A/N: Posting this a bit early but let me know what you thought!

Beau

The next day, I brace myself for the onslaught of concerned and curious peers. I repeat my story to myself over and over again during the drive to school. Edward Cullen had been headed my way. He'd only been a few yards out when the van came barreling my way. He got to just in time to pull me away and backed us both us, just as Tyler got the car to stop.

It was a lie. Completely and totally.

Already exhausted, I trudge to my first period class, where Eric stands by the door, waiting for me.

"Hey! How're you doing?" he asks, walking me in. I didn't understand why he liked me so much. I wasn't a "bro", not in the sense he wanted, nor did I share any of his interests. I wonder if he noticed my sexuality differed from his. I wonder if he cared.

"I'm fine," I tell him with practice ease. I'd only been saying that nonstop this morning, begging Charlie to let me come to school today. "All good now."

"Great!" Suddenly, that was the end of that. All Eric wanted to talk about was a new video game he'd bought. I barely pay attention, astonished. Maybe he was trying to be polite?

Through this period and the next, only a few people asked how I was, and nothing more. Relief fills me with every passing minute. Could people really not care? Could I have been rescued from the limelight?

In third period, I take my usual seat besides Bella, who's grinning ear to ear. It makes me a touch uneasy, like she knows something I don't.

"Hey!" she greets me, cheery as usual. "How're you doing?"

"Fine," I tell her, sincere. "No pain."

"Yeah, dad wasn't too worried about you," she says jovially. "Said you'd be good as new. Edward on the other hand…" she trails off, laughing at some unvoiced joke.

"Did he…" I struggle to phrase my words. I know Bella doesn't appreciate other people asking her about her siblings, and I respect that, but I couldn't ask Edward himself. "Did he say anything about me?"

The question makes her sputter, backtracking awkwardly and laughing nervously.

"Never mind," I mutter, which instantly puts her at ease.

"So, uh, what really happened?" she asks, the first to do so. I repeat my lie to her, word for word, perfect. Edward would be proud, I think sardonically. Bella nods, looking relieved. She leans against my shoulder, tucking her head in the crook of my neck. The simple action fills me with warmth. It makes me feel strong, like she was trusting me to protect her or some vestige of manly instinct. Even so, she reminds me a little of Renee, in a way that doesn't make me homesick.

"I'm really glad you're okay," she says, pulling away. I grin at her, put at ease. No one else mentions what happened and it fills me with a relief so deep that it turns to confidence. No one cares, so why should Edward? I'm suddenly grateful for my generation's apathy.

By the time bio rolls around, a grand total of 11 people have asked my anything pertaining to the accident. My friends don't make a fuss at all, which is oddly touching. Finally, they seem to understand that I don't like the oppressive beam of attention focused on me.

I sit on my side of the lab bench, primed to be perfectly civil to Edward, to show him that I was willing to keep up his little charade. I'd persuade him to trust me, reminding him of the fact that no one seemed to give a damn, then weasel the truth from him.

"Hello, Edward," I say, perfectly polite as he takes his seat. He nods once but doesn't speak. Suddenly, I'm unsure, and all my tenuous confidence fades right back into abject uncertainty. Right back where I started.

The rest of the week passes like that, the number of people interested in my accident dwindling. All except for Tyler, who's got it in his head that he needs to make amends with me. He's been a new constant at our lunch table, but I can't help but think that might also because of Lauren's attraction to him.

I don't speak to Edward again, not until Friday.

For some reason, I can't stand the silence, not from him. He plagues me all the time, invading my dreams, encroaching on my conscious headspace. I can't take much more. I need to get it out of my system, figure out why he lied, figure out the truth, then move on. Be free of Edward once and for all.

At lunch, I sit on my end of the lunch table with Bella, Angela, and Jess, who are all excited about prom, dishing about who'll take who, and how promposals will go. I was never a fan of this kind of stuff, but Bella and Angela make sure to include me.

"I think I want Mike to take me," Jess says, giggling. "But he's still going on about that stupid stag night thing. It's so lame, like what does he expect, all these guys are just going to ditch their super-hot dates? I don't think so."

"Beau, didn't he ask you to join?" Bella says, nudging my shoulder. I roll my eyes. A night filled with raging heterosexuality and alpha-male bonding? Not my scene.

"I told him I had a thing that weekend," I say. "I might go up to Seattle." This part isn't a lie. I'd love to go to Seattle, check out a decent bookstore, maybe hit up a comic book store, pick up the new Batman's that had come out. I'm something of a collector.

"Bummer!" Angela says. "We would've loved for you to come with. Maybe you could've asked someone."

"I don't think there are any guys here who'd appreciate that," I tell her, smirking. "Better to try my luck in phoenix."

The girls all laugh, then return straight back to the topic of dates, which buys me a few minutes. The Cullen's and Hale's are sitting at their table, as per usual, though no one's actually eating. Edward's bent low over a textbook, maybe catching up some homework.

