I do not own the Twilight story or any of its characters.
I just like messing with Stephenie Meyer's characters!
Cheer-Ball: August
August 14
"Are you sure you are ready to go back to work?" Carlisle asked for the hundredth time while he paced in the living room.
It had been four days since I had hit my head and gotten a concussion. After he had received my medical records from the Eagles' team and cheer squad doctors, he had put me on full house arrest for the whole weekend. The only time I was allowed to leave the house on Monday, I had to have Alice and Esme with me.
"I will be fine. It is just a meeting." I explained again.
"It is a three hour meeting." Emmett mumbled from the other end of the couch. I shot him a glare. "Plus, there is another hour long meeting for programs teachers."
"Emmett! I thought you said you would help me get out of here without a chaperone glued to my side!" I hissed.
"I did, but that was before I knew Carlisle didn't have to work today." Emmett replied in another mutter.
"Traitor!" I spat back at him.
Alice piped up from her perch on the kitchen island. "She starts school on Monday and will have to be there for eight to twelve hours. Plus, she has to start getting things ready to train her squad on Monday. You have to let her go to the meeting. You can be waiting outside after exactly four hours. If she doesn't come out, go in after her."
"I am not a child!" I said loudly with clenched teeth. "I do not agree to that."
"If you will agree to it, I will let you go and I will even bring you lunch. Then, with my supervision, you can work for an hour in your classroom." Carlisle said in a surprise to everyone.
"Since when have you ever listened to my ideas?" Alice asked hopping down from the counter. "You never like my ideas."
"Your ideas are usually centered on using me to find a hot doctor friend of mine for you to date. So, no, I don't normally like your ideas. But this one actually had some logic and forethought to it." Carlisle said placing his hands on her shoulders and slightly chuckling. Looking at me over her head, he asked, "Are you agreeable to Alice's idea with my alterations?"
"I don't want to, but if you are forcing me to agree, I will." I answered grudgingly. Then, with a sly smirk, I said "I have to set my room up today. Are you willing to help me change my room around?"
"Emmett, hurry up and drive faster." I said bouncing in the front seat of his jeep. "I want to get their before Carlisle changes his mind. If I am already in the meeting, he won't run in and drag me out right?"
"Well?" Emmett said, stretching the word into three syllables. I looked at him with a horror-struck expression on my face. "Look, the school is right there. It is a left and then, an immediate right turns. We will get into the meeting quickly. If he shows up, I'll hide you from him, okay?"
"Okay." I said finally settling in the seat.
I hopped out of the jeep ready to get to the meeting. With Emmett keeping up with my pace, we made our way over to the library where the all faculty meeting was set to take place.
When we were about a hundred yards away near the amphitheater, I surprised Emmett. I had jumped behind one of the pillars holding up the small shelter over some picnic tables.
"What the fuck, Bella? Why are you hiding behind a pillar? I don't see Carlisle anywhere." Emmett said completely confused.
"He's not here, but do you see that guy over there?" I said peeking out and pointing to a blonde haired man standing mere feet from the library doors.
"There are about six guys over there. Would you like to be a little more specific?"
"Do you know who the tall, lean guy with wavy, golden blonde hair is?" I whispered.
"Do you mean Jasper Whitlock? He's a good guy. He started here at the beginning of the second semester when the previous band director left on maternity leave. She told the principal in May that she wasn't coming back. He was offered the position permanently." Emmett explained. "Whatever your problem is you better get over it. You two will have to plan the half-time performances together."
"I broke up with him once." I said in a small, dead voice as I watched Jasper Whitlock walk into the library.
Emmett coughed and broke me out of a slight trance. I turned to him and begged. "You have to go distract him. Please, please, please?"
"Whatever. You are one strange woman, Bella Swan." Emmet said before heading into the library to hopefully distract Jasper.
I crept inside the library unnoticed by Jasper, Emmett had him facing away from the doors and toward a collection of posters featuring the Twilight cast reading their favorite books. I snuck up behind him and listened for a break in their conversation.
"I hope the new cheer coach is a hell of a lot nicer and much better at compromising than last year's. That woman, if you can call her that, degraded her cheerleaders, her students, and the rest of the staff." Jasper said with frustration in his southern voice.
The look on Emmett's face became frightening when Jasper mentioned the old cheer coach. He looked like he hated, despised, and was revolted by her all at the same time. But his eyes were the most peculiar part of his face because they were almost the opposite of the rest of his face. They were filled with affection and longing.
