AllFreeNovel
Share Us
No more mistakes. That was it. Savor the memory, Edward, I told myself grimly, and keep your hands to yourself. That, or I would have to force myself to leave??somehow. Because I couldn't allow myself near her if I insisted on making errors.
I took a deep breath and tried to steady my thoughts.
Emmett caught up to me outside the English building.
"Hey, Edward." He's looking better. Weird, but better. Happy.
"Ah... and him being happy is weird," Jacob chuckled.
"Hey, Em." Did I look happy? I supposed, despite the chaos in my head, I felt that way.
Way to keep your mouth shut, kid. Rosalie wants to rip your tongue out.
"I like to see her try... and then get beaten down," Jacob chuckled.
"That's not very nice," Bella glared at him and he shrugged.
I sighed. "Sorry I left you to deal with that. Are you angry with me?"
"Naw. Rose'll get over it. It was bound to happen anyway." With what Alice sees coming??
"Don't mention that," Jacob flinched.
Alice's visions were not what I wanted to think about right now. I stared forward, my teeth locking together.
As I searched for a distraction, I caught sight of Ben Cheney entering the Spanish room ahead of us. Ah??here was my chance to give Angela Weber her gift.
"Ben Cheney," Bella mumbled and got out her year book to look at him. He was cute enough, though not her type at all. Still she studied the picture, if Angela and Ben liked each other she wanted them to be together in this reality, too. She thought that things might be different now that she knew what Edward was thinking about her, so she might have to be the one to help Ben and Angela out... argh... that wasn't really her strong point. Oh well, it will have to happen someway.
I stopped walking and caught Emmett's arm. "Hold on a second."
What's up?
"I know I don't deserve it, but would you do me a favor anyway?"
"What is it?" he asked, curious.
Under my breath??and at a speed that would have made the words incomprehensible to a human no matter how loud they'd been spoken??I explained to him what I wanted.
He stared at me blankly when I was done, his thoughts as blank as his face.
"That sound interesting," Jacob chuckled.
"So?" I prompted. "Will you help me do it?"
It took him a minute to respond. "But, why?"
"C'mon, Emmett. Why not?"
Who are you and what have you done with my brother?
Bella and Jacob both chuckled at this.
"Aren't you the one who complains that school is always the same? This is something a little different, isn't it? Consider it an experiment??an experiment in human nature."
He stared at me for another moment before he caved. "Well, it is different, I'll give you that?? Okay, fine." Emmett snorted and then shrugged. "I'll help you."
I grinned at him, feeling more enthusiastic about my plan now that he was on board. Rosalie was a pain, but I would always owe her one for choosing Emmett; no one had a better brother than mine.
"Aw," Jacob said in teasing voice but Bella smiled at what Edward had just said.
Emmett didn't need to practice. I whispered his lines to him once under my breath as we walked into the classroom.
Ben was already in his seat behind mine, assembling his homework to hand in.
Emmett and I both sat and did the same thing. The classroom was not quiet yet; the murmur of subdued conversation would continue until Mrs. Goff called for attention.
She was in no hurry, appraising the quizzes from the last class.
"So," Emmett said, his voice louder than necessary??if he were really speaking only to me. "Did you ask Angela Weber out yet?"
"Oh... I get it," Jacob said laughing. "This should work."
The sound of papers rustling behind me came to an abrupt stop as Ben froze, his attention suddenly riveted on our conversation.
Angela? They're talking about Angela?
"Hm... it definitely makes it easy that Edward knows what he's thinking," Bella muttered.
Good. I had his interest.
"No," I said, shaking my head slowly to appear regretful.
"Why not?" Emmett improvised. "Are you chicken?"
I grimaced at him. "No. I heard that she was interested in someone else."
Edward Cullen was going to ask Angela out? But?? No. I don't like that. I don't want him near her. He's??not right for her. Not??safe.
"You got that right," Jacob chuckled and Bella glared at him. "What? You want him to go out with Angela?"
"Don't be ridiculous," Bella rolled her eyes and Jacob laughed louder.
I hadn't anticipated the chivalry, the protective instinct. I'd been working for jealousy. But whatever worked.
"You're going to let that stop you?" Emmett asked scornfully, improvising again.
Jacob laughed even more at that.
"Not up for the competition?"
I glared at him, but made use of what he gave me. "Look, I guess she really likes this Ben person. I'm not going to try to convince her otherwise. There are other girls."
The reaction in the chair behind me was electric.
"Who?" Emmett asked, back to the script.
"My lab partner said it was some kid named Cheney. I'm not sure I know who he is."
"That's rude... the guy's right behind you," Jacob muttered.
"Um... Jake, that's the point," Bella said.
"I know," Jacob rolled his eyes. "I'm just saying it makes him sound like a stuck up..."
"Whatever," Bella rolled her eyes.
