Chapter 16 It's Raining, It's Pouring: Part Two
A/N: I do not own Twilight because my name is not Stephenie Meyer.
I know, I know - the dreaded cliffhanger. And I couldn't even rush the writing schedule, like I'd hoped, and get it to you guys sooner … well, not without sacrificing quality. So, here it is, right on time – sadly not early but thank goodness not late!
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JPOV
You're an asshole. You could have anyone, but you choose the one who will break the most. I wished I could stop just blatantly glaring at him, but the outrage and fear that were clenched around my heart, lungs and every other major organ had become a permanent fixture over the last eleven hours, nearly undoing my rational to play it cool until the match was won and done with. And I blame you. My eyes seethed out all the uncertainties muddling my brain, which continued their damning encroachment.
After the team "Break" sounded and hands went flying I was left rooted in my place, feeling that I needed to make my intention of ending this game Edward was playing known. But my lack of sleep was causing my sorry ass to drag. Luckily I'm a fucking buoy; otherwise I'd be in for big problems swimming driver on such depleted motor functions.
Saying last night had been rough on me was an understatement. It wasn't just having to watch Bella forced to stand tall in front of the most judgmental elitists' while being completely torn down over a blatant lie but then seeing her run off with him – the prime motivation behind Angela's irruption. More than anything else, it was every image I'd been left with since that made the horrors of the party almost unbearable. The way he'd touched her on the dance floor – the way she'd let him, encouraging his hands and catering to his bending predilections. He'd stroked her hair and moved her hips, then chose to hoist her up bridal style - like her fucking savior - before shooting from the suite. Gah. I shuddered at the implications which so obviously indicated that Bella was trusting Edward; relying on him to care for her, rescue her and then, at the end of the humiliation that his life choices ultimately caused, take her somewhere safe.
I had gathered that Bella found the infamous Edward Cullen interesting the night she inquired about him to Alice. Her curiosity even suggested she was yet another of the many Fremont female pursuers clambering to catch one more glance. Because she was just the sort to find his presence and demeanor magnetic – she was, after all, a girl; and that seemed to be the only qualification necessary to be doubled over in lust for the moody bastard. But even her unexpected interest hadn't bothered me, because I knew Bella was cautious. She wasn't one to get wrapped up in a new palsy friendship let alone a crush. Bella repelled men on purpose, just as she closed her true self off from everyone else.
And this was Edward Cullen for fucks sake. But, even with his knack for charm and allure, if Edward was near Bella, she was allowing it. Why would she risk her nonexistent trust on him? HIM?
If I thought he had a chance of making her happy I would feel quite differently. There is truly nothing in this world I've wanted more than to help Bella recover all the optimism and joy she lost after Renee died. Bits of her seemed forever gone, however, and although she'd never been categorized as a 'people person' she'd regarded them with a certain thoughtfulness and naiveté. She let people know her if they cared enough to ask.
Such tragedy struck her trusting nature right from the hand that held it out as an offering. Charlie had already spent Bella's life disappointing her, keeping her second place to his career. So she'd learned not to expect anything from him. Renee had been Bella's foundation, and once she was gone, there were only piles of money left in her stead. She probably still has no idea how much is there. Money was fleeting. Bella stopped understanding the difference between fleeting and enduring a long time ago. Or maybe security just doesn't exist to her.
Except with us.
Relocating to Forks had ripped Bella and me apart. Due to the distance, we weren't able to be face to face enough for me to truly gage how all the changes were affecting her. Before I realized what was happening she'd already begun to withdraw, taking up residence in a constant state of aloof. Despite her inward retreat, we continued to spend hours on the phone, though she'd never mention friends or activities outside of life in Charlie's house. I knew I had to get to her somehow otherwise she'd slip farther away. A few weeks during summer vacation wouldn't cut it any longer.
The idea that we were growing apart, and she perhaps didn't need me as much, plagued my mind. But I refused to accept it and decided I couldn't hold off for the convenience of a driver's license, the move would need to happen right away. So, Rosalie and I packed up and headed to Seattle. Mother and Father, hardly around to begin with, were more than relieved to be off the hook from actual day-to-day parenting.
