hey...internet was down. oh, how was everyone's Christmas. one thing, remember that guy on youtube i said i was obsessed with. well, my bro got me one of his shirts. i love it so much.

anyways here we are. i'm trying to keep up the every other day thing. i actually have to write all my chps so bare with me.

anyways, enjoys...

Chapter XXXVI

(Epov)

I was so ready for Senior Ditch Day. Bella wasn't joking when she said we needed a break. I mean, we had spring break, but I had to go with my family on the only trip we had together without everyone else. I think I was looking for more of a day where I can out hang with my friends and not worry about school or work or test or grades or anything. After I had to retake my SAT's, I was ready for that day to come. And it couldn't have come sooner.

"Why can't I come?" Alice whined for the tenth or so time since we got up this morning from the backseat of my car.

"Because you're not a senior." I reminded her. Since she was two years younger than everyone else in the group, she still had to go to school. My parents said since it was tradition, I was allowed to miss school, but my sister still had to go. They said they let her get away with a lot of things since she's usually with me, but some things, only I get to do. Today was one of them.

I thought I could at least drive her to school and maybe pick her up. I told her not to count on the pickup and she might have to catch a ride with someone. But we will see as the day went on.

"It's not fair." she whined more.

"I'm sorry. It's the parentals' rule, not mine." I told her.

"But you can take me with you. They won't know." she said.

I laughed. "Sorry sis. No go."

"Alice, stop that damn whining. It is wearing on my nerves." Tanya complained from the seat next to me. Yeah, I still haven't had the chance to break-up with her. I've actually haven't seen much of her. I've been busy with more important things. I haven't really had time to deal with her. I didn't want to be with her for Ditch Day, but she kinda focused herself onto me, just like any other time. I think I want this day to be drama-free, so it's whatever.

"Shut up. I don't remember talking to you." Alice snapped.

Tanya snapped around to her. "Don't kick my seat, you little brat." Tanya snapped back.

"Bite me, you disposable skank." I almost wanted to laugh if I know the of the reason she said that. She and Bella were the only ones who knew. Alice was dropping hints about it more than I would like to.

On the side of my eye, I saw Tanya glare at her. I also saw Tanya reach back as she was about to slap my sister. Before she could release, I took one hand off the wheel and grabbed her wrist. "Don't hit my sister." I told her.

Tanya looked at me. "Did you hear what she said to me?" she snapped at me.

"Yeah. And I heard what I said to you. Don't hit her. I don't feel like dealing with that shit while I'm driving." I took her as I gave her back her wrist. "Turn back around and leave her alone." I told her.

She turned back to Alice. "You're so lucky." In the mirror, I saw Alice stick her tongue out at my girlfriend.

"Tanya." I warned again. She rolled her eyes and turned back in her seat. After another minute or two, I pulled up to the area of the parking lot where someone would drop off people. "You're here." I told Alice as I parked.

"Aw…Edward." She whined.

"Go." I told her. "It will be over in a few hours. Go, have a good day." I said.

She gave a hard sigh. "Fine." She said as she grabbed her bag and opened the door. "Have fun. Say hi to everyone else for me. Not you, Tanya. I hope you drown." She said as she got out of the car.

"Whatever. I'm the one who's going be soaking up sun." Tanya replied as Alice closed the door.

Alice looked at me. "If she burst into flames or melt or something can you take a picture for me." she said.

I gave a small chuckle. "Enough stalling. Will you go before you're late for you first class?" I told her.

"Whatever." She mumbled rolling her eyes. "See you later." She said before walking away from the car.

"Why the hell were you taking her side?" Tanya asked me as we pulled out of the school parking lot.

"She's so use doing things with me. She's already pissed that she didn't get a day off and get to hang with us today; she didn't need crap from you to add to it. I just wanted you to leave her alone for once." I told her.

"She's so spoiled."

"She's my sister." I corrected her like it was difference. To be honest, I don't think it was. For once, Tanya was right. Alice was spoiled. But she was only spoiled because she was my sister and I want her to be happy and safe. If it meant for her to hang around me and my other friends, so be it. I think a lot people would probably prefer Alice over Tanya, one of those people being me. "Now leave it alone." I told her.

When we got to the beach, everyone was there. Well, I'm sure they just got up and left the house this morning. I'm sure they didn't have to wait for someone to get ready and pretty much had to drag her to school and push her out of the car. As Tanya and I were setting up in the spot she picked because she thought it was best for her tan, I saw Bella and the others near the bay of the ocean. When I did, I waved at them. I saw Bella give a smile and wave-over. All I could was shake my head and nod to the girl next to me. I'm pretty sure Bella knew what I was saying.

When we got settled, I saw the reason the others were sitting so close to the bay. Both…"couples", it didn't seem right to call Jasper and Bella a couple, were building sandcastles. Were they really doing that? I can't remember the last time I did that. But they were, and it looked like they were having fun. "Are they building sandcastles?" I heard Tanya say. Seems like I wasn't the only who notice. I gave nod to the question. She started laughing. "They are so lame. It was that loser Isabella's idea, no doubt."

I just gave a shrug. It probably was Bella's idea. She seems like the one to find fun in small and childish things like building a sandcastle. "At least they're having fun." I told her. I turned to her and saw her putting on suntan lotion. "Speaking of which, is that what you plan on doing all day?" I asked her.

She looked at me over her designer sunglasses and smiled. "Not all of us had the chance to hang out on an island all spring break." She cooed. "By the way, you looked hot, you should think about tanning again for prom." She said. I guess she was referring to the fact I apparently got a little more color over break.