The change in his face had shocked and surprised me so much that I almost forgot my plan for saying hello to Jasper.
Jasper continued, "Is it true that the new coach got hurt on campus after tryouts?" Emmett's face changed back to his normal smile and he nodded yes. "Hell, she must not be very good." Jasper muttered dejectedly.
"Even though she is slightly strange, I believe she is better than you think." Emmett said with a sly wink toward me.
I decided now was time to jump into the conversation.
In the sultriest voice I could muster, I whispered in Jasper's ear, "Jasper Whitlock, you have been enrolled in the obscene voiceover of the month club. What would you like me to enhance vocally this month?"
There was a moment of silence, so still you could have heard a pin drop between Emmett, Jasper, and me. I watched both of the men's Adam's apples bob up and down as they cleared their throats.
Finally, Jasper whispered back in his southern drawl. "Well, hell's bells. I think my answer has to be all of my masturbatory fantasies about the one and only Bella Swan."
I giggled at his response. My giggles turned into a loud laugh when he turned, picked me up and spun me around.
"Isabella Marie Swan, what in the hell are you doing here?" He asked, apparently thrilled to see me.
Before I could answer, the principal, Mr. Green interrupted, "Can we all take your seats, please? The faster we get started, the faster we can get out of here."
After two of the most boring meetings of my entire life, Emmett went to the practice fields with his football team. Jasper walked with me to my classroom. He had told Emmett he would stay with me until Carlisle got to the school.
Relaxing on one of my student desks, Jasper started in on me. "Bella, what has been going on? I thought you were loving life off being some hot, Eagles cheerleader. Then, I heard was Jake was going to propose and whisk you off to Italy or Brazil or some other far off place."
"Shit, who in the hell told you all of that?"
"It is more like who didn't tell me. Kate, Garrett, Irina, Laurent, Carmen, and Eleazer all told me at different points during a USC alumni party a few weeks ago." Jasper answered me, still confused.
I hopped up unsteadily from my seat, but I waved Jasper off from coming to help steady me. I paced around the front of my classroom in disgust. "One of the reasons I took this job is it had nothing to do with Jake and no offense, but you are a major connection to him. Please, please promise me you won't tell him where I am." I pleaded.
"I promise I won't tell the scoundrel or anyone that would. If I am being honest, darlin', I never liked you and that guy together. There was just something about him that I didn't trust." Jasper said sliding off of a desk to block my path. "I have never known exactly what happened with you two, but keeping my mouth shut should help keep him from finding out you are here. Now, what is going on? You were one of the hottest, most downloaded, cheerleaders in the NFL."
"I know and I know that I was completely safe while I was there. I decided two years as a professional cheerleader was enough. You know I tried out just to make my dad happy to have one of his kids in the NFL." I reminded him with a smile still on my face. "When I decided to become a teacher, the other gals helped me search the country for a position teaching Italian, Psych, or just as a coach. Frost High had a position that was two out of three. Plus, I get to have one period open for counseling students."
"Well, then, I am happy for you. Plus, I will have to give a big, sloppy, wet, southern, thank you kiss to whoever found this job for you. I have missed you so much." He said hugging me even tighter.
I whispered back, "I think Tanya would gladly accept that kiss. I missed you, too. I just didn't know it until I saw you again."
We jumped apart when a loud cough interrupted us. Whipping my head toward the door, I saw Carlisle and Esme standing arm in arm in the doorway.
"Hey, you two lovebirds. This is Jasper Whitlock, the band director and an old friend from USC. Jasper, this is Esme and Carlisle Cullen, Emmett McCarty's cousins."
After the men shook hands, Carlisle said, "We met once before, I think. At the band's crab feed last spring, right?" When Jasper smiled and nodded his head remembering, Carlisle continued, "It was such a fun evening, even though I was Emmett's date."
I had to ask. "Why did you go as Emmett's date?"
"His girlfriend at the time was visiting family out of town." He started. "Then, Esme and Alice both came down with the flu that morning."
"That sounds like it would have been pretty funny to watch you and Emmett."
"Oh, it was. I even have video of Emmett forcing Carlisle to dance."
"What?" Esme screamed. As she hit her husband's arm, she asked, "Why did I not know about that?"
"I think I can convince Jasper to give me a copy." I said looking at him. Carlisle ran his hand over his face, embarrassed, as Jasper nodded his head in ascent, smiling even bigger now. "Now, as to why the two of you are here. Does this mean I get two workers for the price of nothing?" I asked happily.
