A/N: Sorry sorry sorry sorry! So yeah I know it's been like a year since I last updated and thank you to anyone who is still with me in this story. No excuses really except I had writers block and life got busy, but I'm back now and intend to update every other week if I can.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything, not the characters, places, or lyrics. No copyright infringement intended.
Tangled Up In Me
Chapter 7: Need You Now
That afternoon when I got home I did my homework quickly before I got on to the Buxley Academy's people database. Of course school work came before spy work...probably because that would be the only way my homework would get done. Anyway back to the issue at hand.
Buxley had one of the most complete records of people all over the world..not just the important ones. Of course sub-level 3 (a.k.a super high security) clearance was required to access it, however, since I was on an official assignment I was granted access to these coveted files.
OHHH Tyler is gonna be SO jealous that I got to look through these. Of course if she had access to the she would be pulling up the work schedules of her favorite actors like Ryan Reynolds or Chace Crawford or Robert Pattinson. But I had official business to attend to.
I started going through the data base. You wouldn't believe how many Garrett Drifter's (seriously that's his last name!) there were in here (like I said before...it was very complete and thorough record). I narrowed down my search and after a few more page refreshes found him.
I just didn't get it. Everything checked out. He had never even had a parking ticket or even a detention.
I just couldn't figure out why he had been acting so strange.
Then I ran across a record for the Seattle City Orphanage. He had been moved from foster home to foster home all around the Olympic Peninsula since he was eleven. Once he turned 16 he was emancipated.
I quickly looked through the file and found the Minor Emancipation case.
He filed for emancipation after his fifth foster parents reportedly beat him. Shortly after the emancipation was granted the foster couple disappeared.
The case was never solved.
Shit. That wasn't good.
I decided to look through our database to see if there were any recent records of Garretts foster parents. Nothing.
Double Shit. This was too much.
Garrett was so sweet and kind. It was hard to believe him capable of anything like murder. Maybe I was just "jumping the gun" as they say, but...I just couldn't shake this nagging feeling that something with him was off.
I closed my laptop and put my ipod on shuffle.
Liar by Taking Back Sunday came on. Well...that's ironic. I thought to myself.
I kept thinking back over the short time that I had spent with Garrett trying to remember every detail to see if there had been anything that I might have missed or overlooked.
Nothing. I couldn't recall a single suspicious action or phrase that could have had a double meaning.
I let out a frustrated yell as I rolled over onto my stomach and buried my face in the pillows.
Charlie got home a few minutes later.
I went downstairs and greeted the chief.
"Hey Bella. How was today?" he asked as he hung up his gun and coat.
"Good." I answered him vaguely.
He gave me a strange look, but I guess he decided it wasn't worth the trouble of trying to figure it out as he let it go without any questions.
I went into the kitchen and started to boil some water. I was tired, both mentally and physically, and decided that tonight would be a spaghetti night.
Charlie didn't seem to have any objections as he scarfed it down like a starving African child. Which he definitely wasn't.
After dinner Charlie and I followed our usual routine. I did the dishes and he went into the living room to watch Sports Center.
I went back up to my room that night and checked my e-mail. I didn't really expect to have any e-mails since no one other than the school had my e-mail address.
It wasn't exactly smart to have such traceable means as anything on the internet, since most of the 7th graders at my school could hack into a server and find out where e-mails were sent and received.
One general rule at Buxley was that we weren't allowed to have a Myspace or Facebook or anything like that. Not even a Youtube account, and definitely NO E-MAIL. The excuse that the administrators gave our parents was that such activities "distracted from our studies". Total BS, but whatever works I guess.
But since I was suppose to be a normal teenage girl, it was expected of me to at least have an e-mail. So Renee and the "computer geeks" at headquarters had set up an e-mail account that would mislead anyone who tried to track my activity, and would tell them I was stationed in Phoenix.
However to my surprise there was one. I didn't recognize the sender's screen name so at first I thought that it had come from Tyler, Mo, and Jen.
I opened it excitedly. I was wrong. Dead wrong. It was from Jane.
How had she gotten my screen name? I hadn't given it to her or even mentioned it around her. I was sure of that.
"Hey Bella" I read quietly to myself.
I was just wondering if you would like to go to Port Angeles this weekend and see a movie or something. Edward invited Alec and I, and as much as I love my brother I NEED another girl there! Please say you'll come! You're one of my only friends here in Forks. Let me know ASAP. Bye! Jane
...I was dumbstruck and flattered and happy and sad all at the same time.
I didn't know how to respond to that. I was one of her only friends? I guess it sort of made sense since she was new. I was also happy that she had though of me, but at the same time sad, because the fact that she had somehow gotten my e-mail, other than from me, just further increased my suspicions that her and Alec were the other agents. And if that was true then I couldn't be her friend. Not really. And that sucked because she really was a nice girl, even if she was the enemy.
