"Idiot! I told you we were-"
"Oh! Will excuse me for giving proper directions!" Mr. Banner blurred out the bus drivers words with his own, raising his voice. Both their rumblings got loud and Mr. Banner was he first to notice there argument going out of hand.
"Shhh!" he hushed our driver and lowered his voice. "we don't need our students to-"
"Yeah, yeah! Just let me do my job. Please?" he cut him of curly annoyed, while waving one hand in the air as waving away the conversation. "Now its going to take at least one more hour." the bus driver said complaining. Great.
Emmett and Japer passed us by on their way to their seats. Both their eyes towards Edward and me, their simple stares changed. They looked at us for the slightest moment and their expressions changed completely.
A sly smile appeared on Jasper's features and a wide grin spread across Emmett's face. They walked away, Emmett looking as if he was struggling to suppress laughter.
…What was that about?
I looked towards Edward for some kind of explanation. He was glaring at his brothers retreating backs. He turned to me seeing my bewildered expression, he shrugged innocently and looked away.
It soon became darker outside. Everyone started pulling out blankets and pillows. So I pulled out my pillow and blanket I stuffed in my backpack.
"Hey Edward!"
I turned my head at the name being called by the booming voice. It was Emmett calling his brother's attention, but Edward's eyes were on me. And stupidly, the moment my eyes met his, they stayed locked there. It couldn't look away, neither did I want too. And even though everything happened in a few moments it, it felt like forever looking into his eyes.
"Catch!" Emmett called out again. That's what broke in to my attention, a pillow flying right towards my face. This would be embarrassing, but minor.
With his eyes still on me, before the pillow could smack me in the face, he caught it without even looking. I gasped more in relief then his quick moments and his smoldering eyes so close to me. I looked away awkwardly from his intense eyes.
Before we could all fall asleep I felt the bus stop. Everyone groaned and complained.
"I need a few students to assist the bus driver change the flat tire." Mr. Banner announced. Tyler and Mike volunteered but more students then needed got of the bus to stretch their legs, I was one of them.
"Excuse me," I said as I squeezed around Edward to get out of my seat. It was a bit uncomfortable as he leaned back to make room for me to go by. He seemed to watch my face carefully as I passed him by.
That's what distracted me as I tripped over his foot, almost landing on his knee and part of me on the floor. Before that could happen he caught me, saving me from embarrassment and smacking my head on the ground, face first and probably landing on him. He clutched me by wrapping his arms around my hips, steadying me. A wave of warmth, that felt like electricity, ran through me. I wonder if he felt it too, he looked stunned. I felt a shiver from his cold arms run through me but surprisingly felt warm where he held me. He wrapped his arms around me tighter after I shivered and felt the strange electricity.
"Be careful." he said gently. Then, sadly, he let go. I tried getting off the bus as swiftly as I could as I herd chuckles behind me. I walked of the bus in one piece thanks to him.
I watched and laughed to myself as Mike and Tyler argued as they struggled to put in the tire. I looked around at the small groups chattering and walking around me. I stood alone. And I was very content that way.
I began to walk to the other side of the bus where there was no one. Just darkness, the eerie trees and me. I leaned against the bus watching the scary scenery. Thinking over thoughts that have been floating around my mind lately. They were about Edward mostly. They were always abut Edward, mostly that's what it seemed my life was about since I moved to this town.
Wallowing in self pity, I barely noticed the dark figure approaching me already so close. I herd the footsteps and turned to see. He sat down right beside me silently. While I kept my stance leaning against the buses side. I stood there very still. I was frozen, unexpected feeling.
Why was here sitting beside me? I waited for him to speak, he stayed silent. Was I missing something here? Did he want me to leave or stay? Even if I decided to leave, my legs wouldn't move. They didn't want to go. I didn't want to miss a chance of being so close to him.
I was hopeless, I realized. Would I ever stop loving him? For some reason I hoped not. I hardly knew him and he was so rude to me, non the less I would do anything for this person I hardly knew.
He fascinated me, not that I would admit it. I wasn't afraid of him, actually I felt safe around him. It was a different afraid I felt around him, the kind that consisted of butterflies in your stomach. I was afraid of what he thought of me, I felt very awkward around him. But very safe at the same time.
We both starred at the dark forest. In the distance, the shapes of a few mountain peaks were barely visible in the darkness.
He sat a foot beside my legs. I was used to him always keeping his distance and now he was so close. I starred at him I the darkness, not moving my head in his direction. The silence was killing me.
