OUT OF EDEN by Savannavansmutsmut

Partially co-written and beta'd by Dollybigmomma

This story was originally posted as four separate stories, All Boys Camp, ABC: Bella's Return, ABC: Project EDEN and Isle of Dreams. We've compiled all four into one anthology so as to reduce the confusion on which one to read first. However, if you've already read these stories, we would highly recommend re-reading this offering, as much has been added to it, plus the focus of the story has been shifted from Bella to actually make it Edward's story. Thanks for giving it a chance, and even if you've already left comments on the others, please leave us some love now and let us know your thoughts! Enjoy!

All Twilight Characters belong to Stephenie Meyer

Chapter 1 - First sight

Edward

Whoever said it was better to give than to receive was obviously as big a prankster as my best friends, Emmett and Jasper.

Although I wouldn't consider myself innocuous by any means, I usually preferred to stay out of their more harebrained schemes. But occasionally, the need for our special brand of three musketeers' shenanigans was called for; at least it was according to our conclusions. When they were able to get me to participate, I was the brains of our operations. With a photographic memory and highly advanced intelligence that gave me the ability to work out minute details in my head in the blink of an eye, we were able to accomplish whatever mischief we cooked up without ever getting caught.

I was pretty much an outcast due to my abilities and didn't really fit in well with any crowd, but I had found my place with Emmett and Jasper. I had a tendency to take things too literally or say things that people didn't understand, making me seem odd and them uncomfortable. Jasper and Emmett didn't seem to mind, though. If I mentioned something they didn't understand, they would usually just say, "Really, Edward?" and start laughing, as opposed to backing away from the weirdo slowly or giving me a hard time. They were the best friends I could have ever hoped to have.

The last day of school was almost over, and we had something big planned to commemorate it, hence why I was hiding in a doorway, waiting patiently. The principal, Mr. Baker, was patrolling the halls as usual, barking threats and strutting as if he were the dictator of a great world power, not the glorified crossing guard he really was. He had always been a jerk, trying desperately to put a stop to the fun Jasper, Emmett and I had been having, much of it at his expense. Fortunately for us, he had no proof, and no clue. It was times like these I truly enjoyed and exploited my advanced intellect.

It was no surprise that students were bored in this place. It wasn't exactly on the exemplary schools list. Besides, Baker deserved our wrath for his smug, condescending attitude, and for unleashing a cat on us that was the spawn of Satan himself. Lucy, aka Lucifer, roamed our neighborhood as if she owned it, and she had no problem digging up my mother's flowerbeds right under our windows and leaving uncovered, and unwelcomed, contributions. That was, when she wasn't taking a dump directly on our front porch, right where we stepped out. The cat was pure evil.

Emmett was pissed with Mr. Baker for his obsession with filling the school's trophy case, even at the cost of the players' health and education. Jasper despised him for letting the meathead bullies get away with tormenting those they deemed "less than" themselves. Most were on a sports team of one kind or another, and Baker didn't want to interfere with their ability to play. I loathed his disregard for the less-than-popular students, which had been a problem ever since I had attended here years ago as a full-time student. I was only around here now part-time on a special waiver, mostly for the social aspect, and so I could play football with my friends.

Of course, we would get even with Baker in the end, causing him to hate us even more, as it always happened on the school grounds, in front of the whole student body, and with no way for him to concretely pin it on us for disciplinary action. We were trying to make a point. In the end, it all fell on Principal Baker's shoulders for not taking care of the issues in the first place. Today, the last day of school, was going to be epic. It was time to send him a message that even he wasn't safe from us.

The final bell rang, and students scrambled to get to class, so I was able to slip in inconspicuously with the crowd. Jasper and Emmett had finished up last period and had an off for their last class for football, which worked out perfectly now for what we had planned.

I sent a quick text to find out if the guys were in position. They were on alert and awaiting the go-ahead. We would be clearing the school and hopefully disgracing the school skank, preferably into abstinence. I was sure the world would be a better place if she would just keep her legs closed. Maybe after today, she would seek medical attention for that infection she was rocking. I could smell it whenever she was around town, and being a doctor, I knew it for exactly what it was, and she didn't need to be sharing it with the rest of the student body.

Both Emmett and Jasper let me know they were in place and ready for infiltration.

