Chapter 9: Energy
B POV
The shrill honk of a car breaks me from my train of thought. Oh God, they're here. Time to stop freaking out.
I check myself in the mirror. I'm wearing my favorite jeans, the one with the band that instantly slims you in the waist. I changed my shirt three times and finally decided on my green V-neck t-shirt and black fleece Columbia. My hair is pulled back into a half pony and I dug my eye shadow out of my barely used make-up kit my mom gave me two years ago. I went with gold. I pull on my old tennis shoes and head out the door.
Rose is standing outside wearing her Cheerleader outfit. The chest is black with green and gold lettering. The front has a Trojan helmet on it. She wears a shimmer gold long-sleeved shirt on under it. Her tennis shoes are black with green and gold laces. Her hair is pulled back in a high curled pony and she wears puffy paint on her cheeks, three dots in a line.
I walk briskly and jump into the back of Alice's bright yellow VW Bug. Rose sits back down and shuts the door.
"Hey Bella!" Alice greets. "I like the school spirit!"
"Thanks." I blush, I'm not nearly as spirited as them but then again they are cheerleaders.
"So, Rose and I were just discussing the post-game game plan."
"Oh, okay. What's the plan?" I ask.
"Well, all the cheerleaders are required to stay after the game to help clean up the bleachers. Edward obviously is going to take a little time to hit the locker room and change. So you can just hang outside the stadium while you wait for him. He'll drive you there and then we'll meet you there a little bit later."
"Sounds good." I agree.
In truth I was freaked out. I had never been to a high school football game. However, I told Angela I was going and she was so excited. She told me they're a lot of fun and that I could sit with her during the game. That made me feel better, at least I had someone who would be nice and comfortable to hang with.
"OH! I LOVE THIS SONG!" Rose squeals as she turns the song up. The song blares out of the car as Rose rolls down her window and starts yelling along to the song.
But somehow I can't believe
That anything should happen
I know where I belong
And nothing's gonna happen
Yeah, Yeah
'Cause she's so hi-i-igh
High above me, she's so lovely
She's so hi-i-igh
Like Cleopatra, Joan of Arc, or Aphrodite
She's so hi-igh
High above me!
We sing along to the end of the Tal Bachman song as Alice pulls into the rear entrance of the stadium parking lot. We park alongside one of the outer walls and hop out. I help them carry some signs and pompoms up to the area where they will be cheering.
"OK!" Alice huffs as we return from the car for the second time. "Tanya has the rest of the stuff and is texting me when she gets here. Bella would you mind helping Rose and I set up a few of these signs until Angela gets here?"
"No, not at all." We hung signs that directed the students to one area and the parents to the another. A couple of "GO TROJANS!" signs were hung over the railing in front of where the students would be. Alice had disappeared at 6:20 to go help Tanya bring some more boxes out.
"So," Rose grapples for something to say as we sit waiting for Alice and Tanya to come back. "How do you like Forks so far?"
"Aside from having Tanya freak out on me, a giant food fight and detention?" I ask nervously. She giggles.
"I guess that's not a great start." She adds.
"I would think not." I stick my hands in my pockets.
"Well, it's not so bad. At least you're starting to make friends." She points out with a nod of approval.
"True," I agree. "Angela is really sweet. Edward seems to be okay. Alice is so easy to be around too."
"Angela is a super nice girl. Alice will be Alice. As for Edward, it's weird for him to really pursue a friendship with anyone. I don't think I've ever seen him really talk and hangout with someone outside of our group. It's kind of refreshing. I was beginning to think he had some sort of anti-social disorder."
"He seems to be into Tanya." I suggest. She looks at me like I just grew another head.
"Are you kidding? He can't stand her. He'd never say that to her face but he makes it clear in his body language and the emotional guard you can practically feel whenever she comes around."
I couldn't believe that. With the way Tanya made it sound and the way he had walked away with her yesterday to have a side discussion; it seemed like more. But then again he had stood up for me and thrown applesauce into her face. Maybe Rose had a point, she had known him longer. This new development was disconcerting.
