Recap of Chapter 17 - I just realized I haven't done any recaps in a while ):
Jessica is now in the whole "Bella-is-dating-Edward-Cullen-secretively" secret, and things seem to be okay, right? But, when a singing group from another school, called the Harmonicals, comes to inform the gang and singing-dancing group of FSA, that they're in a singing and dancing competition that involves Aro Volturi of Volturi records, Bella and Edward have made the decision in making their friends and classmates work together, despite the Boy vs. Girls war. Now working together, will that only put Bella's and Edward's relationship at risk of exposure?
Enjoy this long awaited chapter! :)
Chapter EIGHTEEN
(Thanksgiving Break)
~Bella~
Weeks have passed, and now, Thanksgiving was around the corner. All I have to say is this - thank the almighty lord named God!
I am completely exhausted from these past couple of weeks. It's been hectic with some tests, some classes, and of course, practicing for the music challenge thing against the Harmonicals. (Jeez, that's a terrible name.)
It's been non-stop practicing for that. Doing dance moves until we collapse on the floor, singing our hearts out until we lose our voices. We've been trying to come up with songs to sing, and tried choreographing to said songs. We've also learned how this music competition thing is going to work.
These are the categories that'll be in the competition - best female vocal, best male vocal, best back-up female singers, best back-up male singers, best theatrical performance to a famous movie and the score, best choreographed song, and finally, overall best vocal group.
For the best female vocal, the best female solo singer would go up against a Harmonical female solo singer in a song, and "battle against one another" by singing; it would be up to the judges to see who was better at singing the song. The one for the guys is going to be the exact same thing like for the girls.
As for the back-up singers, two to three people are going to be singing background for the main singer, where the judges will be seeing how well they do as back-up singers; whether they do good at singing back-up, if they do good at copying any moves for the main singer, and other back-up crap like that.
The best theatrical performance to a famous movie, is basically self-explanatory. The one musical group has to pick a famous movie from a long list and with the score of the movie, they will have to dance, sing and do their best in summarizing the whole film while doing it to the score. Costumes, makeup and special effects will be added in this category, which can help the group earn big points with the judges.
The best choreographed song category, is again self-explanatory. The group has to pick a song, but instead of singing and dancing to it, they are only allowed to dance to it. That's it; just dancing. Whichever group has the better dancers and can stay with the music, will win this category.
And, finally, the overall best vocal group category. Whichever group won more categories than the other will win this one.
If both teams were to win the same amount of categories, then the teams would face off with each other in a final song that they choose on their own, and it would be up to the audience to vote for the winner by clapping for the better performance.
Anyways, now that we get to go home and spend the holiday with our families, I'll finally be able to rest my voice and get some much needed sleep.
I was inside my dorm room right now, wearing a simple grey and cream striped sweater with some old skinny jeans and grey trainers, getting all of my clothes and other things I wanted to take home, packed up. "Bella! Where are you?" I heard one of my friends call out. I looked up just in time to see my two closest friends walk into the dorm room. "Oh, there you are." Rosalie said once she spotted me. She was dressed up in a bright red cowl sweater with black skinny jeans and red high heel shoes.
"Come on, Bells. Our parents are starting to arrive, and I want to be able to say goodbye to my bitches before I have to go." Alice teased, smiling. She, the ever fashionable teen, was wearing a pink cable knit cowl-neck jumper sweater with black skinny jeans and pink ankle boots.
I laughed at her teasing, shaking my head at her. "Alright. I'll be right down." I said to them, stuffing some shirts into my suitcase. "Want any help?" Rosalie asked me, raising an eyebrow at how messily I was packing up my things. "No, no. I'm good." I assured her, shaking my head once more. "Alright then. Hurry up though." Alice said, then they left.
Within in minutes, I had finished packing up the things I wanted to bring home with me. I was satisfied with my job, and began gathering up my suitcases and bags, then I was walking towards the door. But, I was stopped dead in my tracks when I saw who was waiting there for me.
Joshua stood there, leaning against the door frame ever so casually. And, right behind him, was another face I didn't want to see. Same dirty blond hair pulled back in a ponytail, pale skin, piercing blue eyes, and leather clothing worn down by age.
James Anderson.
"Hello, Bella." Joshua greeted me, a smile on his face. James stood there, looking at me intensely with a sinister smile on his face. "Joshua. James." I greeted them curtly, trying to hide my fear from them. These two boys were obviously stronger, and could easily overpower me and my petite stature, yet I knew that if I showed any signs of terror from the sight of them being here in my room, I was screwed.