I was so confused and emotional that I broke my normal routine and decided to take a shower before bed to sooth my nerves.
I turned off my computer and got a clean change of clothes together before heading to the bathroom.
I let the water run for a few minutes so it could heat up before I got in. All my thoughts were swirling around in my head in one big jumble and I wanted so desperately to solve all my questions and yet at the same time I just wanted them to disappear.
As I got in and let the hot water run over my tensed muscles I decided that whatever problems I was having I couldn't and wouldn't try to work them out all in one night. I would start to work through them tomorrow after a good nights sleep.
I got to school the next morning and everything seemed to be normal. I saw Alice and Jasper and Rose and Emmett by the lockers. I said 'hi' to them and went on my way to my first period.
Once I got into gym I changed and went in found a spot on the bleachers.
Jane came in a few minutes later and sat down next to me.
"Hey Bella" she said with a warm smile on her face.
"Hey" I said with a smile of my own. "What's up?" I decided I would see if she brought up the e-mail first.
"Not much. Did you get my e-mail?"
Bingo. I nodded my head and was about the answer when she kept on talking.
"I hope it didn't seem creepy. We were at Edward's house last night and he said the thing about the movie and told me I could invite someone if I wanted and you were the first one I thought of so I went and asked Alice if i could have your e-mail or phone number to ask you to it and she gave me your e-mail and I hope that was ok-"
She looked like she would have kept rambling on if I hadn't interrupted her.
"No thats fine!" I said with genuine enthusiasm at her explanation. I can't even begin to explain the relief that washed over me. It made perfect sense that Alice had given it to her, it's not like it would seem out of the ordinary to any normal person for a new kid to ask for someone else's e-mail. Of course I wasn't trained to see the world in a "normal" way. I was trained to keep an eye out for unknown dangers.
I realized that I had spaced out for a minute and Jane was still waiting on my answer. Finally I gave her an answer, "Yeah I would love to go with you. What movie are we gonna see?"
She smiled brightly at me. She had a really nice smile it's perfection almost rivaled the Cullens. Especially Edwards.
WHOA. Where did that come from? Back up Bella. Concentrate on what Jane is saying.
"Um...I'm not sure. I told the guys that they could pick...which now that I think about it might have been a mistake. Hahaha."
I laughed with her. Then the coach came in and ordered us on the courts.
We were on the same teams as before and Tanya tried to pull the 'oops I accidently hit you when I was serving' move again. Only this time I ducked just in time so that her serve hit the net -and not me- then bounced back and whacked Lauren in the face, giving her a bloody nose.
I decided to put step one of my 'Get Revenge on Tanya' plan in action after class. Hey, I may be a trained spy but I am still a teenage girl, and one thing all teenage girls know is payback is a bitch.
When the coach dismissed us to our respective locker rooms to change I did so quickly then went back out to the court to wait.
When I saw Edward emerge from the boys locker room with a couple of his guy friends I flagged him over to my spot on the bleachers. Right by the girls locker room so that Tanya would have to see us.
Edward rolled his eyes at his friends as he reluctantly walked towards me. I smiled to myself. He was such a drama queen. I hadn't even done anything to piss him off today...yet. I'm sure I would by the time that our Music class came around.
"Hey Edward. How are you this morning?" I asked with a fake brightness to my voice.
He saw right through my little act just like I knew he would.
"What do you want Swan? You're never this perky...not even when you just finished that book that you love. What's it called? Wuthering Heights."
He noticed that? No one has ever noticed that my mood increases slightly whenever I finish a great book. Especially Wuthering Heights, which was a favorite of mine.
He looked down at the floor and kicked the side of the bleachers that I was sitting on.
"So what gives?" he said in a softer tone. He seemed kind of embarrassed, like he hadn't meant to let that slip out.
I heard Tanya coming out of the locker room with her cronies. Perfect timing. And lucky for me, Edward was standing where I could see the doors reflection.
"I was just wondering what movie we were gonna be seeing this weekend?"
I made sure to say this loud enough for Tanya, Lauren, and Jessica to hear, while I stood up with my backpack and linked my arm through Edward's pulling him to the door.
He gave me a quizzical look, but shrugged it off and allowed me to tow him forward.
"Um...I'm not sure yet. Any suggestions?"
"Oh I don't know...I really wanted to see Beastly...but I don't know if you and Alec would want to see that...I know it's a girlie movie." I looked down to add to my 'innocent little girl' act.
"Oh...uh...sure...I guess. I mean I don't mind seeing it." he answered, much to my surprise. I thought for sure that he would laugh at me and tell me there wasn't a chance in hell that he would be caught dead in a chick flick.
Apparently Edward had not noticed Tanya's presence. At least not until she shrieked from behind us and stormed angrily past me, knocking me into Edward's side.
