my pants?"
"Are you a girl now, Emmett? Are you going to ask me if they make your butt look big?"
"Don't be an ass, Edward. I guess I'm just nervous. I wish Rose could be here."
"Yeah, but she's got her own meeting to run in her dorm. Don't worry. You'll do okay."
"I guess. At least the meeting is short." He smiled weakly.
"You'll knock 'em dead, Emmett." I reached up and punched him in the shoulder.
He looked a bit ill as he smiled wanly at me.
He sucked in a breath, glancing around at the growing crowd. And then he climbed up onto a chair, formed a circle with his thumb and forefinger, put them into his mouth, and whistled loudly and shrilly, rupturing the eardrums of probably one-third of the people sitting in the room.
More people streamed into the room. Alice walked in, trailing Jasper behind her, and they came to sit on the bench near me. We had a good vantage point of the rest of the main living room to watch the people around us.
Emmett suddenly hollered from his chair-top-perch. "All right people, come on in! Settle down! Pick your seats!"
Jasper and I both snorted and laughed at Emmett's use of the line "pick your seats". Alice reached over and slapped both of us. Rose would have done the same had she been here. I found myself wondering if what Emmett said was intentional, if he was even aware of what he'd said, or if he just couldn't help but be himself.
I looked across the room and saw Bella walk in and look around, then sit next to Angela and Jessica. She had on a dark blue sweater and I realized for the first time that she was actually quite pretty. I was still watching her when she looked around and her eyes landed on me. She blushed instantly and looked away, but a moment later, she glanced back. I saw Jessica watching her and then her eyes followed Bella's eyes to my face. I saw her nudge Angela and say something, and I finally looked away. Jessica was not one of my favorite people. She was awfully aggressive and could be quite catty. She was nearly as annoying as Mike Newton. They were probably perfect for each other but just didn't know it.
Speaking of annoying, Newton and Crowley came in then. I could see Mike looking for a spot near Bella but there was no more room and he and Tyler were forced to sit next to Victoria and the girl that I guessed was Lauren. Victoria scooted away from Newton and made a face, like he had something contagious. I didn't blame her. I would probably do the same.
I could see that Newton was trying to get Bella's attention, but she didn't notice him.
Good, keep it that way.
Emmett really didn't do too badly. He introduced himself and told everyone where they could find him and what hours he would be available. He covered all of the standard rules and procedures and safety and emergency guidelines. Blah, blah, blah; same old shit as last year. Finally, he glanced in Alice's direction and he mentioned that if anyone was seeking a roommate change, they could speak with him and he could help set that paperwork in motion, as long as all parties were in agreement. I saw Alice give Bella a thumbs-up and Bella winked in return. Emmett concluded the meeting and encouraged everyone to head over to the Welcome Back barbecue and dance at the Student Union building.
As people wandered out, Emmett made his way over to the corner where the three of us were sitting.
"How'd I do, guys?"
Jasper piped up first, saying he hadn't been able to pay attention to much of Emmett's talk, because he had been too busy picking his seat the whole time.
I made a pained-looking face and told him I hadn't been able to hear anything at all, except a humming noise, after his ear-splitting, shrill whistle. For a moment he looked stricken, but then he realized that I was lying, because obviously I had just heard his question.
Jasper and I both burst out laughing at each other and the expression on Emmett's face. Then Jasper and I bumped fists, just to rub it in more.
Alice looked up at Emmett earnestly. "Don't pay any attention to these two morons, Emmett. You did just fine. You didn't seem nervous and you looked nice."
"Thanks, Alice."
"Yeah, Emmett, seriously," Jasper told him, "you're going to be an excellent den mother. Can I call you 'Mom'?"
"Sure, if you don't mind me calling you 'Son...ofabitch'."
I looked past Emmett and saw Bella watching us as Jessica talked to her. She blushed suddenly, turning away again. The two of them then turned and headed out the door with Angela, going in the direction of the Student Union building.
Emmett wanted to wait for Rose, so we hung back for a few minutes, waiting for her to join us. I didn't feel particularly interested in either a barbecue or a dance, but I did want to keep my eye on dickwad Newton, so I was going.
