She said Edward Cullen right? Bella panicked quietly as the line at the registration desk began to move.
"Isn't be seeing someone?" Jessica, the subtly tan blonde asked as she popped her gum again.
"Jess, has that ever stopped you before?" Angela asked causing both girls to giggle. Bella's fists balled up in anger as she listened to the two women chatter away about Edward, an Edward she thought she knew. It made her sick really, like just because he was attractive meant he couldn't possibly have any sort of commitment to anyone in particular.
How irritating! She thought, fighting every urge to turn around and sock them both in the gapping hole that was their mouths. Their only saving grace turned out to be the elderly woman that stood behind the registration desk, waving Bella forward once she finished with the young man that had been standing in front of her.
So lucky.
The woman seemed a lot nicer towards Bella, taking the time to look over the course book with her to make sure all of her classes lined up right. She smiled and wished Bella luck before shooing her aside, waving forth the blonde who couldn't seem to stop popping her gum.
Daggers shot out of the blonde's blue sapphire eyes as Bella walked by. It almost seemed like they knew, that she had 'Edward' tattooed on her forehead or something.
The thought that Edward may be something other than a normal college freshman bothered her, like the rest of the campus was privy to information she knew nothing about. How long had it been like this? When was he going to tell her? Was he going to tell her? What was this new found information going to mean for them?
What were they anyway?
The thought stopped her outside of the registration office, leaving barely enough room for other students to make their way inside the crowded office.
She and Edward had been caught in a whirlwind of emotion and lust. She had completely overlooked the idea of establishing any sort of title or meaning with him. She was crazy about him, that much was for sure. But when he looked at her, what did he see?
"Bella?"
Bella shook her head as Charlie waved his hand in front of her face.
"You OK?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. I think I just spent too much time in that office."
"I can imagine that was a ton of fun," Charlie frowned as he watched a group of students trying to play piggy back with each other as they left the office. "All set?"
"I guess," Bella waved the white sheet of paper she had gotten only moments earlier.
"You'll be fine," Charlie could sense the worried tone in her voice. He patted her on the shoulder before heading to the drivers side of the car.
Yea, I thought that too. Bella only sighed before following the path her father had taken and plopped heavily into the passenger seat.
She tapped her foot impatiently on the carpeted floor of Charlie's cruiser, wishing he would use the lights on top of the car and floor it back to Emmett's house. She wanted to speak with Edward now, the constant feeling of worry was beginning to get the best of her. The same questions just flowed through her mind over and over again, finding no relief in the fact that they continued to go unanswered.
She was proud of him for achieving a position like that right at the beginning of his college career, but it was the mystery of him covering it up that bothered her. well that and the fact that she had no idea what that meant for them.
Why didn't he tell her?
He had had plenty of time to talk to her about it, plenty of opportunities.
Well sometimes you have to take matters into your own hands, she frowned.
The house was quiet when Bella walked in, her foot still tapping as she waited in the doorway for Charlie to back the police cruiser out of the driveway.
There was no sign of Rosalie or Emmett as she walked into the house, leaving Emmett's closed door as a sign as to their whereabouts.
Great, she sighed.
She had been hoping to avoid the conversation with Edward even though the want to know the answers was filling up inside of her, she just had no idea of what she was going to say to him. Yet the silence played at Bella, urging her to make the call now while the opportunity still presented itself.
Bella reluctantly pulled out her cell phone and hit the third speed dial button, listening as ten beeps sounded in her ear. The annoying tone of the ringer seemed to grow louder and more irritating as she waited for him to pick up, reaching a high level of disappointment as his voicemail picked up.
"Damn," she hissed and hung up. "Well now what?"
A combination of dread and boredom wasn't sitting well inside of her, in all honesty she thought she was going to go crazy.
A gasp escaped her lips as her cell phone on the counter erupted.
"Hello?" She mumbled.
"You called?" Edward asked, leaving the aggravated tone in her voice unnoticed.
Sauvé bastard.
"Just got back from campus," Bella said calmly, "I am now officially a Washington State student."
"Good! I'm glad to hear it! It must feel good getting all of that out of the way."
"Have you gotten all of your classes set?"
"Yup," he said quickly. "Mine's been taken care of for a while now."
I bet it has been.
