Tripping The Prom Queen
Chapter 15: Hollaback Girls
Author's Note: And now… something that you've been waiting for! Although, it didn't go quite as far as I hoped… This chapter got so long… seems like everyone had something to say! So, some of what I thought would be in this chapter is in the next! But hey, it gives us something to look forward to!
Bella and Edward certainly do…
Again, thanks to the reviewers: Mittenzs, EsmeAliceRose, mayejrmorris, and Alli-bwa-ha-ha-ha for keeping me smiling!
Chapter 15: Hollaback Girls
"Edward… Where are you going?" Bella called after his retreating form.
He didn't stop. He kept going, finally ducking inside the school building and disappearing from view.
"I wonder what that's all about." Alice said. "He tore out of here like his pants were on fire!"
"Probably couldn't wait to get away from me." Bella said sadly.
"You don't really believe that."
"I don't know what to believe. Did you see his face?"
So disgusted.
"What were the two of you talking about before I got here?"
Quickly, Bella filled her friend in on what had happened.
"He asked you out! I knew it! "
"It's not a date." Bella replied. "It's just his band's first concert."
"One he's taking you to!" Alice squealed.
"Well… no"
"No?"
"I never got a chance to say yes." Bella admitted sheepishly.
"My fault" Alice apologized. "Again. I'm so sorry!"
"It's not your fault." Bella told her. "Maybe it's just not meant to be. Especially, not now! Did you see the way he looked at me…"
"And the way he just took off…"
"What's up with that?"
Edward ran swiftly down the stairs, and then veered left, towards the dingy gray passageway leading to the boy's locker room.
His football teammates were already heading in that direction.
Edward took a deep breath. He knew what he had to do.
That didn't mean that it would be easy.
Or that he liked it.
"Emmett!"
The brawny athlete whipped his head around.
"I need to talk to you. Now!" Edward insisted.
Em nodded at the other guys.
"Go ahead. I'll see you inside."
Obediently, they left Emmett and Edward alone. For a few minutes, neither spoke, just sized up the other.
"You've got some nerve!" Emmett finally erupted. "Ditching practice right before our biggest game. I ought to kick your ass right off this team!"
"Go ahead!" Edward retorted frostily. "That's not important right now!"
"Then what is?"
"Bella"
"What about Bella?"
"You really don't know…"
"Know what?"
Edward jabbed at his IPAD and thrust it at his clueless cousin.
"Homecoming Queen page! Sweet!"
"Idiot!" Edward snorted, grabbing the device back and scrolling down the screen before shoving it back to Emmett.
"Holy crap!" Em exploded, viewing the suggestive photos.
So hot! Or it would be…
If it were anyone but Bella!
"That's not real!"
"Of course not!" Edward snorted. "But you know what these guys will think when they see it! What they'll say! And do!"
Emmett nodded, scowling.
"And you know how hurt Bella will be!"
"They can't see it." Emmett insisted.
"It may be too late for that" Edward replied perceptively. He knew their teammates.
They're on their phones the second they get inside.
His worst fears were confirmed as he and Emmett neared the lockers. He could hear the catcalls and the comments.
"Check it!"
"Whoa!"
"Hot!"
"Who knew Swan had all that!" James roared.
Suddenly, his phone crashed into the ground, shattering into hundreds of pieces.
"What's your problem!" James asked belligerently, as a pair of hands seized him and threw him against the locker.
"Does that answer your question?" Edward replied.
"Em! Do something about your cousin!"
"He's got it right!" Emmett replied.
"Seriously… What do you expect! When you date a girl like that…" Laurent began.
He flew through the air landing with a crash right next to James. He squirmed, but Emmett kept his firm grip on him.
"You want to finish that sentence!" Edward threatened.
"No"
"Who did this?" Emmett asked, glaring at everyone in the room.
Eyes dropped. No one dared look directly at either of them.
"None of you know anything about this?" Edward asked suspiciously.
"No… Honest." Mike sputtered nervously.
Edward turned away. Mike and his cronies did not concern him. He doubted they were responsible for the website.
"What about you?" Emmett said, glaring hatefully at James and Laurent.
"I said I don't know anything" James sputtered.
"Are you sure?"
"Honest"
"You, too?" Emmett asked a sweating Laurent.
"Nothing, dude. I swear."
"You 'd better be telling the truth." Edward threatened.
"I swear." James replied.
"Ok." Emmett announced. "That website is coming down as soon as possible. I don't want to see anyone looking at it. I don't want to hear anyone talking about it…"
"And no one says anything to Bella!" Edward demanded.
"Clear?"
The players remained silent.
"Clear" Emmett repeated.