"Oh, come now; why the formal greetings? And here I thought that after everything you've been through, you would be willing to be our friend." James teased in that creepily smooth voice of his, making me inwardly shutter to myself. "Well, you're sadly mistaken if you think I'll ever be friends with two low-life people like you two. Plus, just so we're clear, Joshua, you're supposed to be staying away from me, as that is the purpose of the restraining order I have against you." I growled, scowling darkly up at him.
"And what are you going to do if I break the rule of that restraining order, Bella?" Joshua asked me tauntingly, snickering. "My father, Mr. Charlie Swan - chief of the Forks Police Department - would gladly throw you in jail for doing so. Want to test your luck with me and my police chief daddy?" I asked him in a threatening way; he blanched upon the mention of my dad, his eyes bugging out and beads of sweat appearing on his forehead - that was my answer.
"That's what I thought. Now, move." I growled at the two, where I shoved my way past the both of them and entering the hallway with my bags. "This won't be the last you'll see of us, Bella." James sang to me, smirking at me with his eyes holding an evil light to them. "Bella! There you are!" I looked around upon hearing two familiar names, and sighed in great relief when I saw Angela and Jessica walking towards me.
Both girls were dressed up for the cool fall weather; Angela in a dark grey, turtle neck and slightly large sweater, grey skinny jeans and black ballet flats, while Jessica was in a purple sweater with a black pleated skirt and purple sneakers.
"Alice and Rosalie were getting worried when you didn't show up downstairs, so we told them that we would come and get you." Angela told me when my two friends stopped beside me. Jessica was giving the stink eye to Joshua and James, while Angela looked at them nervously. "Sorry; I got held up with packing and two boys who wanted to talk." I muttered, looking over at my shoulder and glaring at said two boys.
"Well, come on; we should get downstairs now." Jessica said, where they helped me carry my bags with me while we walked down the hall and towards the stairs, where the last glimpse I had of the two boys were of them talking to each other.
"You guys don't know how thankful I am for you two showing up." I murmured to them gratefully as we walked down the steps of the stairs. "It looked like you were about to scream bloody murder up there, Bells. Were those two boys from your past or something?" Jessica asked when we entered the Sophomore level of the dorm building. "Yes; Joshua was my abusive ex-boyfriend, and James was just some creepy guy that tried to get with me while I was dating Joshua." I mumbled to her, shivering at the horrible memories that came back at me full force.
Angela saw my shiver, and raised a free hand to pat my shoulder comfortingly. "Oh. I'm sorry." Jessica replied sadly upon hearing this bit of news, frowning at me in sympathy. We were now at the stairs that would lead us to the first level of the dorms - freshmen girls' dorms and the lounge. "It's okay. It's in the past, and I know better than to hang around those two alone." I assured her, smiling.
"Maybe you should tell your dad about them being here, and maybe that'll get some teachers to help you with them." Angela offered, nodding her head firmly. "I was going to tell him anyway; I didn't want to tell him over the phone because I think in person is better." I informed her, and she agreed. "And, what about Edward?" Jessica whispered to me as we walked down the steps and passed by some senior girls who were eying us.
"I'll tell him about it too; just until we're alone and texting." I whispered back to her, not trusting the senior girls we passed, hence why I wasn't speaking any louder than now. "I feel we should get off this brooding topic of those two bastards, ladies; it's Thanksgiving Break, and I believe we all need some relaxing to catch up on. And, all this talk about those two is not going to solve your exhaustion, Bella." Angela advised me just as we reached the last step of the stairs to the first level.
"Angie's right; let's talk about something more fun and light." Jessica agreed quickly with a bright smile. With that, the three of us talked quietly about our three boys - yes, Jessica had blabbed about my secret relationship with Edward, to someone, and that someone happened to be Mike. I wasn't too sure if I could trust those two together with our secret, yet Edward had his hopes and felt confident those two wouldn't spill it. So far, he was right. And, well, with Mike in on the secret, he got to know Jessica better and the two had started dating just recently, where now we were a secret group of three couples - Edward and I, Angela and Ben, and then those two.
All in all, it was getting that much harder to keep this secret going, and away from Alice, Rosalie, Jasper and Emmett - the four people we needed to worry about, along with the rest of our friends.
Anyways, we talked about our boys quietly, all the way to the large main gate in front of the main school building and the large fountain. Our friends were waiting there, as well as some of them leaving with their parents that were outside in the parking lot, waiting in their cars.
