Disclaimer: Not mine...nor do I own any references to Superman or lyrics from Broadway musicals

A/N: Thank you all for your response to my little story here. I was planning on putting out this chapter after I finished Chapter 18 of "Love Story", but I am ridiculously hung over (pub crawl...what a genius idea...) which means I'm going to go sleep for the rest of my Sunday and not work on "Love Story". Enjoy this and accept my apologies if you read "Love Story" too.

Chapter 2

Edward and I met every Sunday after his volunteering hours at the hospital. Elizabeth would drop him off and I would bring him home after our scouring through the thrift store, bookstore, and music store. Apparently Tanya thought Edward's hours went all day. I never thought anything about that before, but now after last night, I didn't know what to make of it. Edward was lying to Tanya about where he was, she was cheating on him, then all the business while we were dancing last night? I had no idea what to think anymore. I almost didn't want to meet Edward today.

It took me an hour to try and cover up the bruised lip that Tanya had left on me. I really didn't want to have to come up with an explanation for Edward on how that happened. I couldn't lie to him to save my life. I knew that if I didn't meet Edward today as usual, he would just come over to my house and demand to know what was going on. I figured if I tried to act as normal as I could, then maybe Edward would at least believe me. I could never tell him about Tanya…it would destroy him. That was the decision that I came to.

"Hey Bell Bell."

I snapped my head up. I had been looking down the whole time as I pondered everything. Edward looked amazing in his worn out jeans, long sleeve grey shirt, and blue bowling shirt that we had found last month. His smile that was only for me was on his face. I really missed seeing it all the time.

"Hey Tony," I said standing up, trying to smile as best I could.

"Bell Bell, is something wrong with your lip?"

CRAP. Why did he have to be so observant? "Uh…it's nothing. Hit my mouth on the corner of my desk this morning reaching for my phone."

Edward furrowed his brow. Please believe me Edward. I can't hurt you! "Oh…okay. You gotta be more careful Bell Bell."

"Heh…yeah." Hopefully he didn't hear the nervousness in my voice, "and you should smile more often. I never see it anymore when we're at school. You only smile when you're with me."

"I smile Bell Bell," Edward huffed, but I could tell he was pretending, "I always smile when I'm with you."

"Well, you should smile after you win games and stuff too you know. That smile could light up the whole town."

"What? You mean this one?" My heart almost stopped as he flashed me his special crooked smile. A soft "yes" was all I could manage.

Edward laughed and threw his arm around my shoulder, "All right Bell Bell, I'll keep that in mind for Homecoming."

As we walked down the street, I couldn't help but think that this is how it was always supposed to be. That Edward and I should always be together like this. We liked the same music, we liked the same books, and the two of us are best friends. And I love him. Why is this so hard? Why? Why? WHY?

"Hey, where'd you go just now?"

"Huh?" I said snapping out of my thoughts.

"Did you even hear anything I just asked you?"

"Oh…uh…no, sorry," I said, blushing, embarrassed that I had been tuning him out.

He chuckled as he sat down on the bench by the marina that we always stopped at. "Well, I asked you how you got home last night? I vaguely remember seeing you and then after that I was in the bathroom throwing up with Alice."

I couldn't help but let my eyes grow huge. He and Alice were really that drunk?

"How did you get home?!" I shouted, a little louder than I should have. I knew Edward hated being driven anywhere, but he let me drive us on these Sundays because he was usually so tired from the games the night before.

"Rosalie drove me and Emmett home. Alice and Jasper dropped my car off this morning. I have no idea where Tanya went. Apparently she got taken home by Jessica and Mike when she couldn't find me throwing up my spleen with Alice."

Edward laughed and I joined in, albeit very uncomfortably. I really didn't like it when Tanya's name came up before. Now, it was making me ridiculously uncomfortable. I hated knowing what I knew right now.

"Bella…look at me please."

