Yes, two chapters in one day! This is what happens when I stay home sick. I know the last chapter was a 'filler', but it had to happen to get the ball rolling. But now things start to unravel... PLEASE PLEASE read and REVIEW. I love the reviews I get. They make me very happy. And when I'm happy I write... *AM*
D/C: I do not own Twilight nor do I own the characters portrayed inthe movie and/or book.
Silence. I welcomed it with open arms. I sat on my bed, leaning against the wall and staring at the window on the far side of my room. Charlie had taken a late night shift at the station, and I was counting down the hours until I was due at Alice's house that evening.
Two hours to go…
My stomach was in knots. The movie, the dinner… the race. The hours I would be spending with Edward. Oh God, the hours.
And that is what led me to the silence in my bedroom. My anxiety was starting to mount, and I needed to get my thoughts in order. I think overall I was fine with the dinner, hell even the movies. But what about afterwards? What if I lost the race? What would they all think of me? Back in Phoenix I had raced plenty, and hell I even lost races at time. Once Kaiden and I went against each other and when I lost horribly he would laugh at me. I would laugh, our friends would laugh, and it wasn't a big deal. I think it was because I didn't care.
I cared what Edward thought. I cared what Alice, Jasper, Emmett and Rose thought.
One hour to go…
My phone buzzed with a text message. Alice.
We r going 2 take ur car and Edwards car 2nite. Is that ok? We can just all climb in and carpool. -Al
I wanted to laugh at the entire situation.
R u alone? I texted her back. I had to talk to her about what was going through my head. Since I had started school a week ago, she became my person. We talked, we shared things.
Ya whats up?
Nervous about 2nite. I could hear her laugh from across town.
You had a boyfriend back home, no? Don't be scared. Ahh… she thought I was scared about the date portion of the evening with Edward.
No, nervous about the race. There, I said it. I had nothing to lose now. Alice knew my worries, hell I didn't even have to say anything. Tonight when I pulled in their driveway they would probably all see it in my eyes.
The race? I think ur going 2 do great!
I texted her back right away: And if I lose? Will I be the odd man out?
No. Not at all. Hell, I wish I was able to change the bet with Jazz. Im rootin 4 u! Her words made me feel slightly better.
Thirty minutes to go…
I had already showered earlier, and I suddenly realized I didn't have an outfit for tonight. I left the post on my bed, the sound of my footsteps on the carpet an odd noise after sitting in the silence for so long. I opened my closet door and glanced over the racks of shirts and pants that I owned. What should I wear? Something date worthy, yet okay to drive in. Skirt? No…
Buzz Buzz. My phone. I walked over to the bed and picked it up, glancing at the text Alice had sent.
Wear ur blk skinny jeans and that white vneck shirt u have. Blk boots. Green eyeshadow.
I laughed aloud, wondering how on earth that woman could hear my thoughts. I thought for a moment though… she was right. Digging through my closet, I pulled out the outfit she was talking about and looked through the pairs of boots I had. It didn't take me long to put the outfit together, and I stared into my mirror. I looked decent. But the accessories are what usually made the outfit. That is what Alice told me at lunch earlier in the week (she considered it her beauty tip of the day, welcomed or not).
I pulled two large chunks of hair from the sides of my head, and entwined them into braids, pulling them up in a clip. I added the green eye shadow, light mascara, and Aquaphor to my lips. It was my little secret… my weird lip gloss. Didn't have a taste to it, but kept my lips shinning for hours.
I looked fantastic. My worries were drifting away… and I thought for a moment, 'So what if I lose, at least Edward won't be able to take his eyes off of me!' I grabbed my keys and bag, smiling to myself in the mirror before I flew down the stairs. I grabbed the overnight bag I had packed earlier for the night with Alice. I felt the familiar urge as I revved the engine of my car, closing my eyes as I imagined accelerating through the streets of Port Angeles. I only wish Edward would be there by my side, in the car, touching me as we hit speeds unknown.
