After waiting impatiently for Jason to quietly open his house door, I stormed passed him and into the guest bathroom. As I was locking the door, I heard three swift raps on its opposite side. "Ed, are you okay? What happened with, Bells? And let me help stitch up your chest. You know I'm better than you at that."

I pressed my forehead against the door in attempt to control the irritability still coursing its way through my every blood vessel. "No, Jay, its okay...I can do it myself."

I could clearly hear his heavy breathing from the separation between us. "Edward Masen, just open the fucking door. Stop being so damn dramatic."

I gritted my teeth in frustration as my right hand involuntarily reached up and unlocked the door. Opening it slowly, I leaned away and propped myself up onto the counter alongside the sink. Walking in with a first-aid kit in hand, Jason kicked the door shut and turned towards me. He eyed me inquiringly before gesturing with his free hand to remove my jacket. I obligingly did as I was told and tossed my leather jacket onto the tile near my feet. As he removed all the necessitated materials from the fist-aid kit and placed them beside my ass on the counter, I kept my eyes glued to the wall at the end of the bathroom. Why the fuck am I so stupid? My thoughts where racing as I mentally kicked myself for what I had said to Bella. But at the same time, I didn't entirely hold myself responsible. I clearly told her that I could do this myself, but she just kept on insisting, and out of mere infuriation, I blew my top. But then again, here I am, with Jason about to stitch up my chest. I'm such a hypocrite.

I didn't speak as Jason reached up with a cotton swab and disinfected my wounds. Feeling the cool sting of the disinfectant, my back arched and my chest sank inward. Jason's hand halted around the middle of my chest, near my sternum, as he glanced up at me with exasperation etched upon his face. "Stop moving."

I clenched my jaw and bit my lip to sustain myself from snapping at my best friend. All too soon, I felt the pinch of needle and the tug of my skin against the nylon string. I glanced down at my chest, at Jason's handy work, and watched his still hands maneuvering ephemerally across my chest. He's going to make one hell of a surgeon one day. That's been his dream job since he was the age of thirteen and saw open heart surgery for the first time on television. As soon as he finished stitching me up, he ran another cotton swab over my chest but leaving some brown liquid upon my stitches. "What the hell is that?"

He didn't answer me though; he pushed me aside to wash his hands and strolled out the door with the first-aid kit tucked beneath his arm. Without thinking, I jumped off of the counter whilst slowly bending down to snatch my jacket off of the ground and followed after my best friend. Not finding him in the living room, I poked my head through the kitchen and saw his jean covered ass popping out of the refrigerator. I sighed and sat in the stool that Katherine was seated at in the morning. I heard the refrigerator slam shut and Jason held two bottles of beer in one hand. My lip twitched nauseatingly as thoughts of Stephen flashed before my eyes.

Jason sat across from me and opened both bottles, placing one in front him and the other in front of me. "Why the beer? We don't drink, Jay."

"Tonight we are, so drink up. I can tell you need one." He nodded at me while lifting the bottle to his lips and taking one long swig.

I mimicked his movements and took in a mouthful of the chill beer. It burned the back of my throat but left a fuzzy warmth in pit of my chest. I glanced up and saw Jason watching me speculatively. "Yes?"

"What happened tonight?"

I shook my head. "Nothing."

Jason closed his eyes fleetingly as he conjured up his next words carefully. "Don't lie to me. You should know better, Edward. Tell me."

My head felt heavy on my shoulders. It felt like a ton of bricks. "I yelled at Bella. I told her to stop trying to help me. That I'm nobody's charity case. She wanted Carlisle to stitch up my chest, but I yelled at her and told her I could do it myself." I ripped my eyes away from the bottle to look at Jason in the eye. "I told her to leave me alone. I screwed up real bad, Jay."

Jason had a bored look in his eye. "That's it? This huge attitude was just over that? Ugh, Ed, that'll blow over soon enough." Jason shrugged, taking in another swig of beer.

I lowered my eyes as I fiddled with the paper around the bottle. "She stood there...crying, Jay. She was crying and I just ripped my hand away form hers and left."

