Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight (the characters), Hana Yori Dango or Boys Over Flowers (their awesome storylines!).

Boys Over Flowers

Chapter Four ll Unfathomable

"Look at all the valentines Nessie got at school today!"

I almost choked on my dinner as Mum waved around a bunch of red heart-shaped cardboard cut outs.

"Are you serious?" I gasped, grabbing the hearts to examine them myself, "It's not even close to February!"

Across the table, Dad had a similar expression of half-incredulity, half-shock on his face. "She's just in kindergarten..." was all he could say, gazing at his youngest daughter with an odd look in his eyes. Almost like he wanted to grab her and hide her away in a corner until she was thirty. I could tell; I felt the same way about my baby sister at that moment.

Nessie beamed. She was an adorable little thing; we looked nothing alike apart from our chocolate brown eyes.

"Mrs Carter wanted us to write nice things about each other and put the hearts in each other's boxes," she explained brightly, "It wasn't about liking each other and having crushes in that way, Daddy."

Apart from being a beautiful angel, Nessie was also very smart and discerning.

"Well then," mumbled Dad, "I guess that's... nice."

"After all," Mum said blithely, "Ness will have plenty of that when she's older, isn't that right? Right now it's your older sister and brother we have to concentrate on." I swallowed a little haphazardly as Mum winked at my brother and me.

"You two better inform us when anyone steps into your life. You got that?"

"Yes, Mum," Seth and I said together; he absently and me rather meekly, hoping the mad pounding of my heart would not give me away.

Thankfully the magnified sound was all in my head and I managed to escape back into my bedroom after dinner.

With a little sigh, I fell back onto my bed and stared fretfully at the ceiling. I was anticipating the next day with mixed feelings; apprehension, fear, uncertainty... and a little excitement. I knew there would be some form of hell to pay tomorrow, whether it be suffering at the hands of my classmates or more outrageous presents from Cullen, and I knew only something bad could result from my outburst this afternoon. I vaguely wondered what it would be. More snakes? Perhaps he'd find out about my hatred of the cold and transform the school into a winter wonderland.

But if I was being honest with myself, despite all the calamities that awaited me tomorrow, I was also looking forward to seeing Jacob again.

And I knew that was very, very stupid.

Although it was not nearly as stupid as I felt around twelve hours later, when I unknowingly tried to force entry into F4's private room in the school. Someone had put a notice on my chemistry classroom door saying my lab had been relocated there, thus why I was even there at all.

I was hammering on the door like a madwoman, anxious already about being late, when it swung open abruptly and I found myself face to face with Emmett McCarty. I froze and I imagined my stunned expression must have been a comical sight. His face split into a grin the instant he saw me.

"Hey, it's you!" he said jovially, "Come to see Eddie?"

"What?" I said, completely confused, then shot instinctively, "Why would I come to see him?" I looked at Emmett, then at the door, then at the room behind him - it was definitely not a lab. I sighed, realising I'd been had. "Great," I muttered, "And I thought the prank fest was over,"

Stupid St. Meyer students. Just had to target me when my guard was down. Cunning. Ruthless. Mean, spiteful brats.

Jasper Whitlock joined us in the doorway, his grey eyes surprised when he noticed me. "Oh, it's you," he said, "Edward's not here - "

"I didn't come to see him," I said through clenched teeth. Had I not made my feelings for Edward Cullen clear? "I'm sorry about disturbing you, I'll just go now - "

"No, stay, stay!" Emmett boomed, taking me by the shoulders (I gasped, but was no match for his strength) and steering me into the room. "We've been wanting to chat with you, Isabella - it's Isabella, right?"

"Bella," I corrected breathlessly, now deposited in a very comfortable armchair. The transition had taken about two seconds. I was very windswept.

"Bella," he repeated, "I'm Emmett." And he grinned at me, revealing a set of dimples in his cheeks. I couldn't help smiling a little in return, despite how taken aback I was. Although he was tall and muscular, by far the most intimidating at first glance, there was a certain fun aura that hung around him and it was contagious. Up close, Emmett was definitely less frightening-looking; his blue eyes were filled with good humour and his dark brown hair fell in slight curls about his round face. Altogether a very innocent and fun-loving appearance.

"And that's Jasper." Jasper inclined his head at me and I dipped mine uncertainly. He was less flamboyant than Emmett both in appearance and personality; taller, leaner, with honey blond hair and a quieter, more refined countenance. I felt a little nervous in his presence.

"Tea?" he asked, setting down a cup and saucer before me.

