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CHAPTER 22: BPOV

Battle of the Protection Part 1

Friday, 2 weeks later

I'm at the Cheer spot with my friends around me. The school day hasn't started yet, so we were all just chilling.

I'm wearing a white long sleeve shirt with an intricate lace black vest, and some beautifully embroidered jeans. I have my huge vintage gold necklace on and I some simple pearl studded earrings. I had enough time to straighten my hair. Coach flats seemed like a good thing to wear today.

I looked across the lot to Mike and Lauren, who were flirting with each other. Lauren sits behind Mike in History class, so all he has to do is just turn around. Lauren's partner is Tyler, so Jess gets to turn around and talk to Tyler as well.

Things between Jessica and Tyler have been pretty good…I couldn't say the same thing between Mike and I.

Mike and I have been getting into tons of fights lately. He was complaining that I wasn't making enough time for him, I got mad when he didn't call me back, and the list is endless. But the way I see Mike and Lauren together?…it just made me even more mad. Something was up between the 2, but I just couldn't tell what.

While things between Mike and I got worse, things between Edward and I got better. He and I were able to talk at least 5 minutes each night to talk about the project. It wasn't the easiest thing to do, but we were able to do something.

Today was a shocker, even for me.

I saw a motorcycle driving into the school's lot. The only person who has that motorcycle is…Eddie.I couldn't believe it. It was Eddie. Edward Masen. He actually came back.

I saw him get off his bike and pull out a sheet of paper from his pocket. While doing so, he was walking up to me. All the cheerleaders saw him and whispered. We were all wondering the same thing: Where is the SOB and why is Edward Masen back?

He took long strides to get to me. He smiled a crooked smile to me. Absolutely gorgeous. I've never realized how uncomfortable I was about his disappearance…until now.

"You came back," I stood up and stated to him. He and I both ended up walking away from the Cheer spot and towards a more private area to talk.

We ended up standing pretty close to each other, under the SOB tree. All the SOBs are still gone, and Rose and Kate sit with the cheerleaders now. A lot of people were eyeing us, not really giving us the "privacy" we needed.

Mike's face was serious and he just glared at us. Glared. It made my time—probably limited time—with Eddie awkward.

"The rest of the other SOBs are still in Vegas. Besides, I brought the outline." He gives me that crumpled up sheet of paper.

"What about Rose's partner then?"

"Rose and McCarty will manage, trust me."

I took a quick glance at the outline. "You already typed it up? I thought we were discussing this tonight."

"Yeah, whatever. I came back home early to do this. I think it's pretty damn good. I just wanted to give it to you in person and have you look it over before we turn it in."

"You could've just emailed it to me."

"I didn't have your email address."

"You could've texted me and asked."

"I could have, but I didn't. Anyways, I got to go."

"What, why?" Don't go, please.

"Bella, I'm staying, don't worry. You said the proposal was fine?"

"Yes. Mr. Banner liked it. We're officially writing an essay and doing a presentation with a poster."

"Good. Anything else?"

I got curious about his disappearance. "Rose and Kate told me that you went down to Vegas because of the Vultures."

"What else did they tell you?" His face got worried.

"Something about declaring war?"

"Bella, we can talk about this later. Bye."

But before Eddie could go, Mike walked up to us. I saw him leaving Lauren with a pouted face.

"What the hell are you doing?" Mike asked.

"Mike, don't worry. He didn't do anything. He just came back for the project, I swear." I defended Eddie.

Mike ignored me and stood in front of me, he wanted to protect me from Eddie. As if I needed to protect myself from Eddie, right? Bella, Eddie is an SOB. You'll always need protection around an SOB, my subconscious tells me.

"I did nothing to her, Newton. Get out of my way."

"How could you leave her to do this project all alone? Do whatever the hell you want with your shitty gang, but don't put my girl at the risk of a failing grade."

Gee Mike, didn't think you actually cared…

"In case you didn't know, she and I have been talking on the phone the past 2 weeks just to talk about the project."

"As if phone calls are enough." Mike stated. Mike was right about that statement.

"I did just come back to do this project with her, you know. It's not like her grade is the only one that suffers."

"From the way I can see it, she is the only one that actually cares."

"Newton, this is a project between me and her. You don't need to get into the middle of things. Besides, we were working just fine."

"I am her boyfriend. I can get into the middle of anything if I want when it concerns her. Don't disappoint her."

"Whatever Newton, bye Bella."

I waved my hand towards Eddie and watch walk towards his bike. However, half way there, Principal Mitchum was outside pulling Eddie towards the school.

Mike said, "Looks like Masen is in trouble. Haha." Mike turned around to face me, "What didn't you tell me about the phone calls?" Mike asked with a little bit of anger.

"Oh no, don't get angry at me. That was for a project Mike, nothing like that. At least Eddie calls me, unlike some people."

"I told you Bella, I've been busy."

"Busy doing what? Jazz is on the team with you, and in the same classes as you. If he can make time for Alice, why can't you make time for me? Hell, Jazz has even made time for me to go out and stuff!"

"You're busy too you know."

"Alice and my schedule are the same. Identical. You could switch our planners, if you wanted to, and even we wouldn't even know the difference."

"Let it go Bella. I've got things."

"I do too, but you should let me in on those things, don't you think?" He paused. I looked at Lauren, who was still left at that same spot, waiting for Mike. "It looks like Lauren is waiting for you. Be sure to remember who your real girlfriend is, just like how I still remember who my real boyfriend is."

*****

After Cheer practice, I wanted to drop by Mike's house to talk things over. We've been together since forever, it wouldn't make things right if we ended things abruptly.

However, along the way, I see Eddie at the side of the road, with his motorcycle, scaring some boy. I didn't recognize the boy, but you could tell that those two were not friends.

