Ebb and Flow (Twilight x Reader)

Chapter 4

"Yeah. . ." Mike's voice trailed off.

"So what are you going to tell Jessica?"

"I told her I was already going with you."

The bell rang, cutting off my response, and Mike and I exchanged quick nods of goodbye before he went back to his seat.

The feeling between Edward and I was icy as always for the duration of class.

When the bell rang at last, I began gathering my things and placing them back in my bag.

"Y/n?"

I didn't look at Edward as I replied. "Decided you're speaking to me again?"

He didn't respond, so I turned to look at him as I zipped my bag shut.

His lips twitched, fighting a smile. "No, not really," he admitted.

I rolled my eyes as I turned away again, slinging the strap of my bag on my shoulder. "I don't have time for this."

"Bella's headed to Seattle soon?"

"This might be easier for you if you talk to her yourself instead of getting information about her through me," I said icily before breezing out of the classroom.

Gym was boring. We'd moved on to basketball, which I liked significantly less than volleyball. It didn't help that Bella kept falling, which in turn made me worry about her head, which in turn made her get even more embarrassed. Luckily it was over soon enough.

When Bella and I walked towards the truck after school, we saw Eric leaning against the side of it.

"Hey, Eric," I called.

"Hi, Y/n. Bella."

"What's up?" Bella said as she was unlocking the door.

"Uh, I was just wondering . . . if you would go to the spring dance with me?" His voice broke on the last word.

"I thought it was girls' choice," Bella said.

"Well, yeah. . ." he admitted.

Bella recovered her composure and smiled. "Thank you for asking me, but I'm going to be in Seattle that day."

"Oh," he said. "Well, maybe next time."

"Sure."

He slouched off, back toward the school. I heard a low chuckle.

I laughed.

Bella turned towards me. "What?"

I put my hands up defensively, still smiling and raising my eyebrows. "Nothing, nothing. First Mike, now Eric? I'd be surprised if the rest of the guys in Forks don't ask you before the week ends."

Bella rolled her eyes, but there was a tiny smile on her lips as she got in the truck. "Oh, shut up."

Bella revved the engine deafeningly and reversed out into the aisle. Edward was in his car already, two spaces down, sliding out smoothly in front of us, cutting us off.

"Seriously?" I said.

He stopped there—to wait for his family; I could see the four of them walking this way, but still by the cafeteria.

"Back into him," I said.

"Y/n," Bella chastised, but I could see that the idea was appealing to her as well.

I looked in the rearview mirror. A line was beginning to form, and directly behind us, Tyler Crowley was in his recently acquired used Sentra. I watched as he got out of his car and came to the passenger's window.

I rolled it down, but Bella spoke before I could tell him to leave us alone. I wasn't exactly fond of the person who'd almost crushed my sister with his van.

"I'm sorry, Tyler, I'm stuck behind Cullen," Bella told him.

"Oh, I know—I just wanted to ask you something while we're trapped here."

He grinned.

I could feel Bella tense.

"Will you ask me to the spring dance?" he continued.

"I'm not going to be in town, Tyler." Bella's voice sounded a little sharp.

"Yeah, Mike said that," he admitted.

"Then why—"

He shrugged. "I was hoping you were just letting him down easy."

"She said she's not going to be in town," I repeated, much harsher than Bella had. "Now get back in your car before it rolls away and almost crushes someone else. Again."

Tyler's jaw dropped, but he quickly regained his composure and walked back to his car, muttering to himself. With a scoff and a shake of my head, I rolled up the window once more, then looked forward to see Alice, Rosalie, Emmett, and Jasper all sliding into the Volvo. In his rearview mirror, Edward's eyes were on me. He was unquestionably shaking with laughter. I shot him a look that could freeze hell over.

When we got home, Bella drowned herself in making chicken enchiladas for dinner and I went upstairs to work on homework.

Dad seemed suspicious when he came home and smelled the green peppers. I couldn't blame him—the closest edible Mexican food was probably in southern California. But he was a cop, even if just a small-town cop, so he was brave enough to take the first bite. He seemed to like it.

"Dad?" Bella asked when he was almost done.

"Yeah, Bella?"

"Um, I just wanted to let you know that I'm going to Seattle for the day a week from Saturday . . . if that's okay?"

I raised my eyebrows. So it was a last minute excuse.

"Why?"

"Well, I wanted to get a few books—the library here is pretty limited— and maybe look at some clothes."

Dad was silent for a minute. "That truck probably doesn't get very good gas mileage."

"I know, I'll stop in Montesano and Olympia—and Tacoma if I have to."

"Are you going all by yourself?" he asked.

"Yes."

"Seattle is a big city—you could get lost," he fretted. "Why don't you have Y/n go with you?"

"Dad, Phoenix is five times the size of Seattle—and I can read a map, don't worry about it. Besides, Y/n is going to the dance that day."

"Do you want me to come with you?"

"That's all right, Dad, I'll probably just be in dressing rooms all day— very boring."

"Oh, okay." The thought of sitting in women's clothing stores for any period of time immediately put him off.

"Thanks." Bella smiled at him.

The next morning, when we pulled into the parking lot, Bella deliberately parked as far as possible from the silver Volvo.

I couldn't agree more with her decision.