I bit back my smile. Only the haughty Cullens could get away with pretending not to know every student at this tiny school.
Ben's head was whirling with shock. Me? Over Edward Cullen? But why would she like me?
"Edward," Emmett muttered in a lower tone, rolling his eyes toward the boy.
"He's right behind you," he mouthed, so obviously that the human could easily read the words.
"Oh," I muttered back.
Jacob and Bella were laughing at this again.
I turned in my seat and glanced once at the boy behind me. For a second, the black eyes behind the glasses were frightened, but then he stiffened and squared his narrow shoulders, affronted by my clearly disparaging evaluation. His chin shot out and an angry flush darkened his golden-brown skin.
"Huh," I said arrogantly as I turned back to Emmett.
He thinks he's better than me. But Angela doesn't. I'll show him??
"Well, there's that problem solved," Jacob chuckled.
Perfect.
"Didn't you say she was taking Yorkie to the dance, though?" Emmett asked, snorting as he said the name of the boy that many scorned for his awkwardness.
"That was a group decision apparently." I wanted to be sure that Ben was clear on this. "Angela's shy. If B??well, if a guy doesn't have the nerve to ask her out, she'd never ask him."
"You like shy girls," Emmett said, back to improvisation. Quiet girls. Girls like??hmm, I don't know. Maybe Bella Swan?
Jacob laughed at this line of teasing as Bella blushed.
I grinned at him. "Exactly." Then I returned to the performance. "Maybe Angela will get tired of waiting. Maybe I'll ask her to the prom."
No, you won't, Ben thought, straightening up in his chair. So what if she's so much taller than me?
"Oh... it's because he's short... poor guy," Jacob chuckled.
"I suppose that's not a problem you have to deal with," Bella said, Jacob seemed pretty tall for his age.
"Not at all," Jacob said. "I think I might even have grown an inch since yesterday."
"Sure you did, Jake," Bella rolled her eyes.
If she doesn't care, then neither do I. She's the nicest, smartest, prettiest girl in this school?? and she wants me.
I liked this Ben. He seemed bright and well-meaning. Maybe even worthy of a girl like Angela.
"Well, it looks like there're three humans that he might think highly of," Jacob chuckled.
I gave Emmett a thumbs up under the desk as Mrs. Goff stood and greeted the class.
Okay, I'll admit it??that was sort of fun, Emmett thought.
I smiled to myself, pleased that I'd been able to shape one love story's happy ending. I was positive that Ben would follow through, and Angela would receive my anonymous gift. My debt was repaid.
How silly humans were, to let a six inch height differential confound their happiness.
"That is a pretty big difference," Jacob said. "That guy must be a midget."
"Jake!" Bella reprimanded him.
"Sorry," Jacob sighed.
My success put me in a good mood. I smiled again as I settled into my chair and prepared to be entertained. After all, as Bella had pointed out at lunch, I'd never seen her in action in her gym class before.
"No," Bella groaned and Jacob laughed in anticipation.
Mike's thoughts were the easiest to pinpoint in the babble of voices that swarmed through the gym. His mind had gotten far too familiar over the last few weeks. With a sigh, I resigned myself to listening through him. At least I could be sure that he would be paying attention to Bella.
I was just in time to hear him offer to be her badminton partner; as he made the suggestion, other partnerings ran through his mind. My smile faded, my teeth clenched together, and I had to remind myself that murdering Mike Newton was not a permissible option.
"Hm... I'm not so sure about that," Jacob laughed.
"It's not," Bella said firmly.
"Thanks, Mike??you don't have to do this, you know."
"Don't worry, I'll keep out of your way."
They grinned at each other, and flashes of numerous accidents??always in some way connected to Bella??flashed through Mike's head.
Jacob started chuckling and Bella groaned.
Mike played alone at first, while Bella hesitated on the back half of the court, holding her racket gingerly, as if it was some kind of weapon. Then Coach Clapp ambled by and ordered Mike to let Bella play.
"Why?" Bella moaned, didn't the coach understand yet?
Uh oh, Mike thought as Bella moved forward with a sigh, holding her racquet at an awkward angle.
Jennifer Ford served the birdie directly toward Bella with a smug twist to her thoughts. Mike saw Bella lurch toward it, swinging the racket yards wide of her target, and he rushed in to try to save the volley.
I watched the trajectory of Bella's racquet with alarm. Sure enough, it hit the taut net and sprung back at her, clipping her forehead before it spun out to strike Mike's arm with a resounding thwack.
Jacob was howling with laughed and Bella turned bright red and held her head in her hands. That was a new all time low for her.
"You really are awful," Jacob choked out some time later.
"Yeah, yeah, now can you continue reading," Bella tried to sound as if this wasn't bothering her, but she was still red and her voice was too weak to pull that off.
Ow. Ow. Ungh. That's going to leave a bruise.
"Good," Jacob said, his dying laughter starting again.