"Scary isn't it? The way it looks."
"Yeah" he simply answered after a short pause.
"I could see why people would think up of monsters and stories, that existed in the woods." I didn't know what brought me to say that. I thought back to the Quilate's stories I had once herd.
I saw him flinch at that for the most inexplicable reason. I fought the urge to run my hand through his thick hair and pet it soothingly.
"I never regretted saving you. I said it be better if we weren't friends, not that I didn't want to be. I would never regret saving you." I turned to look at him stunned. Where did all of this come from?
"What?" I asked shocked.
"I wanted to say I'm sorry, Bella. For offending you."
"Oh." I said dumbfounded, at a lost for words. After a moment I spoke again sliding down next to him. "And I'm sorry for being rude, too. And, thanks for saving me. I never really thanked you."
"Your welcome, anytime. And you have nothing to be sorry for." He said looking sincerely at me.
"Would you forgive me? And have mercy on me and relief me from my pain." What a silly question.
"Of course." I simply said.
He smiled his beautiful crocked smile. I was dazed. After a moment of starring at him like an idiot smiling, I formed actual words.
"So…does this mean you'll explain to me how you did it?" He hesitated and looked down.
"I-rather not."
"You promised…" I said letting it go with lost sinking hope before I could even finish asking. He starred at me with his smoldering eyes, that held an indescribable pain.
"I want to but-" he looked away momentarily. "We should be getting back. Their probably almost done." I was going to argue but he stood up and I decided not to push my luck. He held out his hand to help me up. Then he guided me forward with his arm around me.
"Watch your step," he warned.
"I know, I can do it." I scuffed.
He looked at me with a raised eyebrow. "You can walk a flat surface with out tripping?" he said in disbelief. "I'll believe it when I see it." he said. I through my tongue at him when he wasn't looking, hoping he couldn't see me in the dark.
When we got back around to the other side, I spotted Emmett and Jasper putting on the tire, Mike and Tyler stood behind them arms crossed, scowling. I laughed. Edward looked down at me smiling for once. His arm was still wrapped around me even though we were just standing, but I didn't protest or mention it.
Tyler turned his head towards me, he started walking over towards us. I tensed. What did he want? I really hoped it wasn't a date.
"Hey Bella!"
"Hey," I answered solemnly. Edward's arm tightened around me.
"Common Bella, I'll help you on the bus." Edward urged, his voice sounded darker, restrained. He was mysterious Edward again. I didn't like the idea of needing help.
"I'm fine. I don't need help, I can do it." You could hear annoyance building in my voice. He let go of me, reluctantly. But he didn't leave my side. Tyler eyed Edward suspiciously for a moment then turned to me, his mood not damaged.
"What's up Bella?" he asked. Mike herd him talking to me and turned to see us. Then he walked over to us. Oh no. I her Edward let out a low growl. Did I seriously hear him growl?
"Hey Bella." Mike said scowling at Tyler then he saw Edward and he looked shocked.
"Hi,…okay I think I'm going on the bus now." I said nervously rushing, I didn't want to deal with this situation.
"Hey Bella!" Jessica called as she waved at me.
"Coming!" I quickly answered and walked away from the situation however way I could and fast, reluctantly tearing out of Edward's arm.
I talked with Jessica and Angela for a while and Angela gave me a sly smile she knew something I didn't or something I knew that now she knew too. Then Mr. Banner told us to board the bus again.
As I went down the row, Mike, Tyler and Eric all asked me to sit with them. I gave them all a shy apologetic smile nervously. Then I took a seat next to Edward, who had taken the window seat, in the back. I hoped he hadn't turned back into the mysterious rude Edward again. He smirked as I sat next into him and turned away to look out the window.
Soon everyone began to asleep. I struggled to fall asleep, afraid I still talked in my sleep. Especially, since I was very hyper aware of Edward sitting right next to me. Sooner or later I drifted into slumber. I had trouble staying asleep. I opened my eyes giving up. It was the middle of the night. It was dark and silent. Everyone else was asleep, at least that's what I thought. My head was faced towards Edward. As I awoke I gasped, startled. His eyes were open and he was wide awake watching me. A moment after I opened my eyes he closed his.
His body was shifted facing towards me, his back towards the window he leaned against. He was awkwardly scooted as far from me as possible in the small little area. It took me a while to fall back to sleep after that.
