A/N: Check out the true author's note below. :)

Of course, please enjoy the tenth chapter, everyone.

Disclaimer: I absolutely do not own Twilight.


Chapter Ten: Inevitable Introductions

EPOV

"For one, you have your own damsel in distress to save and I have my own prince to depend on."

Her words from last night twisted their way into my brain, echoing clear and distinct in my ears. I could actually hear them churning round in my head, like a record that won't stop, over and over and over. I have tried tuning them out with the best of my ability, yet those attempts remained fruitless, futile. None seemed to work in my favor. As if her statement wasn't enough to make me feel restless, a haunting, lingering realization clouded every single thought I held. I knew, from the back of my mind, that she was right. Utterly and terribly right.

It was the truth. Her words were. And there was no denying it.

I shook my head, urgently trying to drive the repetitive thoughts away. I have had enough thinking for one day. Instinctively, I glanced towards the wooden bleachers, my expression softening into a gentle smile as I saw her. Two sky-blue eyes met my gaze, her glossy lips instantly forming a returning smile. She waved at me, her other hand gripping a small bottle of water.

Tanya. My girl.

Coach Clapp's loud whistle blow abruptly cut our silent conversation short. Basketball practice had just started a few hours ago, and though we started later than the usual time, we still managed to cover the minimum 3-hour training. If it wasn't for that nonsensical Sex Education Program conducted a while ago, which hormonal boys and girls alike weren't paying enough attention to if I may add, we wouldn't have to finish today's practice at this time of the evening.

"I think that would be all for today, boys!" Coach bellowed, his booming voice reverberating inside the wide, newly built gym.

After helping the other guys to return the balls in the storage room, I exhaustingly trudged towards the benches where the beautiful lady was comfortably perching on. With a knowing smile plastered on her face, she handed me the bottle of water as soon as I got close. Hastily, I uncapped its lid and brought the bottle to my lips, gulping as much of the cold water as I could.

I felt the soft towel tenderly grazing my face, my neck, my forehead; just all the right places where I sweated the most. Without any warning, I snatched it from her and intertwined her dainty hand with mine. I beamed a smile at her direction and, almost simultaneously, all other traces of astonishment disappeared. I raised our joined hands, kissing the back of her hand while squeezing it. After all those weird chance encounters and confusing reactions, it was good to return to the same, old days.

"Aww. Will you look at that? The lovebirds are here to brighten up our day, dear Jazzy," Emmett suddenly interrupted, nudging Jasper on the shoulder as soon as he saw our intertwined hands.

Tanya giggled at my burly friend's mockery while Jasper and I both rolled our eyes. How mature. Way to go ruin the moment, Emmett.

I shot him a piercing glare but, unlike normal people who would instantly shut their mouths after that gesture, Emmett just practically continued to blabber away, with more annoying, impossibly deviant comments than before. "You might want to find a tree and build a nest first before doing something strenuous tonight, Eddie boy," he said, his thick brows wiggling exactly like those of a complete loony.

Jesus. I can't believe he's bringing up this kind of conversation. And right in front of my girlfriend!

"Wait, forget building a nest!" he exclaimed, so loud that his sonorous voice filled the entire gym. The place was almost deserted, with only Tanya, Emmett, Jasper, and I who were left behind. With a sly smile on his face, he added, "Your Volvo's always available, anyway."

Jasper snickered at that last remark, covering his mouth with his fist to keep from laughing. Tanya giggled even louder and a deep sigh deliberately escaped from my lips. Apart from ripping his head off, which was probably the best solution I could ever come up with, what the hell should I do to get Emmett to shut up?

Desperate times really call for desperate measures.

I fished my phone from the pocket of my bag and dialed a number I knew by heart. While I was waiting for someone to pick up, Emmett's thunderous voice crowded my ears. "You're calling that motel to get a room reservation now, aren't you? Man, that's fast!"

"No, you moron. I'm calling Rosalie," I countered, a hint of wickedness distinguishable in my tone.

Emmett's eyes widen in horror and his jaw hung open at the mention of my sister's name. I knew how much he wanted to be as disciplined and restrained as he can be around her—a good egg, as he once called it—and how he avoided to do things that could upset or disappoint her. I knew this was a brilliant way to silence him. And I was right.

I heard him groan beside me. "Naww. You are such a killjoy, Edward. You know I was just joshing you."

"Rosalie will pick up any second now," I said, mockingly stern. I had to restrain myself from chortling out loud at this very moment. The worry written on his face was too freaking funny.

