A/N: This is a collab project between Paige Parkker (who writes Drugella) and Michelle M Marie (who writes Stick-Up-His-Assward).

Again, neither of us owns Twilight or its corresponding characters. We do, however, own this fawkawesome plot. Paige owns the rights that a Canadian resident owns, and Michelle owns four positive pregnancy tests. You should all be jealous of us.

A big, huge thank-you goes out to the ladies of PTB (and idealistic4ever in particular) for cleaning up our hot mess. You all are amazing.


Edward POV
I was headed to English when I became distracted by the student art show that was set up. Interested to see what it was that Bella had entered into the show, I walked towards the makeshift gallery before I saw something that stopped me dead in my tracks.

There, in front of me (and in front of whoever wanted to look), was a color photograph. The photograph was a close-up of...me. A picture of me was displayed in the student art show.

I was a subject in the student art show?

I leaned in and studied the photo, mortified that I was unknowingly a subject in what could be considered a work of art. Upon closer inspection, I realized that it was actually a very flattering picture. My ego did back flips.

The composition of the photo was very interesting, to say the least. It appeared to have been taken while I was at school, possibly during lunch? I wasn't sure, because the back ground faded away. I looked pensive; what had I been thinking about? It looked as though the color of the photograph had been enhanced, perhaps to play off my features? I didn't think that my eyes were as green as they appeared, nor did I feel that my hair was as vibrant in color either.

Like I said, it was a very flattering picture.

I leaned in closer to see who the photograph was credited to, even though I had a pretty good idea who had taken it.

Student Life
2 of 4
by I. Swan.

I noted that the picture was picture number two of a four picture series, and quickly took inventory of the other photographs around me.

There was a picture of Alice Brandon, a picture of Eric Yorkie, and a picture of Emily Young, all stylistically the same as the photograph of me. They all flattered. In fact, the pictures made them all remarkably beautiful in some way.

"Student Life", huh? Oh, I think I get it. A picture of a jock, a social outcast, a computer geek and a band member.

How is it that Bella had been attending our school for such a short amount of time, and yet she was able to nail down the social groups as though she had been living in Forks her entire life? Some people who had been attending this school wouldn't be as astute as Bella was after living in Washington for just a few months.

But Bella is different. And you know that.

Emmett scared the ever living shit out of me when he came up behind me and placed his hand on my shoulder. "So, E... mind sharing with me why there is a picture of you in the art show?"

I felt my face twitch in worry and I looked around Em and me, taking note of the students in the makeshift gallery. Good, no Rosalie or Jessica or Lauren.

"Uh, actually, I have a class with B-Isabella. I actually sit right next to her. You knew that, right? Anyways, she must have taken it when we were in, uh, class. But I don't even remember seeing a camera..." Lie. Bella has taken your picture on more than one occasion, and you have usually been aware of her taking the photo.

But I mean, good cover, man. Way to keep rambling like a little vag the entire time you were trying to get your point across. Hey, if you ramble and dangle flashy words like 'camera' in Emmett's face, maybe he will forget the topic at hand, right?

Emmett's head tilted as he looked at the photo in front of him. "Yeah, E, I guess. You do look like you are thinking in this picture, so it would make sense that you were in class. But what class do you have with Swan? You've never had to think as hard as you look like you are thinking like, a day in your life, little bro. Must be a tough class."

Gulp. "Uh, we have English together."

Emmett pursed his lips. "English? With Molina? That class is easy as balls, especially for a fucking kid genius like you."

Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck. "Yeah, well..." What do I say??

Truth. Go with the truth. Cause once you start lying to Em, then you will never stop. "I actually don't know what I was thinking about, bro. I asked myself the same question a few seconds ago." I smirked with pride for not having to lie to my brother.

Emmett saw my smile and read it for something it wasn't. "You weren't thinking about school, were ya? You sly dog." Emmett nudged my shoulder with his fist and grinned.

"Oh yeah. Probably thinking about a way to..." Get into Bella's pants? Make her scream my name instead of Jasper's? "Get Lauren out of class? So we could practice some extra-curricular activities on school grounds?" Thanks a lot Emmett, for pushing the fucking topic.

"Oh hell, that Lauren. You know you don't have to think that hard to get her away from her studies, yeah? All you have to say is, 'Hey, Lauren. You, me, now?' and the girl would be all over your junk like bees on honey."

I shuddered at the scene that he was painting, because I knew it was true. But what would I say to that? I don't want to talk about Lauren anymore. "Touché, big brother. Touché."

Emmett understood that I wanted the subject dropped and nodded. He grasped his hand around the strap of the book bag that he was carrying and shifted the bag to his other shoulder. "Yeah, well...hey, you're gonna stay after school to work out with Tyler and Mike, right?"

"That's the plan."

"Okay. Talk to you then, huh? Gotta go see Rosie to her next class," Emmett stated, turning his body towards the exit of the gallery.

"Yeah, sure," I said, turning my gaze for one last time toward the picture of me that was hanging on the wall.

Why did Bella decide to use a picture of me? Me, over all of the other people in my social group?

Good thing I have English with Bella next. I will have the perfect opportunity to ask her why she chose me as a subject. I positioned my body to the direction of my next class and headed down the hallway towards English class.

I approached the English room, walked in, and took my seat next to Bella. Luckily for me, she was already in class, so I didn't have to waste any time and got right down to my questioning.

"Hey, Bella. Saw your artwork on display. Interesting choice of subject, don't you think?" I grinned at her.

"All my subjects are interestin', Shaggy. Otherwise I wouldn't capture 'em." Her words flowed like liquid honey.

I noted that her eyes were tinged with red and her lips were turned up into a little smile, a look I hadn't seen for a few days. Which could only mean one thing, really.

My Bella was high in English class, once again.

"So," I sighed, cocky and giddy that today Bella was more like the Bella that I knew. "You're saying that I am interesting, eh?"

"You were in that moment, Shaggy. So I captured it." She was quiet a moment. "What did you see when you looked at the pictures, Shaggy?"

"Well, other that the heartbreakingly gorgeous man that you featured in one of your pictures," I smiled, "I saw your take on social class here at Forks. A very astute view, I may add. Your art is very well executed, Bella. It seems that you have quite an eye." I sat back in my chair. "Of course, you did happen to capture the image of one very awesome guy, so...your brownie points go up for that reason also."

I flashed a carefree smile and hoped that she understood that I was kidding about all of the comments about my attractiveness, regardless of how much my ego needed to be stroked right now.

"Easy enough to see the social groups, Shaggy. Did you look at the peeps in the pictures?"

