Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight.
Edward's POV
"Guess who just called me Edward? Go on, guess," Alice yelled as she came into my room. Her voice was furious and upset and she was pacing, stomping on her heels as she went. I was laying on my bed, on my stomach, my chin resting on her pillow. I didn't even bother to look up at her.
"Who Alice?" I asked, my voice dull, already knowing who she was talking about. Only one person could make Alice flip out on me like this.
"No Edward you have to guess. It will make this so much more fun if you guess," she spat sarcastically. Now I had seen my pixie of a sister mad before, but right now she was fuming. The last time I had seen her like this was when her favorite store forgot to hold her pair of shoes that she preordered and sold them to Lauren instead. She knew I knew who she was talking about. She just wanted me to say it.
"Bella," I muttered, still not looking up.
"That's right Edward," Alice said in a mock cheery voice, clapping her hands together. "And do you know what she said?"
"What Alice?" I asked through my teeth. This sarcasm and bitterness was frustrating me to no end but Alice wasn't relenting. She wanted me to suffer.
"She said she wasn't going to school today. And that she didn't want rides from us anymore. She said it would be too hard," Alice said fiercely. "She was sobbing on the phone, Edward. Sobbing. Because of you. Because of what you did."
"Not because of me," I disagreed quietly. Because of Jacob. Because her real love had broken her heart. If she was crying for me it was only from the slight rejection. The slight rejection that tore my heart out. I would never have pushed her away if I hadn't had good reason. I love Bella. I didn't want to be her rebound guy, there for a few weeks until she got over her previous love and moved onto the next one. She didn't really love me, she just needed comfort.
"Yes because of you Edward. I went over to see her and she's a mess. She's just lying in bed, crying and moping, kind of like what you're doing right now. She won't talk to me about it cause she doesn't want me to tell you. She won't say anything about it Edward. It's awful. She's just sobbing and sobbing and only one person can fix that." Her voice was serious and sad. I hated hearing that Bella was like this but I couldn't help her. I wanted to, but I couldn't put myself or her through that kind of pain. I wanted to be her real love not just there to comfort her until she finds someone better. "Just talk to her Edward. Tell her how you feel."
"No Alice. She can come to me when she's ready. If we're meant to be, it will work itself out," I said softly, praying that it really would. Alice tossed her arms in the air and let out a frustrated grunt.
"Fine Edward. Sit there and pretend like you're not desperately in love with this girl and keep on hurting yourself by doing the 'right' thing. But just remember, you're not the only one that's hurting. You're hurting Bella too. And that's just not fair." She stomped out of the room, leaving me alone, how I preferred it. Bella would probably be going to school tomorrow and I wasn't sure if I wanted to see her or not. I love her so much but she just wants to use me to get over Jacob. Not use me exactly, but she wouldn't really be in love with me. Well I'm not going to have that happen. I love Bella, but I don't want to have a few weeks and then have it be over. It's like someone waving your favorite food under your nose and ripping it away before you could even have a taste. The smell was already lodged in your brain and you could practically taste it. But then it gets ripped away, torn, and you're left with nothing but your memories, wondering if it was really worth it at all.
The next morning I woke up early and dressed quickly. I didn't know if Bella would be coming over like she usually do but I didn't want to be in my underwear if she did. I went downstairs and stared out of the window, watching her house across the street until she came outside. She was wearing a baggy sweatshirt and shorts. Her eyes were red and puff, dark bags etched under them. I wanted to run outside and hold her, comfort her, but I couldn't. When she rang the doorbell, I let Emmett answer it. She walked directly upstairs, not looking into the kitchen where I was sitting. She had a determined look on her face and stomped up the stairs, right into Alice's room. I listened carefully. I could hear Alice's high pitched, chipper voice and Bella's lower, softer one. I couldn't make out any words though, but it sounded like they were arguing about something. I waited in the kitchen until they both came back downstairs.
"-can't believe you're making me where this to school Alice," Bella was saying. "I look like a tramp!"
"You look gorgeous! It's you first day at school as a single girl and you should flaunt it," Alice said. I wanted to scold Alice for bringing up Jacob when Bella was clearly still hurting over him but Bella didn't reply. As she came into the room, I felt my jaw drop to the floor.
Bella was wearing a bright pink dress. If you could call it that. It looked more like a shirt. It clung to her curves perfectly, and made her legs seem miles long. It was low cut and barely covered her butt. It had spaghetti straps and a gold necklace was just touching her cleavage. Her make-up was done sexily and her hair was in ringlet curls all over her face. She looked beautiful.