"Okay, okay!" he bawled, both of his hands held up as if surrendering. "I'll stop with the innuendos! Happy now?"

I cancelled the call and beamed him a victorious smile. "Very much so."

"Jesus! You guys need to lighten up a little bit. A little innuendo here and there won't hurt."

Jasper smacked me hard on the arm as he broke into hysterics. "Remind me to use that strategy on him sometime, will ya? It seems to work pretty well."

It was Emmett's turn to roll his eyes when Jasper and I guffawed even louder, both of our voices blending perfectly with each other. I could also hear Tanya giggling at the comical interaction she witnessed just now. As soon as we all pacified ourselves, we stood up and walked straight out, our varsity bags in hand.

It was already a quarter past seven when we decided to step out of the gym. Jasper and Emmett each headed for their own motorcycles, leaving Tanya and I alone as we steered towards my Volvo. I noticed the school building had begun to lighten from the moon and the bowl of the heavens was turning a dusky purple, speckled with the milky seeds of stars. The wind was rather cold and harsh after that downpour earlier in the afternoon, and I felt Tanya quiver as it momentarily passed us by.

I held her closer by the waist as her hands tightened their grip around my torso. "You should've changed before coming in to my practice, you know," I whispered into her ear. She was only wearing her cheerleading costume—a light pink tank with the letters 'FH' boldly printed at the center, her matching short skirt inches over her knee.

She shrugged. "It's just a little cold wind. No big deal."

I laughed at her response; it was exactly the opposite of what her body tells me. She poked me playfully at my side before joining me in merriment, her laughter shattering the creepy silence enwrapping the both of us. Just as we passed by the library, my eye caught a slight glimpse of the girl sitting on one of the benches just located outside the place, her head buried on the book that she was reading. The faint illumination of the lamp post lit inside the campus grounds was her only light, yet the drawback wasn't enough to rip her concentration.

A light nudge on my shoulder tore me away from my thoughts. "Baby, what are you looking at?"

Yes, Edward. What, exactly, are you looking at?

I was staring at some stranger girl which, also, I have no idea why I can't tear my eyes away from. There was a very strong feeling rising in my chest, like I knew the girl personally. A force so powerful, it was unbelievably drawing me towards her. The need to know who she is was gnawing deep inside me; it was unsettling.

"Could you, uh, go ahead? I'll catch you in a minute," I said, agitated.

Curiosity and apprehension both graced her features. "Baby, are you alright?"

"Yes. Yes, I'm alright," I stuttered. "I…need to go back to the gym to get something. It's freezing cold out here so just wait for me inside the car, okay?"

"Okay. But, please make it fast," she beseeched. After a slight nod and a chaste kiss on the lips, she turned her heels and headed towards the parking lot.

I shifted my head to look at the girl once again. She was still reading that same book, still perched on that same bench. Her long chocolate brown hair seemed to sparkle from the weak light of the lamp post, her pale skin glowing despite the dreary darkness. Finally, I mustered enough courage to walk to where she sat, with my steps as muted as possible. As I got closer, she unexpectedly tilted her head at my direction, my eyes meeting her chocolate brown orbs.

What. The. Heck.

"Bella?" I asked incredulously. What is she doing at this late of the evening?

"Is that you, Edward?" she asked back, tearing her concentration away from the book she still held on her hands.

I went to sit at the empty space beside her; the expression written on my face was still that of incredulity. Her eyes were transfixed on me, mirroring that same puzzlement possibly found in mine. My mind was still reveling about the fact that this is, yet, another one of those weird chance encounters. I mean, is it even considered normal to run into each other at this hour?

You know it is. Remember that accidental night?

Her soft voice snapped me out of my reverie as she questioned, "What are you doing here?"

"Basketball practice," I answered, lifting the varsity bag I was still clutching with my other hand. "How about you? Are you waiting for someone?"

"I actually am."

I was waiting for her to mention that someone's name but, after a few seconds of plain, awkward silence, I knew the very thing I was hoping for her to say wouldn't pass through her lips. Won't she tell me?

"Is it someone I know?" I pushed on, hoping I could eventually pull it out from her.

I was only curious, wasn't I?

Of course. Friends get curious all the time.

I heard her heave a deep sigh. "It's Jacob. He wants me to wait for him until the student body meeting ends."

"For one, you have your own damsel in distress to save and I have my own prince to depend on."

There they were again. The words. Her words. Still churning round in my head. Still invading every single space inside my mind. Still twisting their way into my brain. I shook my head once again to clear the big blob of mess I was unintentionally creating. For a moment, it felt like what I heard and what I thought were barely distinguishable; it was terrifying, to say the least.

