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The next day, I looked like a zombie with swollen eyes, yes with the black eye and the jaw bruising. I'd tried to apply the creams Renee had gotten me but nothing worked on the eye.
Deciding to tough it out, I raced downstairs, grabbing Bella's truck keys. Walking out into the ridiculous cold, I was about to slide the key into the truck when I saw the silver car.
My eyes widened. What was he doing here? Bella was at Jess's, if he wanted to pick her up, he should've gone to her place.
I walked slowly towards the car and suddenly he was there.
"Bella's at Jessica's." I blurted out. His eyebrows rose. "I know; since she isn't here and that truck isn't really up your alley, I decided to take you to school today." He opened the passenger door. I bit my lip. He didn't even ask; it was more like he already had come determined to give me a ride.
I looked longingly at the truck. "I have driven it. Besides, I need to bring Bella home today." I said. He considered it. "I'll bring her back. Now, get in," he left the door open and walked towards the driver's, before glancing up again. "In, Tulika," he said again. "Why are you so pushy? If I want to drive the truck, I'll drive the truck." I said.
He leant across the seat, just staring at me. "You can get in and let me take you to school or you can drive the monster and be later than necessary." He said.
I weighed my options. On the one hand, I really wanted to deny Edward and show him who was boss but on the other hand, after last night, I still felt a little unsteady on my feet. I'd had about 34 nightmares in various different scenarios and none of them had taken the edge off. That explained the zombie eyes.
Giving in, I slid into the open door and shut it. "Happy…?" I asked. He didn't answer as he pulled away from the street.
"The others took Rosalie's car?" I asked and he glanced at me in surprise before nodding. It wasn't too late when he pulled into the school parking lot, right next to a gleaming red convertible.
"Ah…" I sighed, my head dropping to the cool window as I looked at the car.
"You don't think it's ostentatious?" he asked. I laughed. "I think it's completely wow. You should all ride with her. She certainly has sweeter wheels than you do." I complimented, getting out and swinging my bag on my shoulder.
He made a low dissatisfied noise in the back of his throat and joined me. "Tulika," I looked sideways to find Bella and Jessica walking towards us, with identical looks of bewilderment in their eyes. I studied Bella closely. Was it just me or was there a hint of something else in her eyes?
"You did not bring the truck? How am I supposed to get home?" she asked. Oh, that was anger.
"You can ride with us today," Edward said, casually sliding in next to me.
"Oh, um…right, I well," she stammered. "I'll see you in Trig, right?" Jess piped up and I nearly groaned out loud as she dragged my friend away.
"This was a bad idea." I said, rubbing my face gently with my hands.
"Jessica is going to ambush you in Trigonometry." He said. "Oh, thanks, that's helpful, Captain Smarty-pants," I said, snidely. "What do I tell her? I don't want to tell her anything. She's going to tell Bella and Bella will go all Spanish Inquisition on me and she has zero tact and Charlie will find out and then," he startled me by taking a sudden step closer.
"Breathe," he said. "I can help. She wants to know if we're secretly dating and how you feel about me," a ghost of a smile crossed his face.
Yikes, what was I supposed to say? I wasn't in love with him after knowing him for a couple months like Bella was. I wasn't even sure if we were friends. And, what about Bella
"Well, what do I answer?" I demanded as he began walking me to my class.
"You could say yes," he suggested. "But we aren't dating," I said. "It'll be better than any other explanation." He said. "And very convenient for you," I mumbled. I still hadn't believed just how naturally Bella had said yes when he suggested they were dating.
His eyes took on a glinting sheen as he looked down at me. "It's up to you. As for the second question," he turned his face completely towards me with that ridiculous crooked smirk. "I'm very curious as to that answer myself." He reached out and tugged at a strand from behind my ear, twisting it around his finger as he turned and left.
"I'll save you a seat at lunch," he called.
Three people actually turned to look at me.
I had serious qualms about going into Trigonometry but the thought that Edward might be listening in on my indecision finally forced me to cross the fatal threshold.
"Tell me everything," Jessica said even before I sat down.
"Jess, he saved me and Bella and brought me dinner then drove me home. That's it. Nothing else," I said heavily. Her face hardened.
"How did you get home so fast?"
"He drives fast."
"He picked you up today." She insisted.
"Well, he knows I'm not very comfortable around Bella's truck, so he helped me out." I said.
"What did you talk about?" she asked. "General stuff; the English essay, Rosalie's car…" I shrugged, trying to make a very small deal out of it.
"There was nothing else?" she asked. I racked my brains trying to sift through this conversation in the books. "He didn't pay attention to the pretty waitress flirting with him." I said blandly which didn't seem to give Jess much incentive to pursue the topic.
