Growing More

Chapter 20: Jealousy

Bella's POV:

I placed all my spare, unneeded books neatly into my locker and looked at the picture Alice had taken while Edward and I were dancing in the rain last night. She had developed it and Edward and I both had a copy. I taped mine in my locker.

I gently stroked my thumb over the picture and sighed happily. I love him so much.

"Bella?" someone asked. I closed my locker and turned - it was Eric.

"Hi, Eric, what's up?" I smiled.

"Well, Ben and Angela were going on a date tonight and she told me to ask you if you and Edward wanted to come as a double date."

"Yeah, that sounds like fun. I'll tell Edward, you tell Ang. What time?"

"I believe she said she would pick you guys up at seven. And don't bother telling Edward; Ang said she would tell him,"

"Oh," I said, perking and eyebrow up. "okay,"

Eric leaned in to my ear and whispered "sorry," before turning and stalking away. That was weird.

*
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*

"Where's Edward?" I asked Alice when we walked through the lunch line. I looked around for him.

"Mr. Philps asked him to stay back for a few minutes. He's coming soon,"

"Oh, okay," I said, pushing my tray along the counter. The lady gave me a bundle of green grapes, and I popped one into my mouth as she asked if I wanted a big cookie.

When I sat down at an empty table, I was eating my grapes when Edward sat down next to me.

"What did Mr. Philps want?" I asked him as he wrapped his arm around my waist.

"He just said I had to focus more next class. I was sort of daydreaming about you," he admitted, blushing.

"Wow, now I see what you mean how blushing is cute," I said, stroking his cheek. He rolled his eyes, smiling.

"So, are you excited about tonight?" he asked me, eating one of my grapes.

"Yeah, I can't wait. Our first official date," I smiled. I lifted up my big cookie and it fell apart to the floor.

"Aww, my cookie!" I whined, "can I have your big cookie?"

"No, you shouldn't of dropped yours," Edward teased, taking a bite of his big cookie.

"But I want a big cookie," I pouted.

"Go ask the nerds for a big cookie," he suggested, pointing over to the table.

"I think I will," I said, standing up and stomping off to the need table.

"Hi," I said, and they stared up at me.

"What are you? I mean, who are you?" a boy with thick black glasses taped together in the middle and scruffy brown hair asked.

"I'm Bella, I'm a girl... you've probably never been this close to one, have you?" I said.

"Well - "

"Your mom doesn't count,"

He closed his mouth.

"Can I have your big cookie?"

"One condition,"

"What?"

"Give me a kiss,"

"Aww,"

"A kiss or no cookie,"

"How about a handshake?"

"Deal!"

I shook his hand and he handed me his cookie. I skipped back over to Edward.

"You got a big cookie," he said, laughing.

"They wanted me to kiss him for it, but he said yes to a handshake," I said giggling.

Edward wrapped his arm back around my waist and we finished lunch.

*
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*

When we all got home from school, I rushed straight up to my room, Edward hot on my trail. He went in his room and I in mine.

I scrambled through my closet, picking out a simple black cotton dress with a gold belt. I paired it with some black combat boots and a small black bow barrette for my hair.

I have myself some simple makeup before I skipped downstairs and looked out the window to see if Angela was here yet.

I looked at the clock; 6:56.

I suddenly heard a honk and looked back out the window to see a black Lexus with darkly tinted windows. I heard Edward walking down the steps so I went outside and opened the door to get in the backseat of the car.

"Where's Edward?" Angela asked.

"He's coming," I said.

Edward opened the back door and slid in next to me.

"You look beautiful," he murmured in my ear.

"You look handsome," I whispered back.

"Let's go," Ben said forcefully. Angela stomped on the gas pedal.

We arrived at a warehouse.

"Where are we?" I asked, confused.

"M - Ben set up our date here," Angela said, walking out of the car. She had a hood over her head, and Ben did too.

Edward and I got out of the car, and he held me protectively. Something wasn't right.

Suddenly, Ben and Angela disappeared and I felt something heavy hit my head. I fell to the cold pavement, and everything went black.

*
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*

I woke up in a musty room. I tried to stand up, but something was preventing me. I realized my hands were tied together and I was tied to a pole. What?

I looked around and saw Ben standing there, staring at me, his face hidden behind the hood.

"Ben, what are you doing?" I asked, my voice trembling. "Where's Edward?"

"I'm not Ben," Ben sneered, pulling his hood down. He was right. It wasn't Ben.

It was Mike.