A/N - Hey all! If any of you were wondering where the title came from, this chapter might clear some of the mystery up...much love!

Chapter Three: Stalker

BPOV

Signing up for volleyball as my daily activity was a terrible idea. It wasn't my fault, really – I was coerced by Alice and Rosalie. Somehow, I'd become fast friends with the most popular girls on campus, one of whom happened to fancy herself a diminutive matchmaker.

"Really, Bella, it's very obvious. I know who you like," she informed me in a sing-song voice, flitting to the center of our half of the sand court to send the volleyball over the net without distraction.

I blushed crimson, refusing to answer her. Still, I was flustered as the ball came back toward me, and I ducked out of the way, earning a faint glare from Rosalie, who took this kind of thing seriously. It was my impression that she was in competition with the strawberry-blonde on the other side of the net for the title of "hottest nerd." The other girl was more petite, but she had what I'd overheard some Jewfro-ed kid term "the rack of gold." She also had the advantage of being somewhat quiet, which lent her an air of hauteur and mystery. Her silence, when combined with her northern European looks, earned her the nickname "Spraken Ze Deutsch". I couldn't tell whether Rosalie was miffed or pleased that her own nickname happened to be "Leggy Blonde."

In any case, I smiled sheepishly back and shrugged my shoulders in apology. Even if Alice hadn't embarrassed me, the chances that I would have actually hit the ball were slim to none.

"I don't like anyone," I corrected Alice, once the volleyball was safely in Rosalie's manicured hands for the serve. She gave me a pointed look in recognition of my out-right lie. "Well, I like everyone, but not romantically," I amended.

She groaned quite audibly. I narrowed my eyes at her in warning; her theatrics were earning us stares from our other teammates. Just because Alice seemed to have some clairvoyant insight into my affections didn't mean I wanted anyone else privy to them.

I sidled over to her when the game stopped so that Spraken Ze Deutsch could take a drink from her water bottle. I noticed Rosalie crossing her arms and glaring at her competitor's ass as she bent to adjust her shoelace.

"Exactly who are you under the misapprehension that I like?" I hissed in Alice's ear.

"Oh, please!" she whispered back, far more excitedly "don't even give me that. You are so warm for Edward's form. Don't think I didn't catch you eye-fucking him back in class."

Busted.

I wasn't sure whether the heat in my face was from sun-exposure anymore, though to an outsider it would look like I was sporting one killer sunburn.

"Shhhh," I hissed, nudging her shin with my toe as I noticed play resume from the corner of my eye.

"Is that a confirmation?" she demanded, barely able to keep her eyes on the net as they kept flickering back to my face.

I glared straight ahead, accidentally staring at Lauren in the back row of the other team as I did so. She reciprocated with a withering look. Oops.

"It is, it is," Alice squealed, bouncing on her toes and kicking up little clouds of sand around our ankles as she performed a happy dance.

"Alice," Rosalie barked. The ball came for me again – the other team having finally spotted that I was the weak link – but Rosalie knew this time to step in. She dove within two inches of me and slammed the ball back into the air, impressing everyone within a fifty-foot radius. Sadly for her, the point never counted because the whistle blast signaled the end of activities before the ball hit the sand on the other side.

"Blonde ho," she grumbled after the nameless girl as the two teams dispersed.

"Don't hate on your own," Alice advised.

"Please," Rose scoffed. "That right there is not a true blonde. She's bottle variety if I ever saw one."

Alice cocked her head to the side in examination. "Salon, I should say. More polished than bottle."

Rosalie rolled her eyes. "Whatever."

Alice scrutinized me, next.

"What?" I asked, self conscious.

"Bella, have you ever dyed your hair pink?"

"What?" I repeated, choking over the word this time.

"I think it could be a good look for you. There's a box in my bag if you're curious…"

"That's okay," I assured her.

"Okay," she agreed, though she looked disappointed. She perked back up within seconds, looping one arm through mine and the other through Rosalie's before dragging us toward a crowd by the main office.

"What are you doing?" demanded Rosalie. She was never one to be dragged anywhere.

"Blammo," Alice said happily, and Rose's face lit up with understanding.

"Huh?" I asked, proving my intelligence in a word.

"Shut up and listen," Rosalie instructed, pointing to Jasper and Emmett, who were standing at the top of the steps and attempting to quiet the crowd.

Jasper looked like he was saying something, but we were so far back that we couldn't hear. Rosalie made eye contact with her boyfriend and gave him a little smile while cupping her hand to her ear.

"YO," Emmett boomed, and everyone quieted immediately. I had to hand it to her. While not the life of the party – that was Alice – Rosalie certainly had a way with people.

Jasper tried again. "Okay, people, this here is a game called Blammo. It runs from now until the end of camp, and you have a choice whether or not to participate. Here is the general concept. Emmett," he gestured, and Emmett came forward with a box of clear plastic spoons.

"You get a spoon. One spoon. You keep it with you at all times, carrying it in either your hand or your mouth. You will be given the name of a target – you must watch this person, and if they ever put their spoon down, you touch them with your spoon and say "BLAMMO!" Likewise, your name will be given to your stalker. Be vigilant; carry your spoon at all times."

"There are exceptions," interjected Emmett. "You may not Blammo someone in their bedroom, the bathroom, or in class, but you may Blammo them in any hallway, quad, cafeteria, etc. So, if you have to pee in the middle of the night, I suggest you remember to bring along your new plastic friend." He grinned.

"You will not know the identity of your stalker," Jasper said. "It could be anyone – your roommate, your RA, the site director. Vigilance, people. Any questions?"

An unimpressed-looking bespectacled boy in front spoke up, his Pink Floyd shirt sticking to his back with sweat. "What do we get if we win?"

"Glory." Emmett pumped his fist toward the sky.

Jasper checked his clipboard and ignored the other raised hands. "Alright, line up if you want to play – you will be assigned your target now, and the game begins at midnight."

Well, it was certainly like no game I'd ever played before, but it seemed easy enough. I didn't have to worry about any balls hitting me in the face, or tripping over nets…in fact, I could actually win.

I waited in line with the others until Jasper called me into the hall to receive my target.

"Bella…" he scanned down the list. "Oh, right. Your target is Edward."

To say I was startled was an understatement.

"Um. Okay. Thanks," I squeaked. He smiled at me in a way that was almost a smirk as I left. I wondered why it bothered me, and then I realized it was altogether too knowing.

"Who'd you get?" Alice demanded excitedly, bouncing slightly on the balls of her feet. It was something I noticed she often did.

"Edward," I whispered, blushing.

"Oh, yeah, duh," she said, looking disappointed.

"You idiot, you're not supposed to tell," Rosalie chided me. "If Edward has Alice and you get him out, she'll know you're after her."

I was still focused on Alice. "What do you mean, 'duh'?"

She examined her fingernails. "Well…I might have mentioned something to Jasper…"

SO. VERY. DEAD.

"Alice – "

"You can thank me later. Ooh, look, it's nearly time for dinner! We better get there first so the ice cream is still there. I was so pissed when I only had enough for four scoops of caramel swirl last night…"

By the time my sigh had whooshed up from my lungs, she had already flitted up the stairs.

Well, at least now I had a legitimate excuse to stalk Edward. Thanks, Alice.