"Mike?"
"Pass."
"Tyler?"
"Pass."
"Jake?" Emmett wiggled his eyebrows, making everyone laugh.
"No thank you, pass."
"Riley?"
"He's hot," I blurted out.
Alice sighed wistfully in agreement. Jasper rolled his eyes.
"Hm...Edward?" Jasper asked and pointed to Emerald, who was laying on the floor in front of me. His shirt had ridden up, exposing a very prominent Adonis belt. I quickly averted my eyes, but I could feel Alice's stare burning through me.
"Pass."
"That's just mean," Edward feigned hurt. "Am I no better than Mike?"
"You're my best friend's brother," I pointed out.
"Fair enough." I couldn't help but detect a little disappointment in his voice.
They continued asking for my opinion on potential dates for the graduation ceremony, but I shot down everyone but Riley. The majority of their options made no logical sense whatsoever.
"Guys, ninety percent of the people you suggested go to our school. Mike's going with Jessica and last I heard, Tyler asked someone as well. I'll just go solo. I'll tell everyone I'm roleplaying as a loner."
"First of all, you're not a loner. Second of all, either way you have to have a date for the afterparty. It's like a law," Alice said with way too much seriousness in her voice considering the topic, but the girl does not joke around about dating. Or parties.
"Isn't Riley studying medicine?"
"Yeah in England, I think," Emmett added as he got up, holding out a hand for Rose to do the same. "We gotta go pick up a few things for dinner tonight for ma. Wanna come?"
"I'll come," Jasper got up. "By the way, I'm pretty sure Riley has a girlfriend. I think her name's Victoria or something."
I tried to hide the slight disappointment from my face.
Alone it is.
"I'm gonna get a Coke," Edward said as he stretched his arms, exposing just a little more skin. "Want anything?"
It didn't escape my notice that the question wasn't directed at me at all. Alice shook her head.
He clicked his tongue piercing against his teeth all the way to the door.
"Sorry about the Riley thing, Bella. We just didn't want you to go alone. I'll double check the Victoria thing if you want?"
"It's okay," I shrugged. "I wasn't expecting anything and to be honest I'd rather go alone."
That was a lie, but forcing someone to unwillingly go with me seemed like it went against some form of human rights.
"As long as you're okay."
I nodded.
Charlie was definitely not going to show up for my graduation. The man barely remembered my existence unless I was at home, and I tried to cut that down as much as possible.
But, of course, Alice waved me off as soon as I brought it up. She insisted that Esme and Carlisle were coming for me as much as they were for their own children.
The real problem, she insisted, was the fact that I didn't have a date to the afterparty.
"It's setting a tone for the rest of your life, Bella. Your life can't be just you. You have to have a hot guy in there somewhere."
I scoffed. "If that's the case then no one's going to make it their 'tone' to be around me. I'm bad luck."
"I will," Edward said as he came back into the room. "In fact, I insist on taking you to the afterparty."
Alice and Edward shared a silent look. What was that about?
"That's settled then!" Alice quickly jumped up, not letting me interject.
To be honest, the idea of Edward taking me was...nice.
"Ed it's time for you to shoo. I have to help her pick out what to wear!"
Edward looked at his sister like she had grown a second head. "Alice, graduation's months away."
She waved him off and pushed him towards the door. "It's a girl thing," she yelled out after she slammed the door in his face.
"Any ideas for the dress?"
"Anything you think looks good, o wise one."
She glared at me. Sarcasm will get you nowhere, Swan."
Swan.
While she talked my ear off about the shades of pumps that would best compliment my hair, my mind drifted to drunk Edward calling me Swan.
Alice snapped her fingers in front of my face. "Anybody home?"
"Yeah, sorry. Just thinking about stuff." Like your ridiculously attractive brother.
She nodded and pulled her chair directly in front of mine.
"Jazz is thinking of us all going on a Europe tour after graduation. He even promised to take me to any store I want in Paris!"
I laughed. "As if he'd have a choice, Al."
"True," she giggled. "Even Edward's thinking of going."
"That'll be fun."
"Yeah, it will. So," Alice started as she moved closer to me. "What are we gonna do about your intense crush on my brother?"
Do you hate me for ending this here because I'd hate me for ending this here.
Once again, thank you so fucking much for reviewing. They're better than coming home after a long day.