Trust no one
EPOV
"By the way," Swan said, with a small smirk in her face. "So nice of you to keep my photo after all those years, I didn't know I meant so much to you back then."
"You didn't," I said fiercely. Who gave her that stupid idea? She means nothing to me, nobody gives a crap about Swan; she's no one.
"Okay, if you like to pretend that you don't have a secret crush on me, I'll play along," she said with a wink, I could heard some giggles on the background, are they mocking me?. "But, next time, try to bring a better photo, at least one with both eyes open."
"What the fuck are you talking about Swan?" I asked her in a low voice. I was furious, a crush? Really? She's the ugliest bitch I've ever met, just to think of her makes me want to puke.
"Mr. Cullen, can you please stop talking with Miss Swan," the teacher said.
"Sorry sir," Swan responded. "He can't help it," she added with a smile, causing more giggles. How does she dare to embarrass me like that? Do people really believe I find her attractive? Are they blind? Someone like me can't be with someone like Swan; it's against the order of the universe. If she wants to play, I'll play; she will regret every word she has said to me. She'll regret every joke, every threat, every comment she has ever said to me, and not just her comments, the twins' comments too. She thinks I don't know what she's doing? Sending her friends to fight her battles?
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"Who the fuck do you think you are?" Rosalie yelled at me the moment she saw me. "If you try to pull something like this little photos again, I'm gonna bit the hell out of you."
"Bring it on bitch," I said back, the entire class was looking at us. "You think I'm afraid of you? I know that those little manicure hands can't throw a proper punch."
"I've ruined this manicure for less than this Cullen, don't temp me," she replied, she was going to keep talking but her phone chirped. She opened it and a frown formed in her face, she wrote a fast response and received another message in less than a minute. I just waited there; it was almost funny the way this little rant was ending, proper of a cartoon or something.
"You lucky bastard," she complained, "Apparently you have immunity now."
"What the fuck are you talking about?" I asked confused.
"I can't talk to you anymore," Blondie said with a smirk, looking forward and paying me no attention whatsoever. That was weird.
I looked at Swan with fury, but she couldn't care less, she was paying attention to the class, writing everything down and answering questions. When she thought I was no longer looking she popped her cell phone open and started to text rapidly, after that, she put it away and kept paying attention to the class.
When it was almost time to leave, the secretary of the office came to talk to our teacher; she whispered something in his ear and left the room.
"Mr. Cullen and Ms. Swan," our teacher said. "You are needed in the principal's office."
I looked at Swan and she seemed as surprised as I was. We both picked our things and left the room. The walk to the office was tense, no one said a word, but you could feel the tension between us, we both wanted to yell at each other, but refrain ourselves.
"The principal is waiting for you," said the secretary the moment we stepped in. We look at each other with confusion and then looked to the other side when we realize that we shouldn't be looking at the other. We entered silently in the office, saying 'hi' to the principal and taking out seats in front of his desk. Swan was scratching her left hand with a lot of force, but she wasn't aware of it.
"I think you two know why you are here," the principal said, but we both shook our heads.
"Really Ms. Swan?" he asked. "It surprised me that you didn't come sooner."
"Is this about the photos?" Swan asked, understanding hitting both of us.
"Yes," he said, lacing his fingers. "Photos, that I've been told, were spread by Mr. Cullen here."
"Who told you that?" I asked. He raised both eyebrows and I coughed. "Sir," I added.
"That's not important Mr. Cullen."
"That person is lying, sir," I continued. "You can't know if the person is telling the truth or if is just trying to frame me."
"Actually the person, who came, told me everything I needed to know to be sure it was truth. This person told me that the pictures were taken from a school year book, from the school you came from, the same school Ms. Swan came from so long ago."
"I didn't…" I started to say but Swan stopped me.
"Sir, with all due respect," she said softly. "This is my problem, I know who posted those photos and it wasn't Edward."
I was shocked. Why Swan lied like that? She knows I posted the photos, even if I didn't; this was a perfect way to get me suspended.
"You are lying, Ms. Swan," the principal said.
"I'm not lying," she replied. "Apparently Cullen lend his school year book to a sort of 'enemy' of mine, and that person posted the photos everywhere."
"Are you sure?" he asked, furrowing his eyebrows.
"Absolutely sir," she confirmed with a smile. "Cullen has no reason to hate me. The last time we saw each other was a couple of years ago and we weren't friends or anything alike, we didn't even spoke back then. There's no reason for him to do something like this, 'cause he doesn't know me."
"Actually, that makes sense," the principal said. "I failed to see what Mr. Cullen motivation, to do something like this, was."
"The person who came must be misinformed."
"Indeed," he added, lacing his fingers again. "Now, care to tell me who did this to you, Ms. Swan?"
