Chapter Fourteen: You've Got a Friend In Me
EPOV
"I swear, if you look at your phone one more time; I'm definitely going to be offended."
Bella startles at the sound of my voice, but she does set her phone down. She takes a breath before she smiles sheepishly at me. "Sorry," she says.
I blink. "Are you waiting for something?"
"Sort of," she admits.
I frown. "Is this something I should know about?" I ask, wracking my brain for what it could be. I'm certain she didn't say anything before. "Am I forgetting something important? Am I being a terrible friend?"
"No," she says, letting out a laugh. "I'm being a terrible friend. I should be giving you my attention instead of - " she stops suddenly.
"Instead of what?" I press.
She shakes her head. "It's not important," she tries, but she must know I don't believe her. I mean, it isn't as if I haven't noticed that things have been a little weird. First, we had to deal with the aftermath of our significant others meeting each other, which was awkward as hell - I still don't know how I feel about it - and then we had that whole blowup over the fact that I never went to her house.
But something else must have happened, because the distraction started only after Valentine's Day.
It's to do with Jake, isn't it?
I ignore everything that thought makes me feel, and allow us to move on. We have another write-up for Biology, and I swear I feel as if I've been doing this AP course for my entire life. I remember Mr. Banner warning us that we might end up hating him, but I never thought it was possible. He's definitely testing me.
It doesn't take Bella long to glance at her phone again, and irritation spikes inside of me. "Bella," I say, my tone offering no indication of my feelings.
She startles again, her phone slipping from her hand and landing in her lap. She bites her bottom lip in embarrassment, maybe. I don't know. "Sorry," she says again.
"What's going on?" I ask.
"It's nothing."
I raise my eyebrows, just waiting. I know she's lying, and she knows I know she's lying. We need to stop with all the lying.
She eventually sighs, giving in. "Okay, so, I may or may not be fighting with Jake right now," she says, which I half-expected, but the mention of his name still stirs something inside of me. I definitely don't want to talk about this, but it looks as if she needs it.
I shift awkwardly, turning to face her. "About what?"
She swallows. "Uh, so, he told me he loves me," she says carefully, and I force myself not to react. Holy shit. Of all the things I expected her to say; that's not it. "And I kind of can't bring myself to say it back to him."
"Oh," is all my intelligent brain can think to say. "Um, okay...?"
She lets out an exasperated breath. "He said he's fine with the fact I'm not ready to say it back," she continues. "He said it was okay. But - "
"But what?"
"But he kind of hasn't spoken to me all week," she says, glancing at her phone. "I don't even know if we're having date night tomorrow."
I feel about as useless as a candle in the rain; I just don't know what to say. She's clearly telling me this because she probably expects some kind of advice from me, but I have nothing.
I've never been in love. I don't remember the last time I even told someone I loved them. It's not an emotion I can claim to know much about, seeing as I am only sixteen and have only been 'seriously' dating for all the time I've been dating Kate.
Who, incidentally, I'm almost sure I don't yet love.
Bella drops her head down onto the desk with a thump, and I glance worriedly over my shoulder out of habit. "I mean," she says; "people don't break up because one falls in love with the other first, do they?"
Nothing.
I've got nothing.
"Not that I think we're going to break up," she adds quickly. "It's just odd, I guess. There's this step we're supposed to take, and I find it weird that he seemed to wait to say it, as if it was some big moment for us, and now I - " she stops, her head rising sharply, her eyes meeting mine. "You probably don't want to hear any of this, do you?"
"Not really," I admit; "but if you need to say it; I'm all ears."
She smiles softly at me. "Thank you for your honesty, but I think we're okay," she tells me. "He usually gets over this kind of thing pretty quickly."
Her phrasing makes me frown. What does that even mean?
When we first started this friendship, we could talk about relationships, but then I started to like her, and it made everything weird. I mean, it's not as if I want to hear about her relationship with Jake, but I worry she feels she can't talk to me about it. Maybe she talks to Angela or Alice, or both, but, for some reason, I know she doesn't.
I figured out a while ago that I'm not the only person who doesn't know about Ohio, but I suspect I'm one of the only ones who does know there is something to know about Ohio.
We move on, but Bella still glances at her phone from time to time, and I send her a text from under the table, just to make her smile.