Those two years we spend apart were a nightmare, but there was nothing fleeting about the way I cared for my girl.
And Fremont brought me near enough to Bella to actually see her, at least occasionally. But upon greeting me after my first ferry and bus transit from SeaTac to Port Angeles, my slight pain from her progressively more distant interactions waned as a more serious panic set in. Bella had no happiness touching her features even while displaying a huge smile at my arrival. Her eyes were vacant and her body stood ridged and reserved, shoulders folded in. She'd refused to wait a heartbeat before flinging her arms and legs around me, pouring out her thoughts at once, "I am so glad you're here." She'd begun crying silently then, and I vowed to never let her ruin herself again.
I knew Charlie had been doing everything conceivable to win back the affections of his little girl. But having Bella in the house as a constant reminder of Renee's decisions and death was debilitating for him. Nevertheless, on my visits he'd always be around in abundance and truly had developed a wonderful accord with his estranged daughter. And she let him believe he was in. That he'd imprinted a wedge of himself on her heart. But he hadn't truly made it inside; she refused to give him the power of possessing any piece of her. Bella would not let Charlie hurt her again.
It had been the right time to move to Washington when we did. Rose became a bitch but stopped crying all the time. And Bella would visit me, refusing to step through the Fremont gates, but staying in a hotel instead. I'd, in turn, make trips up to see her. And she ironed out. She found a rhythm. And when Charlie decided to leave – or was 'sent', fuck if I know – she was all right. She's never expected anything less.
But to now watch that depraved, inhuman, son of a bitch weasel his way into Bella's impenetrable attentions – Jasper stop, you are losing it. They danced, she took shit because of Rose's insecurities and Edward's dickery and then he rushed her away from the mess. That is all you know. That was all I knew.
And it was eating me alive inside. Not fully trusting Bella to always see what's best for her, knowing I'd never trust him, freaking out that what I saw in her eyes and through her body movements showed she did trust him, but the worst of it was knowing that she was Bella and there was nothing I could say to her that she hadn't already heard from my mouth and from the mouths of others. Edward was a user. He would manipulate her, consume her. And then throw her away, more broken than she'd ever been before.
I shook my head and walked back around to my borrowed locker in search of my gear, scooping everything up and getting swept into the flow of teammates as we left the locker room.
Sure, Emmett had quieted down my attempts at setting the tone with Edward for our talk after the match, but I saw in his hesitant green eyes that he'd gotten the message. I found Bella on the bleachers then as I followed the indication of the ref's whistle and slipped into the pool.
All three girls looked phenomenal, just as Alice had vowed they would as we'd said goodnight. "I'm going to make Bella look so effing superior tomorrow that no one will want to sit next to her, let alone roll shitty rumors in front of her face." Her eyes had blazed with determination even though we both knew nothing would keep the piranhas away indefinitely.
As I closed the space between myself and them, lazily floating my way nearer, my mind started to register the rather loud commotion coming from the Fremont crowd, in particularly the only girl, to this day, I was prepared to hit – Angela. How the hell she grew the balls necessary to show her face anywhere in public again, I'll never know. She should be studied for science. But it wasn't her presence that had my true attention, it was the fact that she was yet again calling Bella a whore, and looking like a cheeky, future Stepford while doing so. Is she serious?
I couldn't make out Bella's response over the hum of the crowd, and it seemed, neither could the girl closest to my pool position; a fiery red head I recognized from my fifth period Physics session, Victoria something or other. Luckily the friend beside her seemed to be able to hear just fine, and I was clued in along with Victoria as the friend relayed; "Apparently, Bella left with Edward instead of Angela - just like you heard from Tyler - and Edward must have given her a good ride because she's going on and on about how she doesn't mind being tired because Edward was such a satisfying fuck. Like we ever considered Edward Cullen to be anything less than a sexual god." Victoria piped in, bobbing her head, "Well, I can attest to that knowing first hand the quality pipe Edward fucking Cullen lays down." Both girls threw their heads back and cackled as I instead caught my breath before unintentionally hurling into the pool water around me.
