Ch. 3

"What, is he your Golden Retriever or Something?"

Bella managed to evade Eddie until after Homecoming. Afterwards, she almost wished she had gone with him because the amount of information that spewed out of his flapping yap was constant and never-ending.

"Jessica Stanley and Mike Newton went together, even though she completely hates his guts. He wound up drunk five minutes in, and she went home crying after she found him making out with some freshman. Plus, Eric Yorkie and Angela Weber were so adorable at first, but when Angela found out he was only with her to make his ex-boyfriend jealous, she made this anti-gay speech in front of everybody."

Bella, unsure exactly why she was allowing him to breathe within 50 feet of her, was sitting at her usual lunch table listening to Eddie gossip about the dance for quite possibly the 500th time. Her siblings had all gone hunting for Halloween, so the table was empty except for the two of them.

Eddie took a rare breath, signaling the end of his tale. "And hey, your sister Rosalie was crowned Homecoming Queen, but you probably already knew that."

Bella did know it, but not because Rose had said anything. Rose just always won stuff like that. She'd reigned at every high school she'd ever attended.

The bell rang and Bella jumped up to leave, but unfortunately he'd seen that one coming and was holding both his AP Bio textbook and her Honors French III notebook in his grubby hands. She didn't want to risk suggesting her skin temperature was abnormal so she humored him and let him walk her to class.

"So what are you doing tonight for Halloween?" he asked as they rounded the corner. Bella smirked. "I thought I'd steal candy from small children, just for fun."

Ed studied her seriously. "You don't look the type." She glanced at him mysteriously. "You'd be surprised," she muttered, and with a quick and careful snatch she nabbed her notebook from him and slipped into French class just as the bell was ringing. Ed hurried along to Bio, wondering just who Bella Cullen really was.


As her parents amused themselves handing out Halloween candy, Bella snuck out of the house and hurried over to the reservation. She had never been so determined to get to HIM, but tonight most of all she needed his comforting arms. Halloween was always uncomfortable for her.

Speed was not an issue. It was timing that was crucial. Billy, his father, was not Bella's biggest fan to say the least. He was never happy to see her in his territory, and if he knew the truth about her and his son's relationship, he might just have a heart attack.

Sure enough, the back door was unlocked, as usual. All she needed now was a plan of how to sneak past Billy and down the hall, where HE would surely be waiting. Bella put her hand on the knob and poised for the sprint inside. She was about to make a break for it when she heard bare feet on soft earth behind her and a warm voice resonating in the cool night air. "You know, cute girls can get candy at the front door. It's a little easier."

She smiled and turned around. "Not for me," she laughed as she rushed into his open arms. His bare chest was so warm it seemed to make even her freezing skin feel good. "Hey Bells, love the costume," he murmured as he kissed the top of her head. She sighed happily. "I call it 'Teenage Outcast," she replied softly, picking up her head so that he could really kiss her. But he was looking behind her.

"What, is he your golden retriever or something?" he asked, protectively wrapping his arms tighter around her. Bella whipped her head around and growled, "Ed, what are you doing here?"

Ed Swan was standing in Jake Black's backyard, uninvited, wearing a stupid outfit of green and an extremely queer hat.

"I can't believe you! You followed me here?" Bella was fuming. She broke away from Jake and menacingly confronted her stalker. Ed was not menacing in return; in fact, he looked like he was going to cry.

"You said you didn't have a…" he spat out, staring at Jake in sadness, fear, and a bit of hatred. Jake began to laugh as the boy trembled with emotion and Bella trembled with rage. "You followed me here to make sure I was still single? Are you freaking kidding me right now?"

Ed opened his mouth and choked out a reply. "I have loved you since the day we first met. Why would you lie to me like this?" Jake was doubled over, laughing hysterically. Bella wanted to punch him in the face, but she took a deep breath and tried to remain calm. "Ed, we're not really friends, and I don't normally share my personal life with anyone anyway. Besides, this isn't really any of your business," she added, a little harshly.

Ed processed this information and swallowed. "Do your parents know that you're dating a senior?" he queried nervously. Jake had stopped laughing by now and was gasping for breath. "Sophomore, actually," he supplied when he could breathe normally again. Bella cleared her throat loudly. "My parents know all they need to know about my life, and you're not going to supply them with any extra information, kid."

With a spark of courage, Ed smirked at her. "Why shouldn't I?" Bella took a step forward. "Because I'll kill you."

Jake barked a laugh, genuinely amused; Ed chuckled nervously, genuinely afraid. "My dad's the police chief of Forks, Bella." Now Bella laughed. "I'm his worst nightmare," she whispered, and with that she was upon Ed Swan and had him dangling six inches from the ground, his throat held in her grasp.

"Let him go, Bells. Don't make him cry again," Jake called with a hint of concern. Bella tightened her grip for a split second and then released Ed, dropping him to ground. "Not a word of this to anyone, you hear me?" she gave Ed one last glare and then walked back over to Jake. Ed scrambled up from the grass and ran off the way he'd come.

"I didn't feel too threatened by Peter Pan there," Jake boldly admitted, opening his arms once again. "Good, no reason to," Bella responded, rushing back into his welcoming arms.

They didn't see Ed Swan peering from behind a tree, observing them. They didn't see the look on his face or hear the break of his heart as they made out in Jake Black's backyard.

I'm back, and it's been awhile since I've written. I actually wrote this about 9 months ago, and just edited a bit where I felt it needed the most work. Hope this satisfies everyone who was wanting Part 3. Hope the next part will be up very soon. R&R if you wish.