Besides the fact that I was utterly engrossed by Bella Swan, lunch was the same as usual today. It came and unfortunately ended. Everything about her just draws me in. There's something about her though, I can't pinpoint what, but there's something off about her entire demeanor, something off by the way she carries herself. As if she was living a lie...well no, not a lie, but more like hiding a secret? I groaned and ran a hand through my disheveled hair, desperately trying to rid my thoughts of her. I walked into the male dressing rooms to get changed for an hour and a half of dodge ball.

I reluctantly strolled through the double doors two seconds after the bell rang, and of course like every class, "Mr. Masen! Seventy-five pushups for being late!" Coach Clapp roared at me as he saw me walking towards the bleachers.

I shrugged and dropped to my hands right where I was. I mechanically began all seventy-five push-ups as the entire gym just sat and watched, as usual. I didn't really mind, pushups were quite easy for me; I stared down at my hands as I did them, watching as the tendons began to gradually bulge out of my skin at the speed I was doing them. "...54, 55, 56, 57, 58..." I muttered under my breath to keep count. I flipped my left arm behind my back, so I was now doing them one armed. I chuckled under my breath as I heard wolf whistle's by the bleachers. Jason, of course. This was the only class I had with him.

"...73, 74, 75," I grunted as I bounded up onto the balls of my feet. I took a deep breath, and just walked towards the bleachers, sitting down at the closest empty space.

I looked up to see Coach Clapp glaring at me, "Well Masen, now that you've finished showing off you're pushup skills, we can all continue with today's activities," he said sourly.

I rolled my eyes as he blew the whistle, "freshmen and juniors against sophomore's and seniors! You are all free to go play now."

As I stood up I heard Jason's voice next to me, "Clapp's a stupid teacher."

"Trust me, I know." I replied, pulling my shirt off over my head. "Now come on, let's go kick some sophomore and senior ass!"

He shook his head at me in incredulity, "Must you take off your shirt?"

"It's more comfortable," I defended myself.

"Idiot."

I ignored his rude remark and positioned myself directly on the border where our team couldn't pass. They blew the whistle and I darted to the center of the gym, snatching two balls at a time and throwing them at two seniors, hard. They both flew backwards onto their asses. Jason was right next to me, grabbing two at a time as well, and hurling them both at a sophomore. The poor kid screamed when they hit him and he ran out of the gym clutching at his head.

Almost everyone in our team was into the game and hitting our opponents. I saw most of their team was already out and sitting at the bleachers. Hmm, we might win this time. I swiveled on my heel to catch a ball that went flying towards Jason at my right. But from the corner of my eye, as I caught the ball, I saw a certain silhouette that I could spot anywhere. I could spot her from a mile away. She was standing near the back, with a panic-stricken expression on her face. Her eyes wouldn't stay on one spot for longer than a second, they were everywhere. But then they landed on me...and stayed there. Her eyes went wide and a deep scarlet covered her cheeks as she saw me shirtless. She finally let her eyes meet mine, and I gave her a soft acknowledging smile. A dazed expression crept upon her face.

I laughed quietly to myself, and decided to get back in the game. But as I was turning, I saw a ball zooming fast towards Bella.

"BELLA, WATCH OUT!" I yelled.

The moment she locked gaze with the ball nearing her, I knew that I didn't have time to move, and neither did she. The ball hit her straight in the face, knocking her backwards against the wall. I saw as her head compacted against the concrete at full force. Her eyes shut tight, and agony flared onto her beautiful face. Instinctively, I wheeled around and grabbed the closest ball near me. Me eyes swept over the team before me and I caught sight of a senior, laughing and pointing at Bella. Bingo.

I chucked the ball at his head with as much force I could. He didn't even see it coming as it smashed against his arrogant face. He fell to the ground and let out a loud wail, holding his nose between his hands. With narrowed eyes, I pivoted on my heel and jogged towards Bella who was still lying on the floor with her head against the wall. Her eyes where closed and she wasn't moving. Oh, shit.

"Bella! Bella, are you alright?" I breathed, kneeling by her side.

No answer.

I shook her lightly by the arm, "Bella, can you hear me?" Obviously not if she's unconscious you dumb fuck.

Automatically, I gently slid one arm under her knees and the other –very carefully- behind her shoulders. I lifted her easily, how much did this girl weigh? Like eighty pounds?! I disregarded my useless mental ranting and headed straight towards the gym's double doors. Everyone had their eyes glued on us. Well more me, it was extremely uncommon for one of The Cold Ones to interact with someone out of the gang. But only Jason's face caught my attention. He gave me one swift nod, one that meant "I won't tell, Keith." I gave him a sympathetic smile in return and left the gym.

