4. Love is a Battlefield
Alice moved so gracefully, she looked like a little pixie out of a fairy tale book I used to read to my little cousins.
"Becka? Can I sit here?" she asked with a friendly smile.
"Sure!" I said still not looking at her, I was still so embarrassed about what happened in the car park I couldn't face her.
"Can we talk?" she asked forcing me to turn to face her, her words said with such friendliness, more than I felt that I deserved.
"Sure! What about?" I asked trying not to sound scared or worried.
"I noticed you this morning, you were looking at my brother?" the way she said it was more of a statement than a question.
"Sorry, I don't know what you mean Alice?" I said trying to sound as confident as I could.
"Ok, I know you like Emmett! It's not a crime! I'd like him too if he wasn't my brother, but I should warn you about Rosalie, she doesn't like competition!" s0he said this while a smile she had grew wider and wider.
"You make that sound like a good thing! I mean the competition part!" I said looking at her curiously
"Rosalie is the type of person that doesn't like any sort of competition, she has to have everything her way!" Alice explained.
"I'll fill you in after class, the teachers on his way!" She said as she stood up and went back to her desk.
"What was all that about?' Gabi asked as she came over and sat down just as the teacher came into the room.
"Open your books to page 234 please we're studying the phases of Mitosis today!" Said Mr Singapore as he handed out the equipment.
"Gabi you have to go back and sit down, your partner is back today!" I said nudging my sister to go back to her seat.
I realized that Alice's older brother Edward was back and sitting at the desk that he and Gabi shared.
Alice seemed so happy today and I felt so embarrassed.
It took me ten minutes to fill out the form we had been given, Mr Singapore came past and congratulated me and told me to read up on the reading material we needed for the next class.
"Had you done this experiment before Rebecka?" He asked
"Yes! I did we used Onion cells instead!" I replied feeling like the embarrassed smartalic.
When the bell rung twenty minutes or so later I was surprised to see Alice make her way back to my desk to wait for me and Gabi instead of leaving with her brothers.
Gabi was not alone when she joined Alice and I at my desk, Edward joined us.
"Becka, this is my brother Edward." Alice said proudly as she smiled at her brother and Gabi.
I remained quiet apart from saying 'Hello" to Edward, Gabi was so talkative towards Edward, despite her blushing I knew what she must be thinking and couldn't believe it.
"Becka? Would you like to sit with us today?" Alice asked as her and Edward lead Gabi and I towards a spare table.
"Sure! As long as we can discuss what we were before?" I asked unable to stop myself from looking to the 'Cullen Table' where Emmett and his 'girlfriend' Rosalie were sitting.
"Sure!" She said smiling as Jasper joined us.
"This is a little strange don't you think?" I asked Gabi hoping she would know what I meant.
Alice has explained about their family and that they were only adopted, which I knew.
She had also said that Rosalie and Emmett were an item and that she was with Jasper the quiet blonde from Biology.
I was determined from then on to get to know Alice, not because I wanted her brother but because I couldn't go through my time in Forks without making at least one new friend and so far it was only Angela.
Mike and Eric, well they came under the same category as Jacob at the moment.
Alice said that she loved shopping, hiking and baseball.
I said very embarrassed that I thought she was too small to play baseball but she just laughed and invited both Gabi and I to come and play with her and her family one day.
A little surprised and great full I accepted the 'someday' invitation without hesitation.
She asked about Gabi and I; where we had lived and what our interests were.
I had to stop myself because I almost said "Emmett!" but refrained and breathed a sigh of relief as the bell sounded for the next and last hour of class, we had had a double of Gym in the morning and a Biology hour which just meant I had an hour of English to endure!
On a Thursday we only had four hours of school.
A double in the morning and two singles in the afternoon, one before and one after lunch.
Alice also invited Gabi and I to go shopping in Port Angeles with her in a fortnight, she was away this weekend spending a whole weekend in the bush with her annoying brothers.
Edward followed his sister to the Cafeteria for the time-being.
As we joined the line for lunch Gabi caught my arm and said "That Emmett guy won't stop staring at you!" she was smiling and raising her eyebrows at me which only meant one thing, she knew I was falling all over again.