Edythe: Am I boring you?
It has the desired effect because she smiles at me when she reads it and sticks out her tongue in my direction. She's still distracted, but she pays more attention to the work we're doing as the evening goes on.
We both startle when her phone sounds, and she grabs for it, immediately reading the text.
I watch her face fall, and my heart drops with it.
She frowns slightly, quickly types a text back, and doesn't look at her phone again. I don't ask her about it, but I suspect she finally received the text from Jake she's been waiting for. It's not what she wanted.
But maybe it's what she expected.
It hurts to see, and I vow to do what I can to lift her spirits.
Even as I make the decision, I never thought my idea to cheer her up would involve a dance party with my brothers and Esme. We find them watching a movie in the living room when we head down to get something to drink. We're both barefoot and looking scruffy, and we pop our heads in just as the final song of the movie is playing.
I recognize it as You've Got a Friend In Me by Randy Newman at the end of Toy Story, and merely the sound of it strikes the idea in me. I saunter into the room, tugging Bella by the hand and bring us to a stop in front of the TV.
"Uh, what are you doing?" Esme asks, frowning at us.
"What are you doing?" I counter. "This is the single greatest credits song ever. Why are you sitting down right now?" They all look at me like I'm crazy, but I just embrace it, absently twirling Bella. I'm surprised she allows me to. "Come on," I say, starting to sing as if I even remember the words. I've always been rubbish with lyrics. "Boy, you've got a friend in me, yeah, you've got a friend in me."
I do a little dance, and Bella laughs. "Sing with me," I say.
She does.
"You've got a friend in me," we sing together, and I grin stupidly at her.
We watch as Esme drags the boys to their feet, and they join us on the carpet in front of the TV.
"You've got a friend in me; you got trouble, I've got 'em too; there isn't anything I wouldn't do for you."
Bella's hand is still in mine, and she's not letting go.
We dance around each other, jumping up and down, twirling and laughing.
"We stick together and see it through, 'cause you've got a friend in me; you've got a friend in me."
Peter jumps up onto the couch, and I'm surprised Esme doesn't reprimand him in any way.
"Some other folks might be a little bit smarter than I am, bigger and stronger too, maybe; but none of them will ever love you the way I do. It's me and you, boy."
Bella's eyes meet mine, and this song carries meaning. I don't know how and I don't know why, but it does.
"And as the years go by, our friendship will never die. You're gonna see it's our destiny; you've got a friend in me; you've got a friend in me; you've got a friend in me."
When the song ends, I laugh at how absurd this all is, but I love it. I tug Bella towards me and put my arm around her shoulders, hugging her close to me.
"Thank you," I whisper.
"Thank you," she whispers back.
I don't ask her what she's talking about, and she doesn't either.
Some things we just already know.
As the days go by, Bella's distraction doesn't get any better. We don't talk much more about Jake or the fact that they're probably still fighting because it's just something that we do now. It's the kind of avoidance we're used to by now. We talk about things, sure, but there's much more that we don't even get close to discussing.
I didn't realize until it was happening that Kate is one of those topics we don't discuss.
Jake has now become one of them as well.
Days go by, and I'm torn between leaving her alone and doing what I can to, uh, distract her, I guess. Basically, distract her from her distraction. I just want to make her feel better; to take away that strangely solemn look on her face.
So, by Friday, I make a decision.
I watch her head out of Biology. I should have just asked her while she was sitting next to me but, of course, I didn't. Spur of the moment thing and all that. I tear the piece of paper I've been writing on out of my notebook, pack up the rest of my things and then go after her.
Thankfully, she hasn't made it that far away and I catch up easily.
"Hey, Bella?" I call out, surprising us both. The corridor isn't exactly full, but people do turn to look at me. I'm awkward as I jog to catch up with her and hand her the piece of paper I tore out. It's got a list of songs I want her to check out, but the prying eyes would just assume it's Biology-related.
She frowns as she looks down at the paper. "Uh, thanks."
I roll my eyes at her awkwardness. "I wanted to ask you something."
"Shoot."
Now, I'm the awkward one. "So," I say, burying my hands deep in my pockets.
"So," she returns. "What's up?"
I clear my throat. "Well, you see, tonight - " I pause, backtracking. "Okay, so, Jane and Seth are coming over tonight, just to hang, I guess, and I was wondering if you'd like to join us."
