AN I'm so sorry guys. I thought I had this already to go but realized that it was not acceptable and needed major tweaking. Sorry I didn't get this out earlier. Ugh, I lot of you have this story on alert and if you want more you have to review!! Okay, well, here is the chapter people have threatened to kill people for. ;)
Dag nab it! Dag nab it all! I turned around and of course Edward in all his awe was standing a few feet away from me smiling politely but his eyes were tensed. "Why are you doing this?" I pleaded in my head. I figured I could ask him that out loud and I did.
He smiled even more but his eyes looked sad. " Because you're hungry and have no food and I'm not hungry and have a full tray of untouched food." I eyed his oddly picked out food on his tray and felt like I was becoming a traitor as I licked my lips.
- Don't do it! It's probably poisoned or something! - I was about to refuse but my stomach protested! FOOD!!!!
" I really don't think I could." I said looking into his eyes, trying to be polite for some reason, while my stomach was considering disowning me.
He looked confused and tried again. "Please. I don't want it." His eyes locked on mine and I could tell he was trying to…. Dazzle me. It worked to an extent but for the most part I was immune and unimpressed.
"I know your hungry." A smile played at his lips. My stomach was agreeing vehemently with him. "Please." He said one more time. He was trying so hard. He's face was truly pleading.
I sighed defeated and held out my hands accepting the offer. Edward smirked playfully and carefully loaded my hands with his untouched meal. -It better be untouched. Or else…- "Or else what?" – I haven't figured that out yet. -
I sighed again, looked up at the immortal and smiled warmly, my eyes sparkling with gratitude. "Thank you." I meant it.
His face looked liked he got hit with a mallet of dumbfound. While still confused said, "My pleasure," and walked away briskly yet still more gracefully than anything I have ever seen.
I couldn't help but have a quick muffled giggle and I too walked back to my table. Still as dazed as he was at what just happened between the two of us.
I couldn't figure it out. "Great, now vampires have mood swings? Charming," I thought angrily. –Maybe he's not the only one with mood swings. - "Well, I'm a girl, a human girl, and I'm allowed to have mood swings" I squeezed the sides of the tray.
I just stared at my plate. There was a big pretzel, the chicken soup, and a piece of pizza, a kiwi and salt and vinegar chips. I burst out laughing causing the table to stare at me like I was crazy. I'm not denying that I am. I mean, I did just accept food from a vampire! But the reason I laughed was that this was the strangest arrangement of food. The only thing that really went together was the soup and pretzel. "But vinegar chips and kiwi? Defiantly made by a vampire with no human sense." I shook my head. Then I thought about something odd. Jessica wasn't bombarding me with questions.
I looked over at her and braced myself ready for full impact. She knew I was ready to spill now.
She quivered and blurted out, "What was that all about?" I shrugged. "What did he say? Oh my gosh, you just talked to Edward Cullen! SO, what did he say!
"He said, 'Want my food?' I said 'Sure'. He handed over the food and now I'm here eating it. End of story." I said casually watching as my paraphrase made her face twist up in disbelief. I knew that probably all the Cullens were listening to this conversation so I remained as nonchalant as I could.
"Oh come on Bella. I saw your face. You were all like, what the crap, then you were all like, meh, and then you were like, meh no thanks, and then you were like…. Ugh fine." I tried so hard not to laugh. I tried very very hard but I don't have that much control. I cried from laughter. She took that very offensive.
"I'm sorry Jess." Laugh, " I really am sorry. But I couldn't." another laugh, "stop. You really need to hear yourself." By that time Mike was laughing and so was pretty much everyone else at the table except for Lauren. Even Jess joined in. I was glad she could laugh at herself. I don't like being on the bad side of anybody.
"What did he have?" Jessica asked once the laughing died out.
"I didn't know that you had such an intrest in Edward's food." I thought some reason jealous.
"Uh… chips, soup, a pretzel, kiwi, and a piece of pizza." I announced awkwardly.
"Oh. That's a weird combination." She thought a little bit. "Where's the pizza?" She seemed confused and a little suspicioius, thinking I was lying.
"Oh, I ate it." I said simply. I enjoyed the look on everyone's face. Their eyes bugged.
"and… the soup?"
