Edward POV
"Relax, Edward. I can feel the tension rolling off you in waves." Jasper told me as we waited for Alice and Bella to arrive at school. I had driven Jasper since Alice had virtually kicked me out of Bella's house at 2 in the morning and would be driving her to school. Now Jasper and I were both leaning on my car in the school parking lot.
"Sorry, Jazz. I can't help it." I told him honestly. Alice had told me to leave Bella's early last night to get some extra hunting in claiming I was going to need it. That alone made me unusually nervous. I complied, of course, all the while wondering what Alice had in store.
"Alice has dressed Bella up a number of times." Jasper noted. He was stating something that was entirely true. Alice had often chose to experiment her fashion sense on Bella before our absence however there was a particular mischief in Alice's eyes this time.
"This time is different. I can feel it."
"So you've suddenly become psychic now?" He said sarcastically.
"No. I just know." I said. Did he not see the malicious gleam in her eye as she made the so-called bet? She orchestrated the whole thing perfectly to her advantage and none of us were the wiser until it was too late. "I could only imagine what concoction of Alice's making that Bella will show up in. She didn't tell you, did she?"
"Yeah right." Jasper scoffed. "And risk having you find out? I don't think so. Besides you won't have to imagine for much longer. I can hear Alice's car now."
As if on cue, Alice's little car came speeding into the parking lot. Even though the spot next to my car was free, she parked nearly clear across the lot.
"We'll see you inside." Alice yelled out. "By Bella's locker." I watched her and Bella get out of the car and scurry inside the building. Even though I had very good eyesight, I couldn't get a clear view of Bella since Alice was blocking my line of vision. I was only able to see the back of her as they ran into the doors. The only thing I could notice was Bella was wearing a long black trench.
"This isn't good at all." I muttered with a scowl.
"I may have to agree with you." Jasper said but couldn't suppress the chuckle that came out of his mouth soon afterwards. "Okay, lover boy. Let's get this over with."
Bella's full length locker door was open and although I couldn't see her yet I knew she was standing behind it. I also saw part of Alice's concealed body to. She must have heard us approach because suddenly from behind the locker door Alice's hand shot in a gesture telling us to stop.
"Stay right where you are. We're not ready for you yet." Alice said.
"Oh, come on Alice. The hair is fine." I heard Bella whine. I grinned, happy that she seemed to be enjoying this even less than I was. The grin didn't last long however when I saw a group of boys I never paid attention to walking down the hall, all of them eyeing Bella with their mouths gaped open.
"Holy crap...is that Bella Swan?"
"Man, she is looking fine."
"I want to get me some of that."
Their minds seemed to go blank when they saw me glare at them with nothing less that murder in my eyes and a low growl emitted unbidden from my throat.
Judging from the thoughts of the group that just passed by us, Bella looked very un-bella like and not in a way that was comforting to my self control. Admittedly, I had more patience than some but the threshold of that patience had just been crossed. "Alice." I said through gritted teeth.
"Okay, okay. Are you ready?" She said.
"Oh for God's sake Alice...cut the theatrics." Bella said as I saw her hand reach around for the handle of the locker and slam the door shut. When she turned to look at me I felt my whole center of gravity shift. Gone was my beautiful fresh faced Bella. In her place was this devastatingly sexy creature served up to tempt me.
I took in her face first. Alice had applied a professional hand with the cosmetics and the effect made Bella look like an ethereal temptress. I was entranced noting how the blue top accentuated her breasts and the tight jeans hugged her curves in all the right places. Alice had even given her a faux diamond belly button ring and I imagined myself removing it with my tongue. Wait a minute! Hold everything. My lusty thoughts suddenly came to a grinding halt.
"Holy hell!" I finally said my voice coming out sounding strangled even to my ears. Half the immature male cretins were already in love with Bella as it was. Now it seemed like the entire male population would be pining after her. I felt the jealous monster rage within me threatening to escape.
"Uh, Alice. Are you sure this was a good idea?" Jasper said. He must have noticed the swell of emotions running through me.
"Positive." She replied smugly sounding so wholly sure of herself. Payback's a bitch, ain't it?
She was doing this to punish me. It was all so clear now. Well I wasn't going to have it. No one was going to look at my Bella, my fiancé inappropriately because of some scheme perpetrated by my sister for revenge. It was bad enough the boys did that already but now they had even more reason.
"Absolutely not." I almost shouted grabbing Bella's arm and pulling her with me as forcefully as I could without hurting her.
"Wait! Where are we going?" she cried out struggling out of my grip.
"You're going home to change." I told her.
"No Edward." Alice said taking Bella's other arm. "She lost the bet...she stays."
"Stop!" Bella said loudly then turned to me. "Edward, I can't go home. I have a test first period. I can't miss it."
"But, Bella." I pleaded. I saw tears suddenly spring to her eyes and I had no idea why. "Bella?" I asked tilting her head up so I could look at her closely trying to ascertain what caused her sudden distress.
"Don't…don't you think I look pretty?" She asked, her voice coming out a trembling whisper.
Great Edward you made her cry. You better not make her ruin her mascara. I'll have to reapply it all over again. This, of course, coming from Alice.
For God sakes man, tell her you think she looks pretty. She thinks you don't like the way she looks and her self esteem just took a nose dive. I heard Jasper's voice in my head.
