CHAPTER FIVE

I stood there wondering what on God's green earth Bella said about me. I couldn't tell if Alice was upset with me. The look in her eye had me a tad worried. Jasper looked as confused as I was.

"Wellll," Alice exaggerated the word. "When my roommate comes home and tells me how irritated she was with the gay guy from the bar, I tend to sit up and listen. Especially since my roommate in the two years of living with her has never once mentioned a guy. I was starting to think she was a lesbian."

"You have a hard time figuring out what people's sexual preferences are, don't you?" I asked rhetorically.

"That is beside the point. If Bella took the time to complain about you to me then it must mean that you've made an impression and as far as I can tell, that has never happened before. Soooo, tell me everything!" Alice was practically jumping rope by the way she moved around me dancing.

"What about Emmett. She seemed pretty cozy with him." I still wondered deep down if there was anything that was going to happen between those two.

"Emmett? Never. Ew! I mean…like total Ew!" Alice made a face.

"Why does everyone say that? He seems like a great guy and…all muscly," I replied.

"Well then, maybe he can be your back up plan," Alice sassed. "Look, that is never going to happen. They were like raised together and are as close as a family could be. You don't go dipping your pen in the family ink."

I couldn't really reply because embarrassingly enough, back in our day, royals were practically forced to dip their pen in the family ink in order to keep the bloodline pure. I nearly wanted to laugh at the face Alice would give me if she knew this about my family.

"So, are you going to tell me about this…encounter or not?"

"I called her a judgmental cranky snob," I offered.

"She told me that. She went on and on about your entitlement."

"Wait, she said I acted like I was entitled?" I asked. "And here I thought we had left on good terms after lunch."

"OH MY GOD! You guys had lunch together?" Alice was practically screaming in my ear. "That little hussy didn't tell me about that!"

"She invited me to lunch and even found me a job working with Emmett." I felt like I was gossiping like a school girl. "But if Bella was complaining to you about me, I don't know how you can be so happy about it. This doesn't sound good for me."

I felt completely at a loss. What was I doing?

"Oh no, this is good. You hit a nerve that Bella can't seem to ignore for once. You have no idea how many men have tried and failed miserably. When it comes to boys, Bella walks around with a ten-foot iron wall around her. I have tried to get her out into the real world of bar hopping and frat parties and she always lasts about two minutes before pulling out a book and hiding in a corner or leaving altogether. Even if a guy manages to get her to look up from her book, she practically stares him down before rolling her eyes and pouring herself back into a book."

"So…you think she might go out with me if I asked?" I questioned.

Alice waved me off, "Absolutely not! She would turn you down flat. You can't just ask her out especially now. You have to be patient. You have to be methodical. You have to show slight interest but remain completely detached. She has to come to you and she will not do so. It will go against everything she believes in but if you do as I have directed, she will come."

Following Alice's instructions is going to prove harder than I could ever believe. It went against every fiber of my being to not go and reach out to Bella when I would see her. The moment my shift started at the cafeteria, I was on Bella watch, hoping I would catch a glimpse.

Emmett was giving me a tour of the cafeteria and explaining to me all my possible duties, but I kept finding myself tune him out while I searched for the brown hair girl.

"YO Eddie!" Emmett snapped his fingers in front of my face. "Did you get what I said about which cleaner to use on what?"

I snapped back into reality and looked over towards the cabinet at various bottles of chemicals. I nodded my head even though I knew I should ask him to explain once more.

"Okay," he replied. "Then get to that stack of dishes over there."

I walked over to the cabinet and pulled out a bottle of clear substance. I awkwardly walked toward the sink all the while with Emmett watching me.

"What are you doing with the clear cleaner?" Emmett asked.

I looked around feeling incredibly stupid.

"Clear is for floors and green is for dishes. Blue is for tables," Emmett explained again.

"Right. Sorry, "I apologized. I shook my head and went to switch out the clear bottle for a green one. I pulled on some gloves and an apron and walked towards the sink.

"Scrap. Spray. Wash. Don't make this harder than it needs to be. Scrap the food off the plate. Spray the plate clean of any residual food particles. Soak and wash the plate in the sink and then pile them up and let them dry."

