Disclaimer: I dont own anything but the plot
Chapter 5 Star of the show
Bella POV
Mike had kindly let me join his team for today's class. Well maybe kindly was the wrong word. Coach Clapp had introduced me as the new student and asked which teams had space for another member. Mike had immediately raised his hand and said loudly that I was welcome to join him. The coach thought nothing of it and ushered me in Mike's direction. Since this was my first class and I didn't have any gym clothes with me, the coach let me sit on the sidelines and watch today. That was a good thing too since I wasn't actually sure how to play this part. Should I embody the spirit of my old klumsy self, and trip over my own feet every few minutes? Or should I use my relatively new found agility and become a show off? Maybe I should ask Edward how he and his siblings usually do in gym classes.
When class was over, Mike told me to wait where I was for him to change, as he wanted to talk to me for a minute. I thought I would have to wait a while, but it only took him about 3 minutes. He obviously had not showered. I could tell as much from the smell of sweat wafting from him as well. He gestured for me to walk towards the doors.
"So you and Cullen seem friendly." He started. I was a little surprised by the hostility in his voice.
"Yes. Edward seems very nice."
"You know, I don't think he's a good person. Him and his family are so weird. They only keep to themselves and think they are above everyone else. They don't dain to talk to other people unless they can get something out of it. If he's being friendly to you, you can count on him wanting something in return." Mike was ranting. Ok I really need to know what the heck is going on between these two.
"How do you know this? Has he ever done anything like that before? Were you friends at some point and he then did something to make you mistrust him?" I need to know whether this apparent hatred is justified or not.
"Well no. I've never really talked to him, or his siblings. Like I said, they don't talk to anyone."
"So you're basing these accusations on what? Rumors? Stories of others who have experience with events such as these with the Cullens?" I was getting a little pissed off now. He better have a good reason for talking trash like that.
"Just my own personal opinion, is all." I stopped walking just short of reaching the doors to the outside. I frowned and narrowed my eyes at him.
"So you're telling me, that the reason for your rudeness is nothing more than you not liking the guy? With what reason do you justify behaving so ungentlemanly?" He looked taken aback. As he should.
"Ungentlemanly? I'm just trying to look out for you Bella. Look, I can be a gentleman." He then stepped forward, walked through the doors and held them open for me. He looked at me expectantly and smiled as though this was gonna make up for his earlier comments. I walked past him, my frown still in place.
"On the contrary, Mike. I find Edward to be both civil and kind. Both of which are traits of a true gentleman. You on the other hand, while you're right that holding the door for me is kind, speaking ill of a person whom you don't actually know is the exact opposite. If you want me to consider you in a better light than him, then maybe you should think about your own actions instead of his. He at least does not scoff at someone else simply for showing me kindness."
Mike let go of the door handle and let it shut. He frowned deeply and looked angry now. I heard a growl to my left, so low I knew for a fact that Mike had not heard it. I saw from the corner of my eyes that a murderous looking Edward was being held back by two of his siblings. "I wonder how much of our conversation he heard." I looked back at Mike. He was wearing a dark smirk now. I'm really starting to question this guy's motives.
"You know, if money is the thing you're after, the Cullens are not the only people in this town with deep pockets. You're a very pretty girl Bella. Just tell me what it is you want and I can probably get it for you."
"Alright, that does it. This guy needs to be taken down a peck or two." I morphed my face as best I could to look pleased and intrigued. I crossed my arms and stepped a little closer to him. "'Anything' you say?" I tried to make my voice sound seductive.
He looked pleasantly surprised. "Yes, anything. Just say the word."
I looked at him for a second before responding. Trying to find the best words to use. "Then I would like for you to grow a pair of balls." I let my face fall into the look of disgust I really wanted to show.
His face fell too, shock and incomprehension clearly shining through. "What?"
"Grow a pair of balls Mike." I repeated. "It's clear that yours have not descended yet, and frankly they really should have by now. Only a man with no real set, would stoop so low as to try to drag others down before even trying to climb the ladder himself. How dare you speak to me in that way? Assuming I have such a disgusting agenta before you even know me. I really shouldn't be surprised since you just did the same towards Edward Cullen." I took another step forward so I was right in front of him and pulled my lips back a smidgen so he could see my dangerous teeth. Let his fight or flight instinct kick in and scream to get away from me. "I'm only going to give you this one warning, Mike Newton. Learn to behave with civility or stay the hell away from me. I do not want or need to surround myself with people such as you." I then turned and walked away. I couldn't keep the triumphant smirk off my face when I heard his uneven heartbeat and stuttering breath. I looked towards the place I had seen Edward in before and found his eyes already on me. He looked calmer now. That was good.
As I got closer I noticed that the bear-like guy, the beautiful blonde and the guy who had looked to be in pain were snickering and obviously trying not to fall over from holding in their laughter. Of course they had heard. I stopped in front of Edward and his sister, the pixie-like one. "Hello again." I said, smiling kindly.
"Hello." Edward greated. "Bella, this is my sister Alice. Alice.." But he didn't get to finish that sentence as Alice sprang forward and engulfed me in a hug.
