A/N: I know, Wednesday is almost over. I'm very nearly late to uploading again. But I've just made it!

I'll Always Find Peace In The Meadow

Chapter Thirty-two: '...be prepared' (Edward POV)

Wednesday 21 June 2017

"I thought you were smarter than this, Edward." My mother shakes her head at me, crossing her arms over her chest. I look away from her, away from the disappointment, just to be met with another disappointed gaze, belonging to my sister. Alice is sat beside our mother, looking every bit like her younger doppelganger in this moment. My father is sat on the recliner between the couch I'm sat on and the one the women are sat on. He has an ankle pulled up to rest on his knee, and I can't make out his expression. It's not disappointed, but it's not agreeable either. It's neutral, and that makes me quite nervous. What does he think about this ridiculous family meeting?

I'd gotten dressed for school before coming up here to get some breakfast. I wish I had used the garage staircase, because as I was about to pass through the foyer and open family room to the kitchen, I was summoned by my family, who were already sat waiting for me in said family room. There was no way for me to get out of this impromptu family meeting, though I wish there was, because like I've stated already, this is ridiculous!

My mother "thought I was smarter than" allowing other people, whom I can't control, to believe that there is more than friendship between me and Bella Swan. I've been sat here for a full ten minutes now, trying to argue my case. I keep glancing at the clock, and as more time ticks by I grow increasingly unsettled. I planned to pick Bella up again today! Much longer here and I'll have to skip breakfast to get to her on time.

"What do you want me to say?" I ask, lifting my shoulders. "I didn't do anything deliberately misleading."

Alice scoffs, rolling her eyes toward the ceiling - both clear signs that she doesn't believe me. She looks to my mother with a look that says 'can you believe this guy?', and then offers Dad the same withered expression before she turns her gaze back to me. "Edward, how can you say that? Of course you did it all deliberately. You may not be the smartest, but you're not that stupid."

My jaw clenches at her blatant insult, but I reign in my anger, simply lifting my shoulders again. "I honestly have no clue what I've done wrong. We've been sat here for over ten minutes now, and none of you have told me what it is I've allegedly done on purpose that made people believe Bella and I are more than friends. So, if you'd be so kind, please enlighten me, all knowing and all seeing Alice."

I can tell none of them favour my sarcastic quip I added at the end, but I don't really care. I'm bored and want to know what I've done so I can leave. All they've told me is that I was stupid for doing something that has made people believe Bella and I are dating. They didn't want to question me about it last night, both because it was late and because it was my birthday, but apparently the rumour train was on a roll during my party, with people of every age group wondering what I see in this girl I brought with me, and what her motives could possibly be for being with me. Does she want money? An easy ticket to a good college?

I honestly believe, sometimes, that I'm living in a movie. According to my mother, even her parents, my Grandfather Henry and Grandmother Wendy, had some questions about it all. I'm not at all surprised by that however. They raised her to be the way she is now. I'd love to know what Dad's mother, my Nana Pat, had to say about it all. Her husband passed away before I was born. I may not have known my grandfather, but I am most certain that he would have been every bit as supportive of anything I have done and chosen as my Nana Pat has been. She is very much like my Uncle and Aunt. While she seems to be okay with my mother, she can't stand her daughter-in-law's parents. And they feel exactly the same way, they're just not as good at hiding it.

"Where do I begin, Edward?" Alice says, starting with her grand explanation of the wrong doings I have committed. "For one, you entered your birthday party with Bookworm on your arm." Okay, so technically that is true. Bella did have her arm hooked over mine as we entered the party. But I don't see how anything is wrong with that. It was done primarily to help with both of our nerves at having everyone staring at us.

I say nothing, not even on the fact that Alice refuses to use Bella's name, allowing Alice to list off the rest, uninterrupted. "You helped her find her seat, which you didn't do for any other guest. You danced with her. To. A. Slow. Song. And most importantly, you disappeared into your bedroom with her. ALONE!"

Oh. I see how that last point may have looked to some people. But truly, it was harmless.

I inhale to speak, but Alice isn't done. Her breathing is heavy and at some point during her enraged speech, she stood up from the cushions, pointing her perfectly manicured finger at me. "And don't even get me started on that picture you posted!" Huh? Now I'm confused.

"What? What are you talking about? What picture?"

"The one you posted on Facebook, Edward, for everyone to see. Have you even checked the reaction it has gotten?" Alice asks me, her barely contained anger turning her already high pitched voice into a glass-breaker.

