Soleil

11. YOU COULD?

"Okay." Bella appraised Edward, unsure of his odd behavior about a book in a language that he could not read. She shrugged off her misgivings. If this is what he wanted to do with his newfound freewill, who was she to judge him? Maybe he was keen on studying a new language. "We should figure out what's going on. I feel like we should have heard at least five more bells with how long we have spent in here." Now with her solidified ally, they could tackle this problem. Together. One problem at a time. Until they broke free from this hellscape.

Edward nodded and Bella was not sure if he was actually paying attention to this critical piece of information they had just discovered. He could focus on learning French later. Maybe invest in Rosetta Stone or something. She bit her lip again, reminding herself to be kind and not criticize his choices. Perhaps there was a reason he was so enthralled with the book.

She was going to remind him, just in case, about investigating this after they entered the main school hallway from the janitor's closet when…

"Bella?" A voice not belonging to Edward called out to her. Bella cringed, recognizing the horribly familiar voice. She closed her eyes, wishing for him to disappear.

Mike Cullen had entered the scene and whatever miracle her and Edward had just encountered was ripped away.

"What is wrong- is she hurt?" Mike was too close now and somehow, Edward was further away. Engrossed in the book in his hands. That he couldn't read. He looked disgusted while Mike seemed stressed.

"I think she's fainted. I don't know what happened, she didn't even stick a finger," Edward delivered robotically. Bella shot him a look of disbelief. To put it mildly, she felt betrayed. She believed he was reciting lines that he could easily manipulate. But he took the easy route because he did not lift his eyes from his book to review her and Mike for even a millisecond.

"Bella." Why did Mike have to repeat her name for getting her attention? She was standing right in front of him, whittling him down to nothing with her glare. Well, if she could. "Can you hear me?"

"No," she groaned. "Go away." The words were effortless because they were her lines and she 100% consented to supplying them.

"I'll take her," Mike informed her and Edward. To the nurse? The was the last thing she wanted. "You can go back to class."

Edward didn't protest, reading the book still. His brow furrowing deeper and a look of grave displeasure on his face.

Before Bella herself could refuse, Mike scooped her off the ground into his arms. "Oh, hell no!" She attempted to wiggle out of his arms but found her body in a state of refusal. It would not submit to her choice.

"Hey," Edward called after them half-heartedly. Bella counted Edward out as help at this point. Some ally he was. But he was trailing her and Mike. Maybe he had a plan? She put her faith in him despite his recent unhelpful behavior.

"You look awful," Mike told her while grinning. Bella wanted to wipe the smile off his face. Who would make such a statement while smiling? Was he a psycho?

Bella closed here eyes. If she could not physically resist this moment, maybe she could endure it without having to willingly participate with verbal answers? Maybe…Mike could have a one-sided conversation. She clamped her lips together in favor of this strategy.

Edward was withdrawn from her site once Mike dropped her off in the cot in the nurse's office. Bella was so far successful of withholding her own dialogue in this event with Mike. She was unsure how he charmed the nurse, but she fell for his act.

Bella stared at Mike's face with vacant eyes. The life returned to them when Edward strolled into the room, his eyes still glued to the pages of the book.

"Oh no," Mike muttered. "Go out to the office, Bella." She cast a look to Edward, bewildered.

"Edward," Bella hissed. Edward either was ignoring her or blocking out any interruptions to his 'reading'. Why was studying French so important in this moment?

"Trust me- go." Bella blinked at Mike. Not right now. He had his turn. It was her turn now.

"Seriously, what the hell, Edward?" Still nothing from him. She tested her body's limits, and there was nowhere for her to go but to exit the nurse's room. She had no other alternatives. "Jesus, Edward. Are we not allies? I know you can be a dick, but this is a bit much and uncalled for."

Edward lifted his head from the book and locked eyes with Bella. She failed to read anything from his eyes. He quirked his left eyebrow and cocked his head to the side. His undivided attention solely on her, finally. "A dick? Me?" He questioned, a pretentious tint to it.

"Yes," she seethed. "Since day one. I wasn't blind. I could tell you didn't want to talk to me after you introduced yourself." She wasn't sure why she pulled out that specific example, but it was the first one that came to mind for her.

He closed the book in his hands. "You could?" She had his interest. He was curious.

"Duh. You lacked sincerity in your words. But that doesn't mean I didn't want it to be true." She went one sentence too far. Curse her feelings. Hadn't she faced enough rejection already from him? Thinking on rejection, Bella darted a quick glance towards Mike. He was a blank face, no obvious facial recognition of her and Edward's impromptu conversation, cutting into this scene.

"Well, isn't that something. So, you liked me despite that?"

Before she could open her mouth to respond, Bella's body spun of its own accord and darted out of the infirmary.

"You actually listened to me." Mike sounded stunned. Bella was stunned as well.

She had learned two new things since her conversation with Edward.

The first, time was chronological and had a story to maintain. If the flow of time is kept by this. So if her and Edward sneak off somewhere when she is supposed to be with Mike, they have all the time in the world. But the world is on pause until the scene that is supposed to happen unfolds. The second, even her body will work against her if needed for story continuity. Though not in a moment she has created with Edward that was not supposed to occur. Bella cradled her head in her hands. All the nuances of this world were killing her head. And at this point they were subjective guesses. She could be wrong. If she could discuss them with Edward, she could gain more clarity. Wherever that 'traitor' was. Honestly, not paying attention to her until she calls him out? How juvenile.

Edward came through the nurse's door, all his attention returned to the book.

"You look better," Edward said, a smile twitching on his lips.

"Just keep your hand in your pocket," Bella replied snidely. He wanted to revert to lines, Bella was more than happy to oblige him.

"Honestly, who would pass out from a pin prick of blood," he commented, amused. Edward looked up to Bella. "Are you going back to class?" His question was earnest.

"Unsure how this plays out. My guess is no." Bella sighed.

"I guess we are going to the beach this weekend?" Uncharacteristically, Edward flashed a menacing glare toward Mike.

"Sure, what other choice do I have? Leave the book. We have real things to discuss then if we don't get another chance before then."

"We're meeting at my dad's store, at ten."

"I'll be there," Bella promised.

"I'll see you in the gym then?" Bella observed how Edward's steps away from her and Mike were hesitant. As if he was either being forced away or he didn't like leaving her with Mike. But that was crazy, right? Mike was harmless. A buffoon who she had no interest in. But harmless.

"See you," she replied, regret lingering in her voice. She was not ready to say goodbye.

Bella was forced to skip gym and be escorted home by Mike. She used the time to assert herself with Mike and test what her limits were. On speech. Movement. Time.

It was soul crushing to realize in his presence she was deprived of most of her control. But around Edward, she found a swelling fighting spirit to resist. He renewed her hope that this wasn't her life. She could be more than a puppet.

By the time Mike dropped her home, she was brimming with hope. Mike would be out of town tomorrow. She had a beach trip with Edward to look forward to.

She was so pleased with the news of Mike's impending absence that she happily agreed to his offensive request for her to avoid any calamites that put her in danger over the weekend. Little did he know she was the real danger to his happy ending.

He was not the only one smiling when he drove away from her house.

Note: Seriously, these updates since I returned to this story just last week wouldn't be possible without the reviews. I mean I would update this eventually. But your thoughts on this plot as things are heating up really help me move forward on this. thx very much!

&& OMG I cannot wait for the beach trip next update. This is sure going to be something wild btwn Bella, all knowing Edward and little Jacob Black hahahah ~pixelephant