"Took you long enough." Rosalie joked lightly when she spotted the three of us, where she was leaning against the fountain's edge, with Alice beside her. Across the fountain, Jasper, Emmett, Edward, Ben and Mike were talking to one another. Edward looked over his shoulder and spotted us, where he smiled crookedly and secretively in my direction. I smiled back at him as well, before I answered Rosalie.
"Sorry about keeping the Royal Highness waiting." I teased, where I curtsied at her, laughing my ass off. She rolled her eyes with Alice giggling beside her, while she smiled. "Come on; let's say goodbye while we can." Rosalie said, standing up straight. "Jeez, make it sound like we're never going to see each other again." Angela joked, snickering while Jessica clung to me, hugging me tightly; she said she could see her mom waiting for her.
"It's a whole week before we see each other again, Angie! I'll die without seeing all of you!" Alice cried, fake sobbing loudly while we all laughed at her. "Alice - the ever dramatic pixie." I stated, struggling to talk through my laughter. Alice merely pouted at me, yet that only made me laugh more. "I got to go, ladies. Give me a big group hug before I go!" Jessica hissed, and still hugging me, she grabbed Angela and yanked her over to us. Rosalie and Alice joined in, and soon, we were all hugging each other tightly, promising texts and phone calls every day. Then, with her stuff gathered, Jessica left, waving goodbye to us.
One by one, my lady friends were leaving. When it was only Alice and me left, and when her dad drove up, she kissed my cheek delicately and then skipped over to the grand car. Emmett and Edward were right behind with their own luggage, where Edward winked at me, sending his secret goodbye message. I winked back at him, smiling.
"Bye Bells!" Alice had shrieked out the rolled down window from her spot in the passenger seat of her car, her two adoptive brothers in the back. She waved frantically to me as they drove off, where I too waved back at her frantically, saddened that I was alone and wouldn't be really seeing my friends for an entire week.
I didn't have to wait for my dad to show up, for long. He pulled up to the curb in my old beloved rusty red truck, and parked it there. He got out, wearing a casual outfit for the cold fall weather, and walked over to me with a big grin on his face. "I've missed you, baby girl." Charlie greeted me, giving me a big warm hug. I returned it just as warmly, inhaling his musky scent. I've missed my dad deeply; sure we had the occasional phone call, but it wasn't enough for me.
"I've missed you too, dad." I murmured, squeezing him. "Come on; let's go home." Charlie said, grabbing my luggage. He put them in the truck bed, and then got in the driver's seat, where he drove us away from the school. "So, are you excited to spend a week with your old man?" Charlie asked me happily, causing me to laugh. "Of course, dad. And you're not old." I assured him, patting his shoulder. "You think I'm hip? I'm cool?" My dad teased, making me laugh loudly. "Dad, no one says hip anymore." I told him, making him chuckle.
For the rest of the ride, we talked about our plans for Thanksgiving, and other things we'll do over my break. Charlie told me that Renee would be coming over to our house for Thanksgiving dinner, while the next day, we would be going over to Jacob's place and hang out with him and his dad, Billy Black.
Charlie pulled to the familiar white house that was known as my home, driving onto the lawn and parking next to his police cruiser. "Oh, I got you something as a welcome home gift." Charlie told me as we got out of the truck. "Really? You didn't have to do that, dad." I said, going around to the back of the truck to get some bags of mine. "But, I wanted to. Beside, this gift will keep me company during the day when I'm alone and I'm missing you while you're in school." Charlie explained, getting the rest of my bags.
We walked up to the house, where he unlocked the door. Once the door was opened, we walked inside, setting my bags down beside the stairs. "I'll go get your gift." Charlie said, and then walked off, heading up the stairs. I stayed down here, looking around the house that I've come to miss. Pictures of me growing up were still on the mantle of the fireplace in the living room, while I could see some of my dad's fishing gear has been left out by the TV. He must've went fishing recently.
"Here we are, Bells." I looked up, and saw my dad coming down the stairs, carrying a small pale yellow Golden Retriever puppy. "Awww!" I cried out, smiling at the sight of the adorable puppy. "His name is Scooter. I adopted him from the local animal shelter here, and I had a feeling you would love him." Charlie told me with a grin on his face.
Once he was right beside me, I was able to get a closer look at Scooter; he was small, pudgy, and his the biggest set of bright blue eyes ever. "I love him dad. Thank you so much!" I told him thankfully, where I hugged him around the shoulders. "You're welcome, Bells." Charlie said, then gestured Scooter towards me; "Now, you want to hold him?" "Okay, sure." I said hesitantly, and let my dad give me the puppy.