"Oh! Thank you," I stammered, and took a gulp nervously while the only two members of F4 I hadn't met yet sat down across the coffee table. I couldn't believe this was happening. Actually, in a way I could, because so many unbelievable things had been occurring lately - but I was still in stuttering shock.

To postpone the moment I would have to look at them, I glanced around the room. It was larger than the average classroom (and the classrooms at St. Meyer weren't small) and decorated tastefully, with all the right colours and modern touches. There was a kitchen in the corner, a pool table in another corner, a card table in the middle of the room, and a wide plasma TV mounted on the wall with a huge rack of DVDs and games underneath. My eyes popped out a little as I surveyed the games room.

Really, what was the point of these guys even coming to school?

At last, I shifted my gaze back to the two boys. They were looking right back at me in mild intrigue.

"What?" I said self-consciously.

"Oh, nothing," Emmett replied cheerfully, "We just wanted to meet you. You've made school very interesting for us, Bella. Actually, we had a bet going on about you. Which reminds me," he turned to Jasper and clicked his fingers, "Pay up, dude."

Jasper sighed, taking out his wallet. He looked at me apologetically, "You don't look like the type to last longer than a week - but I'm glad you proved me wrong."

"Nah, I knew it," said Emmett robustly. "She has this fighter look about her."

"Really? Was that why your jaw dropped when she punched Edward?" Jasper's tone was dry, sarcastic.

"Hey, I don't think anyone ever saw that coming."

I sat there meekly, sipping my tea, a little surprised by their banter... and how likeable they were. Really, F4 wasn't as bad as I'd initially thought. It was a relief to find out. It seemed like Edward Cullen was the only real problem.

"Hey, it's Leah!"

I craned my head right around at Emmett's words and realised he was looking at the TV screen. I watched admiringly as Leah Clearwater smiled and talked animatedly for the advertisement. She looked as stunning as usual.

"So it is," Jasper said in his quiet voice, "She's coming back in a few days, isn't she? That must be why Jacob's been in a happier mood lately."

My ears pricked up at once. Jacob... knows Leah Clearwater?

I turned back to the boys and asked, "You guys know her?"

"Yeah," said Emmett, "Since we were kids. But Leah was Jake's friend first, and he used to never let us forget that." He chuckled, "Nowadays, he doesn't need to remind us. To the three of us Leah's our childhood friend and like a sister, but to Jacob..."

Emmett trailed off, leaving me to my own thoughts. I thought of Jacob, lying on his own outside in the stadium and sitting by himself under the tree. Jacob had known Leah Clearwater since he was young. Now I knew who that letter was from... and now I knew why he sometimes seemed so despondent and so empty...

"Hey, Bella?"

Jasper's voice sounded like a hundred miles away and it took me several seconds before I heard him properly, "Oh - sorry, what?"

He gave me a funny look and I flushed. "We were just wondering if you wanted to go back to class now," Jasper said languidly. "Sorry about that - we forgot that you might still have lessons."

...Class?

"Oh no!" I yelped, almost upturning my saucer of tea as I jumped, "You're right, I can't believe I'm skipping class right now - "

"Whoa, whoa, before you leave, there's something Edward wanted to give you," Emmett said loudly, and a surge of exasperation shot through me as I swivelled my gaze to where he was pointing -

And my eyes fell on a desk covered in colourful graffiti. There was a bow sitting on top.

Both of them watched me curiously for my reaction.

"Care to enlighten us?" Jasper asked, "I believe this must be an inside joke of some sort."

"You and Eddie must be getting pretty close to share an inside joke, eh?" Emmett guffawed, "We asked him about it, but all he said was that it wouldn't fit in your locker."

I'm sure my eyes were reduced to slits as I glowered at the desk.

Really, was he trying to be funny?

There were two simultaneous ring tones at that moment and both Jasper and Emmett pulled out their mobile phones, reading their new message. I watched as they looked up and grimaced at each other.

"What is it?" I asked curiously.

They both turned to me and Emmett threw an expectant look at Jasper, who said, "What?"

"You tell her, man. You're the more poetic one."

"What?"

"Just say it!"

Jasper merely looked quizzical before sighing and turning back to me.

"Bella," he said seriously, the look in his grey eyes not unkind, "I know Edward represents everything you detest at the moment. But... well, just reckon with this: he's been our friend and like our brother for years. So..."

"Please forgive the idiot for whatever he may do next," finished off Emmett.

Nonplussed, I eyed them for a moment before nodding without much conviction. It wasn't until next period that I understood the reason behind their request.

The bell had just rung for lunch and my biology classroom was filled with chatter as people began to put their things away. Just as I picked up my textbook, I heard the shout of a boy who was running down the corridor, yelling into every classroom.

