Chapter 2

XxX

Shit! Shit! Shit!

I kept up my internal chant as I raced down the deserted hallways blindly, not having a clue which direction to head in. Edward, of course, was long gone and my brain had completely drawn a blank when I'd asked it the simple question of what class Mike had this morning. You'd think after being friends for a year I'd have known that. I'm a terrible, terrible person.

A loud crash and the sound of glass shattering had my heart leaping into my throat. Yep, that's where Edward is. I headed in the direction of the noise, guided by the raised voices and squeals of the teacher and other students. Spanish. That's what Mike had first period.

As I rounded the open door – open because it had been yanked near off its hinges – my blood froze in my veins. The picture before me was so much worse that I'd imagined. Edward had Mike pinned up against one of the huge windows on the opposite side of the classroom, I could see where the glass had splintered and shattered with the force of the impact. A trickle of blood was running slowly down from Mike's temple and Edward's whole body was shaking with his fury. Desks had been strewn all over the classroom and thrown to the ground, a clear path showing Edwards entrance. I raced toward the scene unfolding before me and elbowed the teacher – I didn't recall her name – out of my way, trying to edge my way between Mike and Edward, but there was barely an inch of space between them. The terror on Mike's face was clear for all to see, as was the rage on Edward's. I grabbed his arm, trying in vain to pull it free of Mike's neck.

"Edward! Let go of him! What the hell?"

My panicked yelling didn't provoke so much as a glance from the irate vampire. Had he finally gone mad? I changed tact and pushed with all my might against his chest as one of the male students did the same on his other side, of course, he didn't budge an inch.

I lowered my voice, "Edward, let him go. NOW".

He ignored me, speaking directly to Mike in a low, deadly voice.

"You piece of shit, I swear to God if you have laid a hand on her I'll rip them off! I will fucking kill you if you've touched her"

"What the hell are you talking about Cullen? Touched who?" the panic was evident in his trembling voice, "Bella? Is that what this is about?" his eyes darted to me for a split second, wild and bewildered.

Edward's face distorted with his rage and in an instant he pulled Mike away from the window and tossed him to the floor at the foot of the blackboard, stepping around me to stalk after him.

"Don't you dare even say her name, don't look at her!" he roared, "Who the fuck do you think you are?"

He was about to descend on Mike again when Alice, flanked by Emmett and Jasper came rushing into the room and stood infront of Edward, holding him back. I breathed a sigh of relief, was he actually going to kill Mike? Ignoring the vampire get-together, I rushed to Mike's side. The blood now running in a steady stream down the side of his face and pooling on his white shirt made my stomach lurch. I held my breath as I pulled off the sweater I was wearing. I pressed the edge of it to the wound.

"Bella, what the fuck is wrong with Cullen? He's gone insane!"

"I don't know what his problem is, I'm so sorry Mike, are you ok?"

He winced as I pulled the fabric from his wound.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Crazy freak damn near threw me through the window. What the hell is he high on? Jesus Christ….." He didn't take his eyes off Edward who was still fuming silently behind me, watching our little interaction and ignoring the hushed whispers of his siblings. The teacher was trying to get the class in some sort of order, sending students off to fetch the nurse and principle.

"I'm so sorry Mike, he shouldn't have done that, I don't know what his problem is", I shot a venomous glare over my shoulder, Edward frowned slightly, "Can you stand, we need to get you out of here and away from the crazy freak", I raised my voice on the last two words, just to make my point. I could hear Edward's low growl from behind me.

I stood up and pulled on Mike's arm to get him to his feet, another student came over, the one who had attempted to pry Edward off Mike, and helped me get him standing. We finally had Mike on his feet, albeit somewhat unsteadily. He was leaning heavily against me so our new friend pulled Mike's arm around his neck, taking some of his weight off of me.

"Come on Mike, let's get you to the nurse", I started for the door, Mike hobbling and swaying next to me, the teacher following, fluttering and flustered as she ushered us out, muttering directions of what we were supposed to do, I didn't pay her much attention.

His voice was barely above a whisper but the warning was clear just from the tone.

"Bella."

