SONG: The All American Rejects - Time Stands Still

Chapter 16

Strange Happenings

EPOV

"Fuck!" I said, exasperated, as my cell phone started buzzing in my pocket for the eleventh time.

"Dude, I don't get why you can't just break it off with her. Put yourself out of this misery." Jazz said, casually flicking through the channels on the TV.

"I want to, and I'm going to, of course, but what the fuck do I say to her man? 'Hey Tanya, I fucked you and then took you out on a date but I'm not interested in you at all. So just leave me the hell alone ok? Sorry about that.' I'll seem like a total asshole." I sighed deeply.

Jazz chuckled.

"Sounds good to me. I mean, the chick obviously can't take a hint, look at the amount of times she's called you and you haven't answered, not once, yet she still continues calling." He shook his head, "She's nuts, borderline obsessive I'm telling you. Other normal chicks would have given up by now."

I groaned as my phone buzzed again, for the twelfth time, in my pocket. Jazz shook his head again.

We were in the living room; Jazz sprawled on the couch, while I was slumped in the recliner. Tanya had been calling my phone incessantly since we had gotten home from school – only thirty minutes ago.

I was going to kill Rosalie for giving her my number.

I was ignoring her calls because, firstly, I just didn't want to talk to her, and secondly, I knew what she was probably calling about. She had asked me at school, in a suggestive whisper, if she could come over after school. I don't remember exactly what my response had been, seeing as I was barely paying attention to her, too busy mulling over my problems with my mom, but I know for sure that I hadn't said yes. She was probably calling me now to ask again if she could come over.

And there was no way that was happening.

I could just about handle her constant contact at school, where there were too many people around for her to fully harass me, imagine how worse it would be if she was in my home. She didn't fail to repeat how great she thought it was on Friday; unsubtly hinting that she wouldn't mind it happening again soon.

And there was no way I was fucking her again.

That had been one drunken mistake, which had gotten me into this mess in the first place and I wouldn't make that mistake twice. Besides, her eagerness and aggressiveness were a total turn off and I often wondered why I had even thought she was hot in the first place. She was just so...obvious. Whatever happened to a girl being subtle and coy and making the guy practically beg for her body? Tanya was throwing herself at me and it was not attractive at all.

So I was sitting in the living room with Jazz, ignoring her calls. Rose was over at Emmett's and Esme was up in Carlisle's office doing some work. We were both in better moods and thought we'd just chill, maybe play a little World of Warcraft. Jazz was in a good mood because Charlie Swan obviously hadn't told Carlisle and Esme about the party and they hadn't noticed any of the stains we couldn't get out, or the cigarette burns.

I was in a better mood because, although it still hurt terribly that my mom hated me, Carlisle had called and informed me that she was doing great, she looked healthier and happier, despite her constant grumbling about the clinic and I was a little consoled by that information. I even laughed as Carlisle told me about how she had argued with a nurse over her slightly burnt lasagne. However, it also reminded me of how much I missed her and I'd had to fight back the stupid tears that threatened to spill over.

I fucking hated crying.

On Wednesday morning, Tanya had waited for me in the parking lot, immediately hounding me, wanting to know why I hadn't answered her calls, as soon as I had stepped out of my car.

This was getting fucking ridiculous.

Jazz gave me a quick glance that said, 'I told you she was nuts.' Before shaking his head and stalking off to class.

"I just wasn't in the fucking mood to talk yesterday ok." I said tersely to her, teeth clenched.

She was taken aback by my abruptness; I had never been outwardly rude to her before.

But she was starting to really piss me off now.

"Oh, right. ok." She mumbled.

In biology, she sat on my desk, yakking away about something no doubt uninteresting. I didn't hear a word of it as I sat there scowling, thinking to myself that I'd definitely had more than enough of Tanya Denali, and that I was going to break it up with her as soon as possible, even if she killed me. She was making me feel so agitated and suffocated, that the air in the classroom felt hot and stuffy and I'd had to remove my sweater, even though it was cold outside.

