The next few days went quite slow, I hadn't been back to school as dads request of me just taking it easy, Bella had been keeping me updated and from the sounds of it I'm glad I wasn't there as according to her we still found ourselves at the centre of attention for the rest of that week following the accident, Bella said Tyler Crowley was impossible, following her around obsessed with making amends to her somehow. She had tried to convince him that she wanted nothing more than for him to forget all about it, especially since in her words nothing had actually happened to her, but he remained insistent. He had followed her between classes and sat at our lunch table every day.
Bella just as I thought wouldn't let the Edward situation go and was now sat telling me about how she wondered why no one else had seen him standing so far away us, before he was suddenly, impossibly saving her life, she said she knew I wouldn't have dived out of the way and why I wasn't confused by it all too. I was.
I wouldn't feed into her thoughts but I knew the truth, they wasn't there and it was impossible to get to us that fast, Bella had told me all about the conversation with Edward and I just didn't believe it, adrenaline rush my arse, there was no possible way he could have put a dent in the van, something was going on, I knew no one else must have noticed anything, most likely because the Cullens were never surrounded by crowds of curious bystanders eager for his first-hand account. People avoided them as usual. The Cullens and the Hales still sat at the same table as always, not eating, talking only among themselves Bella said, apparently when Edward sat next to her in class, he sat as far from her as the table would allow, he seemed totally unaware of her presence. Only now and then, when his fists would suddenly ball up did Bella even notice he was actually alive, so Bella had come up with the only logical option to her that Edward wished he wished he hadn't pulled her from the path of Tyler 's van, I knew this was ridiculous, something else was going on. And I would find out.
The snow had washed away for good after that one dangerously icy day by the following week, it was my first day back at school and was now sat outside with everyone as we waited for the bell to go,
Mike was disappointed he'd never gotten to stage his snowball fight, but pleased that the beach trip would soon be possible. The rain continued heavily, though and was annoyed the beach would have to wait a few more weeks.
Jessica was chatting to Bella quietly at the side of me, I turned my attention and listened in to her telling Bella of another event looming on the horizon, the Spring dance.
Apparently the spring dance was the big dance that everyone was obsessed with and she was even more stressed as apparently it was girl's choice, I saw Bella suddenly pale at the sound of this, Bella hated attention and now apparently Jessica was asking her permission to invite Mike to the girls' choice spring dance,
"Are you sure you don't mind… you weren't planning to ask him?" she persisted when Bella muttered that she didn't mind in the least.
"No, Jess, I'm not going" Bella assured her. Dancing was definitely outside of Bella's range of abilities.
"It will be really fun" Her attempt to convince her although you could definitely tell it was half hearted,
"You have fun with Mike" Bella encouraged, I smiled at Bella letting her know I was on her side whenever she needed me.
The bell went and we quickly made our way inside,
"not feeling the dance?" I whispered to Bella joking, she scowled at me,
"very funny, you're the dancer not me" Bella stated, this was true I definitely was more coordinated than my twin, I actually loved dances but mostly missed them so Bella wouldn't be uncomfortable, I laughed and then parted from them and headed off to my classes.
It was just after Spanish class just before I walked to lunch when Mike suddenly approached me he stood next to me with an uncomfortable look on his face,
"can I help you Mike?" I asked sort of not wanting to hear the answer,
"So, Jessica asked me to the spring dance " Mike said, looking at the floor, I suddenly paled, oh no,
"That's great, I'm sure you'll have a lot of fun with Jessica " I made my voice bright and enthusiastic although all I wanted to do was run, suddenly I felt the hairs on the back on my neck stand on edge and glanced to see Emmett, Edward and Lucas all stood about five feet away leaning on the lockers,
"Well… I told her I had to think about it " He floundered clearly not happy with my response, I quickly turned back to him,
"Why would you do that? That's ridiculous" I asked confused, his face was bright red as he looked down again.
