Chapter 5: Questions unanswered
Disclaimer: Characters and basic story line belongs to Stephanie Meyer. Occasionally my own inputs would appear, so enjoy! Oh and sorry for the heck long update, school been hectic and I've been occasionally ben=en lethargic
BPOV
I made my way to my English class in a daze.I didn't even realise when I first walked in that class already started.
"Thank you for joining us, Miss Swan," Mr Mason said in a disparaging tone. I flushed in embarrassment and hurried to my seat whilst the rest of my classmates sniggered. It wasn't till class ended that I realised Mike wasn't sitting in his usual seat next to me. Part of me mentally cheered, as the golden human retriever had always turned to me for small-but-annoying talks and tried to snag a date with me, even though I repeatedly, politely declined, with his god-awful pick up lines. The other, the more sympathetic side, felt a twinge of guilt. Despite my thoughts that Mike had purposely avoided me, not that I minded, he and Eric both met me at the door as usual, so I figured I wasn't totally unforgiving nor forgotten. Mike seemed to become more himself as we walked, gaining enthusiasm as he talked about the weather report for this weekend.
The rain apparently was supposed to take a minor break, so maybe his beach trip would be possible. I tried to sound eager, to somehow make up for disappointing him yesterday. It was hard; rain or no rain, it would still only be in the high forties, if we were lucky.
The rest of the morning passed in a blur. It was difficult to believe that I just imagined what Edward had said, and the way his eyes looked. Maybe it was just a very convincing dream that I'd confused with reality. That seemed more probable than that I really appealed to him on any level.
EPOV
I walked the opposite way in which Bella Swan, the bane of my existence, went cursing and muttering to myself. I shouldn't really get close to her; I would endanger her with my vampiric qualities and the Volturi's law about any humans that know the existence of vampires. If she were to be with me, the thought of us courting sent a warmth jolt into my unbeating heart. And to my distress I knew if something had bad happen to her and resulted in an injury whether small of fatal and I couldn't stop it or it was condoned by me; I would never forgive myself.
My mind and heart were in a constant battle, revisiting the night of the vote. Did we make the right decision? Did I make the right decision? To explore the possibility of: experiencing love for the first time, being in a relationship and have that sacred connection that I've always envied that my family had for their mates, believing that god had forgiven me for the deaths of so many humans, even though they themselves were disgusting, immoral humans. But what did I have that I could offer her in return for the love that she may gratify me? A life where she will never age whilst all her loved ones do, a life where she is unable to have children, a life where she would periodically move to only raining places every three to four years or so because we were immortal. I couldn't do that to her.
So immersed in my own thoughts, I was caught off-guard when I was slapped over on the head. SLAP! I whipped my head to culprit, my little sister Alice who grinned at me innocently. "Stop doubting you worry wart. Everything will be fine and you will not ruin my chance in gaining more sisters and a best friends." She chided.
Pursing my lips into a hard line, I argued, "What if she doesn't feel what I feel? What if she runs away once she finds out I'm a bloodsucking vampire? And if it's not from that titbit of information, she'll will run once she hears that her blood is my own personal heroin and that I long for it."
"Just shut your moaning, Poutward. Don't doubt the seer and anyways if you don't hurry up you'll miss a lovely lesson of French with Mrs Davidson." She giggled deviously, blocking her thoughts with the images of what she and Jasper had done in their last hunt. I glared at her as she skipped down the hall.
I sighed as I picked up my pace, time for the class, which I loathed the most. Class with the slut duo, Mallory and Davidson…
BPOV
Unfortunately we couldn't have lunch in the art room today. Someone complained, I'm guessing Mallory, that 'The Swans are taking advantage on the school's kindness and it was unfair that we don't have lunch in the cafeteria' to the Gym teacher My Donaldson. So it's safe to say, we have been banned from eating lunch there. Angela had been nice enough to invite us to sit with Mike and the others, though I am uncomfortable with sitting with flirty Mike and bitchy Lauren and the idiot gang. But, Angela was a truly good person and I felt bad just leaving her with the sharks.
I was impatient and frightened as Misty and I entered the cafeteria. I wanted to see Edward's face, to see if he'd gone back, to the cold, indifferent person I'd known and hate for the last seven weeks. Not that I'd been counting. If, by some miracle, I'd really heard what I thought I'd heard this morning. Jessica babbled on and on about the dance plans-Mallory and Angela had asked the boy they had been planning to go with. I was happy to hear that Angela had gotten the courage to ask Ben Cheney to the dance, enthusiastic even, Mallory I'd didn't really give a horse ass about. All three girls chatted about anything to do with the dance-completely unaware of Misty's inattention and mine.