"Sir," she said with a smirk. "Like I said before, this is my problem, not yours, I'll deal with it."
"I don't want any troubles Ms. Swan."
"Sir, when I've done something like that," she said with a wink and they both laughed.
"I must say that I'm amazed," the principal added. "It passed a moth this time before you came to visit me to my office."
"And it wasn't even my fault," she laughed a little. What? Does Swan come here a lot? That's not very Swan-ish. Swan is the type that cries in the toilet and hides in the library.
"I hope I won't see you this year," he continued.
"Are you kidding? My father said that he would kill me if I dish classes again," she said, rolling her eyes. "He said this with his gun in his hands, so I'm not taking him lightly."
"Nothing like a good threat," the principal laughed. "Now Ms. Swan and Mr. Cullen, you can go. I'm sorry for blaming you Mr. Cullen; I hope this doesn't happen again."
"Sure sir," I said, still confused for this weird exchange. We both stood up and left the room quietly.
"I ought you nothing," I said, the moment we stepped out of the office. "I don't know why you said that, but I didn't ask you to."
"What?" she said with a smirk. "You think I'm now hoping you'll be a new man just because I didn't rat you out? I'm not that stupid Cullen, thank you very much."
"Then why did you do it?" I asked.
"Like I said in there," she said, looking at her cell phone. "It's my problem and I'll deal with it."
"Yeah?" I inquired. "What are you going to do about it?"
"Nothing babe," she said with a wink. Did she just call me babe?
"I know your little infatuation is getting the best of you," she added, smiling brightly. "You don't need to be a pig to get my notice Edward."
"Bella," Blondie yelled when she was near. "I've been looking all over for you."
"Sorry Rosalie, I was in the office with Cullen," she said, dismissively.
"Oh, did they ground him?" she said, barely acknowledging my presence.
"Nope," she said, "I told the principal it wasn't him."
"Good," Rosalie said with a smirk. Why is that 'good'?
"We should go to classes now," Blondie said, crossing his arm with Bella's. "Bye lover boy," she added, both of them laughing their asses of. What did she call me? Lover-boy? I don't have a crush on Bella, why it's that so hard to understand?. Bella is disgusting; no one wants to be with her.
"Hey," I yelled after them, Rosalie turned and raised her eyebrows. "Were you the one who rat me out?"
"Me?" she asked raising her eyebrows even more and then smiling. "No, I told you, you have immunity."
Immunity? What's that supposed to mean? I walked to the last class of the day thinking about the resent events, seeing like everything I did turned backwards. Why didn't Swan blame me for the photos? Why they are trying so hard to act like I have a crush on her? Why the fuck she's not afraid of me anymore? Or is she just acting? I sat in my seat, I'm pretty sure that Lauren said something the moment I was next to her, but I was too concentrated in my thoughts. This was weird, Forks is weird, everything I've tried until the moment has backfired,
I can't threat Swan without getting two threats instead, I can't try to tease her without being teased back. I have to do something else, 'cause apparently she's one step ahead. She has an answer for every question, she has a counterattack for every attack, and now, I don't know what she's trying to do, not blaming me and expecting nothing in return. And she said she'll deal with it, what's that supposed to mean? I tried to think of a better way to get her, to make her afraid of me, to make everyone see who she really was; the lame, nerd, ugly Swan… But I couldn't, my mind was blank and that was a first. What should I do?
After class I walked to my car, still thinking about Swan and the weird way she was acting. I was about to unlock it when my eyes caught something in the door. My eyes popped open and I saw red. Someone keyed my car, someone keyed my baby. I look around me and I caught my brother talking to Blondie, I walked to where they were, next to Blondie's M3.
"Did you just key my car?" I asked her, furiously.
"Hey, lower your voice," Emmett said, anger filling his features. "You won't yell at her, are we clear?"
"Oh, shut up, you big oaf, I'm not talking to you, I'm talking to Blondie," I turned and I asked her again. "Did you key my fucking car?"
"I told you, you have immunity," she said loudly, mimicking my tone.
"You don't want to mess with me," I warned her.
"Stop it," Emmett roared. "You can't threat Rose, not on my watch."
"Since when you prefer a pussy over your own brother?"
"Since my brother is acting like a dick," he said. "And don't you dare to refer to her as a pussy, you ass."
"You'll have to walk home," I replied angrily. I turned around and saw that everyone was staring at me, even Blondie's twin and Swan. She blew me a kiss and I flipped her off.
"I can take you home," I heard Blondie say to my brother.
"Maybe we can hang out for a while," he said back.
"My house will be empty," she added.
"Then it's a deal," he concluded.
I walked to my car and saw Alice walking toward me.
"What the fuck do you want?" I asked her.
