Bella POV
I sighed as I pulled the covers off of my body and dragged myself to the window. If it was Edward, I still would not be in a presentable mood. I heard a muffled voice from outside.
"Come on, Bella, open up!" Jacob. Fury washed through me as I went to rip the window open for the second time this week.
"Jacob Black! What do you think you're doing? God, what are you even doing at my house?" I yelled-whispered at him, pure venom in my voice. He flinched.
"Can I please come in? I want to talk to you," he whispered back. Pain evident in his voice. I felt guilty.
"Fine. Get your butt in here quick before Charlie sees you." He nodded his head and swung his body back and forth. Does everyone besides me know how to get into a bedroom window from a tree? I asked myself in my head. It seemed like it. Jacob landed with a slightly louder thump than Edward did. He seemed satisfied with his accomplishment until he turned toward me. I had a harder mask on than from the day before when it was Edward in my room, since this was the guy who cheated on me. In the music room! He naturally shied away from it; never seeing me like this. I never had reason to when I was around him.
I never got angry enough.
"I broke up with Lauren," he said, as if that would change my mind about Edward and make me go back to him, if he was even thinking that. As if.
"And? If you have nothing else to say but that, I suggest you leave right now," my voice sounded harsh, even to my own ears. He flinched again. His next words came out in a jumbled rush.
"Bella, I know you're pretty freaking angry at me right now, and I don't blame you one bit, but I still think we can be friends. Please, Bella? I really miss you, and I think we could make this work. And I miss you." He added the last part as an afterthought, but not even halfway through his explanation, I realized that I couldn't really hold a grudge against him. I was the reason he was here, pouting, frowning. The least I could do was make a pact.
I sighed. "Sure, Jake. I miss you too. Friends?" I asked as I pulled my hand out for him to shake. He smiled a big toothy grin, and shook my hand eagerly. His grip was so strong that when he let go, my arm just fell limp and I had to wait for my circulation to return. He laughed quietly, but heartedly. I smiled. I had brought my sunshine back again.
He looked at me funny, and before I could think of it anymore, he pulled me up in a big hug.
"I really missed ya, Bells. Lauren gets annoying." He laughed again. I laughed with him. He sighed and let go.
"Well, I better go. Billy doesn't know I snuck out." He chuckled. "Plus, I'm keeping you from sleep. What time is it now? One o'clock." With that, he just left without hearing me answer. Just straight down the tree. When he was down, I had a question.
"How'd you get here?" I whispered a little louder than we had been speaking before. I could hear his laugh.
"By foot, baby." Then he turned and left. I smiled at the turn my life had taken. A boyfriend and a new and old friend. I went to my bed and lay down, thinking about how weird this week had gotten. And it was only Wednesday.
Later……
I woke up sore. I remembered last night and realized that Jacob's bone-crushing hug had been filled with a little too much joy. I chuckled as I got ready for school. In a way, I was excited. Not for the learning that would boost up my education, no. I wasn't that much of a nerd. I was excited for the start of my relationship with Jacob.
Add to that, the fact that I would be seeing Edward, and my mood had shifted into an all new high.
The morning was pretty uneventful. Just Emmett. Nothing new except for his choice of theme song: "The Llama Song".
When I got to the school, I glanced around for Jacob's Rabbit. Funny. I thought he would for sure be here early. That was the least he could do for me. I guess not. I shrugged, and went to join Edward where he was standing there, just looking very suave. I smiled as I neared him. People didn't bother to stare again. We were now just another couple in the world of High School. Eric stood on a far wall, looking very flirty at Edward. I couldn't help but laugh. Edward cocked and eyebrow at me, and I nodded towards Eric.
When he took a sharp glance over there, his face stood with realization. He groaned.
"Looks like we've got a gay stalker on our hands." I whispered in his ear as he held me closer, subtlety giving Eric the hint. He frowned as Edward's smirk became bigger. My laugh turned into silent giggles. Edward's hand was placed on the small of my back, and led me urgently to the entrance of the school.
We seated in our chairs and waited for the bell to ring. The silence was growing awkward, so I spoke up. Since no one was around to hear me, I couldn't resist teasing him.
"You can't hide from Eric forever," I said.
"No. I can't hide, but I can avoid," he quickly amended. I just had to ask the burning question.
"Are you a homophobe?" This whole time he had been staring at his feet, now he looked up at me slowly, innocence clawed into every crevice of his skin. I would believe him, even if he said that the moon will never come up again.
