It was very hard in the morning to argue with the part of me that was sure last night was a dream. Logic wasn't on my side, or common sense. I clung to the parts I couldn't have imagined â like his smell. I was sure I could never have dreamed that up on my own.
It was foggy and dark outside my window, absolutely perfect. They had no reason not to be in school today. I dressed in heavier clothes today, in case I had to give Christian back his jacket. When we got downstairs, Dad was gone again â we were running later than I realized. I swallowed a granola bar in three bites, chased it down with milk straight from the carton, and hurried out the door. Bella had skipped breakfast and was waiting for me in the truck, eager to see Edward after whatever had happened between them last night.
It was unusually foggy; the air was almost smoky with it. The mist was ice cold where it clung to the exposed skin on my face and neck. I wondered if Christian had anything to do with it. I made a mental note to ask him. It was such a thick fog that we were only a few feet down the driveway when we realized there was a car in it: a silver car.
"Bella, stop!" I yelled right before she hit it.
I didn't see where they came from, but suddenly both doors of the truck were opened, vampires on either side.
"Do you want to ride with us today?" Edward asked, amused by the expression of surprise on my sister's face.
"Yes, thank you," she said, answering for us.
After the four of us settled into the warm car, I began taking off the jacket I'd borrowed, intent on giving it back.
"What are you doing?" Christian asked when he noticed my movements.
"Giving you your jacket back; I forgot to last night."
"I didn't forget."
I looked at him, confused. Did he mean he didn't forget to take it back?
"Keep it." he said. "It's probably warmer than anything you've got."
I didn't want to tell him that I had almost an entire snowsuit in my closet; I wanted to keep this piece of him, so I just stayed quiet, pretending to agree.
We drove through the fog-shrouded streets, always too fast, feeling awkward. I was, at least. Last night all the walls were down... almost all. I didn't know if we were still being as candid today. It left me tongue-tied. I waited for him to speak. Bella and Edward were silent, as well.
Christian smirked at me and opened his mouth to speak, but was cut off suddenly by my sister in the passenger seat.
"Did you do this?" She asked him, slightly irritated.
Christian raised an eyebrow at me as if to ask if I told her, and replied, "No. I could clear it up, though. But then we'd have to miss school, again." There was a challenge in his voice. He seemed to understand that Bella hated this weather and wanted to see if she would choose sunshine over Edward.
She didn't answer him.
"Where's the rest of your family?" I asked.
"They took Rosalie's car." He shrugged as he parked next to a glossy red convertible with the top up.
"Ostentatious, isn't it?"
"Um, wow," I breathed. "If she has that, why does she ride with Edward?"
"Like I said, it's ostentatious. We try to blend in."
"You don't succeed." I laughed and shook my head as we got out of the car. We weren't late anymore; Edward's lunatic driving had gotten us to school in plenty of time. "So why did Rosalie drive today if it's more conspicuous?"
"Hadn't you noticed? We're breaking all the rules now." Bella and Edward waited for us at the front of the car and we all walked onto campus together. I noticed there was still a small distance between my sister and her boyfriend, if that's what they were now. Contrary to them, Christian was at my side with his arm around my shoulders. I didn't bother to shake him off.
"Why do you have cars like that at all?" I wondered aloud. "If you're looking for privacy?"
"An indulgence," he admitted with an impish smile. "We all like to drive fast."
"Figures," I muttered under my breath.
Under the shelter of the cafeteria roof's overhang, Jessica was waiting, her eyes about to bug out of their sockets. Over her arm was my jacket.
"Hey, Jessica," I said when we were a few feet away. "Thanks for remembering." She handed me my jacket without speaking. I handed it to Bella and she slipped it on.
"Good morning, Jessica," Edward said politely. It wasn't really his fault that his voice was so irresistible. Christian stayed silent. For all the airs he puts off, he seems pretty introverted.
"Er... hi." She shifted her wide eyes to me and Bella, trying to gather her jumbled thoughts. "I guess I'll see you in Trig." She gave us a meaningful look, and I suppressed a sigh. What on earth were we going to tell her?
"Yeah, see you then." Bella chimed.
She walked away, pausing twice to peek back over her shoulder at us.
"What are you going to tell her?" Edward murmured.
"Hey, I thought you couldn't read our minds!" Bella hissed.
"I can't," he said, startled. Then understanding brightened his eyes. "However, I can read hers â she'll be waiting to ambush you two in class."
As I stifled a groan, Christian chuckled beside me.
Edward elaborated after my sister's best death glare. "She wants to know if we're all secretly dating. And you girls' specific feelings."
Bella and I looked at each other. I could tell she wasn't looking forward to this talk, but at least her answer was simple. Yes, she was dating Edward Cullen. I, on the other hand, had to explain why Christian's arm was around my shoulder, and why I'm in his jacket, and how we're not really dating, but we're not exactly just friends.
Before I knew it, Edward was by my side, pulling Christian off me, turning to walk away. Christian was fighting him, though. Continuously trying to turn around and look at me.
