Charlie insisted that I needed experiences. Even though he didn't want me to, he thought it best that I try dating other guys, figuring it would give me a new perspective on my last relationship. So here I was stuck watching a crappy movie, pretending that I didn't realize Mike Newton was trying to get me to hold his hand.
He eventually gave up, instead, making that cheesy move where he pretended to stretch and put his arm around me. I should have just held his hand. I leaned forward trying to extract myself from under his arm. He let his hand fall to my lower back,then tried to move it lower.
I jumped out of my seat. "bathroom," I mumbled as I rushed away.
Gripping the edges of the sink, I stared into the mirror. I'm doing this to prove to Charlie that I'm okay, I'm not. He just needs to think I am.
Taking one more deep breath I turned and exited the bathroom.
When we got to my house Mike insisted on walking me to the door. He threw his arm around me as soon as we got out of the car. "I had a great time." He announced.
"I'm glad somebody did," I muttered.
"What was that?"
"I said, I'm glad," I told him. It wasn't exactly a lie.
When we were at the stairs he stepped in front of me. Before I could ask what he was doing his lips were pressed against mine and he was trying to stick his tongue in my mouth. I was disgusted more than anything, but Charlie wanted me to have experiences, so I let him kiss me. I didn't contribute to it. He moved one of his hands from my waist and grabbed my boob. I shoved him away.
"What the hell are you doing?"
"I thought…" He started.
"You thought wrong!"
I hurried over to the door and turned the handle. Sending a silent thank you to Charlie for leaving the door unlocked I burst in slamming it behind me.
After washing the day away, I sat on my bed trying to lose myself in a book. Charlie peeked his head around the door asking. "How was your date?"
"It sucked." I threw the book on the bed in frustration.
"The next one might be better."
"I will never go on another date with him."
"Who said it was going to be with him?" I looked at him in confusion. "Have you ever heard the saying that there is more than one fish in the sea? Well there is more than one boy in Forks, or girl." he shrugged.
"Sure dad, I'll get right on asking Angela out on a date."
He shrugged again. "If she is who will make you happy."
Three weeks later Eric Yorkie asked me on a date. I should have known from the beginning that it was doomed. He wanted to take me to a certain Italian restaurant in Port Angeles.
"No!" I protested two quickly.
"Do you not like Italian food?"
"No, Italian food is great. It's that place. Bad memories." I said, not wanting to explain any further.
"There's the pizza place on main street." He suggested.
"That sounds great." I told him in releaf.
"Awsome, more money to buy food." He said, rubbing his hands together.
For a skinny guy he could eat a lot. I watched as he stuffed handfuls of food into his mouth, blabbering on and on about things I couldn't understand. I was too focused on the bits of food flying out of his mouth.
"Are you going to eat that?" He asked, pointing at the slice of pizza I somehow managed to take two bites of.
shaking my head I said. "I'm full."
He smiled as he grabbed the slice and rammed half of it into his mouth.
When he brought me home he also insisted on walking me to the door. Unlike Mike he shoved his hands into his pockets.
"So umm, thanks for being such a great date." He said almost shyly.
"Yeah, it was fun." I lied.
He smiled, then thrust his face towards me pushing not only bits of food but also a large pus filled pimple into my mouth. I gagged and pulled away from him. Backing away trying not to gag again I choked out, "Garlic knots."
"I have gum in the car." He gestured behind him.
"No! No, that's okay." I told him as I rushed away.
Again Charlie left the door unlocked for me. I gagged again, almost losing the measly two bites of pizza I had. Rushing up the stairs I dashed through the bathroom door and thoroughly washed out my mouth.
I took two steps out of the bathroom and Charlie asked. "How was your date?"
I scowled at him and went back to brush my teeth again.
"That good, huh?" he smiled. "Have you asked Angela out yet?"
"I need time to get over this trauma." I told him, looking like I was foaming from the mouth.
A little over a month later I did ask Angela out on that date, sort of, since we were both heterosexual dating each other was pointless. Well I saw all dates as pointless. But she was dating Ben so, yeah. We went on a double date with her, Ben, me, and Austen Marks; Ben's best friend.
That date was actually pretty good, until Austen brought me home. I asked him not to walk me to the door so we said goodbye in the car..