"No. I just think it's uncomfortable to have someone you've barely known confess their undying love for you." He shrugged it off. This seemed more likely for me to believe than the moon never rising. I shook my head.
"I guess that's true." We stayed silent; Edward wasn't doing anything as I watched the people file in and chat away as they continued with the discussion they had before. I smiled when Jacob came in, but he didn't return it. He looked at me with a pained expression. My smile faltered. Edward was watching this with pure curiosity, and something else…something on the tip of my tongue. I shrugged it off, sure that it would come back when I wouldn't need it. I turned my head to the teacher.
When lunch came around, I still looked over to see that Jacob still wore that same expression from this morning. It made me sad that after he went through a window to make up, he would treat me like this. Guilt washed through me. A sudden gust. What if he didn't want friendship? What if it was just something to get me to forgive him, but then ignore me? No, get a hold of yourself. That isn't Jacob, it isn't like him. He wouldn't do that.. But it could happen, I allowed that. I smiled again and waved him over. This got a new expression on his face. Fear, and a little sorrow. He shook his head gravely and went to one of the far corners of the cafeteria. I sighed and threw myself back into whatever Edward and Alice were debating about. Jacob would want to be left alone, whatever he was dealing with.
"…Obama does not believe that!" Edward argued. Politics. Figures. They were really riled up for elections. I, for one, was not planning on voting. Too many choices.
"Yes he does. Doesn't he, Bella?" I tried to catch up with what they were saying, but gave on it soon enough. Instead I just gave a simple answer.
"Huh? Sure, yeah." I could see Edward's defeated face. He hated being wrong. Especially about politics. I took his hand. He smiled at me. I winked, and he laughed. Alice and Angela were watching this play out with faces that practically said, look-that's-so-cute.
I looked at them and blushed. Edward put a hand on my cheek and I gladly accepted it. Then, Alice and Angela's happy expressions didn't embarrass me. There was nothing but Edward in my mind, every corner, every nook and cranny of my mind and eyes.
The warmth of his emerald eyes made me melt inside. But then, I just had to look over at Jacob. I reproached myself internally. But I knew that I couldn't get him out of my mind; when Edward was looking at me like he loved me, then Jacob became a ghost in my head, but like all ghosts his face haunted me and he wouldn't go away.
Jacob was looking at me but when my eyes met with his, he turned his head. But there was no mistaking the expressions that were on his face: first, it was pain, second, was confusion, the third was intense thinking but all were gone in a fleeting second and he ended up impassive. I looked away, not being able to bear his changing emotions. I launched back into the conversation.
We still had about two more days of that wretched movie in bio, so I had to endure the whole hour trying to resist the urge to touch his pale, beautiful face. God, I am pathetic. I don't even have the willpower to restrain myself. I smiled at the thought. How true. After the movie, the same thing as yesterday, we stretched. Edward and I faced each other at the same time, and we busted out laughing at our restraints.
The table.
In gym, I managed to clip Mike's shoulder while also hitting myself on the head with the tennis racket. Just one of my many clumsy tricks. I went up to Mike and asked him if he was alright. He rolled his shoulder a couple times and told me he was okay. Then he asked me if I could stay on one side of the court. I nodded, taking my racket with me and putting it beside my back. All in all, he did pretty well, winning by one point. I wished I could have helped him more rather than almost handicapping him.
I changed in the locker room and ran outside, after apologizing to Mike once again. Edward was casually waiting for me.
"So what class do you have for this period?" I asked. I never really knew how far he had to go to wait for me.
"I have Mrs. Goff, in Spanish." He shrugged. I racked my mind for the building she was in. I think it was the fourth. Okay, so that was pretty far.
"That's far."
"Not really. Nothing for a big jock like me." He gave me a nudge with his elbow.
"Ha, ha. Yeah, nothing for a big jock. However, I would kill myself even walking on rubber. You don't really have to."
"I want to." We said our goodbyes and walked to our own cars. I waited for Emmett. Then I got a text from him.
Yo! Bells! I'm gonna be riding with Rose, so you can take your
Senior citizen home. I'll be there soon.
Peace out! Emmett.
P.s. Can you make chicken nuggets?
