Chapter 10: Stalker in grey coat
Eavesdroppers never hear good of themselves~
"Wake up, wake up, another adventurous day awaits us!"
I twisted in my sleeping bag and tried to block Sasha's voice. I didn't succeed though; she forced me to sit up and gave me a stare which included a full examination of my body.
"Were you chased by a bear last night?" Sasha asked, tilting her blonde head. "Did it maul you? 'cause that's how your eyes and hair looks like."
I snorted. "Nope, I didn't get enough sleep."
"Of course. I'm pretty sure that's why Edward ran out of the tent before you could wake up." She laughed, her sapphire blue eyes twinkling.
"Edward?" I looked around, startled to see his sleeping bag empty.
"He left when I came in." She explained, opening my Louis Vuitton duffle bag. She threw some clothes at me. "Get ready. Mr Hale is waiting."
She left the tent and I started dressing. Why did Edward leave before I could wake up? Yesterday felt like it didn't really happen and I just imagined it. A huge part of me was scared as I now knew Edward's true identity.
I pulled on the cute green cami, crisp dark jeans, a Ralph Lauren blazer, and my favorite long grey coat Sasha had picked for me. It was freezing outside so I hastened a scarf around my neck for extra safety. Sasha and Jane were waiting outside when I stepped out.
"Hey," Jane greeted me, and hooked her elbow with mine.
"Heidi is still getting ready." Sasha said leading us to the tent Heidi and Randall shared.
"Or..." Jane waggled her eyebrows suggestively.
We laughed and decided to wait for some more time.
"Hola guys!" Heidi came out after a minute, her red hair blazing like fire.
"What took you so long?" I asked, trying to hide a smile.
"Randall," Her voice dropped to a seductive whisper. "He kept flirting with me and I kissed him."
"And?" I prompted her, shocked. Jane and Sasha exchanged a surprised glance with me.
"He kissed me back." Heidi said happily, adjusting her red leather jacket.
"Baaarf!" We giggled and joined the crowd that was gathering in the middle of the clearing.
"Miss Swan?" A hand touched my shoulder.
I glanced back at Mr Hale with wide questioning eyes. His blond hair was messy and he had a scarf tied around his neck like mine.
"Can we talk?" He asked, throwing a look at my friends. Sasha paled and turned away.
"Of course," I replied and followed him.
We stopped before a big log and Mr Hale sat down on it.
"So...Edward had a talk with me this morning." He began, scratching his head.
"Oh," I said lamely, confused.
He sighed and got up. "He wanted to switch partners, Bella. Is everything okay between you two?"
"He what?" I found myself screech, with wide eyes.
Why would he do such a thing? Was he afraid I would tell his secret to everyone? It seemed rather silly and there was 0% that anyone would even listen to my insane story about Edward Cullen being the same soldier whose grave was in the Eternal Cemetery.
"Edward didn't give me an appropriate reason so I didn't allow him to change his partner. But I want to know, what is going on between you both?" Mr Hale leaned forward curiously. I could almost smell his chocolate-scented mouth.
"Nothing, Mr Hale." I stuttered. His electric blue eyes were heavily intense.
He waved his hand. "Please, call me Jasper. We're not in school campus."
I shrugged one shoulder and nodded. My mind was racing with questions about Edward's mysterious wish to switch partners. Last time I spoke with him, that is last night, he seemed comfortable after I admitted that I wasn't repulsed.
I did not understand.
Jasper sensed my confusion and hurt. "Maybe you should talk to him and settle matters."
I gave him another nod and walked to my friends with a bewildered heart and mind.
"What did he want?" Sasha asked worry etched on her face.
I decided to go with the truth even though it hurt and was embarrassing, but as usual, they didn't judge me, instead they shared my confusion.
"Jerk." Heidi spat, her green eyes furious.
The others agreed but I hesitated. There had to be a reason. Right?
Jasper called everyone to attention with his loud crisp voice.
"According to my trustful source, there is another large clearing -like the one we're in- on the other side of the lake. It is a historical place, so if we could find it, it would be awesome." He continued. "All pack your bags and fold the tents. We're leaving in an hour."
Excited whispers filled the area. It was extremely cold and we didn't know how we were going to reach our homes without freezing. I searched the small crowd for Edward but I spotted only Rosalie and Emmett.
I went inside my empty tent and pulled out my bag first. I joined my friends and placed my bag with theirs. I considered calling Alec for help to fold the tent as Edward was nowhere to be seen.
I was just about to ask Alec when my eyes zeroed on the place where our tent was. But it was empty. There was no sign of a tent there. I turned around panicked and looked around.
Then I realized that Edward had already done the job. He must have done it when I was inside Sasha's tent, helping her pack her bag. Anger erupted in my heart. He was a coward, not waiting for me when he removed the tent.
"There he is." Jane whispered to me, holding her sweater tight against her chest.
I followed her gaze and saw Edward join his siblings. He wore a long grey coat and his face was paler than usual. I stopped. Wait a minute. There was something...It took a few seconds to understand what it was.
We both wore identical grey coats.
Jane noticed it too. "Is that supposed to be romantic?"
"Hardly," I scoffed with a roll of my eyes. "I did not copy him. He was gone before I even woke up."
"Then..." She puffed her short blond hair on her shoulder. "He must have copied you."
Heidi and Sasha joined us. "Who copied who?"
Jane filled them in.
Sasha narrowed her eyes. "When I came in to wake Bella, Edward was definitely not wearing that coat."
"Uh-oh. Bella, you got yourself a stalker." Heidi cackled.
"That's not funny." I snapped uncomfortably.
