Here I go again with the disclaimer: I know nothing about high school sports, and the governing bodies that maintain rules and fairness. Again, creative license, yada yada.

Chapter Twelve

Edward - Pts of Athrty – Linkin Park

BPOV

Arriving home after the Thanksgiving break was anticlimactic. Jase and I quickly settled into our normal routines. Jake and Julie both kept in touch with texts and emails regarding the pack.

Brady was determined to keep his end of the "deal" regarding our non-existent relationship. I refused his Skype requests, but the daily texts continued. He was careful to stick to more benign topics, but the point, I was sure, was to remind me he was still interested. I told Jake he needed to reign him in or keep him on a shorter "leash," as he laughingly called it, but agreed that the unwanted attention was inappropriate.

Soon after, the texts thinned out to maybe one or two a week, and I decided to block them all together. I was concerned it might hurt Brady's feelings, but then I remembered the fifty pounds of confidence that about knocked me over, his promise that he wouldn't give up on "us," and decided that hurting him was the least of my worries.

I continued to see David. We texted nearly every day and met up for lunch a few times a week. Jase and I went over to play board games one weekend, but not a word was said about his activities in Forks, and the reasons why he was there. This was mainly because I was still freaked out about his imminent proposal, and I was a chicken. A big, big chicken. The entire situation hung like a cloud in the air.

Edward and I moved into a new realm of friendship. I no longer worked to avoid him and would smile and nod in the hallways. Although I would never ask him to, he continued to work around my yard. I noticed my windows gleamed in a way that usually only happened during spring cleaning, and I was pleasantly surprised to find my car washed, detailed, and full of gas several times. He never mentioned these nocturnal services, and I would have been more concerned that he was unnecessarily exposing his true self to an insomniac neighbor, but I knew better. No one would ever see him if he didn't want them to. Plus, I was usually running late and usually low on gas, so I was grateful for his thoughtfulness.

I was shocked one evening a few days later to get a text message from Esme. She had never directly contacted me before. I read her request and smiled. She was hosting the City Library Charity Committee in a few days, and needed my help sampling various pastries to determine what she needed to buy. Of course, I texted back that I would love to help, and only five minutes later, heard a soft rap on the door.

I opened the door to find Edward wearing his crooked smile and holding several bakery boxes. His hair and long overcoat were getting soaked in the rain. My mind instantly went back to Forks when I would open the door to an identical Edward looking like an outdoor model. I briefly thought it was unfair for anyone to look so good while being pelted by rain, especially since I knew I would look like a drowned rat.

He shuffled in, removed his coat and shoes, and put the boxes on the kitchen counter. Mary Anne's Confection Connection was printed on the tops and sides. I recognized the logo as one of the higher-end establishments in the historic district.

"You got here fast."

Edward grinned. "Esme was sure you'd say yes, so I was already in route."

I grabbed a plate from the cabinet and started to open the boxes. There were slices of cake, pies, and a few doughnuts. There were also a few petit fours and macaroons. It all looked delicious. I grabbed a fork and started to sample what looked like an apple crisp.

"So, I understand this particular bakery is known for their cakes and crisps," Edward said as he sat next to me.

I could see why. I nodded and slightly moaned at the same time. "Yes, it is definitely a winner." Edward's smile got bigger. "I'll be sure to let Esme know." I took a few bites of the pies, but the crisp was winning out.

I looked over where Edward was staring at me as I was sampling. He looked intense.

"I'm glad that you and I have been able to settle many of our differences, and I have to say that it is nice to not have so much tension between us," he said, and I nodded. I was glad for that, too. "And I was hoping that because we are friends now, you won't think it too weird if I text occasionally." He looked unsure.

I had stopped chewing, and still had a mouthful of macaroon.

I didn't see anything too overt about that, but I was curious. "Why would you want to text me?"

Edward gave me a soft smile. "Well, you may not believe this, Bella, but I do have a hard time making friends." I snorted. "And so therefore, I am highly motivated to keep the ones I do have."

"So, you are making an effort in maintaining our friendship?"

"Yes."

Alice texted nearly every day, and I considered us friends. Edward and I did agree that we had a friendship, and I could see that he was making a huge effort to be a good friend. I decided it really wouldn't be that weird and smiled.

"I would like that."

After twenty minutes, I decided I couldn't eat another bite. I got up to find some plastic storage containers, and Edward moved to put his coat and shoes on.

"Tell Esme that the crisp and the chocolate cake were the best." She may want to think about serving vanilla ice cream with them."

He smiled down at me and replied, "Esme and I both thank you, Bella." He slipped out the door while I stood in the foyer and watched as he melted into the shadows.