"I'm kind of wondering if I am going to like it though," Bella fiddled with a pen on the kitchen counter.
"Why do you say that?"
"It's not a big deal I guess, I just ran into some rather unpleasant people waiting in line ot get my classes."
"Some people have sticks permanently stuck up their ass Bells."
"Well I guess that's true, they just seemed to have some sort of a distaste for me that all. I don't know," she sighed and slid onto on of the stools. "I heard something interesting though, something I wanted to talk to you about actually."
"Dinner?"
"Sure."
"How about I pick you up around five? I have an errand to run in a little bit," the roar of Edward's Acura could be heard in the background as he started the car up.
"Sure" she muttered again.
"OK Bells, I have to go. I'll see you in a little bit."
"Alright good…" she paused as she heard a clicking noise, "Bye."
"OK," Rosalie said as she left her perch in the doorway. "What was that all about?"
"You scared the shit out of me," Bella frowned. "Ease drop much?"
"Hey you could hear how pissed off you were from the hallway." Rosalie threw her hands up in defense as she walked to the fridge to grab a bottle of water, "I thought boy wonder could do no wrong?"
Bella huffed, "Let me run something by you. I just feel like I have the right to be upset but at the same time I have this overwhelming feeling that I am overreacting."
"Lay it on me my sista," Rosalie grinned as she leaned against the counter across from Bella.
"Well, ok. I was getting my classes set and there were these two girls behind me. They were so unfriendly, but that's no the problem. I heard one of them talking about Edward, saying something about being a TA at Washington and…"
"And he hasn't told you?"
"No," Bella bit her lip as she shook her head.
"Well that is going to create some problems with you guys isn't it?"
"I don't know," Bella tossed her phone onto the counter in frustration. "I don't know if I should be worried or happy or both! I just don't know!"
"Well it's going to be challenging," Rosalie paused to take a sip of water. "A Teachers Assistant is one step away from being a professor and once he gets to that point all hell will break loose. They all have to follow the same rules."
"Rosie," Bella groaned As her head fell into her hands, "This isn't helping."
"You asked," Rosalie shrugged.
"So what do I do?"
"I don't know sweetie. First step would be to figure out what he really means to you, it might or might not be worth worrying over."
"How can you say that?" Bella scoffed, "I'm crazy about him."
"Has he told you what you are to him?"
"What are you getting at?"
"He's hiding something from you, which could be a bad thing. I mean it isn't going establish how he feels, but it could effect how he handles things in a relationship. What happened when you guys first met?"
Images of Edward's bare chest and the desire in his amber eyes passed through her mind, causing goose bumps to run up her skin as the memories continued.
"We attacked each other," Bella blushed. "Whatever you get out of me, don't you dare tell Emmett."
"I heard nothing," Rosalie winked.
"God this is embarrassing," Bella huffed. "We didn't even know each other but then all of the sudden I couldn't keep my hands off of him."
"Chemistry is a weird thing isn't it?"
"I don't like it," Bella frowned. "Like how do I know what that means to him?"
"You can see it," Rosalie said as she slid onto the stool next to Bella. "You can see it in the way he acts around you, or the look he gets in his eyes when he sees you. Don't go looking for it Bells, you will know it when you see it."
"That may be, but I have no idea how to act towards him at dinner tonight. Do I just ignore it? Or do I get mad? Or do I question him?"
"Bella the key in all of this is to remain calm, if you get angry or start yelling you both aren't going to get anywhere in that conversation." Rosalie wrapped an arm around Bella's shoulders, "But we are going to dress you up and make you look irresistible."
Bella stared at Rosalie, curiosity providing a squeamish look on her face.
"Oh you'll be fine, just through on one of those cute dresses I bought you and a little lip gloss. It's not going to kill you."
"I don't know, it might."
"Stop it," Rosalie rolled her eyes. "It's not that bad. You're a girl and doesn't hurt to be one sometimes. Besides just think of the look on Edward's face when he sees you."
"I don't know if that's a huge concern for me right now."
"True, but seduction is a way of getting out the truth." Rosalie grinned.
"I never expected that you would say that," Rosalie chuckled. "You seem so sweet and innocent."
"Hey I don't want you to think any less of me for saying that, I just don't like people messing with those that I love and care about."
