I'm sick, my brain hurts, but I saw the 60 reviews, so yay! I'm so sick, I got up to try and shuffle and couldn't breathe because I was coughing so much.
A few shout outs
twilightbabyloverfanatic : Thank you for reviewing so many times, I love knowing that you like the story enough to bother to do that
Mjmjmjmj : Thank you heaps, personally I'm surprised you're amazed since the story is so close to the book
tj2317 : Not telling!
Grapejuice101 : I'm updating for you
IwonderwhatIshouldbecalled : I tried to happy dance, I'm sorry you wasted your review
MaladyM : Thanks for reviewing and getting me to 60, and I'm glad you like it. I can't wait to do New Moon
Gloo1997: I was born that year. And I'm glad you laughed
Emeraldstarforever : Alexis really doesn't want to ruin her relationship with Edward by telling him she's not Bella
Smile-Evily : My chapters are still going to be long, I hope they aren't boring long
Previous reviewers, I can't remember if I responded to you or not, if you still have an unanswered question, please review.
Well, here's the chapter...
11. Complications
I was getting used to the staring, as we walked to our table, arms almost touching, I barely even noticed everyone staring.
The teacher set up the VCR, and when the lights switched off it was almost black. In my previous school, no matter how they tried, the sun always managed to come into class when they wanted it dark. Here, the only light came from the TV.
The dark made me feel awkward. I knew Edward was beside me, as if without the sense of sight all my other senses were making up by telling me Edward was beside me. I could hear his slow breathing, feel the cool emanating from his body, and of course smell and almost taste him beside me.
I turned to see the teacher, who I could barely see the outline of. He was reading a book, not caring about how we were behaving. I saw several other students not listening, playing thumb wars, whispering in each other's ears, making faces at the teacher. I don't think he'd notice if I decided not to listen. I knew the stuff anyway; advanced chemistry and home study pretty much meant I could not listen until I graduated.
I looked back to Edward, who was watching me earnestly. His eyes seemed to glint more than any other in the room, his pale skin almost glowing in the light. He smiled, his teeth glinted, and I realized I was smiling too.
I slid my hand across the table, slowly, and in his view, towards his clenched hand. He watched it, eyes flicking back to mine then back to the hand. I placed my hand on top of his, and the electricity flow increased, not as awkward as before. He put his other hand on top of mine I smiled.
In that lesson we gradually got closer and closer together, until somehow or another I'd ended up leaning against him, his chin on my shoulder. I knew he would be in pain, but he never whispered for me to stop, to move away, to give him some air, so I enjoyed the moment.
I blinked when Mr Banner turned the lights on, my eyesight slowly returning to normal. He had an eyebrow raised at me and Edward's position, but said nothing. He'd probably seen, or heard about, the kiss in the cafeteria already.
I pulled away from Edward, beaming as he pulled me up and we walked out of the classroom, hand-in-hand. He turned to me as we arrived at the gym. We stared into each other's eyes for a while, both hands together. He was so beautiful, and wonderful.
I realized then that god had given him to me, he was my saviour. I had been removed from my world and rewarded with a life here. I sent a prayer, a thank you, for such a gift.
He knew he had to go though, and I knew he had to leave eventually, but prolonging the moment wouldn't hurt. He pulled away slowly, only releasing my hands when going further would hurt me arms. He didn't say anything, he didn't need to. I walked into gym feeling complete and very, very happy.
My waiting had cost me changing time though. I rushed to put my gym clothes on. They were crooked and my shoes weren't tied properly (I'd just pushed my feet in without undoing the laces, lucky I got a bigger pair). My hair was ruffled from throwing my shirt over my head, and my I had a funny feeling that my shorts were inside out. I rolled up the bottom of them as I jogged into the gym (skills!) so no one would notice.
Mike was waiting, a smiled at his sweetness. I mightn't like him like he wants me to, but he's the closest thing to a brother I ever had (or a dog, but hey).
