Chapter 14 - Genius in Development

BELLA

I had sprained my ankle. Never in my life had I been so relieved that I had sprained my ankle until right now. There was no way they would make me go to the dance with a sprained ankle. It just couldn't happen, could it?

Alice was ordering Edward around like a drill sergeant. It was funny, because Edward was so big and tough looking, and then there was little Alice, who could make him jump. In fact, I think he did jump a couple of times, as he rushed around gathering things up. Apparently, Alice was taking my dress and stuff, so I could get ready at their house. She seemed more excited for me to go to this dance than to go herself. I mean, it was only junior prom, it wasn't even our senior prom, but you would think Edward and I were getting married the way she carried on.

"Alice, who are you taking to the dance?" I finally asked.

"Emmett McCarty. He seemed the nicest of all the lugheads. He was the one Edward didn't beat down. He actually tried to cover for Edward, but his story was too outlandish. It was really sweet of him to try, though."

I knew of Emmett, but didn't know him. He usually was standing with the jerks who always picked on me, but he had never laid a hand on me, so I'd guess that was something.

"How does Edward feel about him taking you?" I asked.

"Well, he really doesn't get a say now does he?"

"So, he's okay with it?" I asked pretty sure he wasn't.

"No, but it's fine. That's where you come in. You need to keep my brother busy, so I can have fun on my date."

I groaned. "Alice, I can't keep Edward busy, he doesn't even like me. He's just nice to me because you guys are good people."

"Good or not, you're still distracting him, missy. I'm going to get my first kiss if it's the last thing I do, so don't make me lock you both in a closet," Alice threatened, and I think she might have been serious.

Edward came walking in with a bottle of water, and my mind flashed to that night in his room. He held it in his hand, and my cheeks burned. I was sure they both thought I was a little nuts, when I just had to ask Edward about the water. "Do you like bottled water, Edward?" I asked.

He furrowed his brow and shrugged. "Yeah, I like it fine."

"So, are you saying you like other water better?"

"Um, no, I guess I like the taste of bottled water best."

I started snickering, making them both look at me as if I was off my rocker, and then I smiled. "You know, Edward, I really like bottled water, too."

"Okay…" Alice drawled, "Now that we all agree that we like bottle water, we need to come up with a game plan for your ankle."

"A game plan?"

"Yeah, we're keeping you off it until the night of the dance. I'm sure you'll be fine by then. We have a whole week!"

I sighed and rolled my eyes. "Look, are you sure you even want to bother with me? I mean, I know you guys really don't want to be seen with me. You're only going to cause trouble for yourselves. It'd probably be best if Edward found a different date. Someone less accident-prone."

"Alright, that's it!" Edward snapped. "What the hell is it about me that you can't stand? It's driving me nuts here. You're giving me a complex! I have to beg you to go out with me, and then you spend every minute of the day trying to find a way to get out of it. Don't think I don't know you're happy about your sprained ankle. I saw it! So just tell me, Bella, what's so bad about going to the dance with me?"

I had no idea I was making Edward insecure. I felt horrible now. I had to tell them. He needed to know it wasn't him. "It's Tyler," I whispered.

"Tyler? What does that douche have to do with anything?" Edward asked.

"I overheard him. He's going to do something to me at the dance and try and blame it on you so you get in trouble. He's pissed that you made him look bad in front of his girlfriend. I don't want anything bad to happen to you, Edward."

"Jesus, Bella, why didn't you tell me that before!" Edward snapped.

I shrugged. "I figured if I just didn't go, then it wouldn't be a problem," I pouted.

Edward sank down on the corner of my much-too-small bed. He looked so defeated. I felt horrible for telling him.

"That's it! No one messes with my brother. That asshole is going down!" Alice snapped. She whipped out her phone. "Emmett! You have to get in with the old group again," she said. "I know, but they're planning something horrible to get back at Bella and Edward at the dance, and we need to know the plan if we're going to make it backfire!"