The inside of the car was pitch black, but I swore I could see the fire spread through my cheeks. I had to ignore it if I planned on getting to Alice's in one piece. It didn't take long before I was pressing the limits and going faster than I should. I only prayed that there would be no police cruisers on the road that night, and no one to give me another warning. Or ticket.
I pulled into the driveway, parking my car next to Alice's yellow Porsche. I was surprised to see it out of its home in the garage; Jasper had vouched to the fact that she hardly ever drove it. I left my bag in the car and straightened my hair before climbing into the driveway. My boots made hollow steps on the cement, and I tried to calm my nerves as I approached the house.
The door flew open before I even rang the doorbell, and I was met with an excited Alice. My mouth dropped as I took her appearance in, and I suddenly felt insecure next to her. She was wearing black tights, a black shirt, and a white pea coat over her shoulders. The boots on her feet were a gray color, and seemed to bring the color in her eyes out. I sighed, wondering how she could take such a simple outfit and make it into model material.
"Bella you look fantastic!" I blushed and stepped forward, embracing my friend into a hug.
"Me? You look like a freaking model!" Alice just grinned and grabbed my hand, leading me into her house. Standing against the wall was Emmett and Jasper, both dressed in black jeans and white dress shirts. Emmett was carrying a gray jacket in his arms, with a red scarf. When I looked at Jasper, I noticed his jacket matched Alice's perfectly.
Oh. My. God. They all looked like damn models. Every damn one of them, with their outfits, killer good looks, and their ability to match.
"Where's Rose?" I asked nervously. Emmett smiled at me and wiggled his eyebrows.
"She's in the kitchen with Dr. and Mrs. Cullen." My stomach plummeted. I turned to Alice and gave her my best glare.
"You didn't tell me I was going to meet your parents!" I rejected the thought of my outfit, and remembering how confident I felt staring at myself in the mirror at home. I thought I looked good, hell even hot. But now I was just going to be the girl who is trying to seduce their son.
"Sorry," Alice smiled, knowing I'd already forgive her, "they were supposed to be out of town until tomorrow. But they came back early. If it makes you feel any better, they won't be here when we get back. They're heading to Seattle for the night. There's a play tomorrow or something." I didn't have time to respond, and Rose walked in the room followed by two gorgeous older people. I shouldn't even say older- they looked like they were in their later twenties.
My eyes fell on who I assumed to be Dr. Cullen. I saw right away where Alice and Edward got their eyes from. Dr. Cullen's gaze pierced into mine, friendly and inviting. The golden color looked like it was dancing from across the room, and I wondered what he was thinking about the tramp that had just walked through his door. He stood about as tall as Edward, blonde hair and a pale color to his skin. Of course he's pale, I mused. He's indoors all day long in surgeries, saving people's lives.
Mrs. Cullen was equally as beautiful, with bronze hair like Edward's. I had to fight the urge to reach out and see if it felt the same. Her eyes were a light green color, kind and gentle. Her smile seemed to draw me in, and I found myself smiling at them despite the unease in my stomach.
"You must be Bella!" Mrs. Cullen exclaimed. I felt my smile grow wider, and I nodded.
"Hi, it's so nice to meet you. I'm sorry I'm not more prepared for this, I was caught off guard." I glanced at Alice pointedly, but she just waved me off.
"Don't listen to her," Alice smiled.
"Bella, please, call me Esme." I paused and smiled again. It would be weird, but if that's what she wanted... I turned to Dr. Cullen and smiled wider. He intimidated me- I wouldn't lie about that.
"Dr. Cullen, it's a pleasure. My father talked about you even before I moved here." His cheeks darkened slightly and I laughed.
"Please, it's Carlisle. Now I know what has Edward so worked up!" Everyone laughed, and my blush darkened to match Carlisle's. And then I saw Rose. My mouth hung open, and I could feel my eyes widen.
She was in black jeans, a red sweater, and red boots. The amount of red that emanated from her made even me want to drool. I turned to Alice and lowered my voice.
"I look like hell, Alice, compared to all of you." Alice just shook her head and leaned forward.