I smirked at her retreating figure. Check.
Edward noticed my smirk and I felt him tense at my side. Uh-oh.
I looked up at him trying to put my innocent face on again.
"You knew she was there."
He didn't say it like a question, but a statement of fact.
I didn't even bother lying to him, and for some reason his face made me feel guilty about using him. So I did what I do best when I feel embarrassed. I got defensive.
"Maybe. Why do you care anyway? You broke up with her remember?" I said pulling my shoulders back and stepping away from his side.
He glared down at me. "You used me. I can't believe you."
By this time we had both stopped and were in the middle of a glaring contest right outside the door to our English class.
Damn. He looked really mad. Like border line pissed off.
I couldn't take the mixture of emotions he was causing inside my stomach. He was making me feel bad for doing that to Tanya and guilty for using him, when in reality she deserved it and he had probably used tons of other girls in the past.
Using all my strength I shrugged my shoulders and turned, indifferently going into the classroom. Unfortunately for me I saw Edward's face reflected in the classroom door as the glare dropped from his face and a look of-was it disappointment? Hurt? Betrayal?- replaced it.
I walked into the classroom and took a seat. I didn't look at him for the rest of the period and tried to block that face from my thoughts.
We were sitting less than ten feet away from each other but I felt like we were hundreds of miles apart.
I had never given much thought to his feelings, and now I was regretting what I had done. He was right. I had used him, and I did feel horrible about it.
It wasn't worth getting back at Tanya if it hurt him, because despite all the animosity and anger that I often felt towards him, I never wanted to see him hurting, especially not because of something that I had done.
I had wanted to get back at Tanya, but if I hurt other people in the process then was it really worth it? No. The answer came swiftly and instantly I knew what I had to do. I had to swallow my pride and apologize to Edward and as much as it pained me to admit it, Tanya too.
After class I left in a hurry, my stomach was still in knots over what I knew I was going to have to do later this afternoon. That and I wanted to put some distance between me and little pixie that was quickly catching up to me.
Damn! For someone so short she sure was fast.
"Bella! Don't you dare try to out-run me because I will talk to you. Now whether it's before class or after school at your house is your choice... I could do your hair and make-up while we talked!"
That made me stop dead in my tracks. Evil little sprite. She knew my weakness. She knew I hated "Bella Barbie", which was consequently her new favorite game.
I turned to face her with a fake smile in place hoping to distract her.
"Oh hey Al! I didn't see you there. What's up?"
She glared at me before continuing.
"What happened between you and Edward?"
"What do you mean? Nothing happened?" I tried to play dumb.
I was not successful.
"Don't play dumb with me Bella. You two barely looked at each other and you didn't fight once. In fact you two barely spoke." She stared me down.
I held out for as long as I could but after a minute I looked down. Busted.
"What happened?" she asked again, a little softer this time.
"I sort of, kinda, maybe used Edward to get back at Tanya." I said quietly looking at the grass between our feet.
"Oh no Bella. I mean not that Tanya doesn't deserve it but-" she said putting her hands over her open mouth, matching my tone.
"I know and I feel awful about it." I said interrupting her and finally meeting her eyes.
Her eyes we filled with sadness and understanding. She knew I was being sincere when I said I felt awful about what I had done but there was more, a deeper understanding of why Edward had reacted the way he did.
"Alice," I said curiosity clear in my voice, "Why did Edward get so upset. I mean I know it was wrong but it's not like he's never used anyone for his own purposes before. Right?"
Silence hung thick between us. "It's not my place to say Bella. I'm sorry." Then she looked down to the grass between our feet.
I nodded my head and we continued to walk to history in silence.
We sat down in our usual seats in the back of the room. Right before our teacher started the lesson for the day Ms. Cope, the school secretary came over the intercom.
"Teachers, please excuse the interruption but there were a few announcements left out this morning. First boys basketball practice will be canceled for the rest of the week and second the cast list for the fall musical will be put up outside the cafeteria after school. There will be a mandatory meeting at 3:00 in the auditorium for all cast and crew. That is all. Thank you."
"Oh my goodness! Bella! Maybe you got the lead! Then you can really spend some time with Garrett." she giggled and despite the previously somber mood I had to laugh at her exuberance. I think she was more excited about me getting a part in the play than I was. However, I think she may have had some ulterior reasons for being excited-like getting to do my hair and make-up for the play if I was cast as Belle.
"Maybe." I said smiling back at her. No matter how bad a person's mood, Alice could always make them smile or laugh. It was a gift of hers.
I skipped my free period and headed to the library. I was being a coward and I knew it, but I just wasn't ready to face him yet. I needed one more period to prepare myself. Sixth period, I would apologize during sixth period when we had individual work time.
Lunch was a quiet and awkward event, Edward ignored me and I could feel Tanya and her minions glaring at my back, but thankfully no one said anything.
