Disclaimer:

I do not own Twilight or its characters. They belong to Stephenie Meyer. I am making no profit from posting this story and am in no way affiliated with S. Meyer, either.

Summary:

Lauren Mallory and Jessica Stanley are your everyday Queen Bees. They manipulate, they destroy and most importantly, they rule. Bella Swan is just your average high schooler. In her opinion, she has nobody looks and nobody clothes. Lauren and Jessica completely torment Bella in more ways than one. But she's not going to take it anymore… Bring in Edward Cullen. All the guys want to be him and all the girls want to be with him. The only problem is that he is completely unattainable. Lauren and Bella just aren't going to let that stand in their way. Written by madeofawesome22 and J (who does not have an account here at FF *glares at J*).

This chapter was written by madeofawesome22 and beta'd by J.

Boarding School Bet

Chapter 1- Another Day, Another Form of Torture

"Isabella Marie! Wake up, sleepyhead. Your father has to go to work and I have an appointment with the manicurist." I opened one eye lazily, groaning at the sound of my stepmother's annoyingly high pitched, squeaky voice. I decided that I wasn't going to get out of bed. That little promise was broken as soon as I saw what she was doing. Sue was currently rummaging through my bedroom closet throwing all my clothes into a messy pile on the ground. There were tons of garbage bags next to them.

"What are you doing?" I asked in alarm. Was she finally kicking me out of the house? And more importantly, would Charlie allow her to?

"I'm cleaning out all the ugly things in your closet." Her store bought nose wrinkled in disgust. "Actually, pretty much everything is ugly."

"Since it's my stuff I think you should get the hell out of my closet and then just get the hell out of my room!" My voice was cool and cutting.

Sue knew how to shrug off the obvious insult. "Now, now. Isabella Marie since I am you mother now I think I have the decision to either make you dress nice or dress like a homeless schmuck. Really it will be for your own good dearest." My head cocked to the side and heard Charlie, my dad, revving the car engine down the road.

"You can cut the crap, Sue. Charlie's gone." Sue looked shocked that I had figured out that she only associated with me in front of Charlie. Did she honestly think I was that stupid? She paused awkwardly for a moment, trying to decide whether or not she should trudge through the conversation or just leave and do whatever she did in her spare time.

She chose the latter. "You really do need better clothes." Finally, she turned and stalked out.

After I got dressed, I snuck past the kitchen where Sue was thumbing through the latest issue of PEOPLE magazine eagerly, reading about the latest celebrity scandal. The woman seriously needed a new hobby besides maxing out all the credit cards and reading tacky gossip magazines. Nothing in them had anything to do with her. The first and last time I pointed this out, she went into a tirade about how "Brangelina set the standards for formal wear" and how "Selena Gomez's fight with Demi Lovato could affect the teenybopper world forever." Oh and let's not forget my personal favorite, "Charlie must never ever wear anything resembling the clothing Marilyn Manson wears or I will dump his badly dressed tush in a heartbeat." Please. She and I both knew that would never happen, as long as Charlie managed to pay the bills and pamper Sue as much as possible.

Charlie, my father, was an extremely wealthy man who had some sort of deficiency that caused him to not be able to tell the gold diggers from the normal women. He and Renee, my REAL mother, divorced when I was only six months old. Renee moved to Phoenix to start anew while Charlie remained in the ever gloomy Forks, Washington. Renee had just gotten married to Phil Dwyer, a professional minor league baseball player. Sue thought this was very amusing and, honestly, I found it amusing too. But while my amusement was tolerant and quiet, hers was loud and cruel. Phil and my mother were away on a honeymoon to Las Vegas with him so, of course, I was stuck here in the drab that is Forks with my dad. Charlie had struck gold with his invention of a fishing pole that could detect fish under water. The hook could actually attach itself to the fish's mouth without it having to grab the bait. My dad was pretty much a god to the fishers of the world.

The driveway of my home- I refused to think of it as an estate- was long and winding, all thanks to my stepmother's luxurious taste. Jogging down the driveway I got to the end and spotted my best friend, Jacob Black, leaning against the gate, grinning. He came here every day to drive me to school in his old Volkswagen Rabbit. Sue, of course, was indignant. She was a firm believer in the whole- "don't- associate- with- people- who- are- lower- than- you- in- the- social- hierarchy" thing except she worded it better so it didn't sound so offensive but, all in all, it meant the same thing.

"Bella," he said as soon as I reached him. "I have figured out the ultimate way to punish Sue." I frowned and sighed, exasperated with my scheming comrade.

"Jacob. You know that I would like to live to see tomorrow. And getting on Sue's bad side will not help me in that endeavor."