*Gloves* I texted back and pulled out the latex gloves I had swiped for this job from the hospital. They both had a pair as well. The damage we were going to do to the school would be considered criminal. I wouldn't put it past Baker to look for prints this time.

I pulled up my voice altering program. I had recorded several clips of Principal Baker and entered them into the program, so now I could sound just like him if I needed to.

*In motion* I texted to the guys, letting them know to get into position, and then I called Mr. Katztoff, the chemistry teacher.

"Katztoff, chemistry, what do you need?" he said cynically.

"Catstop!" I shouted, knowing Baker always mispronounced his name. "I need you in my office immediately!" I said and hung up.

*It's a go* I texted to Emmett.

I had told Emmett which two chemical canisters he needed to steal from the lab to get the foaming reaction we wanted.

*Clear* he texted back, as I met up with Jasper.

We stood back against the door in an alcove, waiting for the school security guard to walk past. Once he was around the corner, I sent Jasper running after him.

"Mr. Stimple, I think someone broke into the lab. I went looking for Mr. Katztoff, but he was gone, along with two large canisters."

They went running to the room. Of course, Emmett had locked the door on his way out, causing Mr. Stimple to pull out his master keys.

"Are you sure about this, Son?" Mr. Stimple asked. He was a nice guy. I hated pulling one over on him. I would have to have Jasper slip him the keys back once we were done, so he wouldn't get in trouble. He left the keys hanging in the door, as I had seen him do hundreds of times. If Mr. Stimple was anything, he was predictable. I slipped his keys into my pocket, before ducking back into a doorway. I watched him walk over to where the canisters had once stood. Dust rings on the floor proved Jasper was telling the truth. Mr. Stimple rubbed his chin. "I'm going to see if I can find Mr. Katztoff."

"I thought I saw him heading to the parking lot. You don't think he'd steal school property do you?" Jasper asked with false concern.

"I'm sure that's not the case, Son. I'll go check it out, though," he said and walked off, one set of keys lighter.

We had just made it around the corner, when I spotted Mr. Katztoff looking irritated, as he stomped back toward his room. So far, we had an airtight alibi, as Jasper had been with Mr. Stimple, and Mr. Katztoff had seen him as well. Jasper hadn't had the canisters while with either of them, so nothing could be proven.

I hid back and watched, as Jasper walked past Principal Baker's office, and Jasper nodded to him. Baker sat up quickly to scowl at him, but he suddenly fell off his old chair that we might have taken most of the screws out of before school. He was sprawled on the floor and didn't see me dart past, as we hurried down the hall. I laughed, as I heard Principal Baker cursing his chair and the school board for not giving him money for a new one.

We quickly made our way to the utility room, where all the air conditioning ducts converged. We were careful to not leave any prints on anything, as we began the next stage of our attack.

I pulled out the duct tape, careful not to leave prints on it and taped stink bombs into all the intake vents, hanging them at just the right point for maximum stink disbursement. We waited the allotted time for the smell to hit all corners of the school, and then I pulled up my voice altering program again and tapped into the PA system.

"Let me, let me!" Jasper begged.

I passed my phone over to him, and he made the official announcement.

"Ladies and gentlemen, due to the overwhelming smell coming from Ms. Jessica Stanley's vagina that has permeated the building, classes have been cancelled to allow for decontamination. Everyone is dismissed. Please exit the building immediately in a safe and orderly fashion. Have a nice summer."

I then hit the program button, making it sound like the bell was ringing to dismiss classes. We ran back, hiding around the corner, and watched to make sure Principal Baker did what we expected he would, which was to storm out of the office to try and keep chaos from breaking out.

*Now* I texted Emmett and then turned to Jasper, "Remember, he was with you the whole time," I reminded him.

He nodded, as we hurried away from the scene of the crime.

We ran out of there before anything could be pinned on us. I saw Mr. Stimple rushing toward the office to see what the heck was really going on, and I handed Jasper the keys and had him purposely run and crash into Mr. Stimple, knocking them both down, giving Emmett time to do his magic as well.

"You okay, Son?" he asked helping Jasper up.

"Yeah, I'm fine, you?" Jasper asked.

He dusted himself off. "Yeah, I'm fine."

"You dropped your keys," Jasper said pointing to where he had left them on the floor.

"Thanks, Son; wouldn't want to lose those now, would we?" he said grinning and then hurried on to the office.

