Midnight Sun (Twilight #1.5)(88)

"Always worrying about everyone else," Jacob said.

I took a deep breath - registering the scent in the car with true pain for the first time; I was getting used to this, I realized with satisfaction - and forced myself to be casual again.

"Well, that's really good to know," Jacob said.

"They took Rosalie's car." I parked in the open spot next to the car in question. I hid my smile as I watched her eyes widen. "Ostentatious, isn't it?"

"Um, wow. If she has that, why does she ride with you?"

Rosalie would have enjoyed Bella's reaction...if she were being objective about Bella, which probably wouldn't happen.

"Like I said, it's ostentatious. We try to blend in."

"You don't succeed," she told me, and then she laughed a carefree laugh.

The blithe, wholly untroubled sound of her laughter warmed my hollow chest even as it made my head swim with doubt.

"Oh come on, man... just join in with the laugh and be happy," Jacob said.

"So why did Rosalie drive today if it's more conspicuous?" she wondered.

"Hadn't you noticed? I'm breaking all the rules now."

My answer should have been mildly frightening - so, of course, Bella smiled at it.

"Of course," Jacob chuckled as Bella made a face.

She didn't wait for me to open her door, just like last night. I had to feign normality here at school - so I couldn't move fast enough to prevent this - but she was just going to have to get used to being treated with more courtesy, and get used to it soon.

"I already said I would," Bella said.

I walked as close to her as I dared, watching carefully for any sign that my proximity upset her. Twice her hand twitched toward me and then she would snatch it back. It looked like she wanted to touch me... My breath sped.

Jacob snickered at this. It was just funny to think of someone that was a hundred years old not even knowing how to handle almost holding hands.

"Why do you have cars like that at all? If you're looking for privacy?" she asked as we walked.

"An indulgence," I admitted. "We all like to drive fast."

"Figures," she mumbled, her tone sour.

She didn't look up to see my answering grin.

Nuh-uh! I don't believe this! How the hell did Bella pull this off? I don't get it! Why?

"Hmm... it seems like you might have been noticed," Jacob chuckled.

"You think?" Bella groaned; she was sure she was going to be grilled by Jessica.

Jessica's mental boggling interrupted my thoughts. She was waiting for Bella, taking refuge from the rain under the edge of the cafeteria's roof, with Bella's winter jacket over her arm. Her eyes were wide with disbelief.

Bella noticed her, too, in the next moment. A faint pink touched her cheek when Bella registered Jessica's expression. The thoughts in Jessica's head were fairly clear on her face.

"Ah, now Jessica is trying to imitate your expression," Jacob chuckled.

"Hey, Jessica. Thanks for remembering," Bella greeted her. She reached out for the jacket and Jessica handed it to her wordlessly.

I should be polite to Bella's friends, whether they were good friends or not.

"Good morning, Jessica."

Whoa...

"Hm..." Bella said, thinking that it might be better if Edward wasn't so nice to her friends.

Jessica's eyes popped even wider. It was strange and amusing...and, honestly, a bit embarrassing...to realize how much being near Bella had softened me.

"Tough luck, man," Jacob chuckled and Bella grimaced at that... of course she liked that he was able to be close to her, but the side effect of having girls like him more... that really sucked.

It seemed like no one was afraid of me anymore. If Emmett found out about this, he would be laughing for the next century.

"Hm... I'll be sure to tell him then," Jacob smiled.

"Er...hi," Jessica mumbled, and her eyes flashed to Bella's face, full of significance. "I guess I'll see you in Trig."

You are so going to spill. I'm not taking no for an answer. Details. I have to have details! Edward freaking CULLEN! Life is so unfair.

Bella's mouth twitched. "Yeah, I'll see you then."

Jessica's thoughts ran wild as she hurried to her first class, peeking back at us now and then.

The whole story. I'm not accepting anything less. Did they plan to meet up last night? Are they dating? How long? How could she keep this a secret? Why would she want to? It can't be a casual thing - she has to be seriously into him. Is there any other option? I will find out. I can't stand not knowing. I wonder if she's made out with him? Oh, swoon... Jessica's thoughts were suddenly disjointed, and she let wordless fantasies swirl through her head.

"Did she actually think 'Oh, swoon',?" Jacob asked laughing.

"Whatever," Bella shrugged; she was so not looking forward to this conversation with Jessica.

I winced at her speculations, and not just because she'd replaced Bella with herself in the mental pictures.

It couldn't be like that. And yet I...I wanted...

I resisted making the admission, even to myself. How many wrong ways would I want Bella in? Which one would end up killing her?

"How about you stop thinking about that one and give us all a break?" Jacob hissed.