Thankfully Bella swan walked over to the desk, scraping her chair loudly to alert Tanya's attention. Tanya got off the desk, apologized to her and went to her own desk and I didn't miss Bella's curt response to her apology and the quick glare she flashed her.

I had to turn my face to hide my smile.

Sure Bella was shy and quiet, but I'd noticed that she also had quite a temper, and her expressions on her face made her emotions easy to read. That was probably why she always hid behind her hair. Her hair was clipped back today though, looking damp and smelling strongly of that same sweet vanilla and strawberry scent.

I got up and went to collect the equipment and when I came and sat back down she was inhaling slowly and her face was so red I thought she might be choking or something. I asked her if she was ok and was baffled as she turned impossibly more scarlet.

What was wrong with her?

She told me she was fine though and we started working on the project. I glanced at her several times; curious as to why she had been blushing so hard, but her face soon returned to its normal pale shade, with just a hint of red left on her cheekbones.

I also noticed that I was sitting really close to her, so close that my arm was almost brushing hers and I realised I had unconsciously leaned a little closer to her, wanting to smell the fragrance on her hair.

We didn't have a lot left of the assignment to do, the only thing we needed to do was to write an essay. And we had to write it together. That meant that we probably had to work on it out of class.

Why was I suddenly looking forward to writing this essay?

If we were going to meet up after school somewhere to do this work, I needed her number right? I mean, I would need to call her and arrange where to meet her and stuff. It made sense.

So why was I finding it hard to ask her for it?

I felt like such an idiot. She was just about to leave the class and I still hadn't asked her. I quickly called her back and finally asked her for it, my forehead and palms slightly damp with perspiration.

The heat of the classroom had probably caused that, I guess.

She looked surprised so I quickly added that it was just for the assignment. I didn't want her to think that I was like Mike Newton or that irritating motorcycle guy, you know, asking for her number to try and get into her pants. She gave me the number willingly enough, and for some strange reason, an involuntary smile hovered on my lips.

Tanya was staring at me oddly, eyes slightly narrowed, when I happened to glance in her direction after Bella had left.

"What's that?" she questioned, pointing to the scrap of paper with Bella's number on it, in my hand.

I frowned. None of your fucking business that's what.

"Bella's number." I replied, walking out of the class swiftly. She walked with me, still watching me warily.

"Why have you got it?" she asked, trying to act nonchalant and failing.

I sighed. "Because we need to work on the assignment together."

"Oh yeah. Duh." She said.

She was silent after that as she walked with me down the hall and into her next lesson, her lips pursed slightly as she glanced back at me, waving quickly.

Lunch was a little weird.

Jessica and Tyler were talking animatedly, oblivious to the fact that the rest of us were barely talking at all. They were unaware that we were all busy communicating silently with our eyes instead. I noticed Bella giving me a few fleeting looks and I saw that Tanya was shooting her murderous glares for reasons unknown. What was up with her? Jazz was exchanging questioning looks with me, obviously wondering if I'd dumped Tanya yet, while Alice was looking at both Jazz and Bella in confusion; dying to know what was going on. Rose was looking at Tanya, eyebrow raised, and Emmett......well, he was looking at Rose, obviously thinking inappropriate thoughts as he eyed her chest and grinned broadly.

The atmosphere at the table was tense and....strange to say the least and I'm sure we were all relieved when the bell rung and we hurried to fourth period.

I was sitting on my bed, restlessly tapping my pen against my leg.

My notes were scattered on the bed in front of me, and I was supposed to be studying for an algebra test we were having on Thursday. I had gone to my room with the intention of studying, but for the past twenty minutes I had just been sitting on my bed, tapping my pen against my leg.

The reason I was doing this was so stupid that I was getting annoyed at myself.

