When Bella walked into detention, Edward and Mr Banner were already there. Edward was scrolling through his phone, and Mr Banner was grading tests.

"Hey Mr Banner." Bella greeted him on the way to her desk, purposely ignoring Edward and putting enough desks between them that there was no mistaking her intentions. Despite their little act of retribution, Edward was still not forgiven. Bella and Angela had merely levelled the playing field by a smidge; Edward was still in the lead for the biggest betrayal. There was no justice to be had, but the prank did make Bella feel a little better. Internally, she thanked Angela again for her mischief and quick brain.

Edward stared after her, disappointed. He thought Bella and him were at least a little friendly again, but that was clearly not the case.

"Hello, Bella." Mr Banner cleared his throat, addressing both of them, "You both know why you're here. I understand that there are other places we'd all rather be, but I'd appreciate it if we could get through the next few days as smoothly as possible. I'm here if either of you want to talk. On a lighter note, you're both free to interact with each other. I'm not going to impose any silence rules. I'm just going to ask if we limit our use of phones, or I'll have to ask to take them." With that, he returned to his work.

Edward felt nervous. When he'd imagined Bella in detention with him, he'd imagine it going better than this. Sure, he knew she'd be angry, but not to this degree. He hoped that maybe her desire to spend more time with him would outweigh her desire to bash his head in the wall, but he now realized it was only wishful thinking. She'd always seemed distant, indifferent to him for a reason. She didn't care for his company and friendship. She hadn't cared four years ago, and she most definitely didn't care now. His fascination had always been one sided, never mutual.

But Edward wasn't giving up that easily. Their brief but thrilling reunion of sorts had brought back emotions he thought were gone for good. Bella Swan was as understanding, intelligent and kind as he'd forced himself to forget, and her casual regard towards him made her all the more desirable. And he was never one to back down from a fight. Not that Bella Swan was merely just a trophy or a consolation prize. She wasn't just a challenge to him, and it had nothing to do with her stubbornness or her disinterest in him. She wasn't just a girl Edward wanted to win over to prove something to himself or gloat about his victory. Bella wasn't a girl he wanted because he could get any girl. She was the only girl he wanted.

And he didn't just royally fuck up, he has ensured that she was repelled by the mere sight of him. Congratulations were in order.

Man, shit's so much easier when the girls come to you.

Regardless, he had to try. Bella was bent over her desk, furiously scribbling away in her homework binder. She looked grumpy, aggravated, but still beautiful. He cleared his throat, willing the awkwardness to disappear and for an opening to engage appear. Neither of those things happened, but he proceeded anyway, rudely interrupting the silence.

"Hey, Bella, that wasn't very nice what you and your friend did in the cafeteria today. Very conniving of you two," was his brilliant conversation starter. He was just joking, obviously, trying to bait her into a friendly banter. He kept his voice quiet enough in hopes that Mr Banner couldn't hear everything, but one glance in his direction proved that it was futile. As nonchalant as his English teacher attempted to appear, it was apparent that he was totally eavesdropping.

Bella stopped in her tracks, and gradually turned her head towards him. Her face held the most disbelieving scowl. "You seriously did not just have the audacity and the balls to just say that to me, right? I pegged you for a lot of things, Edward, but a narcissistic, conceited, lying hypocrite wasn't one of them." She immediately turned back to her writing, impossibly even more infuriated.

Yikes.

Edward dreadfully glanced back at Mr Banner, who couldn't duck his head in time to hide his comically wide eyes and raised eyebrows. Their teacher cleared his throat and flipped his page over, pretending to work.

Edward wanted to die. He wanted a hole to appear where he was sitting so he could fall into the abyss, or have a heart attack, or have his guardian angel shoot him down with a rifle, sniper style. He wanted a time machine, so he could go back in time and scream at himself for ever coming up with his stupid plan to put himself on the first spot of Bella's hit list.

She's just angry, she doesn't hate you. Keep trying. The rational voice in his head was always his mom's, encouraging him to keep going. He wanted to give up, but he also wanted to clear his name. And get Bella's attention and affection. One step at a time, his mom's voice cautioned him sternly.

He had one last trick up his sleeve. He reached for his backpack, and pulled out Bella's Achilles Heel. He distinctly remembered one day in grade 9 when he had it for his snack during class, and how Bella had watched him eat it, and how her face lit up when he brought her one the next day. He also could guess that she didn't indulge as much anymore, what with body insecurities and self consciousness introducing their ugly faces and sugar becoming public enemy number one amongst most teenage girls.

If she shut this down, he really didn't have a chance.

Hiding it behind his back, he walked up to her cautiously, treading lightly in the way he would when approaching a scared animal. She looked up with equal parts aggravation and animosity, fuming at his guts once again.