I stared at the front of the class as Varner started the class; leaning away from her and hoping she's get the hint.
"Do you like him?" she asked, quietly and I was struck by how sincere her question sounded.
"I guess I like him…but I don't know if I like, like him." I admitted.
Jessica looked at me but at that moment she was called upon for an answer as the bell rang. Thank god, I thought as I walked to the rest of my classes, deep in jumbled thoughts, both for his and my sake.
Did I like him?
As a person yes, or a vampire person yes, but was I stupid enough to fall for him? I liked to think of myself as reasonably smart. If I did fall for him, I would be ruining the story of the century. Was it though…? This story was different; it felt more like a path to destiny games I used to play than anything. Besides, he never commented about anything I tried to push about Bella on him. He rarely even looked at her.
What are you doing, Tulika? My smart brain snapped at me. Edward belongs to Bella. Let it be.
So with that cheerful mental conversation cloaked in Shrek quotes, I went out to go to lunch.
He was leaning right outside the door, head tilted to one side, eyes spaced out. "Hey," I said, reaching him and he looked at me for a minute. "Hello," without another way he led me through to the lunch buffet, filling up the tray.
I watched closely but didn't comment until we were sitting at a table.
"I don't recall you ever eating." I said. He pushed the tray till it sat in the middle of the table. "That is because the food here tastes horrible. I much prefer eating at home." He said.
He lifted a slice of pizza up and took a bite, chewing it thoughtfully. I lifted one too, taking a bite.
"So, pretty waitress," he prompted. I grinned at him. "Poor girl; I bet the hostess thought you were an abusive boyfriend." I chuckled and his expression turned to amusement.
"I hit you, then I bring you to dinner?" he asked.
"I didn't say you were my abusive boyfriend." I pointed out. "The implication was there," he said.
I just ate more pizza, choosing to ignore the comment. "You were being quite evasive today. I understand your hesitance around me. Yet, aren't all girls supposed to confide in one another?" he asked. I looked up at him. "What's that supposed to mean?" I asked.
"You know what I am and you feel mistrustful of me, I quite agree with you." He said, though there was a strange light to his eyes at that.
"I do trust you; I just really don't like sharing things with Jessica." I leant forward slightly dropping my voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "It may have escaped your notice but she is rather obnoxious." I said.
"You're not sure of your feelings for me," he said bluntly.
"What makes you say that?" I asked.
"Your thoughts maybe hard to unravel Tulika, but I am a clever man. I figured it out." He said. "I have no clue what you're talking about." I argued.
"You truly believe that if it came down to it, you'd walk away first…not me, I also don't understand your fixation with Bella and me," he said, bringing his hands up and cupping his chin.
"There's a reason for that fixation." I said softly.
"Do tell," he whispered back.
"Look, I really don't want to be a bother. If not for the fact that I had to come here and meet you, you wouldn't even notice me much less talk to me. I mean, look at me then look at you. Aside from the obvious facts, that I'm actually smarter than these bunches of morons in this school, I don't really have a lot going for me," I said.
"Trust me this once, you're opposite of everything you just described." He said.
I shrugged, tracing the wood patterns with my index finger.
"I have another question for you." He said. I looked at him. "Were you and Bella actually planning to go to Seattle or was it just an excuse to be rid of your many admirers?" he smirked.
"That was a ruse. Honestly, I wouldn't mind going to the dance but it's too late now. I just wanted to keep Bells Company." I admitted. "You could've asked me," he pointed out.
"And humiliate myself when I was supposed to be loathing you, no thanks," I said. He chuckled at that.
"Are you resolved to go to Seattle or do you mind if we do something else?" he pressed.
"I'll have to check with Bella." I said and he sighed in exasperation.
"There is no Bella in this equation. I will talk to her. It'll be sorted. Now, Seattle or something else…?" he asked.
"I didn't really plan on going to Seattle. I would like to see it of course but I'm open to alternatives." I acquiesced. He nodded. "So, how was the hunting session with Emmett?" I asked.
"I really got on his nerves," he laughed then looked at me. "It was ok, I hunted two, and Emmett is more like a bear himself." He smirked at a memory.
"I suppose you prefer lions," I said lightly, nibbling on a French fry. He watched me for a minute then smiled softly, "Later," he promised, standing up.
"Does this mean we're friends?" I asked as we walked to Biology.
"Maybe, but is that really what we are?" he answered, opening the door for me.
Well...? Is that what they really are? How are you liking Tulika so far? What do you think of her, over all?
What do you think? Is this going the way you think or is there something up yours truly's sleeve? *insert manic laughter*
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