Fuck?
They actually fucked?
I can't believe what I'm hearing. This is not you, Bella. No fucking way. I WILL KILL HIM.
And then it all fit together, seeming absolutely plausible. He'd taken it from her. He'd plucked her virginity, along with whatever else he fucking wanted; unaware that included her fragility and brokenness. He'd been careless, of course not knowing the slightest things about her, just doing what he did fucking recklessly. But this time he'd taken what was Bella's.
And now he was over. He was done.
I located him and threw my arm back in seconds. Edward Cullen had been negligent for far too long with feelings and people. Did he even understand that there were more individuals in this world that mattered than just him? The other half of the population wasn't a buffet line, no matter what shit guys threw around in locker rooms; there were girls out there that meant something to someone. Bella was my world. He didn't just get to come in and tear down my world because she happened to be fucking appetizing and at the top of his menu.
And so I crashed my fist into any part of him I could gain leverage too. Punch after punch, but he wouldn't fight back. He was no fucking martyr, so I forced him underwater and hoped he'd respond because I wanted kicking his ass to be a reminder that no matter how hard he came down on me he would never get near Bella again, because I would always win. For her.
I felt small fingers on my shoulder and I knew instantly they were Alice's, but I didn't understand why she was trying to stop me. She had to know what he'd done. She had to understand why I couldn't hold myself back.
And then the air was expelled from my lungs and a huge weight pulled me below the surface, into the depths. I refused to release my hold on Edward, but my legs kicked furiously trying to force my head above the water line. Strong hands shook me violently and my grasp faltered. Edward and I were successfully pried apart then and both launched onto the concrete perimeter of the pool.
Above my loud sputtering coughs I could hear the frenzied crowd and the disputing coaches, I was all too aware of Emmett's bursts of swearing and team directions. Alice was holding my head in her lap then, anger and concern filling her eyes as she discerned my mental and physical state.
"Why are you fighting?" Her fingers grazed my forehead, pushing my sopping hair out of my eyes.
"Why aren't you?" Perplexedly she pursed her lips, obviously not on the same page as I was.
"He fucked Bella. He's going to ruin her." Theses words seethed out of me and caused the nausea to return.
"She hasn't said anything like that to me." Wait, come again?
"You were there when she was speaking to Angela, you heard her." Ali girl, think on your feet for me here, try and follow what I'm saying and at least remember the conversations you yourself were privy to.
But instead of validating and understanding me, her words slapped me in the motherfucking mouth.
"You've overreacted, Jasper. Bella was baiting her, lying to the bitch to get her to back down." She released my head and stood, "Good luck cleanly jumping from the fifteen-foot shit hole you've just dug for yourself … and the rest of us. We're all just a huge fucking mess now." And with that, she walked back to rejoin a stoic Rosalie, hand on her perfect hip, anger laced into every sway.
Edward sat about five feet from me, talking quietly with Emmett.
Bella was nowhere to be found.
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EmPOV
Oh my fucking fuck.
Yes, please look like assholes and get the entire team a warning. Stupid Jasper, douchbag. Come on Edward, all our shitting around has taught you how to defend yourself better than that. Damn pussy.
I hauled my ass over to the bitch fight, put a hand on each of their shoulders and pushed down - hard. We all went under, which was good; I needed Japer a little waterlogged to get him to calm the fuck down. Keeping them secure, I broke the surface and instructed Felix – our other driver and second biggest on the team next to me – to help get these wayward mates up and over the ledge.
I was out and dripping over their sorry asses instantly. I saw Coach's approach and braced myself, putting some distance between the rest of the team and the fun conversation to come.
"Emmett, what is going on? Fighting, really? Can you at least keep your players under control while I go speak with Ladnow?" Coach continued to mutter to himself - no doubt releasing the expletives he'd somehow managed to hold back while barking at me - as he headed over to discuss the future of this match with Puyallup's Coach.
