A/N

Sorry for the long wait between chapters.

Chapter 13

Is She Really Going Out With Him?

Pathetic. I had resorted to flirting with man whores to get a date. Of course Tyler ate that shit up. It didn't help that the boy of my dreams was glaring at me the entire time. Suck it, Cullen. I had to hear your girlfriend insult me first thing this morning along with a play by play of your sex life. Ugh. I threw up a little in my mouth at the thought.

When will this bell ring? I've got to get out of here. Tyler is undressing me with his eyes, and Edward looks like I punched him in the stomach. Riinnnnggg. Thank God.

"Can I walk you to your next class, Bella?" Tyler asked.

"Um, no thank you. I'm going to the bathroom," I blurted out as I practically sprinted from the class. They probably thought I had a digestive problem. Vomit or diarrhea-that's attractive. I took several deep breaths to calm my nerves as I walked quickly to find Alice.

"What the hell, Bella?" Alice asked with concern. She must have noticed the panic in my eyes.

"Uh. I…" I glanced at Jasper who was standing with Alice. She realized the source my hesitation.

"Bella, it's ok. Jasper knows you like Edward. He won't hurt you." Alice beamed at him as I blushed a deep crimson.

"Uh, hi Jasper. I guess we finally meet at last."

"Bella. I've heard so much about you. It's a pleasure to finally meet you," he smiled at me.

"Yeah. Alice likes to talk." I fidgeted around nervously. I didn't do well talking to hot guys.

"Not from Alice, from Edward. You're all he talks about," Jasper replied.

"Why would Edward talk about me? Is he mad or something?"

"You're shitting me right, Bella? You have no idea how Edward feels about you?"

"Jasper, Edward has a girlfriend. She made it very clear to me that he is, um, 'giving it to her good' just this morning," I said with disgust.

"She, you mean Tan-," said Jasper.

"Don't say that name," interrupted Alice. "She was absolutely horrible to Bella this morning. She threw it in her face about how she and Edward reconciled after the dance." She glanced sympathetically at me.

"I have no idea what that viper is up to, but I can assure you Edward wouldn't tap that with another dude's dick. He absolutely loathes her. He dumped her ass last week. Besides, they weren't really together in the… uh, I better let Edward tell the story." Jasper stopped just when I was getting some answers. What the hell?

The bell rang signaling the next class and I bit back another sarcastic remark.

I huffed my way through the next few classes until it was lunch. Ahhh, I have to see everyone. I trudged into the cafeteria trying to avoid the 'trashy trio.' How the hell did she get so popular? Edward. Right. Maybe she paid him to be her boyfriend a la Can't Buy me Love, -no that's ridiculous. A girl can hope, though.

I sat at my regular table with Alice, Angela, and Ben. Jasper and Edward were conspicuously absent. I didn't even ask where they were. Ha, see, I'm not that whipped. I was actually glad for the break from all that attractiveness- it can't be natural to be that hot.

"Hey Bella, whatcha thinking about?" Alice asked me softly. "I can tell you are lost in thought."

"I'm just nervous about Wednesday. It's my first date."

"Don't worry. I'll help you. You know I have lots of experience," she teased.

"Yeah, two whole dates. One was with your cousin."

"He looks very cute now after the corrective surgery, thank you," she snapped.

"So when is your next date with Jasper? Are you guys official?"

"Well, no. But we will be. And we're going to the bonfire. He's going to be gone tonight and tomorrow, and this weekend. But that's ok because we have the wedding anyway. Edward's brother is in a play or something tonight in Seattle, so they are driving there as we speak."

"Oh, they're gone? I hadn't noticed." I feigned disinterest. Ben snorted and Angela giggled at my obvious lie. Alice's bell-like laugh rang through the cafeteria. I got up and walked out. Alice called me back, worried she had hurt my feelings. I assured her that I wasn't hurt, just sort of empty. I was missing something. So I did something I never did before. I called my sister. I needed an expert opinion.

"Hello."

"Hey Rose. It's me, Bella."

"Izzy, is your dress ok? It better be or I'm going to call that shop and tear that lady a new ass-"

I cut her off before she could finish. "I need to talk to you Rose. I think I'm in love," I blurted out.

"So what's the deal?" Rose asked.

"Well, nothing has happened yet. I'm just really confused," I started sobbing as I told her everything. The shared looks, the dance, the Lloyd Dobler moment, the skank, the man whore, everything. She actually listened to me-a first in our relationship.

"Oh, Izzy. Trust me, that boy has feelings for you. No one does that kind of sappy shit for a girl he doesn't like. He's not trying to make her jealous, he wants you. All that interrupting and pencil breaking today was because he couldn't stand you having a date," Rosalie stated.

"Then why hasn't he said anything? He's ignored me since the dance. And stop calling me that."