For a moment, she just stares at me.
"Uh, I mean, it's Friday, so - "
"Sure," she suddenly says, cutting me off. "What time?"
I blink. "Probably around seven thirty."
She smiles at me. "I'll be there."
If I'm being honest, I didn't expect her to agree so quickly, but I'm so relieved. I want to help her take her mind off everything that's happening between her and Jake, I guess, but I also selfishly want to spend the evening trying to make her smile. She's the type of girl who deserves to smile.
The world has to see it.
"Cool," I say, just like the totally uncool person I am.
She gives me one last smile before she turns on her heel and heads down the corridor, leaving me there with a stupid grin on my face. It takes me a moment to shake it off, before I head towards my own locker. I feel a little giddy, which is something foreign to me.
But, okay.
I get through the rest of my lessons and then blaze through my training faster than normal, burning myself out enough to wolf down the first half of my dinner when I get home. There isn't much time between the end of training and the time Jane and Seth are expected to arrive, given that my training is supposed to end at seven on a normal day. As a result, I've just stepped out of the shower when Seth barges into my room.
I'm startled enough to squeak, but I stay on my feet.
"Looking good, Cullen," he says, heading towards my television and powering up my PlayStation 3.
"Long time no see," I say stupidly, as I move towards my closet, disappearing into it to find some clothes. When I emerge a few minutes later, Seth has been joined by Jane, though she's decidedly not playing... FIFA. One of Seth's favorite games. I prefer Mortal Kombat, if I'm being honest. Bella thinks it's because I'm a horror fanatic, but whatever. What does she know anyway?
"There he is," Jane says when she spots me, her eyes raking over my outfit. "I thought we were just hanging out here," she says.
"We are," I say.
"Then, why do you look like you're trying to impress someone?"
I frown, but Seth is the one who answers. "Bella's coming."
"Shut up, Seth," I say, before looking at Jane. "Wouldn't it be terrible hosting if I just walked around in my pajamas?"
"Not at all, because nobody fucking cares."
I raise my eyebrows. "If you say so," I say, and then disappear back into my closet to change. I don't even know what she's talking about because I was wearing my standard jeans and a button-down.
When I emerge again - in pajamas - Jane is also playing FIFA. The two of them are sitting on the same beanbag and the conversation - competition - is getting so heated; I'm worried one is going to end up elbowing the other right onto the floor. It wouldn't be the first time. My controllers have so many stories to tell... when they're not being hurled at the screen, that is.
When Bella arrives, we immediately descend on the kitchen, and Heidi doesn't even know if she's coming or going. I don't blame her. Jane and Seth can be overwhelming as individuals but, together, they're some kind of hurricane.
Bella takes a while to settle and get comfortable with us, which is probably because she's never really spent an extended amount of time with this trio, but I'm just glad she's here at all.
We head to the living room next, with our snacks and drinks aplenty and make the biggest mess imaginable. We play board games, and we play charades - Bella and I totally crush it, by the way - and it's probably the most fun I've had for a while. With everything that's been happening between Rose and Emmett with regards to the unmentionable Royce; we haven't really hung out like we used to and I guess I just miss my friends.
My cheeks and abs hurt from all the laughing and Bella even has tears in her eyes at one point. Seth falls off the couch, and Jane rolls her eyes until all I see is white, I swear. It's a welcome break from the stresses of our lives, and I reason maybe Bella wasn't the only one who needed it.
Close to ten thirty, Bella makes a point of glancing at me, and I read her expression for what it is.
Her curfew.
"Time to go?" I ask unnecessarily, standing.
Bella nods, as she also rises to her feet. I run up to my room to grab some shoes so I can walk her out, while she says goodbye to Seth and Jane. I wait at the door for her, and she laughs at the sight of me in my sweats and bed slippers.
"I've never seen those before," she says, pointing at my Harry Potter themed shoes. Hufflepuff, to be exact.
"Peter got them for me for my birthday," I tell her. "I didn't tell you?" I smirk. "Surprising."
She laughs again, and I feel as if I've accomplished something tonight. She looks lighter, happier and present. I can't take my eyes off her. Why is she so bloody beautiful? Seriously.
