CHAPTER FOUR

Bella took me to this large brick building. We walked through the door and my stomach turned in knots at the smell of food. I checked my face to make sure I wasn't salivating.

She walked up to this kid and handed her card over.

"Swipe twice, please."

The kid swiped her card and handed it back.

"Come on," She said waving me on. She walked over to a table in the corner and put her books down before taking the books I was carrying out of my hands.

"Feel free to eat whatever you wish." She waved her hand and I turned to look at the many options.

"What is this?" I asked perplexed.

"Well…in America, we call them cafeterias. In…wherever you're from, I'm sure they have a much fancier title but most likely a dining hall. At least that's what they are referred to in Harry Potter so I'm sure it's close."

I rolled my eyes at her.

"I mean…how did you pay for this? I know it isn't free."

Bella flopped down to the chair by the wall.

"It's part of my meal plan. I live in the dorms and they require you to purchase a meal plan when living on campus."

"They let you bring in whomever you want to eat with you?" I asked.

Bella let out a short laugh, "Of course not. They give me so many meals and I can use them however I want. I just won't have breakfast tomorrow."

"I can't allow that. It's your food. You don't have to feel guilty…"

"I don't feel guilty about anything, but you seemed to be having an issue that is easily rectified and I rarely eat breakfast anyway so it's no skin off my nose. Are you going to eat or not?" She snapped.

I looked back at the food and couldn't deny the smell.

"Thank you, Bella."

I walked over toward the line and saw that there were different stations. One for fruits and items to make a sandwich. Another line for pasta and such and then there were hamburgers and fries. I was a tad overwhelmed. I went from my sad forgotten banana to so many options my head was spinning.

I came back to the table with two trays in my hands and Bella looked at me wide-eyed.

"Storing up for hibernation?" She asked incredulously.

"Something like that. I thought if I ate enough I wouldn't have to worry about dinner," I replied.

"Oh, and on that note," She said looking up and waving a person over.

I turn around to see a huge muscular guy make his way over to the table. For a moment my heart drops as the guy calls Bella's name and completely folds her into his arms.

"Emmett, meet Edward," Bella introduces with one arm still wrapped around this Emmett.

"Uh…hi," I sheepishly replied.

"How's it going, Eddie!" The guy slaps me on the back and I have trouble remaining balanced.

Bella sensing my awkwardness finally speaks up.

"Emmett, Edward is looking for a job. I told him that I knew of a place and I was wondering if you could help him out."

Emmett's smile became wider and for a short moment, I wondered if he was showing off his teeth before he ate me. Did Bella really go with this guy? He didn't seem like her type at all? I would have thought that Bella was looking for more brain than brawn.

"Well…if you don't mind getting that fancy watch of yours wet, I'm sure I can find some dishes for you to scrub off."

I almost gulped.

Dishes?

"I'm sure Edward would love to wash some dishes. He was just telling me all about how he may be a book with a fancy cover but once you crack open those pages, he is just full of plot twists," Bella replied with a coy smile.

I knew she was bating me and I was in no position to turn down money, so I cleared my throat and looked up at the pair and said, "I would love nothing more than to be of service."

"Great!" Emmett exclaimed slapping me on the back once more.

I would need to invest in thicker sweaters if this back-slapping gesture was going to become a regular thing.

"Can you start tomorrow?" Emmett asked.

"Well, I have a course in the morning, but I get out at eleven," I said.

"Perfect. You can work the lunch shift. Each shift is four hours long. Minimum wage, but you can eat for free after your shift."

"For free?" I asked perplexed.

"Yup!" He said.

"So…you see money and food problem solved by the what was it you called me? Cranky judgmental snob?" Bella said scratching her head.

Emmett furrowed his brow?

"Cranky judgmental snob?" Emmett recited. "Bella? My Bella?"

I was starting to worry that this guy might crush me into a ball. Maybe not the thing a boyfriend wants to hear another man call his girl.

"Well, …you see…Bella…" I scrambled but couldn't find an adequate response that wouldn't end with my night in the hospital.

"Bella, are you not playing well with others again?" Emmett turned on Bella.

