Shout out to my fantastic beta - JKRowlingrox
You rock more than Rowling m'dear (:
Sorry...that was lame.

My mother was lovely women. She was caring and had a heart full of compassion. But once Esme Cullen is steamed up on anything at all there was nothing getting her off track. And to make matters worse I knew she had always had a soft spot for Bella and would be furious when she learned what I had done.

Well, it wasn't just her. All the adults had a soft spot for Bella. The teachers would have loved her even if she wasn't a straight A student who participated in class without taking all the attention away from the students. All the women in the town always had time to talk with her when they saw her, or talk about her, saying, "Oh that Bella, she is such a dear. I hope my little one will be like her." And believe me, you heard that from every book club and their cousin in this town.

The thoughts of getting expelled kept coming back into my mind, creeping like a stalker in the night. I tried to focus on anything else, anything that would distract me from the fretting I was putting off. My mind couldn't consider it.

Shrimp, I thought in a desperate attempt to distract myself, why aren't they goldfish. And goldfish in the place of shrimp? Weird.

Bella and Mr. Oakland chattered on about something, Mr. Oakland smiling and laughing along with her while I frowned and sat quietly staring at my leather shoes. See, all the teachers practically kneeled at her feet. Fifteen minutes later there was a knock on the door. My head turned around but the door wasn't see through, it had that fuzzy thick glass in the middle.

Mr. Oakland glanced at it and called out, "Come in please." My mother walked in through the door, her face flushed and caramel hair pulled back in an updo with some strands falling out. My eyes locked with her brilliant blue ones. Hers narrowed and she raised an eyebrow at me, strictly. I groaned lightly, breaking the eye contact with her and rising from my seat.

There were only two chairs, so of course the ladies, in this case my mom and Bella, got to sit while Emmett and I stood. Just as she sat down and sent me a look I wondered where Emmett was anyway, and then I started to pray that he wouldn't come, because in all honesty he did frighten me, although I would never admit it.

Just as I was thinking that Emmett may have canceled and wasn't able to make it of course he walked in through the door. I sighed under my breath as he reached Bella in two short strides. "This is swell," I muttered under my breath sarcastically.

"Emmett, thank you for coming on such short notice," Mr. Oakland greeted him after standing up and shaking his hand firmly, the muscles in Emmett's arms flexing in the process. Then the principal sat back down and Emmett almost looked like he was bracing himself. His legs were a little more than shoulder length apart and his arms were crossed over his chest, not looking at me but instead staring straight ahead after greeting my mother.

Now I was not one that was easily intimidated, honestly there were a very few people or situations or things that could intimidate me, but Emmett was one of them. He had short brown hair that was cut close to his head but didn't stick up like a buzz cut, and he was much more muscular than Mr. Oakland. He was wearing grease stained jeans and just a plaid navy shirt, the sleeves rolled up to the elbows. Some people don't shave everyday; you know the one's who are just sort of scruffy? Well Emmett was one of those people.

"Joshua, I think Emmett and I are confused by what you told us on the phone, but I can only speak for myself," she looked over at Emmett who nodded silently, his lips pressed into a line, neither happy nor entirely angry… yet.

"I think your son Mrs. Cullen, would better explain that." If there was one thing I hated more than anything, it was when teachers made you tell your parents or other teachers things. I swear, every time I would see each of them smirk a little bit before I have to tell an adult bad news. Cowards.

"I sort of broke Bella's wheelchair," I mumbled, shoving my hands into the pockets of my jeans and looking down at the thin gray carpet, avoiding all of their gazes that were surely pointed at me.

"Oh my. Bella are you okay?" my mother asked, alarm clearly evident on her face. I'm sure she was leaning over to fuss over her while Bella most likely blushed with embarrassment.

Bella needed help with everyday life but she was so damn proud. She never liked to ask for help unless she had tried, and failed, numerous times. Unlike some people, she never used her wheelchair or disability as an excuse for anything at all. And she hated when people always fussed over her.

"You just happened to tap it and it broke?" I looked up once Mr. Oakland spoke. I shook my head to his question (which was quite rudely stated by the way) and he sighed before trying another approach. "Then please tell us how you managed to break it. You are lucky Bella avoided injury."

