Chapter 35- Awkwardness
Phillip wasn't too happy about the change in our daily routine, but it wasn't just me fighting again that stopped us. It was near the end of January and he was preparing for baseball season, which took up most of his after school time during the week anyway.
"That's it, I'm blowing off practice today." Phillip said as he sat in front of the school kissing me.
"No, no, no. How can the captain miss conditioning?" I teased rising up from the bench to kiss him again.
"Fine." He groaned standing up again. "Are we still going to Ramunto's after practice?"
"Yes, Ness is bringing Jacob so I suppose we couldn't bow out if we wanted to."
"Jason's coming too, he just told me a few minutes ago." He sighed.
"Well I suppose there is definitely no bowing out now." I restated.
I started walking with him towards the field. "Alone time would be nice. We haven't been really alone since you got back." He pointed out.
I knew what he meant, "I know…" I too had thought several times about what almost happened before Alistair's cowardice interrupted it.
"Hey Phil!" Jason called out from the field. "Get over here, she's not going anywhere." He laughed reffering to me.
"Better go." I smiled.
"Yeah, yeah." He groaned. "See you after practice." He promised running away after kissing me on the cheek.
I went home to shower and get dressed before going to pick up Ness and Jacob. I shuffled through the closet thinking about what to wear, making decision after decision using the vision of myself to view how I would look in the clothing. I settled on this gray jumper dress and a pair of turquoise tights.
I walked over to my jewelry boxes and searched through until I found Seth's bracelet. I put Phillip's locket back on and headed out the door.
"You know where everyone is." Alice said looking over my choice of clothing. Her thoughts approved but stopped when she saw my hair up in the regular ponytail. "Not with the dress Asima." She sighed shaking her head.
I sighed pulling the hair tie out and letting the long tresses fall down my back. I used my finger to separate the curls, "Better?" I asked walking towards the kitchen.
"Quite." She smiled complacent before running towards the clearing.
I pretty much just watched since Edward was trying to get into everyone's heads enough to coordinate Jasper's thoughts. I watched as only a few advance forward as instructed.
"This isn't working." Charlotte protested, "We can't hear Edward from the flank."
"If the wings don't move with us it gives them a direct shot at Bella and Asima." Garrett pointed out.
"To think that a frontal attack is going to work at all is crazy," Liam called from the left wing. "it's like juggernauts facing juggernauts."
"As long as we 'attack' it should be fine. It's not like an ambush wouldn't be seen." Peter said from the front.
Isn't attacking what were doing? Jacob asked sarcastically.
"He means 'attack in detail' Jacob." Edward called from the front with Jasper.
He was still confused so I clarified. "Old war term. destroy the enemy piece by piece, by attacking smaller segments one at a time."
Oh…thanks.
"Head on is best." Vladimir's voice called from left wing.
"Why am I in reserves?" Stefan asked from the back.
"You aren't the wolves are reserves." Jasper answered impatiently.
Edward started speaking for Jacob, "Why are we reserves? The Romanians are ancient they should be reserves if anyone."
"Reserves is the wrong word Jacob, you are fighting you aren't reserves. You're reinforcements." He accepted that better.
"As long as we force dispersal we should be able to hold strong." Jasper continued. "We have a stronger assortment of talents."
"That isn't going to cause a rout." Stefan contradicted.
"Says the person that hasn't evolved past Napoleonic tactics." Jasper hissed.
High emotions weren't going to help. I sent a wave of calm over our the raised voices.
"We will try it different ways and pick the best." Carlisle added when the mood turned serene.
"That is best." Zafrina concurred.
We practiced a little longer and Edward got a little better. When Ness climbed down from the tree, Jacob and I took our hints to fall out of formation and leave them to their work. What I wasn't expecting was for Seth to fall out of formation when we did.
Ness invited me, I hope it's cool? He asked not wanting to intrude.
Of course not, don't be silly it's just us and some people from school go un-phase and meet us at the car.
"Oh I invited Seth too, forgot to tell you." Ness said getting into the front seat of my Infiniti.