"You know me so well." She teased.

"Let me guess, you kept her from academia?" Emmett turned to ask me. "You can't get in the way of Bella and her studies. If she even gets a whiff that you are speaking to her on any subject other than her education, she goes all GRRRR."

Bella pushed Emmett away and scoffed, "Well, that is why we are here after all."

"No sweetheart, that's why you are here. Some of us want to get the whole experience of college. Not stick our noses in books written by people who died a thousand years ago," Emmett exaggerated.

I was starting to see why Bella fell for this Emmett. I hated to admit but I was starting to like the guy.

"Just because I don't want to frat party it up doesn't mean I am not getting the college experience. Just the other night I went to that stupid bar with Alice."

"And you managed to last there all of five minutes." The words flew out of my mouth before I could catch them.

Emmett barked out a great laugh and slapped me on the back once more.

"I like this guy. Eddie. It has been a pleasure. I look forward to working with you. I gotta get back. The trough won't refill itself."

Bella watched Emmett walk away and shook her head slightly. I turned back to my food and sat down preparing to eat.

"He seems like a great guy," I began, trying to make a conversion.

"He is the best," Bella replied. "I should go get something to eat. I have another class soon."

Bella took off and I was learning that she walked with purpose. She always looked like she was charging into battle. I watched as she danced around the room grabbing every item with focus. She didn't seem to even see anyone else as she went like she was in her own world. I even saw a guy come up and try to talk to her while in line at the fruit, but she quickly grabbed her banana and walked away without even acknowledging his presence.

She brought her tray back to the table and the dance continued. First, she placed each item off the tray in a particular order. A bottle of water and a glass of milk to the far-left upper corner. Her plate of fruit to the right upper corner. Her sandwich was dead center, and she opened a mustard packet and precisely squeezed the contents in a circle on her bread before patting down on the sandwich. Fork on the left. Spoon and knife on the right as it should be. Even her straw wrapper was creased into a square and placed on top of the mustard packet just so. Her napkin was the finale and she didn't shake it open or wad it into a ball held in her fist, she opened it and made it into a triangle and placed it neatly on her lap.

"A little compulsive, are we?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.

I could see my comment irritated her. I was beginning to take note of how her eyes would widen before she would let off a sigh and then look up at me ready to pounce.

"There is nothing wrong with being organized."

I held up my hands in response.

"So…how did you and Emmett meet?" I asked hoping a change in direction would be enough to calm her down.

"I don't remember but apparently diapers were involved."

I gave her a face and she continued.

"I've known Emmett my whole life. He's like a brother to me."

"You're dating your brother?" I practically spat out my water.

"EW! I'm not dating Emmett. What part of no distractions did you not comprehend? Plus, it's Emmett." She grimaced, "I've been the victim of far too many of his gas clouds to ever even think of going there."

She made a face like she was going to gag.

"Aren't we just the pair. You thought I was gay and I thought you were dating your brother." I laughed.

"I never thought you were gay. Alice made that assumption. I never assume a person's personal preference. And for the record, I do not care if you are gay, straight, bisexual or a eunuch. You do you and I'll do me."

"I'm not sure anyone volunteers be a eunuch," I replied subconsciously closing my legs together.

I stabbed my salad with the fork and continued to watch as she focused greatly on her fruit bowl.

"I'd rather not think about it while I am eating," She said. "So…what's your story? You said your father took your trust fund away? Why again? Did you party it up too much at your last school?"

I shook my head slightly irritated.

"You seem to have this picture in your mind of me. I can tell you that you are so very wrong. Where I come from, our ideas of partying it up include canapés and champagne. The age of the average guest would be over fifty and string quartet would play Mozart's finest pieces. This is the second university I attended. I already graduated from the first. I'm sure you wonder how this can be accomplished at my young age, but my academic career has been the top priority in my home since I could walk. From what I have learned about you I'm sure this must sound like a dream. Education. No distractions. But hear this, you have no idea how much I would give to trade places. At least you get to choose your future."