"Don't treat me like that Edward," she said, frowning. "I came to tell you that you should stop acting like a dick, everybody was looking at you Edward, and now they are talking behind your back."
"I don't remind asking your opinion," I said, entering the car and closing the door behind me. She rolled her eyes and walked to her own car, a friend joining her and talking into her ear. Let them talk, I couldn't care less.
The next day I woke up feeling like crap, I was cursing the fact that it was only Thursday; this week was too slow for my liking.
"How do you feel, Edward?" my mother asked me when I entered the kitchen.
"Fine," I answered. "Why?"
"Because your brother is with a fever," she said, "your father says it's the flu, apparently half the town is sick."
"Well, I feel fine," I said grumpily.
"Someone is grumpy this morning," she said, handing me a cup of coffee. "What's the matter?"
"Nothing mom," I said, sipping some hot coffee, I felt better in a second. "I'm not a morning person, that's all."
"You hate it here, right?"
"Yep," I said, running my hand through my hair. "Sorry mom."
"Don't worry babe," she said, kissing my temple. "This town will grow on you, I promise."
"I don't see that happening any time soon," I took one of the toasts and went to my room, finishing my coffee and my toast on the way up. I brushed my teeth and grabbed a jacket, in my way down I bumped with my sister.
"Who is the best brother ever?" she asked me.
"I'm not giving you a ride," I said rapidly, I kept walking down.
"Why not?" she shrieked.
"Because you are an annoying little pixie and I don't like you."
"Oh please, you love me," she said rolling her eyes and grabbing her jacket. "You just hate the fact that I tell you things on your face and I don't take any of your crap."
"What happened to your car?" I asked.
"It run out of gas," she answered shrugging.
"Why don't you go to a gas station?" I inquired, opening the door, she jumped inside and I rolled my eyes. Alice turned on the radio and started humming, looking through the window, she was biting her lip; she wasn't talking and she was biting her lip, she was hiding something.
"My dad gave you money for gasoline, right?"
"Yep," she answered and kept looking through the window, her face was a brilliant shade of red.
"You spent the money on something else, didn't you?" I inquired.
"Yes, I did," she cried. "It was such a pretty jacket Edward, I couldn't let it go."
"My dad is going to kill you; you always spent the money he gives you in clothes."
"I know," she pouted. "You can't tell him, please, big and beautiful brother."
"I won't" I told her.
"You won't?" she asked in disbelieve.
"Nope," I answered, "but now, you owe me."
"Sure," she said, smiling. She jumped out of the car and went inside the building immediately.
I walked out of the car and noticed that only half the parking lot was full, which was weird. Maybe my dad is right; maybe half the town is sick. I noticed that Swan's truck was here and Blondie's M3 wasn't, so she'll be alone today… I thought about yesterday and the weird last events, I couldn't bring myself to think of a comeback for Swan's attitude, she's not taking any of my crap anymore and apparently she doesn't care that I make a fool of her in front of the entire school… I just don't know what to do anymore and that's pretty unusual, I always have a plan of attack, I always know what to say or what to do, but this time, I was running blank. I was hoping that maybe she won't be so brave now that she's alone, maybe I'll get something right today; I just have to think of what to do….
The morning went by faster than usual, there was no sign of Blondie or her twin, I haven't seen Swan in the whole morning but I know she's around; I saw her truck and I heard some people teasing at her back, maybe the picture plan backfired on me, but it wasn't pointless, people is still making fun of her and that's something… Maybe everything isn't lost after all.
I haven't seen Tanya or Lauren either, maybe they caught something too, almost half the school is gone today, it's not much, 'cause this school is fucking small, but it is something to worry about, I don't want to get sick, I hate being sick.
At lunch I sat down in a random table, I wasn't aware of my surroundings, I was feeling utterly alone now that my groupies were missing and my brother was sick… Not that he's been one of the best brothers on earth, but he usually acts dumb when he's chasing pussy.
"Oh my god," I heard Swan's voice behind me. "You're even waiting me at my own table! Does this mean that you won't hide your crush anymore?" she added sitting by me. Apparently Blondie's twin wasn't sick, neither the queasy girl, they were both giggling and sitting next to Swan.
"What the fuck are you talking about?" I asked getting angry almost instantaneously.
"What am I talking about?" she asked, pretending to be confused. "You are sitting at my table Cullen, everyone here knows that this is where I sit with my friends."
"You have a table?" I asked mockingly. "The last thing I remember is that your table was a bathroom stall."
"Of course it was, 'cause you used to throw my trade to the floor" she added dismissively, eating her french-fries and sipping her cola. What the fuck Swan? I'm fucking teasing you, when are you going to start crying?