"Do you want to be a team?" he asked.
"Sure, we can be the serious badminton player's." I gave him a high-five. It was a little lame, but if you couldn't be lame around your friends, who could you be lame around?
Mike and I were pretty good players. He had a good spike, and I had a great low and fast serve. Plus – I know it sounds mean – if I served it straight at a girl's face they normally just ducked.
It started becoming boring, so I Mike and I started to be a little stupid. We pretended to be famous tennis players. Every time swung our tiny rackets we grunted like it was an extreme effort. The other teams I'd us awkwardly, but we laughed it off. Soon we started a trend. Everyone was acting like we were sprinting and hitting with all our force, on a tiny court with the bouncy rubber birdie. (A/N me and my friends did this at school, it was funny as, even the teacher laughed)
Gym passed quickly, soon I was giggling off the court with Mike beside me.
"So, you and Cullen, hey," he said.
My light mood dropped a little, but I smiled. "Isn't it obvious?"
"I don't like it," he said, his voice completely changed from the light tone he had while we were in class.
"You're not the one dating him. It's not like you're my boyfriend, or ever were Mike. We're friends, and that's all we'll ever be." He looked hurt, sad, but I didn't take back my words, or try and comfort him.
He wanted to justify himself though. It was sweet, like he was my protective bigger brother. Speaking of, I wonder if I was older than him.
"He looks at you like... like you're something to eat."
I laughed, and smiled up at Mike. "I think I like that, haven't you ever heard of the expression 'Good enough to eat'?"
He looked a little confused, so I walked off to the change room giggling.
Once I was out of the gym uniform (the shorts really were inside out) I went outside to find Edward. He was leaning against the gym; I realized that I smiled every time I saw him.
"Hey," I said.
"Hello Bella how was gym?" he asked.
"Why don't you tell me?" I asked.
He chuckled, "You knew I was listening."
"No, I didn't while I was in there. The fact that you brought it up spikes my suspicion though."
"Your grunts weren't very ladylike," he answered. I knew he was listening.
"But I was supposed to sound macho and tennis-player like."
"They don't sound very ladylike either," he pointed out. I laughed, not knowing how to reply. His face fell for a moment. "Newtons getting on my nerves," he almost growled.
"Why, did he pee on your letterbox?" I asked. He looked confused, oh well, inside joke about him being a dog, and Edward can stay cold on the outside. I don't think he'd think it funny anyway.
"Um... no, he's annoying me because he still likes you."
"Edward, god, for like the last time I'm going to tell both of you I don't like Mike. I won't ever like Mike. He's too much like a faithful dog or a protective brother for me to ever think of him differently. Would you date your sister?"
"Biologically, I never had a sister. But Rosalie was kind of ... created ... for me... to um... be my mate," he looked very awkward. I could see why. Surrounded by a group of boys in her car, I could see Rosalie glaring at Edward. At least she wasn't turning that gaze on me.
"Geez," I said, "you'd think they never saw a good car before." I didn't mention that they probably hadn't, not in real life. Seriously though, I thought all small towns had car shows every year. I guess not this one.
"It is a BMW," he said it like it explained everything.
"So, Ferraris are way better, and they look better. Even the jumped up beetles look better," Rosalie turned her glare on me, I shrugged.
"Jumped up beetles?" he asked.
"You know, Porsches, they are, I swear. They're good cars, but they aren't gorgeous. Rosalie, I know you can hear me so I'm saying this, you made the car look awesome and it's probably superfast and all, but I'm prejudiced and I like Italian things best." Edward chuckled, and Rosalie's glare softened the slightest bit.
When I got into the car, and Edward had closed his door to, I turned to him, leaning close and whispered as quiet as possible, "Rosalie is really scary, scarier than Emmett."
"You should see her when she hunts," he joked.
"Really, I could see you guys hunting?" I asked, before I realized what I was saying.