Bella was kneading her forehead. It was hard to stay in my seat where I belonged, knowing she was hurt. But what could I do, if I were there? And it didn't seem to be serious?? I hesitated, watching. If she intended to continue to try to play, I was going to have to manufacture an excuse to pull her out of class.
"Overreaction," Bella rolled her eyes.
The coach laughed. "Sorry, Newton." That girl's the worst jinx I've ever seen. Shouldn't inflict her on the others??
More laughter for Jacob, but Bella was pleased that the coach seemed to get it better now.
He turned his back deliberately and moved to watch another game so that Bella could return to her former spectator's role.
Ow, Mike thought again, massaging his arm. He turned to Bella. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, are you?" she asked sheepishly, blushing.
"I think I'll make it." Don't want to sound like a crybaby. But, man, that hurts!
"Crybaby," Jacob laughed.
Mike swung his arm in a circle, wincing.
"I'll just stay back here," Bella said, embarrassment and chagrin on her face rather than pain. Maybe Mike had got the worst of it. I certainly hoped that was the case.
At least she wasn't playing anymore. She held her racquet so carefully behind her back, her eyes wide with remorse?? I had to disguise my laugh as coughing.
What's funny? Emmett wanted to know.
"You know... if you were in Emmett's Gym class, I bet he would have liked you from the first day," Jacob teased.
"Shut up," Bella hissed at him.
"Tell you later," I muttered.
Bella didn't venture into the game again. The coach ignored her and let Mike play alone.
I breezed through the quiz at the end of the hour, and Mrs. Goff let me go early. I was listening intently to Mike as I walked across the campus. He'd decided to confront Bella about me.
Jessica swears they're dating. Why? Why did he have to pick her?
He didn't recognize the real phenomenon??that she'd picked me.
"Don't go overboard with that," Bella rolled her eyes, it was more of a phenomenon that he had picked her after a hundred years after all.
"So."
"So what?" she wondered.
"You and Cullen, huh?" You and the freak. I guess, if a rich guy is that important to you...
Bella was glaring at the book, she didn't like this assumption at all, but what was really getting to her was how very wrong Mike was... Edward was so much more than just a rich guy.
I gritted my teeth at his degrading assumption.
"That's none of your business, Mike."
Defensive. So it's true. Crap. "I don't like it."
"You don't have to," she snapped.
Why can't she see what a circus sideshow he is? Like they all are.
Bella was glaring more at the book than before, not liking his way of thinking at all.
The way he stares at her. It gives me chills to watch. "He looks at you like??like you're something to eat."
Bella and Jacob both tensed a little at that... it wasn't good that Mike was able to notice that.
I cringed, waiting for her response.
Her face turned bright red, and her lips pressed together like she was holding her breath. Then, suddenly, a giggle burst through her lips.
"You laughed?" Jacob looked at her incredulously.
"Um... the irony of that must have gotten to me," Bella said. "I'm sure it was a nervous laugh if that makes you feel any better."
"It doesn't," Jacob said and then started reading again.
Now she's laughing at me. Great.
Mike turned, thoughts sullen, and wandered off to change.
I leaned against the gym wall and tried to compose myself.
How could she have laughed at Mike's accusation??so entirely on target that I began to worry that Forks was becoming too aware?? Why would she laugh at the suggestion that I could kill her, when she knew that it was entirely true? Where was the humor in that?
What was wrong with her?
"Nothing's wrong with me," Bella huffed.
"I beg to differ," Jacob chuckled, though he was giving her an odd look, too.
Did she have morbid sense of humor? That didn't fit with my idea of her character, but how could I be sure? Or maybe my daydream of the giddy angel was true in the one respect, in that she had no sense of fear at all. Brave??that was one word for it.
"I'm not brave," Bella mumbled.
Others might say stupid,
"So I guess you're stupid then," Jacob chuckled and Bella glared at him.
but I knew how bright she was. No matter what the reason, though, this lack of fear or twisted sense of humor wasn't good for her. Was it this strange lack that put her in danger so constantly? Maybe she would always need me here??
Just like that, my mood was soaring.
If I could just discipline myself, make myself safe, then perhaps it would be right for me to stay with her.
When she walked through the gym doors, her shoulders were stiff and her lower lip was between her teeth again??a sign of anxiety. But as soon as her eyes met mine, her rigid shoulders relaxed and a wide smile spread across her face. It was an oddly peaceful expression. She walked right to my side without hesitation, only stopping when she was so close that her body heat crashed over me like a tidal wave.
"Hi," she whispered.
The happiness I felt in this moment was, again, without precedent.
"Hello," I said, and then??because with my mood suddenly so light I couldn't resist teasing her??I added, "How was gym?"
"Argh... did he have to mention that?" Bella groaned.
"Yep," Jacob chuckled. "Besides, isn't it better that you know he's watching you... not as creepy that way at least."
