Chapter Twenty-five: Someone Like You

Edward's POV:

I don't want to go tux shopping. In fact, I don't really want to go to prom at all, but the plans have been set in stone for so long that I can't back out now even though I want to. When Jesse picked me and Emmett up for the trip to Port Angeles, I was surprised and somewhat annoyed to see another car full of girls – the cheerleaders. Then I remembered, it's a Forks High tradition for the football players to take the cheerleaders shopping. I offered to take my own car to lighten the load, and before I knew it Darcy was climbing into the passenger seat next to me, fiddling with my radio and adjusting the heat (even though I've told her before that it annoys me when she does that). I rolled my eyes, but I don't think she saw me.

In and out, I told myself. In and out, then you can see Grace.

So now, driving in my car on the way to Port Angeles, I'm mostly silent, only offering up the usual "oh yeah" or "tell me more" when I need to. I can't stop thinking of things I'd rather be doing than this, like hanging out with Bella and Grace or gauging out my own eyes. I can barely stomach the look of Darcy after what Bella had told me. I could barely even stomach myself.

I wasn't lying when I told Bella I'm not into Darcy, and having her sit next to me now crooning some love song that's playing over the radio just confirms that for me. But, she's my date, as the Forks High School Spartans tradition entails. Prom King and Prom Queen, much to my chagrin. So I just have to go along with this for the time being, not raising any suspicions. My head needs to be clear for the game. If people find out about Bella and Grace right now, I won't hear the end of it. I can't afford that kind of distraction, especially because the scouts are going to be extra critical while watching the game. My future – and the future I want to provide for Grace – is riding on it.

As we get closer to Sabrina's, I can't help but wonder what kind of dress Bella's going to wear. I wonder what kind of perfume she's going to use – surely it will be better than the dank stuff Darcy's wearing right now. It burns my nostrils which each breath I take. What colour will her dress be? Will her hair be curly or straight? Up or down? Who's her date?

"Edward, are you evening listening to me?" Darcy's voice makes me jump out of my daydream. "I said, the after party's gonna be huge."

I wasn't. But say, " Yeah yea yeah, the after party. Huge." I keep my eyes fixed on the road, trying to blink Bella out of my vision and hopefully giving Darcy the hint that I don't want to talk.

She leans back in her seat, probably happy I gave her more than a two worded answer. "Daddy rented this huge tent and booked a DJ. One of the best, from Seattle. And I've got like, four kegs of beer coming. It's gonna be fierce."

I try not to cringe at her use of the word fierce as she kicks her feet up on my dash, a mess of dried mud leaving streaks on the plastic. She whips out a tube of lipstick and a little mirror from her obnoxiously over-sized bag and starts to apply a shade of red that is much too dark. She smacks her lips together a few times and then takes an extra long look in the mirror before putting it back in her bag.

It takes another few minutes before we pull into the parking lot. There's only one other car there when we arrive, an older model Toyota I don't recognize. I push the car into park just as Emmett pulls up in his jeep with Rose, one of my teammates and two cheerleaders in the back. Jesse pulls in next to him with his date in the front. The bass from his stereo is turned up so high that I can feel the vibrations in my car.

I get out of my car slowly, hoping Darcy gets out at the same time and doesn't expect me to open the door from her. I glance at my watch – I'd need to make this quick if I want time to see Bella and Grace today. Before I even get a chance to look up from my watch Darcy's grabbing my hand and leading me up the steps to the shop. I take a nervous glance back, hoping Emmett or Jesse is right behind me. They're too busy kissing their dates to even realize we're heading for the door.

I turn back just in time to grab the door with my free hand before it smacks me in the face. The bells overhead chime and Darcy squeals, "Oh, my God! Look at all these dresses!"

I step into the shop, my eyes taking a moment to adjust from the brightness outside to the dim indoor lights. It doesn't take long before I see her, and it doesn't take long before she see's me, too. She's at the cash, holding a white dress-bag. I drop Darcy's hand without breaking my gaze from Bella's, and she starts to look through the racks. Bella's face drops, mouth slightly opened. For a moment it looks like she might say something to me, but then her jaw snaps shut and she turns towards the cashier, muttering something to her before grabbing all her things. Her friend looks confused. When she turns again, she's looking at the ground and not at me, something I've come to realize she does whenever she's embarrassed or upset.