I looked away from her. "I rather not." It was really by accident so I haven't been keeping it up. It was starting to fade. I looked back to everyone else. I was people watching the other kids in my class. I was seeing what else everyone else was doing and what I might be missing out on. Then I noticed everyone was heading to the shack where people would rent things. It's usually bigger things like ski boats and jet skis since you would most likely bring something small like a ball or a Frisbee on your own. I wondered what was going on.

Then I saw Jasper and Bella heading over there. I'm sure they knew. "Hey guys." I called them. Bella looked over to me. I waved them over. She tapped Jasper's arm and nodded over to me. They walked over to where Tanya and I were. As they walked over to us, I noticed they were holding hands. I noticed they do that a lot. Usually it's Jasper who starts it, but I also see Bella is never too quick to pull her hand out of his grip. It probably because she knows that's as close as they might get.

"Hey man." Jasper said when they were in front of me. He let go of Bella's hand to slap mine.

"Hey." I greeted back.

"You had to drop Alice off?" he asked, probably wondering why I came later than everyone else. I nodded. "How was that?" he asked.

"She was whining." I told him. He laughed.

"Aw, I feel bad for her. She deserves a break too." Bella said. Leave it to her said something like that.

"She'll get it in two years." I told her. She just shrugged, knowing there was nothing else to really say. "Anyways, what's going on? Why is everyone going to the shack?" I asked.

"Tyler said his uncle is letting the senior class rent things for free." Jasper answered.

"Seriously?" I asked. It seemed a little hard to believe since that's how the beach made most of its money.

"Yeah, I was just about to take Belle for a ride." Jasper said with a smirk. The way he smiled reminded me of something, but I don't know what.

"Are you coming?" Bella asked.

"You should. We can race." Jasper added.

Bella laughed. "I bet you can beat him, Edward." She said to me.

I couldn't help but laugh at her. "No doubt about that." I said. I'm pretty I could. He was good and fast, but since I've beaten Jasper any time we race –we race, on foot, on jet skis, pretty much anything –three times out of four times, I have no doubt in my mind I could win a quick race.

"There's that confidence." Bella encouraged.

"Well, come on. Show me what you got, Cullen." Jasper added. That sounded like a challenge. He of all people should know better than to challenge me.

Before I could accept; hell, before I could even reply, Tanya thought now was the best time to speak up. "I don't think so." We all turned to her. I actually kinda forgot she was seating next to me until she did. She was sitting up and pushing her glasses on her head. "Sorry children, he's busy." She answered.

"I am?" I asked her with an eyebrow lift. What the hell was I doing?

She looked at me and nodded. "Yes, sweetheart. You're keeping me company." She said sweetly as she touched my arm.

I sighed. Drama-free day, which meant doing what she said. This might be one of the last times. I turned back to Bella and Jasper. "I guess I'm busy." I told them.

"Oh." Bella said in disappointment.

Damn, I didn't think she would do that. It made me feel bad. Damn Tanya. "Maybe later, you guys." I told them, hopefully to get the look off her pretty face. The last thing this day needed was any kind of disappointment. It was going to be a fun day.

"The free-rentals are only for a few hours." Jasper told me.

I shrugged. "If all three of us go later, I'll pay for the rentals." I told them. I figure it wouldn't be that much.

"Edward." I felt a tap on my arm. I turned to Tanya. She held out the tanning lotion. "Do my back." she ordered.

I knew what she was doing. She was taking my attention. She was pretty much saying that since I was with her, all my attention should be on her. And I'm sure she didn't like the thought of me spending money of anything or anyone but her, especially not Bella. Probably not Jasper either, considering his thing with Bella. I rolled my eyes away from her and turned back to the others. "I'll talk to you guys later." I told them.

They both nodded. "Come on, Belle. We should hurry. The jet skis will probably be the first to go." Jasper said to Bella.

"Okay." She answered. He grabbed her hand. She waved to me before he pulled her away.

"Edward." Tanya called my attention again as she tapped my arm with the bottle. I held back the hard sigh as I looked at her again. "My back." she reminded me. I took the bottle from her hand and she turned so her back was to me. While I was rubbing a coat of lotion on her back, I heard Bella scream. I looked towards the water and I saw her brown hair flying through the wind. She was holding on to Jasper tightly. I suddenly wished I would have gone because that could have been me. She could have been holding on to me like her life depended on it, not holding on to Jasper. "They are such losers." Tanya said. That took my attention away from the riders and looked back to Tanya.

"I thought you like riding the jet skis." I said in a tone that told her I didn't really care.

But of course, she didn't catch it. "I did, but if Swan likes it, it's clearly not cool anymore. And why the hell is she screaming? She act like she having an orgasm or something." hum… that was a thought. "Though I'm sure she doesn't even know what one feels like." She laughed. I wondered if Tanya knew how true that was. Wait, a second. What she said made me think of something. It made me think of the smirk Jasper gave. Wait…could he mean what I think he means? "Okay, that's enough." She broke my thoughts as she pushed my hands off her. She turned back to me. I closed the bottle and handled back to her. "Thank you." She said before grabbing my chin and pulling me to towards her. I gave a slight eye roll as I let her kiss me.

As the day went on, people – Jasper, Emmett and Bella mostly – kept coming up to me and asked me to do things with them. Before I could answer them, Tanya would interrupt and say I was too busy "keeping her company" to do anything else. Whatever. Apparently she wasn't going to let me do anything because she was too busy tanning to have fun, and making me not have fun as well.