She didn't think I thought her pretty? Was that what this was about? I almost laughed at the absurd notion. As if she could just be merely pretty? But dressed like this…it was hard to form the words. Of course I preferred her fresh faced, girl-next door look. She truly didn't need any extra adornment. But if I were to be honest with myself, this version of Bella, all pout and sex, made my inner hormonal teenager fight to break free. This Bella I did not want to share with anyone. If anyone was going to see her like this, it would be me and me alone. Not the whole damn school.
"Oh, Bella." I said wiping a stray tear from her cheek. "You're not just pretty. You're absolutely gorgeous…as you always are. I only reacted that way because my jealous nature got the best of me. You have to know that dressed like this, every boy…" I snarled out the word. "will by vying for your attention. I already feel like I am jockeying for position without you looking like you walked out of every man's fantasy playbook."
That's better, Edward.
"Really?" She asked still looking uncertain.
I nodded. "Really, my love." I bent down to brush my lips across hers and couldn't help but deepen the kiss more than I had originally intended. She looked dazzled when I finally released her and I felt entirely pleased with myself. I felt the glare of several other male students bore into my back but I was the only one that could kiss her that way. If I had to continue with public displays of affection all day to keep them reminded of that, I would.
I heard Alice giggle and looked at her inquiringly. "Uh, Edward. I don't think that particular shade of lipstick looks as good on you as it does on Bella."
"Oh, hell." I grumbled wiping it off with the tissue she handed me. "You better give me some more tissues. I have a feeling I'll be needing more of them throughout the course of the day."
It was going to be one hell of a day.
English was first period and hence the test that Bella was so worried about missing. Briefly I calculated the odds of Bella coming home with me after the class but I knew she wouldn't. She would just claim she had missed far too much school this year already. I wanted to leave school early to get away from the torment but there was no way in hell I would leave Bella here alone… dressed like that.
Even the teacher was thinking about Bella in a way that a teacher should never think about a student. His little fantasy rang loud and clear in my head and it took everything I had not to launch over my desk and choke the life out of him. Bella clearly saw my tension and called me on it.
"What's the matter with you?" she whispered at me when she heard a low growl escape my mouth and saw that mu fingers were nearly embedded into the desk.
"I don't like the way they're thinking of you…even the damn teacher." Bella blushed scarlet like I knew she would. "After class I can take you home to change. You could come back and not miss much school at all." I pleaded with her wishing for once she would listen to reason.
"Are you crazy? Alice would kill me and dress me in something worse the next time. Besides Lauren Mallory dresses way more provocatively every day."
"But Lauren Mallory isn't my fiancée'. You are." It was getting harder to keep my voice down and I knew the teacher, lecher that he was, was going to come over here.
"Mr. Cullen…would you like to tell the class what has gotten you so excited. Was it perhaps the knowledge of an essay test on Faulkner next week?" Mr Brody said stopping at my desk and looked down at me.
"Yes, that's it sir." I told him not bothering to look him in the eye. If I did, I knew I wouldn't be able to contain myself.
He turned to Bella then his eyes drifting towards her chest. "And you Miss Swan?" I bet those taste delicious.
CRACK! The edge of my desk broke off in my hand and everyone turned to look at me. Mr Brody glared down surprised at the piece of desk in my hand. "Sorry." I said with a smirk. "The wood must be rotten." I dared not bring any more attention to myself.
By the time it Bella had her gym class I was wound tighter than a rubber band stretched to full capacity. Damn Alice and her damn bet. I was making my way out to my car fully intending to listen to some soothing music with the hopes that it would take the edge off my anger when Alice ran over to me with a huge Cheshire cat grin on her face.
"How's it going?" She asked.
"As if you don't know." I hissed at her. "You did this all for the sole purpose of driving me mad and Bella is too honorable to go back on her word."
"Is it working?" She asked innocently.
"You know it is." I told her getting in my car, slamming the door and blasting the classical music cd I had in the disc player.
"It's only a few more hours Edward. I'm sure you'll manage…though try not to break any more desks if you please."
"I'm not making any promises." I told her.
She tapped my shoulder and I watched her walk away. Suddenly she stopped, then took off running after muttering an explicative I never heard her use. I tried to get a read on her thoughts but I got nothing. She was blocking me. This didn't bode well. Forgetting my plans to get some peace, I got out of the car and ran after her. I experienced a sense of dread when I noticed Alice was heading straight for the gym. Bella, I thought. Of course.
Alice POV
I would be in time. I thought to myself like a mantra as I headed toward the girls locker rooms. Edward would have my head with a big fat 'I told you so' if anything happened to Bella because of me. Plus I would never be able to forgive myself either and it would be entirely my fault. How could I not have seen this? It must have been an impulsive decision and I immediately cursed my faulty vision. I was so consumed with getting to Bella that I literally ran into Jasper on my way to Bella.
"Where's the fire, darlin'?" He asked noticing my distress.
"To the gym." I told him. "Oh and Jasper, whatever you do, DO NOT let Edward in the girl's locker room."
"What's going on?"
"Can't talk now" I told him already in motion again wishing I was able to run at my full speed. "Just remember what I said."
With any luck I would make it in time and no one would be the wiser.