"Bella! I know that if you really stand up to her and show her how you feel she would back down and stop being so annoying." I shook my head. No way was Jacob going to get me to back down.

"Picture this." He put his arm around my shoulder gesturing to the sky. "Sue has just insulted you about your guitar playing. Instead of getting mad at her, you act fast, quickly coming up with a plan. Rather, your devilishly handsome friend comes up with a brilliant plan that rivals the minds of Einstein, Beethoven and Edison-"

"Fix the arrogance, Jacob." He looked down at me, mocking shame. Then his expression returned to its usual gleeful self.

"Right. You know it's true Bells." I snorted. "Anyway, this plan consists of the brilliant friend-"

"Mike's in this story?"

"Bella if you interrupt one more time…"

"Sorry." Yeah, not really.

"The friend brings over a Saint Bernard that slobbers like my sister when she sees Paul. We proceed to steal the dress of the evil stepmother. This dress is exclusive, expensive and coveted. It is the dress to be worn at the Newton party tonight." I turned to look at him with accusation.

"You didn't."

"I did. Bella meet Simon the Saint Bernard." I looked to where he motioned and saw a panting dog that I never noticed at first. How could I miss him? He was huge. "Now go get that dress you were telling me about."

"Absolutely not." I was perfectly aware of the stubborn set of my chin.

"Bella," Jacob's eyes were pleading now. "Fifteen years from now when you look back at this moment wishing you could have done something to Sue for being her irritating self, you'll remember today. How your best friend tried to get you to do the exact same thing you really wanted to kick yourself for not doing. When I see you at school reunion you'll say, 'Jacob I wish I had listened to you.' Then I'll remind you of this exact conversation we are having right now and you'll slam your forehead against the wall."

"Wow that was deep."

"I am a man of many emotions." We burst out laughing. Then I heard a yell from the front door.

"ISABELLA MARIE SWAN! DO YOU HAPPEN TO REMEMBER OUR LITTLE DISCUSSION CONCERNING... YOU- KNOW- WHO!?" Sue rolled her eyes suggestively and jerked her head towards Jacob. Yes, I did recall the painful lecture of Sue's that had insulted Jacob and my choice of friends endlessly. I had pretty much zoned out during most of it. I didn't think Sue was capable of following through with ideas and being so rude in front of Jacob and besides, I'd always thought she was the kind of coward who insulted people behind their back. My eyes blazed.

"I'll do it." These were my last words to Jacob before I went in and grabbed the Victoria Beckham dress Sue treated more like a beloved daughter than me. Slipping out the front door again, while Sue was doing Pilates, I flat out ran down the driveway glancing over my shoulder like the felon I was.

Jacob grabbed the dress. Bending down, he put a bone out for Simon. The dog started slobbering over Jacob's hand trying to get the bone. Jacob always had a way with dogs and didn't jump back saying 'eww' like I would have. All he did was take out a napkin to wipe the slobber off his hand. He then pulled the Beckham dress inside out and put it under the dog's mouth effectively covering it with drool. It was pretty nasty but at the same time I was pleased that Sue would get what was coming for her. Jacob fixed the dress outside in. That way, the witch wouldn't see the slobber. Perfect.

Jacob gave me a ride to school. The day passed slowly, dragging on. The clock ticked slower, the teachers' speeches seemed even more boring than usual and I fidgeted like crazy. I was anxious about the whole prank. To put off having to go witness the rage that could equal a whole Confederate Army after they lost, I stayed over in Jacob's garage after school while he worked on the Rabbit. Finally though, I could put it off no longer. I trudged over to my house. The door was unlocked. And even creepier the whole house was dark.

"I know what you did, Isabella Marie Swan," Sue hissed from nowhere, flicking on the light switch. I took a step back. "Once I tell your father, he'll be so pissed that he'll finally let me send you away to Boarding School." My eyes rolled. This had to be… what? The twentieth time she threatened that this month? Sue was standing in the middle of the foyer wearing the type of clothes she despised: sweats and a t- shirt. I gaped.

"You're wearing-"

"Don't you say it," Sue warned, menacingly. "If you say the s word I will-"

"SWEATS!" I yelled, triumphant and also a bit frightened. Sue's face went red from anger.

"GO UPSTAIRS! THANKS TO YOU I CAN'T SHOW OFF MY DRESS AT THE PARTY TONIGHT!" Wow. Sue was actually capable of a lot more anger than you would have assumed from her perfectly together clothes and sugary smiles.

Banished to my room, I turned on my stereo. Some music with tons of shrieking and electric guitar playing came on. Purposely turning it up to full volume just to annoy Sue, I plopped myself onto my feather soft bed. A bed in a room that said stepmother decided to re- do while I was at camp over the summer without my permission. When I first moved into our gigantic house, my dad got a personal designer to decorate my room for me despite my protests. She was pretty good actually. My room was gorgeous. Emphasis on the 'was.' Thanks to Sue my room looked horrible and Charlie didn't even care or allow me to re- decorate it myself. This is what I live with from day to day.