"Tonight was fun."
"Yeah." I agreed.
He dipped his head pressing a kiss to my lips, then he tried to deepen the kiss. A sharp pain tore at my lip. A squeaky scream burst out of me. Austen jumped back causing the pain to become a burning throb. The smell of blood made my head spin. I held my breath to prevent vomiting.
"I'm sorry!" He cried out.
Holding one of my hands over my mouth I used the other to wave off his apology. Then opened the door and ran for the house.
Charlie was waiting for me in the hall as I walked in. "How was this date?" I moved my hand revealing my bloody lip. "What happened?!"
"Braces."
Grimacing, he ushered me over to the sink and helped me clean up.
After my lip healed and I assured Austen there were no hard feelings, I went on a date with Tyler Crowley. He took me to an arcade. It wasn't awful. Then he took me home. He kissed me. Nothing bad happened. Nothing good happened either. Pulling back he looked at me. "You're not into this."
I shook my head. "Sorry."
"Don't be. You are a cool chick Bella Swan, but you can't force yourself to feel that spark. What do you hang out again but just as friends?" He suggested. I agreed. "Don't worry, you'll find the right guy."
"I already did."
"No, If he was the right guy, he would have found a way to stay together, even if you were miles apart."
That hurt. I forced a smile and nodded my head. When Charlie asked how the date went I burst into tears. "Great." I answered.
I spent the next month hiding in my room. I heard Charlie arguing on the phone. "Come on Jake, you can't be that busy. It's just one night. She could really use the time out. Thanks kid, I owe you."
Jake didn't come pick me up. He had me go to him. I barely recognized him. He grew so tall, got way too buff and cut off all his beautiful hair.
"Didn't anyone tell you metabolic steroids are bad for you?" I half joked.
"It's all natural Bella."
"What are we doing?" I asked, trying to dispel the awkwardness I felt.
"Picnic and movie," he said shortly.
"Where?"
"Here." He grabbed my keys and pulled my truck around so the back was facing this makeshift shed. He opened the tailgate, placed a blanket, picnic basket and projector down.
Gripping my waist he lifted me into the truck. His heat soaked through my clothes. "Are you sick?"
"I'm fine," He said testaly. There were sandwiches, fruit and muffins in the basket. I lifted my eyebrows. "A friend made them."
"Okay." I said.
He seemed very distracted, his gaze scanning our surroundings every couple of minutes. The small speaker he had hummed low as the movie flickered on the side of the shed. Neither of us seemed to be interested in it. "I'm sorry Charlie forced you to go out with me."
"He didn't."
"I heard the phone call."
He flinched.
"I get it, you would rather be with a beautiful girl full of life and joy. Not this morose plane Jane that's dead inside."
He frowned at me. "You are beautiful." He protested. "Why do you think you're dead inside?"
"I don't think, I know."
"Why?"
"Over the past few months I went on four different dates. Each one ended with a kiss. All I felt was disgust."
"Those losers just didn't know what they were doing," He dismissed.
"Oh, and you do?"
"Yeah."
"Right." I drew out the word.
"Want me to prove it?" he challenged.
What the hell, I scoffed. I couldn't wait to prove him wrong. "Go ahead." I dared.
He licked his lips reaching up to cup the back of my head. Slowly moving forward, his warm breath fanned my skin as his other hand caressed fire up my arm. Hovering close he teased me with anticipation. Butterflies assaulted my stomach at the softest press of our lips. The hand that traveled up my arm was now gliding down my back pulling our bodies together, leaving no space between us. He sucked gently on my bottom lip, before softly slipping his tongue between them and exploring my mouth. My stomach tightened. He tasted like blueberries and my tongue unconsciously moved against his.
The longer we kissed the deeper the fire ran. Sparks tingled in my veins, shocking my heart into action. I could barely remember it ever beating this hard. The pounding in my chest echoed in my ears, drowning out all surrounding sounds. His lips skimmed down my chin, over my neck and across my collarbone. His hands found my skin under my shirt stroking my back and belly, never wandering into forbidden territory. His lips found mine again tenderly brushing against each other. He pulled back leaving me cold and wanting.
"So would you say I proved myself?"
I gasped out a breath. "I'd say you set me on fire."
