There is a time leap between the last chapter and this one. Some of the chapters will be a bit more spaced out on the timeline from now on.

Normal disclaimers apply.

School life settled down for us after our relationship was revealed. We made new friends. Some were understanding and others were just curious. There was only one instance of hate towards us and that was soon stamped out.

I was in the locker room after track practice when a group of football jocks, who were on the team with Emmett, walked in.

Most of them were nice and are great friends with Emmett, but there were a couple who thought it would make them look more macho if they picked on me. Greg was one of them.

"Lookie here lads, we got ourselves one of them fucking queers." Greg sneered, coming to stand directly in front of where I was tying my laces on the bench.

I rolled my eyes and chose to ignore him, carrying on with the task at hand.

"Leave him alone, Greg. Edward hasn't done anything to you." Austin said, stripping down to just his shorts and grabbing a towel out of his locker.

"Why should I? It's not right that we have to share a locker room with him. He could be spying on us and using the images for his personal spank bank. They should have to change with the girls."

I snorted at the absurdity of his comment as I bent to tie the other shoelace.

"What are you laughing for?" He stepped closer to me and I froze when he put his hand on my back.

I reached around and grabbed his wrist, tugging it off of me. "Don't touch me."

"Why not? You enjoying it too much?" He leered, coming even closer behind me.

I turned around and pushed him away. "I don't think so. Neanderthal isn't my type." I quipped, making the other boys snigger.

"Yeah right." He scoffed. "I'm a guy. Aren't all guys your type?" He reached out to grab me again, but I dodged him, making him stumble forwards.

"You're a grade A idiot, you know that right? That's like asking straight girls if all guys are their type. I'm pretty sure you have a type right? Let me guess, petite, blonde hair, brown eyes? No? Maybe it's tall and leggy with big boobs and a perky butt? Or am I completely off the mark and you actually like them medium build with muscles and a cock?" The entire locker room burst into a loud round of laughter and Greg grew red in the face. "Oh, have I hit the nail on the head with that one?"

He lunged for me and I ducked his swing, hitting him on the underside of his jaw with a quick uppercut. Training with Emmett was finally paying off. He fell backwards against the lockers, looking slightly shocked, but that didn't stop him as he swung for me once more. I side stepped him again and he overbalanced, falling over the bench in the middle of the aisle.

I grabbed my rucksack and walked away, leaving him sprawled on the floor.

I was almost to the exit, when Greg caught up with me. He grabbed my shoulder and swung me around, but I was ready and my fist connected with his nose. Blood started gushing everywhere as the football coach and Emmett walked in. Flashbacks of the day a bible connected with my face came rushing to the forefront of my mind, making me freeze.

"Edward? What the hell?" Emmett said, rushing forward and turning me to face him while the coach saw to Greg.

"Masen! Get to Principle Greene's office now!" Coach barked, making Greg hold his nose to stem the flow.

Austin and the twins, Marcus and Caius, came forward. "He was just defending himself Coach. Greg wouldn't leave him alone, even when Edward told him to."

"Is this true Edward?" Emmett asked, looking at me with concern. I nodded and his face twisted into anger, before he rounded on Greg. "What did you do to him?" He yelled, the sound bouncing off the tiled walls and making everyone go silent.

The three boys told Emmett and the coach what had happened while Greg stayed silent, knowing that this didn't shine him in a good light.

"Emmett, take him to the office please. This will still need to be reported."

I let Emmett lead me from the locker room and towards the principles office. "Are you okay? Greg didn't hurt you did he?"

"No."

"Do you know why he started on you?"

"Isn't it obvious?" I asked, twisting in my seat so I could face him. "It's because I'm gay. He thinks I'm an easy target. He thinks picking on me will earn him brownie points with the other guys."

"I'm gonna kill him."

"Be serious." I snorted. "Maybe we should call mom down here."

"I've already text her. She'll be here soon." He leaned back in the chair, stretching his legs out in front of him and crossing his ankles.

"Don't you wanna go back to class?" I asked, leaning forward and resting my elbows on my knees.

"Nah, I got a free period. Was gonna work out but this is more important, don't you think?"

"I guess so."

We sat in silence until Esme arrived and we were all ushered into the principles office.

"What do you mean he's being suspended?! He's a good student." She screeched, after hearing every detail of our altercation and Principle Greene's punishment. "He was defending himself! Would you react in the same manner if it was a girl that he treated this way?"

"Mrs Cullen, if you would please sit down." He sighed, rubbing his temples. "I know Edward is a good student and I know how this looks, but it doesn't dispute the fact that he hit another student. Twice."

"But it was in self defence. Would you rather Edward just stay there and let that boy pick on him? Say derogatory and vulgar things about - and to - him?"

"No, and this is why he's only suspended and not expelled. We have a zero tolerance policy for a reason. Gregory will be receiving the same punishment."

"This is absolutely ridiculous. You're punishing the innocent."