"I know, it's cool, Jason is coming too." It wasn't like Phillip hadn't met Seth before, and that went fine so I didn't care.
"So how long are you and Seth in town for?" Jason asked curiously as we piled into the large booth.
"A few weeks before we have to head back for spring semester." Jacob answered smoothly.
"The distance has to be tough," He guess looking at Ness and Jacob holding hands.
Jacob nodded agreeing as the waitress came and to take our order.
"Hey guys." Katie, Jason's girlfriend, greeted us. "Are you guys ready to order?"
"Hey Katie," Ness greeted putting down her menu. "I'll have chocolate cake." She smiled skipping over the rest of the menu.
Jacob laughed at her before ordering his personalized pizza.
She went quickly around the booth to Jason, Seth, Phillip, then finally me. "Nothing for me, I'll just share with Phillip." I smiled sipping my water, I didn't find pizza at all appetizing and didn't want to grimace and gag through it.
"Okay, I'll be right back." She smiled hurrying away to the kitchen.
Seth and Jacob got along with Jason and Phillip with no problems. I was actually surprised to see how much their conversations flowed.
The thoughts approaching behind us made me tense up for a second. Oh who is that? I'd never seen him before. Cute! When the thoughts turned into whispers I noticed that Staci and Morgan were also with Ashley. They had been eating here too heading out the door until she spotted the unfamiliar face at our table.
"You guys go ahead, I'll call you later." She said heading towards our booth.
"Hello guys," Ashley smiled stopping in front of us.
I wasn't that shocked, but my slight annoyance stopped me from speaking.
"Uh¾hey Ashley, what's up?" Jason asked removing the shock from his face.
"Just came to get something to eat and I saw you all here and thought I'd say hello." She grinned the faux-smile that she had perfected over the years to get what she wanted.
Since when are you all friends with Ashley? Jacob wondered remembering the stories Ness told him.
Since Seth came to dinner. I answered sarcastically.
He coughed a laugh out after practically choking on his soda. Good luck with that one Seth. He thought to himself.
"Who are your friends?" Ashley said noticing Jacob's cough of humor wondering if she'd missed something.
"Oh, sorry. This is my boyfriend Jacob, and a friend of ours Seth. They're visiting from Washington. Seth, Jacob, this is Ashley." Ness introduced.
She held her hand out to only Seth, "I'm of friend of theirs from school." She added shaking his hand.
Jason and Phillip shot her confused looks. I just silently stared out of the window. She's not going to leave. I told Phillip in his mind still staring out of the window. He slightly jumped at the sudden intrusion and I quickly apologized.
"Have you all finished eating yet?" She asked still standing.
"No we were just waiting." Seth answered politely.
"Would you like to join us?" Phillip asked her ignoring Ness and Jason's eyes .
"Sure." She said trying to squeeze at the end of the U shaped booth next to Seth.
She could have taken the other end of the booth next to Ness that held plenty of room for another to sit but instead she was happier with shifting us all over a seat to the right. I groaned scooting over until everyone was once again comfortable.
When Katie came back with our food she was also surprised at our new addition. "Here you go guys." She looked at Ashley while sitting our food on the table. "Ashley can I get anything else?"
"No thanks Katie, not hungry." She said curtly directing her attention back to Seth.
"Anything else for you guys?" Katie asked rolling her eyes.
"Can I just get some more water?" I asked looking at my empty glass.
"Sure, I'll be right back." She said once again disappearing.
I found myself watching Seth more than normally. He looked only slightly uncomfortable yet still remaining mannerly.
I didn't speak until Katie came back with a pitcher of water to fill my glass. I requested courteously for her to just leave it because I didn't want her to walk back and forth.
I sipped my water more quickly and silently ignoring the questioning glances of Ness and Phillip. Are you alright? Ness asked eating her cake.
"You okay Asima?" Jason asked catching on to my irritated state.
"Yeah, I'm fine just a little more thirsty than I thought." I answered.
I sipped my water quicker as everyone ate. I reached out and poured myself another glass quickly. Phillip looked at my bracelet and smiled.