"I ate that too. Wow. I guess I was really hungry." I smiled as I finsished up the pretzel as well. I started to laugh and added. "Never underestimate my stomach when I hungry."
Everyone started lauging and all was well.
Lauren sat up briskly, "Class starts in two minutes." Jess looked thoroughly disappointed but gave me a look that clearly stated the interrogation wasn't over.
I sobered up and looked over at the Cullens. They looked like they had been laughing as well and were now getting up to go back to classes. Edward turned to face me. I winced involuntarily. But he wasn't mad… I don't think. More like he was mad at himself. He tilted his head to the side trying to figure me out. He smiled gently and it touched his eyes. If I didn't know any better I'd say it was a subtle form of flirting. I blushed deeply and ran out of the cafeteria. This was getting stranger and stranger. "This kid has major issues."
I walked into class, the snow had been completely washed out now, not looking at anything, sat in my chair and put my head down on the table, unaware if Edward was or was not sitting at the same table. But it became evident he was already there when I heard the miniscule sound of his body shifting in his chair. I decided to get this over with.
I turned my head towards him and his feature knocked the breath out of me. I was having trouble breathing when he looked at me as well.
The only thing I could think of to say at the moment was, "You smell nice." – IDIOT! What the crap was that? 'You smell nice' you are utterly hopeless. Ugh… have you no shame. That was so… you need to work on your verbal abilities. – "Shut-up! He's about to talk." My mind went quiet as I dreadfully awaited his reply, my cheeks already staining with blood. I knew that wasn't helping anything. But I couldn't help it!
He chuckled, unconcerned with my verbal dyslexia at the moment. "Thank you. So do you." He smiled a secretive smile, but he didn't realize I was in on the secret.
I shivered and sighed hoping this wouldn't last much longer, but I knew I had to get through this small talk.
"Thanks for… for" I couldn't find the right words. Words seemed to be playing a game of hide-and-seek right now without my permission.
"No problem. As I said it was my pleasure." His lips turned soft, but the rest of his face remained tense and guarded. I just stared at him from my perch on the table surface. "What is it about him? Why, why is he here, why is-"
"May I ask you something?" I nodded. The power of suggestion working at it's strongest. "Why are you here?"
I smiled briefly.
"Of course he could see passed my pretenses." I took a moment to think about what to say. I glanced at him one more time. I found something there that I never noticed. Something familiar. Trust. Or, trustworthy and without thinking about what I was doing blurted out, "I had to. I had go." I was shocked at myself.
"No. I did not. I did not just do that. Tell me that was just in my head." – nope not in your head-. "Dag nab it!" I slowly glanced up at him to see his reaction. He seemed intrigued and wanting more. I tried to look away as quickly as possible, but I felt safe and comfort in the glance I took. I realized it wasn't exactly me who wanted to ruin the plan I had carefully devised. It was my heart.
"I had to leave.' I stated in a whisper. "I couldn't stand to live in Phoenix after what happened." I never took my eyes off him. "I didn't want to go, but it came to…a point that made it absolutely necessary." I was about to continue but the teacher came in and called everybody's attention. I sighed in relief. "Why? Why did I just do that?" – It felt good. I felt good even to say those few words. – "But why? I just don't understand…"
Edward could tell I didn't want to say anymore and didn't want to force it out of me. While we were supposed to be studying lesson 17, he started talking again changing subject
"Too bad about the snow right?" what snow… or the snow I thankfully missed this morning.
I was tired of being diplomatic and turned to him and said, "No not really."
He stared at me. "You don't like the snow?"
"Of course not. That means it's too cold for rain and it's also really soggy and… just stupid. I thought snow came down in little flacks, each individual and all that." I was mad again. Not at anything in particular, but Forks in general.
He laughed. "So, this was your first snow." It was in the format of a question but it wasn't.
"How could you tell?" I was sort of role-playing now.
"I can always spot the newbie's." He and I both laughed. His laugh was so musical it made my heart melt.
The teacher called on Edward to answer a question. I sat up in my chair and the barrier was back between us.
The rest of the hour went by with out accident. We didn't talk much after that. He still was very distant and careful around me. I didn't mind. I liked it that way. It kept us out of reach. And yet… I wanted more. I knew better but I wanted more of him. I tried to shake it out.
