BPOV
Mike followed me home. I waved at him in my mirror and smiled at him. Maybe I had gone insane from stress about moving here or maybe I just really liked him. Either way, I was happy. I raced inside and Mike waited in his Suburban. I shoved my wallet into my old purse and ran an old brush through my brown hair. I grabbed a jacket and some paper and a pen.
Dad,
I hope you're fine making supper tonight. I've gone to the
Movies with my new friend Mike. I'll be home before ten.
I had a great day. –Bella
I put the note beside the door and walked outside. I tried to look elegant and graceful as I walked purposely towards him. That didn't work out so great. I tripped on the hose Charlie had left out from cleaning his police cruiser the other day. Mike looked alarmed as he sprang out of the car to rescue you me from the clump of wet grass and untangle me from the hose. He laughed afterwards when I stood up again, wet and blushing.
"Oops." I laughed weakly.
"I'll say." Mike agreed.
We both laughed after that. He opened the door for me and I climbed in. And then we were off to Port Angeles.
"Thanks for coming tonight." Mike smiled.
"No problem." I smiled back.
Mike put his arm around the back of my chair. Surprisingly, I didn't mind. Mike was a happy guy. He talked about his friends and Forks. He pointed out different types of cars. My car vocabulary expanded that night. I now knew what a Jaguar, a Volvo, a Hummer and a Volkswagen Rabbit looked like. I was so proud.
Mike paid for me even though I told him that it was okay. I really hated people spending money on me but I knew that he was just trying to be nice. The movie was really tacky but it was fun just to be with Mike. He kept his arm around me and I didn't complain once. We laughed at the bad actors and climbed back into his car to drive to a restaurant. He paid again there too. He drove me home after that.
"Thanks, Mike. I had a great time. Really. Thanks." I said.
"No problem. I had a great time too." Mike smiled at me.
He really was cute. He leaned closer to me. I wanted to kiss him but I just wasn't ready yet. It had only been a day. I didn't know what to do. Before I could decide, I felt my head turning sideways unconsciously and he backed away, embarrassed.
"I'm sorry." I said quietly.
"No problem." He shrugged.
"Not ready." I added.
"It's fine." He assured me.
I climbed out of the car, hesitating for a second. I doubled back and kissed his cheek swiftly before waving. It wasn't' what he had wanted but it was a step in the right direction. He looked pleased with himself as he drove away. I was pleased with myself for not sneezing or something like that while my lips were pressed to his face. Bad luck can't follow you everywhere.
MPOV
It was hilarious watching Bella trip. I figured that I would get in trouble with her dad if I left her tangled in a garden hose so I went out to help. I also didn't want Eric bugging me to hell because I injured a girl on a date. I really wanted to kiss her tonight too, so I wanted to be in her good books. Everything went great. She let me have my arm around her, which was a good sign. I could at least brag about something to the guys. But when I tried to kiss her, she chickened out. At least I got a peck on the cheek. That was something. I drove away. Bella Swan was sort of cool.
EPOV
The days passed. I'm not sure how, but they did. I couldn't understand my concern for Bella Swan. It was utterly absurd. Why should I even spare a thought for the insignificant human who almost destroyed my family's life? Nobody understood. Especially me. My family was getting wary at my constant emotional struggles and ranting over the subject.
"Do you know what he was thinking all of last night?" I demanded to Emmett.
"No. We can't all be psychopathic mind-readers, you know." He shrugged. I glared at him. "You are talking about Newton and that girl who you want to kill, right?"
I nodded once.
"Why do you care?"
The question caught me off guard. I really didn't know the answer. I growled in response.
"You aren't actually crushing on the girl you want to kill, right?" Emmett laughed.
"No." I snarled.
"Fine, fine. Okay, bro. What was the big, bad Newton thinking?" Emmett teased.
I glared at him fiercely. "He just helped her when she fell because he didn't want to get into trouble. He went out with her because she's pretty. He acted like a gentleman so he could kiss her. He wanted something to brag about to that friend of his Eric. He doesn't care about her at all. He's despicable."
