A quick update for you readers, since I had nothing else to do. :) This chapter is dedicated to twilightfan101 for her awesome review, and everyone who got the correct answer in the last question, since only a handful of you got it. Warning: drama ahead.
Starlight – Chapter 16: Tears
Bella's POV:
"I hate school!" Emmett groaned. "School sucks."
Rosalie dumped her books on the table. "Sheesh. Stop complaining. Emmett, we're in college. After that, we're free from school. But then we have to work, and I bet you're going to say it is much more worse than school."
"Never!" he declared stubbornly. "Nothing can beat school."
"Yada yada yada…" Alice flopped down her bed and opened a book. "Stop yakking and start studying."
I looked down uninterestedly at my book. It looked so boring. That was the only way to describe it. It was filled with a lot of words, and words only. I scanned the first few paragraphs… the only words that entered my head were bored, boredom, and boring.
I heard snoring.
"Jasper!" He was lying down, his open book covering his eyes. I reached for it and brought it down hard on his stomach. He shot up.
"I'm awake! I'm awake! Where's the fire?" he yelled.
"If I were you, I'd start studying," Edward said mildly, looking up from his notes. "This final test takes up almost half of our grades. You wouldn't want to flunk college now, would you?"
"Jeez…Sorry mom," Jasper said sourly. "It's just that we're all a bit excited about graduating college."
"Yeah… then I'll finally be able to open my new clothing line …" Alice smiled dreamily.
I stared at my book, not registering the words. Alice's comment about clothes brought back memories of that day when we watched that movie. That day when I suspected Edward was up to something. I still remembered the conversation Alice and I had.
Flashback
"Alice?" I asked nervously. "I'm going to ask you a question, and please answer me honestly."
"Yeah, sure," she answered easily, painting one toenail bright pink.
"Um…" I felt so stupid. "Does Edward have a dark secret?"
"A dark secret?" Alice burst out laughing. "I doubt it. Edward? Yeah right. Besides, if he had any, that's none of my business."
"Really?" I sighed in relief. "So he doesn't have a double life or another secret identity?"
Alice burst into laughter again, almost spilling her nail polish. "Oops! There you go…" She steadied the bottle. "Um, no, of course not! Well, at least none that I know of. Where did you get such a ridiculous idea?"
"Um… just wondering," I said sheepishly, feeling (and sounding) stupid.
"Oh. Okay then. Hey, can you hand me some tissue?"
End of Flashback
I winced at the memory. That did not go well. A day after, Edward had returned to his usual self, and he acted like that incident never happened at all. I tried bringing it up, but he always brushed it off by changing the topic.
I was beginning to think he was hiding something after all.
I mean, we are close… he should have told me if he had a problem or anything.
I decided I should worry about it some other time if I wanted to have a good grade in the upcoming exam.
-0-
Edward's phone suddenly rang.
"Uh…sorry. Wait, I need to answer this," he mumbled. "Hello?" Someone talked on the other line, and his expression changed. "Oh. Uh…" He checked his watch. "Um… sure, yeah, that's fine with me." He paused, and then nodded. "Okay… thanks for everything… Bye."
"Who was that?" Rosalie asked curiously.
"Someone," he mumbled. "None of your business." She looked insulted at his answer.
"Okay, that's it. Phones, everyone," Alice demanded. "We can't study if it keeps ringing!"
"B-"
"No buts," she said firmly, holding a hand out. "Give them to me."
Nobody could argue with her. We all handed our cell phones to her, and she placed them in her bag.
"Great, you're robbing us? That's low, Alice," Jasper smirked.
She stuck her tongue out playfully. "Shut up." She then became aware of everyone staring at her. She gave us the evil eye. "What are you staring at? Continue studying!" Sheesh. I never knew she was such a bookworm.
We continued studying. It was very peaceful, with the occasional yawn of boredom, and the pen scratching on paper.
"Oh no," Edward suddenly gasped. "It's almost five! Guys, Jasper, Emmett, and I have to go."
"We do?" Emmett asked stupidly.
"Yeah." Edward looked at them straight in the eye, like he was communicating telepathically or something.
"Oh. Yeah, we really have to go," Emmett quickly said.
"But we haven't even been studying for two hours!" Alice protested.
"Sorry Alice, but we really have to," Jasper apologized as he kissed her on the cheek. "Later!"
The three of them quickly left the room, leaving Alice fuming. "Wh- Why- Ho- How dare they?"
"It's okay Alice," I soothed. "We can just punish them some other way, okay?"
"Alice. Chill. Its not worth it, getting mad like that," Rosalie pointed out.
Alice took in a deep breath. "Okay… calming down."
"Hey, do you know they left their phones?" I suddenly realized.
"They must really be in a hurry," Alice commented.
Just as we said that, something rang. Alice quickly got he bag and got out Edward's cell phone.
"There's a text," she said. "Should we?"
"I don't know… It's none of our business," I hesitated.
"Open it!" Rosalie urged Alice. "Think of this as their punishment."
She had an evil glint in her eye as she eagerly pressed read now. Quickly, our eyes skimmed the text message.
I gasped. "Oh no…"
"Is this what I think it is?" Rosalie asked quietly.
"If this is what I think it… I'm so sorry Bella," Alice murmured. "I'm going to kill my brother."
"No. It's his decision. Please do me a favor guys, and don't tell him any of this," I begged.
Rosalie frowned. "I have a feeling Emmett and Jasper knew about this."
"Yeah," I said quietly as I changed the message to 'unread'. There. Then he'd never know I knew his secret.
"I'm so sorry, Bella… I guess Edward did have a dark secret, after all," Alice murmured.
"Yeah, I guess he did…"
"Nobody calls him Eddie. Nobody,"Rosalie muttered.
I thought of the message again…
Hey Eddie! It's me, Tanya.
Listen, I know I asked you to meet me at five, but something came up. I'm going to be at least thirty minutes late. If I get stood up like the last time… ooh! You're gonna get it! :D hahaha… just kidding. But seriously. I'm gonna make it quick so I can meet you as early as possible. That way, your dear Bella won't suspect anything. I'll be waiting, and if you won't be there when I arrive, forget you even came to me.
Ok, bye!
Love, Tanya
Silently, tears rolled down my cheek.
Okay… please don't hit me with the rotten tomatoes… :) I know it's dramatic and stuff… but it can't be avoided, since its part of the story… Can anybody guess what happens next? Please don't get mad… And about all that study talk… I had no more ideas on how to get them together. :)
Last chapter's answer: A bee flew in and went to the real flower. This chapter's question:
Two fathers and two sons went fishing. Later, they caught three fishes. Each of them got to eat a whole fish for himself. How can this be?
Can you answer that? Now you know what to do…
Jen