"I see you are wearing one of your Christmas gifts." He acknowledged trying to include me in the conversation I was too irritated to be a part of.
Seth looked up from his plate and smiled.
"That's pretty cool Asima let me see." Jason requested leaning across the table to get a better view of my stretched arm.
"It's old." Ashley scoffed not finding my trinket interesting.
"Asima likes old." Ness added looking at my Ashley.
"Yeah she does." Phillip seconded. "The person that gave it to her must pay as much attention to her I do." He joked rubbing the piece of ivory between his fingers.
Jacob started choking on his soda again and Ness elbowed him in the side.
"I'm wearing another Christmas gift too." I said bringing attention to the locket. "It's one of my favorite pieces."
"And the bracelet is another." Phillip added. "Though this is the first time you've worn it since I saw it."
"Well I don't wear many clothes that go with turquoise." I answered sipping my water again.
"You should, it looks great on your skin." Phillip complimented returning to his food. "Who got it for you anyway?"
Seth answered before I could. "I did. A couple of women in the Quileute tribe have them. I had my mom snd it here from La Push."
"Oh…" He answered looking at the bracelet again.
"Awkward." Jacob said under his breath, before getting elbowed by Ness again.
"It's a great gift, I also got some diamonds from Emmett and Rose, and some emeralds from Ness, Bella and Edward. It was a good Christmas." I said stressing how it wasn't a big deal.
"I'll say." Jason agreed eating his food not noticing the tension.
I sipped my water quickly thankful that Ashley found a way to bring the conversation back over to her, or Seth, or anything not involving me and Seth.
I waited impatiently for everyone to finish. "Well we better get going if we're still going to the 'Sleigh Ride Social'" I hurried thankful that Katie returned with our bill.
"In Candia?" Katie asked putting down our check.
"Yeah, would you like to come?" Phillip invited.
"Sure, I always wanted to go there. My shift is over in five minutes if you don't mind waiting."
"Not a problem." Jacob said leaning back in his seat looking at the situation he found so humorous it was priceless.
She hurried off again taking the money for the bill and the large tip with her. I liked Katie and didn't mind her coming. Phillip and I doubled with them a lot and she was fun to be around. I did care about getting away from Ashley as soon as possible.
"Oh good, were all coupled off now!" Ashley cackled in her fake laugh putting her arm around Seth. He slid it off kindly putting his hands back on the table.
Who invited her? Ness said rolling her eyes shooting Phillip a glance.
Phillip just shrugged, surreptitiously pretending to scratch his temple requesting my presence. Tell them I am sorry, I had no idea she would take it as an invitation outside of dinner.
I nodded before passing on his message to Seth, Jacob and Ness. Phillip says that he is sorry, he didn't expect her to invite herself past dinner.
Tell him that it's fine with me. I can't buy this kind of entertainment. Jacob chortled mentally.
Oh well, can't do anything about it now. Ness sighed.
It's okay with me if it's okay with you guys. Sorry if I got you in trouble with the bracelet. Seth apologized.
It's not a big deal. It is one of my favorite pieces. I can't deny that. It isn't a big deal to Phillip either.
He looked at me skeptically during our mental conversation. Uh… I'm over here! Ashley thought putting her hand on Seth's making him turn away. "Are you okay with us sharing a sleigh?"
"We're getting a group sleigh." Jason corrected.
"Oh, that's fine with me as long as I sit by Seth." She shrugged.
That was it, I didn't like the fact that I was forced to share my outing with this menacingly intrusive girl, now I was forced to share and hour drive with her to Candia but a two hour carriage ride and bon fire too? In that brief moment I let my angry thoughts towards her slip just enough to give her a small jolt.
"Owie, Ow, Ow." She said shaking the hand that was on Seth.
"Are you okay?" Seth asked looking at her.
"You shocked me." She said in staggered breaths starting trying to remain smiling. She still tried to shake the feeling out of her hand.
Jacob boomed with laughter. "Static electricity is the worst." He agreed. "You're hair is starting to rise."