"What kind of friends did you leave at Forks?" Rose asks animatedly.
"Umm. I didn't really. I mean I had one friend, but she moved to Connecticut our sophomore year. We kept in touch for a while at first, but after a few months she just kind of forgot about me." I shrug.
"What was her name?" Rose pushes.
"Addison." I sigh. "I guess it was inevitable though. The direction she was going in school would have made us go separate paths anyway. We just kind of grew out of our friendship."
Literally. I ponder the last time I saw Addison and how she had been complaining about how I never wanted to go to school functions, drool over guys or shop at the mall. I guess I saw no point in all of it. Again, I never felt I belonged in Phoenix and she could never understand that.
"Anyway," I wave my hand in front of my face, "I couldn't stand living in Phoenix anymore."
"Too hot?" She guesses.
"No. I didn't mind the heat. It was a dry heat, so that didn't bother me. My mom got remarried to Phil and I wanted them to have their whole honeymoon phase." Rose scoffs at that.
"Bullshit!" she claims.
"What?" Did she not believe me?
"Bullshit! You didn't move because your mom and stepdad were acting like hormonal teenagers. I may not know much about you, but I know that you're way more mature than that. Something like that may bug anyone else, but not you. What's the real reason?" She demands.
Wow, Rose was more aware than I thought. "The truth?" I ask. She just looks at me with a pointed glare. "A guy."
"Isn't it always?" She rolls her eyes. "What did this jerk do?"
"He ruined me." Where did this honesty come from? I thought Alice was disarming; Rose was almost worse because instead of using her energy and happiness, she just tore it from you with this inner strength that practically radiated from her every cell.
"How?" she continued to pry. I pause. "Did he spread rumors?" I nod. "What else?"
"He had his friends pig call me and pretend to cry when I passed them in the hallway. He had girls stop talking to me. Told everyone I begged him for sex and that I was a fat slut." It all came out in a rush of words, like word vomit. Rose recoils and then comes over to me. She sits next to me.
"Was he your boyfriend at one point?"
"I thought he was." I still couldn't believe I was talking about this, let alone to Rosalie Hale. "He would come over to my house and bring me flowers or candy or other gifts. He would take me out driving or to the movies. I thought he loved me. I thought I loved him. Then I made a mistake. I let him go too far. After that he stopped talking to me, stopped calling me. I approached him and found out that I was nothing but a bet he had going with his friends. He bet his friend he could get the fat girl in his history class to sleep with him. He won. Then I lost."
I take a breath, bite back the tears and look at Rose. Her lower lip is quivering and tears are forming in her eyes.
"Oh Bella!" She throws her arms around me and squeezes. I'm stunned silent. She pulls back and begins to wipe her eyes. "I'm so sorry that happened to you. I went through a bad break-up too. Not as bad as that. But rumors were spread, reputations were severely injured. I didn't have the option of moving in with another parent though. Thank you for opening up to me Bella. I appreciate it."
I was in shock I think. First of all, I hadn't talked about it, ever, and now here I was spilling my guts out to Rose. She didn't dismiss me, tell me I deserved it or stopped talking to me. I smile a weak smile.
"Thank you Rose. Please do me a favor and try to keep that to yourself. I want to leave that part of my past in Phoenix. I don't even know why I told you."
"Oh Bella! OF COURSE! I would never!" She hugs me again then lets go and waves. "Alice and Tanya are back. Don't worry about Tanya, Alice and I have your back if she says anything." I gulp and nod.
Tanya, Alice and Rose finish setting up signs along the bleachers and unpack the mascot uniform. According to Alice it's Eric's night to wear the mascot uniform but he's running late.
"Bella!" I hear Angela call to me from across the bleachers. She's wearing head to toe green, black and gold. She holds a big wad of black, green and gold in her hands. "Here, this is for you." She hands me a scarf as she walks up to me. "I got a new one and it does get cold at games so I figured you might need it."
"Oh, thank you!" I wrap the warm scarf around my neck and drape it over my chest. "Does it complete the outfit?" I joke.
