Disclaimer: Thanks, Stephanie Meyers. I've got the fever. And you still own everything.
Chapter Six: Worlds Collide
*
BPOV
Get out of the truck, Bella.
I had been gripping the steering wheel for fifteen minutes and the truck was still running. I wondered if I was going to be able to peel my fingers off of the cool leather wrapping.
This is ridiculous. Damn girl, get moving already. You're going to be late.
I moved my thumb. That was a good sign. I wiggled the rest of my fingers like a wave but still they wouldn't detach. My knuckles were white. Have I mentioned that I don't do "new" very well?
Breathe.
I had a tendency to hold my breath when I was anxious. I released the air in my lungs and it whooshed against the window, fogging up a damp, moist circle. I was really starting to think I wasn't going to be able to get out of the truck.
Salvation rapped against my rolled up window and I jumped out of my skin.
Jessica was waving and smiling once she had my attention. She made the hand motion to roll down the window. Somehow, my left hand managed to yield from the creaking wheel.
"Hey, are you ever coming out of there? You haven't moved in like fifteen minutes." I had no idea I was being watched.
I must have looked pale as a ghost because Jess was giving me that worried smile. "The gang is all back there, by the side entrance waiting to meet you. I finally figured you might need a little TLC. It's not exactly your forte, being the new girl and all."
Jess knew me. I had to give her that much. She wasn't making me feel like a simpering coward either.
"I…I don't know if I can do this," I pleaded in earnest. I didn't even sound like me.
"Well what are you going to do, cut school on the first day?" She shook her head gently, her long blonde tresses shivering with the motion. It released the scent of her shampoo. Gardenias. It smelled really nice. Comforting.
"Come on, silly. Clock is ticking." When she reached for my door I shook my head, panic coming to a sudden, defined rush. Jess didn't stop her motion and the red door creaked metallically.
Cold air hit me like a full arctic blast, snapping my senses awake.
"Hand me your book bag." Jessica motioned to the black haversack sitting in the unoccupied passenger seat. I nodded like a four-year-old and did as I was told.
She leaned in and accepted it, rolling the driver side window up. "Left foot, right foot."
Her tone was no nonsense and it gave me just the boost I needed. I slid down from the belly of the red beast and my blue ballet-slippers hit the pavement.
"Those shoes are too cute. I wish we were the same size, we could totally share." Jess closed the door behind me, handing over my knapsack.
"Thanks, I got them in Arizona." I shouldered the bag. When Jessica started walking, I followed. I tried not to feel the eyes all over me. But I still knew they were there.
Murmurs and whispers were everywhere as we made our way from the small parking lot toward the side entrance of the high school. Jess started to motion toward me and I noticed a group of people light up with wide-eyed smiles.
I was starting to forget my fear. These faces were friendly. I was safe.
"Isabella Swan, I presume?" This overly husky, put-on tone came from the tall blonde boy with light blue eyes. For his effort, he was punched in the upper arm and winced with a loud, "Ow!"
The Asian-boy standing next to him looked too pleased with his work.
I laughed. "It's just Bella."
"That douche bag there, nursing the injured arm, that's Mike Newton. I'm Eric Yorkie and oh so enchanted to meet you." The thin Asian-boy with the ultra conservative slacks and button up shirt extended his hand.
"Um, yeah. Good to meet you Eric." I extended my own and he raised it to his lips to kiss the bridge of my knuckles, never taking those almond eyes off of mine. I blushed instantly.
"Now who's being a douche bag, douche bag? I'm enchanted to meet you…" Mike pushed Eric, forcing him to drop my hand.
"Oh, that's it!" Eric laughed, pushing the blonde boy back.
"Looks like they found themselves a new toy." The girl standing closest to them with long dark hair started rolling her eyes.
"Neanderthals. Behave yourself." The other female in the group said, pushing her glasses up on the bridge of her nose. She smiled very warmly and waved her petite hand in the air toward me. "Hi, I'm Angela."
"Hi, Angela. I'm Bella. Oh, wait. You already know that," I laughed, flustered and unable to tear my eyes away from Eric and Mike playing the push-around-game.