"Thanks Rosie," Bella smiled and hugged her friend tightly.
"What time is he coming to get you?"
"A little under two hours," Bella said as she glanced at the clock above the stove.
"Oh plenty of time."
"Don't go crazy OK?"
"Not to worry Bella darling, you are going to be gorgeous."
"Now you're scary me," Bella chuckled as Rosalie wiggled her eyebrows at her.
"This is going to be fun," Rosalie hopped off the stool and pulled Bella along by her arm.
"Rosie!" Bella's surprised scream echoed up the stairwell.
"Shh," Rosalie hissed. "Your brother finally passed out."
Bella's eyes grew wide as she clasped her hands over her mouth, causing Rosalie to chuckle as they continued up the stairs.
Rosalie went straight to Bella's closet as soon as they shut the door to her bedroom.
Bella shook her head as she plopped down onto the edge of her bed, remaining quiet as Rosalie fished through Bella's closet feverishly.
"This one will be perfect," Rosalie smiled triumphantly as she exited the closet with the purple dress she had bought Bella in hand.
"It's pretty low cut don't you think?" Bella frowned as Rosalie held the dress up to her.
"Bella, you'll be fine. Just don't lean too far over ok?"
Bella rolled her eyes as Rosalie pushed her towards the bathroom across the hall and shut the door before Bella had a chance to protest.
"Rosie," Bella groaned from the other side of the door. "I don't think I can do this."
"Bella come out, at least let me see."
"In the bathroom or out of the bathroom, make up your mind." Bella reluctantly pulled the door open, her gaze cast downward as she trudged out the door.
"You look amazing!" Rosalie beamed, "I can do your hair too!"
This is getting to be a little much.
Bella smiled reluctantly as she followed Rosalie back into her room, sitting down on the edge of the bed as Rosalie pulled Bella's curling iron out of her dresser.
She was growing more and more nervous as she sat on the bed, the idle chatter provided little comfort as the minutes passed by. Before she knew it she was stumbling down the stairs in the heels Rosalie had let her borrow as the doorbell rang for a second time.
"Wow," Edward's brown eyes widened as Bella pulled the door open. "You look beautiful."
"Thank you," Bella looked away from him as her face reddened.
As happy as he seemed to be, Bella couldn't help but notice certain nervousness about him. His movements were somewhat shaky as he helped her to the car, remaining unusually quiet on the way to the restaurant.
"Edward what's going on?" Bella asked, finally breaking the silence as they pulled into the parking lot.
"What do you mean?" He fiddled with his keys, still not looking at her.
"I don't know, the whole concept of you not being able to look at me might have something to do with it."
"You don't beat around the bush do you?"
"No point in it," Bella crossed her arms as her eyes remained focused on the dashboard of his car.
"Bella there is something that is going to be going on this semester…"
"You're a TA, I know."
"How'd you…"
"Those girls I told you about? They spilled the beans while talking about the best way to jump you."
"Bella I wanted to tell you, honestly. I just knew you were registering and things with us were going well and by the time I talked myself into telling you everything happened with your brother."
"Quit with the excuses Edward," Bella's voice was ice cold. "You weren't going to tell me, you weren't going to tell me, you were just going to let it go until the shit hit the fan." Bella shook her head in disappointment. "If things were going so well then why wouldn't you tell me?"
Edward only stared, his mouth hanging open slightly as no words came out.
"That's what I thought," Bella huffed and pushed the passenger door open.
"Bella, where are you going?" Edward asked as he scrambled to get out of the car.
"I don't know, just leave me alone." She waved him off while walking away from him.
"Please Bella! Stop!"
"No," she spun around quickly. "I'm going to call Alice and have her get me."
"Bella…"
"No, don't start. I have been beating myself up. Can I trust you? Will I always wonder what else you might be capable of lying about? Just go Edward, I'm not kidding." Her brown eyes were dark with anger.
"Bella look, I just didn't know how to handle it."
"So you felt ignoring me and waiting for things to develop between us before your job would make it impossible for us to see each other?"
Edward hung his head in disappointment, "Maybe you're right. I should have told you, especially when things were going where they were and I'm sorry. But you may have a point."
"What do you mean?"
"Maybe we should cut it off, before things do go any farther."