"Edward, honestly, what is it that you want from-" He quickly revealed his last peace offering, his final olive branch, his holy grail, rendering her speechless, "me..." She trailed off, marvelling at the original red plastic packaging of a wagon wheel.

Check fucking mate.

"Bella, I am so sorry. So fucking sorry. I wasn't thinking clearly, and I got you in trouble when you had done nothing to deserve it. I forced you to do something bad, and you're in here because of me. I take full responsibility for my actions. I am a narcissistic, conceited, lying piece of shit who is so sorry and I am begging for you to forgive me. Please?" As if his words, his voice, and his chocolaty, scrumptious gift hadn't entirely wiped out her resolve, he unleashed the big guns. He lowered his face and stared at her remorsefully from under his long lashes, his breathtakingly green eyes smoldering. A piece of silky bronze hair fell over his eyes. It was the final knock out.

Bella Swan had ultimately caved.

Edward saw the fight leave her eyes as she accepted her defeat and gave in to her desires, but she didn't let her guard fall. Without giving him anything, no satisfaction of his victory or inkling of her forgiveness, she took the wagon wheel and turned away. It was enough for Edward, however. Her frantic ripping of the plastic packaging and excitement when breaking a piece for herself was enough. Her small smile that stretched out across her full lips as she took her first bite was enough. Her quiet sigh of innocent pleasure was enough.

He turned around and returned Mr Banner's observing smile with a shy grin of his own as he walked back to his spot.

Ladies and gentlemen, Edward Cullen is back in the game.

A half an hour later, Edward was officially bored.

Bella was back to silence, but there was no animosity anymore. Their truce was in effect, but she also wasn't doing anything to get his attention, even when he knew she had it. He wasn't about to engage in direct conversation or small talk; it would be too easy for her to shut him down or trail off. He needed to converse about things that she couldn't help but be drawn to. His eyes fell upon his copy of Macbeth, and then to Mr Banner, who was casually clicking away at his desktop screen. Edward didn't need to be behind him to know that he was playing solitaire.

"Mr Banner," he started, beginning an innocent conversation, "What would you say is your favorite Shakespeare play?"

Mr Banner's head cocked in his direction, but he didn't look away from his screen. "Why do you ask, Edward?"

"Just wondering," Edward replied, tapping his nails on his desk, "I've done all my homework, I'm just about to blow my brains out out of boredom, and we still have half an hour left. Thought I'd pass the time taking part in some intellectually stimulating conversation. And I'd like to understand what it is about the ancient playwright that's convinced high school teachers all across the world to put their students through this academic torture year after year." He added sarcastically.

A knowing smile shaped Mr Banner's mouth, like he'd heard that same statement thousands of times before, and he clicked out of his game, turning his head towards Edward and giving the high school senior his undivided attention. Out of the corner of his eye, Edward caught Bella tilting her head in his direction as well.

"Well, for one, Shakespeare is one of the greatest playwright, poets and storytellers of all time," Mr Banner stated it like he was repeating a law or preaching a gospel. "His work influences much of our literature and even language today. People were still writing plays and poems before him, but he reshaped storytelling. All of his works centered around universal emotions of love, jealousy, blind ambition, heart break, so that each piece stood the test of time and resonated with people of every era, and are still relevant today. It's difficult to have a love for literature and not appreciate Shakespeare. Secondly, you're supposed to learn about him. It's part of the national curriculum. We didn't make those decisions. And thirdly, we like to put our students through academic torture every now and then. It's healthy for them, and wildly entertaining for us." He gave Edward a good natured smirk and winked at him. Edward couldn't help giving a little laugh.

"As for my favourite work, I really admire Othello. Shakespeare made a statement of toxic masculine pride and societal reputation that was way ahead of his time, and there's always something to be said about society versus the individual and how interconnected they are when it comes to our perception of ourselves and others. I don't know if you've read it, and so I don't want to spoil it for you, but it's a very interesting take on believing false information when it's based on one's insecurity and how far a man will go to protect his reputation and integrity without knowing the facts. And the gender inequality issue with a man trusting another man's word over his wife's is quite fascinating in it's complexities and layers."

Both Edward and Bella were quite taken aback by Mr Banner's passion and knowledge, and could not respond. They both hummed in agreement and nodded.

"What about you? Which do you like?" Mr Banner asked with genuine interest.

Edward cleared his throat, and thought about it for a second.

"Actually, surprisingly, I quite like Romeo and Juliet." He said as a matter of factly. Bella snorted and skeptically raised her eyebrows, calling him out. Edward pretended to be playfully offended by her reaction.

