Chapter 5
The morning started out quite ordinary for Bella. After her surreal encounter with Edward the day before, it's normality astounded her. It all felt like an absurd dream, up there in weirdness next to her one dream about running from werewolves underwater with her pet beluga whale. Walking into school reminded her that it had, in fact, happened, because people were impossibly even more riled up about the fight. Probably because Edward hadn't showed up to school. Word was that he was suspended. This confused Bella, because she could recall the conversation between the boy and the principal all too well.
As per their ritual since first day of freshman year, she stopped by Angela's locker on the way to first period; English with Banner. Coincidentally, her only class with Edward this semester. After she got home yesterday, she was on the phone with Angela for at least forty five minutes. In that time, Angela only talked about her afternoon with Ben, so Bella never got the chance to tell her anything about Edward. Or at least, that's what she told herself.
Not once did I have an opening to talk about Edward. Angela never gave me the opportunity. If she'd asked, I would've told her.
She stopped in her tracks when she saw Angela leaning against her locker with Ben standing directly, too close, in front of her. Angela face was all lit up, and Ben's cheeks were flushed. He shyly reached across and tucked Bella's best friend's hair behind her ear. Bella's first reaction was genuine happiness, but then a hint of dismay creeped through her heart. Bummed, she went to English.
Banner smiled at her when she walked in. She smiled back in greeting, and made her way to her desk. It was like there was an invisible shield around Edward's spot. Everyone walked just around it, but they were fixated on it, as if they could summon the boy who wasn't there with their stares. Hushed chatter continued, and Bella pulled out her headphones and drowned the world out. She couldn't so easily drown out her thoughts. They too were fixated on Edward.
She was surprised by their interaction from yesterday. For a very long time, Edward had been so unreachable that he almost wasn't a person to her anymore. He was like a book character, an idea that lived and breathed and existed in some world, but not her own. Edward from yesterday shocked her by being all too real; a person who messed up and was ruled by emotions and who laughed and joked around. She let herself forget their short friendship from years ago; forget that he was just another guy. It was nice to be normal around him. They had had a great conversation. It was never awkward or uncomfortable. At one point, it almost sounded like flirting?
Plus, he was so hot. Bella made herself blush just by thinking that.
The loud bell rang through her music and effectively ended her pondering. Mr Banner began with his lesson. They were reading Macbeth, and Bella admitted to no one that she actually enjoyed it. She wasn't that much of a nerd.
Halfway through the play and also class, her phone chimed with a text.
Bella? The text read.
Yes, who is this? She texted back after some hesitation. She didn't usually reply this fast, but curiously got the better of her.
its edward. edward cullen. i have an emergency and i need ur help right now.
meet me in the lot in 5. IM DESPERATE!
Bella was so shocked she couldn't even get her fingers to reply. What in the actual fuck was going on? Had she not woke up yet? Was she still dreaming? It sure felt like it. Bella looked around hastily to see if anyone could hear her heart racing. It appeared that she wa still in english with Banner and half the class was half asleep. Then she pinched herself. She was awake.
Wtf I'm so confused. What's wrong? I thought you weren't at school.
Is everything okay?
Wait, how did you even get my number?
Bella was staring daggers at her phone. It vibrated again.
ill answer all of your questions, please just come outside.
Edward, I can't just leave I'm in class!
He replied instantly.
Bella, u know i wouldnt ask u if it wasnt important. please.
Bella blanched at her phone. She was frozen and stressing, and it only got worse when Mr Banner stop mid sentence and said directly to her, "Bella, you know how I feel about phones."
She hesitated about a split second before she made up her mind.
"S-sorry, Mr Banner." she stuttered out. "But I have to go. May I be excused?" Her lack of reason put her at a massive disadvantage, and she realized that a second too late, but lying under pressure, or any other kind of lying, had never been her forte, and it was better to stay silent then to blurt out something horrible like "My grandma is in the hospital!"
Her grandma died when she was five. Banner had been to her funeral. That would've been the most unsuccessful class bunking operation known to man. She was grateful for small mercies.
Banner seemed a little puzzled, but Bella prayed her perfect attendance would be enough to convince him that she would never ask to be excused if it wasn't the gravest of emergencies. It was.
