BORN TO DIE
annoyance
THE WEEKEND WENT by fast for Bella. After the field trip ended, everyone returned back to school. The juniors had the opportunity to leave early since they got back early. Bella ignored Edward like he wasn't even there. She was still upset that he told her that they shouldn't be friends. She thought by acting clueless and "agreeing" with him about what happened during the accident he would get him off her back about the situation, not tell her that they shouldn't be friends...not that they were friends to began with.
It was now Monday morning and Bella was dreading going to school. She didn't tell her Aunt about her little dispute with Edward on Friday. Matter of fact, Lena doesn't even know that they have been communicating with one another or even that they're lab partners. Bella didn't want her worrying even more than she has to since her Aunt tends to be overly concern about Bella. So she wasn't going to tell her, at least for now.
When Beau and Bella arrived at school, literally everyone was talking about an upcoming school dance. Of course, she has never been to one nor did she want to. She can't even imagine how awkward she'll be at a dance.
"Hey, Bella? Can I talk to you?" Jessica asks as she walked up to them in the parking lot.
"Uh, sure," she curiously said.
"I'll see you later, Bella," Beau said leaving the two.
"I was wondering if you were planning on asking Mike to the dance?" Bella furrow her eyebrows. She literally had no intention of asking anyone—why would Jessica ask her that?
Bella then noticed the entire Cullen family getting out of their car. Edward looked her way, but he was in a still position. He was listening to her conversation with Jessica.
"No, ask him. I wasn't even planning on going," Bella shrugs.
"Really? Why not? It'll be really fun," Bella appreciated the attempt to convince her.
"I don't know. I feel like I'll be awkward and besides.....I already have plans," Bella slowly said towards the end. It was a total lie, but she's sure Jessica will probably tell the whole school that Bella's not going. Just in case anyone wanted to her ask her to the dance.
"Oh, what're your plans?"
Bella internally groan. She just has to know everything.
"I'm going to be out of town...Seattle. Yeah, I'll be going to Seattle," It was a poor attempt of a lie, but she couldn't think of anything else. Even if she wanted to go to Seattle, she has no license, and her Aunt would probably be working that day so Bella couldn't go with her. She could run there, but that'll be very suspicious so that idea was out.
"Sounds fun...I guess," she mumbles the last part to herself.
"Yeah. Well, I have to get to class, Jess. I'll see you in Spanish," Bella quickly says as she started to walk towards her first building, completely ignoring Edward's stares.
•••
Morning classes went by slow for Bella as it was finally time for lunch. She was debating on whether to just ditch the rest of her afternoon classes and go home. But, she didn't want to act like a coward in front of Edward and give him that type of satisfaction. If she's lucky, she was hoping that he'll be the one ditching. But, there was a small part of her that was hoping he wouldn't ditch and that was very very stupid of her to think.
The Cullens were sitting in their usual table once Bella enters inside the cafeteria with Jessica, who was once again chatting about how she was going to ask Mike. It's all she's been talking about since Trig and Spanish. Bella never really notice since she was so distracted by the Cullens—especially Edward, that Jessica was completely head over heels over Mike. Bella felt bad for the girl since Mike is completely clueless about Jessica's feelings for him.
The two sat down at their usual table and immediately she heard everyone at the table talking about the dance in two weeks.
"Will you be going, Bella?" Beau quietly asks Bella, not wanting the others to hear.
"No, I have plans that night," Bella informs.
"Really? You should go, it'll be more fun if you're there," he tries to convince her.
"Dances aren't really my style."
"But, you've never been to one," he points out.
"Well, I..." She attempts to come up with a good rebuttal but couldn't since he was right.
"I guess you're right," she lamely says, not coming up with anything said.
"Well, you'll be missed," Beau lastly says before taking his bite of food.
The rest of lunch went by smoothly once the bell rang. Bella successfully didn't look at the Cullen's table during lunch. She'll probably never admit this out loud, but she was taking Edward's "little" comment about not being friends a little to heart. They weren't even friends, to begin with, if anything they were more like acquaintances than friends. But, she couldn't help but feel hurt by what he said.
Bella notices how Mike was acting a little strange when they walked to Biology class. He was less quiet and seem nervous which was out of his character. He's usually talkative and confident when she's around him. Mike was still quiet as he walks all the way to her seat in class.
"So, Jessica asked me to the spring dance," Mike starts off. By now, Edward has entered the room and his eyes immediately met hers. He gracefully sat down next to her, and Bella notices he was sitting closer to her than usual.
"Mike, that's great! You'll have so much fun with Jess," her voice brightens.
He was clearly not happy about her reaction, "Well...I had to tell her I'll think about it."
"Why would you say that?" Bella asks disapprovingly.
"Well..." he paused as he was looking down at the ground.
"I was hoping...you'll ask me?"
Bella's eyes slightly widen, taken back by what he said. Is that why Jessica asked Bella if she was asking Mike to the dance? Because Mike was going to ask her?
Bella notice from her peripheral vision that Edward's fist clenched tightly and his body stiffen as he was waiting for her response.
"Mike, you should say yes to her question," Bella slowly said. She felt guilty for rejecting him, but she had no intention of going to the dance. With anyone.
"Did you already ask someone else?" his eyes flicker towards Edward for a second.
"No, I wasn't planning on going at all."
"Why not?" he demanded.
"Because I'll be in Seattle that weekend," It was getting easier to lie about her excuse since this is the third time she's talking about it.
"Can't you go another weekend?" he pushed further.
