Soleil

10. HER THEORY

The next morning, Bella couldn't say she was surprised in the least when Mike appeared out of thin air to retrieve her keys from the puddle she fumbled them into. A part of her was resigned to what was meant to be. What was the point of having feelings for anything that strayed from the pre-established path for her? Who was she to fight it…alone?

"How do you do that?" she asked out of obligation. Her words were flat. She was not amazed or irritated. Just…accepting.

"Do what?" She reached for her keys and swiped them from Mike's hand before he could drop them into her palm. She wasn't resigned to this life enough to let Mike still play the cool, indifferent love interest.

"Appear out of-" She snubbed finishing her sentence to focus her attention on Edward in the distance walking across the parking lot. Everything within her screamed to chase after him and demand an answer as to why he had changed his mind.

Mike was saying something in response to her half-finished sentence, but she did not care to pay attention. She scowled in Edward's direction. Who was he to work her up like this? Was she this hung up on a boy they she could not make do without him? Was she falling into the category of a heroine who could not operate without a love interest? She was not counting Mike in this department because she was not interested in him. Clearly, Mike was already interested in her or destined to be. Her sights though were clearly set on Edward.

"Bella, you are utterly absurd," Mike said, his low voice cold.

Bella wiggled her hips and tapped her right leg forward, testing that the invisible restraints were released. Her palms tingled – anticipating the slap being stored up to knock some sense into Edward. Not to like her. She could put aside her one-sided affection. But to wake him up to being on her side again. To fight the power. Be their own person. She wanted her ally back. She shelved her pride to the side and with a clear mind reflected back to her conversation the day before with Edward. He did not want to go the dance with anyone. She had to remind him of this.

Set free, Bella gleefully turned her back to Mike and started to walk away.

"Wait," he called after her, but to Bella's pleasure she was allowed to continue to slosh away in the rain. To Edward. Mike appeared next to her in a heartbeat, keeping pace and Bella stifled a groan.

He was going on about being rude or something. Obviously, she agreed with this. They were still moving forward at least and Bella was not in any mood to care.

"Why…don't…you leave me alone?" She suggested. The don't wasn't supposed to be there, but she worked it in.

Mike was talking about a Saturday. This Saturday? She wanted to ask but was too eager to let go of her focus on Edward. She had to be getting closer to reaching him.

Then Mike mentioned her trip to Seattle and was asking if she wanted a ride.

Now he had gained her attention.

"What?" She asked to herself and not Mike. This was the set-up? Her and Mike going to Seattle versus the school dance? Ew. Gross. No.

"Do you want a ride to Seattle?" he repeated.

"No," she replied, her words sharp and adamant. "I am now going to the dance instead."

Mike was startled and seemed to hesitate on his response. Like he was finally grasping her rejection and dislike for him. "Myself, obviously?" He questioned his own response and Bella blinked, wondering if he too was becoming aware of his role.

"Well, well." She smiled to herself as they continued to walk through the school after passing the front doors.

Bella made her way to English class with a clear determination. Edward always sat next to her. It was the perfect opportunity if they were allowed a moment together in class. She would have to dissect later why Mike was grinning before he said he should stay away from her when they parted ways. Was he accepting of her refusal of going to Seattle with him or did he expect she was going?

Once settled into class, Mr. Mason called her out for not paying attention in a disparaging tone but she just waved him off rather than be flustered. She was trying to work out why Edward did not take his usual seat next to her. Where was he? She darted her head all around the room to find him in the back of the class sitting next to Eric. Before she could catch his attention, poof, class was over.

She reviewed the doorway to find Edward and Eric waiting for her. Bella hurried over and grabbed Edward's elbow, pulling him in the opposite direction she knew they would usually walk between classes.

"You're going to the dance with Jessica, why?" A wave of shock passed over Edward's face at her accusation.

She didn't know how long they had before this moment disappeared too.

Instead of answering, he talked about the weather report for this weekend. Bella observed the fists clenched at his sides and the cords in his neck straining. It was her impression that it was not his choice to ignore her question. He was playing his part. He was fighting it though, right?