What is she talking about? "Ummm...not sure I follow you." I felt like a damn idiot admitting to Bella that I didn't know something when she so clearly had a complete grasp on everything.

"Take the captured moment of you. Shaggy, Jockus Popularis, the dude that every other testosterone driven toad wants to be and the dude that most girly-pops would give their left ovary to fuck. Everyone sees that. They think that is what you are. But in that moment, Shaggy, your something else emerged. Your something pensive, broody, natural, real. In that moment the asshat disappeared. You get it? Look at Pixie Addams. Social outcast in the Popularis Social Caste. But in that moment she was beauty personified. Exquisite." She popped a gummy worm in her mouth.

"Right. I mean, I get it. I just..." I'm not normally real? And she thinks that I'm an asshat. "I guess I should take a look at the pictures again."

"Maybe you should, Shaggy. Maybe you should take a look at a lot of things again."

I blanched at her obvious insult. My poor ego that was once doing back flips was now on the ground, struggling for the air that he needed to survive. "Please forgive me, Bella, but I am not sure that I know what you are talking about. What, pray tell, do I need to look at again?"

"Do you ever really look at your life? Examine all the itty-bitty pieces, all the drain wookies, or the unexpected toy at the bottom of the box of Lucky Charms." She shrugged and looked forward.

Only every fucking day since you fucking moved here. "Yes, Bella. Believe it or not, I have done that." Like, when Jasper got tortured...I took a good, hard, long look at things. But why would you know that? You barely ever want to talk to me anymore.

"Do you really, Shaggy? Cause it's awful hard to look at those pieces and then sit on 'em. Like gettin' all the cheesy poofs and hiding them under the porch. Does no one any good at all. Don't you wanna be free? Don't you wanna let go? Don't you wanna be that person in the picture?"

I felt my hands clench into fists. What does she even know? She speaks about all of this so casually, as though I can decide these things as easily as I choose what clothes to wear in the morning. "It's not that easy, Bella. And you aren't a naive little prat, so I know that you understand this."

"It is that easy, Shaggy. You just make it hard."

I fought the urge to tell her to fuck off. "How is it so easy, Bella? You don't know anything about me. You do to me what you claim to be better than; you stereotype me."

"Nah, Shaggy. I know your type, seen you across North America in one form or another." She doodled on a Thai takeout menu. "You said you were sorry. What is it you were sorry 'bout?"

"Bella, you know my type, but you don't know me. I could be an anomaly of the Jockus Popularis for all that you know," I sighed. "And I said that I was sorry... because I was sorry. For all the things that my friends have done to you and your friends."

"I know you better than you think, Shags. If you're sorry for what they did, for the people they are and what they do, why are they your friends?"

I straightened up in my seat and rolled my shoulders, hoping to relieve some of the tension that was radiating across my back. "Like I said, Bella. You don't know anything about me. You don't know anything about my life. I know who your best friend is. I know who you live with. Do you know either of those trivial facts about me? I know that you say that things are easy to change, but my roots go down farther than you can imagine, babe."

My roots, of course, being Emmett and Esme. I could never abandon Emmett. Ever. Leaving my group of friends is not an option of mine right now because he is still a large part of "the jocks" at FHS. And what if I left my friends after this year and the change ends up tarnishing Esme's perfect view of me? I could never quit baseball or football...she adores those sports. And if I left my friends, I would be leaving my teammates too. Our team camaraderie would go down the crap shoot, and I most likely wouldn't be the shoo-in for team captain anymore. And I think that idea would break Esme's heart.

But I can't tell any of this to Bella; to the girl who judges but doesn't like to be judged. I mean, what could I say? "Gee, Bella. I basically hate everyone in the world except my mom and my brother...and I don't want to do anything to make either of them disappointed in me"? Or how about, "well, you know...if I ditched my life, which is the world that my brother lives in and has built up for me, there is a large possibility that I could lose my best friend. My only friend"?

Oh yeah. Sounds like a good idea, Edward. Throw away the only two people that you truly care about (and truly care for you in return) for one person who may or may not even like you.

"Well, Shaggy, I know your brother is Emmett, your pops is Doc Cullen and your mom writes books."

I struggled to keep the shocked look off my face, because I was surprised that Bella knew that about me. But hell, she had been to my house before...she had to know something about me. "Well," I said snidely, "that's anything that you could ask anyone. My family isn't exactly what you would call private."

"Could say the same about mine. My dad is the Fuzz."

I fought the urge to roll my eyes. "Regardless. I could name to you people that you are actually close to. I know that you could name people that you thought I was close to, but you would be wrong. And the whole thing would just play into your little stereotype of me. I like you, Bella, I really, really do. But I just...I can't explain to you how different I thought you were."

"Shaggy, you aren't close to anyone here," she laughed. "I've seen how you look at them."

"That, baby, is where you are wrong," I said cockily. Ms. Know-It-All clearly doesn't see that I am tight with my brother.

Wait a minute...did I just come off sounding like a petulant child? Probably. Most likely. Hey, 'cool factor', call me when we can meet again, okay?

"So you say. So you say. But what's the point, Shaggy? Just a game of emotardness."

My fists clenched together even harder. "Emotardness? What the fuck, Bella? Are you seriously trying to piss me off to my fucking boiling point? Cause if you are, you are doing a really fucking great job at it." Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck!

"Why so testy today? Either the PMS fairy is bitchin' on you or something I said is hittin' too true. Don't be mad at me, Shags."

"No, Bella, it's nothing like that at all. I mean, it's so much fun to have words like 'asshat' and 'emotardness' thrown at you. I'm sorry if I come off like I am PMS-ing. Cause you know, that's totally possible; being that I am a male," I replied in what I could only assume as a sarcastic tone.

"Hey, dudes PMS too," she said grinning.

"Ummm hmmm." Only weirdos like your little bf Jasper would be susceptible to male PMS. Fucker. I turned away from Bella and focused on the front of the room instead of the gorgeous brunette sitting right next to me. She had really pissed me off, and I didn't know if I could continue on the path the conversation had been going without punching my desk or someone near me. I needed a moment to cool down again.

"Just look at the pictures again, Shaggy," she whispered and then concentrated on her drawing.

I took a deep breath and counted to three, hoping to calm myself down to the point of being able to talk to Bella once more. It worked...but only marginally.

"Look at your pictures again, huh? Well, goddess of photography, I was planning on doing that later on anyways. Did you, being the genius you are, want to take a look at them with me? So I can see what it is that you see, get your creative vision and all that?" I was partially being sarcastic, partially serious. Because no matter how much she was pissing me off, I would love to look at the art with the artist. Especially since the artist was the intriguing Bella.

