Chapter 2
EPOV
We were here. "Just look at them all, Soren. Thousands upon thousands of young, crazy college girls getting drunk and taking their tops off."
"Yes, sir, what a treat for us that it's happening here in America's dairy land. Breeding ground of the coronary bypass patients of the world." He said.
"Look at her."
"Your parents are expecting you to attend your classes Your Royal Highness."
"Yes, I know. Listen, Soren. From this point forward, I do not want you to address me as the prince or Your Royal Highness. You will address me as...Eddie."
"Yes, Eddie." I could tell it seemed unnatural for him to call me that. All these girls, this is gonna be fun.
"The last thing I need right now is to have the press all over me. I think it's gonna be fun."
"I'm having a wonderful time already."
"Are you unhappy, Soren?"
"What gave me away, sir?"
"I don't know. Your expression never changes. Do you even know how to smile?"
"Yes." We stepped out of the car to find our room. I noticed a group of students.
"Come on Bella."
"No, Emmett we are not pulling pranks on my roommates." Her name was Bella. Pretty. I found room 649, Brunner Hall.
"Oh, Soren, this is us." I said. We walked in.
"Good heavens. I thought you had to be convicted of a crime before you lived somewhere like this." Soren said.
"It's not that bad. Plus, we haven't seen the rest of it yet." I said pulling the curtain away.
"Apparently, this is the rest of it." Soren said.
"Well, I like it. And I'll even let you have first choice of the beds." I said.
"Oh, heavens. Which stained mattress shall I choose?" Soren said. Someone walked in.
"You the new guys? I'm Scotty. All right, all my foods labeled, so I'll know if you ate anything. I'm allergic to dairy, shellfish, red meat, melon, nuts and kiwi. So don't bring any of that stuff around here. The Xbox is off-limits. If you screw up any of my high scores, I'll blind you with my laser pointer." He said. Soren and I settled in and went to the main hall.
"Now, this... This is the real university life I was talking about. You see, here, we're just two typical college students." I said. I wasn't Prince Edvard.
"Absolutely, sir. I, for one, can't wait to raucously cheer on the fellows of the tackle football team as they challenge the Gophers, our hated rivals, who apparently hail from a place called Minnesota." He said. Some person put his arm on Soren's shoulder and screamed.
"Minnesota sucks! Wisconsin rules!" This was the life.
BPOV
I was cleaning tables when I noticed someone new. Emmett was watching me.
"Waitress, we'd like to see some menus, please." The new guy said.
"I'm not a waitress, there are no menus, and the kitchen's closed." I replied.
"Well, then what can you offer us?" He asked.
"I can offer you beer and pretzel rods, my fine fellow, at ye old pub yonder." I said impersonating his accent. It was no use. The accent was a great touch and he was handsome. I told myself I wouldn't fall in love again and here I was.
EPOV
"Shall I go to the bar, sir?" Soren asked.
"Yes. Yes, two of these. Two beers." I replied. That girl was the one from this afternoon. Bella.
"Very good." He said. We sat and drank our beers and I watched Bella.
"Would you like another, sir?" Soren asked.
"Yes, I'll get these." I said. I wanted to talk to this Bella.
"Thank you very much, sir." Soren said. I was going to talk to her.
EmPOV
"Guys, he's watching Bella. I don't like it." I said.
"Em, she hasn't dated anyone since Edward. You heard Jessica and Angela. Let her fight her own battles. Who knows he could be just what she is looking for." Alice said.
"Okay but if he does something wrong, I'll hurt him. No one messes with my little sister." I said. Rose smacked me on the head.
"Emmett, just let things happen." Rose said.
BPOV
I was cleaning up the bar when I heard.
"Hello again."I looked up and saw the new guy.
"What can I get for you?" I asked.
"I was hoping you could recommend something better than what we've been drinking." He said. I decided to have some fun with him.
"Well, for the discerning out-of-towner like yourself, I recommend Leinenkugel's. You can really taste the extra ten cents." I said.
"Yes, by all means. Two, please. You know, if we were in Germany right now, we'd be underground." He said.
"What?" What was he trying to do?
"Rathskeller, it means basement." He said.
"OK." I said. I didn't even know what to say. That only happened with Edward.
"Yes, perhaps I should've known better than to flirt in German." He said.
"Perhaps." I felt extremely stupid right now.
"It's not a very attractive language, is it?" He said.
"No." I said. He put his hand forward.
"I'm Eddie." So similar to Edward. I grabbed his hand and shook it.
"Bella."