I nodded at his instructions and even though it felt very basic, I was worried I would screw it up somehow. I began with my first plate and I could feel Emmett's eyes on my back as I went. I kind of wondered if he had his phone out, recording my every move as Bella had requested. When I got through a full cycle of one plate, Emmett slapped me on the back once more and told me to pick up the pace.

With myself stuck in the back, I couldn't go and see if Bella was out among the masses eating her lunch. It took me a full hour to get through my stacks but there was a great sense of accomplishment that washed over me when I was done.

I pulled the gloves off and left them by the sink. I was going to take a "bathroom break," but really, I wanted to go and check out the main cafeteria floor. I looked around feverishly knowing I didn't have much time and there she was. A soft blue button up shirt and jeans. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail and she had a book out in front of her. She sat at the same table we had sat on the previous day.

I took a deep breath before walking toward her table. As I went, I thought of the many opening lines I could use but all that kept popping up in my mind was the one Jasper made fun of me for. I finally reached the table and saw that the book she was reading was the very one off our syllabus. The very book that caused me to fall asleep the previous evening.

"Boring, right?" I asked.

Her eyes snapped up to meet mine and there was a sign of shock plastered upon her face. Her mouth went to make a movement almost as it was preparing a smile but then some realization hit and instead, her eyes narrowed.

"Boring? John Steinbeck is one of the greatest authors of all time. I would have to question a person's intelligence if they were unable to comprehend that," she said.

"Writing is an art form, would you agree?" I asked.

Bella scrunched up her nose a little and hesitated with her reply, "Yes."

"And art is subjective. Beauty in the eye of the beholder so when I made my comment on a book written by apparently one of the greatest authors of all time, it was an opinion made that had nothing to do with my intelligence and comprehension. In fact, any person who could not agree with this might find me questioning HER intelligence."

There was a long silence as Bella stared at me. I felt like she was trying to examine me with x-ray vision.

"Why are you speaking to me?" she asked rather harshly.

I couldn't help but give her a face at her tone.

"My apologies. I did not realize that I needed to make an appointment to speak to her majesty. Perhaps you wouldn't feel the need to lash out at me if I hadn't made you look like a fool just now. How about a do-over?" I took a seat down opposite from her and she began to look around the room as if she were contemplating the nearest exit. "Bella, how are you doing on this fine day?"

"I'm…fine. If that is all, you can go now," She snapped.

"Are you embarrassed to be seen with a man in an apron? I'm just trying to make an honest wage. I don't know why you are acting so superior."

I did not know why I was poking the bear, but I guess when my usual line, "Hello, my name is Prince Edward," could not be used, my go-to tactic was a verbal sparring match and yet, I noticed that Bella did not seem to want to spar. Other than trying to get me to leave, she really hadn't countered any of my attacks.

Bella sat back in her chair. Her face marred with contempt.

"I don't care what you wear. I have better things to do with my time than to worry about you. Besides, since you are in an apron, doesn't that mean you need to, I don't know…work? I can't imagine that Emmett would be happy to see you out here screwing around when he pays you to work back there," She said pointing towards the door to the kitchen. "You see…in this country, we expect people to do the job they get paid for."

I stood up from my chair and tugged on my apron.

"I only came out here to say, thank you. You helped me get this job and it was my first day, so I thought that the polite thing to do was to come over here and thank you personally and properly."

"Thank me? Your way of thanking a person personally and properly is to diminish their individual preferences. If you truly want to find a way to thank me, then I suggest you not speak to me anymore. Like I said before, I am here for one reason and the last time I checked, that did not include fraternization. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm sure you must be getting back to your job and I have a hundred more pages of this book to finish before tomorrow."

Bella picked up her book and made work of focusing on the words.

"Once again, I apologize if I have offended you. I am forever in your debt. Your help has allowed me to accomplish many things. I hope that in time you will try to allow minor fraternization. After all, how do you plan to make it in the real world if you can't even manage a simple conversation?"

Bella closed her book with a huff and looked back up at me.