Disappointment flooded through me as my eyes unerringly focused on his table. The other four were there, but he was absent. Had he gone home? I followed the still-babbling Jessica through the line, crushed and slightly frustrated at myself for looking for Edward. I'd lost my appetite-I bought of lemonade and a carton of chocolate milk for Misty. I just wanted to go and sit down and sulk, and possibly make some minor adjustments in my life, namely to do with Edward.
Both Misty and I weren't fond of being back in the cafeteria, we both hated to sit on the same table with Mallory and I just had a hard time thinking wen I'm in the same vicinity as Edward. I sighed at the bothersome things that has happen to me this year as I handed Misty her share of the lunch; her chocolate milk and a Greek salad with lemon herb chicken breast slices.
"Edward Cullen is staring at you again," Jessica said in envy, finally breaking through my abstraction with the wondrous mystery of said boy. "I wonder why he's sitting alone today." My head snapped up. I followed her gaze to see Edward smiling crookedly, staring at me from an empty table across the cafeteria from where he usually sat. Once he caught my attention, and many of my lunch mates, he raised one hand and motioned with his index finger for me to join him. As I stared in disbelief, my sister giggling in mischievous glee in the corner of my eye, he winked at me.
"Does he mean you?" Jessica asked with insulting astonishment in her voice, Mallory's face at that declaration, turned red in silent fury; forgotten all about her plans about the dance.
"Maybe he needs help with his biology homework," I muttered for her benefit, whilst on the inside I was enjoying that particular redness that Mallory's face had taken. "Um, I'd better go see what he wants."
I could feel her and the others staring after me as I walked away. When I reached the table, I stood behind the chair across from him, unsure and befuddled at his recent actions. "Why don't you sit with me today?" he asked smiling. I looked over to the gobsmacked table of my lunch mates and the beaming face of my little sister, who made a 'go on' gesture before focusing on finishing her chocolate milk. I sat down, hesitantly, watching him with caution. He was still smiling. It was hard to believe that someone so beautiful could be real. I was afraid that he might disappear all of the sudden in a puff of smoke, and I would wake up. Cause in my waking life, he never been so nice to me, heck even smiled at me genuinely.
He seemed to be waiting for me to say something. "This is different," I finally managed after a few minutes of just staring at him in disbelief.
"Well…" he paused, and then the rest of the words followed in a rush, I nearly had a hard time comprehending it. "I decided as long as I was going to hell, I might as well do it thoroughly." What does he mean by 'going to hell'. What normal teenager actually thinks about heaven and hell in their high school life, well besides Angela since her father is a pastor. I waited for him to say something that made sense, or anything to clarify what he had just said. The seconds went by.
"You know I don't have any idea what you mean," I eventually pointed out.
"I know." He smiled again, and then he changed the subject. "I think your friends are angry with me for stealing you."
"They'll survive, they have lived without my presence at lunch for a few weeks so today isn't going to be any different." Even with saying that, I could feel their stares boring into my back.
"I may not give you back, though," he said with a wicked glint in his eyes. I gulped. My heart stuttered at the look of his eyes and I chided to myself internally to keep myself from falling into a puddle of lovesickness.
He laughed. "You look worried."
"No," I said, but ridiculously, my voice broke. "Surprised, actually…what brought all this on?"
"I told you-I got tired of trying to stay away from you. So I'm giving up." He was still smiling, but his ochre eyes were serious. I wondered to myself how he could smile that long, surely his cheeks were aching?
"Giving up?" I repeated in confusion.
"Yes-giving up trying to be good. I'm just going to do what I want now, and let the chips fall where they may." His smile faded as he explained, and a hard edge crept into his voice.
"You lost me again." The breathtaking crooked smile reappeared. I seriously think he is bipolar and now possibly ADHD or maybe he's intentionally annoying me with cryptic sentences and riddles.
"I always say too much when I'm talking to you-that's one of the problems." Talking too much? More like too little, since every time I try to question more about him he cuts me off and then flees with a less than happy attitude.
"Don't worry-I don't understand any of it," I said wryly.
"I'm counting on that."
"So, in plain English, are we friends now?"
"Friends…" he mused, dubious.
"Or not," I muttered, secretly beating myself for assuming that he wanted to my friend.