"But, of course, Bella." Esme replied with a smile. "This is decorating, even if it is just your classroom."
"I'll leave you to direct your helpers, Bells." Jasper said giving me a quick kiss on my forehead before heading toward the door. "I'll see you on Monday and don't forget to e-mail that wish song list you were talking about as we walked over here."
"Bye, Jas." I said with a wave as he slipped out. Turning my full attention to Esme and Carlisle I said. "Esme, I am leaving the decorating up to you. Just know I am going to need those two comfy chairs we found the other day in the back corner near the windows. Plus, I have to have enough desks for thirty students to be in here and comfortable for a hundred minutes."
"And just what will you be doing?" Carlisle asked with a hint of his doctor tone in his voice.
"I will be e-mailing Jasper my list, finalizing my cheer squad rosters, and possibly posting them." I said sitting carefully in my chair and pulling up to my desk as Esme started laying out a plan for my classroom.
%
August 17
From: Jasper Whitlock
To: Bella Swan
Subject: Welcome to Frost High in the Frost School District, Sassy Lass
It has been a few days since I talked to you. How is your head?
I heard you got to drive yourself in to work this morning, how was it?
I would think you would be happy about it, but you looked serenely irked when you walked past my classroom earlier.
From: Bella Swan
To: Jasper Whitlock
Subject: Frost District sounds like a section of the North Pole
I enjoyed almost pure and absolute freedom as I drove to school this morning. I wasn't perfectly free because while I am now allowed to drive myself in my own truck, Emmett was following me in his jeep. I had guessed that being followed or a ride along would happen, so I didn't argue about it too much. I did make a lot of unnecessary lane changes to piss Emmett off.
From: Jasper Whitlock
To: Bella Swan
Subject: That would be a fun place to live
Is it really such a good idea to piss Emmett off? He could tell Carlisle that you were driving dangerously. He could get you grounded again.
From: Bella Swan
To: Jasper Whitlock
Subject: And why is that a fun place to live?
One: I know where he sleeps. Two: I'll just say he was following too close and I was afraid he would hit me with his too big monster of a jeep.
From: Jasper Whitlock
To: Bella Swan
Subject: Santa lives there!
True, I am glad you don't know where I sleep. But I don't think your excuse of him following too close will work.
Question: Did any of the girls show you the older than dirt school song dance?
From: Bella Swan
To: Jasper Whitlock
Subject: How in the hell are you an adult?
Wait a minute. You are you saying that step, turn, wiggle the pompoms, and repeat thing was the actual dance? I thought the girls were joking with me!
From: Jasper Whitlock
To: Bella Swan
Subject: I could show you
Yeah, I know. No offense to older women with walkers, but older women with walkers can do that. Hell, apes can do that dance and I'm not talking about the smart ones for Planet of the Apes either.
From: Bella Swan
To: Jasper Whitlock
Subject: Jas, when was the last time?
Do you think Principal Green will let me change it if I ask him really, really nicely?
From: Jasper Whitlock
To: Bella Swan
Subject: Heidi at the last USC alumni party
I could sugar coat it, but no. That man is a traditionalist to the very depths of his soul. Plus, if you did change it some of the ladies in the town would be singing your creative talents as they lynched you.
From: Bella Swan
To: Jasper Whitlock
Subject: You have always liked the kinky ones!
Noted, I guess the old standby of it is better to beg for forgiveness than ask for permission won't work either.
Jas, I'm a little scared. Can you come walk me out to my truck?
From: Jasper Whitlock
To: Bella Swan
Subject: I've always liked you, haven't I?
One: Is the lynch mob already forming because you thought about changing the school song dance?
Two: I can't believe that old beat up truck of yours still runs.
Three: Give me five minutes.
Ten minutes later, Jasper was leaning casually against the doorframe of my classroom. He appeared there so quickly and silently he could have been a vampire.
"Jasper, you scared me." I said with my hand over my racing heart. "I expected you five minutes ago. What happened? It is not like you to keep a gal waiting."
"I know and I am sorry, Miss. I did not want to be detained, but alas the lynch mob was waiting for me outside of my classroom. I only just barely got away." He said pouring all of his southern charm and wiles into his voice.
I batted my eyelashes and in my best impression of Scarlett O'Hara, I said, "Why, Mr. Whitlock, I accept your apology. But whatever do you mean by saying a lynch mob was waiting for you outside your classroom? You have to be so brave to get away. Are you hurt? Do I need to rip apart my scant shirt to bandage some part of you? Or did those Yankees even get a chance to lay a finger on you?"