I paused and turned around, staring Edward right in the eye.

"Go to hell Edward. And stay the fuck away from me".

Edward's roar of fury followed us into the hallway and I could hear Alice's attempts to calm him down, and the distinct sound of more classroom furniture being thrown and smashed. My name echoed around us as he yelled. Yep, he'd finally lost it. And maybe I had to. Of all the time's I'd looked at Edward and marveled at his beauty, not once did he come close to the magnificence I'd just encountered. What an amazing creature he was. Time for some fun. A smirk played on my lips as we made our slow progression to the nurse's office.

XxX

After depositing Mike on the little bed in the nurses office and staying just long enough to be polite, I made a quick getaway to the parking lot, hoping to evacuate the premises before the Cullen's caught up to me. Unfortunately, my luck had run out with Edward not killing Mike Newton it seemed. As I darted across the deserted tarmac I saw them, huddled around Rosalie's BMW, Edward leaning against the passenger door, the others circling him, clearly interrogating him. The anger was still there on his face, but now a hint of arrogance was clear to see there also. I averted my eyes quickly, not wanting to draw attention to myself, but realistically I knew that he was already aware of my presence. I ducked my head and made straight for my truck. My pleasure at making it to my destination without being intercepted was short lived when two feet appeared infront of me as two large, cold hands gently gripped the top of my arms, thankfully stopping me from running straight into him.

"Bella". His voice held that same warning tone, I could feel my irritation flare, with an exaggerated sigh I raised my eyes to meet his.

"Edward" I intentionally matched his tone.

"Edward, leave her alone, come on you've caused enough trouble", Alice's tone was exasperated, I couldn't help sympathizing with her, he was like a toddler having a tantrum.

"Yes Edward, leave her alone", I smirked up at him, my voice dripping with sarcasm as I yanked myself free of his grip.

"I swear to God Bella…"

"You swear what Edward?" I cut him off, "what exactly are you going to do? Or say? Or are you just going to pout and glare at me? Maybe beat up another kid?"

We stood face to face, both of us glowering, the anger and tension humming between us. His anger made him so much more beautiful. I was torn in two, the desire to scream and shout and make him feel a small fraction of the pain I'd felt was at war with the desire to have him, leap on him right here, right now and have my way with him in the middle of the school parking lot. I had a sneaking suspicion that in this moment, he wouldn't argue with me.

Jasper walked straight up to us, his body language oozing authority as he placed his hand firmly on Edward's shoulder, pushing gently.

"Edward, enough", his voice was calm but commanding.

In a flash Edward had twisted out of his brother's grip and flung him to the ground, a sharp growl sounding out like a whip-crack.

"Don't touch me" he snarled down at his brother, who just stared up at him bewildered.

"Edward, what the hell is your problem?" I demanded, enraged, storming up to him "you're acting like a spoilt child throwing your weight around" I pushed on his chest and he took a step back, I glared up at him, "actually, no, scratch that. You're acting like a goddamn animal".

He smirked down at me, a sexy, arrogant version of his quirky lopsided smile that I'd fallen in love with.

"Well, get used to it Bella, I am an animal", his eyes burned into mine as he took a step forward, leaning over to lower his lips to my ear, his cool breath tickled my neck, "and you, Bella, are mine. I can play this game too. I want you, I know you want me and you can be fucking sure I won't let the likes of Mike Newton get his filthy paws on one inch of what is mine".

His words should have disgusted me, speaking of me like any other possession as he was, but a flush of arousal spread through my entire body, warming my cold, dead heart in a way I wouldn't have believed. I knew Edward could hear my sharp intake of breath and the way my heartbeat sped, his smirk widened as he straightened up, winking at me before he turned on his heels and headed straight for the woods.

I blinked dumbly ahead of me, not seeing Alice as she moved cautiously infront of me. Then as I began to come to my senses I could feel the irritation at myself for getting so affected by Edward, what the hell was that about? A few words and I'm practically panting at his feet? That's not the way this was supposed to happen. Well fuck that, time to up the stakes. A cold hand closing gently over mine snapped me out of my internal musings with a start, I glared up at Alice, knowing it was irrational of me to direct my anger at her but powerless to stop it right now, I was so pissed off at myself, I snatched my hand out of her grip.