"You clearly don't see yourself dear. You're fucking hot!" I blushed, and then realized someone was missing.
"Where's Edward?" I asked.
"EDWARD!" Emmett's voice shouted through the house, and everyone jumped, including Dr. and Mrs. Cullen.
"Jesus Christ." I heard his voice as he came down the stairs, and I felt my heart stop. There, descending into what I was labeling 'Bella's Heaven', was the most gorgeous man I had ever seen. Kaiden had nothing on him. No celebrity in the world had anything on him.
Edward was wearing black jeans, with a dark green shirt on. He held a white coat over his arms, and every strand of that beautiful hair, was hanging in just the right direction. Clearly an art he had mastered throughout his life.
"I can't even get a minute to shower after work! Damn Em, I can hear you even if you don't shout." Edward hit that bottom step and looked up, eyes landing on me. He froze. Alice squealed. Slowly, Edward's eyes drifted from my face, to my chest and waist, to my toes, and back. The room was completely silent, and I swore everyone could see the look in Edward's eyes—desire.
"Bella, wow… you look fantastic." His words brought my confidence back, and I suddenly didn't care what everyone else was wearing. But it did click in my head that everyone seemed to match… especially the splashes of color that each couple had in common. That was the point of the green eye shadow, I realized. It matches Edward's shirt perfectly.
"We all match," I muttered with a laugh. Alice heard me though, and she joined in. No one heard my remark and looked curious, but we just waved them off.
"You look great, too, Edward," I blushed. And then it was like prom night. Esme pulled out a camera and made everyone pose for her. I did it graciously, happy to feel Edward's arms around me as we stood as still as possible. We did this for almost twenty minutes, one couple at a time, and then group photos. Emmett poked Edward in the side at one point, and they whispered to one another. I looked up just in time to see Edward grin and nod. He pointed at Jasper and then trotted over to say something to his mother. The look on Esme's face should have made me feel relief, but the looks the guys were sharing terrified me.
"Um, Alice…" I didn't get the chance to finish. Esme held up the camera and said 'NOW!' and just like that all the guys lifted the girls in the air. I screamed when I felt Edward lift me, and I felt my legs curl in a protective position. Alice and Rose were laughing and the camera was going off. Several times. When we were all set back to the ground, we were laughing. I looked at Edward, and he was grinning. I loved his smile, I loved every inch of his face.
"Sorry!" he laughed. We took our turns looking through the camera and what Esme had captured, and I felt silly. I knew they'd never done something like this before, but then again from what Alice had told me, Edward was usually the odd man out when it came to this stuff before. So there had never been a date night involving the whole group. This was like prom to them in some way. There were several pictures I saw that had Edward looking down at me, a pleased look on his face. But my favorites were definitely the group pictures, in all our matching glory.
"Can I get a copy of these?" I asked Esme quietly. The look she gave me was very understanding, and she smiled.
"Of course Bella. Absolutely." I thanked her, feeling my heart tug. She was a wonderful woman, and clearly wanted her children to have fun.
"Let's go guys! We have a busy night ahead of us!" Alice was going to be the night planner it seemed, and for some reason, I was okay with that. We left the house after saying good night to Edward and Alice's parents, and approached the cars.
"So your car leaves the garage?" I joked with Alice. She laughed and nodded.
"I was thinking about bringing it tonight, but there's no reason to bring three cars with us. Waste of gas." She was right. Without having to express my concern, Alice pointed everyone to their designated cars.
"Edward and Bella, you drive in Bella's car. It's your first date, so you deserve to be alone." I loved her. Edward's hand pressed against my back and he smiled.
"The rest of us are going to ride in Edward's car, there's plenty of room. Jasper is driving." Poor Jasper. He just rolled his eyes and laughed.
"You follow me?" Jasper said to me. I nodded, hoping he didn't drive like a maniac. I nervously held my keys and walked to the car, staring as Edward approached the passenger side.
"This is a little backwards," I mused. Edward raised an eyebrow, climbing into the seat. I fastened my seatbelt and watched as he did the same.