Edward's head shot up, looking at her confused. Alice continued to talk and rattle off orders to Emmett like the little general she was. Once she was off the phone, she turned to Edward. "Call your buddy; see if he can come give us a hand. It'll be good to have a secret weapon we can use against them."

"Buddy?" I asked.

Alice smirked. "You don't really think just because Edward got out of military school for 'good behavior' that he was actually behaving? He just got better at what he was doing, thanks to a guy he met up with there."

Edward looked at his phone. "I can call him in a few minutes. They'll be doing checks right now, and he's not supposed to have his phone."

"You'd better text him then. His phone should be on silent. Just text him to call you as soon as he can," Alice ordered. You would think she was the one in military school.

Edward sent off his text, and about five minutes later, his phone rang. "Hey, Jazz, you feel like dancing?"

His friend must have said something funny, because Edward started laughing.

EDWARD

I asked Jasper if he felt like dancing, and his answer was, "You know I like you, Edward, but I just don't swing that way."

"I need you to come to prom. Will you be able to get away this weekend?"

"Hard up for a date, Eddie?" he asked laughing.

"No, dickwad, I need your help putting some assholes in their place. They're after my date in a bad way, and I caught wind that they're going to do something to her and try and pin it on me," I explained.

"Wow, it sounds like you're just making all kinds of friends."

"You know I only have eyes for you, Jazz. Do you have enough time to plan your escape?"

"Ah, lover boy misses me. Alright, I'll be there, and I'll even bring a date and the transportation for the evening."

"Awesome. Thanks, man."

"So, tell me a little about this girl you're taking. Is she spank-bank worthy?" he asked shamelessly.

"Yes, and she's sitting right next to me, so I'm going to go now."

He started laughing his head off. "Hey, Edward, should I bring you a bottle of water, so you can get off in the bushes before you pick her up?"

My eyes suddenly snapped up to Bella; bottled water. Did she know about bottled water and that was why she had asked? It was the only way to get off in military school, because the bathrooms were public. My face felt like it was on fire. "Nah, man," I said clearing my throat. I wondered if Bella somehow knew about my bottled water usage.

My nerves set Jazz into a laughing fit, the asshole. "Just for that, I'm stocking the mini fridge in the limo with water bottles especially for you, you know, because I'm nice like that."

Asshole!

"So, do we have any idea what their plan is yet?" Jazz asked.

"No, but I have a man doing reconnaissance. He'll hopefully get the plans and let us know. He's actually friends with the loser."

"Friends? You have a double agent, Wardo? You know I don't like double agents."

"He's not too bad. He's actually my sister's date."

"Alice, that tight little black-haired beauty?"

"Jazz, you say one more word about my sister, and I'll come through the fucking phone and nail you myself."

He just started laughing.

He had only ever seen a picture of Alice, and it was an old one at that, but he would continuously make comments on it. Nothing too crude, though, or he would have been dead.

"So, this guy she's taking, did she say yes as part of the plan?"

"No, he asked her."

"A traitor asked your sister out, and you said yes?"

"No, douchebag, I didn't say yes, but Alice isn't one to be ordered around."

"Hmm, Eddie, I think I'm liking your sister a little more."

"Seriously, man, if you make one more comment about my sister…"

"Fine, fine, tell me about her date. Can we trust him?"

"Yeah, he seems alright. He's just an overgrown jock, though. I don't gather he has a lot of brains in his head, though he can be pretty creative," I said thinking about Emmett's giant wolf story trying to cover for me.

"Good to know. What time am I picking you up?"

I looked over at Alice, wondering if I was doing the right thing by introducing the mad prank genius that was Jasper Whitlock to her. Then I saw Bella sitting there with her foot up, so small and fragile, and the decision was made. I needed his help, so I could end this once and for all. "Dinner is at 7:00 p.m. at my house. Esme's cooking."

"Oh, how intimate, count me in, and let Esme know I'm looking forward to her cuisine."

"Thanks, Jazz."

"No problem, man. Let me know as soon as you get wind of what they're doing. The more time we have to prepare the better."

I hung up with a smile. With Jazz involved, this would most likely be epic.