Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight, or its characters. I also don't own some of the spoken parts of the book, they were, however, necessary for this story.
A/N: Finally, another chapter out. Sorry it's taken a while. Thanks a bunch to clairxdexlune for the wonderful beta on this chapter! Hope you enjoy chapter 4:)
Finally, the last class of the day. Only one more hour, and I'm free of this hell hole, I thought, rising from my seat. I still didn't know what Bella told Edward during lunch, but I was incredibly pissed off at her right now. Other than my own thoughts, I had been nothing but nice to her since she came here, and now she was making up stories about me! What is wrong with her? What is wrong with me? I shouldn't even care – I want her gone, out of my life, and I'm worried about what she's saying about me, gah!
I was so distracted by my own thoughts, I almost walked into Mike when I got outside.
"Hey, Jess. What's up?" he asked me when I finally realized someone was in front of me.
"Oh, hey Mike. Not much, how 'bout you?"
"Same. Hey, are you okay? You look a little shaken, or something."
"Me? I'm fine. Just thinking, that's all. I have a lot on my mind right now," I replied, trying to sound nonchalant, but not succeeding in any way.
"Okay." Mike said, not believing me. "So, I was wondering, if maybe you wanted to hang out later, or something. We could, I don't know, go hiking or something." He was looking at the ground instead of me when he said this.
"Um, yeah sure. I'd really like that a lot." Oh. My. God. Mike just asked me out, again!
"Yeah, alright. Cool." Oh my god, he's so cute! "I'll call you later, Jess. Bye."
"Okay! Bye!" My day had just gotten so much better!
I can feel myself beaming on my way to class, practically skipping. I couldn't help it. I could feel several pairs of eyes on me, but I pay no attention to them, I'm used to the stares after all. I mean, I am the most beautiful girl in Forks High School, and I'm having the best day, because I'm going out with Mike later!
I walk through the door to my last class, and upon spotting Lauren in her normal seat, I practically ran over to my desk shouting her name.
"LAUREN! Oh my god, you'll never believe what happened to me. Guess, you'll never guess, so I don't know why I'm making you guess, but guess anyway! C'mon, you're smart; I know you'll figure it out. Guess! Oh my god, you have to guess Lauren!" I said. It came out so fast, my words ran together. But since Lauren's been my best friend for ages, she's used to it and is able to understand me perfectly.
"Did Bella fall off a cliff somewhere?" Her voice was dripping with sarcasm. But I could hear a small drop of hope in there somewhere. She feels the same way I do when it comes to Bella.
"No, BETTER! Mike asked me out later. He said he's going to call, and we can go like, hiking or something! How completely awesome is that?"
"Wow, Jess. That's two dates with Mike. That's so cool, I'm so happy for you. But hiking? He couldn't come up with anything better than that?"
"I don't know. It seemed like it was a last minute decision, but who cares? I'm going out with Mike tonight!"
"I really am happy for you Jess! I just wish Tyler would look at me for five seconds, and get the ridiculous girl off his mind. It's not like she's that pretty, or smart, or funny. She's just average. Plain. Boring. I'm beautiful, smart, and funny. God, what is it with her? It's like she's cast a spell over the entire male population of the school."
"I know Lauren. But I think it's really just because she's new. We're not, we've always been here. She just moved here, and she's like the apple in the Garden of Eden or whatever. While she's no different then the rest of us, she's new, and so she looks shinier, redder. She's forbidden."
"Whoa. Where did that come from?"
"I really have no idea. I think I just had an epiphany or something. Weird."
The teacher started the class just then, so we had to stop talking. But throughout the rest of the class, I couldn't get my new thoughts about why everyone wanted Bella. I mean, when you really look at my new perspective, it makes complete sense. Maybe I should stop hating Bella so much. It's not like it's her fault or anything. It's just because she's new. In a few more weeks, the novelty of her would wear off, and everything will be back to normal. Right?
Just then, the bell rang, signaling the end of class. Still lost in my new thoughts, I slowly gathered up my things, after saying goodbye to Lauren. When I walked outside of the building, my heart stopped. Who should happen to walk out of the gym with Mike, my Mike, other then Bella. With a big old smile plastered on her face. That's not even going into the enamored look Mike was wearing. He looked like a ravenous dog put in front of a big bowl of food, like he was just waiting to take a bite out of her.
I was furious! How dare him! He just asked ME to go out later, and there he is, flirting with HER! Who do they think they are? Isn't it enough for Bella to make the most gorgeous guy fall in love with her? No, she has to make them all want her!
