Chapter 11 – Stupid Boys

Saturday I had gone through the boxes of clothes that Renee had sent me, fishing out old sweats and t-shirts and a few sets of pajamas, and put them into the drawers. It had been years, probably since I really was in high school that I slept in PJs, and now I felt…I don't know, obligated to wear them. I suppose since I was living with Dad…Charlie, I should anyways. How horrifying would it be for him, and me, if he came into my room one night to check on me and there was his little girl in all her glory.

I shuddered at that thought, and was thankful that Charlie gave me privacy…but I knew Edward would not. And…I didn't think I wanted him to. That he had been watching me sleep…it didn't bother me. Maybe because it was what he was supposed to do. He was supposed to watch over me, protect me…be my fairy tale prince, protector.

Monday I woke up excited. Anxious, even. I would see Edward today…and I wasn't sure what would happen. Would the script continue to go as it should…or would my unscripted dialogue on Friday spin out of my control?

I saw him at his lunch table, he didn't look at me. Well, he couldn't avoid me in biology.

"Look at you! You're alive!" Mike said energetically at the lunch table.

I went to look at him, but Edward turned his gaze at us. I swallowed hard, and forced myself to look at the less appealing Mike.

"Yeah, I guess so," I said.

My eyes went back to Edward, he was still staring at me. His eyes wide, he looked…almost angry.

"So…what do you think?" Mike said, moving so he was in my line of sight.

"About what?" I asked, meeting his eyes, stunned. I hadn't heard a word he had said!

"Do you want to go…to Prom…with….me?" Mike said, his confidence and smile fading.

My eyes got wide and my jaw dropped. He wasn't supposed to ask me here! He was supposed to ask me outside, in the parking lot…alone without witnesses! Jessica was quiet, her head down. Eric the same. Angela was talking quietly to someone to my side but I didn't turn to see who.

"Prom?" I squeaked. "I…uh…" I swallowed hard. "I can't. Um…I'm going to Jacksonville that weekend." The script was the only thing I could think of, give him an excuse. Use the excuse.

"You can't go another weekend?" Mike asked, looking crushed.

"Non refundable ticket," I said quickly. "Um…sorry, Mike. I'm, I'm honestly not into Prom anyways. You'll find someone…more fun, to go with." And to give him a hint, I moved my eyes towards Jessica down the table.

"Oh…hm, alright," he muttered, walking away from the lunch table.

I took a deep breath, and my eyes automatically moved over to the Cullen's table. Edward wasn't looking at me now, but the profile of his face was a smirk.

The movie was still playing, but…argh, I kept getting thrown off on the main parts. They were moving around on me, throwing me off balance, surprising me.

Mike didn't walk with me to biology, I walked alone. The first day since I started, I had to walk to a class alone. I sat next to Edward, "Hey," I said.

He looked over, nodded to acknowledge my existence, and looked away again.

I glared at him, "What, you aren't even going to talk to me?" He probably saw me naked this weekend, and he wasn't going to say a word?

He got out of replying when Mr. Melina started the class. I rolled my eyes, tapped my pencil, shook my foot…annoyed. Finally I let out a breath and muttered, "Whatever."

Edward glanced over a few times, his brow wrinkled with annoyance as I fidgeted. I tried to ease up, again…trying not to antagonize the vampire.

"Remember, Wednesday we have a field trip after lunch hour to the green house downtown. Make sure your parents have signed your permission slips and you have them with you. If you do not, you don't go, and you will have to attend study hall with Mrs. Goff."

That was when Edward would talk to me again….according to the movie. That also was when Mike was supposed to ask me out. Stupid teenage boys.

"Mike, you have a minute?" I asked quietly as he walked past my table at the end of class.

"Yeah?" he looked at me hopefully.

I walked with him, very aware that Edward was following, listening. "Listen, you ever repeat what I'm going to say I will cheerfully beat you to death…but Jessica likes you. She is dying to go to Prom with you."

"Jessica?" Mike scrunched up his face in confusion.

I wanted to smack him. I had read the book, I should have known it would be difficult to play matchmaker between those two…Mike was infatuated with Bella…with…wow, with me. Hm. I shook that out of my head, "I can't believe how dense you are," I muttered. "It's up to you, but…she wants to go to Prom, she is excited about it. And I know that there has to be a lot of guys trying to build up the courage to ask her."

"Jessica…" Mike said, more thoughtfully. "Hm…"

I let Mike get ahead of me, "Stupid teenage boys," I muttered under my breath.

I heard a chuckle behind me, but I didn't turn back to see who it was. I knew who it was, already I knew his laugh and voice…I had known it already. I slipped into my class, feeling fairly satisfied with myself.