CHAPTER EIGHT: CRASH

I must have had some terrified expression on my face because my entire family was looking at me like I was crazy.

"Who is it, Bella?" Mom asked softly.

"Is it Edward? I bet it is," Alice said.

"Well, that didn't take very long…" Emmett mumbled under his breath.

But it wasn't Edward. Instead, it was the very person who was least likely to call me right now; the person who was least likely to call me EVER, at that. I stared at my phone for a few seconds before answering it. On the fourth buzz, I flipped it open and held the speaker up to my ear.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Bella." Jacob answered.

"Um… hi…" That was all that I could get to come out of my mouth. Everyone was still staring at me and I looked back up at them, gesturing with my free hand for them to all go away. As Alice was getting up, I grabbed her by the arm and mouthed, 'Not you'. She immediately sat back down.

"Um, how are you?" Jacob asked.

"I'm… I'm fine. Really fine. Everything's great. How about you?" I asked, looking at Alice with my eyes still wide open. She furrowed her thin dark brows in confusion.

"I'm uh, I'm fine too…" There was a long pause after that; from both of us. Alice was still looking at me, puzzled, so I took that time to mouth to her 'Jacob'. Her mouth instantly fell open and she let out a small gasp, then covered her mouth with her hand.

"Uh, was there something you needed?" I asked, trying not to make it sound like I didn't want to talk to him.

"No, not really. I just wanted to ask you a quick question… about the New Year's Eve party. Your New Year's Eve party." Duh, my New Year's Eve party. It was the only one either of us ever went to. But what would he want to ask about that? It's not like we didn't invite him or anything…

"Uh, yeah what about it?" I asked.

"Well, I uh… well, me and Billy, we didn't exactly… get an invitation in the mail. I didn't know if ours got lost or, if we weren't… invited… or something," he said, sounding genuinely upset. I let out a tiny giggle.

"Why did you just laugh?" Now he sounded like he was getting mad.

"No, Jacob, listen. Your invite didn't get lost. You and Billy are both invited," I assured him.

"Then, why—"

"Jake, we just addressed and sent out the invites today. Remember? A week before Winter Break we all—"

"…sit around and do the invites together," he finished. "Gosh, I feel like an idiot now. I'm sorry Bella I shouldn't have called to ask you."

"Oh, Jake, it's fine. You just forgot about my family's little tradition. It's okay." Alice was looking like she was about to explode, she wanted to know what was going on that much. I just held up a finger and mouthed to her 'in a minute'. That didn't calm her down the least bit.

"Okay, well sorry again. So I guess we'll just RSVP as soon as we get it… and then see you in a couple weeks."

"Don't worry about it. And yes, RSVPing and then coming would be good," I said, letting out a little giggle at the end.

"Okay. Well, I'll talk to you later then."

"Okay. Bye, Jake."

"Bye, Bella."

Click. I ended the call and closed my phone shut. Before I could say anything, Alice was all over me with questions.

"What did he want? Why were you talking about the party? Is he mad about something? Bella, tell me, dammit!" She was pulling on my arm and bouncing impatiently on the sofa. I just looked around to make sure nobody was eavesdropping on us or my phone call. I wanted Alice to think that it was something big and that only the two of us could know.

"Okay…" I whispered. "Well, you know that was Jake." She nodded her head in response. "Well, he called to ask me…" She was bouncing furiously now, and her eyes were growing wide with anticipation. "He asked me if I…. didn'tinvitehimbecausehehadn'tgottenaninviteyet." She stared at me for a few minutes before realizing that what I had just told her wasn't that big of a deal.

"That's it?" she asked unhappily.

"That's it. I reminded him that today was the day we addressed the invites and he said he's RSVP when he got his," I shrugged. She slapped my arm. Hard.

"Hey, what was that for?" I asked innocently, smiling.

"THAT was for making me think that something huge was going on during that phone convo, missy!"

"I couldn't help it. It was so easy!"

"Bella!" Slap.

"What?!"

"You know I love secrets! That was just cruel. Making me think his call was a big deal." She was whining now.

"I know, and Alice it was a big deal!" I told her in a voice mocking her own. She rolled her eyes and got up off the couch and started to run up the stairs to her room.

"Don't talk to me, Bella!" she yelled from the second story.