EPOV

After my visit with Bella, the next few weeks back at school were both my salvation and a daily torture. I was relieved that Bella wasn't avoiding me any longer but remembering how we had finally talked out much of our relationship problems over the holiday made the long school days difficult. I was grateful she had allowed me additional contact through texting, and with her other suiters closing in, I felt the competition for Bella's affections had ratcheted up a few notches. I took full advantage of my new freedom and sent Bella jokes, silly selfies and learned the subtleties of the many new emojis at my disposal. I restrained myself as not to text too much, but enough that a good friend would send.

Despite Bella's generous concession, I still wanted more. I longed to be near her every minute and was still determined to keep her safe. I found myself looking in on her through her students most of the day. I was hyper-aware of her every move, and I would have berated myself for my inexcusable intrusion, had there not been another just as aware.

Working out our problems created a level of ease between us that I wholeheartedly welcomed, but the downside was that Jeffrey noticed and was becoming more anxious as a result. His possessive attitude greatly concerned me. The smell of weed on him had increased, and so had another strong chemical component in his blood: steroids. A few of the other guys on the team had begun to shoot up as well, but Jeffrey obviously had an addiction. As a result, his testosterone and aggression levels had also increased.

He had begun to go out of his way to follow Bella around whenever he could, and a few evenings, he had, unknowingly to Bella, began to find reasons to be in her neighborhood. He had convinced himself that he was doing it for her "protection," but was hoping for a glimpse of Bella through her blinds. Preferably naked.

Throughout my existence, I had seen the progression of troubled minds make the leap from infatuation to inappropriate action, and even criminal activity. Jeffrey's psychosis was beginning to head in that direction. I had resolved to find a way through proper channels of authority to thwart this trajectory but had yet to formulate an appropriate plan.

The final straw came one Friday afternoon. I was sitting in my car after school waiting for my siblings when Jeffrey confronted Bella by her car. She had just placed her bag onto the passenger seat when he came up from behind and placed his hand on her arm. Startled, she turned around. Taller by half a foot, Jeffrey towered over Bella and stepped into her personal space.

"Hi, Miss Swan," his voice dropped an octave, "Bella." Bella nervously sucked in some air. Her eyes were wary, and I immediately stepped out of my car.

She tried to back up but bumped into the side of her car. "Jeffrey, could you please back up a bit?"

I rounded the back of the Volvo. I estimated I could be at Bella's side in a fraction of a second if I had to.

Jeffrey's bloodshot eyes roamed Bella's face. "I wanted to ask you something first." Her heart began to pound. I felt Alice step to my side. She put her hand on my shoulder.

Don't go over yet. Give Bella the opportunity to handle this herself.

"So," Jeffrey continued, "there's a game tonight, and we're sure to win against Monroe." Bella nodded warily. "And I was wondering if you want to meet me later to talk about the game and grab something to eat."

I had to hand it to him. He had balls of steel, but arrogance had rendered him clueless.

Bella swallowed hard and gently pushed Jeffrey back a few feet out of her personal space. She sighed, and I knew she was dreading the talk she and Jeffrey were about to have. He noticed her reticence and mistook her intention.

"Hey, if leaving Jase home on short notice is a problem, that's cool. Bring him along." I again wondered at his cluelessness.

"Um, no, Jeffrey, that's not it," Bella began. She continued in her "here we go" voice. "Look, I'm flattered at the attention, I really am, but you have to know that this," she waved her hand back and forth between them, "can't happen."

"Hey, if the age difference freaks you out, then you don't have to worry. You're my sister's age, and I've been with a few of her friends." Bella winced. "And I, you know, have experience, so it's cool."

"No. Jeffrey, it isn't." Bella gripped her keys harder. "Not only am I your teacher, which would be highly inappropriate at any age, but I'm already in a relationship."

"That old doctor guy? Seriously?" Jeffrey scoffed. "C'mon, Bella, you and I are closer in age than you and him." He again stepped closer, pinning Bella against her car. I lurched toward her, and immediately felt Jasper and Emmett holding me back.

"I'm not comfortable with this, Jeffrey," Bella was pushing him away in earnest, "you need to back up." Bella's keys jabbed Jeffrey's ribs, and he quickly jumped back. A flicker of anger flashed in his eyes. Jasper and Emmett gripped harder.

"This has something to do with Cullen, doesn't it?" Jeffrey growled. He glanced over to where we were watching and sneered. "I don't know what it is about that freak show that has you so hot and bothered, but I'm telling you now, Bella, something isn't right about him."