The dark haired girl still hadn't introduced herself. She crossed her arms before her chest, looking completely displeased at the display around her.
"Miss-Attitude-central, that's Lauren." Jess made the introduction.
A tall, dark skinned boy walked over, holding his backpack on one shoulder. He drew his hand around Lauren's waist and pulled her in against him. "Morning, babe."
Lauren leaned in to kiss him. Maybe she wasn't such an ice-queen after-all.
Of course, I might have judged that too soon.
Lauren's boyfriend winked at her and leaned across her body to take a look at me. "Damn, this little hottie must be Chief Swans' daughter. Fuck me, if he don't make pretty babies."
"Don't you even fucking think about it, Tyler." Lauren looked like a volcano about to pop, pushing his arm off of her waist. She gave me the look of death and stormed off in a huff.
Tyler gave me one last look over and went chasing after Lauren.
"It's nothing personal, Lauren is just really jealous." Angela leaned in and kept her voice low. I chewed my lip gently.
Mike and Eric finally stopped screwing around and returned to the rest of the clutch. I looked at Jessica and she smiled in return.
"So what's your first class, Bella?" Mike asked, running his hand through his mussed mane.
"Um, I think its Western Civ. Room 302?" I shifted softly and brushed my hands down the thighs of my skinny-tight dark jeans.
"Same here, we have old man Potter. I can walk you there if you want?" He seemed nice enough.
"Sure, that's cool," I replied as the first bell rang. Once Mike's back was turned, Jess started motioning to him like mad.
Then it clicked, this was the Mike Newton, my best-friend's panty-slicker guy. I bit back a giggle as she rolled her eyes in exaggeration, her hands wringing the air and telling me with sign language that she totally wanted to grab his ass.
I laughed. The remaining assembled entourage looked at me like I had lost my mind.
The squeal of tires cut through the air like a knife. Every set of eyes turned to the parking lot. Mike mumbled something under his breath and Jessica almost growled.
A silver Volvo, all new and nice and waxed cut into the parking lot entirely too fast. The breaks slammed and it parked, right next to my old beat up red behemoth.
"Well it was going to be a nice day," my best friend sighed, taking me by the hand. "Let's go inside, Bella."
"Who is that?" I tried to strain over my shoulder to peer off into the distance at the shiny Volvo. I could see the driver door opening but I was being led away rapidly.
"The Cullens." Jessica had venom in her voice. Forks High School aristocracy.
"Oh, they're not so bad." Angela said from behind us.
"Ange, we've been over this. They are total freaks," Eric grumbled.
"Why is that?" I asked as the door slammed shut behind us. We were in a long polished hallway with a stream of bodies and congestion.
"Don't worry, you'll see." Jessica forced herself to smile and pat my hand as she released it. Mike was ready to walk me to class. I searched her eyes to make sure she was completely alright with that.
She was. I think.
"Alright, Bella, I will see you at lunch. I'll text you between periods." She smiled encouragingly. Lunch was still four hours away. How was I going to make it that long without my crutch to lean on?
I waved to Jess as Mike led me off toward our shared class, opposite of the direction Angela and my best friend were going.
"So, Bella, how do you like Forks so far?" Mike asked against the dull roar of the hallway. There weren't nearly as many people as what I was used to in Arizona but still, it was a pretty impressive student body.
Sun. Sand.
I shook my head, feeling completely out of sorts for a moment. Mike was already leading us through the classroom door.
The scent was gone. What the hell?
"Um Forks," I realized Mike was still waiting for his answer. I sat down at the empty desk behind him, at the very rear of the class. There were four rows of six seats. "It's growing on me."
Mike smiled. I set my bag down at my feet and leaned in to retrieve my notebook and a pen.
I was shaking.
Seriously, where the hell had that…scent…come from?
*
Next class period I had with Angela.
Calculus was something I was not looking forward to. I had a serious mental block when it came to math. Somehow, Angela seemed to sense my discomfort.
"This is one of my best subjects, so if you ever need any help, I hope you won't hesitate to ask?" She gave me a reassuring smile.