"It was a HUGE deal! A huge deal that only you can know about!" I was standing in the living room smiling, and she was already in her room. I knew because I heard a door slam, and I was pretty sure it wasn't Emmett, since he was already in his room, and he had nothing to slam his door about anyway.

"What's a huge deal that only she can know about?" I heard Mom ask from behind me. I shrugged.

"That was Jacob who called me." Her mouth fell open. "He was just wondering why he hadn't gotten an invitation. I assured him that we hadn't even sent them out until late today. He felt like an idiot, said he'd RSVP when he got the invite, and then we hung up." She started laughing.

"So that's why she stormed off to her room?"

"Yep."

"Well, that's our Alice." She patted my shoulder and then retreated to her room for the night.

"Yeah, that's our Alice."

Edward called me the next day. We made plans to go out on this coming Friday, to go to the Day Before Winter Carnival for our school. The carnival was an annual tradition at Forks High. It was hosted the night before Winter Break started, meaning it was always on a Friday. Nearly everyone from school always went, seeing as how it was pretty much the biggest event to ever happen in our small town on Forks. Last year I went with Alice and Rosalie. We tried to convince Rose to go with Emmett, but she said that she wanted to go with us instead and she and Emmett hadn't been together long enough. Right. This year we would all three be going separately. Well, we'd all be going together, just probably not staying together. Alice was going with Jasper as their second date, I was going with Edward, and Rose decided that since we were both going with dates, she'd go off with Emmett.

The last week of the first semester went by unbelievably slow. The entire week was filled with exams, exams, exams. Totally boring. Alice was ecstatic about going to the carnival with Jasper so she could hardly ever concentrate on studying. You would think that not being able to study would mean that Alice wouldn't do so great on her exams. That was hardly the case. She passed every single one of her exams with flying colors.

By the time Friday came, I was pretty anxious about the carnival. I couldn't stop tapping my foot in school all day and every five seconds I would find myself looking at whatever clock was around. But I was also very excited. Edward was such a nice guy and who knows? Maybe this date will be better than the fake one last week?

Alice got me ready again. This time, Rosalie was here to help. Wonderful. She came over about two hours before Edward and Jasper were supposed to arrive. I always hated whenever my sister and best friend would gang up on me to play another round of Barbie Bella, but I would always love the outcome. Tonight we all were dressed in casual clothing that was suitable for a carnival. Alice was wearing low-rise skinny jeans that were tucked into black Ugg boots. She had on a dark green halter top, similar to the one I wore last Saturday on my fake date with Edward, under a thin, white coat that was lined with fake rabbit fur. You've gotta love those winters in Forks. Over her usually spiky hair was a green and white striped knitted beanie. Rosalie was wearing boot-cut jeans, a long-sleeved knit red v-neck sweater, a long, wool, plaid gray and white coat, and black stiletto boots. But that was Rosalie; wearing something that's completely not right for the event you're going to. Her long, blond hair was in cascading curls.

I was in a similar ensemble to Alice's. However, my jeans weren't low-rise skinnys, they were just regular jeans. I had on a midnight blue scoop-neck sweater under a thin, light gray winter coat that was trimmed with faux fur. On my feet were my favorite shoes ever, my gray Uggs. When Alice first bought them for me, I didn't think I'd like them too much; A because they're designer, and B because I didn't have really anything to wear them with. That quickly changed. I was wearing a gray knit cap over my again-straightened brown hair. I actually liked how I looked. Again, I hate the process of Bella Barbie, but I love the end results every time.

Jasper and Edward came together to get us in Edward's black Infinity, but we all decided to take Emmett's truck because there was more room. Rosalie was in the passenger seat, Alice and Jasper were in the middle row Captain chairs, and Edward and I were in the far back row. The ride to the school took only a few minutes. When we got there all of our mouths dropped in amazement. The entire high school was completely transformed. In between all of the buildings and along the sidewalks were carnival games and prize stations. The football field had a Ferris wheel to one end, a Tilt-O-Whirl (pic on profile) on the other, and in between were the snack bars.

We all stepped out of the car and immediately went our separate ways. Edward and I first went to the snack bar since both of us were starving.

"Bella, what do you want?" he asked me.

"Oh, I'll just get myself a hamburger, I guess," I said, and reached to get money out of my pocket. Before I could pull out my five-dollar-bill, I felt a warm hand grab my wrist. I looked up to see Edward.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"I was getting out my money…" I was confused.