When I realized her plan, I laid down. So much for a day of fun. Before I could close my eyes and get comfortable, I felt a ball hit my side. I sat up and looked to see it was a volleyball ball. I looked to see where it came from. My eyes stopped when I saw Bella walking towards me. She was smiling at me. That wasn't the only thing I noticed. I could see she took the shirt that she had on earlier off now. I see she was wearing a swimsuit. It wasn't the one she had on at the trip. She actually had a bikini on this time. And just when I started to realize I liked her more than her looks. That's not to say she didn't look hot in that bikini.

"That's mine." she said when she was in front of me.

I picked the ball up. "Did you throw this at me?" I asked, smiling back.

She shrugged. "I was aiming for your head." She teased back.

"Why?" I asked, knowing she was joking.

"I was trying to get your attention." she said before taking the ball from my hand. "We're about to play some volleyball game. The others are holding a court while I got the ball from Rosa's bag. I came over here to tell you to stop being lazy and play with us." she said.

"He's not being lazy. He's working on his look, something you're clearly not use to." Tanya said. Bella turned and looked at her. "Now get out of the way. You're blocking my sun." she stopped and gave a smirk. "Actually, maybe you should move over and the sun can reflect off your pale ass skin and I might get a better one." she said before laughing.

"Careful Ice Princess, you might melt." Bella shot back. Tanya glared at her. Bella rolled her eyes away from her and back to me. "You've been here all day. If you wanted to sit in one spot all day, you could've gone to school. Come play with us." she urged.

"Leave us alone, Swan. We're perfectly fine being here." Tanya answered again.

"Bella, come on, we have a court." I heard Rosalie yell.

Bella turned to them and nodded. "Well, we're over there if you change your mind." She said to me before walking back over to the others.

When she left, I realized she was right. I have been sitting here all day, and with a person whose company I wasn't even enjoying. With a person I might even be with for long. I wasn't having fun and Bella was right, I could've gone to school with Alice. I probably would have if I knew this day would be like this. Ditch Day was about not going to school to have fun, not about not going to school to sit in the same spot all day just to do something you can do in a salon in thirty or so minutes. If Tanya wanted to sit here all day, that was her. I already missed way too much fun.

I stood up and dusted the sand off me. I started walking. "Where are you going?" Tanya asked.

"To play volleyball with the others." I told her.

"No you're not. You're supposes to be keeping me company." She said.

"Tanya, that's boring. I literally been sitting here saw you do nothing. I came here to have fun. If you want to sit here, fine. But I'm going to do what I came here for. You don't need me here."

"Yes I do. Who's going to tell me when to turn?" she said. I've been telling her to turn over every thirty minutes or so. She said so she can get an even tan on both sides. I thought it gave me something to do, but it really didn't.

I grabbed her phone from her bag and set the timer. "I set it for twenty minutes. That should be long enough. When it rings, turn over and set it again." I told her. I don't know why we didn't think of this earlier. I tossed her back the phone to her. "Have fun.' I said before taking off my shirt and walking away. I jogged over to where the others were. When I got to them, I saw Emmett and Rosalie on one side of the net and Jasper and Bella was the other. Of course. "Hey guys." I greeted.

"Hey, Baywatch." Rosalie teased.

"Look who finally got off his ass to join us." Emmett said.

"Tanya finally let you off you leash, man?" Jasper added to the joke. Both the girls laughed.

"No. I broke it." I told them.

"What? You broke your leash? That took some major balls." Rosalie added. Once again they all laughed. I had to chuckle. I guess I deserved all of that.

"Are you guys done?" I looked at Bella. "Don't you have something to add?" I asked.

She smiled and shook her head. "I'm just happy you finally came to join us for once today." She told me.

"I'll take all of that as compliments." I replied with a smile as I took the ball form her. "Bella told me you guys were playing a few games. Is there enough room for me?" I asked me.

Rosalie nodded. "We are. We were figuring out who was going to serve first." she said.

"So whose team am I on?" I asked.

"You can be on Jasper and mine." Bella said.

"That's three-on-two. That's not fair." Emmett complained.

"Don't worry, Em. Bella will probably be too busy trying to hide from the ball for her to count." Rosalie joked to her boyfriend.

Bella stuck her tongue to her best friend. "Be quiet. I promised I was going to try. But if I wanted to hide, it's fine." She grabbed both mine and Jasper's hands and pulled us both to her sides. "I have two awesome guys to protect me." she said with a smile.

"I wouldn't have taken you as the 'damsel in distress' type, Bella." I told her. Tanya, yeah, Rosalie, maybe, even Alice, sure, but not Bella. She didn't seem like she cared or not whether she had someone to be protect her.

She laughed. "I'm not." knew it. "But I don't play sports and I rather not have that ball hit me in the face." She said.

Jasper laughed. "You can count on me, Belle." He answered.

Well, if she could count him…"You can count on me too." I told her. "I'll serve." I told them and we set up to played.

As we played, I saw that both Rosalie and Bella were right, Bella didn't play sports. Anytime the ball would come towards, if I or Jasper weren't there to save her, she would move out of the way of the ball. "You suppose to hit it." I would tease her. She would say she didn't think she could. Then Jasper told her to just try and not be afraid of it and that it wasn't going to hurt her. I don't think I agreed with that part. It must have help, because after the first game, Bella tried hard to hit the ball, but only when it came to her. She didn't make too much of an effort to run or dive for it. Then I saw she was better at serving or returning a serve. Not that great at returning a hit. The way she played was cute. I couldn't tell what was funnier, her dodging the ball when she could, or somehow ending up hitting herself when she tried to hit the ball. But she was getting the hang of it, for the most part. It's a good thing we were just playing for fun.

