AN: Sorry, I wanted to update sooner but I also have an original story I am working on and have had serious writer's block. I had some ideas come to me and needed to run with it before it was too late. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed and put me on favorites or alerts. Also someone sent me a pm asking if i had anyone to beta my story. The answer is no I don't I am not actively looking for a beta but if anyone would like to i'm not opposed to the idea. Anyway hope you enjoy this chapter Happy reading.
Disclaimer:I do not own twilight.
Chapter 12: unexpected
I knew the next two weeks leading up to the benefit and spring break were going to be hectic so I was trying to get ahead on my reading. I also needed to finish my paper for my lit class. Other than class Tuesday and Wednesday were spent in the library and in the union. It felt like all of my time was being taken up with class work and benefit preparations.
Our suggestions for the presentation part of the benefit were accepted and we were given the okay to begin contacting the schools and organizations. Jen had no difficulty in handing out our assignments I was talking to the M.A.D.D chapter while Maggie was going to the high school asking for their support and student involvement, and Kate was handling the public relations part. We also had girls from some of the other sororities assigned to help us. Some other things that were being handled by other sororities were talking to the family the benefit was helping. It was agreed that someone from the family would speak. Also one of the Delta sisters suggested having officials from both the police and fire departments speak.
It was great having so many people involved in organizing this event. There is a lot of work to be done in essentially a short amount of time. Because of my class schedule and planned study session with Edward on Wednesday night I had to schedule my meeting with M.A.D.D. for Thursday. Thanks to being so busy none of us had really had an opportunity to just hang out. Our normal Tuesday meal was evidence of this when barely ten girls showed up. I hadn't had a chance to talk to Emmett or Jasper to fill them in on what I had talked to Rose about. I did talk to Alice and she was just as understanding as Rose.
The boys had been just as busy as everyone else. The concert preparations were coming along well. It was nice to see the guys working so hard for such a good cause. As it was Wednesday night everyone was looking forward a little bit of relaxation and fun. Mixer night, tonight we were mixing with the Omega Tau brothers. I was opting to stay home tonight. Just in the last few days I felt like an entire week had gone by with how busy things had been and I was completely not in the mood for a party. I was however upset I would be missing this particular mixer. It was a graffiti mixer and one of my favorite themes, mainly because it was the best excuse to not have to dress up. Everyone wore jeans and white tee shirts, the idea being that anyone and everyone at the party would write or draw something on your shirt.
"Hey Bella wait up." Alice called from behind me.
I turned to wait for her. "What's up Ali?"
"Nothing really just thought we could walk back to the dorm together my last class was canceled."
"Well that's a nice surprise for the day" I smiled
"Yes it is." She responded falling in step beside me. "So are you sure you don't want to come to the mixer tonight it's going to be so much fun."
I shook my head "I'm sure. I just want to relax tonight. Edward is coming over to help me with bio and besides we are going to Garrett's tomorrow."
"Oh, Edward is coming over huh?" she smirked.
"Don't even go there Alice. We are just friends. I stated firmly. Alice thinks Edward and I would make the perfect couple. If I'm being honest with myself I like Edward more than I should. I know I came to the realization that I needed to stop shutting people out but I do not think I'm ready to let someone into my heart. Getting close to someone as a friend is one thing but anything romantic is a whole different set of risks.
"Bella you know it is not a crime to go on a date every once in a while."
"I have been on dates Alice!" I rounded on her.
"You have not gone out with anyone since last semester. And even then you would go out with someone once or twice and then find something wrong with them." She looked at me with a mixture of fear and defiance in her eyes. "I know you lost a lot of faith in relationships after James. That is understandable especially now after everything else has happened but eventually you have to take a chance."
I could not be upset by what she was saying. This was in a way what I wanted after all. Before I made it clear that I wanted everyone to treat me normally Alice would never have said anything like this. However, I did not want to hear what she was saying because that meant admitting that I was more messed up after my relationship with James than I thought. It meant admitting that I was afraid of being in a relationship. I was afraid that I would mess things up and a part of me still believed what James told me, that no one would really truly love me.