"Do I look that frightened?" I bit the edge of my lip. This girl was so gracious. I could tell instantly she didn't have a malicious bone in her body.
"No, just anxious. But don't worry, Mrs. Marshall is an awesome teacher." It might have sounded hokey that she thought so highly of this teacher. But in this day and age, I found it sort of refreshing.
Angela tore the edge of her notebook paper, scribbling furiously with her pencil before handing it to me. "Take my number and if you get stuck on anything just call me. I will be more than glad to help."
I pocketed her digits with a grateful smile. I felt my phone vibrate and quickly produced it from my pocket, using the desk as cover.
So how's it going?
Jessica sent me a txt. I pressed the qwerty keys as quickly as I could to respond.
Hanging in so far. Angela is in my calc class. What's the deal with Lauren she didn't seem to like me.
In under ten-seconds, I had a response.
She doesn't like anybody. Real possessive of Tyler. Give her time, she warms up. What did you think of mike?
I bit the edge of my lip and typed my reply.
Ok - and he seems cool. Totally go for it!
I snapped my phone closed and settled it back into my pocket. I smoothed my light blue baby-doll, long sleeve shirt, picking imaginary lint to act like a cover. I still felt anxious, but some of the whispers and murmurs had died down. People were finally getting over the new girl, or so I hoped.
*
When the bell rang, Angela pointed me in the direction I needed to be in to find my Psychology class. I would have to thank her at lunch, which luckily she shared with Jessica and I.
I stepped into Mr. Basttions' class and looked around. For a moment I did not realize the guy standing near the door was actually the teacher.
Mr. Basttion was tall and very well built, informally dressed in jeans and a button down shirt, un-tucked. He wore a pair of Chucks and had long, dark brown hair that fell against his shoulders. His eyes were pretty amazing, this odd kind of silvery color.
"You must be Ms. Swan, welcome to my class. Take a seat anywhere," he said in a big smile, friendly kind of way. Well, it was Psychology class, after all.
I stumbled a bit when I went down the first row. I took the first seat I saw open.
When I set my books down, I turned to survey the class and realized there was a girl behind me, sitting on her desk, legs folded Indian style beneath her. Short cropped, perfectly styled dark hair was bent over her hands and she was texting someone.
Her fingers moved with lightening speed. She had rings on the first three fingers of both of her hands.
She smelled like sun and sand.
I was compelled to speak. Just as I opened my mouth, she looked up.
Emerald green eyes. I was instantly overwhelmed.
"Hi, you must be Isabella! I'm Alice, your faithful senior class president. I have heard so many whispers about you today!" She smiled this incredible crooked smile. She had a waif-like prettiness to her. Delicate and petite.
Sun. Sand. Hibiscus flowers.
Emeralds Eyes.
I realized I must have been leering at her like I wanted to work some girl-on-girl action.
"I'm sorry, I don't mean to stare. You just look familiar to me for some reason," I finally managed.
"I get stared at all the time," Alice said, rearranging herself on the desk. She was wearing a pair of ankle leggings and a dark blue denim skirt with ballet flats. She looked like a retro-80's music video.
"You're so much prettier than everyone has been saying. They really don't do you justice." Her cell phone buzzed in her hand and she flipped the keyboard out from its confines.
"Thanks." I bit my lip. I must have been as red as a tomato. It was nice to know I was thought of as being pretty, but the idea of being the center of attention still made me uneasy. "Um, what kind of perfume are you wearing?"
Sun. Sand. Pretty-boy. I was shaking.
"I'm not wearing any perfume." She looked at me and smiled. "So you're from Arizona, right? Hey, are you okay?"
"Yeah," I barely managed. Was I really shaking that hard? All I could think about was pretty-boy. Those eyes, that body, his scent. Why did this girl make me think of him? What was she wearing that carried his essence? Did they use the same kind of shampoo or soap or lotion?
I felt like I was losing my mind. "I haven't eaten since this morning. I'm a little shaky," I finally lied. Alice looked like she bought it, but only barely.