"Bella, please. Let me take care of that," he said. He ordered our food and then started to go find a picnic table to sit at.

"Edward, you really didn't have to do that," I told him.

"I know. But I wanted to." He smiled that gorgeous crooked smile of his and I thanked him. He just waved it off and said it that it was his pleasure. When we were finished eating, we went back up to the games area.

"It's probably best that we save the Tilt-O-Whirl and Ferris wheel for later," he suggested, patting his stomach. I just laughed and agreed with him. When we approached the first game, Pie A Teacher, we found Rosalie and Emmett there laughing their heads off.

"Hey guys," I greeted them.

"Oh hey Bella!" Rose greeted me back, still laughing hysterically.

"What's so funny?" Edward asked. They both pointed back to the game, where my math teacher, Mr. O'Ryan, had whipped cream all over his pudgy face. I don't think I saw an ounce of skin through it. I started laughing when I saw that, too.

"Rosie hit him square in the face. All of that pie was from one shot," Emmett told us, hugging his girlfriend. "That's my girl," he said, kissing her hair.

"You guys want to try? It's so much fun!" Rose asked us, pulling away from Emmett's death grip.

"Yeah, sure," I said, stepping up to the counter. The principal, Mrs. Filter, handed me a pie and went to take her place to be my teacher target. Just as I was about to throw the pie at her, Alice came running up to us, Jasper in tow.

"Guys!" she yelled, breathless when she reached us.

"What is it, Al?" Emmett asked her, worried.

"There… are… five kids from that… school in… La Push… here, crashing… the carnival," she told us, in between gasps for air.

"Do you know who they are?" I asked curiously.

"No, but they just showed up about two minutes ago. They're over by the ring toss right now." We all looked back over to where the ring toss table was and sure enough, there were the five kids Alice had told us of. They were all pretty big in size. I craned my neck over the crowd of teenagers to see who the mysterious party crashers were. And then they turned around and I gasped out loud. Rosalie, Alice, and Emmett must have recognized them also.

"Oh my God," Alice exclaimed. Oh my God was right. I knew every single one of those kids. And every single one of them knew me. Just then, the one who I recognized the most, spotted me and shouted over the crowd, "Hey, Bella!"

Jacob.

I couldn't believe he was here, crashing my high school's annual winter carnival. He started walking towards me, the other four following behind him. I tried my hardest to put a smile on, but it felt as if my cheek muscles were paralyzed. I turned to Alice and then Rosalie and saw they both had their mouths hanging open. I saw Emmett staring at Jacob with his eyes narrowed and his jaw tensed.

"The nerve of that kid! Showing up here. Ugh!" Emmett whisper-yelled to no one in particular. Edward leaned down to my ear.

"Who are they?" he asked me softly. I looked back up to meet his gaze.

"Uh… they're um… Jacob and his best friends…" I stuttered, looking back towards the group of over-grown Quileute kids making their way over to us.

"Jacob-your-ex-boy-friend-Jacob?" he asked.

"Yeah…"

"And those are his friends?"

"Yes."

"Hmph." Edward didn't seem to like them very much. I just giggled.

"Hey Bells!" Jacob exclaimed when he finally got to us.

"Uh, hey Jake." I looked to my friends for help, but they were all starting to disappear, not wanting to get in the way of me and my ex, I guess. Edward was the only one who stayed with me. "So, what are you doing here?" I asked Jacob, not making eye contact. Instead, I ran my eyes over his four best friends who I knew almost as well as I knew Jake. Quil Ateara, Embry Call, Sam Uley, and Seth Clearwater. They had all grown at least four inches since the last time I had seen them, which had to have been at least four months ago. They were all looking at Edward the way Alice, Rosalie, and Emmett were looking at Jake.

"Oh, just having some good old fun, nothing bad. Just wanted to see what this infamous carnival was like," Jake told me.

"Oh, well you know that kids from other schools aren't supposed to be here, right?"

"Yeah, I know. That's what makes it so fun!" He told his friends to go get started on some other games so he and I could talk. "Uh, hey dude do you mind if we talk privately for a minute?" he asked Edward.

"Hey, dude, yeah I do mind," Edward said, mocking his choice of words.

