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CHAPTER 9

The classroom is very quiet. Students are all busy memorizing their own speeches. I sat quietly beside Mike who still bothered saying hi and asking how I was despite of his nervousness regarding our upcoming speech presentations.

Edward has not arrived. He should be here so I can read what he has written.

The teacher came and started calling out names. She put the fish bowl in her desk which signifies the start of our speech delivery. Tyler who sits behind me groaned and almost cried while Mike patted his head. Mrs. Scott a lady with salt and pepper hair and wrinkled face chuckled upon seeing Tyler's reaction. Sometimes I think she likes seeing students really nervous because of her.

"I will be announcing the order on how you will deliver your speech" she said in her sweetest voice. Lauren was called in first. I will be the 11th student to present while Edward who is still not around will be 13th.

"As usual Cullen is not around. I never had my hopes high for that boy"

"Ma'am, he is just running late but he'll show up" I answered back.

"I doubt that Ms. Swan."

"He will be here" I said firmly.

"Whatever you say. With or without Cullen we will start. Lauren, it's your turn."

Jessica is about to finish her speech and she is the 12th student to deliver her Speech. I can hear my heartbeat loudly inside my head. When did my heart go inside my head? I looked at Mrs. Scott, she met my eyes and smiled at me. She is extremely irritating for a teacher. Jessica ended her speech with a bow and the class applauds.

"Now our next student is…" Mrs. Scott said pretending that she forgot who the next one is, "oh my, it is Mr. Cullen." She roamed her eyes around, "I see he is still not here. I guess Ms. Swan was wrong. Let's go to…"

"I am late."

I released a shaky breath and looked at the guy that I was waiting for. Thank goodness he came. He looked at me and I smiled a little. He went straight to his seat. I guess the whole class was somehow surprised that Edward is here. Mrs. Scott cleared her throat, "What a nice surprise Mr. Cullen has graced us with his presence."

"Don't mention it" Edward said.

"You are just right on time Edward, you are next."

He hastily turned around and looked at her, "I just came and you want me to deliver my speech?"

"Yes is there any problem with that?" Mrs. Scott asked as she raises her eyebrow.

"There is a big problem. Can't you give me a little consideration? I just came! Newton can go first then I'll follow."

Mrs. Scott smile is plastered on her face as she listens to Edward's argument.

"I don't give considerations to students who do not deserve it. I know you so well Mr. Cullen. I am sure you don't have a speech written that is why you don't want to go in front of this class."

She is too much. She should not provoke Edward.

Edward stood up and crumpled a piece of paper in his hand, "I know going to class is a bad idea. I should have just stayed home and slept rather than going here only to see a wrinkled toad perched in her stool."

"Oh, did I hit a nerve Mr. Cullen?" she giggled.

"I am just fed up with people like you, Ma'am" Edward retorted. He got his bag and walked out of the room. I shook my head and got my bag.

"Where are you going Ms. Swan?" Mrs. Scott asked.

"I will follow him. I know he has a Speech ready if only you did not judge him."

I ran outside determined to see Edward. I went straight to the parking lot and saw him inside his Volvo. I knocked at his window but he did not open it. He glared at me and began driving away. I shouted his name over and over again as I ran after his car.

"Edward! Don't do this!" I shouted while running when I tripped. Perfect!

I wiped my clothes clean while sitting on the road. My right knee was scrapped and it stings. Now what?!

EPOV

How dare she insult me like that. I'll really make sure that she will be out of this school. Bella is still running trying to catch up with my car. She is just wasting her energy, she will never catch on me and even if she does there is no way that I'll do that Speech in front of that witch. I glanced at my rearview mirror when I noticed that Bella is no longer running. She is just sitting on the road, dusting her clothes. I stopped the car and went out hurriedly. I ran to her and saw her right knee bleeding.

"You tripped again?" I asked as I looked at her knee closely. She pushed my hands away, "This is all your fault! If only you're not a drama king Edward!"

"This is not my fault. You run after my car when you know that you will not be able to catch up on me. You tripped because of your clumsiness and I have nothing to do with it."

"You came to class late. I know that Mrs. Scott is one hell of an annoying teacher but she is still a teacher. You should have just delivered your Speech. That way you get a grade, she shuts up and I don't get a wound."

"You're also like her. You always tell me what I should do. Edward you should do this, do that! I'm sick of this. I know having you as my tutor is a bad idea because you don't really care. You are just doing this because you need to. The principal wanted you to teach me and you want to save your ass so even if you don't want to, you still forced yourself to teach me." I said it. There you go, now she knows how I feel about her teaching me.