"How so?" he asked. I started the engine, feeling the comfort of the familiar sound.
"The girls aren't supposed to drive on the first date," I laughed. Edward smiled and reached for the radio, pausing for a moment.
"Wait, is it okay if I put something on? I know a lot of people are iffy about their stations." I didn't care either way, so I let him fiddle with the stations.
"Ahhh," he smiled when he settled.
It's a quarter after one
I'm all alone and I need you now
Said I wouldn't call
But I lost control and I need you now
And I don't know how I can do without
I just need you now
I smiled at the familiar song, and I glanced at Edward as he mouthed the words. Jasper was leading the way on the road, and I was glad that I didn't have to pay attention to the direction I was going. The other car would be my guide, and I would allow myself to get lost in Edward for now.
"So, happy first date," I said. Edward reached out and brushed his fingers along my hand. I had to hold back a moan, because just the slightest touch from him made me want to pull the car over and treat him how he did me in his house. Like a prisoner to my charm.
"You have no idea how excited I am about this," Edward said, turning his body so that he was watching me drive. I let myself shift through the gears easily, not wanting the ride to be rough.
"I have a pretty good idea," I said, glancing over. I let Edward steer the conversation to Phoenix and my old school. I had no problem telling him about my friends and how I missed the heat. I would never get used to the amount of layers I had to wear just to be comfortable in this state.
"I remember how cold it used to get in Chicago," Edward said. "There's a picture of me when I was eleven, standing in the snow with Alice and my dad. I swear it was about three feet of snow, and I was wearing shorts and a t-shirt." I laughed, picturing the image in my head.
"I don't remember it being that cold though," he continued. "I think it's so unbearable here though because of how wet it is." I nodded, understanding him completely.
"So where do you plan on going to school after you graduate? Someplace dry and warm?" I asked. Edward seemed thoughtful, and I had the impression he wasn't going to answer.
"Wherever Alice goes," he finally answered. I took my eyes away from the road for a second and stared at Edward.
"That's broad, what if she ends up going to Alaska or something?" Edward gave me a small smile, and I wondered what was going through his mind.
"I know, it's the first thing people think of when I tell them. No one but Alice and I seem to understand."
"Maybe I'll understand?" I countered. We were getting closer to Port Angeles, and Jasper was driving slightly faster. Maybe he had just been testing out how fast I was willing to go. Looking down, I saw that I was already going fifteen over the speed limit. Oh, who cared? I pressed my foot on the gas just a little more.
"Well, Alice is my sister," Edward said, motioning to the car in front of us. "She is my best friend, and we belong together. So we sat down a long time ago and started talking about what we were going to do when we got older. I promised her that no matter where she goes, I will follow." Edward laughed and pointed to his car.
"You want to hear a theory?" I nodded. "I think Jasper gave her the same promise. That's why that small bundle of joy has both him and I wrapped around her finger. We'd do anything for her." The love I heard in his voice made me smile. Such a gentleman, such a wonderful soul.
"You are perfect," I said out loud. When Edward turned to me with a smile, I clamped my mouth shut and aimed my eyes to the road. I cannot believe I just said that out loud. But Edward reached over and ran his finger along my hand again, not stopping at the wrist. Instead, he continued up arm, rubbing tiny circles in the crease of my elbow. I wanted badly to close my eyes and concentrate on the feeling of his finger on me. But I stared at the bumper of the silver Volvo, memorizing his license plate and the two scratches that were on the bottom left bumper. I would have to tell him to get those fixed.
Edward's hand moved from my arm to my leg, caressing my knee with care. I felt a chill go through me, and wanted badly to turn the heat up.
"Edward," I sighed. His fingers curled around my thigh, and I swore I could hear him growl. "Is the replay of earlier this week going to happen in the car? Or in a dark alley like it's supposed to after a first date?" Edward laughed and I felt his fingers slide away. That was what I wanted, because I knew I couldn't deny his hands much longer. Just seeing how good he looked tonight made me want to pull the car over and lose the others. Who said we couldn't have our first date in the middle of the woods in the front seat of my car?