"I can barely walk in these shoes," Bella complained. "You know me and heels just don't mix." I looked down and saw she was wearing a pair of strappy high-heeled sandals in the exact same shade of pink as the dress.
"Bella you look hot," Alice promised. "Just work it girl!" Bella giggled softly and turned slightly, coming face to face with me while I was so clearly ogling her. She blushed bright red and I looked away.
"Hi," she said quietly.
"Hey," I replied. I didn't know what else to say.
"I better go," she said rapidly, turning back to Alice. "Renee is letting me take her car to school, at least until she starts working again." She glanced at me quickly before hurrying out of the house, as quick as her high-heeled shoes would let her.
"That was awkward," Alice commented. I rolled my eyes.
"Let's go Alice," I sighed. She nodded and followed me out to the car. We picked up Jasper and the three of us were off to school. When we reached the parking lot I saw Bella's car was in the parking lot and I pulled in a few spaces away from it. Then I saw Bella.
She was waiting nervously by the entrance of the school, looking around for Alice I assume. I saw almost every guy in the school staring at her with wide eyes. A few of my friends went up to talk to her. She blushed slightly and chatted with them casually, moving her hands around a bit as she told some story. The guys all laughed and Bella flashed them a timid smile. I felt a surge of jealousy. But she wasn't mine to feel jealous about, I reminded myself. I then realized that Alice and Jasper were both out of the car and on their way over to Bella. I jumped out and followed, but stopped a few feet away. I sort of hovered a few feet away until my friends came up to me, all smiling, big, lusty smiles. My closest friend (besides Emmett and Jasper) named Tom whistled wistfully.
"Damn. The new girl is dope," he commented. All of my friends nodded in agreement. I didn't say anything. I hated how they talked about Bella like this. She was beautiful, not "dope". She was radiant.
"I'd tap that," another guy, Steve said. I rolled my eyes.
"I'm going to ask her out," Tom announced. "Soon."
"I don't think she's available," I said stiffly. Tom raised his eyebrows.
"Nah man. I heard her boyfriend cheated on her and she's free as a bird now. And with the way she looks she won't be single for long," he said with a grin. Luckily, the bell rang and I was able to escape my moronic friends and head off to class.
I sat with my friends at lunch, instead of my family and the Hale's. I didn't want to make things awkward with Bella and it's not like she had anywhere else to sit. Although I did have to endure endless comments on how "hot" and "dope" and "fly" she was, which really took a toll on my nerves. But when I reached free block I knew I couldn't avoid her. She was sitting on a desk, talking to Tom, much to my dismay. I sort of hung back and hoped that she would be thoroughly distracted all period, but also hoping she would come up and talk to me like nothing happened. I missed her. I miss her being my best friend, I thought with a sigh.
"No way! The old lady came out and saw him?" Tom was saying, laughing. I realized Bella was telling him about Emmett's skinny dipping dare. I smirked. "You can sure tell great stories, Bella." She blushed, but smiled at him.
"Thanks," she replied. Then she turned and saw me watching her. She half smiled, half grimaced. "Hey. I need to talk to you."
"Huh?" I said stupidly. But Bella was dazzling me, with the dress and the make-up, her beauty was making me speechless.
"We need to talk. In private," she repeated. She gave Tom a parting wave and smile and led me away from him.
"What's up?" I asked, dreading the answer. She took a deep breath.
"Look Edward, I understand exactly how you feel," she said in a rush, the words tumbling out of her mouth, so quickly I had to really strain to understand her. "I realize now that we can't be together now. I get it. I get that it's not what you want. I really shouldn't have kissed you like that. I would like for us to stay friends but judging by how things have been going so far I don't really think that's possible. I'm sorry, but I won't make life anymore difficult for you then it already is. I'll stay away, even if I still hang out with Alice. And I'd like for you to do the same, it will just make it easier for both of us. I'll miss you as a friend but, as you said, it's better this way." She took a step back and her words spun around in my head, not making sense.
"Sorry," she repeated again. "Bye Edward." She seemed to hesitate for a second but then she leaned forward and kissed my cheek, before turning and walking back to Tom. Slowly, her words began to fall into place. She wanted to stay away from me. She wanted me to stay away from her. It was all slowly starting to make awful sense, word by word, finally clicking together to make up a horrible puzzle. The bell rang and Tom sauntered over to me.
