Chapter Four: Good Grades and Persistency

Edwards POV

The siren rang out at Saint Patrick's high School signalling the end of class and the end of another school day. I swiftly got out from my seat and headed for the door not wanting to spend another minute in Biology class. I hoped medical school wouldn't be this tedious. Assuming I got good grades, that's where I was headed anyway. I knew my father could probably pay his way to get me into any university in the country. But I wanted to do it on my own merits. The last thing I needed in my life was to owe my Dad anything. It was bad enough that I shared his blood and his name let alone riding his coat tails to success.

As soon as high school was over I was going to leave Chicago get as far away from my Dad as possible. Unfortunately it was always going to be a bitter sweet decision. Leaving my father behind also meant leaving my mother and as much as I despised him my mother was my rock, my piece of steady ground in this sea of shit I found myself in.

I walked over to my locker to put my books away and grab my gym gear for training. I was in the Saint Patrick's baseball team, 'The shamrocks' go figure. I should have known Tanya would be there. She was leaning her back against my locker obviously waiting for me. One of her legs kicked up with her foot against the door, twisting a stand of wayward red hair.

She didn't make eye contact until I grabbed the lock next to her hip. I raised my eyebrow to her, would she move already.

"Hey handsome, you got training?"

"Hmm let me think Tan!" I let out a sigh, "It's a Tuesday and Tuesday nights has been our training night for the last how many years now?"

"Ok ok no need to get snippy" She slipped to the side so I could open the locker door but turned her body towards me in the process. "Would you mind if I watched?"

"And why would you want to do that?"

"I don't know Eddie to see your wearing your shamrocks shirt and how beautifully it brings out your green eyes." I shook my head not wanting to play along. "Not to mention how great your arse looks in those tight white pants."

"Tanya!" She was starting to annoy me now. I was on the verge of saying something I'd probably regret later. Instead I slammed some books into the locker and reached up to grab my gym bag about to walk off.

"Sorry babe, look maybe I just want to be a supportive girlfriend." I stopped in my tracks and stared at her in disbelief. "Again, I mean, I want to be your girlfriend again!"

"Really Tan, do you really want to go through this again?"

She smiled at me almost mocking, "I think now is as good a time any, were made for each other Edward, you know that."

"Are you kidding me Tanya? Do you not remember, you're the one who ended this," I gestured at the two of us to make the point, "in the first place. You're the one that slept with Alec, you're the one that lied about it. Now you're asking if you can be a supportive girlfriend, again. When were you a supportive girlfriend in the first place? You used me Tanya. I was your trophy boyfriend. Don't pretend like you care about me now or ever have. You're a lying, selfish, cheating bi…" I stopped myself, and held my breath.

Tanya was glaring at me, her hands were on her hips and she looked angry.

"What Edward, what were you going to say? Don't hold back on me now, I deserve it right? I'm the cheating girlfriend, it was all my fault!"

I'd had enough she was just trying to get a rise out of me now. Before I really said or did something I would regret I brushed past her and started walking towards the gym.

"Come on Edward!" She yelled out at me. "You were about to call me a bitch? Just say it. I can handle it you know, unlike your mother! You're so afraid of sounding like him aren't you? Afraid you'll turn out like your Father? Look in the god damn mirror. You're just like him, do you know that? Same name, same blood, same person! You accuse me of not caring about you, but what about you Edward fucking Masen, you never gave a shit about me."

I swung around, there was still a few students left in the hall and they were all staring at our not so private altercation.

"Don't you dare talk about my mother like that?" I kept my tone as calm as possible but there was an edge to it and even Tanya flinched as I took a step towards her. "And I'm nothing like him, believe me Tanya, you wouldn't be standing here in one piece if I was. You should think yourself fucking lucky. And I did care about you, but that was before you fucked it all up. I couldn't give a shit about you now."

Tanya gaped at me. I couldn't look at her face for another second. I spun round and left her in the hall not looking back, never looking back. She was so god damn persistent. I use to find it endearing but now she just pissed me off. Why did she have to keep doing this, keep torturing me? It was bad enough the humiliation of our breakup, being the last person it seemed in the entire school to find out what she had done. Now she kept coming back to rub salt in the wounds. She knew me well enough to know how to push my buttons. We had known each other for three years now, ever since my family moved to Chicago. Her father and mine were acquaintances through work. We were shoved into each other's lives expected by our fathers to just be together. It was good for appearances they could show loyalty to each other through their own blood. We started as friends but it just seemed easier to cave to my father's wants, dating her made sense. It kept my father happy and he was off me and my mother's back. Tanya was nice enough at the time to make it work but it never really felt right. It was never easy. As much as I cared about her and as much as I tried, I think I knew it would end. I just never thought she would make such a mockery out of it all. Cheat on me with Alec my best friend of all people. She didn't have the decency to just talk to me and end it first. It was a month ago when I found out. I lost two best friends in one day. The wound was still raw.