"I'll see you at lunch," he called over Edward's shoulder. Three people walking by stopped to stare.
We hurried into class, flushed and irritated. It seemed these vampires were exactly alike in being able to push all of our buttons. We sat in our usual seats; I slammed my bag down in frustration. I was about to begin battle strategy with my sister when a familiar voice sounded.
"Morning, Bella," Mike said from the seat next to us. He had an odd, almost resigned look on his face. "How was Port Angeles?"
"It was..." There was no honest way Bella would be able to sum it up for him. "Great," she finished lamely. "Jessica got a really cute dress."
"Did she say anything about Monday night?" he asked, his eyes brightening. I smiled at the turn the conversation had taken, and noticed Bella did, too.
"She said she had a really good time," she assured him.
"She did?" he asked eagerly.
"Most definitely."
Mr. Mason called the class to order them, asking us to turn in our papers. English and then Government passed in a blur, while I was worried about how to explain things to Jessica and Bella was agonizing over whether or not Edward would be listening to her answers through our friend's thoughts. How very inconvenient his little talent could be â when it wasn't saving my sister's life. Or mine, I mentally amended, since our excursion the night before.
The fog had almost dissolved by the end of the second hour, but the day was still dark with low, oppressing clouds. I smiled up at the sky.
Edward was right, of course. When we walked into Trig, Jessica was sitting in the back row, nearly bouncing off her seat in agitation. I reluctantly went to sit by her, trying to convince myself it would be better to get it over with as soon as possible.
"Tell me everything!" she commanded before we were even in our seats.
"What do you want to know?" I hedged.
"What happened last night?" She was looking anxiously between Bella and I.
"They bought us dinner, and then drove us home." Bella filled in.
She glared at her, expression stiff with skepticism. "How did you get home so fast?"
"He drives like a manic. It was terrifying." I was betting Bella hoped he heard that.
"Was it like a date â did you guys tell them to meet you there?"
I hadn't thought of that. "No â we were surprised to see them there."
Her lips puckered in disappointment at the transparent honesty in my voice.
"But they picked you up for school today?" she probed.
"Yes â also a surprise."
She stared straight at me. "You're wearing his jacket."
"Uh, yeah. Since I forgot mine with you last night, he let me wear his... and didn't want it back." I hesitated on the last part of my explanation, knowing she would suspect it.
"So are you going out again?"
"He offered to drive me to Seattle Saturday, because he thinks my truck isn't up to it â does that count?" Bella said.
"Yes." She nodded.
"Well, then, yes.:
"W-o-w." She exaggerated the word into three syllables. "Edward Cullen."
"I know," Bella agreed.
"Wait!" Her hands flew up, palms toward us like she was stopping traffic. "What about you and Christian, Alexandra?"
"Well, he said we had plans on Saturday, but he probably did that to get me away from Bella so Edward could have a chance." I blushed.
"He gave you his jacket and you think he's not trying to take you out?" She raised her eyebrows at me. The tone in her voice sounded like she was calling me dense.
"Well, we aren't dating or anything, and Bella and Edward seem to have much more potential than Christian and I do. I don't know." I was getting flustered.
"Did they kiss either of you?"
"No," Bella answered immediately.
I hesitated and Jess jumped right on it.
"He did, didn't he?" She looked like she was gonna jump on the table.
"No! No, it's not like that." I tried to convince her. I feared that Christian might ask Edward what Jessica was thinking and learn what I've said about last night.
Class started and Jess calmed down a bit, but Mr. Varner wasn't paying close attention and we weren't the only ones talking. After a minute or so, she spoke again.
"I don't know how you guys are brave enough to be alone with them," she breathed. "They're so intimidating. I wouldn't know what to say," she made a face, probably remembering this morning or last night.
"I do have some trouble with incoherency around him," Bella admitted.
"My only issue is he's so frustrating that it leaves me speechless," I added. The minute I did, though, I regretted it.
Jessica wanted an explanation, but I ignored her, trying to look like I was paying attention to Mr. Varner.
"So you like him, then?" She looked towards Bella.
"Yes," she said curtly.
"I mean, do you really like him?" She urged.
"Yes," she said again, blushing.
She'd had enough with the single syllable answers. "How much do you like him?"
"Too much," Bella whispered back. "More than he likes me. But I don't see how I can help that."
It was my turn now, but before she could ask about how I really felt, Mr. Varner called on her for an answer.
She didn't get a chance to start on the subject again during class, and as soon as the bell rang, I took evasive action.
"In English, Mike asked Bella about you," I told her.
Bella immediately glared at me as Jessica jumped her for information.
They spent the rest of the walk dissecting sentence structures while I quietly trailed behind, trying to hide from Jessica's probing questions. And then most of Spanish on a minute description of Mike's facial expressions. I could tell Bella was exhausted from the conversation, but Jess wouldn't let it die and for that, I was grateful.
The bell rang for lunch and I jumped out of my seat, shoving my books roughly in my bag. Bella seemed just as excited and her uplifted expression must have tipped Jessica off.
