BPOV

"C'mon Bill, she deliberately hit Bella with the locker door," Charlie yells, throwing his hands up.

"I'm sorry, Charlie the best I can do is give her a week's suspension."

"She gave my daughter a concussion."

"I can switch Bella's classes."

"Bella's classes shouldn't have to be rearranged, Bill," Dad snaps, before looking at me then back at Mr. Cope. "We had an incident over a month ago with Bella's social media accounts and Rosalie and her friends were involved."

Mr. Cope frowns.

"We don't tolerate bullying at this school," he tells my dad.

I want to roll my eyes but don't.

I hated that I even needed to sit here for this, Rosalie and her parents were waiting to come in but Mr. Cope wanted to hear from us first since we brought this to his attention.

He asks Mrs. Cope to bring the Hales in, Dad taps my hand sending me a smile like everything is going to be alright. Doubtful.

Mr. Hale walks in first, his navy suit is crisp, his blonde hair slicked back, and looks more than surprised to see us sitting in here. He frowns when he gets a good look at my face.

Rosalie and her mother look indifferent and icy.

"Bill," Mr. Hale says, shaking Mr. Cope's hand. "Charlie," he says, sticking his hand out for my dad, but Charlie's too pissed for pleasantries.

"I'm sure Rosalie knows why I've called you both in," Mr. Cope says.

Rosalie's eyes turn defiant as she turns her nose up at Mr. Cope looking away from him. Her father's gaze warily turns to me.

"Bella, since Rosalie seems to not want to tell her parents what happened yesterday, could you please catch them up?"

I hated him.

"I was leaving the locker room and as I was passing Rosalie, she opened her locker hitting me with the door in the right side of my face," I explain.

Mr. Hale's jaw ticks while he stares at his daughter, the daughter who used to be sweet in nature who has now turned into a serpent.

"I don't understand why that is Rosalie's fault," Mrs. Hale says with a glare on me and my father.

I want to roll my eyes at her and her ridiculous pink Chanel suit knock off.

"Bradford, I recommend you ask Rosalie about the birthday party Tanya Cullen threw for Bella in September. Jessica Stanley told me Rosalie and Royce King took a picture of Bella sleeping in the pool house," Dad says.

"She was sleeping with Tanya's cousin," Rosalie snaps stupidly.

"It seems like Rosalie is trying to show who Bella really is," Mrs. Hale says, waving her hand around. "Obviously the apple doesn't fall far from the tree."

"Excuse me?" I bite out. "Should you really be saying that, because look at your daughter?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Do you need to see yearbooks from the last three years?" I ask barking out a laugh. "The whole school knows what Rosalie looked like before last summer. At least I didn't have to pay to look like this."

"Bella," Dad warns.

"At least my daughter hasn't been to rehab," she snaps.

"Lillian," Mr. Hale booms.

Mr. Cope decides this is his moment to intervene. "As I was telling Charlie we have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to bullying at this school."

"So you are going to suspend her?" Mr. Hale asks.

"That was originally my decision, but with Rosalie targeting Bella, resulting in physical violence, I'm going to have to expel her."

"Expel her?" Mrs. Hale wails.

"Bill, I'm sure we can talk about this," Mr. Hale tries to reason. "This is the first time Rose has been called into your office."

I'm surprised by how quickly his decision escalated. Rosalie is now crying in her mother's arms and they both look dramatic with a touch of ridiculousness.

I look to Charlie who is watching me closely, I speak before I think. "Mr. Cope, I just want to be left alone. If you could just switch Rosalie's schedule I don't think expulsion is necessary," I say.

"I'm in all your classes," Rosalie sniffles.

I shrug.

I rather not see her face than be responsible for ruining her academic career.

"Bella is the wronged party and if she is okay with this solution I'm okay with it too. Since the curriculum is the same for all the advanced placement classes, your transition should be smooth."

Rosalie is about to speak when her dad cuts her off. "Thank you, Bella. I believe your offer is more than reasonable," Mr. Hale says with a sad smile.