I was just about to doze off despite the noise when Charlie called me downstairs. My eyes widened.

Calm down Bella. What's the worst he can do? Ugh. Every time someone asks that question bad things happen. Good job me.

"What's up Dad?" I asked as soon as I reached the bottom of the expansive circular stairwell.

"What did you do to Sue's dress?" Charlie looked mad and I wanted to smack the smug off of Sue's face. I suppressed that urge.

"Whatever do you mean?" I tried out the innocent approach but it didn't work. I suppose I should have expected that.

"I mean you destroyed Sue's very expensive, very pretty dress."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Isabella Marie it is time you took responsibility for your actions." Sue took over the conversation. I looked at her skeptically. Thinking of Jacob's words of wisdom, I spoke.

"You really think, I'm going to listen to you?" Sue gasped and began sobbing. Charlie put his arm around her and she rested her head on his shoulder.

"That wasn't very nice, Isabella."

"Dad, you know I don't like it when people call me Isabella. It's Bella!"

"Isabella is the name on your birth certificate."

"It's called a nickname dad!" I yelled, exasperated. Charlie turned red.

"I DON'T CARE!" He sucked in a deep breath to calm himself. "Sue has come up with a fitting punishment for your actions." If this punishment involves Sue bossing me around, Jacob better hide next time I see him. Charlie handed me a brochure. Sue was now quiet looking at me through one eye while fake sniffling. Her mouth slowly pulled up at the corners as I opened the fancy brochure. On it read the words:

The John Mallory School for Excellence

"Stupidity is coveted among the weak but excellence is the pinnacle of strength."

"What is this? Some kind of military school?" I barely concealed the horror.

"No," Charlie said simply. Agitated, I read on and discovered that the John Mallory School for Excellence was not a military school. I sighed, relieved. Until I realized it was a boarding school. Out of all the punishments I could have received, this was the one they chose. Not excessive chores for a year. Not the banishment of Wuthering Heights forever. Not even ever seeing my best friend again.

Like I said- This is what I live with from day to day.

My eyes must have bugged out of their sockets because Sue was grinning hugely at me. Charlie had his poker face on, preparing for the slew of protests about to explode from my mouth.

"ARE YOU SERIOUS!?"

"I couldn't be more serious, Isabella."

"CHARLIE-!"

"Aww. Don't cry Isabella Marie. I'm sure it's for the best," Sue smirked. Wait a minute. Sue. If I go to boarding school, I won't have to wake up to Sue every morning. I won't have to hear her screams and her clothing rants. Suddenly I became eager to leave. I wanted to go to this boarding school. I would have to thank Jacob for this…

Jacob.

Looking back at the brochure, I realized that the boarding school was in Hartford, Connecticut. In other words, nowhere near Forks. Sucking in a breath, I decided to deal with that particular problem later.

"I accept." The faces of Charlie and Sue went into shock.

"You do?" They both asked it at the same time.

"Of course. Anything mummy dearest wants me to do, I will. It's time for me to grow up. To be an adult. Not a juvenile delinquent." Charlie looked pleased while Sue looked surprised and a little suspicious. I hugged Sue. She stiffened in my arms. Pulling back slightly I said, "I'm so sorry that I messed up your dress, Sue, but at least now we can put this all behind us and become close as mother and daughter." Sue was open- mouthed. I grinned, shaking from laughter but Charlie didn't know that.

"I'm proud of you Bells." Now it was my turn to stare open- mouthed. Charlie used a nickname for me. He hadn't done that in years. My heart swelled and Sue tried to wreck the happy moment. Jealous.

"Charlie! Sweetie pie!" She couldn't think of anything to get his full admiring attention.

"Aren't you happy, Sue? Our Bella is finally growing up." My fist automatically clenched at the use of the term, 'our', implying that I belonged to Sue.

"No! She won't go." Thanks for trying to take away something that could potentially free me from you, Sue. Charlie's face became determined.

"No. She'll go." He then put his arm around my shoulders and walked me away from a very stunned Sue. It was the first time he had ever stood up to her, more importantly on my behalf. I turned my head to stick out my tongue at Sue discreetly, watching with delight as her face turned a very unattractive shade of red. It was immature and very second grade but I could care less. I was free from Sue and it looked like Charlie wasn't as female clueless as I thought he was.

AN: SO... Did you like it!? Review please! You can find pictures of things like the Beckham dress, Bella's room before Sue messed it up, her room after she messed it up, and the estate on my profile.