I do not own Twilight.- Midnight Chaser
Chapter 10- The Date
I've been trying to figure out a way to get Jackson to ask out Ellis but every time I bring her name up someone comes by and interrupts us so I can't bring up the date. Alice already knows something is going on since I asked her to make sure nobody bothers Jackson and I when we go hunting today. Since it's Friday I decided tomorrow would be the date so I had to get him to call and ask her out today. I would force him if I had to. I wouldn't let Bella down and I wouldn't fail her with a task she gave me.
"You ready?" Jackson called from outside my room.
"Yes." I turned off my music and swiftly headed to the door.
"Why isn't anyone else going?" he asked when I opened the door.
"They all have other things to do and will go later." I was once again glad I was such a good liar.
"Well then I guess we should go." we started down stairs and went straight out the back door.
"So Bella and you have gotten closer." he said casually as we ran through the woods.
"I know. I'm glad she's starting to open up."
"Yeah. I would have loved to know her as a human. I would have beat you up though."
"Why would you do that?" I asked in confusion since he wasn't thinking of anything besides the words coming out of his mouth, which was how me mostly thought anyways.
"Because she would have been like a little sister and you would have been the bad boyfriend who came to take away her innocent angel like character."
"Like I would ever do that."
"Well I don't need your mind-reading power to know that you thought about it one time or another."
"I never denied it."
"You really love her."
"More than anything heaven and earth has to offer."
"That's a lot of love."
"Yeah. And it still doesn't amount to anything compared too how much I truly love her."
"I wish I could find a love like that." the image of Ellis's face slipped into his mind but quickly disappeared as he blocked his thoughts.
"Ellis likes you too." I smirked when he tripped but quickly regained his footing.
"What are you talking about?"
"Well it's obvious she likes you and even more so you like her."
"I don't like her."
"Really?" I was heavy on the sarcasm.
"I'm serious."
"Then why do you think of her so much?"
"Because we're friends."
"Do you always imagine kissing your friends?" I laughed when he cursed.
"She's cute."
"And you like her?" I was going to have to drag it out of him.
"She's funny too." he was talking to himself now.
"And you like her?" I was going to get the answer to that no matter what.
"And she always makes me smile." he chuckled.
"And you like her?" I was about to pounce on him from annoyance.
"She's always the one I think about first and worry about the most." I knew he was starting to realize it now.
"And you like her?" I was getting angry now.
"And I like her." he finally answered.
"So what are you going to do?"
"There's nothing I can do."
"You could ask her out."
"She'd turn me down." talk about no confidence.
"She would not."
"How do you know?"
"Because I know she thinks of you too." I rolled my eyes when he made the 'oh' face.
"Does she really?"
"Yeah. And Bella told me that Ellis likes you and you should ask her out."
"Bella said that?"
"Yeah. So what are you going to do?"
"I can't ask her out."
"Why not?"
"What if I mess up?" he seemed terrified and I wished Jasper was here to deal with him.
"You won't mess up."
"How do you know?" he was eying me like a hawk.
"Because no matter what you do Ellis will love it."
"Where would I even take her?"
"Doesn't she like karaoke?"
"Yeah. She likes the one down at the coffee shop and the club just fifteen minutes from the coffee shop." he was thinking about how the date would go.
"The date will be fine."
"But it's karaoke. I hate singing."
"Well bring someone who likes to."
"But that would mean I had to bring Alice. And if Alice comes Jasper would be there and Emmett would come because he would feel left out and Rosalie would come because she'd have to watch Emmett. That would be a horrible date." he played the scene through his head and I shivered at just how horrible he imagined it.
"Well maybe I could go and Bella could go with Ellis." I said slowly so it would sink in.
"You and Bella already planned this didn't you?" he narrowed his eyes at me.
"Bella has a very smart, manipulative, and mischievous brain."
"I'd say."
"So?"
"It might be okay. With you and Bella there I can easily be bailed out and if something were to happen I know Bella would help."
"And I'd help too." I knew I had already convinced him but had to wait until he warmed up to the idea and gave it a go.
"But we would still be at a karaoke club."
"But Bella can sing."
"Yes she can."
"And Ellis likes to hear Bella sing."
"That's true."
"So it's a good idea right?"
"Yeah. I think it's a great idea."
"Good. When we get home you're going to call her and ask her out for tomorrow night." I pretty much ordered him.
"What?" he almost fell on his face.
"Come one. I'll talk it over with you while we hunt." I gestured him to follow and told him what he would say.