BPOV
Alice had just dropped off two Country Western CDs that she promised would ward off the woodland fairy that shared my room. Jasper's plan still made me giggle to myself. Victoria would be so pissed, and somehow I didn't think Lauren would particularly care for calisthenics done to bagpipe music in her room several times a day. Now, however, it was time to get downstairs to the meeting.
Alice pirouetted away from my door and headed down the hall, off to find Jasper. I still had to put my shoes on and grab my key. I left the room and headed down the stairs with a few of the other girls that lived on my floor.
When I got to the main room I looked around. I saw Alice over in the corner with Jasper. They were sitting next to Edward. He had on a green thermal shirt that hugged his body and made his green-blue eyes quite green. His hair was in its usual total disarray and he was running his hand through it.
Emmett had jumped up on a chair and was whistling and making an announcement. Edward and Jasper suddenly both laughed at something and I was struck by how handsome Edward was when he smiled, which didn't seem to happen very often. It didn't seem like he was very happy and I wondered about that. I realized that I was staring at him and forced myself to look away.
I saw Jessica and Angela and there was a spot open next to them, so I made my way over and sat down. I looked around at the people assembled; trying to think of the names of the ones I'd met in the last day and a half. My eyes traveled back to where Edward sat. I wondered if he was still angry with me; if that was truly what I had seen on his face earlier. To my extreme embarrassment, he was watching me. I glanced away as I blushed, but then I thought that something about his face had seemed just a little softer than usual and my eyes were drawn back to his face.
Jessica's voice intruded. "Angela, look. What's Edward Cullen staring at? Bella, why's he looking at you?"
I quickly shifted my eyes away from Edward, feeling the heat rising up into my face again. I pretended I didn't hear her and tried to pay extra-close attention to what Emmett was saying. Most of it was common-sense information. At the end, however, he glanced over at Alice and mentioned that roommate changes could be set in motion by going through him. My eyes shot to Alice, who was giving me a very enthusiastic thumbs-up. I winked at her, thinking of the ridiculous CDs now in our possession. I would definitely have to thank Jasper tonight. And Edward.
When the meeting was over, Angela, Jessica and I stayed in our seats a few moments, to let the crowd thin. Jessica turned to me.
"Bella, Edward was watching you almost the entire time Emmett was talking. Is there something going on between you two?"
"No," I said, completely surprised, looking past her to him, "I don't know what his deal is." At the moment he was he was laughing with Jasper and high-fiving him and I was struck by how absolutely, inhumanly beautiful he was, especially when he seemed happy.
And then he looked past Emmett, at me.
I nearly died of embarrassment, sure that he could read my thoughts. Thankfully, Jessica and Angela were ready to head over to the barbecue. I needed some fresh air. It was getting entirely too warm in here.
On the way over to the Student Union, Angela asked if Jessica knew whether Ben would be there. It was obvious from the way she asked the question that she was crushing on him, but wasn't sure what to do.
"I think Tyler said that Ben was going with Eric, Mike and him. If you spot him tonight at the dance, you've just got to ask him to dance with you. I think he likes you, Ange, I just think he's a little shy. You need to make the first move."
"Do you think it bothers him that I'm taller than him?"
"Oh, heck no. I don't think people are as caught up in that as they used to be."
"What about you," I asked Jessica. "Is there someone special you'd like to be dancing with tonight?"
She sighed. "Well, I'm thinking about it, but I'm not so sure."
"Who is it?" I asked
"Mike. But I'm sure he just thinks of me as a friend. We hang out, but I don't think he's interested in me that way."
I nodded. "You never know. Maybe he's interested but hasn't realized it yet. That happens to people sometimes, you know?"
"What about you, Bella? You got your eye on anyone?" She raised her eyebrows, like she had her suspicions.
"Who, me? No. I'm kind of going with someone from back home in Forks. I just wanted to come tonight for the entertainment of it. It'll be a fun distraction."
"What's the name of your guy back home?" Angela asked.
"Jacob…well, Jake."
"That's got to be hard; you're here, while he's there," she observed.
"Yeah, it's definitely putting a strain on things. He's upset that I had to leave and he makes me feel kind of guilty about it. He's not into the college thing."