Of course, I wasn't the only one who noticed Bella's adorable attempts. Jasper would find any reason he could to touch her, like giving her a high five or purposely bumping to her whenever we would change positions. He even bobbed the ball on her head once or twice. Geez, he was the kid who messes with the girl he likes, however, he was clearer of his feeling for her. I was pretty sure everyone knew, but probably her. The things he does probably go over her head.

We set up where Bella was in front and Jasper and I was behind her. It seems like that set up works the best for her. I tossed Jasper the ball to serve since it was his turned to do so. He grabbed it then turned and winked at me. What was that? He threw it up to serve it, but as it came back down, he waited too late and it wasn't high enough to go over the net. When he hit it, the ball hit Bella on her back.

"Ow." She said as placed a hand on her where the ball hit. She turned and gave Jasper a playful glare.

"Oops." He answered with a shrug.

"That's your third time doing that. I starting to think you're doing that on purpose." She said.

"What, me?" he said with a chuckle.

She walked towards him. "Yeah, and I suggest you stop." She teased.

"What are you going to do if I don't?" he teased back.

"I'm going to beat you up." she joked.

"Oh, I so scared." He said.

"You should be." She said before she started playfully hitting him. Both started laughing as they lightly pushing and hitting each other. Damn, they really were like children. I rolled my eyes. Did we really have to listen to their flirtations? I looked at Rosalie and Emmett and saw they were both rolling their eyes at them. At least I wasn't the only one.

"I'm sorry." Jasper chuckled when they were done. I looked to see him hugging Bella. He was rubbing the small of her back, where he hit her with ball. "Better?" he asked her. Well, I think I know what the wink was for. She looked up at him and gave a nod. Oh, my…annoyed.

"Okay, enough of that you two." Emmett called from the other side of the net.

"Yeah Jasper, stop trying to feel up my best friend." Rosalie added. That's exactly what he was doing, in so little words. He could have easily put that ball over the net, he's done it before. He just using the ball aimed at her lower back as an excuse.

"You guys, we're in the middle of a game." I reminded them. I just wanted to not have to see their little exchanges.

"Edward's right." Bella laughed as she pushed Jasper away from her. She walked over to the ball and picked it up. "This time Edward is serving." She said, tossing it to me. "And you're taking my spot." She told Jasper before pushing him to the middle where she was and took his spot in the back. Then we continued the game.

We finished that game and started a new one. That was shorter than the others because we only played until the first team to get to ten. "Great games, you guys." Rosalie said as her and Emmett walked under the net to join the rest of us. "Even Bella did better than expected." She commented.

"Thanks." Bella said, rolling her eyes.

"Maybe she was trying to impress someone." Jasper said.

"Maybe." I mumbled.

"I…" she looked at him. Then she looked at me. Then back at him. "Uh…" What the hell was that? "I'm hungry. Anyone else?" she said as she looked around to everyone else.

"Starved." Rosalie agreed. Come to think of it, I was kinda hungry too. "Hey what time is it?" she asked.

I pulled my phone from my pocket. I haven't been in the water today so I didn't have a reason to take it out until now. I unlocked it to look at the time. "A little after 1:30." I answered before dropping back where I got it from.

"That's explains. We would've eaten by now." Jasper said.

"Then let's go to lunch before my stomach starts eating itself." Rosalie added. Bella laughed and agreed. Leave it to the girls to be so dramatic.

"The diner?" I suggested. It was the only place that was close enough. Everyone else agreed. "Okay. I'll meet you guys there." I told them, remembering I had Tanya with me. I walked back over to where my things were. When I got there I put my shirt back on.

"Are you finally done?" Tanya asked as I bended down to fold my towel and stuffed it back in my bag. I didn't have an actually one, so I was using my book bag. So, my school things didn't have a place to be for the day?

I nodded. "We're going to eat." I said as I put my wallet in one of the pockets. I looked at her. "Are you coming?" I asked her.

"Do I have a choice?" she asked.

"Yeah, but if you don't, you might have to find another ride." I told her.

"You would really leave me?" she replied. It was a good thing she caught on because there wasn't really a nice way to say it.

"I'm hungry and like I said before, you don't need me here to tan." I answered. "So are you coming or what?" I asked her again, not that I really cared about the answer. In fact, it might actually be better if she didn't. I would get another hour or so away from her.

She glared at me before giving a hard sigh. "Fine. Can I at least get my things?" she asked, clearly annoyed. I gave a shrug. A better person would be upset, or at least feel bad for threating to leave her at the beach without a ride. However, a better person wouldn't start dating a girl like her in the first place.

A moment later, she stood in front of me with her arms crossed and had everything in her bag and on her shoulder with her shirt and skirt over her bikini. I didn't response and walked to the car. How long was she planning to keep her attitude?

XXX

We got to the diner and again we were the last ones. "Ugh…I hate this damn place." Tanya complained when we walked through the door.

"Get over it." I mumbled. I looked for the rest of the group. I saw they were at two different tables. There was a table or so between them. Then I saw Bella.

"Edward." She called as she waved through the tables. "Hey. Hi Tanya." she greeted with not that much excitement. Tanya gave a fake smile.

"I bet you picked this place. A gross place for a gross person." She said.

"Can you not be rude for one day?" Bella asked before looking at me again. "We save you guys a table." She said before pointing to one of the only empty one in the place. "Sorry, we're all not seat with each other. They were the closest ones we could find." She told us.

I looked around. The place was crowded. Not just my schoolmates were there, but a lot of other people. Now I see why the tables were so far apart. I looked at Bella again. "It's cool."

She laughed. "Good. Oh, I wanted to show you something. Look what they added." she said with excitement before pointing towards a far wall. I followed her finger and saw what she was so excited about. There was an arcade game there. Form the looks of it, it looked like a racing game. They finally added something interest to the place. "Cool, right?" she asked looking at me again. She was smiling. I could tell she was really eager.