"What are you saying?" she asked.

"You know I am right Bella. You are not doing this for me, you are doing this for yourself!"

She stood up wincing in pain from her knee, "You're right Edward. I did not want to do this. I don't want to teach you because in my head, you will always be a no brainer who likes to play around and brag about his parent's money."

I nodded and smirked, "See I am right. You are just like the rest of 'em."

"That was before. Maybe I was like them before but after teaching you I realized that you are actually smart. You just want to be an idiot. Do you think I'll follow you and run after your car if I don't care about you? I don't want you to fail this subject because I know even if you won't admit it that you also want to pass. I know that you have a Speech ready. I know that you were late because you were trying to memorize your Speech. I know you are also nervous that is why you don't want to go in front of the class to deliver your Speech."

My throat tightened and I got tongue tied.

"I know you don't mean to shout at Mrs. Scott."

"Stop talking like you know everything" I said trying to sound cool.

"Stop talking like you don't care." This girl is really nuts.

"So what do you want me to do now?"

"We will go back and I will talk to Mrs. Scott to allow you to deliver your Speech."

"Do you really think that she'll agree? That witch is impossible Bella" I argued.

"I can always try and you will also try."

I grunted admitting my defeat. I helped her walked and we went straight to the faculty room. Bella handed me her bag and told me to begin practicing. I reached inside my pocket and got the paper I crumpled earlier. After 15 minutes Bella went out of the room smiled at me.

"What?"

"She said yes. Go inside and show her what you got."

"I am not yet ready."

"Don't chicken out. I don't think you'll get another chance if you ruin this. So get inside."

Here goes nothing. Stupid Speech. Stupid heart for beating loudly. Stupid me for agreeing to do this.

"Let me hear it Mr. Cullen."

"Okay."

Good day to all. I am here in front of you not as your president but as a friend who just wants to hang out and have a good talk. We know it had been a rough year for us all. Natural disasters have struck our country but hey, we're still here. Alive and smiling.

I know some might have lost hope. Some might have given up, I must admit that I am one of those who almost gave up. Maybe you are thinking so what are my plans to help our country. Initially, I can't think of any plans. I don't know what to do but someone just poked my head and here I am now with some ideas.

Family is the basic unit of companionship. Even if you have all the problems in your shoulder when you know you have someone behind your back, it will feel comfortable. Parents should never leave their children behind. Do everything to make your family close and united.

They say Education is important. Even though I don't want to agree I still have to. To all the kids here, you guys should value your education. Do good in school okay? Don't ask me how I did though because I'm not much of a good student.

Lastly, learn to value other people. You might think they don't care about you but then you will be surprised that they actually do.

I stopped and panicked because I forgot the next part. Oh man…I closed my eyes and began picturing the paper where I wrote the last paragraph. C'mon I know this. I can remember this…Mrs. Scott cleared her throat and I opened my eyes. "Go ahead, continue speaking Cullen" she encouraged. I gulped, here goes nothing…

Like a brown eyed girl I know. I know something has changed when she stares at me and tries to make me feel guilty and I actually feel guilty. There are really people who are bound to make you realize some things. They will not abandon you even if you want them to go. They will just keep on annoying you until you give up and surrender. Your countrymen will not forsake you especially in times of need. This is the time when we just unite and helped each other out.

I know I just wasted like 10 minutes of your life, but hey I hope you got something from me. That's it, good luck to us all.

"I'm done." I announced feeling relieved.

"That was quiet good Mr. Cullen."

"Yeah right. Can I go now?"

"Yes you may. Keep going to class or else the brown eyed girl you're talking about will annoy you again" I heard her say from behind.

Bella kept asking me how my Speech went.

"It was okay. I don't care what grade she gives me, what's important is I did the Speech."

"Can I just read your Speech then?"

"Never."

"Oh c'mon Edward!"

"I said no." She rolled her eyes and walked faster.

"Hey" I called.

"What?"

"How's your knee?"

"It's okay. The nurse took care of it" she answered then she began walking.

"Hey."

"Tsskkk, can you tell me everything instead of saying hey again and again?" she said with the annoyed voice that I learned to get to use to.

"Sorry" I whispered.

"What?"

"Nothing. What a deaf! I will not repeat what I have just said."

"I didn't hear it, you were mumbling!"

I tried saying sorry and she did not hear it. Great.

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Author's Note:

I think this is by far the chapter which shows more emotion from the characters. I know I only update once a week but hopefully 2 weeks from now school will be over and I will be able to update more frequently. Thank you for staying with me.