"All of you, just…. Stay the hell away from me," I was just able to catch Alice's face fall as I turned away from her, back to my truck, I called over my shoulder, making sure to avoid her eyes, "and I suggest you keep your psycho brother on a shorter leash before he really does kill someone…".

I hauled the driver's door open and started the engine quickly, praying Alice or one of the others wouldn't come and try to talk to me. I revved the engine loudly and reversed without looking behind me. The rest of the school was in classes and the Cullen's were hardly going to be hurt being hit by a truck, even one as huge as mine.

I made it out of the parking lot without running anyone over and floored it all the way to my house. I could have sworn I saw a flash of silver following me at one point, but it was gone before I could tell for sure.

XxX

The next few days passed relatively uneventfully. Edward, of course, was suspended from school after his little tantrum so at least I didn't have to deal with him in classes. But, I wasn't stupid enough to think that this meant that he wasn't following me around everywhere I went… freak! I could sense him outside whenever I looked out of the windows, I hated my body's reaction to his proximity, how it felt like the tiniest hint of static whenever he was around, it was infuriating and made pretending to ignore him all the more difficult. I freaked out a little one morning when I got into my truck and the cab smelled like him, that sweet, luscious scent I craved so much. It engulfed me as soon as I closed the door. He'd been sat in my truck, probably all night, staring up at my bedroom window. That was…. Weird. What was he doing? I shuddered slightly, wondering if it truly was possible for a vampire to lose their mind. Looking at things logically, he had dealt with a lot of trauma recently – me dying, him trying to kill himself, me miraculously alive again, him nearly being murdered, us arguing… He was just melodramatic enough for that to cause him to have a mental breakdown. I cranked open the window, put the truck into gear and headed to school.

On Saturday I arranged to spend some time at La Push with Jake, mostly because I missed my friend, but I can't deny I had a sick sense of glee in knowing that Edward couldn't step foot over the border onto the reservation. He would be absolutely furious. Bella 1 – Edward 0!

Charlie was surprisingly easy to talk into the weekend arrangement, probably because it was Jake I wanted to spend time with and not Edward, I imagine that conversation would have gone a whole lot differently. I had a curfew of course, and had to promise to ring him every hour while he was at work to let him know exactly where I was, and we weren't allowed to leave Billy's property, presumably so Billy could report to Charlie also, but I was ok with that. Some peace and quiet away from my stalker would be a godsend.

We hung out mostly in his garage, chatting about nothing much at all whilst he worked on the Rabbit. He ordered pizza and tried to sneak a couple of Billy's beers out of the fridge but got caught, much to my amusement. I had missed Jake the last week, I felt horrible for how I'd left him when I rushed off to Italy, he was a good friend and he was trying to protect me and I pretty much just ditched him for Edward. Jake, being the wonderful person he was, forgave me instantly, and was more worried about the current state of affairs.

"You know, I can smell him all over you, it's disgusting", he wrinkled up his nose for effect, "I thought you said you weren't back with him Bells?"

"I'm not!" I replied indignantly, "It must just be cos he's hanging around outside the house. Oh, and there was that one time he must have camped out in my truck, the whole cab smelled of him when I got in it in the morning, weird right?"

Concern flashed across Jakes face, "That's kinda stalker-y Bella, are you sure you're ok?"

"I'm fine Jake", I rolled my eyes, "Edward wouldn't hurt me, you know that, he's just got all possessive and ridiculous because I told him to get on with his life. He left ME after all, made it quite clear how things were, and now he's gone all "alfa male" on me, beating up kids in school and calling me his property…. He's so over the top about everything" I let out a big sigh as I slumped back in my chair. Jake's expression darkened as he stood up slowly and walked over to me, perching on the edge of the chair beside me and angling his body towards me.

"Um… Bella, that sounds really… wrong. He beat a kid up?" I nodded, Jake sucked in a sharp breath, "Jesus… well, I can tell you that the leech stink all over you is not from him hanging outside your house Bella, he's been IN your house, touching your clothes, probably you too!"

