A/N First of all this chapter has quite a lot of swearing in it… in this chapter we hear about what Bella did to get suspended and EPOVs of the conversation between him and Bella. Hope you like. Review if you feel like it : )

Chapter 13

EPOV

"Edward?" Jasper called my name. Confusion filled his face.

"Go ahead, catch up with you later" I told him coming to a stop at Bella's locker.

"What are you doing man?" he followed me, his arms outstretched to the side. He looked over his shoulder a couple of times and then returned his eyes to me. He was looking at me like I was completely crazy

I wasn't so sure he was wrong.

"This is Bella's locker," he frowned, a second later realization washed over his face "but you knew that" he smiled, folding his arms over his chest.

I nodded at him.

"Like I said, I'll catch up with you later" I grinned a little.

"Okay man. Be good" Jasper clapped me on the shoulder and walked off down the hallway.

I got here a little bit earlier than I knew Bella would. I needed a little bit of time to go over what I was going to say to her.

Yesterday when I got back home I was feeling really shitty about the whole thing. I wasn't annoyed at Bella at all. What she had said was right. I really did need to stop messing around and actually do something.

So here I was, getting ready to say sorry to Bella.

I've never actually said the words to her before. Not even after I'd hurt her and she'd punched me in the face. Thinking about it now, I deserved it. And I knew I'd deserved a lot worse.

While I stood there waiting my mind drifted back to that day.

It was a Friday.

"Hey man, you hear about Bella?" Jasper asked as he was within earshot he munching on whatever was left of his beef jerky. I was busy pulling books from my locker, Jasper fiddled with his combination a few doors down, he swallowed then continued talking about the girl, and I'd been torturing for a few months.

I knew what I was doing was pissing her off big time, she usually retaliated which made me want to do it again and again. It was funny, and a little annoying, she was actually pretty good at getting her own back on me.

"No" I shrugged.

"Jessica told me that the reason they moved here is because her mom left them. Apparently Bella was a bit too crazy for her, like mental hospital crazy. According to Jess, she was even sectioned after she left. They got so much hassle from their neighbours they were forced to move here. "Jaspers eyes were wide. Jesus, who knew she was so fucked up. I wasn't sure if I believed it, but I could still use it to piss her off

I rolled my eyes pushing my locker closed and headed to class.

I was literally five steps away from class when someone shouted my name.

I spun around and a very red faced Bella was marching toward me.

"Ohh morning honey. Enjoy your ride to school today?" I teased. Last night I had snuck over to Bella's house and stolen her car.

"Where's me truck asshole?" she fumed

"I don't know what you're talking about" I mused, a crowd had started to gather around us. They were looking to get their daily dose of Edward and Bella drama.

"Like hell you don't. Where is it?" she came closer, wow she really was angry. Her eyes were bugging out and everything

I laughed, knowing that I was really pushing my luck.

"Tell me now or I'll..." she started

"You'll what?" I asked still chuckling

I watched as her whole body shook, she was about to explode.

"That's what I thought"

"You know your anger issues are properly the reason your mom packed up and left you behind. Couldn't control her mentally unstable child. How long were in the asylum for? They should have never let you out" I spat as viciously as I could.

"Shut your mouth" she shouted.

I'd clearly touched a nerve.

"Why should I? You're here slowing rotting in Forks, you're a lunatic with hardly any friends, face it Bella, you are going no where fast and you know it. Your mom left you and your dead beat dad behind because she knew it too" I started laughing and people around me joined in, a second later she took a step forward and out of nowhere she took a swing at me and I heard a sickening crack. I was not expecting her to hit me. But she did. And pretty hard for someone so tiny. A few moments later I felt the blood trickle down my nose.

"I told you to shut the fuck up Cullen." Bella was shaking now. She was nursing the hand she hit me with her eyes blazing with rage. Her eyes left mine and scanned the crowd. She nursed the hand she'd hit me with then she began addressing the onlookers

"Edward doesn't know what he's talking about; my mother didn't walk out on me. She died."

I looked up at her then, my nose still steaming with blood. Her eyes glassy

People gasped as they learned the real truth about Bella's mother.

"Don't you ever talk about her again, understand. " she pointed her small finger in my face, her hand shaking slightly and unshed tears were threatening to spill over any second then she turned her back on me and began walking the way she came.

She'd taken two steps when the principal. My dad. Came running over. He took one look at me then at Bella.

"You two. My office, NOW !" he bellowed.

We were sat inside his office for 20 minutes. I had tissue stuck up my nostrils and we'd both refused to apologize to each other. Carlisle recited the school rules about violence not being tolerated.