"It's the red card, it's the red card again! Jessica Stanley has received the red card!"

I was out of my seat before any of my classmates and pounding down the corridor as fast as I could.

No... no...

My mind had gone icy blank and fear pulsated through me for Jessica. How could I have been so careless? Cullen must have seen us together last night - of course he had, I'd just yelled at him moments prior and he must have followed me outside -

There was a gathering crowd in the cafeteria and dread filled every inch of me; the Ring of Judgment.

And in the centre of the ring was Jessica's trembling, crumpled form.

"Jessica!" I gasped.

The crowd instantly parted as I ran towards her, shaking all over with guilt and outrage. "Jess," I whispered, grabbing her by the shoulders. She was wet and covered in white patches; it looked like they had been throwing flour bombs at her. "Jess, no, I'm so sorry, are you okay?" I asked frantically.

Jessica lifted her head slowly, her large dark eyes swimming with tears. "Bella," she sobbed, "Bella - I'm scared - "

Still keeping my hands protectively on her shoulders, I straightened up and glared venomously at the one standing in front of us with the air of a king. Jasper and Emmett stood on either side of Edward Cullen but I didn't look at them. Instead, I locked eyes with Edward.

"Why are you doing this to her?" I hissed, my voice strangled, "Your fight is with me, not Jessica. She has nothing to do with this!"

It wasn't Edward who answered me, but a boy from the crowd.

"What does it matter who we target?" he jeered, "Either way, little commoner, you get hurt - so be it!"

"How dare you talk to Edward like that - we've had enough of you treating our F4 like dirt!" shrieked a brunette, her nails dangerously long. And all around, the mob erupted in new cries and insults. I didn't have time to feel scared - out of nowhere I saw a bottle of ketchup being flung at me, and instinctively, with all my strength, I raised my clenched fists and hit it to the ground. I was too incensed to lay low and shield myself anymore. I'd had enough of this mindless torture of innocent people.

The bottle burst as it impacted the floor, and sauce splattered everywhere.

Silence dropped over the crowd.

There was tomato sauce all over Edward's shoes and pants. He looked wordlessly down at them. There was an intake of breath from the surrounding students.

I had to quell the strangest desire to laugh.

Tanya was the first to cry out, "Look what you've done now, you stupid girl!" Her accusation brought on an uproar and there were flour bombs coming at me from every direction. Even my instinct couldn't battle this and it was all I could do to remain hunched over Jessica, shielding her from the abuse that was being heaped upon us.

"Poor girl!"

"Get out of here!"

"How can someone with nothing be so proud?"

The yells and taunts were deafening. I tried to glare at them all, to tell them to stop, but all I could see and breathe was white. It was suffocating. I waited desperately for them to stop, for something to happen, anything.

"STOP!"

Edward Cullen's voice rang out in the hall, louder and more terrible than I'd ever heard it before. Everything - the bombs, the chanting, the yelling - ceased at once. Taking great lungfuls of air, I stared at him in confusion. He was glaring at the mob, and the cold fury was alive in his eyes and face again. He appeared as unfeeling and arrogant as ever.

"That's enough," he said more quietly, yet his voice carried through the cafeteria. No one seemed to even dare breathe too loudly.

Then his gaze met mine and something shifted in his expression. It softened, almost.

Edward took a step toward me and put out his left shoe. There was a single drop of sauce on it, whereas the other one was completely drenched. I swallowed, looking up at him, feeling the tears building up in my eyes. It seemed like I did nothing but cry these days.

"Lick it clean," he said quickly, and I caught a pleading flash in his eyes, "Lick it clean and I'll end it all. I'll make them leave her alone. I'll take away her red card... and yours. It'll all be over."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing and I was certain he was just taunting me. But his voice was low and fervent with sincerity, and his gaze, cold and unfeeling mere seconds ago, was unusually clear and honest as he looked at me - and only me. It was like we were the only two people in the room.

It'll all be over...

The manipulative games he played, the senseless bullying and ostracising, the unchallenged position of power and domination he'd held for years... Edward Cullen was offering to give it all up. For a drop of tomato sauce.

I stared at the tiny dot on his shoe as gradually, the crowd started to chant, "Lick it off, lick it off." They sounded strangely distant in my ears.

It would all be over. For Jessica. For countless other future victims. For myself.

It would be my surrender and I hated it. But the war had been my fault in the first place - now I had to end it.

I bit hard on my lip, my heart pounding in my chest. Every eye was fixed upon me, waiting for me. I was starting to lower myself when -

"Hey, Wonder Girl."