Alright, it was going to have to be the slap then. It had to work. But what if something worked him up more? Inspiring a stronger reaction?

Bella was unsure of how much control Edward had over what he said or did, even at times she herself had limits. As soon as he mentioned his beach trip being possible for the third time, she pulled Edward toward her by the collar of his pink polo.

She closed her eyes right before her lips hit their mark, kissing the top of his right cheek bone. A smooth, pale surface she would have dreamed about if she was allowed dreams.

It was quiet. Edward's gold eyes widened and his body shuttered before he raised his hand to his face where Bella's lips had been.

"You just-" Edward was at a loss for what it seemed to Bella to be his own words.

She sighed with relief before beaming at him. "Edward, did Jessica ask you to the dance and you accepted?"

"I…uh…think so?" His eyebrows furrowed as he thought this over. "I don't remember her specifically asking me, but I know I am going with her now." His eyebrows arched up in alarm. "I didn't want to." He looked around the crowded hallways as if getting his own bearings. "I don't even want to wear this polo!" He tugged at his popped collar and removed the shirt over his shoulders. He was left wearing a plain white under shirt which left him smiling.

"Does time skip for you too?" Bella asked, rushing her words because time was sacred in their moments together. It was not meant to be Bella and Edward so she expected their time together to subside as Mike popped up more frequently in her path.

"Time skip?" Edward questioned back, confusion audible in his voice. Apparently, he didn't notice or maybe it just affected only her. She didn't have time to explain, she would have to save it for the next note she could pass on to him.

"Is this the first time using your own words?" Straight to the point. This was obviously a yes to her, but she needed confirmation. No more guesses on her part based on their notes and interactions.

He nodded before stepping forward and embracing Bella. "Thank you, I feel free. What happened?"

Bella's heart raced and she knew her one sided feelings were the root of it.

"Oh…um…" she stammered, awkward Bella retuning in full swing. There was no time for that. She swallowed her feelings and channeled some form of calm composure as he released her from the hug.

"I don't know what's going on. It's like we all have these roles to play. Actions and lines that direct the flow of a story or something like that. When you break free from that, things don't match up. Reactions or replies. Free will is not a real thing, Edward." Saying everything out loud to another person made it real and it honestly shook Bella to the core. The reality of it all.

"I am just worried about having a time skip right now," she confessed, her voice shaking.

"What is a time skip?"

"Less important at the moment to discuss. Edward, I am pretty sure we are the only two 'aware'. I was the first to break free and I think you are now the second. What does this mean?"

"I don't know. I theorized along the same lines of what you are thinking. But I haven't been aware of time skips. But as I am thinking on it…there are gaps. And any real moments I can recall-" he paused and narrowed his eyes at Bella. "They all seem to focus on my moments with you. Why is that, Bella?"

This wasn't good.

"Hearing you say that leans me to a theory I rather reject," she muttered as Edward offered the most important clue.

If Edward's only moments of being awake were surrounded in time he spent with Bella, what if the focus of events here was centered on her? New girl in town. Object of affection to a few boys. One in particular she was supposed to grow closer to (aka Mike Cullen). This was an unfolding love story line that Edward played a supporting role in. Could she really tell him that if she was correct?

"Tell me now or you should really stay away from me," he warned.

A jolt skittered up Bella's spine. Edward had just repeated what Mike said when he left her. It was eerie. Scarily eerie.

"Like I have a choice," she snapped, irritated she had to fight with her only ally. "Just give me some more time to think on it. It's kind of ridiculous."

"Please tell me this little theory." His eyes smoldered when she looked up to them and Bella hated to admit how she was dazzled by him. If she admitted her theory to him, he would think she was full of herself.

Bella checked their surroundings, acting cautious. The hallway was thinning out. The warning bell was about to ring, she was sure of it. Another part of her, very tiny, reviewed the hallways for any signs of danger as if they were outlaws in this world and she didn't know if someone would force them back into character.

"Okay so I think-"

The scene blanked out and she was now entering the cafeteria side by side with Jessica. Bella passed through lunch carrying on with her role since Edward was nowhere to be found. She needed to test out her terrible theory further before confessing it to Edward.

