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Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.

Chapter 10

I didn't see my parents for another week. My father stayed down at La Push, calling me once in a while to check how I was doing. Renee? She didn't even call. I supposed that she was having the time of her life over at Phil's house.

Even though I knew that I was wrong, I really loved having the house to myself. No more shouting…no more cleaning up broken shards of vases…no more tears or splitting headaches from the arguments…

During that week, the football team managed to win the game again. Tanya turned out to be a really great cheerleader. Rumors quickly spread to tell everyone that she was one of the best.

I knew that she was hitting on my best friend these days. Sometimes, Edward and Tanya didn't show up at lunch, and we knew that he was busy escaping her eager clutches. And then, he would walk into Biology after lunch, looking pissed and cursing under his breath.

It was getting to be a routine for us. Edward would escape somewhere new each time straight after fourth period, and Tanya would immediately set out to look for him. And it became a habit for me to look up frequently from my seat, waiting impatiently for him to come join me for class.

I knew that I had been the one to introduce him to her, and I'd been the one to support their relationship. But now…I wasn't so sure.

I didn't like the fact that Edward was having a hard time because of the one thing that I'd done. I guess I hadn't been helping him get over his crush after all.

I watched, yet again, as he came in through the doorway of our Biology classroom, looking annoyed as usual. He pursed his lips into a thin line as he sat next to me.

"Sorry," I said for the hundredth time. This was another one of my habits that I'd developed. Every time he came in and sat down next to me, I would apologize.

Edward gave me an irritated look. "I told you to stop that. It's not your fault; how many times do I have to tell you?"

"I introduced you to her," I mumbled, looking down at my notebook guiltily. "I tried talking to her today, but she just laughed and said that she'll be able to get to you."

He sighed as he lay down his head on the table, facing me. He smiled ruefully. "I got raped."

I looked at him sharply.

"Well, not really," he admitted. "But she cornered me and…" He wrinkled his nose. "I don't know how she manages to find me every time, but that girl is really strong. Even I wasn't able to restrain her. So therefore…" He glared at me halfheartedly. "You so owe me, Isabella."

I winced. "She stole a kiss?"

He sighed again. "She had red lipstick on today."

I couldn't help it. I laughed quietly. "You washed it off?"

"I just came from the bathroom," he confirmed.

"But you missed something," I said softly, reaching out and touching a slight red mark on his white shirt.

He looked down in mild surprise. "Huh. I'll throw the shirt away later."

I smiled slightly. I felt bad for him. If I could do something – anything at all – to take back my actions so that Edward can be comfortable again, I would do it.

"You owe me," Edward repeated. "What do you want to do for me?"

"Whatever you want," I promised. "It's the least I can do."

He smiled. "That does make me feel a little better. I'll think about it." He winked before straightening up again.

"Hey, Bella," Mike said, arriving at our table. He leaned toward me slightly, sniffing. "Are you wearing perfume?"

I looked at him like he was crazy. "No."

"Oh, that's me," Edward realized. "Tanya smelled like she dumped an entire bottle of perfume on her. It must have rubbed off when we were…you know."

Mike looked at him with wide eyes. "Dang! You kissed her?"

"No, man. Are you insane?" Edward looked like he could slap Mike.

"Oh," Mike said. He shrugged. "So did she ask you to Homecoming?"

Edward looked surprised. "How do you know that?"

"She told everyone that she was going to ask you to the dance this morning."

Edward looked sullen. "Yeah, she did."

"What'd you say?" Mike asked. "I hope you did everyone a favor and said yes."

Edward groaned miserably. "She can be so persistent. She was whining and begging, and… I had to say yes to shut her up."

I looked at him, alarmed. "You're taking Tanya to Homecoming?" It came out louder than I thought. Several people looked around at us in surprise.

I couldn't help it. As soon as I'd heard the news, I felt a jolt of part shock, part hurt, and part disbelief. I didn't know why I was so shocked; I should've guessed. But I still felt uncomfortable that he was going with someone else.

Edward nodded. "Like I said, you owe me big time."

"Yeah, um, but that's not why I was here," Mike said, clearing his throat. "I wanted to ask you something."

Edward's eyes narrowed. "I know what you're going to ask her, and you might as well leave, Mike, because she's going to tell you no."

"Man, what's wrong with you?" Mike complained. "You're not taking her to Homecoming, so why are you so protective?"

Edward blinked. He looked taken aback at the question, and looked as though he was struggling to find an answer.

"You're asking me to Homecoming?" I asked Mike in mild surprise.

He nodded, still glaring at Edward.