Jason joined in at the laughter as the perfectly tamed locks rose slightly off of her head.
She used the back of a spoon to look at her reflection and groaned. "I'll be back."
Ness shook her head disapprovingly as we scooted out of the booths.
I made the drive to Candia in forty five minutes, half the time it would take a normal person. "We're here? Already?" Katie asked looking around.
"Asima drives fast." Jacob laughed getting out of the car.
"I'll say." Jason laughed jumping out the other side.
"Geeze trying to kill us Asima?" Ashley reproached getting out of the car. "It's an SUV, it's more likely to flip over."
I was just about to give her another shock when Seth interfered. "It wasn't that bad." He disagreed.
Phillip wrapped his arm around my waist turning my back to Seth and Ashley, looking ahead towards the twinkling lights and the small crowd of people.
"She will be out of our hair soon enough." He whispered kissing my forehead. The night didn't get any better when the sleigh driver told us that he didn't have the group sleigh I reserved.
"Well how long is the wait for a sleigh big enough to accommodate us all?" I asked worrying that I was made the forty-five minute drive for nothing.
"The track takes about three hours ma'am. We aren't expecting another group sleigh until it's time to close up." He apologized.
Phillip turned to the others, "Well what do you guys want to do?"
Everyone's was disappointed, we were settling on just coming back another day. I would be able to enjoy the snow covered scenery a lot better when Ashley wasn't hanging around.
We started to leave and the man spoke again, "Ma'am. We have enough two-seater sleighs to accommodate all of you."
"Oh, well that's even better." Ashley burst with excitement.
Ugh. "Well if no one objects." I smiled even though I was really looking forward to just ending the night.
"I'm okay with it, kind of romantic." Katie said pulling herself closer to Jason.
"I'm okay with it." Jacob shrugged.
I turned back to the sleigh driver using the brief second to roll my eyes. "We'll take it."
I felt a little better now that I was sitting in the sleigh wrapped in Phillip's arms. I looked at the twinkling white lights that guided the pathway.
"Are you that upset about Ashley coming?" He asked breaking the silence after sipping his cocoa.
"She never talks to us. Her entire existence revolves around making our lives difficult now that we're together." I pouted folding my arms.
"Oh…" He trailed off. He was silent for another second, "I thought it was because she ended up being coupled off with Seth."
My jaw dropped, and the sleigh driver was a little more alert to our conversation. How could he think that? Did I he have doubts that I wanted him? "How could you say that? It's her being around, in general. Seth has nothing to do with this."
"Well I was just thinking because of the bracelet¾"
"The bracelet was a gift. I am wearing it because it matches what I have on today. And yes I do like it. I like all of my gifts. If you notice I haven't taken your locket off since I got it."
"I know… it's just. I assumed it was from Esme or someone else. I said that 'whoever got you that must pay attention to you as much as I do' . Why would he know you? He has to be in love with you." He accused waiting for answers.
Now the sleigh driver was practically salivating at the topic of conversation. I sighed holding him, and mentally going into his mind. I admitted that Seth did without a doubt love me, and that the awkwardness had dimmed down to a nothing but friendship. I explained to him the imprinting and how he had no control over it and even though he cared about me was willing to let me be happy with who I chose to be happy with.
He was mentally silent absorbing the entire story from the first time he saw me at homecoming to present.
Poor Seth. He sighed holding me tighter.
Why does everyone say that? I groaned, putting my head on his shoulder.
Well, not that I am upset with your choice to be with me. I just couldn't imagine loving you and not being with you. It must be torture. He explained.
Seth and I are fine and I am happy with my choice. "Now enough focusing on crazy stuff. Isn't it beautiful out here?"
"Yes it is." He said looking around for the first time since we started the five mile path. "We should do this again before it's spring."
"Yes we should." I agreed pulling closer to him.
We waited at the bonfire sipping cocoa form the others to come back from their trips too. I was in a much better mood so I let Phillip drive us back to Hanover, ignoring Ashley for the entire hour and a half home.