She glances at her watch, and her eyes widen. "I better get going," she says, moving past me and opening the front door. The yard is lit up, and we spot Caius patrolling in his brooding silence. Bella waves and he waves back, which makes me smile.
I follow Bella to her car and wait until she unlocks it to open the door for her. She looks a little surprised, and I can't help my blush. I'm a gentleman; didn't she know?
Bella doesn't get into the car immediately. Instead, she turns to face me, her expression one of contentment. "Thank you for tonight," she says softly; "I really needed it."
I pout slightly, irritated that she did need it. "I'm glad you had fun," I say anyway.
"I did," she echoes. "I didn't know Jane and Seth were so..." she trails off.
"Sarcastic?" I offer.
She laughs. "Uh, not really what I was going for," she says. "Fun, maybe? Interesting." She takes a moment to think, before she grins, stopping my heart for a moment. "Okay, maybe sarcastic is the word, I guess. You three really do make quite the trio."
I shake my head. "If you say so."
"I've been meaning to tease you about it, you know," she says; "you and your trios."
I blink. "What about you and me then? We're only two."
She steps towards me. "Are we really?" she asks. "Aren't you forgetting Beau and Edythe?"
I laugh out loud because how can't I? "How could I? Please pass on my apologies."
"I will," she says, rising up and quickly kissing my cheek. "Goodnight, Nemo."
I pull her into a hug before she can turn around and disappear, and we hug for the longest time, the reality of this night settling on us. Maybe she knows what I was trying to do by inviting her tonight, but she doesn't comment.
She releases me first, breathing in. "I'm definitely going to miss my curfew now."
"Sorry," I say, but I'm really not.
She rolls her eyes, kisses my cheek one more time, and then gets into the car.
"Text me when you get home," I tell her before I close the door and step back, my eyes solely on her. She's almost mechanical as she starts the engine, puts on her seat-belt, changes the radio station and then shifts into gear. I step back again as she starts to reverse.
She waves at me, her eyes kind, before she takes off at one of those speed demon speeds. I've never actually driven anywhere with her, and I don't think I'll be getting into her car anytime soon. I don't even know what situation we would have to be in for me to be in her car.
I take a breath before I turn and head back into the house. I kick off my shoes at the door, and then head into the living room, my feet silent. So silent that Jane and Seth don't hear me coming. It's the only explanation, really, because I definitely wouldn't have walked in to find Seth with his tongue down Jane's throat if they had.
"What the - "
It's my default reaction, really. If I wasn't so surprised, I would find the way they spring apart truly amusing, but I am so far from finding this at all funny.
"Wait," I say; "what the hell?"
Seth starts to speak, but Jane cuts him off.
"We're dating," she says calmly, rising to her feet slowly.
I frown. "Okay," I say; "why didn't you just tell me?"
They exchange a look. Maybe they're surprised I'm taking it as well as I am or something.
"What?" I ask.
Seth also stands. "Listen, Edward, we - "
"No," I say. "I don't want some half-assed explanation about how you were just waiting to see if it worked or some bullshit like that. Why didn't you tell me?"
They exchange another look, and I'm just so confused. Why wouldn't they tell me?
"Okay," Jane says carefully. "So... we were worried."
I blink. "About what?"
"Well, I mean, we're your friends, right, and it's just been the three of us for a while, and we didn't want you to feel like you were the third wheel or something. Especially with Kate in New York, and you know - " she stops, losing herself somewhere in her explanation.
I just stare at them, trying to figure out if they're joking or not. Jane looks so serious, and Seth looks worried. I absently worry if Rose and Emmett have this worry, which would just be so stupid, really.
I think I surprise us all by bursting out laughing. "Are you serious?" They exchange another nervous look, and it just makes me laugh that much harder. "You are serious." At their silence, I sober up quite quickly. "Are you expecting me to find it weird? Because I don't. I'm actually really happy for you both. It's actually about time, if you ask me." I look at Seth, who looks a little sheepish. He once mentioned that he thought Jane would make a great girlfriend - the one you settle down with after you're done messing around - and I can't wait to tease him about it.
Seth rolls his eyes. "Well, nobody asked you."
I look at Jane, who still looks a little unsure. "Seriously," I say; "I'm fine." I huff. "Actually, I'm a little annoyed you took so long to tell me, even though you haven't actually told me. For how long has this been going on then?"