When I awoke again, it was morning. My mind was slow as I tried to remember where I was. I recalled the restless night, leaning farther over to one side as I tried make myself more comfortable. Then I recalled waking in the middle of the night to see Edward watching me.
Edward
That's when I remembered everything and then realized I was laid out on both seats. I was very cold, I felt like a wall of ice was behind me. I tried to move, that's when I realized the strong hold around my waist. A cold pale arm was wrapped around me and I could feel his even breathing in my hair.
"Bella, … My beautiful Bella." I herd him mumble, his face was buried in the back of my head, in my hair.
I guess I wasn't the only one who talked in my sleep.
His words startled me at first. I started to panic in shock and my heart raced. I contemplated this and realized I very much liked it and did not want to move.
I gently placed my hand on his, hoping he wouldn't awake and I get caught.
I closed my eyes and enjoyed the moment. I thought I felt his arm tighten and nuzzle his face deeper into my hair in reaction. My heart raced.
I herd people shifting around and someone clear their throat. I opened my eyes reluctantly, ruining the moment and saw people moving around who had awaken, a few starring at me.
"Edward…" I panicked, trying to awaken him so he would let go and I could sit up.
"Hmm?" He said, sounding half asleep but yet content. "Yes, Love?" I grimaced. Did I hear him right.
I ignored the words as if I hadn't herd them and spoke.
"Can you let go of me?" I asked awkwardly.
"…Oh, sorry." he let go and I sat up suddenly self conscious how I must look. My hair was always a haystack in the morning. He must have liked it because I caught him twirling a strand in of my hair in his hand, his eyes were distant. He stayed laying down casually behind me with one arm behind his head. I played it of that I didn't notice he was playing with my hair and starred face forward a bit frozen in shock. I smiled to myself and he let go.
"Attention, attention students!" Mr. Banner called. "Were here, we arrived a bit late due to the flat tire. The other buses arrived last night. Congratulations, you avoided one of the nights in the woods and spended it in the bus instead." People cheered. I stayed silent, I wasn't much of the enthusiastic kind.
"Please get your bags out from the bottom of the bus and well set up camp a little late." Mr. Banner spoke over the cheers.
We got of the bus and were picking up our bags. As my turn came to take my bag, I reached out for it only to be beaten by an all to familiar pale hand that reached it from behind me before I could. I looked behind me to see Edward throwing it over his shoulder.
"I'll get it for you." Then he smiled his devastatingly and un-fair beautiful smile. I stared at him for a moment a bit dazed. I could feel the dumbfounded expression on my face.
He headed towards the campsite, leading me forward with his other hand on my back.
Mr. Banner did a quick instruction of showing us how to set up our tents. I got lost the moment he started talking then he dismissed us to get started. I pulled my kit supplies stuff over towards the girl side's of the campsite.
I started putting it together in my head, trying to do it the way I remembered it on TV. Sticking the pole in the ground and throwing a blanket looking thing over the triangular frame.
But this one was different, it was synthetic material, modern. I struggled the sticking the pole/stick thing in the ground accidentally smacking myself in the head. I muttered to myself, considering I should just do it Eeyore style, from Winnie The Pooh. Like his little house and go find some sticks.
I herd a ghostly chuckle from behind and turned to see Edward watching me. He stood still not so far behind me. He had stood there laughing at me on my expense.
"Okay, I think I watched you long enough and had my fun laughing at you. Let me see, I'll do it for you."
He took the thing from my hand and started setting it up for me. I sat down a few feet away and folded my arms over my knees and laid my head on it watching him.
I thought over the new controversial thoughts in my head. Things he has said and done in the past day.
So he didn't regret saving me, he apologized. That was good, no problem there.
I said it be better if we weren't friends, not that I didn't want to be.
Okay, so what did that mean? Gee, thanks, that really cleared it up. I thought sarcastically.
He said he wants to explain but he rather not. There's another mystery.
By the way he acted the first day, how his defensive attitude about his little secret that I knew he has and his glares and stares he gives me, I thought he hated me. But he kept hanging around me lately and according to Mike he stares at me more often then I know, in a way I'm not sure about that Mike couldn't even explain. What did that all mean? Did he stare at me admiringly or a completely different way that I should be afraid? He said he felt bad about offending me. So was it just guilt? And what about what I herd him say in his sleep and the way he keeps holding on to me?
"Bella,… My beautiful Bella." ?
Could I have herd him right? Could I have imagined it?
