I'm trying to get these turned out, I promise! But I appreciate ALL the things you guys have had to say about my little story. Your reviews are giving me life right now. Also, I apologize in advance if I couldn't make what is about to happen translate well in text. I blame Emmett. He was insistent.
The song for this chapter is Coincidance by Handsome Dancer.
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Disclaimer: I'm only doing this for a friend. I don't get anything from it but her undying appreciation. I certainly don't get to have fun with Emmett and the boys in my head.
Chapter Twelve: Coincidance
BPOV
The last week of my suspension passed pretty uneventfully. Alice picked up my makeup work for me and we spent a couple of hours together working on our missed assignments. I was practically itching to return to school but I was also wary of what gossip would follow me when I returned. The sheer amount of unfounded gossip that followed me the first few days of school before I was dismissed for two weeks was exhausting: I could imagine what kind of stories were floating around since then. I wondered what Jessica had told people. I did regret hitting her.
Sort of.
It was a bitchy thing to say.
I couldn't decide if she was just so infatuated with Edward Cullen and the rest of the family that she honestly couldn't see how inappropriate her fascination with them was, or if she was just jealous that despite what, I assume, were some valiant efforts on her part, they hadn't given her the time of day. They didn't seem to really spend time talking to anyone in the school outside of their family.
Except for me.
Why was that? What was so special about me?
I wasn't going to complain. I loved having Alice and Rosalie in my corner. Emmett and Jasper were there too, although our relationship was a bit more competitive and full of fun. Still, I knew intrinsically that if I needed something, they would be there for me. And Carlisle…
Carlisle.
I didn't really have any room to criticize Jessica for her infatuation when I was lusting after the head of the Cullen family.
Not just lusting after, although the man had a body made for sin.
I missed him. Whenever he wasn't there -which was often -I found myself thinking about him, a hollow loneliness consuming me from the inside out. It felt ridiculous considering that our encounters had been too few for my liking. Certainly too few to be having such strong feelings for him. Not to mention the fact that he was my best friends' dad. I had started having vivid dreams of him, not just the PG-13 kind. I dreamed about spending my nights curled into his side while he read to me, his voice eliciting a feeling of absolute security and contentment, it almost scared me. The dreams were so real that more often than not, I startled myself awake, dripping in sweat and breathing so heavily, it felt like I'd run a marathon. I could barely look Alice in the eye after those particular encounters.
Sometimes I wondered if she suspected how I felt because whenever I mentioned him, she'd beam. I remembered Emmett calling me out during our poker game for flirting with his dad but I couldn't be bothered to be too ashamed of our back and forth. I felt inexplicably drawn to him and I certainly did not want to stop the pull happening between us.
But I knew that this only had the potential for heartbreak.
He was older than me.
It was illegal for him to pursue me.
His children were my best friends.
His one son might have wanted to kill me.
My father would never approve of having a relationship with him.
The list was endless and I found myself crying into my pillow more than once when I really considered it.
~~~~~STY~~~~~~
I woke up early on the day I was set to return to school. Charlie and I had been forced to have a meeting with Principal Greene prior to returning. He reminded me about the conduct policies at the school and suggested that should I encounter issues of a similar nature, to come to him or a teacher. I barely contained my eye roll at that suggestion. I wasn't going to just run to a staff member whenever I had issues. I would keep my hands to myself though. I couldn't handle another suspension.
I loved the familiar routine of getting ready for school and found myself ready to go long before the school would be open. I tried to pass the extra time by reading but I kept glancing at the clock and finally decided to drive to the school and read in my truck until it was time to go to class. I grabbed my backpack and jacket and headed out, locking the door behind me. Before I could get to my truck, I stopped at the sight of Emmett's red Jeep in front of the house. I walked slowly down the walk and Rose hopped out and waved at me.
"What's going on," I called out. She shrugged.
"We just wanted to drive you on your first day back."
"Yeah, we obviously have to keep an eye on you, Swan. Wouldn't want you running Jessica Stanley down in the parking lot in a fit of pique," Emmett teased, leaning out the driver side window. I flipped him off and came around to Rosalie's side.
"You really don't have to," I told her lamely. "I was going to drive over and read in the truck until school starts."
"Get in the Jeep, Bella," she said, her no nonsense manner eliciting a smile from me. I followed her orders and climbed into the high Jeep, tossing my backpack on the seat next to me and pulling on the harness awkwardly.
"So, Bella, are you excited to go back to school," Emmett asked.
"Immensely."
"Nerd," he mocked and I smiled at him.
