Chapter Song: All of Me by John Legend
Bella was getting ready to go out that following Saturday night with Angela and Alice at the Weber's house when she brought up the Jacob thing.
They both said, "Edward's right." at the exact same time.
She blinked at them, pausing with her shirt still over her head. She pulled it all the way down with a shake of her head. "I'm having a hard time wrapping it around my head."
"It's true," Alice provided as she lined her eyelids with a thin black pen, leaning closer to Angie's mirror.
Angela nodded. "I see him watch you all the time."
"Well, of course he's watching me do the problems."
Angie was just a shaking her head. "No, Bella. He was looking at you."
Bella frowned.
Alice patted her back. "Don't have an aneurysm over it, boo. Worse things could happen besides having a hot admirer."
"Alice," Angela and Bella shouted together, galvanized.
Alice shrugged. "What? I'm just saying. Jesus, relax. As long as you don't lead the guy on, you'll be fine."
"Oh, trust me, I don't plan to," Bella said very seriously.
"Don't hurt his feelings either," Angela spoke up, looking slightly embarrassed after.
"I won't. Honestly, though, I think I'll end up making a fool out of myself, since he most likely doesn't even remotely have any feelings for me."
She soon found out how wrong she was two hours later at the gig on the last song, sitting with all her friends at the privately owned coffee shop, including Rose and Emmett.
She, Angela and Alice had all rode together in Alice's car while Ben and Edward drove alone. Both her and Angie planned to hitch a ride with their boyfriends after the show.
Now though, Bella was sitting, slack jawed and red faced, nice and cozily next to the boy she loved as Jacob crooned Cheap Trick's, I Want You to Want Me to a melody heavy with aggressive drums and guitars, "I want you to want me/I need you to need me/I'd love you to love me."
All the girls in the front were swooning their asses off as if they were imagining him singing about them as his eyes were straight on Bella the whole time. "I'm begging you to beg me/I want you to want me/I need you to need me/ I'd love you to love me..."
The whole band as a package was good. (Some of the other players, two guys and one girl she remembered from school while the other guy was unfamiliar and obviously older than them by a couple of years.) She couldn't help but admit that they were good and knew how to entertain a crowd, as embarrassed and stupid as she felt.
Alice had a smug expression. Angie looked nervous. Ben seemed solely concerned for his girlfriend, while Edward simply looked tense, nearly vibrating like a tuning fork. She touched his hand, trying to relax him. He gripped her hand, but wouldn't calm down. He just stared at Jacob, looking as if he was about to lunge at the singer.
She didn't hear the rest of the song when all she wanted to do was run far, far away.
How could Jacob have the gall to sing something like that in front of them? And for him to stare at her so meaningfully was like spitting right in Edward's face.
Jacob wasn't different from Leah. Suddenly, she became very angry. She was so sick of stuff like this happening. Just when things were settling down, things like this had to happen.
Thankfully, the song ended right before she blew a gasket.
Hopping off the micro-stage, Jacob weaved his way through his fan club to meet them. "How'd you like it?" He seemed to only be asking Bella. Now that he was closer, she could see her had a stud in his eyebrow that wasn't there durning school.
She cleared her throat, wanting to say it was terrible, but she couldn't be that cruel. "It was good, Jacob."
He smiled, finally acknowledging everyone else with a hello. They all muttered one back, Rose and Emmett looked completely confused about the tension but followed suit as well.
Jacob cleared his throat, rocking on his heels as he looked into Bella's eyes. "We're going to sneak into a bar or club to celebrate. Wanna join?"
Bella shook her head instantly. "No. Thanks. We have plans." They did, to go to Rose and Emmett's to hang out. Even if they didn't, the answer still would've been the same.
He didn't even try to hid his disappointment. "Okay. Cool. Thanks for coming."
He went in for a hug, but she held up a hand for him to shake instead. "You're welcome. Thanks for the invite."
Hurt pierced his gaze for a second before he pulled himself together to take her hand and shake it. "No prob. See ya."
Edward didn't offer a hand for Jacob to shake. Bella didn't fault him. She was actually very impressed with how controlled he was being. She waved goodbye as they all walked away. She felt a little bad for Jacob, but her annoyance was much louder.
"What was that all about?" Rose asked the minute they were all seating in their living room.
As mortified as Bella was, she felt obligated to explain everything.
Emmett started laughing instantly once she was finished. "You guys can never get a damn break, huh?"
"Tell me about it," Edward said with feeling.
Bella looked behind herself at him apologetically. He managed a small smiled before kissing her nose and pulling her closer to his chest. They were on the floor with Angela and Ben while Alice had the chair, Rose and Emmett taking the coach.
"Edward's dealing with the same thing," Alice so kindly offered.
Emmett's eyes lit right up. "You're lying!"
Alice shook her head, along with everyone else who was still in high school.
"Well, shit, spill it!"
"Damn, Emmett, I didn't know you were such a gossip queen," Edward took a jab at his cousin, smiling for real for the first time all night. It was heavenly to see the familiar expression back on his face.
