Bella - 1
A/N: So, here it is again. Me with another story. Who is shocked? Okay so this story is a melding of minds between me and my prereaders. 2 Brown eyes, SassyNoles, Dawnbreaker8, and Bitter Harpy. Mel C is back betaing for me. This story will switch between Bella and Edward POV and the persons POV is in the chapter title. As always, if you want to be petty and leave a nasty guest review. Feel free, it'll disappear like it was never there. Off we go!
"Bella, wake up!" I was tackled by a short pixie and I let out a grunt.
It was the first day of classes and my roommate was up at the crack of dawn to get ready. I had just started college at University of Washington in Seattle. Alice was the dormmate I was given, and even though we had only known each other for a week, we got along really well. She was hyper and fun, but she could be bossy, like now when she was waking me up. After she was done assaulting me, I looked over at the alarm clock and saw that it was actually time to get up. We would have just enough time to grab breakfast before class if I got up and dressed quickly.
We had compared schedules on our first night, and we had some of our gen ed classes together, but she was an art major with a business minor and I was a lit major. We got dressed and I curled my hair as she did her makeup. I didn't really wear makeup unless I was going to a party or something. I just didn't see the point. I didn't really need to impress anyone because I already had a boyfriend, Garrett. We both went to U-Dub; it had been the number one choice school for the both of us. We had danced around each other for years, but it had never been the right time to get together. It wasn't until the middle of our senior year of high school when we became an official couple.
In my small little town, there was always a shortage of guys that I found attractive. They were all very clean cut, and I had always been drawn to something a little more edgy. In reality, not many high school guys had piercings and tattoos so I shouldn't have been surprised, but the vibe of my school was way too Stepford. It didn't help that we had all grown up together, went to the same schools as each other, our parents all knew each other, and as the daughter of the police chief—everyone knew me. I never wanted to be tied to Forks, except for through my father, so I wasn't looking to find a boyfriend that would just hold me back. When I agreed to give Garrett a shot, I figured we would date for a few months and then when we went to college, we would break up. His persistence wore me down in the end. Besides, it felt nice to be wanted, and he was attractive in his own right, even if he wasn't exactly my type.
Alice and I walked down to the cafeteria together, and I found Garrett waiting at a table, saving seats for us. Before I sat down, Garrett stood to give me a hug and a kiss on the cheek. He wasn't huge on PDA and had always been that way. He would hug me but rarely kissed me in public. I didn't get it, but I had to respect that, because he was attentive behind closed doors. I wanted more than that though. I wanted passion and fire. Being with Garrett was comfortable, but it wasn't exciting. He said hi to Alice as I settled in beside him. Alice and Garrett got along pretty well, but everyone always loved him so I wasn't surprised.
"So, are you guys going to the welcome back to school party they are having this weekend?" Alice asked.
"I don't know, Ali. The frat and sorority houses are throwing that. It just seems like an excuse to get wasted," I said.
"Well, we don't have to drink. There's dancing and mingling with our classmates," she countered.
"I think it sounds like fun, B. C'mon. You know you'll regret not going." Garrett nudged my shoulder with his.
I sighed and gave in. With these two tag teaming me, I had a feeling I was gonna end up doing a lot of things I usually didn't do. "All right. It might be fun."
Alice and I had our first two classes together, and then I had one class with Garrett tomorrow. Other than that, I was on my own. On Monday and Wednesday I had three classes, and on Tuesday and Thursday I had two, and then Friday I had a lab every other week. After lunch, I entered my last class of the day and I spotted a girl from my dorm. I sat next to her and we chatted conversationally until the class started to fill up.
"Oh, fuck me. Edward Cullen is in this class."
"Who's Ed—"
"Shhh," she hissed, cutting off my question. "He's a junior and totally gorgeous."
Even though I was a freshman, I took advanced and concurrent credit English classes in high school, so I was in a few higher level English classes here. I looked at the guy she was staring at, trying to be subtle about my checking him out. His eyes were the most beautiful color of green I had ever seen. I looked at the rest of his face and could agree that he was gorgeous. He had a strong jaw and his facial features looked like they were carved out of marble. He had bronze colored hair that was so disheveled, it looked like he had just had really good sex. His lips were perfectly shaped and looked soft, with a metal ring right in the middle of the bottom one. As I continued to assess him, I noticed another piercing, this one in his left eyebrow. He was tall and toned, with obvious muscle showing. A tattoo covered the top of his hand, but I couldn't make it out as it traveled up his forearm, which was hidden by the long sleeve of his hoodie.
