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Chipping Away

Chapter 10

I couldn't stop the smile on my face. She let me hold her hand, well at least for a second anyway, but it happened. I know I'm slowly but surely chipping away at her armor. But, why am I acting like a girl over this. Did I really just get excited about holding a girls hand? What am I, five? I'm so inexperienced here and don't know how to move forward.

She's on my mind all morning though and I couldn't care less about our upcoming history assignment. I'm just thinking about the next time I see Bella and what I want to say next to take another chip away. It's dangerous how much I'm thinking about her. I have to focus on my classes and my grades in order to stick with my plan of getting as far away from here as possible. This immediately makes me wonder what Bella's plans are after we graduate. Hell yeah, that's one more thing I can talk to her about.

I irritatingly tap my pencil against the desk as I stare blankly ahead as Mrs. Smith drones on and on about the history of the world. I'm that far gone that I don't even know what we are talking about exactly. It isn't until Alice, jabs me in the side with her disgusting chewed up pink pen, that I realize I sound like the little drummer boy. Yeah, I can see how that is distracting, but then again, so is Alice and not in a good way. She's glaring and also trying to flutter her too made up lashes at me. I ignore her and turn my head back towards the front of the room.

I look at the clock above the teacher's head to see what time it is. Thank goodness, only five more minutes of this stuff. I'm ready for lunch and not because I'm a growing boy and need my protein. I'm dying to see Bella again. I know I'll have to reel it in a bit, because the guys will be giving me shit about not focusing. I'll focus when I get on that field though, I always do.

Five minutes later the bell finally rings and I dart out of my seat, slinging my backpack over my shoulder in the process. I feel what can only be Alice's nails on my arm, scratching me as I try to hurry out. I turn around giving her a, what the fuck, look before turning back around and rushing out of the room. I'm slightly pissed now. I mean when will she get a damn clue that I'm not interested in her?

I think it's time to have a talk with Jasper and find out what in the hell is really going on with him and Alice. That shits not right. A woman is not a possession, no, but still shouldn't you have a little respect for your partner and not constantly screw around behind their back? Yeah, Alice didn't get that memo and I wonder why Jasper puts up with that shit.

I quickly dispel thoughts of Alice and Jasper when I see her, the newfound object of my obsession. That's what she is too, my obsession, because since Friday night I haven't been able to get her out of my thoughts. She looks adorable today in her understated way. She's wearing a simple green plaid shirt and jeans, and that same black leather jacket that gives her that tough girl exterior of hers.

I'm beginning to think that the jacket shields more than just the chill in the air; it's her way of keeping others away too. She wants people to think she's a badass chick that you should steer clear of, but I'm not everyone else. It's not going to keep me away.

I stand there in the middle of the hallway a beat too long and she looks up to catch me staring at her. Damn it to hell, I turn bright red again. She unnerves me completely. I should turn my head away and place my things in my locker, but I just can't. And wait a damn minute; did she just give me a half smile? I'll take that. I want to go up and talk to her, but like a skittish kitten, she turns away from me and towards the cafeteria, before I get the chance. Oh well, I'm not giving up on talking to her again today, but for now, that small smile, will be my small victory.

I walk to my locker and quickly toss my bag in and head to the cafeteria to join the guys at our table. It's a loud cacophony of gossip and laughter, due to being pent of for hours in the classroom. When walking to my table, I hear lots of murmurs of Edward and Bella being tossed around.

Oh yes, the rumor mill is in full force today after our chats at church and this morning in the parking lot. There's no telling what all they are saying about us now and how much it has grown into the absurd at this point. I don't really give two shits what other people think they know about Bella and me. The only thing I do care about is if all of this gossip is hurting Bella in some way. I would never want that, but something tells me she's not one to care what others think. Well, actually she told me so this morning.

I scan the room, while waiting in line for my tray and spot her sitting at her usual table with Kate and a few others. I can't believe I've known her basically my whole life, gone to school with her since kindergarten and I've not really paid much attention to her and those around her. I keep my eyes on her table and feel a bubble of hot rage course through my body when I see him, with his long black greasy hair and glasses that are too big for his scrawny face and frame. Freaking Jacob Black is sitting right beside her, eyes filled with lust, watching her every single move and it pisses me off.

