BPOV
The rest of the day went by uneventful, until dance. When I got there Lauren was the only person there, so I just sat down and started stretching. Slowly everyone else started trickling in and they all mimicked my actions.
"What is everybody doing?" Lauren screeched. Everybody looked at her like she was crazy. "We're supposed to stretch all together," she explained.
"Sit your ass down and stretch and then we'll be all be stretching," I said. A few girls giggled around me. Lauren huffed, but complied. The girl threw temper tantrums like she was five or something. By the time we were finished stretching Miss Bridget had arrived.
"Hello Girls," she said, smiling warmly. She was one of the nicer people I had met in New York, although a little young to be teaching. She looks like she could be dancing on Broadway somewhere.
"Hello," we chorused.
"I know we've missed a few practices, so we'll have to work extra hard to be prepared for the competition coming up," she started. A few girls perked up at the mention of the competition, but I internally groaned. If this school supported the dance team like they did other sports then they were bound to come with us to the competition. Just as Miss Bridget went to continue Lauren interrupted.
"When are we going to find out whose captain?" she asked.
"How many times do I have to tell you Ms. Mallory? Bella is going to be our captain this year."
"But you said you were going to base it off of our dancing," she said, starting to pout. Here we go!
"I said that I did base it off of your dancing," Miss Bridget explained.
"So, you're saying that she's a better dancer than me?" she asked, it sounded like she was on the verge of crying. Although anybody who had known her for more than two seconds could tell she was faking, but it still made the teacher pause and sigh.
"Yes, essentially that is what I'm saying not only that but she has been dancing longer." Lauren's head snapped up as she sent the teacher a glare.
"You're not supposed to pick favorites. I'm going to have my dad call the school about this," she threatened. The teacher didn't seem fazed at all.
"Go ahead. This is not a class, just an extra privilege. You don't have to be included at all, so you should just be happy that you have a spot on the team." Lauren never dropped her glare, but didn't say anything else. Well that just wasted ten minutes!
"Anyways, back to what I was saying. So three weeks from now there are the regionals and then if you place in the top three you move on to nationals. Obviously we need to get down to business," she informed us. Then she looked at me and smiled warily.
"I'm going to be busy with behind the scenes stuff, such as expenses and where we're going to stay, so I'm going to let Bella take over the choreography and such." When she saw the look on my face she quickly made her way to her office, not giving me a chance to object. I sighed; there was no point in arguing anyway, I can handle this and Fred well help.
I walked over to where Miss Bridget had been standing. All of the girls were smiling warmly at me, besides Lauren and Jessica, so I gained up the strength to start talking.
"Obviously this is going to be a lot to pull together in three weeks, so we're going to need to practice more than once a week. Everybody find out when you're free and get back to me this evening I will give you each my cell and I would like to try and practice everyday if possible." I had only just stopped when Lauren decided to open her fat mouth again.
"Bella," she said, sounding unusually sincere, "I understand that this is a lot of pressure on you. Maybe you should hand over the responsibilities to someone more experienced." I raised an eyebrow.
"And who would that be?" I asked.
"Well me, of course," still smiling, warmly. I internally snorted.
"I wasn't aware that you had so much experience. When did you start dancing?" I asked, feigning interest.
"Three years ago," she said proudly. So she just started her freshman year?
"Well I started dancing when I was three, so I think I have the most experience don't you," I said. This girl just had a knack for wasting time. She did things that made you want to say, "There went two minutes of my life that I will never get back."
"Moving on," I said, once most of the giggles had stopped.
"I'll try and come up with a good song by this week and then we'll make the routine up as we go?" I said, although it came out more as a question. Everyone nodded, except Lauren.
"What do you mean make up the routine as we go?" she screeched. "We need to make the whole thing before we start." Ugh! I just wanted to smack her!
"Lauren, quite frankly your opinion doesn't matter to me. I know you hate me because I'm captain and you're not, but just shut up and stop being such a bitch," I said. I normally didn't have outbursts, but something about this girl tore away at me. She was about to say something back when her cell phone beeped. When she finished reading the text, she replied, and then walked over to me. I was about to ask her what the hell she wanted, when she flashed me the text.
Meet me at my room after practice! I need a repeat of last time!
-Edward
I looked up to see her smirking at me. I couldn't let her know I cared!
"Did you need something his relations with you are not my concern?" I asked surprised at how calm my voice sounded. She looked at me, shocked her plan had failed.
"No." With that she grabbed Jessica's arm and dragged her out the door. It was then I noticed that everyone else had left and that I was all alone. I managed to get changed and get to my dorm room before crying. I didn't know why I was crying. I mean it wasn't like Edward and I are together or anything. After about twenty minutes I sucked it up and stepped into the shower. I was going to sit around in my pajamas and eat junk food, like on TV, but Alice texted me telling me to join them for dinner at Outback.