I shook myself out of checking this guy out. You have a boyfriend, Bella. Get a grip, I chastised myself.
Luckily, I didn't have time to dwell on my momentary infatuation because the teacher called the class to attention. Hyper-aware of his presence in the row behind me as he went to take his seat, I trained my eyes to the front of the lecture hall, determined to push this hot stranger out of my mind. I wasn't here to check out guys; I wanted to learn. The teacher went over the books we'd be studying this semester before going to gather a stack of papers from the table. After the teacher handed out the syllabus, I paid attention and was swept away in the lesson.
When class was over, I met Alice in the student union building. We had waited until classes started to get our textbooks because we knew sometimes teachers changed stuff on the syllabus. Once we had gotten the books for our shared classes, we split up. I was walking through the Literature section and managed to find a ton of my books quickly, leaving me with just one more book I needed. Scanning the shelves, I saw that it was up higher and slightly out of my reach. I stood on my tiptoes and tried to grab the book but my ankle rolled and I fell. I landed on a guy that was crouched down, trying to read something on the bottom shelf. My momentum and his unsuspecting position caused us both to topple over. I ended up hitting my head on the shelf and elbowing him in the process.
"Are you fucking kidding me? Can't you watch where you're going?" We both regained our composure and sat up, looking at each other. I stared right into his eyes, and I was met with that crazy green color from earlier this afternoon. The guy from English class. Edward Cullen. Neither of us made a move to get up off the floor, and we simply sat there, checking each other out. Suddenly, his eyes softened, a startling smile pulling the corner of his lips up, and he got a cocky look on his face.
"You're in my English class." I blurted out the first thing in my head to break the awkward silence.
"Really, you just fucking fell on me and you want to make conversation?" he said incredulously.
I blushed—it was a hazard of my fair complexion and he was being a jerk. "You don't have to be so rude. It was an accident."
The cocky smirk reappeared on his face. "Hey, you ran into me, doll." He sucked his lip ring into his mouth. We both stood up and wearily looked at each other.
"I'm not your doll." I grabbed a step stool so I could retrieve the book I had originally intended to get.
"Believe me, most women would love to be called doll by me. Plus, I don't know your name." He looked up at me on the step stool and his eyes followed me as I descended.
I barely looked at him as I told him. "It's Bella."
"Edward," he told me, shrugging, hands in his pocket.
"I know. I just said we had a class together. The girl sitting next to me recognized you."
"Was she hot?"
I scoffed and just grabbed my stack of books, walking away from him. I heard his deep chuckle follow me. Once I got to the front of the store, I found Alice standing with Garrett. They saw me, and as I reached them, I was enveloped in Garrett's warm embrace. I may have been stewing about that asshole, but Garrett's hug calmed me. We got the rest of our school stuff and walked over to buy everything. Garrett was standing behind me and started tickling me, and I wriggled and laughed, trying to get away from him. As I turned around to stop him, I noticed Edward was standing behind us and the smile fell from my face. When we were leaving, I was surprised to see Edward lift his head to Garrett in greeting and Garrett returned the same gesture. Alice said she would see me back in the room, so I nodded and walked with Garrett.
"Do you know him?" I asked.
"Um yeah, he is in one of the fraternities I was looking into. You know my dad wants me to follow in his footsteps."
"Oh. Hopefully not all the members are like him."
"You know him?" His eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
"No, I have a class with him but never talked to him. Then I ran into him in the bookstore. Like literally ran into him, but he was a complete jerk about it." I huffed.
"He seemed friendly enough when I met him. I'm sorry if he was a jerk to you, B. You know how some of those frat guys can be."
I nodded and decided to drop it. I did know how they could be, and I also knew that they tended to stick together and were loyal to each other, whether they were right or wrong.
Later that night in our room, I told Alice about Edward and she said that she had heard about him a little bit around campus and he was pretty popular. Especially with women. Apparently, his parents were alumni and made numerous donations to the school. I rolled my eyes. Of course, he was the spoiled rich kid, because why not. I sighed and just hoped that what had happened in the bookstore hadn't put a target on my back.
The next day in my first class, I was sitting down while everyone filed in. I noticed the crazy bronze hair of Edward Cullen and watched him as he strutted into the room. When he got closer and was about to walk past me, I avoided his glance so he hopefully didn't see me. It was all for naught, and I silently cursed the universe when he sat right next to me.
