Disclaimer: All the characters belong to Stephenie Meyer, and this story line originally belongs to dreamscribbler (link in profile). Again, if you missed the last A/N above the story, dreamscribbler wrote chapters one through thirteen.
EPOV
"Where did Bella go?" Emmett asked when he got out of the classroom and met me in the hallway. Apparently he didn't notice Bella leaving, and I so did not want to be the one to answer that question. He was going to flip out, so instead of saying it I just nodded toward Bella walking down the hall with him. The second he got his answer his face turned beet red. Uh oh.
"YOU LET HER LEAVE WITH HIM?" I was in for it. "WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?"
"Emmett, what was I supposed to do, it isn't like she would have listened to me if I tried to stop her anyway." It wasn't like I wanted her to go with him.
I could tell that Emmett was working hard to come up with a plan, "Ok, here is what you are going to do. I can't miss class today because I have a test, but since you are the idiot that let my little sister go somewhere with that asshole you have to follow them, watch them. If he so much as breathes on her, you take him down, and knock him out. I would tell you to take no prisoners, but I want to deal with him myself."
"What did this guy do that you are freaking out so much?" I was worried for Bella.
"He doesn't treat girls very well, he uses them until he gets what he wants from them which is normally…well he isn't getting it from Bella ok…you have to go make sure he doesn't touch her! GO!"
I practically ran to catch up to them, I stayed a good distance behind that if I needed to I could jump at him and take him out but if they turned around it wouldn't look like I was purposely walking the same way.
This day was killing me! First as I was walking to class I see Bella hugging that guy, Jake, who looks like he just crawled out of the shower and threw on basketball shorts and a white tank top. She jumped into his arms, and they laughed. I wanted more than anything to be the one holding her in my arms making her laugh, even though I knew I would probably never have a chance. Why did he get to hold her like that?
As I was tormenting myself with why's when Jasper, Emmett and his group of followers came up and joined me and I asked him what was going on with Bella and Jake, he said it was nothing, that Jake had a girlfriend that that he and Bella were just friends. That made me feel a little better. I stayed and talked with Jasper for a little bit before Emmett and I, and a few of the girls made our way to class.
Then of course I had startled Bella making her fall out of her desk, I felt so bad! I just wanted to say hi, but no, I am the jerk that makes her slip and fall the one day she is wearing a beautiful dress and gets embarrassed. And do I apologize like a gentleman? NO, I stand there smirking at her. Jerk.
And then of course I get the confirmation that Bella doesn't like me when she just blatantly admits to me that we are not friends. I could practically feel someone punching me in the gut, or higher, when she said that.
Now I get to stalk her and this creep and watch as he tries to get into her pants…or dress. Please don't fall for him Bella, PLEASE!
I followed James and Bella to the Bernwell Cafeteria where they were getting lunch. Ha, some lunch date taking her to eat on campus. I bet he is going to use his meal card to pay. It was good for me that he didn't take her off campus; it would have been much harder to follow them. I made a waffle and grabbed some fruit and a yoo-hoo and got in the checkout line two people behind them.
I made sure to sit a table away from them behind James so if anyone saw me it would be Bella, James would be more inclined to leave, I think. I am really not good at this stalking thing, it is my first time doing it.
I wish I was closer so I could hear what that slime ball was saying to her, but all I could tell was that she looked uncomfortable. He was leaning in to her and just brushed a piece of hair off her face.
I hadn't realized that I was flat out glaring at James and Bella until I heard Jasper, "Dude, you seriously look like a creeper." I jumped a little and turned my head to look at him, Alice was with him.
"Are you stalking your girlfriend?" Alice asked with a playful grin on her face. I didn't have time for this; I couldn't let my attention wander away from Bella.
"Emmett told me to." I figured this would clear up anything she could throw at me for watching Bella.
"So you admit that you are dating?" yeah, I wish.
I pulled my eyes away from Bella to glare at my annoying sister for a second. "No, Emmett asked me to watch her while she was around this creep because he doesn't trust him."
"Oh," she said simply, and then she and Jasper sat down at the table with me. "You are so not dressed for spying Edward. You are wearing light colors, it is a well known fact that spies wear black." I let out a loud sigh to let her know that I was not even going to dignify that with a response. "I am just saying, no need to get all huffy about it Mr. secret agent man."
At that moment James leaned in to Bella, I gripped the edges of my tray. The color seemed to drain from her face and her eyes got wide. That is it, I had to go over there, I am going to- CRACK- I looked down to see that my tray had snapped in two. Oops…oh well, nothing I can do about it now, I had to go help Bella.