Before we knew it, we had arrived at the barbecue and it looked to be in full swing. There were several huge grills fired up and cooking away. Next to the grills there were platters of freshly cooked hot dogs and hamburgers, and trays that held buns, lettuce, tomatoes and cheeses. There were also huge serving bowls of potato salad and macaroni salad. We joined the huge line, salivating with everyone else.
There was plenty of seating both inside and out. We had gotten our food and drinks and decided to eat outside the building, where the entertainment would be. We grabbed a picnic table; I sat on the end with Jessica sitting next to me and Angela across from us.
As we sat there, we watched the lines, eventually spotting Mike, Tyler, Eric and Ben. They waved to us, and after they got their food they came and joined us. Mike squeezed in between Jessica and me. Tyler sat on the other side of Jessica and Ben sat down next to Angela, with Eric on his other side. I saw Angela look down shyly, a small smile curling the corners of her lips.
I was still looking at her when I heard Tyler speak up.
"Well, that's highly unusual."
"What?" Jessica asked him, looking in the direction Tyler stared. "Oh, you're right!"
"What?" I asked.
"The very hot Hales and Cullens have arrived, but this time it's all the hot Cullens." Jessica answered. "His Holy-Hotness has decided to grace us with his presence this evening."
Angela explained to me, "Edward's not usually into the festive party scene. He avoids this stuff and keeps to himself."
"Well, he's got to eat." I reasoned. "Free burgers and dogs?"
Mike spoke up, "Five bucks says he'll cut out once the dancing starts. He won't want to take the chance that some girl hits on him."
"And nobody is going to take your ridiculous bet because everyone knows he won't stay," Tyler told him.
I watched the Cullens and Hales go through the line. I waved to Alice when she looked over. She smiled back at me and gave a little wave as she followed Jasper to a table that had just freed up. Edward sat down on the opposite side, facing our table. He looked across to us and seemed irritated. I wondered about his mercurial moods. Jasper sat next to him and Alice perched on Jasper's lap. Emmett and Rosalie sat on the side nearest us, with their backs to us. I saw Alice lean in and say something to Edward and he shook his head no, rather vehemently. He was not looking at her as he pulled away a little, rolling his eyes at whatever she'd said to him.
We ate, chatting about moving in, the dorm meeting, and the classes we were going to be taking. Before we even knew it, the barbecue was over and they were packing up the food. The DJ had arrived and set up and soon the music was starting.
Tyler wondered if we knew the name of the blond girl that was Victoria's friend, and whether or not we had seen her here this evening. I told him her name was Lauren, but that I hadn't seen her. I didn't mention that they were probably in the Celtic Crystal Kingdom back in our dorm because Victoria couldn't take normal music. He decided to go look for her. Eric went with him, just to check out the crowd.
"I'm surprised he's still here," Jessica said to me, over the music. "Usually the music is his cue to beat tracks." She was looking at Edward. "Hey Mike, looks like I should have taken you up on your bet." She smiled at him.
"Yeah, Jess, you'd be five dollars richer right now." Mike scanned the crowd then he turned back to us. "I'm going to go track down my fraternity brothers. I'll see you guys in a bit." He waved to us us as he walked off.
Angela leaned toward Ben and spoke to him over the music. Ben smiled at her and nodded and the two of them got up and left us to go dance.
Good for Angela!
I looked over to see Alice leading Jasper out to dance. They wound up right near Emmett and Rosalie. I looked across to where Edward sat alone. He didn't look as irritated; but he did seem kind of on edge, like he'd really rather leave.
Jessica turned to me. "Bella, I've got to run to the restroom. Want to come along?"
I told her I'd stick around; the others would be back soon, maybe I should try to save the table.
She nodded. "Good idea. I'll be back in a few minutes."
So that left me alone.
Until Mike returned.
Oh no...
"Well-ah, well-ah, Bell-ah Bell-ah. Left here all alone-ah. Now that's just not right. But don't you worry your pretty little head, Mikey's here to take care of you. How about you and me getting out there and showing everyone how to really dance?"
He started gyrating and twirling.
I began to blush. He looked ridiculous.
Now he began strutting in a circle. Still gyrating and twirling.
"Come on Bella, let's go. Come on and shake your booty. We'll be great together; in fact I wanted to talk to you about that."
