Chapter 20: Brothers

E POV

"What the hell man?" Jasper starts in on me as we walk to our fourth period together. "You could have given us a heads up."

He's referring to Bella the brunette bombshell I dropped on everyone this morning. This was the first time him and Emmett had gotten a chance to speak with me alone, as the other times I'd seen them in the hall I was picking Bella up from class and dropping her off. We'd spent most of the morning getting stared, whispered and pointed at.

"Yeah," Emmett pipes in. "We were there when you got home yesterday. We asked you how your trip went. You never once mentioned how you and Bella ended up hooking up."

"I really don't like that term," I correct. "It insinuates that we did more than just realize that we liked each other."

'Well," Emmett scoffs. "You did didn't you? We could all tell that wasn't the first kiss you two shared and I've always known you liked the fatties." I turn on him, grab the collar of his shirt and slam him into a locker.

"DON'T." I warn. "You dare talk like that again." I let him go and roll my shoulders. Despite that Emmett is big, he's about as lethal as a paper cut, especially to Jazz and I. I step away from him but maintain contact. "If I find out you ever say anything like that in front of Bella, I swear to God, I will fuck your shit up."

"Whoa," Jasper steps in and calms the situation with one of his signature glances. "Tone it down guys. Emmett why don't you head to class? I'll take it from here."

"Yeah," Emmett breathes. "I'm outta here." He shoves past me and through the hallway.

"What was that about?" Jasper asks with an edge of worry in his tone.

"Nothing." I shrug his hand off my shoulder.

"Bullshit." He answers mildly. "You just slammed your own brother against a locker because he said something dumb and insensitive, like he always does by the way, over a girl who you barely know."

"Yeah," I grunt as I go to walk towards class again. "So? He deserved it. He was incredibly rude, if Bella heard that she'd be mortified."

"Yes, she would." He agrees, "But he didn't say it in front of Bella."

"Doesn't matter." My hand balls into a fist. "He thinks it, and knowing him he'd end up slipping and saying something in front of her. I can't let her hear that kind of shit."

If she heard my brother or one of my friends saying something like that she would automatically think I had put that idea in their head and I would become her new Drake.

"What happened this weekend?" Jasper asks. "You went away as Edward, the guy with a crush on Bella and came back Edward, Bella's boyfriend and protector."

"I don't want to talk about it right now. We have class." I walk into the classroom and take a seat in my usual place.

I am so engrossed in reading the poem that the teacher is making us read over and discuss in class that I jump slightly when Jasper pushes a note across the desks to me.

Is this about that Drake guy?

How the fuck does he know? This just keeps getting better and better.

Yes, how did you hear about it?

Jasper scribbles an answer back and pushes it back at me when he knows the teacher is looking away.

Alice.

Of course, that annoying little bugger couldn't keep anything from Jazz. I roll my eyes at him.

Bella's been burned by him. I'm not him and I'm trying to prove that to her. Em saying those things would end up making her lose all trust in me.

He read over it, but before he could respond the teacher started in on the lesson and we weren't safe to try to pass notes anymore.

The bell rings and Jazz immediately starts in on me again. "Okay," he huffs. "I get it. She's been hurt, you're a nice guy but seriously Edward." He grabs my arm and pulls me into an empty doorway. "Are you into the thicker ladies?" He whisper mumbles.

Was I ready to finally tell someone about my sexual preferences? Well it was Jazz, and he would never tell anyone, including Alice, unless I told him it was cool. What was I supposed to say to him. 'Hi, my name is Edward Cullen and I don't like to skinny dip, I like to chunky dunk?' I didn't see him reacting in a subtle way to that.

"I don't know." I answer. "Maybe. Honestly I do think that the skinny chicks are overrated. I think Bella is beautiful physically, maybe not everyone agrees with me, but she has this spark that draws me in like a moth to flame. It seems to be chemical and I can't resist dude."

"Holy shit balls." Jasper runs his hands through his hair. "You got it BAD for Isabella Swan."

B BPOV

After first and second period Edward had met and walked me to class. I told him that he didn't need to pick me up after third because my classes were literally across the hall from one another and it was pointless. After fourth we agreed to just meet in the lunch room, which is where I'm heading now.

I want to see how kids react to me without Edward. I mean don't get me wrong, I swoon whenever I see him standing there with his sexy grin, and walking in the hallways with him is a comfort to me-but I also need to make sure that if I'm alone, people won't stare as much.

It isn't really working.

Angela and I are headed to the lunchroom when I first notice it. Girls are smiling at me more. They aren't scowling, they aren't frowning, well a couple are, but mostly they just watch me walk past and give me a small reassuring smile. Then again, maybe they're only smiling at me becuse they feel guilty about what they had just said behind my back and are now trying to make up for it.

"Angela." I get her attention.

"Yeah Bella?"

"Is it weird that Edward and I are dating? I mean what's your reaction to it?"

"I think it's great! Edward is a great guy and you are an amazing girl. You deserve each other." I roll my eyes, she isn't going to be much help. "But, I'm not naive Bella." She amends. "Other girls are going to automatically consider you their enemy, because you have the guy on your arm that they all want. I'm just worried that you might take some hits from bitches who won't think twice of digging at you."

I blink in response as we pause before entering the cafeteria. Wow, Angela said 'bitches'. However the bigger idea is her stating the truth about other girls' thoughts.

"I know." I put my face down. "Girls are going to try to dig at me and make me feel worse about myself. That's what had held me back from doing this. I don't want to be the new target for girl slander. But I can't not like Edward. He's so sweet, fun, charming and Angela," I practically whine. "He makes me feel...alive! And beautiful! I haven't ever felt that before."