BPOV
Lunch with James was…for lack of a better word…interesting. We went over to the Bernwell Cafeteria where he told me to get anything I wanted. I decided to get homemade (or I guess they are cafeteria made) nachos, they were by far my favorite cafeteria food. James paid, even though I told him that I could pay for my own food, and we sat down at one of the tables.
I was really uncomfortable because all he got was a drink, "are you not eating?"
"No, I am just thirsty." He answered.
"Oh, we didn't have to get lunch if you weren't hungry." I told him, "I feel bad that I am eating and you aren't."
"I have no problem watching you." He said in a low voice that made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. Maybe this wasn't a good idea. It was too late to back out now though. We sat in uncomfortable silence for a few minutes, me slowly eating my nachos and him watching me, very intently. I had to say something.
"So are you having a good day?" Very generic Bella, but I guess that was better than this silence.
He smiled, "of course, it is the day I finally got some alone time with you isn't it?"
"Why do you want alone time with me?" I asked without thinking. I wasn't sure I wanted to know the answer anymore; I was starting to think that maybe it was more than him liking me.
His smile turned playful "is it a crime to want to spend time with a gorgeous girl such as you?" I could feel the blush spread across my face so I looked down at my food. Some hair fell in my eyes, buy before I could reach up to push it back behind my ear James reached over to do it.
"Umm…thanks," This whole lunch thing was really awkward, and not the I really like him and don't know what to say awkward, but the I really don't think I should be anywhere with him awkward. I should have listened to Emmett. Why does he just keep staring at me like that?
He leaned in across the table to get closer to me, "Do you want to go back to my room?" he whispered close to my ear. I could practically hear my heart stop mid-beat. WHAT?!?! I just sat stiffly my eyes wide and shook my head from side to side. "Why not, it would be quieter, easier to talk." Talk, right…I've seen this movie before.
"I…I really should get ready for class," I said and started to get up.
I saw him roll his eyes, "Bella, come on, I didn't mean it like that. I just want to get to know you." Right.
"I'm sorry I have class."
"Not for another 45 minutes." Crap. "listen, I am sorry it came out wrong, I really just want to talk. I like you Bella, a lot." I didn't say anything. What if he was telling the truth and I was just freaking out because Emmett has put it in my head that he isn't a good person and I am judging him without giving him a chance? What do I do.
"Hey Bella," I turned to see a somewhat flustered Edward standing next to me. I had never been more happy to see him in my life.
"Hey."
"Umm, Alice needs to talk to you about tonight and was wondering if you could come over to her table talk to her, she has class in like 40 minutes so it would have to be now." I swear I could kiss either him or Alice or both of them at this moment.
"Why didn't she just come over here herself?" James asked.
Edward narrowed his eyes at him, "she only has 40 minutes to eat and talk to Jasper, Bella and myself, I volunteered to let her start eating while I found Bella."
"Sorry James, I really have to go," I got up and grabbed my tray, Edward had grabbed my book bag for me.
"I will see you later Bella." James said.
I didn't respond.
I followed Edward to where Alice and Jasper were sitting, and sat down with them.
"Hey Bella!" Alice greeted me. I noticed that she wasn't eating anything, she didn't even have a tray, she just had a cup of what looked like coffee or hot chocolate or something hot like that, I doubt that she needed any caffeine.
"Hey, Alice, Jasper." He smiled and nodded to me. I noticed that the only tray on the table was snapped in half with half of a waffle on it. Was that Alice's? "What happened to the tray?" Alice and Jasper looked at Edward.
"Faulty craftsmenship." He said simply, as if that explained how it split in two. I just looked at him like he was crazy while Alice giggled. Did Edward break it? "It was an accident," he explained, "I guess I don't know my own strength sometimes."
"Oh," I said. "So what did you need to talk to me about Alice?"
Alice looked up at me like I had two heads, glanced at Edward, then looked confidently at me. "Well I just wanted to let you know 1. That you look amazing in that dress today as I told you you would, and 2. That I brought you some shorts and a tank top to wear tonight at the dance meeting since we will start going over the actual dance moves. Also, Edward here will be your partner."
She said that all in one breath, and I almost missed that last little tidbit. I was dancing with Edward? I didn't know what to say, I didn't want to insult him again like I did in class by asking why I had to dance with him, but I was curious as to how this was picked. "When did you pick all this out?"
"The clothes or Edward?"
"Both."