"I didn't know you were a gaming nerd." I said. I couldn't help but smile back.

She shrugged. "I guess you can say that. I have a few quarters, want to play?" she asked.

Before I could answer, Tanya stepped in front of me. "No way he wants to do something so lame with someone lamer." She answered for me.

I was having fun. I wasn't going to stop now. I looked over her shoulder and at Bella. "Do you think you can keep up?" I asked.

She gave a laugh before grabbing my wrist. When she did, I felt a slight tingle go through me. It was the same one I got when we were in my room. I don't know what it was and I couldn't explain it. All I know is that I know for damn sure I never felt anything like it; not with Tanya, not with anyone. "I hope you like those words, Cullen, because you're about to eat them." she challenged with a smile before pulling me over to the game station. She let go of me when we got there. I couldn't feel missing feeling I had when she did. She put two quarters in and we started playing.

We raced about two times. I saw she was really good at it. Every time I would be in first place, she would come at of nowhere and pass me. We would go back and forward until she would beat across the finish line. "Ha! I win again." she gloated after the third game.

I bowed and shook my head. "Unbelievable." I mumbled. I couldn't believe I lost to her for the third time in a roll. This was not what I was excepting when I told her I would play. She laughed. It was one of her genuine one. I like those. I looked her. Even though she was kicking my ass at this game, I was having fun. And judging by her laugh and smile, she was too, and with just me and no Jasper around. That had to mean something. But probably not. "Let's play again."

"Okay." She chuckled before putting two more coins in the slot.

"I thought you said you were hungry." I heard someone chuckle as we were playing. Then he leaned against the machine on Bella's side. Speak of the damn devil.

"I would've been there ten minutes ago, Jasper, but Edward doesn't know how to lose gracefully." She teased as she made her car turn.

"Whatever, you're going to lose this time." I joked back, trying to act as if Jasper was there.

She laughed. "Right, so you being in fifth place is some kind of strategy?" she answered. I chuckled as I shook my head. She was always quick with the come backs.

Jasper chuckled. He was making it really hard to ignore him. "I can get winner?" he said.

"Sure. I'll play a game with you, Jasper." she answered.

"When the hell you get so cocky?" I asked as I made my way to second place.

"The same time I beat you three games in a row. And this is about to be number four." She said as she dodged an object. I guess I didn't see it, because as soon as she did, I ran it to something, causing me to crash into the wall and slow down. That dropped me to sixth place. She hit a seed-up item. I knew there was no way I could win because we were on the last lap. She turned one more corner and cross the finish line. "Woo!" she cheered when she did. She looked at me. "Told ya." She gloated.

"Damn it." I groan. Then I just had to chuckle. I had to admit, I did like her like this. She was fun and clearly didn't care about hurting feeling. I don't think I ever seen her so loose.

"Edward!" I heard someone call me, breaking my thoughts. I looked and saw Tanya at our table. "Can you be done with that damn loser and that damn game now?" she asked. I knew it was more of a demand than a question. She better be happy I was now too hungry to fight with her.

I held up a finger telling her to hold on. "Good game, Bella." I looked at Jasper. "Good luck, she's good." I warned.

He chuckled. "Thanks, but I think I got it." he said as he took my spot on the other side of Bella. "Okay, Swan, let's make this a little interesting. Loser buys the winner a milkshake?" he said.

"Okay. I like strawberry, by the way." She told him.

He laughed. "Sounds good. Maybe you can get yourself one when you buy me mine." he said before slipped two more coins the shot. Okay, I was no longer visible. I walked away from them and to Tanya.

"Are you done leaving me for the day?" she asked when I got close enough.

"I'm having fun. It wouldn't hurt for you to do the same thing." I replied.

"I would have fun if my boyfriend would fucking stay with me and not run off to be lame with other lames." She answered.

I sighed hard. I thought she called me over to eat not argue. It was something I didn't want to do today. "Whatever. I'm here now, can we just eat?" I said before signaling over a waitress to take our order. When she came over, I ordered the same thing I did when I came here months before with Alice and Bella.

"I suppose a salad is the only thing that's not as dirty as the floor so I will just have that and water. Thank you." Tanya said. The girl took down our orders. Then nodded before leaving the table. As we waited, Tanya kept talking about her tan. She said she could go back to the beach or to a tanning booth to finish. She said she wanted me to take her. Okay, we'll see how well that wish plays out. It seem like the food took longer than it should've to come to the table. Maybe because I wasn't into the conversation. If I was, it would probably not have been that long. Oh well, at least I have an excuse not to talk when it finally. She gave a disgusted groan when I took my first bit out of my burger. "How the hell can you est that?"

"Are you really going to comment on my food?" I asked her after swallowing. I wanted to know so I can prepare myself to tune her out.

"Don't give me attitude. I'm just saying. You are aware you don't have toeat like that, right?" she answered.

"Are you done?" I asked before taking another bit. She could complain all she wanted, but if Alice or my father didn't stop me from eating whatever the hell I wanted, she wasn't going to either.

She gave a hard and annoyed sigh. "Fine, be that way. Just don't come crying to me when your stomach is falling over your belt." She said.

I gave a laugh. Now that was funny. "I'll deal with it when it comes." I answered.

Moments later, as I was finishing up my food, I heard Jasper and Bella laughing. "I have to say, I think Edward might have been right." I heard Jasper said. I turned towards them. What were they talking about? I saw they had eaten most of their food that was in front of them. I also saw Bella drinking her pink milkshake out of a large glass. "You are good." He added. Oh, they were talking about their little bet they made before I left.