I didn't bother taking Bella to the coaches because they're complete dimwits and I know they'd just tell me to take her to the nurse. So, why not just go straight there? I was practically running there now, but I instantly slowed a bit, not wanting to jostle Bella if she injured herself badly. As I neared the door to the nurse's, I kicked it open, and carefully carried Bella in.

"Excuse me Nurse, but she got hit with a ball in the face at gym and she flew back and hit her head against a wall. She's passed out," I rushed through quickly to the nurse standing in the small room by the sink.

I was about to lay Bella out on the bed there, but the Nurse's words stopped me in my tracks, "I-I'm sorry. But this is kind of my first day as your school Nurse and I kind of don't know how to handle any of this yet."

I stared dumbfounded at the young woman, "You've got to be kidding me!" I scoffed as I turned around and kicked the door open again. I had no other choice than to drive her to the hospital myself. I know it might be a little drastic, but I don't know what's wrong with her when she's limp in my arms.

As I made my way out the front doors of the school and towards the student parking lot, I boosted Bella's body up slightly so her head was resting on my shoulder and I could feel her wondrous breath hitting my bare chest every so often. Well, at least I know she's alive. Wait. I stopped dead in my tracks. How the hell am I going to get to a hospital without a car? I am officially the biggest idiot ever.

I grunted and sat on the sidewalk in front of the building, whipping my phone out in the process. I heard it ring as I held Bella on my lap but cradled to my chest, "Hello?"

"Jason, please, I know this is a lot to ask man, but please. Can you please, I beg yo-"

I was cut off by him yelling, "Just spit it out, Ed!"

"Can you please give me a ride to the hospital?" I asked in one breath.

He didn't even hesitate to respond, "Of course. Let me run to my locker and get my keys. Where are you?"

"Outside on the sidewalk."

"Okay, go wait by the Integra, I'll be there in a couple minutes," he assured to me.

"Sure thing...and thank you, Jase. I really appreciate this." I told him sincerely.

"Anything for a bro." And at that the phone clicked. I smiled and shoved my phone back into one of the pockets in my basketball short.

I placed my right arm back under Bella's knees and lifted her up with me as I rose from the ground. I did a double take when I glanced down at her face as I walked towards Jason's car. Her expression was pained, even in her unconscious state. She had a bruise forming along the right side of her head along with a small bump. My jaw snapped in anger from that son of a bitch that hit her with the ball and then laughed when she fell.

I reached the car and leaned against the passenger side. I closed my eyes tightly as I put an effort in controlling my temper. Suddenly, I heard the Integra behind me beep, and the doors unlock.

"Lay her in the back seat!" Jason ordered as he reached us. He opened the passenger side door and pressed the seat forward, making space to place Bella in the back. I carefully set her on the seat horizontally, and immediately pushed the passenger seat backwards so that I could sit. Jason was already seated in the driver's side with the engine running while I was still shutting my door.

"Dude, you move really quick," I commented appreciatively.

"Yeah yeah, I know. Now shut up, and let me concentrate."

I didn't speak after that, for one of my arms were outstretched towards the back where I was holding Bella's body in place. Jason was driving like a maniac. No maniac is an understatement. He was driving more like a person running from the cop's after going on a massive killing spree. My body shot forward, despite the fact I had my seatbelt on, as the car came to an abrupt halt. I looked around and saw the hospital at my left. I sighed in relief and jumped out of the car, ramming the seat frontward in my haste. "Okay, I understand you want to get her inside, but don't kill my baby." Jason demanded.

"Sorry," I said and lifted Bella out of the car. I was walking towards the automatic doors when I felt a body walking at my left. "Jason, you don't have to stay. Go back to school; I don't want Keith on your ass."

"Shut up, Eddie. If he's going to be on yours, then he's going to be on mine," he replied in a serious tone.

"I love you, man."

His head fell back and he let out a boisterous laugh, "Who doesn't?"

I just shook my head at him and focused on getting Bella to a doctor. We stepped through the doors and directly went over to the desk at the front. "We need a doctor. Bella hit her head against a wall in gym after some guy flung a ball at her fac-"

"Bella?!" I turned towards the voice that interrupted me. A tall, blonde, blue-eyed doctor was promptly nearing us with panic burning fiercely in his eyes. "What happened here?"

"U-uh, we were in gym and some guy hit her with a ball in the face while we were playing dodge ball. She flew backwards from the impact and hit her head against the wall. Our school Nurse was kind of stupid and didn't know what to do so we brought her here," I explained quickly.

The doctor stood in front of me, hovering over Bella slightly. "Bella, honey can you hear me?" he asked her softly, placing a hand over her hair. Honey?

"Oh, and she kind of passed out back at the school," I added because he was trying to talk to her.

The doctor nodded and held his arms out to carry her, "may I? I need her take her to one of the rooms."