"Yeah" a dozen voices bleated weakly.
"Good"
Edward and Emmett released James and Laurent, who rubbed their sore bodies, before heading to the showers. Quickly, all the boys showered and dressed. No one spoke. The only sounds in the chilly room came from water being turned on and off and then lockers creaking open and closing. One by one, the other boys scurried away, leaving Emmett and Edward alone.
Emmett finally slammed his own locker shut and turned towards his waiting cousin.
Awkward!
"Hey… um…"
"Thanks" Edward said simply. He knew he couldn't have done this alone.
"No prob" Emmett replied. "Anything for Bella."
"That's how I feel too…" Edward confessed.
"I know…"
For a few minutes, both were silent.
"Where were you this afternoon?" Emmett finally asked.
"My band got its first gig."
"Awesome!" Em said sincerely.
"I hope I'll see you there."
"Definitely…"
"Ok"
"Ok"
Except… we're not okay. Edward realized. And maybe we won't ever be!
Not as long as we both want the same thing…
The same person.
While Edward and Emmett terrorized the football team, Alice drove a still-shaking Bella home.
"So… we need to find out who did this!" Alice insisted. "It could be Rosalie."
"I don't know…" Bella said. "She's not stupid. She'd never do anything she could get caught over."
"Especially not now." Alice smirked. "When one wrong step could put her designer-clad ass in jail!"
"So maybe someone did it for her." Bella moaned, as her stomach gnawed. It made her sick to think about any of this.
"Like Victoria?"
"You noticed that there were hardly any pictures of her on the Web site" Alice added. "That's kind of interesting…"
"Yeah. But she hasn't lived here long." Bella added.
"You'd think if she did it, she'd plaster the site with pics of herself."
"Not if she wanted to stay on Rosalie's good side…"
"Point" Alice conceded.
"Unless… somehow it's a trick."
"What?"
"Somehow… Victoria plans on using this to hurt Rosalie too."
"Maybe…" Alice said. "But it's hard to believe that she's that smart. Putting together that site must have taken hours…"
"So she had help." Bella added. "But from whom?"
"We've got to find out." Alice reiterated. "Who do we know who can hack a computer? "
Bella frowned. There was one person who might help.
Just one.
"Forget it!" she sighed. "He'll never do it!"
Not now…
Alice nodded knowingly. She parked her bright yellow car in front of Bella's house.
"Call me if you need anything!"
Yes… Bella thought. I need something…
I need for none of this to have happened…
And I need Dad… to never find out that it did.
He'll never let me leave the house again!
Fortunately, her father was working late again. Bella skipped dinner, heading directly up to her room. She took a hot shower, hoping it would take the chill out of her bones. However, after she finished and dressed, she started trembling again.
Not from the cold.
She put on her thickest green and gray flannel pajamas and wrapped herself in her purple comforter. She meant to at least make an attempt at her homework. However, the sight of her old laptop on her desk made her shudder. Dumping her books on her bed, she sat down and picked up her history text, mindlessly thumbing through it.
Her ability to concentrate was further hindered by Alice's unending stream of text messages.
Just want 2 tell U don't worry! Emailed admin. Site's coming down.
Site's down
It's gone
But we're still gonna get the bitch who did it!
Alice.. Bella thought fondly. There's no one else like her!
Her phone chimed yet again.
Now what? What else could even she have to say?
However, this message wasn't from Alice.
Emmett?
Hey, B! Sorry to hear about what happened. Just want U to know that my offer still stands. Love to take U to the dance. Think about it, ok?
Bella sighed. She already had thought about it. Her decision remained unchanged.
Still have to deal with that… Just hope he doesn't hate me!
Jacob already does…
Jacob carefully drove his motorcycle through the reservation. As always, he admired the beautiful view of nature and the trees around him.
Gorgeous!
And that's not the only thing that is!
Can't wait for tonight!
Smiling smugly, he slipped off the bike and started up the path towards his small house.
"Jacob!" a voice called through the darkness. "I need to talk to you"
He kept walking.
"Don't even think about ignoring me!" she warned. "No one does that!"
Alice
He groaned, but turned to face her.
"What do you want!"
"First, for you to lose the attitude!" she snapped back. "There's no need for that!"
"Isn't there?"
"I'm not the enemy. Neither is Bella. We're both your friends. If you don't make that completely impossible, that is!"
"Bella already took care of that!"
"Stop being a butthole!" Alice insisted. "I know you're hurting. But so's she!"
"Yeah! Right!"
"She is! And she needs your help! And… you're going to give it to her! Right now!"
"Why would I do that?"
