Chapter 3

I don't sleep that night. Every time I check my phone the video of Edward pushing Mike into the pool has more and more views, and is being shared by most of my school. The comments make me want to throw up.

Tyler: Watch your step, Mikey, Pubbie got the best of you this time.

Mike: This time. He'll get his payback soon enough, pussy ass bitch. #RevengeIsADishBestServedCold

I wish I had Edward's number to call him and tell him how sorry I am that I put him into that situation. None of this was his fault. Now, he's got an even worse reputation than before and Mike has it out for him.

By the time the sun rises, I remember that an email went out with contact information for each of the pageant entries. Maybe I could contact Rosalie and get his number.

I hop up and open my laptop, searching for the email. It's too early to call. Maybe a text so she can just let me know once she's awake.

Rosalie, It's Isabella Swan from the pageant and next door...sometimes. Could you get me Edward's number?

I set my phone down expecting to get a response in a few hours once the rest of the world wakes up. My phone buzzes an instant later.

How'd you get my number? She asks.

Pageant Directory, I reply.

That explains the influx. I wonder what she means at first, but then it hits me that if I have her number, all of the girls that give her a hard time do too. Why do you want his number?

I have a feeling she knows about the video and the incident that sparked it, but I don't want to hash out the details regardless.

Private, I reply hoping she won't push it.

If you want to send my brother pictures of your tits like all the girls at our school do, I'll let him decide whether he wants to see them or not. Ask him yourself, I hear him downstairs working on that hunk of metal he calls a bike.

My cheeks flush and I close my phone. Should I drive over there?

I grab my keys and sneak silently downstairs, hoping Momma won't catch me heading out this early. It'll just lead to an interrogation that I don't need.

The drive is shorter than normal, the streets empty and the world too quiet this early. I pull into my dad's driveway, but his car is gone so he must be working the night shift.

I hover in my car for a few minutes, wondering what's the right thing to say. I'm sure he wants nothing to do with me now. But did he before? He couldn't like me, even as a friend, right? He probably thinks I'm some stuck up bitch like most of the people I unfortunately call friends are.

Right?

A knock at the window startles me and I instinctively lay on my horn. When I see who it is, I clear my throat and get out of the car.

"Good morning, sunshine," Edward says.

"Morning."

"Trying to wake up the entire block?" He smiles.

"No. Uh. I just, you scared me," I admit.

"You scared me. I look out the window and see you arguing with yourself over here. Wanted to make sure you were okay."

"That's embarrassing…" I mumble.

He starts back toward his house. "Your dad won't be home for a few more minutes, sorry."

I follow him. "I know, I didn't come to see him. I came to see you."

"You did?" He looks back over his shoulder as we reach the garage. There's a drop cloth on the floor and his bike is sitting in the middle with tools spread around.

"Well, I wanted to call, so I texted Rosalie to get your number, but she wouldn't give it to me, and so then I just drove here because she said you were awake."

"You woke Sleeping Beauty?" He sighs. "Do you know what kind of plague you've unleashed on this house today?"

"Wait, what?"

"Nevermind. What did you need to talk to me about?"

I find my strongest voice. "I just wanted to apologize for last night."

"Why are you apologizing?" He asks, picking up a wrench and tinkering with the bike.

"Because...Mike. He said some awful things."

"Yeah, he did." He stands up and brushes his hands on his pants. "Again, why are you apologizing?"

"I thought I...just...said…" I wonder.

He takes a step toward me, close enough that I can smell him. Grease and tobacco. Sounds gross, but for some strange reason it's not on him.

"Stop apologizing for someone else. My mom did that shit her entire life."

I nod. "What are you doing up so early?"

"I don't sleep," he says.

"Like… at all?" I ask.

He laughs. "Like, not well. Haven't for a long time."

"That sounds terrible."

"You get used to it."

Headlights splash across his face. I turn around and see my dad's cruiser pulling in, probably wondering what the heck my car is doing there.

"I should go." I turn to leave. "Wait. Can I get your phone number? That way next time I won't have to wake Rosalie."

"Next time?" He puts his hands on his hips. "What do you need it for?"

What do I need it for? Do I plan on calling him? Getting to know him? Is this a good idea?

"It's not for boob pictures," I say quickly. When I realize what I said, my hand flies to my mouth.

"Well, that's disappointing." He laughs and leans forward, grabbing my phone out of my hand. He types for a bit and then hands it back to me. "Are you this forward with all of your other boyfriends?"

"No. I mean. I don't have boyfriends." Where is eloquent, sophisticated, well spoken Isabella? My mother would kill me and then make me pay her back for all of the finishing school lessons. All of this mumbling and word vomit is so unlike me.

"Good. You should go see Charlie, he's been hovering." He nods toward my dad's house and goes back to work. "And hey," his voice softens. "This whole no makeup thing, it works for you."

I curse myself again for disregarding one of Momma's life mottos. Never go to the grocery store without mascara. Or anywhere else for that matter. I turn on my heel and march back across the yard.

"Morning, Dad," I say.

He lingers too long on the Cullen's garage, probably trying to decode the mystery.

"I just," I start. "Came to take you out to breakfast and was a little early."

"Is that Edward in there?" He asks.

"Yes."

"Watch it, Bella. Your mother would never let you come over here if she knew you were talking to him."

"Just making small talk with the neighbors, Dad. So, breakfast?" I smile.

A/N: Thank you all for reading! I hope everyone stays safe and healthy during this crazy time.