When Eddie was just about to punch him, that's when I decided to intervene. I could see Eddie's arm pull back and getting ready to collide with boy's face.

I pulled over, got out, with my keys and purse in hand, pressed the lock on my remote control, and yelled, "Eddie! What are you doing?"

Eddie dropped him and I could see the boy's bloody nose. Eddie's face tensed up a bit. Was he worried? I wasn't sure. Eddie announced to the boy, "Well aren't you lucky? My girl decided to come by and see her man at work."

I ran over to the boy and examined the damage Eddie did to him. "What did you do to him?" I asked the boy, "What is your name?"

"Caius." Why does that name sound so familiar?

"He owes the SOB stuff and he's not giving it back."

"Like what? Money?"

Caius cried, "I never said I wouldn't pay you back, I said I needed more time."

"More time means never to you, and the SOB can't afford that," Eddie said.

"Is this why you came back? To beat the crap out of some poor boy?!" I grabbed some tissues from my purse and helped Caius. "Poor Caius…"

"Well, yes. Why? Did you think I came back for you?"

Yes. I was hoping you came back to work with me on this project, showing me that you're different. I guess you fit in perfectly with the stereotype. "Eddie, you're ego can compete with an ogre's." I talked to Caius in a sweeter tone, "How much money do you owe them?"

"About two thousand, including the interest."

"How much and when did you borrow?"

"About a grand a month ago."

I yelled back at Eddie, "A grand of interest in a month? Even the bank loans don't charge that much."

Eddie shrugged his shoulders at me, "Then he should've went to the bank."

"I couldn't," Caius said, "the bank would not give it to me ASAP. I needed the money fast for my mother's operation."

"Wouldn't you do the same thing for Esme, Eddie?" I challenged Eddie. I talked to his mother on the phone, it sounded like they were close. Hopefully, Esme is a sore spot for Eddie.

"Shut the fuck up and give me what I want!" Eddie yelled.

"You know what?!" I yelled, angry that Eddie could do such a thing. I can't believe I thought of you differently. I can't believe I sort of stood up for you against Mike. I took my checkbook out and made a check of 2 grand and gave it to Eddie. "Here's the money. Make sure you leave Caius alone. He doesn't deserve this."

"Sorry sugar, can't accept this. What I need has to come from Caius."

"Look, your boss just wants money. He doesn't give a damn where the money comes from, am I right?"

"Fine. Cullen will deal with this nicely, he loves money."

"Come on Caius, lets get you to the hospital." Caius whispered his thanks to me and I helped him to my car, putting him in the backseat so he could lay down and rest. Once Caius was in my car and I looked over to Eddie, "Seriously Ed?"

"What? I'm just doing my job. This is what being in the SOB is about."

"It's about beating up people who try to help their loved ones?"

"It's about teaching people the rules. If they need to get beaten up for it, they will."

"You…" are just like my parents. "Whatever. Do what you want with your life Eddie. I'll call you later to talk about the outline, we have to make some changes."

Just as I was about to get into my car, Eddie comes up to me and looks at me, pleadingly asks, "Hey, what you did for that kid was nice. But if you ever see me doing my job again, don't drop by and think you can fix things. You're lucky only I was here to do this."

"I'm lucky? Hardly. Look at what you did to Caius."

"Just promise me you won't come near me and my work again, or the SOB. It's dangerous."

"Dangerous? So we're going to talk about danger now, won't we? How about what you did to him was dangerous. How about the fact that you almost killed Caius, was dangerous. Trust me, I won't be in danger. Worry about yourself, Eddie."

I drove off to get Caius to the hospital ASAP. As I drove off, I saw Edward pinch the bridge of his nose and run his hands through his copper locks. Such captivating hair…

I quickly shook off that thought and took Caius to the hospital.

Sorry Mike, you'll just have to wait.

*****

"Caius," the nurses said, "you're going to be just fine."

"Thanks," he said, "but I can't afford this. If there is some payment plan that…"

"Don't worry about it Caius, I can pay for this," I told him. "I would also like to pay for your mother's treatment, if that's okay."

"Oh, um, she past on."

"I'll be right back," the nurse said.

Caius and I are alone in the room now.

"My condolences, Caius. I didn't know."

"It's okay, truly it is. When I got the money, it wasn't enough. Apparently, the treatment wasn't good enough to cure her. Until the doctors found something else to do, it was already too late."

"If there is anything I can do…"

"It's okay. I don't need anything. She was a great mother. She even inspired me to become a doctor. I mean, that's good, right?"

"Yeah, you sound lucky." You are lucky.

"Yeah, I am. Anyways, thank you for everything. You're a jewel." He got up and kissed my hand.

"Wow, you're such a gentleman. Maybe that was why you didn't fight Eddie back."

He smirked, he was hiding something from me. I let that pass. "That's me, a gentleman," he smiled. "I got to go. I've got friends picking me up."

"I don't mind taking you home."

"Don't worry, you've done enough."

I saw Caius get into a car and drive off. When he left, I talked to the nurses to get some information on him. I wanted to know how his mom died, and his address, so I can send him some flowers or something. "Excuse me, nurse?"

"It's so good to see you again, Bella. Last time I saw you, you were bruised up by…well…are you okay now?"

"Yes, I brought Caius in to get some help."

"We see that. You're such a good girl, helping others."

"I do try. Anyways, could I get some information on him?"

"You know Bella, that is against hospital policy for us to do so. But I guess we'll make an exception for you."

I smiled. It was good to have "connections." She got Caius's file and I asked, "How did his mother die?"

"What do you mean Bella?"

"He told me his mother died recently. How did she pass on?"

"Bella, his file says he doesn't have a mother."