"Yeah!" She laughs, "Now, hold still. I'm gonna put some puffy paint on your face." I bite my lip, then point my face up so she has better access to my cheeks. She pulls out a bottle of paint and puts small dots on my face that match hers and all the other cheerleaders.
"Is there a reason for the dots?" I ask.
"Oh yeah!" Angela cries. "Each dot signifies a win for the team. Our team has won three games since the start of the season, so we wear three dots."
"Oh," I smile, "Makes sense. How many games have we played?"
"Three!" She laughs. "Undefeated! WOOT!"
I laugh as she grabs a seat right in front down by the cheerleaders. Rose winks at me from the cheerleader huddle. Alice turns and gives a little wave too. I wave back and smile. So this is what I was missing in Phoenix. Then again, there was no Alice, Rose or Angela in Phoenix.
The bleachers fill up fast and soon I'm surrounded by students all dressed head to toe in the school colors. Some guys are wearing Trojan Helmets. Eric is dressed as a Trojan soldier and marching around in front of the stands. The energy in the air is strong and I can't help but get wrapped up.
The announcer begins welcoming the people to the game and introduces the opposite team. The crowds across the field erupt in cheers. A mascot wolf leads the team in, waving a brown, red and gold flag. I crane to see if I can make out Jacob, but they all look the same in their red uniforms and brown helmets.
Just then everyone around me gets real quiet. They start snapping their fingers, then clapping their hands, then stomping their feet meanwhile letting their voices start from low moans to high screams until finally the announcer shouts "FORKS HIGH SCHOOL TROJANS!"
The team comes barreling out from behind a big sign with a picture of a Trojan soldier riding into battle. They are dressed all in black with gold and green helmets.
I find myself joining in on the cheering and screaming that is emanating from around me. I feel so alive. I haven't ever felt anything like this before. I feel like crying but I can't because the energy is too positive.
I join in on all the cheers, even though I don't know any of them. I stomp back and forth across the bleachers, following the motions and cheers of the cheerleaders. I cheer when Edward, who's number 22, makes a breakaway touchdown. I groan when we are intercepted and then cheer again when the ball is fumbled by and repossessed by us.
Before I know it there is forty-five seconds left in the game. The score is 14 to 10, in our favor. The La Push Wolves are in control of the ball with eighty yards to go. Time seems to go in slow motion.
The ball is snapped to Jacob, he looks for the open man, sees him and makes a throw. It flies through the air; ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty yards until it is caught by his teammate. He tucks it in his arms and makes a run for the end zone. He's thirty yards away, twenty yards away, ten yards away; the defense is on his heels. A La Push player barrels into the Trojan tailing him and he makes a dive for the end zone.
He lands over the line and a groan goes up from all around me. The opposite side of the field erupts in a violent volcano of cheers, pompoms and foam wolf paws. The buzzer goes off just as the announcer claims La Push as the winner. Everyone erupts in conversations,
"I was sure we had it!"
"Did you see that guy?"
"We'll get 'em next time!"
Angela turns to me. "Wow, that was a great game! We did so well! The wolves were just a little bit better. That Black kid sure has an arm! We'll get 'em next time."
"Yeah he does!" Ben cried, "I wonder how far he could throw if he actually tried! Too bad he's a rez kid. I mean Jazz is good and all, it's just, that kid is a sophomore and Jazz is a senior! We could use him after Jazz graduates this year!"
"I don't think his dad would let him transfer schools." I interrupt. "Billy is a very proud Quileute, I don't think he'd let his son play for any other high school."
"Woah!" Mike cries, "You know Jacob Black?"
"Yeah," I blush. "Him and I were practically raised together. My dad and Billy are best friends and would tag team caring for us kids when I came up for the summers."
"Did ya hear that Tyler? Bella knows a future NFL player!" He laughs.
"No way!" Tyler responds. "That's awesome!"
Angela laughs and leads me back out the gates and to the parking lot. "My ride is here. Are you cool to stay here Bella?"
"Yeah," I wave at her. "I'll just go find Alice and ask her where Edward is meeting me."