I sigh, dreading my next class, my one shared class with Edward Cullen. I plan to talk to him today, force a conversation. It's strange, but I've been dreaming of him every night since the almost accident. They're never salacious, just Edward, watching me with his odd eyes, light playing with them to make them different colors.

Lunch ends, and I walk with the girls as far as the science block, where Bella and Jess split off. Angela was talking, but I didn't pay much attention. She was easy to hang out with, always filling in awkward pauses with conversation that didn't necessarily need a reply. My mother might've called her a "chatty-Cathy".

In class, I sit next to Edward, same as always, but for some reason, I can't muster the courage to speak. He's looking at me, curiosity and frustration mixing in equal measures, sneaking glances every so often.

"Beau?" he says softly as the bell rings, and I stiffen in my seat.

"Yeah?" I reply turning to face him. "You're talking to me now?"

"No," he answers simply, mouth twitching like he was fighting back a smile. "Not really."

"What do you want?" I ask him baldly, too tired to keep up any semblance of polite conversation. He sighs then, leaning back in his seat and pinching the bridge of his nose.

"I'm sorry," he says after a beat. "I'm being terribly rude. It's better this way, you see."

"No, I don't see," I snark. "I don't get you at all."

"Good," he says simply. "You can't afford to 'get' me. Trust me." My jaw clenches and I glare at him head on, angry now.

"You're a jackass," I hiss. Edward nods once, somberly.

"I've been told."

"Why'd you save me, then? If you hate me so much?" I blurt. Edward's eyebrows draw up in surprise, and for a moment, he looks at a loss before the expression settles to anger.

"You think I regret saving your life?" he asks me.

"I know you do." It felt good, to let my frustrations out where I'd bottle them, to let them spill, to let myself breathe.

"You don't know anything," he snaps, harsh. I huff, gathering my things and storming away. Or, I would've, if I'd seen the stupid desk in front of me, which sent me grasping my balance. My books hit the ground, scattering. For a second, I stand there, willing the ground to open up, to swallow me whole, but it did not. The clock ticks on, reminding me I have less and less time to get to my next class.

Somehow, Edward had beat me to my books, assembling them neatly just as I bent to retrieve them. I take them stiffly, forcing myself not to scowl, to seem petty and childish. I'm better than that. I'm better than him.

"Thank you," I force out mechanically.

"You're welcome," he says, though it sounds like an insult. After he left, I hurry to gym, where we gear up our first day outside. It's freezing, the late February breeze blowing, but the skies are mostly clear. Apparently, the frozen ground is perfect for lacrosse.

I'm terrible, struggling against the weight of my pads and my too-long, too-awkward limbs. I miss passes, drop balls, dragging my team's score down.

Finally, the period ends, and I escape to my car. Of course, there was no respite, just Eric Yorkie leaning against my truck.

"Hey!" he says brightly. "Did you think about our stag night? Anti-prom?"

"Uh, I already talked to Mike," I explain. "I'm going up to Seattle that weekend. Sorry. Dude." The last part I tacked on in an effort to preserve our friendship, but Eric only shrugs, smiling sympathetically.

"No biggie, man," he says, stepping up to punch my arm good-naturedly. I fight back a wince, waving him off. Only once I'm in my car do I rub the new forming bruise. I hate that, these stupid rituals I have to follow. I'm never any good at them.

Edward Cullen walks past then, sliding into his car two spaces down and backing smoothly out, effectively cutting me off. I groan, taking in the line beginning to form behind him. His siblings stood by the cafeteria wall, having some sort of discussion. I knew they took two cars, Bella told me that much. Maybe they were dividing up, deciding who went where.

I contemplate smashing Edward's stupid sleek car, at least taking out the rear, but there were too many witnesses. Tyler Crowley's right behind me, waving emphatically. I pretend not to see him, eyes fixed straight ahead, but he hops out, coming over to my window. Reluctantly, I roll it down.

"Whassup, man?" he says, offering me his hand to shake, I take it awkwardly, trying to mimic what the other boys do and utterly failing. Tyler deftly ignores that. "Listen, about the anti-prom, are you going? I don't want to go if it's just Mike and Eric, that's too fucking sad. I rather be bored at a dumb dance with a hot girl than stuck in Newton's basement, you know?"

"Yeah," I mumble. "I'm actually out of town that weekend, did Mike not text the group chat?" The group chat, which I'd found myself on against my will, was called "Bro-down". Mostly, Mike, Eric, and Tyler used it to talk about girls. I could never figure out if they understood I was gay or not.

"Aw, fuck," Tyler says. "Never mind, I'm asking Lauren then."

"Good luck with that," I say, meaning it. She might've been my friend, but that was wearing thin, as I didn't fit the "bitchy gay best friend" model she'd constructed for me.

"See ya!" he says, heading back for his car. Finally, I think to myself. Edward's car begins to move, and his sibling head for the other car, Jasper Hale's car. I swear I can see him laughing, shaking in his seat.

Jackass.

A/N: Hope you enjoyed! Let me know what you thought!