"So will you take your top off for me?" He asked. Did I miss something. I saw Emmett and Jasper laughing.
"What?"
"Take your top off for me like Wild College Girls. Just a quick look. No one's watching. Just take it off for me." He said. I grabbed the soda hose and shot it at him covering him in soda. The Cullens were laughing.
"You, time to go." A random person said.
"Just calm down." His friend replied.
"No, you calm down." The other said. This would turn into a fight.
"Get off me." Eddie said.
"You get out." More people were joining in.
"Get your hands off me." He said.
"Out. Go on!" Well this is definitely was one of the strangest first nights back in my life.
EPOV
What did I do wrong! Isnt taking your top off what all college girls do? I guess not.
BPOV
It was the first day of classes.
"Science is a never-ending quest. For anyone planning a future in science, an open mind is a must. Grading is as follows: Forty percent, procedure. Fifty percent, lab work. And ten..." The door opened and Eddie came in. Great. "May I help you?" The teacher asked.
"Yes. I believe I'm signed up for this class." Eddie said. Who does he think he is?
"Fine, Mr. Williams. Next time be here by 8: 20 or you'll be locked out. And what about you?
I'm talking to you, sir." The teacher said.
"I'm auditing." Eddie's friend said
"Not this class, too small." The teacher said. "Take a seat, Mr. Williams. As I was saying,
forty percent, procedure. Fifty percent, lab work."
"You can wait outside." Eddie said.
"You'll be all right, sir?" He asked. Sir. What was he a butler?
"And ten percent..." The teacher said.
"Yes, just wait outside." Eddie said.
"You know, if this is a 'lovers' thing, could you please take it in the hall?" The teacher said.
"Soren, just go. Go." The man Soren left. "My sincerest apologies. Oh, please proceed." He made his way to the seat next to me.
"And ten percent, attendance. You will find a list in front of you of your supplies and the experiment you will be conducting. Now, I want you to turn to the person next to you and introduce yourself. Congratulations, folks, you've just said hello to your permanent lab partner." We looked at each other. This was going to be a long semester! After class he walked out and I followed him.
"Hey. You forgot your supply list." I said.
"Oh, right, thank you." I could tell he was going to put all this off.
"Listen, what's your name again?" I asked.
"Eddie." He said.
"Eddie. Right. This class is really important to me because I need this teacher
to get me into med school. And if I'm stuck with you as my partner, I can't afford to have you
screw things up for me, okay?" I said. I noticed the Cullens, Angela and Jessica waiting for me.
"It's very important to me, as well. I love organic chemistry. I've recently discovered
that large amounts of alcohol mixed with a carbon-based life form causes the life form to blurt out stupid things. So apologies to the other night. I was just having some fun." He said. I couldn't tell if he was being serious. The Cullens were watching me attentively.
"Of course you were. And I love being made to feel like a brainless slut by some sloppy lush. Thanks." I said.
"I have learned me to repent the sin Of disobedient opposition To you and your behest, I am enjoined And beg your pardon" He said.
"Is he drunk now?" I asked. I could hear Emmett laughing.
"It's a play. Romeo and Juliet?" I played stupid.
"Shakespeare?" Great now all I could think of was when Edward left that week, Mike Newton quoting Shakespeare outside my window.
"This is gonna be a fun semester. Don't forget your half of the supplies next time." I said walking off. He was seriously aggravating me. We got back to my room and we were all talking but I couldn't get Eddie off of my mind.
"You would think that after spraying somebody with high-powered soda, he'd get the message to stay away." I blurted out.
"Well, I think he's pretty hot." Stacey said.
"Hot? Oh, my God, Stacey ,he is so affected. He was quoting Shakespeare, like
some Shakespearean-duke-lord guy. I hate phonies like that." I said.
"Bella this is the first guy you've showed interest for since Penny head. So are you saying you wouldn't take him up to the stacks?" Jessica asked.
"Okay. A, going at it in the dusty stacks of the library is fairly disgusting. And B, you literally say that about every hot guy." I said.
"Oh, so you admit he's hot." Angela said.
"Okay, I'm done having this conversation." I said. "I need to concentrate
on my applications. And what's with his weird friend who's always hanging around?" Angela and Jessica had a huge smile on their faces.
" If I didn't know any better I would say Bella has a crush on him!" Angela said. Everyone was agreeing.
"okay. Bye guys." I got up and decided to take a walk.
The next day in class Eddie didn't show up.
"One partner is monitoring temperature and flow, while the other pours the hydrochloric acid into the separatory funnel." I was following instructions the best that I could. " Now...carefully turn the stopcock to allow some of the solution to flow into the round-bottom flask." The container broke. My teacher just stared at me. "Start over again." He said. Emmett was waiting outside for me.
