I don't own Twilight or its characters. Stephenie Meyer does.
Cheryl, Noles, and Gabby, thank you for pre-reading, and April, thank you for editing. Any mistakes left are my own.
Ch 5
The nurse left the room, and I rolled my eyes at her back. Not a day went by when she worked that she didn't act surprised I was sitting by Edward's side. I had half a mind to request she didn't have Edward as a patient.
"Even in a coma you attract them." I chuckled dryly.
Hero
(Bella, 16)
The school year seemed to fly by after homecoming. Edward had apologized to me the next day after the dance. He told me he should have never kissed me. He said he cared for me a lot, but it wasn't more than a friendship.
Of course, my heart broke a little but there wasn't much else I could do. It was then I decided I needed to give up on my crush. After all, I was five when I declared I was in love with him. Perhaps it was time to move and not hold on to a childish dream.
A month after the dance, Edward started dating a girl named Tanya. At first, I never gave her a second thought. Edward had dated before, but none of them lasted more than a couple of weeks. However, many months later they were still dating. And unlike Rose, I couldn't stand Tanya, she was a superficial bitch, who talked condescendingly to me. I also knew it wasn't just me since Rose, Alice, and Angela agreed with me.
During the year, I finally ended up going on a few dates. Eric got up the courage and invited me to the winter semi-formal. In January, I started dating my first real boyfriend Austin. We went on a few triple dates with Angela and Ben, and Alice and Jasper. By April we decided to be friends, since there was no chemistry.
"Who is she kidding? Those shoes are not Louboutin's. You can see the streak marks from a red marker," Alice chastised, staring across the Cullen's yard at Tanya.
"I wouldn't know." I shrugged, not caring.
"You can't see it?" Alice gestured wildly.
"No, I don't stare at people's shoes, let alone the bottom of them. And don't point. She'll know you're talking about her, and that will only get her going. I don't want to deal with her today. It's supposed to be a party," I responded.
"I agree. She just graduated, so hopefully she'll be gone by fall. Where's she going?" Angela asked.
"I don't know. Don't really care," I admitted, glancing at the witch. "Is she deep throating a hot dog?"
Tanya had wrapped her tongue around a dog and was slowly sucking it in inch by inch. Edward turned pink and was looking around at everything but her. Esme hadn't missed it though and was shaking her head in disgust.
"Eww!" Angela blanched, tossing hers back on her plate.
"That is nasty. She's in public." Judging by the look on Alice's face, I knew she was about to ask the question she'd asked a thousand times before that I couldn't answer. "What does Edward—"
"What about me?" Edward appeared in front of where we were sitting. Tanya hovered close behind him, sans hot dog. I'm surprised and disappointed she didn't choke.
Alice paused with her mouth, hanging open. "What?"
"That's what I want to know, what?" Edward looked confused.
Alice glanced around, stopping at the items in Edward's hands. "Are those cookies? I love cookies." She took off across the yard, leaving Edward watching her with a bewildered expression.
"No offense, Bella, but your friend is very weird," Edward commented.
I snorted. "That's an understatement."
Edward chuckled. "So, what about me?"
"I haven't got the foggiest," I lied.
Edward narrowed his eyes slightly before holding up his M&M cookies. "Did you make these?"
"Of course. I know they're your favorite." I smiled.
"You made my boyfriend cookies?" Tanya crossed her arms, trying to intimate me.
I raised an eyebrow. "I helped Esme make food for the joint party. One of the things was Edward's favorite cookies. I also made brownies with mint topping since they're Emmett's favorite."
"Yet, you don't see me throwing a hissy fit over a baked treat." Rose entered the conversation, sitting on the edge of my chair's arm. "By the way, Tanya, the marker on the bottom of your shoes is leaving red marks on the grass."
"I don't have marker on the bottom of my shoes," Tanya snapped.
"Anyways." Edward tried to divert away from an argument. "Thank you. They're delicious."
I was sidetracked by Tanya, trying to subtly check the bottom of her shoe. I turned back to him. "You're welcome. As soon as you're allowed, I'll make sure to send you a care package full of them to camp," I promised.
"Silly, Bella. Edward graduated, he doesn't have football camp anymore," Tanya said condescendingly.
"I was talking about…boot…camp." My words faltered as I was trying to figure out why Edward was wildly waving his arms.
"Boot Camp? What in the hell is that?" Tanya looked confused.
"Uh…" I was speechless and glanced back at Edward.
"Oh. My. God. Seriously, Edward, you haven't told her you joined the army yet?" Rose shook her head.
Tanya was shaking her head back and forth. "The army…no. Edward is going to U-Dub to become a doctor. Right?" She glared at Edward.
Edward rubbed the back of his neck. "Thanks, Rose. Anything else you want to add?"
Rose rolled her eyes before standing. "You don't get to blame me for this. I may not like the bitch, but she should've been told months before today. And yes, there is one more thing." She glanced at Tanya, her glare dropping to a frown. "They leave a week from tomorrow. I'm going to go get a brownie before Emmett eats them all."
H
Rose stalked back across the yard to the food tables. Angela and I quickly followed her to get away from the couple, who were starting to argue loudly.
"What did I miss?" Emmett asked, crumbs tumbling out of his mouth.
"Tanya just found out about Edward joining the army." Rose grabbed a brownie out of his hands.