She pulled away from the straw and smiled. "Thank you and thank you for the shake."

He shrugged. "A bet's a bet. It looks good. Mind if I have some?" He said.

She pulled the glass away from his reach. "Yes, actually. I would like to enjoy my victory shake alone; thank you very much. Besides, you might have cooties." She teased.

"Now you're afraid of my cooties?" he replied to her joke with his own.

"Maybe." She said with a shrug.

"Really?" he said before leaning in and closing the space between their lips. I rolled my eyes away from them. Did they really have to do that? I mean when they were alone was one thing, but come on. I have to hear about it, I do not want the damn show with the tell. Why do I always pay attention more than I should? And there was a bunch of people in here, why did I just so happen to pick out theirs? I'm started to think any question I might have may be answered with one thing.

"Edward." Tanya called my name.

"What?" I breathe out heavily. Damn, I was getting really tired of her. I rubbed my temple with my fingertips because I suddenly had a screaming headache. I don't know exactly cause behind it, but I think I can pretty much guess.

"Did you hear me?" she asked.

I looked at her. What was she talking about? "What?" I asked again.

"I said I think you should get your tux soon." she answered.

That didn't clear anything up. "What are you talking about?" I asked.

"Very funny." She said. I gave her a look that I didn't honestly didn't know what the hell I might need a tux for. "For prom?" she reminded.

Oh, right. Damn, how long did I tune her out that I forgot that's all she's been talking about to today? "Tanya, prom is not until the end of May." I reminded her.

"I know, but you don't want to wait until the last minute and not have time to get it fitted or anything. I will not look like an idiot because my date was too lazy to get the correct one." she answered. When she referred me as her date, I felt a shot of pain go through my skull.

"You don't even know what colors you want to wear." I told her. She's been going back and forward between like five or six colors for months. I brought it up now in hopes she would drop wanting me to have a tux for now.

"No, I have. I decided on peach. It's the one that match better with my skin tone. And I as I was thinking about it, I think I'm happy you interrupted my tanning. I don't want to look like someone colored me in with a red crayon when we accept our crowns." She said with a small chuckle.

I gave a groan. Another shot of pain. "Stop." I mumbled.

She didn't listen as she went on. "I mean, I can even it out next month. Oh, did I tell you? I found my dress. You should see me in it. I look so hot. And you need to see it because you need to match the colors. Actually, I want to come with you when you pick out your things so I can do it. You probably don't care, but I do and I want to make sure it matches correctly. How would we look if we clashed?"

Geez, it was like she was saying ten thoughts at a time. It wasn't helping my head. "Stop." I mumbled again.

"We are going to look so good with those crowns. The perfect King and Queen."

Okay, enough. "Tanya, can you please stop talking about it?" I told her.

She looked at me. "Edward, what is wrong with you?" she asked as if I offended her.

I gave a sigh. "I just don't think I care about being king anymore." I told her. When the words came out of my mouth, I realized I was right. I didn't care about it anymore; not like I did at the beginning. Before, I basely thought my name should already be craved in the side of it. But now, it just seemed so… shallow.

"What do you mean you don't care? You and I are supposed to be king and queen together." Another shot of pain. Man, anytime she referred to her and me as an us, I would get a shot of pain. The words were literally causing me physical pain. And the fact that all she can talk about is prom kept reminding me of what I needed to do. Plus, this thing with Bella. I needed to do it and I needed to do it sooner rather than later. In fact, what the hell was I waiting for?

I turned to her. "Tanya, I think we should step outside and talk for a second."

"What is it, Edward? Just say it. Maybe you will be done with this damn mood when you do." She said before taking a slip of her water.

I'll get rid of something when I'm done. No one better call me a bad guy because I told her to come outside with me, but she wants to be stubborn. So be it. "Okay, so this past few years has been…great." I think that was the right word.

"Better than great." She interrupted.

I gave a small smile that was hard to manage. "Can you let me finish?" I said. She closed her mouth. "Like I said, they've been great and so have you. But we're getting to the end of our high school years. With that being said, I think we should take a break." I said.

"A break?" she questioned.

Stop being a punk, Cullen, just do it. Like a bandage, rip it off; quick and fast. "Actually, something much more permanent." Do it. "Tanya, I want to break up."

She stared at me for a moment. Then, she started chuckling. Then it was a full on laugh. Okay, not exactly the response I was expecting. "Very funny, Edward." She replied. Okay, now I see. Either she was in denial, or actually thought I was joking. Maybe even both. I gave her the most serious look I could make, telling her I wasn't. Nowhere near joking right now. "Okay Edward, you can stop now." She said to the look.

"I'm not joking, Tanya. I want to break up." I repeated because clearly she needed to hear it again.

He smile slowly turned into a glare. "Are you seriously breaking up with me?" she asked. I opened my mouth to answer. But before I could, she went on. "You're seriously breaking up with me." she exclaimed.

When she did, I noticed people's eyes shifting to towards. "Tanya, calm dow…"

"Don't fucking tell me to calm down, Edward! I can't believe you're actually breaking up with me." she interrupted. "I am the best thing that will ever happen to you and you are ending it? And a month before prom? Have you lost all of your mind? Did you not hear me say I already had a dress? I already booked an appointment with the best hair and makeup stylist in Washington. I already know the car I want. I already have everything planned. Do you know how fucking hard it will be to cancel all of that? You can't just dump me and think its okay." She ranted in a yell, all in one breath. In fact, I don't think she took a breather yet.

"It's not you, it m…"

"Don't give me that bullshit, Edward." She snapped.