~*~
I knew Edward would come through for me. I was just waiting for the call. It should be soon. It's funny how I can still count on him so much. But then again I always counted on him. Even after leaving me I still reach out for him and trust him. It might hurt but the pain may be worth it. I even feel more human now. All my human habits are coming back. And with those habits are coming those aggravating feelings. What really sucks is that Jasper has gotten the feel of my emotions and can feel what I feel now just like Valeria.
"Mom?!" Ellis shrieked and ran into my room holding the phone.
"What's wrong?" I asked already knowing what was going on.
"I just had a vision and I saw me and you with Edward and Jackson out on a date." she was bouncing up and down.
"Is that a problem?"
"I don't know. I mean I like Jackson but should I go out on a date with him?"
"If you like him I don't see why not." I gestured her to sit on my bed beside me.
"But what if he doesn't like me?" her eyes were full of fear and worry.
"He does sweetie. I know he does."
"But what if he doesn't afterwards because I mess up on the date?"
"Ellis sweetheart, Jackson adores you. He's calling to ask you out because he likes you. And he'll like you even more after the date."
"Are you sure?"
"Yep."
"How do you know though?"
"Because he likes you more and more with every second you are together. He can't get enough of you." I giggled when she made a disbelieving sound. "I'm serious."
"But he must not want to be alone with me if he's brining Edward."
"Jackson is just a nervous kind of guy when he's around the girl he likes. He doesn't want to mess it up so he's brining Edward to help him out."
"Now how would you know that?" her lips twitched and her eyes narrowed.
"Maybe I suggested it." I gave her an innocent look and laughed when she gasped.
"Mom!" she swatted her hand at me playfully.
"Well you were taking too long to jump on that ride so I gave you a little lift." I patted her knee and handed her the phone. "Now all you have to do is enjoy the ride that you were afraid to get on." the phone started ringing at that second and after a breath she answered it.
"Ellis Brandon speaking."
"Ellis, it's Jackson." I could hear the nervousness in his voice.
"Hey Jack, what are you doing?"
"Well I was just thinking that you and I should go on a date this Friday. I thought it could be a double date. You bring Bella and I bring Edward."
"Is Edward alright with that?" she looked at me and I nodded.
"Believe me he's perfectly fine with it." I could just imagine him glaring at Edward.
"Then I'd love to go."
"Really?"
"Yes. What time would you like to pick me up?"
"At seven thirty then."
"Alright." she replied happily and I motioned to her that I would be going and she nodded as she plopped back on my bed and continued talking to Jackson.
The moment I got out the door I started towards Valerie's room. I already had my cell out and started dialing Alice's cell number. She answered on the first ring.
"Hey Bella. What are you doing?" she laughed suddenly. "You know you're the first person I've had to ask. Everyone else I can see." she giggled.
"Well I'm heading to Valerie's room and just wanted to make sure you took care of Jackson and Edward." I laughed at the image going through my head.
"What?" she sounded a little confused and I could hear Jasper asking if she were alright in the background.
"Did Edward not tell you?" I couldn't keep the amusement out of my voice and predicted her annoyed remark.
"He hasn't told me anything but I'm guessing you will." she said pleasantly but the anger was laced underneath.
"Well Jackson and Ellis will be going on a date tomorrow to the karaoke place just passed the coffee shop called Eclipse. He will be picking her up at seven thirty and Edward and I will be accompanying them to make sure everything goes alright. Like a double-date." I heard her sharp intake of breath and her Jasper's 'oh no' in the background and hurriedly moved the phone away from my ears as she squealed.
"I'll take care of everything and I'll be by at six o' clock tomorrow to get you two ready." she promised and I had to remind myself it was for Ellis so I had to deal with Alice's Bella Barbie this time.
"Ok. Valeria and the girls will want to help so we'll wait for you to get here. Bye Alice." I hung up when she said bye and knocked on Valeria's door.
"Ellis is really excited and you are happy." she said when she opened it.
"Well get the girls and I'll give you the latest scoop." I sat on her bed and waited while the others came in so I could tell them about the date tomorrow.
~*~
"Jackson just let her finish." I sighed for the billionth time as he fidgeted under Alice's brush.
"Just hold still." she growled.
"But what if Ellis doesn't like it?" this guy had zero self esteem when it came to Ellis.
"Like someone would hate anything I do." Alice sounded offended.
"They just don't say it cause they are afraid of you." he grumbled.
"What was that?" she asked pleasantly while gripping his head.
"N-nothing." he stuttered.
"That's what I thought." she huffed triumphantly.