"Charlie, are you okay with this?" Mr. Cope asks.

"Bella's much more forgiving than I am," is his response.

"Rosalie, please head to the front desk, we will settle everything with your schedule and your week suspension."

"Wait, this starts today?" she shrieks.

Mr. Hale takes her by the arm, dragging her out of Mr. Cope's office, her mother shoots me the stink eye before she leaves.

"I'm going to take Bella home, Carlisle said she should be okay to come back Thursday," Dad says to Mr. Cope.

"It's really okay, if Bella needs any other accommodations please feel free to reach out."

I want to roll my eyes.

We pass the Hales once we leave the office, Dad and I keep quiet until we're in his cruiser.

"You were too nice to her," he says, starting his car up.

"I don't want to be the reason someone is kicked out of school. You and I both know that this town talks, they'll spin it that I got her kicked out so that I'm valedictorian."

His mustache moves as he frowns.

"I didn't like that Lillian Hale tried to paint this picture of you being like Renee," he says with a grunt.

"She was on the cheer squad with Renee, you know she wanted Rosalie on the squad since we were in middle school. The only thing Rosalie can compete with me in is academics," I say trying to reason with Mrs. Hale's grudge.

"Renee hated Lillian," Dad says with a snort.

I realize this is the most we've talked about Renee in years. The last time she was brought up was when Charlie gave the rehab center my family history with alcohol.

We were quiet the rest of the way home. Charlie had taken the day off so he could be home with me in case I needed anything.

Once I'm hunkered down on the couch and he's sitting in his chair, I catch him looking at me every so often.

"Bella?"

"Hmm?"

"You know you can talk to me, right?" he says cautiously.

I nod, but I knew if I told him about Royce he'd lose it.

Bradford Hale was actually a decent human being, which is why we could reasonably come up with a somewhat reasonable solution to keep Rosalie away from me. Alistair King, however, would go after us for trying to ruin his family name.

Charlie heaves out a disappointed sigh before turning the television on, and that's how we spend the rest of the morning.

Around lunch, I get a text from Tanya.

Guess who is on Homecoming court with me. – T

The usual suspects? – B

Nope, try you, boo! – T

I'm surprised because last year I would have been a shoo-in for Homecoming Court but now I wasn't that girl anymore. I, for sure, thought me having my stomach pumped would have ruined that.

So it's me and you, who else? – B

Bree Tanner, Tori Hunter, and Senna Matthews – T

I'm even more surprised Jess and Alice weren't even nominated. Rosalie wasn't really known by most of our classmates and they wouldn't think of her.

Who are the guys? – B

Newton, McCarty, King, Cheney, and Jazz – T

"Fuck," I say forgetting my dad is sitting mere feet from me.

"What?"

I lie. "Nothing, just Tanya told me I made Homecoming Court."

His eyebrows raise.

"Congratulations, kid," he offers.

"Thanks," I say, biting my tongue trying to contain my panic about Royce being on the court too.

Charlie is watching me longer than I'd like, so I make the excuse that I'd like to go to my room. After shutting my door I lay on my bed staring at my ceiling.

Even though what Royce did happened after Prom, I still felt triggered by having to be at another dance that he would also be attending.

I could withdraw from the court, but this is one more thing I didn't want him thinking he won. If I went and held my head high he wouldn't get the satisfaction of knowing he took one more thing from me. This was all a power thing to him anyway.

I hear my phone vibrate on my pillow.

I know T told you about the court, are you okay? – JW

Idk – B

I don't look at my phone for the next few hours, I drift in and out of naps and rest as Carlisle instructed.

I hear the knock on my door as the sun starts to set.

"Yeah?"

"Esme's nephew, Edward is here to see you," Charlie says through the door.

I bolt upright, checking myself out in the mirror. It's clear I have bedhead but I'd say I look good otherwise.

"Send him in," I called.

After a few minutes my door opens, Edward shoots me a smile. Dad is behind him assessing us both.

"Keep the door open, Bells," is all he says before he retreats.

