Chapter Three – Edward Masen: Genius. Narcissist. Bad-Boy.

As odd as it seemed, I was strangely looking forward to going to Port Angeles with Jess, Angela and Lauren. I needed a release from the stress I'd been building up at school. It had nothing to do with frequently losing my way to classes, forgetting names of the people in my lunch group, mauling Mike during Gym or having to redo assignments I'd done in the previous semester; the person responsible for giving me the feeling that my head about to explode was that annoying, arrogant man who sat beside me during Biology.

Every lunch, if I'd had Biology, the girls within our group quizzed me on what Edward Masen did and said during class. When I said, "Absolutely nothing," they all just laughed and insisted that I tell them the truth ignoring me when I said that 'Nothing' was the truth.

After being so thoroughly intimidated by the irritated look Edward had given me when I'd said hello to him on my first day, I had chosen to risk his wrath for not worshipping the ground he stood on, and completely ignore him. When given assignments that the two of us were supposed to complete as a team he would sit back, feet on the bench and stare intently at me while I did all the work, nervously spewing out facts and observations as they came. He didn't even give me a word of thanks as I wrote and submitted our joint report.

It was a good system, I managed to keep with it for a week and half…

…but it was driving me insane.

On the Thursday before my scheduled shopping trip with the others I failed to keep my frustration in check and snapped at him. "What the hell do you keep staring at? Why don't you get off your ass and help me!" I'd hissed… and then I'd flushed and quickly got back to work before I could see his reaction hoping desperately that he wasn't seething with anger. After that, I was sure that he would gather up some of his crowd to teach me some respect, I'd spent that afternoon, a sleepless night and the next morning looking over my shoulder, waiting for someone to grab me from behind and drag me off for some discipline.

At our next class I went back to simply ignoring His Royal Highness as he sat on his high horse and silently did our work. For the first ten minutes he was as silent and stared intently at me. He seemed a little more fidgety than usual; he was usually good at turning himself into a handsome statue that bored holes into the side of my head. I wondered if he was going to reprimand me for yelling at him the other day. He didn't.

Instead, I nearly fell off my stool in shock when he grabbed the microscope and worksheet from my side of the desk and started to fill the report without so much as glancing at through the lens at the slides on the platform.

I stared as he worked swiftly and diligently and felt confused. I fought the urge to scratch my head like an idiot, and played with my hair, wondering if just maybe he'd taken my outburst to heart and was trying to make up for the past week.

Feeling slightly awkward I said nervously, "Uh – do you need me –"

He cut across before I could finish the question. "Nope."

I fell silent as he finished scrawling down the last few answers. Wordlessly he handed the sheet over for me to look at.

I blinked at his elegant handwriting, surprised by the cursive script he used, it was much tidier than my poorly-formed, spiky block letters. I shook my head and dragged my focus to the answers. I'd only caught a glimpse of the first slide, but since I'd done this particular course before, I had known exactly what it had been; Edward's answer matched my initial thoughts. I scanned the rest of his answers and snapped my fingers and told him to pass me the microscope so I could confirm them before remembering who he was.

He stared at me, equally as taken aback as I was with myself. He raised his eyebrows slightly and said, "Are you questioning my observations?" but pushed the device across the bench.

I flushed and berated myself. Stupid, he's in a gang. If anything, he should be ordering you about, I thought furiously. Then; On second thoughts, I don't want him giving me orders. I went for a diplomatic no-answer. "Just want to double-check," I squeaked.

I quickly scanned the slides; each of his answers matched my own and out of the corner of my eye, I saw a grin pass over his face. At least I thought I saw it.

"They're right," I murmured, somewhat surprised.

This time I definitely saw him grin.

"Of course they are," he said and winked at me. "Just because I'm handsome doesn't mean I'm stupid."

I stared at him for a moment, completely dumbfounded by his bold statement. Egotistic or what?

He continued to grin, completely at ease. "We haven't been properly introduced; nice to meet you, Bella Swan, I'm Edward Masen, your genius, Adonis of a lab partner."

I gaped. I'd never met anyone so sure of himself.

He continued, apparently not noticing my stunned reaction to his 'introduction', "Please try not to spend all of class basking my glory. We ought to try to get some work done."

"As if," I scoffed, forgetting once again that he was one of the inner circle of the Forks' Vampires.

Arrogant narcissist…

~x~

Exhausted from having to deal with Edward's sudden change of heart – the egomaniac wouldn't shut about himself, I spent Gym standing in my reserved corner of the room with my forehead against the cool, brick wall, nursing a sudden headache and headed straight to my truck at the bell.