"Alice you really shouldn't frighten him like that." she shot me a dark look and I shut my mouth.
"Bella said to take care of you all and that's what I plan on doing." she snapped.
"Good ole Bella." Jackson said sarcastically and I growled at him. "Everyone always picks on me." he mumbled feigning hurt.
"Because you're the perfect target." I said sarcastically.
"Well I feel the love in this family." he chuckled and jerked away from Alice once again.
"If you don't hold still you'll really feel the love." she jerked his head in place and started to fix his hair at vampire speed and finished quickly. "Good. Now don't you dare mess this up. I'm going to go to Bella's and help her out." she started towards the door.
"Go easy on them." I called and she smiled innocently before heading out the door.
"I guess we're stuck here until seven." Jackson sighed as he sat on the couch.
"It's only an hour." I smirked when he sent a glare my way.
And it was a very long hour. Jackson was about to rip his hair out when it was finally time to go. The whole way down the road he fidgeted with his seatbelt and tapped his fingers on the door. I was ready to rip him apart and burn the pieces by the time we reached Bella's house.
"Edward. Jackson." Conner had the father role playing today. He was watching us like a father would his daughters' rebellious boyfriends. And he was blocking me so I wouldn't be able to hear his thoughts.
"Conner be nice." Cassia called as she gracefully approached us and gave us a slight hug. "Take care of the girls." she smiled as Ellis and Bella skipped down the stairs.
When I looked up I first saw Ellis. She was wearing black tights with a deep red v-cut elbow. She was also wearing about inch high red heels. She looked the same as always to me but just a little dressed up but Jackson was thinking about how different she looked. I didn't understand why he thought that until I saw Bella. She was wearing the same thing as Ellis except her shirt was deep blue. Her hair seemed lighter than usual and her eyes seemed brighter. Her lips looked softer and her face more gentle. The way she moved seemed even more graceful than usual and I knew that I was much worse than Jackson.
When we left Bella sat up front with me and Jackson and Ellis talked in the back. The whole ride we mostly talked about what songs Ellis was going to sing. I thought Ellis could sing better than most vampires but I still think Bella has the best voice I've ever heard. I listened very carefully to the way she sang along with the radio. To me it was the most beautiful sound in the world next to her laugh.
When we arrived we headed straight into the karaoke place with Ellis leading. Bella smiled at everyone who passed by and they seemed dazed for a minute. Their thoughts were all around her and I immediately wanted to kill them. Bella must have recognized something in my face because she moved closer to me and locked our elbows. Then the thoughts shifted to the both of us and after a minute I decided I didn't want to hear their fantasies about us.
Jackson and Ellis found the whole thing funny but I found something even more funny. Jackson was picked to sing along to 'Sexyback' with another man. Nothing in the world could have made him make such a horrified face.
After a few more other performances I was called up to sing 'Over and Over' by Three Days Grace. I thought the song fit me well since the whole time I was thinking about Bella.
I feel it everyday it's all the same
It brings me down but I'm the one to blame
I've tried everything to get away
So here I go again
Chasing you down again
Why do I do this?
It really has been the same. I've always wished for Bella and wanted her. I tried forgetting her when I went into a depression but couldn't. Nothing could get me away from her. Nothing could free my mind of her thoughts and my body of her touch. So instead of forgetting I chased her down.
Over and over, over and over
I fall for you
Over and over, over and over
I try not to
I really did try not to fall but I still fell for her. I couldn't get rid of her. She wasn't near me but I thought she was right beside me with the strength of my memory remembering everything about her.
It feels like everyday stays the same
It's dragging me down and I can't pull away
So here I go again
Chasing you down again
Why do I do this?
It truly did feel like the same horrible day passed day after day. I just got deeper and deeper into a depression. The more I thought about her the worse I got. I tried chasing after her when I thought she died but I couldn't. I didn't understand anything. I didn't want to understand why the world took her. I just couldn't understand why I was alive and she wasn't.
Over and over, over and over
I fall for you
Over and over, over and over
I try not to
Over and over, over and over
You make me fall for you
Over and over, over and over
You don't even try
She really doesn't have to try at all. One smile would be enough. That's all it would take to make me fall for her. Not much at all for her but that smile would be worth a million things to me.
So many thoughts that I can't get out of my head
I try to live without you, every time I do I feel dead
I know what's best for me
But I want you instead
I'll keep on wasting all my time
So many thoughts are always in my head about that stubborn woman. I just couldn't stop thinking about her. I did try to live without her and I truly was dead. I wished for death but was never granted it. It would have been best for me to forget and move on but I couldn't forget. I wanted her more than anything. I wanted her and only her. So I kept wasting time and waiting for the day we would be reunited.