Indignation flashed across Bella's face. She moved toward her car's door, and Jeffrey snapped out of his glare. "I'm watching you, Bella. Don't think that you're gonna get away with whatever you two got going on."

A truck with a few of Jeffrey's buddies pulled up. They were whistling and yelling crude innuendos. "If I can't have you, that freak sure as hell won't either!" He jumped into the cab, slammed the door, and the truck squealed out of the lot.

I was by Bella's side in less than a second.

"Are you all right?" She was breathing heavily, and her heart was still racing.

"I – I think so." She stammered. She looked up at me and her eyes began to well.

"What am I going to do about him? He threatened me – us, Edward. What exactly does he know?"

Alice, Jasper and Emmett sauntered over at human speed. Soccer practice was over, and kids were beginning to spill out of the gym. They didn't want anyone to see Bella and I standing alone together. I appreciated their concern and prudency.

"He only suspects. He can't prove anything, especially as we don't have anything going on, but you are right. He threatened you, and I won't stand for that." The "V" was deep in her forehead, and there was worry in her eyes.

Alice grabbed her hand. "Bella, please don't worry. No one really suspects except for him. And that is mostly because he hates Edward and is looking for anything to spite him." She looked over at me. "He can only make threats. He can't say anything, because there is no proof." She gave Bella a little hug. Bella nodded her head, thanked us, and slid into the driver's seat. I didn't like that she was still upset and turned to my siblings as she drove out of the lot.

"His actions are escalating. We must do something."

"You smell his blood?" Jasper said. "He's been hitting the 'roids pretty hard."

"Aren't high school athletes tested for that kind of thing?" Emmett frowned.

"Yeah," Jasper answered. "They are subject to random testing, but usually aren't until upper-level competitions." He looked contemplative. "In fact, I think the head coach here kind of turns a blind eye. The entire coaching staff is under a lot of pressure. Isn't the game tonight against rivals?"

"Yeah, Monroe." Alice piped in.

"I think," Jasper grinned evilly, "It's time for a mandatory, surprise drug test to be administered."

Good to his word, as soon as we arrived home, Jasper and Alice zipped upstairs to Jasper's computer. Out of all of us, Jasper's hacking skills were the best, and soon Westmore High had an appointment on the state sport commission's schedule to have a random drug testing administered that next week.

We all watched that next Tuesday as a group of very official-looking state sport commission employees stepped out of an unmarked van carrying various medical bags and headed straight for the athletic wing.

I was soon hearing shouts of anger and indignation emanating from the coaching offices and Principal Kinley himself. Not soon after that, word that the coaching staff had been placed on administrative leave, and eight of Westmore's top basketball athletes had been suspended. A hearing was to take place in the following weeks, but the scandal soon broke across the local evening news. Most of the school was caught in the uproar, but my attention was on Jeffrey.

After the two-week suspension ended, he was back in the halls and in Bella's class, more focused on her than before. I begged her to consider filing a report, but she refused, stating that he really didn't do anything, and after the school year, he would graduate out of her life anyway. I briefly considered asking Jasper to hack in a complaint against him, but remembering the problems that tore us apart initially, decided to honor Bella's wishes. For now. Regardless, my concern for her safety intensified, and I was keeping a near-constant check on Jeffrey's whereabouts.

The six-week game suspension ended, and all the players were retested. All were readmitted back on the team, albeit with tight restrictions, except for Jeffrey. He still tested positive and was kicked off the team permanently. His anger and self-righteousness ratcheted up even higher, as did his recreational drug use. He had strong suspicions about my family's involvement, although there was no way he could prove anything there either.

The time required to keep tabs on Jeffrey and keep Bella safe resulted in irregular hunting forays. I was terrified something would happen if I left for a proper hunt. Alice kept vigil for me, and only when she deemed it safe, I relented. Even so, I could only relax knowing that my family was keeping watch for me. I realized that my behavior was a bit over-the-top, but I had just reached a good place in my relationship with Bella, and I could not afford to make mistakes. I promised her safety, and I would not fail her.

Finally, after weeks of uncertainty, Alice gave me the go-ahead, and both Jasper and Emmett immediately started planning a hunting trip that would take most of the day. I was still unsure, but decided to have faith in Alice, and take some time to care for myself. I would be useless to Bella If I didn't.

A/N: Looks like Edward's stalking and possessiveness might be a bit well founded here. He is genuinely worried about Bella's safety, and for good reason.

Although much happens in this chapter, I am not happy with the length. It was the best stopping point for what is upcoming, however. It seems that my chapters are either ridiculously long, or way too short. Thank you for your patience.