How To Become A Girl
Chapter Thirteen
Wednesday. Early day. I was able to have breakfast and go to school with Em and Jazz. But I had counted the time just the same. And I was back to my normal clothes. My favorite loose jeans and shirt. I don't think I could ever go on with life without them. And just as usual, I had lunch alone. And then we had a project in which we were to be paired up randomly. My partner was Riley Stewart and he was a native. Riley was okay. He had the looks. He had strawberry blonde hair and blue eyes. Seriously, I think everybody here had blue eyes except for Edward and Esme. Riley kept it professional with us. So, I was thankful for that. Until...
"So, basically, we're just given a room to design together. For...a couple?" He was reading the the booklet that the professor distributed.
"Yeah." I nodded. I shifted the computer bag to my other shoulder.
"Let me carry that for you." He took it from my already stiff shoulder and transferred it to his.
"Thanks." Why the hell was I blushing?
"No problem." He gave me a grin. And then continued on to his rant about how he wanted to design the room.
We walked out of the building and I saw Edward leaning on the stair railing. Riley's back was facing him. His eyes narrowed for a while then returned to normal. He ran his hand through his hair. And smiled that beautiful crooked smile.
"Earth to Bella?" Riley called. He turned around but Edward had dropped his head and pretended that he didn't know me.
"Sorry?" I tried to catch his eye again.
"I was just asking if you wanted to maybe hang out with me? On Saturday? I know this awesome place where we can have picnic and stuff." He slouched a little to meet my gaze.
"Um...Sure." I shifted my focus on Riley and smiled at him.
"Alright. Cool. I'll see you tomorrow, Bella." He gave me back my bag and it felt even heavier when I slinged it back around my shoulder. I watched him walk away.
Edward walked closer, closing the distance between us. He was grinning like he was holding back a laugh. He took my bag from me. Then he finally laughed.
"What's so funny?" I asked him.
"Your face." He trailed off his laughter. "Man! I wonder what the guy told you."
"He...uh...He asked me out, I think." I shrugged and turned to the direction he started walking.
"What do you mean you think?" He looked at me. Was he shocked? Well, sorry, mister, I've never been to that stage. We skipped that, remember?
"I mean, I've never been asked out before. So I can't really tell if he was just being friendly or he sees something he wants." I shrugged.
"Seriously, Bella? Nobody have asked you out? Ever? Even in highschool?" He was shaking his head in disbelief.
Wasn't it believable?
"Well, obviously!" I said, pretty much annoyed.
He was quiet. What was wrong with this guy? Does he think that giving the silence treatment would make women feel better? Well, honestly, sometimes it would. But in conversations like this, I don't think he should. Especially his conversation yesterday with Esme. He didn't answer twice. And she was his mother! Maybe he shelled up. Ha! Coward. I didn't say anything. I wanted him to say something. To learn to stand up for himself. Yesterday, if he really loved Tanya (seriously?) then he should've told that to his mother. He should've fought for them. But he didn't and I wanted him to learn how to.
"Edward..." I called him in a tone.
"What?" He unlocked his Volvo and we rode in.
"Say something. Ask or whatever. You can't leave it at that." I told him.
"I'm sorry." He put his forehead on the steering wheel then turned his head to face me.
"You have to stand up for yourself." I looked at him. "You can't always give the silent treatment."
He sighed and sat up. He put the key to the ignition and started the car. "Can we talk about something else?"
"Fine." I told him.
"Okay...where are you going for your date?" He asked. Of all the things!
"Um. I don't know. Somewhere where we can have picnic and stuff." I shrugged. Riley didn't elaborate much.
"Ah. Wait. Just to be sure, did you eat breakfast?" He glanced at me as he drove.
I nodded in response.
"Lunch?" He glanced again.
I nodded again.
He drove quietly and I let myself fall into a deep slumber. I had dreamt about Riley...and Edward. I was pretty sure it was a dream because we were dancing. And heaven knows, I can't dance! They were passing me back and forth. But whenever, I landed in Edward's arms, it was always so heated up. I wondered how I didn't tire during the dance. We were dancing for so long. Until, I landed one last time in Edward's arms and I was never passed back to Riley.
Edward woke me up and I thought we were still dancing. He lifted my body and I laughed as I realized that I was back on Earth.
"Okay. I'll certainly classify you as weird in my book. Come on. Time for work." He carried my bag and I got out of the car. We walked to the office quietly but this time, we weren't early nor late. Does it mean, he let me sleep more for a while? Aww...How swee-. No.
Esme welcomed us just the same and she keeps singing a happy tune about Friday. She seemed to be so excited. Work felt routinal as well. Send this, send that. Copy this, copy that. File this, file that. And I was getting a hang of it. During my free time, I studied the picture of the room given to us and I researched for classic couple themes. Romantic aura was needed. I also updated my facebook. And I chatted with Edward. We were chatting. What an interesting development! We chatted about music, books, college...friends.
I learned that the two other people he had hung out in the bar with was Victoria and James. When he said James, though, he seemed to have hatred in his voice. And that he was a loner. Yep. You got that right. Edward Cullen is a loner. He's got no friends. Poor boy. Seriously, I felt sorry for him so I decided to invite him over to the house sometime.
He likes rock music and so did I! Especially old rock, like The Beatles, The Kinks, The Rolling Stones...Apparently, those are the only tunes I grew up with. My father loved them. But I do have a new favorite band, Parachute and I let him listen to them and he liked it. We both like reading. I like reading anything, as long as I feel the pull to read it. He likes the classics and that was the reason that he was in the library when I saw him.
So, I therefore conclude, that we are one and the same, well, almost. Like twins. Like somehow, we were always on the same page, same line of thought.
