Chapter 7

When Past Meets Present

I lead Cooper down the hallway to the cafeteria. Alice and Jasper were trailing behind us seemingly content yet still keeping an eye on Cooper. They were acting as if he had already offended them. I had never seen them being so intentionally off putting. Usually they tried hard to leave as little an impression as possible. I had no idea what was going on, but I was determined to find out by tonight . Cooper was an old friend so the least they could do was to be civil to him.

We walked through the cafeteria doors and immediately I saw Edward. He was sitting at the families usual table with Emmett and Rosalie. As soon as we walked in his eyes met mine. He gave me a little smile and wave. As always, my heart sped up and a blush crept up my cheeks. Even from across the room he picked up on it and his smile widened.

I looked over to Coop and pointed , "That's Edward, um over at our table. Come on." I walked toward the table and of course tripped over nothing. Luckily for me Alice was close enough to prevent me from going face first into the floor in front of everyone.

"Ha-Ha, You are such a klutz. Seriously. You know I would have pointed and laughed." Cooper had a huge smile on his face, his laughter boomed like Emmetts. I was really beginning to wonder if they might be related somehow. Yes, he would have pointed out my fall and laughed. That's who has always been. I looked back over toward Edward to reassure him I was ok, but the look on his face dropped the smile from mine. He was angry. I had only seen him look this angry on a few occasions and all of them had made my heart stutter. Emmett had a hand rested on Edwards forearm I assumed to hold him back. Hold him back? In the middle of school? Now I was sure I was missing something.

"Hi" I almost whispered when we finally got to the table.

"Hey there" Edward took` a quick step forward and pulled me into a hug. "I missed you" He pulled my face up so our eyes would meet, "I am sorry about this morning, I should not have left like that. Will you come over to our house after school so we can talk?" I knew he was waiting for a response. I also was faintly aware of Cooper still standing beside me however, my attention was completely on the golden eyes looking back at me. After what seemed like an eternity Edward chuckled and stepped back.

"So tonight?" He asked again flashing my favorite smile.

"Ssure" speech was coming back but only slightly.

"Well if she isn't going to do it I am, I'm Cooper, Bella's long lost friend from Arizona." Cooper gave a half hearted wave toward Edward, Rose and Emmett.

"I'm Edward Cullen and this is my brother Emmett and sister Rosalie" I sat down next to Edward with Coop on the other side. Alice and Jasper took the last 2 chairs across from us.

"We all had a big breakfast with Carlisle and Esme, but you two should get something to eat." Edward said as he held my hand.

"Yeah, I'm pretty hungry, Coop wanna go?"

"Yep, I am always up for an adventure, lets go forage" Cooper and I walked up toward to food line. If I would have been paying attention I would have taken a different path, however by the time I realized it, it was too late.

"Bella! Hey, Bella!" Jessica was shouting my name. Oh great. She was sitting at a table with Lauren, Mike, Tyler, and Ben. Angela was home sick.

"Bella, come here." She sounded almost whiny. I looked up at Cooper and apologized. "I am so sorry for whatever is about to happen." I said it somberly and meant it. As we walked over to the table I remembered the stares Lauren had been giving me earlier. She had hated me from day one. Especially after Tyler's accident and the crush he developed. She blamed me somehow and made it almost a game to be as mean to me as possible. I couldn't imagine how this was going to go. I sighed heavily and glanced back at the table. All of them were watching us.

"Hey Bella, who's your friend? " Lauren asked.

"Hey guys this is Cooper. Coop, this is Lauren, Jessica, Mike, Tyler and Ben" I pointed everyone out for him.

"Hi, so you and Bella are friends, huh?" The edge in Laurens voice made it sound more like a distasteful accusation than a question.

"Yep for about 10 years now. Grew up together in Arizona." Cooper smiled at me.

"Well I just don't see it but Bella must doing something right to keep coming up with all these hot guys "friends", wish I knew the secret." Lauren batted her eyes at Coop, like she was actually trying to flirt with him and bash me at the same time. Did she think that could work?

"Is that so?" Now Cooper was smiling at her. Lauren. The biggest thorn in my side in Forks and he was smiling at her. Flirting even.

"Well if you want to pick my brain on the matter I'll be in town all week." I could not believe my ears, was he asking her out? My oldest friend and my newest enemy, dating? It was too much.

"I just might do that." Lauren smirked in our direction and then turned her attention back to the magazine she had been reading.

I was livid. I knew that Cooper had no way of knowing what all had gone on here, however in spite of that, he had in effect made plans while here when I had been so thoughtful as to clear my time for him. I hurt Edwards feelings for him. Not to mention that she was putting me down at the same time and he didn't even notice! I almost stomped back to the table. Edwards expression was guarded. I knew they had all heard the conversation easily, and now he was carefully judging my reaction. When I sat down all 5 pairs of vampire eyes were on me, watching. Coop sat down beside me clearly confused.

"I thought there was food involved in our departure, yet here we are back at the start, hungry." He put his hands up in the 'I don't understand pose'. "What happened".

"I lost my appetite. You want food, go get it." I glanced over at Jasper and realized I needed to get my emotions in check. He looked as mad as I felt so I crossed my arms and picked a spot on the wall far away to stare at. To distract me.

"No I think I will sit here and see what is wrong with the little pouty baby." Cooper responded. Edward cleared his throat beside me. I recognized it as a warning.

" So what is wrong with you?" Coop was waiting for my answer and I was determined to remain silent or else unleash my wrath on him. "Earth to Bella, you can't ignore me." Coop started poking me. "I can bother you all day" The last poke hurt and I winced.

"Don't touch her again." Edward sound eerily calm like he was making an insignificant comment but the look in his eyes said differently.

"Actually I will do what I want." Cooper responded with hint of arrogance to his voice.

"That won't work out well for you." Edward fixed his gaze. I saw Emmett tense just slightly, ready to get involved. Edward could definitely hold his own against a human, however Emmett's natural instinct always puts him beside Edward.

"No offense but you don't really worry me." Now Cooper was being openly defiant. I cringed. He didn't know just what kind of danger he was flirting with. I knew that Edward wouldn't want to hurt my friend, but I also knew that when it came to protecting me his temper was short to say the least. I had to end the tension, "Ok guys just stop. Coop do you want to go back to my house and wait or do you want to finish the day here?" I asked hoping he would go. "I think I will stay here." I cringed a little knowing that my last two classes of the day were with Edward. How was this going to go? Through my peripheral vision I saw Alice shake her head at Edward. They were silently communicating again. I hated when they did that. The bell rang to signal the end of lunch. At least we were halfway through the day, and a little less than halfway to the answers I was going to get from both Edward and Alice.