"WHAT? No, he hasn't Jake!" my tone was outraged.

"He has Bella, he must have done. Do you mean to tell me you didn't invite him in? The fucking psycho bloodsucker is just letting himself into your room at night?" he stood up, his hands trembling in anger as the volume of his voice rose, he couldn't change here, not now… I leapt up and grabbed his hand in both of mine, making my voice as calm and soothing as possible.

"We don't know that Jake, calm down!"

"I know that Bella, I know it for a fact, his stink is all over you…. Who the hell does he think he is?" his tone was still angry but his hands had stopped shaking, he'd managed to control it, his eyes flashed up to meet mine, "that's it, he's not safe Bella, I'll have the pack keep guard outside your house, make sure he doesn't try it again".

"Jake no, that's ridiculous, he's not going to hurt me, I'll nail the damn window closed if that'll make you feel better!"

"As if that'd make a difference" he snorted, "it's fine Bella, we'll take turns, it's not a problem".

An idea struck me, an evil idea….

"Wait Jake…" he looked back at me, a curious look on his face at my smirk and playful tone, "I have a better idea.. you don't mind winding the vampire up a bit, right?"

Jake grinned, "I live for winding that bloodsucker up Bells"

"Good" I laughed, "I gotta head back now, Charlie will be home any minute, if I'm late he'll ground me all over again! Just come over to my house tonight, say, 7? I'll feed you and everything Jake" he chuckled and shook his head at me.

"Sure Bells, whatever you say… you plotting something evil?"

"Naughty maybe, but not evil. Just be there, 7pm", I headed for the door before pausing, "oh, and bring some of Billy's fish fry, you know, just to appease Charlie… you know how he is…"

"Ok Bella, drive safe wont you? Jake said as he followed me to the car, watching as I climbed in.

"Sure thing Jake, see you later"

I grinned at him and he returned it tenfold before slamming my door shut for me and watching me drive along the path away from his house, waving as he did.

XxX

I grinning the whole time I was driving out of the reservation, the dense cover of trees hardly let any light through, but I felt as if it was sunny and beautiful and bright – my mood was infectious even to myself, weird right? Unfortunately it was short lived as I rounded the corner that led over the reservation boundary. There, parked on a muddy pull-in at the side of the road was the Silver Volvo I had so longed to see all those months. I automatically slowed, and almost pulled over and got out, the urge to run to him, into his arms and just let him hold me as I knew he would was almost impossible to fight. Almost. I saw him exit the drivers side as he saw my truck slow, maybe he envisioned the same romantic reunion that just flitted through my mind. Ha! I wasn't done making him sweat yet… figuratively anyway. I slammed my foot down on the gas and the truck lurched and sputtered and revved forward. I couldn't help the laugh that escaped me as I flew past Edward where he stood, frozen, at the side of the road watching me. He really thought it would be that easy? Not likely! I turned the radio up, singing along to some god-awful Katie Perry wailing excuse for a song - not even that could dampen my mood. Until out of nowhere the Volvo was suddenly on my bumper, revving and snarling, much like its owner always seemed to be at the moment. I could see him in my mirror, his eyes never leaving mine as I glared back at him. Well, until I noticed a slightly panicked look on his face as his eyes snapped back to the road, mine followed suit in time to see that my tire's had already swerved across the centre line, with a car coming directly at me. I swerved back over to the correct side of the road, my heart in my mouth as the other car passed, horn blaring at me. Perfect, Edwards stupidity nearly got me killed.

Feeling the rage that had been blessedly absent all afternoon flare in me again, I violently jerked the steering wheel, pulling the truck up haphazardly on the side of the road, throwing the door open and leaping out. Edward had pulled up right close behind me and was swiftly exiting his car, the expression on his face a mixture of shock and guilt.

"Oh my God Bella, are you ok, you nearly ran straight into that car… Oh God, I don't know what I'd have done…." His face was paler than usual, his eyes wild.