There, again, with the exchanged look.
I hop over the couch and settle down, patting either side of me. "Go on then," I say. "Tell me all about it. I want to hear all the gory details."
Seth lets out a laugh, and Jane huffs as they move to sit on either side of me. "I like him," Jane says as if it's the simplest thing she's ever said.
Maybe it is.
I look at Seth, and I'm not surprised to find him grinning madly.
"He likes me back," Jane continues. "That's about it."
I raise my eyebrows. "It definitely isn't," I say. "Did I or did I not just catch you five seconds from doing it on my couch?"
Jane gasps, and Seth laughs out loud.
"Firstly," Jane says tensely; "we were not about to do it and, secondly, this is not your couch."
I wave a hand. "Semantics." I sit back. "How long?"
"A few weeks," Jane says, at the same time that Seth says, "Officially since Valentine's Day."
"Ooh," I say. "That must have been quite the night, huh?"
Seth laughs at the same time Jane punches my arm. I really am happy for them, and I guess they're right in the sense that the news does kind of make me miss my girlfriend that bit more. She's always liked to tease Seth about his love for girls - I wonder what she'll say about the fact that his eyes are now focused on only one.
"It's still new," Jane says; "we're taking things slowly."
I roll my eyes. "Not from what I just saw," I say.
Just like that, we're back to normal. The fact that they're dating doesn't change much in this moment, but I suspect there will be some kind of change as the days go on. They'll do things without me, and my traitorous mind does just enough to register the latent fear I feel that they might end up leaving me behind.
I push it away.
Not today.
It feels like eons before I finally get to bed, practically crawling under the covers and reaching for my phone. I text Kate even though I know she's probably already asleep, given the time difference.
Then I text Bella.
I can't help but be proud of myself for texting Kate first.
And then I feel a little sick to my stomach.
Edythe: You'll never believe what I just found out... Seth and Jane are totally dating.
It's only a minute before she replies.
Beaufort: I could have told you that.
Edythe: Then why didn't you?
Beaufort: And ruin the surprise, how could I? Did they tell you?
Edythe: You could say that, yeah. Kind of walked in on them getting frisky.
Beaufort: Oh, wow. How was that?
Edythe: Fucking awkward. But hey. I'm happy for them. Everybody should be happy.
I wait a long moment for a reply, and I almost set my phone aside when it finally buzzes.
Beaufort: Are you happy, Edythe?
Am I happy? Well, that's as loaded a question as I've ever heard.
Edythe: I'm not 'not' happy. I guess I'm working on it.
Edythe: Are YOU happy, Beau?
Beaufort: Tonight, I am. Ask me again tomorrow.
Beaufort: Goodnight X
I sigh.
Edythe: Goodnight, Beau.
I don't get around to asking her. School kind of takes over and I'm doing all I can to hold onto my sanity. Between attending classes, doing homework, keeping up with training, giving my girlfriend, my friends and family attention; I feel as if I'm being pulled in a hundred different directions. I once read this thing about how people manage to stay motivated, and I think it went, 'You have to hate life so much that you just want to get back at it,' or something ridiculous like that.
I get it, though.
Like, hate life so much that you want to prove it wrong.
At least Bella and I are in agreement about that. All our texts to each other consist of constant complaints about work, friends, and just how damn exhausted we are. If I wasn't so tired, I would probably find it amusing. All I know is I don't feel very 'happy' right now.
Also, I kind of get an answer to my non-question on a certain Thursday after Biology. We're let out early, and I head straight to my locker while Bella goes to meet with her lacrosse coach. Apparently, as unofficial, unnecessary and unwanted captain - she scoffs repeatedly at that - she's the liaison between the Department and her joke of an 'E' Team.
I've just gathered my books for my next class and shut my locker after the warning bell when Bella finds me. She's practically speeding my way, looking panicked about something as the corridor empties out.
"Shit, shit, Edward," she says, rushing her words.
"What? What's wrong?"
She grabs onto the front of my school shirt now that there's nobody around to see. "It's a travesty! Are they trying to kill me? They're trying to kill me. That's what they're trying to do."
I raise my eyebrows. She's never acted like this before. "Bella, what are you talking about? What are they making you do?"
