CRUSH
You make it difficult to not overthink
And when I'm with you I turn all shades of pink, ah
I wanna touch you but don't wanna be weird
It's such a rush, I'm thinking wish you were here, ah-ahh
And I'm just tryna play it cool now
But that's not what I wanna do now
And I'm not tryna be with you now, you now
But I could be your crush, like, throw you for a rush, like
Hoping you'd text me so I could tell you
I been thinking 'bout your touch like
Touch, touch, touch, touch, touch
I could be your crush, crush, crush, crush, crush
-Tessa Violet-
ST. MARCUS ACADEMY
SAME DAY
After the day Bella had, with the paper thing, Rosalie coming to threaten her and her nail broken she had to do the audition for the dance group, the worst thing? She saw the name of that barbarian blonde. Of course she did complain to principal Charlie, but he said she was in no place to demand anything as to the dance group refers after the indiscretion she pull out.
As if. Rosalie won't be entering the group as she's named Isabella Marie Cullen-Swan.
Isabella was the captain since she entered the group, back in 6th grade and when she became friends with Jess she made her co-captain. Lauren didn't like dancing so she decided to be like the technician of the group… she's just the DJ but whatever.
The girls always rehearse at the gymnastics ale of the gym or at the backyard and the auditions were being held in the gym this year, for orders of the principal, it was going to be a long noon and night so she went prepared. She was using a comfortable white crop top, black waistband shorts and a pair of white Nike sneakers. Just in case she had to teach some moves.
Jessica, Lauren and Bella casted around 16 girls and it was late, so far, only 4 were accepted and the rest were crying outside the room. Bummer. And now, at 9:29 PM they were waiting for Rosalie Hale to show up and do her lame attempt to enter the group.
"Ugh! Girls, at this time of the night I'm starting my night routine of beauty and this girl is late by 7 minutes… As if it wasn't enough the lies the mother is saying now I have to deal with that freak. Why is so difficult to be me?" Bella was sipping her water bottle and ranting about how depressed being here made her and Lauren and Jessica were fed up. They also didn't want to see the face of that girl but it is what it is.
"Bella, honestly I don't know why I'm here. A fat ugly girl like me can't help in this dancing and image stuff" Lauren said. Night made her depressed and it's showing. Jessica just rolled her eyes.
"Lauren, hun… shut uo. How many years have I've been trying to get that thought out of your head? You are the only one that sees you ugly or fat. You are perfect" Bella didn't even flinch nor left her water at side
This was a routine and wishes it wasn't. Her friends were beautiful and it sometimes hurt her how they see themselves so low.
"No! Look, girls. Mia just texted me telling me how awful Rosalie has dressed up and she's about to come" the growl was like a chorus of discomfort perfectly synchronized.
"You know what… we'll caste her and all, she's going to dance a little and then we tell her "Adiós", okay?" the three of them giggled and agreed with the plan. Just in time Rosalie, along with Angela and other two entered the gym looking like a circus.
Rosalie was wearing a red tank top, black harem pants and a pair of wedge sneakers… horrendous, Bella thought. To Rosalie, was horrendous too, but she knew this would upset the wannabe Barbie.
"Rosalie… what is this?" Isabella asked her. Rosalie was enjoying the faces of the brunette, blonde and redhead. Irritating them was going to be easier than thought. She came along with more girls than the ones already signed to do the audition and she purposely bring them along a little bit late.
"Well, obviously we are the candidates. Shall we start?" she challenged her.
"No, no, no. See, there's a tiny detail; this casting was for you and three other girls, so you better take the ones that weren't signed up or you can go clown around somewhere else, okay?" Bella said with superiority.
Rosalie hated being talked down, and worst when it came from an airhead like Isabella, so she didn't back up. Even though she knew some girl might be scared of the queen bee "Look, wishful Kylie Jenner, we came with the permission of the principal, so you better sit tight".
Some girls laughed with her, some were whispering on how they were convinced of this and others were considering leaving before everything got out of control. Of course, Angela and the news were expecting some drama, but the old ones new the principal has favorites, and one of them is Isabella Cullen-Swan.
"We don't have time for more than three" Jessica insisted, now really mad.