"Because I know you." Alice replied. "I know the kind of person you really are. You're angry, sure. But you still care about Bella. And she's in a lot of trouble right now!"
"What kind of trouble?"
Alice told him.
"Sick!"
"Yes. But true."
"Those bastards… " Jacob cursed.
"So… You in?"
The next morning, Bella parked her truck in the student lot. Uncharacteristically, Alice had not offered her a ride to school that morning, saying only that she had to get there early. Instead, she agreed to meet Bella in the parking lot as soon as she arrived.
Where is she?
She hadn't wanted to come to school that day. Only the lack of an excuse good enough to satisfy her father, who still knew nothing about the website, and Alice's assurances, constituted enough of a reason to be there. She slouched in her seat, still gripping the wheel.
Just let go!
"Where is she?" Bella worried, as her eyes scanned the empty lot. "No way I'm walking in there alone."
Maybe I should just go back home…
Suddenly, someone knocked on the door, on the passenger's side.
Edward.
Quickly, she unlocked the door.
"May I come in?" he asked politely.
"Of course"
He hoisted himself up and slid inside, closing the door behind him.
"It's freezing out there." he said. "How are you?"
"Not great." Bella replied honestly. "How can I be? I'm here."
"Yes" Edward nodded compassionately.
"I so don't want to go in there."
"It may not be as bad as you think…"
"How? I'm sure everyone saw the pictures!"
"They may be over it by now." Edward said soothingly. "I bet no one says a word about them."
"Not possible." Bella said.
"Only one way to find out…" Edward replied, taking Bella's pale, shaky hand in his warm, strong one.
Tingles of electricity shot through Bella's palm, radiating throughout her entire body. She took a deep breath.
"Let's go."
Reluctantly, Edward dropped her hand, but remained close by her side as they crossed the damp pavement. Right in front of the school entrance, Alice suddenly appeared.
"There you are! Finally!"
"Alice, I got here at the usual time!"
"Wait until you see!"
"See what?"
Bella saw it as soon as she got inside. Right in the entryway hung the biggest, prettiest banner she could imagine, proclaiming in large, colorful letters.
Bella Swan… The only choice for Homecoming Queen!
"OMG" Bella gasped. "You made that?"
"Yup!" Alice chirped. "And not only that… Look around!"
Alice led Bella and Edward around the building. Banners, posters and signs dominated every corridor, all with the same message.
Vote Bella Swan for Homecoming Queen!
"How did you…"
"I have my ways." Alice smiled. "I also had a lot of help… Jasper, Edward and Emmett were here at the crack of dawn helping me hang all these signs."
"She's a slave driver!" Edward chuckled.
"They're the best! And so are you!"
"Talking about me again!" Emmett swooped up behind Bella.
"No" she replied demurely. "But I suppose I should thank you."
"And I know just how you can do that…"
"Ew! No!"
"Really, Bella! What kind of guy do you think I am?"
"I know exactly what kind… That's why I said that."
"Do you also know that I spoke to the team last night?" Emmett said. "No one's going to bother you about the pictures."
"They're gone, anyway." Bella replied.
"I take care of my girl" Emmett bragged.
"Um… Emmett?"
"Oh! Gotta go!" Alice announced, gracefully drifting down the hall.
Edward had already left.
"We need to talk…"
"Every guy's favorite sentence!" Emmett said lightly, but frowned as he followed Bella into an empty classroom.
"I appreciate everything you've done for me." Bella began. "You've been great… But I can't go to Homecoming with you."
"You can't? Why not?" Emmett asked, confused.
No girl has ever said no to me!
"Because… I'm in love with your cousin." Bella thought. "Because… I dreamed about him again last night."
"And this dream… was even better than the last."
"Because this time… I didn't wake up!"
"Is there someone else?"
"No" Bella said truthfully.
It's true… There's nothing between Edward and me.
"Then, why?"
"I don't want to lead you on."
"You aren't doing that." Emmett insisted.
I am so bad at this! Bella thought, before saying.
"I feel like I'm using you… It's not right. It isn't fair to you. I'm just not comfortable with this."
"You realize what you're throwing away." Emmett replied, gesturing an oversize thumb at the poster outside in the hallway.
"With me as your date, you'd have this contest in the bag. The football captain's always Homecoming King. And his date's always Queen."
"Not always." Bella replied correctly. "And that doesn't matter to me."
"I hope we can still be friends?"
"Sure. Whatever." Emmett replied.
"I'll see you around."
"Later"
Bella stood, watching Emmett go.
That wasn't so bad… I don't think…
The bell rang.
OMG! I'm gonna be late.
She dashed down the hallways. Floors were wet, from where droplets of water fell from student's hair or clothes.
"Noooo!"