I did not respond to Alice and she let the topic drop. I knew she had said what she needed to but that it would not be the last time we had a conversation like this. By now we were back at the dorm. We said our goodbyes before she walked down the hall to her room.
I went straight to my email seeing that I had received one from my mom. I would have to call her this weekend. I also checked my facebook and noticed I had a new post from Quil. I had called the guys Monday night and we had a really good talk. They told me that they understood and that they were happy that I called. They filled me in on everything that was going on back home. I promised that I would see them during spring break.
After checking a few more posts I saw that I had a new friend request from Edward. Naturally I accepted. I also had a message in my inbox from Danielle.
Hey Bells, I had a great time this past weekend. I heard from Embry and Quil they were really happy that you called them. My mom also called me today; she said she ran into Billy the other day. I know you're planning on visiting him when you come home and I just wanted to see if you mind a tag along. I haven't been able to go since the accident and I really think I should. I'll understand if you want to go alone just let me know. On a happier note I thought you might like to know a certain green eyed guy friended me. ;) Anyway I promise not to embarrass you too much when I talk to him. Ok gotta go Love u Dani.
I shook my head and laughed at her last comment, If there is anything I can count on Danielle will do just about anything that will embarrass me. I wrote her back telling her that I would love for her to join me when I visit Billy. Since Jacob's death anytime that I go home I make it a point to visit with his dad. I know it helps him but it is also really good for me being so close to so much that reminds me of Jake.
My focus was taken off the computer when my favorite roommate entered. Normally I would continue what I had been doing and ignoring her presence but it seemed that today she had other ideas.
"Shouldn't you be getting all slutted up by now?" her tone was rude and condescending.
"Lauren I have no idea what you are talking about and by the way if I wanted to get slutted up as you put it I would be looking through your closet right now instead of using my computer."
Having no comeback she simply rolled her eyes before continuing. "Isn't it one of your little party nights, you know so you and your friends you bought can go get drunk and laid."
"Ugh Lauren, seriously can you find better insults. I didn't buy my friends and… you know what I'm not having this conversation with you again." I turned back to my computer. "I'm not going out tonight so if you were hoping to have the room to yourself tonight I'm sorry to upset your plans."
"Whatever, just so you know Tyler is coming over tonight so couldn't you go to like the common room or something?" She huffed and flopped back on her bed. Great so I have a choice to make. I can be a bitch and stick around the room so that Lauren can't have her fun. Or I could save myself and Edward a lot of grief and we could study in the common room.
"I thought you broke up with Tyler why is he coming over."
"He's been trying to get back together and he says he has a gift for me. I really don't know if we'll get back together but if the gift is nice enough… you never know." She shrugged. This is why I dislike Lauren. She has been sleeping around and hooking up with as many guys as possible since they broke up but for the right 'price' she will take him back.
"God Lauren can you be any more shallow?" I asked. "Anyway we can study downstairs since I know you have no shame and I don't want to see how far you are willing to go with people in the room."
"We?" Lauren asked. "Is Edward coming over? I should have knowing he is your latest claim and all. Just like Emmett and Jasper, are you going to make sure he doesn't date anyone either."
"I do not tell the guys what to do or who they can date. Staying away from you is completely their choice. In other words they are not desperate." I had enough of this conversation. I grabbed my phone and books and walked out of the room.
Edward was not supposed to be here for another hour so I walked to the café. I ordered a chi tea and decided to sit and work on some of my writing assignments. After about twenty minutes my phone alerted me of a new text.
B, Sry but I have to cancel 2nite coach called a practice. – E
Its ok I understand. – B
Practice is canceled 2morrow make it up 2 u then. –E
Great now I have to find something to do tonight. There is no way I am going back to the room. Angela and Jessica are in there room maybe I'll go hang out with them.
I did end up spending the rest of the night hanging out with Ang and Jess. We did a bit of work and watched movies. Once the movie was over we decided we wanted a chocolate fix and just to have a little bit of fun we went to the kitchen on the first floor and made brownies.
