A/N: Hey, guys. Ummm... yeah. So, I know this took forever. Honestly, it wouldn't even be happening now. Thank H1N1 (swine flu sounds too lame) for making today suck enough that I'm writing to distract myself. If this gets posted, it'll be a miracle. I'm having to re-read everything I wrote because I have no recollection of the story up to this point. If that isn't dedication, I don't know what is.
The followed is un-beta'd. And probably shit. But here you go anyway. I'll probably be sick for a week or so, so who knows? You might get lucky.
I don't own this. I also don't own health insurance at present. Very inconvenient.
Chapter Nine
So, here's the thing about Edward Cullen: he confuses the shit out of me.
The day flew by after lunch. I'm sure people talked to me. I'm sure I raised my hand and participated in class. Hell, I may have even taken a quiz or two. I don't remember any of it. Apparently, I'm very good at appearing externally engaged while a fucking tsunami-esque crisis of confusion rips through my brain, knocking over palm trees and washing away all rational thought until I'm left with the scattered debris of what was once my somewhat organized mind.
Yeah, I can get poetic when I want.
Fuck off.
The most I remember about my post-lunch school day is standing by my truck like a sap. Edward made me wait for him. I'm pretty sure it was on purpose. And then he had the balls to smirk at me. He fucking smirked. Swaggering across the parking lot like he owned it and running his stupid sex-hands through his stupid sex-hair. Douche.
Before I knew it, we were well outside the boundaries of Forks proper, with Edward all but ignoring my presence behind the wheel, speaking only to offer me curt directions. That shit was annoying. Isn't there a law universally recognized that people are obligated to at least attempt vapid small talk while confined in a moving vehicle together?
Memories of moving to Forks and being grateful for the awkward silence between Charlie and me drifted into my mind. I beat them back voraciously. No, I'm not a hypocrite. I just want the boy to talk.
But we made it to his house. And by house I mean mansion. And by mansion I mean cover of Architectural Digest. And he had the temerity to just jump out of my truck and stride through the front door like he did it every day. Like he lives there. Which he does. But still. That's not the point.
Clearly, things were not off to a good start. I shook my head, though I'm not sure if it was at Edward's rudeness or at my implicit acceptance of his behavior, and wrenched open the door to the cab, attempting to climb down onto the uneven earth that made up the Cullen's drive with the grace and poise of a queen. I failed miserably. What else is new.
Scrambling back to my feet and glancing around to determine if anyone caught my gaff, I hitched my backpack over my shoulder and walked, with as much confidence as I could muster, towards the door Edward had just passed through. He had just walked inside. Should I do the same? Should I knock? Ring the bell? Run back to my truck and peel out, pretending this day never happened?
In what was turning into a rather predictable pattern, Alice Cullen made my decision for me.
"Bella!" she cried, flinging the door open and wrapping her tiny hand around my arm, yanking me inside with more force than I would have ever thought possible and bringing me into her body for a fierce hug. "You made it!"
"Uh... yeah. Hi."
I'm a fucking genius.
"I'm so glad, Bella. You have no idea. I've wanted you to come here for so long." She took off up a flight of stairs and I hesitated for a moment before deciding I was supposed to follow her. I made it to the landing just in time to see her back retreat through a doorway at the end of the hall, and I hurried to catch up with her.
Crossing the threshold into the room, I was taken more than a bit by surprise. It was just so... Alice.
The space was enormous, bigger than Charlie's and my bedrooms put together, and boasted a wall of floor to ceiling glass. The other three walls were painted a soft, lavender gray, and were covered in stunning black and white photographs of what appeared to be prominent European cities. There was an enormous white lacquered desk and the most opulent bed I'd ever seen, draped in a gray silk bedspread with a black lace overlay. It was over the top and fashionable and so damn Alice. It was perfect.
My eyes snapped back to the room's sole occupant, and I realized, a bit belatedly, that she'd been happily talking to me this entire time.
"Yeah, that's great," I said vaguely, hoping my comment wouldn't be too inappropriate since I had no idea what she'd just said. "You said you needed some math help?"