"It just means I'll be able to have the chance for intelligent conversation. You know, that thing that smart people do. I'm sure you've seen it before." He laughed merrily and I felt the lead knot that had formed in my stomach overnight begin to loosen and disintegrate. It was hard to worry about anything when Emmett was making an effort to put you at ease.
"Want to sit with us at lunch," Rosalie offered.
"That would be great. Do you want me to meet you or just find you after I get my food?"
"We always sit in the same spot. It's the table by the doors to the courtyard. You can't miss it. I'm sure Emmett will make sure of that." He winked at her and she sighed happily. I felt that hollow loneliness filling my chest where my heart was and looked away quickly.
"Make sure you're on time," Emmett said and I narrowed my eyes at him.
"What are you planning, Emmett?" He gave me a look of sincere innocence.
"I'm not planning anything," he said with mock offense and I raised an eyebrow at him skeptically.
"I don't buy it. And don't bother trying to look all innocent. It doesn't fit your face." He shook his head at me and Rosalie broke in to ask me about a series we'd been long distance binging on Netflix. We began to share theories and character assessments with each other, which mostly involved her tearing down the characters while I defended them. I didn't notice when we pulled into the school and it wasn't until Alice opened the door unceremoniously and complained that we were going to be late that I realized that we only had a few minutes until the bell was going to ring. I climbed out of the truck and she hugged me and wished me luck and then I was on my way to class, unsure of what gossip awaited me.
~~~~STY~~~~
By the time I got to third period where I knew I'd have to sit by Jessica again, I could feel a headache pulsing behind my eye ominously. I half considered begging off to the nurse's office and then going to the hospital so Carlisle could look me over. But that was cowardly and I highly doubted that Carlilsle had time for something as trivial as wanting to avoid the girl I assaulted two weeks ago.
He'd probably understand actually.
But I forced myself to enter the classroom and sit down in my usual spot amid the whispers and stares. Unsurprisingly, our fight had been greatly exaggerated until I was regaled with a retelling that involved me roundhouse kicking Jessica in her face while she cowered on the ground begging me not to hurt her. I'd been pestered with questions about our argument, the Cullens, my mom and if I had been in a delinquent school in Phoenix or done time in juvie.
Jessica came in right before the bell rang and sat down across the aisle from me. I avoided looking at her as we both began to pull our books and things from our bags. I did sneak a glance at her and noticed that her eye was mostly clear, although if that was because it had healed or because she had used makeup to hide it, I didn't know. Mr Varner started the lesson and we sat in a tense silence while other members of the class kept shooting me furtive looks over their shoulders. I kept my head down and focused on my assignment. But at the end of class, Jessica surprised me by grabbing my sleeve before I could escape. She looked awkwardly at her shoes.
"Hey, I, um, just wanted to say that I'm sorry about what I said about your mom," she mumbled and I swallowed down the 'it's okay' that automatically wanted to come out to excuse me from this awkward situation. I noticed that people were watching us and I raised my eyebrows at them. They hurried away from us, throwing looks back at us as though waiting for us to start rolling on the ground, pulling each other's hair.
"Thank you. I'm sorry for hitting you. How's your eye?"
"It's getting better. Most of the bruising has gone away."
"Good." We stood silently before we both shrugged towards the door and it was only then that I remembered that we had the next period together too. I began to walk toward Spanish with her trailing behind me. I passed Emmett in the hall and he winked at me with a wide smile and I rolled my eyes at him but I felt a little better after seeing him.
Spanish was less tense than math had been but people still stared and whispered between instructions. Jessica and I found ourselves paired off by Mrs. Goff to practice. We spoke to each other in short, stilted sentences while the rest of class seemed to be on the edge of their seats waiting for a hint of drama to spread around like a communicable disease. By the time the bell rang, my nerves felt frayed and all I wanted was to sneak home, swallow some tylenol and hide under my covers. Instead, I hiked my backpack onto my shoulder and made my way to the cafeteria, keeping an eye peeled for the Cullens and Hales. I grabbed random food from the lunchline and made a beeline for the table that I could see Alice and Jasper sitting at. I collapsed unceremoniously next to them and put my head on my arm on the table.
"Bad day," Jasper asked sympathetically. I didn't even raise my head, just nodded. "Don't stress it, Bella. People around here make up the most ridiculous stories because nothing ever happens here. If I had a nickel for everytime I heard a crazy story about someone in this family, I'd be able to bring in the entertainment these kids so obviously need." I raised my head slightly to look at him.
"How long does it take for them to stop talking about you?"