"Then I guess it is a good thing how I plan to make my way in the world, does not require much conversation. Are you finished harassing me or do I need to take my lunch elsewhere from now on?"

I was about to counter when Emmett called me from the back.

"Yo Eddie! You have mounds of dishes piling up. It hasn't even been two hours and you're already on break."

I could see Bella let off a sly smile.

"I will see you in class tomorrow, Bella. We can continue this then."

I gave a small bow and followed Emmett back into the kitchen. We walked through the door and Emmett turned back to me.

"Look, I know you have interest in Bella, but could you please try and keep your courting to outside the workplace? I can't have people disappearing on me," Emmett said.

"Uh…yeah. I was just thanking her again for setting me up with you. How did you know about my interest in Bella?"

Was I that obvious?

"Alice told me. That and the fact that your eyes change color practically when you're around her. There is like sparkle or something. It's kind of freaky."

I felt a tad embarrassed and attempted to avert my eyes from him.

"Do you have a problem with me…courting Bella? Alice mentioned that you were practically family."

Emmett's face turned serious. Long gone was the goofy easy-going guy I had come to know.

"No. Do you plan on breaking her heart? Because then you and I would have problems," He replied.

I nearly took a step back for my own good but managed to hold my ground.

"Of course not," I confessed quickly.

"Good. Because if you do…."

I gulped waiting for the threat to come.

"…Bella is going kick your ass."

I shook my head confused and looked up at him to make sure I understood what he just said. Emmett began laughing and then slapped me hard on the back once more.

"Man, I wouldn't even get a chance to do anything to you. Bella knows how to assemble and disassemble a gun faster than I do. Her father made sure she could handle herself."

I relaxed a little but only a little. I couldn't even picture Bella with a gun and yet somehow after rethinking our latest encounter, I could with her fiery personality.

"All I will say when it comes to Bella is, you have an uphill battle with that one. She always thinks a person, especially men have an ulterior agenda and does not trust easily. But she deserves something good and I have a feeling that you could be that. Also, I saw the way she looked at you."

Emmett winked at me and I wondered what he saw because every time I saw the way she would look at me, she looked pissed.

"I'm not sure what you mean. She never seems to be very pleasant when I speak with her."

"I know," Emmett replied. "But its farther than anyone else has ever gotten. You should have seen what she did to James Carver at the Delta party. It was legendary. He tried to put his drunken arm around her and she elbowed him the stomach so hard he puked. No one has attempted to touch her ever since."

I cringed just thinking about it.

"Got it. No touching," I replied shaking my head.

When I went back to my washing station the pile that I had worked so hard on clearing was gone and in its place, was a new pile of dirty dishes. I pulled on my rubber gloves and spent the better part of my day rinsing and repeating. When Emmett called for a lunch break, I nearly kissed the man. I couldn't believe how my shoulders were already aching after only a few hours.

I filled my plate with food trying to keep it all on one plate since most likely I would need to wash the plate when I was done and I wanted to not add top many more to my pile waiting for me in the back. My breakfast before class was small so this lunch would make up for it. I even stashed away a couple of pieces of fruit for later. I could get on fine with this job just for the free food.

Even with the two free meals that day, after working eight hours straight, I was so tired I questioned rather it was worth it. My back and shoulders hurt, and I nearly fell asleep in my hot shower so there was little chance I would be attempting East of Eden again.

I made serious changes to my wardrobe for the next day of classes. I wanted to set a different impression than the one I had made on Monday. It seemed to have worked because in my first class the next morning, the redhead came and sat down next to me. She gave me a small smile while looking me over from head to toe. I threw on a light brown sweater and thankfully there was one pair of dark blue jeans packed in my things. I would still need to come up with some money to buy a pair of tennis shoes. My dress shoes would have to hold for the time being. I nixed the watch and fancy pens and even left my leather book bag at home. I was Edward two-point-zero.

"You look like you're fitting in nicely," the red-headed told me.

"I guess I was a little dressed up on Monday. I haven't had the pleasure of attending school in the states before. People are a lot more casual here," I replied.

"We like casual everything around here." The redhead gave me a wink and suddenly I felt uncomfortable by her insinuation. It wasn't that this girl wasn't attractive. She just wasn't my type. A smart man wouldn't get hung up on one girl. Especially one girl who was so completely puzzling as Bella.