When I finally made it back to my room Lauren was already asleep and Tyler was gone. Maybe his gift wasn't good enough or maybe they got back together and he left I don't know and I do not care.
Thursday was another normal day I went to class and to my meeting with the representative from M.A.D.D. They love the idea of getting involved and were more than happy to have one of their members speak. She also told me that an announcement would be made to help up boost attendance and that after the event they would gladly post recognition on their website.
I ran into Edward on my way to class and he spent at least five minutes apologizing for last night. I told him that it was not a problem and I completely understood. He offered to meet with me before going to Garrett's apartment but I had to meet with Jen to let her know the outcome of my appointment today.
"Hey girls." Garrett greeted Alice and me as we entered the apartment.
"Hey Guys." Alice and I returned the greeting also acknowledging the rest of the room.
Kate came from the kitchen handing both Alice and I a beer. I sat down on the floor opposite the couch. Garrett's apartment is one of the few places I felt comfortable doing this. Most of the guys' living spaces were close to being listed as bio hazards. Garrett's place was very different though. It is a small one bedroom apartment. When you enter there is a living room with the dining space attached. Off of the dining space is a small kitchen. The general layout of those three rooms essentially makes an L shape. If you were to walk through the living room the door on the left is the bedroom and the right is the bathroom.
While this apartment was a lot cleaner than most it is still your typical college guy place. There was a couch on the same wall as the entry, a recliner in the corner. Across from the couch is a flat screen sitting on top of a low entertainment counter which housed an i home, DVD player, and an x box. Garrett's Dining table always made me laugh it is a poker table that he puts a board and table cloth over for when they eat.
Emmett was taking up residence on the recliner while Jasper, Rose and Eric were sitting on the couch. Garrett and Kate were on the floor leaning against the couch wrapped up in each other's arms and Alice had perched herself on the arm of the couch near Jasper.
Rose caught my eye as Alice sat down and we both had to suppress a laugh.
"So what is the plan for the night, cards, xbox, drinking games?" Emmett asked.
"Emmett, must you always be entertained" Jasper asked.
"Yes I must." Emmett answered with a smug smile.
"Come on Em, I haven't beat you in proving ground in a while." There is only one video game besides guitar hero that I'm good at and that is Tony Hawk skateboarding games. I actually like the older versions better but Emmett insist on the newer version.
"You're on!" Emmett laughed and pulled out the controller.
Emmett and I set up our game while everyone else broke off into their own conversations. It was not until I heard Eric and Jasper talking that I realized they were making a bet on the game. "I think she'll kill him you know this is her best game." Jasper said "I don't know it has been a while since she's played I think McCarty has been practicing." Eric replied. "Ten bucks!" I could not hold back the grin as I heard Jasper set the terms.
I leaned against the recliner prepared to start the game. Emmett may have been practicing but he forgot that I had played almost every level before and was used to the places that were best for tricks. What I always found funny was I really had no idea what I was doing I just pushed buttons until my player did what it was meant to do, fortunately for me this worked to my advantage.
We had already finished one game and Jazz won his bet. Emmett insisted on a rematch so we were half way through our second game when Edward, Mark and Holly came in. I was surprised to see my sister Holly; she liked the brothers but did not usually spend as much time with them as a lot of our sisters.
"Hey Hols, I didn't know you were coming tonight." Kate stated.
"Yeah Mark and I had a night class and he mentioned coming here and asked if I wanted to come." Holly answered
"Well guys grab a beer and join us, oh and just so you know we're taking bets on how many times Bells beats McCarty before he finally gives up and admits she is better than him." Garrett informed them.
"How many games have you already played Bella?" I glanced at Holly before answering.
"Hey Hols. This is only our second game so we may be here a while." I laughed focusing my attention back on the game. "Hi Edward, Mark."
They both said hello while getting a beer from the kitchen. The night went on and it only took five games before Emmett conceited defeat. After we finished our games Rose and Alice suggested we play a game of Asshole. As far as drinking games go I hate this game. I always end up drinking entirely too much and Emmett ending up as president is never a good thing.