His eyes bore into mine like a hawk, I quickly diverted my eyes to Bella who my mother had just stopped whispering to and realized they were both looking at me. I huffed silently and opened my mouth to speak but was surprised when I heard Bella's voice instead.

"Edward hopped onto the bar, and sometimes I don't mind because if I could walk I would do the same thing, or maybe not, but the wheels just seemed to be going too fast and they couldn't hold it so we sort of crashed a bit, but I'm perfectly fine," Bella told them, sending me a smile through her eyes before everyone looked at me again. I shrank into the wall behind me. Somewhere in my mind I knew my friends would have fits of laughter seeing me so scared like this, but regardless, that was only somewhere in my mind.

I didn't fail to notice that Bella had definitely explained the situation like I did not have as much fault as I would have if I had been the one to tell the story. I glanced up at Mr. Oakland who was running his hand through his blonde hair and then straightening his pale blue tie. My mother had her right arm proped on the arm rest with her fingers resting on her forehead, blocking her face.

Emmett on the other hand still wasn't looking at me. I could clearly see that his jaw was clenched though; I knew he was very protective of his sister. And I was preparing myself for the yelling that would most likely be heard in Antarctica. Oh hell, now I would have penguins laughing at me. Perfect.

"You. Broke. Her. Wheelchair?" My mother asked, I still could not see her face but I could tell she was not happy, more on the lines of exaggerated* actually…

No mother, we are in the office to discuss my desire to be in a rock and roll band.

I felt the question was meant to be rhetorical so I didn't answer, but Mr. Oakland was not one to go without chiming in. "The price of that may be expulsion." I swear to God this man is just giddy that he will finally, in all the years of leading this boring school, be able to expel someone. I'm glad I can help you accomplish your dreams Mr. Oakland.

Normally I'm not a sarcastic person, but stress can do that to someone I guess. And in truth I was very stressed, school may be pointless but I actually enjoyed hanging out with my friends, and sometimes the teachers amuse me, and well, let's face it, I would have nothing to talk about without the boring building.

"Edward Edmund Cullen," my mother said, whipping her head back to face me. I could see Bella quietly giggling to herself upon hearing my middle name, I swear Emmett even cracked a little smirk too. Hey, it was my grandfather's name and he was, well, he worked at a library…but still, heritage pride.

"How could you be so careless, and reckless? Your father would have been so disappointed in you, if he were still here…" she trailed off and sucked in a breath, everyone shifted uncomfortably while I hung my head, in honest shame. She was right; my father would have given me a tongue lashing. I would take a million of them if…

I was pulled out of my sudden thoughts concerning my father when I heard Emmett's voice. He clearly took pity on my mother and tried get the heavy hanging silence out of the air with haste.

"Edward, I should give you a good yell, it's what you deserve," I looked up to see he was now angled at me, his brown eyes still flat. "But I think we should come up with a better plan. I feel expulsion may be a little harsh even after the incident." Mr. Oakland nodded and gestured with his hands for him to proceed. Bella looked up at her brother curiously. I was looking at him with one of my eyebrows raised so high that I felt my forehead wrinkle.

"Traveling from one place to another is not easy with Bella, and she normally has to wait almost an hour and a half for me to pick her up everyday. I think now that winter is over Edward, you can escort her home everyday." My eyes grew wide with surprise and both my eyebrows shot up. Bella's face was surprised as well but I don't think her eyes were as wide as mine. Mr. Oakland was grinning and nodding from his desk.

Before I could start to process this new offer along with everyone else my mother cut in. "What about the wheelchair?" Knowing her, she would probably make me pay for it, but I would complain and in the end she would give in, that's normally how our arguments went. It was a test to see who could hold out the longest. And I won every time.

"I can fix that easily, though I have no idea why someone sane would jump on the back of wheelchair for a joy ride…" Emmett trailed off, muttering and shaking his head, not even bothering to look at me. To say I was relieved that he wasn't yelling at me was an understatement. I had almost begun to sweat when he first started to talk. My heart had now calmed down though, and now I felt like a kid who found out the surprise test was open notebook.