Figures. Chicken nuggets. I made a mental note to make those. I climbed into my truck and drove home. This was the second day that they had not given us homework, I guess they ran out of ideas to keep us busy. It probably wouldn't last long. They always come back with harder stuff. I got out of my truck and made a run through the rain. I made it safely inside, and panted until my breath came back. My hair was frizzy because of the rain, so I went to my room so I could stick a brush through it. After that I went downstairs to get the chicken nuggets in the oven. I made a fruit salad as a snack, and started on the potatoes. I heard a knock on the door just as I was getting finished.
I went to get it, and saw Emmett and Rosalie standing on the doorstep. Rosalie looked furious, probably because her hair was ruined. Emmett just looked like a drowned cat. A huge, drowned cat.
"Emmett, why do you always forget where the spare key is?" I asked him as they both entered.
"Because that information is not needed. When my sis is home, it's about as good as that spare key." He said, trying to one-up me on the vocabulary. Rosalie hit him on the head.
"Ouch! What was that for, Rose?"
"For being stupid. Thanks to you, I now have wet hair." She retorted. I snickered.
"You can go dry your hair in the bathroom, Rosalie, you could stay for dinner if you'd like, too." I offered.
She smiled at me, and nodded, before going up the stairs. I always liked Rosalie, but I felt a sense of tension whenever she was around. I turned to Emmett and said, "That really was stupid, Emmett." Then I went to the kitchen and served the food, Emmett following me around like a puppy whining for scraps.
"Emmett, go sit down! God, you can't even wait for food?"
"But Bella, it just smells so good, can I eat right now?" He said as I wrapped some food for Charlie when he gets home.
"No. Don't you at least have the decency to wait till your girlfriend comes ou of the bathroom?"
"Fine! I'll sing to occupy myself! By the way, what is decency?" I rolled my eyes.
"Just sing if your going to sing, Emmett." He instantly launched into the 'Gummy Bear Song." Rosalie came walking in, just as he was starting the chorus and he looked down at the plate in front of him with longing eyes.
"You can eat it now, Emmett." I said as he looked up at me with pleading eyes. Rosalie and I rolled our eyes at the same time once he started shoving the chicken into his mouth, and shoving all the potatoes on one spoon. We ate slowly, but savored the food, unlike the beast that was unfolding in front of us.
When it was time for Rosalie to leave, I retreated to the bathroom to get ready for bed, not wanting to see the make-out session they always had to say goodbye. I lay in my bed, slowly closing my eyelids and concentrating on the sounds outside my window. A cricket chirping, a bird calling out, a dog barking in the distance, and somthing else. It sounded like something thumping loudly against the grass outside. As I drifted near unconsciousness, the last thing I heard was the sound of a wolf howling in the woods.
Edward POV
I woke up to the sound of Alice and Carlisle bickering about how she was going to wake me up. I just sat there looking at them and listening for a long time. When they finally came to an agreement, they turned and noticed me. I waggled my fingers at them. "Hey, dad. Alice." i greeted as I headed over to my dresser.
"Hey Edward." They said in unison. I chuckled under my breath. Was it really that rare that I would wake up this early? It was only 5:45.
"Can I have some privacy?" I asked in an innocent tone. Carlisle nodded and left, with Alice trailing behind. I changed and went downstairs, to find Esme making pancakes and cookies. Yeah, you read that right. Cookies at 5 Am. I shoved some random pancakes on my plate and started shoveling them in my mouth to be indigested later. Esme screamed at me to slow down and eat like a gentleman. But just then, I had to leave Mount St. Pancakes and leave for school. Alice had informed me that she wanted to get to school early so that she could talk to Angela about something. I took my keys from my special place, and followed Alice to the Volvo. I hit the brakes.
"Whoa! Excited much?" She said while clutching her seat.
"No. You said you wanted to come early, so here I go. Buckle your seat belt."
She buckled her seat belt and we were just minutes away from the school. I loved driving fast. That probably doesn't help when I'm dating the daughter of the Chief Police in Forks, huh? I'll just hope he's not the one on patrol. Emmett's been down there enough for the whole football team. When we got to the school, we were one of the first ones there. My eyes instantly swept around for Bella's monstrosity of a truck. She wasn't there yet. Alice bounded off where she met with Angela and they started talking while giving me glances. I could only imagine what she would plan.
I decided to wait for Bella near the entrance, so she could see me easily. When she pulled up, I just leaned against the wall, watching her. I know that sounded kind of like a stalker, but I did. She got out of her car and shrugged at herself. Then she headed over to where I was leaning. She started smiling about halfway, and I couldn't help the little smile that wormed its way on my face.