Edward turned sober. "No, Bella, you can never see us hunt. When we hunt, we give ourselves completely to our senses; your scent is almost irresistible now. When I'm hunting, not controlling myself ..." he didn't finish, he didn't need to.
"I'm sorry, I was stupid, I wasn't thinking."
"It's okay Bella, you didn't understand," there was a moment of awkward silence before I changed the subject.
"This Saturday, I haven't told Charlie about... us, so um, can I drive, wherever?"
"Why don't you want to tell Charlie?" he asked.
"Because when he shoots and you don't dying looks a little ... suspicious."
"He wouldn't shoot me," he argued.
"No, he'd just arrest you."
"Arrest me for what?"
"I don't know. I'm sure he can find something, or make something up."
"That's not nice, have some faith in your father," he teased.
"Oh I have faith in him alright. I have faith that he'll be super protective with me, so you better watch out."
"Bella, I think I'll be careful, and probably more protective of you than he'll ever be."
"Should I be scared?" I asked.
"Very," he answered. Even though his voice was light and teasing, I knew he was stating the truth. To be honest, I wasn't bothered by that. In fact, I was happy. It made me feel safe and secure and, most importantly, loved.
I wanted to reach over and touch him, but he was driving, and I didn't want him to crash. Plus, we'd been dating like, a day, and I thought it might be a little ... much.
My hand disagreed; it lay on his shoulder before I could stop it. I smiled sheepishly as he looked over at me. I let my hand graze down his arm until it reached his. He took it and gave the tiniest squeeze, probably scared he could crush it.
After a good stare/swoon session, Edward finally illustrated that we had stopped, and I should probably get out of the car. I sighed and agreed, walking to the porch sadly.
His window buzzed as it rolled down. "Oh Bella," he said. "Tomorrow it's my turn to ask the questions."
My face fell. "Yay," I fake cheered. He smiled crookedly at my expression, and then reversed back onto the street, leaving me still a little stunned. I hate that I'm so weak with crooked smiles.
I turned and walked into my house.
I hated sleeping now, I tried to put it off for as long as possible, but I wasn't a vampire, I needed sleep eventually.
The nightmare was terrible this time, but it didn't involve me. I was standing off to the side, the prize girl, why my two longest lovers fought over me.
Edward was somehow loosing, Logan's hate and lust for me making him stronger than Edward. I screamed for Edward to get up, to fight back, to kill him like he should be able to, but he was being held down, slowly suffocated. His greens eyes turned to me before they closed, a silent Bella at his lips. Logan turned back to me and grinned, releasing Edward's corpse and slowly coming towards me, circling, licking his lips that had somehow gotten covered in blood, Edward's blood. I screamed and tried to throw myself at him, but I was tied, my bond's inescapable. Logan laughed, "No matter where you are Lexy, my sexy Lexy, I'll find you, and you will be mine." His hand went to the zipper of his jeans. I screamed again.
I woke panting, again, luckily this time it was bright outside, or as bright as 6:30 am in Forks can be. I dressed and went downstairs. Charlie was making himself eggs, at least there's something you can cook.
"So this Saturday, you're still going to Seattle?" he asked.
"Yep," I popped the P.
"And you're certain you can't make it back in time for the dance."
"I don't think I really want to go, Dad," I said.
"Didn't anyone ask you?"
"Its girls' choice," I finished the conversation. Charlie went to work; I got ready for school, same old, same old.
Except for when the doorbell rang to reveal the most gorgeous delivery there could ever be.
"Good morning, Bella," he smiled. I smiled back, realizing just how much I'd missed him, that dream really messed me up. I quickly gave him a once over, almost expecting bruises. I shook myself. That was stupid. Plus he was a human in the dream (I think). "How are you this morning?" His formalness and courtesy made him seem a little stiff. I thought he was expecting something.
