Author's note: Thanks to all my reviewers, please keep reviewing!
Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight, SM does, sigh
Chapter songs: I Caught Myself – Paramore, Let's Get Lost – Bat for Lashes and Beck
It turned out my suspicions were correct, over the next few weeks Tanya seemed to be everywhere I went around campus.
One afternoon I was headed to the library with Edward as we both had a study period when Tanya intercepted us.
I had been dreading this moment since I had told Rose and Alice about my first encounter with her on my first day at UW.
They were less than complimentary when they filled me in on what she was like when she was dating Edward and how their relationship ended. It transpired that they had a fairly nasty break up well over a year ago when Edward caught her in bed with someone else, he dumped her immediately and in revenge she made his life a living hell.
She was manipulative, high maintenance and incredibly fake Rose told me, she sounded like Lauren's long lost sister and was exactly the kind of person I tried to avoid.
"Hi Eddie" she purred before turning to glare at me.
"Hello Tanya" he replied warily "And it's Edward" he added.
I glanced at him quickly trying to read his facial expression. He didn't look at all pleased to see her.
She giggled, "And who is this?" she asked waving in my direction, her distaste was written all over her face "Aren't you going to introduce me to your friend?"
Edward sighed "This is Bella, Bella meet Tanya"
"Hi Bella" she said in a high pitched tone "I haven't seen you around much you must be new"
I didn't like the glint in her eyes as she looked me up and down, I swallowed nervously "Yeah I just moved here a few months ago actually"
"Have you been showing her around Edward? That's so nice of you" she said batting her eyelashes at him.
I looked at her trying to figure out what Edward had ever seen in her, she was a total bitch.
"You know if you want I could get someone else to show her around, it must be really bothering you having her follow you around" she told him not even bothering to lower her tone, I couldn't believe the nerve of her!
I watched Edward anxiously to try and read his facial expression as he answered her question.
"Actually Tanya, Bella is a really good friend of mine" he said venomously, I had never seen him look so angry. "So if you don't mind as fun as this has been we must be going" Edward put his hand on my back and led me away, the small gesture sent a thrill through me.
"I am so sorry Bella, she has no right to speak to you like that!" he apologised.
"Edward it's okay, don't worry about it" I sighed
"No Bella it's not okay, she thinks that because she can't have me no girl can spend time with me" he said angrily.
"Really it's fine" I replied. He gave me a sad look that I couldn't quite read.
Later that evening I was sitting in our living room watching TV, well pretending to, really I was thinking about Edward and what had happened earlier in the day, while Rose painted her nails and Alice flicked through a magazine.
"You know it's almost Halloween" Rose said inspecting her newly painted nails.
"Oooo!" squealed Alice excitedly "We should definitely start figuring out what costumes we are going to wear!"
I looked away from the TV, "We all got invites to Riley's party" Rose told me.
"Who's Riley?" I asked confused.
"Oh he is a friend of Alex's" Alice informed me, "He decided this year that he was going to throw a massive party at his parents place since they will be out of town, it'll be amazing!" she exclaimed grabbing her laptop and powering it up "Let's figure out what we are going to wear!"
We spent the next hour searching for costumes, after a few disagreements we had finally narrowed our options down.
After much debate Rose and Alice had made their picks and decided that on Saturday we would head to the costume store in town to try and find a costume for me.
"Hello ladies!" yelled Emmett.
"Living room" Rose shouted in reply, Emmett followed by Edward and Jasper came in and settled themselves on the sofa.
"So Edward told us about what happened with Tanya today" stated Emmett "For the record don't listen to a word that jealous..."
He was interrupted by Rose "What happened? Why didn't you tell us Bella?" she demanded.
I groaned "I didn't say anything because it really isn't that big of a deal" I sighed; I sensed that my side of the argument wasn't going to hold up so I caved. "She was just a little rude to me today when she bumped into me and Edward, really it's nothing"
Edward chose that moment to jump in and fill them in on the details I had failed to provide enraging the rest of the group.
"How dare that little bitch!" Rose exclaimed.
"She really needs to be put in her place" added Alice.
"Don't worry Bella, we'll sort all of this out at Riley's party" Rose reassured me with a gleam in her eyes, "She'll be there since she's never one to turn down the chance to get drunk and dress like a total tramp" she added "And we are going to make sure you look totally hot!"
"Rosalie Lillian Hale there is no way in hell I am going out in public dressed like this!" I argued gesturing at the outfit they had forced me to try on, it was Saturday and we were trying to find a Halloween costume for me to wear to the party in downtown Seattle.
Alice, who had returned from combing the store for more costumes for me to try, exclaimed "Bella! You look so cute!"
Rose nodded in agreement "Totally smoking, Edward is going to be drooling!"
I looked up in shock "Why, what?" I spluttered panicking; lately I had been struggling to get Edward off my mind. I figured I couldn't keep pretending that I had no feelings for him for much longer.
Alice giggled, "Honey, can't you see the way that boy looks at you? He's definitely got a major crush!"
I frowned, what the hell were they talking about, I never noticed him looking at me like that and I certainly wasn't blind. Besides what would he see in a girl like me!
Rose sighed "Bella Bella Bella, how can we make you see!"
"There's nothing to see and in any case, I am not wearing this" I said changing the subject.
"Fine, lets add sexy nurse to the no pile then" Alice agreed defeated, "Are there any costumes in that dressing room you'd wear?" she asked looking worried.
I thought for a moment, "Maybe one..." I trailed off disappearing behind the curtain.
I picked up the hanger, at a push I suppose I could wear this I mused holding up the costume on the hanger and holding it against myself.
