Tripping The Prom Queen
Chapter 11: Sparks Fly!
Author's Note: Sorry! This took longer than I wanted it to, and was a hard chapter to write! Hopefully, you'll think it was worth it!
Lucky Bella, with all these great guys in her life!
Happy Holidays to all and all the best in 2011!
As always, thanks to the reviewers:Cassjodellefan1, CherishRedemption, jayd-n33, Angeline95, MadTwilighter, Lexa2950, IKNOWIMWEIRD117, StacySapphire, Mittenzs and EsmeAliceRose, for keeping me motivated... and on track!
Chapter 11: Sparks Fly!
After a long interrogation from Principal Garrett, Bella and Alice spoke to the police.
Bella felt guilty when she saw her father enter the Principal's office.
I can't believe he had to come here!
"What happened here!" Chief Swan demanded.
"This student's locker was vandalized."
"She's not "this student"! She's my daughter!" the Chief snapped.
"I'm aware of that." Principal Garrett said soberly.
"Bella…" Charlie Swan said more gently. "Are you okay."
"Yes" she replied weakly. It was all too much for her.
"You're sure you aren't hurt?"
"Dad." Bella forced a small laugh. "I'm fine. It was my locker that was attacked. Not me!"
At least… this time!
"Yes. Well…" Charlie continued, not fooled for an instant by his daughter's seemingly calm facade.
We'll talk about this later!
He turned back to the principal.
"How could this happen?"
"We don't know."
"How could you not know?"
Principal Garrett remained silent.
"Don't you have any security here?" Bella's father insisted.
"No, Chief Swan." the principal said, as Charlie scowled.
"Nothing like this has ever happened here before. You know that!" Principal Garrett beseeched him.
"Yes. Well, nothing like this had ever happen here again!"
Chief Swan then turned to his two deputies, ordering.
"Secure the premises. Dust for fingerprints and conduct a thorough search of the area!"
"Yes, Chief. Right away!" the other two officers answered obediently, striding purposefully out of the room and down the hall.
Charlie Swan's attention then returned to his daughter.
"You're sure you're okay?" he blurted out, not sure what else to say.
"Yes." Bella insisted.
I just don't want to be here right now…
Her father easily discerned her feelings
"I think Bella should go home." Chief Swan told Principal Garrett.
"Yes. Of course." the principal immediately conceded. "Bella, you are excused from classes today. "
Principal Garrett then turned to Alice.
"You, however, are not."
"That's fine." Alice replied. "I'll bring Bella all her assignments."
"Go home, Bella." Charlie Swan insisted. "Principal Garrett and I have things to discuss. Officer Mills will drive you home."
Great! she thought. Driven home in a police car! Can this get any worse!
"I'll come by later." Alice reassured her, as the two girls parted.
Although she hated the ride home, Bella was relieved to escape the horrors of school. Inside her house, she headed for the kitchen. She wasn't hungry, but wanted some hot tea to calm her still-nervous stomach.
She was just pouring the steaming water into a mug when the doorbell rang.
"It's the middle of the day… Who could that possibly be?"
She swung open the door.
"Hey, Bells."
"Jacob… What are you doing here?"
"It's cool. Don't invite me in."
"Sorry!" she laughed, stepping aside to let him enter. "I'm just surprised to see you here. Shouldn't you be in school?"
"Ditched. Wouldn't be the first time!" Jacob boasted carelessly, adding.
"I had to see you. Alice texted me. Told me what happened."
"Those…." he added, cursing under his breath.
"Yeah" Bella agreed, leading him back to the dining room, where her mug still steamed invitingly.
"Want some?" she asked Jacob.
"Actually, I'd like something stronger…"
"Hot chocolate?"
"Sure"
Bella fixed a second drink for Jacob, and pushed the mug in front of him. Between sips, he said.
"So. I came to see how you really are."
"I'm fine. Really."
"You don't sound fine." Jacob said, with surprising gentleness.
"I am." she insisted.
"So? Who do you think did it?"
"I don't know."
"It had to be Rosalie." Jacob proclaimed.
"I don't think so." Bella said. "That's not her style."
"You're right!" Jake agreed. "She might get her dainty little hands dirty. Or even break a nail!"
"Very possibly!" Bella laughed.
"Still… she could easily have one of her little slaves do it!"
"Yeah…" Bella agreed thoughtfully. "James and Laurent are always pulling crap like that. Or Victoria."
"Victoria!" Jacob sputtered, choking on his cocoa.
"Jake! Are you okay!"
"Sure." he replied quickly.
Jacob hadn't spoken to Victoria since their one night together. He had seen her around town, of course. Whenever he looked at her, she turned away. It was as if their hookup had never happened.
Whatever! Jacob thought, concealing his hurt.
"Just … so hot." he said out loud.