Gyrate, twirl, strut, thrust.
Thrust? Oh God, now he was thrusting! Sweet Jesus, get me out of here!
I was beyond embarrassed; I was aghast. And I was all alone; the others had all left.
"Hey Mike, nice moves," a low musical voice suddenly said behind me. I turned and looked back, recognizing Edward's voice.
Thank goodness, a diversion! But what was he doing here?
Maybe Mike would stop his thrusting and gyrating now that Edward was standing right here behind me, his hands in the pockets of his button fly jeans, snug green thermal, wild, untamed hair and all.
"Hey, Cullen mah man. You've got to get yourself some dance moves of your own. Then you can join this primal crowd and get yourself all sweaty bustin' a move."
Who talks like that?
He was still twirling and strutting, but at least the gyrating and thrusting had stopped.
Bless you, Edward!
"I'm not sure I'm cut out to move like that," Edward told him. "I'd hate to rupture anything important."
I stifled a giggle and looked away from Mike.
"Actually, Mike," Edward continued, "I came by to tell you that a blond girl from Rosalie's dorm was asking about you. She was wearing a really low-cut black top and some tight jeans, but I think she may have gone inside."
"Oh, really?" Mike's head swung around instantly, peering at the crowd. He stopped dancing. "A blonde, you said?"
"Yeah, I think she went inside."
"Oh, okay. Thanks, Dude. Bella, I'll catch you later. Save me a dance, girl!"
With that, he was gone. I exhaled and looked up at Edward. He had a crooked little grin on his face. Just so beautiful. I blushed in embarrassment at that thought.
He leaned down toward my ear from where he stood behind me still. I could sense the heat from his body, or maybe it was just my lingering blush.
"I could not let that go on a moment longer," he explained, his lip curled up a little more in one corner.
I burst out laughing. "I was so embarrassed!" I confessed. I was speaking up to him from where I still sat on the bench. "Thank goodness you appeared."
He bent at the hip, leaning down toward my ear to talk over the music."It kind of looked like you were being attacked by some giant, swooping, flapping bird of prey."
I giggled up at him as he straightened back up. "I would have preferred to be attacked by some giant, swooping, flapping bird of prey."
He laughed, his eyes sparkled with humor in the darkness.
"You know," he said, leaning in again, with his hands still in his pockets, "he was really going all out, using all his best moves."
God, he smells good!
"I'd hate to see his worst moves."
He cocked his head thoughtfully. "I think they're pretty much the same."
I giggled at that. "Do you want to sit down? You don't have to stand there."
"No, that's okay. I just thought you looked like you needed rescuing. I'm going to head back over to the other table in a minute."
Oh. "Well, I appreciate the rescue. Thank goodness that girl was looking for him."
Edward looked rather sheepish, running his hand through his hair and then scratching the back of his neck.
"There was no girl," he admitted. "I don't even know for sure if there is a blond girl from Rosalie's dorm who is wearing a really low-cut black top and tight jeans."
I couldn't conceal a look of surprise. "You lied to him?" I laughed.
"Well, maybe. Take a look out there." He pointed, looking over his shoulder to the crowd of people that were dancing and the others that were just standing around, listening to music. "A low-cut black top and pair of tight jeans is pretty much the standard uniform. Some of those girls are blond; some of them may even live in Rosalie's dorm. Who's to say that one of them isn't looking for Mike?" He shrugged, grinning crookedly at me again.
I laughed. "Well, that was devious, Edward, but I'm not complaining. You certainly showed up at the right moment. Thank you."
"Your friends left you all alone. Birds of prey swoop in when the prey is left unattended."
"Yeah," I agreed, smiling at him. "I guess there's safety in numbers."
"Why don't you come and sit with us?" He made a little jerking motion with his head to indicate the table where he had been sitting minutes ago.
"Um, okay. I don't know when the others are getting back, anyway." I stood up and climbed out of the bench seat at the picnic table.
I felt a small jolt of electricity when Edward's fingertips lightly touched the small of my back. He propelled me through the crowd, never dropping his fingers from where they rested, protectively, on my back. I swear I felt that little buzzing sensation all the way over to the table that the Cullens and Hales had claimed.
