A/N: Enjoy :)

(Please read the bottom AN!)

I'll Always Find Peace In The Meadow

Previously...

I'll take that damn bicycle over riding with these three any day. - E

Wow. It must be bad. I remember you complaining about riding my bike after only one try on it. - B

Before I can reply, she sends another text through.

'So uncomfortable' - B

And another.

'Should be illegal' - B

Several similar messages come through, and I soon realise that she's quoting my complaints after riding her bike to school the morning after Rosalie's party and our unintentional meet up at the playground. It was really uncomfortable, though. She continues to send them through.

'Never again'. - B

'Devil seat on wheels' - B

Did I really say that one? I don't remember calling it that. I think she's starting to make these up.

'Bruised my ass for a century' - B

Yep. She's definitely making these up! I laugh out loud at that one, completely forgetting who is in my company. The others around the table have gone silent, and are staring at me.

Chapter Twenty: 'We're rich, not royalty!' (Edward POV)

Monday 15 May 2017

My parents both look disapprovingly at me, while Alice looks pissed off and the devil-duo are confused.

"Edward, are you messaging at the table?" my mom asks. I shake my head slowly, unconvincingly. Alice snatches my phone from my hand below the table, holding it out for my mom. I glare at Alice as my mom takes it from her and checks the screen. Luckily I locked it as soon as I realised what I'd done. She can't see anything, as long as Bella doesn't send another message.

My mom glances at me with suspicion as she slowly places my phone on top of the table beside her glass of wine. I sigh and go back to my dinner, taking small bites as the conversation picks up around me once more. My eyes repeatedly drift to my phone, willing the screen not to light up with a new message.

Alice, Lauren and Jessica finish first. They ask to be excused and are granted their request, hasty to get up and leave. So hasty, that they all leave their dirty plates on the table. I wait for my parents to call Alice back into the room, to demand that she clear away her dirty dishes, but they don't. I know if it was me, they wouldn't have let me leave my chair, let alone the room, without ordering me to clean it up.

As soon as the girls are out of the room, my parents go silent, both staring at me as they take small bites of their dinner. It makes me feel uncomfortable. They continue like this until we've all finished our plates of food.

My dad leans back comfortably in his chair, sipping at his water, his eyes never leaving me. My mom stays silent, glancing between us both.

"So, Edward, how has your day been?" he asks after a while.

I nod silently for a few beats, before speaking up. "Good... Yours?" I ask, feigning curiosity when really all I want to do is escape to my room as soon as possible.

"Mine was going okay, until I came home and found out a certain piece of information," he says.

"Oh, really?" I ask innocently, picking up my glass and taking a nervous gulp of water as I look away from him.

"Yes. Really. Wouldn't you like to know what that piece of information is?" he asks me. I use this as my way out, though I'm not hopeful it'll work.

"No, I'm good. May I be excused?" I ask quickly, already lifting myself from the chair.

"No, you may not! I would like you to stay seated and listen to what I have to say!" my father says, his voice rising until he's almost shouting. He sits forward in his seat, as does my mother. I, however, shrink further into my chair, wanting to disappear from the room.

"Your mother, with the help of your sister and her friends, have brought to my attention that you have befriended a Miss Swan. Is that right?" he asks, though he knows full well what the answer is.

"Yes. That is correct," I answer robotically. He hums, stroking a single finger down one of his sideburns as his face turns pensive.

"And, please tell me, what do her parents do? How do they earn their money?" he asks. My mother raises an eyebrow at me questioningly.

"Well, her father was a policeman before he... um, before he passed," I say, clearing my throat as I say the words. "And I don't know what her mother does," I admit quietly.

My father looks genuinely surprised as I admit to not knowing, but my mom just looks suspicious still. "You have no clue whatsoever?" she asks, disbelief coating her words.

"No," I say as I shake my head. "I've never asked her. Why? Is there a problem?" I ask, acting unknowing of their rules. They must know! Whatever it is mustn't live up to my parents standards, otherwise we wouldn't be having this conversation to begin with.