"Diabetic?" She asked me, sliding her hand into the book bag parked on her seat where her ass should have been. Life-savers were offered to me. I hesitantly took one.
"No, um. I'm not." I studied the lifesaver. I wasn't sure if I should attempt to ingest it.
"It's just a lifesaver. Do you want the red one? I save those for Jasper since he really likes them. It turns his mouth all red and makes his lips all cherry flavored. They are sweet enough as is, but cherry is a nice bonus. I don't think he would mind if I skimped on one?" Alice was offering the candy to me again.
"No, this one is fine. I just don't remember if this has gelatin in it?" I was studying the orange candy as though my eyes alone could coax forth its secrets.
"Oh, you're a vegetarian!" She said in a voice that screamed Eureka! "No, there is nothing animal based in these, just lots of sugar."
I popped the candy in my mouth and tried to force myself back to reality. "Who's Jasper?"
"The main-squeeze." She smiled and the late bell rang. Mr. Basttion closed the door.
"He goes to school here?" I asked, starting to feel better already.
"No, he goes to Washington State, a college man." She laughed.
"Shouldn't you be in your seat?" I asked. I noticed she had a set of pom-poms under her desk. Senior class president and a cheerleader. This girl seemed to have the exuberance to pull it off.
"This is Mr. Basttion's class, Isabella. When he tells you to sit anywhere, he means it literally. He believes comfort is an important factor in learning. Take a look around." She smiled.
Sure enough, as Alice said, the class was scattered all over the place. She wasn't the only one sitting on top of her desk. There were several others and some lying down in the aisles, bracing their faces against cupped palms. Others were kneeling. A few even used the desk as a foot-rest when leaning back in their seats.
I got up and almost tripped over my book bag. I caught myself and hopped up on the desk, mimicking Alice's position. I smiled at her.
"Thanks for the life-saver. And by the way, it's just Bella."
"You're welcome, Just Bella. Anytime." She winked.
"Welcome back from Spring break, class," Mr. Basttion had a booming voice but it was lyrical and sweet, extremely welcoming. "I know you all have busy social lives but I will ask you to put all cell-phones, iPods and various other implements of the electronic persuasion in a safe place."
He was cool. Any other teacher might confiscate these items and hold them hostage till the end of class.
The shuffling died down and Alice gave me that green-eyed crooked smile. Sun and sand washed all over me.
"Miss Cullen, would you kind enough to give us a brief review on Maslow's Pyramid?" Mr. Basttion stuffed his hands in his pockets, looking casual and eclectic.
"Sure, Mr. Basttion." Alice smiled.
That was my first encounter with a Cullen.
It was nothing like I expected. So far.
**
EPOV
Emmett didn't make it back from Port Angeles till seven-thirty this morning. Alice and I were walking out of the door when he came running in.
"Give me five-minutes." He shouted and rushed toward his bedroom, shedding his shirt on the way.
"Rough night with Rose?" I mocked, swirling my keys around my index finger.
"Looking that way." Alice laughed, shifting in her ballet shoes like she was trying to pirouette.
The house was quiet. Carlisle was already at work and Esme was folding laundry in the mud room. I heard the shower adjoined to Emmett's room and I cursed a string of profanities. He was going to make us late.
I hated being late.
"Well, he can't go to class smelling like Rose-oil." Alice chimed.
"That's a visual I don't need this early in the morning." I groaned, tapping my foot impatiently.
"You're in a mighty mood." Alice was the one person I could never hide myself from. Must be that whole in-utero connection. "You get turned down this weekend? It was awful quiet in your part of the house."
"My part of the house was just fine this weekend. No complaints from the guest," I replied, biting back that sour edge.
"The guest, eh? Have we downgraded?" she sounded hopeful. That annoyed me.
"Alice…" I began. She leaned over and raised the collar on my wool coat. I quirked my brow at her. Since when did she preen me?
"Downgrading the unnecessary is important for future, fully customizable adventures." She had that look in her eyes, like she knew something. Another flashy precognitive notion must have made it through her dreams again.
"What did you…?" I was cut off.