I didn't respond to the redhead but I'm sure my face said it all. Thankfully the professor managed to interrupt us with his lecture. I spent the rest of the class feeling the red heads eyes on me as I never tried to focus so diligently on a lecture before.

When the class was over I jumped out of my seat and was out the door before the redhead could even close her book. I cleared my head because it didn't matter what happened with the redhead, I had a class with Bella next.

With the rain starting to come down harder, I practically ran to my next class. I shouldn't have been surprised to find myself there before anyone else. I took my seat in the same place I had on Monday and watched as my fellow students began to trickle in. The professor entered, and I felt my stomach drop just thinking of how I hadn't even begun the first book on the syllabus.

Then she walked in.

Bella didn't even look in my direction. Instead, she made a beeline for a seat in the back of the classroom opposite from my side of the room. I hated to admit it, but it stung a little. She had decided to steer clear of me.

While the professor droned on over the hidden metaphors and picturesque landscapes that Steinbeck would go on to write about over and over again, I could only focus on one thing. What should I do about Bella? Leave her alone as she so clearly conveyed? Confront her after class and take my chances that she wouldn't turn to physical violence?

Alice's words played in my head. Let her come to me. Be patient. Be methodical. Slight interest while remaining detached. Okay, I would need to leave her be. It went against every fiber of my being to not chase after Bella when she left for lunch. I wouldn't get paid until Friday so I had no money to eat on campus. I had packed myself a small lunch to get through my day. I didn't know where I was going to eat it. I couldn't very well go into the cafeteria with a bagged lunch, so I headed out and found an archway to eat under to keep the cold rain off of me. I pulled my sad little sandwich and chips from out my bag and began to slowly eat. I kept replaying Bella's detached face in my head as she walked into the classroom.

"Hey, what are you doing out here in the cold? Trying to get sick so you can call off from work?"

I looked up to see Emmett standing there with an umbrella.

"I don't have any money until payday….so I'm eating my lunch. I wasn't sure if there was a place on campus to eat indoors without having to pay for food," I replied.

Emmett sighed and motioned for me.

"Come on, you can eat at the cafeteria till you get your first paycheck."

I furrowed my brow and looked confused.

"I don't want to get you in trouble…"

"It's no trouble," Emmett interrupted. "Consider it a guardian angel. Just stop looking so pathetic and get your butt in there."

I stood up and began to pack my sandwich and chips back into the bag and Emmett grabbed them out of my hand and tossed them in a nearby trash bin mumbling something under his breathe about the rain. He walked toward the cafeteria and I followed along after.

I couldn't help but think about how this experience gave me perspective. If not for my father and his lesson of taking my money away, I might never have understood what it meant to worry about finances and food and to see the generosity from people like Bella and Emmett, well the whole thing was truly a life lesson.

The warmth of the cafeteria greeted me before the delicious smells. I instantly looked around for Bella as if it were involuntary but alas, I did not see her. Not in line for food. Not at her usual table or any other table for that fact.

I put my books and umbrella down and went to start a plate. The cafeteria was crowded as it was high time, but I still managed to find a seat at an empty table. I watched the interactions of my peers and felt a tad lonely. Trying to not look like a complete outcast, I pulled out the dreaded East of Eden book and sighed. This would be the only way I would get through the book. I would have to read while I ate so I would guarantee that I wouldn't fall asleep. But, I was distracted. Every time a person would enter the cafeteria doors, I couldn't help myself from looking up and see who it was. I felt like a stalker. Now, now Edward, in order to be a stalker, you would have to actually have the person in your sights.

I wanted to ask Alice more about Bella that night, but it seemed that my roommate was off entertaining her else ware. The more they became involved, the less I had a so-called bodyguard. Overall, it was better to have Jasper distracted than to be constantly by my side trying to find ways to ruin this experience, but it would have been nice to get a little reassurance from his girlfriend.

The next day was all the same. A perfunctory class followed by eight hours of dishwashing and trough filling and no sign of Bella in the cafeteria. Come Friday, I had managed exactly three chapters of East of Eden and I felt my heart beat faster as I walked toward my literary class.