"I think that is a more than fair deal, and very generous of you Emmett," my mom nodded with a business smile, though there was something in her eyes as she looked at Bella and me.

We stayed in the office a little longer, discussing my record before Emmett picked up Bella with so much ease that Mr. Oakland looked surprised.

I snickered.

Quietly of course.

The Swan's left because Bella needed her wheelchair and Emmett had to fix it. I went back to class, which was almost over. The sad thing was that when I walked in through the door, knowing that there was only two minutes left of class, Sid and the teacher were engaged in the same conversation they had been when I had left. He hadn't noticed that I'd been gone so long. Very reassuring if you ask me.

I knew I would have to wheel Bella home tomorrow. Now, knowing and realizing are two totally different things. I knew I had to but I didn't really realize what that meant until I was sitting in my next class. Bella was not someone who people just went up to and spent time with, and if I told people that I broke her wheelchair doing what I did I would sound like a jerk, but if I told them I was pushing her voluntarily there would be a ton of teasing and jokes directed at me.

Honestly, I was annoyed. At Bella. I don't know why I was mad at her, she really didn't do anything wrong, in fact she helped cover for me slightly. But still, I was mad that I had to push her. I even had to make the choice between ridicule and looking like a jerk. And she was still just, well, Bella. I don't claim my thoughts are logical but she just isn't what I want to be remembered by for my last days of high school, if you know what I mean.

I was sulking by the time I was in my third period class, I hated biology, I was never really good at it and it bugged me. I didn't really mind the teacher, Ms. Wilson though, she was funny at times and she never really pushed me that hard. Mostly because at the beginning of the year she told us she wasn't going to waste her time on students who are unwilling to learn.

My friend Martin, who was also my lab partner, slid into the stool next to me. He propped his elbows on the smooth, black counter top and looking over at me with a frown.

"Hey, how come I didn't know about the graffiti extravaganza last night?" He asked me with a smirk, elbowing me. Despite my irritable mood I chuckled heartily as the last of the students took their seats.

"Martin, you don't even have Ms. Anderson for math," I pointed out, still smirking with amusement. He rolled his eyes over dramatically.

"I know that, but still! Who doesn't like a little late night toxic fumes?" Martin asked both rhetorically and over dramatically. He definitely had a lot of energy and was funny to talk to with the way he took things so light and easy.

"But-" I was about to, once again, point out that he was in fact not in her math class but he cut me off with a wave of dismissal.

"Yeah, yeah, but I don't have her. You said that. I have all the boring teachers who don't do anything that I can trash their room for!" I rolled my eyes as Ms. Wilson walked in through the door with her lesson plans in her hand. I didn't respond to Martin and we listened to her as she began her lecture.

Martin had been my friend since my father died, he had befriend me a little before the accident when I was the good kid who got straight A's and did as he was told, practiced my guitar, ate my vegetables, went to bed early, well... you get the point. Martin was just like that too, but then I started to change. I distanced myself and started to get into trouble more.

Martin didn't make friends too easily. Don't get me wrong, he was a great friend, but wasn't, shall we say, socially gifted. He followed me, slowly at first, hesitant to get into trouble. I don't know why, because my friendship really wasn't that valuable in all honesty, but he was still my best friend, hanging with my group of delinquents.

Aside from the memories that were flooding into my head from mine and Martin's younger selves, my thoughts went back to my punishment. By the end of the period I was very mad, but not at Bella. Now, I was mad at my mother. She was the best damn negotiator in this state, and she knew it too. No one messed with her and she always got what she wanted in the end. And it angered me that she just sat back and let me get this punishment, No, I thought, she didn't just sit back, she encouraged it. That angered me even more!

Maybe she was doing this on purpose, I thought regretfully. She knew I was intimidated by Emmett, she knew I felt threatened by him. And in her mind this was probably the best form of revenge for me not listening to her in the past. She could have fought it, but she didn't, and she knew I wouldn't fight what he said.

I hate when women outsmart you.

Even if it is my mom.

Martin and I walked silently to the cafeteria, he could sense my drastic mood change over the period and I had yet to tell him why. He knew better than to ask but he most likely couldn't help the curious glances at me. I just gave him a look as we got our lunch, mine consisting of a bottle of Coke. "Don't." I told him simply as he opened his mouth to ask.