"I'll go with you. After school? Or do you wanna do it some other time. Don't wanna ruin your social rep having you seen with me."

"My rep? You are fucking hilarious, Bella. How about...now? Class hasn't started yet, and if we hurry, we can still ditch."

"A'ight!" she said, shoving her menu into her messenger bag. "Wanna make a stop outside first?"

I quickly gathered up my books and sent a quick glance to the front of the room to make sure that no one was watching me. Although I would never admit that action to Bella. Honestly I wanted to make sure that I could make my get-away unnoticed. "Go outside first, huh?" I ran my free hand through my hair. "What for?"

"Are you gunna come or not?" she said, half way out of the class.

"Of course," I said, cocking my eyebrow. "Since you are clearly on a mission, why don't you lead the way?"

Bella nodded, and motioned for me to follow her. I made sure to lag back a little but so I could check out her pert ass. The broad may be overly sassy and may know how to get my fucking blood boiling in two point two seconds, but damn. Her assets were perfection.

She led us through the school's east side door, through a small grouping of trees, and into a tiny clearing where a few large sized rocks were scattered about the ground. Thankfully, it was not raining, and the fact that it was spring only made the air temperature slightly chilly. Bella flopped down on one of the rocks, reached into her messenger bag and pulled out a sparkly case that looked like it might hold business cards. She opened it and took out a perfectly rolled joint and a small lighter. She gently held the joint with her lips and lit the end.

"Mmmmmm," she moaned, closing her eyes as she inhaled. She held out the joint to me, "You want some?"

Tempting, really tempting. On one hand, if I take it, I really shouldn't work out after school today with Mike and Tyler. But if I don't, I would be like a little fucking emotard, and I am not in the mood to look like any more of a retard in front of Bella.

"Sure," I stated casually, reaching out and grabbing the joint in front of me.

Now I am not a regular stoner by any means, so I am sure that I looked like an ass taking a big drag of the marijuana cigarette that I had in my hands.

Of course, like the partial-pot virgin that I am, I coughed immediately. Bella smiled at me and reached for the joint which I handed back. She took a few more drags.

"Want more? Or you out?"

"Nah, I'm good," I sighed, sitting on the rock next to Bella. "I had plans to work out after school."

"Me too, where working out means eating cheesy poofs that is. I love the orange group." She finished the joint and laid back on the rock, looking up at the tree canopy.

"Orange food group? Bella, you are one of a kind." I smiled, feeling overly content. Thank you, Mary Jane. I went from being beyond ticked off by this girl to in lust with her once again. Oh, how lovely pot is.

"One of my favorites really. That and the gummy group."

"The gummy group? Is that why you eat so many gummy worms?" I laughed at her food group definition. Only Bella.

"Gummy worms, gummy bears, sour keys...."

"Bella, how in the world did you come up with those food groups?" I leaned back on the rock that I was sitting on and crossed my legs.

"I was a picky eater when I was a kid so my," Bella stopped speaking, something making her uncomfortable."Uhm, anyway, Jazz helped me figure out what I liked to eat. So the food groups were born. You want to go in and look at the art, or sit here some more?"

I re-crossed my legs. "It's up to you, Bella. Did you want to go back inside?"

"Kinda like being outside." She reached up as though she were trying to touch the tops of the trees. "Mother Nature is a cool bitch, yo. Ever done much camping? Jazz and I camped out in the desert for a while. The stars were wicked cool and so bright."

"Babe, the Cullen's idea of camping is taking a million-dollar RV and parking it in a manicured RV park. Nothing like your experience."

"Guess we grew up in two different worlds, Shaggy. We did everything down and dirty. It was fun."

I looked at the trees that Bella had focused her gaze on. They were the kind of trees that would have been cut back and shaped at Casa Cullen, not left to grow into the perfect shape that they were naturally. "You know, sometimes I wish that things had been different for me. I imagine that camping your way would be fun. A shit ton more fun than our prissy fucking version."

"Do you like your life, Shaggy? Would you change anything?"

"I...I don't even know. That question is...a loaded one." Bella blew my mind with the most basic of questions, and right now I felt raw...exposed. Out in the open, for all to see. Out in the open, and I felt more exposed now than I did when I realized that there was a picture of me in the art show, displayed in front of the entire school.

I felt more exposed now than I did during pep rallies when skanky cheerleaders rub their spanky clothed asses on my jean clad leg, effectively drawing all of the attention of the auditorium onto us. More exposed now than when I have a hand in scoring the winning touchdown and the attention of the entire stadium is on me. And only me.

And here I am. I felt more exposed sitting in front of a woman - a peer - a fellow high-schooler, than all of the other circumstances combined.

"You gotta have some sort of thoughts on that..."

I let out a short laugh. "Yeah, I do. But there is no way you would have enough time for that. I mean, where would I even start?"

"Start in the middle. Too much pressure to start at the beginning and starting at the end requires too much context. The middle is best."

"The middle?" I ran a hand through my hair again. "Okay. Um...you know my brother's girlfriend, Rosalie? I fucking hate that bitch, regardless of how much I act like I like her. And it kills me that not only does she play a huge part in my life because of her relationship with my brother, but also that she may one day share the same last name as me."

"What is it about her you hate?"

"Really, Bella? Are we talking about the same girl?" I asked incredulously.

"D'ya ever think that maybe you just don't get her? Maybe she is missin' something, or scared, or somethin'?"

The idea was laughable. I mean, Rosalie? Missing something? She is the most spoilt bitch I have ever met in my entire life.

"What would she be missing? She has everything that money can buy. Plus more. And if you say that she has a 'daddy complex', then I am going to punch something, 'cause her dad is a good man. Surprisingly enough, I might add."

"I dunno, dude. I don't know her. People are always missin' something, and sometimes that missin' makes them act like fucktards."

"Okay, your theory is an interesting one, I'll give you that. But if that is true, then what am I missing, dear Bella?"

"I dunno, Shaggy, you tell me."

"Bella, if I knew, I am sure we wouldn't even be having this conversation, because my life wouldn't be the complete and total clusterfuck that it is right now. So again...loaded question. And would you even want to know? Once you learn about me, there is no going back." Way to sound like a cliché, ass wipe.

"Well, Shags, like I said before - maybe you got some things to look at in your life. And why wouldn't I want to know? I like peeps, like hearing their story, what makes 'em tick."

You hear that? There is nothing special about you, you giant pussy. She is just interested in you because you are a "peep", not because she wanted to know more about you. Way to almost spill your pathetic guts to this girl. Man up, goddamnit.