I couldn't help but succumb to his voice and I brought my eyes up slowly to meet his. Geez, I had been tuning him out so badly before I didn't even notice that he had put on his black beanie hat.

I jumped from the shock that went through my skin when his thumb brushed ever so lightly over the corner of my left lip. His green eyes were piercing mine.

"Bella, why are you lying to me?"

I gasped, his hand still cupping my chin. His brows were furrowed and his eyes looked so pained. No Edward…please…don't look at me like that. It's better this way…please…

"Edward, I…I…"

"Bella, I know you didn't hit your mouth on your desk. The set up of your room makes that physically impossible. What really happened? Did someone hurt you Bella?"

Edward's eyes turned fierce and he looked like he did when he was telling James to stay away from me. The thought of James made my eyes prickle. Edward unfortunately noticed.

"Oh my God, Bella! Did someone hurt you? Someone at the party? Was it that asshole James?! I saw him there! Talk to me Bell Bell!"

I struggled and he released my chin. I couldn't help it…I had to say something. I couldn't take it anymore. Maybe…maybe I could make him guess.

"Edward…" my voice was shaking as were my shoulders, Please God, I don't want to hurt him, "Have you…have you ever had a…a secret….a secret that you couldn't tell anyone? Not…not even your best friend because it would hurt too much?"

"What?" Edward shouted, "What? Bella, no! What are you talking about? Bella, you're scaring me! Did someone hurt you? I swear to God Bella, if that dickhead James touched you I-"

"NO! No Edward…it's…it's not like that!" My voice was so shaky and my hands were trembling. I was amazed that the tears hadn't spilled over my cheeks yet. Edward took my hands and I flinched when his fingers came in contact with the marks I had made on my wrist last night.

"Bell Bell, wh-" Edward froze when he looked down at my wrist, his jaw snapped shut and was tight.

"Edward…I can explain…please-"

"Bella did someone bite you?!" Edward roared, "What is this?"

"I…I…I have something to tell you. I sa-"

"EDDIE!"

I jumped away from Edward immediately at the sound of Tanya's sickeningly sweet voice. She was standing there, shopping bags in hand, 4-inch heels adding to her already tall frame. She smiled, and it made me sick, as I knew on the inside she was ready to tear me apart.

"Tanya," Edward said, standing up slowly, running a hand through his hair, "What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing Eddie," Tanya said, now clearly upset, "I thought you were working at the hospital until 6?"

"Oh…uh…." Edward stammered.

"Edward got done early. He saw me trip and fall and he was nice enough to help me over here so I could look at my foot. It's fine. He was just going."

I looked up at Edward, pleading with him to just go along with this. He looked down at me with this look in his eyes that said this wasn't over.

"Is she telling the truth Eddie?" Tanya, flashed me a glare, warning me.

"Yeah," Edward said, coughing and clearing his voice, "I was just going to head to the bus stop."

"Ugh Eddie! The bus? Where's the Volvo?"

"My Dad was washing the cars when I had to leave." I was a little alarmed at how easy Edward could lie to Tanya like this. Like he had done it many times before...

"Oh,' Tanya purred, "Well, good thing I'm here to take you for a ride."

I don't think anyone within a 10-mile radius could have missed the sexual tones laced in Tanya's voice. I saw Edward roll his eyes slightly. Only if you really know Edward would you have noticed.

"Right…well, if you could just take me straight home. I have a big history project to work on."

"Eddie…" Tanya pouted.

"I'm sorry Tanya, I just haven't had time. I need to work on it tonight."

"Fine…Make it up to me later baby?" Tanya had closed the gap between them and had her fingers drawing patterns on his chest.

"Yeah sure…" Edward mumbled. Tanya kissed him right in front of me then. Her tongue prying his lips apart. I didn't miss the fact that Edward's arms remained stiff at his sides. When Tanya finally broke away she looked down at me.

"See you later Swan," and with that she laced her fingers through Edward's and started dragging him away.