She sighs dramatically. "They're making me play," she says.
I frown. "Play? Play what?"
She shakes her head. "I was under the impression Waite is the only school in the State with five girls' lacrosse teams, but apparently I was wrong."
It takes me a moment to catch on to what she's trying to tell me, and then I burst out laughing.
"This isn't funny," she says, stepping away from me.
I can't help it. "It is a little funny, Bella," I say. "I mean, were you seriously expecting not to play a single game all year?"
"Umm, yes," she says. "Our coach assured us that all we'd have to do was practice once a week, sometimes twice, and then we'd have to go and support the First Team at the National Tournament in May."
I shake my head. "Oh, Bella. Your ignorance is so adorable."
She huffs. "What am I going to do? Can I fake an injury? Would you injure me if I asked?"
I laugh. "What do you mean, what are you going to do? You're going to play, Bella," I say. Then, more seriously: "Why on earth would I be okay with hurting you?"
She frowns. "I can't play."
"But you've been going to practices, haven't you?"
She drops her gaze. "Uh, most of the time, yes."
I lift her head by placing a finger under her chin. "What do you mean, 'most of the time?'"
She clears her throat. "Well, you see, Alice, Angela and I kind of figured out that Coach Urma doesn't really know the difference between all of us, so we kind of rotate our practices."
"Uh?"
"Basically, I go one week, Alice the next, and Angela the next, before we go around again."
I cover my eyes with my hand. "Oh, my God."
"They don't care about us," she says, as if it makes it any better. "We were never supposed to play, Edward."
"That may be so, Bella, but you're playing now, and you're going to have to not suck."
"I do not suck."
Despite myself, I giggle, and am rewarded with a hard punch to the chest for my inappropriate thoughts. "Ouch," I say, rubbing my right pec muscle. "Sorry. Spent last night with Seth and Demetri," I add, as if that explains my head-space.
She frowns. "Who's Demetri?"
"New boy at the club," I inform her. "Got a killer butterfly kick."
She just nods. Then: "What am I going to do?"
"I suspect you have no choice but to play," I tell her. "I mean, it could be fun."
Her eyes narrow. "We both know it's not going to be fun, Cullen," she says tensely.
"I was referring to me," I say cheekily. "It's going to be fun for me to watch."
I receive another punch to my chest for my troubles. "You are not allowed to be there," she says vehemently, though she must know it's pointless. I'm going to be there whether she likes it or not. I wouldn't miss the opportunity for the world. Seriously. Who does she think she's dealing with here?
"Who are you playing?" I ask.
"Like I even know," she says, huffing as her left hand reaches up to tug at the collar of her shirt. "Just wait. This is going to be the worst week of my life."
"Now, you're just being dramatic, Bella," I say with a shake of my head. "You said it yourself, right? It's just some random game they probably threw together because they felt bad that you won't get to play all season, so... It doesn't mean anything. Just enjoy it."
Her eyes narrow. "Do you actually enjoy swimming?"
"It's my favorite thing to do," I reply easily.
She huffs again. Or is it a growl? "I think you're the wrong person to talk to about this. You, Jake and Jasper are all sports lovers. Angela and Alice get me."
I laugh. She really is being dramatic. "I can be sympathetic if you need me to," I offer; "but I'm being realistic as well. It's just, uh, thirty minutes of your life, and then you can continue to hate sports again."
"Won't I be able to hate sports during the game?"
I shake my head as the second bell goes. "You, kid, are starting to give me a headache. Don't you have a class to get to?"
She shakes her head, her eyes mischievous. "I don't - do you?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Mr. Lawrence isn't here today - didn't you hear? We have a free period next period."
"And that gives you license to make me late for my lesson?"
She nods once, her fingers curling around my forearm. "Skip?"
I raise my eyebrows. "Who are you and what have you done with my best friend?"
She blinks in surprise, recoiling slightly.
"What?" I ask innocently.
"Uh, well, that's the first time that you've actually called be your best friend. Out loud."
I frown. "Really?"
"At least from what I remember," she makes sure she says, so I can't tease her about it later. I'm convinced she's turning into an old lady, with all her forgetfulness, crabbiness and general lack of patience for the people of the world.
Idiots, she calls them.