Why does he get to sit next to her? She doesn't even seem fazed by his closeness, which means she's completely comfortable with him. I'm not sure why all of a sudden I feel threatened by the likes of Jacob. I mean he's not any competition in the looks department, but the fact that he's sitting beside her and now that I think about it, has been sitting beside her like that for years now, burns me up with jealousy.

I want to know her the way he does. I want her to be at ease around me the way she is with him. And then a thought hits me, what if she's dating him? I mean I've never paid much attention before and maybe that's why she keeps shutting me out. I'm not conceited or a huge dick about my status in school, but I know I'm not horribly unattractive either and obviously I'm more attractive than that tool. Maybe they're just friends.

My creepy stalker stare is so strong, that I freaking jump when I feel Jasper shove into me to get me to move up in line.

"You alright there Cullen? What's got you staring so hard over there?" He looks toward Kate and Bella's table and continues, "or should I say, who are you staring at so hard?" I try to turn my head and face him, shaking my head in the process.

"She's pretty, has a nice set of tits too, but you know, Alice would be pissed if she ever heard me say that." Suddenly I'm no longer angry at Jake. I am however, about to kill Jasper for looking at and talking about my girl in such away. I have to be careful though, because if I act like his words affect me, he'll jump all over this and make it a bigger deal than it is.

Jasper's still staring at her and I'm tryihg my hardest to look everywhere but their table.

"Sorry man, I don't know who you're talking about. I was just lost in a daze, thinking about the game this Friday. It's never too early to get focused and prepared." I hope he buys it and lets it go.

For some reason I feel the need to protect Bella from people like Jasper and the other guys on the team. They might taint her somehow and I can't have that. Besides, she's mine; she just doesn't know it yet.

We both grab our tray and start putting various lumps of greens and browns on our plate. I should've packed some leftovers, this shit is disgusting. Jasper follows behind me with an equal look of disgust on his face and I'm thankful that he's now on to something else and not my over attention to Bella and her assets. Although he was right about that, she does have a nice set, but I see more than that from her and I want more than a physical relationship with her.

I grab my fork and am about to head to our table, when I hear Jasper commenting on our food again. "How in the hell do they expect us to eat this shit? We're growing boys. We can't win them titles and championships if they feed us this crusty and lumpy shit." We both laugh and make our way to our table.

When we sit down I notice someone is missing from our group of jocks and I have a feeling I know where he is too. I try to nonchalantly look around for him and bingo, sitting across from my Bella, is none other than Garrett. Lucky fucker gets to sit at their table. All in due time Cullen, all in due time.

I turn back around and grab my milk, giving the cartoon a good shake before opening it and taking a gulp. I almost choke when I hear laughter that rivals that of an angelic choir. Okay, maybe not so much, but still, it makes me take a pause and turn to look and see where it's coming from. Of course it's coming from Bella. I guess Jakey is so funny. Well good for him.

Then I see that Garrett is laughing as well, fucking traitor. I turn my head back around, before the guys can give me any shit over it and notice that a girl has finally caught my attention. I know Mike would be all over her if he knew that I was interested in her. He's just like that, wants what everyone else has and all. He's the male version of Alice and I have to wonder why they aren't together. Jasper's a nice guy and they just don't make any sense together. She obviously has something over him.

The guys are cutting up and acting out as usual and I join in here and there, but the jealousy that Jacob has brought about, never falters and I can't wait to get on that football field and work this new aggression out. I also need to talk to my mom and see what she thinks about all of this. She's giving me great advice so far, so why stray from her now.

The bell rings, the day wears on and before I know it, it's time for football practice. Freaking finally! I suit up in our practice gear and hit the field. We start with our typical stretches and move on to sprints, warming our bodies up, so we don't have any pre-game injuries. Each player is vital to this team and our winning season and we don't need some petty injury to happen because our bodies weren't properly prepared.

Along with the jealousy, I'm also carrying around a lot of frustration today as well. I never got the chance to talk to her again. We have a class together, sure, but the teacher decided to give a full on lecture for the whole period today, leaving no room for idle chatter. Bella also didn't get to class until right when the bell rang and left in a flash as well.

If I didn't know better, I'd think she was avoiding me. But why? Maybe she really is with Jacob and is feeling guilty for even talking to me. Maybe I should back off, but first I need to find out if it's true and I know just who to ask too. That's all going to have to wait, because it's time to work this shit out on the field and focus on my first true love, football.

A/N: So, we have a jealous Edward. Hee Hee, Hee, this is gonna be fun.

Thanks so much for reading guys!