"I like hearing people's stories too, Bella. So, what's yours? What makes you tick?" My inner five-year-old was giving himself a high five for deflecting the topic. 'Cause I was getting really sick and tired of being told that I was fucked up in the head. I mean, really? As if I didn't know that on my own. Thanks, B.

"Clocks make me tick, Shaggy!" she giggled insanely. "What is it you wanna know?"

Everything. "Is there anything besides clocks that 'makes you tick'?" I shifted my body closer to hers and leaned in a bit.

"Capturing moments makes me tick. Makes me feel like God, constructing my own universe." She shifted her position, putting her head in my lap.

Head in lap... so close... just turn to face me... don't worry, the zipper will come down with ease, I just know it will...

Regardless of the pervy thoughts running through my head, I resisted the urge to sigh like a pansy in contentment with Bella's positioning on my body. Instead, I wove my hands through her hair and started playing.

How great would it be if I were weaving my hands through this hair as I was receiving a fucking hot blow job? Uh, did I mention earlier that I have been incredibly horny lately? I don't think that horny even begins to cover it; just call me "Captain BlueBalls".

I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to dispel the images that were flooding my mind before Bella and I had a big problem on our hands. And by big problem, I mean erection.

Enough about your impending boner, Cullen. Back to the topic at hand.

"I actually appreciate the power that you feel when you are developing your art. I...kind of feel that way when I am playing sports and set up a scoring play. Of course, it isn't the same, but...you get what I mean."

"I do get it, Shags."

"Good. That's one thing that we are on the same page with," I joked, running my hands through her hair.

"I like creating my own universe. Makes it easier sometimes," she said, closing her eyes and leaning into my hands like some kind of sated cat.

"Easier... how? Why?"

"Cause you can make it into whatever you want. No one can tell you how to construct your own universe, Shaggy."

I pursed my lips. "I highly doubt that anyone tells you how to construct your universe, Bella."

"They tried in the past, but you gotta be your own person."

"Who tried in the past?"

"The normal douchebags: teachers, friends, media."

I cupped the side of her cheek that wasn't laying on my lap. "What did they try to change?"

"My spirit," she said softly, "but not anymore. Now I do my own thing and it makes me happy. Gotta live life by your own rules, Shaggy, despite what others might think."

"Why would anyone try to change your spirit? That just... doesn't make any sense." It's one of the things that I adore about you, I wanted to say. But I caught my tongue, like the good little masculine poser that I was.

"Are you really askin' me that question, Shags?" She arched a brow.

"Yeah... why wouldn't I?"

"Are you really the person you make out to be? Do you let peeps influence how you act? Dress?"

I rolled my eyes. "This was a question about you, Bella. Not me. You already know that I am fucked up, so..."

"You aren't fucked up, Shags, just... conflicted." She reached up and touched my cheek, running her fingers along my jaw line.

"Okay, so that's noted. But you still didn't answer my original question," I sighed, grabbing her hand with mine.

"Oh right. Yeah. People try to change your spirit all the time. You gotta stand up to the man. Be free. Love yourself."

"Not what I asked, silly girl. I asked why someone would want to change your spirit. Stop trying to change the subject back to me, Bella."

"I dunno. Guess they didn't like what they saw. Beats me, Shaggy."

"That... doesn't even make sense. Seriously. The best thing about you is the fact that you are different. You..." Hold your tongue, you little bitch. NO MORE. You are not allowed to utter another peep.

"I what, Shags?"

"I..." adore you. "I..." wouldn't change a thing about you. Except for your creepy friendship with Jasper. "I... don't know how to word it." Because I am a pansy. And a bitch. A little blueballed pansy bitch, if you will.

"Try," she said, looking into my eyes.

Those eyes. My God those eyes! They are so deep, so warm, so inviting...

"You are so different, Bella. You make me want to get to know you more. You make me comfortable, you make me want so much more than..." I trailed off as Bella smiled and leaned into me more.

She probably smiled because she thinks that it is funny that she has gotten me feeling like this. It's probably just a game to her. And here is where you hit yourself for falling into her trap; cause she doesn't give a shit about you, and you know that. And here you all but profess your stupid little crush on her. You are a Goddamn retard, Cullen.

"More than what?"

Just say it. The damage is basically already done. Fucker. "You make me want so much more than what I have, B. In more ways than one."

"Explain it to me Shaggy."

"Why? So you can laugh at me and joke about how you got a jock to express his feelings towards you? What good would that do?"

"Why would I laugh at you? I know you're a thinker; I already captured the moment to prove it."

Do I really have to spell it out? Cause if your pot-induced brain had been paying attention, you would have put two and two together. For Christ's sakes, I just told you that I have feelings for you! Goddamn it.

I took a deep breath and let it out. "You would laugh at me because the whole thing is stupid. I am stupid, because I want something that I can't have."

"Your not stupid, Shags," she whispered, looking back up at the trees. Then she licked her lips."We all want."

"Really?" I asked, resisting the urge to touch her newly moistened lips with my own. Cause that would be beyond stupid, Cullen. "What is it that you want?"

"All sorts of things. Some of them I'll get, others, I leave up to the universe. Hey, weren't you supposed to go work out with some of your friends?"

I quickly maneuvered my cell out of my pants pocket and checked the time. "Yeah, I guess it is time to go, isn't it. Never got to look at the pics, huh? Looks like I will have to re-schedule; I would love to talk with the artist one on one again."

"You got my digits, Shag. Gimme a call sometime." She sat up, my lap instantly feeling cold without her there. "I'll wait here some."

Why would she wait here? Is she ashamed of me or something? "Are you sure you wanna wait here? You can walk back with me, you know. You have been alone with me for an entire class period and I haven't bitten you once." Not for lack of wanting, though. I would love to sink my teeth into her...

"It's not that," she said grinning, "I just don't want us being seein' together to cause you trouble, or me trouble. You saw what they did to my Jazz."

"I'd never let them do anything to you, Bella. And if I had been coherent the night of the party, I would have never let anything happen to Jasper, either. I don't care who my friends think they are...that shit doesn't fly with me."

"That's gum drops and jelly beans, Shaggy, but I think I'll follow a different path back. Have fun working out. I'll remember you when I'm power packin' cheesy poofs."

I smiled and cast Bella a last glance before I headed down the trail back to school. Giving her one last wave, I headed in to work out with Tyler and Mike. 'Cause it's not like I had anything more interesting to do with my time.

Like the beautiful brunette I was currently walking away from. Damnit, I seriously hate my life.

XXX

The rest of the week had flown by quickly, much to my happiness. As much as I hated the idea of Emmett graduating and leaving home, I was really looking forward to baseball and football seasons. 'Cause then I would have something to think about in my free time besides Ms. Swan.