"I gave her my number," he announced proudly. "She said she would call me. This is going to be great. I can feel it man." He grinned and I just turned and walked away, desperately wanting to hit something. I called Alice.
"Hello?" she answered.
"I'm leaving now. If you're not at the car in thirty seconds I will leave without you," I growled. Then I hung up. I knew I was being mean but to be honest I was too hurt and angry to care. I half ran to my car and when I got there Alice was waiting, wide eyed, by the passenger seat.
"I ran right over. What's wrong Edward?" she asked, her voice concerned and slightly panicked.
"Nothing. Get it," I replied, already climbing in myself, slamming the door behind me. She got in and quickly started buckling her seat belt. I pulled out all too fast, speeding along at least forty miles over the speed limit. Alice's phone rang. She reached for it but hesitated with her hand an inch from her bag. She glanced at me and pulled her hand away, seeming too afraid to answer it. I felt guilty for scaring Alice so badly but I was angry. I was angry and hurt. But I suppose this is what I wanted. For her to rebound with someone else, and love me after, when she was healed. But it doesn't mean it doesn't hurt. Plus I never meant for her to stay away from me. I still wanted us to be friends but she clearly had different opinions on that matter. When we reached the house, Alice pulled out her phone and called whoever had called her in the car. I ran upstairs to my room and slammed the door. I was alone for maybe five minutes before Alice came up. By the pitying look on her face, I could guess it was Bella that had called.
"She told me what happened Edward," Alice said softly.
"So you know that she wants me to stay away from her," I replied. My voice was flat, dull, dead. My life was flat, dull, dead, without Bella.
"She doesn't really though Edward," Alice said softly. She perched herself on the edge of my bed. "She was just saying that because she thought that's what you wanted."
"Did she tell you all this?" I asked blankly, my voice uncaring, but desperately hoping it was true. I knew it wasn't though.
"Well…no. But I could just tell. From her voice," she insisted.
"Alice she meant it. I'll do what she asks. She seemed to be getting over things just fine, what with the way she looked today and everything," I said coldly.
"Oh please she was just flirting. Plus I made her wear that damn outfit, to try and get your attention. It's you who she loves Edward. She just thinks you don't want her," Alice persisted. Annoying little pixie, I thought.
"Please leave Alice. She doesn't want me and I don't want her," I lied, my voice unwavering, and I was grateful it didn't give me away. Alice gasped. "Let's just leave it at that."
"Fine," she said. "If that's how you want it. But you're missing out on a really, really good thing." And with that, she stormed out of my bedroom, the second time in one day.
I spent most of the night thinking. Bella didn't want me. I was certainly still in love with her. But she seemed to be getting over Jacob and me, if she ever even cared about me. Maybe I could get over her. Yeah right, a little voice in my head said. I couldn't agree more. But I could still try. I couldn't sit back and watch as Bella dated her way through all the boys in the junior and probably senior class. If she was going to play dirty, then I would too. If she was going to start hooking up with all of the guys why couldn't I do the same with the girls? I grabbed my phone and scrolled through the contacts until I reached the L's. I hit send and waited.
"Edward?" she answered, surprise coloring her voice. She probably thought I didn't like her. And maybe that was true. But I could learn to like her, I could try. She was a nice enough girl. I didn't love her like I did Bella but maybe someday I could. "What's up?"
"Nothing much. I was just wondering if you'd like to accompany me to the movies this Friday night?" I asked calmly. I felt slightly guilty, like I was using her. But I could learn to like her and then I wouldn't be using her anymore. Sure Bella had prompted me to call her but I wanted to go out with her. Sort of.
"Of course, I'd love to," she answered too quickly. She giggled, embarrassed. She had a nice laugh but it was nothing like Bella's.
"Great. I have to go though, I'll talk to you tomorrow with more details," I promised her. I should probably look up movie times, I thought to myself. Something short.
"Sure," she answered. She sounded dazed. "Bye Edward."
"Goodbye Liz."
A/N: So there was EPOV for you. No at least you know what he was thinking. But what the heck was Bella thinking when she told Edward to stay away from her? Seems like we have some miscommunications. Looks like Edward and Bella have declared dating war. And by the way keep reviewing I love them and have 150!! That's crazy! Thanks for the reviews and keep them coming I love them )