She had to deal with Mike 'summoning' her to his lunch table to grace her with his presence. Mike apparently was tired of staying away from her, whatever that meant and the opposite of what she wanted. Apparently, she was supposed to be coming up with theories about he saved her. Something insignificant compared to the theory of the fucked-up world they were living in. Mike did make some offhand comment on Edward being her boyfriend and how he was displeased they were talking which made her genuinely happy. Well, happy enough despite the fact she was locked into spending this time with Mike versus Edward. Bella went along with most of the intended dialogue in the conversation. But she had refused to ask him to warn her next time he chose to IGNORE her for her own good. She did not want to give him the wrong ideas even though her opinion did not matter.

Needless to say, she survived through lunch with the hope she could be in Biology with Edward knowing Mike was skipping. That was the best piece of news she got from that pointless conversation. When she walked into the classroom Edward stared at her, his confusion and concern apparent.

Looking at the classroom set-up and envisioning where this lab was going, Bella decided to play the 'I am going to faint card' before the nauseous feeling actually settled in her. She quickly volunteered Edward to help her.

In the school hallways, she quit her acting and pulled Edward along with her as they ran down the hallways. She pushed open the first janitor's closet she could find.

"Time skips, they are real," Edward murmured once she closed the door. "I never noticed them before. But you did. How?"

"I don't know. But do you fully grasp how something is wrong here?"

"Yes. Now tell me your theory."

Holding back her need to cringe, she finally confessed to Edward the theory she had constructed and the parts they both played.

"Well, now that is something. So, the world revolves around you?" His sarcasm obvious.

Bella snorted. "Not by my choice. But what if it's true. What's the end goal? What happens if I revolt from what's expected from me in big ways rather than small?"

Edward raised one eyebrow and gave Bella a glassy stare. "How do you know your feelings won't change for Mike?"

Bella gagged. "No. Never. Plus, I already like someone else. I should have choice over my own feelings."

Edward huffed a laugh. "Really? The heroine shaking things up with another love interest? Who captured your eye? Eric or maybe even Tyler?" He mused.

"Um, neither of them." Bella averted her gaze from Edward. "I think I have feelings for you," she choked out, unsure where this bravery came from.

"Me?" He asked, bewildered. "Was it the popped collared pink polo or how I followed you around like a puppy that led to this?" He rolled his eyes. "I don't think that's the real me. You like an illusion, Bella," he scoffed.

His words stung her heart. "It's not that!" She insisted adamantly. "At first, I noticed how handsome you are. Then there was something familiar about you. And since then, I wanted your attention even when it wasn't genuine. Oh god," she slapped her hand to her forehead. "As I say this out loud, this sounds ridiculous. Look, I don't know why you and not Mike who I think I am supposed to pair up with. It just had to be you and I am regretting saying this at all."

She turned away from Edward and grabbed for the door handle. It was too embarrassing to continue on at this point. Just as she was opening the door, Edward's hand shoved the door back shut.

"Look, it's okay. This is weird. I mean, I don't know how I feel. I didn't like you at first. Then it grew worse when I thought you were my enemy. And now, I see you as the only person able to help me out of this. I think being more than that crosses a line we shouldn't until we figure things out. You're a nice girl."

Yup, he just poured salt over the open wound of rejection.

Note: wow. a decent length update for you, yay! the support of the last update helped motivate me to write this (and not tease it into TWO separate chapters!) so thanks to my reviewers, old followers and any new ones that stumble upon this odd story. Thanks for taking a chance on this story with me.

Buckle up buttercups, new world so Bella and Edward have to fall for each other under different circumstances. Bella likes Edward for the things she notices about him like in the book. Edward has to approach liking her from a different angle that is not, I can't hear you but can hear everyone else. You intrigue me so I will now observe everything you do and fall for you. But it may be similar to that in some regard since she is the only other 'free' person like him now ;) I think when I swap to Edward's POV we will have more insight on his side of things once again. I like the EPOV chapters, I hope you do too. ~pixelephant