Yay, early update! I had a writing boost last night, so here ya go! ;)

Chapter 35: Anger

Bella

The feeling of anger hadn't disappeared one tiny bit during the drive back to Edward's place. As a matter of fact, it had actually increased ten-fold, because during that fifteen minute drive, I had had even more time to think about everything. And the more I thought about it, the more it confused me as well. I just couldn't for the life of me understand how his mother's brain worked, but I was determined to find out and work my way through it so I could make Edward stay because seriously, this was total bullshit. 'Bullshit' wasn't even a strong enough word to describe this situation.

"Bella, are you sure?" Edward asked once more as he parked his Volvo in the driveway. The look on his face screamed at me that this wasn't a good idea and that I probably shouldn't get involved, but I didn't care about what I was getting myself into. As a matter of fact, this did already concern me. If Edward left, I'd be hurt, so yes, I'd like to have a say in this all. I felt like I just needed to make his mother see the obvious before it was too late.

I nodded fiercely, before stepping out of the car, slamming the door shut behind me.

Before heading for the front door, I rushed back to Edward's side though, taking his hands in between mine and forcing him to look at me. "Can I talk to your mother?" I asked, suddenly feeling bad for just deciding to go shout at his mother while I didn't even know how he felt about it. Even though I wanted nothing more than to just have a word with her, I needed to know that Edward was okay with this. Call it cheesy, but he was my first priority.

Edward remained silent, his eyes darting between the front door and me.

"Seriously, Edward, just say the word and I'm going back home, but God, I just can't watch her ruin your life because she thinks she knows what you want," I told him, "You really do want to stay here right?"

"I do," he replied in a whisper, "I really do."

"So, can I?" I asked, hoping that he would give me permission to try something. Anything.

"I'm just scared she's going to talk bad about you," he whispered, his thumb slowly gazing my cheek, "She can be really mean when someone tries to keep her from getting her way."

"I don't care what she says about me, Edward; I just want to talk some sense into her."

"I hope you can convince her then," he said, his voice weak but a smile tugging at his lips.

"I hope so too," I said, smiling back at him before pressing my lips softly against his. We both sighed at the contact before slowly pulling away from each other again. There was no time to get all sweet, even though there was nothing I wanted more than to wrap myself in Edward's arms and forget about all this drama; there was business to take care of first.

When I stepped through the front door, I could feel my heart starting to beat loudly in my chest again. I wanted to rush through the house, kick open every door to see behind which one Esme was hiding, but I managed to keep myself in control for at least that part.

Even thought the anger was still coursing through me at a rapid speed, Edward's touch had calmed me down a lot, so I knew that at least I wouldn't lunge at his mother's throat the minute I saw her.

"M-m-mom?!" Edward yelled, though there wasn't much force in his voice.

The entire house was dead silent for a while, only the sound of Edward's and my rapid breathing filling the air around us. After a few seconds, I heard a door close somewhere and then Esme came walking down the stairs, acting as if she was Miss Universe. Ugh. I hated her.

"Edward, did you call me?" she asked sweetly before noticing that I was next to her son. "Oh hello, Bella." I suddenly hated the way my name rolled off her lips, with some sort of fake Italian accent.

I shook off the nasty feeling and took a deep breath before opening my mouth.

"Mrs. Cullen," I started, figuring that being polite might actually have more effect than starting to shout from the very beginning. I mean, I could always yell and stomp my feet once this being-nice plan would fail, so... "I think you need to reconsider your plans to send Edward to Seattle." There, that was nicely put, wasn't it? Okay, maybe I shouldn't have emphasized the 'your' but I couldn't help myself.

"And why would I do that?" she asked still in her honey sweet voice, but I could already notice the hard undertone in her voice. Yes, she knew that I wasn't going to let her have her way easily.

"Because Edward doesn't want to go," I said, more forcefully now.

"He's just a little bit scared, just like every other kid who has to change schools," she laughed a little under her breath, raking her hand to her perfectly brushed honey brown hair. Her every move seemed to annoy me and right now, it only added fuel to the fire that was already burning inside of me.

"No, he just doesn't want to go!" I nearly shouted, holding back as much as possible. I could feel Edward's hand caress mine softly, just a split second and it was enough to calm me down again. I bet his mother never even noticed, because if it weren't for the tingly feeling that shot through me, I probably wouldn't have either.

"You're not even giving him a chance," I said, a lot calmer again.

"Because there is nothing to prove," Esme said, crossing her arms in front of her. "I have a feeling that you might be involved with this whole cheating plan of his, and Bella, this isn't something I approve of."

"What would it take for you to look at his work? Five minutes? Is that seriously too much to ask?" I almost spat at her, so angry at the fact that she wouldn't even consider giving him the opportunity to show her. She rather believed that her son was a thief than that he was a genius. Talk about being fucked up.

"I've seen his work for many years," she said, causing me to frown. She knew? She knew about all this and she was still letting him go to a school for retards or something like that.

"I've seen his school grades go down slightly every year and I think that the time had come that I intervened."

Of course she would be referring to his school work. Of course! The lie that Edward had made everyone believe. I should probably hate him for it now, because this was the thing that was going to make convincing his mother nearly impossible, but I couldn't. I could never hate him because the hate I currently had for this woman in front of me was already too much for a human body to store. It was she who didn't want to see the truth that Edward had already offered.

"I only want the best for my son, Bella, and you, as a friend, should too," she continued, "Deep inside Edward knows that this is what he needs, so I'll be the one to show him the right direction."

"Force him in the wrong one, you mean," I whispered, my fists tightening at my sides. I had never been a violent person, but I really wanted to shake, kick, slap, whatever some sense in this woman. Wasn't Edward's expression enough to see that forcing him to Seattle wasn't the right thing to do? He looked broken, devastated and I don't know what that did to his mother, but it totally crushed my heart to see him that way.

"You don't know my boy the way I do, you didn't raise him. I know that Seattle is the best option for him and nobody will change my mind about that," she said forcefully before turning her back on us with the intention to leave the room.

"He's fucking brilliant, and you're too blind to see what a truly amazing son you have!" I yelled at her back while I silently prayed for the tears to stay away. No way was I going to let her see me breaking down. I'd rather die first.

"Young lady, you shall not talk to me this way in my house, do you understand?" Esme said, turning around again and pointing her index finger angrily at me. Had I crossed the line here? Well, I don't fucking care. She could yell at me all she wanted, because I knew that I wasn't the one who had fucked things up. She had.

"M-m-m-mom, p-p-please," Edward pleaded, speaking up for the first time since we had entered his house. "I-I really w-w-want t-to s-s-stay here."

For a brief moment, his eyes locked with mine and I offered him a small smile in encouragement. I know how much it took from him to speak up to his mother every time and I was glad that he had done it again. But his every attempt was always in vain.

"No, Edward, my decision is final," Esme said determined, "You will leave next week on Sunday morning, as we have already discussed before. End of discussion."

And with those words, she left the room.

A/N: No, not even Bella can defeat the monster…

Next update: I have no idea at all when I'll be able to update, tomorrow I have to babysit, Friday is my last evening at home so I probably won't be able to update as well, and then Saturday morning I leave for Germany. I'll be on my own there Sunday evening, so I think you can expect your update then… I'm sorry.

Love to all of you and momma2fan, Ellen