I watched as Jasper turned off the next exit, bringing us to the heart of Port Charles. It didn't take long for us to park in a parking garage and start walking to the restaurant. I was thrilled when Edward wrapped his arm around my shoulder, bringing me close to his side. Each couple seemed to follow suit, and soon we were walking like we belonged on the cover of a magazine.
I felt confident, I felt sure of myself, and I felt pretty. I wasn't sure if it was the way Alice had me dress, or if it was the company I was keeping. But being touched by such a gorgeous man and treated as if I were his, made me want to walk with my head held high. I saw from the corner of my eye when people would take a second glance at us, and some people I recognized from school were even gawking. That's right people, watch and weep.
I wasn't sure what got into me as we approached the restaurant, but I felt good about myself.
"You look fantastic," Edward whispered into my ear. I could feel his lips on my flesh, and I wished he wouldn't fuel my fire. We walked through the doors of a fairly fancy place, and I noted the name of the establishment. J'Adore. My heart fluttered.
"If I have to eat snails, I'll leave," I whispered back. Edward laughed and Emmett approached the hostess stand.
"Yes, we have a reservation for six. Under Cullen." The woman was small and mousey, brown eyes staring at Emmett as if she had just run into a bear. I looked at him closer, seeing how intimidating he could actually be, even if he didn't mean to be.
"Yes sir, one moment and I will make sure your table is ready." Emmett turned to us and grinned.
"Guys I feel so out of place here!" he laughed. We all joined in, except for Alice.
"This place had fantastic reviews!" she said defensively. "And next time you can just pick the place yourself if you don't like it." Next time. I smiled. Jasper held Alice close, trying to comfort her. I wasn't going to complain about anything, I had promised that to myself. I would be absolutely perfect tonight.
"If you'll please come with me," the hostess returned. Edward tightened his grip on me and we followed through the archway into the dining area. I gasped and almost stopped walking. The restaurant was magnificent. All the walls were a cream color, and each table was covered with black tablecloths. Each and every table had candles strewn over the surface, matching the candles that were mounted on the walls. Ivy leaves were growing everywhere, and I felt like I was in a garden. It was absolutely breathtaking.
"Wow…" Edward let out a small laugh and led me to the large table in the corner of the dining room. I was still in awe as I watched each of the guys pull out the chairs for us girls. I smiled when Edward did this for me and squeezed his hand when he sat down. I was in heaven. Quickly I glanced around and saw that all the tables were somewhat secluded, to give everyone the feel of being alone. And each couple that was in the restaurant was indeed looking at each other like they were alone.
"So are you guys still going to complain?" Alice said in a cocky voice. We all shook our heads, and I noticed that Rose was looking around like I was. This didn't make me feel as out of place. Water was delivered, as well as tea and soft drinks for everyone. I stared at the menu though, and saw that most of it was in French.
"Well, I hope you are all psychic, because this is in French," I laughed. But each and every one of them stared at me and smiled.
"You all speak French, don't you?" I asked, no humor evident in my voice.
"Oui," Edward whispered. I rolled my eyes and accepted the help Edward offered to read the appetizers and entrees. By the time the waiter returned to take our orders, Edward had helped me decide on a steak and a type of keish side. My stomach was still jumping through hoops to settle down, and I wasn't sure if I was even hungry. But I sure wouldn't be the weird person sitting out of a dinner that everyone, including myself, was clearly enjoying.
"This is great guys," Rose was beaming. "I'm so glad we can all come out together!" Edward laughed and rubbed his hand along my arm.
"Sorry I had to be the depressing odd man out before. I didn't mean to hold you all back from a group date!" We all laughed and started discussing school and Rose brought up the situation her father and mother put her in.
"You seem to be doing well," Alice said, brushing the other girls hand with her own. I nodded in agreement.