When I got to the choir room I saw Edward was already seated the piano looking through some sheet music.
I walked up to him and stopped a few feet away. He didn't look up but by the tension I saw form in his shoulders he knew I was there.
I took and deep breath and in one big rush I told him, "Edward I'm sorry about earlier. It was wrong and I feel like shit for treating you that way."
He turned and glanced up at me. He looked a little surprised and then that taunting smirk formed on his lips. "I'm sorry Bella I don't think I heard you correctly."
I glared at him, and he knew perfectly well that I knew he had heard me, but I was trying to diffuse the animosity between us, because I needed to be his friend in order to protect him and find out who was threatening him. "I said I'm sorry" I repeated.
"I forgive you, just answer me this Bella"
I stared at him waiting for him to continue.
"Why did you do it?" he looked at him and the sincerity in his eyes was a bit shocking. I had never really noticed before how green his eyes were, a deep emerald color with a deeper green right around the irises.
" I was trying to get back at Tanya for the crap she pulled the other day in gym." I said shrugging my shoulders. "I thought that rubbing you in her face would be the best way to get revenge, but I didn't realize how you might feel about getting used like that. I really am sorry Edward." He just stared at me with those emerald orbs. His forehead scrunched a little in concentration, like he was considering my words very carefully.
When he looked back to me he smirked again and nodded his head. No words were needed, I knew I was forgiven.
"Ok so I've started to look through some songs that we can use for our duet..." and we sat together for the rest of class trying to find a suitable song.
As I walked out of my last period I was immediately assaulted by a tiny body. Alice.
"Come on Bella! We have to go see if you got the lead!" she squealed dragging me toward the auditorium.
Well it turns out that I got the lead and would be starring opposite Garrett in Forks High Schools production of Beauty and the Beast. Jane even got a part as one of the girls in the chorus.
The meeting didn't last very long. We went through introductions and were handed out rehearsal schedules. Our first rehearsal would be a read-through the next day for all the principle characters.
I headed to my locker to exchange my books. As I turned and headed for the parking lot I overhead two voices, two familiar voices talking in an open classroom nearby. It was Tanya and the new teacher Victoria something. She was one of those teachers who wanted to be called by her first name so she would seem cooler or younger or something.
"You better fix it, Ms. Denali." Victoria said harshly.
"I will" Tanya responded in a catty voice, like Victoria was her equal and not her teacher. "I've got everything under control, so just do your job and get off my back."
I chose that moment to leave and wouldn't you know it, so did Tanya. I ran smack dab into her, causing her to drop her books and purse. "Oh crap, sorry" I said reaching down to help her pick up the spilled contents of her purse.
"Why don't you watch where you're going, graceless Swan." she snipped at me. She shoved the rest of her stuff back into her purse and stood up quickly. I figured now was as good a time as any to clear the air.
"Look Tanya, about earlier," I started as Tanya glared down at me. With her heels on she towered over me. "I shouldn't have done that, with Edward, so I just wanted to say sorry and nothing is going on with us."
She gave me a haughty look, "Of course there isn't. Why would Edward give someone like you the time of day." She emphasized the word you, and then stormed off.
I stood there stunned for a minute and once I had regained my senses started to the parking lot when I suddenly kicked something. I looked down and noticed that Tanya had missed a set of keys. I picked them up and shoved them in the front pocket of my backpack figuring I would return them tomorrow and headed for my car.
The next couple of days passed without incident. Edward and I were getting along, almost like we were actually friends.
Friday morning in gym class I was sitting with Jane and talking.
"Don't forget we're going to the movies tonight. Edward offered to drive so how about we pick you up at like 6 and then we can go eat before the movie."
"Sure" I said smiling.
I saw Edward come out of the guys locker room and he smiled and waved before going to join his friends.
At 5:55 I saw Edward's volvo pull up outside of my house. I saw him get out and was surprised when I heard my doorbell ring a few seconds later. I walked down and answered the door in my dark jeans and floral tank top with an oversized brown cardigan. I hadn't really intended to dress up but as I was standing in front of my closet I couldn't help but want to look nice.
"Hey" Edward said smiling.
"Hey" I replied.
Edward was still staring at me and as the silence dragged on between us I bit my lip and looked down self-consciously.
"You look great" he said softly.
I looked back up and into his eyes. I felt a flush of heat race through my body as we stared at each other. I suddenly had the urge to reach my hand into his soft bronze hair and kiss him. I bet he tasted wonderful...
Whoa! Back up Bella. He is your job. You have to protect him, not molest him with your mouth, even though I bet he was a great kisser.
I shook my head as if the thoughts I was thinking would fall out of it.
"Uh, ready?" I asked and started to step through the door. He moved aside as I called goodbye to Charlie and shut the door.