I froze in horror as I caught sight of my old Chevy.

I was vaguely aware of a loud thunk as I dropped everything I was holding. "W-w-what?"

Words had been sprayed across every available surface on the outside of my truck.

Don't get so comfortable around Edward Masen.

Leave him alone, bitch.

Stay away from Edward Masen.

Go back to Phoenix.

I felt numb. I didn't understand why someone would do this.

"Jeez, this is just ridiculous," said a familiar voice.

I looked to the right and found Alice armed with two buckets and sponges. She offered one set to me.

"Let's erase this stupid paint." Then a pause and, "Don't let it bother you."

~x~

Jess, Angela and Lauren were waiting for me when I woke up on Saturday… or rather they were the ones to wake me up. Charlie – having no idea that I was still in bed – let them into the house as he left for work on Saturday morning. The three girls stripped off my sheets and pushed me into the bathroom then went on to poke through my closet without invitation.

"Whoa Bella – you need to do some serious shopping today," observed Jessica as she went through my pitiful supply of clothing while I brushed my teeth and dragged a comb through the knots in my hair.

I pulled a face at my mirror. Clothes were clothes; it didn't matter what they looked like, I was happy as long as they fitted me and I was decently covered, plus shopping was my worst nightmare, I hated it almost as much as Charlie did. It must have been the endless hours with Mum in the Phoenix malls that had ignited this reaction.

I wiped the expression off my face as Jess walked in with some clothes for me to change into but grimaced again when she hurried me because she was dying to spend the next few hours shopping rather then waiting for me.

"It must be hard to make yourself look good with such a small choice of clothing," said Lauren.

I shrugged. It was all the same to me.

"Well we'll help her find some incredible stuff at Port Angeles; won't we, Angela?" said Jess steering me out of my bedroom and down the stairs.

Lauren scowled, the tone Jessica had used had sounded defensive. "I was making an observation, not an insult," she muttered under her breath receiving a dirty look in return for the comment.

Jess and Lauren glowered at one another as we piled into Jess's car. I pressed my lips together and decided not to get involved with their on-going battle. Angela looked as if she were thinking along the same lines. We sat in silence for the duration of the car trip as the other two verbally abused one another.

However much I hated shopping, I was happy that we went because it relieved the tension Jess and Lauren had built up – though their good moods were gone by midday when Jess got all riled up over a comment Lauren made about her fashion sense.

Jessica screeched with pent up frustration startling nearby customers and the store staff. "Say that again and I'll –"

"You'll what?" jeered Lauren, a nasty sneer forming on her face. "Run to daddy and cry?"

Angela was looking like a spectator in a tennis match as she turned her head to watch the other two exchange arguments.

"Why you little bi –"

I stepped in before it got too out of hand. "Hey, how about we split up for a bit?" I suggested quickly. "Angela, you can go with Jess and Lauren can come with me to find some regular clothes for school since my stock is sort of depleted at the moment."

The yelling match ended though Jess looked as if she were still fuming when Angela had led her away.

I glanced at Lauren; there was a real hatred in her eyes. I babbled in an attempt to calm her down. "So do you know any good places to find like everyday clothes – or we can go and grab something to eat – or we can…"

"I know a great place," said Lauren abruptly. Then she turned and left the store with me following hastily. She walked at a steady pace and didn't look back, weaving in and out of the crowd on the sidewalk with ease while I shoved and stumbled behind her.

Then I lost her. I was stuck in a town I was unfamiliar with, had gotten separated from my friends and I had forgotten my cell phone. Well this was just great

Irritated with my own forgetfulness I wandered down the road and around the corner. A group of bikers, dressed similarly to the Forks' Vampires but no where near as attractive, grinned wolfishly at me as I passed them.

"Hey babe," said one, getting to his feet and falling into step with me. "You lost?" He smelt of cigarettes and alcohol, just one look at his bruised face and the scars on his shaven head was enough ignite instincts to flee as fast as I could.

I bit my lip and quickened my pace. "No, I'm fine thanks."

He grabbed me by the elbow and jerked me backwards. "Well then I'm afraid I must insist…" he leered, pushing his ugly face into mine.

Without hesitation I swung my fist at his head, he caught my flying hand with ease. I trembled with fear. I was in trouble… big trouble… I needed help and I didn't care who it was that gave it to me.

"Yo, Bella; what do you think you're doing hanging around with these losers? I thought I told you to meet me at Café Elle," drawled a male voice from my right.

