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CHAPTER 10

I honestly did not hear what he just said and he did not want to repeat what he has just mumbled because I am deaf. I can't believe I just answered a teacher a few hours ago for this guy.

Edward still had Gym and as usual he wanted to skip it but I glared at him and is about to begin my talk when he ran past me and shouted, "Fine. Fine I am going. You're ready to give your sermon and I don't want to hear it so I am going to class." I decided to eat a sandwich at the cafeteria. I'm glad he was able to deliver his Speech. It's still early and I don't want to go home just yet.

"Hi Bells" Mike greeted and took a seat beside me. Bells? Last time I remembered it was Bella… He ordered fries and tried shoving some to my mouth.

"So, how did it go with Cullen?" he asked.

"He did his Speech."

"Great. You are really working hard on him."

"Yes."

"By the way, when can we start our tutorial?" I almost forgot about it.

"I am available this Friday."

"Let's just do it on Saturday" he said. Why do you have to ask me when you already have a day in your head…

"Okay then, Saturday."

"You're the best Bells, I'll get going now…You know club meetings." I bid him goodbye and decided to just go to Edward's gang hangout. I will clean that place so that it will look and smell better. I stopped by the gymnasium to tell Edward about my plan. I peeked inside and I saw him playing basketball. He's good at it. I waived and he saw me.

"What brings you here?"

"I thought of going to your gang's place to clean up. Will that be okay?"

He turned his back without answering and retrieved something from his bag. Afterwards, he threw it at me.

"Don't get lost. Personally, I think you will just waste your effort because the place will eventually get dirty again but it's your idea. Go ahead" he shouted and then resumed playing. I looked at my palms and there I saw the key for their place.

That guy always want to look cool. He can just give the key properly but for the sake of coolness he threw it. He can just tell me 'Yes' but instead he ended up saying that I will just waste my energy. I rode a cab to get to their place. I got the key out of my bag and I inserted it to the knob. I twisted the knob and heard cluttering of chairs and a soft thud from inside. I hurriedly opened the door and found Emmett lying face flat on the floor.

"Emmett, just what are you doing there?"

He waived his hand, "Oh it's you Bella. I am just relaxing. You know this is a nice position." He stood up and smiled warily.

"Why is there paint spilled on the floor?"

"Dunno. I have no idea."

"It's still wet and it looks like it's has just been spilled" I commented while looking closely at the paint.

"I don't know who spilled that. It's impossible that it's me because why will I have paint spilled on the floor?" he chuckled, "only painters have paint and I am not a painter so it's not me."

"Emmett I am not saying that it's you."

"It's not really me. I am definitely not drawing or painting a while ago. I am so not into that stuff."

"Oh really? That explains why you also have paint on your shirt and your hands" I said trying to make him more nervous and eventually admit what he had been doing.

"This is so not paint Bella. Its…its…oh geez okay I give in. Bella, it's me. I spilled the paint because you startled me. I paint. I looovvveee drawing. It's not cool but still I love it. I even think that I love painting and drawing more than I love Rose but don't go telling her that because she will get pissed." I smiled warmly at him and patted his back.

"I think painting is cool."

"You do?" he said as he try washing the paint off his hands.

"Yes. May I see your work then?"

"I'm not good at it. You'd just laugh at me."

"I won't."

"Do you promise?" he asked looking like a boy who is hesitating to perform in front of an audience.

"I promise."

He pulled the dirty blanket lying on the floor and pulled a key from his pocket.

"There is a secret place in there?"

"Yeah, I made it for my work." He retrieved a number of pieces from the floorboard. He smiled widely at me and showed me the first painting.

"This is my first ever work Bella. It's supposed to be the sunset that I have seen from across my room. It does not look like a sunset but it really is" he explained shyly.

"Oh this second piece is the bouquet I gave Rose for our anniversary. It costs a lot but she was happy so I am also happy."

"This last piece is my mom."

I stared at the last painting and saw a woman wearing nice clothes but she is facing backwards.

"Why did you paint her with her back facing us?"

"Because this is her image that I can always remember clearly. She always have her back on me, when I was a kid I will tell her my stories but she is always too busy. She did not like my performance in school. I skipped classes to paint for her but she does not like to see it."

"It's her lost then. She does not like to see magnificent paintings done by her son."

He smiled widely and blushed a little, "It's not magnificent. You're being too kind."

"I think it's really great Emmett. You should not hide this talent. Share your work with people and you will be amazed on how well they will appreciate this. I know a gallery and if we are lucky enough your work can be displayed on their student's section then your mom might just see it."

"Gallery? Like my work will be included in an exhibit?"

"Yes."

"Just like real artists?"

"Yes."

"Well I don't know about that. Why will they consider my work? I am a nobody. I am not even a good student."

"It's not too late for you to be somebody. You can do it Emmett."

"Wow" he awed.

"What?" I asked confused.

"You really have magic Bella. Now I know why Edward's doing pretty well."

"I don't understand."

"That's okay. Thank you Bella. I will paint more but I will also attend my classes."

"That's the attitude."

"Oh why are you here by the way? You and Edward have tutorial lessons?"

"No, he still has class. I came here to clean. Don't be offended but your place stinks."

"I have to agree." We looked around and found Rosalie coming in. "I can't remember when was the last time we cleaned this place."

We started cleaning the place. Thick piles of dust covered the cabinets, there are also cobwebs on the corners of the room. The fridge even has spoiled food inside. We changed the covers of the sofa and wiped the windows.