"Fucking Christ, Bells! That was absolutely perfect." Jasper said after he swallowed thickly. As he moved to sit on a student desk again, he said, "But no it wasn't the Yankees waiting to lynch me. It was Jessica Stanley, Lauren Mallory, and their mothers."
"Huh?" I said dumbfounded at this surprising information. "Why would they come bug you?"
"They were asking, actually, they were demanding that I, as the band director, persuade you to quickly post the cheer squad roster."
"Why should you be concerned about my rosters?" I asked more to myself than to him. Looking up at him, I said, "No offense, Jas, but all you do for the cheer squad is play our music for halftime. Why exactly did they think should you be concerned with who is dancing to it?"
"Funnily enough, that is the question that I asked them. Mrs. Stanley rambled on and on about how I needed to get 'that woman' to post the rosters so they could hold a practice. Not that they need the practice themselves, but they needed to have the other girls get as close as they could to Jessica and Lauren's standards. The two, who assume they will be captains, want to not completely outshine the rest of the girls when they perform to my band's amazing music."
"Holy shit! I am going to hate this woman, am I?" I asked in a dead voice.
"With a passion, Bells." Jasper said semi-mockingly. Then, with a more somber tone, he said, "Just be glad you only have to deal with her for one year. I have to deal with her for four full years, Jessica's little brother is a freshman in the band."
"Oh, Jasper! I am so sorry." I said rushing over to give him a hug and trying to hide my smile.
She has already demanded that I give him a solo in the first band concert." He pulled back slightly and looked directly into my face. "He plays the tuba, Bells. What in the hell kind of song has a tuba solo?"
I felt bad, but at that point I couldn't contain my laughter anymore. Soon, he was laughing with me. "I bring the booze over after your concert."
"Thank you. Now, tell me why you asked me to walk you to your truck?"
"I am about to post the squad rosters."
"And that requires an escort to your truck?" Jasper asked confused.
"I didn't mark any captains. I wrote a note at the bottom saying I would call them Saturday afternoon."
"Mrs. Stanley is going to go ballistic when she finds out she has to wait for a phone call." I guess the look on my face gave something away. "Wait a minute, Bells. Who are you making the captains?"
"Angela Weber and Lauren Mallory" I said timidly.
Jasper sat thinking for a moment. Suddenly, he said, "Want to go away with me this weekend?"
A cough from the doorway kept me from answering. Jasper and I whipped our heads around to see Emmett standing there. "Carlisle called me when you didn't answer your phone. He said you promised you would be home twenty minutes ago." Then, he walked away.
I dropped my head to Jasper's shoulder. "Shit."
%
August 18
"Bella!" Alice screamed as she bounced into my room at some god-awful time on my last Saturday morning before school started.
While she was prattling on, I sneakily grabbed one of my extra pillows from beside me on my bed. I lobbed it toward the sound of her voice after figuring that she was near my closet.
A small thump and her huff sound made me extremely glad that she and Esme had brought all of my boxes from the storage unit.
Since I had been on Carlisle sanctioned light duty, I had fully moved into this massive house that I had named 'The Villa'. Esme, Alice, and I bribed Emmett with a steak dinner and cake to carry all the boxes from my storage unit.
"Alice, I know Carlisle medically cleared me, but look at the time." I whined when she threw my pillow back at me.
The little, sometimes annoying, energetic pixie just laughed said, "Bella, darling, it is 12 o'clock. Now, get up. Esme and I want to introduce you to a few ladies today."
That got my attention. "What? Alice, what do you mean 'introduce you to a few ladies'?" I said a little scared of the small woman in front of me as I sat up enough to lean on my elbows.
Alice made to yank my blankets off of me, but I held them to me tightly. "Come on, Bella. You are going to be here for a long time. You need to get to know other people besides us and your students. Plus, it's not like I haven't already seen you naked."
"I am NOT naked!" I shrieked as I threw my sheet, blanket, and comforter off of my body. "See, I am perfectly clothed." I said pointing to my black, spaghetti strap tank and Victoria Secret hot pink booty shorts. "Plus, you said that you would never be mentioned again, especially with Emmett in the house!"
