I got home and walked into the dorm room that I shared with Alice and dropped myself onto my bed.
"Well, well, well…" Alice started with her eyebrow arched. "What do we have here?"
"I don't know what you mean Alice" I said confused by the look on her face.
"You have been gone for hours, your face is flushed, and you have a 'hand in the cookie jar' kind of smile on your face. Where have you been and who were you with young lady?" she smirked.
"Seriously Alice, I don't know what you are talking about. I was studying in the library, I just came in from the cold, and I think that I may have the upper hand for the quiz tomorrow morning."
She was not convinced. What was I supposed to say? I met Emmett's dysfunctional brother and kind of have a 'thing' for him.
"Spill it Swan. I know that look. Who is it? And what have you been up to?"
"Ok, ok Alice. I may or may not have met someone at some point since school started, but I am reluctant to say anything else for fear of jinxing it." Would that be enough for her?
It wasn't.
"Bella! Why have you been keeping this from me? I need to know the details." She whined.
"Sorry Alice, that's all you get."
"Ok, but when Rose gets here with Emmett and Jasper, you are telling us the whole story."
Oh god. No, no, no, no! I can't divulge who he is. It would ruin everything.
Just then there was a loud knock on the door. "Well hello ladies!" Emmett boomed as he entered our room.
"Hey guys!" Alice and I replied. We all exchanged hugs and everyone settled down on the sofa and chairs in the room.
"Bella has the 'hots' for some guy at schoo-ool." Alice sang.
Emmett grinned. "Ooh, when do we meet this mystery guy?"
I blushed. "I don't know. It might be a while. He's kinda shy." Please let it drop guys. Please…
"Anyway, speaking of mystery guys, what's it like with your brother being home Em?" Alice inquired. Little did she know that we were still talking about the same 'guy'.
"Uncomfortable for my parents, I guess" He started. "I haven't seen him since the day we picked him up from Olympia. I've been sort of avoiding the house. He didn't say much on the drive home. His hair is longer, and he seems to have been working out or something. He is still thin-ish but he has built up some muscle. I guess when you have the urge to fight someone everyday you'd have to bulk up."
"What do your parents think? I'm sure they must be happy to have him home." I said trying to subtly get more information about Edward.
"My dad says that he spends most of his time in his room or in the garage. They must have taught him some sort of trade or something at that place. He all of a sudden is interested in fixing an old motorcycle that my dad bought years ago. I don't think that he had any knowledge of mechanics before. Plus I think that he wants some wheels. He doesn't have a car anymore and my dad makes him take the bus to school and anywhere else he might want to go."
"School?" Alice asked.
"Yeah, my dad enrolled him in a couple of classes. A friend at the college pulled some strings. Since being locked up Edward has been forced to see a shrink. One of my dad's friends is his therapist. He drove down to Olympia once a week to meet with Edward. Now that he's out he still has to meet with Dr. Price. I think my dad has Edward enrolled in one of the Doc's classes." Emmett continued.
Dr. Price is Edward's therapist? How awkward for him.
"If he's free from that place, why does he have to continue with the therapist?" Rose asked.
"Well technically Edward is still on probation. I think that he's got like three years left. Its part of his parole I guess. If he screws up now he can be put in 'big boy' jail." Emmett scoffed.
"I don't think that is very funny." I said hoping that everyone's attention didn't turn to me.
"It's not Bella; I just don't know how to deal with it anymore." Emmett apologized. He looked truly saddened by it. "My mom told me that over the last week Edward seems to have come out of his 'funk' a little bit. He still doesn't talk to her, but she has caught him smiling when he thinks no one is looking, and he actually seems eager to go to school. Maybe a year and a half in that place has changed him. I still don't trust him though. He put our family through some hard times."
I wondered if our friendship had anything with his better mood. I doubted it. It must be something else. I did notice that the ever present crease in his brow had but almost disappeared. It would show back up when he seemed uneasy, or tried to talk to me about anything personal. Like his family.
"I think everything will work out. I can feel it." Alice declared. Rose and I looked at her and shook our heads. Another Alice prediction.
Monday came and I walked towards Psychology with some exciting news for Edward. We had had a quiz in math, and I think I aced it. As I got closer to the doors to the hall, I saw the blonde, who I now know is called Lauren, walking towards me.
Once she was standing in front of me she started. "Bella, is it?" I nodded. "Sweetheart, you should stay away from Edward. He's too much for a little girl like yourself to handle." She said patting my shoulder. "I should know. I knew Edward from high school. Leave him to a woman like me".
I shrugged off her condescending hand and started to walk around her. That's when I saw Edward standing just outside of the classroom door. He looked between Lauren and me and walked into the room. Maybe she was the reason that he looked happier at home. Maybe he had reconnected with an old girlfriend. My stomach hurt.
