Chapter Twelve
Bella
That night I turned my bedroom light out and listened. I heard the rustling and grinned, Gotcha...hopefully. Mind, what I'd do if I discovered who it was, I had no idea. I drove myself to school revelling in the freedom again although missing my big smiling chauffeur. At school I parked up as far from the Cullens usual spot as I could. I didn't need another run in with Alice Cullen first thing on a Monday morning. We were in biology when Edward Cullen appeared and this time he looked at me and smiled. I nearly fell off my chair and Angie giggled, "Not another Cullen conquest". I elbowed her to be quiet. I was checking his clothes and his hands but they were spotlessly clean. Oh well, good theory but wrong one.
At lunch I felt someone behind me, close, too close, in the queue and as I turned I almost tripped over him, Edward Cullen, again. "Sorry Bella" he said steadying me. I looked into his face and didn't like what I saw, a kind of greed. I pulled my arm free, "I'm fine thanks". As he stretched his hand out to introduce himself I heard a welcome voice. "Hey Bells, I hear our boy here tried to steam roller you". I turned with a smile to see Emmett and Jasper standing there. While Emmett was looking at me with his usual huge grin, Jasper was staring over my head his eyes burning with something. Edward backed away and the other two followed. Jasper nodding as he went.
When I sat down it was obvious our whole table had seen. "Way to go Bella! Now even Edward can't keep away. What perfume are you wearing? I must get some". It was Jessica of course. Angela glared at her, "Didn't he have a weird look on his face?" I nodded still looking over as Edward pulled a chair out for Alice. As he did so his cuff slid back and I saw a smear of the unmistakable green paint. So it was him climbing our tree! But why? Was he a peeping tom? It didn't seem likely, he could have any girl in the school and there were plenty better looking than me. If not, then why? It spooked me after seeing the look on his face. I needed answers but the only people I could talk to about him were the other Cullens. Well Alice and Rose were out which only left Emmett or Jasper. Which one though? Or should I ignore it unless I heard him again? "Bella? Earth to Bella?" It was Mike and I saw the cafeteria was almost empty. I jumped "Oh sorry Mike. I was miles away". He laughed, "Yeah, I usually feel like that in Maths. Come on or you'll be late". I looked across to the Cullen table. It was empty and I sighed, well decision put on hold till I saw them again.
Jake rang that evening, he wanted to come over but I put him off. I really wasn't in the mood for more horror stories, I had enough spookiness in my life right now. He started on about "Staying away from..." as I cut him off. There was something odd about the Cullens but they didn't frighten me, well except for Edward and I was still debating what to do about him. Perhaps I'd be better off going to see Dr Cullen. That sounded like a plan so after school I drove to the hospital.
I didn't see him in the E.R so I wandered out the back to see if his car was there. I knew it was a black Mercedes because a couple of the boys had been comparing its merits to some other car when he'd dropped Alice at school once. It was all Chinese to me! As I was about to turn the corner I heard voices raised, Emmett and Dr Cullen. "He's getting out of control, you should have seen the way he looked at her yesterday. Either send him away or give her a permanent guard". Then I heard Dr Cullen's voice, much quieter, "You know very well that she already has one. It's not long until the end of term, then I'll send him to Denali. Just keep her safe till then". Were they talking about me? If so, was I really in danger from Edward? And who was my guard? Not Emmett or Edward. One of the girls I thought, yeah that would make them hate me. But why was I in danger? What had I done? I turned quietly and walked back through the door, head down, thinking, straight into Jasper Cullen. As he stopped me from falling I gasped and went rigid. He pulled back quickly. "Sorry Bella, I wasn't looking where I was going". I shook my head, still confused and frightened. He looked at me searchingly, "Bella, what's the matter? Who's frightened you?"
As he said that Dr Cullen and Emmett walked in. I cringed as they looked at me, noticing my expression. Dr Cullen walked forward, "Bella, I take it you overheard our conversation?" I nodded, "I came to talk to you and was looking to see if your car was still in the car park. I wasn't spying". He nodded and smiled, "I didn't think you were but I think we need to talk and not here" he looked around at the people walking to and fro. "OK I said, slightly hesitantly, "Where?" He thought for a second, "Would you feel comfortable coming to our house Bella? It's more private". I wasn't sure but then I'd been with Jasper and Emmett before and been treated well. "Yes, OK but I can't come now. I have to get back and cook dinner for Charlie. How about tomorrow after school? I can tell Charlie I'm at the library or something". He looked at Jasper who shook his head. "I think it might be better Bella, if you told Chief Swan the truth. Do you think he'd mind if we invited you for say, a barbecue?" I shrugged, "I don't suppose so. If I tell him the invite came from you". He nodded, "Fine, one of the boys will drive your truck to our place tomorrow after school" When he saw my look he laughed, "It's very difficult to find the first time". "OK" I said, "But who?" If he said Edward I was out of here. "Oh I think you'd probably be comfortable with Emmett", I'd rather it was Jasper I thought but I nodded "OK".