Chapter 7

Excitement

I walked into the cafeteria Monday afternoon breathing deeply. I didn't know if I was going to sit with Sam and wait until Biology to have the extremely awkward conversation with Edward, or if Edward wanted me to sit by him meaning I would have to start said conversation earlier than expected. I waited in the lunch line to get the horrible school food while working out the exchange of words. Everything that came to mind sounded completely disastrous and way over rehearsed. I finally decided to go with plan Z…wing it.

Once I got my lunch, I looked around trying to see where I was welcome to sit. I first spotted Edward, he was with his family again, and by the looks of he didn't really want to talk to me. Next I spotted Jessica and Sam, they looked like they were deep in conversation with the other people sitting at the table. I noticed Mike Newton's eyes shift over to me and I decided it was okay to sit by him. The empty seat happened to be by Jessica as well so I knew I had someone to talk to.

As soon as I sat down Mike started talking to me. I had no idea what he was saying, but I pretended to listen anyway. After about five minutes I think he noticed my lack of attention and started talking to someone else. This didn't bother me until I realized what I was thinking about. It turns out my mind had plans on keeping me focused on Saturday. All I could think about was going to the hospital, injured once again. That's strangely not the thing that kept on popping up; it was everyone assuming that Jacob was my boyfriend.

No matter how many times I replayed the visit in my head I couldn't see what the other people did. I must be blind or something because even Edward noticed it. And no matter how many times I looked at it, I couldn't figure out the expressions on Edward's face. I mean, I knew he seemed pretty upset but that couldn't be because I was 'dating' Jake, it had to be because I was hurt again. Always the damsel in distress never the heroine, it's the story of my life. I sighed and put my head into my hands.

"You okay Bella?" I heard Jessica say and I couldn't help but hear a smile in her voice.

"Headache." I said simply just so the subject would be dropped; however, one thing I learned in my week of living in Forks is that nothing here is like it is Phoenix.

"Oh, hey, why aren't you sitting by Edward?" Jess asked.

"Jess, it's not like Bella and Edward are dating. They don't need to be together every second." Sam replied for me and I gave her a gracious smile; I noticed Edward look our way. Just like always I turned to look at him just as he looked back at his family. For the first time I noticed that even though they were all adopted, they all had the same pasty white skin and dark circles under their eyes like they haven't slept in days. It just blew me away that I never noticed this fact before.

The first bell rang, dismissing us from lunch. I mentally groaned knowing that I had to talk to Edward, now or never. I walked to Biology holding my head high. That is until I walked into the room and spotted him. My mouth got dry and my tongue became tied. Butterflies flew in my stomach, and my vision became blurred. I almost tripped on my way to my seat, and as I was sitting down trying to figure out the emotion flowing through me, I noticed Edward's eyes. They were almost completely black, and from my previous conversation with him I knew this meant he was not in a good mood.

"Umm, Edward?" Edward was absent mindedly staring out the window, but as I said his name his eyes slid over to meet mine.

"Bella." It was just one word, my name to be exact, but it was enough to give me courage.

"What are you doing tonight?" I asked, hopefully not too obvious. I saw his lips twitch up slightly.

"Why are you asking?" They way he looked at me made my mind go blank, and I mentally kick myself.

"Some of my friends and I are going to a movie tonight, and I…I was wondering if you wanted to come." I said looking down at the table.

"I don't think that would be a good idea, Bella." I looked to see any sign of a smile gone.

"Why not? You aren't busy because if you were you would have just said that. It's not like it's a date, Edward it won't kill you to socialize once in a while." The second the words came out I regretted them.

"Bella, there's a reason I don't socialize."

"I don't bite, Edward."

"Perseverance won't help, and besides I do." I couldn't help but let out a small laugh.

"I wouldn't need perseverance if you just said yes."

"Okay what time?" My mouth dropped open in shock.

"Umm, I'm getting picked up at six." The tardy bell silenced the classroom, and Edward gave me a nod.

Around five forty-five, I ran upstairs into my room and through a sweatshirt on over my graphic tee and skinny jeans. I heard a horn beep in the driveway, and I looked out my window to see Jacob in his car. I ran down the stairs two at time grabbing my wallet and saying bye to Charlie. I darted out the door with smile greeting my werewolf best friend. He greeted me with a hug…that lasted just a bit longer than necessary. "Hey, Jake." I said breaking the hug and getting into the car.

"How was school today Bells?"

"Good." I smiled up at him. "And how was your day, Wolfy?"

"Good until you called me Wolfy." He chuckled letting me know I was off the hook.

"Sorry, still getting used to my best friend being the Big Bad Wolf."

"That could easily be changed you know."

"I thought you said it was a genetics things, how could that be changed Jake?"

"I could be your boyfriend." I laughed at his joke and playfully hit him, and then I realized he wasn't joking and my face turned red.

"I'm good with friends."

"Ok, tell me when you change your mind." He winked, and I suddenly felt uncomfortable. The rest of the car ride I sat starring out the window; until I saw Edward standing outside the movie theatre causing me to perk up. When the car parked, I got out and walked to the ticket booth where Edward was.

"You actually came." I said hearing the smile drip through my voice.

"I guess so." He said smiling at me, then he spotted Jacob and his smile vanished. I casually looked, around and noticed Sam walking to us fixing her hair when she noticed Edward.

"Hey Sam." I said as I smiled at her. I heard the clicking of her heals get louder the closer she got, then stop as she got to us. She took my hood and used it as leverage to pull my ear to her lips. This confused me.