The girls kept bickering until Bella relented. Rosalie and her clowns were being allowed to do the cast. All at once. She said it was that or no one would, no matter what Mr. Charlie would say. So Rosalie, Angela and the others auditioned with a 5 minute on-repeat song… Savage by Megan the Stallion was sounding loud through the speakers leaving Bella and her friends hanging wide mouth open, by the election of the song and the choreography prepared by the try-hard Paris Hilton.
Ew, thought Bella.
Fucking slaying, thought Rose.
Meanwhile the girls were… performing, Bella was thinking very hard on a plan, she counted 5 girls auditioning, and this was going to be gold.
When Rosalie and her girls were done, Bella and her minions got up at the same time with the folder were the blonde supposed, they were keeping all of the names of the girls auditioning.
"Very good, girls" Bella praised them "This year I've seen an excellent level of habileté in all of you" Lauren and Jessica were lost. Didn't she told them she wasn't letting anyone to get in the group? "And even though my group has always been reduced and exclusive, to be honest, I think this year will get bigger" Bella said all charismatic, putting out there her best bitchy smile. Girls were afraid and others were ready to fight… well, Angela and Rosalie were ready to fight "Every single one of you did perfect, so I have very good news. All of you are in!" Bella celebrated jumping and applauding, while Lauren, Jessica, Rosalie and Angela looked at her weird. This smells rotten.
The rest of them were happy to get accepted by Bella in the group so they were unware of the looks.
"Yeah, but, I mean, all of you but one… Sorry, Rosalie, but, you know what it is? Your level this year was lacking of something. Like, talent. So we're going to let you go" Bella smiled but her tone was faking sadness. Lauren and Jessica were smirking evil and Angela was fuming.
Rosalie was in another level of angry "You wanna see talent? How about this!" Rosalie threw herself at Bella, grabbing her by her hair, dragging her to the ground where she was being held by the amazon. The girls were made a mess. Bella's friends were trying to push the blonde away from their friend but she was grabbing her hard. Rosalie was pulling her hair, not actually hitting but scratching her forehead. Angela was laughing at Isabella trying to free herself and screaming not actually defending her face, and the rest were shocked and screaming.
…
SATURDAY
What a night Bella had. After the mess with that blonde brute, that thankfully didn't do more than messing her hair up, she fell asleep exhausted. She usually doesn't dreams when she's too tired, but for some reason she was having a lucid dream.
She was at her bed, waking up just as she fell asleep, when suddenly Edward came in her room that was surprisingly empty. He walked slowly towards her, in all his messy locks and mischievous smiling glory.
He sat in her bed, beside her, taking her hand in his and kissing it, causing her to wake up. She realized she was probably all ugly from sleeping so she hide her face behind her free hand "No, leave, I must be gross and hideous" she whined.
"No, you're perfect" Edward said, kissing her. Kissing her like nobody has before… of course she has only kissed one person in her entire life, and it was Emmett, so he didn't count. The bronzed guy was kissing her in her bed in a way that made her stomach feel butterflies… not the same ones you feel when you go into a rollercoaster but ones that made her feel funny. He was kissing her in a very ardent and loving way, and she was returning the kiss with enthusiasm as his.
But something was missing. The fragrance she once smelt when he was near her was gone replaced by a scent of lavender… the same as… Lauren?
"Bella, for God's sake, wake up!"
Bella opened her eyes, facing her friend's face in front of hers "Ugh" she muttered.
"Bella, you know what I just heard? Rosalie went to the principal and tell on us! He told her she was in, can you believe it? That girl is a mother…" Bella muted her completely. She didn't want to think or talk about Rosalie and her dream left her quite overwhelmed. She had never dreamed of a guy that wasn't famous kissing her, and definitely, no one of her dreams left her feeling… dazzled. She touched her lips, feeling empty and all of sudden, heartbroken.
Does he even think about her? Would he recognize her? Was she pretty enough?
"Bella, are you even listening to me?" Lauren complains.
"Yeah, sorry… it's just, I had a nightmare".
Suddenly a knock was heard in their door. Lauren thought it was probably Jessica that left something before going to take breakfast with Mike, but when the door opened she got a surprise.