Bella's confident façade fell quickly, finding it difficult to swallow the pill he had just handed to her.
"Fine," she decided and continued to walk away from him, not looking back as she headed inside the restaurant.
The hostess gave her an awkward look as Bella flew by her and immediately headed for one of the benches in the waiting area.
"Miss do you have a reservation or...,"
"Um no, I…"
"Bella?"
Her brown eyes shot away from the irritated looking hostess as Jasper's voiced reached her ears.
"What are you doing here?" He asked, walking over to her quickly. "What's wrong?"
"Edward and I were supposed to have inner but something happened and I don't know, it all feel apart." Bella started down, fumbling with her purse strap as tears threatened to fall. "What are you doing here?"
"Dinner," he said as he sat down next to her on the bench.
"What happened?"
"Did Alice say anything about Edward becoming a Teachers Assistant?"
"No, why?"
"Well Edward is becoming one apparently, and decided that not telling me was the best way to handle it," Bella shook her head. "They have rules Jasper!"
"Did he leave you here?" Jasper asked angrily.
"No, I left him. I don't know if he's still outside or not," Bella sighed. "I was actually getting ready to call Alice."
"Bella?" Alice came running over in her heels, being careful not to slide across the hardwood floor as she neared the bench.
"Alice, stay with Bella. I need to go have a chat with your brother," Jasper patted his fiancé on the shoulder and made his way outside.
"Long night?" Alice frowned and wrapped an arm around her friend.
"I jus want to go to bed and forget this day ever happened," Bella said quietly.
"Sweetie I'm sorry," Alice said as she wrapped her friend in a hug. "I thought you would be so good for him, he finally showed interest in someone after years of seeming not to care."
"Seems like he might be displaying some of those old habits."
"I was hoping it wouldn't," Alice frowned. "Still friends?"
"Of course," Bella nudged her friend. "You and Jasper are the greatest friends I could ask for and nothing is going to change that."
"Good," Alice smiled. "You hungry?"
"I guess I should eat," Bella shrugged.
"Why don't you join us?" Alice's brown eyes grew wide with excitement.
"I just feel like going home," Bella frowned. "I know I should eat but honestly any sort of hunger I had is gone."
"Well you need to eat and there's no sense in sitting at home moping about it."
"But he's still here."
"No he's not," Jasper looked a lot calmer as he made his way back inside the restaurant. "We talked and I sent him on his way."
"What did you say?" Edward asked worriedly.
"Just trying to shed some light on what he's thinking in that little pea brain of his and it would be up to talk to him about anything."
"Thank you Jasper, I am so glad I have you guys."
"We're here to take care of you Bella," Jasper smiled down at her. "And with that being said we are going to get you fed as well."
"See," Alice smiled triumphantly.
"Fine," Bella shook her head in defeat. "I have a feeling that I'm not going to get out of it."
"No ma'am," Alice smiled as she pulled Bella up from the bench. "You're stuck with us."
"And I wouldn't have it any other way," she smiled as she followed her two friends into the heart of the restaurant.
"Bella, I know I told you this before but I am still so sorry. Edward has some issues that can get the best of his sometimes," Alice frowned as she took a seat at the table across from Bella.
"Alice it's ok, really. Well its not ok as far as what he did but you didn't do anything. I'll get over it."
"You really liked him didn't you?"
"I guess, I never really thought about it. Things were so crazy after we first started talking." Bella shrugged, "I guess I did."
"Still do," Jasper chimed in.
"Not helping," Bella glared at him.
"I'm just messing Bella," he chuckled a balled up straw wrapper at her.
"So has Edward always been like this?" Bella asked once they placed orders for drinks and an appetizer.
"Not really," Alice sighed. "He got burnt really bad a few years ago and has been burning himself in his work ever since then."
"Was I his first since it all happened?"
Alice shook her head, "Unfortunately not. He's picked some real winners since then, no offense to you of course. "
"None taken," Bella shrugged as she stirred her iced tea. "I just wish I knew why he didn't tell me any of this, as far as I knew he was just registering for classes. It seemed like he was afraid to tell me almost."
"He is," Jasper joined in. "In a way you frightened that charming smile right off of his face."
"She was perfect in his eyes," Alice paused as the waiter set a plate of sushi down in the middle of the table. "They lived together you know."
