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EPOV
Baseball tryouts start this afternoon and the whole school can talk of nothing else because of the new coach. They are hoping he can pull a miracle out of his ass and restore the team back to it's...nah, come to think of it, I don't think the Forks baseball team had any former glory.
Emmett has been on my ass all week to try out with him but I refuse every time. Sure I like baseball, what teenage boy doesn't (living in Washington doesn't make me a Mariners fan though) I just don't like it enough to take time away from my girl and I certainly don't like the Forks High student body enough to play for them.
Bella wants to go to watch the tryouts like everyone else but she is worried it will be a trigger for her.
I admit to myself that I worry for her too.
Her mother used to drag her to Phil's games when he coached. It was something he expected and something he demanded...the portrayal of a perfect family, she had told me as her face twisted in derision.
It is the first time she has spoken about him of her own volition without sending her into a full blown panic attack. I don't even think she realizes it and I want to tell her how proud I am that she's done that but I bite my tongue. If I call attention to it, it may send her back into her shell again. She has just begun to blossom and I am like a bee drawn to her sweet nectar..then again I had been since I met her.
I tell her it's okay to not go...that we can just hear about it later.
But my stubborn girl is insistent on going. She says she is testing herself but I know most of her steely determination comes from not wanting to disappoint Emmett. He doesn't say it in as many words but he wants all of us there to support him.
Even if he is dead sure, he'll make the team.
Cocky bastard.
Bella had been the first one to pick up on it.
He has no idea what this may cost her. She has begged my silence on the matter and I cannot refuse her. I am forced to bite my tongue on this matter too.
"I need to try this Edward." She looks at me with pleading eyes that could drown me and save me at the same time. "I can't let this irrational fear rule my life."
"It's not irrational, baby." I soothe her hair from her face and nuzzle her ear just the way she likes. I feel her shiver in delight under my touch and I nearly hum in pleasure. "You've been through hell...it's bound to leave it's mark."
"I wear enough marks that I can't do anything about...I can do something about this. Emmett wants us there and I want to be there for him."
"Emmett will understand." I tell her. "If you just explain..."
She shakes her head vigorously. "I don't want him to know. He'll be too concerned about me to concentrate on playing. I won't ruin this for him."
I hate to admit that she's right but she is. Emmett will worry and I would do anything for Bella not to add to the debilitating guilt she already feels.
Blowing out a breath, I reluctantly concede.
I know watching Emmett play will come secondary to making sure Bella is alright.
It's cold and the ground is muddy but the bleachers by the baseball field still fill quickly. Alice, Rose and Jasper have saved seats for us but I lead Bella to the edge of one bench in case we need to make a quick exit.
Rubbing her hands in between my own, I lean down and kiss her. Her lips are chilled but soft and receptive. Her cheeks warm with the tell-tale flood of blood from her blush. I smile against her mouth.
Behind us I hear a gagging sound and when I turn angrily to see who the perpetrator is, I am looking at the disgusted sneer of Lauren Mallory.
Fucking wonderful.
Feeling extra vindictive towards the troll faced bitch, I vow to kiss Bella a lot during the tryouts.
Not that I need any incentive.
My girl tempts me just by breathing.
The on-lookers hush as the potential players assemble onto the field. It's obvious who last year's team was. In a show of solidarity and perhaps desire for recognition, they stand together, wearing the team baseball caps as well as smug expressions.
The new coach, saunters on the field and I can feel Bella's grip tighten around my hand. I squeeze it in return...a silent message.
I'm here, Bella...just say the word and we're out of here.
Coach Chase scans the crowd. Is it just me or do his eyes seem to linger too long on where we are standing? I hear an intake of breath beside me and the coach grins widely before turning his attention to the perspective players.
"Who was on the team last year?" He addresses them.
There is a show of hands.
"I suppose you all think you got it in the bag for this year, don't you?"
There's laughter now, high fives and elbow nudging.
I roll my eyes and choke back a laugh.
"Sorry to burst your bubble but just because you were good enough for your old coach does not mean you are good enough for me. I expect perfection, dedication..."
He drones on and I tune out his grandstanding speech, turning my focus back to Bella.
"He's a bit over the top, isn't he?" I joke.
But she isn't responding. It's like she's lost in her own world. Her face is pale, her breathing coming in short pants...her eyes unfocused.
"Bella?" I whisper nervously in her ear. "Breathe, okay...nice and deep." My tone turns soft and soothing; a complete contradiction to the way I feel on the inside.
She still doesn't respond...doesn't even blink.
That's it, we're leaving.
She seems to know my intent to whisk her away and snaps abruptly out of her state.
With a surprising display of strength, her grip latches onto the sleeve of my pea coat. She is looking at me now, her gaze completely lucid.
"No. I'm okay now." The command in her voice is tempered only by the trembling of her bottom lip.
"You're shaking." I state the obvious.
"I'm fine...I'll be fine."
The way she says it I wonder if she's trying to convince me or herself.
She pulls me to her then, taking my bottom lip in between hers and sucking on it lightly. I groan into her mouth and lean into the kiss. We separate only when there is a kick on our seat.
I glare at Lauren, who has her arms crossed in front of her defiantly.
"Do you mind? There are people trying to watch the field here."
"Actually, I do mind." I tell her and kiss Bella once again. My hands cup the back of her head as my mouth moves over hers slowly, taking extra care to savor at what is being offered. She grips the lapels of my coat and pulls me closer. I could swear I hear her purring and thank God my coat is long enough to cover the obvious evidence of my arousal.