EPOV
Rose had finally joined us after the meeting and we'd all headed for the Student Union building. We'd gotten in line for the barbecue and I checked out the crowd, wondering if Newton was already accosting Bella. I spotted them at a table with Jessica and Angela and a few other guys from my suite. Newton was practically right on top of Bella; Jessica was on the other side of him.
We got our food and drinks and headed to a table. I sat on the far side so I could see what kind of screwed up antics Newton decided to pull. Jasper and Alice, Emmett and Rose filled in around me. I was tense just waiting for Newton to hit on Bella; wondering when he'd try to "pluck her". What a shit. He always bothered me, but today he'd really been pissing me off.
Alice leaned in and told me that I ought to go to Bella later and ask her to dance. I shook my head "no", at Alice. I was getting annoyed. She was so pushy. I'd already told her I'd come to the barbecue, stay for the dance, but that I wouldn't dance, and probably wouldn't talk to Bella. I wished Alice would just drop it. I just wanted to keep an eye on Mike so he didn't bother her. Or touch her. Or fucking 'pluck' her.
Tyler and Eric left the table and suddenly Mike was taking off from the group as well. Good. Take a hike, you douche. I watched him as he joined up with a group of his sorority sisters and went inside the building with them. I felt a little more relaxed with him otherwise occupied. I took a deep calming breath.
Emmett and Rose got up to go dance, and a moment later Jasper and Alice joined them. I watched Bella's table. Angela and Ben had also gone to dance. The next thing I knew, Jessica was heading inside and Bella was left alone at the table.
And… fabulous…Newton was coming back. Fu-u-uck! I saw a faint downturn on Bella's lips as he got back to her table. He was talking to her and she looked like a small trapped animal with nowhere to run. He started dancing. Well, it couldn't really be called dancing. He was making a spectacle of himself.
What a complete asshat!
What was Bella supposed to do with that shit going on in front of her? She was blushing in embarrassment.
I stood up and began walking around the designated dance area before I was even aware I'd made the decision to step in. Well, shit, someone had to! That poor girl! That fucking lunatic was now thrusting at her. Thrusting! At her. What the fuck? Who does that? Bella's face was scarlet.
"Hey Mike, nice moves," I told him as I edged in near her. I stood behind her. I could smell her scent; the same one I'd smelled in the car earlier today. She turned and looked up at me. Her face was awash with relief and her shoulders seemed to visibly relax.
Newton tried to give me some dance pointers, but I'd rather slit my wrists than do anything he'd ever suggest. I told him I didn't want to rupture anything important trying to move like him.
I could sort of feel, rather than see, Bella giggle. I realized she must be relieved that she didn't have to suffer through his idiocy alone. I was there to keep her company. Then I realized I had to get rid of him somehow, so I told him that a blond chick was looking for him and I described her skanky outfit. Of course he was gone in a flash, because that's the kind of dick he is.
I grinned at the look on Bella's face. Then she blushed. For me. Not for Newton. I didn't think it was for a bad reason. I certainly wasn't dancing like a fucking lunatic.
I leaned toward her so I wouldn't have to yell. She smelled good. "I could not let that go on a moment longer," I admitted to her.
She burst out laughing and I chuckled.
"I was so embarrassed! Thank goodness you appeared." She rubbed her eyes, like she was trying to erase the image Mike had burnt into her eyes.
I told her it looked like she was being attacked by a giant bird of prey. She told me she would have actually preferred that.
I laughed at her. She was funny.
And cute.
I leaned toward her again, breathing in her scent a second time. Yeah, she really smelled good. I made a crack about Newton's best dance moves being about the same as his worst dance moves. She giggled again.
Then I had to admit to her that I sent Mike off on a wild goose chase after some imaginary girl in tight jeans and a low-cut top. She was surprised, but she got a kick out of it. And then she thanked me for rescuing her. I would do it all again in a heartbeat. It had been entertaining and it had put a smile on her face.
I was worried Newton might come back to continue to get his freak on, so I suggested she come sit with us at our table and she agreed. I reached out to her lower back as we walked through the crowd to the other table and I felt a surprising little electrical charge in my fingertips when I touched her.
I'd never felt anything like that before in my life.
A/N: Have you ever had the pleasure of dancing with a Bird of Prey?