I Do Not Own Twilight
After an exasperating day at school, spent repeatedly telling Edward to leave her alone, Bella drove home as quickly as she could. She was excited to dance with Garrett again. When she pulled up, he was waiting on the steps to her porch. She smiled as she put the car in park. She leaned over to grab her bag and looked up just as Garrett had opened her car door for her.
He nodded a greeting to her and held out his hand to help her down. Bella blushed a lovely shade of pink. She took his hand and stepped out of the car. Garrett lifted her bag from her shoulder and followed her up to the house. While she was unlocking the door Garrett leaned down, "How was your day?" He whispered huskily in her ear which sent shivers down her spine. Bella briefly noted that Edward had never received that sort of reaction from her body.
She took a frustrated breath and rolled her eyes, "Edward was being an idiot all day today."
Garrett growled low in his throat, "What did he do?" His eyes narrowed waiting for her to explain everything that had occurred during the day.
"When I went to leave this morning, Edward was here to drive me. I told him I was driving myself, which caused an argument. We were both late because of it. Then he insisted on walking me to every class. When I would try to duck into the girl's bathroom he would just stand there! Then at lunch I was going to sit with my old friends. He picked up my lunch tray and moved it to his table. The entire time he either told me you were dangerous and were going to eat me or that I was his mate and had to obey him."
"I don't know where he got the idea a mate had to obey the other one. Between a mated pair they both strive to make the other person happy so arguments, while they do happen, are resolved by compromise. It is an equal relationship. For instance," Garrett cocked his eyebrow and smirked at Bella, "if I was your mate, I might take offense at the teasing you were getting and help you show everybody up." He winked at Bella who blushed. "I would also try to be kind to the people you care or cared about even if I wanted to rip their limbs off because I wouldn't want to upset you."
Bella blinked slowly and stepped closer to Garrett. "And what would you want your mate to do in return for these kindnesses?" She whispered.
Garrett leaned in grazing her cheek with the end of his nose and whispered, "I would just want my mate to love me."
Bella's breath caught and she turned her face towards his slowly. Her lips were just about to touch his when Charlie walked through the door. They quickly took several steps away from each other and started to move the furniture.
"Hey Bells! Hey Garrett," Charlie called as he hung up his gun belt and hat. "I'm working a later shift because Earl had to call in so I'm home for a bit. Glad I'm able to watch the show," he winked at Bella chuckling at his daughter's clumsiness.
Garrett coughed, "Right well today we are going to add some arm movements to the footwork we have been learning. It isn't much right here but it is important. The most important part is having a nice firm frame." Garrett continued explaining how Bella was to hold her upper body while they were doing the dance steps she had learned.
This was much more difficult than Bella could have imagined. For some reason Bella could move her feet or Bella could move her arms. Bella could not move both at the same time. What Garrett thought would be learned in a day took the rest of the week.
By Friday Bella was so discouraged she was ready to quit. "I just can't get it Garrett! I don't know why you want to keep trying!"
"I want you to keep trying because I keep picturing the look on everyone's faces when you do this number at the Follies." Garrett smirked at the thought of the Cullens and the boys from the reservation gaping at Bella as she danced on stage.
Bella rested her forehead against Garrett's chest, "I just don't think I have it in me Garrett."
"You do! Let's practice one more time and then we need to head over to the Cullen's you are expected for movie night."
Bella groaned and pouted, "I don't want to see Edward or Carlisle."
Garrett huffed in mock annoyance, "I know you don't but everyone else misses you."
"Does anyone else know I broke up with Edward?" Bella rolled her eyes.
"Alice and Jasper. The rest have no idea. Edward just says you having female issues."
Bella groaned, "I have to go?"
"I would like for you to come." It was Garrett's turn to pout playfully.
"Whyyyy?" Bella whined.
"Because I have to go and I would miss you. Plus, it is a Friday night and Charlie is away. Please?"
Crossing her arms Bella rolled her eyes, "Fine, but only because you are helping me."
Garrett grinned, "Let's take it slow."
They began doing the dance with the arms and the legs. Something almost miraculous happened. Bella got it. She was slow and a touch choppy but she got it. She shrieked and threw her arms around Garrett, "I did it!"
"I told you, you would!" He beamed, "Let's do it again!"
They practiced until the section they were working on was perfect. Before they knew it, they were late to movie night. After hurriedly changing into her comfy clothes Bella ran to her truck and headed to the Cullens.
She had asked if Garrett wanted a ride. Garrett decided to run home, he crawled in the guest bedroom window so he could take a shower, and change clothes before anyone could smell Bella on him. He was still in his room when he heard Bella's truck pull up. He waited until he heard her step onto the front porch then he made his way downstairs. His eyes locked on Bella's and he smirked as he saw her blush at his gaze.
As Bella walked into the Cullen home, she saw Garrett coming down the stairs. His hair was still damp and he had changed into a pair of black jeans and a black v neck t-shirt. He had several necklaces hanging around his neck. Bella caught his eyes and she was sure the room could hear her heart flutter as she caught sight of him. She had always thought Edward was an Adonis but Garrett was ruggedly handsome. He took Bella's breath away.
Just then Edward stepped in front of Bella cutting her view off her view of Garrett. "Bella, love, I'm glad you came. It was time you got over your bad attitude this week. I was surprised when you were acting this way this week, I would have expected this type of attitude in eight days. You're still young so your body isn't always regular. I forgive you."
Bella blanched at Edward's words, "You think I broke up with you because I'm on my period!" She shrieked. She paused gathering her thoughts, "And you said this in front of your family!" As she was shrieking this, she looked around to see who was in the room.
Alice was sitting on Jasper's lap both of them frozen in shock. Esme had her hands covering her mouth, her eyes wide in shock. Carlisle was hovering behind Esme with his face turned to the opposite wall avoiding the catastrophe in the next room. Emmett was stifling a chuckle while Rosalie was getting up looking murderous.
Bella took the scene in, a mortified crimson blush from the top of her head as far down as the eye could see, and glanced at the stairs where Garrett had just been.
Garrett had jumped the rest of the way down the stairs and grabbed Edward punching him square in the jaw. He picked him up roughly and drug him passed Bella. He flung him in the yard.
"You do not ever speak to a lady that way! Not while I'm around." Garrett growled in Edward's face. Garrett reached down and picked Edward up, "Come on! Get up! Fight someone who can defend themselves!" Garrett's lip curled into a snarl and venom flew from his mouth in fury.
Edward scoffed, "I don't need to prove myself to you. This isn't your problem anyway. Bella and I are simply having a lover's quarrel." By this time the entire family had made their way into the yard.
"You think that's what's happening a 'lover's quarrel," Rosalie scoffed eyeing Edward disdainfully? "It sounds to me like she broke up with you and you accuse her of PMSing!"
As soon as Edward realized there was an audience he lifted his nose haughtily in the air, "Yes, Rosalie, this is a lover's quarrel. Bella has told me she doesn't want to date me anymore. Which is excellent because I wanted her to marry me before her change anyway."