Then she giggled when her eyes flashed to something behind me. People didn't bother to stare again at me and Bella. We were now just another couple in the world of High School. I cocked and eyebrow at me, and she nodded towards the thing.
When I took a sharp glance over there, my face etched itself with realization. I groaned. It was Eric, looking at me with a flirty expression. Why me? Why did he have to have a crush on me? No, not a crush, he loved me.
"Looks like we've got a gay stalker on our hands." She whispered in my ear as I took her in an embrace and held her closer, subtlety wanting to give Eric the hint. I saw him frown as my smirk meant for him became bigger. Her beautiful bell laugh turned into silent giggles. I placed my hand on the small of Bella's back, and led her urgently to the entrance of the school, needing to get away before Eric could say or do anything.
We seated in our chairs and waited for the bell to ring. The silence was growing awkward, and she spoke up after a while. Since no one was around to hear her, I guess, she couldn't resist teasing me about my 'gay stalker'.
"You can't hide from Eric forever," She said.
"No. I can't hide, but I can avoid," I quickly amended. I wasn't hiding, just avoiding. It was scary when you had a gay crush on your hands and your girlfriend knew about it. And she teased you. But of course I couldn't ever be angry at her. Then she asked the question.
"Are you homophobic?" This whole time I had been staring at my feet, now I looked up at her slowly, innocence clawed into every crevice of my skin. How could she think that? A homophobe? Something told me that she would believe me, even if I said that werewolves were real.
"No. I just think it's uncomfortable to have someone you've barely known confess their undying love for you." I shrugged it off. She shook her head.
"I guess that's true." We stayed silent; I really wasn't doing anything as Bella watched the people file in and chat away as they continued with the discussion they had before. I saw her smile when Jacob came in, but he didn't return it back. He looked at her with sort of a pained expression. Her smile faltered. I was watching this with pure curiosity, and I felt a twinge of jealously. I knew I had nothing to worry about, but still. I saw her shrug it off, and turn her head to the teacher.
When lunch came around, I was watching Bella look over to see that Jacob still wore that same expression from this morning. When she turned her head, he glared at me, and I glared back. I looked at her at the corner of my eye, and saw a flash of sadness in her eyes. Then guilt. Then she turned back to Jacob and smiled a small smile. Then she waved him over. This got a new expression on his face. Fear, and a little sorrow. He shook his head gravely and went to one of the far corners of the cafeteria. I heard her sigh and threw myself back into whatever me and Alice were debating about. I wasn't really trying to win, but I always did in the end. We were discussing politics. Alice and I were pumped up for elections. We were debating over what Obama believes. (A/n: I'm a huge Obama supporter.)
"…Obama does not believe that!" I argued.
"Yes he does. Doesn't he, Bella?" I could tell Bella was not listening,and trying to catch up with what we were saying, but gave up on it soon enough. Instead I guessed she gave her simple answer.
"Huh? Sure, yeah." I had on my defeated face. I hated being wrong. Especially about politics. She took my hand, a reassuring gesture. I smiled at her. She winked, and I laughed. Alice and Angela were watching this play out with faces that practically said, look-that's-so-cute.
She looked at the two girls and blushed. I put one cold hand on her warm cheek and she gladly accepted it. Then, Alice and Angela's happy expressions didn't embarrass seem to be there anymore. There was nothing but Bella in my mind, every corner, every nook and cranny of my mind and eyes. Every fiber of my being.
The warmth of her chocolate brown eyes made me feel more in love than I ever could be. But then, she just had to look over at Jacob. I felt the twang of jealousy again. I scolded myself internally. Bella was my girlfriend. She didn't seem like the kind of girl that would cheat. She wasn't the kind of girl that would cheat. I was sure of that fact. She was mine. Jacob may have been her boyfriend before, but he cheated. Even if they were friends, it wasn't like he would try to win her back. Would he? I shook my head of the thought. I had nothing to worry about. I looked back at them, looking at each other. When their eyes met, he turned away.
There were many emotions that went through his face. Pain, confusion, and intensity in thought. They were all gone in a flash. She looked away and came into the conversation. She still looked a little pained.
We still had about two more days of that wretched movie in bio, so I had to endure the cramping stance and to resist touching her silky face with my cold fingers. God, I must sound so pathetic. I am hopelessly in love. I smiled at the thought. It sound like that one song in Grease. After the movie, the same thing as yesterday, we stretched. Bell and I faced each other at the same time, and we busted out laughing at our restraints.