"See. Four-minutes-fifty-eight-seconds. Let's go." Emmett patted down his short dark hair, books in hand and clearly out of breath.
"I guess we aren't stopping for coffee then?" Alice was instantly dejected. There would be no caffeine fix this morning.
I had less than twenty minutes to get us to school. It was a twenty-five minute drive.
"Time to drive like a Cullen." I snickered as we piled into my silver Volvo. The expression, driving like a Cullen, came from our mother, Esme. She swore Carlisle missed his calling as a racecar driver.
*
I spun the tires as I took the turn too sharp into the parking lot. The first bell rang as soon as I parked. I hated running to my first class. English Lit with Ms. Coppell was all the way in room 408.
A new car was in the lot, a red monster of an old Chevy pickup. The thing probably shouldn't have been street legal. And it was an eyesore.
"That must be the new girls ride, Chief Swan's daughter," Alice chimed.
"Well she's probably as busted down as that hunk of junk." I was walking fast and far.
Alice and Emmett were trying to catch up with me as I tailed it to the side entrance of the high school.
Tangerine. Honey.
I stopped at the door and sniffed the air. Alice was motioning to me as Emmett held the door open. Kids were streaming through the hallway like blood through an artery.
I couldn't fucking move.
I parted my lips to take the taste of the air against my tongue. It couldn't have been coming from me, I cleaned up thoroughly after my morning-panty-fuck.
This was fresh. Was it soap or shampoo? Some kind of lotion? Was that the secret to stealthy-cat-girl's delicious smell? If that was the case, I would make Alice go to the beauty salon and sniff every God damn bottle in the place.
I took another draught and it was shifting on the wind. I could move again.
"You might want to hold your books a little more frontward, man," Emmett grumbled.
Shit. I was hard. And these jeans were tight enough already. Public wood wasn't the way I needed to start the day.
We split our directions and I ran to my class. I made it just as the bell rang.
The scent was dead but the fire that burned into my blood was far from satisfied. There was no way I was going to toss one off here.
Besides, her panties were at home.
Under my pillow.
I had to get rid of them. This couldn't have been healthy.
*
I sat in study hall and Coach Knotts came to find me, reminding me to have Carlisle sign off on my physical form. Varsity Baseball was starting warm-ups tomorrow and I couldn't participate without the paperwork.
I jotted down a note to myself and stared off into space. The school was buzzing with gossip and sightings of Chief Swan's daughter. I tried not to listen, since I honestly didn't care. I found the group dynamic to be somewhat less than interesting.
All these guys were exchanging little vital tidbits about her. Isabella, they called her. What a pretentious name for these parts. But it was the way they said it, like it was fucking exotic or something.
The average seventeen year old male mind was a festering pit of gutter-drawl. I cracked open my Psych book and read a passage.
"Did you see that skimpy blue shirt she is wearing? Christ-sake, her tits are huge," some faceless guy clamored.
"Fuck that, I am all about her ass." That was Eric Yorkie. He was about as annoying as the small breed dog that shared his name.
"You would be, Nancy-boy," Mike Newton, the generic popular guy snickered. "I'd much rather have what's between her legs. I'd take that long hair of hers and wrap it around my hand like a fucking reign."
"You'd pop it off in under ten-seconds, limp dick." Tyler Crowley added.
"That's just my record with your mom," Newton replied.
I was so fucking sick of hearing about Isabella Swan. These guys were like three year olds that couldn't keep their hands out of their pants.
I shut my psych book hard and it echoed through study hall. The annex became eerily quiet.
Within five minutes the whispers were back.
"What the fuck is up Cullen's ass?" Yorkie said so low, I might not have heard him if I wasn't paying attention.
"Maybe he's thinking of tossing himself into the competition," Tyler grumbled.
"Like it isn't bad enough that every fucking girl in this school wants to ride his dick," Newton hissed.
I had enough. Even if it was true. The girls in this school eye-fucked me every chance they got. I ignored it. But obviously, it was a bone of contention with every other dick-waving shit-head in this place.
My body was thrumming with spit-worthy venom.
They were going to shut the hell up. Now.