He grinned. "Well, we can try, I suppose. But I'm warning you now that I'm not a good friend for you." Behind his smile, the warning was real.
"You say that a lot," I noted, I stubbornly held his gaze, not willing to crumble under his stunningly, scarily, smoulder.
"Yes, because you're not listening to me. I'm still waiting for you to believe it. If you're smart you'll avoid me."
"I think you've made your opinion on the subject of my intellect clear, too. Now I'll make mine. I think all of this you're sprouting off, is personally bullcrap." He stared at me in shock. "This nonsense of 'I'm not good for you so let's not be friends but I badly want to'…. Stop. Right. Now. If you want to be closed of and be confusing as hell, go ahead; but if you're going to be my friend let me let you know that up straight. No riddles. No bipolar attitudes. Just let me decide whether or not you would be good for me." I ranted, my eyes narrowing at him, every time he tried to butt in and defend himself. Huffing in annoyance I looked down at my hands wrapped round the lemonade bottle, clenching it so hard my hands began to turn re from the strain. After a few deep, meditative breaths my thoughts drifted back onto what Edward was. A super human? A mutant?
"What are you thinking?" he asked curiously. I looked up into his deep golden eyes, so unnaturally beautiful yet it held so much warmth.
"I'm trying to figure out what you are?" I admitted bluntly. I had nothing to hide, and I presume if I attempted to lie, he'll just get it out of me anyway.
His jaw tightened, but he kept his smile in place with some effort, looks like I hit a nerve. "Are you having any luck on that?" he asked in a offhand tone.
"Not too much," I confessed. And boy did not knowing annoy the hell out of me.
He chuckled, "What are your theories?"
I blushed. I had been vacillating during the last month between Bruce Wayne and Peter Parker and basically fictional characters from MARVEL. All of them I knew did not describe or even match to what Edward was. I kept silent, stewing up excuses to not explain my ridiculous theories that derived from MARVEL.
"Won't you tell me?" he asked, tilting his head to one side with a shockingly tempting smile.
I shook my head. "Too embarrassing."
"That's really frustrating, you know," he complained. What a hypocrite.
"No," I disagreed quickly, my eyes narrowing, "I can't imagine why that would be frustrating at all-just because someone refuses to tell you what they're thinking, even if all the while they're making cryptic little remarks specifically designed to keep you up at night wondering what they could possibly mean…wow, why would that be frustrating?" That'll teach him I cheered mentally in my head as he grimaced.
"Or better," I continued, the pent up annoyance and anger flowing freely now, "say that person also did a wide range of bizarre things-from saving your life under impossible circumstances one day to treating you like a pariah the next, and he never explained any of that, either, even after he promised. That, also, would be very non-frustrating.
"You've got a bit of a temper, don't you?"
"I don't like double standards, in fact I despise them really." We stared at each other, unsmiling. He glanced over my shoulder, and then, unexpectedly, he snickered. The mischievous glint of humour returning to his topaz eyes.
"What?"
"Your boyfriend seems to think I'm being unpleasant to you-he's debating whether or not to come break up our fight." He snickered again.
"I don't know what you're talking about," I said frostily. "But I'm sure you're wrong, anyway."
"I'm not. I told you, most people are very easy to read."
"Except me, of course."
"Yes. Except for you." His mood shifted suddenly; his eyes turned brooding. "I wonder why that is."
I had to look away from the intensity of his stare. I concentrated on unscrewing the lid of my lemonade. I didn't want him to bewitch me into talking more about my theories nor about myself. I took a swig, staring at the table without seeing it.
"Aren't you hungry?" he asked, distracted
"No." I didn't feel like mentioning that my stomach was already full-of butterflies ever since this morning after breakfast. "You?" I looked at the empty table in front of him.
"No, I'm not hungry." I didn't understand his expression-it looked like he was enjoying some private joke.
"Can you do me a favour?" I asked after a second of hesitation.
He was suddenly wary. "That depends on what you want."
"It's not much," I assured him. He waited, guarded but curious.
"I just wondered…if you could warn me beforehand the next time you decide to ignore me for my own good. Just so I'm prepared to ignore you back when you're off being a brooding diva." I smiled sweetly, bringing out my inner snark that's been covered mostly by my shy demeanour. He playfully glared at me.
"That sounds fair." He was pressing his lips together to keep from laughing when I looked up.
"Thanks."
"Then can I have one answer in return?" he demanded."
"One."
"Tell me one theory." Whoops.
"Not that one."