The table in front of us.
In Spanish, away from Bella, all I could do was think about how much I was thinking about Bella and Jacob. They weren't together, or else Alice would have told me. They must still be close, though, for Bella to have that pained expression on her face in the lunchroom. I was willing to bet that they had become friends in the past week. I wonder why she hadn't told me. I also wondered what sort of thing that could cause Jacob pain. I was no friend of his, but that didn't stop me from wondering.
I waited for Bella outside her class, after the pretty long walk from Mrs. Goff's room. It made nothing difficult for me, I left only seconds earlier than the other students. All so I could leave to see Bella.
"So what class do you have for this period?" She asked, when she came out of the Gym. I'm guessing I never told her my schedule.
"I have Mrs. Goff, in Spanish." I shrugged. She had a calculating look on her face.
"That's far." She had been trying to figure out the distance. I decided to joke.
"Not really. Nothing for a big jock like me." I gave her a nudge with my elbow.
"Ha, ha. Yeah, nothing for a big jock. However, I would kill myself even walking on rubber. You don't really have to." I would catch you if you fell, I told her in my mind. I decided to save her the blush, though.
"I want to." We said our goodbyes and walked to our own cars. I got pulled in by Alice and drove at the same fast pace. Apparently I had created a speed monster.
"Come on! You can go faster than that!" Seconds later after that statement we pulled up to the house. I rolled my eyes.
"Alice. I'm dating the Police Cheif's daughter. How do you think he would take it if I went speeding everywhere? Besides, we are here." I cocked an eyebrow. She looked around and realized it.
"Fine." She huffed.
I chuckled at her hyper natural nature. She was just born with it. I shut off the engine and headed inside. I greeted Carlisle and Esme and headed to my room. There was no homework, so I just put in a random CD in my awesome radio system and sang at the top of my lungs. I know this was something a guy didn't normally do, so when Alice came in with Angela standing beside her, naturally, they started laughing. I blushed and told Alice to get out after she asked to borrow some of my CDs.
"Most likely, we'll want that one you just danced to." She giggled. Angela just smirked. I took out the CD and gave it to her. Then I closed the door and lay on my bed. I laughed at one of the most embarrassing things that could happen. Alice is going to think I was gay. If she didn't already think that. I slowly fell asleep.
Two hours later...
I woke up with a start. I looked around trying to figure out the place I was in. Then I remembered what I did. I fell asleep. Duh, I was in my room! I heard Esme calling me from downstairs for dinner. I groaned and went downstairs.
"Where were you? Edward, I had been calling you for the past three minutes!" She scolded as I made my way to the dining table. Alice was already eating at the table and she rolled her eyes.
"Maybe he was dreaming of-" I cut her off with a look that said 'shut-up'. She rolled her eyes again.
"I fell asleep." I stated. Esme still had speculation in her eyes but shrugged anyways. She had no clue of Bella, and I hadn't planned on telling her anytime soon. I sat down and commenced eating. Steak and potatoes. Alice ate daintily, while I drowned my potatoes in gravy. Esme just eyed me with a disgusted expression. She followed the example of her daughter and we all ate in silence. We had nothing to say. Carlisle came in soon after, fresh from work, carrying the hospital's scent around the room. Esme's nose scrunched up. I paid it no mind. I actually liked the scent. I wanted to be a doctor anyways, might as well get used to it.
After dinner, I went straight up to my room to fall asleep again. Before I closed my eyes, I heard the cry of a wolf in the distance.
A/n: So there is the new chapter. Uh... so I had to edit this myself since my new-proclaimed editor has left. Yeah, she had somewhere to go, so tell me if I made any major spelling mistakes or anything and I'll fix it. These are one of the longest chapters! 4,959!
Look out for the butt-load of hints that tell you what to expect in the next chapter. Let's just say that Bella will have to figure out things the hard way...
And the people that reviewed in the last chapter were: evilangel3326, Zoella De Vil, Alice-Chick1994, Edward-Chick1901, and Kaki-chann. I thank ya'll for reviewing! Now for the fantabulous disclaimer.
DISCLAIMER: IN CASE YOU SKIPPED THE LAST CHAPTERS, I'LL REMIND YOU. I...DON'T...OWN...ANYTHING. THIS ARE STEPHENIE MEYER'S CHARACTERS! NOT MINE.