When we reached to volvo I started for the back but was surprised when Edward reached around me and opened the front door.
I sat down in the seat and turned to say hello to Alec and Jane.
We had dinner at a small italian restaurant. I noticed that the female waitstaff kept ogling Edward, but he wasn't paying them any attention. He kept staring at me.
It was a weird feeling. I was so used to being hidden, that being undercover in broad daylight was just weird.
I had never received attention from a boy, and definitely never once as cute as Edward Masen. I had to keep reminding myself that I was assigned to protect him, not ogle him like the rest of the girls who saw him. But a small part of my mind kept whispering to me, "what's wrong with having fun while you're protecting him."
I went to the bathroom while we were waiting on the bill to check my phone for messages.
Charlie and the rest of the agency had been working on finding the identity of the other agents but hadn't had much luck so far, so Charlie told me to try to get closer to Alec and Jane and see what I could find out.
I had gotten lucky in that Edward was asking Jane and Alec questions about their family and why they had moved to Forks.
Apparently their father was in charge of the Seattle branch of a large company, but their mother didn't want them in the city so they moved to Forks and their father worked from home.
Most of the information was shallow background things that I could have found online but none of it seemed to suspicious. That in and of itself was a problem because they were almost too ordinary, like they didn't want anyone to look too closely into their family. I made a mental note to check into that later.
When we got to the theater there was a huge debate over what we should see. Jane and I wanted to see Beastly, and Alec and Edward wanted to see SuckPunch. We ended up compromising and seeing I Am Number Four. Jane and I got our cute boy to stare at and the guys got their action. It was a fun night. Jane and Alec were really growing on me, but that didn't mean that my suspicions about them had lessened, because they hadn't.
Edward dropped Jane and Alec off first so it was just the two of us as he drove me back towards my house.
"I had fun tonight" Edward said as we drove.
"Yeah me too."
Cue awkward silence.
There was a question that had been bugging me since Monday.
"Edward, can I ask you a question" I said hesitantly.
"Sure"
"You don't have to answer me, if it's too personal but I was wondering what happened between you and Tanya."
I head him sigh softly.
I glanced over and he was pinching the bridge of his nose, something I noticed he did was he was frustrated or stressed.
"Never mind" I quickly backtracked, "You don't have to answer. It's none of my business."
I turned and looked out my window at the dark landscape passing by us.
It was silent and before I knew it we were pulling up in front of my house.
I reached for the handle to open the door when Edward started speaking.
"Tanya was at my house studying" he started softly. I pulled my hand back and turned to look at him. "She went to the bathroom and he laptop was sitting on my bed. I needed to look up a date for a paper and since he laptop was already up and running I grabbed it instead of starting mine. There was a Google search on it with your name."
I was glad for the dimness of the car and the fact that Edward was staring straight ahead so that he didn't see my mouth drop open slightly or how wide my eyes had probably gone. Tanya was searching me on Google? Why? Was she that insecure or was there another reason?
"We got into a fight about why she was checking up on you and about how she was always jealous whenever I even looked at another girl. I was fed up with it so I broke up with her. She didn't take it very well," he looked over to me and a small smile had formed on his face, "she called me a sneaking bastard and asked why I was snooping around on her laptop. Then she picked up one of my sneakers off the floor and threw it at me."
I couldn't help the laugh that escaped my lips as I pictured an angry Tanya throwing a shoe at Edward.
"I'm so sorry Edward. I didn't mean to cause problems. I'm not sure why she was searching me, I mean it's not like we get along really." As I said it I felt a sadness in my heart. I wasn't sure why we hadn't gotten along at first but I felt it was changing and I was really happy about that.
"Can I ask you a question now?" Edward asked looking at me.
"Fair is fair, right?" I responded.
"Are we friends now? I mean you haven't pushed me into the mud in what a week?"
He laughed and I laughed with him.
"Tomorrow's always another day." I said coyly.
"Yes it is."
His eyes suddenly looked a lot more intense than usual. The atmosphere in the car shifted and felt electrified. It was the same feeling I had gotten when he picked me up earlier. I wanted to lean in and kiss him and I by the look in his eyes it seemed he wanted the same thing.
Edward started to lean towards me and like a magnet I was drawn towards him and his lips. I could feel him warm breath fan across my face and his hand slowly came up to touch my cheek. Just as our lips were about to touch my cellphone went off.
DAMNIT!
Edward and I jumped away from each other quickly and I checked the phone. Renee.
I looked back to Edward who seemed to be breathing heavier. "I um...thanks for the ride. I'll see you Monday" I told him and quickly got out of the car and went back to the house. I heard him drive off as the door closed behind me.
Charlie was no where to be seen but it was past midnight so I figured he was asleep. I walked to the kitchen and got a glass of water before heading upstairs. Renee had sent me a text to check my e-mail.