"You didn't qualify, you just promised me one answer," he reminded me. Damn he found a loophole.
"And you've broken promises yourself," I reminded him back."
"Just one theory-I won't laugh."
"Yes, you will." I was pretty damn sure of that. He looked down, and then glanced up at me through his long black eyelashes, his ochre eyes scorching.
"Please?" he breathed, leaning towards me. I blinked, my mind going blank, then rushed into a chant ABORT! ABORT! But my heart melted at the sight of Edward very successful attempt into seducing or entrancing me to tell him one of my theories.
"Please tell me just one little theory." His eyes still smouldered at me, mixing in a bit of puppy cuteness to it.
"Bitten by a radioactive spider," I blurted, when I couldn't take this sensual staring anymore, my face blushing slightly. Damn he was good.
"That's not very creative." He scoffed.
"I'm sorry, that's all I got," I said, at least for now.
"You're not even that close," he teased.
"No spiders?"
"Nope."
"And no radioactivity?"
"None."
Damn it.
"Kryptonite doesn't bother me, either," he chuckled.
"You're not supposed to laugh, remember?" He struggled to compose his face.
"I'll figure it out eventually," I warned him.
"I wish you wouldn't try." He was serious again.
"Because…?"
"What if I'm not a superhero? What if I'm a bad guy?" He smiled playfully, but his eyes were impenetrable.
"Oh," I said, as several things he himself hinted fell suddenly into place. "I see."
"Do you?" His face was abruptly severe, as if he were afraid that he'd accidently said too much.
If he were that worried about his secret, it would hurt to mess with his mind a little.
"No I don't." I strongly declared. His posture relaxed slightly, however in his gorgeous topaz eyes confusion were swimming in them. "I don't get why you think yourself as a villain. From what I can see you a perfect gentleman, well besides your moments of, excuse me, bitchiness. If you were a bad guy you would: extort girls for sex, possibly rape them; be dealing drugs in a damp, dirty, pungent, small alley to all sorts of people; beat people up for no reason or even abuse and kill innocents."
He looked at me, eyes hard and another emotion that I couldn't decipher. "You, don't know what you're talking about. How would you know what I am and what I am not?"
"Well, nearly every time I talk to you, you always say 'I'm no good for you' or 'I want to but it's best not being friends with me' I doubt any bad guy would warn a girl that they were dangerous or no good. If fact they would deceive her into thinking that he has her best interests. Your not that bad, Edward."
"You're wrong." His voice was almost inaudible. He looked down, stealing my bottle lid and then spinning it on its side between his fingers. I stared at him, wondering why he kept saying that I was wrong, and why wasn't I afraid of him like the others.
The silence lasted until I noticed that the cafeteria was almost empty. I jumped to my feet. "We're going to be late."
"I'm not going to class today," he said, twirling the lid so fast it was a blur. Was that physically possible, I shook those thoughts away from my mind. I didn't want to be late, who knows what Mr Banner do to me, not that I actually cared but I didn't want Charlie hounding me about tardiness.
"Why not?"
"It's healthy to ditch class now and then." He smiled up at me, but his eyes were still troubled.
"Well, I'm going," I told him.
He turned his attention back to his makeshift top. "I'll see you later, then." I hesitated, torn, but then the first bell sent me hurrying out the door-with a last glance confirming that he hadn't moved a centimetre.
As I half-ran to my class, my head was spinning faster than the bottle cap. So few questions had been answers in comparison to how many new questions had been raised. At least the rain has stopped. I was lucky; Mr banner wasn't in the room yet when I arrived. I settled quickly into my seat, aware that both Mike and Angela were staring at me. Mike looked resentful; Angela looked surprised, and slight awed. Mr Banner came in the room then, calling the class to order. He was juggling a few small cardboard boxes in his arms. He put them down on Mike's table, telling him to start passing them around the class.
"Okay, guys, I want you all to take one piece from each box," he said as he produced a pair of rubber gloves from the pocket of his lab jacket and pulled them on. The sharp sound as the gloves snapped into place against his wrists seemed ominous to me. "The first should be an indicator card," he went on, grabbing a white card with four squares marked on it and displaying it. "The second is a four-pronged applicator-" he held up something that looked nearly toothless hair pick "-and the third is a sterile micro-lancet." He held up a small piece of blue plastic and split it open. The barb was invisible from this distance, but my stomach flipped.
