Chapter 20:
One of the things that I want to say just aren't coming out right 'Cause it's you and me and all of the people with nothing to do There's something about you now
I'm tripping on words
You've got my head spinning
I don't know where to go from here
Nothing to prove
And it's you and me and all other people
And I don't know why, I can't keep my eyes off of you
I can't quite figure out
Everything she does is beautiful
Everything she does is right
(You and Me by Lifehouse)
Edward's pov:
I dragged Bella after me to escape the paparazzi and we kept on going till we were able to hail a cab. I'd get my car in the morning. We rode in silence for a while until Bella spoke.
"Ok, I think you should say something before I go crazy."
"What do you want me to say?" I asked.
"Let's start with why you punched my best-friend."
I raised an eyebrow at her. "Your best-friend?"
"Yeah. James? The guy you felled at the restaurant causing a spectacle? Ring any bells?" She spoke as though I was a five year old and I grudgingly admitted to myself that I deserved that. After all, I'd been acting like one.
"I know who he is." I muttered.
"Then why did you punch him?"
"Didn't you see the way he was acting? I couldn't put up with someone acting like he owned you." I explained.
"He didn't act like he owned me. He's just being James. He's always been protective of me. If you knew him you'd understand." She defended.
"I don't want to know him." I went back to acting like a little kid. I couldn't help it. Thinking of Bella with someone else drove me insane.
"You're not…jealous, are you?" She asked hesitantly. "I mean, you know better than to be jealous, right?"
"Do I?" I asked.
"Edward, James and I are just friends. Sure, we've dated each other before but…."
"You dated before? And you don't want me to be jealous?" I was outraged. Couldn't believe she'd kept something like this from me.
"That was years ago. We were practically kids. It didn't work out and we both agreed that we're better as just friends and James went to study in America."
"But he's back now, isn't he? Why?"
She hesitated and that was all the answer I needed.
"He wants you two to get back together, doesn't he?"
She nodded once and I tensed.
"And what did you tell him?" I waited with bated breath for her answer.
"What do you think I told him? I told him that I have a boyfriend and that we were better as friends than as a couple. Any other questions?"
She asked flippantly.
I smiled at her, trying to ease the moment.
"Nope, I'm done."
"Well, then do you promise to be civil to James from now on?"
"Uhh…"
"EDWARD! Please!" She begged me. I never realized how important it was for her that I get along with her friend. If that's what it took to make her happy than I was more than willing to do it. Doesn't mean I'd have to like it though…
"Alright. I promise."
She wrapped her arms around my waist and hugged me tight.
"Thank you!"
I laid my chin on top of her head and whispered, "Anything…Anytime."
We reached her house and we got out of the cab, only to find that some of the paparazzi had followed us.
"Oh, no." Bella moaned.
"Edward, Edward, right here."
"Who's your friend?"
"Are you on a date?"
"What about Tanya?"
"Why did you hit that boy at the restaurant?"
They all asked at the same time.
I grabbed her hand and made a run towards her front door.
Bella unlocked the door quickly then pulled me inside.
"I can't wait till we go to California. Maybe then we could get a break from all this." Bella said.
"Hoeny, I hate to break it to you, but the papz in California are actually worse than here." I revealed nervously
"What? Oh, God." She groaned.
I put my arm around her and pulled her closer to me. "I'm so sorry you have to put up with all of this."
"Don't be. It's not your fault. Besides, I'd put up with anything as long as it means we can stay together."
She was too cute. I leaned towards her and we started kissing, but after a while a thought struck me and I pulled back.
"Wait, where are your parents?"
"They're not here. Tonight's their date night. You think I'd be sitting here with you like this if they were here?"
"Good point." I leaned back in and we resumed what we were doing.
A few minutes past and we were pretty occupied with each other, until we were interrupted when the phone rang.
Bella's pov:
Edward and I broke off and I leaned over to pick up the phone.
"Hello." I sounded like I'd been running a marathon and my heart was beating so hard, it felt like it was about to pop out of my chest.
"Did you know that you were all over the news?"
"Alice? You're speaking to me again?" I couldn't believe it.
"Oh, Jasper explained everything and I realized that it wasn't really your fault anyway. So, back to my question…did you know that you're all over the news?"
"No, I didn't. What are they saying?"
"They're talking about you. How they think you might've stolen Edward from Tanya and then cheated on him with some other guy, that's why Edward beat him up at the restaurant."
"WHAT? That's completely un-true!" I cried out. I glanced at Edward and he looked really worried.
"I know that! But they don't." Alice said.
"Ok, Alice. Thanks for telling me. I'll talk to you later ok?"
"Ok, see ya." I hung up the phone.
"What is it? Is everything ok?" Edward asked.
I told him exactly what Alice had said. He sat completely still afterwards. It looked like he was formulating a plan.
"Edward? What are you thinking about?"
"You know through the past few months I've figured out that the best way to get the paparazzi off your back is to give them exactly what they want." He said.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"I mean, we'll give them an interview. Both of us."
I could only stare at him in shock. What?
(A/N): Soooo, whatdya think? Plzzzz review! =)
Thanks so much to born2bmyself for being my 100th reviewer :D You Rock Gurl! :D