"Bye Bella." Edward said softly.

I sat on the bench until I saw Tanya speed away in her silver Mercedes. When they were out of sight, I let the tears fall. I couldn't do it. I was so close. How could I tell Edward that Tanya was cheating on him with James? That she was the one who busted up my lip?

I didn't want to go home. I sat until my body was completely numb, the cold from the sun setting biting at my skin. I knew Charlie was working the night shift tonight and wouldn't be home until tomorrow morning and Emmett was probably over at Rosalie's. I didn't want to go home. I was more than sure that Edward would be waiting for me. I knew that he wouldn't let this go. There was no way I could tell him. I thought that maybe he was irritated with Tanya, that maybe he didn't want to be with her, that maybe, just maybe, he might feel for me like I feel for him…but I was a fool. I wasn't beautiful like Tanya. She had Edward wrapped around her finger. I at least felt a little better knowing that he hadn't given in to her and hadn't had sex with her.

I was so lost in my own mind I didn't hear anyone calling my name.

"Bella? Bella! BELLA!"

I jumped so badly when Jasper appeared in front of me.

"Jasper!" I yelped.

"Whoa, little darlin', I didn't mean to scare you," Jasper chuckled.

"Oh…I-I-I-It was n-n-nothing," my voice chattered and I finally realized just how cold I was.

"Sweet lord Bella, how long have you been sitting here?" Jasper took off his leather jacket and wrapped it around me.

"Wh-wh-what are you doing?" I chattered as he pulled the jacket around me tighter.

"Well, I'm gonna take you to that coffee shop there and get you warmed up. I'm pretty sure Alice would have my nuts on a stick if I let her best friend freeze to death."

Jasper's southern drawl calmed me as he wrapped his arm around my shoulders and guided me into the coffee shop. He sat me in a booth in the back and much to my displeasure bought me a large hot chocolate. I saw him on the phone as he picked up our drinks. I had no doubt he was talking to Alice. As he came back and sat, I heard him whisper an, "I love you too pixie", before closing his phone.

He sighed, "Alice says to call her later and you better be prepared to explain yourself sitting out there in the cold for who knows how long."

I nodded as I wrapped my hands around my cup. The warmth did feel amazing against my numb fingers.

"Bella, darlin', you wanna explain what you were doing out there with no coat? Your lips are practically blue girl!"

I heard Jasper gasp and saw him reach across the table to wipe away my tears before I even felt them.

"Bella, what's wrong?" he asked softly.

I sniffled. Jasper was just so laid back and calm. It was hard to believe that he was best friends with my idiot oaf of a brother. I oddly felt at ease with Jasper here and I felt like I could tell him anything.

"Bells, you know your brother wouldn't hesitate to kick my ass either if he knew you were sitting here crying with me."

I took a deep breath. "Jasper…if I…if I tell you a…a secret…can you promise me that you won't tell anyone? Not even Alice?"

I saw Jasper pause as he thought this over and take a deep breath. "Okay Bella. I promise."

"I mean it Jasper."

"I do too Bella."

I took a deep breath and started telling Jasper everything. From all the way back in 10th grade to Edward still climbing in my window to the party last night…I told him everything. I was in tears by the time I was done and thankfully we were in the back of the shop so no one noticed Jasper and I.

"Wow…" Jasper sighed, "I'm a little speechless…I'm sorry Bella. I don't know what to say. I can…I can understand what you're feeling about not wanting to tell Edward, but Bella, I think he deserves to know the truth. Don't you?"

"Yes…" I sniffled, "but…I'm going to hurt him so much."

"Bella," Jasper said, placing his hand on mine, "it might hurt, but don't you think Edward will be so much happier without Tanya? You and I both know he deserves to be treated better than that. And Bella…based on what you're telling me, it…it sounds like Edward has feelings for you too."

"What?!"

Jasper chuckled, "Really Bella? After everything you told me about dancing with him at my house? And are you honestly telling me that you've never noticed that he's always looking at you when he throws a touchdown or runs one in?"