I held the puppy gingerly in my hands, letting him sniff me. "I had Jacob help me install a doggy door for him once I had gotten him. And, he sleeps up in my bedroom for now, so I can keep an eye on the little bugger." Charlie told me, reaching over and petting the small head of Scooter.
"He's so cute, dad." I gushed over the little puppy, nuzzling my nose into his head. "Well, I'm going to go into town and get some more dog food for him; he's running a little low on it." Charlie told me, walking around me while grabbing the keys to the truck again. "You'll be fine on your own for a bit, right?" Charlie asked me when he walked over to the door. "I'll be perfectly fine, dad." I assured him, smiling at him. He smiled back, said goodbye, then walked out the door before shutting it behind him once he had officially left the house.
I walked up the stairs, and entered my old bedroom. Some of the things I could move when I went to FSA in the beginning of August, were still here - such as my dresser, my computer desk with the computer still put together, and my bed. Other than that, it was pretty bare in here. I set Scooter down on the bed, and then began walking out of the room.
A whimpering noise had me turning around. I saw that Scooter was crying for me, and looked ready to jump off the bed. "Scooter, no. You can stay in here, you silly puppy. I don't want you getting my way when I bring my stuff up here and I don't want to hurt you if you do." I said to him. He still cried, but thankfully, he sat back and waited for me.
I went back downstairs and carried my stuff up the stairs to my room. Once that was over with, I decided to put away some of my clean clothes while I took a few of my dirty clothes back down the stairs and into the little laundry room in the house, where I put them in the washer.
Just as I was about to walk up the stairs, someone knocked on the door. My eyebrows furrowing, I walked over to the door, peeking through the peep hole to see who was on the other side. Who I saw, had me smiling and throwing the door wide open. "Jacob!" I squealed, jumping up and throwing my arms around his thick neck.
Jacob chuckled, wrapping his coat covered arms around my back and squeezed me tightly. "Missed me, Bells?" Jacob's deep teenage boy voice asked me, where I laughed and nodded my head against his shoulder. We pulled away from each other, where I saw his toothy grin sported on his face, his brown eyes alight with happiness. "You cut your long hair." I noted, reaching up on my toes to ruffle his now shaggy black hair; this summer, when I just last saw him, he had long black hair.
"Yeah, my dad was bugging me to cut, saying I looked like a girl." Jacob grumbled, frowning. "But, you're Indian, and most of the guys down at the beach, they have their hair all long." I noted, and Jacob nodded. "Except my dad was able to convince most of the 'rents down there to order us teen boys to cut our hair." Jacob added, sighing irritated.
"Well, this look is good too." I commented, and Jacob laughed, but then shivered when a strong wind blew in. "Oh, I'm so sorry, Jake! Come on in; you're probably freezing your ass out here." I said apologetically, and ushered him inside my warm house, shutting the door behind him. I heard crying coming from up the stairs, where I walked over to them while Jacob shrugged off his heavy parka.
I looked up and saw Scooter waiting there. "Scooter, don't move you silly puppy." I said while hurrying up the stairs. He barked a high pitched yelp, and ran off, heading towards my dad's room. I sighed, but stopped short when I heard a low buzzing. I turned and walked into my room before I found my phone on my bed and it was ringing. I picked it up, and saw that it was Edward who was calling.
Smiling while biting my lip, I answered with a "Hey, you."
"Hey babe. I miss you." Edward's sweet velvety voice had my heart racing. God, I've missed hearing his smooth, sexy voice. "I miss you more." I replied in a quiet murmur. "Impossible. I know for sure I miss you more." Edward argued playfully, chuckling. I giggled, but I stopped short when I heard him hissing, "Abby, get down from there!" "And who might be in the same room with you, babe?" I asked him, hoping it wasn't another girl.
"My kitten, Abby. She's getting up on my dresser." Edward grumbled, and I sighed with relief; he heard it. "You silly beautiful girl. Did you think there was a girl in the room with me?" Edward asked me, a hint of amusement in his tone. "... Maybe." I mumbled, and I blushed in embarrassment. Edward let out a chuckle but then his tone was serious when he said, "Please. There's no other girl in the room with me - the only one I want in here is you, sweetie."