"When it's something this fucking funny, hell yeah, I am!"
Everyone laughed, including Bella. Finally feeling lighthearted again, thanks to her friends.
Bella shook her head, letting Edward take the lead on this one.
Rose laughed so hard she almost fell off the coach while Emmett's laughter could probably be heard three blocks over.
Bella laughed more at how funny their reactions were instead of the situation. To her it wasn't all that funny. Not at all, actually.
They sobered considerably, obviously noticing Bella's expression change and probably Edward's too. She didn't know, she couldn't see him and didn't want Edward to see her like this.
"Hey, don't let those haters bother you, Bella," Rose said, becoming instantly serious as Emmett still shook with silent laughter.
Edward's hands slowly started tracing the skin at the small of her back under her shirt. Obviously, this wasn't bothering him as much as her, or maybe touching her made him feel better too. She was hoping for the latter, but didn't really care as long as he kept touching her.
She nodded changing the subject quickly because she was tried of having the spotlight.
She listened to everyone chattering about this and that, interjecting and laughing along with everyone as Edward's fingers kept tranquilizing her. His warm breath fanning on her bare neck had her shivering as he slowly drew her closer.
The conversation dwindled as each couple became consumed in each other, excluding Alice. She excused herself early, saying she had a party to get to. Bella knew she was lying and looked at her friend with worry after they hugged.
Alice's eyes read, I'm fine. when Bella knew she wasn't.
Bella stood. "I'll walk with you."
"No," Alice said instantly.
Bella froze, feeling conflicted.
Alice's eyes softened. "Stay with Edward. I'll catch up with you later, kay?"
Bella nodded, hugging Alice again. They pulled away after a moment. Bella watched her best friend walk out the door, seeing her face that was once a picture of ease drop when she didn't think anyone could see her. She didn't like to intervene in other's business, but Bella had the feeling she was going to have to contact Jasper. Soon.
Edward guided her back down to the ground as Ben and Angela stood up. "We're gonna head out too," Angie said, bending down to kiss Bella's cheek and pat Edward's back while Ben shook hands with Rose and Emmett. They switched, Angie hugging Rose and Emmett while Ben shook Edward and Bella's hands.
They left soon after with happy goodnight wishes.
The last remaining couples looked at each other, both feeling worried and guilty about Alice.
Bella told them that she felt like Jasper needed to be told.
"I'm not sure that's a good idea," Emmett said while Edward nodded.
Rose and Bella looked at them back and forth before saying together, "What do you two know?"
Edward looked at Emmett to explain, since he was Jasper's best friend.
Emmett sighed, rubbing his short hair roughly. "He's having a shitty time himself."
"Seriously?" Rose and Bella said together in shock. Though, why they were so surprised was unknown to them. Bella figured adjusting to a new, exciting life would be so distracting that he wouldn't have time to be depressed. Though, she had to admit, she'd still hurt to be away from Edward no matter where she was.
Emmett nodded. "Yeah. He's pretty beat up about it."
"Does he ask about Alice?" Bella couldn't help but ask.
He nodded. "Repeatedly. He says, she says, she's fine. Missing him, but doing okay. He doesn't believe her though."
"Why not?" Rose asked.
"She sounds different to him." Emmett shrugged his large shoulders. "That's all he said."
"That's because she is different," Bella said, becoming more frazzled by the second. "I think we should at least try to help them."
Edward rubbed her shoulders softly. "I think we should give them time first."
She struggled inwardly for a moment, looking to everyone to see what they thought. They mostly seemed to agree. They were conflicted as well, but all saw the sense in letting the two figure things out for at least a little longer.
Finally she nodded, leaning more into Edward as she sighed. "Okay. We'll wait—for a little while."
"Okay, baby," Edward murmured as Emmett and Rose nodded.
Suddenly Emmett stood up. "Well, you're more than welcome to stay as long as you want, but we're gonna hit the sack," he said with a fake yawn and a big stretch, winking at Rose "covertly".
Rose rolled her eyes. "Real discreet, hon."
He shrugged, scooping her up and slinging her over his shoulder with a solid pat on the behind. Rose squealed but didn't protest, waving goodbye before they disappeared down the hall.
Edward and Bella laughed, both feeling slightly uncomfortable until they finally realized they were alone with no parental supervision.
"Do you have...?"
"Yes." He pulled a condom out of his pocket swiftly.
She laughed breathlessly. "Do you think it would be rude to...? With them right there." She looked down the hall, feeling conflicted again.
He coaxed her to look at him with a hand to her cheek. His eyes were soft and caring, no pressure what-so-ever. "If you're not comfortable doing this here, we can just watch tv or leave. It's up to you, baby."
That made up her mind right there. She was on him before he could say anything, kissing him fervently. Edward moaned into her open mouth as he pressed her closer to his body, sliding to the side to turn off the floor lap and throwing them into darkness. The only lights spilling through the blinds from the security lights outside.
They were as quiet as they could be as they made love for the third time, which felt as exhilarating as the first.