"And you do care then?" Emmett raised his eyebrows.
"Certainly not. I just find it revolting how humans act now." I covered quickly.
Alice danced into the room. She wrapped her arms around Jasper.
"Guess what, Edward?" she squealed.
I looked up warily. "I'm afraid to ask, Alice."
"Rosalie and I wrote a song for you."
"You are kidding, right?" I asked.
I read her mind and the song came in perfectly.
"You know that I'm not lying." Alice smiled.
She handed me a piece of paper.
I've got you under my skin
I've got you deep in
the heart of me
So deep in my heart, that you're really a part of
me
I've got you under my skin
I've tried so not to give
in
I've said to myself this affair never gonna swing so well
So
why should I try to resist, when baby will I know damn well
That
I've got you under my skin
I'd sacrifice anything come what
might
For the sake of having you near
In spite of a warning
voice that comes in the night
And repeats, repeats in my
ear
Don't you know little fool, you'll never win
Why not
use your mentality, come on step up to reality
But each time I do,
just the thought of you
Makes me stop before I begin
'Cause
I've got you under my skin
I growled when I finished.
"You'd better go, Alice. Edward is angry. I think he's going to attack or something." Jasper sighed.
I growled again.
"Oh, I know. I just had another vision. Do me a favour and tell Rose that the plans are still on, alright?" Alice asked.
Jasper nodded, slightly confused and Alice bounced out of the room.
I really hope that she didn't start recording it without me… Alice thought.
MPOV
"Yeah and she kissed me too." I said proudly to Tyler and Eric.
"No way!" they said in unison.
Oh, I was having fun. Bragging was fun. For me, anyway. Tyler looked at me in jealously and Eric looked rather pissed off. Ha ha ha.
"So are you guys gonna go out again?" Tyler asked me.
"Yeah." I said.
I honestly didn't know at all. I thought that I had been sweet and gentlemanly and all that crap. I thought that chicks went for that sort of thing. I would talk to her again. She had kissed me. I didn't feel the need to mention that it wasn't a real kiss and that she had chickened out before. It wasn't a lie though.
"I think I'll go find out." I said smugly.
She was walking towards me with that funny looking girl, Jessica and that other girl that was dating Ben. Wasn't it some gay name like Angelica or something? She was sort of hot but way too tall. At least I could brag about Bella.
"Hey Bella." I tried to smile with charm.
"Hey Mike." She beamed.
"You busy tonight?" I asked.
"Actually, I have some homework."
"Ah, really?"
"Sorry."
"Do you need any help?" I offered.
"Not really. But you could come over and we could do homework together or something."
"Sure. What time?"
"After school? You could probably stay for dinner and maybe we could squeeze in a movie or something."
"Great. I'll follow you home again."
Taking a chance, I leaned in and kissed her cheek. It was really funny how she blushed. She waved bye without looking up with a goofy smile on her face. Well, maybe I could pull off an actual kiss tonight. Tyler and Eric looked impressed.
EPOV
I was watching them. Why? I don't even know. He just kissed her! The nerve… after thinking about her that way… He didn't care about her. He just wanted some girl to brag about to his witless friends… some beautiful, intelligent, lovely, appealing, magnificent girl… Not that I cared of course. She had better not allow him tom kiss her. Bella deserved better. Why did I care? If only I could see what she was thinking. Then I could know if she actually liked him.
BPOV
"Mike tried to kiss me the other night." I admitted sheepishly to Jessica.
"Tried?" she squealed. "Why didn't you let him?"
"I don't really know. I guess I wasn't ready."
"Are you going to kiss him tonight?"
"I don't know."
"Do you really like him?"
"I guess…"
"You should totally kiss him. I would. He's gorgeous." Jessica sighed.
"I don't know." I said.
"Are you saying that you've never kissed somebody before?" she asked, amazed.
I blushed. "Yes."