Even, through dinner, we talked. I think this is the longest talk I've had ever. Esme joined us a little later. She was telling stories about Edward's childhood and I swear to god, Edward was blushing all the while.
She said this one story where Edward had a new puppy before and instead of Edward chasing the puppy, it was the puppy chasing Edward around the lawn until Carlisle took the puppy away. I thought it was adorable!
After dinner, Esme reminded me of Friday's dinner. That she will be closing earlier than usual so we could start on dinner, sooner. And then we returned back to work. We finished up the last stuff for the day and then Heidi closed the place up. I didn't fall asleep, tonight. Edward still walked me to Alice's car before he left, though.
Rosalie was in a rush because Alice had finally let her drive the Porsche. Alice was in the passenger, shaking her head before she shifted her attention to me.
"So. Anything new?" Alice asked just as usual.
"Jeez, Al. I feel like some celebrity with the way you ask about my day all the time." I laughed.
"Sorry. Your life seems to be more interesting than mine and Rosalie's." She turned around to face me.
"Okay, okay. Well...Riley, a guy from school asked me to hang out with him on Saturday." I told her.
"Wait. Hunky Riley Stewart?" Her eyes grew wide. Rosalie glanced at me.
"I think his name is just Riley Stewart." I giggled. "But yeah. He's my partner for the project."
"Oh my god, Bella! He's like so hot!" She rolled her eyes and grinned. And then...wait for it...squeeeeaaallll!
Rosalie was squealing, too. And then we ended up laughing. Okay, so, apparently, he's some hot shot and they feel like I should look better around him. They literally locked up all my baggy clothes when we got back to the house. The took the key. And I felt like having a breakdown. Hell! I didn't even know today would be the last day that I would be able to wear my clothes. They'd also labeled the clothes I'm going to wear for the rest of the week. They even told Dorota to make sure I wear these stuff. Jesus! I think that's going overboard. But with Rose and Al combined, you should know that you'll lose no matter what. They didn't even put to mind that I have a good punch.
Soon, we were lying on my bed. I was fresh out of the shower and they were tired. So we decided to lounge around for a while. It was almost midnight and they should be going home or they'll be staying here for the night.
The phone rang and Rosalie raced to answer it. "Hell-o?"
"Who is this?" Rose asked the caller and Al and I, both, looked at her. "I'm sorry, who were you looking for again?...Bella? You're looking for Bella?...Why are you looking for her? Do you need-"
I pulled the phone from Rose and answered it. "It's Bella."
"Oh, hey, Bella. It's Edward." I glanced at Rose and Al before I hopped off the bed to hide in the closet.
"Hey. I'm sorry about Rose. She's a little..." I looked for the words.
"No. That's okay." I heard his chuckle.
"So...why'd you call?" I asked him.
"I don't know. I...uh...I don't know, actually." He stammered.
"Just say it, Edward. Get it off your chest." I told him.
I heard him sigh once before he started, "I just couldn't take my mind off yesterday's conversation. I...Crap. I better just tell you." He sighed again. "Three years ago, I still had a bestfriend. And I was happy. Artificially, though."
Artificially? What the-? Did he...? I continued to listen.
"James was always curious. And...he liked discovering things. First, we discovered alcohol. And then it got worse over time. Then it turned to cigarettes. Then he learned how to have sex. Then it became drugs. All these he shared them with me. I would do what he would do, all the time. Even if I knew it was wrong. He was my bestfriend and he wanted to have fun. There's nothing wrong with wanting to having fun, was there? Until I learned that my mom was pregnant. I tried to stop. But when you're in it, it's not easy to go back. But I tried and Esme and Carlisle hated me for a time..."
"They didn't want me to get near Irina and she was my little sister! I wanted to hold her, too. But they hated me. And then the accident happened and I completely stopped. I stopped everything, even seeing James. And it hurt him..."
"Then he started hating me. I've been trying my best to get him back on track. To be the same guy that I've known for years. That's how I met Tanya. He was Tanya's friend. Tanya...wanted me. And I felt like I haven't been wanted that way for so long. So I asked her to be my girlfriend. And we're together now." I could hear a mix of emotions in his voice. Relief? Pain? Fear? Anger? Regret?
"I wanted to bring her to the family dinner on Friday. But my mom hated me for it. I can't even bring to imagine how my dad would feel. Honestly, I don't even know if I still feel anything for her..I'm sorry. I just really had to let it out of my head."
"No, no, no. Don't apologize. It's fine." I smiled. What the? He's not here...
"I just feel close to you, Bella. Like..." He trailed off.
"Yeah. I get that feeling with you, too. I'm too comfortable to be around with, no?" I chuckled.
"Yeah. Oh crap. I'm sorry for keeping you awake."
"No. It's fine."
"I'm so sorry, Bella. You should go to sleep." His voice sounded lighter.
"You should, too." I giggled. Oh God! What? I giggled? "Fine. I'll say it, first. Goodnight, Edward."
"Okay. Goodnight, Bella. Thanks. For being there. Sleep well." He hung up.
I let out a long breath and buried my face in my hands. Oh crap. Rose and Al will kill me! I opened the door of the closet and they were there tapping their feet on the carpet. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit!
"I, uh..." My eyes flickered between them.
"So...what did Edward need from you?" Rosalie asked icily. They still hate him.
"He just needed to talk. Look, guys. We're fine, okay? We don't hate each other like before. Well, at least, I don't hate him anymore. He's not the guy I met at the party. He's completely different and I think it's just the alcohol that took over him that night." Honestly, I've put that night to rest in the graveyard. It doesn't need mourning over anymore.
Alice shrugged. "Fine. Whatever you say. Just be careful, Bella."
So they've decided to spend the night here. I wonder what Jazz and Em would say if they saw them cuddled up in bed with me. I smiled cheekily. I can't wait for the morning!