Ch 4: Rumors

~Bella's POV~

I wasn't usually paranoid about being the topic of discussion. Most of the time when I saw people whispering, I assumed it wasn't about me. It's not like I wasn't well known around the school, I just never considered myself important enough to be worth talking about.

But today, people were acting weird.

It seemed wherever I went people were staring at me. Some were obvious about it and others would quickly glance away if I looked in there direction. At first I thought I had something on me.

Then I thought I smelled bad. I even went to the bathroom for a sniff check. Everything seemed okay though.

My next thought was that I was just being overly sensitive.

Come lunchtime though, I was certain it was not in my head.

"Sooo, Bella," Erik Yorkie drawled out.

I glanced over his way as I sat down with my usual group of friends, ready to chow down on the PB&J I packed for lunch.

"Sup?" I asked before biting into my sandwich.

"You coming to Tye's party tonight?"

Confused, I gave him a look while I chewed.

I went to parties, but usually they were ones hosted by the same group of friends I was currently sitting with. Tyler wasn't in that group. Hell I hadn't even been invited to the party in question.

"Probably not." I said as I finished my bite.

He looked surprised by my answer.

"Oh… I mean don't you want to go?"

I just shrugged. It'd probably be cool, but I wasn't exactly on the guest list.

"Why you asking? I'm not really friends with Tye."

He rolled his eyes at me.

"But you are with Cullen."

I wasn't sure that Edward and I were friends either. I still didn't understand Erik's line of questioning.

"I'm… confused."

Yorkie looked a little put out.

"When you date a football player, you tend to go with them to their friend's parties." He spelled it out for me with a note of exasperation.

I was so taken aback by that comment I'm pretty sure my mouth dropped open.

"Dating?" It came out more as an accusation than a question.

Erik raised a brow.

"Come on Bella. Everyone's been talking about it."

I felt my mouth moving but no sound was coming out.

Jessica Stanley who was sitting beside Erik giggled.

"I don't think she knew the cat was out of the bag."

Oh no. This couldn't be happening.

"I'm… no… I mean," I couldn't get a coherent sentence out.

"Aww she's embarrassed. Oh better get it together, your man is heading over." Jessica winked at me.

I'm pretty sure I was hyperventilating. My fight or flight response was kicking in, and flight was about to win.

"Hello, sweetheart. Can I have a minute?" Edward's sultry voice purred in my ear.

I almost jumped at how close he was.

Embarrassed and with no better way out, leaving with him was really my only option. I nodded wordlessly and followed him out of the cafeteria. I tried to ignore the fact everyone's eyes were on us as we departed.

We walked to the far side of the building which was deserted this time of day. He whirled suddenly and I almost fell into him.

It startled a gasp out of me.

He eyed me quietly, as if he was trying to read my mind. It made me nervous.

"I didn't… I mean…," I was really having trouble communicating today.

The smug smile that captured his lips made my stomach flip.

"Bella, if you wanted to go out, all you had to do was ask."

I felt myself turning redder, if that was even possible at this point.

I shook my head vehemently.

"No… I," I cut myself off as he lifted a single brow at me.

"Are you trying to tell me you didn't start a rumor that I'm fucking you?"

He didn't sound upset by it. In fact, he seemed to be enjoying how awful this all was. But I wasn't.

"Not intentionally!" I blurted out.

The surprise in his eyes was evident. And I realized, he was messing with me. He didn't actually think I was responsible. Until now that is.

And all my anger at Mike came crashing back.

"Fuck!" I cursed, turning to kick the wall in my rage, like a petulant five-year-old. "That stupid asinine weasel and his stupid fucking face. I should have run him over yesterday."

I wanted to punch something so bad, my fists balled angrily at my sides. I closed my eyes and focused on breathing instead.

"I'm sorry you got dragged into this. Please feel free to correct everyone." My voice sounded strained to my ears.

Trying to be an adult, I turned to face him.

He looked somewhere between angry and confused.

"What exactly did I get dragged into? Fucking you?"

I really wished he would stop saying that. It made me react in ways I couldn't handle right now.

"Yes. Well supposed fucking anyways." I threw up my hands defeatedly.