"What am I meant to do about it? As much as I want to Gabs you know I can't!" I said trying not to sound disappointed or annoyed at Gabi, it was after all my own fault that I couldn't stop thinking about Emmett and it was his fault for being so irresistible! There I go again… Emmett, Emmett, Emmett he was the only thing that seemed to be in my mind, Tai was there, somewhere in the back.
"We both know there isn't anything you can do B but he's still staring at you and oh Man! That Rosalie chick is majorly evil-eyeing you B! I dare you to turn around oh shame Alice just told her off!" Gabi said sniggering as we made our way toward our usual table with Mike and Eric.
"Hah! Good Job! I wish there was…" I forced myself to stop mid-sentence for Alice and Edward were both waving at us to come sit with them only this time, they were sitting their siblings and Alice's boyfriend Jasper.
"No! Gabi please! Don't!" I begged as she eagerly walked towards them.
Sighing she just grabbed my arm and towed me towards their table.
Silently I sat down and briefly nodded at Alice and Edward for the invitation, as much as I tried to ignore Alice's siblings I couldn't bear to be unsociable and I found myself relaxing and laughing with them, it seemed only Rosalie wasn't happy with the idea. I knew she saw me as a threat and I too saw her as the only thing holding me back from getting what I wanted because I knew deep down that Tailer wouldn't be faithful, he has cheated once- what's to say he wouldn't do it again?
"So Rebecka, how are you liking Forks?" Emmett asked politely as Rosalie got up and walked out of the room without a backward glance.
"Um, it's cold and wet, school's ok, the weekends are the boring thing, there's nothing to do!" I complained not caring how whiny it sounded.
For some reason I felt like I didn't have to pretend about anything around the Cullens like I had no secrets from them and yet they had one, it felt like there was something mysterious about them.
"I know what you mean, that's why most weekends my brothers and I go hiking and Alice and Rose go shopping with our Mum in Seattle or something, they always spend hours there. Alice is the worst shopper I've seen! Takes ages to find the right garment then takes even more time to find something that matches it!" he answered mocking his sister with a huge grin on his face.
"It's nothing to be ashamed of Alice! Becka is the same, when she does go shopping she spends hours trying things on before deciding which of the clothes she's going to buy! It's a nightmare, our step-dad Pat hates it cos our Mum and Becks are the same; they're never able to make up their minds about anything! I'm a shoe-girl myself!" said Gabi ignoring the evil-eye I had been giving her.
"Really? Oh you and Rose should go shopping sometime, she's mad on shoes too!" said Alice smiling at Gabi before winking at Emmett.
Glancing at my watch I got for my birthday from Tailer's parents I looked at Gabi and said "We'll be late for class Gabs, this has been fun we should (clears throat) do it again sometime!" I said as I gathered my stuff together and followed my sister and the others to the door.
"Tomorrow?" Emmett asked almost as eager as the others had been about inviting us to sit with them.
"Um, sure!" I said surprised but happy deep down.
"Can I walk you to your next class Gabi?" Edward asked as we walked out the door.
"Sure! That's really nice of you!" Gabi replied with a grin.
"Me too!" Emmett asked shyly looking at me and winking. Nodding I couldn't believe my luck.
"Sorry about Rose, it's not you, we're going through some issues at the moment so please don't take it personally!" Emmett said as we followed behind Gabi and Edward towards the English block.
"Don't worry about it! I know what problems are like between couples. I've got some myself!" I said now wishing I could take the words back.
"Oh really, those two boys I saw you and your sister with the other day, I take it their not your brothers then?" He asked cheekily as we finally reached the building.
"No! Thanks for walking me to class, see you round?" I asked hopefully.
"Sure thing!" he said smiling back before nudging his brother and walking back the way we had come as Edward has class with us.
"Take your seats please Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a new assignment today!" Said Miss Partridge.
"I noticed the lack of interest in our story by you folk yesterday so I have decided to make it into a play, there will be no auditions for the parts, I will give them out now, Mr Cullen, you will play Romeo. Miss Shaw-Gabriella you will play Juliet, Mike you will play the cousin. Jessica you will play Susan the lover of the cousin." Miss Partridge said as she handed out the scripts.
