BELLA

Charlie had knocked on the door when he'd come home. And again when he'd ordered pizza. I was hiding out. For reasons even I didn't fully understand.

I think at some point I must have fallen asleep.

My stomach rumbling woke me up. It was 1:15 am and I couldn't remember eating anything since the morning before. I crept quietly out of my room, the door to Charlie's room was closed. I slipped down the stairs and into the kitchen, pulled a slice of pizza from the box in the fridge and put it in the microwave. When it was hot I took a bite and headed into the living room.

"Bella," came a voice from the dark. I just about jumped out of my skin.

"Dad," I mumbled.

"Come sit down." I closed my eyes and sighed, before dropping myself to the couch.

"Have you been waiting here all night?"

"No. I heard you get up."

I took another bite of my pizza, though my appetite was waining.

Finally Charlie spoke again. "I don't know everything that was going on when you were living at your mom's. Just a few of the finer points," he cocked an eyebrow at me, as though we were sharing an inside joke. I didn't think the joke was all that funny. I stared blankly at him, then he continued, "I do know that, your mom and Phil both love you."

"I know," I answered quickly.

"They're worried." I said nothing. I forced another bite of pizza into me, my appetite now completely gone. "Do you know what happened Monday?"

I nodded, "Alice told me."

"He used his credit card in Bakersfield earlier this week. Do you know if he knows anyone there?"

I shrugged and shook my head. "I'm going to bed," I stated rising from the couch.

"You know, I love you too Bells?"

"I know."

"I'll let you know what I know."

I nodded, then threw the half eaten slice of pizza in the trash and returned to my room, shutting the door behind me. I climbed back onto my bed and shut my eyes.

The next time I woke it was to a constant pounding on the door, it was 7 am. "What?" I groaned.

"Didn't want you over sleeping again," Charlie called from behind the door, I could here the smile in his voice. "You should get up and get in the shower."

"Fuck," I moaned, yawning wide and stretching. "Fuck this shit," I breathed before rolling out of bed. Charlie was still knocking at the door. "I'm up," I said as I swung the door open.

"Good." Charlie turned and headed down the stairs, he was already in uniform.

I headed into the bathroom, showering slowly with the water as hot as I could tolerate. I dressed in a pair of skinny jeans and one of James' wife beaters, that had managed to end up in my bag. Then grabbed one of Charlie's uniform shirts from his room, pulling it on as I came downstairs.

"Bella, you can't wear that," he said, as I poured myself a cup of coffee.

"What?" I shrugged "We match."

"I wear that shirt. Hang on." Charlie disappeared back upstairs. A moment later he reappeared. "How 'bout this one?" He held up one of his older uniform shirts. "This one doesn't really fit so well anymore," he said, patting his midsection and laughing.

I raised an eyebrow at him. "Thanks," I answered flatly. This was not the reaction I was expecting. Charlie had thrown me another curve ball. Turning I pulled off one shirt and exchanged it for the one Charlie had brought down. Then grabbed my coffee and took a sip.

"You better get going. You want a travel mug for that?"

"Sure." Charlie pulled a mug from the cabinet and handed it to me. I poured my coffee from one cup to the other.

"Are you gonna eat anything?" I shrugged. "Take a granola bar with you at least Bells."

I nodded, he tossed me a granola bar from across the room. I turned and grabbed my backpack and jacket, then headed for the door. "See ya' Dad," I called over my shoulder. It was weird in there, I had to get out.

Climbing into the cab of my truck I checked the glove box, hoping that my cigarettes would be there. Maybe I'd missed them the day before, maybe Charlie had put them back. No such luck. I fired up the Beast and pulled away from the curb. As I was heading up the street I noticed Charlie's cruiser behind me. At the stop sign I waved in the rear view before turning, knowing the station was the other direction.

But Charlie stayed behind me. What the hell. He followed me the whole way to the school, turning into the parking lot behind me. What kind of bullshit was this? I pulled into a spot near the back of the lot, barely shutting off the truck before jumping out.

I ran over to Charlie's window, "What?" I blurted out.

