Rivalry

Thanks again everyone for reviews for the last chapter :) i've been working on this chapter all day. (Even in my lessons at college tut tut) so i hope you enjoy it.

Oh, before i forget, i don't own the names of the cars mentioned, the trainers or whatever else doesn't belong to me.

When Bella woke up the next morning Edward had already left to get the car for their journey to school.

Charlie had also left already to go to work, leaving her with a free bathroom to try and look as human as possible in preparation for when she met Edward.

Last night had been odd to say the least. She wasn't sure if her conversation with Evie and Edward had been a dream or reality. It was hard to differentiate what was real and what was imagination when it came to Bella's life since she arrived in Forks two years ago. Only a trip to school would reveal whether it was the former or the latter regarding the figure of Evie Cullen.

Bella got washed, dressed and managed to eat a granola bar before she heard a car pull up outside. She took one last look in the mirror to make sure she looked presentable, before running out the door with her bag slung over her shoulder.

Standing there at the passenger side of a silver Volvo was the most beautiful figure she'd ever seen. His bronze hair shone in the light that managed to filter through the clouds, his topaz coloured eyes seemed to smoulder as he gazed into her chocolate brown, and the smile playing on his lips was irresistible. No matter how many times she saw him each day, it still took her breath away just like the first day they'd met.

"Good morning." He greeted her smiling his uneven smile that made her legs feel like jelly.

Bella stumbled as she made her way over to him. Her footing always became more awkward when she saw him. "Morning." She greeted him back before he brought her into his arms to kiss her lightly. He kissed her along the hollow of her throat up to her earlobe, and then along her jaw line before finally reaching her lips. Before his lips touched her own Bella breathed in his cool breath and started to feel dizzy.

Did he always have to have this effect on her?

Breathing in shakily she tried to ready herself for him to kiss her but every time her heart started to beat wildly and her breathing stopped. Once he broke away he laughed as always.

"Bella breathe." He told her as she started to feel even dizzier from the lack of oxygen she'd just deprived her lungs from.

Evie looked out from the back window and gave a look of disgust as to what she saw outside. She tapped the glass loudly to attract their attention (mainly Edward's).

"When you two have finished kissing I'd like to get to school." She grumbled as she wound the window down.

Edward laughed lightly at her expression and Bella's mouth turned in a frown.

So last night wasn't a dream. Evie was really here and really going to drive her crazy, it would've been better if she were a dream.

"Stop whining. We've got ages till classes start." He replied as he opened the passenger door for Bella.

"Why didn't you take Rosalie's car?" Bella asked irritably as she sat in the passenger seat and strapped herself in.

"She and Emmett have gone to uni remember." Evie explained with an innocent smile. Bella's irritation towards her was very amusing to watch, especially when Edward just let it go over his head. "And before you ask...Jasper and Alice took the motorbike Edward gave him. So this was my only choice."

Bella crossed her arms and started to sulk as Edward started the engine.

Why did vampires have to be such know it alls?

"So will you be buying a car anytime soon?" Bella hinted as she tried to find a lighter side to Evie's character.

"I don't know." Evie replied as she looked out of window to watch the scenery pass by. "I never really learnt to drive in Denali." She could see irritation flash on Bella's face once again as she added "Maybe you could teach me sometime Edward. One on one lessons."

Edward looked in the rear-view mirror and grinned at her. "Shouldn't you be focusing on homework before thinking of driving first?" he asked as he tried to maintain peace on Bella's part.

"School's going to be a doddle. Why do I need to worry about homework when I've studied it all before?"

"Why come to school again then?" Bella muttered under her breath, unfortunately she wasn't quiet enough.

An awkward silence ensued before they reached the car park.

"We're here." Edward announced. As soon as he opened his mouth he heard both doors open and the girls could not get out of the car fast enough.

"See you in lessons." Evie shouted as she walked towards the office with her bag already out of the boot, she left Bella and Edward alone standing by the car feeling tense.

"What did she mean see you in lessons?" Bella asked as they starting walking towards class.

"She'll be joining our year." He replied simply. He had hoped that they would get on, but Bella's blatant dislike for Evie wasn't going to change any time soon.

"She only looks fifteen! Why would she join our classes?" Bella was flabbergasted; she was hoping lessons would be like normal, just her and Edward. But it seemed her wish had gone unfulfilled.

"She was sixteen when she was changed; she's being classed as a 'gifted student' and moved up two years."

"Great. I'm going to be put to shame by another vampire who, more importantly looks younger than me!"

"Will you just relax Bella? You're being so melodramatic today."

"Oh to be a human and dramatic." Bella replied acidly. She wasn't sure what it was, but Evie just kept bringing out the worst in her.

"Come on." He told her as he kissed her cheek. "Let's go to trig." Edward placed his hand on the small of her back and led her into class.