However, the thought of Edward following me was thrilling. Something was wrong with me. I needed to see a psychiatrist ASAP.
We carried our bags and followed Jasper. We trekked past the lake where Edward and I took a full-unwanted freezing dip last night. For a second, mine and Edward's gaze met. We broke away before I could decide whether to smile or not.
The clearing Jasper mentioned was exactly like he had said; large with few bushes scattered here and there.
Jasper cleared his throat. "It is believed that some militants participating in the World War camped here. This was their secret place. Go around, have a look. Find something valuable, extra points on your approaching History exam."
We split up but Sasha insisted on coming with me 'incase Edward kidnaps me', her words not mine.
"I'm glad girls didn't take part in the World Wars." Sasha grunted. She was having the time of the month and was cranky. "Girls in their periods armed with weapons are unstoppable."
I laughed loudly, hitting her in the ribs. "Maybe girls did take part but it remained a secret."
We were chatting about a variety of unimportant things when a girl's familiar cold voice stopped us in our tracks.
"Shhh." Sasha pointed to the large bush.
We hid behind it and peeked through the gaps where there were no leaves. Before us, an attractive boy and a girl were seated on a log.
Edward and Rosalie
"You should think about how this affects us, Edward." Rosalie was saying, her voice tight and angry. "You're not the only one."
Sasha and I exchanged a glance.
"I know, Rose." Edward sighed, his shoulders hunched.
'Rose' Sasha mouthed with a mocking smile. A sharp stab of pain and jealousy ran down my spine.
"Listen Edward," Rosalie's voice softened. "No one is criticizing you but think before you leap."
He nodded. "I'll keep that in mind."
"Bella is nothing but trouble…."
Sasha looked like she was going to jump up and strangle her. I silently shook my head at her.
"Don't talk about her like that." Edward unexpectedly snapped. "She's the most understanding person I had ever met."
Sasha's face grew confused, possibly wondering how in the world I had been understanding when it came to Edward Cullen.
Suddenly, something poked my hand. I looked down and was shocked to find a locket stuck in the bush. I pulled it out and stuffed it in my coat's pocket.
"Let's go." I murmured to her. We stood up carefully and ran all the way back.
"So did you find something?" Alec asked.
I looked at him with a blank face. "No, you?"
"Nope." He shook his head and a tendril of his dark brown hair fell against his forehead.
I secretly patted my coat pocket, which had the locket. I still didn't get a change to examine it. In the same clearing, everyone had set up tents to spend the night there. Jasper promised that we would leave the next day.
"Hey, Bella, I know it's the wrong time, but I want to try something if that's alright." Alec said suddenly, wetting his plump lips.
His rambling confused me so I nodded.
He leaned forward -too close- and pressed a kiss on my frozen lips.
Alec pulled back and grinned playfully. "I'll give you some time to process that."
He got up and left me alone. I didn't know how long I sat there.
When I finally regained from the shock, I pulled myself up and went to the tent Edward had set up without my help. I didn't have the courage to face him after all the events that happened.
To my surprise, Edward was inside the tent. Two candles were burning and he was reading a book under its light.
"Oh, hi." He greeted me with a small smile.
"Hey," I, in turn, frowned at him and walked to my sleeping bag.
He placed his book down and faced me. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," I said quickly and shifted uncomfortably. I could still smell Alec's mouth.
"Clearly," Edward remarked drily. "Tell me."
I wanted to tell him so many things. Things that included my feelings for him that were intensifying day by day, how I eavesdropped on him and Rosalie, that I discovered someone's locket, that Alec kissed me.
I settled for the latter. "Alec...kissed me."
It was quiet in the tent except for the flickering sound of the candles. I could hear some girls giggling nearby the tent.
I chewed on my nail. Edward's face was blank. My heart dropped; there was no trace of jealousy or anger on his face.
"What did you do?" he finally asked, his voice curious.
I sighed. "I didn't do anything. He gave me some time to think about it."
"And?" he prompted, leaning on his hand.
"I don't know what to do. This new Alec is making me...uncomfortable." I opted for the truth with a shudder.
Edward's face darkened. "You should tell him that."
"He's been my friend for years. This will ruin everything." I cried.
Suddenly a shadow appeared over our tent.
"It's Emmett." Edward said, looking slightly relieved. "You'll be fine on your own?"
"Yeah," I nodded, disappointed.
Edward hesitated but nodded and went outside the tent.
Their shadows disappeared and I sank into my misery pit.
I eventually got up and joined the crowd for the last bonfire party.
"Alec is not talking to me," Jane said worriedly. "Something happened and he is not showing his face too."
"He probably kissed a frog thinking it was a princess in disguise." Heidi giggled and the others joined her.
My cheeks flamed at the truth of her words. I was the frog she was referring to without knowledge.
"I'll talk to him." I offered after a thought.
"Okay," Heidi and Sasha nudged each other.
I saw his tall outline near his tent. He was standing alone.
"Alec?" I called out, walking closer.
He did not look at me. "Please go away, Bella."
His voice sounded strangled when he said my name. My heart thudded violently in my chest.
"Why? What happened?" I asked, trying to get a view of his face.
"Your boyfriend happened." He shielded his face with his hand.
"Boyfriend?" I huffed with a toss of my hair. "You know I don't have one."
He finally removed his hand and I gasped. There was a small bruise on his jaw. It would turn blue in no time.
"Say that to Edward." Alec moaned, touching his bruise gingerly.
"What does Edward have to do with it?" I demanded and placed my hand on my hip. I felt the uncontrollable urge to defend him.
Alec's gaze was furious and he touched his wound when he uttered the next sentence.
"He gave me this."
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-BEJL