"I grabbed the clothes while you were putting your dress on, figuring you wouldn't think to grab anything to change in either because you didn't think you would need it because we wouldn't start dancing, you forgot about the meeting or you were trying to get out of it. Edward was chosen as your partner by Emmett; he called me last night and told me to make sure that you two were paired up. Apparently he doesn't trust anyone else but Edward or Jasper here not to cop a feel on you, and sorry but I would like to dance with Jasper."
Emmett was now making decisions for me? What if I wanted to dance with someone else? What if I wanted to dance with…I don't know Tyler Crowley or something. Why should he decide who I get to dance with?
"Plus," Alice continued, "The school seems to be going nuts over your relationship, "I was about to interrupt but she continued "no matter how non-existant it is. I mean it isn't just students it is teachers too. I think that will draw in some major points with the judges having you two do a little dance together on your own. It might just guarantee the win! It will be perfect."
Wait, I am dancing with Edward…by myself? But…I thought this was a group thing..i am not even a cheerleader…why…how…
"Well we better get going, Jasper and I are meeting some friends for lunch. See you later Bella."
Did she just say lunch? Did she not have class? I looked up at Edward who looked embarrassed. His eyes were closed and his face had turned slightly red.
"I thought you said…" I started to say, but he interrupted.
"I am sorry, Emmett asked me to follow you to make sure James didn't make a move on you, and then I saw that you looked really uncomfortable and somewhat scared and I figured that you could use some help and I just had to get you away from him so I came over and I lied to you and I am sorry. Please don't be mad." He rambled, talking fast must run in the Cullen family. But I did catch one thing, Emmett made him follow me.
I guess I can't be overly mad, he did get me out of that really uncomfortable situation, but I cannot believe that Emmett would have me followed. Does he really think that I would be stupid enough to…ugh…I don't even want to know what he was thinking.
"Emmett," was all I could get out. Edward's eyes got wide.
"Don't be mad at him, he is just looking out for you."
"I guess. Well I should really be getting to class." This time I really did have to get to class. "Thanks for helping me out back there."
"Do you want me to walk you there?" I felt fluttering in my stomach, he just offered to walk me to class?
"Y-You don't have to, I think I can make it." Did I just stutter?
"I would like to though," he leaned in closer to whisper something, "James is watching you and I would prefer not to let you walk there by yourself." Oh he is probably just acting on Emmett's orders. There goes the fluttering, and bring on the anger. Does he really think that I cannot take care of myself.
I didn't feel like arguing so I just got up and put my book bag on my shoulders, I went to grab my tray but Edward had put his tray, or rather the pieces of his tray, on top of mine and was carrying it to the trash.
Edward walked beside me as we walked back to the history building where I had my political science class. I noticed that we were getting a lot of looks again like we had the other day when we were walking together, at least this time I knew that they thought that we were together.
"You don't have to walk with me, I am sure I will be ok." I didn't want him to feel like he had to follow my brother's orders.
"I want to walk with you," There was that stupid fluttering again, "unless you don't want me to walk with you."
"No, I just didn't want you to feel obligated to walk with me. I know you are just doing it for Emmett."
"Says who?" he asked with a smile making its way across his face. Wait, so he really did want to walk with me? Impossible, he is just being nice.
I was at my classroom, so I said goodbye to Edward and went into my classroom. Only an hour and fifteen minutes until I got to see him again. I mean had… until I HAD to see him again…its not like I WANTED to see him again…right?
Class dragged on forever, but I was kind of glad because I was really in no rush to make an idiot of myself attempting to dance. How did I get talked into this? Maybe I could get out of it. I had a feeling that if I tried to convince Alice myself it would be a failure, maybe I could go through Jasper. I could tell him how impossible it was, I mean he knows me better than Alice does, he would understand why I couldn't do it. Jasper then could tell Alice that it is insane to think that I could pull of any dance move if they expect to win. Then I would be free of this mess. I just hoped I could get Jasper on my side.
After class I walked over to the auditorium where we were meeting, it was where we, or if my plan works they, will be performing their Christmas dance routine in about a month. The date was set for December 17th.
When I walked in I immediately wanted to walk back out, there were so many attractive girls on the cheerleading team and they were probably so much more…graceful than I could ever be. I scanned the auditorium to find Jasper but before I could spot him someone pounced on me, and it was none other than the one person I didn't want to see until after speaking to Jasper. That little pixie like dancer- Alice.
"BELLA! I am so glad you are finally here! I was worried you were going to bail on me! I almost had Edward sit outside your class to make sure that you came directly here." She hugged me then handed me a bag with clothes in it, "here are your clothes, I threw a pair of socks in there because I figured that you wouldn't want to dance barefoot and you wouldn't be ready to dance in those boots. Just be careful because the stage will be a little slippery. The bathroom is that way" She pointed to her right then pranced toward the stage where Jasper was now waiting in plain sight. If I thought it was possible I would think she told him to hide because she knew what I was planning.
