The Diner is lit up with people talking, laughing and eating as Edward and I stand outside on the sidewalk, in front of a row of parked cars… one waiting on the other to speak first.
He's so stubborn... so full of pride.
"Did you have a good time at your girlfriend's party the other night?"
"How do know that was my girlfriend?" He lifts one brow to suggest that maybe she wasn't his girlfriend. Or perhaps just one of them.
"I honestly didn't ask you out here for that."
"Mmm-hmm." He smirks at me and it makes me want to punch him in the face.
"I wanted to talk to you about my car."
He starts digging in his pocket for his keys, because he couldn't possibly stand still long enough to listen to me and give me his attention.
"What about your car?" He drives his fingers through his hair and finishes, "I brought it back to you in better condition than it was before you drunkenly railed me. What could you possibly need with it now?"
I eye him with disgust. "Why are you like this?" I ask him as calmly as possible but I'm sure he can sense my frustration.
"Like what?" He shakes his head and looks confused, spreading a sly smile. Playing games, always. He knows what I mean.
"I don't know… just… how you are." I toss my hand in his direction, pointing out his body language and his attitude. "Do you treat everyone like they're beneath you, or just me?"
"Beneath me, in what sense?" He cocks a brow and I'm definitely gonna kick him in the dick.
When I stand seething with no response he can sense my anger and he continues with an irritated tone, "Well, in my defense, you are the only drunk driver who's ever hit me from behind." He says it loud, and I'm embarrassed, hoping no one heard.
"Jesus, settle down?" I look up to him, shaking my head and continue "Like, ease up or something… I just want the bill. I don't want or need anything from you. I just want to pay what I owe …" He starts nodding his head like he's going to speak but I hold up a finger and continue, "And when you dropped it off that morning I didn't get a chance to ask you and I never got a bill in the mail. I just wanna pay you."
"You didn't get one because you don't owe one. You don't owe anything."
His keys are in his hands and he's tight lipped. I hear the sounds of a bike in the distance as we step aside to let a rowdy bunch of kids by.
"How is that possible? I know you had to get parts and paint. I know your guys spent three days working on it. I know that stuff isn't free."
He leans into me, speaking slowly like he does sometimes, talking to me like I'm a kid. "Like I said, I took care of it. You don't owe me anything."
"I don't want your handouts. Just let me pay you."
"Can't you just thank me and get over it?" He has a mean look on his face, speaking quietly now.
I notice Jake pulling into the parking lot and I watch him as he rumbles by in front of us, not looking our way. My eyes trail him as he pulls to the back right corner of the lot but I turn back to Edward and reluctantly thank him.
"Thank you."
"Actually, you know what? Don't thank me. Thank Charlie."
I look up at him confused. "What does that mean?"
"Let's just say that I owe Charlie."
I'm stunned silent. Standing here staring at him with my mouth open.
"I gotta get outta here, kid. It just got a little too crowded for me. Maybe I'll see you around?"
I see Jake stepping off his bike, looking this way. He's got a peculiar look on his face but I look back to Edward, head full of confusion and say, "Yeah… maybe so."
He takes two backward steps and turns with a "Later," and I have so many questions but I put them all on hold for another time… when I can think straight.
Jake starts walking this way and I run up to catch Edward before he gets in his car.
"Hey!" I grab his arm and he turns.
"I don't need it, but I do appreciate it. Just want you to know that."
"Yeah… okay." He turns to open his door.
"Hey, Bella?" I look back to him, holding his car door open, one arm draped over the hood. "I watched you staring the other night. Did you like what you saw?" He has an evil taunting smirk as he waits to capture my surprised expression before hopping in, closing his door, and reversing... peeling out of the parking lot.
Asshole.
That's cool, though. I eye Jake walking towards me and I physically reel with delight at the thought of rubbing Jake in Edward's face the next chance I get as I walk towards him.
The smell of burnt rubber fills the air and I listen as Edward speeds down the road, away from here.
When I meet Jake at the door, he brings his arm around me, looking at me with his bright eyes and his big dimpled smile, "Hey angel."
He makes me feel wanted. I like his affection.
He opens the door for me and we spot Alice and Ang in a booth and slide in with them. Alice looks up to Jake, "What are you doing here?" as he slides in beside me.
"Had some business to handle… saw this pretty thing outside when I got here…" He looks to me, with his arm stretched out behind me, tucking me into him. He smiles at me and it makes me feel beautiful. When he stretches his knees apart, I don't even think about it, I put my hand on his thigh. I like how freely he touches me and how he likes it when I touch him.
Leaning in, he softly kisses me on the cheek, coming closer and closer to my lips until his lips are on mine and a crumpled paper towel hits us. Alice taunts us with "Get a room, losers," from across the table.
We stop kissing and I stick my tongue out at Alice, but Jake doesn't take his eyes or his hands off of me. The way he reveres me gives me butterflies.
Jake Black is larger than life. He has a ton of charisma, lighting up a room when he walks in… he demands attention. He's that type of guy. He knows all the right people, all the right things to say, he knows how to carry himself and he gets respect everywhere he goes. Add his exceedingly good looks to that? He's the perfect guy.
Have you ever had a perfect guy and tried your hardest to make yourself fall in love with him, but for some reason, you just know that he's not the one, so you just settle and enjoy it? He's that guy for me. But I don't actually have-him, have him. We aren't official.
He evades to it a lot, bringing up the girlfriend title but changing the subject instantly, so there's a constant push and pull that keeps me interested. Jake never shows all of his cards, another reason why I like him so much.
Alice stabs a slice of apple with her fork, dipping it into the scoop of ice cream and feeds Angela a bite. They're so in love that sometimes it's just gross. Maybe I'm just jealous though. I wanna be in gross love too.
I've thought it over several times, though. The excitement I feel when I'm with Jake is wonderful. The attraction is definitely there, but there's a certain element that's missing.
The chemistry.
That comfortable chemistry I have with the inked boy I can't touch. It's the kind of chemistry where we can just sit beside each other, in silence, and do nothing, say nothing, but be entirely content. The kind of chemistry where happiness surrounds me and hugs so tight it blinds me to everything else around.
I can look at Briggs and say more with my eyes and mind than I could ever speak out loud to Jake. And that's just it. There's a certain sort of silent, mutual understanding, comfort and happiness that I can't reproduce with anyone else, but Briggs.
If I could just bottle that up and pour it into this thing with me and Jake, I could be in love, like Alice and Ang, too.
Hell, maybe I'm already in love. With someone that I can't have. Maybe that's what's wrong with me.
A big guy with an apron comes to the table, holding his hand out to Jake. "What's up, Black?" They fold fingers, sliding their hands into a shake and then fist bump.
"Nothin' man, just stoppin' by to see Paul for a minute. He here?"
"Yeah, yeah. He's in the back, I'll go tell him you're here."
"Alright, thanks man. I'll be back in a minute."
He gives me a squeeze and asks me if he can call me later. I smile and nod yes at him, because of course he can.
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Later at Alice's, Rose has come over and she keeps talking about this Desert Drag thing.
She says it's this secret race that happens once a year and only certain people know about it. There'll be music, drinks, and fun on top of the adrenaline of the race. She says that everyone "that matters" will be there and it's gonna be the best time and she's gonna buy all of us "some good stuff" so we can all be "on her level."
If she means what I think she means, I'll be numb. Which means, I'm in. Desert Drag or not.
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A/N: I had zero time to edit this, I'm sure it's a mess, so please just forgive all the errors. See you soon :)