"Hello Bella. It's so very nice to finally meet you." I hesitantly moved my arms around her and looked at Edward for a bit of support. He smiled apologetically and nodded, as if saying 'don't worry she's harmless, you can hug her back'. So I did. "Hello Alice. It's nice to meet you too." She pulled back then and smiled brightly.
Edward spoke again. "And this is Jasper, Emmett and Rosalie." He pointed to each of them as he spoke their names." Why are you three laughing so hard? What is so funny?"
It was bear-man, or Emmet, that managed to answer through his laughing. All three of them had lost the battle and were now laughing hard. "Are you kidding? That was the best burn I've heard in years!"
Rosalie looked up at me then, more composed than the other two. She walked forward to greet me and shook my hand. "Good to know we have another strong female in our midst. I swear you might as well have kicked him in the nuts instead of just commenting about them. He looked to be in pain." She smiled gleefully.
"You did what?" Edward asked in a strange voice.
"Here, I'll replay it for you, since you were obviously too distracted before." Rosalie said, looking at him.
A few moments of silence while I guessed Rosalie recounted the end of my conversation with Mike. Then a look of shock appeared on Edward's face and he started chuckling too. He looked at me. "That was brutal." He said with a wide grin. "You definitely hurt him worse than I ever could have."
"I did notice that you looked like you wanted to strangle him. You should always remember that when up against people like Mike, the most painful place to hit is his pride." I couldn't help letting my own pride show a little. "But I'm glad you all enjoyed the show. I must admit that it felt rather good knocking him down a bit."
"I bet it did." Said Jasper. He and Emmett then came forward and greeted me properly themselves. We all exchanged a few words before I noticed the time.
"Oh shoot I'm late. I'm really sorry, I have to go now. But I guess I'll see you all tomorrow?"
"Yes of course. But wait a second. Give me your phone." Edward said and held out his hand.
I raised an eyebrow. "What for?"
"So I can put my number in of course. Just in case." He shrugged his shoulders in non chelounce.
I looked at the ground. "Sorry. I don't actually have a phone." His hand fell to his side.
"How can you not have a phone?" Asked Emmet.
I looked at him shrugging my own shoulders. "Oh you know. I don't have a lot of money since I just used almost all of it to buy a house and my truck and I haven't found a new job yet to earn more. And also because I only just found a way around the whole 'technically deceased on government record' thing a short time before I moved here. I don't even have a credit card right now."
"Oh." Emmett said after a beat.
I looked back at Edward. He seemed concerned. "But hey I can give you this." I opened my bag and grabbed a pen and some paper. I quickly scribbled down my new address and the email I had made to contact the retailing lady for the house, as well as the number for the phone hanging in my kitchen. I held it out to him. "This is my address, emergency email and the phone number for the stationary phone at my house. At least now you can contact me, should you need to." I smiled encouragingly. He took it and gave me a small half smile. "I really gotta go now. I'll see you guys tomorrow." I waved to them all as I walked swiftly towards my truck and they all called out their 'see you tomorrow's'. All except Edward who still had a look of concern on his face.
"I can't think of that right now. I hope Luke doesn't think I've forgotten him."
When I opened the truck door, I suddenly remembered the slip of paper with my teacher's signatures on it. I slammed the door, ran as fast as 'humanly' possible to the administrative office, gave Ms. Cope the note and ran back outside.
I hurried out of the lot and got to the Elementary School in record time. I spotted Luke quickly. He was standing outside with Shannon, two other boys and.. Angela? I parked the truck and walked, as fast as I could allow myself too while amongst humans, to where they were standing. When I got close enough I called out. "Hey Lucky Luke." He looked in my direction and his face split into a grin. He took off towards me and I crouched to meet him in a tight hug. "How did it go? Make any friends?" I asked him quietly. He didn't let go of me, just nodded and nestled into my neck. I knew what he ment. He was fine and he had made friends, but he had missed me. I had missed him too. After all, hadn't I taken off half way through the day to check on him.
"Hey Bella. So you're Luke's older sister." I was right. It was Angela who I saw standing with them. Then I guess the two boys are the younger brothers she had talked about at lunch.
"Hey Angela. Yeah I am." Luke loosened his grip so I could stand and talk to her, but grabbed hold of my hand when I had risen. "And these two must be your own younger brothers that you spoke of earlier." I looked at the two boys by her side. They both smiled and each took their turn to proudly say their name while pointing at their chests.
"I'm Isaac." Said the first. "And I'm Joshua."
"It's nice to meet you guys." I said and returned their smiles.
"Luke's really cool." Said Isaac. "Yeah. He's gonna teach us sign language." Said Joshua.
"Really?" I said with enthusiasm.
"They've had such a fun day together. It only took them about five minutes to get Luke out of his shell and join in." Shannon added to the boys glee.
"Hello Mrs. Jackson. It sounds like today went rather well."
"Hello Ms. Swan. Yes I'd say it did. Well I hope you'll excuse me. I have to be heading home now." She turned to Luke, and like me used sign language along with her speech when talking to him. We did this to help him get better at using it himself, just like toddlers learning to speak by listening to their parents. "I'll see you tomorrow Luke. Have a good night."
He signed back to her: Thank you. You too. And she left.
Luke and I then said goodbye to Angela and her brothers as they also left. I looked at my little brother. "So Lucky Luke. What would you like for dinner?"
Please R&R, Thank you