"You're doing a lot better than I did when my parents split and fought over me," I commented. I felt instantly uncomfortable because every head turned to me. But I forged on. "I mean, I know I don't know you that well, but if you're having intense problems with this, you're putting up a fantastic front!" Rose nodded and smiled at me.
"I don't think I would mind the sharing of equal time thing," Rose explained, looking directly at me. "It's just that they seem to be using me as a pawn in their little games, trying to get at each other." I nodded. I knew what she meant.
"Let me guess, always asking if the other one is hanging out with anyone new, or if they're dating? And then throwing in bargaining chips, like new clothes and even a new car trying to get you to like them more." Edward's eyes were wide as he looked at Rose, and I felt a sudden connection to the blonde haired girl I had yet to bond with.
"Yes! You know exactly what I'm talking about! What the hell do I do?" I paused for a moment as our food was brought to the table, politely thanking the waiter. The food looked divine, and I was suddenly famished.
"You ignore them," I offered my advice to Rose after the strangers were gone.
"What?" Rose clearly didn't understand me, and I laughed, cutting into my steak.
"Ignore the hell out of them," I repeated. "When you're mom hands you her credit card and tells you to buy yourself something nice for the weekend, tell her no. Because you know once you buy something and you come home with it, she's going to slip in that fatal question. 'So, is your father going out tonight?' Because if you accept the gift, you'll feel obligated to go along with the whole puppeteer thing." I was suddenly the center of attention, and I forced myself to only look at Rose.
"And when your father throws you the keys to his Mercedes, and tells you to 'have fun', say no. Tell him you already have a ride. Hell if it comes down to it, I'll pick you up and drop you off if Emmett can't. Because once they both realize you aren't accepting the gifts, they'll know it won't work anymore. Then maybe when they give you a gift, they'll mean it and it won't be a ploy to get at the other." Silence. I had been on a roll, reliving the moments I spent with both Renee and Charlie, going back and forth between the two and the questions and the interrogations about the other person's relationships. I had grown tired of it, and had put together my little plan. It had worked.
"Damn," Emmett whispered. They were all staring at me like I was a genius. I realized I didn't offer that many facts about myself, and I had just spoken about my own parents battles in the past. It was okay, I realized, I was okay with sharing this information with them. No one ate, and no one moved. They were all just staring at me.
"Thank you," Rose whispered. "I'll do it." I smiled at her and chewed on a piece of steak. Edward's hand came under the table and squeezed my knee. I glanced at him and he winked.
"So, Bella," Rose said, "Alice tells me you're going to start working at their office?" Rose was staring at me as if I were a shiny new toy. I wanted to laugh, but she just seemed so interested in what I had to say now, and I loved it.
"Yeah, I went yesterday and I met the doctor. I was thrown under the bus about it all," I looked pointedly at the pixie haired girl, "but I start tomorrow. Training and then work starting on Monday." Jasper grinned and set his chin on top of Alice's head.
"You're going to love it there. Trust me, Alice doesn't like to work," Jasper dodged a small punch from his girlfriend, "but she loves it there. And it'll look good on your resume." I nodded, smiling.
"And she gets to grope Eddie in the examination chair." I choked on Emmett's words, having to drink water quickly. Everyone was laughing, but I was bright red for sure. I would love to do things to Edward in those back rooms at the office. Dare we approach that area again so soon?
The meal went by fairly quickly once the conversation was rolling. I felt so at ease, with questions thrown my way and our laughing, and Edward's hand on my knee. When the check came, Edward threw down the money for our meal, and I blushed as I watched the other guys do the same. Rose and Alice didn't flinch, and I realized they were probably used to this. Well, I would have to take Edward out sometime, on my dime.
"Movie time!" Alice's excitement was contagious, and we all left the restaurant in the same fashion we entered: one couple at a time. Edward's arm felt wonderful around my shoulder as we walked down the block to the movie theatre, and I leaned into his warmth.
"You're the best," Edward whispered. I looked up in confusion, and he smiled.
"I haven't had this much fun in a long time," he clarified. I nodded, burying my face in his neck. I was letting the direction of Edward's arm be the only reason I could make it to our destination.