Edward snickers slightly before entering my room. I take him in because his hair is covered by a beanie and his jacket looks heavy, I assume he just came from work. He still looks good.

"Here," I say, moving the pile of clothes in my desk chair over to my bed. "Sorry, I wasn't expecting company."

"Don't tell me you're a slob, Bella," he teases with a grin on his face.

I feel my cheeks heat.

"Just a little one," I say, holding my thumb and pointer finger an inch apart.

He laughs while taking a seat.

"I would have texted but I don't have your number," he says shyly.

"Oh, did you need something?" I ask like an idiot.

"I wanted to check on you," he says smiling again.

I note his teeth look perfect.

"Did you have braces?"

"Uh—," he laughs. "I did."

He watches me, giving a once-over glance.

"So how are you feeling today?"

"Better now that I'm allowed to sleep," I answer honestly. "We went to the school and reported what happened."

"What's the verdict?"

"The principal was going to expel her, but I didn't want to be responsible for that, so I asked if her classes could be changed."

"Bet she wasn't happy about that."

I shrug.

"Have you talked to your dad about the other thing yet?"

I shake my head.

"He's on Homecoming Court and so am I," I tell him, feeling a chill rip through me.

I watch Edward as he stands and comes to kneel in front of me.

"What does that mean?"

"I hope I don't get paired with him, for the ceremony and stuff. Like we have a pep rally and the game we are required to attend."

"Who else is on the court?"

"Jazz, Emmett's brother, his friend, Ben, and this harmless puppy of a boy, Mike Newton."

"Who decides?"

"Tradition is the boys choose which Homecoming Princess rides with him," I say, rolling my eyes at the patriarchy of it all.

"Do you think he'll choose you?"

I shrug because I don't really know what goes on in that monster's mind.

"If you do get paired with him, promise me you'll say something," he says, eyes imploring.

I tense and he notices.

"Not about that, but try to switch with my cousin or something, I know she's on the court."

"Okay," I tell him.

His hand is now holding mine while his thumb brushes the back of my hand. I think about how easy it could be to get lost in him.

Jazz was the last person I attempted to get intimate with since Prom happened. I wondered what it would be like with Edward, like would there be a throw down. He looks like the kind of guy who knew what he was doing.

His eyes also held this intensity where I could see him being very passionate in whatever he did. Then I think about his physical being, he looks damn near perfect but is his dick on that same level.

"You okay?" he asks.

"Huh?"

"Are you okay? You look a little— heated."

I bring my free hand over my heart and feel it racing.

The problem for me wasn't thinking about sex, but the act itself. I tensed when I felt hands roughly pawing at me or someone tried to enter me because it brought me back to that night.

I bring the hand he holds up to cover my hand over my heart. I don't say anything, I just let his hand rest there so he can feel my heart racing.

"Do you feel that?" I ask quietly.

He nods, his eyes boring into mine.

I'm the one who leans forward, my mouth hovering over his. He's the one who captures my bottom lip between his.

My hands move to hold onto the sides of his jacket, his hands hold my ribs firmly.

He's the one who breaks the kiss, my fists clutching his jacket still.

I blink at him.

"Sorry," I say.

"I'm totally fine with you kissing me," he says with a smirk

"You are?"

"As long as you feel comfortable with it, I'm okay with it."

I remember that I initiated the kiss between us.

His hands are still holding me while his thumbs brush just under my boobs.

With Jake, things were only physical; that was also the case with a couple of other guys in my class, but this felt different. The connection between us almost felt like an electric current.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you want to go to Port Angeles with me this weekend?"

"Like a date?" I ask with a laugh.

"Most definitely a date," he confirms with a nod.

"Yeah, I want to go on a date with you this weekend," I say with a smile. "Wait, give me your phone."

He does as I ask and I enter my cell.

"Now you have my number," I say, handing him his phone back.

My phone buzzes.

"Now you have mine," he grins, giving me a quick kiss on the head. "I have to get home for dinner but I'll be in touch."

I nod but can't stop smiling.

I have an upcoming date with Edward Masen.

A/N: I can see a lot of you are reading, please review.