"Just making sure you made it in one piece, Bella." Charlie replied before driving off, a smile on his face.

I was livid. "Motherfucker," I mumbled, walking back over to the truck and slamming the door. I was now desperate for a cigarette. I opened the truck door again, climbing over and checking the glove box yet again. I slammed it shut when once again my cigarettes didn't magically appear. I had to stop doing that to myself. I slammed the truck door shut for good measure. And started walking toward the school.

"Nice shirt," came Emmett's booming voice from behind me. Damn he was fucking loud. I stopped in my tracks, turning with a grin starting to form on my lips. "Here you go Babe," Emmett handed me a plastic bag.

I jumped up and threw my arms around Emmett's neck. "Oh, my God! Thank you. Emmett, your my new best friend."

He laughed as he lowered me back to the ground, darting his eyes around the parking lot. "Now you owe me."

"Is she watching?"

He shrugged, "I don't see her." He was still scouring the parking lot with his eyes. "You look fucking hot, by the way. Woman in uniform and all that. I almost feel bad for wasting your time. Not that there's are any better guys around here than me."

"Ha ha," I smiled. "You seem to think pretty highly of yourself."

"Is there any other way to think of me?" I lit up a cigarette out of one of my new packs. "Seriously, Emmett, your my fucking hero today." I took a long drag and exhaled slowly. "I met you brother yesterday."

"Met him? I thought you had a class with him?"

"I do. I just didn't know he was your brother till yesterday."

"How'd you figure that out."

"We hung out, after school."

"Huh, he didn't tell that." Emmett looked disgruntled.

I was pleased. This was what I'd been trying to get at without having to ask directly. Edward hadn't said anything, I could breath a sigh of relief. I didn't want everyone at Forks High knowing about my personal life. Well my "real" personal life. They could talk all the shit they wanted about whatever perceptions they had of me, or Emmett and me I guess. I just didn't want them knowing about ME.

Emmett looked down at his watch, just as the first bell rang. I rolled my eyes and took another drag of my cigarette. "I better get going. I'll see you at lunch."

"I'll be out here with my nicotine," I smiled lazily. Emmett nodded with a slight grin and headed toward the school.

I took off my backpack and put the bag with the carton of cigarettes and several lighters into it. I had thought about putting it in my truck, but I did trust Charlie not to take these too. The second bell rang as I finished up my cigarette, then headed into school. I would have stayed out there longer but it was starting to rain again.

EDWARD

I pulled into the school parking lot a minute or so after Emmett did. Parking a few cars down from where I saw Bella slamming her truck door as her father pulled away. Emmett was walking toward Bella with a bag in hand. Her cigarettes I assumed. I stood beside my Volvo and watched her launch her little body into my brothers arms. I wanted to vomit.

She looked fucking sexy as hell. In tight dark jeans that hugged her ass and one of her dad's brown button down uniform shirts open, over a wife beater that clung to her. And showed off the dark bra she had on beneath it. Fucking sexy. And my fucking brother, who only wanted to piss off his girlfriend had his hands on her.

I don't know what I was expecting after yesterday. It was weird. The whole thing was just weird. I think Bella had opened up to me more than she had to anyone in Forks. I knew something real about her, not some rumor. Then her dad showed up and I swear he threatened to arrest her, that's weird in itself.

I gave her my number. I hoped that she would call. I didn't really expect her to, but I hoped. She didn't. I wasn't shocked. I was kind of disappointed, but not surprised. Still I chastised myself for hoping. Especially now. Watching her smile at my brother.

What the hell was it with me and this girl.

I closed my eyes and stormed past them, headed to my first class.

I swear my day only went down hill from there. Rosalie had apparently caught the display in the parking lot too. I had barely reached the edge of the parking lot when she was by my side. Wrapping her arm around mine, "Hi Eddie," she cooed.

"Fuck off Rose."

"Is that anyway to greet your 'new best friend'?" I laughed inwardly, apparently she'd gotten a ringside seat earlier, she'd heard Bella squealing.

"Fuck off. Ive got places to be."

"Well, I'll see you at lunch," Rose grinned. Her grin sickened me further.