"Oh, I know what you'd have done" I yelled, fuming, "you'd have marched your useless ass straight back to Italy and begged those monsters to kill you again 'cos this time it really would have been your fault for murdering me!" I was practically screaming at him now, his jaw dropped and his eyes looked big and innocent as if he couldn't possibly comprehend what I was saying. He froze at the back of my truck, lifting his arms slightly in my direction as if he wanted to hold me… what the fuck?

"Bella, I swear to you, I didn't mean anything, I was just so worried, I didn't think that-"

I cut him off.

"No, you didn't THINK, did you Edward? You've been doing a hell of a lot of NOT thinking recently haven't you? You goddamn jerk! What the hell were you playing at riding my ass like that" my mind couldn't help the images that little sentence brought forth… Concentrate Bella! "do you have any idea how dangerous that is? How STUPID?" I was in his face now, I slammed my open palms down on his chest, he didn't even flinch, "do you not care if I DIE Edward? Does that not matter to you as long as I'm not around another man when it happens?"

"No… Bella… God… don't even… how can you… say something like…. that" he could barely get the words out, choking over them as he was, "how could you ever think that of me…. I love you!"

That did it. The final straw.

"LOVE me?" I screeched like a banshee, hitting him on the chest again, he rocked back slightly "You fucking love me? How fucking dare you! You left me Edward, remember? Love me? You have no idea what it means" I turned away from his pain expression, my anger heating up even more. I leaned against the truck, gripping the cold metal tightly, my chest heaving. Oh, how I wished I could slap him. I wasn't a violent person normally, but right now I just needed to vent some of this anger on him, but what was the use, he wouldn't even feel it…

I could feel him behind me, edging closer slowly as if afraid of startling me. I suddenly felt his hand gently on my shoulder. I wanted to lean into his touch, I couldn't help the way my body reacted to him. But I wouldn't let myself. Then I heard his low voice, speaking softly just inches from my ear.

"Bella, please… stop this, you know I love you. You KNOW that. Let's stop this stupid game, please…." His voice was as pleading as his words and I so wanted to believe him, and give in, but I couldn't forget the last six months, or forgive him for leaving me how he did. I shrugged my shoulder out from under his grip, but couldn't stop the tears that betrayed me as they lit a hot path down my cheeks. I swiped at them angrily. He moved a step closer, I could feel his body pressed against mine… Oh, how I'd missed that. I knew one thing I'd be insisting on when I did forgive him. If I did. I needed him. Wanted him. I'd make him mine and only mine. But, he had a lot to prove before that ever happened.

"Baby, c'mon… don't cry. Im sorry, im so so sorry for what I did, I wish I could take it all back, I'd never-"

"Shut up Edward", I cut him off again, my tone cold and calm. He stopped talking immediately. I stared into the open back of my truck, inhaling and exhaling deep breaths, trying to get a hold of my emotions. I wouldn't let him do this to me, I wasn't the weak little girl he'd left, I was strong now, he'd made me this way when he walked away after all. He stood silently next to me, not moving an inch away, but at least not trying to touch me. I took a brief inventory of the things in the back of the truck, trying to think of anything to take my mind off Edward. There was a tarpaulin tied in the front corner to cover the flatbed over if it rained, I'd never bothered to use it. There was a crowbar hooked along the edge just under my fingers, Charlie had put that in there when he first gave me the truck, he never said why, just "you never know". Maybe he thought I'd need it to fight of crazy serial killers if I broke down in the woods – he watched way too many horror movies. There was a spare tire, a rope, wound up tightly, one of Charlie's spare fishing rods and a brick – random. By the time i'd done a full check of the contents of my truck I felt better, calmer. I pushed away from the truck, away from Edward, and headed back to the open door to get back in without saying a word. I was nearly there when he spoke up.

"Jesus Bella, I have had enough of this! For Christ sake will you just give this up! I said I'm sorry, I'll say I'm sorry for the rest of eternity if I have to to make it up to you but I cant take this anymore, talk to me! Is it Mike? You're angry about Mike? I'm sorry about that, I lost control… I shouldn't have done that."

"No Edward, you shouldn't have fucking done that", I whirled back to face him, "you could have killed him, do you realise that? You nearly did! So fucking stupid…."