"I'll be coming around with a dropper of water to prepare your cards, so please don't start until I get to you." He began at Mike's table again, carefully putting one drop of water in each four squares. "Then I want you to carefully prick your finger with the lancet…" He grabbed Golden Boy Mike's hand and jabbed the spike into the tip of mike's middle finger. Oh crap. Clammy moisture broke out across my forehead.
"Put a small drop of blood on each of the prongs." He demonstrated; squeezing mike's finger till the blood flowed. I swallowed convulsively, my stomach heaving. "And then apply it to the card," he finished, holding up the dripping red card for us to see. I closed my eyes, trying to hear through the ringing in my ears. The Red Cross is having a blood drive in Port Angeles next weekend, so I thought you should all know your blood type." He sounded proud of himself. "Those of you who aren't eighteen yet will need a parent's permission-I have slips at my desk."
He continued through the room with his water drops. I put my cheek against the cool black tabletop and tried to hold on to my consciousness and the urge to puke. All around me I could hear squeals, complaints, and giggles as my classmates skewered their fingers. I breathed slowly in and out of my mouth.
"Bella, are you alright." Mr Banner asked. His voice was close to my head, and it sounded alarm.
"I already know my blood type, Mr Banner," I said in a weak voice. I was afraid to raise my head.
"Are you feeling faint?"
"Yes, sir," I muttered, slightly frustrated at him. I mean, why would I be laying on the table if I weren't?
"Can someone take Bella to the nurse, please?" he called. I knew one person who would eagerly, happily and voluntary take me the nurse. And I didn't want that, so as soon Mr Banner asked the class, I quipped "Not you, Mike." I could feel his pathetic, puppy dog stare. Thankfully Angela volunteered and I gratefully held her arm as we walked towards the nurse's office; well, I wobbled. Angela towed me slowly and carefully across the campus. When we were around the edge of the cafeteria, out of sight of building four in case Mr Banner was watching, I stopped.
"Just let me sit for a minute, please?" I begged. Angela smiled kindly, worry evident in her eyes as she helped me sit on the edge of the walk. I was still so dizzy. I slumped over on my side, putting my cheek against the freezing, damp cement of the sidewalk, closing my eyes. That seemed to help a little.
"You okay, Bella. You look a little green," Angela said worriedly, wringing her wrists nervously.
"Bella?" a different voice called from a distance. Oh hell no. Please let me be imagining that horribly familiar voice. "What's wrong-is she hurt?" His voice was closer now, and he sounded upset. I wasn't imagining it. I squeezed my eyes shut, hoping to die. Or, at the very least, not to throw up.
Angela seemed stressed. "I think she's fainted. I don't know what happened though we were just doing blood typing in class. She hasn't even stick her finger. Will she be okay?"
"Bella." Edward's voice was right beside me, relieved now. "Can you hear me?"
"No," I groaned. "Go away." He chuckled.
"I was taking her to the nurse," Angela explained worry still in her voice, "but she couldn't go any farther and if I could I would carry her."
"I'll take her," Edward said. I could hear the smile still in his voice. "You can go back to class, Angela."
"Are you sure?" she asked. After Edward reassured her that it would be fine, again, she went back and I looked at her mournfully. I was now stuck with the beautiful, bipolar boy named Edward.
Suddenly the sidewalk disappeared from beneath me. My eyes widened in shock. Edward had scooped me up in his arms, easily as if I weighed ten pounds instead of a hundred and ten.
"Put me down! I can walk!" Seriously if he doesn't there might be a chance that I would vomit on him, accidentally of course. He was already walking before I was finished talking. "You look awful," he told me, grinning.
"I take back, what I said about you being a gentlemen. Gentlemen don't comment how horrible a lady looks and put me back on the sidewalk," I half muttered and half moaned. The rocking movement of his walk was not helping. He held me away from is body, gingerly, supporting all my weight with just his arms-I didn't seem to bother him.
"So you faint at the sight of blood?" he asked. This seemed to entertain him. I didn't answer. I closed my eyes again and fought the nausea with all my strength, clamping my lips together. "And not even you own blood," he continued, enjoying himself. I don't know how he opened the door while carrying me, but it was suddenly warm, so I knew we were inside.
"Oh, my" I heard a female voice gasp.
"She fainted in Biology," Edward explained. I opened my eyes. I was in the office, and Edward was striding past the front counter towards the nurse's door. Ms Cope, the redhead front office receptionist, ran ahead of him to hold it open. The grandmotherly nurse looked up from a novel, astonished, as Edward swung me into the room and placed me gently on the crackly paper that covered the brown vinyl mattress on the one cot. The he moved to stand against the wall as far across the narrow room as possible. His eyes were bright, excited.