I was furious, but I double-checked the ref was a good distance away before letting it rain down.
"Okay, men, if the damn match is still on, James you're starting driver since Jasper has been officially red carded – yes, red carded from the pool you jackass. Everyone else go wait by the bench, towel off, hopefully we'll start up in a minute. On the ref's whistle I expect everyone to get their fucking heads out of their fucking asses and play hard. Got me?"
We look like fools, I thought as I took in the remnants of such idiocy. Both guys were still lying down, back to wet concrete, Alice crouching beside Jasper and Edward looking like he could use some help sitting up.
"Hey bro, breathin' okay?" He accepted my hand as he steadied himself in a comfortable upright position, not quite ready to stand.
He only nodded, brow creasing heavily.
"You gonna be able to swim, or do you need to hit the bench first period?"
"I'll be good." Thank god. I'd been looking forward to this match all week.
"It isn't often a brutality is called because of teammate to teammate malicious intent, huh?" Edward was finally back and Jasper had to go and almost dick it up. Arg.
"I'd think not." This outburst seemed to have shaken Ed pretty good and I really didn't know what else to say, well, not with all of Fremont craning their fucking ears in our direction.
"Edward?" Saved by the admirer.
A soft, unsure voice came from behind us. We both turned to find Bella, holding a towel and looking concerned but uncomfortable. And the minx at the crux of this debacle suddenly appears.
Knowing the match was on, as the glint in Coach's eye caught my attention, I turned to find Jasper gone – hopefully getting his shit together in the locker room – and the team ready at the bench.
Finally. Let's do this.
I left Edward to sort stuff out but wished I would have dragged him along, knowing how messed he was over Bella without adding Jasper's blatant disapproval to the mix. But he was tailing me when I turned to go back and get him. Hmmm … I wonder if that's a bad sign.
What-the-fuck-ever.
I'd actually honed my focus back in on the match, refusing to let Rosie or anything else in, then the fists went a flyin' and now I was pumped to beat the shit out of fucking Puyallup and get the hell home.
In the pool, lined up on our goal line, we waited for the ref to blow his whistle so we could gain control of the ball. At the trill we lunged, easily acquired the target and proceeded with our offense. As the periods flew by, our team managed to avoid any penalties, our guys fully aware that we'd filled our reprimand quotient for the day. Edward was responding to every play with precision. We'd pass with backhands setting Edward up for bunny after bunny. He really had immense upper body strength, and the opposing goalie couldn't have stopped the continual driving goals if he'd tried any harder.
No matter how many moments of restful floating or eggbeaters we could slip in there obviously needed to be players rotated in as relief. So after each goal we'd shift around; all, of course, except for Jasper. He knew he had to ride the whole thing out hugging bench.
Puyallup's strategy seemed to be straddling our seven-meter line, just hoping to get a goal shot in. However, not only was Eric the best goalie in the league, but today's match had been destined to be a shut down no matter the rocky start.
By the third period we'd been up by three, with a few fouls under our belt by that point in the game, but at the sound of the forth's end we'd won by five. 10 to 5 - Shut down, bitches.
The team was riding the win high, as cheers rang out from our crowd and we filed into the locker room as congratulatory back pats were thrown around. I sped up to stride next to Jasper, our new resident team badass – someone finally trumped James - who seemed even more forlorn and invisible than normal.
"I have to be honest, Jasper, I thought you'd tainted the match mojo with your little freak out. Thank fuck you didn't. Shit, I'm in a good mood. So, I guess this means come Monday you won't be treading with a chair over your head for that much longer than the rest of us." I barked out a laugh at my own joke, cause he sure as hell would be treading water until he couldn't tread no more. And then my thoughts flashed back to how sad Alice had looked as she'd leaned over a dour Jasper by the pool's edge. "But seriously dude, you okay?"
He tightened his lips into a thin line and sighed, thumb and index finger working his temples. "I fucked up."
"You sure as hell did." I gave him a swift punch in the arm before heading to my locker. "I'm sure it'll blow over."