There were some new files they had dug up about Jane and Alec's family. I decided I would look over them in the morning and went through my nightly routine and went to sleep.
I spent Sunday morning looking at the files Renee had sent me and also looking at the blueprints of the Masen home. Apparently the Masen's didn't skimp on anything and that included security. I hacked into the camera's and set up a feed on my home computer. After hearing why Edward broke up with Tanya I didn't think it would be a good idea to have anything like that on my laptop. I mean what would he think if he asked to borrow my laptop and the live feed from the security cameras at his house was on it. Not that he would ever be on my laptop, or be able to access the encrypted files on it, but better safe than sorry.
I found my mind drifting back to the almost kiss that had happened. I wondered if he was thinking about it too. I hoped this didn't make anything awkward between us, but I guess I would have to wait until tomorrow to find out.
Needed to occupy myself with other thoughts I started working on homework, but soon realized that Edward and I still hadn't picked out a song for our duet. We had looked through numerous songs, but nothing really felt right. I started looking through my itunes for songs that I particularly liked and then went to to find similar songs to see if anything would work.
After about the fifth sappy love song in a row I turned the computer off and went to my bed. I didn't know what to do and I was feeling restless in a way that I hadn't been in a long time. So, I did what I always did in situations like this. I started writing, bits and pieces of lyrics, playing with chords and melodies on my guitar.
The next thing I know sun is streaming through my window waking me. I look at my clock and realize it's already 8:30.
I jumped up from the bed and raced to the bathroom. I had already missed first period so I just threw on some clean clothes and deodorant. I ran a brush through my hair and brushed my teeth quickly while I shoved books and papers into my backpack. I raced out the door and to the truck and headed for school. I got there right as the bell for second period rang and raced into my English class. I sat down in my seat breathing heavily while Alice stared at me. She quirked her eyebrow at me as if to say What's wrong with you?
"I overslept." I told her and turned back to face Mrs. Cottingham who was already beginning class.
I avoided Edward until free period when he walked in and sat down right next to me.
"Hey" he said.
"Hi"
"Are we ok?"
"Yeah, why wouldn't we be?" I asked looking at him for the first time all day.
"Well, you know because of what happened after the movie. I thought you might be mad at me and then when you didn't show up in gym class..." he trailed off as he noticed my staring.
"Uh..n-no. I'm not mad. I just overslept that's all."
"Oh, well good..I mean not that you overslept, but that you're not mad." he ducked his head and I thought I saw the trace of a blush creeping over his well defined cheekbones. "I um..I think I found a good song for us to do for our duet." he said.
"Ok awesome! We can start working on it today. What song?"
"You'll just have to wait and see" he said with his signature smirk.
I smiled at him and shook my head. We fell into a comfortable silence after that, at least until Emmett joined us.
I really did like Emmett. He was really easy to get along with and someone you were comfortable being around. He told us about weekend and date night with rose. When he started to go into detail about how he and Rose had had the house to themselves I took that as my cue to leave.
"OOOOK," I said in an exaggerated voice and stood up. "That is my cue to leave. I do not need to hear about your love life Em." I laughed and walked off to sign out and go to the library.
When sixth period rolled around my anxiety and maybe a little bit of excitement was bubbling over. I really wanted to know what song Edward had found for us.
I found him in his usual spot by the piano.
"Ok it's sixth period. What's the song?"
He turned and faced me, then grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the room.
"Shouldn't we tell Mrs. Jones we're leaving?" I questioned as he dragged me down the hallway.
"Already taken care of." He said not slowing down.
He pulled me into the auditorium, which was somehow empty. On the stage was the piano the drama department used for shows. He walked up to it and sat down on the the bench. He handed me a copy of the music and I couldn't help but smile when I saw the song.
"What?" he asked when he noticed my smile.
"Nothing, I just never figured you for a country music lover." I replied.
"Oh Bella, don't you know you should never judge a book by it's cover."
I smiled and shook my head at him. " Yeah, yeah Masen. Just start the song already."
"You know it?" he asked smiling at me again.
His smile made my stomach flutter and I was a little afraid of the feeling. I didn't know what to do with it. So I did what I always do when I get nervous or embarrassed. I gave him a smart ass comment.
"Yeah well don't you know never to judge a book by its cover?" I asked, throwing his words back at him and looking down at my music.
He started to play and just like whenever I listened music or played an instrument, I let myself get drawn into the melody.
Then I just started singing.
Picture perfect memory, scattered all around the floor
Reaching for the phone cause I can't fight it anymore
And I wonder if I ever cross your mind?
For me it happens all the time.
Edward joined in with me for the chorus and I was amazed by how well our voices flowed together, like we had been singing together for years.
It's a quarter after one, I'm all alone and I need you now
Said I wouldn't call but I've lost all control and I need you now
And I don't know how I can do without
I just need you now
I listened to his voice and stared at him while he sang the second verse. He was a truly talented musician. I could see and feel all his passion as he sang.
