Chapter 40
Last Christmas I gave you my heart
But the very next day you gave it away
This year, to save me from tears
I'll give it to someone special —Last Christmas, Wham!
Bella
I climbed into Emmett's truck and waited for him to come out of the school, considering how the holidays crept up on me. Christmas Vacation came again already.
The front doors opened every couple of minutes, letting gobs of excited students into the crisp winter air, then closed, with none of them being Emmett. If he hurried, we could all start our vacation away from school. I was as eager to get moving as everyone else.
When I located him behind a cluster of students, I wondered why he was bringing Edward Cullen over with him. They were good buddies on the football field, but they didn't hang out together outside of that, so I couldn't call them good friends. I rolled the window down as they approached my side of the truck. "Bella. Coach created a highlight-clips video of my best plays this season. He wants to share it with me before he sends copies out to the recruiters asking for it, and then we'll go over the list of schools I'm interested in attending next year. So, I'll be awhile, but Edward, here, offered to give you a ride home." He patted Edward on the back of the shoulder.
Edward smiled, revealing a cute dimple gracing only one side of his face.
"Sure." I lifted my book bag from the floor of the truck.
He and I had a study hall together, so we were on friendly terms, and I'd got to know his sister, Alice, well. The initial new-kid-in-town fanfare faded, but he was still popular and was just an overall nice guy.
Once we were inside his car and out of the parking lot, he asked, "So, has Alice called you, yet?"
"About what?"
"You haven't heard? She's heading up the spring prom committee and plans on getting every, single junior involved."
It was the junior class's responsibility to host the seniors for the Junior-Senior prom. That was the Fork's tradition, because Forks High didn't have a vast student population. There were just over a hundred students between the two grades. "No, I didn't know that."
"Well, heads up. She'll be calling." He fumbled through a cd holding-case strapped to the car-visor above the steering wheel.
Prom was a sore subject for me now. "I'm not much for planning things, but I wouldn't mind helping to decorate or do something inconspicuous like that."
He found the disc he was looking for and slid it into the stereo. As soon as the music started, I heard the first song of Debussy's Greatest Compilation and grinned. "You remember that day?"
"Not at first, but I eventually solved the mystery. I just always wondered if you remembered it."
I opened my mouth, about to say, how could I forget? But I caught the words before I let them go. "I remembered you, but it was such a long time ago. Christmas vacation last year, in fact."
My memory of the guy who rescued me in the mall didn't quite match the guy behind the wheel, after getting to know him better. So, I never put the two together anymore. "It's funny. You don't seem like a guy into this kind of music."
He was an amazing quarterback, and because I watched him play football all season, I only saw a jock. A jock with the potential for a successful male modeling career, but the sophisticated hottie who recommended the classical piece of music existed only in my mind.
He told me he played the piano and briefly took his eyes off the road, focusing on me. "Normally, not this kind of music. I play a lot more Elton John, Billy Joel, and other modern-music piano players, but I like to practice with classical music, because its complexity helps me improve my skills. I play with a band in Port Angeles now and then on the weekends."
"Wow! I wouldn't have guessed that, but it sounds like a lot of fun."
"It is. Maybe you could come and hear us play one of these days?"
"I'd love that."
In the short ride to my house, I'd learned he used to attend a private boarding school out east when he was younger, but as he grew older, it didn't suit the person he felt like he was and wanted to be, so he convinced his dad to let him transfer back to public school. That told me why he seemed so refined and charming, with impeccable manners and politeness, and he was very intelligent. The total package.
I thanked him for helping me that day. It was phenomenal of him since he wasn't even an employee of The Music Shop.
"Bella, we're going to Chicago for Christmas," he said, as we came upon my street. "But I was wondering if..."
"Jake!" I blurted when we rounded the corner. His rabbit was parked in our driveway, sticking out at me like a glowing red nightmare.
After all that happened, he should have had the decency to stay away from me. Far, far away. He wasn't supposed to be here. Not now. I heard from my brothers that he was going to his California home over break. And I couldn't have been happier with their news.
Edward stopped saying whatever he was about to say and pulled up alongside the curb.
I glared at Jacob's car. If he thought he could invade my life again, he was wrong. Grabbing my things, I opened the door, preparing myself for a confrontation. I was so preoccupied that I barely remembered climbing off the car until I almost slammed the door shut without even thanking Edward for the ride home. I tugged it back open, leaning over to see him while replaying the past few minutes in my head. "You were saying something, Edward?"
"Forget it," he said. When I kept staring at him, he squirmed and swiped his hand through his auburn hair. The gesture made me noticed the contrast in the color of his mane brought out the greenness in his eyes. It was a magnificent combination. "I was just saying that we were going to Chicago for Christmas, and I was wondering if you and your family had any similar plans during the holidays."
"No, nothing as exciting as going to Chicago. We're home bodies."
He smiled, and my eyes hit his one dimple again. "Well, happy holidays to you and your family," he said.
I nodded, wishing him and his family the same, and thanked him for the ride home.
Once Edward pulled away from the curb, I turned my attention back to Jacob and his stupid, ugly car. He should have known better than to show up here like nothing was wrong with his coming over, and he was about to have a rude awakening.
Mom's car was gone, but the police car was home, so Dad and Jasper were both inside. Which was too bad for them, because I didn't care who may have been keeping him company. Whoever was with him would have to watch me kick Jacob out of my house. When I stormed inside, I heard Jasper talking to him from the kitchen.
A spark of rage ignited, spreading through me like a flame caught by the wind, and throwing my backpack on the couch, there was no stopping me. I barged into the kitchen and spewed at the back of his head. "How dare you!"
He spun toward me with a laugh. "Nice to see you too, Bella."
To be continued next chapter…