I hadn't ventured into the student commons to look at Bella's art on display since I had seen it that first day. But I had definitely heard about it every day until the weekend, because all of the popular kids had found the entire display incredibly hilarious. According to Rosalie, my picture made me look like I was contemplating a bowel movement, and the rest of the pictures in the series were utterly ridiculous.

Good thing Rosalie knows so much about art; idiot wouldn't know art even if it hit her in the face. And say what you may, Rose, but I didn't look like I was contemplating a bowel movement in the photograph Bella took of me. If that's what I looked like when I was thinking about something like that... damn. I am gorgeous, and there isn't anything that can taint my beauty.

Rosalie was such a fucker.

Now it was Saturday, and I was relaxing in my room, listening to some music. I had nothing planned for today or tonight; relaxing was the first and last thing on my priority list.

"Edward!" Esme called, rounding the corner to my bedroom. She stopped short when she saw me sprawled across my bed with my iPod in my hand. "Can you hear me, baby?"

I pulled the ear buds of my newly acquired, top of the line, iPod out and carefully set the electronic on the bed. "Yes, Esme. It wasn't even on."

"Okay," she sighed, running the hands down the front of her skirt, straightening out her clothing. "I was just wondering. Did you want to accompany myself and your father to an art gallery opening this evening? I know that you have been more interested in the arts lately, and I thought that it would be a perfect opportunity for a family outing since we were invited to attend."

It was true, I had been more interested in the arts lately. I had submersed myself in the library here at Casa de Cullen every free moment that I had, looking up every piece of art that I possibly could. Esme, being a patron of art herself, had a few conversations with me about art. I thoroughly enjoyed hearing her take on certain pieces and it seemed that she enjoyed that one of her children had taken an interest in the fine arts. So it made perfect sense that Esme would suggest that I attend an art gallery opening with her.

But the idea of me driving anywhere with my father was ludicrous, and by the slightly sheepish look on my mother's face, I could tell that she knew it. "Mom, where is this art opening?"

Esme looked at the ground by her feet. "Ummm... actually, it's in Seattle."

I laughed at her, shaking my head. "Have you been drinking already? Do you honestly think that I would sit in a car with my father for that long just to attend an art show?"

Esme smiled a weak smile. "Regardless of the fact that I drank a few mimosas this morning; yes, I would expect you to want to go to an art show. With your father or not, Edward. You have been looking at pictures in books and copies of art around the house, but baby, nothing beats seeing art in the flesh. It's the most exciting to view art in the gallery setting; especially during an opening. I really think you should come with, honey."

"I don't know, Mom..."

"Edward," Esme stated, cutting me off. "We are leaving at five. I will give you until then to decide. But please understand that you can bring that contraption with you on the ride if you want," she waved towards my iPod, "and I will make sure that you will be able to have a cocktail or two at the opening along with your father and me."

When she puts it like that, why would I not go? It's not like I have anything else going on tonight. Besides, the excuse to ignore the shit out of Carlisle is incentive enough.

Esme turned to leave, but I reached my hand out to stop her. "Fine, mom. I will join you on your trip to Seattle."

She smirked the crooked grin that I clearly inherited from her. "Twisted your arm, I see."

Nope. Just trying to expand my horizons, thanks to a beautiful brunette that hasn't been in my life for even half a year yet. "Something like that," I said, running my hand through my hair.

"Alright, baby. Be dressed in your finest and ready to go by five, okay? I'm thinking we want to be there before nine."

"Sure thing, Es," I called as she exited my room.

XXX

The drive to Seattle was painless, thanks in part to my iPod. And the bottle of wine that I shared with Esme before we left may have had something to do with my calm demeanor, also.

Carlisle pulled into a parking spot and I congratulated myself on an entire trip of not saying a damn thing to my father.

Immature? You betcha. But I don't give a shit.

Carlisle walked around the car and looped his arm into Esme's, and Esme immediately turned and looped her arm into mine. For real, Esme? No thank you, don't want to walk into anywhere looking like a creepy cult family. Count me out. I leaned in and kissed Esme's cheek and using that as a momentary distraction, I pulled my arm out from hers. Esme lazily patted my cheek, and I fell into step behind them as we approached the private gallery. I let my parents enter before me while I took a quick glance around the room.

The room was a spacious one, separated into three separate viewing spaces by movable partitions. Esme hadn't told me what kind of art was going to be on display, so when I came to the first artist's area, I was pleasantly surprised when I saw that the artist had used mixed media in a handful of his works displayed. As I leaned in to study the work closer, Esme appeared to my right. She handed me a glass with a red liquid that I could only assume was wine and I gladly took it.

Yep. Edward the pansy is drinking red wine with his mother. Oh, how cuuute.

I nodded in appreciation and was taken by surprise when Esme grabbed my elbow. "Edward, I have cased the area," she whispered with a smile, "and the best work is in the far corner. Come, look at it with me. I would love for you to see some photography done with an artistically graphic twist. We can return to this other artwork later."

I smiled at my mother's exuberance, but gulped when her choice of words sunk in. Graphic? What does she mean, graphic?

Walking slightly behind Esme, she led me to the far back corner of the studio. Taking in the artwork that was displayed around me, I felt myself drawn to it. Leaning in closer, I couldn't help but contemplate the photo that was displayed on the wall directly in front of me.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Esme questioned, squeezing my arm with her hand. "I just adore the work displayed back here."

I nodded in agreement and took a sip of my wine and focused on the picture in front of me. The picture was of a nude female who was artfully posed in the space available, which happened to be a log cabin. The whole picture actually had a "Western" type feel to it, if I were to label the atmosphere with something. The fact that the woman appeared to be in her 60's did not bother me at all. Huh. Never thought I would be enjoying a piece of art with a nude 60-year-old woman as the star of the work.

Being that I was still wet behind the ears when it came to art, this was the first nude photo of a woman that I had viewed that wasn't a pornographic picture. It felt kind of weird knowing that I was viewing this photo with my mother; in fact just the thought of her being over my shoulder almost made my skin crawl.

"The woman is beautiful, isn't she? So comfortable in her own skin," Esme commented, leaning in and looking at the photo even closer. A smile crept up on her face. "I hope that I look as good as she does when I am her age. I wonder what she was thinking?"

"Mom, please. I...can we please never have this conversation?" I begged, feeling a blush creep up my cheeks.

"My little Edward is a prude? I never would have thought!" she exclaimed, poking me in the sides.

"Esme, please. I am clearly not a prude; just uncomfortable with talking about certain subjects with my mother." I moved to the next picture and started to study it before Esme came over and co-ed in my ear.