A few minutes later Rosalie was getting impatient "Bella can we see? Please?" she begged.
I pulled back the curtain and stepped out. "Perfect!" Alice said happily "You look amazing!" I turned to look in the mirror; I guess I did look quite good once I could get over the initial shock that the skirt was a little shorter than I would normally go for.
"You look hot!" added Rose sharing a knowing look with Alice.
The lead up to Halloween was busy, I had multiple assignments due and as a result I was not only spending a lot of time tucked in a corner of the library typing away madly for hours but my stress levels were through the roof, I was running on little sleep and unhealthy amounts of caffeine.
It was Friday, the day of Riley's Halloween party. I had a 5:00pm deadline for my English paper and I was hyper aware that I needed to finish it as early as possible so I could head home to get ready. I had skipped lunch to buy myself extra time and was stuck on my next point.
I ran my hand through my hair frustrated.
"Hey" exclaimed a soft musical voice, one that I would know anywhere, I looked up to see Edward pulling up a chair beside me. "You weren't at lunch and Alice said you were in here trying to finish your assignment. I bought you some" he said smiling holding up a paper bag.
"Thanks" I said smiling, "But you didn't have to do that" I scolded.
"I wanted to Bella" he assured me, "What are you working on?"
I filled him in on my assignment, a paper on Emily Bronte's work; I was worried I was boring him until he started talking animatedly about what he thought of her work. I was impressed and thrilled; most men wouldn't even know who she was.
With Edward's help I managed to finish my paper with plenty of time to spare but since I had gotten a ride this morning with Alice I would have to wait around for another few hours until she was finished with classes for the day, I sighed internally.
"Have you got anymore classes today?" asked Edward walking with me to the English block to hand in my paper.
"Nope, but I'm just going to hang around here a while and wait for Alice so I don't have to walk home" I explained.
Edward looked thoughtful "Listen, I don't have any classes either, I could give you a lift" he offered, I bit my lip, I didn't want him to feel like he had to give me a ride home, he must have read my face well and smiled "I really don't mind" he assured me.
We reached Edward's car and he opened the door for me, closing it softly behind me.
I watched him walk around to the driver's side; he really is incredibly sexy I thought as I began to day dream. I had to force myself to stop, it was all very well to day dream about him when he wasn't around, and besides I really needed to pull myself together.
Edward started the car and drove the familiar route home, I looked at the clock 2:00pm it read. Wow I really did have a lot of time to spare this afternoon, Alice had given me strict instructions that we needed to start getting ready for the party no later than 5:00pm since it started at 8:00pm.
"Have you got much planned for your afternoon off?" he asked.
"No not really, Alice doesn't need me for Bella Barbie for a couple of hours" I replied.
"Well maybe we could hang out?" he asked, I could hear the hopefulness in his voice, I thrilled at the chance to spend some more time with him.
"I'd like that" I told him smiling. His answering smile was brilliant, it dazzled me and I almost forgot to breathe.
We pulled up our shared driveway and into the boy's garage. I followed Edward into their house, "What would you like to do?" he asked me smiling, he had to stop doing that! Especially if he was going to ask me questions like that.
"Ummm" I replied, real smooth Bella, that's all you could come up with? I asked myself.
"Listen to music, watch a DVD?" he asked.
"Whatever you like" I told him.
"Follow me" he said gesturing for me to head upstairs. "This is my room" he announced when we reached the master bedroom door.
I had never seen Edward's room before; I was curious and a little nervous.
"Wow" I said looking around. His room was amazing, he had so many CD's and DVD's, his bed was huge, black wrought iron with a gold comforter and there was a guitar on a stand in the corner of the room. I whirled around trying to take it all in.
"You have so much music and movies" I said stating the obvious.
He chuckled, "I like to collect both and this is just part of my collection. The rest I had to leave at home" he told me.
"And you play?" I asked gesturing to his guitar.
"Yes, I do and the piano but that kind of wouldn't fit in here. I have a grand piano, also at home" he replied.
I looked at him impressed "You will have to play for me sometime?" I said, my statement sounded more like a question.
"I'd love to" he said earnestly. "Why don't you pick a movie and I'll put it on" he suggested, I went over to his movie shelf and stared at it trying to find something to watch, there were so many I felt overwhelmed. He came and stood next to me, my heart began to splutter at him being so close.
"I can't decide" I said, he grabbed one off the shelf.
"You'll like this" he said, it was a thriller "Make yourself comfortable" I looked to where he was pointing, did he mean his bed or the couch? I wasn't sure and I didn't want to make a fool of myself. Besides, I wasn't sure that if I sat on his bed I would be able to control myself.
He chuckled again and sat on his bed, with his back against the head board, he patted the comforter "Come on" he said smiling.
My heart soared as I settled in next to him; he was so close, sitting right beside me. His arm was rubbing against mine; I tried desperately to stop my heart from beating erratically and to keep my breathing in check.
As we watched the movie I was hyper aware of our closeness, at one point during a scarier part of the movie he grabbed my hand, obviously he had been able to tell that I was a little freaked out.
Nothing could have prepared me for what I felt when his skin touched mine, it was like a jolt of electricity, a spark.
I looked at him to see if he had noticed it to, he had and his mouth was slightly agape. Then he smiled at me dazzling me again.
He didn't let go of my hand until the movie was finished. He glanced at the clock and said I should probably head home to get ready or face Alice's wrath, I laughed agreeing. He walked me home, and as he said he would see me soon, as we were all heading to the party together, he looked sad that we were parting, even for a little while.
Suddenly I came to the realisation, as I watched him walk away that I couldn't deny my feelings any longer; I was falling for Edward Cullen.