As I was ranting, Alice quickly grabbed my bed linens and pulled them completely off of my bed. She jumped over to my door and chucked everything in her arms into the hallway. She was muttering to herself, "See sitcoms are intelligent. Thank you, Cosby Show!" After turning to me, she said, "Emmett is in his room sleeping like a bear in hibernation. As for walking in on you in the shower and seeing you naked, that wasn't the highlight of my week either." She walked over to me and spun me around by my shoulders as she said, "Go take a shower. I think you can do your own hair and make-up. Your minimalist look will go over well with these ladies. While you are showering, I'll lay out your clothes. These women are very picky about activity attire. Yes, you will have to wear heels."
"But, Alice!" I whined a made a sad, pouty, puppy dog face. "Do you really want to put me under Carlisle's care again?"
"Fine! I will compromise." She said with an exasperated sigh. "I will scrounge and find you some kitten heels. Now, go take a shower. We have to leave at precisely 12:45."
I stepped out of the shower fully awake and wary of what Alice and Esme were getting me into. In the emergency room, I had made Alice promise me not to go all sorority sister psycho on me.
Maybe she thought that I meant that only applied while I was injured. If that is what she thinks, I am definitely reinjuring myself. Today.
After wrapping myself tightly in a large towel, I stepped cautiously into my bedroom. I know they said they wouldn't come in my room unannounced again after Emmett did last Friday and Alice did on Wednesday. I have quickly learned that I would never know with those two.
I sighed seeing that my room was empty of people, but I spotted a medium sized, tall gift box sitting on the center of my bed. It was a gorgeous, satin finished, white box with a wide width ribbon and bow that were of course, teal.
I wondered again if everything in this town was somehow teal. There certainly were several teal accent pieces on the common floor of The Villa.
I carefully opened the box and folded back a top layer of teal tissue paper. I chuckled to find a pair of dark tinted, black, cat's eye sunglasses. Setting those on my nightstand that my father had made, I folded back a white layer of tissue paper to find a pair of dark denim, distressed, cuffed jean capris. I was beginning to get excited about going; no stuffy old women would like denim capris at an activity. Opening the third layer, I gasped seeing a shiny, metallic teal coyote looking up at me from a black background. I picked up the coyote's material and quickly realized that it was a tee with short cap sleeves trimmed in teal.
Seeing that is was already 12:25 over top of the tee, I quickly put on my bra, panties, and jean capris before sitting down to do my simple make-up routine. I threw on my new shirt and the black, low-wedge sandals that had been peeking through another layer of teal tissue paper. I turned from side to side in the mirror to see if the messy side ponytail I had just done looked good enough. On the last look, something on the back of my shirt caught my eye. In the same metallic teal, the back of my shirt said "Swan 77" like a jersey would.
Esme and Emmett came running from the kitchen when they heard me stumble down the last couple of stairs. Emmett lightly grabbed my hand and helped me to stand.
"Well, nothing is broken at least." I said with an uneasy laugh as I brushed myself off. "I told Alice I shouldn't ever wear any kind of heels."
Esme stopped my hands nervous movements and asked, "Are you sure you are okay? We can go without you and take you to an event on a couple of weeks."
"I'm fine. I'm fine. I'm just…"
"A closet klutz." Emmett finished.
"Right. Besides I look the part." I said gesturing to her matching outfit that I was unsurprised to notice. "It would be silly for me to go anywhere else, right?"
Looking around, I noticed someone was missing. "Where is Alice? I thought she said that she and Esme were dragging me off somewhere."
Emmett is the one that answered. "She was too excited. She was bouncing around and threatening to run upstairs and help you to get dressed faster. I had had enough. I picked her up, carried her to Esme's car and strapped her in the backseat about five minutes ago."
"Thanks for that." I said with real gratitude in my voice. Then, with trepidation in my voice, I added, "I guess we go join her and head off for places unknown."
"Bella, don't be so scared. The women we are meeting are nice and only one of them bites." She said smiling as she linked her arm with mine and began to steer me toward the front door. "She only bites her husband. I promise everything will be fine and have a good time. If not, I will take you to get a shake that tastes like you are eating a piece of banana taffy."
"Really? That sounds delicious."
"Oh, it is. I think I am going to get us some no matter what. We'll need one after spending all afternoon with Alice's bouncing."
Laughing at Esme's non joke, I turned to the driveway and gasped. Sitting in front of me was a sleek, shiny black, custom Jaguar convertible with fuzzy teal dice hanging from the rearview mirror.
"Holy crow! Esme, is that really your car?" I asked stunned by its beauty. Then, before she could respond, I said, "Wait a minute. Didn't you drive me to Neiman Marcus in a silver Hummer on Thursday?"
"The Hummer is my work car. I often transport items to and from the warehouse myself. This is my weekend car. Pretty, isn't it?"