My father takes a breath, readying himself to speak, but my mother beats him to it. "She works for me, Edward." Her tone is edging close to exasperated. I feel my eyebrows raise in actual surprise.

"Cool. What's wrong with that? That means she's a lawyer," I say happily, not expecting this turn of events. My dad, and especially my mom, can't complain about Bella because her mom has the same, or a similar, job to mine.

"No, Edward. She works for me. Not with me. She's a receptionist at my firm," my mom says slowly, letting the words sink in.

"Oh. Okay." I let the disappointment ween for a few seconds. "So, she's a receptionist. Big deal."

"Edward, do not speak to your mother like that!" my father demands, but other than that he stays uncharacteristically silent. I lower my eyes at my father's reprimand, mumbling out an apology. My mother sighs as she places her hand on my father's arm.

"Look, Edward. We only want what's best for you. We are only looking out for you. In our way of life, you have to choose who you socialise with wisely. Otherwise you'll get no respect."

"Our way of life? We're rich, not royalty!" I exclaim after a burst of laughter. I quickly lower my eyes again when my father looks at me disapprovingly, his face saying all the words for him: watch-your-tone.

"Edward," my mother sighs, exhaustedly. Hopelessly. "You're still young. You're still learning. You need to listen to us. We know what's best for you."

You don't even know me! I shout at her in my head, but I keep quiet on the outside, attempting to look like I'm listening.

"You're right, Mother," I say softly. She smiles while my dad looks surprised once more. "I am still young, and I am still learning. So let me make my own mistakes." Her smile falls and the surprise disappears from my father's face. Did they seriously think they'd won me over so easily? She seems to compose herself quickly.

"Well at least you agree with us on one thing," she sighs, though there's a hint of happiness in her eyes. I cock my head to the side, confused. "That this girl is a mistake."

My mouth drops open in shock. "A m-mistake?! Bella is not a mistake, she's my friend!" I almost shout, sitting up bolt right in my seat.

"Come now, Edward, be reasonable. That girl is a mistake. She won't be good for you in the long haul. It'll go one of two ways; you'll come to your senses and see she's not worth your time, or she'll realise she's not worthy of your friendship," my mom replies with a casual shrug.

My jaw tenses in anger. How dare she! I hide my fisted hands under the table. "This is ridiculous! You're acting like I'm dating Bella. Which I'm not. We're just friends," I protest angrily. I ignore my father's warning looks now, focusing solely on my mother.

"You're damn right. There is no way in hell I'd allow you to date that girl," my mother says, standing abruptly. Woah. Calm and collected Esme Cullen never cusses. I go silent, breathing heavily as her words repeat in my mind.

"Allow me?" I ask quietly after some time, the words seeping out in a hiss of seething anger. "You wouldn't allow me? Like I have no choice?"

She sits back down, gently placing her hands on the edge for the table to straighten out the creases in the table cloth she created when she stood. "Well..." she says and then stops to think. "Of course you'd have a say. But approval from us would be necessary."

And then she looks up at me with a smile. Oh my God! Their control is worse than I thought. I sigh, letting my festering anger settle down a bit. I need to stay calm. There's no point in getting raged at the moment. "None of that matters right now, because Bella and I are just friends. That is all it is. But that won't be ending any time soon, I can assure you," I tell them both, my voice dangerously quiet. "May I be excused?"

My father nods silently just as my mother looks like she's about to protest. She snaps her gaze to him quickly. He doesn't glance her way as he watches me stand. As I leave the room and head to the kitchen, my plate and glass in hand, I wonder why my father was so silent during all of that.

I rinse my plate and put it with my empty glass in the dishwasher. I plan to use the stairs in the garage to get down to my room, but then I remember my mom still has my cell. I walk towards the dining room, but stop just before the doorway when I hear Bella's name mentioned.

"I was certain him befriending this Bella girl was an act of rebellion," my father says, his voice hushed but thoughtful.

"How so?" my mom replies, her voice sounding tired.

"Well, I was positive he knew the girl's mother worked for you. He knows that would have gotten under our skin, so I thought that was the reason. But he didn't know where she worked."