"Why didn't you tell me this was a double date? I would've dressed better." I looked at her outfit, red pumps; skinny jeans; and a cute polka doted blouse; wondering how she could have dressed better.

"It's not a double date." I said clearly, shocked that she would say that.

"Oh, well in that case thanks for inviting me." She let go of me and smiled.

"Now that we are all here, let's watch a movie." I said shyly fixing my shirt. As we walked up to the ticket booth, while Sam was getting her ticket, Edward stopped to talk to me.

"The way you said friends, I thought more people were coming."

"Well, I apparently need to think about words more."

"Don't let my demeanor make you change ways."

"You seriously need to speak layman's terms, Edward." This made him chuckle.

"Sometimes I think, you think, you're not as smart as you really are."

"Okay Mr. Fortune Cookie." Once again I would be better off with my foot in my mouth.

The next day at school I was sitting in English class thinking about the past night. Nothing really interesting happened; actually it was quite a boring evening. Once we got into our seats waiting for the movie, no one said anything… all night. The movie turned out to be way over hyped. Jacob took me home, and once again no one said a single word. I ended up going straight to bed once I got home and had a dreamless night, leaving me where I was now… doing nothing.

We were talking about Romeo and Juliet in class. It was a book I read freshman year in Phoenix, so I obviously didn't have to pay attention. So I had time to think, about what, I had no idea. After running through last night, I had nothing else to do. I considered thinking more about the werewolf situation, but it was too weird since I didn't know much about them. Then I figured I could think about Edward, until I realized that all thoughts either came to me blushing at them or having butterflies which I didn't understand.

The rest of my morning went similar, trying to find something to think about. I ended up in Spanish class early, the first one to be exact. I gathered that had something to do with my mindless wandering. I just picked a random seat, not caring about who would sit in the neighboring spot. I started doodling in my notebook aimlessly. The next thing I knew I felt the presence of another person next to me. I instinctively looked up and jumped up in my seat when I saw who it was.

Alice Cullen had her caramel eyes focusing on me. She also had a radiating smile that I didn't understand. I've never talked to her before, and now here she was seating next to me practically beaming at me as if I was her best friend. I was about to say something, but her gaze had me so locked up I don't even think I could recite the ABC's. Luckily, I didn't have to say anything because she beat me to it.

"Hello Bella."

"Uhh, hi." I felt lame saying that, and I knew I could add another thing to list of qualities that every Cullen had, making me speechless. Just as Alice was opening her mouth to speak, her eyes glazed over and her face became blank, as if she was lost in some other time. The bell rung and Alice was still gone. I was going to snapped her out of it until I remembered that would be rude and just left her to her thought.

My eyes danced around the room and stopped when they spotted one very upset looking Jessica Stanly. I didn't necessarily blame her. I would mad too if my normal seat was taken up by someone that my supposed friend had never had a conversation with. The teacher started class talking about past participles… how to express things you have done in the past. I can honestly say I didn't care, and that I didn't want to pay attention.

Alice was gone almost all hour; it made me what to know what she was thinking about. Finally when the teacher gave us the last few minutes of class to talk Alice came out of her trance, beaming even more now than ever. The weird part was she looked like she was about to pop with the excitement built up in her, yet somehow she had the strength to hold it all in. When class finally ended, I swear Alice floated from her seat out of the door.

I slowly got up from my seat hoping Jessica wasn't still upset. By the flip of her hair she gave as I got closer to her, I knew she was one to hold grudges. After my roller coaster of a morning I wasn't in much of a mood to eat. I walked to the cafeteria and instantly sat down where Sam usually did. I casually looked around trying not to feel awkward about being alone at the table, as if out of habit my eyes to drifted to Edward.

I kind of felt bad for Alice, it seemed like she let all of her excitement out on Edward and whatever she said, Edward didn't like it and was now scolding her. At the same time I kind of wanted to giggle though because Alice resembled a little kitten getting yelled at. Then, my mind froze when I saw Alice's lips twitch up as she motioned to me and Edward's eyes slightly moved to meet mine. Yes I know it's pathetic that I noticed all of the little movements, but I didn't care.

I walked to science after lunch with Sam. She was going on about her lip stain project, saying how silly Tyler looked in it. When I walked into the room, I saw Edward sitting at our table. Sam left to go to her seat as I went to mine. I sat down next to Edward and smiled briefly before looking away. Then I remembered I wanted to ask him what had Alice so excited.

"What was Alice talking about at lunch today?" I asked, still not looking at him.

"Nothing she should be concerned about, she needs to mind her own business." He replied simply. The way his voice sounded stiff, I could tell there was something about what Alice said that bothered him.

"Oh, well, what was it about?"

"It looks like Alice is not the only one that needs to mind her own business." He said flatly and coolly. My eyes glanced back up at Edward, and his dark eyes met mine reminding me of the guy in my dream I had the first night in Forks. My lips parted slightly when I noticed this, and I looked away. How could I even dream of him if I've never even seen him before? I could be imagining it, but I could almost swear Edward was the man in my dream. I started twiddling my thumbs under our desk as class begun.

As I was walked to gym I felt my phone go off in my pocket. I pulled it out and read the text.

Jacob: Do you want me to pick you up after school? There are some things I wanted to talk about.

Bella: Umm sure. I replied quickly then put my phone away again. Good now I have a ride home, yet another reason why I need a car.