I knew that there would be hell to pay if I didn't show up, so I changed into casual jeans, blue tank-top and blue flats before heading out the door. When I reached Outback, it hit me. He was going to be here. I took a deep breath. What he did with Lauren earlier this afternoon was none of my business, we aren't a couple and it is just a date. I opened the door and quickly searched the room. I saw Emmett's huge form waving at me from a booth in the back corner and I giggled before making my way towards them.
When I got there the first thing I noticed was that Edward wasn't among them. I breathed a sigh of relief that I didn't have to deal with him, but then I got angry. Was he still with Lauren? I didn't have time to get too worked up because soon after I sat down Edward came in, and sat directly across from me. "Just great now I have to see him the whole time!" I thought to myself.
"Sorry I'm late," he apologized.
"Where were you at man?" Emmett asked, grabbing some fries.
"With Lauren," he said. As soon as the words left his mouth Emmett and Jasper started grinning. I just started fuming again and he must have noticed because he turned to me wide eyed.
EPOV
I could feel my eyes widening as I turned to glance at Bella. I could just imagine how that must sound to her. I had to fix this and fast. Just as I went to explain Rosalie and Alice started giggling.
"What, the locker room getting boring now days?" Rosalie questioned, through her laughter.
"No," I scowled, "Tyler paid me he stopped by and asked if I could help him out."
"Well you should put some up in the locker room anyways, it would be funny!" Emmett said. I just shook my head this guy would never grow up.
"You are such a perv, Em," I said.
"I know you're not talking. I'm not the one who takes the pictures now am I?" Emmett's statement seemed to make something click in Bella's mind. She got a look in her eyes that I couldn't quite place, but in a flash it was gone and she started bursting out laughing. I thought she was going to choke or something. When she finally composed herself she whispered something to Alice, who whispered something to Rosalie, which caused all three of them to go into a hysterical fit of laughter.
I looked at Jasper and Emmett, but they seemed as confused as me. We just sipped at our drinks while staring at the girls. It took them about fifteen minutes for them to calm down completely; that must have been some joke, I will have to remember to ask about it.
BPOV
Emmett's last sentence was like the last puzzle piece. I'm sure disgust must have been present on my face. Seriously, what kind of girl would expose themselves like that? That thought triggered a round of laughter from me. Who was I kidding; of course Lauren would expose herself like that! I swear that girl would do anything to get Edwards attention. When I had myself under control I leaned over to Alice.
"Lauren must be practicing for her wanna be future with Playboy," I whispered, making sure Jasper couldn't hear. Alice could barely contain her laughter enough to tell Rose. She must have gotten the message across though because Rosalie glanced up at me before all three of us broke out in laughter. In all honesty the joke wasn't that funny, but it had us cracking up.
When we finally settled down the waitress came over and took our orders. The table was quickly filled with tons of food. We had just ordered a bunch of different stuff and decided to split it. There was still a lot of food left when we were done, but we didn't care. When the lady brought the check Jasper insisted on paying, saying that Emmett had paid last time.
As we left the restaurant everyone went their separate ways. Alice and Jasper set off towards the girl's dorm, Emmett and Rosalie headed towards the boy's room, and Edward and I started walking to our own rooms. As we walked a comfortable silence fell between Edward and I, but he spoke anyway.
"Sorry about the whole thing with Lauren, I didn't think about your feelings when I agreed to do it." he said, looking the opposite way. Now I was confused. Why was he sorry?
"Huh?" I asked. Well wasn't that just a perfectly formed response!
"I, well, you know, she and I, well with you," he sighed; he knew he wasn't making any sense whatsoever. "I just mean that I shouldn't have done that when I already have plans with you." I internally groaned; I knew what I had to say now.
"It's okay Edward. It's not like we're exclusive or anything," I said, glancing sideways at him. His brow furrowed when I said exclusive, but he didn't say anything about it.
"I know. I just feel bad, okay," he said. I just sort of nodded because I was too shocked to come up with anything else. I had just seen a new side of Edward. This wasn't confident, charming Edward; this was emotional Edward. I have to say it was interesting to see this other side. When we got to my building Edward opened the door for me and followed me down the hallway. As I was reaching for my keys he spun me around so we were facing each other and backed me into the door. I could feel my heart beat accelerate immediately.
"I really can't wait for Friday, I am so happy you agreed to spend some alone time with me!" he whispered into my ear.
"Me, too," I managed to get out. He shot me a crooked grin that made my heart go impossibly faster and leaned closer.
"Have sweet dreams, Bella, goodnight." He breathed slowly backing away from me. When he reached the end of the hallway he looked back and smirked at me still leaning against the door trying to catch my breath. Confident, charming Edward was back and was sexier than ever!
When I collapsed onto my bed I almost instantly fell asleep. That was the first night I dreamt of Edward Cullen; sweet dreams indeed!