Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns all.

Yeah, so this chapter flops around quite a bit. Also a new character will be introduced, and although they probably won't have a major part in the rest of this story, for now they're actually quite important.

So without further ado…chapter 11!

Chp. 11

Take Action

BPOV

I stretched, although it was completely unnecessary, as I trudged up the front steps of the school building. I did not anticipate our arrival to my new person hell; for I was very aware that she would be here. I wished I could forever stay wrapped up in a cocoon of Edward, as I had been in last night, but I knew it was impossible. We had other priorities.

A strange sense of foreboding washed over me as I trailed down the swarming hallway. Yesterday my mind had formed a plan, and although it had a high chance success rate, there was a possibility that he was already too far gone to care.

Now don't get me wrong; I knew Edward loved me with his entire heart. But this girl, Kendall/Alison-whatever- had some unjust form of control over him. Only Alice, Jasper, and I were conscious of what was going around this time. As far as anybody else in the family was concerned, Kendall was a footnote in history. And that's exactly the way I would it would remain. There was absolutely no reason to inflict kind of pain upon my daughter once more, or worse, rile her up like that again. For, she would be angry with her father, and I knew he was going through enough already without having to deal with that.

A familiar, yet faraway feeling rumbled in my chest. It was as if a tiny hole was ripped through it, being picked at gradually, opening the gap further and further with every minute that passed me by. It was the same way I felt when he left me, although that multitude of pain was swelled by thousands.

An abrupt hand ghosted around the small of my back, resting there. I glanced over, surprised to find Edward, smiling gently at me. "What's going on up there?" he pointed towards me head. "You seem as though you're in your own secluded little world."

"I am," I replied honestly.

"Mind if I join you?" he raised a single eyebrow.

He desired for me to lift me shield so that he could read my thoughts, but that was an impossibility. If he knew what was coursing through my mind right now, it would only add on to his immense guilt. I didn't accuse him of anything though, and he knew that. But that didn't stop him from blaming himself, as he always did whenever something caused me heartache.

I shook my head nervously. "Not today."

He pouted, but said no more on the subject, instead changing it. "I noticed something the other day," he said thoughtfully.

"Do tell."

His lips pursed for a moment as he worded his answer. "Have you taken note of how estranged Alice and Jasper have been recently? I mean, it's as if they don't even live with us anymore."

"Oh," I was stunned, although I knew the reason. I didn't have the heart to tell him that it was mainly his and my own faults, mostly his. That would only add to the pile of rapidly growing guilt. I quickly racked my brain for a half decent excuse. "Well, maybe they're thinking about moving out for awhile. I mean, Rose and Em have done it, right? Hell, we did for a few weeks too."

"It's possible," he murmured.

As I continued our conversation, we crossed the threshold of our first class of the day, taking assigned our seats. "This class is like hell," I spoke in a hushed tone.

He hummed as if in deep thought. "Interesting choice of words, my dear."

"What can I say? I'm creative," I joked sarcastically.

Mrs. Mulberry shushed us as she began class, writing just a simple geometry problem on the board for everyone to work on until the bell rang. I reluctantly yanked my notebook from my bag, scribbling my answer down. This class was as easy as snapping my fingers, and it bored me to no end.

Most of the time, Edward and I kept up an inaudible conversation during this class, too faint for humans to even dream of hearing.

"Hey?"

I vaguely turned my head in his direction, so he would understand that I was listening to him, but didn't want to get caught by Mulberry. "Do you think we could go hunting after school?"

"I just went," I reminded him, the bell ringing just moments after, signaling the start of class.

In my peripheral vision, I could see the slight nod of his head. "Yes, I'm aware. But right now, the girl sitting in front of us is mouthwatering, and I don't want to risk it tomorrow."

I glanced up at the undersized, light curly-headed young woman sitting ahead of us and nodded. "Yeah, okay. I'm sorry, are you in pain? Do we need to be excused, because I could text Alice to make a distraction…?" I let the offer hang there for a moment.

"No, I'm in control. It's not even intolerable. But when I start fantasizing about murdering the girl whose blood has never tempted me before, I think that means it's time for a hunting trip."

"I think you're right. But really, if it becomes too much, just tell me."

"Yeah, I will."

We drifted into silence then, the teacher droning about something that was unimportant to me. I fiddled with a stray lock of hair, twirling it between my fingertips as I absentmindedly stared at Mulberry so it would look like I was paying attention. In reality, I was lost between my thoughts again. I schemed within the safe confines of my mind, wondering if my plan would really work.

