SONG: Muse - Supermassive Black Hole

Chapter 17

Hope

BPOV

Um...wow.

Did that just really happen?

Did Edward Cullen really just call me? I asked myself. I sat on my bed staring at my phone as if it had the answers to my questions. It had been about fifteen minutes since I had gotten off the phone, after speaking to Edward. I still couldn't fathom why he had called me. I mean, he asked something about the essay, but I don't know; it just seemed like that wasn't his real intentions for calling. I went through the conversation in my head over and over, trying to think of something, anything that would give me a clue as to why he really called.

Jacob Black had called me again earlier on in the evening and we had had a great conversation. Once again, I had been in a euphoric mood when I got off the phone to him, despite my dad interrogating me afterwards.

"Where does this Jacob Black live?" he had questioned, "How old is he?"

And I had been unable to answer because, truthfully, I didn't know. All I really knew about Jacob was that he drove a motorcycle and went to the University of Washington. Of course, my dad hadn't been too pleased about this, going on about how careless it was to hand my number out to a complete stranger – which was ridiculous because that was a normal thing to do, I mean, how did he think that people got to know each other? Lecturing me about how Jacob could be an axe murderer for all I knew and that he didn't want me going out with him until he had met him first. I finally got him to leave me alone by promising him that if Jacob called again he could talk to him himself and ask him whatever he needed to know.

Poor Jake, he was probably going to get a grilling the next time he called.

So I was just in my room, listening to music and reading a book when my dad barged in again, telling me crankily that I had another call, and giving me a look that said, 'we are definitely going to have a talk about this,' before leaving my room and stomping down the stairs. I seriously needed a cell phone.

I had been puzzled, wondering who could have been calling me. Jake had already called me, why would he call again? Maybe he had forgotten to ask me something, I thought, before curiously answering the phone.

The voice that replied didn't sound like Jake, though I did think it was familiar. The idea that it would have been Edward calling never even crossed my mind, even though I had given him my number. So I was stunned into silence when he had said it was him. When I asked him why he called he said he wanted to ask me something about how we were going to write the essay, but for some reason, it seemed like that wasn't the real reason. I mean, he didn't have to call me to ask that, he could have just waited till class. And why was he calling at close to nine o clock? He'd also sounded strange, I don't know, maybe a little....nervous? I was frustrated. Why did Edward Cullen have this effect on me? I mean, here I was, feeling good about Jake, not even thinking about him, and he had to call me and have my pulse start racing frantically.

And cause a fragment of hope to start growing somewhere inside me.

Because there was a possibility that Edward had called me because, well, he wanted to. I mean, if I was honest, I actually thought that what he asked me was just an excuse. But why would he want to call me? There was no way he could like me, not to mention the fact that he was dating Tanya.

But he had asked for my number. And he had just called me a few minutes ago. So....what if he did like me? I tried to force down these thoughts though because I couldn't allow that piece of hope to grow. I couldn't allow it because I was afraid of the immense disappointment I'd feel if I dared hope that Edward Cullen liked me and I was wrong.

"Oh. My. God!"

Alice's squeal caused a few people to turn and look at her – including Mr Rosa who raised his eyebrows.

"Alice! Shut up!" I hissed.

"Sorry," She whispered, "I just couldn't help it! Edward Freaking Cullen called you last night!"

I deeply regretted telling her.

"Alice will you talk quieter? I don't want people hearing our conversation and starting rumours." I said, annoyed.

"And Jacob Black called you too? This just gets better! Tell me the whole conversation with Edward, everything, every word uttered, every pause, every breath. I need to analyse the situation, see what's going on."

I repeated my conversation with Edward to her again and watched as a wide smile grew slowly on her face and she was literally bouncing with excitement by the time I had finished.

She grabbed my hand.

"Bella, I really think he likes you! I mean, from what you told me it seems like the thing about the essay was just an excuse to call."

Damn Alice for making that smidgen of hope grow more.

"I'm totally going to be observing his behaviour at lunch today. I want to see how he is towards you, and then I'll know for sure."

"But he's dating Tanya remember? I mean, how can he like me if he's with her?" I asked sourly.

"Pffttt! He doesn't really want that skank."

I shot her a questioning look.

"Think about it, she's always the one all over him, touching him, talking to him, I mean, have you ever even seen him touch her?"

I thought about it, and realised that it was true.

"Well...no-" I began,

"Exactly!" Alice interrupted, "And also, doesn't he always look uncomfortable around her, you know, like he doesn't want her touching him?"

"Yeah, ok, maybe he's not into public displays of affection or something, that doesn't necessarily mean that he doesn't want her. And don't forget that he did sleep with her."

Alice sighed.

"Isabella Marie Swan. Ye of little faith. Just trust me on this. I have a feeling, and you know that my feelings are usually correct."

This was true; it was like she was psychic or something sometimes.

I sighed, fighting hard to force back the hope and excitement that was swelling up inside me, threatening to erupt.

"So....where do you want to meet, you know, to do the essay?"