"You're not sitting with us today, are you?" she guessed.
"I don't think so." Bella answered for us. I couldn't be sure that they wouldn't disappear inconveniently again, but outside the door to our Spanish class, leaning against a wall â looking more like Greek gods than anyone had a right to â the boys were waiting. Jessica took one look, rolled her eyes, and departed.
"See you later, girls." Her voice was thick with implications. I might have to turn off the ringer on my phone.
"Hello." Christian's voice was amused. He had asked Edward to listen in on me, it was obvious.
"Hi."
I couldn't think of anything else to say, and he didn't speak â biding his time, I presumed â so it was a quiet walk to the cafeteria. Walking with the infamous Cullen/Hale boys through the crowded lunchtime rush was a lot like our first day here; everyone stared.
Christian led the way into the line, his arm finding it's increasingly usual place around my shoulders, still not speaking. I wasn't paying any attention to Edward and Bella behind me as I wanted to give them privacy. She would fill me in later, anyway.
He stepped up to the counter and filled a tray with food, momentarily releasing me from his grasp.
"What are you doing?" I objected. "You're not getting all that for me?"
He shook his head, stepping forward to buy the food.
"Half is for me, of course."
I raised one eyebrow.
He led the way to the same place Bella had sat with Edward that one time before. From the other end of the long table, a group of seniors gazed at us in amazement as we sat across from each other. Christian and Edward seemed oblivious
"Take whatever you want," he said, pushing the tray toward me.
"I'm curious," Bella said as she picked up an apple from her tray, turning it around in her hands, "what would you do if someone dared you to eat food?"
"You're always curious." Edward grimaced, shaking his head. He glared at her, holding her eyes as he lifted the slice of pizza off the tray, and deliberately bit off a mouthful, chewed quickly, and then swallowed. I watched, too, eyes wide.
"If someone dared you to eat dirt, you could, couldn't you?" he asked condescendingly.
She wrinkled her nose. "I did once... on a dare," she admitted. "It wasn't so bad."
He laughed. "I suppose I'm not surprised." Something over her shoulder seemed to catch his attention.
"Jessica's analyzing everything I do â she'll break it down for you later." He pushed the rest of the pizza toward her. The mention of Jessica brought a hint of his former irritation back to his features.
Christian grabbed my attention with a little tap in front of me, seemingly put off that I'd been watching his cousin.
"So you think I'm only asking you out to get you away from your sister?" He looked at me, and I couldn't tell if he was angry or not.
"Wellâ" he cut me off before I'd even started.
"I don't think I've ever met someone as dense as you. Really, Alex? Did you think last night was nothing?" He was angry.
"It's Alexandra," I correct, immediately regretting it as I realized it probably wasn't the right time. "And no, that's not it. I just... I don't know what to think." My voice faded off as I said this. I felt guilty for hurting his feelings.
His golden eyes bore into me and I fumbled. "I mean, look at the obvious. Look at me and look at you." I waved my hand toward him and all his bewildering perfection.
"You're wrong." He said in a way that offered no room for negotiation. His eyes lit up and flickered out quickly. He closed them in frustration and I watched as the dark clouds that hung over Forks began to cry. The rain began pouring down in gallons.
Edward glanced around, the bubble around him and my sister's conversation broken. He leaned toward Christian and whispered something I couldn't hear, but the rain didn't let up. It was so loud that other kids in the cafeteria began to take notice. Washington may have been one of the wettest places in the United States, but it wasn't forecasted today. It seemed like it was going to flood the whole town.
"Calm him down." Edward's velvet voice reached me and I almost jumped.
"I thought..."
"He can't control it when his emotions get out of hand. And so far, he isn't listening to me. It'll get dangerous if this keeps up." He urged me and then returned to his conversation with Bella to give me privacy.
I reached my hand out and grabbed onto one of his, the icy cold piercing my skin. He didn't move.
"Christian." I said.
No answer.
I didn't know what to say. He probably felt that I'd been denying his feelings at every turn. And after what almost happened between us last night, this must've hurt him deeply.
"You can call me Alex." I didn't know if he'd understand how big of a deal this permission was for me. Only those very close to me were allowed that nickname. It felt too intimate to share it with strangers or regular friends.
He finally met my eyes. He wore his emotions on his sleeve and I could've sworn I could see the storm in his liquid citrine eyes. They flashed dimly and the rain began to clear up until all that was left was a light drizzle.
I could hear the buzzing of the cafeteria in full volume with everyone chatting about the freak rainstorm. As if someone had turned the volume down on a radio, everything went silent when he said my name.
"Alex." My eyes focused on his face and everything seemed to fall away. That is, until Bella nudged my ribs to get my attention.
"We're going to be late," Edward said, pointedly.
I glanced around, startled to see that he was right and the cafeteria was nearly vacant. It had felt like only a second or two had passed when he said my name, but I'd been wrong. I jumped up, grabbing my bag from the back of my chair. When I looked forward, Christian's eyes were still focused on mine.