"I'm fine; I just had a bad sleep." I noticed this morning in the mirror that the ever present bags on my eyes darkened a little, probably because of the stress of this dream. I'd slathered on my foundation there, but it might be a little obvious since the powdery stuff was only under my eyes. I wonder if his keen eyesight could see through the gunky makeup.
"At least you could sleep, being a vampire and all, I can't."
"Really, then what did you do last night," I grinned knowingly, he fidgeted a little, feeling guilty for spying on me I suppose, and probably wondering if I know or not.
He recovered, then smiled back at me, "Not a chance, it's my turn to ask the questions."
And he did, he asked a lot, and I was scared. I had to be extremely careful to not give myself away with answers relating to my old life. I kept it as true as I could, without mentioning any of that stuff.
I slipped once, not able to control my emotions. "Have you ever had a boyfriend before?" he asked.
Logan immediately visualized in my head, lustful eyes and all, I cringed and turned from Edward, hiding the tears that welled in my eyes. Hate and spite filled my words, "No, he was never my boyfriend." Edward didn't force me to elaborate, quickly asking another question.
The only time I had a break, was in class. I found I was listening to the teachers, happy for a break from the grilling.
But as soon as my class finished, he was there again, walking me to my next class, shooting questions. Biology wasn't like yesterday. Today, it was just more questioning time, I was kind of disappointed. Okay, not kind of, a lot.
Gym passed quickly and not nearly as light-hearted as yesterday. Mike stilled seemed a little raw and blistered from my rebuff of him. I didn't care heaps. If he wanted to sulk, he can go sulk in the corner with his tail between his legs and his head under his paws.
Questions continued, until I thought my throat was a desert and my voice was scratchy and low. Finally he stopped, and I sighed with relief. "Are you finally done?" I asked.
"Not even close – but your father will be home soon," he pointed out.
I sighed again, wanting to just fall asleep. I could barely even contemplate making dinner for Charlie, my brain hurt too much. Edward's questioning was worse than a week of exams. "What's the time," I asked.
"It's twilight," he muttered.
"That's helpful, I was hoping for more an hour or 24 hour time."
His eyes turned back to mine. As if he didn't hear me he continued. "It's the safest time or day for us, the easiest time. But it's also the saddest in a way ... the end of another day, the return of the night. Darkness is so predictable, don't you think?" He smiled wistfully.
I looked out the window, thinking for a moment. "Darkness, it's just an absence of light. The smaller amount of light changes things, deepens the colours. I like darkness as well as light; it's the more ... peaceful of the two."
He cocked his head to the side, pondering my answer. Then he peered outside again, I saw him stiffen slightly. "Not good," he muttered.
"What's 'not good'," I asked.
"Another complication," he answered sullenly. "You better go now," he instructed. I opened my door slowly, trying to remember why he was so frazzled. My speed wasn't fast enough for him. "Get out," he commanded.
I jumped out and slammed the door, stepping away to see him whirl around the corner. I huffed.
"Hey, Bella," I heard from another car that seemed to have come from nowhere. Okay, maybe I was too busy contemplating beauty and metaphors to notice it.
"Hey Jacob," I called back. Now I remembered why Edward was so uptight. He climbed out of the car, all limbs and awkwardness I characterized with the growth spurt of guys. His skin was still the beautiful russet colour, and his white, straight, sharp-looking teeth were still visible and shining in the poor light.
Charlie's car came around the corner, lights illuminating our yard and our guests.
In the other seat was of the car with Jacob was who I guessed was Billy Black. He looked a little like Jacob, but much older. His eyes were just as Bella described, black, young, wise, old, and right now, very shocked and slightly angry looking. I smiled as I saw him still, I was supposed to remember him as a childhood father figure, I think.
He stared back at me, anxious, worried, and almost looking like they were searching for something – bruises?
His concern showed how much of a true friend of my father (my father, I could finally think of Charlie like that) he was. I smiled brighter. "It's good to see you Mr. Black," I said.
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