"Do you, uh, need company while you're waiting?" I offered sheepishly. I didn't know what I was doing but just the mere thought of leaving her alone, with the cold wind brushing along her pale skin, was unnerving, beyond unthinkable. I couldn't possibly do it.

"I don't think she needs one," someone behind us spoke; his deep voice almost sounded threatening.

Bella and I both whipped our heads to see a tall, lean guy hovering behind us. His long, black hair was pulled back at the nape of his neck and his russet-colored skin glimmered in the brilliance of the moonlight. My gaze suddenly rested on the library's open glass door as I caught the faint sound of footsteps approaching, the people's voices overlapping each other throughout their conversation. The student body meeting must've finished just now, and this guy must be…

"Jacob!" Bella blurted out, inadvertently satisfying my piqued curiosity. She quickly got up and stood beside him.

Her eyes darted from me to her boyfriend and back again. Uncomfortable silence drifted between the three of us and I could almost feel my feet forcefully dragging me away from this awkward situation. The hazy fog of uneasiness somehow cleared up as Bella spoke, her hand gesturing to and fro, "Jacob, this is Edward, my biology partner. And Edward, this is Jacob, my boyfriend."

He held out a hand in front of me as he uttered, "Nice to meet you, Edward."

"It's nice to meet you, too, Jacob." I grabbed his hand and gently shook it.

"Now, if you'll excuse us," he said, taking a step back as his hand crawled to hold Bella by the waist. My eyes rested on that hand for a fraction of a second before forcing them to focus on his presence once again. "I have to bring her home now. Charlie has been calling me way too many times this evening."

"Of course! Police Chief Swan wouldn't approve of her daughter being out this late," I responded, agreeably.

Huh. He gets to call him 'Charlie' while I'm stuck with 'Police Chief Swan'.

I looked at her one last time before she left with Jacob, her chocolate browns shadowed with something I couldn't quite decipher. I knew I shouldn't feel this low seeing her leave but, for some irritatingly unrecognized reason, I couldn't help it. Sucking a deep breath, I turned on my heels and steered towards the Volvo; Tanya must've been waiting impatiently for me. I briskly walked and reached the car in record time.

"Did you find what you were looking for?" she asked as soon as I got inside.

I shrugged. "I didn't."

"It took you so long," she whined adorably, her petulant pout adorning her features.

"I'm sorry," I murmured, my hand meekly caressing her cheek. "Now let's get you home, shall we? You need a lot of rest for the big cheerleading competition tomorrow."

"Can't you really come?"

I breathed a sigh at her question. I knew how thrilled she is for this event and denying her request wasn't very easy. "Baby, you know I can't. Coach won't let me miss even a single day of practice and I can't just skip my classes without an acceptable excuse. But I'll make it up to you, okay? I promise."

"Alright. But you better keep that promise, mister!" she reminded, grinning.

I placed my right hand over my chest, a smile simultaneously lighting up my face. "Scouts honor."

After our giggles subsided, I popped the key in the ignition and started the engine, driving away from the desolated parking lot.


A few related and mostly unrelated things:

1. I've been spoiling my readers too much with the Edward-Bella interaction so I decided that both of their partners, Jacob and Tanya, be present in this chapter. Also, in the last chapter, I think I've made quite an impression that Tanya and Edward aren't dating anymore, which isn't true. They still are. Same with Jacob and Bella. This chapter proves it.

2. What do you guys think about Edward finally meeting Jacob, and vice-versa?

3. Please don't think I'm writing a playboy Edward here, alright? It might look like he is, but I assure you that he really isn't. Though I admit he couldn't get his mind straight at certain times. LOL.

4. Has anybody heard The Fray's rendition of 'Heartless'? I did! God, it's so cool. I just totally love that band. I always play their songs when I'm writing a chapter. :)

5. The two Davids from American Idol Season 7 are having their concert here tomorrow. But, as much as I want to go and see them play, I can't. I heard tickets were already sold out. Ugh, it just friggin' sucks.

6. Every one of you should know by now that your reviews totally complete my day. But, I just have to say two of them from my last chapter just made me grin like a complete loony; it's quite ridiculous. Anyway, shotout goes to lilmisssmithy and Twilightlvrfreak. You guys are awesome. :)

7. Err, I am ranting too much again, am I not? But, look at the reviews! I'm so happy that we'll reach the 200th mark soon! I need 29 reviews for that. *hint hint nudge nudge* Anyhoo, that little box over there says clickety-click! Leave me some good ol' love. :))

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