"So, you're dating Garrett Denali?" he asked.
"Yep." I nodded, looking forward, refusing to engage with him.
He smiled and turned toward me. "You know he's thinking of pledging for the frat I'm in." His voice was smug, like I wouldn't know what my boyfriend was doing.
Again I nodded. "I do. We do actually talk and I listen."
"Novel idea. I'm not much for talking and listening. I have to wonder though—are you the type of girlfriend willing to do what it takes to help your boyfriend get ahead?" His eyes were narrowed, searching my expression and making me feel exposed, vulnerable.
"Like a bribe? I don't have any money."
"Money I have. No, something else. I do have a lot of pull."
"Well then, what do you want?"
"Come on, Bella, playing dumb is cute and all, but I thought you were above that," he said condescendingly. I just stared at him because I honestly had no idea what he was talking about. He chuckled. "You really are that innocent, aren't you?" He put his hand on my thigh and suddenly his meaning became crystal clear.
I looked down and saw the design on his hand was some sort of warped clock. I shook my head and pushed his hand off my thigh. "Are you kidding me? You're asking me to cheat on my boyfriend to help him? No. I doubt that you're lacking in female companions, so go screw one of them."
He smiled, smugness all over his face. "It's okay. I like a challenge."
"I'm not a challenge. I'm firmly in the category of not gonna happen. Does this whole sexed-up playboy thing really work for you?"
He smiled and leaned back in his seat. "Yeah, it does."
"Well I'm not impressed," I murmured. "So, just get us sleeping together out of your head right now."
"Sure, sweetheart."
"And stop calling me names like that. I barely even know you, and I'm not your sweetheart or your doll."
He just chuckled and shook his head. I rolled my eyes, so tired and exhausted by his smiling and laughing, like it was just all a big joke to him. I was happy when the teacher called the class to order and started his lecture.
When I looked over, I was completely surprised. Edward had a notebook out and was taking meticulous notes. I was as well, but Edward just had this rich kid, bad boy, skating-by-in-life vibe. I would never assume he actually cared about the knowledge he was supposed to be getting here.
This guy just confounded me more and more. I looked away and chastised myself for having any type of interest in him at all. I had a boyfriend. It didn't escape my notice that I had to keep reminding myself of this fact—I had a boyfriend—showing Edward was already fucking with my head. Which I'm sure was his objective. The minute the teacher excused us, I was up and out of my seat, heading for the exit. Garrett was waiting outside the door for me because our next class was together.
I melted into his side, his arm slung around my shoulders. Edward came out of the class before we were clear of the door and gave Garrett the same head tilt as the afternoon before, and to my absolute horror, he shot me a wink. That fucker. Garrett missed it, too busy taking my backpack for me. I glared at Edward as we walked away.
Later that day, Alice, Garrett, and I were in the cafeteria eating dinner. A couple people joined us, some friends Alice and Garrett had made. Most of Garrett's friends were hopeful pledges, but there was also a dude who was from Ireland. Liam had the accent and everything, and I couldn't understand why he was in Washington of all places. He seemed like a nice guy and I was just glad that Garrett would have a friend outside of the frat he wanted to join.
We were all talking and joking when a very large, very intimidating guy walked up to the table. He shot all the ladies, including me, a dimpled grin, which took away some of the intimidation. He had a boyish charm. "Ladies." He turned his attention to Garrett. "Edward wanted me to come fetch you. Come sit with us. He wants to talk to you."
"Hey, Emmett," Garrett said in greeting. "Right now?"
Emmett nodded and Garrett looked over to me. I smiled and nodded at him, knowing that even though I hated the asshole he was going to be dining with, Garrett didn't have beef with him and he needed to impress him.
Emmett chuckled. "Your girl will still be here when you get back, Gar. No one's gonna steal her away." He clapped Garrett on the back and looked back at me, giving me a wink. He led Garrett to a table on the other side of the room.
There were a couple of girls sitting over with Edward and the other guys, but I refused to think too much about that. When I turned back to my friends, the girls were tittering about how charming Emmett was while I rolled my eyes. Not giving too much input to the conversation around me, I finished my dinner. I bid farewell to Alice and all the people I had met then headed to my dorm room. Luckily the cafeteria was close to the dorms, so it was a quick walk. It wasn't dark outside yet, but there were very few people milling around. Being alone, I could only be happy that I knew Edward was busy with Garrett.