"What?" He argued defensively, "it's a brilliant play. It's beautifully written, the narrative begins with the purity and joy of an innocent first love and turns into a bloodbath, and it's packed with symbols and themes. It's a take on the foolishness and selfishness of young love, the importance of family values and dejection of them, purity turning into evil, and the controversial idea that true love has no boundaries. They die together, so at the end of the day, considering that the popular religious belief of the time was that there is an eternity after death, the two lovers get to spend forever together without the trials and hardships of life separating them. And I'm confident enough in my masculinity to admit that I'm a sucker for love." Edward grinned crookedly at her wide eyes and bewilderment.

Bella was speechless. She remembered that Edward enjoyed reading when they were younger, but she thought that he'd naturally grown out of the hobby. She did not consider for even a second that Edward might actually be passionate about things besides sports and girls, and she certainly didn't expect him to be so intelligent and analytical about literature no less.

And he admitted to being a sucker for romance. Bella loved the idea of love, always had. As if she wasn't already having a hard enough time falling to his charms. Why did he have to be a book nerd too?

Bella gulped and nodded, astounded. Edward punched the air internally.

"That's a very thorough analysis, Edward. I didn't expect that at all. And I'd have to agree with your opinion. There is a lot more to Romeo and Juliet that meets the eye."

"I think humans as a whole are very quick to undermine a lot of things just because of societal perceptions and stereotypes, or a dismissively formed opinion by a closed off mind. If a person is willing to look beyond the abstract parameters put in place by a culture or society, and approach a subject, which in this case is Romeo and Juliet, with an open mind, they would be surprised at how much they discover." Edward stated purposefully, his head aimed at Mr Banner but his eyes sliding to Bella's every now and then.

It was disguised as a comment about human nature and Shakespeare, but Bella knew it was directed at her. She retaliated in return.

"In the case of Romeo and Juliet, we all know how it ends. It's stated in the prologue of the play that they die. In the defense of all the people who don't 'approach the play with an open mind'", she made air quotes around the phrase, "It's really difficult to give the story a chance when the ending is so obvious. When you know how something is going to end and not in a good way, when you're making the decision of commiting to and investing valuable time into a project or person, in this case, a play, it's hard to convince yourself to give it a chance when you know it's doomed from the beginning."

They were definitely not talking about the play any more.

"Have you ever seen the titanic?" Edward asked.

"Of course I've seen the titanic." Bella responded. She knew what point he was going to make, and she had to begrudgingly agree with it.

"So you know it's going to sink in the end. Yet it was the highest grossing film ever once, it's become a cinema classic, and even though we know what's gonna happen, every person who watches it cries at the end." He knew he had her, but this wasn't about him being right or about any stupid movie or play; this was about him asking her to give him a shot. "Sometimes you've got to give things a chance, even if you think you know what's going to happen. Some things are worth the risk." He said softly, only looking at her. An understanding settled around her as she read between the lines of his words.

She considered his words, his expression, his actions. She still held onto some resentment; she was very good at holding grudges. But in her heart, she was inexplicably drawn to him, to his mind, to his personality. After grade 9, he had become a figment of her fantasy, a beacon far away from her reality. Now he was closer than ever, and he was human with his flaws and opinions, and he was asking her to give him a chance.

She didn't really have any other option.

She took a deep breath and let it out as she nodded at him, silently giving in to his request. He smiled softly, grateful. Mr Banner carefully watched the two.

The conversation seemed to be over, but Edward didn't want to stop talking. He perked up again. "I bet I could guess what Shakespeare play you love most."

Bella looked at him curiously. "Which one?"

"Macbeth." Fucker.

"What makes you say that?" She asked guardedly, not wanting to give herself away.

"Because as pure as you want to appear, there is a part of you that is fascinated by the dilemma of evil consciousness and the idea of pure intentions versus impure actions. You like treading closer to the dark side of morality than you think." There was a playful tease in his tone, but she could imagine the underlying implications of his words. There was nothing accidental about these implications. He was reminding her of their conversation a couple of days ago when he tried to convince her to land in detention, when this whole fucking mess began.

"C'mon, Bella. Live a little. Join the dark side. It's brilliant from where I'm standing." Is what he had said then.

Bella's recently dismissed anger came back full force. Who was he to assume anything about what she did or didn't do and what she felt or didn't feel? It was not like it went well for him the first time that he would think to imply anything about her thoughts and emotions. He was way in over his head.

"If I were you, Edward, I would stop making assumptions about anyone and their moral conscience, their opinion or their judgment, and stick to my own business. You don't know me." She spit out coldly, and looked away.

Edwards' heart dropped, knowing he'd fucked up yet again. The rest of detention was spent in silence. When the clock struck four, Mr Banner dismissed them easily. Bella packed up her things, lost in thought. Her anger from before had simmered down. Although she had been angry at Edward for acting like he had the right to assume anything about her, that wasn't the only reason she was angry.

She was more angry at the fact that he was right.

She was walking down the empty hallways when she heard eager footsteps behind her, jogging to catch up to her. She turned around when Edward reached her.