"What are you doing here?" Bella asked astonished "Look, you can't be here, you are a boy and boys aren't allowed in this dorms" she said, still in her startled stupor.
"I came to ask you something, can you please not go on a roll this early in the morning? It's important" Edward said.
This was a stream of first times for the three of them.
To Lauren, it was a first to see her bestfriend talking to Edward and the first with a boy in her room that actually acknowledges her.
To Bella, a first actually having dreamed something about a boy and having that same boy in her room not even minutes ago. Also saying more than three words to him and actually being nice.
To Edward, it was a first to see her without the perfection mask she wants to sell to everyone and also her saying more than defending words to her friend to him. Edward was enamored by her voice… Stop, Edward, he thought to himself.
To Bella and Edward and Bella, the first time they actually talk.
"I wanted to ask you… for your father's cellphone number" he said.
"Why and for what?" Bella crossed her arms over her chest, feeling naked in front of him using only her oink nightgown. Edward didn't want to admit to himself, seeing Bella like this, was causing him problems to breathe normally.
"It's private"
"Well if you don't tell me I won't give it to you! Who do you think you are, huh? To come here and ask my dad's number as if it was normal" she scoffed.
"Look, Isabella, i—"
"Bella" she interrupted him. Edward was stunned. He's being allowed to call her by her natural adjective.
"Bella, I need it. I wouldn't ask for it if it wasn't" Bella was about to ask him, once again, what he wanted with her dad when the voice of the secretary, Zafrina, was heard outside their door. Lauren, who they seemed to have forgotten, started to panic in murmurs "I'm fucked" Edward sigh, dragging his hand through his hair.
"Hide, hide, hide, hide!" Bella said taking him by the arm. They felt shock but they didn't have time to stew on it.
Bella made Edward go under her bed, that fit him perfectly. Bella, sat in her bed after Edward was under it and waited for Lauren to open the door.
"Why don't you answer me, ladies?" she asked, suspicious of them.
Bella reacted faster than Lauren and came up with an excuse of going yoga and being concentrating in her meditation. She said something about needing absolute silence ans zero interruptions.
Edward couldn't see her but he senses the nervousness in her voice, he only hoped Zafrina wasn't that perceptive.
"I'd swear I heard a boy's voice inside" the woman said entering completely their room. Edward moved more hoping not to be seen.
"No, Zafri. It's me, you know I would never do that" Edward smiled but just as faster he erased the smile of his face "But you know what it must've been? When Lauren concentrates like, a lot, she hums like a big man" Bella knew how to play dumb very well, and Lauren was just recognizing that just now. Meanwhile, under her friend's bed, Edward found a bralette of Bella's and smelled it. He recognized how gross it was of his but you know what? She smells like fucking strawberries and he likes fucking strawberries so fucking sue him! "Show her Lauren, show her your man hum!" Bella said laughing.
"Umh" Lauren whailed.
Bella laughed really hard and got up her bed to hug Zafrina, who always been kind and funny when with Bella "Believe me, it's hers, she's just nervous".
"Stop with stupidity, come on, let's go. You guys have to go to the audience of the weekends" she said laughing and grabbing Lauren, who was the only one already dressed up "And you, Bella, get yourself ready" Bella giggled and tell her not to get mad. Zafrina laughed once again and left with Bella's friend, not without Lauren giving her a knowing look.
Bella closed the door after them and rest her body against it. She has never had to lie for a boy in her room, ever! This was exciting. Normally, it was Jessica the one in this situation.
Edward, secretly enjoyed seeing her this side of Bella. Playful even though she was under pressure, and also helping him. This kind of thing made him think how this beautiful girl was daughter of a monster, like Carlisle. But he has also been told how Bella is conceited, selfish, narcissistic… uff man.
He came out under her bed sighing in relief and brushing his all black outfit and black jacket from the inexistent dust, just doing time.
"They… they left" Bella, vainly, informed the obvious. He came closer to her and stands very close, not saying anything, both of the avoiding seeing each other. They didn't want to be parted.
"Thanks" he said to her, and in an impulse he leaned in, noticing how tinier than him she was, and gave her a peck on her cheek. It was awkwardly sweet, so he hurried outside, not looking back at her door.
What a first interaction was that?