Fighting Temptation

Chapter Twenty: Friendly Advice

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight. All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of Stephenie Meyer. The original characters and plot are property of me, Dobber17. I am in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

This chapter has been edited by CherryBerry12.

Bella Swan

The morning was torture. In the midst of our shenanigans, no one remembered to set their alarms. Tyler was our saviour. He happened to wake up long enough to look at the clock and woke everyone in a panic, allowing us mere minutes to tug on clothes as fast as we could before booking it to the gym. On top of feeling like I could sleep for another eight hours, the morning drills had my thighs on fire. They burned to the point I wondered if I would legitimately be able to stand again after I sat down for lunch.

The only thing worse than my thighs was the circuit drill we did before lunch. The intensity of endless sprinting as we alternated between weaving through cones down the length of the court, and returning back to the start by doing a full-court suicide made me nauseous enough to bypass the tables lined with food as we entered the cafeteria.

Edward wished me luck as Alice waved Jaclyn and I over. Her tiny frame was buzzing as we approached. "Do you guys want to get ready at my place for the dance? We could leave right from here since we live close. Like, real close. And I have everything we need to get ready, and I have –"

"Breathe," Rose laughed, cutting her off before she could continue. "We don't need you passing out on us."

Jaclyn and I assured her we would be there before she could start back up.

"Good," Alice said, her eyes sliding to a table to the left. We followed her gaze to where Jared sat with a few friends. "Moving on."

Jaclyn stayed silent. Her gaze locked on Jared's profile as he talked. Ever so slowly her attention returned to our table. "What about him?"

A slow, conspiratorial smile stretched across her face. "He wants to know what you're wearing to the dance."

Jaclyn groaned. "Well, we're going together so that's not a surprise."

"No. Boys don't care about matching if you're just going as friends. He wants to know. He wants to match."

I watched in silence, letting my gaze settle back to Jared. Jaclyn had no qualms telling me how blind Edward and I were, pushing us closer every chance she got. It was time for her to take her own advice. I was ready to be a cheerleader in their corner, coaxing their true feelings to the surface.

"Jaclyn," Alice cooed.

"White," she finally admitted. "White dress with a bit of gold."

I managed to stomach a single slice of pizza during lunch, opting to grab one of the few cold remaining slices on our way out the door. Edward waited for me just outside the doors, wrapping his arm gently around my waist. He waited until I chewed the last bit of crust before he propelled us faster.

"Tyler and Mike are going to do their dares before everyone gets back," he explained.

I quickened my stride. After what I went through at Wal-Mart, there was no way I would miss this. We cleared the doors just as Tyler sunk to one knee. His posture was awkward enough an outsider may have mistaken the exchange as a conversation, but we sped over, not wanting to miss a moment.

Tyler's voice was quiet and mumbled. We were able to make out Tyler telling Jasper he was the only one person his heart would ever belong to, and how he would be honoured to spend the rest of his life with him.

Jasper moved his eyes from Tyler's pleading face – begging him to say something, anything, to end the dare and let him stand. Edward's smirk had Jasper glancing between the three of us; the pieces clicking together. With a small shake of his head and a grin of his own, Jasper beckoned Tyler to stand.

"Sorry, Tyler. I'm already happily engaged." Jasper clapped him on the shoulder. "I appreciate it, though."

Tyler's knee clicked loudly as he stood. He moved through the gym unfazed, his sole focus on Mike. They were too far to hear, but the thumb-jerk in Lori's direction was indication enough.

Mike stood, wiping his palms on his shorts before treading toward her. She was oblivious. Reclined on the bleachers with her phone in her hand, she didn't see Mike approach until his foot managed to knock over her water bottle on the floor. He panicked, launching into a tune with no pretense. It was a horrible rendition of a cheesy love ballad. To her credit, she didn't laugh. She put her phone down, a coy smile forming as he continued. She waited until he started the chorus a second time before unfolding her legs, slowly standing in front of him. He only stopped when she brought her lips to his ear. Whatever she whispered was enough for his face to flush and shift his weight side to side.

A whistle turned our attention to the side of the gym where Jasper, Emmett, and Reid stood, the latter with the whistle still in his mouth.

"Get with your partner. We are going to be working on boxing out."

My eyes scanned Edward … standing nearly a foot taller than me.

My eyes widened in horror. I already hated boxing out … but add Edward's height advantage to the mix and it was going to be a disaster. Edward grinned, pulling me into position.

He bumped his hip to mine. "I'll go easy on you."

