Edward POV

"HEY CULLEN!" Tyler called from the other side of the hallway as he came running towards me.

"Hey Tyler." I greeted with a fake enthusiasm.

"So. How are things between you and Jessica?" He asked walking with me. We were going to the cafeteria.

"She's…clingy." I said in a sore monotone. "What about Lauren?" I asked.

"I don't want to talk about it." He said. I didn't press. Lauren was the head cheerleader. I was the football captain. Everyone knew she had a crush on me but I was dating her best friend Jessica. Just because people expected me to. Popular guy dates popular girl. I sighed. "Did you try out that lame website?" He asked.

"Umm. Did you?" I asked.

"Nooo!" He said frowning. "Are you kidding me? It's for lame o-s" He looked at me like I was crazy. What the hell was wrong with a website?

"I was wondering how did you come up with the question in the first place." I lied with a laugh.

"You got me scared for a second man." He chuckled. Red Alert! Jessica was walking over to me with Lauren.

"Hey Edward." Jessica said sweetly blinking her eyes.

"Yes?" I asked.

"Sit with us today." She said blinking again. I felt a nudge at my side at that point. Alice had been ignoring me since yesterday now. I don't know what I did. She tried to pass by me but I caught her hand.

"Actually. I have to talk to Alice today. Alone." I said emphasizing on 'alone' as I pulled her arm. "I'll see you later Jessica." I called quickly. Alice glared at me but she kept quiet. I lightly pushed her to sit at a table in the corner. She sat in front of me quickly.

"What did I do?" I asked seriously.

"Do you know that Sebastian is absent today?" She asked in the same serious tone.

"Monroe? So what?" I asked acting like I didn't care.

"Drop it Edward Anthony Masen Cullen." She warned. "Drop it!" She said in anger.

"Geez! What's wrong if he's absent? Why are you ignoring me?" I asked raising my hands in surrender.

"Do you not remember what your so-called friend did yesterday to him?" She asked her voice dripping with venom.

"What did they do, hmm?" I asked in frustration as I took a sip of my soda.

"They tried to carve your name on his stomach you MONSTER!" She said shaking in anger. The soda came out like a shower from my mouth.

"WHAT?" I asked in a whisper my eyes wide.

"YES!" She said. "Mike said it was a dare. By You. I barely managed to save him." She said angrily. I had no idea he'd really do it. Oh my god.

"I didn't know he'd seriously do it Alice. I SWEAR." I vowed in desperation.

"Too bad. He'd already sliced 'E' and 'D'!" She shouted in a whisper. I was appalled. "Do you have any idea how terrorized he must feel?" She asked barely managing to keep herself together. "I tried to talk to him but he just stared at me like-like…"

"Like what?" I asked.

"Like he was shocked that it was me. He didn't answer my question and he apologized to me." She said a tear slipping down her eye.

"He apologized to you?" I frowned.

"He said that he was sorry. Sorry for what happened and I had to save him. And he told me not to judge you too harshly for what you did and that it was his own fault." She said rubbing her eyes to wipe away the tears. To say I was shocked would be an understatement. I kept quiet. "He was simply giving me a small smile and he shook my hand. I never talked to him before. No one did but he was so kind to me. There I was apologizing to him for YOUR mistakes and he was consoling me. He didn't blame you, you know? He just sat beside me in the parking lot talking to me politely. He is so good Edward. I can't believe it, Edward. You are so sick." She said. I felt so bad. The guilt was killing me.

"What did he say?" I asked in a grave voice.

"He said that he didn't blame you Edward. He told me not to blame you. He said that he has hope in you Edward and he knows that you'll come back to your senses. He was smiling at me the whole time and acting like a perfect gentleman. He even joked with me trying to lighten my mood." Alice said sadly. The guilt was eating me. Gnawing me from inside.

"I should apologize to him." I said sadly.

"If he comes back." Alice said icily. "I don't care what Sebastian said, Edward. You have lost your place in my eyes." She glared at me. "If he doesn't come back Edward, I might never be able to forgive you." She said seriously and picked up her lunch tray and walked away. I buried my head in the fold of my arms.

Alice POV

Flashback

"Oh My God! Mike leave him." I shouted when I saw what he was doing. Mike looked up at me, in shock.

"Pixie?" He asked. I punched him in the face. He fell back with drops of blood leaking from his nose. My knuckles hurt but I ignored them and I bent down instantly to help up Sebastian.

"Oh my! Are you alright?" I asked worried. He looked at me with a frown. It didn't look unkind. He looked amused actually. "Let me take you to the nurse's office." I said.

"No." He said softly. "I have an appointment with my doctor today anyway." He said politely. His voice was soft and melodic.

"Do you want to get some air?" I asked. He gave a small smile.

"That sounds nice." He smiled. I was holding his hand tightly. We sat at the parking lot on the edge together.

"That vile Newtown said it was a dare. By my dear brother." I said icily.

"Don't blame him." He said in the same soft voice. I had never heard him speak before. I looked up to see him as squeezing my hand lightly. "You and I both know that he is not what he pretends to be."

"How can you not be mad?" I asked angrily.

"I'm not mad." He said frowning. "Does it hurt?"

"What?" I asked.

"Your hand?" He asked softly caressing my knuckles. It would have seemed creepy if it wasn't for its soft touch. His concern was genuine.

"That was nothing." I said brushing it off.

"I'm sorry you had to do that." He apologized.

"It's not your doing. It's Edward." I said agitated.

"Is it really?" He chuckled. "I don't blame him Alice. You shouldn't blame him either."

"How can you not blame him? He's a monster." I askede.

"You both are the same, Alice." He said seriously. That angered me.

"WE ARE NOT THE SAME! HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT?" I shouted angrily.

"Let me finish please?" He said quickly. I nodded reluctantly. "The difference is that you have the courage to be yourself." That calmed me. I was actually touched by his words.

"You're really nice, you know?" I said truthfully.

"I know. I'm the best." He grinned. "Just don't blame him. It's my fault anyway. I'm sorry for being here. I don't want to create a rift between you and Edward." He said after some time.

"It's not your doing Sebastian." I said slowly. "It's all Edward. Don't take the blame."

"The truth is, Alice, that I am a coward. Just like him." He said slowly.

"How?" I asked curiously.

"I have this friend." He started. "And I am addicted to his company. He makes me feel good and he's my best friend. But without him, I feel no courage and no reason to fight. So. He's not here at school. I don't feel like fighting. But Alice." He said looking in my eyes. "Trust me when I say that I have been through a lot worse. So, this." He said rubbing his t-shirt where it was red. "is nothing." He smiled. "You should go. I think I'll ditch today."

"Okay." I agreed. He smiled back at me as I walked away. "Alice!" I heard him call. I looked behind. "Thanks." He smiled turning.

"You're welcome Sebastian." I smiled as I went in the building. I can't believe Edward hurt such a nice person. Forget about excuses. He is a monster.