"Please, by all means," I placed her gently in his arms and he was on his way. I glanced at Jason and we both shrugged, trailing after the doctor who entered a close by room. Bella was already on the hospital bed. The doctor was now lifting one of her eyelids and turning a thin flashlight on directly in front of her eye. Bella flinched. I let out a long sigh of relief.

Her eyes leisurely fluttered open and landed on the doctor, "U-Uncle Carlisle?" she stammered. Uncle?...well it sure explains the 'honey' from before.

"Hey sweetie, you okay?" he leaned down and kissed her forehead softly.

She raised herself up, so she was leaning on her forearms, "I think so, my head just feels like it's going to explode. What happened?"

"Yeah, I would think so," he chuckled. "And someone hit you playing dodge ball back at the school. Then you hit your head when you fell back...let us take some X-rays though, so we can make sure you're completely well."

She nodded and averted his gaze. Her chocolate orbs glanced around the room and widened as she met my emerald ones, "um, w-what are you doing here, Edward?"

"We brought you here," I replied, getting lost in her big brown eyes.

"We?"

"That would be him and me," Jason announced, side-stepping from behind me and walking towards Bella. He stopped next to her bed and stuck his hand out, grinning widely, "Hi, I'm Jason."

Bella placed her small hand in his and shook it, "Nice to meet you, Jason. I'm Bella." She smiled warmly at him and took her hand back. "You guys didn't have to drive all the way over here. You guys missed gym."

"And you think we care? You were hurt and I didn't see anyone else coming to the rescue so I brought you here...with Jason and his car," I said matter-of-factly. She blushed in return, ahh lovely.

"Thank you," she whispered, staring at her hands.

Carlisle kept glancing from me to Bella with a knowing glint in his eye. Bella raised an eyebrow at him questioningly, and he quickly recovered with a shake of his head, "Bella, let's go get your X-rays done. Jason, Edward, I am forever in your debt, thank you for bringing Bella here safely."

"It was nothing, don't worry," Jason dismissed with a wave of his hand.

I nodded in assent, "just make sure she gets those X-rays done, Dr..."

"Cullen."

"Alright then Dr. Cullen, should we stay here and give Bella a ride back to get her things from school?" Jason asked.

Dr. Cullen shook his head, "No, it's fine. My shift ends shortly, I can take her myself and we'll go straight home from there. You two should go back to school...since one of you is wearing gym clothes and the other's half naked."

I dropped my head and looked down at myself, "oops, forgot."

"Then I guess we'll go now," Jason said as he walked towards the door, "Feel better, Bella!"

"Thanks, Jason!" she replied after him.

I gazed at her for an immeasurable moment. Just staring deep into her eyes, "B-bye Bella," I stuttered. I stuttered? This girl's going to be the death of me.

She blushed violently, "Bye Edward, thank you."

I nodded and exited the hospital at Jason's tail. I caught up with him quickly as we neared the Integra. We were both silent as we got into his car and he turned on the engine. I took his I-pod out of the glove compartment and was about to turn it on when Jason snatched it out of my hand, "Oh no you don't."

I pouted and tried grabbing it back, "What? Why? You always let me listen to your I-pod!"

"Not right now. Right now, we're going to have a talk."

"About?"

"Bella," he said, I could hear the smile in his voice.

"What about Bella?"

"Shut up, Edward. I know you like her." He bellowed in the confines of the car.

I gaped at him as if he'd lost his mind. "Are you crazy? I don't like her!"

He sighed in exasperation, "You should see the way you look at her! The way you were watching her back there, you had the same look you used to get...when you used to be around your mother. I see a caring, loving person, and not a cold, emotionless one. And I see the same thing when she looks at you, not in the same scenario obviously, but she gazes at you as if there's nobody else in the room, just you and her. She clearly likes you back. You catch my drift, Eddie?"

"Not really, no."

"You both like each other! Gosh, you're difficult." He said, slamming his hand against the steering wheel.

I rolled my eyes and then closed them as I let my head fall back against the headrest. I did not like Bella. And she definitely did not like me. She could never like a person like me. I'm rude, arrogant, selfish and many other horrible things. I could never allow her to fall for a person like me, let alone me. That would just be incredibly preposterous. Just because I thought she was unbelievably beautiful in every way imaginable and just the thought of her makes my heart warm and flutter, doesn't mean I...Oh, great, I like Isabella Swan. I smacked myself hard on the forehead and groaned.

"I was waiting for that," Jason grinned cheekily, glancing away from the windshield to wink at me.

"Waiting for what?"

"Waiting for your whole, 'Ughh' and then hit yourself because you realized that you do like her."

I stared at him as if he had two heads, "and you called me an idiot."

"Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me!" he sang victoriously. I actually laughed at this and leaned my head back again.

No wonder I've been feeling so strange these past two days. My thoughts almost blew up. Two days?! I like a girl after two days, and I've only talked to her once. I need to stay away from her; she can't get involved with me. I'm dangerous and I'll only ending up hurting her in the end. Jason's wrong, that angel does not have the same feelings I have.

Jason spoke before my thoughts continued on this unbearable course, "Edward, after we get to school and pick up our stuff, the bell is most probably going to ring. And since we don't have plans with the gang today, you want come over to my place. Katherine's been dying to see you."

I immediately brightened up at the suggestion. "Really?" What I truly meant to say was, 'yes, I don't have to go home get banged up by Stephen?' It's as if Jason could read my mind though.

"Yup."

We reached the school in a matter of minutes and just how Jason predicted, the bell had currently rung. We ran inside and into the dressing rooms to grab our things. I stuffed my jeans and t-shirt into my bag and put on my jacket, zipping it up since I was shirtless. I made my way back outside towards the car, and of course Jason was already there. It seemed that he was in a heated conversation with someone. As I got closer, I noticed it with Keith. Fuck.

"Everything alright here?" I asked loudly, so they could hear me.

"Its fine, Ed," Jason answered me in a hard voice, "let's go."

He climbed into the car, and I gave Keith a questioning glance, he just glared at me darkly and turned around, heading towards his black 2003 Mustang GT. He built that beauty up from scratch.

I soon followed after Jason, and got in the car. "What was that about?"

"Nothing." He replied curtly, gripping the steering wheel firmly. My eyes tightened slightly but I let it go. If Jason didn't want to tell me, he didn't have to. I kept many things from him as well.

We made it to his small one story house quickly and we both climbed out of the car at the same time and headed towards the door. He opened the front door with his key and as we stepped over the threshold he yelled, "Hey mom, I'm home!"

"Hey honey! I'll be in the kitchen soon to warm up some food for you!" his mother yelled from her room.

"Okay, thanks!"

We walked into the living room and there was my little fourteen year old laying upside down, with her head hanging off the couch, flipping through channels on the TV. "You know it's not good to lay like that with all the blood rushing to your head and all."

Her head snapped up at the sound of my voice, "Edward!" she flipped off the couch and ran towards me.

"Hey Kathy, I've missed my little sister!" I said, as I hugged her tightly to my chest. She hugged me back and I almost screamed from the searing pain in my ribs. I didn't say anything though because I didn't want to make her feel bad. I removed her arms from around me and picked her up, throwing her over my shoulder. She shrieked and her little fists thumped against my back.

I dropped her onto the couch and she landed on her stomach. "Gee Edward, thanks. I see how much you love me." She said, her voice muffled by the cushions.

"You know I do," I chuckled.

I flopped onto the couch and Kathy picked herself up to sit beside me. I threw my arm over her shoulder and she cuddled into my side. "Aw, what an endearing sight, my ex-sister and my ex-best friend," Jason cooed mockingly.

"Shut up Jase, you know you still love us," Kathy laughed from under my arm.

These are the best people in my life. Jason, Kathy and Landon. Well with a new addition of course, I can't deny my feeling for Bella. But I sure will ignore them. Right then walked in Jason's mother.

"Edward, dear I didn't know you were coming!" she said, furrowing her eyebrows at Jason for not informing her beforehand. "Would you like something to eat?"

I smiled kindly at the dimpled middle-aged woman and got up from the couch to greet her with a kiss on the cheek. "No thank you, Mrs. Cooper."

"Oh, well If you change your mind, just let me know and I'll happily whip something up for you," she said as she patted my cheek gently. She stared at my face for a little longer than necessary and her face scrunched up disapprovingly. "How is that you boys get into so many fights at school and don't get suspended?"

You see Jason's parents -along the other gang banger's parents- didn't know we were a gang. They just thought we are all close friends and just got into a lot of fights. I looked down at my feet and disregarded her question as she huffed and turned away from us to head to the kitchen. I felt bad not telling her and Kathy, but hey, they weren't even my family to tell.

With a sigh, I sat next to Kathy on the couch until it reached night time.

After a couple of hours of talking to Kathy and watching television, Jason took me home. Once we said our goodbye's and bumped fists, he was flying out of my neighborhood. I rubbed at my eyes as I walked up my driveway, thinking of today's passed events. It was a really long day, but to tell you the truth, it was the best day I've had in a long time. Mostly because I had talked to Bella, and I wasn't a complete jerk. I smiled to myself as I opened the front door and headed towards the stairs.

"Edward?!" I stopped like a deer in headlights at the foot of the stairs. I heard Stephen shuffling towards me from the living room.

Oh, fuck.