I looked at Gabi with sudden shock and worry on her face although I couldn't help but be excited for her, she loved drama and now she had an excuse to get up-close-and-personal with Edward.
I ggroaned at being partnered with Mike!
"Gabi!" I asked looking curious
"Yeah?" Gabi looked at me with a curious eye, a cautious eye but yet interested.
"Are you ok with this?" I asked eyeing Edward and winking.
"Yeah! Why wouldn't I be? You know this is just what I need to get over this crush regarding Edward!" she said looking as positive as she could be.
Gabi looked like she had made up her mind that this was a passing crush that she was happy with this achievement and to let this perfect opportunity slip by her.
I was not going to let that happen, if I could get this Emmett guy, he said that he and Rosalie were having problems well that was just perfect for me.
"I'm excited about this B, I love drama and you know it! I can't wait to call Ben and tell him, he's going to be so pissed off coz I oh never mind, your not listening!" grumbled Gabi sighing and sitting down next to Edward to run over lines.
I had been listening but something had caught my eye, Emmett had walked into the classroom and straight to the teacher's desk, eyeing his brother before turning to answer the teacher.
This was strange, because Edward stood up and walked towards the teacher and Emmett without being called, almost like he could read his brother's mind…
Before anything could happen, the fire alarm went off.
"Becka, Gabi! We need to move!" said Mike who was busy moving towards the door.
"Sure, whatever Mike!" I said grabbing Gabi by the arm and heading off after the rest of the class.
"Rebecka? Gabriella? Are you alright?" came a strange but friendly voice from behind where we stood in the parking lot where the rest of the school were now assembling.
Turning around I smiled it was Emmett and Edward, thank God they had gotten out safely, something still wasn't right though…
"Yes! Alice! What's going on?" I asked as she and to my annoyance Rosalie joined us in the line by my truck.
"I don't know, Emmett where's Jasper?" She asked trying not to look anxious.
"I thought he was with you!" Emmett replied now looking as anxious as Alice.
"He's over there Al, relax!" Edward said placing a comforting arm around her sister while keeping an eye on Gabi which seemed strange-almost possessive.
"He looks guilty bro!" Emmett said laughing in Alice's direction with a wink.
"Hae you guys, what's up?" Jasper asked "Not much J! You look a little guilty bro, what have you been up to aye?" Emmett asked nudging his brother in the ribs as Jasper hugged Alice.
"Not much! Emmett, you'd get up to more trouble than me and Ed put together aye Al?" Jasper asked attempting to look innocently at Alice.
"Whatever J!" Alice said moving away from Jasper to stand beside Gabi and Rosalie.
"Ok, Ladies and Gentlemen, you can go back into class now!" came the Principals voice from somewhere behind the crowd.
"Alice, Emmett, Edward, Jasper, Rosalie are you alright?" came a worried voice from behind us.
Turning around I noticed the friendly caramel haired lady from the office.
"Yeah, Mum we're fine! Have you met Gabi and Becka?" Emmett asked her as she hugged her children.
"Yes! I have Emmett, nice to see you girls again. I'm Mrs Cullen, well Esme outside of school." Mrs Cullen said as she let go of Emmett and moved forward to hug Rosalie and Jasper.
"Nice to see you again Mrs Cullen, I'm sorry but we have to get to class, we don't want to be late Gabi!" I said politely and trying not to sound as guilty as I felt.
"No, that's fine I have to get back to the office, No wagging Jasper!" Mrs Cullen said smiling as I looked at Gabi and Edward before turning to Alice once back inside our classroom.
"Is she ok?" Gabi asked Alice as we made our way back to the building for English.
"No! Rosalie is upset that she might lose Emmett to Rebecka!" She said winking at me.
"Me? Alice, I don't see why that is, I-I kind of have a boyfriend." I said as we sat down and took out our work again.
"Alice can we run lines while Gabi and Edward do theirs?" I asked looking embarrassed at what she had suggested.
"Why don't we run lines together?" Edward said as he and Gabi pulled their chairs up to where Alice and I had sat.
"What do you mean kind of?" Gabi said looking slightly worried.
"It means that I'm having second thoughts Gabs!" I said following Alice off to where I had gestured.