"Yes, of course, Bella." Banner said intently. "I hope everything is ok."
Bella didn't answer, she just grabbed her stuff, and ducked her head as she bolted from the classroom, appearing every little bit as guilty and ashamed as she felt. Her pulse was racing with adrenaline however. She never done anything so daring, and she was exhilarated.
She was sweating bullets by the time she reached the parking lot. It was deserted besides one Edward Cullen, who was leaning against an older red honda with his arms crossed over his chest, looking too relaxed and not at all 'desperate'. Bella didn't know what she was expecting, but it sure as shit wasn't this.
"I was beginning to doubt that you were gonna show." He was smirking. He was also wearing a black t shirt with black jeans and docs, and looked every bit like the beautiful bad boy he claimed he wasn't. Bella's heart stuttered.
"You said it's an emergency. What wrong?" She asked urgently, but it appeared to her gradually that there was no emergency. Anger trickled through her veins. "Edward, why did you ask me to come?"
"To live a little."
Bella glared at his audacity to almost cause her an anxiety attack just so she could spent time with him in debauchery. She bristled, then turned around and stormed away. She'd taken about three steps before Edward grabbed her armed.
"Hey, don't go. I wasn't kidding. I do need help." He stated. "Besides, you're already out of class. If you go back, you'll only look bad." He reasoned. She conceded.
"Why aren't you at school today?" Bella asked. "You weren't suspended." She realized she'd blown her cover, but Edward didn't catch her.
"I'm pretending to be. My mom thinks I'm at school, but Berty told me to take a hike for the day. He doesn't wants people to think he let me off too easy." Bella nodded. That was how she remembered the conversation going between them.
"So what's the problem?" She looked around. Nothing seemed out of place. Edward pointed towards the red Honda.
"That's James' car." He got a wicked gleam in his piercing greens. "I want to sabotage it."
Bella was shaking her head before he finished. She was so not getting involved in this. This was ridiculous.
"No, no, no, no. I refuse to be a part of this. James never did anything to me, besides be a douchebag. And you already had your revenge. He'll know it was you. He'll come after you. It will only cause more bloodshed. More pain." Woah, Macbeth much? "This is a very bad idea."
"I know you're right. I know this is bad. But I can't stop thinking about what he wanted to do...to Alice. Just beating the shit out of him doesn't seem enough." His eyes turned angry, livid, and much to her dismay, convincing. He had her.
"Besides, a flat tire didn't hurt anyone. I just wanna make him miserable." Edward smirked again. "See, I told you the dark side is brilliant."
Bella scoffed, but she was shockingly pleased he remembered the tiny details of their conversation from the day before. And delighted that she was the one he called for. She was his first choice. That she knew of at least.
She was trying to play stubborn, but her mind was made.
"Okay." Bella yielded. "But only for Alice." She blurted quickly when Edward grinned too big.
"I have a nail. I thought it would double as a scratcher." Edward pulled out a long, thick nail from his pockets, and offered it to her. "Would you do me the honor?" Bella couldn't help herself. She giggled.
"Okay!" She grabbed it, and hesitantly approached the car. "Which tire?"
Edward rubbed his chin thoughtfully, but couldn't hide his smile. "I'm vibing with the front right."
"Alright." Bella knelt down beside it. "So, do I just slam it right in there?"
"Hey, usually that's the boy's line." Edward couldn't help teasing her, or laughing when she turned beet red. "Yeah, just shove it in. Pardon the innuendo." He chuckled when she hung her head and sighed. Then Bella lifted her head back up, and assessed the tire. She was so focused on where to puncture, what angle to slash in for maximum destruction, that she failed to notice when Edward slipped away, or when the owner of the car approached her. She jumped when she heard a throat clear.
"Ms Swan," Mr Berty spoke, "Can you please explain to me exactly why you were just about to slash my tires?"
Wah wah waaahhh. Edward's the devil. The good kind. Realistically, we knew it was coming though, right?
Thank you to everyone for reading and tagging along on this journey. It will be a fun one. Also leave me reviews. Let me know what you think.
Until next time.
-ashley