"Bella, I know I've been apologizing all fucking day, but I'm sorry for what I said back there. It's not my place to assume or say anything about you. You're right, I don't know you, no matter how much I want to. It was never my intention to hurt you or make you mad." Again with the apology, again with the puppy eyes.

Bella repeated his word in her head. I don't know you, no matter how much I want to.

If he was being honest, he'd just admitted to wanting to get to know her. He wanted to be her friend. She'd never had anyone try so hard to be her friend. A part of her was oddly pleased. She could hold onto this anger that did her no good because she couldn't shake him off, or she could give in to what her heart actually desired and give him the chance he'd asked for. He was flawed, certainly, and he had made many mistakes.

But he was trying. Bella wasn't cold enough to deny his efforts anymore.

"It's okay, Edward." She replied simply. Edward stared back at her in surprise. "I overreacted. I shouldn't have taken it so literally, and I should've seen that you didn't mean anything offensive by it. I guess I've been so mad at you for the past 2 days that I forgot you were just joking. And I promise I can take a joke." She laughed nervously.

"I'm sure you can. It's not your fault I've been such an asshole." Edward said regretfully.

"Yes, you have, but it's difficult being mad at you when you've been presenting me with edible gifts all day. Thanks for the wagon wheel, by the way. I haven't had one in years." She was smiling and looked like she was appreciative, and that's all he'd wanted.

"Of course, I remember you telling me how much you loved them in grade 9 once." He replied.

"I can't believe you remember that. It was so long ago." She mused, running her fingers through her long dark hair. Edward's eyes followed their movement, then returned back to her face.

"I remember a lot of things." He admitted, staring directly into her eyes. She tried to read him, but she couldn't place the intensity with which he was looking at her. It made her blush, and she quickly glanced away, staring at the floor instead.

She cleared her throat. "Well, thank you for remembering," she said diplomatically. "And I'm sorry too, for Angela. It wasn't my idea, but I should've stopped her."

"Shut up, Bella. You know you loved it." He smirked at her, causing her to let out a little giggle. His heart sighed.

"Fine, you're right. There's no feeling better than revenge." She conceded.

Edward raised her eyebrow at her. "I know you already got mad at me for saying this, so I'm totally risking your wrath, but you're literally proving my point." He cried in jest.

"Hey, my grudge was justified, okay? I'm only human." Bella snapped back playfully, letting him know that she was over his mistakes and she had a sense of humor too.

"Fair enough." Edward backed off. "Does that mean we're good?" Edward asked again, returning to seriousness.

"We can be," Bella stated solemnly, "But I think you need a little bit more buttering up to do. I'm not letting you off of the hook so easily. My starbucks order is an unsweetened iced coffee with a shot of hazelnut, and a boston cream donut."

"You know I've been feeding you all day, right? My bank account can only take so much."

"Oh Bella, I'm so sorry and I'm begging for you to forgive, I will do anything, please just forgive me..." Bella repeated in a whinny baritone voice, clearly making fun of him. Edward put his hands up in defeat.

"Fine, fine. You'll have a fresh cup of iced coffee and a diabetes filled donut sitting at your desk first thing in the morning. Jeez…" He complained, but he couldn't wipe off his smile. Bella was smiling too.

"Okay, well now that we're decided, I'm gonna go home. I think that's enough time spent on school property today. See you tomorrow, and I'll be very upset if there isn't an apology meal greeting me tomorrow morning!" She said dramatically as she turned to leave.

"Yeah, yeah, I gotchu." he replied. "And Bella?" He called out after her. "Thank you."

She turned around and nodded, walking backwards. He smiled and waved, and she nodded as she turned around and headed out the door. "Bye, Edward!"

He stood there quietly for a second, staring after her. Then he headed out as well.

Hello, welcome back!

It took me longer than I thought to update, but it's because this was always supposed to be a long chapter and I have a hard time writing those. Next one's supposed to be kinda long too, so I'll try extra hard to get it up on time.

Thank you so much for reading, favoriting, following and reviewing. Your feedback keeps me going.

So I finished the discovery of witches in 3 days, and then I binged the TV show. So obsessed, I just ordered the other 2 books. Can't wait to read them!

Today's recommendation is twilight fanfiction called Fridays at Noon. It's no longer up, but the author (troublefollows) left them in a dropbox to read (Google it). You need to unzip it. I read this fic years ago and I loved it so much. Edward is an asshole billionaire who dines at the same restaurant every friday at noon, and Bella is his server. It's one of the most well written and planned out fics, and it's probably my favorite. There's also a short sequel and a bunch of outtakes. I re read that fic every couple of months, and I'm re reading it again. Pennyward is my favourite 3

Please leave me a review and recommend this fic to others if you like it.

Hope to be back soon. All mistakes are mine.