A/N: I do own a copy of Twilight; however, I don't own the actual rights to said book … :(
Thanks for reviewing Sheeijan, blueSKIES247, HP DIVA, FuzzyWuzzyWithBadHaircut, alwayswatchingtv, Scorpio11, Yeye85, Emmy Pemmy, DeutschFreak, kylemaca77, katsekala, and orlibluver! Your words are truly an inspiration and have made my transition back into this story easier than I ever expected it to be-so thanks :)
The chain of those who remain in the game is as follows: Edward Bella Emmett Edward.
Chapter 11: Pooh and Dumbo
BPOV
It was mid-afternoon when I got the text from an unknown number. I was walking towards the library, to try to get some studying done with Alice, when my phone buzzed and I opened it to read:
Congratulations! You are one of the final three participates in this year's game of Assassins. Since there are only three of you left, some rules have changed. One, spoons are no longer required for tagging. Two, there are no ways to stay safe (no handstands or dances will save you). Off zone areas remain the same. Keep your phone on because we will be sending messages and game changes throughout the day. Have fun!
"Who's it from?" Alice asked.
I handed her my phone to read the text while I glanced anxiously around the quad half expecting to see Edward running up and tagging me right then and there. I picked up my pace and Alice followed suit after finishing the text.
"Wow, so it's pretty much a game of tag hide-and-go-seek now, hu?"
We stepped into the library and I let out a sigh of relief. The library now classified as one of the places that was off limits to being tagged in after a situation day one with a student being chased out of the library by an over energetic opponent. Angela was studying for an exam the next day, but Mike didn't seem to care. The school, however, did and thus the rule was set in place.
"Seems like," I said, frowning at my dwindling chances of winning, "which sucks because I'll never be able to out run Edward or Emmett."
"Maybe not, but you shouldn't rule out the element of surprise. You could easily sneak up on them, no running necessary."
That cheered me up a little bit, "That's true."
My phone buzzed again, and I glanced around the library to see if anyone noticed. The only eyes I met were that of the librarians, but I figured that was because we were standing in the doorway talking, not because my phone buzzed.
"We should probably find some place to sit," Alice said, noticing the direction of my gaze, "Don't want to make Ms. Greenlog upset."
I nodded and followed her to the back of the first floor where there were the really comfy seats with their own lights.
After I sat down, I pulled out my textbook and before opening it, looked at my phone to read the text. I assume you got the text, I'll hope to see you soon. muhahaha
I rolled my eyes, "Edward says he hopes to see me soon."
Alice laughed quietly, "I bet his does."
"What should I say in response?"
Alice thought for a second, then smiled diabolically, "Tell him you doubt you will, since you're going on a date tonight with Jacob."
"Alice!" I exclaimed in a voice that was louder than was library appropriate, "I'm not going to tell him that."
"Well, he's messing with your head; I don't see why you can't mess with his right back."
"You know… you're right," I began texting, "but I'm thinking about doing it a different way."
Before I hit the send button, I showed Alice to make sure she approved:
I was just thinking about last night. I hope to see you soon too.
I had, of course, filled Alice in with happened on our date last night, going into detail about the numerous kisses, and squealing with her over them like the teenagers we were.
"You're evil," Alice smiled and gave me a high five.
My phone started ringing not a minute later. I rushed to silence it, and answered it whispering.
"What?"
"Where are you now?" He questioned.
"Awww, he wants to see you," Alice whispered, ear to the phone.
"Like I'm going to tell you that," I quietly replied, thankful no one else was sitting directly near us.
"What if I give up, surrender, will you see me then?" I could practically hear his smile through the phone.
"Nope, because I don't believe you. I'll see you when I kill you, Edward."
"You realize that would require you killing Emmett."
"Yep," I replied confidently, when internally I was unsure as ever as to how I was going to do that.
I looked up and saw a librarian walking towards us, "Excuse me, Miss, you're not supposed to have phones—"
"Sorry, I have to go," I quickly whispered into the phone and hung up.
"—in the library."
"I'm sorry, Ma'am, it's off now." I said in my most innocent voice possible.
She looked at me skeptically, but nodded and went back the direction she came from.
For fear of getting into trouble again, Alice and I both opened our books and began studying silently.
"Hello."
I looked up from page ten of the book and saw Edward. My face immediately paled before I remembered that the library was a safe zone.
"What are you doing here?" Alice asked, sounding annoyed when I knew inside she was going crazy with excitement.
"From the whispering on the phone I figured you guys were in the library and I wanted to speak with Bella quickly," he answered her while still looking down at me.
"We're studying," Alice said, gesturing to the books laid out in front of us.
"Surely she can take a study break," Edward responded, this time his gaze drifting over towards Alice.
"I'm right here," I said, waving at both of them, "And yes, Edward, I can take a study break since this is safe territory and all."
Alice pulled me towards her before I got up, "Play hard to get" was her advice.
"Like you're doing with Jasper?" I mocked.
That question dignified the Alice-glare, "The harder you play to get, the more he'll want to throw the game, which means more money for us!"
"Us?" I questioned, raising an eyebrow.
"Well, you … but since I am your best friend and all, I figured you'd share some with your friend in need."
I stood up, and laced my arms with Edwards, but before we walked away, I turned to Alice, "You are not in need, you weirdo."
She stuck her tongue out at me, "Technicalities."
Edward led me through the library and up to the second level, which held the really old books that no one ever used so I wasn't surprised that when we got up there, no one else was on the level.
"So, what's up?" I asked, innocently.
He backed me up against one of the further back bookshelves, "You. Are. An. Evil. Temptress."
I made my eyes go wide, knowing that when I did so they looked like big deer eyes, "Whatever do you mean?"
