Happy Monday! I really love and appreciate everyone who has told me they are enjoying this story so far! It really motivates me to keep writing. I hope you all enjoy Chapter 12!

Chapter Twelve

Edward

(Wednesday)

Turned out that The Freak really wasn't that bad. While we worked, I had asked her questions about herself, each time getting more and more off topic. I'm not sure why but it was like every little thing I learned about her, the more I wanted to know. I'd never felt like that before with anyone, which was why it freaked me out. Out of all people, why did she have to turn out to be interesting? It just didn't make sense no matter how I looked at it.

She definitely was strange. Like when she refused to take off that damn heavy sweater she was wearing. I could see the collar of a t-shirt sticking out from under the thick cable knit pullover, so what was up with the rebuff? I just didn't understand her. I'm not so sure I wanted to.

When she asked me why I cared, it startled me a little. I hadn't even realized I was questioning her like I did care. Which is crazy. I most certainly did not care about her.

Are you sure about that?

Yes. Why would I care if she was getting overheated? She didn't even seem to care about it. I was so freaked out by it that I hadn't talked for the rest of the time we were there. I moved my hand over the paper, the pen not touching down. I thought some more about it as I pretended to be writing my essay.

When she took off suddenly I worried, afraid she'd somehow heard me thinking about her. Then I realized how silly it was, annoyance taking place of the worry, and asked her what hell she was doing. She'd told me she needed to get home. The way she said it made me wary. It was as if she was literally saying, "I have to get home" but meant to say, "I need to leave now because the boiler—which I so kindly informed you is right next to this library—is about to blow up".

I guess it's just The Freak being… freaky.

I tried not to think about it too much, deciding that dwelling on thoughts of her just wasn't healthy.

The weekend came and went and it left me unscathed. I sidestepped my way out of being around any of my friends and practically walked on eggshells around Carlisle. Mostly I just hung around in my room and watched tv for the majority of the time. I'd have to admit that it was the most boring and brain-numbing weekend I think I've ever had but it at least passed by quickly.

On Monday, Emmett had an early football meeting before school and because Carlisle still had my keys locked up somewhere, I had to go with him. I sat in the car for a while listening to music, not at all anxious to go into the empty school building. I watched as more and more cars trickled into the lot. It felt a little bizarre watching people walk into the school. It was like being a stalker or something. I'm not sure why, but I kept an eye out to find The Fr—Bella.

I chuckled to myself as I thought about seeing her run into someone else. I briefly wondered if I was the only one she ever runs into or if she had other victims at this school. I waited until three minutes up to the warning bell but I never saw her.

I climbed out of the passenger door and grabbed my bag from the back seat. I was slightly disturbed when I realized that I had just spent nearly fifteen minutes waiting for Bella Swan to drive into the parking lot. But as I walked into school, I couldn't help but wonder where she was.

It was only curiosity. Not even that. I didn't care about where she was. But even as I thought that, it didn't seem truthful.

Where the hell was she?

She didn't show up for school that day. She didn't show up on Tuesday either. I found myself constantly wondering where she was. I decided that I only wanted to know so badly because of our English assignment. That at least felt closer to the truth.

It was now Wednesday and I walked into the school, already half-expecting her to be gone. But as I was making my way down the hall, I saw Bella at the very end by her locker. Immediately, many unexpected emotions flooded my system ranging from anger to relief and many unclassified ones in between. I decided to stick with anger because that one made the most sense.

"Where the hell were you?" I asked, walking up behind her. Startled, her back froze straight and she turned around to face me.

"Well hello to you, too, Edward," she said pouring phony happiness into her words and expression.

What the hell? Is she trying to be funny?

"I said," I started again. "Where the hell—"

"Edward." I felt my anger grow exponentially as Alice's high octave voice cut in. I turned to her voice and glared. Seeing Jasper standing a little ways behind Alice got my blood boiling. Who the hell was he anymore?

"Butt out, Alice. It's not your problem," I hissed.

"Just leave her alone. What do you want with her anyway?"

"I just want to know where the hell my English partner has been," I said, getting irritated for having to defend myself when all I wanted to know was why The Freak had been skipping school. I turned my attention back to the girl in question. "If you think you can get out easy and have me do all the work, you're seriously mistaken."

"We have weeks to work on the assignment. What's it matter if I miss two days?" she asked, exasperated.

Yes, what did it matter? Why was I so hell-bent on knowing where she'd been? Why did it matter to me? I really had no clue. My anger grew as no answer came to me. Well, no acceptable answer. I didn't care where she was. I didn't fucking care. I threw my anger back at her because she is the reason I've been so screwed up lately. It's all her damn fault.

"Just don't let it fucking happen again," I muttered before stalking off.

I glared at Jasper as I passed him and he looked down, avoiding me.

Why were they constantly taking her side? Even with shit that they knew nothing about. I don't care how much they've changed, they're still supposed to be my friends. Not hers.

Since when do they like her anyway? Hell, last I knew they hated The Freak just as much as I did.

Hate?

Yes. Hate. I hated The Freak.

Why does that sound so wrong?

xXx

Throughout the day, I noticed so many differences about my friends. All of them seemed to have pushed me away. None of us joked around like we used to. None of us laughed about the stupid shit we did over the weekend. Because we didn't do stupid shit over the weekend. I couldn't even remember the last time we did. I stayed silent at lunch, watching them all interact. None of them even seemed to notice my vacantness. They seemed to get along just fine without me.

