Impasse
Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to SM.
Ambush Numero Uno
The next morning at breakfast Bella ate slowly, chewing each bite with care. When she was done, she washed the bowl and spoon, and put them away. Her feet dragged as she got ready to go to school for the day. Charlie had already left for work, so she was alone in the house.
After Jacob had left, she'd had a very bad night. She had tried to sleep, but her subconscious kept dredging up the exact images she had been trying desperately to avoid. In the end she had given up trying to find some rest, grabbing her bathroom bag, and heading for the shower.
The shower hadn't lasted as long as she hoped it would. Even taking the time to blow dry her hair, she was soon out of things to do in the bathroom. Pulling on a comfy pair of sweats and form fitting long-sleeved t-shirt, Bella knew she couldn't delay the inevitable.
It was foggy and dark outside her window, a great match for her sour mood. As Bella stepped outside, the air was so smoky with the thick fog that she could hardly see two feet in front of her. The mist was ice cold where it clung to the exposed skin on her face and neck. She couldn't wait to get the heat going in her truck. It was such a thick fog that she was a few feet down the driveway before she realized there was a car parked on it; a silver car.
Bella's heart immediately stuttered, and then picked up in double time. She didn't see where he came from, but suddenly Edward was there, pulling the door open for her.
"I couldn't let you try and drive in such terrible weather like this." He said congenially. He looked amused by her surprised expression, though there was a hint of uncertainty in his tone that she might refuse.
At first, Bella was going to do just that. Then she remembered the fight she'd had with Jacob the night before. The same irrational anger that she had felt at his perceived betrayal propelled her to stupidly agree to Edward's request.
"Yes, thank you." She said, trying to keep her voice calm. As she slid into the warm car, she settled rigidly in her seat, staring straight ahead. The door closed behind her, and, sooner than should be possible, Edward was sitting next to her, starting the car.
"Thank you for agreeing to come with me." Edward's expression was unreadable as he spoke. Bella noticed he wore no jacket himself, unlike her thick rain jacket. Like Jacob he must be immune to the cold. Thinking of her erstwhile best friend sent her mood plummeting, and she began to regret ever agreeing to get in the car. Too late now.
"We are going straight to the school, right?" She checked.
"Of course." Edward confirmed, glancing at her quickly.
They drove through the fog-shrouded streets, always too fast, making Bella feel a tad frightened. Her initial thought had been to use this brief window of time to ask him some questions and let him know that she knew what he was now. But she suddenly found herself too tongue-tied to speak.
Edward turned to face her, taking his eyes completely off the road. "Is there anything you want to ask me, Bella?"
"I'm not sure." Bella replied tautly. "Can you keep your eyes on the road, please? And maybe slow down while you're at it."
Edward seemed to find what she said amusing. He smirked, chuckling darkly. "Just like old times." He murmured.
Bella frowned. "What's so funny?"
"Nothing." Edward was still laughing. "Its just you always used to comment on my driving. And I always reassured you that you're perfectly safe."
Bella didn't respond as a faint flicker of a memory began to make itself felt on the edges of her subconscious. She hastily pushed it away. She didn't want to remember anything heartwarming about their relationship.
"You're a vampire." She announced flatly.
Edward's didn't respond, and Bella wondered if he was angry at her bald pronouncement. His face remained inscrutable as he drove into the school parking lot. Something occurred to her belatedly. "Where's your family?"
Every time she had seen him drive into school he had been accompanied by his so-called siblings.
"They took Rosalie's car." Edward shrugged as he parked next to a glossy red convertible with the top up. "Ostentatious, isn't it?"
"That's the ice princess' car?" Bella questioned dubiously. She recalled the look of utter contempt that often shone in the beautiful blonde's eyes whenever she happened to glance her way. "She hates me, doesn't she?"
"She doesn't hate you." Edward sighed. "Rosalie has issues."
"One of them being that she is a blood drinking monster." Bella blurted out before she could stop herself.
A pained expression twisted Edward's angelic features at her words. "I know that Jacob Black told you what I am – however, I expect he only gave you the biased version."
Bella turned her head to look at Edward incredulously. "How do you know about that?" She exclaimed.
"He and I had a little talk last night after you threw him out." Edward revealed, his expression darkening.
"You were staking out my house again?" Bella accused, raising her voice.
"Please don't shout, Bella. We don't want anyone to overhear our conversation." Edward cautioned.
Bella wasn't in the mood to listen. It sickened her, realizing that Edward must have overheard the entire conversation she'd had with Jacob the night before, including their argument. It explained why he had decided to turn up her house out of the blue like this. He must have misconstrued what she had said to Jacob, giving him false hope that her feelings would thaw toward him now that she was aware of what he was, and because she had sent Jacob away.
