-1Chapter 25: Back To School

Mike POV

Damn, just exactly what I want to see when I pull up in the parking lot this morning. Cullen and Bella making out. I am still pissed off about the weekend. I can't believe Bella turned me down. I know if I could just get her away from Cullen she would see I am so much better for her. I can't believe I let them get the best of me Friday. I let Cullen make a fool out of me.

Flashback

"Hey Bella. I was wondering if you would be interested in coming to a party at my house this weekend. It's gonna be on Saturday while my parents are out of town. Most everyone is going to be there.", I told her. Bella smiled and replied, "Look Mike, the offer is nice but I am not interested. Edward and I are going out of town for the weekend anyway."

She wasn't even looking at me while she talked she kept eye contact with him. Then she moved to kiss him and that infuriated me and made me sick. I couldn't even hide the grimace that came over my face.

Cullen, I know was enjoying torturing me. Actually his whole family was in on it because then Alice came over at that moment talking about a couples massage she had booked for Cullen and Bella while off on their getaway. I almost puked when I thought about him touching Bella's body.

"Mmmm a sensual massage from you, baby, I can hardly wait to have these strong hands running all over my body. I am so anxious to feel them touching and caressing me everywhere.", Bella said seductively. I completely lost it then.

I wanted to hurt Cullen but he is bigger than me, plus I know his brothers wouldn't hesitate to jump in and help him. I threw my bag on the ground and started screaming at Bella, at the both of them. "What the fuck, Bella!? You know you can do so much better!. I am better than he is!. If you'd just get your head out of his ass for a minute and look at me!."

I knew people were looking at me like I was nuts. Cullen and his family burst out laughing at me and that only made me more angry. Bella laughed with them too and that hurt. I would make her see the error of her ways, I thought as they walked off.

End Flashback

I am not looking forward to today. I know it's going to be hell. I was constantly reminded at the party that I had looked like a retard in this very parking lot Friday afternoon.

I could hear the snickers and giggles of people as I walked by them to go into the school building.

Cullen and Bella never looked my way but I saw his smirk as I walked by. I had to find a way to get even with the Cullen kids and make Bella see me for what I am. I need to show her I am right for her.

Jessica POV

If I hadn't been so jealous of Bella, I would have thought what happened Friday was funny. I just can't understand what Edward Cullen could se in her. She's plain and boring. He could do so much better. On top of that she has a kid already. Obviously she's a slut just looking for a baby daddy. I wonder if I can convince Edward she's just after his money.

I suddenly regretted all my thoughts as if I'd said them out loud, when I looked up and found all the Cullen kids glaring a me. They are so weird like that. Fuck it, Mike you are on your own. I'm going to be smart for a change and let it go.

Lauren POV

Who the fuck does she think she is? Bella Swan. Swan, Hah! More like the ugly duckling. I hate her. Every girl in this school with the exception of a very few had tried to land Edward Cullen and he looked all of them including me like we were Medusa or something. Bella Swan comes in and all of a sudden he and his family are all over her. Why does he want to tie himself down with her. He's rich and good looking and could do so much better than Bella Swan. It's pity they feel for her. It's got to be that and only that because she has a bastard child. Soon enough he will realize Bella Swan isn't so much of a catch and will drop her like a hot potato.

Rosalie POV

The whole school was buzzing about what happened Friday in the parking lot with Mike Newton as well as what went on at the party. The party was more of a make fun of Mike fest than anything else. Maybe we should have crashed it.

These insipid children make me sick. Why is it so hard to understand that Edward does not want anyone but Bella and She doesn't want anyone but Edward?

I know Edward and I have had our problems in the past but he is family and I do love him and want him to be happy. Bella and Darci have not only made him happy but the whole family happy, including me.

True I didn't have a choice about becoming a vampire and I hated this life for a long time really up until Bella and Darci came along. There's something about Bella that changed even me. I don't know what it is but I am glad to have her as my sister. One of the things I love most about her is how she never minds how much time I spend with Darci even when I take up her mommy time. She just smiles and goes about her business and waits patiently for me to give her daughter to her. Bella is a very giving person and a part of our family now. I will protect her as fiercely as any of the other members of the family.

Alice and I are in the locker room changing into our P.E. clothes when we hear Jessica Stanley and Lauren Mallory come in with some of the other cheerleading squad.