I rushed down the halls to make sure everyone was okay and ensure Emmett had made it out safely, which he had. I heard Principal Baker shouting angrily and knew he had made the mistake of opening his office door. He was most likely balls deep in foam by now.

I saw Norval Feinstein on the ground and quickly picked up the small trampled freshman and slung him over my shoulder. He didn't fight me. He considered us friends and knew I was only helping him. Once we got outside in the clear, I set him down. "Come on, buddy. Come over to my car, and let me take a look at that knee. I can fix it up for you so your mom won't worry."

Norval had an overprotective mother, and I completely understood his plight, as my mother, Esme, was just as bad if not worse.

I cleaned his cut and pulled out the surgical glue and pinched the gash together. "You got it good this time. It's a good thing your tetanus is up to date."

"Yeah, I was by the locker room when the announcement was made about Jessica," he said giving me a knowing smirk.

"Sorry about that. I'll have to factor in your position next time," I said with a wink, as I applied an antibacterial bandage.

I pulled out some ibuprofen and a bottle of water. "This should help with the pain. Keep that dry for the next day, and you should be fine," I said and patted his shoulder.

Just as he was hopping off my hood, Principal Baker came storming out. Emmett and Jasper came rushing up with their girls, Rosalie and Alice, ready to go on the run, but I knew we were in the clear.

"Mr. Cullen, what are you doing on school grounds this time of day?" Principal Baker shouted at me, upset.

"Just picking up my friends, Sir," I smiled. I looked down at his wet pants. He really shouldn't have opened the door to his office. "It looks like you've had an accident, Principal Baker. If this is a regular occurrence, you should see me or my father about it. It could be a sign of prostate cancer," I said with a straight worried face.

"Mr. Cullen, you know damn well this is not urine!" he shouted.

"No need to swear, Sir. Now, what can I help you with?" I asked politely at ease.

"You, you…I know it was you!" he shouted.

"Me?" I asked innocently.

"You destroyed my office!" he finally yelled so loud it echoed off the surrounding mountains.

"I'm sorry to hear about your office, Sir. I just don't know why young kids today can't show more respect for other people's possessions. I guess the board will have to approve all new office furniture now. I suggest you get a new ergonomically correct chair. It'll help with your back," I said, watching his face slowly change.

I hoped the promise of new office furniture would make him hold off on any investigation he might have wanted to put in motion.

He nodded curtly at me. "I'll keep that in mind," he said turning swiftly on his heels. "I have a few phone calls to make."

I was pretty sure we were in the clear, and it was time to take my boys down to the Sugar Shack, our local drive-in, and have our victory milkshakes. Unfortunately, word had gotten out about our celebratory ritual, and we were not the only ones there to celebrate our early release from school.

We got our usual table out front and had just placed our orders, when a bright yellow Mustang pulled up. "Crap!" I grumbled, getting Emmett and Jasper's attention. They both groaned as well, when they saw who had just arrived. The sleaze sisters, Jessica and Lauren, had just climbed out of the back of one of their minion's cars and had set their sights on us. Double crap! My hopes of Jessica laying low were dashed, as she sauntered up to me, her infectious odor hanging in the air.

I felt like I needed a shower just from them looking at me, but when Jessica ran her hand up my arm, I almost dove for my hand sanitizer. I knew what was attached to that hand. The sleaze sisters were rubbing all over us again like Lucifer the cat when she was in heat. I would have been more likely to screw the cat.

Jasper brushed off the girls, saying he was taken, and Emmett did the same, just adding ditto. Rosalie and Alice had gone to the restroom; else the two horny females would have been sporting some new bruises for touching Emmett and Jasper. I had no excuse, so in an attempt to escape, I "accidentally" dropped my spoon under the table and dove under to get it, hiding until they left.

"All clear," Jasper sighed. I climbed out from under the table and back into my seat.

I was immediately accosted by Emmett, trying to find out what I had planned for summer camp this year.

"Dude, man, you've got to tell us what we're doing at music camp this summer," Emmett said excitedly, and Jasper nodded. "At least tell us it's something cool."