Another shot of whiskey, can't stop looking at the door
Wishing you'd come sweeping in the way you did before
And I wonder if I ever cross your mind
For me it happens all the time
It's a quarter after one I'm a little drunk and I need you now
Said I wouldn't call but I lost all control and I need you now
And I don't know how I can do without
I just need you now
I found myself staring at Edward, basking in his beauty.
Guess I'd rather hurt than feel nothing at all
It's a quarter after one, I'm all alone and I need you now
And I said I wouldn't call but I'm a little drunk and I need you now
Edward looked into my eyes as we sang the last chorus together, getting lost in his eyes and his intensity.
And I don't know how I can do without
I just need you now
Oh, baby I need you now
We finished the song and as the last note hung in the air I could hear our heavy breathing.
"Wow" Edward whispered.
"Yeah, wow" I whispered back. Really Bella? That is your brilliant response?
We continued staring at each other for I don't know how long.
The bell rang, signaling the end of sixth period and broke the spell that had been surrounding us.
Startled by the bell after our prolonged silence, I grabbed my bag and raced out the door.
Why did he choose that song? Did it have the same meaning to him as it did to me? As much as I didn't want to admit it, I couldn't lie to myself anymore. I was attracted to Edward Masen. Was this song his way of telling me that he felt something more than friendship for me too? I didn't let myself hope. I couldn't. Developing feelings for him was not part of my mission. I was suppose to protect him while trying to find out who was threatening him. Nowhere in my case briefing did it say, "fall in love with subject." Whoa. Love? My mind had just jumped from attraction to love. Crap. I was in trouble.
The rest of my day passed in a blur. I went to the rest of my classes, avoided Edward, went to rehearsal, avoided thinking about Edward, went home and did homework, but by 10 o'clock I couldn't deny it anymore. I was hooked, like a drug addict. I wanted Edward. I felt a physical pull to him and I didn't know how to deal with it.
When I realized that sleep wasn't going to be an option, at least not for a while, I grabbed my notebook and pen and started writing again.
I didn't play my guitar because I didn't want to bother Charlie, but I wrote down the notes that were bouncing around in my head so I could try them out tomorrow. After writing out a chorus I thought would sound good and lines for lyrics, I finally felt tired enough to sleep. I didn't have title for the song yet, but I had always found it easier to write a title after the song was finished. Instead I just wrote "For Edward" at the top of the page.
The next morning when I showed up to school everything changed.
I saw Tanya and Edward sitting on the same bench I had my first day, holding hands.
I felt my face heat and my stomach clenched. Why did it feel like someone had just knocked the breath right out of me. I wanted to run and scream, but I kept my cool and headed toward the two lovebirds. I saw Edward raise his hand to wave to me but I ignored him and kept going. I heard Edward yell for me, but I didn't turn around and kept walking to my locker.
I felt hot tears prick at my eyes but I refused to let them fall. I would not shed a tear for Edward Masen. I guess I was just kidding myself when I thought that yesterday might have meant something to him.
Maybe this was just the wake-up call I needed. He was my assignment. That was all. I would be his friend, watch him, and protect him. End of story.
"Bella!" I felt a hand grab around the top of my arm and it took every ounce of my strength not to grab the person and flip them over my shoulder like a rag doll. I was suppose to be a normal high school girl, not a trained agent. I had already slipped up a couple of times and had been doing a good job of keeping my abilities hidden.
As I turned to face the voice I locked up all my emotions and formed my face into a blank mask of indifference.
"Edward" I stared at him somewhat icily.
"Didn't you hear my calling for you?" he asked. There was a look in his eyes that I couldn't quite figure out. Was it remorse? Sorrow? Guilt? Whatever it was I couldn't quite bring myself to care.
I was angry, not really at him, but at myself for being so weak and falling for a guy I knew but didn't really know; and it's not like i could expect him to every really like me, he didn't even know me and never would. Not the real me anyway.
Once my mission was done I would return to Phoenix and he would never hear from Bella Swan again.
"Oh I guess I didn't. Kind of in my own world today. Ya know?"
He expression changed to a stunned one at my quick shift in mood.
"Uh...yeah..." he trailed off.
"What's up?" I asked.
"Oh uh...nothing...I...uh...I just wanted to say hi" he stuttered.
"Well..uh..hi?" I said. It came out as more than a question but I was still trying to sort out exactly how I wanted to deal with him and being this close to him right now was not helping with the "no crying in front of Edward" plan. For some reason whenever I was around him I felt all my walls crumbling.
God apparently decided to cut me a break at that moment, because Garrett walked around the corner.
"Garrett! Hey wait up for a sec?" I called to him.
He looked at me and nodded and stopped where he was.