"Edward, isn't this baby simply darling? And the way it was captured? Simply perfect."

Esme was right. The second picture in the series was of a baby who was looking at himself in the mirror. I am not normally one to find pictures of babies something pleasant to look at, because most babies looked too much alike, but this baby was... different. He looking at himself in a way that hinted that he was almost studying his reflection. Not an image easily captured, I am sure.

My possibly drunk mother moved to the next photo. "Now, I wouldn't mind getting me a piece of that," she chuckled as she glanced around her shoulder to make sure that my father was nowhere near where we were standing. She was in the clear, because I couldn't see his form anywhere near us.

The photo that she was looking at, quite intently I may add, was of a man who was standing in a door way with his arms on the frame. From what I could see, the man seemed to be an attractive man by many woman's standards (my intoxicated mother included), and he seemed to radiate this weird-ass, almost magical glow. It was the most bizarre thing, actually.

The man was clearly naked, and his entire upper body and most of his lower body was pictured.

Thank God no cock was shown. I really don't need to see a penis and have my mother fawn over how wonderful it is. That is just wrong on so many levels.

Esme leaned in and studied the picture. "Too bad this was hidden," she said, waving her arm around where his penis would have been. "I am sure it would have made this photo that much better."

I finished the wine that was in my glass and turned to my mom. "Not gonna even touch that subject, Esme. I am going to find more wine, okay? When I come back, please don't be gawking over this picture, okay?"

"I'll try to be doing something different. But I can't make any promises... 'cause this photo... is so...intimate. I wonder who the photographer is...clearly they are intimate with this man. This photo just screams 'lovers'!"

"Uh... yeah. I'll be right back," I said uncomfortably and shook my head as I walked away. Really, Mom? You were really talking about that shit with me?

I hurriedly found a waiter and placed my empty glass of wine on his tray as I grabbed a new one. I took a large sip of the wine and welcomed the warm burn that the liquid provided as it slid down my throat.

Maybe this will make Esme's perverted ranting a little bit more bearable. But I mean, what did I expect? I went to an art gallery where one of the artists on display featured nude portraits with my mother. My mother, the lush, who comments on every nude form.

I slowly made my way back to where Esme was and noticed that she had not left the spot where she had been standing before. She was seriously still looking at that photo?

As I approached the photo once more, I studied the man who was pictured a bit more. It was then that I noticed that the man had dreadlocks.

Dreads? That's kind of weird, isn't it? Not a very common hair style in the rainy state of Washington, and yet it seems like it's been popular as of lately. But only with Jasper. And...the guy in the photo has blonde hair too...

Wait.

The guy in the partially erotic photograph, the one that Esme was mooning over, was none other than Jasper Whitlock.

What the fuck? How in the hell did I not notice that before? Maybe the fact that my mother was getting all hot and heavy over the photograph made it really hard for me to study the subject of the photograph. But what the fuck. Is Jasper screwing every artist in the area? Esme made mention of the intimacy that the photograph portrayed, and I couldn't help but agree.

I angrily shook my head and made a fucking mad dash to get away from the nude picture of the cocksucker because I couldn't stand to be around it anymore.

Turning to my left, I stopped when I noticed the picture that was in front of me. The photograph that I was looking at was the most heartbreakingly beautiful photograph I had ever laid eyes on in my entire life.

The woman was nude, as the others were. This time, her privates and one of her breasts were obscured by a silk bed sheet that was elegantly wrapped around her body.

Lying on her back, the woman's face was turned to the side as though she were looking at someone lying beside her, one hand relaxing by her cheek, the other one wrapped around her midsection, seeming to play with the skin found there. Her torso was flat on the ground, but her legs were curled up and her ankles were crossed. Her hair spread like a fan over the grass around her.

I wanted to cry, leap for joy, and come in my pants all at once. Because the woman in the photograph was the one that I had been secretly lusting over since her addition to Forks High. Ms. Isabella Swan.

I think that my jaw hit the ground. I didn't know how to handle myself at that moment.

More than anything, I was counting my lucky stars that I hadn't tried to mount the photograph, nor had I whipped my dick out and started stroking it in front of the entire gallery.

My God, this woman is inhumanely beautiful. I have never seen anything like her before in my entire life.

I could feel my pants starting to tighten and I knew that I had to look away from the photo before I made an absolute fool of myself in front of some of Seattle's finest, but I couldn't find it in me to look away. It was almost painful to even think of letting my eyes leave the work of art displayed in front of me.

I felt someone tap on my shoulder but couldn't get my eyes to leave the portrait.

"She is quite beautiful, isn't she?"

I blushed when I realized that it was my mother who was standing next to me, gazing at Bella's picture.

"Ummm," I replied, unable to answer. Understatement, Esme. Extreme understatement.

"This is the most beautiful picture of the series, isn't it?"

"Ummm." Please don't let my mountain of a dick explode right now while I was talking to my mother. That would be all sorts of wrong on one hundred different levels of wrong.

"Edward, baby, are you okay?" my mother questioned, grabbing my arm and turning me so I broke my gaze with Bella's photograph.

No, Esme, I am not okay. Words cannot even describe what that picture did to me just now. I just...I have to have the picture. I have to own it...now.

Now that I wasn't looking at the picture, I was able to start thinking a little. But just a little.

I composed myself as best as I could and cleared my throat so my voice didn't come out in a squeak. "I am fine, Esme. Just enjoying the art." And trying to control myself so I don't start humping an inanimate object.

Esme narrowed her eyes at me and patted my arm once more. "Okay, honey. You keep... looking... at this photograph, and I will be right back, okay?"

"Okay..." I trailed off, turning back to the picture. I didn't even have time to contemplate what Esme was implying by telling me to 'keep... looking...' at the picture because I was mesmerized by Bella once again.

Dear God, why? Why did you put such a perfect creature on this earth, one that I could not have? To torture me? Really, God? Is that it? Cause it's working. I can't even move from the place that I am standing right now because I am so taken by the woman pictured in front of me. There could be a fucking fire and I would gladly let it consume me, as long as my last sight in this world was the photograph displayed in front of me now.

"What the fuck you doin' here, Shaggy?" She sounded somewhat embarrassed.

I felt my palms instantly start to sweat. Holy shit... Bella was standing right next to me.

Bella was wearing a dress that went to about mid thigh and knee high docs and striped tights that seriously caused me to start shaking.

The fact that she wasn't wearing a bra as per usual made me almost fall to the ground.

Compose yourself, asshole. Pull it together, she asked you a question. Answer her!