"Alice? Can I speak with you alone for just a minute?" I asked as Edward held out a chair for Gabi to sit on before pulling his own up beside her.
"Yes! Let's go over here, I don't think you want to be overheard!" Alice said gesturing towards another desk a little way-a-way from our siblings.
"Is it just my imagination or is there something more than just friendship on your brother's mind?" I asked as I sat down to face her and pretended to read the script there teacher had given out.
"I think you might be right, Edward knows that Gabriella has a boyfriend but that doesn't seem to worry him. Is this 'boyfriend' of hers, is it serious?" Alice asked looking at her brother and Gabi.
"I think she's hoping it will go back that way yes! To be honest Alice I think Edward is better for her than Ben is!" I said I couldn't believe I had just said that.
"I agree, I mean not that I know this Ben chap, but I know Edward finds it hard when we're all together at home…" Alice said trailing off as the teacher came past.
Forty minutes later we were out of class once more and walking to the parking lot.
"I'd better go, Gabi and I have shopping to do before our Dad gets home. He can't cook so Gabi and I…" I said smiling as Emmett, Alice and Edward walked us to our truck after English; Emmett had met us after class and joined us to walk to the car park.
"Do you want a ride to school tomorrow?" Edward said looking from me to Gabi and back again.
"Um sure! That would be great Thank you Edward!" Gabi said smiling as she got into the truck and shut the door which Edward was holding.
"Awesome! I'll catch a ride with you tomorrow then bro!" Emmett said opening the driver's door for me as he spoke.
"You should probably go with Rosalie tomorrow Emmett, I don't want to cause anymore trouble than I have already!" I said as he shut the door behind me.
"Oh sure!" he replied slightly disappointed.
"See you then!" I said waving as I turned the key and put the truck into drive.
"What was that B, did I just see you turn Emmett down?" Gabi asked as we reached the supermarket ten minutes later.
"Gabi, Emmett is with Rosalie and I'm with Tai, I don't want to cause trouble anymore. I'm over dramas but I'll tell you one thing, I know those Cullen's have a secret. I want to figure out what it is!" I said grabbing a trolley and pushing it towards the entrance to wait for Gabi to lock the truck.
"Yeah, I don't know Becks, maybe they're just a close family that's all." She said convincingly as she got the list out and began reading it.
"What'd you think about visiting Jacob in La Push this weekend?" I asked as we made our way around the shop collecting groceries, we needed for almost a month.
"Yeah! I'll bet Dad will go for that, but I thought you didn't like the fact that Jake's got the hots for you?" Gabi asked as we reached the counter almost twenty minutes later.
"Yeah! He's cute but now that I'm with Tailer I think it will make it a bit easier!" I said amazed at how firm I felt.
"Ok! If you say so B!' Gabi said shaking her head as I handed the attendant the money.
"That's Sixty-Nine Ninety!" She said with a smile.
Taking my change, I said "Better run it by Dad first though, I was thinking about making great-grandma's lasagna for tea tonight to soften him up." I said grabbing as many bags as I could and heading for the exit.
"Sounds good, but you know that Dad will be all for it anyway!" Gabi said following me towards the truck.
As I started the truck, drove out of the car park and back towards home I couldn't help but think about Emmett's behavior today, he didn't seem to care about this so called girlfriend of his, he walked me to all my classes, opened the door on the truck and looked as though...No I had to stop it right there, as I had said to my sister, I was with Tai and Tai it would be... but once again Emmett's face wound its way into my thoughts and as we were preparing dinner that night Gabi brought it up.
"I think Rosalie and Emmett are over, Alice said they were rocky but Emmett's reaction to what you said before we left; I think you may have a chance with him, I mean only if you want it!" she said passing me the sheets of pasta for the top of the dish.
"As much as that sounds inviting Gabi I'm still with Tailer, I can't and WON'T cheat on him, I know he did that to me but I just can't do that too him." I said turning to face Gabi trying to let her see that I meant it.
Before Gabi could say anymore, I heard the unmistakable sound of our father's Police Cruiser pulling up in the driveway.
"Let's discuss it later Gabs!" I said motioning towards the door as I placed the dish into the oven.