Wow!! I've gotten lots of reviews and I love all of them. The chapter title is just a metaphor, btw. And I'd like to thank the very awesome band of 'BoysLikeGirls' for giving me that inspiration.

Also, Blahboredom123--who took the honor of being my 300th review-- ...Where's my Cookie? LOL.

ch. 10 - On Top Of The Lowest Ledge

I was so nervous to go to school...but I couldn't avoid Bella for forever.

I got out of my Volvo and started toward the school. Funny, I thought, how Alice never rode with me anymore. True, I might've blamed her unconsciously for putting me in the closet with Bella...but I was sure that I had forgiven her by now and that she would've forgiven me for acting like a jerk to her.

I glanced to my right and was immediately met with a hard gaze. Yes, unfortunately I couldn't avoid Bella for forever. She made a move in my direction.

I panicked. Maybe I couldn't avoid her for forever...but I could for at least today. I slipped into the men's bathroom, the one place where I knew she wouldn't dare enter.

Barely two minutes passed and I heard the bell ring signaling the beginning of the day. I slipped out.

My eyes stayed keenly open, just in case Bella decided to ambush me, but she was nowhere to be found. I wasn't sure if I liked that or not. Because if she was nowhere to be found...then where was she?

And who was she with?

The thoughts very nearly made me trip on the threshold of the double glass doors as I was making my way to my locker. But that wasn't the only thing that made me nearly fall on my face.

Because on the other end of the hall I saw Alec talking to Bella.

Even after all that I'd done last night...he was still trying to be with her. I hated him. Why couldn't he just leave her alone?

Then, as if things couldn't get any worse for me, she sent him a dazzling smile that I would've paid for to see again.

My day was sucking already.

For the next three classes I plotted even better ways to humiliate Alec in front of Bella. All I had to do was find a few more kids like Chris--the boy I had paid five bucks and some gum to spill pop in Alec's lap--then I would be set to have some fun.

And be getting Bella back at the same time.

Okay, so maybe not get her back...but at least keep her away from him.

I had skillfully avoided Bella for the first three periods, and I was hoping the rest of my day would go the same way. At least until that cute temper of hers could calm down and cool.

I entered the cafeteria and scanned the room for Emmett...wanting to tell him my other plans on how to humiliate Alec and telling him thank you again for being one half of the evil side of myself last night. Even if Bella had seen me and was now mad, it was worth it.

But my eyes found Bella's first...and she looked even more agitated that I had avoided her so masterfully.

And I wasn't about to ruin that now as I veered off to the right to the men's bathroom, cowardly as ever.

The door closed behind me, giving me a feeling of comfort as I leaned against the wall opposite the stalls.

I would just have to wait in here until lunch was over and find Emmett later, I thought as the door opened.

I glanced up from my shoes and froze when I saw who it was. My eyes went wide.

Bella.

She had followed me into the men's bathroom. Jeez! How mad was she at me? But I couldn't help the feeling of my heart swelling as she walked toward me or that she had gone so far as to follow me in here to confront me. "Bella what the heck are you-"

"Doing in here," she finished for me. She took her gaze off of me for less than a minute to look under the stalls and make sure that no one was in here with us.

I was stunned and found it hard to talk. "Well..." God, I probably looked like a deer caught in headlights.

She moved closer to me than I expected her to. So close, that I had to move from my casual stance to flattening myself against the wall. Our chests were almost touching, and God, was she intimidating. And at this moment, very, very attractive. "What were you thinking last night? Ruining my date like that!"

I froze from shock and tried desperately to answer her question while at the same time not letting her know that even though she had made an arse out of me, I was in love with her anyways . Yes, that's right. Love. "Did you honestly think that I was just going to let you make me look like a jackass and then go on your merry way? That isn't how things work.''

"So what? Was this about us kissing in that closet and then me dating Alec afterwards? Because you have nothing to make me feel guilty for."

Who said anything about guilt? But she should feel guilty for playing me like that. "Who said that I wanted you to feel guilty? You completely screwed me over."

"No, you completely screwed me over."

How did she come off with that? I moved closer to her and lowered my eyes to hers. Lord, it would be so easy to kiss her at this moment. And God knows how much I want--NO. "How in the hell did-"

"No. Edward. Stay out of my love life. Quit messing with Alec and leave us alone. I mean it, Edward."

Had she really just said what I thought she had said? Leave her alone? I couldn't even fathom the thought, but her eyes burned with anger, and I knew that she was serious. I felt hurt. More hurt than I'd ever felt in my whole life.

Her eyes softened, but very little. "Do you really want me to leave you alone," I asked, still having trouble even thinking of that possibility. Before this little confrontation...we had avoided each other because it was weird.

But now she wanted me to leave her alone because she couldn't stand me.

There was a few seconds of hesitation, and I allowed myself to hope. "Yes. That's what I want." Only to have that hope come crashing down.

I almost fell apart. Almost. But apparently I wasn't enough for her to keep around, and the thought infuriated me. "Fine," I replied curtly.

"Good. Now if you'll excuse me..." She turned and left, swaying her perfect hips as she went.

I didn't even have time to recover when a freshman came inside and sent me a questioning look.

I shot him a glare in return.

It made him reconsider his decision to come inside, and he abruptly turned around and left. Served him right. I hoped he wet himself.

And that's just how mad I was.

I turned to the sink and turned it on, splashing water on my face to help soothe me. After a few minutes of counting backwards from ten to one...I gathered whatever dignity I had left and exited the bathroom.

Then, as if rubbing it in my face...I saw him kiss her...and it hurt me to watch.

She glanced up and before our eyes could meet...I turned mine away from her direction and tried not to frown. But I couldn't help but glance at her out of the corner of my eye.

She wasn't looking at me.

And when I'd decided that I'd had enough and turned back around mid-stride to walk out...she wasn't looking at me.

But if she wanted me out of her life...then I would make it that way.

As of right now, Bella Swan did not exist to me.

After last bell had rang, I walked as fast as I could to my Volvo. I just needed to get out of here, fast.

"Edward!"

I turned to see Emmett running up to me. "Hey, Emmett," I replied, exhausted.

He stopped abruptly when he caught up to me. "What happened to you? You look like he-"

"I know. What do you want," I asked as I cut him off.

He looked flustered. "Well, I was just wondering if our little 'date crashing' worked good enough for a phase two."

"No. There's not gonna be a phase two."

"What? Why not?"

I exhaled slowly and got the words out before I couldn't. "Bella saw me last night as I was slipping out of the restaurant, and she caught me today and told me to basically stay out of her life forever."

"But..."

Emmett looked shocked. At the prospect of not being able to toy with Alec's mind, or at what Bella had told me, I wasn't sure. "I'll see you later. I need to get out of here," I told him as I left him standing by the doors and reached the haven of my Volvo.

And as I was getting in...I looked across the parking lot to see Alice sending me a death glare. I smiled weakly at her as a peace offering...but it only made her look angrier.

She turned sharply and went to Jasper's car to wait for him.

I just couldn't do anything right, could I?

Well, That's it for Edward's POV. I kinda liked writing it, then I kinda didn't. But I will leave you with this little teaser.

There's a little surprise for Edward in the next chapter. You know I can't let Bella have all the fun, or whatever it is.

BroodyBrittney23