We sat down at the usual table that no one ever bothered to try to sit at, except Jessica of course. Paul, Cody and Jasper were already seated, Cody kissing his girlfriend Shari with passion; it made me gag. Our girlfriends' sat with us, but Cody, Jasper (I wasn't too sure, none of us liked her and they were one of those on again-off again couples) and Mitch were the only ones who had them as of now, Martin, Paul and I… well, not so much.

Paul was pigging out on his lunch as Martin and I sat lazily down in our usual uncomfortable red plastic chairs. He looked up and me and swallowed the huge amount of food in his mouth. Then he looked pointedly at me and sat up straight. My frown deepened as I raised an eyebrow in silent question to him.

Paul had not combed his dark black hair this morning, it was disheveled but it didn't look like he just rolled out of bed. But I didn't even notice after the words came out of his mouth: "So what's this I hear about you and Bella Swan?"

What the hell?

How on Earth could that have possible have gotten to anyone, much less Paul, in only two class periods? That was nearly impossible back in that day, even though rumor spreading and gossiping were coming into style at an alarming rate. No one had seen me in the hall because I hadn't seen them, and that would be the only way anyone could have found out.

"What do you mean exactly?" I asked slowly, choosing my words with care, though definitely not the most in the world.

"I have Mr. Owen second period," Paul began and then shuddered the tiniest bit, "God awful class by the way." he added as an afterthought. Yes, Paul, you finally woke up in class and paid attention? Welcome to high school, I thought sarcastically with bitterness.

By now the whole table was paying attention to our little conversation. Jasper's girlfriend had sat down next to him (apparently it was an on day), along with Shari and they were both focusing solely on the two of us. I could see Mitch and his current girlfriend coming towards us from across the cafeteria.

"And well at the end of class, he made me put away all the history books after I started to throw balls of paper at people's heads, when Mr. Oakland came in. He was talking about how you, Cullen, had an excused absence because of a situation with Bella Swan. He then went on to explain what you did and your punishment." Paul said with a hint of smirk on his lips but the rest of his face was unreadable.

At least he hadn't announced it in front of everyone. I mentally thanked him for keeping it vague and short. But then as I thought about it for a split second, and I realized he was going to make me explain to them what I did. I mentally took my thank you back after I came to that realization.

"Great, huh?" I muttered rhetorically.

At the same time I said that Martin interjected, "what situation? What did you do?" he questioned me, his eyes losing their joking expression on his face and his lips parted while his eyebrows knit together in confusion.

"He broke little Miss Happiness and Perfection's wheelchair," Paul chuckled. Mitch and the Marilyn Monroe of our school, or his girlfriend I suppose, had just joined the table. Jasper's girlfriend laughed along with Mitch's though their names were Emily and Rachel. Shari didn't look all too amused.

Shari was clearly part of the group of girls who felt bad for Bella and talked to her often. That group annoyed me. They were all high and mighty because they were doing something nice.

"Bella?" Martin asked, his eyes disbelieving, "You broke Bella's wheelchair?" I just sort of nodded and he sighed, looking almost mad at me. Martin was light hearted and never took anything serious. I would have talked to him about if Mitch wouldn't have interrupted.

"Jeez, Cullen, you really did it. That so tops our graffiti party we had last night," Mitch laughing loudly, clapping me on my left shoulder. I cringed a little, that shoulder pain from ramming into the floor had started to dull but it was back, demanding attention now.

"Did you get busted?" Cody asked in wonder after they stopped laughing. I frowned instantly while Paul started laughing loudly drawing even more attention to our already loud group.

"That's the best part of the whole story." Paul said obnoxiously, I glared at him which made him more amused.

"Emmett is making me walk her home everyday till we graduate," I muttered. I heard the giggles mixed in with very loud laughter. I sighed and looked at the whole table, aside from Martin, and waited for them to finish their stupid honks of laughter.

"Are you nearly finished?" I asked sourly, not referring to their meals if you know what I mean.

"Oh, man," Mitch sighed, wiping tears from his eyes at how hard he had been shaking with laughter. I scowled bitterly as he continued, "Hey, I can see you're pretty mad. So, I was thinking maybe we can use some of those eggs that my mom just didn't get to…" he trailed off with a smirk slowly and slyly forming.