"Esme was invited to the opening and asked me to join her." And the Academy Award goes to Edward Cullen for his performance in "Lying in Front of Ms. Swan at the Art Gallery".

'Cause if I had said what was really on my mind at that moment it would have been something like, "um erm uhhhhh", which would not have gone over well with Bella, I am sure.

"Doesn't seem like your sort of thing," she said eyeing me suspiciously.

"Well, it is," I said, sticking my hands in my pockets and pinching myself to get my thoughts away from the art and into the present situation that I was in. And then a thought dawned on me. "Wait... are you implying that I am lying to you?"

"No, just didn't think you were the gallery type."

"Well... I didn't think that you were the displayed partially naked in a gallery type."

"Yeah, well. You wouldn't say anything to peeps at school?"

Her question caught me completely off guard. "What? What do you mean, Bella? You are ashamed that you posed for a picture that was hung up in a gallery in Seattle?"

"Posed? Shags, I took all these pictures. I just don't want it to be a big thing, right."

"Wait... What?!?" I exclaimed, feeling all the air in my lungs get let out in a whoosh. "Bella... these... are your pictures?"

Why hadn't I thought about that before? I mean, I know that she is incredibly talented... Oh, that's right. Cause Bella is a high school kid, and kids don't usually get their own gallery space.

"Um, yeah. I brought my portfolio into school for Ms. Jane to look at and she thought my shit was dope, asked to show it to a homie. And then voila! My shit is here."

"Bella, these pictures are phenomenal. Just amazing on so many levels, I..." I want to marry you and make you my sugar momma because you will surely be a rich and famous artist someday.

"They are alright, I guess. Show promise. That's what Ms. Jane said." She was silent a moment. "Kinda embarrassing that everyone is looking at my captured moments."

"Bella, you are incredibly talented. Both my mother and I adore your work. We had different favorites, of course, but..." I let my sentence trail off as I looked around for my mother. I could not see her in the gallery from where I was standing. She must have gone to find Carlisle.

"What piece did your mom like?"

The one with your cocksucker of a best friend who may or may not be your lover. "Actually, the one with Jasper in it."

"Really? I like that one too. Liked how the sun was shinin' that day."

"Yeah, um, it was nice, I guess," I said distractedly, not willing to comment either way on the wretched photo. I decided that this was as good of a time as any to ask about this, so I decided to man up and actually ask the question that has been plaguing me since my first conversation with Ms. Swan. "Bella, it's not necessarily normal to have a picture of your best friend naked. What...are you and Jasper?"

"Huh?!" She seemed confused by the question. "We're friends. Best friends. Peas in a pod."

"Seriously, Bella? You don't know what I am getting at here?"

"Not really, Shags. You never seen any of your friends in the buff?"

"Not unless I am in the locker room and have no choice but to see my teammates naked. Or, you know, I am getting ready to/am in the process of fucking a female friend, and even then you can use the term 'friend' loosely. Other than that? No, Bella, I don't see my friends naked all that often. So unless you and Jasper share a community shower or see each other before or during fucking... I can't see the excuse for nudity." Holy fuck, did I seriously just come out and say that? I mean, it may have been a little rough reminding her that I am a manwhore, but I had to get the point across.

Did you hear all of that, balls? You can crawl out from your cavern in my stomach. I would really love for you to descend again.

"We've lived together a long time, Shags. We sleep in the same bed. We've seen each other naked. Not really a big deal."

They sleep in the same bed?? I mentally groaned. Of course they do, Edward. What did you expect? They are clearly intimate with each other. That doesn't mean that they sleep together though, does it? I could feel the blood in my veins begin to boil the more I thought about Jasper and Bella actually having sex. I mean, he is straight, isn't he? Of course he would tap that if he could.

"Bella," I calmly stated, " why exactly do you guys share a bed? Doesn't the Police Chief make enough money for you all to sleep in separate rooms?" I hoped the anger and uncertainty that I was feeling wasn't coming through in my voice. I mean, here I was, looking at a partially naked photo of my crush, sporting some wood in front of her, and accusing her of sleeping with her best friend. Not exactly my banner moment, regardless of the fact that I had found my long lost balls just a moment ago.

"We've shared a bed since we were kids. Growing up we didn't live in that grand shack you do. Sometimes there was only one bed. It's habit. Why are you making such a big deal of this, Shags?"

Ball number one dropped down, and I mentally clapped. "So, are you guys planning on sharing a bed with each other forever? Out of habit?"

"Well, I mean, guess not forever," she said frowning slightly. "I guess, eventually we'll find peeps to be with. I mean, who wouldn't want Jazz? He's a great guy."

I ground my teeth together. It's always about Jasper, isn't it? Ball number two dropped down, and I welcomed it with fervor. "You know what I think, Bella?" I asked, strengthened by the fact that I had my balls back. "I think that you like Jasper. No, not as a friend; because that much is clear. I think that you want him to be more than that."

There, I had aired my worst fear. Was I upset by it? Not really, because I had nothing to lose. Bella wasn't mine, and she clearly didn't want to be.

So what was I going to do when she confirmed my suspicions? I was going to forget about her. Forget about the effect that she had on me and my body and my mind and my...everything. It wasn't worth getting worked up for nothing, for someone who didn't even see me as more than the jock idiot that she thought I was.

Well, this uncultured jock idiot is going to fuck someone, preferably tonight. This dry spell is clearly killing me and making my balls hate me.

"Listen, Shaggy, Jazz and I are friends, best friends. Friend soul mates. We love each other, but not the way you're thinking. Why does it always have to come down to that? Why can't peeps just be cool with each other?" She was silent. "You know, Shags, it really sounds like you're," she paused, "seeing the green-eyed dragon... jealous."

"Jealous?" I asked, fighting to keep my voice steady. "I don't do jealous, babe." You totally do jealous, you fucking liar. Especially when it comes to Bella... you are always jealous, all of the time.

"Then why is this such an issue? Why do you seem so upset that I took a naked picture of Jazz?"

I tried to keep myself from blushing. "It just... the photograph isn't just a picture, Bella. It seems like it was an intimate moment captured between two lovers, and the viewer almost feels as though they are intruding by viewing it. What you captured on film is not something that happens between two friends, peas in a pod. It's something... more."

"If you are asking if Jazz and I bump uglies, the answer is no. We tried it once. It didn't work. We are just friends, best friends, great friends. I really don't like that you are trying to define my relationship with him. I don't tell you how to be with your friends."

"I am not trying to offend you, Bella. Just makin' some observations." Jesus, that sounds familiar. Oh wait! That sounds like something that Bella would say to me. Weird how that works out.

