Ebb and Flow (Twilight x Reader)

Chapter 4

The month that followed the accident was uneasy and tense, but it wasn't as bad for me as it was for Bella. She was the center of attention for the rest of that week.

Tyler Crowley, the kind who almost hit her, was impossible, following her around, obsessed with making amends to her somehow. He followed her between classes and sat at our now-crowded lunch table. I told him to get lost. Multiple times. It didn't do anything.

No one seemed concerned about Edward. Edward was never surrounded by crowds of curious bystanders eager for his firsthand account. People avoided him as usual. The Cullens and the Hales sat at the same table as always, not eating, talking only among themselves. None of them, especially Edward, glanced Bella's way anymore. It made me wonder if something happened behind the scenes I wasn't aware of.

When he sat next to me in class, as far from me as the table would allow, he ignored me completely, and I did the same. I couldn't believe the way he'd talked to me and then blown me off at the ER. That only fueled my suspicions.

Mike, at least, hadn't changed and was always able to lift my mood. I think he could see that I was bothered by Edward, so he'd sit on the edge of my table to talk before Biology class started, ignoring Edward as completely as he ignored us. The snow washed away for good after that one dangerously icy day. Mike was disappointed he'd never gotten to stage his snowball fight, but pleased that the beach trip would soon be possible.

The rain continued heavily, though, and the weeks passed. Mike made me aware of another event looming on the horizon—he called to ask if Bella was planning on asking anyone to the girl's choice spring dance.

"Not sure," I said, grinning. "Why, you want her to ask you?"

"Well—I mean she's cool, and I just, I mean you're her sister, so I'm assuming you would know—"

"I don't," I said apologetically. "Sorry. She's not really the. . . dancing type."

"Well, if she doesn't end up going. . . would you want to go together? Just as friends."

"Sure, that'd be fun." I paused. "Though really I was supposed to ask you."

"Technicalities."

The next day, I was surprised that Jessica wasn't her usual gushing self in Trig and Spanish. She was silent as she walked by my side between classes, and I was afraid to ask her why.

During lunch, however, Jessica sat as far from Mike as possible, chatting animatedly with Eric. Mike was unusually quiet. Mike was still quiet as he walked me to class, the uncomfortable look on his face a bad sign.

"Okay, talk to me," I said once he'd taken a seat on the edge of my table like usual.

He looked at me. "Huh?"

"What's got you so down?"

"Oh. . ." He seemed sheepish. "Well, Jessica asked me to the dance."

I raised my eyebrows. I hadn't expected that. "That's. . .great?"

"Bella said the same thing."

"Ah," I said with sudden understanding. "I see. I'm sorry, Mike."

"I asked her, but she said she was going to be in Seattle that day."

"She did?"

Mike peered at me. "You didn't know?"

I suddenly realized that this was probably some sort of excuse Bella made up to let Mike down easy. "Oh, no I did. I was just surprised she was telling people. She's usually very, erm. . . personal about her plans."