Class was about over when he turned to me and asked quickly, "What…what are you doing this weekend?" I stared at him baffled. Why would he want to know? A horrible thought came into my head. "Is he planning on getting me alone that way so he can satisfied his thirst. Or worse, he wants to hang out with me." I shivered at both ideas.
He shrugged and said just as quickly, "I was just wondering because it's going to be a sunny weekend and you should do something fun." I just stared at him. Why did he care if I did something fun? I still didn't understand his motives. As hard as I tried I still couldn't make myself be scared of him. So I shrugged and mumbled, "I'm not sure. Probably something very boring." I still looked at him curiously. "Is this vampire on crack or something? What is his deal?" He smiled at my confused look. Ancient sadness in his eyes. I moved my hand to brush a piece of hair around my ears. He tensed up. Shifted as far as possible from me. Farther that I thought possible and then the bell rang and he jumped up and quickly left the classroom. I could tell it was as slow as he could go right now. I banged my head on the desk. Trying to figure out this undead gorgeous boy.
After class, I walked to gym in a daze. Even though I knew why he left so quickly, because of my scent and whatnot. That hardly explained anything else. "This is so typical of the normal guy." I sighed, "They show interest in you one minute and the next minute they are totally ignoring you. The next second they like you again, and the next he's snogging your best friend!... and he hates you for some reason. Guys just don't make sense. Especially vampire guys."
Mike walked with me to gym again. He was nice enough to help me out. Ignoring all signs of danger with my bat and me. "Well. Some guys. I'm really glad Mike's here. His character is through and through. Not like the characters in 'Lost'. Well, Hurly and Sawyer are okay. They never change personalities." – Oh my gosh, shut-up about Lost already and go home!
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The next morning I was wakened to the bright light of another snowy day. I looked outside but it wasn't snow. It was ice.
"Dang."
I flew on some close and quickly brushed my teeth and combed hair roughly. I traversed down stairs and flung open the door.
I stumbled over to the driver's seat and put my keys into the ignition waiting to hear the huge booom-chuggg boooo it usually makes. But instead it went booom-keeei-clunk. I tried again. And again. "Great mother of salad. Of course my battery has to die right now."
I tried one more time and it started. "Yes." I really wanted to get to school today. Not because of learning… not because of friends either… because of Edward. I still knew this was a very bad idea and so stupid! But I couldn't help it.
I was amazed at how easy it was to drive through the roads. I thought it would be slippery and a death trap. But surprisingly I had no trouble at all.
I pulled into the parking lot ready for an interesting day. I stepped out of the car and Alice Cullen pulled on my arm and walked me to the sidewalk quicker than I could say 'coca-cola'.
She turned to me and smiled. "Oh look," she pointed at the back of my truck. "Your dad put chains on the tires. Wasn't that nice. Now, I think you should get inside. It's cold and you could get sick." Then she danced in the direction of the rest of her family.
"What the crap? What was that all about? These vampires…" I shook my head and walked towards the entrance.
I heard a scream. Then another. There was a screeching sound that was awful. I turned around just in time to see Tyler Crowley's mini van crash into the back of my car. The windows crashed. Girls were screaming. The hood on the mini-van was trashed. But my Bella proof car didn't have a dent. I smiled shyly. Then I thought struck me.
"She knew. Alice knew that would happen. What else did she say?" I ran her words over in my head and remembered her saying something about Charlie putting chains on my tires. "Holy Crow! She knew! She knew I was going to check my tires and she knew I would get crushed by the mini-van."
I turned to look at the Cullens. Well, I wasn't really looking. I was staring in disbelief. While all the chaos was forming around my truck I just stood there staring at the Cullens.
They looked my way briefly than talked to each other. I couldn't move. She saved my life.
But then I heard another scream and another screech. Another car was skidding on the ice. I turned to watch it hit Tyler's already busted van. It was like watching it in slow motion.
"Dang!" I screeched as I piece of the new car flew into the air and came whooshing down towards me.
AN: okay. So what do you think? It took some tinkering but I think I got it the way I wanted it. Sort of. Please review. Tell me what you think. I'm going to need 25 reviews. 25. So get to reviewing! Cracks whip
p.s. I'll make up for keeping you guys hanging.