At that moment, I knew I would always hate her. At that moment, I knew she had to be gotten rid of. There was no way I would lose Mike to her. It's just like Lauren said. She's plain. There's nothing special about her, unless you count her innate clumsiness. She wasn't capable of walking across a flat, empty surface without finding a small, miniscule, microscopic pebble to trip over. What is so desirable about that? Please, someone let me know, because I want it. Whatever it is, it seems to work for her, and I need all the help I can get.
I realized that I had slowed down, almost to a complete stop. I picked up my pace then, walking as quickly as I could, shoving past both Bella and Mike. When I passed, I could hear Bella's confusion, asking "What's wrong with her?" as I stormed by. And Mike's awkward, "I don't know." in reply. Oh, he knows perfectly well what's wrong. How could he do this to me?
I got into my car, and pulled out of the parking space, almost hitting a car that was turning out of the parking lot. I sped home, not in the mood to deal with anything. I was angry, but more, I was hurt. I thought Mike liked me. But now, it was probably Bella just telling him to ask me out again. He's doing it to make her happy.
I just kept pacing the living room. I paid no attention to the time, all I could think of were different ways to get rid of her. She's got to go. I could lure her…no, no. I'm not homicidal. I couldn't kill her. What if I asked Lauren…no, she couldn't do it either. We're just not the killing type. And besides, Edward somehow always finds a way to save her. Look at the time Tyler almost crushed her with his van, and what happened in Port Angeles. So what could I do to make her leave? Lauren and I could start some really bad rumors about her, but that's just childish, and I don't think she would leave because of that alone. Come on, there's got to be something…
That's when it hit me – my most brilliant idea ever. I could make her think Edward didn't love her anymore. She all but admitted to me that she's in love with him already, and what better way to make her leave than a broken heart? It's perfect. But how do I make it look like that?
At that moment, I heard someone pounding on the front door. Who could it be? I know it's not anyone in my family, because they'd just use their key. It's not Lauren, she would have called first. I was running down a list in my head, and couldn't come up with anyone.
"Jessica, open the door. I know you're in there." This was a surprise. First, I recognized the voice to be that of Edward Cullen. Second, he was furious. I'd never heard him so angry since they moved here. It had to be about whatever Bella told him about me at lunch.
"Hang on, I'm coming." I shouted. Now would be the perfect time to start in on my plan. I ran to the mirror hanging in the living room, trying to fix my hair, at least a little. I have to look good for him, or as good as I can on such a short notice. I ran to the door and opened it. "Hey, Edward. What are you doing here?" I asked him, leaning against the door.
"I need to talk to you. Can I come in?" he said in a strained voice.
"Of course you can. What can I do for you?" I asked him. The question could be taken any way he wanted it to.
"If you so much as come anywhere near Bella, so help me God, I will make your life a living hell!"
"Why Edward, what are you talking about? Bella's my friend, of course I'm going to be near Bella. She's like, my best friend."
"Stop lying to me, Jessica! I know you want her gone. Whatever you're planning on doing to her, don't. You underestimate me, you underestimate my family, but more importantly, you underestimate Bella."
"I don't know what you're talking about, Edward. I'm not planning on doing anything to Bella. Why would I want to?" What has he heard? How did he find out?
"You forget that my family cares a great deal for me, Jessica. They may not like Bella, but I do. They will look out for because I care for her. Do you understand me when I say that you should be careful what you say around others? My family looks out for one another, and believe me when I say that they will not be as ruthless with you as I will if you so much as think about touching one hair on her head. And trust me, we'll know if you think about hurting her. We'll know if you decide to hurt her. And trust me, we'll stop you in whatever way necessary to protect Bella from you." He glared at me with the most menacing black stare for a full minute before storming out of the house.
I was scared, truly terrified for the first time in my life. When did I say anything out loud, in public anyway, about hurting Bella? Did I say something I shouldn't have while I was talking to Lauren? Did she tell someone what we had planned when we went to Port Angeles? How did he find out?
What will I do? And how would they know if I think about hurting her? How will they know if I decide to do anything to her? Something was definitely strange about the Cullen family, and I'm going to find out what it is, no matter what the cost is. And when I find out, I'll not only hurt Bella, I'll hurt the entire Cullen family. Whatever I have to do to get Mike to become mine, I'll do it.
A/N: So, what do you think? Is it worth continuing? I'm not sure, please let me know, and please review :)