"She's just a little faint," he reassured the startled nurse. "They're blood typing in Biology."
The nurse nodded sagely. "There's always one."
He muffled a snicker.
"Just lie down for a minute, honey; it'll pass."
"I know," I sighed. The nausea was already fading.
"Does this happen a lot?" she asked.
"Sometimes," I admitted. Edward coughed to hide his laugh.
"You can go back to class now," she told him.
"I'm supposed to stay with her." He said this with such assured authority that-even though she pursed her lips-the nurse didn't argue any further.
"I'll go get some ice for your forehead, dear," she said to me, and then bustled out of the room.
"You were right," I moaned, letting my eyes close.
"I usually am-but about what in particular this time?"
"Ditching is healthy." I practiced breathing evenly.
"You scared me for a minute there," he admitted after a pause. His tone made it sound like he was confessing a humiliating weakness. "I thought you were dead, and was afraid that I would have to kill someone to avenge you."
"Ha ha." I still had my eyes closed, but I was feeling more normal every minute.
"Honestly-I've seen corpses with better colour."
"How did you see me? I thought you were ditching." I was almost fine now, though the queasiness would probably pass faster if I had eaten something for lunch. On the other hand, maybe it was lucky my stomach was empty
"I was in my car, listening to a CD." Such a normal response-it surprised me. I heard the door open and opened my eyes to see the nurse with a cold compress in her hand.
"Here you go, dear." She laid it across my forehead. "You're looking better," she added.
"I think I'm fine," I said, sitting up. Just a little ringing in my ears, no spinning. The mint green walls stayed where they should. I could see she was about to make me lie back down, but the door opened just then, and Ms Cope stuck her head in. "We've got another one," she warned. I hopped down to fee up the cot for the next invalid. I handed the compress back to the nurse. "Here, I don't need this."
And then Mike staggered through the door, supporting a sallow-looking Lee Stephens, another boy in our Biology class. Edward and I drew back against the wall to give them room.
"Oh no," Edward muttered. "Go out to the office, Bella." I looked at him bewildered and slightly annoyed that he was ordering me to exit the nurse's office.
"Trust me-go." His tone dead serious, and not wanting to confront him at the moment, I listened.
I spun and caught the door before it closed, darting out of the infirmary. I could feel Edward right behind me.
"You actually listened to me." He was stunned
"I smelled the blood," I said, wrinkling my nose. Lee wasn't sick from watching other people, like me.
"People can't smell blood," he contradicted.
"Well, I can-that's what makes me sick. It smells like rust and salt." He was staring me with an unfathomable expression.
"What?" I asked.
"It's nothing."
Mike came through the door then, glancing from me to Edward. The look he gave Edward full of pure hate, loathe and envy. He looked back at me, his eyes glum.
"You look better," he snidely remarked. I rolled my eyes at hid childish tantrum.
""Whatever, just keep you hand in your pocket," I warned him again.
"It's not bleeding anymore," he muttered. "Are you going back to class?"
"And have another fainting episode, no thanks."
"Yeah, I guess…So would you like to go with the me to La Push this weekend. It's with the whole gang and we're going to catch some waves." He tried to contort his face impassively, nonchalantly but the eager tone of his voice, contradicted his intention.
I tried to sound as friendly as possible. "I'm sorry Mike but I got to take my sister to the Cullen's house so she could do her history project with Jasper." With each word that I said, Mike became more glum, grumpy and despondent. "Besides, I already have a few assessments given to me by my teachers and so I wanted the weekend to get it all over and done with." I continued, faking a smile in his direction and using all my willpower to not hit Edward, who I can see in my peripheral vision, who was laughing. It wasn't quite either.
"Uh, okay maybe next time. I'll see you at the Gym, then," he said, moving sluggishly towards the door. His facial expression was crestfallen as if I kicked a puppy, his puppy, in front of him.
"See you," I replied as he walked away, my posture relaxing now that he was gone. But it was too soon as I had realised what I had next. "gym," I groaned. I did not want to see or hear Mike being a acne covered brat.
"I can take care of that." I hadn't noticed Edward moving by my side, but he spoke now in my ear. "Go sit down and look pale," he muttered. Did he not know whom he was talking to? Aside from the Cullens I was pretty pale, I could even imagine getting an award for 'Being the Palest of Them All'. I sat down in one of the creaky folding chairs and rested my head against the wall with my eyes closed. Fainting spells always exhausted me.