"That's why they call it "hot" chocolate." Bella smiled.
"Um… yeah!" Jacob agreed
"Let's talk about something else." she suggested.
"Your wish. My command."
Jacob stayed with Bella for most of the day. She was grateful for his company; it took her mind off the violent morning. It was always so easy and relaxing to be around him. They never lacked for things to talk and laugh about.
Several hours later, they were still talking.
"So? According to Quiluete legends, you are actually descended from wolves?" Bella laughed.
"Yeah!"
"That explains a lot!"
"Such as?"
"Your enormous appetite!" Bella grinned, indicated the empty plates and chip bags littering the large table.
"Ok." Jacob agreed. "Is that all?"
"What else could there be?" she inquired.
"My animal magnetism." he smirked. "Women can't resist me!"
"If you say so!" Bella teased.
"Do you doubt me?" Jacob smiled. "Maybe I'll just have to convince you!"
"How…"
He smiled and stared deeply into her melting brown eyes. His own were hot, feral.
"You really wanna know…"
Bella remained silent.
Jacob's mouth crashed onto hers.
What the…
It took several seconds for a shocked Bella to extricate herself from Jacob's iron grip. Finally, she managed to shove him away.
"Jacob! What the hell are you doing!"
"I…" Jacob stammered.
"I thought you wanted me to!" he finally exploded.
I thought… you'd like it!
"Maybe I just wanted you to know that you had options!" he screamed angrily. "You do! And I think you should pick me instead of Emmett!"
"Jacob…" Bella protested weakly.
"I know you better." he insisted. "We have much more in common. I could make you happier…"
His speech was interrupted by the doorbell.
"Who the hell is that!"
"Let's go see." Bella said, relieved.
With Jacob hovering behind her, she thrust open the door, and saw the last person she ever expected to see there.
"Edward…" she whispered.
"Bella." he said smoothly. "May I come in?"
"Oh, of course." she said, closing the door behind him.
He and Jacob stared at each other.
"Edward, this is Jacob Black… Jacob, this is…"
"I know who you are." Jacob snapped irritably.
"And now I can say the same." Edward replied, far more politely.
Jacob seethed.
Emmett is bad enough! But this guy…
I just don't like him! What's he doing here?
Bella's curiosity mirrored his own.
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
"I came to see you." he replied simply
"Checking up on me?" she said lightly, hoping to alleviate some of the tension that filled the room. It was obvious that Jacob and Edward instantly and totally despised each other.
"Yes." Edward said softly. "You had a hard time today."
"I'm okay now."
"So I see…"
What the hell! Jacob fumed. "Does she even remember I'm here?"
"I need to go." he announced abruptly.
Before I smash that bloodsucker's perfect teeth in!
"Jacob…" Bella began.
"We're done!" he snapped. "And I need to get to work."
"We'll talk later." she replied hopefully.
This isn't right… him leaving like this.
He needs space… He'll cool off. He always does!
"Sure, Bells"
"Good to meet you." Edward said, forcing politeness.
Not really!
Jacob quickly vanished, leaving Edward alone with Bella. She looked at him curiously.
"I hope I didn't interrupt anything." he said cautiously.
"Oh. No. We were just talking…"
"It seemed kind of intense…"
"Not really."
"Well, then…" Edward's voice trailed off as he stared at Bella.
Focus!
"I thought that… maybe you'd like to come over to my house?"
"Your house?"
"Yeah. The band is practicing again. And you promised to help me write a new song?"
"I don't know if I can." Bella replied breathlessly.
I don't know if I can even think when you look at me like that.
"But I'd like to try."
"Great!"
"Let me just get my jacket."
Bella snatched up her dark denim jacket and purse and followed Edward outside.
"I'll drive you."
"You don't have to."
"I want to."
He opened the door of his polished, silver Volvo. Bella slid in and seconds later, he sat beside her.
"Thank you for coming." he said sincerely. "Would you like some music?"
"Sure"
He opened the glove compartment. Inside were dozens of CD's.
"Pick whichever one you want."
Bella leaned over to peruse the very diverse selection.
He has everything! Classical to contemporary!
She chose a CD and handed it to Edward.
"Debussy" he said, and smiled. "You like this?"
"My mother used to listen to it. It was one of her favorites."
"Mine, too." Edward told her, sliding it into the player, then asking.
"So, what other music do you like?"
His interest was so genuine that she forgot her shyness, eagerly answering his question.
"I like a lot of different things. Paramore. Kings Of Leon. Mutemath. But some older stuff, too. From the 80's and 90's."
"Me, too!" Edward agreed enthusiastically. "I also like a lot of 1950's music."
"You do?"
"Music in the 50's was good. Much better than in the 60's or 70's. I like music from the 20's too."
"Jazz music." Bella smiled.