"I've already made plans to go that weekend before I even knew about the dance," she shrugs.
"Oh, well I guess I'll be going with Jessica," he said disappointedly before walking back to his assigned seat.
Bella let out a heavy sigh as she tried to ignore the guilt that filled in her. Mr. Banner now begin talking to the class.
She glances at Edward and he was already staring at her curiously with that same familiar edge of frustration that's even more distinct now in his black eyes.
He continued to gaze with probing intensity into her eyes and she couldn't look away. The intensity in his eyes was hard to look away from him.
"Mr. Cullen?" the teacher calls out his name.
"The Krebs Cycle," Edward answers without any hesitation as he reluctantly looks away from Bella as he looks up at Mr. Banner.
Bella tried very hard not to be aware of him for the rest of the hour —which was impossible, but she at least didn't let him know that she was aware of him. When the bell rang, at last, she turned her back to him to gather her things.
"Bella?" his voice calls out.
"Edward," she mumbles addressing him. She didn't look up as she continues to pack up her items.
He didn't say anything which made her look up at him once she finished packing up. His dark eyes were staring down at her.
"Is there something you wanted?" she continues as she brought her books and notepad to her chest.
"I'm sorry about Friday. I was being rude to you and I feel guilty for acting that way towards you," he genuinely said. Bella looks into his eyes to see if he was lying, but he was being completely truthful.
"Did you really mean what you said? About us not being friends?" she asks him, not addressing his apology.
"Yes..."
The hurt came back.
"But, I never said that I didn't want to be friends. I only said it's best if we weren't friends," he explained himself carefully which made her entirely more confuse.
Bella didn't say anything as she turns around to leave.
"Wait," Edward calls out.
Bella stop and turned around and waited for him to continue, "Did you mean what you said about me regretting to save you?"
"Yes," she truthfully said. That's genuinely what she thinks.
The anger came back into his eyes, "You're wrong."
Bella didn't say anything else, since their conversation wasn't getting them anywhere, as she swiftly turns around to leave the class, but not before stubbing her toe on the edge of the door. Her quick reflexes came into action as she quickly grabs her books before they could fall on the ground. A little too quickly then she should have been.
She didn't want to look at Edward's reaction as she quickly left the classroom.
•••
Gym went okay today. They were playing basketball—not her favorite sport, but an easy sport to play. Bella's mind was wandering off into different directions as she wasn't paying much attention to the game.
It was always a good feeling when she hears the final bell ringing, signaling school was over. She quickly changed out of her gym clothes and waited for Beau outside his locker.
"Have anyone ever told you you're a fast changer?" Beau asks as they walk out of the gym.
"Nope, you're the first," she chuckles at his comment.
There were so many people she wanted to avoid to which is why she was walking quicker than usual, but she had to slow down so Beau can catch up with her.
As they approach the truck, she noticed Eric standing at the back of Beau's truck.
"Hey, Eric," Bella smiled at him.
"Hi. Bella...Beau."
"What's up?" Bella asked as Beau was unlocking the truck. The hint of nervousness didn't go unnoticed.
"Uh, I was wondering...if you would go to the spring dance with me?" his voice broke at the end.
"Isn't it girl's choice?"
"Well, yeah," he admits shamefully.
"I'm sorry Eric, but I'll be in Seattle that day," she explains.
"Oh," he said. "Maybe next time."
"Yeah," she agrees. Hopefully, he wouldn't take that literal, but she wanted him to feel a little better.
He then walks back towards the school. Bella then heard a low chuckle passing Beau's truck. Bella rolls her eyes as she got inside the truck—knowing exactly who that was.
"What did Eric want?"
"He was asking me to the dance," Bella mumbles.
Beau nodded as he reverses his truck backward, but before he could leave, Edward was already in his car, which was two spaces down from here, and he smoothly pulls out from the space as he was now in front of the truck.
He waited there as she saw his siblings walking from the cafeteria to his car. A line was now beginning to form. She saw behind her Tyler getting out from his now "new" used car and coming towards the truck.
Did Edward purposely plan this?
Tyler knocks on her side of the window and she reluctantly rolls down the window.
"Hey, Tyler. Sorry, we're stuck behind Edward," she annoyedly said.
"Oh, I know—I just wanted to ask you something since we're here," he grinned.
Oh no.
"Would you ask me to the spring dance?" he continues confidently.
"I'm not going to be in town," she said a little rudely. Not because of him, but because of the person ahead of her.
"Yeah, Mike already said that," he admits.
"Then why—"
"I was just hoping you were letting him down easy," he shrugs.
"Oh."
"Well, we always have prom," he shrugs again before going back to his car from behind.
Bella looked forward to seeing Alice, Rosalie, Emmett, and Jasper all sliding into the Volvo. In his rearview mirror, Edward's eyes were on Bella. He was shaking with laughter. He heard every word. Bella was now pissed that he literally planned this to happen. She was really tempted to ask Beau to hit the back of his car.
"I'm surprised the entire school hasn't asked you yet," Beau chuckle.
"Thank god," Bella says, but she wasn't laughing.
"At least you didn't ask me," Bella continues.
"Uhh, I was actually, but you said you weren't going to be here so I just...didn't," he admits.
Bella looks at him and lets out a remorse look. Beau was such a great guy and very different than the other guys at school. Well except for Edward.
"Sorry, Beau."
"It's no problem," he shrugs, but she can tell he was slightly disappointed.
Edward finally took off in his car and sped out from the parking lot.