I heard Edward speaking at the counter.
"Ms Cope?"
"Yes?" I hadn't heard her return to her desk.
"Bella has gym next hour, and I don't think she feels well enough. Actually, I was thinking I should take her home now. Do you think you could excuse her from class?" His voice was like melting honey. I could imagine how much more overwhelming his eyes would be.
"Do you need to be excused, too, Edward?" Ms Cope fluttered. Was she flirting? How dare she- wait a minute, why do I care? Edward cut my line of thoughts, "No, I Mrs Goff, she won't mind."
"Okay, it's all taken care of. You feel better, Bella," she called to me. I nodded weakly, hammering it up just a bit.
"Can you walk, or do you want me to carry you again?" With his back to the receptionist, his expression became sarcastic. Jerk face.
"I'll walk." I stood carefully, and I was still fine. He held the door for me, his smile polite but his eyes mocking. I walked out into the cold, fine mist that had just began to fall. It felt nice-the first time I'd enjoyed the constant moisture falling out of the sky-as it washed my face clean of the sticky perspiration.
"Thanks," I said as he followed me out. "It's almost worth getting sick to miss Gym."
"Anytime." He was staring straight forward, squinting in the rain.
"So what time can I drop my sister at your home, also where is your house?" I asked. Why the hell was I so nervous, it's not like I like him or anything.
"Alice said that she will pick her up, so don't worry about the location and stuff." He said nonchalantly shrugging his shoulders.
"Oh, okay." There was an awkward silence between us.
"How come you didn't accept Mike's invitation? He's quite a catch." Edward said, his eyes flashing over to me teasingly yet there was a harsh seriousness in them.
"He's annoying." At that, his eyes warmed up in mirth, sniggering at my declaration.
"He is. Out of the guys in this school that has a crush on you, I can guarantee that he is the most delusional, pathetic prick you will ever meet."
"That's what makes him annoying and a pain in the ass. The other guys too. I'm not use to this." I muttered.
We were near the parking lot now. I veered left, toward my truck. Something caught my jacket, yanking me back.
"Where do you think you're going?" he asked, outraged. He was gripping a fistful of my jacket in one hand.
Slightly pissed, I snipped "Going to wait in the truck until school ends, so my sis and I can go home."
"Didn't you hear me promise to take you safely home? Do you think I'm going to let you drive you in your condition?" His voice was still indignant.
"Well, how the hell is my sister going to get home? Tell me that Mr Pretentious Perfection."
"Alice will take her home, Ms Clumsy Toes." He retaliated.
"Let go!" I insisted. He ignored me. I staggered along the sideways across the wet sidewalk until we reached the Volvo. Then he finally freed me-I stumbled against the passenger door.
"You are so pushy!" I grumbled.
"It's open," was all he responded. He got in the driver's side.
"I am perfectly capable of driving myself home!" I stood by the car, fuming. It was raining harder now, and I'd never put my hood up, so my hair was dripping down my back. He lowered the automatic window and leaned toward me across the seat. "Get in, Bella."
I didn't answer. I was actually calculating my chances of reaching the truck before he could catch me. I had to admit, they weren't good.
"I'll drag you back," he threatened, guessing my plan. Damnation. I tried to maintain what dignity I could as I got into his car. I wasn't very successful-I looked like a half-drowned cat and my boots squeaked.
"This is completely unnecessary," I said stiffly. He didn't answer. He fiddled with the controls, turning the heater up and the music down. As he pulled out of the parking lot, I was preparing to give him the silent treatment-my face in full pout slash scowl mode-but then I recognised the music playing and my curiosity got the better of my intention.
"Clair de Lune?" I asked, surprised.
"You know Debussy?" He sounded surprised, too.
"Not well," I admitted. "My mother plays a lot of classical music around the house-I only know my favourites."
"It's one of my favourites, too." He stared out through the rain, lost in thought. I listened to the music, relaxing against the light grey leather seat. It was impossible not to respond to the familiar, soothing melody. The rain blurred everything outside the window into grey and green smudges. I began to realise we were driving very fast; the car moved so steadily, so evenly, though, I didn't feel the speed. Only the town flashing by gave it away.
"What is you mother like?" he asked me suddenly. I glanced over to see him studying me with curious eyes.