"I…I…." okay, so I had noticed that Edward was looking in the general direction, but I never thought he was looking at me.

"Bella…you gotta tell him."

"But what if he thinks that I'm just telling him to get him to break up with Tanya? That I just want him to myself? That I-"

"Bella, you heard everything with your own ears! She threatened you!"

"He'll never believe me Jasper! I have no proof and Tanya has him wrapped around her finger! He'll side with her!"

"Bella," Jasper sighed, "You're his best friend. He'll believe you. I didn't know you guys when you were growing up, but I trust what Alice tells me. I think you and Edward do belong together."

"Jasper, I-"

"Hey guys, I'm sorry, but we're closing up for the night."

Jasper and I both jumped when the worker stood next to us. We both smiled sheepishly and left a tip before heading out. I didn't even notice that it was 9:00 already. By the time I made it back to Forks it would probably be 10 or little after.

"Where's your car Jasper? Do you need a ride?"

"Nah…my bike is over there. I'll follow you back to Forks."

"Oh okay. Um…thanks for listening to me Jasper. Please don't say anything to anyone."

"I won't Bella, but think about what I said. Edward deserves to know."

"Yeah…I'll think about it."

"See you tomorrow Bella."

"See ya."

As I drove back, I saw Jasper's solitary light behind me all the way until I turned off onto my street. I saw him raise a hand in the air and wave as he continued on to his home. I sighed. Emmett's jeep was still gone and so was Charlie's cruiser. I glanced next door and saw that Edward's light in his room was off, but the light in the living room was on. It was after 10:30. It took me a little longer than I thought to get back from Port Angeles. I quickly killed the engine and ran into the house. I couldn't face Edward just yet. I had to think a little more about what to say to him.

I didn't turn my room light on as I quickly threw my things down and grabbed clothes for a shower. I took my time mulling over everything Jasper and I had talked about. I frowned when I looked at the marks my own teeth had left on my wrist. I decided I had to tell Edward. I knew him and I knew he was over analyzing everything right now. I had to tell him. It was selfish that I wanted to tell him so he would stop worrying about me. I knew that not knowing what I was going to tell him was driving him crazy. I just wasn't looking forward to hurting him. There was no doubt in my mind that it would.

When I finally came back into my room it was after 11:15 and all the lights in Edward's house were off. I sighed and was ready to sink into my bed, when I noticed the rose and note. It was a red rose with a black satin ribbon. I couldn't help but smile. It was from one of our favorite plays. I slowly opened the note to read in the moonlight coming through my window.

My Bell Bell-

"Remember me, once in a while, please promise me you'll try."

I'm always here to talk Bell Bell. I know you have something to tell me. Please don't shut me out. Remember that I'm here and please don't hold your secret in. I'm worried about you Bell Bell. Promise me you'll say something to anyone, someone. I care about you Bell Bell. Please don't make me worry much longer.

Your Tony

I couldn't help the tears that fell from my eyes. The quote and rose were from "Phantom of the Opera", our favorite play, and his words were clenching my heart. There was no way that I couldn't tell him now. I couldn't keep it from him any longer.

Monday, morning before school

I was sitting in the bed of my beat up old truck with Angela, Alice, and Jasper. I knew Emmett wouldn't come home since Charlie wasn't going to be home until after 9 this morning. I had texted Jasper to let him know I was going to tell Edward today, so he came early to give me some silent support. We all saw the silver Volvo come tearing into the lot and I looked at Jasper who gave me a thumbs up behind Alice's back. I got up and started walking towards the Volvo.

"Bella, where are you going?" Alice called, quickly catching up to me, Jasper at her side.

"I need to speak with Edward Masen," I said flatly, trying to make it sound, to anyone eavesdropping, that I was upset with him.

"Are you finally going to tell him off Bella?" Angela said, catching up.