She cocked her head to the side and looked at me, really looked at me, and I tried to fight the urge to fidget. I already felt out of place here. Her looking at me as though she was figuring me out wasn't helping.
Silence stretched between us before she bounced on her toes a bit and twirled elegantly over to a low couch in the corner.
"I don't need math help, Bella. What made you think that?"
Huh?
"Well, the fact that, not four hours ago, you told me that you needed math help. In fact, that's the reason you asked me over today. That's why I'm here, Alice."
She laughed. Fucking confusing little pixie.
"I wanted you to come spend time with me. At my house. You wouldn't have come otherwise. I'm really quite good in math, Bella. But I thank you for your offer to help. You're such a kind person. We're going to be great friends."
As if shit wasn't intolerably weird before...
Right. Time to go.
"Well, Alice, that's great, but I really do have to be going now. Thanks so much for inviting me over. You have a beautiful house."
I turned around and started down the hallway, replaying in my mind all of Angela and Ben's conjectures about what might be hiding in the Cullen basement. Honestly, with the way this chick was acting, I wouldn't put it past them to be cult leaders. Or members. Or serial killers... shit. I walked faster.
"Bella, wait! Wait, please? Come on, just give me one minute, and then you can run away if you want."
I turned on my heel slowly, eying a rather petulant Alice with skepticism.
"Look, Bella. I really like you. And I really, really, really feel like we're going to be great friends. And I wanted to hang out with you today. I'm sorry that I lied, but I know things are weird between you and Edward and I didn't think I could get you here without some sort of excuse. Please? Please stay. At least until Esme gets home. I know she's anxious to meet you."
"Esme?"
"Our mom."
Their mom. Their mom was anxious to meet me. Right, then. I kept walking. Alice didn't follow.
By the time I reached my truck, yet another voice was calling after me. This one deeper. Richer. More musical. Shit.
"Isabella. Wait."
It wasn't a question. It wasn't a request. It was a statement.
I waited, careful not to turn around.
"I'm sorry about Alice."
"Alright."
I resumed my walk.
"Wait."
I waited. Damn treacherous body. It seems I'm hard-wired to do anything the boy asks, whether I like it or not.
"I know she can come on a bit strong some times, but she is terribly anxious to get to know you."
There's that word again. Anxious.
I'm anxious, too.
For an entirely different reason.
"I'll see you both in school," I replied, reaching out and wrenching open the driver's side door of my truck.
"Isabella, I'm sorry."
Well, that's a horse of a different color.
I turned to face him, then, angry at my hands for shaking, my pulse for daring to race.
"I'm sorry for everything. I've disappointed you. And I'm sorry."
I looked up into those eyes, those amber, piercing eyes, and allowed myself to drown for a moment before thinking on his words.
"You're right," I replied. "You have disappointed me."
"I'm sorry," he repeated, taking a reluctant step towards me, flexing his fingers at his sides.
"Look, Edward," I began reluctantly, uncertain with whether I was ready to do this or not, "we never really finished our conversation from before. Maybe we need to do that before we can try this whole 'friends' thing."
"Maybe."
I dropped my gaze to the ground, nodding absently, before turning once more and beginning to climb behind the wheel.
"Maybe we should do it now."
Well, fuck a duck.
"Alright."
Damn, I'm smooth. I dropped my backpack onto the chilled vinyl of the seat and closed the door, walking towards him.
"Where are we going to do this?" I asked, coloring slightly as I realized just how forward that question sounded.
"There's a creek not far from here. We could take a walk."
"Alright," I shrugged. "Lead the way."
And he did.
And I followed him.
Because following him appears to be what I do best.
A/N: So, here's the thing guys. Does he tell her he's a vamp in the next chapter or doesn't he? I'm not sure. I'm tired of all this emo avoidance. It's kind of why I ditched in the first place. And I'm sorry for making Alice a bit creepy, but, let's face it, Alice is a bit creepy.
Anyway, review. The more reviews I get, the guiltier I feel about not updating. And let me know where you'd like to see this go. I'd kill for some input at this point.
