Chapter Three: Edward POV
I was utterly pleased with myself for staying calm and collected when I was talking with Isabella. As a person, she seemed honest and really down to earth. A lot of the girls here in Forks were phony and lied so frequently that most of the words coming out of their mouths were untruthful. Isabella, however, was just absolutely different.
After Emmett parked the jeep, Isabella muttered something about wanting to find Alice. Emmett and Rosalie wanted to get some drinks so I left with them. I felt like if I'd stayed with Isabella she would find me weird or clingy since we just met officially.
The first thing Emmett did was get a hold of an ice cold beer. Rosalie ordered herself a margarita. I, on the other hand, sagaciously decided against alcohol. First of all, it was illegal—ILLEGAL. Secondly, Isabella was around with Alice somewhere and if she saw me slightly tipsy or, god forbid, completely wasted, I would be totally submerged in a sea of embarrassment once I sobered up a bit.
So, instead of a beer like Emmett, I asked for a Pepsi. Soda in hand, I milled around by myself just people watching and searching for Isabella.
...
I had no idea where the hell Isabella was until I caught a glimpse deep purple and silky chestnut hair out of the corner of my eye. Isabella's slim figure disappeared into the crowd and I followed her strawberries and cream scented shampoo. She wove in and out and around the thick mob of sweating, dancing bodies while I did my best to keep up with her speed and agility and to not push people out of the way too hard.
Once she was free of the crowd she took off, running down the empty side of the beach towards the large rocks the waves crashed against at high tide.
"Jesus Christ, this girl is fast," I muttered to myself. I took a deep breath of cool night air and sprinted after her. Once I got to the rocks I silently climbed up.
Isabella was sitting at the top, hugging her knees, sniffling softly, and rocking herself back and forth. I was completely lost on how to approach her at a time and situation like this so I sat down next to her and tried to smile reassuringly.
"Isabella, what are you doing up here?"
"I could ask you the same thing," was all that she said.
"Well…" I began, "I saw a pretty little lady run off alone into the night and I was wondering what she was running from or what she was running to." Her brow furrowed causing the most adorable little "v" to appear between them while she contemplated her answer.
"Jake… you know, the DJ…"
"Did he do something to you?" I cut in sharply. If Black did anything to hurt this delicate little flower he'd have some serious hell to pay at school on Monday. Actually, he'd have serious hell to pay tonight.
"No!" Isabella had a sharp intake of breath before rushing through her next sentence, "I asked Jake to dance but he said no because I'm not cool enough for him and guys aren't lining up to date me." My jaw dropped all the way. How could Jacob Black so obtuse as to refuse to dance with such a beautiful girl like Isabella? Okay, so she wasn't the most popular girl in school, but the popular girls were the mean ones, like… Tanya.
Tanya Denali was the most popular girl at Forks High School. Tanya was a platinum blonde (probably dyed), with a huge chest (probably fake), and model skinny—she never ate anything at lunch besides a bottle of water and an apple. She didn't date anyone because none of the guys at school were even adequate for her high standards, but more than half of the male student body (and dare I say maybe even a few of the females), drooled in her wake and worshipped the very ground she treaded on.
To me personally, she might've been pretty if her insides weren't rotten to the center like a three month old piece of fruit.
Swiftly, I pieced together a plan to make Isabella happy once more. I liked to see her happy and smiling.
"Isabella… I have a proposal to make," I would make this proposal because I liked her. I was doing it all for her—for my secretly beloved Isabella. If she would be happier with Black, then so be it. I just wanted her happy. I needed her to be happy.
"Yes…?"
"Use me," I stated simply. Her eyes grew huge in shock and embarrassment from what I just said. Isabella's mouth opened and closed several times before she even made a sound.
"I feel like I took that the wrong way," she said quietly, "Could you further explain your proposal?"
"Pretend that you're into me. Use me to make Black jealous. Use me to get an advantage over him. If you do, you'll surely get him to fall for you," it broke my heart, helping Isabella pursue another guy, but in the end, I'd have the satisfaction of knowing that the smile on her face would be my doing.
As she thought over my idea, I watched her closely. Isabella was really something. Jacob Black would be thanking me ten times over once my plan went into action. She just looked so adorable when she was thinking hard while chewing on her lower lip.
"Okay. Let's do it."
"Alrighty then."
"Edward?"
"Hm?"
"Why do you call me 'Isabella'?" she asked tentatively.
I laughed, "That's your name, no?"
"No—I mean yes, but everyone calls me Bella or something else," she explained.
"Your name is beautiful, Isabella," I purred and her cheeks heated, turning a rosy pink color, "and if everyone already calls you 'Bella', I want to be different."
We sat there in the dark of the night listening to the sound of the sea and smelling the salty ocean air. It was peaceful spending time with Isabella and more than anything, I was excited that my plan would mean that I could spend a lot of time with her as her pretend boyfriend. I would take any opportunity that arose to be with Isabella.
After a while, I stood and offered Isabella my hand, pulling her up beside me. We then proceeded to walk hand in hand down the beach and back to the party.
...
Thanks so much! Reviews, follows, or favorites make my day so thanks to everyone who's done that!
-MinnieVan