We had been in silence, doing the work, as usual only speaking to each other when we had to. I was a nervous wreck around him, now that I had the idea in my head that he might like me. I couldn't sit still, if I wasn't tapping my pen, I was tapping my foot, or I was fiddling with strands of my hair. My hair had been up in a ponytail again, but as soon as I had sat next to him I could feel my face heating up, so I had taken off the ponytail holder and let my hair down so I could hide my face behind it. It was a relief to have my hair as a barrier between us.

He was sitting quite close to me again, and this time his arm did brush against mine several times and every time it happened my pulse would quicken and I would feel my face getting hotter. And although I didn't dare look at him, for fear that his alluring eyes would literally cause my heart to give up beating; I swear I could sense him looking at me every once in a while.

So when he had asked me that, I had almost jumped out of my seat, startled. I finally turned to face him, evading his eyes,

"Um, I don't mind, anywhere's good."

He was about to say something else when I remembered,

"Damn it. I totally forgot, I'm grounded, I'm not allowed anywhere but school."

He seemed like he was fighting a smile, though I didn't have a clue what was funny.

"Really? What'd you do?" he said, that smirk still playing on his lips, "Must have been pretty bad."

I sighed. "The party at your house. I didn't tell my dad I was going, he was one of the cops that came to stop the party and saw me there."

He openly smiled now, "Tough break."

Why was this funny to him? It kind of annoyed me.

"What's so funny?" I asked, eyebrow raised – still avoiding his eyes.

"Nothing." He shook his head. "So if you're grounded how are we going to do this thing? I mean, can't you ask your dad to give you a pass, just this once?"

"I'll ask him but I don't think he'll allow it."

"Ok. How about I call you after school, like around 5:30? And you can let me know what you're dad says and if he says no we can, I don't know, figure something out." He said.

He was gazing at me now, trying to meet my eyes, and the intensity of the gaze was....dazzling. I had to force myself to keep my eyes on somewhere else, anywhere else but those eyes.

"Ok." I replied; my heart was thudding rapidly in my chest now, at the thought of him calling me again, at the thought of meeting him out of school.

At lunch, Alice kept staring him fixatedly, watching his every movement, listening to everything he said. She was being ridiculous and I kicked her under the table several times but she ignored me. I didn't look up from the table once, simply kept my head down, hair hanging forward as I ate my lunch.

On the way home from school, she was so excited she could barely concentrate on the road.

"Alice, can you keep your eyes on the road!" I cried, as she almost ran through a stop sign.

"Oh my God Bella, he likes you, he totally likes you! At lunch, you weren't looking, but he kept glancing at you like every few minutes. And, guess what Jazz told me!"

I was fighting to remain calm, "What?"

"Well, I asked him about the whole Tanya situation, you know, like why Edward didn't seem like he was into her. And he told me that Edward doesn't really like her at all! He said that he took her out on one date and then she suddenly got the idea that they were dating and started acting like they were going steady or some shit. He said that she constantly bugs him and he hates it and wants to break up with her but doesn't know how to do it."

My eyes were wide as I stared at Alice.

"Really?" I asked incredulously.

She nodded vigorously, "Yep, that's what Jazz told me."

"So, he didn't really sleep with her then? That was just a rumour?" I asked, expectantly.

Alice grimaced. My face fell.

"Well....he did sleep with her. But Jazz said he was totally wasted when it happened, and that he totally regretted it."

I still couldn't stop the frown on my face, but at the same time, I was thrilled. Edward Cullen might actually like me, I thought to myself.

Edward freaking Cullen.

Alice dropped me off at home, telling me that she would call me later on to discuss it some more.

Dad was at work, so I had to call him there to ask if he could lift my punishment for one day.

He said he would, just this once, but he seemed very suspicious, asking me a dozen questions, as if he thought I was lying about the essay or something. What was up with that?

I was in the kitchen, unable to sit still, pacing, glancing at the clock, waiting for Edward's call. I hadn't even been able to eat the pasta I had dished, and it sat there on the kitchen table growing cold.

Edward called me at 5:37pm. I was a little peeved that he was late, but brushed it off.

"So what'd he say?" he asked as soon as I answered.

"Yeah, he said he would lift my punishment, just this once."

"Excellent." Was it me or did he sound excited? "So.....where do you want to do it? Library? Your house? My house?"

I struggled to keep the phone to my ear, my palms slippery with perspiration.

"Bella?" Edward asked, after I didn't reply.

"Um, I don't mind, you choose."

"O.....k..." he sounded surprised, "My place then? I mean, we can work in uncle Carlisle's office, he's got tons of books and stuff we could use."

"Sure. Sounds good."

"So...what time are you coming?"

Shit. I forgot I couldn't drive my truck. How was I going to get there?

"Um, I forgot, my dad took my car keys, I don't know how I 'm going to get to your place."

He paused.

"Should I.....pick you up?" he asked.

And I just about died. I would have to sit in his car with him. Alone.

"Err, ok, if it's not too much trouble." I said quickly.

"Of course not, I'll be over in about....20 minutes." He said and hung up the phone.

Author's Note:

You see that green writing below? If you click on it magical things happen. Trust me. lol.

Savannah-Vee