"They did?" Bella asked, almost choking on a piece of spicy tuna roll.
"We tried to talk him out of it when we first started noticing a problem with her, but Edward will be Edward and completely ignore us."
"Was she the business he had to take care of before he moves out here?"
"In a way," Jasper said. "He wanted to give her another shot before he left."
"What did she do exactly?"
"She wanted to have her cake and eat it to."
"Basically she wanted to have him around and still have her fun on the side as well."
Leave it Jasper to keep it simple.
"She was cheating and he stayed with her?" Bella asked in disbelief.
"He rode the denial rollercoaster for a little while in hope she would change her ways. Edward loved her, and I guess he didn't feel like giving up on the time or emotion he had put into it."
Bella became quiet as it all sunk in, realizing that there was some light that was beginning to shed on the relationship…or whatever it was with Edward. The immediate connection, the sudden burst if passion.
"I never had a good feeling about her," Alice said as she popped the last piece of sushi into her mouth.
"It's crazy, it was almost like she could see it happen." Jasper said as his hand rested on Alice's shoulder, his fingers gliding across her skin.
Wish you could have seen all of this coming.
"So is that what gave way to all of this mystery he's been setting around this job?"
"Exactly," Alice nodded. "Edward's always been a hard worker. And well Irina thought that he was over working but she always had a problem with anything that took the attention away from her."
"So is he a lost cause?"
"I didn't think so, but I guess I was wrong." Alice's eyes brightened as the waiter put down a large piece of chocolate cake in the center of the table.
"What is that?" Bella chuckled as she eyed the large desert dish.
"Therapy," Alice grinned, making everyone laugh.
Bella shook her head as Jasper handed her a fork, deciding to give into indulgence as everyone had.
She found the want to go home dwindle as time passed by, finding herself terribly disappointed when the check arrived.
Hopefully Emmett and Rosalie would be asleep by the time she got home.
Sure enough, Emmett's house was just as dark as the outside as Jasper pulled his car into the driveway.
"You going to be OK?" Alice asked as she peered over the headrest of her seat.
"As good as I can be," Bella shrugged. "There's a bad movie and some ice cream in that house with my name on it."
"I wish you could come back with us," Alice frowned. "Unfortunately you problem lives down the hall from me."
"Not for long though," Jasper smiled back at her. "Alice and I are looking for our own place."
"You guys," Bella grinned. "You are growing up so fast."
"Shut up," Alice chuckled and swatted at Bella. "You better watch it, the people two doors down are selling their house, we could end up being neighbors."
"Don't scare me like that," Bella teased as she hopped out of the car. "You'll send me running for the hills."
"Call us OK?" Jasper's joyful expression had faded, "Just so we know you are doing alright."
Bella nodded and carefully made her way up the driveway and into the dark house. The air smelled of Chinese food, making Bella's stomach grumble despite the meal she had just eaten. Her nerves began to calm some as she made her way through the familiar rooms of her brothers home.
A small light on the counter was on as Bella came into the kitchen, illuminating a small piece of paper and a small fortune cookie sat on top, broken in two with a piece of paper sticking out of the middle.
Bella: The note read.
I thought this might help you during all of the changes you are going through.
We're with you!
Rose & Em
P.S. don't look at the back of this paper until you read your fortune.
I have the greatest brother in the world, Bella smiled as she pulled the small piece of white paper out of the cookie.
Sometimes you must run before you can learn to walk.
Bella turned the note over to see Emmett's messy hand writing sprawled across the back:
In other words, just do it. Don't let situations like this keep you from living your life. You're a smart and wonderful woman and I am honored to be your brother.
Bella carefully picked up the note and the fortune and tucked it into the pages of her planner. The words she received were comforting but it didn't take away from the feeling of worry that sat within her.
She slipped her shoes off next to the counter and made her way into the living room.
Edward was truly a mystery.
So much drama and so much hurt had been placed on him, and with all of that… where did Bella fit into all of that? Was he using her? What was his plan?
Those thoughts continued to brew in her mind as she spread our across the couch. The threat of the on-coming semester didn't mix well with the thoughts of Edward, knowing the chance of running into him on a daily basis was going to be increase dramatically with his new job.
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger right?