The physical contact between them made her feel better, even if it was only until class had started.

Mr Varner had decided to give them a pop quiz in which she groaned aloud with the rest of the class. Trig was Bella's least favourite subject. Having it first thing in the morning was horrible enough, but now she had to do a pop quiz...Could this day get any worse?

Edward just sat placidly next to her with his exercise book open already, he knew about this test before they'd walked into the class.

Just as they were about to start, the door opened and Bella rolled her eyes to the heavens. It could only be one person.

"Sorry I'm late." Evie apologised laying on the sweetness extra thick. "I got lost on the way here."

"Sure you did" thought Bella sarcastically. "I bet you knew the layout as soon as you looked at the map."

Evie inclined her head slightly in Bella's direction as if she'd heard what she'd thought.

"Serves you right for listening, doesn't it?"

Evie was silent for a millisecond before continuing "They told me at the office to give you this." She reached into her jean pocket as she took out a slip of paper.

"Are you sure you're in the right class Miss erm..."

"Cullen, sir. And I think I'm in the right class. This is senior trigonometry isn't it?"

"Yes it is but I'm still unsure as to why you're here. Were you part of gifted and talented at your old school Miss Cullen?"

"Yes I was sir. That's why I'm here."

"If you're sure." He sighed at he looked at the slip of paper, "So Cullen is it...I'm assuming you're a relative of Edward's then." He questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"I'm his cousin." She smiled over in Edward's direction. The way in which she smiled at him made Bella seethe and her blood boil. "First name's Evie by the way."

"Well, take a seat then Evie. We're just about to start a pop quiz. Just do your best."

"I'll try." She replied as she walked gracefully to the end of the class.

Her chestnut brown hair was tied back into a lazy ponytail, but it looked as if a hair stylist had been to work on it all morning. Her plain white t-shirt was hugging her skinny frame and her torn jeans showed glimpses of her pale skin. To finish off her look she had worn a black pair of converse all stars trainers.

Although Evie was dressed like any young sixteen year old, she looked like she should belong on the cover of a 'Cosmo' magazine. Bella could not feel anything but jealousy at this moment.

On her way to the desk Mr Varner had assigned her to, many male students heads turned to take another look at Evie as she walked down the aisle. Edward had the feeling that Evie would turn out to be another Rosalie. Beautiful but not interested in anyone human.

"Well that was an entrance and a half." Edward whispered as she took the desk next to him and Bella.

"Got to make a lasting impression haven't I?" she replied in a normal sounding voice even though they'd started the test. Bella was sure that Evie was averting everyone's attention away from their conversation. Thankfully she wasn't her powers against her again; she was allowing Bella to be part of the conversation.

"Have you revised for this test Bella?" Evie asked politely as she took her book and pencil case out of her bag.

"Not really, but hopefully I'll scrape through." She replied using a normal voice.

"Miss Swan!" Mr Varner snapped "This is an exam, will you please be quiet!"

Evie broke into silent laughter but she was stopped short by a threatening hiss from Edward.

"That was unfair Evelyn. You did that deliberately didn't you?"

"It was only a bit of fun." She hissed back "I won't do it again." She looked at the desk and started her exam only pausing to 'think about the answer' once.

"What were you two hissing about?" Bella asked worriedly in a whisper.

"I was telling her off for doing that to you." He replied keeping his head down and filling in the answers on the page.

Bella looked over Edward's shoulder to catch Evie's eye and gave her a smug smile of victory. What Bella was returned with was a look of malevolence before Evie decided to make her avert her eyes back to the paper.

She didn't allow Bella to look in her direction for the rest of the lesson.

--

Lunch was slightly better for Bella as Evie had decided to keep herself occupied by talking to Alice and Jasper on a different table. They were talking animatedly about what car she should buy when she learnt to drive.

"You could get an Aston Martin." Alice suggested as she tossed an apple between both hands.

"Or a Lamborghini." Jasper added as he took the apple in mid air and placed it on his tray before holding Alice's hand on the table.

"These sound like cars you two both want" she pointed out, "but I want something I can drive around which will blend in." Evie continued "just something simple, like Edward's Volvo." She looked over at Edward and Bella who were deep in conversation. It didn't look like they were arguing, but that was because she knew that she hadn't been brought up in conversation. Bella was trying to act as normal as possible whilst she was alone with him.

"How about a Mini Cooper?" Jasper asked as he broke Evie out of her reverie.

"Hmmm, I like it." She smiled with a satisfied grin. "Especially when we take into account where I originate from. I could have the Union Jack on the top."

"Sounds good." Alice agreed "However, it's time to go." she reminded them both as she rose from her seat with her tray of uneaten food. "Jasper, can you go and get Edward please? Tell him that the sun is going to make an appearance."

