6. Crown Of Thorns

by Mother Love Bone

"Damn it!" Emmett threw his drumsticks in the wall while Edward and Jasper only laughed. They had gotten used to Em's outbursts over the years and instead of joining him in his frustration and making it worse, they tried to keep their cool. Nevertheless, they were both as annoyed as him, feeling the pressure of May coming closer. It was months away, but they needed to come up with something good enough for their final project. Without a voice or more instruments, their music felt thin and lacking.

"Maybe we should take Jake and his boys up on their offer. We could use some more… substance." Jasper let his fingers dance over the keyboard, not looking at either of his friends.

"Fuck no." Edward shook his head violently. He liked Jake, but adding more people to their small group would mess it up, they had no chemistry with Jake and his friends. "It would only make it worse."

"Hell yes." Emmett grumbled and stood up, stretching. "And I hate those guys."

This caused an honest round of laughter. Emmett had always been the biggest, strongest guy while his two friends were lankier by comparison. It wasn't a secret that he didn't necessarily like Jake, and especially Sam, because of their size. They were all living together over a gym, which meant that their big frames weren't a mystery. However, this argument did nothing for Emmett.

"Well then, we'll figure it out." Jasper shrugged but didn't sound too convinced.

To be honest, Edward was worried. He'd vented over the phone to Bella all last night, although, she appeared to be more amused and interested in the small blonde than their musical difficulties.

Once, they had tried a relationship out of convenience. They had a lot in common and had been friends since they were kids. Nevertheless, the relationship lasted for about five days, starting Monday and ending with date night on Friday. They had just gotten into the car after - for the first time - awkwardly sitting next to each other in a movie theatre. This was when they according to plan would go to some romantic place… Edward had been drumming his hands on the wheel, trying to figure out how to tell Bella that the two times they had kissed had been freakishly incestuous. That was when Bella had spoken, "You want to go to the store and pick up some skittles? I bet I can get three bags into my mouth at the same time."

And thus ended the most uncomfortable period of their friendship.

"Whatever," Edward shook his head and glanced at the clock. "I'll be right back."

"Where?" Emmett called out, grinning widely.

They didn't know why, they didn't know who but both Jasper and Emmett were very certain of the what.

For the first time, as Edward briskly walked outside, he saw Rosalie moving across the Fine Arts parking lot. "Hey." Edward's voice wasn't heard, she still had music in her ears. This caused him to smile. He caught up to her, pulling twice on the cord of the iPod.

And nearly scared her out of her mind.

"Son of a bitch!" Rosalie spun around and her palm connected harshly with his chest, sending a jolt straight to his heart… accompanied by a surprised exhale because of the strength she hit him with. "What the hell?"

Rosalie's eyes were wide as she pulled the headphones out of her ears, trying to calm her racing heart. Edward, clueless when it came to her racing thoughts, just grinned at her vocabulary and fell into step next to her as Rosalie kept walking. Bella's encouragement still ringing in his ears, Edward realized that he couldn't stop smiling.

At the same time as his mind tried to concoct the right way to ask the question, his mouth blurted, "You have a boyfriend?"

A breathy, incredulous laugh escaped Rosalie as she still hadn't gotten her heart under control. To her, the notion was preposterous. Finally she realized that it was a serious question and, eyes not leaving his, she shook her head with her brows knitted together.

His smile widening, bordering on goofy, he waited for a few seconds before asking, "Don't you have a question for me?"

Rosalie's brows lifted slightly, her mouth twisting in amusement. With dancing eyes, she shot a question right back at him. "Do you think Elvis is still alive?"