"Stupid" Edward roared, "You think it's stupid that I wanted to protect you? I did that because of YOU Bella, FOR you and all you can do is call me stupid?" I stared up at him, slack jawed and open mouthed, what the hell was he spouting about now?

"FOR me Edward? How the hell was beating Mike to a bloody pulp good for me? Other than the whole school knowing my ex-boyfriend is a raving lunatic – hardly working in my favour!"

The "ex-boyfriend" thing seemed to strike a chord and his expression darkened while his amber eyes flared. Yep, he didn't like that.

"So worried about him aren't you Bella, what about me? Do you have any idea what it does to me thinking of him laying a finger on you?" he looked me up and down, disgust clear on his face, "I'd break every one of his fingers if he ever did that Bella, and he'd deserve it, I meant what I said, you're mine…"

"I'm not yours Edward" I yelled back at him, feeling my face heating, "When you leave a person, when you end a relationship that's exactly what it is – the end! You can't just come back, claim me as your own and expect me to come running, it doesn't work like that! People move on Edward."

His features twisted to a malicious sneer that looked so wrong on my beautiful Edwards face.

"Oh yeah, I can see you've moved on… What is it, have you been fucking the whole goddamn town Bella?" he roared at me, "Couldn't wait for me to be out of the picture so you could go chasing after Mike Newton, and your precious Jake of course! I can guess how the DOG likes it! How about Eric? Or hey, why not Tyler, he only tried to kill you but what the hell, he'll do, right Bella?"

His whole body froze as if he suddenly realised what he said, I couldn't quite believe I heard those words cross his lips myself. Is that what he really thought of me?

"Bella, I didn't.. I'm sorry.. I…." his voice was soft, contrite. It irritated me beyond belief.

Before I knew what I was doing my feet were leading me toward the back of the truck, Edward took a step back, as if afraid of me, raising his hands slightly, palm out as if in surrender. My hand reached into the back of the truck, gripping the crow bar without a conscious command to do so. I turned to face Edward, now standing at the back of my truck. His eyes flickered down to the crowbar, he didn't look overly concerned, of course… It's not like it would hurt him, still….

"Fuck you Edward". I couldn't raise my eyes to his, the words he had said were swimming in my mind, could he really think that of me?

"Bella, I don't know what I was thinking…."

Without a word I lifted the crowbar, swinging it with all my might. Edward's eyes were huge orbs, his whole face frozen in an expression of pure shock, in any other situation it would have been funny. As the business end of the crowbar connected with its target I couldn't help the scream of delight at the satisfying smash and tinkle of the plastic-glass shattering. I took another swing, putting all my strength behind it, and another, and another. Both headlights were shattered and strewn about on the road, the shiny silver paintwork on the hood of the Volvo scratched and bent under my repeated blows. My screams rang out into the woods around us as I continued my assault on the shiny silver beast infront of me, it took its beating for its owner without much argument.

Suddenly my arms froze midair as Edward gripped the crowbar and yanked it out of my hands, clearly coming out of his frozen state of shock. My arms dropped limply by my side, I heard as crowbar landed somewhere toward the middle of the road, Edward must have thrown it out of my reach.

"Fucking hell Bella…." He screeched at me, "what the fuck have you done to my car? Have you gone insane? Look what you did! Jesus Christ, why the fuck did you do that Bella? Oh my God, Rosalie is going to fucking kill me…."

I looked up at him as he was furiously tugging at his hair. I felt… content. I couldn't hurt Edward, but I sure did hurt his car. He stood staring at the battered mess, mouth gaping as if no longer capable of forming words. I turned on my heel without a word and marched to the cab of my truck and hopped in, hearing him yelling my name as I started up the engine and pulled away.

Bella 2 – Edward 0.

XxX

What did you think? Bella's gone from Feisty Bella to Bitchy Bella in this chapter I think! I cant help it, I'm just having a bit of fun with her!

Please leave a review; I'd love to know what you thought! If you're nice, there may possibly be a bit of lemon-y goodness coming in the next chapter… Just sayin' ;o) Who will it be though, Edward or Jacob? Hmmm…..