~!~ FT ~!~

The morning was bliss compared to the circuit drill at the end of the day. Jasper explained how the drill worked as we broke up as partners, one on either side of the court. Starting at center court, we did ten push-ups, ten sit-ups, and ten burpees. Because everyone finished at different times, Emmett and Reid watched and timed out everyone as we did ten seconds of fast-feet. The goal was simple: get your free throw in. Get ten in, and you were done. The catch was we only got one chance at the end of each circuit to score. We had to make every shot count, if we wanted any chance of finishing quickly. With our only break waiting in line to shoot, exhaustion crept up quickly. Jasper floated between each side, staying near the sideline as his eyes rapidly scanned us, tallying up our baskets.

Everyone was slick with sweat and panting. I could barely check the other side of the court to see how Edward and Jaclyn were doing as my attention was focused on my breathing. By the time I managed to get my sixth shot in, Jared finished his tenth, slowly walking to the sideline and sinking to the bleachers. My seventh and eighth came as a struggle as more people finished up, their faces either set in a grimace or pure bliss. Edward was done long before me, his shirt soaked through with sweat and his hair in a disarray as he talked with Jared.

I released the ball, unsurprised as it nicked the front of the rim and fell uselessly to the floor. Frustration was getting the best of me, shot by shot. There was only a handful of us left on the court, our pace significantly slower with each new round of the circuit.

Jasper moved to Emmett's side of the court, couching down to talk to Jaclyn as she started her sit-ups. I started my fast-feet, my stomach falling as the last person on my side sunk their shot and walked off the court. It was just me left on Reid's side. He gestured for me to go, my ten seconds complete. Reid moved with me to the basket, hesitancy in every step.

He spoke as I picked up a ball, his voice quiet. "Jump when you shoot your free throws. You're too exhausted and too frustrated to shoot how you normally do."

I fought back a retort. I waited a few seconds too long to pretend I didn't hear him. I bit the inside of my cheek, giving Reid a terse nod before setting up. I was making the distance just fine, the ball just wasn't going in the basket. I contemplated Reid's suggestion, finally deciding to try it. At this point, I wasn't going to make things any worse. I released the breath I was holding, trying to clear my mind as I jumped up and released the ball. My mouth popped open as the ball fell in with an effortless swish.I glanced at Reid as he pumped a fist in front of him, almost proud of me. It was the first time he was truly being helpful.

"Do it again." All business. All professional. How it should have been from the start.

He followed a few paces behind me as I jogged to center court, started what was hopefully my last circuit. Everything was on fire and ever breath was an effort as I moved through each step. Reid stayed quiet until I reached the basket again. I grabbed the ball, ready to get this done and over with.

"Take a second. Breathe," he coached.

I listened. I jumped after giving myself a few long breaths to calm myself. The ball hit the backboard and gently fell in the basket. I didn't have the energy to celebrate. I turned to Reid as I walked of the court. "Thanks."

He stilled, freezing for a moment before slightly dipping his chin. He turned and joined Emmett and Jasper on the other side, coaching the last three people. They finished before I could fully catch my breath on the sideline.

Emmett let out three sharp whistles. "Twenty laps of the gym together then you can leave."

The coaches joined in. Edward and Jasper led the pack with Jared and a few others, Reid stayed in the middle, while Emmett stayed at the back, hustling up the stragglers. Jaclyn and I kept pace with each other, greedily accepting the water bottles Jared and Edward offered as we finished. Lori was close behind us, making her way to Mike. Tyler waited a few beats before walking away, joining us further down on the court.

"Mike said he'll meet us back at the hotel," he said by way of greeting.

"Heaven help him," Jaclyn murmured. I couldn't agree more. We chatted as we layered up. The five of us left the building together, pulling our jackets closer as the wind swirled around us. Jaclyn and Jared said their goodbyes to us, heading the opposite direction. I watched as Jared sung an arm around her shoulder, pulling her close to his side.

The walk to the hotel was chilly but quick.

"Anyone up for unwinding at the pool?" Tyler asked in the elevator.

I wanted to shower then sleep for a week. With one look, Edward knew what my answer was.

"I just want to nap," I told them honestly.

"You're good if I go?" Edward verified.

I nodded as the doors opened "Of course."

The guys made quick work of changing, in only a few minutes they were shutting the door, leaving me the room to myself. My need to sleep was the only thing tempting enough to make me leave the warm shower. I didn't bother to brush my hair as I crawled across the covers, cocooning myself before letting my eyes finally shut.