"Something like that," I mumbled.

I was no way prepared to hear Tanya let out an irritated scream as she got out of the passenger side door and Edward yell her name as he slammed his own door shut. The entire parking lot froze to watch the high school royalty fight. I froze. Please…please don't let Edward know…

"Tanya, don't walk away from me!" Edward shouted. Tanya turned around, but not before seeing me standing no more than 10 feet away. She gave me a wicked smile that made my stomach churn. Oh no please…

"What do you want Eddie?" Tanya asked, looking bored.

"Do you want to explain to me why the hell James Davis' wallet just fell out your bag? Do you want to explain to me why the hell YOU have it?"

Tanya smiled wickedly at me. Oh no…no no no..Edward…

"What do you want me to say Eddie? Do you want me to tell you that I've been fucking James behind your back for the last six months? That it's been the best fucking sex of my life?"

The silence in the air was deafening and all eyes were on Edward. My heart was breaking and I swore I heard Edward's begin to crumble. I couldn't see his face, but I could imagine that his eyes were pained. Tanya smirked again.

"Oh Eddie, you didn't know? A girl like me has NEEDS. I couldn't wait around for you forever virgin boy!"

There was a collective gasp from the crowd as everyone started whispering and Tanya laughed, "That's right everyone, Edward Masen, the most popular guy in the whole school has yet to get laid!"

Tanya laughed, a sinister tone mixed in now, "Honestly Edward, I'm surprised you didn't know about James. Your little friend BELL BELL has known for ages now too. I'm amazed she never told you."

I gasped, my mouth hanging open. Tanya laughed.

"Oh yes Bell Bell…I know all about you. The geeky little band girl pining over the star quarterback. How pathetic. I would've thought you would tell Edward as soon as you found out all those months ago."

Edward turned around to face me, and I had never seen him look so furious in my life. "YOU knew about this?"

I gasped…my throat was closing up and I was blushing profusely as everyone in the parking lot was now looking between Edward and me.

"I…I…" was all I could get out.

"Good luck cleaning up your mess Swan. By the way, we're so done Eddie."

Everyone was frozen as they watched Tanya strut away from the scene. No one said a word and everyone was staring at me. I didn't know what to say. Edward stood, his fists clenched, his jaw set in a tight line. He was looking at the ground, but when he finally looked up, his nostrils flared.

"YOU KNEW?!" He shouted at me.

"I…I…"

"Why didn't you tell me? You made me look like a FOOL Isabella! A FOOL!"

"Edward!" I cried, "She's lying! Please! I-"

"NO! I thought you were my best friend Bella! How could you do this to me?!"

Edward turned away and jumped into his car.

"EDWARD NO! Please!"

I made to run after his car but Jasper caught me around the waist.

"Let him calm down little darlin'," Jasper whispered.

I didn't even notice the crowd that had started whispering and everyone that was pointing and staring at me. Angela and Alice had taken over for Jasper and had their arms wrapped around me. I barely even noticed when Rosalie and Emmett had shoved their way through the crowd to me. I couldn't breathe. I felt like my heart was exploding. Edward was blaming me. He said that I made him look like a fool. And now everyone knew about Edward and I's secret friendship. And everyone knew that I had feelings for him.

"I'm gonna be sick…" I whispered.

I barely felt Emmett scooping me up in his arms and asking Rosalie to follow him home. I barely registered Emmett taking my keys and driving the truck home. I barely felt him carry me up to my room. I barely felt Rosalie help put me back in my pajamas. My heart was broken and I felt absolutely nothing. I had lost my best friend in the entire world.

Well? Yes? No? Sorry for the ending. Might I suggest NEVER doing a 10 bar pub crawl. Bleh...thank the lord I didn't throw up. I go back and forth all the time about who my favorite Cullen (after Edward of course) is, and I think in this story, Jasper is definitely my favorite. :-) Review if you can? Pretty please? These are short. What do you think is going to happen next?