"Well, to be fair, they never really stop talking about us but usually gossip dies down within a day or two. Unless something distracts them." I groaned and laid my head back down. I heard someone sit in the chair next to me and judging by the scraping of the legs against the floor, I guessed it had to be Emmett. My suspicions were confirmed when I heard his voice near my ear a moment later.
"Looks like you need some cheering up, Swan." I swatted my hand at him awkwardly and he laughed. "I think now is the perfect time for a dare." I shot up and glared at him.
"No way. Today has royally sucked; I am not doing a dare."
"Ah-ah," he chided. "There are no rules about exemptions. So I'm choosing to use one of mine now. Bella Swan, I dare you…" I waited tensely for his choice and he grinned in anticipation. "I dare you to do the Coincidance."
"No no no no no no no no no. Emmett I cannot dance." He shook his head at me.
"Sorry, Swan, there's no getting out of it. I happen to have a stereo here," he said gleefully, lifting an old boombox onto the table, "and I insist that you dance."
"I hate you," I told him flatly and he laughed.
"Awh, don't get so sour, Swan. I'm going to do it with you!"
"Why on Earth would you do that?"
"So that everyone can see what a supremely talented dancer I am. Duh." I snorted and began to smile and his smile grew. "You ready to have your world rocked?"
"The only reason my world would be rocked is because you are a freaking giant and dancing might actually cause the school to fall down around us." He laughed heartily and I shook my head, heart pounding. "Alright, you ass, let's get this over with." We both stood and I followed him to an open area in front of the table. He pointed over his shoulder and Rosalie hit a button on the boombox. I pouted at her but she shrugged.
The beat began and Emmett began to move his shoulders in time with it. He looked at me expectantly as he danced and I rolled my eyes and began to copy him. I noticed the din of chattering voices began to die down until I only heard the music and I could feel my classmates staring at us. The music swelled as the fourth verse started and I watched as Emmett made some ridiculous dance moves and then waited for me. I laughed and put my hands on my knees, moving my body back and forth with the drums. He cheered and we both began to dance harder. I noticed others getting up and performing their own ridiculous dance moves, catcalling their friends and laughing with us. Emmett grabbed my hands and swung me up onto his shoulders with disturbing ease. I yelped and grabbed onto his head as he began to dance around the cafeteria, laughing as we went. I felt myself giving in to his ridiculous showmanship and finally we stopped back at the table and he pulled me down and spun me into a twirl that I normally would have tripped over myself to perform but he held me upright. The music ended as I did and there was a moment of silence before cheers erupted through the cafeteria. I blushed as I could hear people calling my name but did a small mocking curtsy before pointing to Emmett who threw his hands in the air and walked around like the heavyweight champion he looked like. I sat back in my seat and Alice, Jasper and Rosalie immediately showered me with compliments.
"That was epic," Emmett said, sitting next to me and I reached over and punched his arm playfully before pulling back and shaking my fist.
"Damn, Emmett, are you taking steroids or something?" He preened and flexed for me.
"All natural, baby." I rolled my eyes and flipped him the bird but he laughed good naturedly and I realized that things finally felt somewhat normal, despite the performance I had just given. I laughed as Jasper made an offhand slight about Emmett's dancing and they began to bicker playfully.
These friends felt like family.
But I was afraid I was going to lose them.
Or worse, that they'd reject me.
Jasper ended his argument and looked over at me worriedly.
"Bella, are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just a headache. I'm, um, gonna go to class. I'll see you guys later." I stood up quickly to Rosalie and Jasper's protests and made my way through the cafeteria, dodging compliments and gossip and moving to my locker, shoving books inside and then sticking my head in and taking a few deep breaths.
I loved Emmett, Rosalie and Jasper. And Alice; especially Alice. But I knew that given half a chance, I could easily love Carlisle just as much and knowing that if they found out about that, they would push me away faster than I could say, 'Who's your new mommy?' made my heart ache. I needed to get over this infatuation I had with Carlisle Cullen because his and Esme's children had wrestled their way into my heart and settled in there. And I couldn't lose them for a relationship that was doomed before it started.
The thought had my eyes misting but I blinked the tears away and took a bracing breath before grabbing my Biology book and shoving it in my backpack. The halls had filled up but kids were starting to hurry to their next class and I joined the throng and moved purposefully to Biology. I walked in and moved to sit down before stopping dead and staring at my table.
Edward Cullen was sitting at my table, an easy smile on his face and acting like our one encounter before this, he hadn't looked like he was trying to rip my throat out.