"So. What else do you like? What are your favorite books?"
Bella told him about her eclectic tastes. She was pleased, but not surprised to discover that Edward also read a lot, and that he shared her interest in more classic literature.
Throughout the ride to his house, Edward kept questioning her, asking about her favorite colors, places, flowers, movies and foods. He had always wanted to know more about her- and wasn't going to waste this chance.
The trip was over much too soon for either of them.
"We're here." Edward commented, parking the car.
"Where's everyone else?" Bella asked. There were no other vehicles in sight.
"They should be here soon." Edward said, just as his phone beeped.
"New text message. From Jasper. Oh!"
"What?"
"Aro, Caius and Marcus are running late… So Jasper's bringing Alice over later."
"I guess… they wanted some alone time!" Bella smiled mischievously.
"Yeah…" Edward said wistfully.
He knew exactly how his friend felt about Alice and envied him.
It must be great to feel that way about someone…
His hungry eyes drank in Bella.
I could feel that way about you.
Stop! She's dating Emmett!
Once… Just once!
But… he's going to see her again!
So he says!
"How are things going with you and Emmett?" he suddenly blurted out.
"Good" she replied, blushing.
Well… what else would she say.
I can't ask her anything else about them! Don't want to embarrass her…"
Although… I'm very partial to that color of her skin… So lovely!
"Edward?" Bella's voice penetrated his thoughts.
"Sorry"
"You seemed so far away!"
"Just thinking about… rehearsal."
"Sorry, it's gonna be late."
"I'm not." Edward proclaimed. "Because now I can keep my promise to you…"
Bella looked questioningly at him.
"We can write that song together."
"I don't know…" she replied. "But I'll try."
Edward escorted her inside. Bella was sure that they were destined for the basement studio. Instead, he led her to the first door on the right. Inside was the most beautiful living room she had ever seen, with a huge marble fireplace. Elegant deep blue velvet chairs contrasted with a soft floral couch. The tables were highly polished cherrywood. Large bay windows provided a picturesque view of the immaculate front gardens. However, the centerpiece of the room was clearly the concert-size, grand piano.
"My mother's" Edward explained.
"That must inspire you." Bella replied sensitively.
"It does…" he said softly.
Now
Bella watched as he took his seat on the piano bench.
"Come here." he coaxed gently. "Sit beside me."
"I…" Bella tried to refuse.
Sit… so close to you?
"I won't bite." he promised her, in his smooth velvet voice.
Her resistance gone, she did as he asked.
"This is something I've been working on." Edward announced.
His nimble fingers segued into a smooth, flowing melody. He played through the whole piece once, then turned to Bella.
"What do you think?"
"It's so beautiful." she said breathlessly. "I love it. Rhythmic, but just a little sad."
"Yes" Edward agreed.
She totally gets it!
"What else does it remind you of?" he asked.
"That… bad things can happen. But it can be okay. If you have someone to share it with…"
Edward smiled.
"That's what I thought too." he whispered, adding.
"I wrote it just last week… After my mother died, I cut myself off from everyone for a long time… Until my father told me that she wouldn't want that. She would want me to be happy."
Bella nodded, encouraging him to continue.
"But it took a while until I could even consider that." Edward confessed.
"But you're getting there."
"Yeah. Now."
"So" Bella smiled, touched that Edward had shared so much with her. "These lyrics should come naturally."
"Maybe" Edward smiled back.
"Let's get started!"
The two began composing, bouncing lyrics off each other as easily and naturally as if they had been doing it for years. They lost themselves in the music. Two hours passed without them even noticing.
"Where does it hurt…" Edward's voice trailed off as he sung the last line of the song.
"Done!"
"You like it?" Bella asked.
"Yeah! Don't you?"
"I love it."
"We make a great team!" she added shyly, as her dark eyes locked with his.
"Yes…" Edward said, cupping her face in his hands.
"Bella" he whispered, leaning in closer.
"Bella!" a high pitched, female voice echoed.
She jumped. Alice was outside, on the other side of the large bay window, peering in. Jasper stood behind her. They had apparently just arrived. Further back, Bella saw another car pulling up, with Aro, Marcus, and Caius.
"Hope we weren't interrupting anything!" Alice grinned.
"No" Bella said wistfully.
"We were just working." Edward explained.
"Is that what you call it?" Alice asked, amused.
"Working on a song, you idiot!" Bella replied fondly.
"Really?" Jasper said curious. "You haven't done that in a while."
"Yeah, well…" Edward replied. "I guess I was inspired."
"Cool" his friend answered. "Can't wait to see the results of this inspiration!"
"No problem!" Edward proclaimed confidently.
"Let's get to the studio! Right now!"
Author's Note 2: In case anyone is wondering what song Edward and Bella wrote together, it will appear in a later chapter. Any guesses?