"I'm having the best night." I was telling the truth. It'd been… so long since I'd been accepted into a group without drama. I was having a blast.
"Which movie does everyone want to see?" Alice called over the group. Emmett placed his elbow on top of Alice's head and we all watched in amusement as she fought to get him off.
"Either 'Paranormal Activity' or '2012'," Jasper spoke up. I rolled my eyes, not caring about either movie. But the majority vote came to 'Paranormal Activity', and we waited in line for the tickets. When it came to Edward and me, I tried to pay, but he stood directly in front of me and wouldn't let me pass to get to the woman selling the tickets. I just rolled my eyes and listened to Alice laugh at Edward's antics. As we all walked in the doors, Alice pulled me aside.
"Let him pay, Bella." I shook my head, ready to argue. But she silenced me with a look.
"It isn't a trip to McDonald's or something, you know?" Alice's words were very serious, and I could tell she was trying to get me to understand. "Edward doesn't go on dates. Ever. There hasn't been anyone he wanted to take out. He works a lot, and spends all his money on his car and puts the rest in his savings. Which honestly, isn't necessary because of our dad. Let him spend the money. It will make him feel good. He's watched Emmett and Jasper do it for a couple of years, and he's jealous. He wants to do that too." By the end of her small lecture, my face was tinged pink and my eyes were wide. I didn't realize…
"I didn't realize…" I said aloud, repeating my thought. Alice nodded, putting her arm around my waist and led me back to the group.
"Just let it happen," she leaned in to whisper. I smiled and joined Edward's side. We approached the concession stand and Edward smiled at me.
"What would you like?" Listen to Alice, listen to her and trust her advice. I smiled back at him and decided on popcorn and a drink. When Edward removed his wallet again, I stood back, smiling. His responding smile was dazzling. Alice was right.
Sitting in the theatre was difficult, because for some reason everyone wanted to sit together. We ended up in the very back of the theatre, sitting side by side.
"This is weird," I admitted to Edward. He was laughing.
"Ahh, you wanted the group date, remember? You ask and you shall receive. You get a group date. What made you think you would have me all to yourself this evening?" I felt a twinge of friskiness and leaned forward, pressing my lips to his ear.
"The evening isn't over until you close your eyes." A low moan escaped from his lips, letting me know he understood my hidden meaning. There was a metal and plastic arm rest in the chair between us, and I went to go move it, but before I could it was raised and tucked away. I looked at Edward's hands.
"How did you do that?" He hadn't moved an inch. But his eyes looked curious, and he cocked his head to the side.
"Do what?" I shook my head. I must be losing my mind. The lights dimmed then, and Edward set the popcorn in his lap. I smirked and pressed the right side of my body against his, and set the drink in the cup holder.
"Sure you want to be this close to me? We might do something bad," Edward whispered.
"Shh!" Alice said. I smiled and set my hand on his knee. That was how the movie played out. The film itself was horrible, and we all spent our time making sarcastic comments to the screen and running our hands along each other. I looked at my watch and realized that the movie would be ending soon. What was it even about? I held no interest to it, and completely blacked out. But it was nearing eleven, and I knew the movie would end.
And then it would be time for the race.
My heart was starting to pound again, and I knew Edward could hear or feel it, because he looked at me with a smile.
"What's wrong?" he whispered. I glanced over to the others, and saw that they were all kissing. I sighed and looked back to Edward's gorgeous eyes.
"I'm nervous," I answered.
"About?"
"The race," I admitted. Edward just laughed and drew unnecessary attention to the two of us.
"What's going on?" Rose's voice drifted over the loudness of the film, and Edward turned to look at her.
"Bella's nervous about racing me," he said. I leaned back and smacked him across the head. His hair felt wonderful sliding through my fingers, and everyone laughed.
"Shh!!" This time the demand was from someone near the front row, and Emmett rolled his eyes.