His entire body was touching my entire body, so that I was perfectly sandwiched between the bookcase and him.
He pushed my hair to the side and kissed my neck, which sent shockwaves up and down my body and my hands went to his hair, knotting themselves in his bronze locks.
His mouth kissed up my neck, my jaw line and found my lips. When, after a few seconds, his lips began their journey higher, kissing my nose, my cheek, my ear, I pulled them back down to my unsatisfied lips and held them there until I was content.
"This will make it all the harder to kill you," I murmured against his lips.
"You're truly ridiculous," Edward responded.
Before I could respond, both our phones vibrated with new instructions for the game.
First twist of the day: players must dress up as their character all day. If caught out of costume, the player will automatically forfeit the game. Characters must remain in costume and character all day. Character assignments to come momentarily.
I groaned and Edward sighed, "I knew they were making it too easy on us."
"That'll make it a lot harder to blend in," I forwarded the text to Alice, who I knew would help me with whatever my costume ended up being.
"That was going to be your technique, Bella? To blend in with the crowd?" I nodded meekly, "I hate to be the one to break it to you, but you'll never just blend in, you're far too beautiful for that."
"Of course you would say that," I said, looking down to hide my blush.
"It's outstanding really, that you don't realize how beautiful you are," he touched my chin and raised it so that I could see the sincerity in his eyes.
Not knowing how to respond verbally, I kissed him quickly and smiled.
Edward's phone buzzed first and he laughed immediately.
"What is it?" I asked.
"Character: Dumbo the Elephant. Costume must be ready and worn in one hour. No tagging until costumes are worn" He laughed again, "I wonder if they're trying to tell me something."
"What, that you're incredibly dumb, or that you have large ears?" I joked.
He mock glared at me, "And right after I told you how beautiful you are."
"Sorry," I smiled.
My phone vibrated and I read my text out loud, "Character: Hannah Montana. Costume must be ready and worn in one hour. No tagging until costumes are worn"
"Well, it looks like we have an hour off from the game, want to get ready together?" Edward asked no sooner than Alice came busting through the doors having received my last forwarded text.
"Oh no, I don't think so, Edward, I'm taking reigns on this one," Alice said, literally pulling Edward away from me.
"Alice, I think it's okay if he comes with us," I told her, "You can help him out too."
"Yea," said Edward, "I'm hopeless when it comes to dressing up and I hear you're the best."
Edward definitely said the right thing, if Alice's megawatt smile was any indication. "Okay, but you have to do whatever I tell you to do, no matter what."
"Done," Edward said and before we knew it, we were off to Walmart to get our costumes.
The shopping part of our adventure was uneventful. Alice ran around the store picking up item after item of necessities while Edward and I followed behind apologizing to anyone that got in Alice's path. The only time she slowed down was when she got a call from Jasper, but even that was only a temporary peace.
We were in and out of the store in thirty minutes, which left a little under thirty minutes to get dressed and into character. Alice insisted in doing Edward's costume first and made giant felt ears for him to wear that she attached to a headband. She made him an equally stunning nose out of the same felt fabric and finished it off with a short felt tail then shooed him away to change into his blue-grey clothes to complete the look.
Her attention then turned to me, and before I knew it I was wearing a blonde wig, pop-star clothes and holding a microphone. Since I was fairly unfamiliar with Hannah Montana, Alice also taught me a quick verse of one of her more famous songs that I could sing to be in character.
Edward came back in, in full costume, when I was mid-transformation into Hannah Montana and after Alice was done, I'm not sure which of us looked more ridiculous.
"I don't see the point of us dressing up," I said, lifting a piece of my blond wig in my fingers and twirling it.
"I heard last year, the final two took three days to end the game, and they made them do more ridiculous stuff the longer they lasted."
"So, basically we should end the game sooner rather than later if we want to keep our dignity?" I summarized.
"Bella, sweetie, have you looked in the mirror? Your dignity is so long gone."
I slapped her playfully, "Gee, thanks."
"An hour is up in a minute, so Edward you better head out, no offense or anything." Alice said.
He let out a deep breath and muttered something about being so ready for this game to be over, but kissed me briefly and left the room. "I'll give you thirty minutes before I try finding you again, Miss Swan." Edward said before he shut the door.
"Challenge accepted." I replied, making sure to lock the door immediately after he left.
I did, however, open the window to watch Edward walk away, and big ears and all, he was still breathtakingly handsome. As if sensing that I was watching him, Edward turned back in the direction of my dorm, when suddenly; out of nowhere, a giant yellow bear with a red shirt came charging at him.
Edward noticed what I assumed was Emmett trying to be Winnie the Pooh, right before he reached him and took off running in the opposite direction.
From my window, I watched as Edward's ears flopped in the wind as he desperately tried to dodge Emmett's bear paw reaching out to tag him. This charade lasted an amusing five minutes, and it was drawing quite a crowd. People passing stopped to watch and cheer on Dumbo and Pooh and even a tour group for the university got a good laugh. It was an unexpected tree root that eventually led to Edward's demise, for when he glanced back to see how close Emmett was, he tripped over the root and fell to the ground.
Emmett didn't waste a second and tagged Edward before he was even able to roll over and stand up.
Edward then pulled out a piece of paper from his pants pocket and hand it over to Emmett, who was doing a victory dance that, in his Winnie the Pooh costume, looked immensely ridiculous.
Alice and I were laughing at the scene outside our window when it dawned on me: if Edward was just killed, that meant that Emmett was now after me.
A/N: We're getting down to the end of the story now. There will probably only be two or three more chapters. Thanks to everyone who's still reading this story and let me know if you have any suggestions of what crazy things I can make Emmett and Bella do next! : )