He was quiet for a moment.

"You really want me to believe you just started telling people we're dating?"

I sighed aggravatedly.

"No. I didn't happen like that. I didn't tell anyone we were together. It was just assumed, and I was mad. And I didn't even think that it was a big deal, because why would he go around telling anyone? But he did, and here we are."

I motioned between us.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Edward's confused reply came quickly.

I rested my head in my palms for a second, then turned to look at him. He looked more confused than mad, which I should have been grateful for.

I felt given the circumstances I did owe him an explanation, even though I really didn't want to talk about it. I took another breath and focused on speaking slowly.

"Yesterday, Mike cornered me to ask me out. It was the third time since school started and I was just really fed up. I mean, how many times do you have to turn a guy down for him to get it? I tried to be nice, I tried to be clear. But then he…" I cut myself off getting even angrier.

"Wait, did Mike hurt you?" He looked seriously pissed. I shook my head.

"No. He just said some shit that pissed me off, and I realized he wasn't going to leave me alone unless he thought I was dating someone."

Edward's face was drawn in concentration.

"So, you told him we were dating?"

I could tell he was trying to follow, but getting lost in the details. I shook my head again.

"I told him I was seeing someone, and he assumed it was you. He made it very clear that he didn't want anything to do with Cullen's sloppy seconds, so I just let it ride. If that's what it took to get him to stop bothering me then so fucking be it."

Silence hung between us.

I stared at my shoes, uncertain of what was going to happen next.

"That's why you were upset yesterday?" His question brought my eyes up. "Because he thought I was fucking you?" There was an edge in his tone that sounded a lot like hurt.

"Not in the way you mean. I was pissed that he wouldn't leave me alone. That me saying I wasn't interested over and over wasn't enough. That I had to be with someone else to make him back off."

I wished he could understand how frustrating it could be. As if being a single woman by choice was somehow impossible, and there was no way I wouldn't be interested in a guy unless I was dating someone else.

"I'm sorry I used you as an out. The situation was really uncomfortable and at the time I didn't see the harm. It just never occurred to me that he would spread that around." I told him honestly. "I'll set the record straight and tell everyone it was just a rumor. I don't want to cause any problems."

He gave me a long look.

"What if I don't want to set the record straight?"

Umm, say what now?

"What?" Confusion colored my voice.

He shrugged.

"Let people think we're dating."

I was blown away at his suggestion.

"Why?"

His eyes captured mine.

"It's shit that some asshole won't back off unless you're with someone. If my name gets you out of that situation, I'm willing to go along."

I was incredulous.

"You can't really expect me to believe that you're willing to pretend date me, just so one dick head leaves me alone."

I mean it didn't even sound plausible.

He laughed at my obvious disbelief.

"It comes with perks for me too." That piqued my interest. "It's not quite the same caliber, but I get plenty of unwanted attention. It's fucking annoying. I can hardly go to a party without getting hit on and then some jealous dude wants to fight." He rolled his eyes.

It surprisingly made a lot of sense. I could certainly see where he would get hit on. And also where boyfriends might be worried about Edward snatching up their girl.

"Look I just wanna finish the year with good enough grades to get into college and get the hell out. If having a fake girlfriend makes that easier, I'm all for it."

The sentiment was one I shared.

Still, fake dating seemed like a bad idea.

As if sensing my hesitation, he looked at me.

"You have someone in mind you actually want to date?" The question was asked as if he didn't think that was possible.

It annoyed me enough to be combative.

"What if I did?" I sassed.

He looked surprised for half a second, followed by a grin.

"I'd say you're full of shit. But if that's the case, who's the lucky guy?"

Of course I was full of it.

"As if I'd tell you."

He chuckled and gave me a knowing look.

"There's only two guys in this school you'd find interesting enough to want to be with. Since Mr. Danvers is a teacher and you aren't legal yet, I'm assuming he's off the table."

I almost laughed at the ridiculousness of his words.

"And if he's not in this school?" I dared to counter.

Edward's eyes darkened a little.

"Then, I'd really think you're full of it."

It was so silly I couldn't help the smile that came.