"Mom, just leave it. Yes, I told him to not touch me. And yes, he refused to listen which resulted in me hitting him. We're both at fault." I placed my hand on her arm to calm her down. "I'll see you on Monday sir." I stood and left the office, Emmett and Esme following behind me.

Greg and his mom were in the waiting room outside of the office, which caused Esme to bristle in anger again. Emmett put his hands on her shoulders and steered her away from another confrontation.

His parents moved away to Portland not long after taking him with them.

000

It was nearing Christmas when Emmett revealed he had a date with Maggie. He was pacing in my room while I sat at my desk and Jasper was on the bed trying to help him.

"Emmett how long have you known her?" He asked.

"Since the day I got here."

"So, you've known her what, five years?"

He nodded, running his hands down his face.

"Then why are you freaking out so much? You know her. You know what she likes. What she doesn't like. Just calm down and be yourself."

Emmett snorted and raised a brow at Jasper, who rolled his eyes in return.

I intervened. "Emmett, what was it about Maggie that drew you in? What made you become friends with her?"

He paused his pacing as a small smile crept upon his face. "Her hair. It was such a vibrant colour when she was younger, it made her stand out from everyone else."

"You became friends with a girl because of her hair colour?" Jasper snickered.

"Alright then, if you're so insightful what attracted you to Edward when you first set eyes on him?" I bit my lips as Jasper squirmed under Emmett's scrutiny. I already knew what Jasper saw in me. He told me the first time he kissed me that I was sweet and considerate and he had seen me at one of my most vulnerable points.

"How did this get turned about on me? We're meant to be helping you!"

"Jasper shush. Emmett, where are you planning on taking her?"

"I was going to take her to the Christmas market and then have dinner afterwards before taking her home."

"That sounds great. Now what are you planning on wearing?"

He motioned to his attire. "This."

Now it was my turn to run my hands down my face. "Emmett you can't wear that!"

"Why not?"

"This is Forks. In winter. You're going to get cold." I stood and dragged him to his room. He sat on his bed while I rummaged through his closet. I picked out a long sleeve and a light pullover. Teamed it with a hoodie and his jacket. "Put these on."

"Why so many tops?" He asked, stripping out of his current tee.

"Like I said before, it's winter in Forks. If you're going to get cold then Maggie certainly is. Hence why you have a spare top, so you can shed it and put it around her like a proper gentleman."

His eyes widened in realisation. "I didn't think of that."

"Take some spare gloves too, just in case she forgets hers."

"Thanks."

"You're welcome. Now like Jasper said, relax and be yourself. If you start behaving differently then she's going to know something is up. What time are you picking her up?"

"Uhh, six-six thirty."

"Then you should have left five minutes ago."

He glanced at the clock. "Shit! Okay, how do I look?"

"Warm."

"What do you expect?! I'm wearing four fucking layers and the heating's on!"

"Alright, calm your tits. You look fine. Now go or you'll be really late."

"Thanks bro." He pulled me in for a half-hug-back-pat thing.

"You're welcome. Drive safe and have great time."

Emmett left and I went back into my room. Jasper was still lounging on my bed playing snake on his phone. I plucked it out of his hands and crawled up his body, giving him a kiss.

"What was that in aid of? Not that I'm complaining." He asked, gazing up at me.

"Just because." I smiled.

"Emmett gone?"

"Yeah. We're all alone." I leaned down and kissed him again.

"Hmm, what will we do with ourselves?" He smirked.

I grinned back. "I can think of a few things."

000

Emmett and Maggie's date went really well and they decided to pursue things further, officially becoming a couple on Christmas eve.

It was currently new years eve and Esme and Carlisle were throwing their annual NYE party. The house was packed with work colleagues of Carlisle's, associates of Esme's and other townsfolk.

Emmett, Maggie, Jasper, Rose and I were hanging out in the kitchen, trying to avoid most of the people milling around.

The more Emmett made Maggie laugh the more quiet Rose became. Some time, in the minutes before the countdown to midnight, Rose disappeared.

I found her crying on my bed.

"He doesn't know does he?" I said, sitting next to her and putting my arm around her shoulders.

She shook her head in the negative and rest it on my shoulder. "I'm the one that encouraged Maggie to go out with him." She sniffed. "I'm such an idiot."

"No you're not."

"I am! I encouraged my best friend to date the guy I like and now it hurts seeing them together all the time." She cried harder.

Jasper came in quietly and shut the door, sitting down on the other side of his sister. He put his arm around her waist and we sat like that as the clock finally struck midnight.

She fell asleep and between the both of us we carried her to the spare room, setting her down and covering her over.

We went back to my room and laid down fully clothed on to of the bed, both of us exhausted.

"Happy new year Jazz."

"Happy new year to you too." He took my hand and put his head on my shoulder, his breathing slowly evening out.

"Jasper," I whispered. "I love you."

Aww poor Rose and Edward finally told Jasper his true feelings, shame Jasper was asleep at the time...or was he?

Let me know what you think.