When I got inside our room, I lay down, rereading the pages we were assigned for tomorrow. I had read them twice already, but I was an overachiever and I needed something to distract myself from the fact that my boyfriend was making nice with the guy who seemed intent on being an ass to me.
There was a loud knock on my door halfway through my reading. When I opened the door, I was surprised to see Garrett there. "Well that was quick." I pulled him into a hug, and once we were in the room, he kissed me on my lips. His kiss lingered and his hands settled on my hips, pulling me toward him. I had to push away when things started to heat up. Garrett and I hadn't had sex yet, but every day, my resolve was starting to crumble. I wasn't saving my virginity for virtue's sake; I just wanted it to be good. I had heard horror stories growing up, and being with a guy who could barely kiss me in public or set my blood on fire when he kissed me, I had my reservations about sleeping with him. But I also was eighteen and getting tired of being a virgin. Garrett and I may not be long-term but what college relationship was, so it might make sense to just get it over with.
"Bell, it's been almost an hour." He looked at me with a questioning look, but he should know that sometimes I lost myself in schoolwork.
I sat back on my bed and grabbed the book, waving it at him. "Oh. I was reading. Must have lost track of time. I'm amazed you lasted that long with them."
"What do you mean?" He leaned back against my desk, legs and arms crossed. He had that searching look again and I didn't want to get into this with him
"Nothing. Nevermind." I tried to give him my most convincing smile. "I'm glad that you guys are getting along so well."
Apparently it wasn't convincing enough because he just shook his head. "I don't get why you have it out for the guy. He's been really welcoming."
"I have it out for him?!" I jumped off the bed and gestured wildly. I was so keyed up, so I started pacing. "Oh, I don't think so. He has it out for me, Garrett. Ever since I accidentally fell on him in the bookstore."
Garrett smiled softly. To most it would seem sweet, but to me, I saw it as patronizing. "He told me about that. You gotta see it from his perspective, baby."
I shook my head. Garrett knew I hated it when he called me that. Although he had his stupid PDA rule, he wanted to call me pet names, and I refused. Garrett was very much concerned about what his public persona was; behind closed doors he was very different. He was condescending and patronizing when he lost his temper, and he lost it when I refused to submit and be a "good girl." I wasn't that type of girl—I was kind and sweet and polite, but I didn't like dealing with men thinking they could force me to just be quiet and look pretty. I wasn't raised that way.
I continued to pace. "Don't call me baby. I'm not a child and you don't need to be so condescending. You don't know your new best friend as well as you think you do, and I can't believe you are on his side. Did he tell you that he propositioned me for sex, to help you get in his good graces?"
Garrett's head snapped up at those words. Well I had his attention now. "He what?"
"He asked if I was the type of girlfriend to help her boyfriend get ahead. Then he touched my thigh. I got his meaning real quick and told him it would never happen."
Garrett looked at me, studying me. "No, I think you misunderstood because if you were concerned, you would have told me when it happened." He pushed off the desk and walked closer to me.
Now I was pissed because this was just one of the reasons why I didn't want to tell him. "This right here is why I handled it on my own, Gar. You so badly want to believe that people are good, and I get it because so do I, but this guy is playing you. I didn't want to hurt your chances, but now that you seem to think he's some sort of a saint, I thought I should tell you."
Garrett nodded and pulled me into his arms. I closed my eyes and burrowed my head in his chest. I hated fighting with him because he always assumed he was right, and it was just exhausting trying to keep from really telling him how I felt about his whole college plan. It was his parents' dream, not his, and I honestly didn't think he had the skills to achieve their goal. So, I could already see that his budding friendship with Edward was going to cause more fights between us. Maybe I could try to find out why Edward disliked me so much, and I could attempt to mend fences with him. It would definitely help Garrett, and it would be better for our relationship if we didn't fight over the asshole.
"Just tell me if he tries anything more with you. I need to know, Bells." His voice was soft, and maybe a little concerned.
I pulled away from him, nodding and sighing. I had a feeling that another disagreement or fight would happen again if I couldn't fix this with Edward. He said he liked a challenge, so maybe if I was extra nice to him, then he would get bored. It couldn't hurt to try, right?
A/N: So, how do we feel? Isn't Edward just so charming (it's sarcasm.) How do we feel? Let me know and leave a review! Later lovelies.