"Are we talking about an Olson repeat?" Jasper grinned over at the two of us as I started to smirk along with him.

Mitch's parents owned one of the only diner's in this town. His mom was the head cook and we always liked to lounge around there. And Olson, well, Mr. Olson was the town's grump, not exactly the most pleasant old man in the world. Anyway, he had been the one to get Jasper in trouble last year and he was feeling in need of a little revenge, the rest of us went along and we threw eggs at the side of his house.

"I'm in!" Cody said excitedly, grinning mischievously and nodding his head at us. Everyone else nodded in agreement, including Martin who I saw from the corner of my eye. Mitch's smirk grew wider while the girls at our table just rolled their eyes; they were use to our plotting by now.

"Let's go tomorrow during lunch," I suggested. I was actually looking forward to this. It would be a nice stress reliever if you asked me. Being seniors and all we were allowed off of the small campus to go have lunch at home or somewhere, like the diner. Emmett and Bella would be at school and it would be perfect timing.

After lunch Martin and I began our trip up to the classroom of solitude, because it literally was in the smallest building and you had to climb fifty stairs to get up to it. It was the only classroom up there and it was a class that I didn't even like: psychology class.

"Why are you so mad Martin?" I asked him as we began to climb the stairs two by two. We still had a few minutes before we needed to get to class so there wasn't much of a rush.

"I'm not mad," he protested with a grin. Martin and Paul looked alike in many ways, but his hair wasn't as dark as Paul's though they still had the same style. His eyes were bright blue and he sometimes wore thin framed glasses, but not often because some of the guys gave him grief about the nerdy look they gave him.

"Yes, you are. Does it have anything to do with Bella?" I questioned as I spotted the top of the stairs. His grin fell and I assumed it was because I hit the nail right on the head.

As far as I knew Martin had no ties to Bella. Unless they were second... or even third cousins? In which case I was in trouble.

Martin was very protective over his family, kind of like Emmett, which was something I admired in him, but it also annoyed me. Two years ago when Jasper was giving Martin's little sister a hard time, pulling on her hair, just light stuff like that, she went crying to Martin and Martin punched Jasper in the stomach.

It was later explained by Martin that he only did it because his sister had told him to do it or she would tell their parents it was Martin's fault. Now, you would have to meet his little sister to know that she isn't exactly assertive. I saw through this right when he told the story but good old Jasper bought it easily.

"I just didn't think you would go as far as to break her wheelchair. That was a low blow Cullen." He sighed as we finally reached the top, a little out of breath, but we were both used to it by now. I looked at him strangely; I didn't think Martin, the one who had just asked to come with us on our graffiti party, was going to lecture me on something like this.

"I didn't do it on purpose," I mumbled looking down at the tile. I really sort of did it on purpose if you looked at in another way... I guess I did jump on her wheelchair deliberately, but it wasn't like I had taken a large hammer and squished her wheelchair into tiny little pieces and laugh mercilessly.

"I just didn't think you would be the one to finally cross the line like that," Martin shrugged once I looked at him. His eyes were distant, even as they look directly at me. I had never been good with making eye contact. Martin on the other hand, well, yeah, he was.

"What line? What are you even talking about?" I questioned him in confusion as we walked into the already almost full classroom and took our seats.

"Think about it," he replied cryptically, I frowned and looked at him. He was looking away, putting his books messily on the ground next to him. Even when he straightened up in the desk he didn't look at me.

"There was no line that I crossed. I didn't do it on purpose. And all we do is cause trouble, you know that. There is no line in the middle of that." I insisted to him as the teacher walked in the door. I was a little defensive, but Martin was judging me; silently yes, but I could still tell, and I hated being judged. And it did make me defensive.

"Yes." He disagreed simply and swiftly, "there is." He finished his sentence but I knew he wanted to say more. Probably something along the lines of, and you crossed right over it.

Chapter song: True Colors by The Glee Cast

AN: Clearly I continued and as long as I have reviews I plan to (:
Who saw his punishment coming?
Do you like Martin? Paul?
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~Carmen