"She looks a lot like me, but she's prettier," I said. He raised his eyebrows. "My sister and I have too much Charlie in us. She's more outgoing than I am, and braver. Misty is just like in that way, I guess. She's irresponsible and slightly eccentric, and she's a very unpredictable cook. She's my other best friend." I stopped. Talking about her was making me depressed.
"How old are you, Bella?" His voice sounded frustrated for some reason I couldn't imagine. He'd stopped the car, and I realised we were at Charlie's house already. The rain was so heavy that I could barely see the house at all. It was like the car was submerged under a river.
"I'm seventeen," I responded, biting my lip shut to nod add a snarky remark that more or less will make Edward give me the stare of death of his.
"You don't seem seventeen." His tone was reproachful; it made me laugh.
"What?" he asked, curious again.
"My mom always says I was born thirty-five years old and that I get more middle aged every year." I laughed, and then sighed. "Well, someone has to be the adult." I paused for a second. "You don't seem much like a junior in high school yourself,' I noted. He made a face and changed the subject.
"So why did your mother marry Phil?"
I was surprised he would remember the name; I'd mentioned it just once, almost two months ago. It took me a moment to answer.
"My mother…she's very young for her age. I think Phil makes her feel even younger. At any rate, she's crazy about him." I shook my head. The attraction was a mystery to me.
"Do you approve?" he asked.
"Well it's not my place to approve," I countered. "I want her to be happy…and he is who she wants."
"That's very generous…I wonder," he mused.
"What?"
"Would she extend the same courtesy to you, do you think? No matter who your choice was?" He was suddenly intent, his eyes searching mine.
"I think so. But she's the parent, after all. It's a little different."
"Not too scary then," he teased.
I grinned in response. "What do you mean by scary? Multiple facial piercings and extensive tattoos?"
"That's one definition, I suppose."
"What's your definition?" But he ignored my question and asked me another.
"Do you think I could be scary?" He raised one eyebrow, and the faint trace of a smile lightened his face. I though for a moment, wondering whether the truth or a lie would go over better. I decided to go with the truth. "Hmmm…I think you could be, if you wanted to."
"Are you frightened of me now?" The smile vanished, and his heavenly face was suddenly serious.
"No." His smile returned.
"So, now are you going to tell me about your family?" I asked to distract him. "It's got to be a much more interesting story than mine."
He was instantly cautious. "What do you want to know?"
"The Cullens adopted you?" I verified.
"Yes."
I hesitated for a moment. "What happened to you parents?"
"They died many years ago." His tone was matter-of-fact.
"I'm sorry," I mumbled.
"I don't really remember them that clearly. Carlisle and Esme have been my parents for a long time now."
"And you love them." It wasn't a question. It was obvious in the way he spoke of them.
"Yes." He smiled. "I couldn't imagine two better people."
"You're very lucky."
"I know I am."
"And your brother and sister?' He glanced at the clock at the dashboard.
"My brother and sister, and Jasper and Rosalie for that matter are going to be quite upset if they have to stand in the rain waiting for me."
"Oh, sorry, I guess you have to go." I didn't want to get out of the car.
"And you probably want your truck back before Chief Swan gets home, so you don't have to tell him about the Biology incident." He grinned at me.
"I'm already sure he's already heard. There are no secrets in Forks." I sighed. He laughed, and there was an edge to his laughter.
"Have a nice weekend, whatever you are doing." He glanced out at the sheeting rain.
"Won't I see you tomorrow?"
"No. Emmett and I are starting the weekend early."
"What are you going to do?" A friend can ask that, I think. I hope I didn't sound disappointed, no need to hint to him about the feeling that I think are forming.
"We're going to be hiking in the Goat Rocks Wilderness, just the south of Rainier." I remembered Charlie had said the Cullens went camping frequently.
"oh, well, have fun." I tried to sound enthusiastic. I don't think I fooled him, though. A smile was playing around the edges of his lips.
"Will you do something for me this weekend?" He turned to look at me straight in the face, utilising the full power of his burning gold eyes. I nodded helplessly, later cursing myself for my susceptibility to fall over his good looks.
"Don't be offended, but you seem to be one of those people who just attract accidents like a magnet. So…try not to fall around anything that's sharp or blunt or fall down the stairs, all right?" He smiled crookedly.
What did I even see in him? Oh yea his amazing good looks and apparent gentlemanly manners. I glared at him.
"I'll see what I can do," I snapped as I jumped out into the rain. I slammed the door behind me with excessive force. He was still smiling as he drove away.