The way he holds me? When he was guiding me to the other side of the bus in the darkness, I know he was just being nice but he kept his hold even though I was just standing. Does he really think I'm that much of a klutz? That I can fall over just by simply standing? Which is true but could it had meant something else? And what about when he tightened his arm around me when Tyler came to talk to me? Was I imaging that too? Did he do it defensively? Cause that's what it seemed like. And then I thought I herd him growl. And then when I caught him watching me in the middle of the night? Was that just a coincidence? Maybe I caught him at a bad time. Maybe he was having trouble sleeping too and noticed me sleeping restlessly too and I just happened to catch him at the wrong moment. And this morning when he had me in his arm while we were asleep? Okay, that could have partly been my fault. I might have leaned too much over and fallen over and we both just accidentally got a bit to comfortable not realizing it. And what was it with him and playing with my hair? I had defiantly not imagined that! What was that about? And when I got of the bus and his family followed me around? Then the second time he got of when I did, that could have been a coincidence.
How the heck do you explain all of that? Then there was something I hadn't thought about. Oh, right…I was the over obsessed one here, hopelessly over him. Some of these things could have been coincidences and half just my imagination. My pathetic imagination, wish fulfillment. I was letting it get so out of hand that I was imagining he could ever find me attractive in anyway. I was pathetic and pitiful. No wonder he was so kind and friendly, he felt sorry.
When he finished he turned towards me for approval, smiling proudly.
"Thanks." I said getting up.
He smiled wide beautifully and proud again. "Your welcome." Then he walked away to the boys side of the campsite. I watched him as he walked away contently happy, dazed.
"Hey Bella!" I herd Jessica's voice. I turned around reluctantly wishing to be with Edward instead of talking with Jessica.
"Hey," I said solemnly.
"Guess what? You, me, Angela and Lauren are going to be tent mates!" she said cheerfully. She looked around. "Where's our tent stuff? I'll help you set it up." Now you tell me and come to help after I made my self look like a fool in front of Edward? I thought to myself.
"Oh, Its right here. Its set up already." I pointed to the tent right next to me. Angela and Laruen walked over to us. Angela smiling and Lauren pouting and scowling in a bad mood as always. No doubt, she probably wasn't excited I was her tent mate.
"Wow." Jessica said astonished. "You set it up all by yourself? …Already?" Angela just looked at it smiling to herself and Lauren glared at it.
"Oh, no!" I was quick to discredit myself. "Edward did it for me." I explained innocently.
They all turned to me shocked. Except Angela, who had the same smile like she wasn't surprised. I eyed there expressions, I was guarded now.
"Edward-Cullen?" Jessica said slowly in disbelief. She seemed to have trouble letting out the words.
"Yeah…" I was at a lost of words at their expressions. They eyed the tent like it was a unknown foreign object. Jessica reached out to it cautiously as if she was afraid. She gently shook it to see how sturdy it was.
"Why?…" Jessica asked.
"I don't know, Jess. He just did. I guess he was just being nice and helped me." I said a bit of pain hurt me as I said the words he was just being nice. Right…that was probably the only reason.
They looked at me again with the same expressions from earlier surprise. I quickly shut up. Not wanting their weird surprised expressions directed towards me or their attention.
Mr. Banner quickly interrupted, thankfully, turning the attention away from me to make an announcement.
"Get ready, were about to leave for our nature hike. If you didn't finish settling in your tent, you'll have a chance to finish it later when we get back." My mouth dropped. Here came the torture. I almost wanted to fall to the ground crying, begging Mr. Banner not to let me go. I almost thought about actually doing it if it wasn't the large crown of teenagers who would surely stare at me as I whined and cried. I wanted to hide.
Then I saw Edward looking at me from across the camp and I felt better, I don't think he would let a bear eat me. Then my courage instantly faded with the thought of him seeing my embarrassing moments on this hike. He already thought I was a klutz, I didn't want him to see how completely disabled I really was.
He smiled at me, I had a hard time responding, I could feel the anxiety creeping up on me. I looked away and watched Mr. Banner studiously.
I would have to avoid him completely on this hike, to avoid embarrassing myself worse. As we started walking, I walked as far from him as possible in the large group of students. No dice. He followed me and walked along side of me. I tried walking faster or slower to avoid him and hide behind others. No such luck. He kept my pace easily and if I would walk behind a group, hiding, he would wait for them to pass and then take his place beside me. He followed my every step, along side of me never leaving my side. He was impossible to escape, especially since he kept his eyes on me most of the time. Even when I thought he wasn't looking at me, I noticed he stared at me from the corer of his eye. What the heck? I felt like a prisoner.