Angela's smile explodes on her face as she brings me in for a hug. "Then do what makes you feel good! Don't let your fear get in the way. Besides, Edward seems to want to be there for you."

She winks and then turns away just as gentle arms wrap around my waist and a warm breath tickles my ear.

"Alive huh?" He whispers. "And beautiful?" I turn in his arms so I can face him.

"Yes." I giggle. "I'm serious Edward, you make me so happy that I almost forget about the terrible things that happened to me in Phoenix. With you I'm not 'Fat Bella' who everyone ignores and makes fun of. I can almost forget all the nasty stares that the other girls gave me, and the noises guys would make."

"That's it," he growls. "You're coming with me."

He pulls my arm softly but forcefully and walks me past the cafeteria, we take a right to go outside and head towards the picnic benches outside. Nope, we walk straight past the picnic benches outside and turn a corner. There is a small alcove in the building here that is protected from rain and prying eyes.

As soon as we get into the protected crevice he pushes me up against a wall.

"Edward what are-" I go to argue but he's there, at my lips. His kisses are like fire, I can't help but be consumed. I kiss him back with as much urgency as he's emitting.

"Bella," he moans around our fevered kissing. One of his hands wraps around the small of my back and rests right above the curve of my butt. His other hand is on the side of my neck entwined in my hair, his thumb tracing patterns along my jaw. I let my hands roam across his chest even though I can't feel anything through his jacket.

"Ed-ward," I say through ragged breaths as he moves his kissing down to my neck. I want this but at the same time I'm scared of it.

"Edward," I say a little more forcefully, pushing him away slightly.

He pulls his head up and looks at me, his eyes are more green then I've ever seen them. Emerald fire burning holes in me and threatening to consume me again. I close my eyes and focus on catching my breath.

"What's wrong Bella?" he asks.

"Nothing," I respond. "It's just, that was intense and I wasn't expecting it."

"Well," he scoffs. "That's what you do to me. And I had to do something, you were starting in on putting yourself down and I couldn't let you do that."

"Oh. Okay Pavlov. Is this how your going to condition me to stop thinking those things?" I tease as my hands find his.

"If that's what it takes." He leans in closer.

"Well, consider it successful. After that I don't even remember what it was that I had said to make you react that way."

"Good." He leaves a soft kiss on my lips. "In that case, let's go grab something to eat. You just gave me an appetite."

We walk back into the cafeteria hand in hand and get in line for lunch. Today is nachos. Edward orders us two nachos and hands one to me to put the toppings on. We finish getting through line and head over towards the table he usually sits at. He pulls out a chair for me, lets me take a seat and then sits next to me.

"Hey guys." Alice greets. "What took you two so long?"

"Oh," I look up at her, the panic starting to take hold.

"Sorry, Bella forgot something in her truck and I went with her to grab it." Edward says as he shoves a chip in his mouth. Nice save. I give his knee a little squeeze in response.

"Where's Emmett and Rose?" I ask. They seem to be missing from the table.

"Oh," Jasper looks from Edward to me then back to Edward. "Rose wasn't feeling well so Emmett took her to the nurse." I may be bad at telling lies, but I could definitely spot one.

"That's too bad. I hope she feels better." I don't want to pry so I just take a bite of a nacho.

Lunch ends, Rose and Emmett never showed, Tanya either, but her sisters were there. Weird, I thought hyenas traveled in packs.

Edward and I walk to Biology together. I'm still aware of the staring, but not so much worried about it. I mean it is the first day we're "out", some people just need to get used to it.

Before we walk into class we're stopped, by James and Victoria.

"Well," James hisses. "If it isn't the new power couple of Forks High School."

I go to move back a little, but Edward's grip is steadfast and he's not moving.

"Move it James." He glares.

"Hmm, I don't think I will. This is a free country and this is a public hallway. I can stand here if I want."

"Fine, but when your face ends up meeting the hard side of that locker," he nods to the locker between them and us, "Don't be surprised."

"Ooo," he croons. "So jumpy. Is the bull of the school so set on protecting his cow of a girlfriend?" I flinch. Edward's grip on my hand tightens as he tries to control himself.

"James this is your last warning." He threatens.

"Or what? You'll have your girlfriend sit on me?" Him and Victoria laugh short hissing sounds.

"No." A voice comes from behind us. "I'm going to sit on you. And I guaran-fucking-tee I weigh more then Bella."

Emmett comes up and stands in front of Edward and I, arms crossed, a look of confident menace on his face.

James and Victoria toss him a glare then meander away and into our next class. Emmett turns back around.

"Sorry about that jackhole." Emmett points his thumb in the direction of the door. "Don't listen to anything he says Bella."

"I'm okay." I whisper. I look up at Edward who has a cross between two different expressions. One of relief, one of anger.

Emmett notices too, pats him on the shoulder and says. "Hey man. Sorry about earlier. I was stupid and wrong." Edward visibly relaxes.

"It's cool man," he puts his fist up. Emmett returns the fist bump and smiles a big toothy grin. "Thanks for the back-up. I was afraid I was gonna have to kick his ass, again. And this time there would be witnesses and school officials."

Emmett laughs. "No prob man. I'll see ya after school." Emmett meanders back down the hallway.

"What was that about?" I whisper into Edward's ear as we walk into class.

"Nothing," Edward waves his hand dismissively. "Emmett said some stupid shit earlier, I called him on it, he got pissed and stormed off. That's the real reason him and Rose weren't at lunch."

"Oh," I answer.

The rest of the day is filled with more stares, and smiles, some pouty faces, some looks of disbelief. But I don't really pay attention to it. I'm more worried about the smile on the handsome guy holding my hand.