I stood up and leaned over the long desk no one else shared with me.
Everyone in the study hall looked up. Captive audience. But my eyes were on the table of fuck-wits that couldn't shut their mouths on their own. Now that they had my attention, I shut it for them.
I didn't have to say a word. The last time someone challenged me, I was extremely ungentlemanly. All over his face. Literally.
He transferred schools after reconstructive surgery. My temper was lethal. He should have kept his hands off my sister the first time she said 'no.'
With perfect dramatic timing, the bell rang. I was the first one out of the annex. Not a single set of eyes dared to follow me. If they were smart, they would keep my fucking name out of their mouths for the rest of the school year.
*
Western Civ with Mr. Potter. Old man Potter, as he was aptly nicknamed. Why? Because he was old. Ancient, even.
Room 302.
This was my pitch-fork stabbing hell.
The second I walked into class, it hit me like a brick.
Tangerine. Honey.
I was convinced now. This magic scent of stealthy-cat-girl came in a bottle or a spray. There was no way in hell it could be here, like this. And that meant there was nothing special or unique about it. She was generic and made more potent with my mind.
The sex, however, had been out of this God damn world. It was unnerving how perfect we fit together. It was mind-altering the way she made me feel. Of course, sex is always good in varying degrees. But she made me snarl.
That had never happened before. The part of me that cat-girl awoke, I wanted to recapture it. But even with Tanya on Saturday, it wouldn't claw out of its hiding spot without some lacy encouragement.
Maybe she wasn't so generic after all.
Thinking about her made my dick twitch. At least this time I was sitting down.
I took a deep breath and the scent still assaulted me. I would buy a gallon drum of it and coat my bedroom with it like paint.
Get a grip, Cullen. This was a one-night stand. Be thankful for that. It could have ruined your life.
Somehow, a part of me knew it already had.
**
BPOV
"So, how's the first half of the first day going?" Jessica smiled, sipping her soda.
I was never so happy, in all of my life, to see her sitting there at the lunch table. Eric had been kind enough to walk me from our English Lit class. He didn't say much but every once in a while he blushed.
"It's been sort of surreal." I set my haversack down and straddled the chair across from her. Within seconds, I had my brown bag lunch out and on the table. I was starving.
"Hey, Arizona." Mike sat down next to Jessica. She flushed and started playing with her hair.
"Hi, Mike." Jess chimed in. When he turned to look at her, she went cherry-red.
"Hey there, hawtness," Mike flirted. Yup, her panties were in a bunch. Women just know these things.
"Bella, how are classes? Everyone being nice to you?" Angela joined us. She brown-bagged it too. I was not yet a total outcast.
"So far, everyone has been great," I replied, popping a piece of celery between my lips.
"Baby, you haven't had great till you're under me." Tyler grabbed a chair and sat himself down, unceremoniously.
"Say that when Lauren is around and she will run you over with your own truck," Jess grimaced.
I looked at her helplessly. I really didn't want this kind of attention or tension.
"Whatcha got there, for lunch?" Eric finally chimed in, peeking over Angela's shoulder. I could tell she had no enjoyment of him being behind her.
"Carrots, celery…oh and tofu." I smiled, covering my mouth as I finished chewing. Spitting vegetable pieces on someone was considered rude in most cultures.
"You're one of them, huh?" Mike asked, leaning forward on his bent forearms to see my little Tupperware display.
"She isn't a steak and potatoes kind of girl," Jess chimed in. Wait, was that an insult or an explanation?
"That's cause you haven't found the right, thick piece of steak." Tyler grabbed his crotch and I put my head down. Thank God Lauren didn't have lunch period with us.
"I think it's great that you abstain from eating meat," Angela leaned in and said in a supportive voice. "Why the choice?"
"Animal rights. Body is the temple kind of thing," I replied softly. I didn't need to launch into my rhetoric day one of meeting everyone. Even if I already felt like I fit in.
That was when I noticed Jess trying to make eye contact with me and get my attention. She cupped her hand in front of her face, effectively blocking off everyone from seeing her lips moving.
Other conversations were starting between the table occupants.