Curious now, I pull my phone out of my pocket. When I log into my account, several notifications ping through, mostly posts I've been tagged in from last night. I ignore them all for now, and go to my post from yesterday. I remember what photo Alice is talking about now. It's the one I took of Bella and I.

I stare at it for several seconds. I love this photo. Though, now, as I look at it with the knowledge that it's a reason for people's suspicions, I see how some may have perceived it. We are stood very closely, though that's because my arm is wrapped around her waist - a fact you can't physically see in the picture, and a fact I secretly loved at the time. Behind us, you can clearly see that we're in Bella's bedroom, mainly because her bed is behind us. Though it's an innocent photo, some may assume otherwise.

I hold in my sigh and scroll to check out it's response. It has some likes, though not many - something I'm assuming is because of Bella's presence in the photo. I will not dwell on that. There are almost triple the amount of comments.

The first two are from Kyle and Will, my two closest friends from Chicago. I've been friends with the two of them for most of my life. They'd text to wish me a happy birthday earlier in the day, and were obviously the first to comment because everyone else was here, busy with the beginnings of the celebrations.

Who's the girl, Edward? She's cute.

Edward finally gotten himself a gf? Congrats, man. Call us when u've got a min.

I smile, pressing 'like' on their comments before I scroll further down.

I don't even register who each individual comment is from after that, all of my focus on the foul messages that have been attached to this photo that I love so much.

Woah... wtf? When did this happen?

R u dating the bitch, Edward?

OMG! I can't believe this! SHE has a BOYFRIEND?

Hahaha! What a joke! This wont last long. Bets anyone?

Do u think she pays him? - [Reply] Must do. The only reason he'd shag that is for $$$$

Edward, plz say this is a joke!

Good luck w the skank, Eddie. Hope shes worth it.

I only read these first few before I angrily lock my phone, sending the screen into darkness. My jaw is locked so tight I can feel the muscles trembling. My phone is squeezed into my fist so hard I'm at risk of breaking it. I can't possibly articulate how relieved I am that Bella doesn't have an account.

"Well? Do you see how much trouble you've caused for yourself? How much trouble you've caused for us?" Alice asks, crossing her arms across her chest. All her movements are surrounded in a red, rage infused glow. "Have you got anything to say for yourself?"

"It's not my fault people are this immature! This pathetic! This... this vile!" I say through gritted teeth, holding up my phone to indicate what I mean with every 'this' I spit out. Disgusted, and no longer hungry, I push myself off of the couch and stride purposefully for the hallway to the right of the foyer.

"Edward!" my mother shouts from behind me. "We're not done here! Where are you going?"

"To my girlfriend's!" I shout snarkily over my shoulder, without stopping, before disappearing further down the hall and into the garage. Taking my keys off of the hook I'd left them on when I got home from dropping Bella off last night, I march to my brand new car, practically throwing myself into the drivers seat once I've unlocked and opened the door.

I have to allow myself a few moments to breathe. I take my time with pressing the button to open the garage door, waiting for it to be fully open before I even think about starting the engine. Some movement to my right alerts me to the fact that I've been followed out here, and without another thought I start my car and back out of the garage.

The sight of my father stood in my now vacant spot in our garage is the last thing I see before I turn and speed down the only road that leads away from our house. I'd never admit it to anyone, but as I'm driving away, tears sting my eyes. Tears of sympathy for my best friend, who doesn't deserve any of what has been said about her.

~I*A*F*P*I*T*M~

I sit outside Bella's house for ten minutes, alone. I haven't honked the horn like I did in my excitement yesterday. I haven't text or called her to let her know I'm here. To be honest, I'm delaying it. I want to see her, like I always do, but a part of me also wishes I could avoid her today. Avoid what I have to do... tell her about the rumours. I know she's no stranger to spiteful lies being told about her, but I now realise that there's a reason she avoids social media. The poor girl is already bullied in person, she doesn't need it in cyber form either. I'm such an idiot. I should have realised that!

I'm still sat in my car at the curb in front of her house. My head is dropped forward as I pointlessly torture myself with more of those horrific comments. They only get worse, if that's possible. I definitely won't allow Bella to see the comments. But I will have to tell her. If I don't, then she'll only find out some other way, and it'll be nowhere near as nice as I can do it.

A tap on my window startles me. I jump and look to my left. A confused looking Bella is stood outside my door, her right hand clenching the strap of her bag tightly and her bottom lip ceremoniously stuck beneath her teeth. I try to smile at her, but I don't think I'm very successful. I don't bother getting out of the car, and only gesture to the passenger side with a tilt of my head before I lean across to open the door for her.

