I sighed. "Sorry I left you to deal with that. Are you angry with me?"
"Naw. Rose'll get over it. It was bound to happen anyway." With what Alice sees coming...
"Don't mention that," Jacob flinched.
Alice's visions were not what I wanted to think about right now. I stared forward, my teeth locking together.
As I searched for a distraction, I caught sight of Ben Cheney entering the Spanish room ahead of us. Ah - here was my chance to give Angela Weber her gift.
"Ben Cheney," Bella mumbled and got out her year book to look at him. He was cute enough, though not her type at all. Still she studied the picture, if Angela and Ben liked each other she wanted them to be together in this reality, too. She thought that things might be different now that she knew what Edward was thinking about her, so she might have to be the one to help Ben and Angela out... argh... that wasn't really her strong point. Oh well, it will have to happen someway.
I stopped walking and caught Emmett's arm. "Hold on a second."
What's up?
"I know I don't deserve it, but would you do me a favor anyway?"
"What is it?" he asked, curious.
Under my breath - and at a speed that would have made the words incomprehensible to a human no matter how loud they'd been spoken - I explained to him what I wanted.
He stared at me blankly when I was done, his thoughts as blank as his face.
"That sound interesting," Jacob chuckled.
"So?" I prompted. "Will you help me do it?"
It took him a minute to respond. "But, why?"
"C'mon, Emmett. Why not?"
Who are you and what have you done with my brother?
Bella and Jacob both chuckled at this.
"Aren't you the one who complains that school is always the same? This is something a little different, isn't it? Consider it an experiment - an experiment in human nature."
He stared at me for another moment before he caved. "Well, it is different, I'll give you that... Okay, fine." Emmett snorted and then shrugged. "I'll help you."
I grinned at him, feeling more enthusiastic about my plan now that he was on board. Rosalie was a pain, but I would always owe her one for choosing Emmett; no one had a better brother than mine.
"Aw," Jacob said in teasing voice but Bella smiled at what Edward had just said.
Emmett didn't need to practice. I whispered his lines to him once under my breath as we walked into the classroom.
Ben was already in his seat behind mine, assembling his homework to hand in.
Emmett and I both sat and did the same thing. The classroom was not quiet yet; the murmur of subdued conversation would continue until Mrs. Goff called for attention.
She was in no hurry, appraising the quizzes from the last class.
"So," Emmett said, his voice louder than necessary - if he were really speaking only to me. "Did you ask Angela Weber out yet?"
"Oh... I get it," Jacob said laughing. "This should work."
The sound of papers rustling behind me came to an abrupt stop as Ben froze, his attention suddenly riveted on our conversation.
Angela? They're talking about Angela?
"Hm... it definitely makes it easy that Edward knows what he's thinking," Bella muttered.
Good. I had his interest.
"No," I said, shaking my head slowly to appear regretful.
"Why not?" Emmett improvised. "Are you chicken?"
I grimaced at him. "No. I heard that she was interested in someone else."
Edward Cullen was going to ask Angela out? But... No. I don't like that. I don't want him near her. He's...not right for her. Not...safe.
"You got that right," Jacob chuckled and Bella glared at him. "What? You want him to go out with Angela?"
"Don't be ridiculous," Bella rolled her eyes and Jacob laughed louder.
I hadn't anticipated the chivalry, the protective instinct. I'd been working for jealousy. But whatever worked.
"You're going to let that stop you?" Emmett asked scornfully, improvising again.
Jacob laughed even more at that.
"Not up for the competition?"
I glared at him, but made use of what he gave me. "Look, I guess she really likes this Ben person. I'm not going to try to convince her otherwise. There are other girls."
The reaction in the chair behind me was electric.
"Who?" Emmett asked, back to the script.
"My lab partner said it was some kid named Cheney. I'm not sure I know who he is."
"That's rude... the guy's right behind you," Jacob muttered.
"Um... Jake, that's the point," Bella said.
"I know," Jacob rolled his eyes. "I'm just saying it makes him