"Good game guys." Ahhh, Rosalie. Just hearing her voice made this freezing locker room feel like Hawaii. I turned and was greeted by the sight of both my girls.
"Rose, Ali, please. Did you ever really doubt we'd cream those juveniles?" I was surprised to find them in a men's locker room for about two seconds, before realizing whom I was dealing with. Nothing would stop these two.
"Well, when there's in-fighting one must be realistic with their expectations." I gave Shorty my most disapproving glare for ever doubting our skills.
"Where's Bella?" Jasper had crept around the corner and apparently wanted to face the firing squad right away.
"Wherever Jasper. Just be happy she isn't in here. I'm sure you can imagine how she feels about you right now." Alice was direct with him, but calm, obviously saving his sentencing for later.
"I enjoyed watching you kick ass, Captain." Rosalie peered up at me from underneath her lashes, looking sexy as hell; her voice sounding so low and inviting. "So strong, so powerful." Rose ran her fingertips up my arm, along my neck and down between my pecks. Finally, letting both hands splay across my abs, she leaned up on her tiptoes and sucked on my bottom lip tenderly.
I captured her around the waste, toying with the strands of hair that ended there, and encouraged the kiss farther, basking in her softness and the uncharacteristic sweetness.
"I want to take you out. Rosalie, will you go to dinner with me? I need to have some time with you just to myself." I mumbled this against her pouty lips not wanting to break contact but needing to secure a time for just her and me.
"Tonight? How about eight o'clock?" Yes!
"I'll be over at eight." I buried my ecstatic smile in the crook of her neck. Hell yes, we won and I got the girl!
"Girls, you know this locker room is for the team only. Go on, go on. You'll see each other back at the school. Rosalie Hale, go!" The coach was shooing them out, and as Rosalie slowly sauntered backwards in the direction of the exit she didn't break eye contact. Licking her lips, her chosen farewell teased my thoughts and expectations, "I hope you can handle this, Cullen."
I fucking hoped I'd get to handle all of it.
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EPOV
Why did you leave before I woke up? Do you regret letting me hold you last night? The things you said? And if you do, why are you standing in front of me now?
I'd be a liar to say I wasn't confused by Bella's hot and cold. She would fall asleep in my arms but not awake to my kiss. She dried me off and apologized for her cousin but would not wait to let me say anything in return before turning back for her seat with a quick promise that she'd find me later. And Jasper was a whole other issue.
Obviously I didn't blame Bella for her asswipe of a relative, but honestly who does that? Throwing down mid match, holding my fucking head underwater. Shit.
I have no idea what caused the calm but direct Jasper, who'd already made it clear we were speaking after the game, to launch fists first at me. Something must have set him off, and honestly, I hadn't seen him coming because I too had been distracted. Just after we pushed off the goal line I'd caught my first glimpse of Bella, and every inch of me longed to sprint out of the deep water and kiss her full on the mouth. I'd been missing her scent and her embrace since I'd awoken without her next to me, bed warm but Bella-less.
For the duration of the match, with her perched only a few yards away wearing a pale pink top, contrasting exquisitely against the red of her round lips and her shoulder swept long, dark, wavy hair, I'd felt almost worthless to the team. Sure, I stayed up with the plays and scored my share of goals, but my thoughts were with Bella. Only her. They were nestled in those tendrils and reminiscing over our interlocking, passionate kisses.
But now, here she was, so short compared to me, even in her healed boots that fastened over skintight jeans, standing within my grasp. It really wasn't fair, that she could be wearing so much but seemingly so little as I could see every curve of her through the thin jean material. The dip her silk blouse, which descended upon the creamy breasts I'd yet to see fully, was mesmerizing but I made sure to keep my eyes locked with hers so my deviant mind wouldn't be so transparent. Now if only Bella would stop allowing her eyes to freely roam over my body then perhaps I'd have better accountability; as it was, we were satiating ourselves with one another.