"Are you sure? I don't know when he's lying and when he's being truthful anymore. I don't believe he didn't know."

"Oh, I think it's true. He had no clue where she worked." They're both silent for a few seconds, and I'm just about to step into the room when my father speaks up again. "It's a shame the girl's father died. He sounded like a respectable man." His sigh is wistful.

That means he doesn't think Bella's mother is respectable. No surprise there.

"Yes. A police officer. Now that would have been acceptable." My mother sounds a little choked up, and I roll my eyes at her through the wall.

"Don't worry, my love. I'm sure Bella is just a phase. Edward will get bored soon enough and ditch the girl. Then we can help him on the path to finding people like Alice has." I gape at him through the wall. A phase? Bella isn't a phase. She's a friend! And a good one at that!

I have to refrain from laughing at my mother's next words. "Those two up there seem lovely. Such good manners." My hand is over my mouth as I try and hold in my amusement. She obviously doesn't know them well yet. "That Jessica girl is a cute thing, isn't she? She'd make a wonderful daughter-in-law."

My world literally freezes. I'm in complete shock. No, no, no, no, NO! There is absolutely NO possibility I'll ever date Jessica, let alone marry her! Ugh! Just the thought of it makes me feel sick to my stomach. I can't believe my mom is even entertaining the idea of it. I can't believe she's thinking so far ahead! I'm not even sixteen yet, though I will be soon.

I don't give my father the chance to reply. I walk around the doorframe, quickly entering the room. They both startle as I enter. "Can I have my phone back, please?" I ask, holding my hand out.

My mom blinks several times at me, scowling as she picks up my phone and passes it to my father, who then holds it out to me. I grasp it and try to pull it away, but he tightens his hold, preventing me from leaving with it.

"Don't use this at the dinner table again. It's rude," he warns sternly. Only once I've nodded my understanding does he let go. I turn with every intention of leaving silently, but my mother can't help herself.

"Especially if you're texting that girl. I won't have it. Not at my dinner table."

I freeze a few steps from the door and turn slowly, a forced smile on my face. "Oh yes, I forgot to mention, I'll be tutoring Bella from now on which means she'll have to come here some days, just as I'll have to go to her house."

"You will do no such thing!" my mother protests loudly, standing abruptly from her chair once more. "I will not have her in my house!"

"Fine. If that's the case, you are denying me the chance to get extra credit," I explain, crossing my arms over my chest. My mother is shaking where she stands, angry and speechless, her mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water.

My father stands slowly, the hint of a smirk pulling at the corner of his mouth. "Well played, Edward," he says. I'm not trying to win a game here. I just want your approval. He stares at me thoughtfully for a moment. "You can tutor her here," he begins, but is interrupted by Mom's arguments. He places a hand on her shoulder, silencing her. "But you will remain downstairs when she is with you. I do not want to come home from work to be greeted with a mess in the places I can rest. You will also give me and your mother a heads up before you bring her by, preferably the day before?" He asks for approval from my mother, turning to her as he finishes his question. She nods solemnly. My father smiles and turns back to me. "Right. That's settled then. All of that understood?"

I nod firmly once, before turning and practically running for the stairs, bounding down them and to my room, where I close and lock my door.

I fall back onto my bed, holding my phone above my face as I check for any more messages from Bella. There are no more, and I feel guilty that I haven't answered to her previous ones. I decide to call her instead of texting back.

She answers after the fourth ring, but something's wrong, I can sense it. "Edward?" she answers the call in a whisper, panic touching the edges of her voice.

"Hey, Bella. Is everything okay?" I ask. There's only silence for a few seconds. I listen carefully when the sound of movement filters through the speaker. The click of a door closing softly just about reaches my ears.

"Yes. I'm okay," she answers finally, her voice only a fraction louder.

"You sure?" I ask again, concerned.

"Yes, Edward," she answers with a sigh, obviously getting annoyed by my questions. I best stop.

"Okay. Is this a good time to call?" I ask.

