The next Monday as soon as I see Edward at school, I don't hesitate to approach him. His eyes widen the closer I get and all his friends look at me as though I have four heads. I am a lamb entering in the lion's den.

Toe to toe I stop right in front of him. I hadn't really thought about what I'd say when I got over here.

Edwards shock soon fades to obvious amusement. "Why, hello there."

I bow my head to him a little and shift my books in my arms, "Edward."

It seems as though everyone else in the entire school stops to stare at us in the halls. It's like in a movie where a record screeches and time freezes and all eyes are pointed in our direction.

But I've never been one to care about what the masses think.

Edward's friend Emmett turns to speak low into Edward's ear. Out of the corner of my eye I see Emmett's girlfriend Rose, also talking to the other girls around her, quiet enough so I can't hear what she's saying, and I feel out of place.

My face starts to redden, the heat of my blush tingling my skin.

Edward and I are in this stare down, and as the seconds pass our surroundings seem to fade away until it's just us—it is for me anyway.

It makes me feel a little more comfortable.

He ignores whatever Emmett says to him—matter of fact he's ignoring everyone but me, even the dark-haired chick who's standing close to his other side snarling at me.

"What are you doing?" he says in a low voice.

"Whatever I want." I answer louder with enough confidence to try to convince myself.

He nods and his grin is crooked, and I feel ten feet tall and bullet proof.

"Good for you."

He's still staring, I'm still staring, and the intensity around us is like a buzz in the air. I don't know where it comes from. I don't know how he can make my skin feel like it's alive with energy. It seems I don't know much of anything anymore.

I jump as the warning bell rings and the halls are instantly loud and busy when my world restarts its rotation.

Edward dips his head to speak close to my ear; his hand comes forward and lightly holds my elbow. "You should get to class."

I look down at his hand. "Yeah, I'll see you later."

I back away slowly before I turn and see all of mine and Peter's friends huddling together in the hall watching me with judgmental eyes.

I shrug their direction already knowing exactly what they're going to do.

"What was that?" Jessica speeds up to walk beside me.

I laugh, "What did it look like?"

"It looked like you and Edward Cullen!" The excitement of a possible scandal is so loud in Jessica's voice, I almost trip over it.

I abruptly stop walking and she bumps into me. "It looked like me and Edward Cullen what?" I challenge her.

"Um... Well, you know," she stammers.

I shake my head, "Yeah, I do know. The rest of you, I'm not so sure." I brush past her shoulder as I leave her standing there gaping at me.

It sure does feel good to speak my mind.

/ / /

"You know you're going to hear it from your boyfriend tonight when he calls. He's going to be so mad at you," Edward teases as we sit on the side of the stage, our legs dangling as we wait on Mrs. Cope to show up. He's referring to me stopping to talk to him in the hall today. I also went out of my way to speak to him at lunch too.

"Whatever. I just don't like to be told I can't do something by someone who has no authority over me." My parents call me stubborn and bull-headed; it's a problem I've always had.

"Wow. You are a spitfire, Swan! How sexy is that?" Edward bumps me with his elbow.

"Hush." I mumble as I bury my face in my hands.

"Everyone, center stage," Mrs. Cope shouts as soon as she busts through the auditorium doors.

"Hey, don't ever change for anyone," Edward says as he leans in toward me when he gets up.

I watch him walk away and wonder if he knows me better than I know myself.

He stops and spins and takes a few steps back in my direction. "But just for the record, you are never, ever allowed to kiss me! Do you understand?"

He raises his eyebrows in what I consider a challenge before he walks off again.

Sometimes I think I like disobeying orders.

Tonight I'm finally going to get to talk to Peter about what Edward had told me. Peter's parents had taken him to their lake house for a long weekend hoping he could get some extra rest. They are due back any minute.

What they really meant by whisking him away was 'we are taking you away from all your friends and your girlfriend so you will do what you are told.'

I haven't talked to him since Thursday night; there's very little cell phone reception at the lake. I've been there a few times in the past year and could never call out on my cell.

I'm not as pissed as I was before; I don't even know if his friends have gotten to him yet and told him I had made a point to talk to Edward at school.

But I am ready for a fight.

After a few minutes of him telling me how bored he was all weekend, I interrupt him. "So... I heard a rumor."

Peter doesn't say anything—matter of fact, I don't think I even hear him breathing.

"Are your friends keeping tabs on me?"

He mumbles something I can't make out. "Of course they are. I can't be there so I asked them to watch out for you."

I swallow hard. "What do you think I am? A baby? Peter, I can take care of myself and just so you know, I can also speak to whoever I want. I can eat lunch, I can talk on the phone, I can even get a ride with anybody. I. Want."

"Shit, babe. Don't get mad. I didn't mean it in a bad way. If you want I'll tell them to forget it."

"Yeah, that's what I want." I have to bite my tongue to not say something mean.

"Listen, Bella, I'm sorry. I worry about you when I can't be with you. I trust you and I agree, you can do whatever you want. Just don't be mad at me."

I'm still pissed and confused and hurt. "Whatever."

"Can you come over?"

"Yeah, I can." I take a deep breath and wipe off my face.

"Great, I miss your doll face. I'll see you in a minute."

I throw the phone down on my bed and go to change my clothes.

I can't stop wondering when things will ever get back to normal.

"Rainbows apologize for angry skies." ~Sylvia Voirol

A/N: Thank you to all who said I shouldn't be doubting myself. With this fic I challenged myself to just tell a story. Don't go for all the big bang moments, or the gut wrenching angst, just a simple love story - I'm trying but it still makes me nervous! Please just give our Bella some time to figure it out.