"It just so happens that I'm not interested in dating anyone. But I don't like assumptions being made about me." I told him with a semi-severe tone.

Edward gave me an appreciative look.

"No, you certainly don't."

The moment was quiet between us as we both considered each other's words.

"I'm not against you Edward. It just seems like it could get complicated."

His brow furrowed.

"How?"

Oh, if only he knew.

"Lying tends to get complicated." I half-laughed. "Keeping stories straight, being on guard to act like we like each other in front of other people. It just seems like a lot."

He didn't respond immediately.

"You think it would be that hard to pretend you like me?" His face told me he didn't think that was actually a problem.

"Anyone ever mention you have a big ego?" I asked drily. He cracked a smile

"Often."

I rolled my eyes.

"You don't think it would be… I don't know, just annoying I guess. To make sure people believe it?"

Edward laughed, surprising me.

"Bella, you're hot."

I'm not sure what sort of face I made, but it didn't feel good.

"Umm, what?"

He laughed again and moved closer to me.

"You're hot. You're probably one of the hottest girls in the school."

And suddenly I felt like I was being mocked for no reason.

"Real nice Edward. Yes, guys like Mike cornering me in parking lots really makes a girl feel sexy. That, and the non-existent line of men knocking at my door." The sass in my tone didn't seem to deter him.

"Bella." He voice was too damn sexy for the level of my irritation right now.

"Edward." I shot back.

He gave me a look.

"I don't need to be hot or whatever. Maybe I'm not anyone's type, but I'm happy with the way I look, thank you very much. And I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't mock me."

His eyes turned a little angry.

"I'm not mocking you Bella." I made a noise of disbelief. He shook his head at me. "You're intimidating."

"What?" I almost laughed. "First, I'm hot, now I'm terrifying. Make up your mind."

He gave me a pointed look.

"You are not only the smartest girl in our grade, but you don't take shit from anyone. Most guys find that incredibly intimidating."

I could only look at him feeling bemused.

"Look, guys want easy marks. Yeah maybe it's a little deeper than that sometimes, but for the most part that's the way it is. Confidence is a turn on. Being good looking is a turn on. But when you have both, that scares little boys away."

I tried to understand what he was saying. I could even, maybe a little, grasp his point. I just didn't think it applied to me.

"You're saying I scare guys off because I'm so hot and confident?" I heard the lack of belief in my voice.

"You don't have to believe me. Go up to any guy in the cafeteria right now and ask him out. He'd say yes without hesitation."

The level of certainty in his voice was baffling.

"That doesn't even make sense. Why would they say yes, if I supposedly am so scary?"

He rolled his eyes.

"You really don't know anything about men do you?" He sighed. "If you ask, it means you see something in them that might be worthy of you. You made it easy, because they didn't have to figure out what they have to offer."

Though I understood, I still didn't believe it.

"Okay, even if I believed that, which I'm not sure that I do, what does that have to do with us pretend dating?"

The exasperation in his eyes was evident.

"I'm hot; you're hot. I'm confident; you're confident. Admittedly you're far more intelligent than I am, but I still make good grades. We're on the same level. People won't have an issue believing we're together, because it superficially makes sense."

And finally, I was getting his point.

"Oh." My ever intelligent reply.

"You said it might be hard to make people believe. But really, I think it would be harder to make them not believe it."

I could see his meaning. It hadn't even been a full day since Mike had mad the assumption, and now the whole school thought we were together. They did want to believe it.

"You really think this is a good idea?"

I was honestly asking.

As if sensing the shift in my tone, Edward gave me a softer look.

"I think it solves problems for both of us. But if you're worried, we can just ignore the rumors. As long as it doesn't bother you, people will eventually stop talking about it."

I felt like I needed more time to think about it.

"Can we talk about this later? After school or something? I don't want to jump into anything that neither of us have really thought out all the way."

He opened his mouth as if to argue, but then promptly closed it. I could tell he wasn't particularly happy about it, but he was going to give me the time I needed to process this proposition.

"Sure. I'll see you after school."

As I watched him walk away, I felt a sense of loss and uncertainty.

Could I really afford to let myself get close to him again, even if it was only pretend?

AN: When rumors become reality!

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