"Can you believe what is happening here?", Lauren asked. "Bella Swan getting Edward Cullen to fall for her like he has? It's sickening to watch him fawn all over her. She's ugly and boring and I can't imagine why he would want her. Plus she's got a bastard child.", Lauren finished.

"You know she won't hold his interest long. She's obviously a slut or else she wouldn't have a kid.", a girl by the name of Misty Rawlings said.

Alice and I looked at each other. We were both furious and became even more so when we realized that Bella had just walked in and heard what was said. She also ran out again before Alice and I could make our presence known.

"I'll go after Bella and you take of this here, but don't physically hurt any of them.", Alice whispered to me in a voice too low for the humans to hear. I nodded and we stepped out into the circle of girls. Shock and surprise was the emotions that crossed the faces of the girls, when they saw us.

"Good afternoon, ladies.", I began. "I hope I'm not interrupting your Bella bashing fest.", I told them.

The girls all looked around at each other then Lauren addressed me. "No you aren't interrupting, in fact maybe you could give us some insight as to when Edward is going to come to his senses and drop that little whore and get a woman who is so much better suited for him.", she said in her haughtiest tone.

I smiled coldly and went to stand in front of her. I towered over her and I could smell the fear coming from her. I laughed and said,

"That's right Lauren, be afraid. Be very afraid. It suits you very well. You know Bella is a good friend of mine and not only that she is now my adopted sister. I thought I had warned you before about talking about her but apparently I didn't get through your thick skull. I am going to tell you once more time. Unless you want the whole Cullen family on your ass, you'd better shut your trap and keep quite. I would hate to know what mommy dearest would think she gets kicked out of the country club and loses her high society friends because her daughter upset the club's biggest sponser. You know my mother contributes many thousands of dollars to tht club and has much influence over it's members. How do you think she would react when all of a sudden she was banned from going there? Do you think she would be pleased when she gets rejected because her daughter upset the daughter of the largest contributer?"

Lauren's face took on a greenish tint. She knew how much being a part of that club meant to her mother. Esme hardly ever went there but she had a lot of influence over the women. The Cullen name carried a lot of clout in our little town and the neighboring bigger towns. Nobody wanted to piss off Esme and Carlisle Cullen. They were like royalty in high society.

"You wouldn't dare, Rosalie Hale.", Lauren said.

"Are you going to keep your mouth shut? That goes for the rest of you as well. You all know that my parents are the royalty of high society. Do you really want to piss them off?", I asked. "Are you willing to stay away from my sister and learn to respect her because she is a Cullen now, even though her name has not yet been changed. It will be as soon as Edward marries her. ", I continued. I got much pleasure seeing their faces when they realized what I had said.

"He's going to marry her?", Jessica asked.

"Yes, he is and very soon. Edward loves her with every fiber of his being. He did not choose her out of pity. He chose Bella because she had something within her that none of you or anyone else has and never will. And why would he want any of you when all you do is constantly talk about us behind our backs? You call us freaks and say we are weird because of our unique status. Who are any of you to judge who we are or what we do?", I asked them.

I knew none of them cared about us but they did care about how their parents were received and viewed. They knew how angry it would make their parents to be snubbed by a Cullen. I could tell I had gotten my point across when I saw the defeated looks on all of their faces.

"I'm certainly glad to know we all understand each other now. Run along girls, but remember the Cullens have eyes and ears every where. We will know if you make a mistake and it will cost you, dearly.", I told them and left the locker room.

Alice POV

I found Bella out in the woods behind the science building crying her heart out. I sat down beside her and held her while she cried.

"Why? How could they say such horrible things about a child, Alice?", Bella asked me.

"They are just stupid and jealous Bella. They all want what you have, sweety. They want Edward and they wish they were as beautiful as you so he would find them attractive too. That's why they are being so mean to you. It's hard for them to imagine that someone who looks like Edward would not want them. They see themselves as being the best that can be had. Edward measures people differently than they do. He looks at a person's heart and Bella, you are simply as beautiful on the inside as you are magnificently beautiful on the outside. You have brought him and our whole family so much peace and joy in these last few weeks as we have ever known. So from now on I want you to promise me that you will stand up to them just as you did while on your getaway with Edward. You have no clue how proud and happy it made him when you announced you were Mrs. Edward Cullen. He wouldn't care if you shouted it to the world from the rooftops.", I explained to Bella.