"Sorry, Mike, but you know I'm not one for dances." I smiled at him apologetically.

"Every year," Mike muttered. "I'm not surprised. Well, I had to try. Are you going with someone else?"

"No, unless someone drags me."

"And by someone, you mean Alice and Rosalie," Mike said knowingly. "I'm sure I'll see you there then." He strolled away, back to his own seat.

"What's wrong with you?" I nudged Edward. "Can't a guy ask me out?"

Edward gave me a sharp look. "You've got to be kidding me. I can't let my best friend go out with a player like Mike Newton. You deserve so much better."

"You're going with Tanya, and I'm not saying anything," I pointed out.

His expression soured. "You're calling me a hypocrite."

"No, I'm not," I sighed. "Look. If it upsets you so much, then just go tell Tanya that you can't take her to Homecoming."

"I can't," he said, his expression surly. "She made me promise. She literally made me sign a paper that had the promise written down."

I busted out laughing. "That's hilarious!"

Edward tapped his pencil on the table, looking extremely annoyed now. "Are you done laughing?"

"I'm…sorry…!" I choked out. "But that's just…" I burst into a fresh new set of giggles.

"If you keep laughing, I'm not going to let you sleep tonight!" he shot at me.

I stopped laughing at once. The last time he'd said that, he'd meant it. He'd been so freakishly creepy, sneaking into my bedroom late at night and trying to snuggle under the covers with me. He kept poking me and teasing me until nearly two hours later, at three in the morning, I finally apologized for telling Alice where he was with his girlfriend when I obviously knew that she disapproved of her. Alice had driven all the way to Port Angeles just to lash out at the poor girl and drag her brother back home forcibly.

He watched me, satisfied when I avoided his gaze and glared at the front of the room.

"Sorry," I mumbled.

He looked thoughtful, as though he hadn't heard my apology. "I thought of something I want you to do for me. You owe me, after all."

"What?" I asked flatly. His favors were never beneficial to me.

He smiled. "It's nothing hard."

His smile was too innocent. I didn't trust him. I just knew it was going to be a hard favor.

"What?" I repeated.

"Come to Homecoming with me."

I looked at him like he was insane. "You already have a date, Edward."

He shrugged. "Come alone. I want to use you as my getaway from Tanya at the dance."

My eyes narrowed. "I'm not a toy. No."

His face immediately altered into a comical expression of desperation. "Please, Bella? Please, please, please, please, please?"

"No way."

"Fine, then. I take back my words. Just come to enjoy it. And you can help monitor Tanya and save me when I need your help."

"I don't want to be used, even by you," I said severely. "But there's something I hate even more than being used, Edward Cullen, and you should know it."

He sighed wearily. "Is dressing up really that bad?"

"Yes. If I say that I'm going to that dance, Alice and Rose will freak and will not let me out of the bathroom for hours until I'm pampered into Bella Barbie. No way."

He glared at me. "You're going. I'll force you."

"You can't force me to do anything unless you want to undress me yourself."

He smirked. His eyes flickered down to my chest and lingered there.

I turned away, blushing. "Never mind what I said."

My words had been a mistake. Edward never got embarrassed when it came to personal things. If more, he teased me about my body shape quite frequently. He loved embarrassing me.

"Try me," Edward said, amused. "I can do that anytime. Gladly."

"Shut up," I mumbled. "There won't be anything to see."

"Wrong," he sang softly. "You don't realize how many boys would love to undress you." His expression darkened, and he was glaring at Mike. "Like him."

"You just love embarrassing me, don't you?" I asked darkly, glaring at him. "If you want to see something, I'm sure Tanya is more than willing to-"

He turned back to look at me, his eyes narrowed. "No. I'd rather see my best friend than her." He shuddered at the thought.

I didn't know if I should be flattered or not.

At that moment, Banner came inside and called order. The class somewhat quieted as he took attendance.

"Homecoming is this Friday, Bella," Edward said, speaking in a low voice now. "There's plenty of time to change your mind; it's only Tuesday."

"In your dreams."

He sighed, but let the matter rest.

I zoned out, staring blankly at Banner. If only I had a crush on someone. Then I would probably agree to go to the dance. Just to see him.

I was curious though. I'd never been to any dance in high school. Even when a senior had asked me to be his date at prom last year, I'd refused. I'd never seen anyone I know dressed formally. Should I go?

No, no, I told myself quickly. You have studying to do. Don't think about anything like that.

Another part of my brain opened up, and I couldn't help but wonder if there was someone I wanted to see in a tux or a dress.

Was there?

AN: Ooh-la-la! A lot of teasing here, eh? Reviews, please!