Chapter 4: El Apetito De Las Leonas (Translation "The Lioness' Appetite")

Edward's POV

Bella's dance causalities started piling up. It seemed like every single male in this school had asked her and she turned them down. After she turned down a senior I knew I didn't have a chance. I was really dejected about not getting a shot with her. Fortunately some girl named Lauren had set her sights on me.

Bella and I were sitting together in Spanish class when Lauren approached us. She tucked a loose strand of blond hair behind her ear and smiled at me. "Hi Edward, Hi…Bella" Lauren said Bella's name with a hint of venom in her voice. I glanced at Bella, "What's up Lauren?" She faltered a little when I smiled, "Um…well…I was just wondering if you wanted to go to the fall dance with me?"

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Bella stiffen and I could have sworn I saw a flash of jealously on her face. She couldn't possibly be jealous of Lauren asking me, could she? "Sure Lauren" Lauren looked like she was going to faint with delight at my answer. "Ok great!" "I just got a new car so why don't I pick you up around 7:00?"

Lauren violently nodded her head, "Ok sounds great." With that she rushed over to her friend Jessica who began squealing at her news. I chuckled and turned back to Bella who was giving me the death glare. "What?" I asked innocently. "Lauren. Of all the people you could have gone with you chose Lauren?" she asked this through gritted teeth.

"What do you mean? You are aren't…Jealous?" I said the last word with a hint of amusement. "No! I'm just…well…Lauren isn't exactly the best person to be around if you get what I'm saying." I didn't, "uh?" "Lauren is the gossip queen and one false move and you can kiss your precious social life good-bye" Bella said her eyes drifting to Lauren and Jessica then back. "Ok I'm warned," I said growing slightly irritated.

Bella dropped her eyes back to her book and didn't speak a word for the rest of class. Once class was over she disappeared before I could follow her to lunch. When I took my seat at our table I noticed that Bella and Alice were missing. "Ben where's Bella and Alice?" I asked. Ben shrugged his shoulder but Angela answered, "Their sitting over there today."

She pointed to the table in the corner of the cafeteria. I saw them; their heads were pushed together as they discussed something heatedly. "Why?" I asked knowing it was probably about me. "Family stuff" Angela whispered.

Bella's POV

I was practical a walking flame thrower. How could he ever want to go with Lauren Mallory to the dance? Alice took a seat across from me and stared before finally speaking. "Rough day?" I scoffed, "he's going to the dance with Lauren!"

Alice smiled sympathetically, "Bella you have turned down every guy in this school. It's not that hard to guess why he didn't ask you." "But…" I tried to think of a good excuse. "But Lauren is so…Lauren!"

Alice laughed at my answer, "Oh Bella you and Lauren have been at each other's throats, no pun intended, since the beginning of school. Of course she was going to ask him." I knew Alice was right but I couldn't stop being severely upset by the event. I knew it was dangerous for me to be so infatuated with a human but I couldn't help myself.

"Any change in the vision?" Alice shook her head, "it comes and goes."

"And the vampire?" I asked. "Not any of us that's for sure but something could change." I nodded solemnly. I peeked over my shoulder and caught Edward's green eyes staring at me. I turned back to Alice abruptly.

She seemed to be in a trance; she was having a vision. She blinked and stared at me. She looked over my shoulder and laughed as she caught Edward's gaze. "What?" I asked. Alice shook her head, "you'll find out."

I was confused by what she meant but before I could question her I felt Edward approach us. "Hey Alice do you mind if I talk to Bella alone." "Not at all" Alice stated, clearly amused. Edward took her seat and she went to sit with the others. "What?" I asked curtly.

Edward's POV

"What?" Bella asked angrily. "I'm sorry I upset you with the whole Lauren thing" I defended. Bella's face softened, "Lauren and I don't have the best track record, I just overreacted." I smiled a crooked smile and her eyes brightened. "Come on we're going to be late for class," I said.

We got up and walked to class, our little fight completely forgotten. We took our seats and class began. Mr. Banner was giving us a review for our test when I heard a small gasp from behind me. I turned around and saw a small blond girl holding her finger. She had a paper cut, a rather bad one at that.

She got up and walked past Bella and Mike's table to get a Band-Aid. Bella's reaction was unexpected. She was glaring at the girl and looked rather pissed off. Her eyes did the thing they did the first day I met her; they seemed to turn black. Bella's hand shot up and Mr. Banner called on her. "Mr. Banner can I go to the nurse, I don't feel so well" she said breathlessly.

Mr. Banner nodded and Bella flew from the room. The girl with the paper cut had reseated herself and Mr. Banner started up again. I tried to listen but I was deeply disturbed by Bella reaction to a papercut. I had a friend who hated blood too but they never reacted like that.