.
I could still feel the touch of his lips the next morning. And then I couldn't help but imagine that sensation on my lips.
The ringing of my cell phone startled me. Who called this early in the morning? Who even was awake this early? I was rarely awake this early – only if I couldn't sleep.
"Oh my god Bella! Oh my god!" Angela's voice shrieked into my ear.
"Oh my god Ange what?" I mumbled.
"He did an interview! Well more like he was mentioned in an interview but still!"
"Wait, what're you talking about?"
"Eddie Masen - who else would I be calling you about this early?"
"I don't know Ben maybe?" I heard her huff away from the phone.
"He hasn't asked me to the stupid dance..."
"Well you should ask him. It's the 21st century - girls can do what guys can right, and I bet he'll be flattered."
"I don't know... maybe."
"Just think about. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Or try in a few hours, Bella," she laughed.
I closed my cell phone and flopped back down onto my bed and tried my best to snuggle back into sleep... Except now I was too darn curious about that interview.
I jumped out of bed and started up the computer.
I only had to google Eddie Masen to find the article Angela was talking about, which meant that Angela was up at five in the morning web surfing for any news about Eddie Masen. But she wasn't the only one excited about it. Quite a few entertainment sites had the article Angela was talking about. It was an interview with Bustin Jeiber and how Eddie Masen had contacted him, telling him to stay true to himself and to not let anybody change him and force him to do anything that made him uncomfortable.
Which was probably exactly what happened to Eddie Masen…
I'd seen all of Eddie Masen videos on youtube a hundred plus times – except the one. I'd only seen that one a few times. It was heartbreaking enough that it made me cringe, but it was also kinda amazing.
Just one more time, and I'd stop thinking so much about Eddie Masen.
I watched it in pieces…. He sat on a stool with his guitar and started singing one of my favorites. He frowned, looking offstage as his voice repeated "love" over and over. He stood up and grabbed the microphone and belted out the rest of the song without music. By the end, he was crying.
And that was it of Eddie Masen. He didn't perform for the rest of the show or ever again. Apparently his team wanted him to lip sync because of possible vocal cord damage, and they didn't want to cancel his performance.
It was ridiculous. Ten year olds should not have vocal cord damage – kids were made for screaming. Angela was always saying that. But then the press questioned the authenticity of all of his other performances and concerts, and he wasn't nominated for any Grammy's like everyone thought he would be. His career was over.
…
"Are you okay?" Edward whispered as I propped my head up on the lab table.
"I'm fine," I mumbled back. I should have gone back to sleep this morning. I was starving by lunch time, and now I needed a nap.
"Do you need some chocolate?"
What? I frowned, turning my head toward him. Had I heard him right?
He pulled out a Hershey's Miniature from his pocket and placed it near my elbow.
"Thank you," I mouthed, unwrapping it to find it slightly melted.
"Welcome," he mouthed back with a grin.
Apparently I did need some chocolate because I did perk up a little bit. But not enough to prepare me for Alice. She found me in the hall after school and bounced as she spoke.
"So we'll pick you up tomorrow at eight, okay?"
"Isn't that kinda late?"
"That's what I thought! But Rosalie doesn't want to get up too early, and plus the stores don't open until nine anyways and it takes an hour to get there so yeah…"
"Oh… okay," I nodded dumbly. She meant eight AM. "See you at eight."
"Great! Bye!" she skipped off, and I kept thinking about what I had gotten myself into.
…
Rosalie was scary.
She hadn't said one word. At all. Not out loud to herself. To Alice. To God. No way she'd utter a word to me.
But it was kinda hard to tell because Alice talked nonstop - literally there was constant noise coming out of her mouth whether it was talking, singing, or humming. She talked so much, she even for talked me and Rosalie, answering her own questions, like if she already knew. She got mine right anyways. I'm not sure about Rosalie though... I wondered what her voice sounded like. I bet she was a squeaker with a super squeaky high pitched voice. Guys were supposed to be attracted to that - at least according to Yahoo!.
"Bella? Bella, are you listening?"
"No sorry," I blushed. I didn't want to seem rude.
"Well anyways... I'm looking for a very specific shade of blue."
"Kind of like cerulean, but I'm not sure if that's the right shade or if I just like that word."
We walked the entire length of the mall three times before Alice settled on a store, but I found that I kinda liked looking at dresses. Some were really pretty, and then some others were a little ridiculous. And it was really entertaining as Alice gave commentary through it all.
"Oh, I think this is it! Here try it on." Alice bounced up and down before laying it over my shoulder.
"What? Why?"
"To see how it looks." I didn't get it.
"Shouldn't you try it on? We're not exactly the same size."
"Please try it on? You'll see," Alice gave me a pouty look, and I couldn't say no.
Even I could admit that the dress was amazing, and I wasn't really into fashion. But the dress was so pretty it made me pretty. Shiny purple, sleeveless with a kinda poofy skirt that went to my knees.
"This would look pretty on you Alice," I looked at her through the mirror.
"No, plum's not really my color. I'm more of a canary yellow, you know? But it's perfect on you. Hurry and change, so we can ring it up and look for shoes."
"Oh I didn't I bring enough money to buy a dress." I definitely didn't bring enough. I saw the price tag in the dressing room and made sure I was very careful putting it on.