Her tears subsided a little at a time until she stopped crying all together. When Bella was calm again we went back to the gym. Gym class was nearly over so we waited outside until it was finished before going back inside.

It took some convincing but Bella followed me into the locker room. When everyone saw Bella enter the room grew silent. The tension was thick. Lauren walked over to Bella and started to speak.

Beofre I could blink Bella's hand came across Lauren's face and slapped her so hard the sound bounced off the walls. Lauren and every one else was stunned as Bella stood there silently glaring.

The hurt was gone and the anger had taken over. Lauren backed away from Bella. Bella stalked her slowly like we as a vampire would silently stalk our prey. I was seeing what Bella would be like once she became a vampire. She would be beautiful, silent and deadly to our prey. Nothing would get by her observant eyes and perceptive nature. She alone would be a force to be reckoned with. God help whoever pissed her off.

Lauren's back was against the wall and Bella was right in her face and her voice was cold and dead when she spoke. "Don't you ever again, call my child a bastard, Lauren Mallory or any of the rest of you.", she said without ever looking away from Lauren. "You know nothing about me or the way my child came into existence. You have no right to judge me or my child and if ever again I hear you say that word again or any other derogatory remarks against my child, I will make you sorry you were ever born. Do I make myself perfectly clear ladies?"

There were a whisper of yeses around the room. Bella backed away from Lauren then. She turned as if to leave the room but then she once again turned to face the crowd and said, "Oh and by the way ladies, Edward Cullen belongs to me so keep your eyes, hands and your thoughts to yourselves. In fact, none of you had better so much as have a thought about him in our head when either of us is around. And that is a warning from the soon to be Mrs. Edward Cullen."

And with that Bella turned and walked out of the locker room. All the girls just stared after her. Looks of shock on their faces as they dressed. Rosalie and I dressed slowly so we would be able to watch the reactions of the girls.

No one said anything though. The locker room remained deathly quiet except for the rustling of clothes. When the locker room was empty Rose and I made our way out to the parking lot where our siblings and significant others were waiting.

Upon entering the parking lot we saw a noticeably large crowd gathered around Edward's car. Rose and I broke into a human paced run. When we got there Bella was trying to pull Edward off of Mike Newton.

Edward's face was a mask of rage. My god, what had come over these people today, I wondered. I had not seen this happening and I was upset but I couldn't think of that now.

I could feel Jasper trying to influence Edward but it wasn't working he was too consumed by his anger. I asked what had happened. Eric Yorkie told me that Bella was was waiting on Edward by the car when Mike showed up.

Mike seeing Bella alone took the opportunity to speak to her about why she keeps rejecting him.

"So Bella, what is that Cullen has that I don't?", Mike had asked her. Eric said that at first Bella remained silent. He told me she had looked like she was thinking about her reply when Mike spoke again.

"If you have to think about your answer, maybe he's not so great after all and you just need to break it off with him and be with me.", Mike had told her laughing. Eric said that before he could blink Bella had slapped Mike across the face and had kneed him in the groin. Mike was on the ground writhing in pain when Edward showed up.

Of course when Edward had been made aware of what had occurred he became enraged and this is where we are now.

"Edward, baby, he's not worth it. Let's just go home to our daughter and forget this awful day even happened, please. I just want to go home be in your arms while you hold me and Darci.", Bella said while desperately pulling at his arm.

It must have been her tone that worked because Edward released Mike who fell to the ground and crawled away over to the curb and sat down.

"If ever again you try and interfere with me and what belongs to me, Newton You will regret it. Never doubt for one minute that Bella is mine and will always be mine and you had better keep your hands and eyes to yourself.", he told Mike.

After Edward spoke his peace, he turned to Bella and pulled her to him. He kissed her gently and helped her into the car. When they drove away, Jasper and Emmett let Mike know that he would be watched to make sure he didn't step out of line. He looked as though he didn't believe them but he said nothing just hung his head.

Emmett, Jasper, Rose and I got into Emmett's jeep and went home. By the time we got home Edward and Bella had filled Carlisle and Esme in on what had happened. Esme was angry about how her youngest daughter had been treated and was intent on going to the mothers of the ones who had upset Bella. Rose informed her of what had happened in the locker room after Bella had run out.

"You are right Rose, I don't think fo myself as being better than anyone but I won't hesitate to do whatever it takes to keep my children safe.", Esme said.

After awhile, things calmed down and Edward took Bella and Darci out for the evening.