Over and over, over and over
I fall for you
Over and over, over and over
I try not to
Over and over, over and over
You make me fall for you
Over and over, over and over
You don't even try to
When I finished the song I saw Bella's eyes looking sadly at the candle burning in front of her. She looked lost in thought because when Ellis started clapping she jerked up and smiled brightly and cheered for me. Jackson gave me a pat on the back when we I sat down and Bella was about to say something when the announcer called her up.
When she looked up at the song being played I realized I knew it. It was 'P.S. I'm Still Not Over You' by Rihanna.
Whats up?
I know we haven't spoken for a while
But I was thinkin bout you
And it kinda made me smile
So many things to say
And I'll put em in a letter
Thought it might be easier
The words might come out better
How's your mother, how's your little brother?
Does he still look just like you?
So many things I wanna know the answers to
Wish I could press rewind
And rewrite every line
To the story of me and you
'Can you hear me Edward?' it was Bella's thoughts and I froze when I realized she was projecting her thoughts to me. 'This song really fits don't you think? I used to wish I could go back and change everything. To make it so you never had to say goodbye.'
Don't you know I've tried and I've tried
To get you out my mind
But it don't get no better
As each day goes by
And I'm lost and confused
I've got nothin to lose
Hope to hear from you soon
P.S. I'm still not over you
Still not over you
'Even if I refuse to say it if I let you hear my thoughts all the time you would have realized that I have never loved anyone besides you. I get confused by my thoughts and lost by my feelings. I tried forgetting you just as much as you tried forgetting me but we both failed miserably.' I was barely registering anything besides her thoughts.
Excuse me, I really didn't mean to ramble on
But there's a lot of feelings that remain since you've been gone
I guess you thought that I would put it all behind me
But it seems there's always somethin right there to remind me
Like a silly joke, or somethin on the tv. it aint easy
When I hear our song
I get that same old feeling
Wish I could press rewind
Turn back the hands of time
And I shouldn't be telling you
'I still can't believe you thought I would forget all about you and move on. You thought I was just a human Edward. That I had a heart that would move on quickly. You're wrong Edward. You were so very wrong. My love is even more eternal than my body. Once I fade away my love will remain. My love for you and your family carried over in death already. Why you couldn't see that every second I was alive only made me think of all of you is a mystery to me.' her thoughts sounded like they would be laughing and crying at the same time.
Don't you know I've tried and I've tried
To get you out my mind
But it don't get no better
As each day goes by
And I'm lost and confused
I've got nothin to lose
Hope to hear from you soon
P.S. I'm still not over you
Still not over you
'I truly did Edward. I tried so hard like you asked me to. Like you told me to. But I couldn't do it. Not even for you. Nothing can make me forget. Nothing will ever be able to make me forget.' her thoughts were true and I felt guilty for ever asking her to do something such as that when her feelings were so strong and true.
Did you know I kept all of your pictures
Don't have the strength to part with them yet
Oh no....
Tried to erase the way your kisses taste
But some things a girl can never forget
'I still have our pictures. The ones you hid under the old floorboard. I found them and couldn't even throw them away. I couldn't do anything with them. I tried so hard to erase you from my life but I couldn't. I couldn't forget a single moment.' she thought towards me.
Don't you know I've tried and I've tried
To get you out my mind
But it don't get no better
As each day goes by
And I'm lost and confused
I've got nothin to lose
Hope to hear from you soon
P.S. I'm still not over you
Still not over you
'Do you understand Edward? This song fits because it's true. I'm not over you. Never have been and never will be.' she thought as everyone cheered and if I could have cried I would have from the love and truth in her eyes.
Bella sat beside me and smiled sadly up at me. I wanted more than anything to pick her up and hold her tight but I couldn't move too fast. So instead I snaked my arm around her waist and let her lean against me. That was as far as she would have allowed me to go anyways.
When we left the karaoke place we headed straight to Bella's house. Ellis and Jackson decided they were going to the park for awhile though so we could go ahead and go. When we arrived at her house I walked her to the door and just when I was turning to tell her goodbye I felt her body touch mine and her lips touch mine in a very gentle manner. The taste of her lips was sweet and even though I wanted more of her I held back. When she pulled away she was smiling up at me with a soft smile and giggled at my expression as she headed towards the door.
"Bye Edward." she called in her angelic voice and when the door shut I almost collapsed on the ground before heading to my car in a daze.
Now that's a date.