"You played well." No longer able to wait for my unvoiced questions to be answered before touching her, I pressed Bella up against a sidewall, around the corner from the mouth of the locker rooms. No one would find us unless they were purposefully looking around for deserted hallways. Hopefully this school doesn't have an Edward Cullen lurking around, pulling every other girl into dark corners. I didn't desire to be interrupted.
"I played like a distracted boy with a new shiny toy." I pressed us nose to nose as my mind registered how my leg was pressed between her legs and the pressure of my chest on hers was heaving her cleavage up and out of my new favorite pink shirt.
"Toy?" Fuck. Why'd I have to say it like that? And here I thought I was doing so much better at not being a complete lothario.
"God, that wasn't how I meant it. It's just that you look so beautiful and distracting. I was sad not getting to wake up with you next to me this morning. Why did you go?" And please forget I'm a dick.
"I just needed to." I couldn't read the clouding in her eyes but I knew there was more to say on this. "I'm here now." Bella's small hands came around to the back of my head as she raked her hands through my almost dry hair, pushing my face even closer to hers.
"That you are." And my lips found hers open and slightly damp, and before I could continue her warm tongue tickled my bottom lip before making its way into my mouth. Fuck. She tasted like the strawberry gum she loved to chew and wound that fruity tang all throughout my mouth. Her neck was arched in an effort to close the distance between our heights so I swooped down and wrapped my mouth around the skin there. Tasting and sucking, drawing small circular patterns with my tongue up and down the column, desperately wanting to mark her and name her as mine. I also fought within myself to keep from plunging my nose and mouth straight into her open top, really from ripping every shred of clothing from her delicate body. I was after all in only my Speedo; so little fabric was keeping me from being completely naked.
She eventually pulled back, ragged breathing, swollen lips and a blush that curled down to her collarbones. Oh god, her collarbones. I vowed to familiarize myself with them the next time I had her in my bed.
It was a good thing Bella had my towel in one of her hands because when we were through here I'd need it to secure around my waste before walking anywhere. And as if she heard my exact thoughts, "Maybe we shouldn't do this when you have to go out in public, in just that." Bella's attention fell to my only piece of clothing, eyes slowly hooding. "But in private, that might be a different story."
Fuck me now. If I wasn't hard before … shit.
"You mean, you aren't repulsed by my regulation swimming suit?" I couldn't help the bit of cocky that was infused in the question nor the smug tug that lit half my smile.
She could only shake her head back and forth as her eyes darted between my eyes and down to my suit, fucking going at it with her lip between her teeth.
"I see." My heart was racing as I desperately tried to play it cool, with the hottest fucking girl – the only girl for me – connected to every pain of my body undoubtedly feeling the effect her words and mere presence had over it.
"I have something planned for us tonight, that is, if you'll be my date for the evening?"
"Where will we be?" I wanted to say that we'd be in my sheets all night and all day tomorrow, but I wouldn't; I'd take her out.
"We're going out, somewhere special. Say you'll join me." I pleaded with my eyes, and I suppose my dick, as it was pressed firmly into her stomach.
"I think I'd just like to be wherever you are." Well, fuck I should have said my sheets.
No, bastard, you aren't ready.
The hell I'm not. Have you seen my cock right now?
But I really wasn't.
"Can I pick you up at eight?" Will you wear something sexy, let me kiss your mouth and come to my bed after and cuddle up to me?
I wonder what she'd do if I told I loved her? Fucker – it's been a week. Calm down.
"Eight sounds good." Bella leaned her head against my chest, just over where my heart was thudding a million miles an hour.
"What - what do you think got into Jasper?" I stammered because I didn't want to ruin the moment. But Jasper was a reality I would soon be facing in the locker room so I needed to know what she did.
"Besides the fact that one week ago you were a wholesome girl's worst nightmare? And maybe you still are." She was dragging her fingers over the length of my torso, ever so softly grazing over my muscles and circling my nipple. She really has no idea what she's doing to me.
"Are you really that wholesome?" I tugged absentmindedly on a stray piece of her silky hair, thinking about her oblivion towards her own sexuality, and sort of hoped to avoid the walk down Edward-was-a-fuck-up memory lane.