"No, it really is me. I…"

"Don't you dare tell me you like someone else." She threated. I fell silence. "Who is it?" she asked. Again I said nothing. I couldn't tell her what I was thinking. She would probably stab me with a fork or something. "Damn it, you tell me who this skank is." She demanded.

My eyes shifted to Bella. She was staring in wonder just like everyone else; attracted by the commotion coming from my direction. I quickly shifted them back to Tanya so she would notice. I shook my head. "No one you know so it doesn't matter." I lied. Well, in a way, I didn't. She didn't know Bella, not like I did. No one did, not even Jasper. Although he thinks he did, he didn't. I placed a hand on her shoulder, hopefully calming her a little. No such luck. She did nothing but shrug me off. "Tanya, calm do…"

"Do not tell me to fucking calm down! Allow me to be pissed. You totally ruin everything, all my plans, all my work, ruined."

"Tanya, I'm really sorry. We can still go as friends, but…"

I stopped when she looked at me like I literally lost my mind right in front of her. "You are clearly smoking something strong if you think I will be your pity date to prom. I rather go by myself, not that I will. Trust me; there are tons of guys lined up to take me out. so you know what you can do, you can take your cliché lines and your 'I'm sorrys' and whoever that skank you had a thing with and shovel them all so far up your ass, you choke you on it. In fact, maybe I should help you." Before I could ask what she meant, she stood up, grabbed her half full glass of water and poured the contents of it all over my lap; ice and everything. It was so cold; I jumped in the seat, pushing it back in the process. I think I even gave a little yell. I picked the ice away from my personal area. "By the way, I've been hooking up with James since around Christmas break." She said with the smuggest smirk I have even seen on anyone. It as if she was saying, "Ha, I get the last laugh".

Now I know why she wasn't mad at me when I came back. While I was sliding down mountains, she was too busy going down and getting it on with my backup to be pissed at me. But now it also made sense why James've been so ballsy lately. I guess him doing my girlfriend behind my back gave him some new found confidence. "I just hope no one caught anything."

She gasped. "Screw you, Edward." She yelled before grabbing something else. This time was someone else half drunken milkshake and did the same thing she did with glass of water and poured it all over my lap.

That was colder. So this time I jumped up. "Tanya, what the hell is wrong with you?" I exclaimed. Why the hell did she do? Did I say that out loud? I have a habit of doing that when I don't mean to. I guess now was one of those times. Still, that was no reason to fucking pour a milkshake on my lap like that.

"Nothing. I'm fucking awesome. There something clear wrong with you." She said. She gave me a push before leaving the diner.

When I looked up, everyone was staring at me. That must've been what she wanted, all the attention. Well, that's exactly what she got. But I was done with it. "Okay, show's over everyone. You all can stop fucking staring at me now." I snapped at everyone before going to the bathroom.

I closed the door behind me. I yanked a paper towel out of the dispeller and damped it. I rubbed it against my pants. I gave a groan because it wasn't working and it was just making me colder there. I might have to take them off, which is what I ended up doing. I rubbed and rubbed, but the stain was not come out. Damnit Tanya, was this really necessary?

"Cute." I heard a voice. I turned to see Bella walking through the bathroom door. "However, I wouldn't have taken you for the rubber ducky type" she said as she closed the door behind her. I gave a confused looked. She nodded to my bottom half. That's when I remember I had my blue boxers with yellow ducks all over on. It was a good thing I changed out of my swim trucks before we came here or I would be standing in front of Bella with no clothes on, well, no clothes on my bottom half, anyways. They were my emergency when I had nothing else. I usually don't wear them in case I need to strip down and then people would get a look at them, saying the same time she just said. I looked at her. "I saw you more of plaid in every color guy. Simple, but still on the show-offy side" she gave a light hearted tease.

"I'm busy." I told her as I turned back to my pants hanging on the sink.

"I know; I saw that. I think everyone saw that." she said with a light chuckle.

So that's what she wanted. In case she didn't notice, I wasn't in the fucking mood. I turned to her. "Is that why you came in here? To make fun of me, but I don't fucking need it." I snapped.

She wasn't fazed by it. She just gave a smile and shook her head. "Not at all, I'm here to help." She said as she showed me a cloth rag. "The guy behind the counter gave it to me. He said to tell you he understands crazy girlfriends. And he gave me this." She said showing me a bottle of club soda. "He said this should get the stain out. Mind if I try?" she asked I stepped aside and showed her my pants. "She did this because you broke up with her?" she asked.

"No, she did it because she likes the drama." I corrected.

She gave a chuckle. "Of course she does."

"Yeah, well I don't have to deal with it anymore." I mumbled. Even through the break up went worse than I thought, I was glad I did it and that it was finally over.

"Hmm…well, I'm glad you don't." she said as she dabbed my pants.

"Why?" I couldn't help but ask, hoping it was the response I was looking for.

"Because she wasn't nice to you and you clearly weren't happy." She said. Not really the one I wanted, but I suppose I'll take it. "I'm sorry that's how your day ended." She said.

"It's whatever. I should have done it a long time ago." I answered.

She turned to me. "Can I talk you about something? It might be the best time, but since we're alone…" she said.

"Uh…sure, I guess." I answered as I leaned against the wall next to the sink. What did she want to say? I wonder if it was her telling me she liked me more than Jasper, or something along towards lines. Maybe even she didn't want to go to prom with him anymore. It would be nice; however, I do believe my imagination is running wild. Whatever it was, it would be a nice distraction from the thing that just happened.

"Are you sure; like I said it might be the best time." she replied.

"Sure. I'm over it, anyways." I told her.

