This is my first attempt at writing. I never intended to publish a story, but I just couldn't get this story out of my head, so I thought I'd give it a shot. At worst no one reads it or no one who actually reads it likes it, at best I share the inner workings of my twisted little mind with others. At this time, I have no beta, so any mistakes are my own.

I hope you will enjoy... that is if someone actually reads this...

Obligatory disclamer: SM owns the whole Twilight world and all its wonderful characters. I'm just attempting to write a semi-decent story...

Self Esteem

CH. 1

Edward:

Nobody gets a second date with Bella the Bitch. Newton knows that just assuredly as any other red blooded male in this school, so I shake my head and stifle a smile when he sidles up to her across the cafeteria and puts his arm around her shoulders. This is gonna be good. He thinks he's special just because he is the captain of the football team… and he's one of the few she actually said yes to in the first place. Apparently, he's already forgotten that it took him over three years of practically begging for her to go out with him in the first place. I watch out of the corner of my eye as she turns around with an incredulous look on her face, shakes her head, whips back around and stalks off in the direction of the exit. Oh thank God, one of her cronies grabs her stuff and follows closely at her heels (insert sarcastic remark here). I can't help but snort.

Now that the show is over, I can go back to eating my lunch and going over my notes in peace. However, peace doesn't come. My mind keeps wondering back to that small frame with delicate ivory skin, waist length mahogany hair, and endless deep, brown eyes… even with the look of pure ire they just displayed they are a sight to behold… and against my better judgment, I get a little excited for next period. I shake it off and force myself to study for the upcoming Bio test.

I am at the cafeteria door as the bell rings and jog quickly to my next class. She is already there. I just lift my chin once in a slight nod toward her and take my usual seat at the lab table next to her. She frowns slightly at my acknowledgement and lets her hair fall in a curtain around her face. I can tell she is texting under the desk. Mr. Banner walks in and sets the stack of papers on his desk watching Newton slide in as the tardy bell rings. What an idiot. The tests are distributed and we are cautioned to keep our eyes on our own papers. 45 minutes of silence later, I turn my paper over, close my eyes, and inhale her unique scent: strawberries and freesia and something uniquely Bella. I shake my head at my own idiocy and lean my forehead down on the cool black table. She finishes her own test about a minute later and returns to her phone under the desk. The bell rings and I stand to let her move around me stiffening slightly when she runs her hand lightly across the hem of my jeans. I smile brightly… I would be seeing her later tonight.

Bella:

Nobody gets a second date with Bella the Bitch! Every male in this godforsaken school knows that by now… so why is Mike about to humiliate himself? While watching his progress toward me out of the corner of my eye, I throw myself into the mundane conversation I am having with Jess in hopes of discouraging him from approaching. Unfortunately, his giant ego outweighs his sense of self-preservation and he continues walking toward me with a cocky grin on his face… idiot. I feel him slide his arm around my shoulders and I immediately stiffen. I turn around slowly giving him a chance to back off, but his arm remains. Once facing him, I give him a disbelieving look, challenging him to say anything. He finally gets it and takes a step back. I turn on my heel and storm off in the direction of the bathroom. I know Jess will grab my things and follow like the good little disciple she is.

I can't believe he would be so stupid! Mike Newton had been asking me out since half way through first semester freshman year and I always turned him down… I have absolutely no interest in him whatsoever… but Jess actually does. So, after three years, I decided I would let him have is one date allotment, so he could move on, hopefully in Jess's direction Everyone knows that I don't do relationships, hell… I don't really date either. I'm no prude, but drunk hook ups at parties and one-night-stands are not actually dating. I have been so unimpressed by the real "dates" I have been on over the years, I figured it would be better to just forego the whole mess until I get the fuck out of here next year. Small towns do not leave a whole lot of fish in the proverbial dating pool. There is that one… but I refuse to go there. I shake my head to clear my thoughts of him. Even so, when Jess enters the ladies room, I find myself biting my lower lip – a nervous habit left over from when I was younger. If she notices, she doesn't show it.

"Hey… here's your stuff… I grabbed it for you." Jess hands me my things, but refuses to look me in the eye. I know she is pissed at me for going out with Mike, but I was actually trying to do her a favor. How was I supposed to know that he wouldn't realize I was just as off limits now as I was before our date… to the diner… in the middle of this shit town… where I had to leave the tip or the waitress (who incidentally has known me since I was five) would not have gotten a dime from his cheap ass.

"Jess, don't be that way. I was actually trying to help you out. Everyone knows I don't really do the dating/relationship thing, so I figured once we went out he would get over his weird fixation and move on. I was planning to help him move on to you." She smiles then and raises her eyes to mine.

"Really? I thought…" she didn't finish the statement, but I know what she was going to say. I've done it before. When Lauren became a self-important, know-it-all with an ego to match, I used my knowledge of her long-time crush on Tyler to squash her little uprising before it got too far. At least I got a nice dinner in Port Angeles and an "upgrade" to my reputation for that one.

"No… it was for you. I didn't even kiss him (yuck!). I have no interest… at all… when we get to Bio, make sure you are there to pick up his fragile feelings and assure him it's his loss. I'll back off for awhile and let you guys bond." Maybe this would work out and I could kill two birds with one stone. I wouldn't have her as my shadow anymore and Mike would stop being my stalker. I sighed as I thought about all things I do to keep my popularity in place, but shake it off quickly… that bed was made a long time ago, I need to sleep in it now. Oh well.

The bell rings and I smile just a little more brightly realizing I have Bio next. Oh, fuck! We have a test! At least I have my notes on my phone… thank you mom & Phil for the smart phone! I'll look over my notes a little before class. I'm sure I'll do fine… I have a 4.0 GPA; I just don't like to advertise that I actually care about and sometimes work at my grades. They are my ticket out of Forks-Hell and I intend to use them.

I am the first one in class so I pull up the app on my phone and lean down so my hair will cover up what I'm actually doing. Then I feel it from across the room: that pull. So I lift my head up ever so slightly to see him walk in. He raises his head with a serious look on his face and I frown as I get that inevitable jolt of electricity that flows through me when in his proximity. Why does he have to be so gorgeous! The unusual dark hair with natural, bronze highlights, the angled jaw with full lips and sparkling green eyes, all set in a 6'2 package with long slender fingers that can… stop! I have to force myself back to my notes. When Banner comes in, I put away my phone and catch Mike walking in at the bell. He does not look happy. I quickly glance at Jess and give her a slight smile and nod. She smiles brightly and watches Newton as he sits next to her at their table. Before I turn my head, I see her patting him sympathetically on the arm. He turns with a slight smile in her direction. Good. It's about time. With his ego, her eagerness to please and their combined IQ of about 120, they really are perfect for each other.

I turn my focus to the test now lying in front of me. Edward finishes about 5 minutes before me… show off, but as I finish I know I kicked ass. I catch him smelling me and smile as I hide behind my hair and lower my head and stare unfocused at my phone. I too take in his scent. He smells like soap, with a hint of something woodsy, and boy. Clean and unbelievably attractive. God, I want him. As the bell rings, I make sure to run my hand softly against the top of his perfectly fitting jeans. A signal I know he will understand. I feel, more than see him look up and smile straight ahead before leaving the room to my last class: gym. I fucking hate gym. At least, I have some pretty bronze haired, green-eyed eye candy to look at. I can hardly wait until later tonight.