And Bella was suspended.

And at the time I didn't even feel bad. Not one little bit.

But now standing at her locker I feel guilty. I was only saying those things to piss her off. I didn't know the truth and I didn't actually think she'd react the way she did.

I ran my fingers through my hair, glancing down the hallway toward my classroom.

Should I even be here?

My mind didn't have time to answer the question since my eyes had found Bella. She was walking towards me now. Looking extremely pretty. The dark circles under her eyes were almost gone and her eyes were brighter today. I didn't take my eyes off her while she walked.

"Hi" I said, finally dropping my eyes from hers

"What do you want?" she snapped.

Her eyes studied me for a long moment. And I was stumped, whatever I was going to say to her had gone. I ran a - now slightly clammy- hand through my hair again.

She raised her dark eyebrows at me

"Well?"

This was it. I sucked in a deep breath

"Look Bella I-I'm, sorry for what I said yesterday I was-"I stumbled over my words, and then she interrupted me

"An idiot? An asshole? Any of those suitable?" I was annoyed that she was pissing all over me when I was trying to apologize. But the annoyance I felt was only there for a second. I smiled at her

"Yes. Both of those, I was the one who asked you to meet me there. I am the one that needs help. You're pretty good at all the art stuff you know."

I wasn't lying.

Small steps Edward

"Well I already knew that. You called me a show off. Which isn't that bad I guess? You've said worse things to me" she said, folding her arms across her chest. He eyes warming a little. I started talking again.

"I'm sorry Bella. I really am. Your art work is really good. And I promise that I'll do anything to ensure that we get the grade we need." I promised. And I would come through. I needed this grade but more than that I want to get to know Bella. Without all the other shit getting in the way.

"Something has got to change though. I really don't like you. And I know you're not that fond of me either. But it can't get in the way of our work. If we do this we have to give it everything. If not we're both screwed" she said.

I nodded, my smile growing.

"I'm serious. One more strike and you're out." She said sternly

"Yes ma'am" I piped

"No more pranks or name calling or anything." She asked. Uncertainty filled her voice. She had every right to think that this was a trick. I just had to prove that it wasn't.

"You have my word" I was serious, this was going to work

A second later the bell rang and the hallway began to move.

"I should go" Bella took a step backwards, but I wasn't letting her go just yet.

"Wait…When shall we meet next? Everyone else has had a head start. I need to catch up. We know you don't though." I grinned down at her. Hopeful that she didn't take was I said the wrong way. I pushed myself lightly off her locker.

"Urrr. After school then? My house?" she shrugged

"Wait your house? What about your dad?" I was standing next to her now. My stomach tightened. Her dad knows about what I said to Bella last year. Whenever I saw him around town, he looked like he was about to shot me there and then. He would never allow me inside his home.

"My dad's out of town. Won't be back for a while" she said. I sighed with relief; she opened her notebook and quickly jotted down her address. I already knew where she lived; this was a pretty small town after all. She handed me the scrap of paper and I took it from her anyway.

"Oh ok then. Your house. Say 6? I've got practice" I had to go to practice. Id blown off last night's so I could go to the fountain. Coach would kill me if I missed two in a row.

"Sure...I'll see you then" she said slowly

"Yep" I smiled down at her. Then I quickly looked over my shoulder. Wow the hallway was almost completely empty now. So I took a chance, I leaned down a little and looked into her eyes; my face was mere inches away from hers. She never flinched, she stayed completely still. She just stared back into mine.

"Thank you" I whispered, pulling away, smiling. She smelled gorgeous like strawberries.

Oh god

"Have a good day Bella." I turned away and began walking down the hallway. I could feel her eyes on me until I'd walked around the corner.

I was busy trying to remember the exact colour of her eyes that I didn't see Mike Newton, until he'd caught me on the shoulder.

"I know what you're doing Cullen. And it stops. Now" he warned

"Yeah sure." I said sarcastically

"I'm serious. Bella doesn't need you messing her around more than you already have."

"I'm done messing around Mike. I'm the good guy now"

"Yeah of course you are. You're up to something. And when I find out what it is you're done"

"Ok Mike whatever you say." I slapped him on the arm and carried on walking down the hallway.

Mike has never said anything to me before now about Bella. Even when I'd said those things about her mom. So why was he sniffing around now.

Then an image form lunch a few days ago flashed in front of my eyes

When Bella was walking in front of him he was checking out her ass.

He was into her. And he'd obviously been watching us.

Well Mike would have some competition for Bella's attention.

I'm determined to make Bella see a different side to me. And it would be her decision if she wanted me or not.

I walked into study hall wishing the day over already.