Here is another chapter for all you lovely people. I thank all my reviewers, it means a lot that you take the time to say something about the piece. I did change the rating to T today, I will change it again if I need too. I am just not sure which direction I will be taking and I wanted it to be read more. Rating is everything, lol.
I groaned when my alarm clock went off. That meant I had to get up and get ready for school. I was sore all over from the events the day before but I was not going to let them keep me down. I was not feeling all that happy nor was I feeling the need to really try and impress anyone so I just threw on some sweats and pulled my hair up off my face. I noticed I was getting bruises on my arms and legs from where I had hit the ground. I grumbled and slowly tied my shoes, even the act of bending over to tie the laces on my running shoes was killing my muscles.
Charlie was still there as I made my way down the stairs, "You know, Bella, no one would blame you for staying home today. You look like you hurt."
I glared at him and just made my way out of the house. I was not in the mood to deal with him or really anyone but I was not going to let a little pain keep me from school. Besides, I really wanted to know how Edward had moved so fast. That was not just me seeing things, he had not been right there. And I was sure he was either going to ignore me entirely or try and make me think I was seeing things or not passing attention. Too bad for him I was very observant.
I could see the surprised looks on the faces of everyone when my truck pulled into my normal parking spot at school. I was sure they all though I was not going to be at school that day, of course I proved them all wrong. I loved when I did that to people, proved them wrong. I groaned again as I grabbed my backpack and climbed out of the truck. This was going to be a very long day. I slowly started toward my first class. I knew I was probably going to get there early but it was better than having to deal with all the people in the parking lot. I must have been more out of it then I realized because before I had even gotten half way across the parking lot Edward was there, slipping my back pack off my shoulder.
"Bella, what are you doing here?" I looked at him and just frowned.
Edward was outside of all my classes, taking my back pack as I walked. I had no idea what game he was playing but I was glad for once I didn't have to try to hard. He and I just walked, him carrying my bag. I wasn't sure if this would last between he and I, but for one day we were calling a truce on the game we were playing. I was sitting my class just before lunch when I noticed that there were eyes on me. I looked up to see Mike staring. I mouthed "What" at him and he just shrugged and turned back around. Something was not right but I was not in the mood to deal with it. I would take care of it when I was not one big walking bruise.
Edward was outside my class again as I came out.
I stood there, looking at him, "Edward I don't understand this. What the hell are you doing this for?"
There were tears in my eyes from everything and I was tired and mentally I was even more a mess but I was not about to bring that into the mix. I knew I was falling for him, his games were just like mine and even if I didn't want to admit it he was better at this then I was. But it was him taking my back pack that morning and being there after every class that was driving me insane with curiosity. He gave me that half smile that made my knees weak and I had to look way before I crumbled into a pile of Bella. "I really don't know why but I just felt like maybe you needed help today and I knew you wouldn't ask. Besides, our game will resume when you feel like you can play it. I like this game Bella, almost as much as I like you." With that he turned and headed to the cafeteria, leaving me there to stare after him. I had no come back for what he said.
I sat with him and Alice at lunch but I was not hungry. I wanted the day to be over so I could go home and get back into bed. I sat there though, staring at Edward. Had he said he liked me? I had to have been hearing things.
He smiled at me again, "Please tell me you will not be in gym today."
I snorted and shook my head, "Hardly, I have a note to excuse me. I plan to go home after biology."
He nodded, "Good, I will drive you home. You should not have driven yourself like this. Your reflexes are not where they need to be for driving." I grumbled about not letting people control me and he and Alice both just laughed at me.
Alice move to sit beside me, slipping an arm around me, "Bella, it is just easier to give him what he wants. Trust me, he won't take no for an answer. I will bring you truck home after my last class. I promise no one will hurt it. You should let him take you home." I sighed, giving in. I closed my eyes and I could feel eyes on me. I opened my eyes and shifted a bit to catch Mike staring at me.
It was Edward's voice that broke me from the staring, "He is obsessed you know. He thinks he has to have you, even if he is openly trying to date Jessica. It was just to make you think you were safe from him. When things go south with her, he will be back at your side."
I turned to look at Edward, "And how do you know that?"
The bell rang for class before he could answer. As I went to stand I felt a hand on my back and looked up at Edward. He was so close and god he smelled good. I mentally kicked myself; this was not how this was supposed to go. He was suppose to be acting like I was, not me being the pile if emotional goo. He grabbed my bag and I followed. I could feel Mike walking behind us, watching me. The fact that Edward said he was obsessed bothered me. I had a stalker in Phoenix once and it was not pleasant, I did not want one here too.