I want to say something to her, explain myself. But I can't do that – not here, with Darcy within earshot and everyone else just outside. I can't even bring myself to move from my spot in front of the door, let alone form a sentence. I know how this looks. I had just talked to Bella a few days ago about not being interested in Darcy, but here I was; an idiot yet again.

When Bella's passes me to get to the door, still not looking at me, our shoulders crash against one another. I should have moved out of her way but I was still frozen in spot.

"Hey, watch yourself, slut!" Darcy calls out from across the store. I clench my jaw, wishing so badly I could tell her to shut the fuck up. I could deal with Darcy being mean on occasion (I wasn't going to be able to change her shit attitude anyway)– but not to Bella, not any more. She's the mother of my child, whether that's known or not. She doesn't deserve it.

"Oh, s-sorry," I manage to mutter, stepping out of her way as she flings the door open. I can hear everyone else coming up the steps now, laughing and talking way too loud. I want to tell her more, explain myself fully, but I can't. Not here.

Her friend steps out before her as she holds the door. As her friend starts to descent the stairs, she turns and looks at me. "You've never been sorry," is all she says before letting the door slam in my face. I only manage to take a breath as she passes because she smells so good.

I barely have time to process what just happened before the door opens again and everyone else is piling into the shop. I'm lost in a sea of people for a moment, but when they all disperse it's only Darcy standing in front of me. I still haven't moved.

She's laughing. "Did you see that?!" she manages to say between fits of laughter. I furrow my brow. What's so funny? "You should have seen her face! I swear she's like, in love with you or something."More laughter, and I can feel the anger building in my chest. "I thought I told that little slut to stay away from you. I guess I'll have to tell her again."

"Stop," I say to her, putting my hand up.

"Oh, Edward," she says with another laugh. She reaches forward and runs her manicured finger down the length of my chest, pushing her body up against mine. Her breath smells like coffee and old gum. "Always such a gentleman. You don't have to pretend to be nice to her. You don't deserve someone like that."

"Oh, really?" I say, raising an eyebrow. "So who do I 'deserve' then? Someone like you?"

She doesn't understand my sarcastic tone. She smiles and bits her lower lip, trying to be sexy. I just want to tell her what an idiot she looks like, but I can't. "Exactly," she says, pushing even closer to me. "I was wondering when you'd finally come around."

I shake my head and gently push her away from me. I don't want her that close. "You know," I say, backing up and then taking a step to the right to get away from her. "You don't need to be such of a bitch all the time. It's not very ladylike." Her face falters and she struggles to find words to say to that.

I take this chance to glance at my watch; I've got to go. I can't be here with Darcy, pretending I want to be here when really I don't. When all I can think about is Bella and what she must be feeling right now. If she can't trust me when I say I don't want Darcy, how can I expect her to trust anything else I say? I made her feel this way for nine months. She was finally giving me the chance I didn't deserve, and I was doing it again. I won't make her feel that way. I won't.

I open the door and jog down the steps at record speed. I'm fumbling with my keys in the lock when I hear the shop door open. I glance up for a second and see Darcy making her way down the steps.

"Edward, what the hell are you doi-"

"I'm out," I call, twisting the key. Unlocked. "I'm sure you can manage without me."

I get in the car and slam the door. My rushing makes me fumble with the keys in the ignition, too, but before long I'm speeding out of the parking lot. When I look out of my rear-view mirror I see Darcy, standing with her arms up. I smile and press the gas. Next stop: Forks.

A/N: I hope this chapter in Edward's perspective helps you guys understand where both Bella and Edward are coming from! A lot of you are hating on Edward, but I'm hoping this helps you guys to see where he's coming from in the choices he makes! Please let me know what you think in the REVIEWS! Also, should the next chapter be in Bella or Edward's point of view?