"The grass is always greener…" Bella seemed to contemplate something as she stared off into the distance. She shook her head and then refocused on me. "So, if you already have a degree, why are you here?"

I thought about an answer that would keep me from saying the absolute truth. I'm a prince, Bella and I wanted to see what the world had to offer before the ultimate shackles were placed upon my head and I would be stuck on a throne for the rest of my life.

"To experience different cultures. I think it's important to travel and have an understanding of how people live all over the world. I have had the opportunity to go to many places and find value in the land."

"You're lucky. I would love nothing more than to travel. To see everything and write down everything. I even have my passport all ready…but it remains empty of stamps," She replied. "What's the best place you have ever been."

Without thinking I said, "Here."

Bella scoffed and sat back in her chair.

"Then you must not have traveled to many places. I can't imagine this could be someone's best."

I was watching the light hit her face and I felt bewitched. How could a person only know someone for such a short time and feel like this?

"Bella, traveling is more than just the country or town. It's about people and experiences. This is the first time I have truly been on my own and in the short time I have been here, it has been the best experience of my life."

"Even without daddy's money?" She asked.

"As I said, I would do anything to survive here and stay…even washing dishes it seems."

"I'm already trying to imagine what that will look like. Do you even know how to wash a dish?"

I thought about it for a second, "How hard can it be."

Bella bit her lip and tried to not let her smile escape, but she couldn't help herself.

"I'll be sure to ask Emmett to record it on his phone," she said.

Alas, Bella had to get to her next course, so she quickly finished her food and packed up her things in the once wet book bag before mumbling out some vague "see you around." I wondered what I had done because she wouldn't even look at me. What could I have possibly said to make her tear out of the cafeteria? One thing is for sure from meeting Alice to the redhead and now Bella, the women in this country were strange.

My rhetoric course seemed to go fine enough. I already knew I would love it the most as far as coursework went. But then again, who doesn't love a good argument. However, being two weeks late into the semester would prove some challenges in makeup work. It would seem that I had a long evening ahead of me since I would most likely be at work most of the day on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

I strolled through the door and excited about the day's events, I had completely forgotten about Jasper and my spat until I saw him. He wasn't alone. On the couch sat Alice and Jasper cuddling close together, kissing while the television played in the background.

"Uh…hi," I awkwardly started.

Alice and Jasper jumped and unsealed their lips.

"Oh…hey Edward," Jasper muttered.

"So…what have you been doing this afternoon?" I asked already knowing the answer.

Alice rolled her eyes and it was then my attention was drawn elsewhere. I walked over and stood next to the chair.

"Are you missing something, Alice?"

Alice looked at Jasper and they both looked back to me. I kicked a tiny pair of bright red undies from out under the chair and sighed. Alice giggled and jumped off the couch.

"I was wondering where those had gone. Opps!" She picked up the panties and walked toward the first bedroom and disappeared.

I turned back to Jasper and he smiled sheepishly.

"You don't waste any time, do you?" I asked.

"I may have borrowed some condoms from your box," He replied cringing.

I shook my head, "Fine, but then you buy the next box when we run out. I'm not going to work to supply your addiction."

"You got a job?" Jasper jumped up from the couch and I nodded in response.

"That's great, Edward. I am so proud of you. This is amazing."

"Well don't break open the champagne quite yet. It's a minimum wage position which means that I will not be making as much as I need to in order to keep us in food and condoms," I said.

"That's okay, I plan on getting birth control this week. I have my appointment all ready," Alice sang joining our conversation. "Oh, and I will have a complete health check, so you can be sure that I have no STD's."

Alice walked over and hugged Jasper's middle. It was the furthest she could reach on him.

"That is not necessary. I trust your word." Jasper replied to her.

I had to refrain from rolling my eyes.

"Well, I will let you…two get back to your…." I didn't know what to say. "I have a lot of studying to do."

"Wait, I want to hear about this job," Jasper called after me.

"I'll tell you about it later," I replied waving him off.

He had company and I didn't want to stay out there and feel like a third wheel. I also didn't want to tell Jasper just what my new job would entail in front of Alice. I imagine that Jasper will have quite the laugh when he hears and somehow, I was a tad embarrassed. I wondered if this was how it was going to be now that Jasper had found his soul mate. Would it always feel awkward to be in my own living room while she was here?