Once again, I took my spot in the same place I had the two previous classes and waited to catch a glimpse of Bella. My heart raced when she walked into the door and actually headed my way. Dressed in a plain dark blue sweatshirt, she sat down behind me.

I didn't know what to do. I was completely thrown. This girl always kept me on my toes. Never doing what I expected. I tried to think of something to say but I was not prepared for her to sit down behind me. I had been prepared to stalk her after class to see where she was eating her lunch these days.

I felt the hairs on my neck stand on end as I imagined her staring at the back of my head. It was killing me not knowing what she was thinking or doing. I picked up my book to use as a prop and slowly turned toward her.

"Still unimpressed with Mr. Steinbeck?" She asked.

I looked down at my book and the chapter marker I had used that gave me away.

"Well, if it makes you feel any better, it's clear that our tastes in literature are vastly different. I'm sure you can add that to your ever-growing list of reasons why you don't care for me," I replied.

"I'm indifferent to you. It does not matter to me what you do or say because I simply do not care. I have more pressing things on my mind."

"Like what if you don't mind me asking?" I inquired.

"Well…like the test we have on that very book in your hands. I've read it a couple of times, but I've never been graded on it before, so I just hope I am ready for the test today," She replied with a slight know-it-all smile.

"Test?" I heard myself squeak.

"You didn't read the syllabus? Hmm…doesn't seem like something a person with your obvious intellect would do," Bella said.

I could feel myself begin to heat up. I had never failed a course or test in my life. Was this going to be my first? Another new life lesson? I pulled out my phone and found a website to give me a quick breakdown of the book.

"Don't worry, it's multiple choice. I guess the professor figured that she didn't need to give us an essay portion since our ten-page paper was due today as well," Bella continued on.

I nearly dropped my phone. Bella pulled out a nicely typed paper and placed it in front of her on the desk. I had been focusing so much on Bella. Obtaining money for food. Bella. My new job. Jasper and Alice and Bella that I hadn't read through all my syllabi. My head was hurting and for a second, I contemplated running out of the classroom.

I instead ripped open my notebook and pulled up the syllabus in question to see what the percentage I would lose for not having my paper. It stated that papers were fifty percent of the grade with four papers total due and tests were the other fifty percent. It looked like this may be the first class that I failed to receive top marks in.

The professor walked into the room and asked that papers be dropped off with completed tests at the end of class. She began to walk around and hand out the booklet of questions. Fifty questions on a book that I read three chapters and a quick Spark Notes online. Thank god, it was multiple choice.

I began going through the questions and attempting to make the best educated guess I could. From behind I hear Bella quietly hum as she went about her exam, making a real show of turning to the next page of her test booklet. She was done only twenty minutes into the class. She happily skipped down toward the teacher and presented her test and essay.

Bella walked toward the door and turned at the last minute to look back at me. She gave me a sly smile and flipped back around. She nearly hit the door with her face. She steadied herself for a quick minute and slowly walked out. It took everything in me to not laugh at her clumsiness.

When I went to hand in my test I apologized for not having my essay and of course the professor made a speech out of my irresponsibility. I vowed that next book I would be ready. I pulled out the syllabus and looked to see what the next title on the list was, Death of a Salesman. It was settled. That weekend I would finish this book and be ready to blow my professor and Bella out of the water next week.

My anger did not seem to want to dissipate as I went on with my day. Fearing that I would lash out at someone needlessly, I decided to head to the cafeteria and put in a few hours for an impromptu shift. Washing dishes would be a great place to take my anger for Bella out.

I threw on my apron and began to scrub furiously at the dirty dishes. I added more and more soap as the water kept sloshing out of the sink since my scrubbing technique was rather harsh. I grabbed a plate of half-eaten spaghetti and dumped the contents into the trash beside me. The trash was getting rather full, I would need to dump it soon, but I was so intent on my cycle of scrap, rinse and scrub, I failed to stop to empty it.