The clothes that Alice had grabbed me were just black shorts, that were really really short and a tight light blue tank top. I swear, what was with this girl and clothes that left not much to the imagination?
I really didn't want to go out there dressed like this, maybe if I stayed in the bathroom long enough they would eventually forget about me and I could sneak out. How long would I have to wait though? Ten minutes? Maybe twenty, that seems reasonable right. Twenty minutes is long enough for me to forget information on a test so why couldn't they forget me in that amount of time?
I folded my dress and put it in the bag, I figured it would make too much noise to change back now, then I sat on the toilet seat and brought my knees up to my chest, hoping I could stay like that long enough.
I sat like that for what felt like five minutes, it was really two according to my watch, when I heard someone enter the bathroom.
"Bella, are you ok in here?" It was Rosalie. Maybe if I am quiet she will leave, "I know you are in here, stall number three, the only locked one. I may be blonde but I am not stupid."
Crap I am caught, so much for my master plan. I reluctantly stood up and opened the door. "Please don't make me go out there, I can't do this."
"Bella, you will be fine. Alice and I are excellent teachers and I hear that Edward is an excellent dancing partner! Plus, the only dance dancing that you will have to do it the last group song, your duet with Edward isn't really dancing at all." She tried to assure me.
"Wait…this is already all planned out completely?"
"Oh yeah, Alice will explain everything if you would just get your cute butt out there!"
I guess I am really doing this.
When I walked out everyone turned and looked at me, I realized that all of the girls were wearing short shorts, so at least I wasn't alone. I was still uncomfortable. I walked quickly down the aisle and slid into a seat.
"Ok! Now that Bella is finally here I can fill everyone in on what we are going to be doing! Ok, so I have planned it all out. Since last year Lauren and Jessica took lead Rosalie and I will be taking lead, and actually, Bella will have a lead also since she is going out of her way to help out, anyone who has a problem with that can leave right now, unless it is Bella because you are staying. We have decided that Rosalie's partner will be Emmett Swan, and they will dance to The Pussycat Dolls version of "Santa Baby", they can have up to 2 groups dancing in the background. I will be dancing with Jasper Hale to the Snowmeiser/Heatmeiser song from the movie The Year Without a Santa Claus, I can have up to 5 girls on my backup and 5 guys on Jasper's. Bella Swan and Edward Cullen will be dancing to "Baby It's Cold Outside" it will be the version that Dean Martin did but I am thinking that they should actually sing instead of lipsync like the rest of us, they will be by themselves. Our big finish will include everyone and it will be to Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You." Questions?."
Questions? Of course I had questions!?
I immediadetly raised my hand, Alice sighed and pointed to me, "Why do I have to sing? And why that song?"
"Bella, Bella, Bella," she shook her head, "That song is PERFECT, and that is all I am going to say on that question. As to the singing, I do not think that since there is a lot of overlapping singing in this song it would be difficult to just lip sing this song, plus there will be barely any dancing and, just you trying to leave and Edward trying to get you to stay. You will mainly be walking. The singing will make up for the lack of choreography in the judging points. You will focus on body language. I think the judges will go nuts since you are pretty much the celebrity couple on campus-" I went to interrupt but she held up her hands and continued, "even if you aren't dating it will be great. You both will learn the lines and learn to interact to make it convincing that you Edward," she turned to him, "want to be with her more than anything, and you Bella," she turned back to me, "you know you SHOULD leave but some part of you wants to stay. Work on that together and get back to me. I will check up on you two periodically over the next two weeks to check on your progress, at the end of two weeks, it better be presentable at least."
So I have to spend time with Edward…alone…singing…while he maneuvers chasing me around trying to stop me from leaving. Super.
"Alice what if I can't sing?" I asked honestly, I have never really been one to try the whole chorus thing.
"Bella, you will be perfect, I have a great feeling about this, and I am NEVER wrong about these things." I let out a loud sigh as a sigh of surrender and Alice continued with her directing, "Ok, since only Bella had questions, we are going to work on the big finish since everyone will be a part of that, so grab your partner if you don't have one come see me obviously Rose is still with Emmett, I am still with Jasper and Bella is still with Edward, I want these pairings to remain consistent throughout the performance. When you have your partner stand with them in a space on the stage, everyone else come see me."
Alice was surrounded with a group of people and I slowly made my way to the stage. This was not going to be fun.
"Hey," Edward said as he got closer to me.