What was wrong with me? I should be happy for Jasper but all I could feel was a sense of jealousy. I was jealous. Here he had the girl and the girl I wanted and fell for nearly as fast as he fell for Alice, well Bella didn't want anything to do with me. She would think of me as a distraction. When Bella wasn't being so uptight, and she allowed herself to relax, she was extraordinary.

I didn't know what to do about my Bella issue. I needed help. I had never been in this situation before. Part of me wondered if I just told her who I was, maybe she would fall for me. It seemed to work in the past.

I am such an idiot. Why would I ever want a girl to want me because of who I am, especially when who I am is who I'm always running from? I was so desperate for Bella that I would be willing to stoop so low. Jasper was right, it would be a lot harder for me to get a woman without my usual title. Yes indeed, I would need some help but who? Who could help me win over a girl who is so clearly focused on anything but me?

Alice.

She knew Bella. She lived with Bella. Who better than to ask Alice.

I ripped open my bedroom door and marched toward the living room to find Jasper sitting on the couch alone.

"Where's Alice?"

Jasper looked taken aback by my tone.

"She left. She had a class to get to," he said.

I sighed and flopped down to the armchair.

"What's going on Edward. You're acting funny."

I shook my head slowly.

"Do…you want to tell me about your day?" he asked awkwardly.

"Bella. She was in one of my classes," I replied.

"That's great!" Jasper exclaimed. "Not great?" he asked seeing the look on my face.

"I don't know. She's difficult. She has it in her mind that she is at school for one reason and only one reason. To learn. I tried to start a conversation with her and she practically bit my head off. She called me a rich playboy," I explained.

"Oh, so she's a mind reader," Jasper said with a smirk.

I gave him a look and he attempted to control his face.

"What did you do?" He asked.

"I called her a crabby judgmental snob."

"Well, that's one way to get a girl." Jasper laughed. "She must have loved that."

"Yeah, she did not appreciate that but at least it started a conversation which led to lunch which led to her helping me find a job."

By the look Jasper was giving me, he was definitely confused on the parts I had left out.

"But when lunch was over, she practically ran out of the cafeteria like I would chase her back to safety. I don't know what to make of her. She completely beguiles me. Confuses me. Challenges me. I am at a complete loss. I thought maybe your girlfriend could help me out since she lives with Bella and can give me any information that could help."

"Are you going to be nice to my girlfriend if she decides to help you out?" He asked.

"Be nice? I'm nice," I defended.

"Edward, you were so incredibly rude just a moment ago. You didn't even stay around long enough to have a cordial conversation. Alice may have had a class, but you were the reason she left."

I felt bad but what was I supposed to do when I find lacy bright red panties laying on the floor. How am I to sit and have a cordial conversation with someone when she wears short short skirts and leaves her panties around the apartment.

"It's weird. If you guys could keep your extracurricular activities in your room so random undergarments don't show up in our kitchen next time, that would be greatly appreciated and then maybe I could look your girlfriend in the face and not feel the need to flee."

"When did you turn into such a prude? I can't believe what I am hearing. It's not like I haven't walked in on you in the past in some compromising position or the worse is when you would ask me to escort your lady friends to the door," He reminded me.

"Alright, I will be nice to your girlfriend," I conceded.

"That's all I ask. So…now tell me about this job."

I cringed.

"Okay, but you have to promise that you won't make fun."

Jasper was definitely curious. He sat up straighter in his chair and waited for me to continue.

"I will be working at the University's cafeteria. I know it sounds silly but on top of getting paid I can eat all the food I want when I work a shift." I said trying to defend my actions.

Jasper didn't laugh. Instead, he sat back in his chair and thought for a moment.

"Well?" I asked wondering what he was thinking so hard on.

"I'm proud of you. Why would I laugh? This is going to be a change of pace for you and I think it's great."

I furrowed my brow.

"You don't find it funny that I'm going to be doing things like cleaning dishes and whatnot when I have never cleaned a dish in my life?"