As he was bringing the bottle up to his lips again, his hand stopped midair at my words. "You made her cry?!"

"I told you I screwed up."

His eyes where raging with different emotions. "But you made her fucking cry?! What the hell, Edward? You better apologize to her. I'll beat your ass if you don't."

I noticeably flinched at his words and glanced away from him, my eyes drooping towards my bottle again. Though I knew he was joking, I still couldn't help but reacting.

He noticed my unease and immediately caught on. "Oh, shit, sorry. I didn't mean to..."

I sighed, "I know, it's alright...I'm just going to go take a quick shower and head off to bed."

His brow furrowed, knowing that I was still upset and nodded. "Night, Ed."

I threw my empty bottle in the trashcan and mumbled a "night" over my shoulder in return.

Subsequent to my painful shower, I slipped on my pajama bottoms and sunk into the mattress, curling my fingers tightly around the blue comforter. I closed my eyes and quickly fell asleep due to my chaotic day.

I was at a cemetery. Dark rain clouds filled the sky overhead and I could feel insignificant droplets of water seeping through my hair and skin. Cement gravestones surrounded me but my eyes where situated on only one thing. A woman with long bronze hair that cascaded in ringlets down her back was standing in a black dress that hung loosely at her thin waist. Her back was to me but I could tell who she was from more than a mile away. Seeing her familiar silhouette made me want to run and fall into the caring and safe embrace that where her arms. I took a step forward and she leisurely instigated turning towards me. With every step I took, the more she twirled to face me. Now, as I stood merely inches away from her, she gazed up at me. My eyes where locked down her soft green ones.

We stood there, staring at each other for what felt like forever. She reached up with a pale hand and placed it upon my ashen cheek. My lips trembled as I placed my hand over hers, pressing it tighter to my face. A lone tear escaped her eyes and I swiftly reached up and brushed it away with the fingertips of my unoccupied hand. "Mom..." I whispered, a mix of millions emotions seeping through that solitary word. A small but loving smile flashed over her soft features. "Yes, Edward?" Her voice was like silk. It sounded as if it where miles away, but all the while was laced with adoration and love.

"I miss you." I stated, my voice cracking near the middle. I leaned forward and wrapped my arms firmly around her small shoulders. She wrapped her arms around my torso and buried her head in my chest. Expecting pain to lash out from the contact, I tensed, but nothing came. I felt no pain from my wounds.

"I know you do, Edward. I know you do." She spoke softly from my chest. "But I have to go soon...it's time for me to go. You need to let me go." I instantly removed my arms from around her and clasped my hands around her shoulders.

"W-what? But you just got here? Why are you leaving?" I cried.

Her tranquil expression never wavered, and neither did her voice. "I have to, son. It's time..."

Fear coursed through every fiber of my being. "No! You don't have to, mom. Stay here, with me. Please!" I openly sobbed, running my hands down her arms and gripping her hands strongly in mine. A sudden movement behind her made me instantly alert. Stephen stood more than ten feet away, behind a tombstone, and in a black suit. He held a bouquet of dead white roses in his hands as he watched the scene of my mother and me playing out before his eyes. He looked furious. His eyes had a stony flicker in them, and his jaw was clenched.

He unexpectedly allowed the bouquet of roses to fall out of his burly hands. As it gradually tumbled towards the ground, I became aware of my mothers body before me once again. It began to slowly fade away, becoming more translucent by the second. My hands where all of a sudden grasping onto nothing, they where grasping onto thin air. Though I could still see my mother standing there with the same serene expression in front of me, and I could still see her hands in between both of mines, I couldn't feel them. My hands where going right through hers. "Mom?" I gasped.

"I told you it was time for me to go..." her voice faded away with the remnants of her body. Soon after, she was gone. I was standing there in the middle of a cemetery weeping, surrounded my tombstones, and with Stephen's savage figure just feet away. An abrupt wave of vertigo washed through me and I fell to my knees. By now the rain had picked up a heavy tempo and I had to strain my eyes to see anything beyond my line of sight. The faintness never left me as I felt the vitality departing my veins. My eyes involuntarily fluttered shut as my body slumped forward towards the sodden mucky dirt. My head compacted with the ground forcefully and I lost all will to breathe as the darkness surpassed my body and took me away into the nothing.