She walks around the front of my car, and I watch stalker-like, trying to assess her mood. She seems okay. Nothing out of the ordinary. The wind blows back one side of her long black knitted cardigan, revealing a denim dungaree dress over a grey top. I almost smile at the return of Bella's typical dress-sense after last night's drastically different choice. To be honest, I'm glad to see the dark grungy side again. As beautiful as she looked in the yellow dress, she's not Bella without the darkness she encases herself in.

She folds herself into my car, sighing lightly once the door is closed. She turns to look at me for a few moments, her eyes inquisitive. I glance away nervously, shifting restlessly in my seat.

"Alright. What's up?" she asks on a sigh. I glance over to her hesitantly, my eyebrows lifting high up on my forehead.

"What? Nothing."

Edward, what are you doing? TELL HER!

"Don't play the innocent facade with me. Something has gotten you down. If your face was any longer you'd trip on it when you walk."

Internally, I chuckle at her words. But on the outside, my 'long face' remains. "Okay," I say, releasing a tense breath as I close my eyes, stealing myself for Bella's infamous anger. It's bound to make an appearance once she knows that it's my fault people have more reason to treat her so horribly. "Y-you know the photo I posted yesterday?" I ask, just diving right in. My eyes lock onto my hands, which are wrapped tightly around the steering wheel - so tightly that my knuckles are turning white.

A quiet "yes" is all she offers. The nervous breath that follows that single syllable response has me feeling even more guilty, if that were possible.

"Well, um, you see, people haven't really, um, reacted to it in a, um, pleasant manner." I fumble over my words, dreading her reaction.

Silence greets my admission. I tentatively turn my head slightly, peaking at Bella out the corner of my eye. She's looking at me. Right at my face. Her expression is unreadable, even to me. "I-I'm sorry," I offer quietly. At that, her eyes well with tears, furthering my already abundant guilt.

"What are they saying?" she asks. The blankness in her tone scares me. Her voice is emotionless. I turn to face her fully, searching her eyes in an attempt to read her emotions the only way I can. That door she has so masterfully locked within her gaze has been cracked. I can see the apprehension, the fear, the anger, the sadness, and the... guilt? Why would she feel guilty?

"Bella, I don't think I should-"

"What. Are. They. Saying?" she asks harshly. I watch as she closes her eyes and inhales deeply, an obvious attempt to calm herself. When she opens those beautiful, but currently tortured, pools of chocolate brown, that door is mended and tightly sealed once more. No! Not again. Not with me, Bella!

"Bella, I..." I hesitate, still against telling her the hurtful things they've said.

"Edward, either you tell me, or someone at school will get the pleasure."

She's right. Shit. Why does she have to be right? "People assume we're together and it's caused quite the stir."

"Why would people think that?" she asks, shocked beyond belief. I try to ignore the stab of - is that hurt? - something I feel in my chest at her disbelieving, touching on disgusted tone of voice. And don't get me started on the way her face has screwed up. Is the thought of it that repulsive?

"I don't know," I say on a shrug, turning to face ahead of me, my hands once again gripping the steering wheel like it's a lifeline. "Several reasons apparently."

"Apparently?" Bella urges when I stop.

"Yes. My family told me about all the rumours this morning. Apparently my behaviour with you last night has started rumours. People that were at the party believe we are dating, or at the very least, s-sleeping together." I glance over at her hesitantly. She's blushing, looking down at the hem of her dress.

"I am sorry, Bella."

She looks up at me and to my utter relief, offers me a small smile. "It's not your fault, Edward. Would it have helped if you hadn't posted the photo? Yes." I hang my head. "But," she adds. But? I raise my head hopefully. "If it were anyone else, not me, in that photo with you, none of this would've happened." Her simple, casual shoulder shrug stumps me. All the anger and the sadness she was feeling, all of it has vanished. She's back to being Blasé Bella. Not caring about what others think or say about her.

She's amazing. Like no one I've ever met. She's the strongest person I know.

"Guess I should be prepared for some post-party ridicule then?" she asks as she clicks her seat belt into place. I look at her, still stumped at her change in attitude. I'm awed, too.

"Um," I start the car as I try to piece my staggered thoughts together, "yes. You probably should."

A/N: Can't teens be cruel? The suspicions in this chapter lead to something that was planned from the very beginning, something that will be happening soon. I hope you all liked this one! Let me know!