I swooned at how romantic he was being, and replied to him, saying, "I wish I was there with you too." "If only you could. But, I know for sure that if you were here, Alice would immediately kidnap you and keep you as far from me as possible." Edward murmured to me sadly, where he sighed just as sad.
"True..." I mumbled, frowning. But then, I got a sudden idea. "But, she wouldn't be able to do that if you here at my house." I told him, smiling to myself. "Now that is an idea I like a lot." Edward said happily, and I giggled. "So, do you want to come over? I can give you the directions if you want to." I asked him eagerly, where my heart was pounding at the thought of him coming over here. "Of course I do, my brilliant woman." Edward's reply had my heart soaring by then.
I told him the directions, and with promises of being over soon, we hung up on each other. Just as we did, Jacob peeked his head in the doorway. "Who'd you just get off the phone with?" he asked me innocently while I stood up from my bed. "Uh... a friend." I muttered, blushing. I moved around him and walked the stairs with him following me.
"Hmm, and who is this friend of yours?" Jacob asked me when we reached the last step. "Umm..." I stuttered, hurrying into the kitchen. I wasn't sure if I should tell him or my dad about my secret boyfriend. They both didn't want boys around me after the whole Joshua era, but they were only doing it for my protection. I appreciated it to an extent, but with Edward coming over, I'd rather have him leave here intact.
"Bella..." Jacob trailed off, looking at me sternly with one eyebrow raised. "A... guy... that I know..." I stammered truthfully, but refused to look at him. I heard him give out a growl, and I sighed to myself. "Look, he's my boyfriend -" I was cut off when he growled even louder. "But, he is not like that scum bag. He's kind, he's gentle, he's intelligent, and he's chivalrous. He wouldn't harm me." I quickly defended him.
"Who wouldn't harm you?" my dad's voice cut in. I looked up and saw him standing in the doorway, carrying a large bag of dog food and a scowl on his face. "Uh..." I stuttered once more. "Bella's new boyfriend." Jacob grumbled to my dad; shit. Thanks a lot Jacob - just throw me to the dogs, why don't you? I thought bitterly, where I glared over at him.
"A boyfriend...?" Charlie trailed off questioningly, looking over at me skeptically. I looked up at him and nodded my head, just as I heard a car door slamming outside. "And that would be him." I said, hurriedly moving my way out of the kitchen. Slipping on some boots quickly, I opened the door and smiled. Edward was walking up the cement walkway, wearing a large dark coat, dark pants and shoes, and a green scarf was wrapped around his neck.
"Edward!" I cried, running down to him. He looked up, eyes wide when he saw me running, and he caught me when I jumped up and wrapped my arms around his neck along with my legs wrapping around his waist. Edward let out a happy laugh and spun us around, before he pulled back and kissed me tenderly on the lips. I sighed into him and my fingers found their way into his hair - into their home.
When we needed air, we pulled back and panted into each other's faces. "Hi." Edward breathed to me, a dazed grin on his face. "Hi." I echoed him, smiling up at him. He set me down on my feet but kept his strong arms around my waist. He looked over my head but quickly looked down at me. "Um... I think the man with the mustache who's glaring at me is your dad, but who's the guy next to him who's also glaring at me?" Edward whispered to me, sounding a little frightened.
I looked behind me, and saw that Jacob and Charlie were standing in the doorway, arms crossed and matching glares to go with it.
"Yes, you were right, and the guy next to him is my family friend, Jacob Black. So, play nice with him." I whispered to him, knowing that he might get jealous with him. "I have a feeling I'm not welcomed here." Edward muttered to me, glancing back at them nervously. "Well, they'll have to suck up their hate and just deal. I invited you, and you're coming in that house whether they like it or not." I whispered to him, reaching up and stroking his cheek.
He smiled down at me, but still looked just a tad bit nervous. I then turned around in his arms and led up to the house, where we entered with the guys glaring at my boyfriend.
Let the interrogation begin...
A/N: I'm back with a new chapter! And, I hope I did well with this one. I had so much trouble trying to figure out what to do here in this one, but I finally figured out what to do, and I'm quite pleased that I made it all the way to the end of it. :D
Poor Ed; he won't catch a break with Jacob and Charlie. XD
Please review if you liked the chapter, and votes to my poll on my profile would be greatly appreciated~ It would make me very happy if you went to vote. :3
Oh, and, in a couple of chapters or so, there might be a lemon or not... But, you'll just have to wait and see ;D (That'll also begin a whole slew of drama...)
Bye for now,
~*Lady Lily of Darkness*~