Slowly she pulls away, gazing at me in wonder.
"That was very...um...nice." She whispers as a slow smile spreads across her face.
Yes, very nice indeed.
We stay for the rest of the tryouts.
Despite the cold, Emmett is a sweaty mess, picking up Rosalie with a Whoop! and swinging her around in a wide circle.
"Put me down!" She screams but she is laughing.
Much to my shock and dismay, he picks up Bella next and swings her around as well. My heart is in my throat. I am on the verge of panic.
Oh god.
Is she going to freak out?
Scream?
But no.
She's giggling when he sets her down.
She's fucking giggling; with her wide beam of a smile that can light up a whole room.
I am awed by her.
Fucking awed.
And so in love it hurts to breathe.
My whole body slumps in relaxation and I am laughing now too...mostly from relief.
"Thank you." Emmett tells her sincerely and seriously.
It's then I realize he knew.
He knew what this could cost her.
And I wasn't sure if at that point I wanted to punch him or hug him.
The final decisions won't be posted for a few days so we all take off to Forks Coffee Shop to feed Emmett's tape worm and Jasper's sweet tooth.
"I can't eat with that thing staring at me."
There is a huge stuffed elk just sitting there in the middle of the diner and it freaks me out with it's brown eyes as I shovel chicken fried steak in my mouth.
"Anyone want to switch seats with us?" I ask.
Bella laughs and squeezes my thigh.
Emmett snorts. "Really? That thing isn't even real?"
"Of course it's real." Jasper manages with a grin in between bites of his apple pie ala mode. "It was probably the dinner special when this place first opened."
"Ewww." Alice squeals clanging her salad filled fork on her plate. "That's just...ewww."
Rose sits up a little straighter, nudging Emmett with her elbow. "Coach Chase just walked in." She whispers nodding over to the entrance.
He must see us (I can't tell because I'm not facing the door) because suddenly he's there standing beside our table with the kind of leering smile that puts me on edge.
"Emmett Cullen, right?" He ask my brother.
"That's me." Emmett says proudly puffing up his chest.
Oh brother...can he be anymore fucking obvious?
"You played really well today. I think you'll be pleased when I post the results." Chase glances at all of us, finally resting his eyes on Bella and I'd be damned if he didn't smile wider. "Bella, how nice to see you again."
She gives him a tentative smile back but I feel the way her body tenses beside me.
What the fuck?
"Well...looks like my takeout order is ready. See you all at school." He tips his baseball hat and walks away.
I wait until I am sure he's out of ear shot before I turn to Bella.
"You know him?" I ask and I want to punch myself at the accusation in my tone. Something about him doesn't feel right to me.
Maybe it's just the extra attention I've caught him playing on my girl but it's enough to spark my anger and yes…my jealousy.
"He...uh...came into Newton's the other day." Bella stammers out an explanation. "I rang up his order."
Emmett's glaring at me, his mouth has that "I can't believe you just said that' look.
"Seriously, dude?"
Everyone else looks at me like I've grown three heads…except Bella…she is giving me this questioning look she gets...the one with a partial smile, like she's trying to figure me out.
Okay, so I may have overreacted but hell…cut me some slack. I'm new at this.
"I didn't like the way he looked at Bella." I grumble sullenly. "I don't think it's appropriate."
"He was just being friendly." Bella tries to reassure me, rubbing her hand up and down my arm to calm me down. "My being uncomfortable has nothing to do with him...really."
I look at her gaging her sincerity.
"Really." She repeats.
"You good, Cullen?" Jasper grins.
I nod dumbly.
"Awesome, now have a damn fry."
It's just after seven when I take Bella home. Her father's cruiser is sitting inoccuously in the drive and another smaller car that looks semi-familiar is right behind it. The living room lights are on and I see shadows of people through the curtains in the window. Bella has noticed too and she is frowning.
"Looks like your dad has company." I say non-chalantly.
"Billy and Jacob." She says absently. "I wonder if there's a game tonight."
"Pre-season Mariners." I automatically say. "Who are Billy and Jacob?" I ask because that is the real question on my mind.
"Billy is Charlie's best friend and Jacob is his son. They're from the reservation."
Jacob. It's a name she mentioned before, albeit only briefly but it is enough to raise my hackles.
"Have you...um...mentioned to Charlie that I'm your boyfriend now?" I ask trying to sound casual.
I don't think it works because the edges of her lips twitch as if she is trying to keep from smiling.
"I may have mentioned it." She says in that sassy way of hers.
"Good to know." I nod with a satisfied smirk. "Well then perhaps I should say hello to your dad...you know...in an official boyfriend capacity, of course."
"Of course." The smile she has been trying to hide breaks free. "You do know that you have nothing to worry about...with Jacob, I mean."
No, I don't know it at all but I pretend I do.
"Sure." I shrug.
I can tell she doesn't believe me. She gives a long suffering sigh backed by an eye roll and I grin and open the door.
With her hand safely secured in mine we walk to the front door.
"Um...I need to unlock the door." She tells me looking pointedly at our entwined fingers.
It takes me a moment to realize that she can't because I have her hand.
"Sorry." I mumble embarrassed and let go.
As soon as the door is unlocked, I grab her hand again.
Yes, I am staking a claim.
