AN: I had no idea what this chapter was going to be about so it's probably not going to be too interesting, just trying to get somewhere else I suppose. Oh the transitions from point A to B… I'm sorry but I think this chapter is fairly basic and fluffy BUT a chapter none the less.
HAPPY CANADIAN THANKSGIVING! So in spirit of the holiday, and the fact that I finally get a day off work, I will say I'm thankful for everyone who's reviewed and alerted.
How many of our daydreams would darken into nightmares
if there seemed any danger of their coming true!
-Logan Pearsall Smith
Chapter eight: (part one)
Sunday passed agonizingly slowly. I spent the time on schoolwork that I'd had fallen behind on and because I didn't want to dwell on anything substantial, like Edward, my family or even Jacob, I managed to somehow get ahead. While I was reading 'Animal Farm,' the novel my English class was going to read next month, the phone rang. I was laying on my bed with my feet dangling over the edge when Emmett's booming voice called me down, "BELLA, PHONES FOR YOU."
I trudged down the stairs hoping it wasn't Jacob. I couldn't handle anything even remotely serious today. I passed the living room briefly noticing what Emmett was doing. He had homework scattered around him though his attention was on the television. I rolled my eyes as I entered the small kitchen. Emmett had left the old corded phone on the table. I picked it up and sat on one of the mismatched chairs. While bringing my legs up, I spoke, "Hello?" I asked apprehensively.
"Bella, hey, it's Jessica." Jessica hadn't crossed my mind since Friday at school. I was relieved to hear her voice and immediately knew she'd called to gossip about the dance. At least I knew she had a good time, good news, she wouldn't have called if things with her and Mike had gone poorly.
"How are you?" I asked letting my ridged posture relax.
She didn't seem to hear my question. "So," she started, I could hear the excitement in her voice, "Mike kissed me!" She exclaimed. It sounded like it had been hard for her to keep that private. I was pulled back momentarily, uneasily recalling my own memory of a kiss.
"That's great," I replied simply, "What led up to it?" I added hopping to encourage her when the perverse idea of telling Jessica about the day I'd had yesterday pushed at the tip of my tongue.
"After the dance, he drove me home, he was so cute, came 'round to open my door," my mind whooshed away; thoughts of Edward abounded me. The way he had looked at me when he had opened the car door, the way his hand grabbed mine… every part of him. I shook my head, clearing the images from the central part of my mind while I forced myself to make small talk with Jessica.
She added little details about dresses, dates and the small drama from the other attendees but my focus was shattered. I didn't hear the specifics and it confused me when her voice stopped, "Sorry what was that?" I wondered hopping my lapse wasted too delayed.
"I've got to go. I'll see you tomorrow," she repeated, her tone was clipped and I hopped I hadn't made another mess.
--
When I awoke Monday morning I felt disappointment; realizing Edward wasn't there. It took me a while to realign my dreams with reality and another moment to process the guilt and numb it. The morning passed through my numbed haze. I focused briefly when a question was directed toward me but otherwise had the emotion of a zombie.
The sound of the bell for lunch hour finally threw my nerves into hyper activity. Jessica was gathering her books beside me and I could sense that she didn't understand my strange behavior. "I'm sorry I've been distracted," I directed to her tense shoulders.
They slumped a bit in response and she spun around to display her slightly annoyed features, "You've been acting weird since Seattle," she muttered making me wonder how I'd come across on the phone; how my attitude had registered with people today.
"I'm sorry," I repeated. I didn't want to ruin the friendship I had with Jessica though I acknowledged it was superficial in a sense.
She seemed to perk up at my words, "So did something happen in Seattle?" Searching for some gossip, I sighed.
I didn't want to lie but I knew I couldn't tell her everything so I edited the truth, "I bought a couple books." She frowned, displeased at the boring quality of my story, and I added, "Your Saturday was much more interesting; have you talked to Mike since?"
She smiled mischievously, "Yeah, he called…" We walked to the cafeteria as she ranted about the conversation her and Mike had, had. I made sure to pay strict attention, even adding tiny fragments of comments back.
Mike was already sitting at our table; finally cancelling out Jessica's speech. She sat down beside him shyly as I walked past. My eyes roamed the room, like they did every day, and Edward's eyes met mine for a moment. A tiny smile played on his lips and I looked down awkwardly.
I sat down timidly beside Angela who was in the middle of a conversation with Erick. Taking out 'Animal Farm,' I pretended to read while sneaking small glances up. Every once in a while our eyes would meet; every time they did I blushed. Tired of playing this game I tried to actually read the words in front of my face.
Some time later I had to set the book on the table in frustration; I hadn't been able to finish a single page since I'd opened it. Everything alright?" Angela questioned.
I shook my head, "Fine," my words didn't seem to convince her but she didn't try to dig any deeper. Hoping, pitifully, she might react like Jessica I turned directly to her, ignoring the pull toward Edward, and asked, "How was the dance?"
Her eyes lowered and she frowned secretively, "Fine." When she looked up I knew that her fine had been exactly the same as mine, evasive. She must have realized this as I did; she smiled and let out a small chuckle. I grinned, "Are you glad you didn't go?"
My smile deepened, "Yes."
--
I walked slowly with Angela to biology. Mike, for once, wasn't trailing along, though someone else was. Edward was walking so near behind me, if I swung my arm it would brush him. With great effort I ignored the small peripheral tidbits of Edward, a touch of his arm breaking into the frame, a few strands of his unique hair.
Even though Angela was my friend, more so than Jessica, I knew I couldn't explain this relationship to her. I believed she wouldn't tell a soul, trusted her, but the information hung between us. More than anything I enjoyed that it was secret, enjoyed keeping it personal.
Sitting beside Edward was two things, bliss and torment. I could smell him, could sense him. My instincts wanted me to pull closer, touch him. Of course I couldn't do any of those things. He sat closer to me than before, his arm brushed tenderly against mine; practically as close as we had been at the bookstore. To a bystander it wouldn't look wrong, weird and especially not romantic but to me it felt amazing.
I wondered where my family loyalty went; but that, along with the guilt, had vanished with his presence. I felt whole, strangely just and I liked it. I had finally been able to sleep, finally been able to look myself in the eye and it was all because it'd told Edward how I felt. He knew and he didn't want me to get away, he wanted me nearer.
I savored the class so of course it passed quickly. The other students filled out, along with Mr. Banner in the blink of an eye. We were safe now and I looked up at Edward without hesitation. His crooked grin was spectacular. Warm butterflies tossed inside me. His hand circled mine and he squeezed timidly. "You've got to go," Edward's velvet voice told me. I nodded.
His hand loosened and as I got up from my chair he let his fingers trail loosely up my arm.
AN: Blah, more hand holding, when will they finally do more? I'm not even sure but it better be soon because I don't think I can write about hands anymore.
An extra thanks for the suggestions for where to lead this story. I appreciate it, I'm a little word tied at the moment if you can't tell. Sorry about the lenght, so short; hopefully next chapter will be longer.
If it wasn't obvious why Angela didn't have a good time at the dance it was because she wasn't too excited to be going with Erick. She was thinking about Ben the whole time. I always thought Angela and Ben were so cute in the book.