"I have enough," she waved me off.
What? I looked from her to Rosalie. "I can't let you buy this for me."
"It's a gift." No, Edward's piece of chocolate was a gift.
"Alice, it's 80 dollars. That's too much."
"Belllla, its only eighty-"
"No, no. I... you can't," I stammered. I'd never thought myself as a prideful person, but someone buying me something for no reason? It didn't feel like a gift. It felt like charity.
"Alice," Rosalie finally spoke with a hair flip.
"Fine," Alice pouted, shoving the dress she was holding onto a rack. "Can we at least have Chinese?"
"It's a food court, you can have whatever you want," she soothed her sister.
I couldn't help but feel guilty for the rest of the trip. Then I realized that they were going to tell Edward how terrible today was and how I freaked out about a dress...
At least then maybe I wouldn't have to worry about going to the dance anymore...
I tried to placate Alice by getting sweet and sour chicken at the food court, but it was hard to tell if she was still upset. She kept talking and Rosalie not talking, which I took as a good sign.
I tried my best to keep up with conversation but my phone chirped and vibrated in my pocket.
Edward flashed on the screen.
How did... Did Jessica have his number? Did she put it in my phone? No I would have noticed it before... How did he even have my number?
Youre with my sisters? (E)
I looked up at Alice and Rosalie, wondering if it would be rude to text him back. But that answer was obvious as Alice chatted away to Rosalie as their thumbs worked over their phones.
Yes howd you get my number? (B)
Did they kidnap you or did you willingly go with them! (E)
Whats your definition of willingly? (B)
I grinned proud of myself as I sent my latest text message. That's when I noticed it was too quiet - both of them were watching me. They were frowning at my little phone, probably wondering how I could manage without a large screen or a full keyboard.
Our bubble of silence ended when Rosalie made a face at her ringing phone. She tried to hand it off to Alice but even she grimaced and scooted her chair over.
"Yeeeees," she finally sighed, answering it. "I-"
She rolled her eyes, pulling the phone away from her ear and ending the call.
Alice's phone rang a second later.
"I don't want to answer it," she looked at her sister.
"He's going to have an aneurysm."
"He's no fun," Alice pouted before answering. "Hello? …Stop conipt shitting."
That was definitely not the right phrase.
"That is how it goes because that's exactly what you're doing, Edward!"
I gaped, realizing he'd called them. I hadn't been complaining - not really. I didn't mean to come off that way. I needed to explain - it was supposed to be a joke - more at myself. I definitely came willingly, but I felt compelled to say yes to Alice.
And that's exactly what I told them as soon as Rosalie reached over and took Alice's phone in mid sentence. She ended the called and silenced both their phones and even mine.
"Don't worry. Edward likes to overreact especially if it's about his stuff," Rosalie rolled her eyes again.
"Or the girl he likes," Alice giggled.
Wait a minute...
"He's never really liked a girl before. We're all having way too much fun over it. Even Esme and Carlisle get into it."
Waaaaait...
"I do like to see him squirm," Rosalie smirked.
Edward liked me. Like-liked, really liked me... Geez Bella, he asked you the dance, durrr.
"Oh..."
"He did ask you to the dance, right?" Alice asked, noticing my expression.
"Yes, he did," I nodded quickly not wanting to get him in even more trouble. "It's just I didn't realize he… liked me." I blushed.
"Oh jeez," Rosalie mumbled, pulling out her phone again.
"Well, you like him too, don't you?" Alice stopped eating.
"Yes," I smiled, not really caring about how red my face was.
"Good," she nodded before starting another one-sided conversation.
…
On the way home, I checked my phone and found four missed calls. One from Angela and the other three from Edward. I decided I would call Angela first when I got home, and… I should definitely call Edward back. I mean he called three times…
I flinched when my phone chirped in my hands.
Im sorry if you had a terrible time. (E)
No really, it was fun (B)
Thinking back on it, I guess I did have fun. Alice and Rosalie were funny and nice enough. The only low point was when Alice tried to buy me that dress and I almost had an irrational breakdown.
Well apparently you passed some sort of test (E)
Which scares me cus I have no idea what that means (E)
I didn't either.
I had changed my mind by the time they dropped me off at home. I was going to call Edward first… if I just could get enough courage.
But I didn't get the chance because my phone chirped again.
Well Im sorry for everything. Ill see you monday (E)
Disappointment swelled in me. I guess he wouldn't want me to call me now, would he?
I plopped down on my bed and reluctantly dialed Angela's number.
"Bella! Omg! Guess what?"
"Wh-"
"Ben said yes! He totally said yes like right away. You were so right. I so owe you!"
"That's great Ange…"
"Hey, are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm just tired."
"Oh well, I'll let you go then. Talk to ya later?"
"Yeah, bye." I closed my phone and slid it under my pillow.
I should just call him.
And I will. Just after I take a nap.
AN: so we know now... right?
I hate when I write out of order. For example, I wrote the important pieces for this story first, and now I'm trying to connect the pieces.
Also I hate my iphone which my loving mother gave me for Christmas because now I can't write FF on the go or at work…
I can't complain too much. Life could be a lot worse. I hope you're all well. Have a happy New Year!
Thanks for Reading!