"I told him he had to tell her before she heard it from someone else." Emmett sighed.
"Well as the someone, it's not like I did it on purpose. If it was supposed to be a secret someone should've told me. Why hasn't he told her? You guys announced it to the family back in February," I questioned.
"I don't know. Give me back my food." Emmett pouted when he noticed his treat was gone.
"You already ate three. Sharing is caring." Rose kissed his cheek.
"Here. Now be quiet, I want to watch this." Alice held out the bowl of chips she was holding. She was popping them like popcorn while transfixed on the fight.
"Thanks, small fry." Emmett grabbed a handful.
"Don't call me small fry, or I'll kick you where it counts," Alice threatened but didn't spare him a glance.
Emmett eyed her cautiously. "Bella, you have some strange friends."
"Not the first time I've been told that today." I laughed.
"Aww phewie." Alice frowned as Tanya stormed away with Edward chasing her. "Do you think they'll break up?" Alice asked eagerly.
H
A few hours later, the party had dwindled down, and I was helping clean up when I noticed Edward lying on his back on the old trampoline. I made him a plate, uncertain to if he had eaten, and brought it over to him with his gift. I gingerly climbed on, not sure if it would still hold both our weights.
"Edward, have you eaten? I brought you something," I told him.
He sat up and looked at the plate. He picked up the hamburger and turned it in his hands. "Thanks."
"You're welcome. I'm sorry—"
"You don't need to apologize for telling Tanya." He shook his head.
"Actually, that wasn't what I was going to say. Though I am sorry for how she found out. Why didn't you tell her? You guys announced it back in February. That's a long time…"
"I don't need to hear it from you too," Edward grumbled.
I sighed. "You're right. You don't owe me an explanation. But you looked like you needed to talk to someone." I tossed his package next to him. "Open your present."
"I really don't feel like—"
"Please?" I stuck out my lower lip. "It'll cheer you up."
Edward picked up my gift and tore off the wrapping paper. He glanced at it, and he started to smile.
"Captain America issue #1. Where in the world did you find this?" He chuckled.
"I have my ways. Just promise me you're not going to jump on top of any grenades," I teased.
He started to laugh more lightly. "I promise. Do want me to read it to you?"
"Naw. I'll stick to Scooby." I started to scoot toward the edge.
"I guess I always knew what her reaction was going to be and wanted to put it off, hoping her mind would change," he confessed.
I frowned. "If she's not accepting, then maybe it's best to let her go. If she truly loved you, then she would be proud and supportive that you want to do something so noble and selfless."
He silently nodded.
"Did you break up?" I asked cautiously.
"I don't think so. She said she'll call me tomorrow." He shrugged.
H
The morning the boys were set to leave was cold and rainy. Edward was supposedly still with Tanya, according to Rose, but she was nowhere to be found.
"Bye, baby sister, take care of yourself." Emmett wrapped me in a big hug.
"Bye, big brother. You don't have to worry about me," I promised.
He gave a smile before turning to Rose, who jumped into his arms. They started to make out, so I turned my head. I caught Edward's eyes, so I headed over to him. Esme glanced between us and stepped back, leaning into Carlisle. Edward took his hands out of his pockets and opened his arms to me.
"Do I get a hug too?" he asked.
"Of course." I wrapped my arms around him tight. I closed my eyes, trying not to start crying.
"I'm going to miss you," he whispered.
"I'm going to miss you too." I sniffed.
"Are you crying?" Edward sounded concerned, pulling away from me.
"No." I shook my head.
"Edward, don't forget this." Esme held up a medium-sized gift bag.
Edward took it from her then handed it to me. "This is for you."
"Why did you get me a gift? You're the one going away," I asked.
"Well, I saw it and thought of you. Open it, it's something to remember me by." He looked excited.
I reached in and pulled out a Scooby-Doo stuffie, wearing an army uniform. That was all it took for me to start crying. Edward's smile morphed into a frown.
"It wasn't supposed to make you cry." He sounded upset.
"I love it. Thank you." I hugged him once more.
"You're welcome. You'll write to me, right?" He kissed the top of my head.
"Of course, but you better write back. And I'll send you cookies as soon as I'm allowed to," I promised.
"I'll be looking forward to it." He took a step back.
I glanced around, and there was still no sign of a certain blonde. It bothered me more than it should that she wasn't here for him. "Hey, Edward, where's Tanya? I thought she would've been here."
His smile dropped. "My own fault, she had plans for today she couldn't change. We said good-bye last night."
"So everything is okay between you two?" I questioned; I knew Alice would be digging for details later.
"Yeah, not perfect. But we're good." He nodded.
The bus driver was calling for people to board. He turned his head in the direction of the bus.
"We gotta go." He gave me and his parents one last hug.
As I watched both boys rush off to their new adventure, I comforted a tearful Rose. Even my dad looked a little emotional to see Emmett go. Before they boarded, they turned and waved.
Hero
I grabbed a tissue and dried my eyes. Thinking of Tanya always put me in a bad mood. I wished I could say that day was the last I heard of her. But she later caused one of the biggest fights Edward and I had ever had.
A/N: I know a few readers were worried Bella would never date or kiss waiting for Edward. Not this Bella, nor is she intimated by Tanya. The next leg of the boys' journey is the army.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me