I tried to fool myself into thinking that Rose was kidding as I sat in the cafeteria with Ben. He was going on about some kung-fu movie he'd seen last weekend, when his voice dropped off suddenly. I felt hands lightly drop onto my shoulders, "Hey there, Eddie," came her voice low in my ear.

I rolled my eyes and sighed. "Hey Rose, I told you to fuck off this morning. It still stands," I said, closing my eyes and pinching the bridge of my nose.

"Now, now, is that anyway to talk to a lady?"

"I don't really give a shit."

She pushed out her lower lip in a pout, "Eddie."

"Edward." I growled. "Now. Fuck. Off."

Rose laughed and sat down beside me. Ben was eying Rosalie curiously, but had still yet to speak since she'd come over. "Ben. Isn't it?" He nodded. "You can go now."

"Fuck you Rosalie." I stood up from the table. What a fucking bitch she was. I really couldn't understand what my brother saw in her. Sure she was hot, but no amount physical beauty could make up for her fucking ugly ass attitude. "Sorry Ben," I said before turning and walking out of the cafeteria.

I noticed on my way to the door that Emmett was no where in sight. Nor was Bella.

I ran my hand through my hair as I stopped just outside the cafeteria doors. "Oh good, we can be alone now," came Rosalie's voice laced with saccharin.

"Seriously Rose, I don't know what your fucking deal is. But really you need to back the fuck off."

"Edward, you know exactly what my deal is. Emmett. Now I don't know what his fucking deal is with the new girl, but I'm sick of it. He's mine. And this ends now and you're going to help me."

"No I'm not." Rosalie was staring me down. "Why don't you just tell him you want him back."

She sneered at me, "Rosalie Hale does not go crawling back to anyone."

"Rose give me a fucking break. Teasing Emmett is obviously not working, so either give it up and tell him the truth, or find someone that's willing to play your fucking games. And just a hint, that's not me."

I turned and walked away from Rosalie, heading toward the science building. I'd fucking had it. Rose and Emmett seriously had to stop fucking playing these stupid ass games with each other. Especially since now it was affecting other people. Namely Bella Swan, I'd put up with this crap for years but she didn't deserve to be part of it.

I glanced out at the parking lot as a strode past, and there they were. Bella putting out a cigarette and hopping out of the bed of her truck. Emmett wrapped an arm around her tiny waist as she laughed at something he said. Had never been more angry with my brother, than this moment, as he played Bella like this. And I couldn't help but wonder how Bella felt about him.

BELLA

This day just would not end. A full day of classes at Forks High was complete torture, I would have to come up with something to fix that. Quick. Emmett and I spent the lunch hour in the bed of my truck, thankfully the rain had stopped. I smoked, he talked and ate. Damn that kid could eat. He prattled on about football and his party and other things that I had very little interest in.

I was still pretty caught up in my anger at Charlie. I think it had been showing though as the school day went on, the cigarette in my hand now was helping relax me though. "Emmett will there be lots of alcohol there on Friday?"

"Yep."

"Lots of it?"

"Yep."

"I'll be there."

Emmett smiled widely dimples showing, "I'll pick you up."

At least now I had something to look forward to. Getting drunk. I grinned.

Of course there was still a lot of time between now and then.

Starting with Biology, which was beyond awkward. "Hey," I breathed, as I reached the lab table Edward was already sitting at and sat down beside him. Edward simply nodded, not even turning his head. He never made eye contact with me. He spent the entire period not taking his eyes away from the blackboard, hands clenched in tight fists. What the fuck did he have to be so angry about.

I was grateful that he hadn't said anything about what had happened yesterday and I wanted to tell him as much. I wasn't sure how to broach the subject, and with the way he was acting toward me, I really didn't know what to do. So I did nothing. I tried to ignore him, but couldn't help myself from stealing glances through my hair when I thought he wouldn't notice. When the bell rang I turned to say something to him, but he'd already bolted from his seat and was halfway to the door.

"What the hell did you do to Cullen?" Mike asked as we reached the door.

I shrugged. I honestly had no idea.