"It's a dirty dish, not rocket science." He replied getting up from the couch. He walked towards his room and paused for a minute, "The only thing I have to ask…"

I waited for his question.

"There will be someone recording this for our docuseries. Prince in the Sticks, right?"

Jasper barked out a great laugh and I hurled the closest pillow I could find at him. I could hear him laughing even through his closed door. Irritated, I jumped up from my chair and went to look for my books. I needed to focus on anything but Jasper or my new job or Bella.

I pulled out the reading list from my American author course and saw the first book listed was East of Eden by John Steinbeck. I flipped through the very large book and sat back ready to engage myself. I had never read it, so I was somewhat excited about the journey.

Chapter one.

I heard a loud bang on the kitchen table and I jump up from the chair confused as to what happened. I wipe my mouth and stare down at my hands. The book East of Eden now lying on the floor.

"What?" I asked confused. It was then that I realized I hadn't even made it a chapter in before dozing off.

"I can see you are quite the student, but I do believe in order to learn from osmosis, the book has to be physically touching you," Jasper said.

Still waking up from his rude startle, I wipe my face down before bending over to pick up the book.

"I know I am tired and I know this man is considered to be one of the most brilliant authors of all time, but I find it boring. I don't know how I will make it through over five hundred pages of this."

Jasper pulled out various items from the refrigerator and began assembling them in a line.

"Maybe you could help me figure out dinner and leave the book for when you are more alert and awake. Perhaps after you see Bella. I imagine that she helps invigorate you enough."

"True," I replied. "But Bella also leaves me thoroughly exhausted at the same time. You have to be ready to spar at any given moment. She's just so guarded. Like she is afraid of what will happen to her perfect world if she allowed herself to deviate from her plans."

"While you were having your cat nap, I spoke with Alice about coming over after her class. You can ask her then about Bella. Perhaps she will give you enough insight to figure out how to plan your attack."

I scratched my head.

"I thought you said she was in class. How did you speak with her?" I wondered.

"She was. We texted. She said it was a mandatory science course and there was no way the innards of a frog were something she would ever need to know for future so she didn't feel the need to follow along with the lecture," he explained.

"I don't know how Alice and Bella are friends. One is so focused on school and the other is so focused on the mysterious man from a faraway land. You wouldn't consider switching, would you?" I jokingly offered.

Jasper's headed nodded emphatically "no."

Dinner was prepared in about ten minutes and by the looks of the grilled cheese sandwich and bag of chips, my mind dreamed wandered back to the variety of options I had for lunch earlier that day. Jasper turned the television on to keep us from silence and we quickly found a television show about police officers called, "Cops." I toyed with the idea to find a way to send my father a copy of the show but thought better of it. The last thing I needed was for him to revoke my little, "vacation."

The doorbell rang a short time thereafter and Jasper practically leaps over the couch to answer it. Thankfully, Alice had changed into something more conservative, so I wouldn't have images of red lacy panties flipping through my mind.

"So, what did you want to talk about? You said it was important."

I could hear in Alice's voice an unusual hint of worry. I shook my head slightly at Jasper. I don't think he understood what telling a woman, 'we need to talk,' meant in the dating world. It was obvious that she was concerned, and Jasper was completely oblivious.

"It's nothing serious, Alice. No need to worry. I was the one who requested to speak with you," I said hoping to alleviate her thoughts. She looked confused but sat down slowly waiting for me to continue.

"First of all, I would like to take this opportunity to apologize for behavior earlier. It was not my intention to make you feel unwanted. For the future, if Jasper welcomes you, I too welcome you. Please feel free to make yourself comfortable in our home."

This time I could see Jasper slightly shake his head. He knew I was buttering up Alice before I hit her with the request.

"Uh…thanks," Alice replied skeptically.

"So, I'm sure you are wondering why I asked you here tonight," I said.

"No," Alice replied with conviction. "I already know why. Bella told me all about you."

AN: Thank you for reading and reviewing.

DISCLAIMER: Story is mine. Characters belong to Stephenie Meyer.