"No!" I cried, waking out of my fitful slumber, gasping for air. My upper body shot up out of bed and curled in on itself. This was by far the most frightening dream I've ever had. More like nightmare. I could hear banging emitting from somewhere around the room. I glanced around wildly looking for its source, when I came to a conclusion that it was coming from the door. I didn't remember locking it last night.

I slowly rose from the bed, all the while throwing a t-shirt on over my head so that whoever was out there wouldn't see my bandaged chest. I opened the door swiftly, and there tumbled in Jason, Kathy and their father, Dean. They had frantic expressions written all over their faces. "Edward! Are you okay?!" Kathy shrieked, looking me over.

"Um, yes, why I wouldn't I be?" I asked curiously. They where acting peculiar.

"We heard screaming from down the hall and we thought something happened! Are you sure you're all right?" Dean stared at me warily, placing an unsteady hand on my shoulder.

My brow furrowed, I was screaming in my sleep? That hasn't happened to me in months. "Yes, I'm okay, Mr. Cooper, thanks...just had a bad dream I guess." Kathy and Dean breathed sighs of relief and headed out of the guest room while Jason stood here, still gazing at me with anxiety running across his face.

I sighed and headed back towards the bed, perching myself on the foot of it. Jason copied my action and sat beside me, still watching me guardedly. "Edward, you're not okay. I can see it, you never scream like that when you take naps or when you sleep. What happened?"

I gulped, "nightmare."

His jaw clenched. "Want to talk about it?" I really didn't, but the last time I had a bad dream, I'd left him hanging.

"It was about my mom. She was there, living, breathing, and talking to me..." Jason didn't need to hear anymore though; he knew I had difficulty speaking about my mother out loud. He placed a hand on the back of my shoulder, onto the crook of my neck and gave me a light squeeze.

"It's going to be okay, Edward. Just...give it time. Just give it time, you hear?" Jason raised his eyebrows at me. "I don't enjoy seeing my best friend all miserable."

I chuckled and gave him a half smile, though it didn't reach my eyes. "Thanks, Jay."

"No problem, Eddie...now come on, get changed, we have to head out to school soon."

Shit, school.

Jason and I reached the school in more time than normal. As we where parking, the first bell had already rung and we could see everyone walking into their buildings. I could tell that Jason felt my reluctance in going today so he drove at a snail's pace, making the ride there a whole lot longer. As we clambered out of his Integra, we rushed into the halls and swiftly bumped fists when we parted. I took a deep shaky breath when I reached the door to Biology and wrenched it open. Half of the class was already in there, including Bella. My heart nearly broke at the sight of her. She looked miraculous, as always, but her eyes...they where distant. The light that was usually ignited in them was gone. They where frozen and cold, they weren't pooling with her customary rush of emotions; all of this was because of me.

I forced my eyes to rip away from hers and stared down at my feet as I made my way towards my seat next to her. I sat down quietly and the stillness between Bella and I was almost painful. I could feel the tension and that anomalous pull towards her at the same time. Though I felt like turning away from her and ignoring her for the next two hours, I also felt the need to sweep her off of her feet and into my arms, and just holding her close...knowing that it will be all right. But I disregarded the latter thought and placed my head over my arms for the entire one hundred and twenty minutes of Banner's tedious lecture. When the bell rang, I bolted out of my chair and left Bella in my tracks.

Fuck, I have her for English too.

This was the worst school day ever. I saw Bella everywhere. I did have three classes with her, so that was probably the reason why. It took most of my willpower to not talk to her. I know I should have apologized to her like Jason told me to do yesterday. But I'm a fucking coward and I couldn't do it. I should receive a "biggest asshole" award, which would be oh so pleasant. I rolled my eyes at myself as I walked out of the school. Heading towards the Integra in the parking lot, I heard a wolf whistle and my senses immediately picked up. I knew Jason's call anywhere. My head swiveled towards The Cold Ones' bench and I saw them all seated upon it, talking and catching up.