"I wish we had more hands to help us" Rosalie whined.

"Yeah, this place is really so dirty" Emmett agreed.

"Well I do have friends who will be willing to help but that is if it's okay with you guys."

"Are they the brainy dudes who make up the student council?" Emmett asked.

"Ummm, yeah?"

"That will be so great Bella. They can come here" Rosalie said. I nodded and called Alice.

"They will be here. I also asked them to bring some snacks for all of us.

"Now that's what I like" Emmett laughed.

After some time Alice, Jasper and Jacob arrived. I introduced each of them to Rosalie and Emmett. An awkward silence feel the room; however, Emmett accidentally whished his brush to Rosalie's blonde hair. Rosalie shrieked and is ready to tackle Emmett, good thing Jacob and Jasper restrained her. Laughter erupted as soon as Rose calmed down.

"I did not know that Rosalie is scarier than big guy Emmett" Alice hovered between fits of laughter.

"He just whimpered behind Bella…" Jacob added.

"Hey, stop making fun of me. I just know what is good for myself."

"They are really like that. Oh Rose, Alice is my friend that I was talking about. She loves fashion designing."

"Alice, Rosalie is also interested in fashion designing. You guys will surely understand each other." They exchange smiles and before we know it, they are inseparable.

"Your instruments are all branded and they have good quality. You also save energy because these models come with a power saving feature" Jasper praised.

"Edward and I picked these instruments. They are a bit pricy but we took it because they all sound good."

"You do have good choice."

I sat on the sofa and began munching over the cake that Alice bought. Jacob sat beside me and also took a bite.

"You're quiet" I told him.

"I just like listening to their conversation. This is something different; it's not just us anymore. We now have other people to talk to. It's nice." I smiled at him and he nodded. We were able to finish cleaning the room. Everybody was tired but we are still laughing.

Edward came in and he looked surprised.

"Did I get the wrong place?" he asked.

Emmett stood up and put his hands over his shoulders, "No dude, this is our place. We worked for hours to achieve this."

"Excellent man" Edward said as they exchange high fives.

"We're not the only ones who cleaned our place. We got help from Bella's friend. This is Alice, her boyfriend Jasper…"

"How many times should I tell you that he is not yet my boyfriend???"

"Okay then Alice's future boyfriend Jasper and the one beside Bella is Jacob" Rosalie said.

"They are my friends" I added.

"Oh thank you for helping."

"No worries" Jasper answered. We played a monopoly game afterwards. Jacob always wins so it's no fun anymore. Emmett suggested we play cards but Jasper aced every game so it's no fun again. On the middle of the card game, the door burst open, "Tanya!" Rosalie stood up and hugged her. I remember her, she's the one I asked about where Edward is at the school grounds.

"I did not know there are people here" she said.

"They are Bella's friends, Alice, Jasper and Jacob."

"Oh no…I remember I have to be home early. I got to go Rose."

"You just came."

"Sorry but I promised my mom." With that she hurriedly left the place.

"Okay that was weird" Emmett commented, "She never goes home early."

Edward bought more food and we all had dinner together. My phone rang and my dad is calling.

"Hi dad."

"Hey Chief Swan" Jacob shouted beside me.

"Yes, I am with Jacob. We are about to go home. Okay I'll see you."

"The moment he heard your voice, he relaxed" I turned to Jacob.

"Your dad is just worried for you. We better go home then before he gets all nervous again." He helped me stand up and picked my bag.

"I can bring Bella home" Edward said.

"No it's okay Edward. Charlie knows she is with me so I'll just bring her home."

"Then, you two ca just ride with me." Everybody was silent. All our eyes are on Edward.

"What?" he asked.

"Nothing. Lover boy" Emmett teased. Rosalie giggled. Edward glared at them and they stopped.

"Don't mind them. Lets' go."

We got inside Edward's car. "Jacob, you're pretty close to Bella's dad?" Edward asked.

"Yeah. Charlie and my dad are friends so he knows me well."

"Right" I said.

"So you two are childhood friends then?" Edward asked as he turned the radio on.

"Yeah, I've known Bella since forever" Jacob chuckled.

"Are you really childhood friends? Or you two are more of childhood sweethearts?" Edward smirked.

"People also asked that question but Bella is just my best girl friend but I'm not closing my doors if ever Bella has gathered the courage to ask me out on a date" Jacob joked.

"You wish Jacob!"

Edward parked outside our house.

"Hey, thanks for the ride Edward" Jacob said as he extended his hand. Edward took it and smiled.

"Thank you" I said.

"I think Jacob is better than Newton, Bella."

"Not you too, he is just my friend."

"Everything starts from friendship."

"Stop it Edward. I'm going now."

"Bella!"

I faced him and arched my brow, "What?"

"Do you think we're friends now?"

"Well…yeah maybe. We're not really close but I think we're friends." He smiled at me, not the usual smirk and bid goodbye.

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Author's Note:

I know I should have updated yesterday but I wasn't able to. Can I just offer you virtual cookies and a hug instead? Just 1 more week guys and school will be over. Finals week is coming, hope I can do it. I want to end this semester with a smile. Oh and I've read that Robert Pattinson just admitted that Kristen and him are really together. If that is true, oh man been waiting for that in ages if it's not…then…well I don't care they still look good together anyway.

Just 1 more week and summer vacation, here I come. ;) As always thank you for the reviews.