Chapter Four – This is So Not a Date

For the short period of time that I sat in the car with Edward to the unknown location he was insisting on taking me to, I was clinging to my seatbelt. The arrogant jerk drove like a maniac! With Charlie as a father I had been raised to obey all laws – particularly those concerning the road!

"For the love of God, slow down!" I shrieked at him as the dial on the speedometer shot upwards.

He raised an eyebrow at me. "Bella, I'll have you know that I am an excellent driver," he said disapprovingly. Then an evil smirk crossed his lips and completely ignoring the road, released one hand from the wheel as well. My eyes widened in horror. I latched onto him and forced his raised hand back to its former position.

"ARE YOU INSANE!?" I shouted furiously into his face, "KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE ROAD! THAT'S THE FIRST RULE OF ROAD SAFETY YOU IDIOT!"

Edward just laughed, his perfect white teeth flashing and his emerald eyes dancing. With a second smirk he made a sharp turn into a restaurant lot and the car skidded to a stop. I lurched forward in my seat and stayed there, resting my head on my hands. I had never felt so terrified or carsick in my life.

I screamed when he put his hand on my shoulder. Again he burst into laughter.

"Do I scare you?" he asked, sounding amused.

I was quick to reply in a very loud – slightly strangled voice, "Of course you do! You drive like you're drunk!"

Edward said nothing in return. He sprung out of the car and walked around to open the door for me. My trembling fingers couldn't seem to unfasten the seatbelt. He could see me shaking; I could have sworn an almost apologetic expression flitted across his face as he helped me out – I definitely saw him frown when the shaking didn't stop.

He cupped my cheeks and looked me straight in the eye. "Do I scare you?" he repeated.

"Not any where near as much as your driving does," I muttered truthfully.

"So it's my driving that's making you shake like a leaf?"

"That's right, the fact that you're an obnoxious, manipulating son of the devil has nothing to do with it," I snapped and stepped away from him, crossing my arms over my chest and glaring at him.

What I assumed to be a hurt expression appeared on his features. "Now is not the time to dwell on your prejudices, Bella – "

"Prejudices! You blackmailed me!"

People turned to stare at us then shrugged and moved on. I blushed as I realised that to them we must have looked like a couple in a fight.

"Convinced," corrected Edward ignoring the onlookers. "I convinced you to become my personal slave."

"So I'm your little sex toy am I?"

His eyebrows rose. "Bella," he said slowly, "Just because I'm a guy does not mean that I'm a sex maniac. If I were then I would have left you with those bastards back there and waited my turn – "

"That's just disgusting!" I pushed him and began to walk off.

He cut me off easily and steered me into the open door of a restaurant and bar. "You'll feel better about your situation once you get some food into your stomach and have gotten over my driving – I'll be more careful on the way to Forks," he said earnestly. "And really, if you think about the whole 'slave' thing; I simply helped you out and you're going returning the favour."

"Because being your slave for a month amounts to saving me from a few drunken idiots" I said sarcastically trying to resist his strength. "How about you leave me alone and give me a shout if a bunch of girls start beating you up in the middle of the street? . If you were a decent human being you would have done it anyway, regardless of whether or not you got something out of it!"

Edward stopped, turned around and effortlessly pinned me to the reception wall.

"Come on, Bella," he pleaded, his annoyingly handsome face looking desperate particularly in this close proximity. "Don't turn this into a big deal. I swear not to make you do anything that's too inappropriate."

"But some orders will be inappropriate."

He smiled crookedly. I could feel his chest moving as he breathed. "Only if you keep acting like this," he said. "But if you're good and do as I say I'll give you some treats."

"I do not want to sleep with you, Edward Masen."

"I didn't mean – " he sighed then appeared to give up on persuading me that he wasn't after sex – at least that's what I thought until a teasing smile crept onto his lips. "Honestly, Bella, you could at least hold off until we get to a hotel," he said loud enough for anyone within ten metres of us to hear.

I flushed with embarrassment and hit him angrily in the chest. "You self-centred – "

"Never would have thought that Chief Swan's daughter would be begging a member of the Vampires to get down and do it," said a male voice with a laugh.

My face turned an even deeper shade of red as I recognised blonde-haired Jasper Whitlock with polite, graceful Alice by his side. The buff dark-haired boy – Emmett or something – stood behind them, his arm around Rosalie's waist and his muscular frame shaking with silent laughter.