"Let's go, no one is watching this anyway," he said. So we all stood and followed Emmett out of the theatre. When we all reached the bottom step, Emmett turned around and shouted,
"The movie sucks anyway!" And we all ran. By the time we all reached the street, we were laughing, and I was hanging onto Edward's arm. The night was cool, and I shivered once before burying myself in my jacket and into the nook of Edward's arm.
"So where are you guys doing this?" Jasper spoke up. I tucked my face further into Edward's arm and refrained from rolling my eyes.
"Bella?" I shook my head. Peeking out, I mumbled the words they could all hear.
"Nope, you guys are supposed to figure out where and all the details. I'm not familiar with this place. Not my job." They all laughed, and I leaned further into Edward's embrace. I didn't want to race against him anymore. I wanted to spend hours covered with his arms and scent. His scent of peppermint and cologne. Wonderful, manly cologne. I laughed to myself.
"Bella?" I jumped and glanced at everyone. Was I making noises?
"Sorry, what?" Jasper just laughed though and repeated himself.
"I said, there's a neighborhood about five miles from here. More of a neighborhood under construction. Plenty of roads, but no traffic. We can go there." I nodded. That might be better than speeding through the public streets. I wasn't sure how they did things here, but I remembered very vividly my first race involved dodging oncoming cars, and running red lights.
"Let's go!" Alice's enthusiasm was again contagious, and everyone walked briskly back to the parking garage that held the two cars. My heart was pounding, and Emmett was talking loudly with Jasper, making new bets and thinking about the odds. Edward started butting in, so I released his grip and walked over to Alice and Rose.
"Guys, what if I lose?" There was no strong front now; I was nervous as hell.
"Bella, you'll do fine," Rose's hand was on my back, running small circles to soothe me. "And if for some reason you lose, challenge his ass for a rematch." I loved it. The two girls, their arms wrapped around me from both sides, were supporting me. Even though Alice technically bet against me.
"You might just lose five hundred bucks," I whispered to Alice, and her eyes popped open.
"Yes! That is the right attitude!" I was laughing at her as we approached the cars, and we split up like we had before. I pressed the button, unlocking the doors. As I went for the handle, I glanced over to yell for Jasper.
"I'll follow you, okay?" He nodded and I turned back to the car. Edward's fingers were reaching for the handle too, but the door popped open before either of us had touched it.
I froze.
Edward's fingers finally wrapped around the handle, and he pulled it open for me. I looked up at him in complete shock.
"How did you do that?" Edward gave me the same look he gave me in the movie theatre, only this time I saw a touch of panic beneath the pools of gold.
"Do what?" His voice was smooth as velvet, all too believing. I closed my eyes, laughing at myself. Was I tired? Didn't eat enough? No…
"Never mind. Thank you." I sat behind the wheel, throwing my bag into the backseat. When Edward climbed into his seat, I shoved the key in the ignition. It wasn't hard to follow Jasper through the streets to the neighborhood he had mentioned, and I wondered if my nerves were messing with my mind. But I tried to push everything aside as Edward's hand made its way back to my knee and started to rub. It felt so good.
I saw the neighborhood before we entered it, and Jasper was right. It was an entire community, under construction. Portable bathrooms were scattered, ugly and green, throughout the streets. Houses were half built, tarps lying over exposed drywall to keep it away from the rain. There were street lamps illuminating every corner, and I could see piles and piles of dirt everywhere.
"This is perfect," I muttered. And it was. I pulled into the entrance of the community behind Jasper, and pulled my car to a stop. It was mere seconds and we were all piling out onto the dusty road. I was glad for the lack of rain, and started to stare down the street, gazing and the turns ahead of me.
"Well guys," Jasper said to Edward and I. "Welcome to your race track."
Remember Read and review! The next chapter is obviously going to be the first race between Edward and Bella (I'm sorry did I just drop a hint? HMMM). I'm going to write it as fast as possible and get that to you ASAP. Thank you for reading! *AM*
D/C: The song lyrics are from Lady Antebellum- "Need you Now". Love the song. Love love love it. I do not own this song in anyway shape or form