He didn't look at me at all during class. No notes, nothing.
After class I started to say something to Edward, but he cut me off…"Bella, I'm not a good friend for you." He quickly got up from his seat and headed out the door. I just sat there. I didn't know what to think. Did he think that Lauren had said something to me about him?
Wednesday came and Edward was not in class. Dr. Price kept glancing wearily up to our section with a frown on his face.
Edward was back on Friday, but didn't acknowledge me the entire class period. I decided to speak up. "Edward?" I started. He cut me off again. "Bella, I'm sorry if I'm being rude, but I don't think we should be friends." He said looking down at his feet before he left the room.
What had happened? Did I say something wrong? His mood and attitude changed so quickly since Sunday. Maybe he was too messed up in the head to make it in society, I rationalized. Maybe he had become institutionalized. You know when you've been in prison or a hospital and when you are free to get out you can't live in the real world and would rather stay inside? Was that his problem?
This was our relationship now. We would sit in class not looking at each other, and when class was over, we would both get up and leave.
On Saturday, three weeks since my last words to Edward, Emmett asked Rose, Alice, Jasper and I if we would come over to his parents' house for dinner. It had been two months since we were there last.
"My parents miss all of you and feel like they have abandoned you by not inviting you over." Emmett said.
"Ooh, will we meet your brother?" Alice asked her eyes wide.
"Maybe, but I doubt he'll make an appearance. Esme asked him to join us but he seemed reluctant to attend. If we are lucky, he won't be home."
"Don't say that Em. I would love to meet him." Rose said.
I, on the other hand, was with Emmett on this one. I hoped that Edward wouldn't be home.
It was a few hours until we were supposed to leave for the Cullens' house. I feigned illness. I couldn't make myself go over there. What if Edward was home?
"Are you sure you'll be Ok? We don't have to go if you need us." Alice and Rose had both said.
"No. You two go ahead. I'm sure Esme will be disappointed if you don't go."
The four of them left at about five. I sat in the dorm feeling a little depressed. Then I decided to go out for a walk and get some dinner.
I pulled on my coat and headed out the door.
I walked across the campus to a deli that I had heard was supposed to be good.
I stepped inside and up to the counter and ordered. I then found a table in the corner and pulled out a book to read while I waited for my number to be called. "Hello…" a voice whispered behind me. I whipped my head around to find the saddest green eyes looking back at me.
"Hi. Would you like to join me?" I whispered back almost under my breath. He nodded and shifted his chair to join me at my table.
"I'm sorry about the last few weeks in class. I…" He sounded sincere.
"It's ok Edward. I understand. You have a thing with Lauren…" I trailed off.
"What? What are you talking about?" He looked angry.
"She kind of mentioned that I should stay away from you. I guess you have a jealous girlfriend on your hands." I laughed stupidly. Could he tell that it was fake?
"Bella, she is NOT my girlfriend!" He spat, his face red but not from embarrassment. "Will this ever end?" He asked quietly to himself. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "I've done some 'things' that I am not proud of…I have a past that…" He ran his hand through his hair. "…won't let me go."
He sat there with his forehead resting on his hand. Elbows on the table.
"Number 26?" a voice said over a loud speaker. I looked at Edward and then got up to fetch my food.
When I returned he was in the same position. I reached out and put my hand over the one of his that was resting on the table. He looked up at me through his eyelashes. "Whatever it is that's bothering you will work itself out." I said. "Just give it some time. I'll be here…if you want." I said hoping that he didn't stand and bolt out of here at my words.
We sat, ate our sandwiches and talked for over an hour. He was back to himself, well the 'himself' that I knew of anyway. I told him about the last few weeks in math, and how I had made it through a couple of quizzes with flying colors.
"If you need anymore help, I would gladly volunteer."
"I would like that."
Just then the shop's door opened with a bang.
"Cullen! What a surprise!" shouted a blonde boy that I didn't recognize. He was followed by the curly headed girl and Lauren. Both girls were sporting smug smiles.
Edward bolted upright standing his chair tipping back and falling back forward. His warm facial expression turned ice cold.
"Newton." He sneered. The look on Edward's face and the voice that came out of him frightened me a little. What was more upsetting was that he was standing with both of his hands in fists at his sides. He was ready for the fight.
"I'd like to thank you Cullen. If you hadn't been dumped into that cell, you may have given me a run for my money." Edward looked over at me for a brief second before turning back to this Newton person. "Everything fell into place after your disappearing act. So, high school valedictorian was handed to me on a silver platter, along with my full ride here." He said waving his hand around gesturing towards campus. "How was it anyway? Make any boyfriends while you were in there? Did you take it in the a-" His words and laughter were cut short by my scream and Edward's fist connecting with his face.