"Of course, why wouldn't it be?" she replies rather desperately. I'm taken aback a bit. I've never heard her this way before. She sounds on edge. She sounds a bit scared, if I'm being totally honest. All of a sudden, it's like she finds her composure. She sucks in an audible breath and breathes it out slowly, loudly, down the phone. "Sorry, Edward. I just, um, told my mom about the tutoring thing..." she trails off.

"What's happened? Does she not agree with it?"

"Um, you see, the thing is, um... she didn't know I needed a tutor," she tells me, stuttering her words.

"Oh," is all I have to say.

"Yeah, Oh. She didn't know I was struggling with math, and she... she's mad," she replies, her voice quietening to a whisper at the end.

"Damn. I'm sorry, Bella... is that a no then?" I ask, desperately trying to keep the disappointment out of my voice.

"No," she answers, surprising me. "She agreed. She said if it'll help, I might as well. And when I told her it was Edward Cullen willing to tutor me, she started to freak out."

I laugh once. "Ha! Is that because I'm her bosses son by any chance?"

"Actually, yes. How long have you known about that?" she asks me accusingly.

"I just found out tonight. I had no clue," I answer.

"Neither did I," Bella says thoughtfully. "Why did you stop texting back?"

"Oh, I laughed out loud at the bruised my ass for a century one while I was sat at the dinner table with everyone."

"Oh shit. I am so sorry. I hope I didn't get you into too much trouble."

"Nah. It's fine. Don't worry about it. I only got my phone taken off of me and a stern talking to," I answer. Bella goes silent. I'm about to pick up the conversation again, maybe ask why she's suddenly gone quiet, but the muffled sound of someone else's voice comes through the speaker.

"BELLA!" the voice bellows from somewhere in the background.

"Shit," Bella hisses out. "I, uh, I gotta go, Edward," she says in a rush.

"Okay-" She hangs up. "-Bye." I say into the lifeless phone, disheartened. I stare at it for a full minute, baffled by her abrupt ending of our phone call. Something was definitely wrong with her tonight.

I try not to let it bother me. It's seven-thirty p.m. and I have nothing I want to do. Bored, I decide to put some music on and look through my maths book to make a plan for Bella. The teacher we'll inform could possibly give me material to work with, but there's no hurt in being extra prepared.

After an hour, I have made a rough and suitable plan for Bella's tutoring. I have a good idea of what Bella struggles with, what her weaknesses and strengths are in the lesson. But I'll have the teacher check over it, just to be sure.

I go to lie on my bed now, once again bored. I use the remote to raise the TV from the foot of my bed. I flick through the channels, nothing catching my eye. I stop at a repeat episode of *Friends*, wanting a laugh. This one is from early on in the very first season, the one where Monica has to cook dinner for her parents. I laugh at the parts that are funny, but apart from that, the episode puts me in a rather somber mood.

The way Monica rushes round to please her parents, only for them to judge her still and blame her, it just reminds me of my relationship with my parents. It seems whatever I do, whether it's giving up a friendship like I did when I was little or giving up time to tutor someone, I can't do anything right. It's exhausting.

Sometimes I wish I had a parent like Bella's. Her mom doesn't seem to hassle her at all. She doesn't complain about her mom like I do about my parents and sister. The only thing she's ever said is that her mom is difficult. But how difficult can she really be?

A/N: Oh, Edward. You have noooo idea! None at all.

I forgot to mention this in last chapter's AN, but I don't know if the 'peer tutoring helps earn extra credit' thing is true. Here in England there is no such thing as earning credit, so I wouldn't know. But for the sake of my fictional story, let's pretend it's a fact and continue on. Sorry if it's not true and if that ruins this story for anyone.

Thanks for reading and please don't hesitate to leave a review! I'd love to know your thoughts.

I've been in a bit of writing slump for the past couple weeks. I've not written a lot and anything I have written, I've hated! Well, whilst editing this chapter just now, I got a sudden brain wave and know how to continue (don't worry, I'm a good six weeks ahead of schedule, at least). So that's what I'm going to do right now!

I hope you all have a happy Halloween and I hope you've had a wonderful October! See you on Friday (in November)! Bye!