"He's really acting like, well, an asshole. Young guys are really stupid. I've had plenty of guys who've loved me, but they were all immature idiots. Emmett was the first real man, not hunk, that captured my heart."

"Every time I think it's going to happen, it doesn't. What should I do?"

"So, are you really in love with Edward?" she asked seriously.

"I think so, but I've never been in love before," I answered honestly.

"Go on the date with the man whore. Let Edward know you are not sitting around waiting for him. Girls nobody wants are obviously not in demand."

"Oh, like Darcy and Elizabeth! I know what you mean." Finally something I could relate to.

"Who?" Rose queried. I didn't think a literary reference was going to work with Rose. She was no dummy, but she never sat at home reading a book.

"Um, remember that Keira Knightly movie where she wore those old dresses?"

"Oh, yeah. That guy was seriously hot. Yes, you be Keira and Edward can be that totally hot British stud. Perfect."

"Thanks, Rose. Emmett is a lucky man."

"Hell yes he is. I'll see you Friday. Don't forget to bring some hot clothes to wear for the bachelorette party and your date with Ed- I mean Emmett's brother. I promise you won't regret it."

"Bye sis."

"Bye, Bella. Love you, sis," Rose murmured softly.

"I love you, too," I choked out the words as the tears threatened to fall again. I never had that kind of connection with Rose before. I felt a new sense of closeness and respect for my sister. I had spent so long in her shadow, I had never bothered to move away from it. Maybe I should have blamed myself, and not my sister. Anyway, enough of Emo Bella. I wiped the tears and went to class.

Mike noticed something was off right away. "Hey, Bella. Why so sad?"

"Everything's fine, Mike. I was just talking to my sister."

"So, are you going with a new face to the bonfire? Or are you going with Edward?"

"Actually I'm going with Tyler," I admitted.

"Tyler? That douche? How the fu- I mean, how did that happen?" He asked incredulously. "You won't go out with me, but you'll go out with that loser?" He looked really hurt, and I felt the guilt creep up on me.

"It's not like that. We're just friends. "

"Well, we're friends," he pressed.

"Ok, next time you need something, I owe you," I promised. The rest of class was uneventful. Edward was gone, so there was no one to capture my interest. I glanced at the cheerleaders practicing for the pep rally, I looked at the other members of the basketball team, but they held no importance for me. Everything was blah without him. All my thoughts included him. I was officially obsessed.

The rest of the day passed so slowly, it was almost painful. Alice drove me home, and I wrote in my journal for a few hours. It felt good to express my feelings.

Tuesday passed in just the same way-excruciating. Everything was just dull without Edward there. Tyler tried to flirt with me, of course. I nodded politely, and ran from the room. Alice talked about tomorrow's bonfire and our outfits. We made plans to meet later at my house to discuss the game plan for my date.

She arrived after dinner. My parents were out again doing some shopping, and James was out on a date. Alice picked out some clothes for me to wear while I told her about my heart to heart with Rosalie. She was happy that I finally connected with my sister, but I noticed tears in her eyes. "Alice, what's wrong?"

"I'm just a little jealous I don't have a sister," she said between sobs.

"Oh, Alice you know I consider you to be my sister. And Rose will love you like I do. I can't wait for you to meet her." I convinced her to talk about Jasper, that always cheered her up.

Wednesday

The moment of truth. He would be in class. I walked into English with my head held high. I summoned my inner Elizabeth Bennet, and sat down in my regular seat. He walked in a moment after with Tyler right behind him. Tyler flashed me an ear-to-ear smile, and Edward gazed at me with his same intensity that always made me feel like he could see inside my soul. I swallowed heavily and tried to breathe normally. I could feel both of them glancing at me throughout the class, but no one spoke. The teacher handed out a surprise quiz. Yes! It was on Pride and Prejudice.

When class finally ended, the silence was broken. "So, Bella. Are you wearing something extra sexy for me tonight?" Tyler said in what I presume was his seduction voice. I heard the familiar sound of a pencil snapping and a snort.

"You'll see soon enough, Tyler." I wasn't about to flirt in front of Edward.

"I'll pick you up around six? That ok?"

"Um, actually, I thought I could meet you there?" I answered. I heard Edward exhale.

"Ok, baby, but I'm taking you home. I've got plans for later," he said with a cocky grin as he walked away. Gulp. Baby? Oh my. What had I gotten myself into? I glanced over at Edward as I stood to leave. I couldn't help it. He sat as still as a statue with a murderous look on his face.

"Are you really going out with him, Bella?" Gah. His voice was enough to hypnotize me, but he gave me the full force of his glorious stare. I was completely dazzled. My eyes were unfocused. He rose and walked slowly toward me and I backed up. He walked so closely to me that I was pressed against the back wall of the room. He placed his hands on either side of my head so I was surrounded by his muscular arms. "Bella? Please be careful. Promise me you won't do anything foolish." His leaf-green eyes gazed into mine. He was so close that his minty breath washed across my face. Mmm.