I clear my throat. "Well, best friend, I have to go to class now," I say, stepping back slightly. Why are we standing so close anyway? "See you in French?"
She huffs. "If I don't die from anxiety before then," she says. "Maybe I'll go find The Clapp and tell him I'm injured or something."
"Bella," I say, touching her cheek with the fingers of my right hand. "I don't know what has you so freaked out about this lacrosse game, but I'm sure it's going to be okay."
She looks surprised by my sincerity, and I must have caught her off guard because she doesn't say a word. She just stares at me.
"Okay, well, we can talk later, okay?"
She waits a beat before she nods.
"Don't do anything rash," I tell her; "like throw yourself down some stairs or something." I realize it's the wrong thing to say a moment later, when her face drops.
What?
Wait, what?
Maybe this whole thing with Jake is affecting her more than she's willing to let on.
Or, maybe it's something else entirely.
I glance at my watch. Shit, I'm so late. "Okay, now I've really got to go," I say, stepping forward and kissing her forehead.
"Make good life choices," she says as I walk away, absently glancing back at her.
"You're so weird," I say over my shoulder.
"But you still love me."
I don't reply. I just keep walking. I was the first one to bring the word 'love' into our relationship. At the time, it'd been in a teasing manner, and I guess so is this one, but the more we tease it; the more comfortable we become with it.
Maybe that's the point, I don't know.
By the time she shows up at my house later, my mind has semi-settled over the word. She's one of my best friends. Of course, I love her. I also absently wonder if she's testing out the word with me because she can't bring herself to say it to Jake. I think it's something we should talk about, but I'm all too accepting of listening to her complain about how Coach Urma and the entire Waite Sports Department are trying to kill her.
"It's impossible to get out of it," she says around a mouthful of pizza. "And, you were right; they're only doing it because they feel bad that we haven't had a sniff of a competitive game. I mean, seriously."
I can only laugh. She's kind of adorable when she gets all worked up over things she can't control. "I'm sorry," I say, but I'm really not. I can't wait to watch her play. I don't care what I have going on at the time - I am so going to be there. I'll even skip training if I have to. "But I want to help."
She raises her eyebrows in suspicion. "How?"
I grin at her. "Well, while I was at training, I asked Felix to pick up a few things for me," I tell her.
"What things?"
"Finish up," I say, gesturing towards her pizza. "I'll show you in a minute."
She looks at me suspiciously for a moment, before we both return to our dinner. I have to get down this pizza, extra pasta, my protein supplements and Gatorade. It's so exhausting just chewing. I swear, even my jaw is tired.
Unsurprisingly, Bella finishes before me and makes a point of watching me eat, with the sole intention of making me uncomfortable. She can be so weird sometimes. By the time I've eaten my last bite and drank my last sip, it's already after nine o'clock.
"Come on then," I finally say, slipping off my stool and putting out a hand.
She takes it without hesitation and allows me to lead the way out to the back of the house. She's only been in the backyard a handful of times but never really at night. Not that it looks like it's night anyway. The lights are so bright.
Bella's hand tightens around mine when she spots the lacrosse sticks and balls. "Edward?" she queries.
"I thought we could practice," I tell her, releasing her hand and rushing to retrieve two of the sticks and a ball. "Goodness knows you need it."
"I resent that," she comments.
I jog back to her and hand her a stick. "How many practices have you gone to?"
She bites her bottom lip in thought. "Uh, I don't know."
"More than ten?"
"Definitely not."
I shake my head. "Oh, Bella, what am I ever going to do with you?"
She pouts. "Please don't make me do this."
"Come on," I say, stepping back; "it'll be fun."
"I think you and I have two entirely different definitions of fun," she mutters.
It's slow going, just getting started, but she grows into it. We just toss the ball back and forth at a steady pace until it picks up on its own. All of a sudden, I'm running left and right trying to catch the balls she lobs my way. I try to do my fair share, and we push each other until -
Bella runs to catch a ball and trips over her own feet, landing hard on the palms of her hands. We're on grass but she screams out, and I freeze for just a moment before I jump into motion.
"Oh, my God!" I run towards her. Well, I sprint - maybe I even fly, who knows? "Bella, oh my God! Are you okay? Oh shit! Shit shit shit! I'm so sorry. Does it hurt? Oh, my God!"