"OK! See you Monday in class!" She waves as she hops into a black SUV. I wave in return and head back into the enter side of the gate.
I spot Alice from across the stands and walk over to her. She's directing a couple girls to grab a sign. "Hey Alice," I greet as I approach her.
"Hey Bella!" She practically sings. "Edward comes out of the locker back where we parked. You can go wait by my car. He'll meet you there. I texted him telling him to meet you there."
"Okay," I nod. "Are you sure I can't do anything to help?"
"No, we've got enough people to get everything. Thanks though." There's a loud crash behind me, I turn to see Eric and Ben on the ground laughing with half of a sign in their hand, the other half is still clinging to the wall and waving uselessly in the wind. "I gotta go help those two Bella. I'll see you at the house okay?" She leaves without waiting for my reply. I cross my arms in front of my chest and head out towards the exit.
There's a light that is flickering on and off looming above the exit. I check my phone for the time 9:17. I cross the gate and begin walking towards Alice's car. I hear laughing far away but other then that there is nothing over here. I see Alice's car about thirty yards away, but between me and it is a small group of people huddled together. The cherries on their cigarettes light the darkness for a moment as they inhale, only to fade as they exhale.
I take a breath and walk towards the car. They see me once I get about ten yards away and all three turn to face me. I recognize them at this point. It's James, Victoria and the other guy, Laurent.
James has his arm around Victoria's waist and as I close the distance, trying not to look at them or draw attention to myself. I peek at them from the under my lashes and peripheral vision, James drops his hand from Victoria and pushes off the wall. He takes a couple steps and stops right in front of my path.
I hesitate, stop and look up at him. He has an evil grin on his face.
"Hello Isabella." His voice is like oil. It's smooth but sounds like it has the ability to start fires at the same time.
"Hello," I nod. I make to step around him but he intercepts me again.
"Where do you think you're going?" He teases.
"I'm just waiting for my ride." I stammer.
"Oh yeah?" He looks around. "Where are they?"
"On their way." I go to step around in the other direction, but he steps that way too.
"Hmm," he rubs his chin between his thumb and pointer finger. "Why don't you join us while you wait Bella?" Victoria comes up behind him and lays her chin on his shoulder, her smile matching his. I glance at Laurent who is still hanging back by the wall.
"No thanks." I shake my head.
"Aww," he croons, "You're gonna hurt my feelings."
"I'm sorry." I step away from him but he steps toward me.
"I'm not." His smile gets bigger. "I don't have feelings. So forcing you to give us the keys to that car over there doesn't make me feel bad."
"Well," I pause, "I can't help you. I don't have the keys to that car."
"You don't?" he mocks a hurt tone as he takes another step forward, "That's right you drive that big red Chevy. Why aren't you driving it now?"
"Because," I answer stepping back, "I carpooled with a few friends."
"Friends? So soon Isabella? Goodness you are popular. Being defended by Edward Cullen, carpooled by friends, escorted to your ride. Oh, wait, that last one didn't happen. Which means you are alone."
My mind screams at me to run but I can't move. I slowly take another step back, push my hands in my pocket and pull them inside out, both in my jeans and my jacket. "I have nothing. Not even a wallet." Which is true. I had put my money and school I.D. in my bra for safekeeping.
"Well, I guess we'll just have to search you for your keys." He smiles and springs at me. I scream and turn to run but he grabs onto my sleeve and rips me back toward him. I struggle but he throws me up against the wall and pins me against it, his knee in the back of my thigh is painful.
I feel the cool wall pressed against my cheek as he orders Victoria to search me. She pats down my legs, to my socks and shoes then works her way up again. I see Laurent through what obscured vision I do have. He is just standing there, smoking his cigarette, but he also looks a little scared. I plead at him to help me but he doesn't move.
Just then I hear a thump over to my right and with an "oof" James's hands are ripped from my wrists. I hear Victoria gasp and then let out a choked scream.
"Laurent!" James yells out. "Do something!" Laurent springs into action and jumps on the guy who is now holding James down. He throws Laurent off him and I catch a glimpse of his face. It's Jacob.