Life as I Know It

Chapter 4

Previously...

"Ok," she chirped as her heels clapped away to her master bedroom to change. The breath I was holding slid out of my lungs and I rubbed my temples together.

2 more years. Just two more and then I'm free...

~oOo~

I was coming off work in the mall and needed some new clothes to wear, so I browsed into Aerie, when my eyes met his behind a mannequin.

His face brightened up into a smile as we came face to face. "Hey," he said.

"Edward! Hi." I smiled as we came around the mannequins to hug. I inhaled his warm, manly scent and memorized it as we pulled away. I saw Alice and Jasper behind us and waved to them. Alice had a knowing look in her eyes that depicted a talk was needed later. Great.

"What are you doing here? Just get off work?" Edward asked.

"Yeah, just got off," I said.

"Oh, where do you work?"

"The Disney Store." I blushed, almost in embarrassment.

"Aww you work in the Disney Store with the little babies?" He laughed.

"Don't laugh, it's not funny!" I hit his shoulder, trying to hide my smile. "I might end up quitting though."

"Why?"

"They keep switching my hours without telling me, and the pay really isn't that great. Plus, there's more quiet days than crazy days, and the crazy days are just uncontrollable. It's just," I groaned. "It's just annoying now. Plus, it's the middle of summer. I don't want to be working all summer."

"And yet you're taking school classes online?"

"Shut up!" I smacked him again. "I need to get something better than a lame Associate's Degree."

"Trust me, getting a Bachelor's is not that exciting. It's the Doctorate and Masters they care about."

"But you work in engineering."

"So? That's still not a big deal. I work underground."

"At least your field is guaranteed success. I'll be stuck with my mom 'till I'm forty."

"And you'll get your license at thirty."

"Thanks for the encouragement."

"Only for you, babe." He hugged me again, wrapping his arm around me shoulders. He always found a way to send butterflies pounding in my stomach.

"But what are you guys doing here, in a girly store like Aerie? Shopping for bras?" I giggled as I searched in a bucket for my size.

"Not me." He laughed. "Alice needed some, so we just tagged along."

I looked to Alice and Jasper signing away in ASL, but I could tell they really liked each other. I smiled as Alice giggled at whatever he had said to her.

"They're so cute, it's nauseating." Edward grimaced.

"I think it's sweet. They've had it in for each other for so long, it was about time they, you know, took it to that level."

"You know that the divorce rate for hearing-deaf couples is close to ninety percent?"

"Who said anything about marriage? They're just dating."

"Which leads to marriage, which leads to divorce if it's not treated right."

"Hey! I can hear you, asshole. Just because your brother's deaf doesn't mean I can't fucking hear you talking shit about your own brother!" Alice yelled as she signed for Jasper. Jasper frowned, confused and turned to Edward.

"What's wrong?" He signed back.

"Nothing." Edward sighed and signed.

"No, tell him what I just heard you tell Bella," Alice exclaimed.

"Keep your voice down!" Edward gritted his teeth, not bothering to sign that.

"I'm not going to let you stand here and insult your brother for making a move just because you won't."

Alice and Edward stared intensely at each other.

Jasper tapped my shoulder, still confused. I felt so badly for him. It must have sucked not to interpret what cruel words about you meant when you couldn't hear them. I thought they hurt even more.

"I don't know what's going on. Let's go outside?" I signed, switching up some words for others because even my signing sucked sometimes.

Luckily, I think he understood and ushered us outside before the sales associates got to us first.

The tension was thick around us as we walked to the food court. I signed to Jasper. "Did you all eat?"

He nodded. "Did you?"

I shook my head. "Hey, guys? I'm kinda hungry, so I'm gonna get something. Be right back. Try not to kill each other on my way out."

Edward glared at me, and I rolled my eyes.

What did Alice mean by Edward not making a move? Was it that obvious that I liked him? Was I being too transparent? I mean, it wasn't like I scoped him out. I just got out from work.

Oh man, now my head hurt, both from hunger and weird thoughts and insecurities in my head. I'd have to ask Alice when I got home. That is, if my mom didn't have me wait another hour on her.

I got my hamburger from Wendy's and took my time going back to the table. Edward and Alice were both on their phones, still not speaking to each other. Jasper looked a little less confused, but it still showed on his sweet, little face. I sighed, sat down, and dug into my burger and fries. Jasper snuck in a fry and winked when I acted shocked.

When I finished, I got a text from my mom.

I'm outside. Come on out.

I sighed deeply. I already had a lot to deal with here, and I hated to leave things unsettled with Alice and Edward. But I also didn't want to get in the middle of whatever it was, was the problem.

"Guys?" All three heads looked up. "My mom is outside, so I gotta go."

"Oh, ok. We'll walk you out." Alice smiled a bit. Edward nodded, and we all got up to walk near the mall entrance.

I hugged Alice first. "I'm sorry about everything back there. I'll text you when you get back," she whispered in my ear, and I nodded.

I hugged Jasper goodbye, then Edward and walked out.

A/N: So there's that lol. Thoughts on Edward and Alice's little argument at Aerie? Has anyone shopped at Aerie before? I just started 2 days ago haha!

If you're on Facebook, I have a small group called "DaniPitter's Fanfiction Group" to get together and chat about fics, Twilight, fandoms and stuff. Come join if you'd like!

Thanks for reading! :)