"I was wondering if… well, if Bella might be planning to ask me" he stammered out, I almost let out a laugh which I had to cover with a cough,
I paused for a moment, trying to decide how to answer, truthfully I had no idea what to say, out of the corner of my eye, I could have sworn Edward's head tilt reflexively in my direction,
"Mike, I think you should tell her yes, I think Bella is skipping the dance to be honest" I said fiddling with the strap on my shoulder bag,
"well how about you? Are you planning on asking me?" Mike mumbled looking like a tomato, I opened my mouth and then suddenly closed it, did he actually just ask that after he asked if my sister was thinking of taking him? I heard the booming of laughter and glanced to see Emmett laughing and Lucas hitting the back of his head and Edward smirking, I blushed and turned back to Mike,
"Did you already ask someone?" Mike asked glancing towards the Cullens, I wanted to ground to swallow me whole, I thought for a moment,
"no, but Mike I'm sorry but I won't be asking you, I've already got a date, but I think you and Jessica should go together" I said trying to be a nice as I could although I wanted to punch him, I was never going to accept second best.
"Yeah, you're right," he mumbled and turned, dejected, to walk towards the cafeteria. I closed my eyes and pressed my fingers to my temples, trying to push the guilt and anger. The only thing now was who the hell was I going to take? I opened and dared to glance again towards to Cullens to see Edward was staring at me curiously, but Emmett was staring at me with his familiar look frustration even more distinct now in his black eyes, the colour made me confused, where had the gold gone?
I shook my head and went to walk off when a voice pulled me back,
"Liliana?" Emmett's voice came from behind me, I turned and jumped to see he was suddenly stood right there and not with his family, I was a little confused but quickly answered,
"oh hi" I replied wanting to slap myself already for the lame response,
"I couldn't help but over hear, he was a jerk" Emmett stated rubbing the back of his head with his hand like he was uncomfortable, I was suddenly confused,
"Mike? Why?" I asked confused,
"you don't deserve to be asked to anything as second best" Emmett grinned at me, his perfect white teeth almost dazzling me,
"see you later Lil" Emmett grinned and quickly walked off down the hall, I was lost for words. A new nickname? Emmett complementing me? What the hell was happening?
I was walking with Bella towards the cafeteria telling her about what had just happened when we rounded the corner and saw a tall, dark figure leaning
against the door of the cafeteria, I realized it was just Eric,
"Hey, Eric," Bella said as we approached,
"Hi, Bella." Eric said quite nervous, I suddenly had a bad feeling about this,
"What's up?" Bella said as she went to grab the door, she clearly didn't notice the uncomfortable feeling that was descending on us all as you could clearly see his next words took her by surprise.
"Uh, I was just wondering… if you would go to the spring dance with me? " His voice
broke on the last word, I grinned and couldn't believe this, this was amazing,
"I thought it was girls' choice" Bella blurted out, too startled to be diplomatic.
"Well, yeah," he admitted, shamefaced, I stood there loving this and wishing I could record this,
Bella quickly recovered her composure and tried to smile, but was still just opening her mouth and not responding,
"I'm afraid she can't Eric, she doesn't want to go with you and has made different plans" I explained taking the attention off Bella,
"Oh, no worries, Well, maybe next time" Eric said smiling at Bella trying not to show his disappointment,
"Sure" Bella agreed, and then bit her lip. I guessed she didn't want him to take that too literally, luckily he slouched off opposite way to the cafeteria,
"you so owe me" I laughed at turned to her,
"Liliana that was awful, you could have let him down gentle" Bella scolded me, I laughed,
"do you care? I wouldn't" I laughed and dragged her into the room, we quickly went to our seats,
Jessica was bouncing in her seat as we sat down,
"got ants in your pants?" I asked joking, she grinned,
"Mike accepted, were going to the dance together!" she almost screamed in delight, Bella congratulated her and I smiled almost feeling bad that she literally was the last choice he wanted,
"we just need someone for Angela and Bella now" Jessica said smiling at Bella, I was confused, hello? What about me?