"Pretty doesn't cover it." I said breathlessly. Then, Esme and I noticed a struggling Alice in the back seat. We swiftly turned on Emmett.
"What? Esme, you told me to strap her in."
"But I didn't said to bound and gag her."
As he went to free his little sister, he mumbled, "I thought you appreciate the silence."
When we were finally on our way, I kept asking them where we were going, but they refuse to tell me. After a few minutes, my fear of where we were going was confirmed when we pulled into the teacher's parking lot of Frost High School.
"Why are we here? I thought I am supposed to be meeting people besides people at school." I asked with a slight whiney tone to my voice.
"Come on, Bella. Get your butt out of the car." Esme said sternly.
I grudgingly got out of Esme's convertible. "So, what are we doing here?"
Esme and Alice didn't answer. They linked arms with me on both sides and they led me toward the main quad of the school that housed the amphitheater. I stopped short when we could finally see the lower section of the quad. There were about thirty women that all seemed to be in their twenties or early thirties. They were, also, all wearing their own version of my new outfit while milling around on the grass.
Alice jerked lightly on my arm that was still linked with hers. "Come on, Bella. It is time for you to meet the Ladies of Frost."
"Who?" I asked completely confused.
Esme tried to explain, "The Ladies of Frost, we are a very, very exclusive group of women that help clubs and programs at the school with their fundraising. Also, we like to do fun stuff like surprising the staff or just generally sprucing up the campus."
"And we go clubbing in San Francisco." Alice said excitedly as she jumped up and down.
"Right," Esme said with a sly smile. "Now, let's get you introduced to the other ladies. We need to put the grounds keepers to work."
The rest of the afternoon was one big, teal blur to me. I walked around with Esme and another woman because I wasn't allowed to help decorating the staff lounges. The three of us, well mainly the other two ladies, instructed the grounds keepers where to plant all of the teal flowers and the ivy that would bloom more teal flowers in the spring.
I have never been accused of having a green thumb. I really wished I had been able to stay with Alice over in House 4. She would have at least let me sit down and relax for a few minutes by myself. But she and a few other women were decorating the staff lounge and the classroom doors while four other teams did the same in the three other houses and the arts block of classes.
When the beautifying of Frost High School was finally deemed finished, the Ladies of Frost all gracefully got into their cars. After I hopped into the back of Esme's convertible, I learned we were going to be joining all the other ladies for dinner at a local, family-owned, Mexican restaurant.
The woman Esme and I had spent our afternoon with, Bree Tanner-Weber, popped up next to the car and asked for a ride. As she climbed in, she explained why she needed one. "My sister-in-law had to drop me off because my car was in the shop and Riley is off with some of the other men out on the Delta."
I turned to her while trying to rest my head on my headrest. "Why didn't your sister-in-law stay?"
"She would have loved to stay, but she is only a student here. You have to be twenty to join our group." She explained.
"Angela." I mumbled to myself as I straightened my head forward again.
"What was that, Bella?" Alice asked from the front seat.
"Oh, nothing, I just remembered why Bree's name is so familiar. Her sister-in-law is Angela Weber, one of the captains of my varsity cheer squad."
"What? She one of the captains?" Bree squealed. Then, she timidly asked, "Can I talk to you honestly about that?"
I met Esme's eyes in the rearview mirror and she nonchalantly shrugged as she drove. "Sure." I answered with a worried edge to my voice that I could even hear.
"There is no need to be worried about me, at least. I wouldn't be so sure about Jessica Stanley and Lauren Mallory's moms after they find out." She said with a smile. "Thank you for having confidence in her. She is a good at cheerleading, but she is shy and generally gets pushed to the side and forgotten. She has such a great heart and spirit."
"That is exactly way I picked her. I was the same way when I was in high school." I exclaimed with a genuine smile on my face. "She definitely has the heart to inspire. I help she won't hate me when I push her to bring her fully out of her shell. I want her to be able to inspire the other girls on the squad and the rest of the campus, not just when she is cheering along the field, but when she is walking around in between classes. If I can get her to see that kind of power that she already has inside her, she will have a better chance of getting the full scholarship to USC that I overheard her talking to Leah Clearwater and Emily Young about."
"Really? I mean, we can pay for college with the help of loans, but for her to earn the scholarship and go to college on her own merit would be amazing."
"Does she know she is captain yet?" Alice asked as we pulled into a parking spot.
"No, and I don't know how much longer I can keep it a secret." Bree squealed as she got out of the car.