"Hey Bells.
"Not now Emmett." The Cullens, Angela and Jessica were following me.
"Dude she's scary when she's angry." Emmett said. I walked into Eddie's room.
"Where is he?" I saw him still in bed. "You're still in bed?"
"Good morning, miss. Would you care for some breakfast?" The man said.
"I spent the last two hours looking like an incompetent idiot because my lab partner
didn't show up." I said
"Was that this morning?" Eddie asked.
"Yes! You know, I know exactly who you are."
"You do?"
"You do?"
"You're a spoiled, little rich kid who sees college as a detour on the way to an easy life. No character. No accomplishments. Just a royal pain in the ass." I said. The Cullens never heard me swear. They knew I was angry.
"You're completely wrong." Eddie said as the man handed him his breakfast.
"See, unlike people who are given everything, I have to earn what I get. But that is the beauty
of a meritocracy. People rise and fall based on how hard they work." I said.
"Would you like some more hollandaise?" The man asked.
"No, that's good. Thank you." Eddie said.
"You're making eggs Benedict on a hot plate in a dorm room?"Seriously.
"Yes, just a typical student breakfast. Would you care to join us?" The man asked. Edie came down off his bed in his boxers. I must admit I was a bit surprised but he did look hot. Focus Bella! Remember why you came here!
"No, thank you." I said.
"So where's your statue?" Eddie asked.
"What statue?" I asked.
"Someone as righteous as you must have a statue of themselves somewhere."He said.
"There's a difference between being righteous and being right. I happen to be right. Could you
please put a shirt on or something?" The whole thing with him being in nothing but boxers was really distracting.
"If you're going to be a doctor, you'll have to get used to naked men." He said.
"Dude! Dude, there's a chick in our room." The other roommate said.
"Just drop the class." I said.
"No." Eddie said.
"Well, then you better be there, and you better be prepared." Fighting with him was kinda fun. I stormed out.
EPOV
"She really meant those things, didn't she?" I asked Soren.
"Yes, she did seem rather upset, sir. Though, regardless. I don't see why you would care." Soren said. What was happening to me. I don't know but like it.
"Do enjoy the eggs, sir. They were purchased with the last of your money." Soren said.
"We have some left, don't we?" I said.
"What you came with is gone." He said.
"Well, you're getting some sort of paycheck, aren't you?" I said. I would do something to get to know this Bella more. Work where she works it will solve both of my problems: the money and her.
The next day I went to the main hall for my first job interview.
"Skills: polo, fencing, speaks French, English, German, Dutch, Danish and Flemish. Flemish? Is therea country called Flem?" I smiled. "Look, that's all great but it doesn't mean crap to me. I need somebody with workexperience, and you don't have any." He said.
"I really could dowith the employment." I said.
"There are a lot of studentswho wanna work here." He said
"Well, I have the highestrecommendation." I said.
BPOV
"Hey, Bella."
"Hi." I said. I looked over behind the counter and saw Eddie.
"Are you deliberately trying to make me miserable?" I asked.
" No, I'm simply manning the delicatessen in the event that one of my fellow students
wants a tasty sandwich." He said.
"Stu, did you hire this guy?" I asked.
"Yeah. He came highly recommended."
"By whom?"
"You."
"Bella, I'm busy. Eddie's your boy. You're in charge of him." He said.
EPOV
"What would you like?" I asked.
"A turkey sandwich."
"All right, it seems we're completely out of turkey today." I said.
"Dude, there's like ten turkey things in there." He said.
"Is this some sort of test? Did Johns Hopkins send you to see if I can handle pressure? Because I'm starting to crack." Bella said.
"Well, who's in charge of carving?" I asked.
"Use the slicer."
"What's that?" She grabbed the turkey and went to the machine.
"You used me as a reference." She said. She seemed angry.
"Yes. Look, you were the only one I knew. Despite what you think, I do need this job. I have no money." I said. She didn't seem to believe me.
"But you have a personal egg poacher." She said.
"No, no. He's just another student." I said. She didn't believe that either.
"Really? What's he studying? How to be a 30-year-old junior? Try the "on" button." She said.
"Look, Bella. You were right about my parents back in Denmark. They are from a certain wealth. But I've cut myself off from them." I said.
"Dude." The guy said.
"Yes, just one minute. Listen, Bella. I realize I've taken advantage of you recently, and...But just give me a chance today, and if I cause any problems, then I'll quit." I said.