The crowd quietened down and parted again, but I didn't need to look up to know who that voice belonged to. Jacob came striding over, not at all fazed by the situation. He didn't even appear to notice the other students. Holding up a letter and reading off it, he said casually, "I've got another riddle for you.

"What belongs to you, but others use it more than you do?"

I'd never heard of that one before, and even if I had, in my current stressed and battered state, I wouldn't have been able to remember the answer. "Um," I said in a shaking voice, aware that everyone was listening and watching in mute awe. "I - I don't know..."

In a fluid movement, Jacob crouched down beside me so that our eyes were level. He gave me one of his sunny smiles. "Come on," he persisted. "Think about it real hard, Bella."

I blinked at the sudden close proximity between us, but his encouraging tone cleared my mind. His dark eyes were glinting and I realised he'd been trying to give me a hint.

A small smile unfurled across my face as the answer came to me.

"Bella," I said quietly, "My name."

Jacob grinned and ruffled my hair; the contact startled me and several murmurs started at this display, but he wasn't the least bit fathomed by this.

"You're right," he said cheerfully, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a fancy slip of cardboard, "So I can give this to you."

Bewildered, I took the paper with unsteady hands. It was an invitation to a party. In cursive lettering were the words, "Welcome home, Leah Clearwater."

"You want to meet her, don't you?" said Jacob with a crooked smile as I continued to gawk foolishly, "The girl you thought was brave and inspiring." The hall was silent again as he stood up and looked at me properly. He chuckled, "First it was eggs, now it's flour... you really do have an affinity with cake."

For the first time, Jacob looked around and seemed to notice the tense atmosphere. "Is something going on?" he asked with raised eyebrows.

That was when I remembered Edward Cullen. I looked up at him warily. He had been watching our exchange with something odd in his expression - it was hard to define. There was anger, but not the rage I was accustomed to seeing. It was softer, sadder, more frustrated.

But when our eyes met, he swiftly looked away and his face was a mask again.

"Forget it," Edward said tonelessly, and walked straight past without looking at us. "It's over."

Everyone watched as he walked out of the cafeteria.

Emmett was the first to speak up, "Alright, boys and girls, you heard the man - show's over. Move along now." As he and Jasper also moved to the exit, they threw me apologetic yet questioning looks. Jasper clapped Jacob on the shoulder as he passed.

Jacob smiled mysteriously at me, and I knew, just knew that he had done all that on purpose for my benefit. My heart swelled, but all he said was, "Don't be late to the party," before he, too, took his leave.

Battered, floured and utterly confused, I was left crouched on the floor, still shaking as an aftermath of all that had happened. Muttering, the students around me dispersed back to their tables. A dry, racking sob brought my attention back to Jessica and I crawled over to her.

"Jess," I whispered with a pang of guilt, "It's alright, they're gone now - "

"Bella!" Alice's frantic voice called out from behind me and then she was by my side, her face stricken. "Thank goodness, I thought something terrible was going to happen - but it's alright, it's alright, it's over." She sounded more relieved than I was as she hugged me tight, and then helped me help a shaking Jessica back up.

For the moment, words failed me.

I pined for the days I could go to school and not worry about what reception I received. When I could slip in without being noticed or disturbed, find my own corner and be peacefully content.

Unfortunately, since starting at St. Meyer School, those days were over.

"Good morning, Bella!"

"Hi, Bella!"

"How are you today?"

As soon as I stepped into the school foyer the next morning, I was greeted by students I'd never spoken to before. In fact, I was sure a few of them had thrown eggs or flour at me at one stage. I wandered around in a daze as everyone I encountered smiled and waved at me as if we were lifelong friends.

Needless to say, I was completely disconcerted.

So they either hate me, ignore me or worship me. Okay. I can deal with that.

"Oh, Bella! Hi!"

Three high-pitched squeals assaulted my ears and I whirled around automatically to see Tanya, Lauren and Irina running up to me, wide smiles plastered across their faces. I froze on the spot as they grouped around me.

"You look so pretty today, Bella," simpered Lauren, patting my blazer.

"We're so sorry about yesterday," Tanya said in a overly earnest voice, her blue eyes wide, "Edward did go a bit too far, didn't he?"

"But luckily Jacob showed up to save the day," continued Irina, nodding vigorously, "And he invited you to Leah Clearwater's homecoming party! You are coming with us, aren't you, Bella?"

"You have to come, Bella," said Tanya emphatically, the other two nodding their eager agreement. "It doesn't matter if you can't afford a dress - it's just a casual party, you can wear jeans if you like. You don't want to be overdressed, if you know what I mean. It would be so awkward."

