Call me stupid, but I really didn't expect 18 reviews for the first two chapters alone, and one was just a prologue. Keep reviewing, aight? I'm aiming for 100 reviews by chapter 10 or so…though that might be kind of farfetched. But anyway, this story is mostly about friendship and comfort, thus explaining my choice of genres. But don't worry, Edward and romance will still be involved.

Chapter inspired by Nobody's Home by Avril Lavigne.

What's wrong, what's wrong now?
Too many, too many problems.
Don't know where she belongs, where she belongs.

She wants to go home, but nobody's home.
That's where she lies, broken inside.
With no place to go, no place to go to dry her eyes.
Broken inside.

Open your eyes and look outside, find the reasons why.
You've been rejected, and now you can't find what you left behind.

xXx

Eddie's Explanation

Thursday

It was slightly easier to return to school on Thursday, knowing that my friends were there to help me and stay with me no matter what.

Slightly.

It was still hard, tormenting, to know that the moment I entered the school I would see Edward and Lauren, walking together whispering sweet nothings so unlike the conversations he and I would have regarding the school cafeteria or teachers. I couldn't believe Edward would have moved on that easily; especially to Lauren. He had made clear his distaste for Lauren several times.

But then that was no surprise, was it? It only showed how much I meant to Edward, how well I had thought I knew him. He wasn't a player though, as what Tyler had called him. Edward could and never would be a player. He hated those kind of boys, that at least I was sure of.

Though with everything going on lately, who knew? He could don a frilly tutu and sing 'Copacabana' and I wouldn't be surprised.

The whispers and glances were considerably muted now. As I walked into school it became obvious why.

(AN: okay, so this description is a figment of my imagination, so don't get confused. I made this up.)

The main corridor in school was basically a short pathway flanked by two miniature open grass fields on either side. In front of the corridor was Building 2, behind Building 4. If I faced Building 4 and really squinted, I could see all the way to the office.

The corridor was protected from rain by an overhanging porch-like roof, almost like a sunroof only without the windows. There was a huge white wall facing me right now, which was basically the backside of Building 2.

This wall was the cause of commotion.

For the usually peeling off-white wall was covered with a huge blown-up picture of Lauren and what looked like Mike's wiry body and Tyler's face superimposed on it making out.

The minute I saw the picture I cracked up laughing.

It was unbelievable. Either Tyler had been making out with Lauren or Mike had, and I doubted it was Tyler Crowley. His girlfriend, Gina, was drop-dead gorgeous and would skin him alive if she ever suspected Tyler was being unfaithful.

I strolled into class early, laughing to myself. Mike was already sitting in his spot, looking embarrassed. There were little spots of colour on his cheeks. I hoisted myself up on the bench, smirking at him. I hadn't even said a thing when Mike exploded, like St Helen's on a rampage.

"I did not do that. I would never, never make out with Lauren or do anything equivalent to even touching that…that plastic. She's a nerd in diguise, that's what she is. A nerd covered with plastic and makeup," he burst out.

All this was said in a flurry, so what I heard was, "IdidnotdothatIwouldnevernevermakeoutwithLaurenordoanythingequivalenttoeventouchingthat thatplasticshe'sanerdindisguisethat'swhatsheisanerdcoveredwithplasticandmakeup."

I cracked up laughing again. "Mike, calm down. Nobody's going to accuse you of anything. I think everyone's going to be more interested in the Lauren side of things, considering she was going out with Mark at that point of time," I added. Mike sighed, visibly relieved. Then he cocked his head again.

"What was-"

"I can't believe you would do that!" A scream, then a loud slam that sounded like someone throwing ten or possibly twenty books on the floor. "I thought you loved me! How could you accuse me of doing that?"

I inched towards the door, peeping out. Mike joined me, peering around the corner. Several students were frozen in the middle of their way to class, watching the drama that was unfolding before us.

"Lauren," Edward said, quietly, silently. Lauren ignored him, throwing herself against his chest.

"Lauren!" Edward shouted. "Don't pretend I don't know! I know everything, okay? So just keep your mouth shut and stop being such a hypocrite!"

He looked around then, as if suddenly aware that he had an audience. Everything snapped back to reality then. Everyone began hurrying towards their classes, encouraged by the black look on Edward's face that promsied a slow death.

He continued talking in a lower yet more threatening voice. "I'm only staying with you because you need the money I have for your father's operation. And you're staying with me because you want me as a trophy. If you want to act like a complete bitch, then fine, but just to let you know, if the school starts gossiping about us, you're out of the door. I'm sacrificing a lot to be here and I will not tolerate any crap from you."

My eyes widened, as did Mike's. So that was why he was staying on with Lauren. Her father was Edward's mentor. Her father had once helped the Cullens out of a sticky situation where a family had accused them of defamation, and Edward never forgot it. That was why he couldn't bear to leave her father in the lurch right now. And Lauren was taking advantage of it, I thought, disgusted.

Lauren wasn't one to be lectured, though. Stepping right up to Edward, she seized his shoulders and dug her long, perfectly-manicured nails into his shoulderblades. Edward winced. "Let me get this straight, Cullen," she hissed. "As long as you want to help out dearest daddy, you will stay with me and put up with anything I tell you to do, or I botch the whole surgery. Is that clear?"

Edward stepped backwards. The hall was empty now, but several students were peeking out of their classroom doors. Five people were crowded behind me alone.

"Fine," Edward snarled, simply, angrily. He turned and stalked off. Lauren smiled, flipping her hair back, unfazed by the intensity of Edward's fury. She turned to face me. We made eye contact for two seconds before she moved off in the opposite direction that Edward had went. I knew what her little smile meant, though. It was meant for me. It was an invitation. An invitation for me to fight with her for Edward. Too bad Edward doesn't want me to fight anymore, I thought grimly. I turned around and saw Mike staring at me.

Mr Berty waltzed in, ten minutes late, a flurry of profuse aplogies streaming from his mouth. I only caught the words carried away and janitor's closet and saw the blush on his face before deciding it was best not to know. On my way to my seat I looked at Mike.

"Neither of us saw that, right?"

Mike nodded, his face pale. "Right."