"Wow…" Jessica trailed off.
She walked away, leaving me blushing crimson. I told the truth 100. I just didn't know. I wondered if that Edward Cullen guy was going to hate me as much as yesterday…
EPOV
She walked into Biology class and took a seat next to me. She was blushing. And her smell… At least I knew it was coming. At least I knew what to expect. I gripped the edge of my chair and forced myself not to breathe. I was happier than before; more content. And I still didn't understand. Jessica Stanley's thoughts echoed in my head.
How could Bella never have kissed a guy before? I bet if all the idiots who like her knew that, then they would back off a bit… And how could she not want to kiss Mike? Who wouldn't? He was drop dead gorgeous… If he paid attention to me like that…
I stopped listening after that. I didn't particularly need a description of Mike Newton's physical attributes. Speak of the devil… he walked by. He smiled at Bella and stroked her hand as he passed. She blushed fiercely. I almost nearly laughed. But a growl was in my throat as well. How strange.
I don't care what she says or does. I'm totally gonna kiss her tonight.
Mike's thoughts rang in my ears. I actually did growl this time. Bella raised her eyebrow at me. Newton just stared.
Why the hell did Cullen just growl at me? Or am I just losing it?
Yes you are losing it, Mike Newton. For even thinking that Bella Swan is interested. Because she isn't! Ask her yourself. Or ask Jessica Stanley! Or you could probably ask half the school because no doubt she's told everyone! I wished I could yell the words at him. I regretted growling. Bella would just think that I was crazier than before. First I cringe away from her for no apparent reason and then I growl at her. Lovely. I had to make peace. I couldn't have her hate me. I just couldn't deal with that. What was wrong with me?
"Hello. I didn't get a chance to introduce myself yesterday. I'm Edward Cullen." I said as politely as I could.
She just stared at me. I didn't blame her in the slightest.
"Hi." She said shakily.
No way is Cullen talking to MY girlfriend. First he despises her for no reason, then he growls at me, then he starts hitting on her.
His girlfriend! I agreed with him for thinking that I was slightly insane – I was beginning to believe so myself – but was Bella really his girlfriend? And why did I even care in the slightest? I was thinking of ways to kill her not a week ago, for God's sake! Bella looked away from me. That just wasn't acceptable anymore.
"How do you like Forks?" I asked quickly, but as calmly as I could muster.
She looked at me again. She looked really confused.
"It's okay." Bella said slowly, weighing each word.
"Have you made any friends?"
I was hoping to ask her myself what she thought of that repulsive, ignorant, excuse of a gentleman, son of a –
"Yes."
"That's good."
"Yes."
She looked away again. I seemed too eager and interested. That was bad.
"I saw you with Angela Webber. She's very nice. You're quite fortunate." I commented.
It was true. Angela was one of those people who I didn't mind. Her thoughts were very polite, innocent and full of concern for her friends and family. She was a decent human. Even though we had never met. I hope that Bella didn't repeat that.
"Hmm…" She looked away again.
"Did you finish the English homework from yesterday?"
"Yes."
"Me as well. Did you find it difficult?"
"Not really."
She was not interested in talking to me. I didn't blame her. I was ready to give up. But then I heard Mike Newton's thoughts again.
If he even touches her, I will personally rip his head off. Mike thought angrily.
I smiled widely to myself. I swallowed the venom in my tempted mouth and turned towards her carefully. It took a lot of self-control not to just suck her blood, right there and then. I think it was the fact that I hadn't breathed for fifteen minutes. I reached forward and carefully grabbed her hand. The hand that was pumping so much of her rich, satisfying, delicious blood to her heart…
I pushed the thought away. She looked at me.
"If there is anything that you need at all, please don't hesitate to ask." I promised her.
I let my eyes burn into hers and I tried to purposely be charming for the first time ever.
That's it. Cullen is road-kill. I can't believe he did that. It's like he can read my thoughts or something…
I dropped her hand and smiled at Mike's latest thoughts.