Chapter 3

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight. All rights belong to Stephenie Meyer.



The two weeks passed by a lot faster than I would've thought, and I was finally back at school. Everyone glared or stared at me for what had happened two Tuesdays ago. I didn't really care because I was back to walking the halls with Alice, arm in arm, as always.

I saw Edward many times throughout the morning, and he couldn't hide the pain in his eyes, as he smirked in that perverted way at me. I looked to his side and wasn't surprised to find Lauren standing next to him instead of Jessica. I shook my head at him and began talking with Alice.

"How has he been?" I asked, knowing that she would understand what I meant.

"About the hospital thing? He's doing okay. He puts up a great act here, but he secretly mopes around. It's like he hates you. He's always cursing your name and throwing glass crap at walls in anger. You should really see him…"

I knew she was being sarcastic, but I replied, "Alright. I will. I'll come by after school." I shut my locker and headed towards my next class.

"I don't think that's such a good idea, Bella!" Alice yelled after me.

I waved to her without looking back. I heard her "hmph" and walk away in her stilettos. I just grinned at my friend's frustration and walked into World History. I saw Edward sitting at the front, and I completely ignored him. I sat a few seats behind him and got out my book. He stood up, and I noticed he had a foam cup in his hand. I didn't pay him any mind as he began to walk past me, thinking he was just throwing away his trash. Before I knew it, though, I had warm soda poured over my head, and I screamed in anger.

"Oh, my bad, Miss Swan. Would you like me to get you a towel? Or better yet, a life?" he asked sarcastically, and the class snickered.

I stood up to face him, my face level with his chest. "No, I'd like you to get me a bat so that I can knock you out with it." More snickers.

"I have one right here underneath this denim. Would you like me to get it for you?"

"Nah, that's alright. I'll get it myself." Then, I kneed him in the place where no guy wants to be kneed, and he fell to the floor, holding himself. Full out laughter took place, now.

"Cullen! Swan! Principal's office, now!" Mr. Johnson yelled at us.

I stepped over Edward's body and "accidentally" tripped, causing my foot to connect with his crotch once more. "Whoops. I guess I should watch where I'm going more carefully." A few people chuckled, but most were terrified of our World History teacher standing in the room.

"Miss Swan," Mr. Johnson repeated, warningly.

Edward got up, giving me an icy glare, but I continued to make my way down the hall and around the corner, while Edward had some difficulty. We sat down outside the main office, and Mrs. Dalton called us in. She gave us the same old speech and a day of detention each.

Edward had finally recovered, and we were both sent home for the day. He had to drive me home, due to the fact that I rode with Alice. The ride was unpleasant.

"Why'd you knee me?" he questioned.

"Why'd you pour coke all over me?"

"Because I'm pretty pissed at you, Isabella Marie," he said after a moment, using my full name, indicating that he really was.

"Welcome to the situation I've been in for years," I replied, closing my eyes and leaning back against the headrest.

"I didn't do anything to you."

"And I didn't do anything to you." Except risk my small, ten-year-old frame punching out some guy's nose.

We had finally pulled up into his driveway, and I opened my door, beginning to get out. "Bella, I miss you."

I scoffed, and before closing the door, I murmured, "I miss the person you used to be."

I walked across the driveway and unlocked the door to my house, heading straight for the kitchen to prepare dinner. It was way ahead of schedule, but I needed to clear my head. I guess you could say I abandoned all hope for that little visit I was going to make next door.

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The next few days were uncomfortable. In Literature, I got paired up with Edward to do a project. We had a month for each of us to pick out a poem and explain why we love it, then exchange and explain why we think the other might love it. It was going to be very awkward being around him more often, but I'd have to cope.

"I'm coming over tonight," I told him.

"What? Are you too good to ask, now, Swan?" he questioned.

"Too good to ask you, Cullen."

He rolled his eyes and agreed to my first statement. "I'm going to hate this just as much as you, just so you know."

"Oh, I highly doubt that. I don't think you could even comprehend the hate I have going into this project."

"And I don't think you can even comprehend the hate I have towards you," he said.

Tears full of anger and sadness were threatening to spill over. "Mr. Malkenheim? Bathroom?" I asked in a normal tone, luckily.

"Be my guest," he replied, and I walked out of our English classroom, crying as I made my way down the hall.

I knew it was wrong, but I stole Edward's keys right out of his pocket when I brushed by him once today, just as a prank to see what would happen. I guess it came in hand. I left the school and headed for the parking lot. I put the keys in the ignition and glanced over at the window to the room I just escaped from. Edward looked up at the same time, and he held my gaze. He didn't look mad, not at all. He looked absolutely, completely, totally furious. He threw his desk over, screaming some obscenities, I'm sure. I sped out of the lot as fast as I could, not wanting to get caught.

A couple of hours passed and a loud knock sounded at my front door. "You stole my fucking car!" Edward's voice rang through.

I opened the barrier separating us. "More like temporarily borrowed," I smiled as I dangled the keys in front of his face, over the small crying spell earlier. It had just confirmed what I thought, and it was just typical Edward. But damn, I was pissed, and it caused my hate for him to increase, as well.

"Whatever. I'm going home. I know I said you could, but please don't come over today." Wow, he was dropping it and our plans. That wasn't like Edward at all. Well, the first part wasn't anyway.

"What's wrong?" I asked, placing my hand on his shoulder and stepping into my former role as best friend.

He smiled slightly down at me. "I just don't feel well, like something bad is going to happen. It's silly, and I know that. I'm just going to lay down and get some shut eye."

Still playing my part, I moved my hand to his cheek and whispered, "It'll be okay after you get some rest."

He nodded and sighed. "Well, uh, bye."

He walked next door to his house, and I grinned at the look of him. For just a moment, it was like the good old times. Then, I remembered that he hated me, and I slammed the door shut, causing the pictures on the walls to shake and my anger to inflate once more.