Whoever said Edward Cullen wasn't good in a crisis; they are so right.
Bella has tears in her eyes. Honest to God, tears. She's holding her arm up as it practically hangs limp and my heart drops into my stomach.
"Are you okay?" I ask again, dropping to my knees at her side. "Does it hurt?"
Obviously, it does. She's crying, Cullen.
"Is it broken?" I ask.
"I don't think so," she finally says, swallowing thickly. "Maybe just sprained."
I blink. "We have to go to the emergency room."
She nods, her eyes drifting down to her arm.
I stand and take a breath, forcing myself not to panic. It's okay. She's going to be okay. I help her stand, and she sways slightly. "Easy," I say. "I've got you."
Somehow, we make it into the house, and I set her down on the couch in the living room. "Wait here," I say unnecessarily, before I rush around the house. Thank God Heidi's still here. She's going to have to stay with the twins.
I grab my wallet, keys, and phone, and pack Bella's bag before heading back downstairs.
"Okay," I say; "let's go."
Bella's more steady on her feet this time, and we get to the car without incident. She's quiet as I drive, which is good because I have to call my father. I explain to him what's happened but he and Esme are across the city, and it'll take them an obscene amount of time to get here. It's fine.
We'll call Bella's parents from the hospital. It sucks being a minor sometimes.
The emergency room isn't full, thank goodness. We only have to wait fifteen minutes before Bella's seen to, and she asks me to stay with her. Really, she looks so uncomfortable in the hospital that I don't dream of straying far.
In the end, the doctor on call, Dr. Hayes, decides that an X-Ray is unnecessary. Just from his examination, he can tell that it isn't a serious injury; just a minimal stretch of one of the ligaments, he says. She'll need to wear a splint for a few weeks, just to keep it still and help reduce the swelling and aid in the healing.
She looks less mystified by the news than I am. Maybe she's used to injuries; she did tell me she was prone to them as a child. She's awfully clumsy, apparently. I haven't had the privilege of witnessing her in action, but I believe her.
A nurse comes by to fit the splint and fiddles with the positioning until she's satisfied.
"How does that feel?" she asks Bella.
"Fine," she says, glancing at me.
The nurse nods. "You'll have to ice it when you get home," she says. "When the swelling goes down, you'll be able to adjust the splint."
Bella also nods.
"Will Mr. Hair over there be helping with the recovery?" she asks.
Bella coughs in surprise. "Uh, no," she says. "Probably not."
"He's done enough then, hasn't he?" The nurse gives me a significant look, and I drop my gaze, suddenly embarrassed. "Keep it elevated," she says to Bella. "And get plenty of rest. The doctor prescribed some painkillers, which you'll be able to pick up from the pharmacy."
Bella just nods.
"I'll just get your paperwork done, and then you can get out of here as soon as a parent arrives," she says, and then leaves us alone in the little cubicle.
I don't look at Bella until she bursts out laughing. "What on earth is so funny?" I ask incredulously.
"Your face, Edward," she says through her laughter. "You should have seen it."
"That woman is terrifying."
She nods in agreement. "Indeed, she is," she says. "I'll definitely keep it elevated, and get plenty of rest."
We fall silent again, and I take a step towards her; just wanting to be closer to her. God, I feel awful. "How's the pain?" I ask quietly.
She shrugs. "I've had worse."
"That doesn't make me feel any better," I mutter under my breath. "I'm so sorry, Bella."
"Edward," she says on a sigh. "Please stop. You've apologized more than enough. It's not even your fault, you know? And, I'm fine. It's just a little sprain."
She sounds so casual, as if this is just another day at the office. However, I don't miss the way she keeps looking around, as if she's expecting something more to happen. It's a little unsettling, but I'm not about to ask her what it's about. Most people don't like hospitals; it shouldn't be anything new.
And she just confuses me further when, a moment later, she bursts out laughing again.
"Jesus, Bella, just what is so funny?" I ask, slightly irritated.
She bumps my leg with her foot. "It's just, you know, in the end, you did end up injuring me."
I stare at her with wide eyes.
"No lacrosse for me," she says with a smile, tilting her head to the side. "Edward Cullen, my hero."
It takes me a moment, but I eventually return her smile. "Anything for you, Bella Swan. Anything for you."