Bella skidded, sliding down the hallway, finally stopping right under another student.
"Nice slide." Victoria remarked cattily. "Too bad this isn't a baseball field… Although, from what I see, you're doing plenty of scoring anyway!"
"You're one to talk." Bella snapped back.
I'm tired of her crap! I'm not taking it anymore!
"You've scored more home runs than any girl in this school!"
"Maybe…" Victoria smiled beautifically. "But at least my "equipment" isn't posted online for everyone to see!"
"And you know nothing about that!"
"Hardly" Victoria sneered. "Why would I bother?"
"Yes" Bella pushed. "Why did you?"
"Please. Like you're worth it!" Victoria replied, flipping her titian colored hair over her shoulder. "You're nobody. Just a pathetic little wannabe whose loser friends somehow rigged the nominations. You honestly think it means anything!"
"You honestly think you can compete with Rosalie?"
Or me?
"You're gonna get sooo crushed!" Victoria finished. "Maybe you should just quit now. Save yourself from more embarrassment!"
"I'm not quitting." Bella replied. "You don't scare me."
"Don't I?" said Victoria confidently, eyeing Bella's trembling lower lip.
"No"
"You want trouble?"
"Bring it"
Oh… I will.
"Ladies" Mr. Mason said. "Please take your seats".
Cautiously, Bella moved from class to class, braced for more attacks. However, Edward and Emmett's promises were kept. Incredibly, no one else said one word about the pictures.
Still, Bella could not relax. As she made her way to the cafeteria, a hand tapped her shoulder and she jumped.
"Did I scare you again?" Edward asked.
"No… Hi"
"Hi… How's it going?"
"Surprisingly, not badly." she told him. "People seem too afraid to talk about it… Emmett must have scared the hell out of everyone."
"He did." Edward replied modestly.
"You were there…" Bella realized.
And you helped… You did too!
"Yes"
She smiled knowingly at him.
"Emmett was very impressive…" Edward blurted out. "I could never have done that on my own… Anyway, are you having lunch with him?"
"No"
Why?
"Because I thought we might eat together."
"I'd like that…"
They walked towards the bustling food line. Gallantly, Edward picked up two orange plastic trays.
"Choose whatever you want." he told Bella. "My treat."
"You don't have to…"
"I want to."
Quickly, they selected their food and moved towards the tables. Adeptly balancing both trays, Edward walked towards the most remote small two-seater in the corner.
He placed their meals on the table, then took his seat facing Bella.
"Pizza day." Edward remarked, picking up a slice and taking a bite. "Tastes like dirt."
"Yeah"
"There's a place in Seattle… Mama Leone's. They have the best pizza! We'll have to check it out after the show on Friday."
"We?"
"We"
"Yes…" Edward's eyes narrowed. "I asked you yesterday… Did you forget about me already?"
"No" Bella replied coyly, picking up her red apple and turning it around in her hands.
No… I didn't think you still wanted me. Not after what happened!
Guess Alice was right after all!
Absently, she twisted the apple's stem, silently naming the alphabet, as she played the old game.
A… B… C…D…
E!
The stem snapped.
"I asked you yesterday." Edward repeated softly.
"I remember." Bella smiled. "But I never said yes."
"Did you forget that?" she added teasingly.
Edward smiled back.
"You're right… So, is it a yes?"
"Is what a yes?"
"Will you go to the concert with me?"
"Yes."
While Edward and Bella planned their first date, a meeting of a very different sort took place out in the student parking lot.
Inside her BMW, Rosalie Hale impatiently crossed one long leg atop the other. Finally, the person she waited for slowly strolled into view. As she approached, Rosalie opened the door, letting her guest into the vehicle.
"You're late!"
"Sorry. My bad." Victoria said carelessly. "Anyway, what was so important that you had to drag me all the way out here!"
"It's about your "conversation" with Bella this morning? Are you completely stupid! Have I taught you nothing!"
Victoria raised a questioning eyebrow at the irate blonde.
"Never attack openly! Too obvious!"
"You're right." Victoria conceded. "She's just so annoying!"
"Agreed" Rosalie replied. "But do you want to blow this?"
"No"
"Then stop acting like a total freak!"
"You are completely right. I'm so sorry!" Victoria apologized. "Don't know what I was thinking."
"You weren't. You never do!"
"It doesn't matter. She doesn't matter. No one can hurt you. Or take anything away from you."
Except me
"Be more careful"
"Yes"
Yes… I am!
You have no freaking idea, bitch!
James is totally ready for this! Wants revenge for what Emmett and Edward did to him yesterday! He can't wait to…
Friday night… At Twilight's concert…
It's so on!