"Fuck no, but Jasper would prefer to think I am. I'm no you, that's for damn sure."
"You're so much better than me." Hugging her tightly I reminded her of our greatest problem, the fact that I was shit and she was scared. You're scared too. But I was only scared of losing her not of loving her.
"That's to be decided." She pulled back, giving me a radiant smile and I knew we were done talking about Jasper with her teasing me so. Sort of teasing's more like it.
"Give me that." I barked playfully as I quickly plucked the towel from her hand, tucked it around my waste and prayed the folded material helped my cause somewhat.
Bella snuggled up to my ear before I pulled her beside me to make our way back towards the crowd. "I can still see you, even through that impenetrable field of invisibility." She let out the most delicious laughter and I swatted at her behind.
"But it said right on the label: Standard Pool Towel – Will hide all evidence of the effects of hot girlfriends guaranteed or your money back." I continued laughing at my unavoidable situation until I realized Bella had stopped moving.
Her eyes were one big question.
"What?" I couldn't stop my smile; I hadn't been this happy and carefree in a long while. But something still felt off about the look she now had touching the features of her face. And as she brought her lips together in a tight smile, bashfully shaking her head downward and said "Nothing." I knew it wasn't nothing.
We were back in the public area now. Most people were heading out, leaving the once full bleachers empty until Puyallup's next ass whooping.
The air had turned colder between Bella and I, but I hadn't a clue why and so naturally, before I could figure out how to ask without upsetting her further Alice and Rosalie came barreling out of the locker room.
"Bella, good, there you are. We're ready to go." Alice was darting her eyes back and forth between Bella and I meaningfully, trying to ask me silent questions with her directed gaze.
I just laughed at her and pulled Bella closer to my side. Tilting her chin up with my crooked finger, my lips wound with hers in a sweet lingering kiss that I swore I could feel all the way down to my feet. I am a woman. And I don't even give a fuck.
"I'll see you tonight." Trying not to involve too many outsiders, I whispered this in her ear and she shivered in response. I turned to tease my obviously curious best friend.
"Ali, we should hang out." Giving her a knowing smile and laughing to myself over how little information Bella was probably sharing with her and how my Ali girl was most likely going slowly crazy inside that head of hers.
"You bet your fine ass we're going to hang out." With that Bella sent a stern glare right at her.
"Come on, Alice, you knowledge-whore. Let's go. Rose?"
"Yeah, I'm right behind you." Both girls walked off, arm in arm, Alice's speedy zeal causing her to drag Bella along like a child. This jovial observation was, however, cut short by Rosalie's matter of fact tone.
"I hope you know what you're doing." She was pointed in her words and in her eye contact. So, she does have a caring, protective bone in her body. No matter the odd way she chose to show it, Bella's female cousin maybe wasn't such a cold-hearted bitch after all. Everyone can change, I thought to myself with a hopeful smile.
"I only know what I'm not going to do, Rosalie. Everything else is new to me."
She stared me down for a second longer, blinked and sashayed away.
I had no idea if she believed me, or heard my sincerity through all of her trademark Fremont judgment, but I knew Bella had at least one tiny little pixie person in her life that could play up my limited yet still redeemable qualities.
Who was I kidding? Redeeming qualities? Not so much.
The truth was simple, really. I would have to lose myself completely to have Bella.
And from where I was standing, that still made me the winner.
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A/N: I find myself so excited at the end of a chapter over everything that's still to come, but the sheer volume of possibilities also overwhelms me. Gah. That was the first thing I thought as I typed those final two sentences (an idea that I've had written in my G&B notebook but didn't know where to use:)) It is sort of Edward's theme. Anyway, hope you enjoyed the second part, the explanatory part, or the match. I'd love to hear your thoughts on the plot and characters, as well as what your little heart desires to read in the coming chapters. I always revel in inspiration. I want to say thank you to Ima Quidditch Fan for lending her Polo research abilities – That was really thoughtful of you! ~RAE