If Alison just worked accordingly, than this would all fall perfectly into place.

And indeed she did, for when we entered the classroom that afternoon - our class directly after lunch - she was waiting for Edward at our lab table. I only smirked.

A peek towards Mr. Lewis' desk informed me that he was currently not present, which was a plus. Edward froze, however, when he spotted her. "Bella, we-" he began, but I quickly cut him off.

"No, its okay, my new spot is back there," I gestured towards Good Lookin, as I recently nicknamed the human boy. I really did need to learn his proper name, for I don't think a conversation would start out too well if I slipped up and called him that.

Suddenly, I yanked the collar of Edward's shirt down, attaching my lips to his own in a fierce, territorial way. I slithered my tongue into his mouth, making sure to clearly mark him as my own as I swirled it around. He responded, always enthusiastic, but I could feel the confusion rolling off of him in waves. I finally pulled away after several seconds, our lips creating a loud smacking noise that seemed to ricochet around the silent room.

Abruptly, the class exploded with catcalls and applause.

I smirked, taking a glimpse at Alison. Her eyes held a nasty black fire within them, and she was doing her best trying to glare at me, but I wasn't frightened. If anything, I was only further amused.

Edward practically gaped at me like a fish. "Close your mouth, honey," I pushed his jaw up with my index finger.

I then turned on my heel, sashaying to the very back of the classroom and taking a seat next to Good Lookin. He stared at me as though I were a god among women, and it boosted my self-confidence, as well as my ego immensely. "Hi, there…" I waited patiently for him to say his name.

"Uh…C-Cory," he stuttered. "And you are?"

"Bella Masen."

"Bella Masen," he repeated quietly to himself, shaking his head.

"So, Cory," I started conversationally. "You're a sophomore, right?"

He nodded dumbly. "I see. So…" I made a show of gazing around the room. "Which one of these lucky ladies is your girlfriend?"

"I don't…I don't have one?" said Cory, but it sounded more like a question. As if he was unsure of his answer.

"Hmm. Well that certainly can't be right. You know, a handsome young man like you? Surely you'd have girls lining down the block to get your attention," I drawled flirtatiously. "I mean, I know I'd be all over you if I weren't already taken."

Clearly I was lying, but I caught when Edward's head swiveled around, his eyes insanely wide. Alison tried distracting him by placing her hand on his forearm, but he just shrugged it off, his attention focused solely on me.

"Are you serious?" Cory whispered, a look of pure astonishment clouding his features.

"Damn straight," I winked. "I mean, come on. Look at that jaw line you've got there. And your lips! I bet you're a good kisser, I could swear to it just by looking at you."

"I-I," he stammered, but then smoothed his way into a question. "Well, you could always judge me on that later to make sure? We could go someplace…boyfriend over there doesn't have to know." He flicked his finger towards the front of the class where Edward was seated.

I licked my lips, taking a quick peek up at my husband. His expression was one of pure, undiluted fury, and an undeniable jealously mixed within. His eyes were blackened with rage, and he paid not an ounce of awareness towards the brunette sitting next to him, which panned out perfectly.

I sighed, as if saddened by what I was about to say. "I would, but I have a boyfriend, and it would be wrong."

"People do wrong things all the time. Plus, like I said, boyfriend don't got to know about it."

I nodded. "Maybe some other time."

I knew for certain that it would never be happening, but I kept my answer vague and open, so he wouldn't lose interest. For if he did, my plan would fail miserably, and Edward, who was currently wrapped around my finger, would slowly unravel and retreat towards Alison.

We chatted quietly during the rest of the period, and I could feel Edward's intense gaze on me through random parts of the lesson.

When it was over, he stood hastily, but Alison murmured quietly to him as I eavesdropped. "Edward, walk with me instead of the whore back there."

I could see him struggling, as if he didn't know where his loyalties lay. She glared at him for a moment. "Follow me, Edward, now."

And just like that, he was on his way out of the room without me. She opened her hand to his, and he stopped, staring at it as if it were infected until she shook it frantically. He then cautiously slid his fingers through hers, twining them together. She turned her head just in time to wink at me as they floated out the door.

I felt a tug in my chest, and I knew it was the hole digging deeper.

I may have won his whole concentration for the entire class, but in the end, with a simple command, he was hers.

So, deciding to be brave, I slid a pair of leather gloves from my jacket pocket and put them on. It was an acceptable thing to do, for our school hallway was like an icebox, especially around this time of year.