"Hey."
"I'm sorry about Alice, she can be pretty demanding sometimes, she just gets these plans in her head then they have to work out the way she sees them." He tried to explain.
"It's not your fault, I just feel bad that she overestimates my abilities. I cannot dance or sing."
"Oh I am sure you are great at both," he assured me.
I just rolled my eyes.
Alice finished pairing up people and then one of the worst experiences of my life began.
Practice was horrible. HORRIBLE. I fell so many times thanks to the stupid socks that Alice gave me to wear, and the worst time was when we were practicing the end of the song where we are apparently supposed to run and jump onto our partner….yeah..i fell and about cracked my head open on the stage, luckly Edward grabbed me and stopped me about an inch away from the stage floor. At that point I gave up completely and told them I was leaving. I had enough for one day. My legs hurt, my arms hurt. And I swear my whole body was tingling from all of the contact I had with Edward. Maybe he was radioactive or something. They all decided that practice was over and everyone left, well everyone who was still there. Emmett, Rosalie, Jasper, Lauren Mallory and Jessica Stanley all left claiming that they had other engagements, Jasper I knew could just get out of it since Alice was directing people and I am sure knew it all already, Emmett I knew was full of shit, I don't know how he got out of it, Rosalie probably knew the whole routine already, and I really don't know about the two girls.
As I was walking to my car I couldn't shake the feeling that someone was following me, but no one was ever there when I turned around. The idiot with the motorcycle however did almost run me down again, this time right before I got to my truck. UGH I swear, is there a target on my back or something?
I got back to my dorm safe and sound, except my IPod died…completely so I couldn't play it in the cab of the truck in place of the broken radio so I had to ride back in silence. Just another thing to add to this horrible day, "what next?" I asked no one.
I got out of the truck and started walking to the building..and of course..since I HAD to ask, it started raining. It wasn't just rain though. It was a storm. A bad storm, I hate storms.
If I am completely honest I get scared when there are storms. I know, it is totally insane, I am a junior in college and afraid of a storm, but I can't help it I have always been afraid of them, well maybe not always. I guess I am sleeping in Emmett's room tonight. Emmett always lets me sleep on his floor when there is a storm since he has his own room, he used to let me sleep in his bed when we were little, but now that would just be weird. It always calms me down knowing that he is in the room.
I ran inside the building and went straight up to my room to change and shut of my computer so the storm didn't fry it.
I tried calling Emmett but he didn't pick up his phone, I figured that he would be up in his room probably just playing video games or something. I would just go up there.
I climbed the stairs the three floors, more floors to the seventh floor where Emmett's room was and walked to his room. I noticed Edward walking out of the Elevator.
"Hey, long time no see" He greeted me.
"right." I answered. I was really anxious to just get to Emmett's room, although for some reason I started relaxing with Edward being there. "What brings you up here?"
"oh, I have a game of Emmett's he wanted back tonight. You?"
"I…" Well I don't want to tell him the truth, he would think I was stupid. Why do I care? "I just need to talk to Emmett."
"Oh."
We walked together to Emmett's door and I knocked. There was no answer. I tried again. Again no response. I figured I would try the door, sometimes Em leaves the door unlocked which is stupid but convienient for me when I want to go in. I turned the door knob, it was unlocked so I pushed the door open…I immediately regretted that decision.
Emmett was…he was…oh my God is that Rosalie! IS THAT WHY THEY LEFT?!? EW EW EW EW. This mental image was never going to leave my mind.
I immediately turned around and crashed into Edward.
"SHUT THE DOOR!" Emmett yelled.
"Dude, you really need to learn to lock this thing." Edward pulled the door shut, and I took off down the Hallway. I cannot believe I just walked in on my brother having sex. I honestly thought this day couldn't get worse.
I turned to go down the stairs and, before I knew what was happening my feet were out from under me, I was waiting for the sharp pain of my face hitting the corner of the stair, but it didn't come. For the second time today Edward Cullen saved me from bashing my skull in on some hard surface. This time after I straightened out I wrapped my arms around his neck clinging to him. He just saved my life.
"Looks like they just mopped the stairs, why don't we take the elevator?"
I couldn't speak, I couldn't think, I just nodded.
He hit the button and when the elevator got to the floor we got in, now all I had to do was go to my room and try my best to sleep alone through this stupid storm…there was no way that this day could get worse now.
All of a sudden 3 things happened at once 1. The lights in the elevator flickered and shut off as the elevator shuddered to a halt, 2. I was reminded why I do not take the elevator when there is a storm, 3. I was proven wrong…my day got worse.