I laughed at the pair of them, and then out of the corner of my eye, I caught a flash of copper. I turned to see a gorgeous mane of rich brunette hair that shimmered in the afternoon sunlight. It went all the way down to the curvy girl's thighs it belonged to, and I was mesmerized, staring open-mouthed, as she headed into the music store across the street. I couldn't see her face clearly, but given her figure and that beautiful hair, I knew she was probably really stunning.

Emmett punched my shoulder, knocking me off the bench and refocusing my attention. "Come on, man, tell us already!" he whined. He had distracted me from my ogling of the beautiful brunette, and when I turned to check her out some more, she was gone. Just then, a familiar chill shot up my spine, and I spun around, looking for whoever I felt was watching me, but I saw no one out of the ordinary, as usual. I clutched the pill bottle in my pocket. I was fine, I told myself. No one was watching me.

I had been having this strange reaction for as long as I could remember, always feeling like someone was watching me, and it had me to the point that I required medication to control the paranoia and anxiety. Once I had graduated from high school the first time, the feelings of being watched got worse, and paranoia had set in, leaving me jumpy whenever I was out in public. I guess being kidnapped at a young age would do that to anyone.

Jasper's voice brought me back into the conversation. "Well, whatever we're doing, at least Edward will be safe from the girls for the summer," Jasper snickered, "Unless he starts liking dudes."

"Shut up, moron," I growled. "Just because I don't run the bases doesn't mean I don't want to play. I'm just too busy with my residency to have a girlfriend right now." That and I hadn't found any girl appealing enough for me to bother with, but I wasn't going to tell them that.

"Poor guy, all these girls wanting to take you to paradise, and you just want to sit around and waste that. Even old Adam was willing to take a risk for a woman, dude. What gives?" Emmett teased.

"Given what we have to choose from around here, can you blame me? My dick would probably rot and fall off from some nasty disease. Besides, in case you don't remember your Sunday school lessons, Adam paid a pretty hefty price for that little slip-up. He should've paid attention and kept his eyes on the prize. Paradise sounded like a pretty sweet place. Getting kicked out of Eden had to suck."

"Well, at least they figured out what they were missing and got to get on with the begetting and begatting," Emmett laughed. I shook my head; everything was about sex with the Neanderthal.

"Just ignore Emmett. You're better off waiting for something better than what's running around here, anyway. At least school's out, so you can have a break from the toxic twat twins," Jasper grinned.

Yeah, thank heaven for small favors. If I'd had to continue to dodge the sleaze sisters for much longer, I was going to build my own apocalypse bunker and hide out, which actually sounded like an excellent idea. I could totally enjoy bunker life. No skanky girls harassing me would truly be my idea of heaven. Paradise for me had nothing to do with over-processed bleached-blonde hair, fake nails and boobs, and troweled-on makeup. I really just wanted them to leave me alone! I mean, when were girls going to learn that no meant no?

Bella

It was already hot for June, so I was careful to find a seat under one of the air conditioning vents, as I waited my turn at the hair salon. They were busy today, so I pulled out my latest application and started filling it out while I waited, telling myself the whole time that I was doing the right thing.

I was determined to go to college, but being from a small town did not always impress the better schools. I might have been at the top of my class, but when they saw that my class was comprised of less than one hundred people, they were not going to be so impressed.

In order to lessen this affect, I had been doing community service since freshman year, and even joined a few clubs to make myself appear to be a better-rounded prospect. Okay, they weren't that interesting, and I pretty much just paid the dues and attended the mandatory meetings because really, Chess club was not that exciting and was full of obnoxious underclassmen. As for German club, it was two other guys and I that just sat around talking in German, so yeah; I didn't attend that much, either.

I had to find a way to add more pizzazz to my application, something that would give me an edge. That was when I had noticed a box that asked about musical talents and realized I had none. I wanted to be able to check every damn box and fill in every option so they would notice me. I had to fix this.

And so that was how this whole thing started for me.

"Are you sure about this, Bella?"

I took a deep breath and nodded. I was sure, though most people would hesitate to chop off almost two feet of perfectly good hair. But I was determined. "It's so beautiful, dear; it just breaks my heart to do this. I've never seen healthier, more lustrous hair. It seems almost a crime to cut it all off."

"It's gotten to be too much for me to deal with," I lied. She sighed and continued to comb out the tangles of my thigh-length hair. I had been blessed with good hair genes, and I would eventually grow it back, but I needed this now. The stylist gathered my hair into a low ponytail and fastened it into a long thick bundle with several elastic bands.