"Remember I told you about the Cullens. Here they come." Jessica gestured with her free hand. Of course, my eyes went right to where she pointed.
"That little one is Alice. Senior Class president, cheerleader, all around freak. She has some college guy boyfriend," She explained. The trendy retro-80's girl was walking through the door, her pompoms dangling out of her shoulder bag. Was that a Louis Vutton she was carrying? Dear Lord!
"Yeah, I met her already. She is in my Psych class. I was shocked she was so nice," I said, taking a bite of my tofu cube. It was so much better at near freezing temps but it kept its consistency with the little cold pack I had put in the brown bag.
Jess turned to glance over her shoulder. This massively built, tall guy with dark hair was setting his things down at the lunch table closest to the window. Alice looked like she was heading right over to him.
"The big one, that's Emmett Cullen. He was left back and had to repeat the grade when they moved here from Seattle. Some kind of gang trouble or whatever." Jess was so pleased with herself when she had the inside gossip. "He is total star quarterback, varsity football. Has a girlfriend that's a model, local stuff right now. But she is a senior in Port Angeles."
"Giving her the run down on the freaky Cullens, eh?" Mike said with a snicker. Jessica blushed but otherwise paid him no attention.
The Big one. The Little one. Jessica's descriptions were starting to sound like Goldilocks and the Three-bears. Where was just-right? Sometimes, I am too witty for my own good.
Holy-mother-of-God.
Just-Right just came walking through the door.
Bronze, wild hair. Pale, perfect skin. Long, lean frame. Black jeans and v-neck sweater with a white t-shirt leaking out from just underneath. He was wearing sunglasses. But I knew the color of his eyes, intimately well.
Pretty-sexy-boy.
My hand went to my neck and I could feel the shorn skin shiver. I had torn it open again last night. Now, it was throbbing.
…and so was I.
"And that's Edward Cullen. Varsity Baseball. Total gorgeous-God but obviously too good for anyone in this school. He has…" Jessica was cut off.
"Cullen is a freak. What do you mean total-gorgeous-God?" Mike sounded pissed off.
Everything around me went to a dull roar. My lips parted for a moan that never made its way out. I dug my fingers into my skin, harder.
Alice was pointing to me and when she saw me looking their way, she waved.
Pretty-sexy-boy looked up. I realized now, he had a name.
Edward.
Edward Cullen.
My mind shivered around the moniker. My jaw went slack. He lowered his sunglasses and emerald eyes burned me alive.
Alice was moving toward our table. Emmett and Edward were with her. My eyes…could not…leave his.
"They are coming over here," I heard Eric say, but the words didn't register.
"Oh my god, Bella, why is Edward staring at you like that?" Jessica actually would have sounded jealous if I had been listening.
Sun. Sand. Freshly cured leather. His scent hit me like a wrecking ball.
I hadn't been crazy. Alice was his sister. That's why she smelled like him.
"Hi, everybody!" Alice chimed, fidgeting slightly. She looked around the table and waved her fingers. "Since my brothers haven't had the chance to meet our newest student, I thought I would do the honors!"
People at the table must have been moving because everything seemed to shift, noisily. It was obvious this crew wasn't used to being addressed by royalty.
"Emmett, Edward, this is Isabella Swan, the Chief's daughter." Alice made the world shiver with her smile. "But she prefers Bella."
I couldn't speak. I tried.
Edward's eyes went from my face to my lips to my hand. He knew what I was touching.
Sun. Sand. Edward's leathery cured musk.
His mark on my skin.
My head was spinning. My heart was thrumming against my ribcage.
Alice looked between Edward and me. Emmett must have said hello, but I never heard it.
"Bella." Edward said my name. There was a growl in his voice. He shifted his books in front of him. Then, he licked his lips. "A pleasure to meet you."
How could he manage to sound like a gentleman with that growl under his words? Was I the only one who heard it?
"Edward," was all I could say. I tried to give a little head jiggle. But I couldn't, it was too intense. I could smell myself mixing with his aroma.
I was shaking.