But a happy prisoner. I enjoyed the fact he stuck with me and helped me climb, guarding my every step. I kept my eyes on the ground. I looked up at him after giving up on avoiding him. He looked sad as he starred down at the forest ground. He stopped starring at me. We were in the very back due to my slow pace and stumbling. He didn't seem to mind but now he looked upset.
I got distracted starring at him and nearly tripped, again. He caught me and looked into my eyes solemnly. He didn't speak or smile or laugh like he did the other times when he saved me.
This time he surprised me. This time he steadied me and didn't make a comment on my klutziness. This time he walked faster ahead, away from me.
I froze. I felt like I had just been stabbed, even though I had every right to be. I was the one who was being rude this time. Maybe I had offended him trying to stay away from him earlier. I guess I really did make it to easy to see I was avoiding him. I felt bad and my stomach started doing flops. What if this time he wouldn't forgive me and stayed away from for now on all together.
I struggled keeping up, I was falling behind and stumbling. I constantly looked up to stare at him ahead with his whole family now. He never turned back to look at me. I panicked.
What did I expect? Him to watch my every step all the time? What did he care? I wanted to cry.
Watching him was a distraction I really didn't need as I stumbled over rocks.
I kept my eyes down and from crying but that didn't stop me from peeking up at him sometimes even though it hurt.
"Hey Bella," Tyler said casually as he walked easily beside me with his hands in his pockets.
"Hey Tyler," I said a bit monotone with my eyes concentrating on the ground. I didn't even look up to acknowledge him.
"How's it going?" he asked. That made me snap. I had to look down at all times with no chance of looking up and not falling. I had my hands spread out for balance ridiculously. I was the only one falling behind while no one else had trouble. I was stumbling over every other rock and tripped more then twice already.
"How does it look Tyler?" I said curtly looking up at him annoyed.
"Sorry," he apologized, realizing what I meant. I didn't answer back.
"So I was wondering," as he spoke I peeked up a Edward again. "next Saturday, you know when were not danged to this camping trip, do you want to go out?" the moment the words left his lips, Edward paused. More like froze, he didn't move another inch, almost as if he herd Tyler's words and froze on queue. But why would it matter to him? And how could have herd from that far? Edward turned around and finally looked at me. My body grew excited and anxious, I looked down quickly. Maybe he would come to me again, I though smiling.
"Um, no thanks Tyler."
"Maybe some other time?"
"Maybe." with that he walked on and caught up beside Mike. Mike saw his sulky expression and looked back at me and smiled. He started walking over to me. Before he turned away, I thought I herd Tyler say "She told me, maybe." smugly to him.
Great. I thought.
"Hey Arizona," he said smiling "need a hand?" he asked cheerfully extending his hand. I reached for it eagerly, I would have excepted anyone's help.
"Thanks," I said but before I could take it, I felt a cold hand take my arm.
"I got it." I herd his voice say.
I looked up to see Edward holding my hand. He still looked upset, then he wrapped his right arm around my waist tightly pulling me closer to him as he held my hand with his left.
"Thanks." I uttered silently and awkwardly not sure what else to say or do. He through a glare at Mike.
"Never mind." Mike said as sulky as Tyler. Mike stood his place on my other side, not walking away. I really hoped he wouldn't push this any farther. I hoped he wouldn't ask me out again, embarrassingly awkward in front of Edward. He must have thought better of it because he walked away after a moment.
I took in a deep breath and sighed. I looked at Edward from the corner of my eye. He was concentrating on my footing as I walked, ready to save me.
I smiled smugly to myself as I enjoyed his cold arms around me contently and thought I must be forgiven after all.
See that pretty little green button down there?=) Edward and Bella say "Please press it!" if I get at least 5 reviews, ill post a new chapter. More reviews make me enthusiastic to write faster! I really tried making this longer, so hope you enjoyed it.
Grade my story from a 1-5 scale. 1 being not good. And 5 being very good, awesome, wonderful, unique, Great! 3 being okay/good
Let me know what you think and any corrections or things I should clear up. And things I should improve on but try to be nice please and tell me politely. Thanks for taking the time to read this and my story! And remember, Reviews make me happy =)
- Martha =p
*DISCLAIMER- I DO NOT OWN TWILIGHT OR ANY OF THE CHARACTERS. STEPHANIE MEYER OWNS THE STORY. (SHE ROCKS! =D)