He nodded and then walked over to Edward and Bella's table to find them talking about Jacob.

"I haven't seen him in a while and I'm worried about him" Bella explained to Edward who had a stony expression on his face.

"You mean to say that he called you and guilt tripped you into going to see him." He stated without needing to read her mind. Jacob was so predictable and Bella fell for the guilt trip every time.

"We don't need to go into the technicalities about it, but that's the outline of the conversation we had last night over the phone." She replied with a weak smile before she spotted Jasper in front of them, Alice and Evie were bringing up the rear after they'd dumped their uneaten food in the bin. "Hey Jasper." Bella greeted him casually.

"Hey Bella." He replied warmly. "Sorry to interrupt but Alice saw the weather changing." He informed them both.

"The sun?" Bella groaned. She was going to be left alone at school whilst Evie got to spend extra time with her boyfriend. Obviously the day had just gotten worse.

"Yes." Jasper replied looking sympathetically at the crestfallen Bella.

"I'll see you later." Edward told her as he rose from the table. Bella followed suit unable to let go of his hand. He smiled at her and kissed her softly and sweetly in front of everyone in the cafeteria. "Rosalie brought up your truck so you won't have to walk home. I'll come visit you once you're finished at school."

"Well I've decided since you're leaving, I'm going to visit Jacob instead of going home. I'll be at La Push for a few hours, so you don't need to come and see me till later." Bella informed him. The main reason for going to see Jacob was that she could tell him everything that had been going on. He'd be able to see her side of story properly, he'd sympathise with her. Unlike Edward who was blinded by his intense friendship for the person who was making her life hell. The other reason for her visit was that she knew that Edward was jealous of Jacob. Jacob had been the one that took care of Bella throughout the period he'd left her; Edward had thought that it was better to be apart rather than together and in 'danger'.

Bella was afraid to think of his and Evie's relationship as anything other than friendship, but the notion of attraction between them would make her paranoid, even crazy. All those thoughts about Denali would be brought to the surface again and she wouldn't be able to put them to the back of her mind.

"If that is what you wish." He sighed as he left the cafeteria with his siblings.

When they reached the car park the sun was still hidden behind the clouds. However, Alice had left them enough time to return home safely without getting caught out in the sunlight, especially as Jasper was driving his motorbike.

"See you back at home." Alice winked as she sat behind Jasper and wrapped her arms around his waist. The engine roared to life and she squealed with pleasure before he sped off down the road.

Evie watched them until they disappeared from sight and then focused her attention on Edward whose face was downcast.

"What's wrong?" she asked as she leant next to him against the car and locked her arms around his waist.

"I don't like leaving Bella. Let alone leave her in the company of a werewolf." He replied morosely as he leant his head onto her shoulder.

"There are werewolves residing here? And you let Bella near them?" Evie gasped, Forks was turning out to be a danger zone for vampires.

"Bella's best friend Jacob is one of them. He's one of two pack leaders to be precise. What's worse about this situation is that he's also vying for her affection. Their friendship is rather blurred between friendship and love, but that's because Jacob pushes the boundaries."

"That's not right; this Jacob seems to me like a stupid dog. Can't he see that she's head over heels for you?" she pointed out as much as she hated to say it "Next you'll be telling me that Bella's got Frankenstein trying to win her over as well." She joked to try and lighten his mood.

"I hope not." He replied with a hint of a smile. "Although I reckon Charlie would still like Frankenstein better than me."

"No one could like Frankenstein better than you. So, come on misery! Stop focusing on things you think are bad." She poked him in the sides and his head rose to her level making the distance between their faces smaller. He looked deep into her amber coloured eyes and gave her a confused look. If Bella were watching she would've recognised it as the look he'd give her when he was trying to figure out her thought processes. She ignored his intense stare to distract him "Look, the sun's coming out and I'd rather not blind everyone within a five mile radius. They might think there's something wrong with me."

He pulled his face away from hers so quickly that he was already at the driver's side of the car before she could finish blinking. "Don't you have to get that slip signed and give it in at the end of the day?" he asked in a big brother like manner.

"I distracted all my teachers into signing it." She winked mischievously as she opened the passenger door. "The receptionist will see the slip in her tray at the end of the day and assume I'd given it to her."

"What are you like eh? Skipping lessons on the first day."

"I'm like a thief from the thirties who skipped school every day in order to make herself some money. Now let's get moving before I fall asleep here."

With that, Edward laughed and turned on the engine so that they could shelter in the Cullen mansion for the rest of the afternoon.

It was nice having Evie around when he had to leave Bella. It made the ache within his chest become fainter, and that did not bode well for Bella.

All you Edward/Evie shippers will be happy with what i've planned in the next chapter. They get some alone time whilst Bella's visiting Jacob. Excited?

There's the button...do with it want you want.