I blamed The Freak. Why were my friends paying so much attention to her anyway? I just couldn't make sense of it all. It was like she was stealing them away. She didn't have her own friends so now she had to take mine?

Even though it was probably unjustified, I was dully irritated with The Freak. Not just because my friends have taken an unnatural liking to her, but because no matter what I try, I can't stop thinking about her. It seems like every part of my life somehow included her. It's unnerving and unhealthy. She was like a tumor but instead of festering in my head, she was taking root in my mind. It was even giving me a headache.

I decided the best way to shake her off was to stay away from her, at least for a while. We had planned to meet after school to work on the PowerPoint in the library but I had no intention of actually showing up. After all, she skipped out on me two days in a row so I could leave her behind just as easily.

As soon as school was out, I made my way out to the parking lot to Emmett's car. I didn't bother to tell The Freak I wasn't coming. After all, she didn't give me any forewarning either. She'd figure it out eventually. Maybe she'd even cry and feel bad for herself once she realized I'd stood her up. I imagined her sitting alone in the library hiding her blushed embarrassment behind a curtain of hair. I chuckled to myself at the thought but it sounded all wrong. The image didn't look as amusing as I originally thought I'd be.

What is going on with me?

I shook the feeling and waited by the passenger side door for Emmett to show up.

The car ride with Emmett was silent and more than just a little awkward. I kept my eyes locked out the window, angling my body away from him as best as I could to ensure he knew I wasn't in the mood for talking. I had planned on staying mute the entire ride home but was forced to speak up when he made a wrong turn.

"Where are you going?" I asked, trying to keep my tone neutral and not at all as condescending as it should have been. I mean, really? How many times has he driven from the school to our house? I know I could do it in my sleep. It's not like it's a complicated route.

"We're all hanging out at Rosalie and Jasper's place," He replied as if it should have been obvious.

"Drop me off at home first."

"You don't wanna come?" he asked, his eyebrows raised.

"No," I answered simply, leaving no room for argument. However, Emmett couldn't take a hint.

"You sure?"

"Pretty damn sure."

I turned my body away from him again to look out the window to imply that there was nothing else to argue about on the subject. I could feel his stare on my back and I rolled my eyes even though he couldn't see it. After a beat, I heard him exhale exaggeratedly before making a wide U-turn and heading back toward our house.

"You sure you don't wanna come?" Emmett asked again as we pulled up our driveway. I rolled my eyes and got out, not wanting to dignify that with a response. I slung my book bag over my shoulder and walked up to the front door.

Just the thought of going to Jasper's house and hanging out like old times made my skin crawl. Because it wouldn't be like old times. He changed. All of them changed.

There was nothing wrong with me and I didn't need them. But if I didn't have my friends or my brother, who did I have? Certainly not Carlisle or Esme.

The Freak?

Now that time my chuckle was genuine.

xXx

(Thursday)

"Where the hell were you yesterday?"

I didn't turn away from putting books in my locker as I heard Bella's angry voice behind me. I'm glad she's angry. Now she knows what I felt like wondering where she was.

"Miss me?" I asked snidely. I closed my locker and threw my bag over my shoulder before turning around to see her. Her dark eyes were narrowed as she glared at me and it just made me smile wider.

"Not at all," She said, disgusted. "But I would like to know where you were after school yesterday. And where you were during English class today." Ah-ha! I knew skipping English would get under her skin. It was all a part of my plan to avoid her. Although, missing class meant I would have to spend even more time out of class with her working on our project.

"Why do you care so much about where I was?"

"I don't," she said, rolling her eyes. She rolled her eyes. At me. I'm beginning to like this chick more and more every time I see her. Whoa, where the hell did that thought come from? I beat it down and locked it up, scared of where it originated. I shook my head minutely and distracted myself by listening to what she was saying. "…all but ripped my head off for being gone a few days and then you turn around and bail on me?"

"Exactly," I said. She looked confused for a second so I clarified. "You were gone for a few days with no warning so why can't I come and go whenever I please, too?"

"Because I had a reason!" she exclaimed, clearly exasperated. "I was sick. You were just being a jerk."

"How do you know I didn't have a reason, Isabella?" She cringed slightly when I pronounced out her full name. I wonder why that is…

"Alright," She allowed, relaxing her defensive stance and lowering her voice. "What was your reason, Edward?" Shit. I didn't actually come up with a reason.

I paused for a second, trying to think of something off the top of my head. Normally, I'm a good liar but nothing was coming to mind. My pause was a beat too long and it did not go unnoticed. She grinned smugly, knowing she won this battle. I muttered a curse at her just loud enough for her to hear but it only made her absurd smirk grow.

I turned from her and started walking toward the library. I didn't check to see if she was following, I knew she would. I lead us to the table in back where we'd sat the last time and began flipping through my notes. I didn't acknowledge her as she took the seat across from me but I did notice with growing frustration that she smiled amusedly at my blatant indifference.

My frustration was fleeting though as I watched her. That damn smile of hers did something strange to me. My chest got tight but not uncomfortably so. It was a pleasant sort of feeling. I quickly tore my eyes away from her and back to my notes as she looked up. My heart started pumping harder and I could hear the beat of it ring through my ears.

What the hell was wrong with me?

Look out for Chapter 13 next Monday! Maybe then Edward will figure out what the hell is wrong with him…