"maybe Angela should ask Eric?" I suggested, Bella smiled,
"that would be perfect! But who for Bella? How about Tyler?" Jessica grinned glancing at Tyler who sat at the edge of the table waiting for the other boys to arrive, here we go again I thought
"Bella is skipping, she has plans" I said to Jessica she frowned for a second,
"that's a shame, who did you ask anyway? Everyone is wondering" Tyler asked suddenly butting in the conversation, Bella looked at me confused,
"Mike has told everyone you already have a date apparently you told him" Tyler said answering Bellas questioning look, damn you Mike,
"well actually. . . you will have to wait and see, he doesn't hang around with us" I answered trying to dig myself out of the hole, he nodded a bit confused now himself too,
"excuse me, I'm just going to grab a drink" I said and quickly got up and headed over to the counter before Bella could bombard me with any questions,
I grabbed a bottle of water and quickly paid putting the change into my purse, unfortunately knocking the bottle to the floor in the process, I groaned and went to pick it up when a white hand flashed out and grabbed it before I could. I jerked upright. Emmett Cullen was stood right in front of me, holding the water bottle,
"How do you do that?" I asked in amazed irritation.
"Do what?" He held out my bottle to me as he spoke. As I took it from his hands again a chill running up my arm when my fingers brushed his,
"Appear out of thin air, like some kind of magician" I answered smiling at him trying to be friendly,
"Lil, it's not my fault if you are exceptionally unobservant, even in the presence of a god." His voice was like a angel and let out a small musical laugh at the end.
I jokily scowled at perfect face, before noticing that that his eyes were light again now, a deep, golden honey colour. Then I had to look down, to reassemble my now-tangled thoughts, those were the same eyes I had looked at less than ten minutes ago but before they were pitch black,
"what's with the Lil anyway?" I asked trying to change the subject, he looked panicked for a minute,
"you prefer Liliana?" he asked genuinely, I smiled,
"no, it's fine I like Lil, no one has ever called me that before" I answered smiling, he grinned his big boyish grin,
"good, it's my nickname for you, no one else's" he said almost sounding protective, I smiled and blushed a little,
"so you're the new hot gossip hey?" he asked gesturing over to my lunch table, I glanced to see them all staring at me and Emmett, as I turned back I saw in fact nearly all the room was staring at us, I blushed,
"how do you know it's not you?" I asked grinning, Emmett laughed again,
"nope definitely about you and your date to the dance, Mike has been asking everyone if it's them, so come on who is?" Emmett asked, I wondered why he was so intrigued,
"why do you want to know? Jealous?" I asked joking with him, he smiled down at me,
"maybe I am" he stated, I was lost for words, what on earth was I meant to say to that,
"ye right, you could have literally anyone in this school" I said smiling, knowing he was so far out of my league,
"maybe I wanted you" he grinned cheekily, I opened my mouth to try and find an answer,
"Emmett, leave the poor girl alone, not everyone thinks you're a god, I'm Alice, I love your shoes" the black haired pixie suddenly appeared next to Emmett, I smiled at her the energy coming off of her was addictive,
"thanks, I got them last year in Florida, I'm Lil" I said politely using Emmett's nickname for me,
"that's Liliana to you, did you want something" Emmett said down at Alice almost sounding annoyed at Alice,
"Lucas is looking for you, he sent me to find you, it's nice to meet you Liliana, I know we will be spending so much time together" Alice said ignoring Emmett's tone, why did she sound so sure of herself?
"nice to meet you too, I'll see you later" I said and Alice quickly grinned at me before pulling Emmett away towards there table, I was surprised by her strength and blushed when Emmett turned back around giving me a little smile, I smiled back and then walked back over to the table trying to ignore all the stares.
"what the hell was that!?" Jessica almost screamed as I sat down, I looked confused at her,
"what?" I asked innocently,
"Emmett and Alice Cullen! They spoke to you! They never speak to anyone" Jessica exclaimed,
"she's actually right for once, they think everyone else is below them" Tyler added in stealing a fry on Jessica's plate, I tried not to look annoyed
"maybe that's because everyone treats them like a disease and doesn't talk to them, they are all really nice" I said firmly defending them, I glanced over at their table to see a range of facial expressions coming from them, Emmett was ginning at me, Alice gave me a little wave to which I replied with one, Lucas and Jasper were smiling a little, Rosalie looked almost disinterested in me but Edward was once again scowling at me, maybe I over estimated them when I said they were all nice, I was starting to get the impression that Edward maybe even hated me.