We played a few games of Asshole before Alice announced that she had to go. I could tell she was feeling the effects and I knew she needed to go. I was feeling pretty good too but I was not ready to leave yet so I told her to go and I would see her in the morning. The dorm is only a few blocks away from the apartment so it isn't like either of us would be driving anyway.
Holly asked if we could play bullshit and I was all for the change. I was better at the game, and it had the potential to keep me from drinking much more. The only time you had to drink is if someone called bullshit and you were caught.
Emmett was terrible at this game. He was the easiest person to read and almost everyone could tell when he was lying. Garrett and Kate were completely screwed having a decent card collection. Edward and I were the two with the least amount of cards.
I threw down two queens and a 3 of spades. "Three queens." I stated with a straight face.
"Bullshit!" Edward called I glared at him before picking my cards back up. So far only him and Rose were able to call me out and I honestly just wanted the game to end. It was already past two in the morning and we had played about three games. On the next round Emmett and Eric both said they were calling it a night. With their decision to leave everyone agreed that it was time to leave.
Edward offered to walk me back to the dorm. We said goodbye to everyone and headed back to campus. When we got back to Masen Hall I reached into the back pocket of my jeans for my ID. The only problem was that my ID wasn't there.
"Damn!"
"What's wrong B?" Edward asked
"I completely forgot I didn't bring my ID with me tonight because I was in Alice's room before we left and Lauren had a guest over. I wanted to avoid any mental scaring so Ali said that she had hers and not to worry about it." I was beyond frustrated. It was starting to get cold out and there was no way for me to get in without my ID. Lauren would not wake up just to let me in and Alice was most likely out cold. I would feel too bad waking up Angela or Jessica.
"Okay so just come to my dorm." His suggestion sounded so simple.
"No I couldn't do that. I wouldn't want to intrude on you or your roommate. I'll just call Rose and crash at her place."
"Nonsense. I'm offering and my roommate is at his girlfriends for the night so there is no intrusion." He grabbed my hand and pulled me off toward his dorm.
I had not realized until this point that I didn't even know which dorm Edward lives in. Apparently he was only two dorms away in Dwyer Hall. Unlike my dorm his is eight stories therefore there is an elevator. Edward's room is on the sixth floor when he opened the door I understood what he meant about my room being so much bigger. His room is about half the size of mine. The door is in the center of the wall with closets on either side. The beds were opposite the closets against either wall with the head of the bed pressed against the back wall. They had two desks placed end to end below a window in the center of the wall.
"The one on the right is my bed. I'll grab you something to sleep in and give you some privacy to change." He handed me a pair of shorts and a tee shirt, and pulled out a pair of sleep pants for himself before leaving the room to change.
Edward was only gone a short time before there was a knock on the door. "I'm good" He came back in the room and went to his closet. I watched as he grabbed a blanket and another pillow from the top of his closet. He also pulled one of the three pillows off the bed. "Edward I really don't need two pillows one is fine."
He looked at me and laughed. "Oh no you are taking the bed. I am taking the floor."
"What? No I can sleep on the floor it's your room and your bed. I wouldn't feel right kicking out of your bed."
"And I wouldn't feel right making a lady sleep on the floor. I would sleep in Dean's bed but honestly I don't know the last time he washed his sheets and the idea kind of scares me." He laughed.
"Still I can't let you sleep on the floor." I shook my head
"Bella you are not going to win this, just get in bed. It's late and you need to sleep." He said but did not see me reach down and grab the blanket off the floor.
"Fine then we'll share." I stated. Edward looked at me with a mixture of surprise and confusion.
"Share?"
"Yes share." I answered climbing into bed and laying next to the wall.
"B, are you sure?"
I sighed "Yes Edward, it is not a big deal, now come on get in bed. I'm tired and don't want to discuss this all night."
Edward climbed into bed next to me pulling the covers up around us. I curled up on my side facing him and he laid on his back his right hand at his side and left up under his head. "Goodnight Edward."
"Goodnight little girl."
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