I turned back to Edward. "I've gotta go. I'll see you in class" I said quickly and headed to where Garrett was waiting.
He smiled as I approached him and opened his arms to me for a hug. I reached around him and couldn't help but squeeze him tightly.
Garrett and I had grown closer over the past week from working together on the play and at that moment I just really needed some form of human contact to keep the tears from spilling over.
I still had my suspicions about Garrett, heck, I still had suspicions about more than a few people but I couldn't go around being anti-social and checking my back every few seconds. That wouldn't look weird to anyone at all would it? Exactly. Normal people didn't get paranoid when two new Italian students transferred in or when someone was an emancipated minor.
"You ok?" Garrett asked releasing me enough to look into my eyes.
"Yeah." I said, attempting to smile at him.
His brows furrowed like he didn't quite believe me but he didn't say anything and for that I was thankful.
It was painful to watch Edward and Tanya interact in gym class. She was rubbing him in my face just as I had done to her. Yeah...payback was definitely a bitch.
I kind of shut down after that and even when my friends noticed my preoccupation they were kind enough to leave me be.
I didn't go to the auditorium during my free period and instead went to the music room. I sat down at the piano and pulled out my notebook. I continued to work on the song from last night, but what had started off as a love song of sorts ended up turning into a plea. I stayed in the music room during lunch and when Edward walked for sixth period I hastily put my stuff in my bag, standing up from the piano bench.
Luck was still on my side when Mrs. Jones told us she had a new assignment for the rest of the week and she wanted us to work on individual songs that we would perform on friday. They could be a cover or an original song but she wanted us to sing for this assignment. I took my backpack and a guitar and went into one of the private rooms, avoiding Edward's questioning gaze the entire time. I knew immediately what song I wanted to sing so I started working on it, changing a couple notes here and there to fit my voice and by the time the bell rang I had a good chunk rehearsed.
I walked back into the music room. Everyone else had gone home but I had left some sheet music in here. Tanya had called last night and we had talked things out. She thought I had been rash in ending things and apologized for her behavior. I agreed to get back together with her for convenience only. Bella obviously didn't like me like I liked her. I picked out our duet song to try to tell her how I felt but when she raced out of the auditorium like that I guess I had my answer.
I reached for the music I had left on the piano when my foot hit something and kicked it under the piano. I bent down to retrieve it. It was Bella's notebook. There was a pen inside marking a page and I opened it up to see what she had been writing. A voice inside my head kept telling me that it was wrong it was an invasion of her privacy but I couldn't help myself. The figurative devil on my shoulder was louder than the angel. It was a song. There was no title but at the top of the page it said "for Edward" in her messy scrawl.
She had written a song for me. As I read the lyrics it felt more like a song to me. I played what she had written in the margins. Singing it softly to myself, harmonizing with how I thought her voice would sound singing it.
It's coming over you, it's coming over me
I'm crashing like a tidal wave, that drags me out to sea
And I wanna be with you, you wanna be with me
I'm crashing like a tidal wave, I don't wanna be
Stranded.
She had a guitar part written into it as well. What was written was amazing. There were a couple lines written for verses.
I wasn't sure what exactly possessed me but I started working on lyrics of my own. I wrote a verse and notes for a harmony for the chorus. The song was far from finished but I hoped that she would see that I was trying to answer he feelings with my own words in her song. I put the notebook in my bag and left the room. Tanya called on the way home but I ignored it.
I was feeling more conflicted about being with her now than ever. There was just something about Bella that was magnetic, addicting, like a drug almost. I wasn't sure what was going on between us, I felt like she was holding back, hiding something, but I was more determined now than ever to get her to open up to me. To figure her out.
Songs:
Need You Now- Lady Antebellum
Stranded- Plumb
A/N: Ok so I tried not to leave you with too much a cliff hanger. I am going to be updating more frequently (I PROMISE), I just sort of lost my writing mojo but I'm back and fully intend to finish this story and Never Far Behind. I am also working on a Mortal Instruments FF but I won't really start it until I'm done with these two stories (Who read City of Fallen Angels! *dies* it was great...I can't believe we have to wait a whole year for the next one but...) Anyway thanks again for sticking with me. I hope you are enjoying the story and I promise there is more B/E and spy stuff coming, but we have to set it up just right. Please review and let me know what you think. Lot's of Love 3 Accident-Prone Klutz
Oh and this chapter is like quadruple the length of the others I had been writing!
Recs: Some stories I am reading/loving. Another author on here does these (AmeryMarie) and I love them so I decided to copy her, because it really is a great idea and a great way to share awesome stories.
Under the Boardwalk- Robicorn
Covert Casanova- ddpjclaf
Confessions of a Nanny- Melissa228
New Habits: Bad Habits, Book Two- AmeryMarie (Read Bad Habit: Book One first if you haven't)