What? Must snap out of it. Speak, Swan. "I..I'm just going to a pep rally, Edward, not Iraq. Anyway, are you talking to me now? It's been four days and not a word. So now you want to be friends?" I asked angrily.

"Friends," he spat out the word like it was dirty. "I don't want to be your friend. I want. . .Fuck!" He scrubbed his face with his hands. It was time to escape. Sigh.

"Fine. So we're not friends. So don't worry about whom I date then, Edward. See you around." I rushed out of the class in a huff.

"Bella, wait!" he called after me. I ignored him as I ran away. Stupid Edward Cullen and his shiny Volvo, gorgeous face, and perfect body. Damn, why was I running again? Oh yeah, he said he didn't want to be my friend. Rejected again.

EPOV

Monday

My big brother officially kicks ass. The side trip to Seattle for his Monday Night Football game was just what I needed. Jasper whined like a bitch because he couldn't see Alice, but it was still freaking awesome to watch the game in the luxury box. I gave Bella the space that she needed, and I spent some quality time with my brother. We hung out after the game with some of the other players. It was hard not be in awe of these superstars I watched on television, but they were just regular guys. Lucky for us Emmett got us perfect fake IDs.

"So, bro, Rose tells me she had a little heart to heart with your girl today. Apparently she called crying over your pretty green eyes. What the hell did you do?" Emmett wondered.

Bella, crying? I racked my brain thinking about what I had done. I was a little rude when Tyler was trying to ask her out, but that was it. "I didn't do anything Emmett. At least I don't think so."

Jasper scoffed, "Hah, I tried to tell you she was upset about what Tanyasaurus Rex said to her about your sex life."

"My sex life? With Tanya?"

"Yes, Denseward. I tried to tell you on the car ride up here but you were all 'tortured musician' with your classical music. So, Alice said she was waiting with the rest of the 'put-out posse' to destroy Bella with the details of you guys getting busy after the dance. Tanya said you were using Bella to make her jealous."

"That bitch," I growled.

"What kind of chicks are you mixed up with Ed-o? You better not screw over my little sister-in-law. Rose will hand me my balls stuck on a chopstick," warned Emmett.

"Tanya is my ex-fake girlfriend. Don't make me explain, it's stupid."

"Yeah, don't explain, that's the fucking problem. Bella's crying over your sorry ass because she's thinking Tanya's right. And you haven't said shit to set her straight."

Jazz was so right. I was a complete chicken shit. I wasn't giving her space, I was being a pussy.

Tuesday we did some guy bonding stuff, you know, golf, basketball, Guitar Hero. While we were at Emmett's house, Rose talked to me about Bella. She was nicer than I thought she would be-she actually gave me some tips. Then she told me not to screw it up or she'd have both our asses-mine and Emmett's. I think I peed a little; she was scary.

We got home late and went straight to bed. I was looking forward to seeing my Bella. Well, soon she would be mine. Not fucking Tyler's.

Wednesday

First period I practiced my song for the wedding. My music teacher didn't even bother me anymore. I felt butterflies in my stomach when the bell rang signaling second period. It was time to see her.

She sat in her regular seat, looking beautiful as always. She smiled nervously as Tyler looked at her. I entered right after him, gazing at her heart-shaped face surrounded by chocolate-covered waves. I couldn't help but stare at her throughout class. I barely paid attention to the quiz. When class was over, Tyler talked to her first. He asked about their date, and I snapped another pencil in half. I was thankful she didn't agree to let him pick her up. But then he called her 'baby' and said he had 'plans' for later. I almost tore his head off. She was mine.

I asked her if she was really going out with him, then I got up, slowly walking toward her as she retreated to the back of the room. I pinned her against the wall with my arms surrounding her. I resisted the urges I had to kiss her, to touch her, and instead settled for inhaling her sweet, fruity scent. I wanted to lick her from her collarbone up to her chin, nibble the spot behind her ear…damn, I needed to focus. I warned her about the asshat Tyler, begging her to be careful. She didn't seem concerned.

"I..I'm just going to a pep rally, Edward, not Iraq. Anyway, are you talking to me now? It's been four days and not a word. So now you want to be friends?" she asked angrily.

"Friends," How could she think that's all I wanted? "I don't want to be your friend. I want. . .Fuck!" Why can't I just tell her how I feel?

"Fine. So we're not friends. So don't worry about whom I date then, Edward. See you around." She ran out of the room leaving me in shock.

"Bella, wait!" I yelled after her, but she didn't even look back. Why was she always running from me? Am I some sort of monster? No, I'm just stupid.