"Okay, if you feel that way. Anyway, we got the invitation to your party a couple days ago, Bella," Jake said to me.

"Oh that's good. How come you haven't RSPVed yet then?" I asked. Maybe he didn't want to come. That would sure make things easier for me if he didn't.

"Well, that's what I want to talk to you about," he told me. "Would it be okay if I brought a friend with me? You know, Jake and Billy plus one?" A friend? That couldn't be too harmful. But why did he sound so nervous about asking me?

"Yeah, sure, I guess it would be fine. Just make sure to put it on your RSVP card." He looked up from the ground with his eyebrows raised.

"Really?" I nodded. "Thanks Bella. I appreciate it." Why was he so happy about bringing a friend to my party? Maybe he just needed someone to talk to.

"Sure. Uh, do I know this friend?" I asked, looking around for Quil, Embry, and the other guys Jake brought with him.

"Nah, Peyton's a friend from school," he told me.

"Oh, okay." Peyton. Nice name. "Well, then I'll see you next weekend."

"Yep." He started to walk away, but I stopped to tell him something.

"Oh, wait, Jake!" He turned around, seemingly worried about something.

"Yeah?"

"You guys might want to head out now. You know, before you get caught," I told him, looking around to all of the curious nearby teachers and faculty.

He smiled and nodded. "Will do. Hey boys, lets get rollin'!" They all gathered up and left. I wasn't even aware of Edward standing beside me anymore until he placed his hand on my back and whispered me, "You still invited him to your New Year's Eve party?" His touch sent chills all the way up my spine and back down. I turned to face him.

"Yeah," I said, nodding.

"Don't you think that might be a bit…awkward?" he asked.

"Nah, we're still friends. I mean, it might be a little weird having my ex boyfriend and the guy I'm currently dating…" I paused to look at him again, "around each other for an entire night." He smiled when I looked at him. Wow. This guy really does like me, I thought silently.

"I won't start anything if he doesn't," he assured me softly. That sent another round of chills up my spine. He was so cute. We caught back up with Alice, Rose and the others and spent the rest of the night with them. Alice and Emmett kept giving me weird looks, probably wondering who this 'Peyton' person was and why Jacob was so excited to have them come to the party. We spent hours playing games (no one really was up to going on the Tilt-O-Whirl or a Ferris wheel that didn't look at all safe) and decided to get going at around 10:30. It really was a fun night once everyone got passed Jake and his friends crashing the carnival.

Edward helped me out of the truck and Alice and I walked him and Jasper back to his car. Alice and Jasper embraced in a gigantic hug that lifted Alice off of her feet. I hugged Edward as well, but instead of lifting me off of the ground, he kissed my cheek. When we broke apart I looked him in the eyes and could feel my face starting to burn up. He must have noticed because he just smiled and whispered, "Goodnight, Bella," before getting into his car, and then driving off once Jasper was in.

"Goodnight, Edward," I whispered after him, hand clutched to my cheek. Wow. Wow, wow, wow, was all I could think.

A/N

Okay, so how did you guys like it? Personally, I didn't think it was as good as other chapters. A lot of it was mostly filler stuff and information. That's what this chapter really was. A filler chapter. And it moved extremely quickly. I know all of that. But I can assure you that you will love, love, LOVE Chapter Nine: Party when it's finished. THAT'S when all the big gigantic drama and all that good stuff will happen. So, who's this mysterious Peyton? And why was Jacob so excited to be able to bring them to the party? Any ideas? Hmmmmm…

Anyways, again I'd like to thank all of you and your reviews for helping me along with this story. As of right now, I'm at 87 reviews. EIGHTY-SEVEN REVIEWS! That is AWESOME guys, I really appreciate every single one of them. Let's get to the big 100, shall we?

And again thank you Pippy for helping me choose what was going to happen in this chapter, even though I didn't really go into much detail with it. ILY!!\

I'm not sure when the party chapter's going to be up. I need to get every little detail, every little WORD right to make it work. So it may take some time. But I promise, I'm not going to go away for a month and leave you wondering like some other authors do. Definitely not. It will be up by Sunday at the latest, I can promise you that. Who knows; maybe I'll be on another roll and it'll be up much sooner than that?

Okay, that's it for now.

I love you guys and remember to REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!!

-S.N.O.