"Actually, she does know. I called her and the other captain a little bit ago." I felt bad because Bree's face looked a little crest-fallen. I rushed an explanation. "I need them to come in early on Monday for a short sit-down with me."
"Oh, well. I had just thought it would be fun to keep a secret from her this weekend." She said before slipping into the restaurant.
After we joined one of the tables of women, I instantly realized that Bree's squealing wouldn't be the last I heard. Under the table, I covertly slipped my cell phone out of my pocket. Within seconds, I got several replies.
Be there in ten
Get me a XXX Grande Burrito
Wet with extra sour cream
Extra Rice and Beans
Carne Asada Nachos
XXXL Banana Shake
The women around the table began ordering, but I had yet to even look at the menu. When I ordered his meal, Esme and Alice's eyebrows raised, but neither said anything.
I wasn't actually surprised seven minutes later when the rest of the table received their food, but I did not get what I had ordered. I guess surprise showed on my face though because Esme leaned over and asked if I needed anything.
"It's nothing. I just didn't get what I ordered." I answered vaguely.
The waitress answered, "You came in with Esme and Alice, honey. Then, you order that meal." After chuckling at my confused face, she continued, "The only person to ever order that exact massive meal just pulled up outside."
I looked around her to see Emmett getting out of his jeep. "I guess that is his food filling the large bag on the counter."
"Right." She said with a smile as the bell above the door tinkled.
Emmett entered the small, but full restaurant and inhaled deeply. "God, I love the smell of Mexican food in the evening!"
"Hey, Emmett!" The waitress called to him. "Your food and your date are ready."
"I'm not…" "She's not…" He and I said at the same time.
Esme put her hand on my arm. "Don't bother. She won't listen. Her husband is an amazing man and she wants to believe everyone is as happy as she is."
"Oh. I am going to go with Emmett. My head is starting to hurt and I don't want it to get worse."
"Do I need to call Carlisle?"
"NO! I mean, no. I just need to go home and relax in some quiet." I replied.
"Okay. He is at home relaxing if you need him."
"Thanks." I said as I gave her a quick side hug. "I'll see you tomorrow." I said a few goodbyes to the table and walked to Emmett.
Emmett leaned over and whispered, "So you couldn't stand these crazy, gossipy, loud, back-stabbing ladies anymore?"
"Emmett, that was rude, but accurate. Now, straighten up and take me home before these ladies get the wrong idea about us."
"I'm taking you home. I think they already have," he chuckled as he led me out to his jeep with one hand on the small of my back and his food in the other.
Just before we pulled away, the waitress came running out and yelling at us.
"What's wrong, Maria?"
"You two forgot your shakes. Esme was excited for Bella to try it." She said handing him two humungous to go cups. "Bella, I don't think you will drink that much, but it can be refrozen or Emmett can finish it. Have a good night you two." She said with a wink and strolled back into the restaurant.
"Get me off of here." I begged him.
After he pulled out onto the street and started home, he jokingly said, "You know all this begging means you are going to owe me something in return soon."
"Shut up and drive, Emmett." I replied before trying the best shake I had ever had in my life. I relaxed and laid my head on his shoulder. "I am so tired and school hasn't even started yet. How in the hell am I going to survive?"
"One day at a time, plus, with the help of friends and several stiff drinks." I looked up at hoping he was joking. He wrapped his arm around my shoulders and softly said, "I'm kidding. There are some kids that will make you work hard at liking them, but others will make you work harder just because they are the amazing kids that they are. You'll have good days and bad days, but the good outweigh the bad. Plus, your friends will be there to help you through those bad days."
"Thanks, Emmett."
"Anytime, Bella. Now, let's get home. My food smells delicious." I knew his serious attitude couldn't last for long.
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August 20
"Bella, are you sure you have my home, cell, and office numbers in your phone?"
"Yes, Carlisle. I have Emmett, Alice, and Esme's numbers too. My first class is coming in, I need to go."
"Okay. Call one of us if anything happens or if you need any help."
"Bye, Carlisle." I hung up my cell quickly as my first few students came in. "Find a place to sit please, just not in the armchairs in the back."
I got the grumbling reaction I expected, but they complied with my request. The class went smoother than I expected. My Italian level 3 class and I were were laughing and speaking Italian in no time. Before I knew it, it was time for them to go to their next classes.
My intro to psych class was boring as hell, even to me. The students were annoyed that they had to take this elective because the ones they wanted were full when they registered. After these first few days of introduction, I will be able to get them more engaged, I hope.