I had emptied my backpack out on my bed, to start sorting out the notes I needed to study, and the little glass slide of the skin cells had fallen out too. It had reminded me of biology class, for some reason, reminded me that I sat next to Bella Swan, reminded me that we were working on an assignment together, reminded me that we were nearly finished the assignment.

Reminded me that I had her number.

The little scrap of paper felt like it was burning a hole in my pocket. I wanted to take it out, look at her adorably messy writing, and call her. But why did I want to call her? I asked myself. I didn't need to; it was too late now to ask her to meet up to work on the essay. We would have to meet up tomorrow instead.

But I still desperately wanted to call her.

I was getting annoyed at myself because, well, I'd never had a problem calling a girl before. If I wanted to call someone, I'd just do it, not sit on my bed for twenty minutes pondering about whether to do it or not. My palms were sweating again. Why was my room so warm all of a sudden?

I took the paper out of my pocket and looked at it. I would call her, I decided. But then I thought; what was I going to say to her? I mean, she would probably want to know why I was calling her at 8:37pm. I'd just say something about the assignment. I mean, that was the reason I had gotten her number in the first place, right?

For the assignment.

I took out my cell phone and dialled the number and took a deep breath as I shakily held it to my ear. There was definitely something wrong with me.

Even though I knew she lived with her dad, I was taken aback by the gruff voice that answered,

"Hello? Charlie Swan speaking."

"Um, good evening Mr Swan," I said nervously, "May I please speak to Bella?"

His voice became even gruffer.

"Who am I speaking to?" he asked suspiciously.

"Err, Edward Cullen sir, I'm in Bella's biology class and err, we're working on an assignment together."

"Cullen? Is Carlisle Cullen your father?" he questioned.

"Err, no, my uncle."

"Hmmm, is he home? I'd like to speak to him."

Oh shit, the party. Jasper was going to kill me.

"Err, no sir, he's away for a few days."

"Right, well...I'll probably give him a call in a few days..." he mused.

There was a brief silence.

"Um, Mr Swan?"

"Chief Swan." He corrected sharply.

"Sorry, Chief Swan, can I, err, speak to Bella? I mean, it's kind of important, you know, to do with an essay we're writing-"

"So why did you call so late?" he cut me off.

Shit.

"Um, I just wanted to ask her something, really quickly."

He paused. Then in an almost threatening tone, said,

"You have fifteen minutes."

I waited on the line as I heard him speaking to Bella, then after a minute she cautiously said,

"Hello?"

And an involuntary smile crept up on me again.

"Hi, Bella."

She was silent for a moment before saying,

"Um, hi, who is this?"

"Err, it's Edward Cullen, you know, the one from school."

I mentally kicked myself. What a dumbass thing to say. Of course she knew which Edward Cullen I was. How many other Edward Cullen's could she know?

She was silent again.

"Um, hello?" I said, wondering if she had hung up.

"Hi...Edward, what's up?" she asked curiously.

It was my turn to be silent for a moment, because I realised I had never heard her say my name before, and her cute, musical voice saying it.....I don't know, it just...did something to me.

"Um, I just wanted to ask you something. About the assignment." I said quickly.

Pause.

"Ok. What do you want to know?"

"Well err, I was wondering how we were going to write the essay, I mean, should we write all of it together, or should I write like, one half and you write the other?"

I smirked to myself. That was some quick thinking there.

"Um, I don't know..." she pondered, "How about we write out our own sections and then we can like, figure out a way to incorporate them."

"Ok. Sounds good."

"So....." she said, "Was that all you wanted to know?"

"Err, yeah, that was pretty much it."

"Ok. Well, I'll see you tomorrow?" She said it like it was a question.

"Yeah. Tomorrow."

"Bye Edward."

She said it again.

"Bye Bella."

I waited until I heard the phone click and then pressed the 'end call' button on my cell.

I lay back on my bed, realising that my heart was pounding fast in my chest.

What was going on? Why was I reacting that way over a phone call?

Over a girl?

Bella Swan, I thought to myself. What was it about her?

Author's Note:

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