"Looks like you've finally found a girl who can live up to your standards," said Emmett, coming up and playfully punching Edward's shoulder.

Edward chuckled but didn't move from where he had me imprisoned. "What are you lot doing here?" he asked, a tinge of annoyance trickling into his voice. "You're interrupting my playtime with Bella."

I hit him. "Your playtime!?"

He ignored me and waited for one of the other four to answer.

"Alice wanted to come down and get the preparations for Rose's birthday ready," replied Jasper at last. "Emmett here wanted to grab something to eat because he's always hungry."

"Me!? Who's the one snacking between every class?" snapped Emmett indignantly.

"Says the guy who has a bottomless pit for a stomach," retorted Jasper.

Alice ignored the argument. "Are you two on a date?" she asked cheerfully.

I scowled at her through the gap between Edward's arm and his ear. "Why would I date this j – mmmph!"

Edward covered my face with a hand and smothered my sentence. "Yes, we are," he said to Alice.

Totally are not, I thought rebelliously.

"Haha, I was right!" exclaimed Alice cheerfully. "Jasper, Emmett, Rose; you owe me fifty each."

There were mutters and complaints as they each handed over the requested cash. I was impressed that Alice had guessed that Edward would be with me however - "We are so not on a date," I mumbled when Edward finally released me.

"If I say that we are on a date then we are on a date," muttered Edward into my ear as he pulled me close and followed Alice, Jasper, Emmett and Rosalie into the diner.

I hated this slave business already. I glared up at Edward. Why couldn't he have just rescued me and been the hero instead of turning into a second villain? "Stupid jerk…"

"What was that?" asked Edward, catching the end of my murmured insult.

"Nothing."

The ringleaders of the Forks Vampires were loud and full of chatter just like any other group of teenagers. I blushed each time Emmett cracked a dirty joke about Edward and me and was hesitant to join in the conversation.

I stiffened when Edward's arm snaked around my waist and pulled me towards him.

"Relax, you don't need to be so careful around us," he whispered into my hair. I flushed; I could feel his lips moving against my hair as they formed words. "We're not going to rough you up for saying something we don't like. We're not that bad."

I looked down at my hands feeling self-conscious.

"Are you going to come to Rose's birthday, Bella?" asked Alice.

I was thrown by the sudden question. "Um… I don't – " I stammered.

"Of course she is," said Edward confidently. "You are coming; aren't you, babe?" An underlying message was clear in his voice.

"Yeah, can't wait," I said through gritted teeth. "Why am I going?" I hissed to him.

"You're my girlfriend – it would be impolite to reject this invitation," he said in a voice that was just as soft.

"I am not your girlfriend," I said firmly in an undertone, thinking of how many more threats I would get from my Edward-fanatic stalker once she (I was pretty sure it was a girl considering what Alice had said when I had gotten the first note) heard that I was his girlfriend despite that it was completely, utterly untrue.

"I know," he replied. I could have sworn that he sounded almost disappointed.

I didn't have time to comment on it.

"What dress will you be wearing?" asked Alice.

I shrugged. "I uh – don't really have all that many clothes with me. I was supposed to buy some today but I never got a chance to." I gave Edward a meaningful glare as I finished the last sentence.

Alice gasped, "No clothes!? That's terrible!" She leapt to her feet and pulled me out of mine. "Right – you lot can take care of a bill, Bella and I are going clothes shopping right now – Rose you come with us."

Edward and Jasper were out of their seats in an instant, neither young man wanted to pay for six meals. That left Emmett sitting by himself with a scowl on his face.

"Aw man – why me? I can't pay for all of this!" he whined. "Rose!"

Rosalie flipped her long blonde hair over her shoulder, the action drawing looking from almost every man in the room proving just how stunning she was. She waved a carefree hand. "I'll stay." She resumed her seat beside her boyfriend and sent a waitress over to the bartender without so much as a second look at us.

"Alice, I can come back and get clothes – you really don't need to –" I protested weakly as Edward and Alice dragged me out through the double doors of the restaurant.

"Nonsense!" she exclaimed pushing me towards Edward's car. "Every girl needs a good wardrobe and if you're worried about money you don't need to be because Edward can pay for you."

"No way am I letting him pay for my clothes," I said firmly. I was sure that if I let him pay then he would add another six months to my slavery term.

Alice looked surprised. "But he's your boyfriend; it's his obligation to make sure you look good when you're with him."

I shook my head obstinately. There was no way I was backing down on this one.