"OK. Your right hand goes on the handle. Slowly slide the meat back and forth. And unless you want a turkey-thumb sandwich, don't put your hand near the blade when it's moving, okay?" When our hands touched it was like an electric current was going through us.
BPOV
This seemed very familiar. Our hands touching and the electric current. I was falling for Eddie. Or hating him one of the two. I mean what are the odds that my first boyfriend's name was Edward and now Eddie has come into my life.
"Right." I said. "Slowly, slowly. Right. Right. Okay, nice and smooth. That's enough." I said. Alice came up when she saw us.
"Bella!"
"Hey Alice what's up!"
"Don't be mad okay?"
"Why?"
"So my family is leaving early for Edward's wedding and he's coming back here with us and his new wife." I stopped dead in my tracks. I couldn't breathe.
"Bella?" Eddie asked.
"Alice is it, may I speak to you?" He asked.
"Sure." She said.
EPOV
"What has Bella frozen like that?" I asked.
"Eddie, I don't know if I should tell you this, but you have a right to know." Alice said. Soren showed up. "Three years ago, Bella and my brother, Edward were dating. They were inseparable. On her eighteenth birthday Bella and Edward got in a huge fight. The next day, my dad got offered a job in LA and we packed up and left. Edward stayed behind to say goodbye. We all wanted to say goodbye but he wouldn't let us. We didn't know what he had told her until we saw her this year. He told her she was a distraction and that he never loved her. But that wasnt true. Jessica and Angela said she has been a mess since then. I'm only telling you this because I think you are so good for Bella. Well, he's getting married. And my family hates her. We are leaving tonight to go to his wedding and he wants to come here with his new wife. He hates being away from the family. He doesn't know Bella is here. He told us not to have anything to do with Bella. He wanted a clean break, but when your dad is a professor at a college and you see someone, there isnt much you can do. Bella may say she is over Edward, but I don't think she is."
"So she freaked out over this guy who said he never loved her?" I asked.
"It was more than that. They shared secrets, they were together for six months, and they stayed at each others houses. They both fell hard. He also left her in the middle of the forest. My whole family will be screaming at him for that and things he said. He's marrying Tanya because he wants to forget about his love for Bella. Eddie, if you want Bella, you have to work fast. Well be back in a week. Take care of her." Alice said.
"Soren, can you believe that guy! Leaving Bella!"
"Sir, if I didn't know any better I think you were falling for her."
"Soren, I have to get back to work." I walked back.
"Are you alright, Bella?" I asked.
"Fine."
"You want to talk about it?"
"Not really."
"Okay."
"Here, Bella, it's your turn tonight." Someone said and handed Bella keys.
"Okay." She started cleaning tables and turned the juke box on. She turned on "I Hope I Don't Fall In Love With You" by Marc Cohn. She started dancing while she worked. She was mesmerizing.
"Hey, kid." My boss said. I quickly snapped out of my trance. "I need you to go outside and hose down the mats." I brought the mats outside and started spraying them with the hose.
"Are you sure you don't want a hand, sir?" Soren asked.
"No, I'm fine."
"Hey." I knew that voice already. I looked up on the balcony. Bella was there. "You did okay in there." She said. She was probably just trying to be nice.
"You can't be serious, can you?" I said.
"Well, by 'okay', I mean spilling a ton of beer and screwing up everyone's order." I said. I laughed.
"Yeah."I said.
"No, you'll be fine." She said.
"You know, this Saturday evening, there's a dorm party at Brenner Hall. A gathering. I was wondering if you would like to accompany me." Alice did say I had to work fast.
"Accompany you?" She asked.
"Oh, right, yes. How do you say it colloquially? Yo, dog, there's a mad party
kicking at my crib, if you want to roll down there with me." I said. I even tried to snap my fingers. "Ow!"
"That was just sad. Don't ever do that again." She said. She was smiling. Her smile was one of the most beautiful things in the world.
"Yes, I really hurt my finger. So would you like to come?"
"I...I'm actually kind of busy." She said as she left.
"Oh, dear." Soren said.
"What?" I asked.
"I believe you just got rejected, sir."
"You know, I don't think that's ever happened to me before." I said
"You've never been attracted to anyone who didn't know you were a prince before. I wouldn't get too worked up over it, sir. The chances of a relationship between yourself and Miss Bella are not promising. You two are of a completely different caliber." He said.
"Soren, just because she isn't royalty doesn't mean she's not important." I liked her. And I told myself I would get her.
"The higher caliber I was referring to, sir, was hers."
"What?"