They were all nodding and beaming brilliantly at me. I stared blankly in response, sure that all sanity had just dropped out of the universe.

What ever happened to normal life?

"Of course you have to go, Bella. Your prince charming gave you a personal invitation. Jacob Black invited you. Jacob Black, Jacob Black - "

"Stop saying his name!" I hissed, feeling a blush already beginning to take place. I stirred my iced tea vigorously as Alice beamed, angelically innocent. We'd gone to a nearby cafe after school as soon as the bell had rung; anything to get away from our fellow peers and their frightening mood swings.

"I can see why you like him, Bella," she said whimsically, "He does come at the right moment, doesn't he? For a moment there, I really thought you were going to do it. But..." Alice trailed off.

Something in her expression prompted me to ask, "What?"

She sighed, all traces of playfulness gone.

"Did you see the way Edward Cullen looked at you, Bella? There's something - different - about him when you're involved. I can't really explain it and I know you wouldn't have noticed it, but when everyone was throwing flour at you that day, he was really mad. You heard how furious he was when he stopped them, didn't you?"

I snorted, "Yeah, but only so he could make me lick his shoe afterwards."

"And he did that so he could take away your red card," said Alice wisely, "Saving face while showing you pity. And let me tell you this: I have never ever seen Edward show pity to anyone before, let alone someone who's yelled at him countless and punched him in the face."

I sipped my iced tea glumly. I had to admit, some of the things Alice was saying were not completely new to me. Edward Cullen was as enigmatic as ever. I was the only one to ever defy him, and what was his response? To buy me a two hundred thousand dollar violin and offer to revoke his declaration of war.

And yet, he'd also made my life miserable in every way possible. He'd targeted my friend without a second thought and let the school bully and ridicule her. It just didn't add up.

"I think he likes you," said Alice suddenly. I spat out my mouthful of tea.

"What?" I said incredulously, wiping the table with a napkin, "Say something that makes sense, Alice. That just isn't true and even if it was, it would be - " I struggled to find a word, " - pointless. Futile." I nodded to affirm my point.

Alice seemed putout by my response, but said lightly, "Because you like Jacob Black, right?"

I blushed again, but didn't say anything. I could still picture his crooked smile vividly in my mind.

"Which is why you have to go to Leah Clearwater's party! He personally invited you, you dummy, which must mean he wants you there! If you pass up on this opportunity, Isabella Swan," she said threateningly, "I don't know what I'm going to do to you - "

"Okay, okay, I'm going!" I relented; Alice was small, but I had no doubt she was also deadly.

She beamed, "Good. You can borrow a dress and heels off me, I just know you wouldn't have anything in your wardrobe."

I resumed my drinking, feeling lighter and happier than I had in awhile. I was going to a party - not just any party, but a party for Leah Clearwater that Jacob Black had invited me to. I couldn't keep a slight smile off my face. I would have been grinning like a Cheshire cat if it hadn't been for the fact that I knew Alice would tease me mercilessly about it.

"Don't worry, Alice, it's just a casual party. There's no need for fancy dresses or heels or anything like that." Thank goodness for it, too. Heels and any part of my body should never come in contact with each other.

Alice pouted and I knew I'd just ruined her fun.

"That's not fair!"

At precisely seven o'clock on Saturday night, I climbed up the marble steps to the party hall. I was feeling squeamish in a nice pair of black jeans, blue flats and a deep blue V-neck blouse that complimented my pale skin. Mum had played around with my hair for almost an hour, doing it up in complicated twists and knots before finally settling for a simple, princess-like look; half-up and fixed in place with a sparkling blue clip with the other half of my dark brown hair loose around my shoulders.

All in all, I thought I looked nice and sweet enough until I stepped into the actual hall and stopped dead.

For one thing, the beautiful, sparkling parlour was certainly not the venue of a casual homecoming party. There was a live orchestra playing and waiters were roving around, offering delicacies and glasses of champagne on silver platters.

And for another thing, the guests were all donned in formal attire. Girls moved about gracefully in pretty, sweeping dresses and the men were dignified in neat white shirts and black jackets.

The moment I stepped into the hall, every eye, as if by magnetic attraction, was drawn to me.

And I suddenly felt like a monstrously huge sore thumb.

A/N: See how quickly I updated! Now you guys gotta review quickly and in droves. ;) Haha just kidding. I love hearing my readers ponder and speculate though! Now I want an opinion of where your favour weighs at this point in the story - Jacob or Edward? Who is more appealing and interesting at the moment? I think this will be interesting cos I don't actually know myself, but that might be because I'm writing the characters out.

Coming up next - an exciting party and a kiss! So stay tuned. :) - msq.