"You are just acting brave because you have your friends at your side," I hissed. "You are acting so secure 'cause every time I turn around one of your friends is threatening me to saying they'll kick my butt."
"What?" Swan asked really confused, looking instantaneously to Jasper, who was looking at her sheepishly, apparently this was news to Swan… She was about to explode when my sister sat in the table with us.
"Hi big brother," she said happily, oblivious to the tense atmosphere surrounding the table.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, I was still angry, so the question came out harshly. She raised an eyebrow and shook her head.
"My friends are sick at home," she answered. "Apparently dad was right and half the town is with the flu."
"He is," the queasy girl said rapidly, I think this is the first time I hear her talk. "That's why they are moving the dance to next Saturday, 'cause even the dj is sick."
"Yeay," my sister squeaked. "Maybe someone will ask me to the dance by then," she smiled to Blondie's twin for less than a second, but it was long enough for me to notice who she wanted to go with.
I stood up, took my trade and throw it in the dumpster. I walked away rapidly, I heard my sister calling my name but I couldn't care less. Now my sister is crushing on Blondie's twin? This was so wrong, my brother and my sister were crossing to the dark side, they were allying with the best friends of my enemy, how can they do this to me? Don't they care about my feelings? I can't trust them anymore, I can't trustin anyone.
I went outside the school to the bleachers to smoke, there was no one in sight so I took my cigarette out and I light it with total confidence. I was with my eyes closed when I felt someone walking and sitting at my side.
"What happened to you?" my sister asked, I opened my eyes and frowned.
"How did you know I was here?" I asked in return.
"I knew you were coming here the moment you stood up," she said. "You know that I can see the future," she added with a wink and I snorted.
"Something bothered you" she pressed.
"It's not your fucking problem pixie," I said, finishing my smoke.
"I think it is, 'cause I'm pretty sure I caused it."
"Why do you think that?" I inquired.
"Because I know you, you stupid."
"I hate you," I said standing up.
"There is no good or bad sides here Edward," she said behind me. "You must see that, everyone here is worried about their own problems, they are not thinking the whole day about what to do to piss someone off."
"You've only been here for a week," I replied, getting angry again. "You don't know any of this people, you don't know who they are or what they do."
"I know them better then you," she said, grabbing my arm and making me sit by her. "I have friends here, can you say the same?"
"I have Tanya and Lauren," I answered.
"Please, those bitches are following you 'cause they want to fuck you in the janitors closet," she snorted.
"I still have them," I replied stubbornly.
"Have you called them to know if they are really sick?" Alice inquired.
"Why should I do that?"
"Because that's what real friends do, you dummy," she replied sweetly, but it sounded more like she was trying to teach something to a toddler.
"Stop acting like I'm an idiot Alice," I said, raising my voice, she sighed and rolled her eyes.
"You are acting like one Edward, I can't treat you different," she shot back. "I know you noticed that I have a thing for Jasper Hale and I know that you think that I'm betraying you, but I'm not. You have to stop acting like a dick and start acting like someone of your age."
"Fuck you," I said and walked away, leaving her seating alone in the bleachers.
Who the fuck does she think she is? She is my little sister; she can't be treating me like that! She can't lecture me and she can't tell me what to do or how to act! I entered into my biology class barely acknowledging that Swan was already sitting in her spot. I looked at her trying to show her my hate, but apparently she didn't pick on that.
"Who kicked your puppy?" she asked me.
"Fuck you Swan," I said venomously.
"You know," she said, apparently unaffected by my rage. "I think you have anger issues."
I was going to respond something but I couldn't. I just sat there with my mouth open, looking ridiculous. She's not the first one to say something like that, Victoria once said it, she told me I had anger issues 'cause I was willing to fight a guy who called her a beauty in a party… She got so angry at me that she didn't speak to me in almost a week… And now Swan was saying the same thing and I could help it; I stood up, grabbed my things and stormed out.
I drove away not caring about stupid speed limits, barely noticing the few traffic lights that were in town; I just drove until I finally reach the same park I went a couple of days ago.
This couldn't be happening; Swan couldn't get to me that way. She should be the one storming out of classes, she should be the one kicking stones in this fucking park, she should be the one getting affected for our exchanges, NOT ME!. She has to have a soft spot; she can't be that tough, nobody is. The question is; what is her weakness? And then, it hit me; love.
I remember the things that Tanya and Lauren told me the day I met them in the party, they mostly talked about Swan being a bitch but they also told me she's never been on a relationship. I know what to do now! I have to pull the prank I did with Michael the last year of junior high; I have to get Swan to fall in love with me. You wanna play rough Swan? I'll play rough just wait and see.
A/N: Hi my beautiful readers! Did you enjoy this chapter? Did you hate it? Just leave a review and let me know!
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