Swallowing, I looked up towards Cory, who was staring silently back towards me as he collected his books. "Uh, want to walk with me?" I asked awkwardly.

He shrugged. "Sure. Where's your next class?"

"History with Mr. Werner. You?"

He smiled. "Same. Huh, that's a coincidence."

As we walked together, or hands dangled loosely beside one another, and with all the courage I could muster up from within my body, I grasped his hand firmly with my own. He gasped, nearly inaudible, but tilted his head towards me with a wide grin. "What happened to boyfriend?" he wondered.

"Boyfriend who?" I smirked.

I knew this was wrong of me. I knew I was only using him, and that I was probably a horrible, vile, and slightly insane person for doing this, but somehow, it felt like justice. Like, if Edward was going to hurt me with the way he was towards Alison, I wanted to hurt him back. To cause him pain like he caused me. And I knew that it wasn't his fault, and that I should probably be helping him stay away from her, but I didn't know how without simply offing the bitch. Which I couldn't without consequence.

And so, for now, this would have to work.

Even though I didn't know Cory, or care about him in any way, or even consider him to ever be anything more than a friend, I was going to willingly utilize him. It worked with making Edward jealous, I could clearly see that, but I knew I'd soon have to bring out the big guns. I'd need Alice, Jasper, Carlisle, whoever was willing to give me advice or assistance in putting this to an end. I'd have to eventually inform the rest of the family on what was occurring, they had a right to know too.

After I escorted Edward on his hunting trip, I would drive to the hospital to talk privately with Carlisle.

He'd know what to do. He always did.

As we entered Mr. Werner's class, I spotted my husband sitting alone in the very back corner of the room, his features contorted in an awful forlorn way. I wanted desperately to go sit next to him, to make him feel good again, to wipe that expression clean off his face.

Instead I chose to lead Cory towards a set of two desks close together, sliding my gloves back into my pocket as I sat down. I was aware of Edward's every move, although I could not see him, as he was behind me. He took a deep, pitifully shaking breath, and I closed my eyes.

I love you, this is for your own good, I thought towards him, although I didn't remove my shield, therefore it went unheard.

After class, Cory and I parted ways, him off to Art, and I to Study Hall.

When I entered the classroom, I perched myself on the edge of a seat on the far right of the array of desks. Edward breezed in just seconds later, staring at me with wide, hopeful eyes for a moment. I stared back, no emotion shining through my features. He swallowed noisily, his Adam's apple bobbing.

Because of twenty years of marriage, I knew every little mannerism, habit, expression, everything about him. And as of right now, he was standing there, his face calm, cool, collected. But inside, I knew it was a raging battle within his mind, figuring out whether or not he was going to sit next to me, or away. What would make matters worse, and which would prove to be the correct choice.

He opted to sit next to me, gracefully walking towards the seat to my left and slumping into it. He didn't speak, only facing straight forward. My plan was to act as if nothing had happened, so I hurriedly snatched up his hand that was tapping nervously on his desk and brought it into my lap. I played with his fingers, gently squeezing them, and even twisting his simple golden wedding band around idly.

He noticeably stiffened, his eyes darting to mine in shock. My eyes reflected a false sense of innocence and questioning, as if his stare was totally outlandish. Then, with our eyes locked, I slowly brought his palm up to my lips, placing a chaste kiss upon it.

We didn't speak for the rest of the day, only sending shy sideways glances towards one another.

When class was over, I pulled his hand, lacing my fingers in his and leading him out to the car to wait for Renesmee and Jake, who had ridden with us today. As we waited, Alison happened to walk by, her smug smile rapidly fading when she took in our twined fingers.

Just to be a bitch, I rose on my tip toes, placing a chaste kiss upon Edward's lips. However, he surprised me, gripping my waist tightly and spinning me around so I was pressed into the side of the car door. His lips attacked my own at a frenzied pace, rough and needy. I recognized it immediately for what it was. It was a combination of several things, actually. He was kissing out all of his frustration first, while trying to prove to himself that he wanted me over Alison, and simultaneously marking his territory.

I just grinned when his lips moved downward, descending onto my neck, only one thought clouding over all others.

My plan had worked.

Don't think it will continue to be this easy, because I can inform you right now that it will get real bad real soon. And while I dislike writing Edward this way, it has to be done. But at least we all know that Alison is an evil bitch that needs to die and leave our man alone. ;)