"Would you like to donate it?" she asked. Doreen was a kindly woman with a wide grin that reminded me of the Cheshire cat, and hair the color of new-fallen snow. She had obviously been doing this a while.

"Yes, that sounds like a good idea."

I had chosen a style that would look like a boy's haircut, but was still a bit longer on top, swept back on the sides and spiky around the neck. I held my breath, as Doreen picked up her scissors and quickly detached the captured mass hanging down my back. My head suddenly felt several pounds lighter, and I quickly hid the tears that had escaped the corners of my eyes, as she laid the shorn bundle on the counter in front of me. She then wet my hair and began snipping away the remainder of my femininity.

My new persona would make me look like a skater dude, just an average guy. Too bad I could barely use my feet. Skating, or any sport for that matter, was out of the question, and there was no way I could handle a skateboard.

As she worked, Doreen asked why I was really cutting off my hair, and I used the excuse that it was getting too hot. Summer was upon us, school had just ended, and the camp I planned on going to was starting in a week. I told her that having to deal with hair as long as mine in the heat and rustic setting of the camp would just be too hard. That was partly true, but had I had another option, I would have dealt with my hair. However, for what I was doing, it would be a dead giveaway that I was someone who was somewhere they shouldn't have been.

Charlie had given me my grandmother's old clarinet, and I wanted to learn how to play it, but I didn't want to join the band, and private lessons were expensive and took too long. This camp was cheap and intensive, making it perfect for my needs. My parents were always pushing me to be more social and thought camp was a good idea. If they only knew. I hoped my disguise would help me to be more outgoing. I was shy and quiet, and I didn't feel comfortable at school, or anywhere for that matter. I hoped that would change when I went to college. Of course, that meant I had to get into a college.

Luckily for me, my little stepbrother, Seth, was small statured and about my size, so I would have clothes. He was a couple of years younger than I was, but for a kid, he was pretty cool. He stayed out my hair and told his friend, Jake, to stop staring at me, so I thought he was alright.

I was usually the one who did all the laundry, and since we were sorting out winter and summer clothes, I took his heavy jeans and stored them in a duffle bag to take with me. I needed shirts still. I knew it would be more difficult to get those. I suspected he might catch me sneaking them. I was right.

"Bella, what are you doing with my shirt?"

"Just…um, going to wash it?" I was a horrible liar.

Thankfully, Seth was a patient kid. He just smirked at me. "So, are you going to tell me what you're really doing?"

I shook my head no. I thought he was going to let me go, but as I was sneaking out the door, he called to me again.

"Hey, Bella, you mind taking this shirt instead and giving me back my Rolling Stones one?"

I knew the jig was up, because I was not holding the Rolling Stones shirt in my hand. The one in my hand was Spiderman. I walked over to take the shirt from him, but he pulled his desk chair out and had me sit. He walked over to his door, locked it, and then turned back to me.

"Okay, now are you going to tell me what this is about?"

I knew Seth was cool and wouldn't rat me out, so I told him everything. I had found the flyer he had brought home from soccer practice about a music camp for boys who were involved in sports and could not attend band camp. I figured if I could pull it off, I could learn the basics of playing the clarinet, so I could mark it on my applications.

He let out a deep breath. "Bella, you realize this is insane, right?"

I just shrugged. "It's only for a month. What's the worst that could happen?"

He rubbed his face and then looked at me as if he had decided something. "Fine, but I'm going with you. Someone has to keep you out of trouble."

I was about to protest, but he shook his shirt in front of me. "My clothes, my rules. You're my sister; it's my job to look out for you."

I would have objected, but I was really going to be out of my element, and it would be nice to have someone there who knew me and could help me if I got into a scrape.

Later that afternoon, Jake came over, and I heard Seth telling him about going to camp. Jake, being the loser he was, didn't want him to go and tried to talk Seth out of it. I panicked when I heard Jake finally say, "Fine, you're not leaving me in this hell hole alone. I'm going with you."

I wanted to run in and object, but what could I say without giving myself away? Seth glanced at me standing in the doorway and shrugged. Jake turned and looked at me and gasped. "What the hell did you do to your hair? You look like a dude!"

"Thanks," I said in a small voice and ran to my room, trying to think of a way not to blow this.