In my mind was Bella's snarky smile plagued my every thought. I wasn't a violent person, but never before did I want to smack someone upside the head. I slammed the plate down beside me on the dry side and it broke in half with a few pieces landing on the floor.

I sighed and looked around for the broom. Great, now they were going to take this out of my next paycheck, I selfishly wondered. I went to grab the broom to clean up my mess and suddenly I could feel my feet begin to slide on the soapy water that I had drenched the floor with. My body managed some form of split legs and I went crashing down to the floor. In one last ditch attempt at saving myself from falling, I pulled at the full trash can but I had too much momentum and it too came crashing down to the floor spilling its vile contents all over me and the floor.

I sat there covered in the Friday special and wondered how I ever got here. This was my idea? I was a stupid prat for ever wanting this. Things were not going as I envisioned at all. I had a stupid horny roommate. A stupid horrible job. A stupid horrible girl who hated me. No friends. No money and now a possible failing grade.

Well, Bella wasn't stupid or horrible but, at that moment, I was not a fan.

Emmett walked through the door and looked at the sight in front of him. Me, sprawled out in a pile of uneaten food.

Emmett's hands turned into fists and he held up one finger. He suddenly disappeared out the door and I could hear his booming laugh. I pushed off the ground even more irritated and began to attempt to clean up my mess. My pants were covered in food. Great, now I would have to walk all the way home, praying flies wouldn't follow me.

I cleaned up the mess as well as I could and went to find Emmett. I hoped he wouldn't razz me to much because I might haul off and pop him one.

"Hey, I have to go home. I ruined my pants and I need to change. I think my shift is over for today," I said seeing him sitting in his tiny office.

"Sorry about laughing…you should have seen yourself though," Emmett tried to hold it in once more.

"Well, it's about par for the course today. See you later."

I turned around and was about to leave when Emmett called me back.

"Maybe this will cheer you up," Emmett replied offering me an envelope. "First paycheck."

A part of me was suddenly super excited. I felt a sense of accomplishment wash over me. After my disastrous Friday morning class. A disastrous dishwashing incident. I had my official first check pickup to pick me up. However, when I tore open the envelope and looked at a total of $146.62, a sense of despair quickly set in. I only worked sixteen hours and that first check was less than a hundred and fifty dollars for all that labor? How did people ever live on wages such as these? Even if I worked full time it would not amount to five-hundred dollars a week and that's not including taxes levied.

I sat down at the nearest table in disbelief.

"Man, you look like Bella just kicked your favorite Armani," Emmett quipped.

"I can't begin to fathom how people afford to live like this?" I questioned.

Emmett let out a small laugh, "Ahhh, the first job blues hit again."

I looked over at him perplexed.

"Every person who works their first job has this idea that come the first paycheck, they will be swimming in cash. But then comes the check and there go the taxes and suddenly its first job blues hitting you in the gut. Now that you see how little we think of your hard work, you're going to get up tomorrow morning and come back for more! It's the American way!"

"I don't know what is more depressing. This menial wage or the fact that I pretty much failed the first part of the semester in my literature course this morning complete with Bella laughing at me while I did. I don't know why I'm hung up on her. She hates me."

For the first time, I started to think about returning to Caldonia. Apparently, the Edward without the crown was a bit of a nobody.

Emmett sighed, "She doesn't hate you. Bella just doesn't know how to open up to people."

"You're right. She doesn't hate me. She told me that she is indifferent to me. That I might as well not exist because I don't warrant a thought in her mind."

"Look, man, I can tell you, but I can't tell you…Bella does think about you. Just…you have to be patient and play the game. She doesn't want to think about you because she's afraid it will ruin the world she has created for herself. She may tell you that she doesn't think about you…that she is indifferent but if it were true, she would shine you on like she does everyone else she is truly indifferent towards."

Emmett stood up and pushed his chair back in.

"See you tomorrow? Help make that next paycheck a little bigger?" Emmett asked.

I nodded and thought back to my vow for the Death of a Salesman book. Sunday. I would read it on Sunday. Now I had bigger problems like walking through campus with food tie-dyed pants.

AN: Thank you for reading and reviewing.

STORY IS MINE. CHARACTERS BELONG TO STEPHENIE MEYER.