She pouted. "Alright, then I'll buy a dress for the party and you can borrow it," she suggested finally.

I sighed and gave up – I could tell that Alice wasn't going to let me get out of being her little dress-up doll for the evening. She smiled and clapped her hands together like a delighted six-year-old who had received a dress-up doll set for a birthday present.

Alice knew exactly where she was going and what she was doing. I hovered inside the store and watched queasily as she darted around the store and selected items for me to try on using Edward and Jasper as coat hangers.

A few minutes later she threw a red satin dress into my face and ushered me into a changing booth. "Come out and show me once it's on," she ordered. "I have a feeling that it'll look absolutely breath-taking on you."

Feeling a bit like an idiot I did as I was told. I chewed on my bottom lip as I inspected myself in the mirror. The satin ended several centimetres above my knees, the dress was hemmed with beautiful black embroidery. It looked so precious. I viewed myself with a critical eye; the red was conspicuously bright against my ivory skin, I considered it an advantage – people would be too busy staring at it as opposed to me.

Steeling myself, I unlocked the door and stepped out.

I blushed as Alice beamed at me and said cheerfully, "I was right! You look fabulous – doesn't she, boys?"

Jasper nodded and swallowed hard, he looked amazed. "Stunning, absolutely stunning," he agreed.

Edward was staring at me with an odd expression on his face; the look vanished in an instant. "It's alright," he said briefly, his tone judgemental. "But you don't flatter the dress very much."

I scowled at him feeling hurt by the blunt statement but then again, this was the guy who had threatened to leave me with a group of drunk guys because I wouldn't agree to his demands. It wasn't as if I'd been expecting a compliment from him.

Little Alice kicked him in the ankle. "He's just being difficult," she told me. "Edward just doesn't know how to be nice to people. It looks lovely on you." She gave him a hard look. "Go on – tell her the truth."

He pressed his lips together then mumbled, "The dress looks good," without looking at me. Alice obviously had a lot of influence over Edward.

It sounded just as much as an insult as it did a compliment. Plus the compliment was directed at the dress not me.

Just as she said she would, Alice bought the dress and gave it to me to borrow indefinitely. She and Jasper left me with Edward and a large number of bags. To my surprise he helped me carry them to his car instead of letting me try and drag them there myself.

Edward held the passenger door open and looked at me, "Ready to leave?"

The gentlemanly gesture amazed me for a moment. "Um – yeah." As I got into the car I added softly, "Thanks."

He shrugged and walked around.

I watched him with wonder as he drove – and a lot slower than he had before. He had been sort of decent in these last couple of hours.

He saw me yawn.

"You can sleep if you want. I'll wake you up when we get to Forks."

I shook my head and muttered something about being alright despite the fact that my eyelids were already drooping.

In seconds I was sound asleep.

~x~

The moon was high in the night sky by the time I woke up. We were parked across the street from my house, where I had first seen Edward, Emmett and Jasper smoking. I was horrified to see that the moon was high in the night sky.

"Why didn't you wake me up?" I hissed at him, undoing my seatbelt and gathering my bags from the boot of the car.

He followed me with a grin, his white teeth bright in the evening gloom. "I tried, but you were talking and I was too interesting what you were saying to keep trying."

I froze in horror. Mum had always teased me about my sleep-talking. "Oh God – what did I say?" I wailed.

"I do recall you saying something like; Edward, you're so hot let's go to a hotel and – "

I pummelled him with a bag full of clothes; he was making fun of me again. "I did not," I snapped at him. I was getting sick of his little sex jokes.

"How would you know?" he asked me seriously. "You were asleep."

"I know that I wouldn't say something like that to you," I insisted and fled across the street.

He burst into laughter as I tripped over the porch and flew into the door. "A-are you alright, B-bella?" he choked from the car.

"I'M FINE!" I shout back at him, directing my embarrassment at him as anger.

"I'll pick you up tomorrow so you can start paying off your debt!" he called.

I turned around and stared at him. "You're not serious!"

He just waved and drove away.

Feeling slightly nauseated at the prospect of spending my Sunday alone with him I stumbled upstairs, muttering an incomprehensible greeting to Charlie as I passed him, and dumped my bags onto my bedroom floor before collapsing onto my warm, comforting bed.

I stared at the floor then sat up suddenly when I saw something fall out of one of my shopping bags. Cautiously I walked over and picked it up. It was another note…

Break up with Edward Masen, bitch or else…