I sat through biology, trying to figure out how Edward knew what Mike was thinking about me. I would occasionally look at him, trying to figure out what was going on behind his amber eyes. He was one of those unreadable people and it was starting to piss me off. When class was over I grabbed my own back pack, leaving before Edward could say or do anything. I was angry that he was trying to run things, I could drive myself home. I could carry my own books and I would be damned if I was going to let him do all that for me. Especially since I knew that once I was not one big bruise I would be back to playing games with him. I had no idea why he was doing the things he was doing but this was getting to be too much. Since I was excused from gym I just left the building and headed for my truck. My bed was sounding more and more appealing as I thought about it.
I dug through my bag for my keys and I had my hand around them when I heard Edward walk up behind me, "Bella, what are you doing?"
I turned to glare at him, "What the hell does it look like I am doing? I am going home, in my truck. If you have a problem with that, well too damn bad. I am tired of whatever game you are playing today. I can take care of myself. Maybe you should have just let that car hit me. Then you would not need to pity me. If this is even pity."
I mumbled the last part as I turned to get in the truck. Edward grabbed my hand and pulled me away from the truck, turning me to face him. He eyes burned into mine as I looked at him. Everything happened way too fast for me to really remember it all but when he pulled me to him, hold me close I was confused and lost. I felt his lips on my forehead, their coolness surprising all on their own.
He whispered, "Bella, I do not pity you. I am tired playing games."
I stood there, in his arms, thinking that this was definitely not how I pictured Edward or things with him. He was far gentler then I had realized. Sadly though, he was hurting me and I said something to that effect.
He let me go and looked down at me, my eyes met his and I was trying to fight the urge to just melt there, "Edward, how did you do it? How did you stop that car?"
He looked away when I asked. He looked back at the school building and back to me, "Bella, just call it a miracle and leave it at that. I really don't think the truth is something you can handle."
He closed the door to my truck and took my hand, leading me to his car. As he opened the door to the Volvo he took my keys. He was not going to get away with the whole miracle thing. I wanted to know the truth, damnit. I saw him throw my keys to Alice and then she was gone. I just climbed into his car and sat there fuming at him. He had this ability to make me angry and weak in the knees all at the same time.
We drove in silence, I wanted to ask him again how he had done it but I knew he would just try and evade the question. So I sat there, letting the anger just grow, he could be so irritating. I think he could sense that I was not happy. When we got to my house he pulled up in front and just sat there, staring ahead. I closed my eyes, thinking that maybe he would actually tell me the truth. Yes, I was trying to be optimistic. I was hoping that I affected him the same way he affected me.
It felt like we had sat there forever before he finally said something, "Bella, I am not sure being friends is such a good idea."
I turned slowly to look at him. His eyes never left the road as we sat there. I just blinked; I had no idea how to respond to that so I didn't. What the hell did he mean being friends was not a good idea?
I tilted my head a bit and then looked away, "I think you and I are beyond the friend stage here Edward. People who are just friends don't stop moving cars with their hands."
I left him sitting in his car and went inside my house. Thankfully Charlie was not home and I could just curl up in bed in peace. I don't think Edward had any idea how he affected me. And now I realized that I did not affect him in that way at all. I was just a mistake, at least that is what I took how simple statement as. I was sure he and I would not be talking again so I tried to push him out of my head. That was easier said than done.
I must have fallen asleep, because when I woke up I was wrapped up in a blanket and next to me was a small box. It was wrapped in blue paper, with no tag. I just laid there, looking at it. It had not been there when I had lain down, and I doubted Charlie left it. I was beginning to think that maybe Mike really was stalking me. I sighed softly and reached for it, I heard a sound from behind me and I rolled over on the bed. There was nothing there but it had sounded like there was. I shook my head and turned back to the box. I opened it slowly and inside was my keys and a small note.
Bella,
I said being friends was not a good idea, not that I didn't want to be. I am not who you think I am but I can't seem to get you out of my head. So friends it is, I just can't tell you how I stopped the car. We will call it a freak occurrence and please please leave it at that…
He didn't sign it but I knew who it was from. I just stared at the small note and the box. It was not anything special but it was enough to make me smile. I didn't get out of bed the rest of that night, drifting in and out of sleep. All my dreams were filled with Edward and that smile and those eyes.
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