"You want me to start makin' some observations about you and Jess? I'm sure those photos would be telling."

"Again with the Jess thing?" I let out a huge sigh. "Jesus, Bella. I told you that I wanted those photos back, and I had a reason for that. I was fucking drunk and out of my mind upset that night, and Jessica was just a... method of release, I guess? I am not proud of that moment for many reasons; one of them being the fact that I didn't even want Jessica. Is that the kind of observation that you would make? Or what is it that you wanted to say to me?" I turned my body so I was looking at her completely head on, the rest of the art gallery fading to the back ground. I had to resist the urge to... shake her? Hug her? I wasn't sure if I was more upset or frustrated at that moment in time.

"Why do we do this, Shaggy? Argue like this?" she said softly.

Because I want you so badly but I can never have you and it vexes me like you couldn't imagine. "I don't know, Bella."

"What was your favorite photo, Shags."

As if she even had to ask. "Ummm... it is just so hard to pick a favorite, Bella."

"If you had to?"

Damnit. Well, since you technically only looked at the four pictures... you can't lie to her as to which one was your favorite. The baby? No, don't want Bella thinking that you are some kind of pedophile and enjoy looking at naked babies. The old woman? Cougars aren't my style, and I can't even pretend that they are. And obviously I wasn't a fan of the picture of Jasper, which left me with one other choice. "The picture with you in it. Your self portrait was my favorite."

She turned to look at the picture.

"What do you like about it?"

"What don't I like about it?" It took me about a split second to realize that I didn't just think that thought, that I had said it out loud. Fuck me.

Alright, so she knows that you really like her photograph. It's not that big of a deal, is it?

"It was warm that day. The grass tickled my skin."

Okay, so obviously my verbal vomit wasn't a big deal at all. Or maybe she ignored my comment. Either way, I got off lucky. "Huh. Where was this photograph taken?"

"A field in Quebec, just outside Montreal. The sun felt great. Clothes really suck at times." She seemed to contemplate her next words. "Is that why you like the picture, Shags? 'Cause I'm buck?"

"Ummm what? I flushed, unable to come up with a quick response. I mean, obviously I liked that she was buck; but that wasn't the only reason why I liked the photo. "I think that the picture as a whole is beautiful." Suuure you do, pervert. The only parts that you find beautiful are the ones with Bella in it.

"But what makes it beautiful? The photo of the baby is beautiful because of the curiosity. What about this one appeals to you?"

The fact that you are the main subject. "You are seriously comparing your picture to that of the baby? Bella, the baby is cute. You are gorgeous."

Her head whipped around to look at me.

"What?"

Did I stutter? "I said you were gorgeous. Surely you know that?"

Bella looked at me with extreme confusion. It was as though the wheels in her head were trying to figure out why I had said such a thing to her.

And then, after a short moment passed, it was as though she understood what I was getting at the entire time that we had known each other and had been talking. The weeks we had been verbally bantering, the grinding at the party. Maybe your shameless flirting wasn't done in vain. Since her body seemed relaxed, I took this opportunity to step closer to her.

"You've... You feel... But... assflaps." Her words seemed to have failed her as she looked up into my eyes.

Tucking a piece of her hair behind her ear that was slightly obscuring her perfect lips, I leaned in to kiss her. Just a little closer...

I moved my hand up to pull her head closer to me and rubbed the pad of my thumb over her lips. My entire body was humming in anticipation of touching my lips to hers as I leaned in and captured her lips with my own in a quick, chaste kiss. Pulling back slowly, I looked at her lustfully before I inched closer. Our lips met again and I could hear the whimper in her throat as I brushed my tongue over her lower lip. I angled her head intent on kissing Bella Swan until one - or both - of us passed out from lack of oxygen.

"Edward?"

I released Bella from the embrace that I had her in and turned to face my mother. Wiping away all traces of unresolved lust and extreme disappointment, I let go of Bella's arm and turned her slightly to face Esme.

"Bella, this is my mother, Esme. Esme, this is Bella Swan."

Esme reached her hand out and grasped Bella's, holding her hand very gently. "Bella Swan, it is a pleasure to meet you."

"Esme, your mom. Oh! I should go. 'Cause Jazz," she said, dumbly indicating the naked photo of him behind her, "pickin' me up soon. Nice to meet you, Esme." Bella awkwardly pulled away and headed for Ms. Jane who was standing near a large sculpture.

I watched Bella as she walked away, leaving me feeling more morose about her departure than I ever thought I would.

And all because of my mother, Esme; the cockblock. Who would have thought?

As soon as Bella was out of our line of sight, Esme turned to me and smiled. "She seems like a very nice young lady, Edward. How do you know Ms. Swan?"

"School."

"Edward, I have a feeling that there is more to this story than you are leading on."

I shrugged. There is. A lot more.

"Edward..." Esme began, "You really don't have to hide this from me, baby."

I shrugged again. "I am not sure I know what you are talking about." I definitely know what you are talking about.

"You aren't sure what I am talking about? Baby, that is bullshit, and you know it. Things have been different lately, and don't deny it, because it won't do you any good. I mean, I know you better than anyone, honey!" Esme took a deep breath. "Don't pretend that I didn't notice that you suddenly, without warning, had taken an interest in art. And I, being the supportive mother that I try to be, take you to an art gallery in efforts to nurture your budding interest. I leave you alone for a few minutes so I could purchase the series that had enamored both you and me, and I come back here to see you lip-locked with the artist? Edward, what the hell? She didn't seem like your type... aren't your types usually blonde and bigger bimbos?"

I stared at my mother with an open mouth. "What...? How...? Purchased...?" I had no idea how to answer her, so unfortunately for her, she would have to deal with my limited vocabulary. Yeah, Bella definitely is different isn't she?

"Edward, you are my baby. I am more attuned to you than I am anyone else, even your brother." She placed a hand on my back. "I can tell that you are not in the mood to discuss this right now. Just know that when you are ready to talk about this, I am here for you, okay?"

I wasn't in any shape to have a mushy one on one with my mother right inside of the same art gallery that I was just makin' the moves on a girl in, so I simply nodded my head.

I felt like such a rejected pussy at that moment. I had finally broken some ground with Bella, and my mother disrupted us before we are able to let our newly found "thing" develop to fruition. And the emotions that I was feeling because of the situation made me wonder if my balls really had returned, or if they had just dropped before they were going to detach from my body and run away forever.

Then there was the fact that my mother had purchased Bella's entire series of photographs on display. Including the one of Bella, the one I couldn't keep my eyes off.

I need to get home. I need to get home, now.


E/N: Leave us some love, please? Michelle's morning sickness begs it of you.