I froze in the middle of chanting my silent prayer. I recognised that voice, smooth and confident, there was only one person like that. Edward Masen. I stared at him and not sure whether I should be happy or worried that he had materialised from no where.

He gave the man holding me a fierce glare and strutted over to my side, tapping my attacker in the chest. The baldy growled.

Edward pressed me against the wall placing one arm around my waist and the other up against the wall to screen our faces from their view. I looked up at him with admiration, maybe he wasn't as bad as I thought. A narcissist perhaps, but a good enough guy at any rate.

His pressed his cheek against mine, his breath warm against my ear. I felt my face grow hot, feel embarrassed at being so close to a guy.

"If I get you out of this, you have to do what I say for a year."

The admiration vanished. I looked up at him, flabbergasted. "That's blackmail! No way!" I hissed back. What was he trying to do? I wasn't about to become his… toy just for this.

He began to pull away. "Fine – stay with them; not my problem."

Alarmed at the thought of him leaving me here, I locked my arms around the back of his neck and yanked him close. "A week," I suggested desperately. I did not want to be left alone with these freaks.

He chuckled softly, evidently happy with the turn of events. I scowled and let go of him; he was enjoying making me beg. "Not good enough," he said tangling his fingers in my hair.

"Two weeks?"

"A month…" he decided, cupping my cheeks with his hands.

I glared at him furiously. "You're a jerk you know th–"

I broke off my sentence as he pressed his lips to mine. He tasted sweet and his mouth was soft. Before I knew what I was doing, I was kissing him back. His hands drifted down to my waist, my arms resumed their position around his neck.

Grinning, he broke the contact and winked at me. "It's a deal… slave."

I stood there, leaning back against the wall trembling from the shock and intensity of the kiss. A hard thwack made me look up. The guy with the shaved head stumbled backwards, away from Edward. His friends paled.

Edward cracked his knuckles threateningly, a murderous aura rolling off of him.

"Harass her again and I'll kill you," he in a quiet, dangerous voice. "Now, get out of here."

They fled – I wasn't surprised, he was one hellish mean, scary, dangerous egomaniac.

He turned back towards me and grinned crookedly, the devilish look handsome on his face. What had I gotten myself into? I sighed; it didn't matter – much. I didn't want to antagonise him which meant I had to stick to my word… which meant sticking around this perverted… drop-dead gorgeous, devil of a man.

Edward studied my face as he came closer. His emerald eyes were entrancing… then he shook his head and took my hand, towing me along behind him as he traversed the roads and side streets of Port Angeles. I was surprised when we ended up right in front of where Jessica had parked her car, directly behind it sat his shiny, silver Volvo.

"Oh," I heard myself mutter in surprise.

He smirked at me as Jess ran up to us looking almost hysterical.

"Oh my God, Bella! We've been looking for you everywhere!" she cried, grabbing me by the shoulders and shaking me back and forth. Then she saw Edward and took an involuntary step back, pulling me with her.

"Jeez, Masen – what the hell do you think you're playing at?" she snapped furiously. "What would Chief Swan say if he knew that you –"

"Saved Bella from men who would have raped her?" finished Edward, his eyebrows rising higher and higher as Jessica accused him.

She froze with her mouth open. "You…?" she started and trailed off to look at me, unsure whether she ought to believe him or not. "Did he really…?"

I nodded slowly hoping that she wouldn't overreact.

Looking absolutely horrified she yanked me into a hug. "Oh my God, Bella are you alright!? I'll take you right home so you can tell your Dad –"

I looked over her shoulder and saw Edward leaning against a pole, his frame shaking with silent laughter. I glared at him he didn't have to tell her what had happened.

"Jess!" I yelled embarrassedly, in a voice that was slightly muffled. "I'm fine!"

"Yeah," said Edward, coming over and draping an arm around my shoulders. "Bella's fine and you needn't bother about giving her a ride home; I'm taking care of that."

I blinked up at him. "You are?" I asked disdainfully. I didn't want to spend another minute in his company.

He smirked at me again, a cocky expression spreading across his face. "Yeah, I am," then added in a voice audible only to me, "- slave."

I blanched.

He pulled me closer. "Don't make that face," he ordered me in an undertone, still grinning widely at a bewildered-looking Jess, silent and slightly confused Angela and a frowning Lauren who were piling into Jess' car.

He waited until they had driven off before steering me to his car and shoved me into the passenger's seat.

"Where are we going?" I asked him as he leaned against the door frame to make sure I wouldn't try to escape.

"You'll see," he replied and walked around to the driver's side of the car.

I placed my head in my hands. What on earth had I gotten myself into?