The last period of the day was my open counseling period. Since it was the first day of school, I hadn't expected anyone to come in. I was startled when I heard a quiet "Excuse me, Miss Swan." I looked up to see Angela Weber standing there holding several books in her hands.
Getting up and crossing the room to her, I said "Angela, what can I do for you? Aren't you supposed to be in a class right now?"
She nodded her head and said, "I need you to make me not a captain of the cheer squad."
"I don't think I heard you right. Are you asking to not be on the squad or to not be a captain because you don't think you can handle the leadership role?"
With a passion in her eyes, she said, "I want to be on the squad, please, don't take me off of the squad."
"I won't, I promise. But I don't understand, you were so excited and you had a million and one great ideas this morning. What has happened to make you change your mind?"
"Nothing, I just can't be captain."
"Angela, what is wrong? I can't help if you won't talk to me. By the way, why are you holding all of your books instead of putting them in your backpack?"
Tears began to form in Angela's eyes. "It broke." She tried to say calmly, but failed.
The next morning the entire school knew that Jessica Stanley had assaulted Angela Weber and sliced the bottom of her backpack.
I have no idea how Emmett did it, but he proved right away that his players would respect their cheerleaders. He had arranged for one or two football team members to walk Angela to and from her classes, practice, and her car.
I didn't cut Jessica from the squad, but she did get a week's suspension from the squad to be served after her two day suspension from school. I did warn her if she did anything else or had anything else done, she would not only be gone from the squad, but I would help Angela and her family press criminal charges of harassment.
%
August 25
Before I knew it, the first week of school was over and I was completely drained. I was very tempted to say no to Rose when she called to see if I would go IKEA shopping with her on Saturday. I went though.
"Bella, what do you think about this crib?"
"It's cute, but I think that one that changes into a toddler bed is cuter and much more practical." I said trying to be helpful.
"See, Bella, I told you that you would be perfect helping me with this. You compliment my crazy, pregnancy brain perfectly." Rose said excitedly while giving me a hug.
"Have you thought about colors?" I asked looking over to the wall of comforters and sheet sets as she wrote down the number of the crib I pointed out.
"Edward and I hadn't decided yet. We keep flopping back and forth between neutrals focusing on yellow or green." Rose replied following my gaze over to the wall. "We don't learn the sex of the baby for a while."
"Rose, if I asked you a question would you answer me honestly?" I asked timidly.
I guess my tone surprised her because I had her full attention for the first time since I had met her apartment. "Bella, I always answer you honestly. Go ahead and ask."
"How do you know Esme?"
"Well, Edward used to rent some rooms in Emmett and Alice's house."
"Wait a minute. Alice told me an Edward used to live with them. I just had not made the connection."
"Well, you did have a concussion."
"Is that it?"
"Yes, that's it. Now, let's finish finding things for the baby's room. I am getting really hungry."
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August 31
"Bella, are you ready for your first football game as a high school cheer coach?" Esme asked walking out to the field with my squad.
"I can't do this. I taught the girls stupid cheers. Everyone is going to laugh at them. Everyone is going to laugh at me and run me out of town. I CAN'T do this." I said starting to hyperventilate.
"You will be fine. I saw you running through the cheers with the girls in the House 4 quad. They are amazing. I always hated those cookie cutter routines that most cheerleaders do. Everything will be fine, more than fine even." Esme said trying to make me feel better. "You have to relax or Carlisle is going to come down here. You won't like it if he does that."
"Okay, I think I'm going to be okay." I said calming down.
Four hours later, my cheerleaders were jumping up and down screaming. Emmett had led his team to their first victory of the year. My girls were also celebrating the fact that they had finally beat another cheer squad in a cheer-off during the game.
All of the sudden, I was covered in cold. I slowly turn around after the ice finished hitting my back and neck. I see Angela and several other cheerleaders laughing at Emmett holding a Gatorade bucket in one hand.
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I love Jasper in this story. I hope you noticed that he and Bella were having two conversations in their e-mails. One in the subject line and one in the body of the e-mail. I didn't write him, he just pops in my head and tells me what to type. He helps me with Bella when they interact, too. Emmett will realize that they are just old friends soon, but not before he does something stupid.
Yes, Rosalie is a liar in this chapter. Bella will find out sooner or later.
Jessica isn't done with Angela and Bella yet.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter & you stay tuned. Let me know what you think.
~KaliCali77
Pictures of the house are at http:/ www. villa vianci .com/ Just remove the spaces.