"Well, alright then. Enjoy your lunch, everyone." Alice smiled at me and turned around. Edward didn't move and she pressed her palms against his chest. "Come on." I heard her whisper.
He stepped back.
My face was on fire. I had to get out of there.
"Guys. I, um, I'll be right back. I think the tofu…has gone bad. Or something." It was all I could manage.
I ran for cover.
Everything I had with me, I left there.
I could feel his eyes following me all the way out of the cafeteria.
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A/N: Brits_23, Alpha-Beta extraordinaire! Please show this amazing Muse some love with her incredible work! Show and Don't Tell http://www(dot)fanfiction(dot)net/s/4951259/1/ and Show and Don't Tell, Uncle EPOV http://www(dot)fanfiction(dot)net/s/5143570/1/
Don't forget to tell her, Snarlward sent ya!
*looks up, trying to refocus her eyes* What the?....
Edward: So, it looks like we have a following. *licks his lips* 1600 hits on this previous chapter of my life. Are you proud of yourself, Melissa?
Me: I don't know what you mean, Edward. *sits back and brushes the keys of her laptop, avoiding eye contact*
Edward: Don't play that shit with me. *purses his lips* 1600 hits and under 100 reviews.
Me: *snickers* Something tells me you are enjoying the exhibitionism?
Edward: *pulls the laptop toward him* No, that comes in Chapter 8. *venomous smile*
Me: Edward, please. *tries to take possession of the laptop*
Edward: Begging is Chapter 9. *smirk*
Me: Your Snarlfans are looking forward to reading these parts of your life. Only, they don't know it yet.
Edward: 1600 hits. Less than 100 reviews. I'm a fucking savant at numbers. One in every 16 are leaving a little note of enjoyment. *scoffs, removing hand from the laptop* I wouldn't play those stakes on the Stock-Market.
Me: Edward, please! *moves laptop back to it's rightful place* People are busy....
Edward: Not busy enough to read, but too-involved to leave a comment. *snickers*
Me: *tries to change the subject* So, where is Bella?
Edward: recovering. *licks his lips* Chapter 9.
Me: *gulps*
Edward: *waggles his brow as he recalls an email Brits23* Fucking love that woman, Brits23. Avoidward is a nice bit of reading. Show and Don't Tell. But I do tell, don't I?
Me: yeah, its a favorite of mine. Have you seen some of the new stuff she is working on? *tents fingers*
Edward: Fuck yeah. *rubs neck* Do you really call me Bitey?
Me: *sheepish smile* um...
Edward: Brits might have a place in the future, come part 2 of this little adventure. Guess its up to the voyeurs.
Me: *sitting up* What?
Edward: I like numbers, Melissa. Comforting, addition-subtraction numbers, are you paying attention? *smiles darkly* I'm setting a precident.
Me: *arches brow* Oh, really?
Edward: Yes, really. *pleased with himself* Remember, I am in the numbers game. I want to see our 116 reviews increase to 200 in the next chapter.
Me: Be reasonable...?
Edward: Reasonable, do I look like the type? Thats EliseShaw with her Carlisle-Esme lust bullet of No Longer Alone and A Coming of Age. *taps his fingers on the bridge of his nose* No. Bullshit. 200 reviews.
Me: And how do I ask anyone to do that, Seriously, be reasonable. *pleads*
Edward: Well, let our beloved friends know...If they go above and beyond...lets say, a total of 250 reviews, they can have the next installment of my life-on-display on...Thursday Evening? *snickers* And don't beg. Thats Chapter 9.
Me: *innocent flush, distracting the topic* You are a betting man? *laughs*
Edward: No, that would be adverb and Raising the Stakes on *smiles dazzlingly*
Me: *sighs* It's not up to me. *wonders suddenly if the tofu went bad. Will make sense in chap 7*
Edward: Don't make me cock-block. *stands and shuts the laptop, removing and claiming the power-cord*
200 grand-total reviews makes Edward give me back my god-damn laptop cord. 250 reviews gets the next chapter to you, two days early (thursday evening, approx 7pm est).
You heard the man. JUST SAY NO TO COCKBLOCK.......
