Why did she have to return his smile? She never greeted other males so warmly. What was so special about this...Jacob Black? She was just being polite. That was all.
"Can I cut in?" he asked hesitantly, swiveling towards me.
I gritted my teeth. Behave...behave...behave, I chanted over and over in my head in Bella's delicate voice. This planned conversation was angering me and now he was asking me to break my promise to Bella.
Refusing to let Jacob see my growing irritation, I kept my face absent of emotion. I knew if I were to open my mouth words not appropriate to say in front of a lady would spill out. So, instead, I just carefully placed her back on her feet and took a step backwards, my teeth still clenched tight enough to crush diamonds.
"Thanks," Jacob said pleasantly. That was easier than I imagined.
Taking a steadying breath, I nodded once and turned to walk away. Moving through the crowd I positioned myself so I could see and hear their exchange.
Venom filled my mouth when Jacob put his hands on her waist. Jealousy ripped at me when she wrapped her arms around his shoulders. Without thinking, I was pushing my way back through the crowd. I was irate.
"Emmett," Alice nodded towards me. "Stop him."
He's just a kid, Edward, she reminded me.
Before I reached them, strong arms were binding me to the spot. Emmett chuckled. "Tisk tisk, bro. Here? In this crowd? Can't you pick another time to rip his arms off?"
He let go when I froze.
"I'd like to do that now," I glanced quickly towards Alice's twirling form.
You were about to do something really stupid. Trust me on that. Alice explained.
A hard laugh came from my left. "Not a chance." Emmett smirked. "Now calm down. What would Bella think?" He looked at me in mock horror.
I looked away.
It was so odd to feel this infuriated over something as small as a dance. His hands were gripping her on her waist. I wanted to grip him around his throat. I wanted him so far away from her that the wish was a strong flavor on my tongue. I was automatically sorting through the range of tortures I would bring upon him.
"Jeez, Edward. Calm down," Emmett muttered, his hand on my shoulder - restraining me. My face in his mind was showing nothing but a murderous glare.
I settled on eavesdropping. Emmett leaned against the wall beside me.
"Wow, Jake, how tall are you now?" Bella looked up at Jacobs towering frame.
I growled and Emmett patted my shoulder in understanding. I deal with this kind of stuff all the time, he thought to himself. What's the big deal?
"Six-two." Jacob's thoughts were smug. In the past months he had grown several inches in height, something he was very proud of.
I watched as they swayed on the spot, not really dancing due to Bella's casted foot.
"So, how did you end up here tonight?" she questioned, but her tone was absent of curiosity, like she already knew.
Just tell her, just get it over with. He swallowed hard. If I blame it on my dad, she can't really get mad at me, can she? He frowned."Can you believe my dad paid me twenty bucks to come to your prom?" He confessed. That was easy enough, now the hard part.
"Yes, I can," Bella muttered. "Well, I hope you're enjoying yourself, at least. Seen anything you like?" she nodded to a group of girls lined up against the wall, waiting and willing for their knight and shining armor.
Her hint to him sent me a little bit of relief. He was just a friend. Nothing more.
"Yeah," he sighed. You! "But she's taken."
He glanced down at Bella's face.
Bella looked away, blush rising in her porcelain cheeks.
Dammit! She knows I meant her. You idiot!
"You look really pretty, by the way," he added apprehensively. Oh crap! Did that just come out of my mouth? How embarrassing. He hung his head slightly.
Pretty? She is much more than that! Angelic, maybe. Exquisite, yes. But pretty? Idiot.
"Um, thanks." Bella's forehead creased. "So why did Billy pay you to come here?"
It didn't go without notice, her lack of compliments back to him. Jacob noticed, I noticed...
"Burn!" Emmett bellowed.
Emmett noticed. I had almost forgotten he was standing beside me; I was so intent on listening into their conversation.
Forget it. I can't do this. Jacob argued in his mind. Master cylinder...master cylinder, he chanted over and over.
The look of discomfort on his face pleased me.
Get it over with... he grimaced.
"He said it was a 'safe' place to talk to you. I swear the old man is losing his mind."
His humorless chuckle was joined with a weak laugh from Bella.
"Is he going to say what I think he's going to say?" Emmett guffawed loudly.
I nodded.
"No way!" he continued to chuckle. "Human's are so hilarious! You sure know how to pick the good ones," Emmett chuckled in amusement.
"Anyway," Jacob continued. "He said that if I told you something, he would get me that master cylinder I need," he confessed with a sheepish grin. Master cylinder...you can do this. Master cylinder.