She gave a smile. "Okay. Well, it's about me and Jasper." she said. Okay, did I say anything would be a nice distraction I should have said anything but that. From one damn problem right to the next. But I gave her the nod anyways. "So, I told you he hasn't asked me to prom yet…" not this again.

"Are you not okay with that?" I asked.

She shook her head. "I am, I think. I just want to know why that is. I mean you're better friends with him and might know. Has he said anything?" she asked.

"I don't know." I just answered simply.

"I mean, he hasn't said anything about going pass this…whatever we are now. Sometimes, I think he just likes the physical part of all this." She said with a light before turning back to my pants.

"Maybe because he does."

She looked at me. "What?" she asked.

I looked at her. "I didn't say anything." I answered. Why did she ask what?

She gave a shrug. "Anyways, I really like him and I want to him like me. I don't want to pressure him or anything, but I just don't understand why he hasn't asked yet. I mean I've given him so many chances. Maybe he doesn't want to go with me. Maybe he doesn't even like me that way." She said.

"That's what happens when you're being used."

"What?" she repeated. This time she turned to me.

"What?" I asked in returned.

"What did you say?" she asked. She looked angry. Why did she look angry?

"I didn't say anything." I urged.

"Yes, you did. You said 'that's what happens when you're being used'."

"No, I did not." I urged.

"Yes you did." she answered. What the hell was she talking about? I know I thought that because everything she said just kept reminding me of when we were on winter trip, when I asked Jasper if "having fun" meant something sexual and he didn't really answer. Anyone could have taken that any way. So yes, I thought it, but I don't remember saying out loud. I wouldn't say out loud, not to her anyways. I see how she looks at the guy. She would break if she found out that I thought that.

But she just did and how did she. No way could she hear what I was thinking. Unless… Damn it, I must've said it out like I just did with Tanya. How the hell did that happen again? I really need to watch that, before I say something I didn't mean.

But maybe I did mean it. Maybe that's why I keep saying things out loud that I know I should keep in my head. I want to say it out loud and think the person should hear it. I mean it usually is the truth and truth isn't always the best. Something inside me must know it wasn't right and it made me tune myself out while something else pushes it out. It would make sense. "Is that what you think Edward? That's why he hasn't asked me; because he's using me?" she asked. Well, if that's the case, I guess it was time to test the theory.

"You know what, yeah. I do. I mean a deaf, blind mute can see the way you act around him. All the smiling and the blushing and the giggling. Everyone is a little spacy, but he's not that dumb where he doesn't see it. It has to be a reason he hasn't actually asked you yet and I think that might be the reason why." I told her.

"Why would you say that?" she yelled. There the start of the breaking. "I mean, yes we've been doing this flirt thing for a few months and he's always looking for reasons to kiss me, but I haven't brought up anything to him either." She argued. She was mad. And what was worst, she was in denial. She didn't want to believe Jasper of all people would do something like that, especially not to her.

"Okay, good point. But when we were in New York and you guys came back from your little snowboarding lesson, he and I had a talk about you. When I asked where you guys stood after the kiss, he said you two were going to 'have fun'. When I asked if that meant sex, he just smiled." I told her the talk Jasper had. Okay, maybe I might have been looking too much into that, but if it was something there, shouldn't she know too. And if it was nothing, he wouldn't mind me telling.

She shook her head. "How do you know that's what he meant? He could have meant anything, like the fact that we are actually having fun. Not everything has to lead to sex, Edward. Besides, he knows where I stand on that topic." She snapped.

I snorted. "Please, telling him you were a virgin was probably the worst thing you could've say. Every guy loves a challenge and what's a better challenge than to chase something no one else caught." I snapped back.

Her nostrils fared at the statement and she gave a deadly stare. She gripped the towel and bottle so tightly, I was slightly afraid she would throw the club soda at me and help Tanya match the stain on my pants. She was getting more and more pissed with everything was saying. Was she upset because she had a feeling there's so truth behind the statement? That had to be the reason "You're lying. Not everyone is as shallow as you. None of that means any…"

The shallow statement pissed me all the way off. I tell her what I think, trying to make sure she has her guard up, and I'm shallow. I love it how the girls in my life see me do one thing wrong and then fucking labels me like I'm a fucking villain.

I don't think I ever been so mad at someone for saying something like that. I didn't want that to come out of her mouth because I didn't want her to think of me like that more. I thought we made some kind of breakthrough where I wasn't the shallow jock, and she was dorky girl who was too smart for her own damn good. But nothing I do will get rid of that status. She still sees me as superficial jerk, fine. "Bella, will you wake the hell up? All that, everything he does is because of he wants one thing. All guys want from girls is one thing and that's not good fucking conversation. We all want nothing but sex and as much as we can get, including your precious Jasper. The guy is using you and the sooner you fucking realize it, the better you might be." I snapped all in a yell.

It wasn't until I was done and I saw her face that I realized what I said. I mean for that to come out so harshly, but ugh…she just made me so damn mad. I kind of wanting to eat everything I said since she walked in here and make sure the conversation never went this way. But I couldn't. it was out there now

"Edward, just because your day didn't go as planned, doesn't mean you should ruin mine." she purposely knocked over the open bottle so the club soda would spill all over the floor. She stepped over it and shoveled the damped towel in my chest. "Here, you can clean up you own mess because you obvious don't want my help." She said before walked out the door.

"Fine." I yelled after her as she closed, no slammed the door behind her. Cullen, shut the hell up.

It was too late. She was gone. She was right. I made the mess and I did have to clean up. I just don't know how. So much from a drama free day…

welcome to the bottom the page...

nothing to say, but see you in a two-(maybe, but hopefully not) three days. thx for everything. keep R & R-ing. love you.

Luv & Rockets