Ugh, I don't feel like talking to any of them today.

I grudgingly made my way towards the bench, greeted them all, and sat and Keith's right. He seemed deep in though so I didn't dare interrupt him to start a conversation. Instead, I sat there, gazing out at the student body swarming around the lot and parent pick up. I saw a big figure walking towards us hastily; the whole gang was here so I knew it wasn't one of them. My eyes tightened and noticed the brown curly hair and the memorable exceedingly large muscles.

He was looking directly at me and picked up pace as he saw me staring back. I sighed and jumped off of the bench table, taking a few steps forward to confront him without the nosy peepers of the gang. He reached me and he looked livid. We where practically nose to nose as he spoke. "What did you do to her?"

"What did I do to whom?"

His nostrils flared menacingly. "Don't fucking play dumb with me, Masen. What did you do to Bella?"

"I didn't do anything to her." My voice was tight as I clenched my hands into fists at my sides.

"You sure as hell did. Ever since she started hanging out with you and your people she's been different. And I had never seen her the way she was last night. She looked so defeated, so sad, that I knew it had to have been you. She hasn't made any other friends here besides you and that Cooper kid." He fumed, "so answer me, what did you do?"

"Nothing."

He rose and eyebrow at me, "wrong answer." I didn't even notice when his fist came up flying towards my face. His fist connected with my skin with an audible booming sound. Rage ran through me as the adrenaline pumped its way though my veins. My head moved back towards Emmett and I immediately bent down and plunged my shoulders into his abdomen, knocking him down to the ground. He grabbed me by the shoulders and flipped me over his head, so that I landed on my back and on the cold cement above his head. He spun around while on the ground and straddled me. He began striking me with his fists, over and over again. The annoyance was becoming too hard to bear so I caught one of his fists in my hand and twisted it until I heard a sickening snap. Shit...oh well.

All of sudden, his weight above me was gone. I glanced forward and saw Jason and Landon holding Emmett back. He struggled against their hold and thrashed around feverishly. I shot up to my feet and much like last night, couldn't control the words escaping my throat. "What the fuck is your problem, McCarty? Yes, I was lying when I said I didn't do anything to Bella. But it was an accident, and I regret it. I didn't mean to say what I did. I lost my temper and couldn't control myself. So chill the fuck out, all right? I'm sorry, and I am planning on apologizing to her. I can't have her mad at me for long. I just can't." Fuck. I didn't plan to say all of that. Now he and the gang know that I have some type of feelings for her. Because truth be told, a friend wouldn't just say that to another friend. Unless, they where like family. Fuck, shut up, Edward. Great, now I'm talking to myself.

I breathed deeply through my nose as I stared back at the stunned faces in front of me. Keith's expression was what shocked me though. He looked almost betrayed. I shook my head and grabbed my bag, turning around to leave. When I turned around though, all eyes where glued on me. I swear, not one single eye was astray.

As I hurried my way out of the lot, dodging and sliding between parked cars, my eyes trailed along the body of a familiar black Audi TT coupe. I raised my eyes, just to be met with her chocolate brown ones. Her gorgeous orbs where pooling with unshed tears and it took all of my resolve to not run up to her and wipe them away when they fell. I took a shuddering breath and turned away from her, jogging my way out of there and onto an unfamiliar sidewalk. I figured that I appeared dramatic as fuck, but too bad.

I walked down that deserted street for what felt like hours. I checked my phone and it turned out to only have been twenty minutes. My shielded frontage fell right then and I slouched back against the fence beside the sidewalk. I lowered my head until my chin reached my slightly throbbing chest. A sob bubbled up my throat and I didn't prevent it from escaping my trembling lips. I allowed the tear buds to form and descend from my eyes, onto the hot cement beneath the soles of my shoes. My tears looked like the tiniest things ever, but felt like the most painful things in the world. I was alone, alone with my thoughts and alone with my tears. How fucking pathetic.