"That conversation was private. You had no right to listen in!"
Without another word Bella shoved open the car door and climbed out. Before she had even made it to the front of the Volvo, Edward met her, looking very contrite. He stayed very close to her side as she marched toward the campus. Each time Bella moved a little to put some space between them, Edward would automatically close the gap. He was making her very feel very nervous and agitated.
"Bella, I am so very sorry if anything in my recent behavior has made you feel uncomfortable. It has just been so difficult for me to keep my distance, knowing how much you needed my protection. You have no idea of the constant strain I have been under, knowing of the daily peril you were in being around Jacob Black so much. And when he transformed that made it all so much worse. I had no choice but to keep a close eye on you. You do not understand the torment I was in, anxiously wondering if he would lose control of himself and hurt you."
"What are you blathering on about?" Bella demanded. She felt braver now that they had reached the shelter of the cafeteria's roof. She noticed Jessica Stanley looking in their direction, her eyes about to bug out of her head. "Hi, Jessica." She greeted her when they were a few feet away.
"Good morning, Jessica." Edward said politely. He gave Jessica a dazzling smile.
"Er…. hi?" Jessica made her responding greeting sound like a question, clearly bemused to see Bella and Edward together again as she tried to gather her jumbled thoughts. "Um…. I guess I'll see you in Trig, Bella." She gave Bella a meaningful look, before walking off with many a backward glance.
"She's off to tell everyone that we're back together." Edward confided to Bella in amusement.
"What?" Bella hissed. "How could you possibly know something like that?"
"I thought – oh, of course - you don't remember everything. I need to remind myself of that." Edward murmured, sighing in disappointment.
Bella ignored him, groaning internally as she realized she was going to have to ambush Jessica in class and stop the rumor mill before it had a chance to circulate the entire school.
"So, what are you going to tell her?"
Bella glanced over at Edward in annoyance. In her worry over Jessica, she had forgotten that he was even there. "I'm going to tell her the truth."
"Which is?"
Edward seemed to be holding his breath waiting for her answer. Until Bella remembered that he probably didn't actually need to breathe. At least she didn't think so.
"That you're a bloodsucking parasite that has no conception of boundaries, of course." She snapped, stalking off and joining the swarming crowds of other students before he had a chance to respond.
Bella hurried into her first class of the day, flushed, and irritated with herself. She should never have gotten in the car with Edward. She had let her anger toward Jacob override her good sense. Now she was even more worried about what she was going to say to Jessica. She sat in her seat, slamming her bag down in aggravation.
"Morning, Bella." Mike said from the seat next to her. She looked up to see an odd, almost resigned look on his face. "So…. you and Cullen, huh?"
Jeez, Jessica hadn't wasted any time, damn her! Bella thought viciously.
"There is no me and Cullen!" Bella snapped back at him, losing her temper all over again.
Mike was taken aback by her forceful reply, but despite this his eyes brightened. He smiled at her. "Good to know. I guess I heard wrong."
"I guess you did." Bella muttered darkly.
Mr. Mason called the class to order then, asking everyone to turn in their papers. English and then Government passed in a blur, while Bella worried about how to explain things to Jessica, while also agonizing over her stupidity about getting into the car with Edward in the first place, and worrying about Jacob and what he would think when he found out.
The fog had almost dissolved by the end of the second hour, but the day was still dark with low, oppressing clouds.
When Bella walked into Trig Jessica was sitting in the back row, nearly bouncing off her seat in agitation. Bella reluctantly went to sit by her, convincing herself to try and remain calm.
"Tell me everything." Jessica commanded before Bella even sat down.
"There is nothing to tell." Bella answered sharply. "Although you've done a good job already spreading the false rumor of me and Edward getting back together."
Jessica glared at Bella, her expression stiff with annoyance. "I saw you drive in together."
"So?" Bella retorted, digging in her bag for her text book. "He ambushed me at my house. I couldn't exactly get rid of him."
Jessica's lips puckered in disappointment at the transparent honesty in her voice. "So you are definitely not a thing again?"
"No." Bella confirmed curtly. "Now will you stop telling everyone we're back together?"
"Fine." Jessica agreed irritably. "Although I don't understand why you are being so hostile. He is so rich and handsome. I wouldn't say no. You are so weird, Bella. I've always thought that."
"I'd rather be weird than bitchy." Bella countered in the same curt tone.
Jessica made a face, clearly getting the message now. Then, thankfully, Mr. Varner called on Jessica for an answer and she was forced to concentrate.
The two girls didn't speak again during the rest of class, and soon as the bell rang, Bella took evasive action and quickly made a run for it.
But she wasn't quick enough because someone was already waiting to accost her in the hallway - and this time it wasn't Edward Cullen.
A/N-thanks for reading!