A/N: I'm two days late with this update, I know! So sorry! This won't affect my chapter upload for tomorrow!

I'm not American so it completely slipped out of my mind that Thanksgiving was Thursday just gone for a lot of you. I hope you all had a happy thanksgiving.

I'll Always Find Peace In The Meadow

Chapter Thirty-three: '1-ish?' (Bella POV)

Friday 23 June 2017

I sigh as I step into my house, leaning heavily against the door once it's closed behind me. I close my eyes and drop my head back with a thud. I'm so exhausted. It's almost laughable. You'd think I had a full time job and had been at it all week, when in reality, today I've only been to school and then to work for an hour after. My fatigue has me questioning whether I've actually skipped ten years, and I'm no longer in high school with a part time job but really a twenty-something businesswoman. I feel dead on my feet. Though, should I really be surprised? With the last few days I've had?

I sigh, again, and immediately head for my bedroom, not stopping for so much as a drink as I make my way passed the kitchen and living rooms and straight upstairs. I strip from my clothes and take an unnecessary shower. I have an urgent need to wash away the last half of this week.

Standing under the pelt of the spray, I tilt my head back and let the water tumble down over my face as I think back to the rest of the week following Edward's birthday party. What was such a wonderful evening, in spite of the judging and humiliating seat placements, was not followed up with anything remotely wonderful. When Edward came to pick me up from school on Wednesday, and warned me about the comments online, I wasn't all that surprised. I was angry, unspeakably so, but I reined it in, knowing there was nothing I could do about it. I hadn't realised until we were pulling up in the school parking lot that Edward hadn't actually told me anything specific that people had commented on the photo he'd posted on that cancerous social media the night before. But by then, it was too late.

Wednesday was actually passing in a rather calm way. Nothing was said to me... I'll repeat: nothing was said - to me. I had made it through all of my lessons without any sly comments or insults thrown my way, and yes, that includes from the devil-duo. My poor friend on the other hand... he wasn't so lucky. While I was revelling in every lesson that passed without barely even a glance my way, from anyone, Edward was suffering jokes and back handed comments about me, about this alleged us. To be fair, he was taking it all in his stride. He wasn't even going to tell me about it.

We'd parted ways in the library after lunch with me having no knowledge of the things he'd had to deal with during the day, but there was clearly only so much Edward could take. I had just left my second to last lesson, Sociology (my only class without the devil-duo), when I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. As soon as I checked it, what I saw had me speed walking to the Gym, which is where I was headed for anyway. Edward has Gym the class before I do, and in his text, he'd told me that I'd have to walk home because he probably wouldn't be able to give me a ride back.

I arrived outside the Gym just in time to see Edward and one of the many assholes in our year, Michael Newton, being guided away by the boys' coach, a fuming look on the older man's face. I was horrified, and curious, when I saw the state of both Edward and Michael. Both their clothes were a crinkled mess. Edward's collar was stuck up on one side, his left sleeve halfway up his arm while the other covered his entire right arm. Mike had a rip in his shirt, quite clearly where a pocket used to be, and one of his sleeves was rolled up haphazardly, too. Edward had a reddened brow, though he didn't look as bad as Mike, who had a busted lip, blood dripping down his chin from the already swelling cut. I'm not surprised by the outcome of what was so obviously a fight between the two; Michael is a scrawny lad, with arms not much bigger than mine to put it bluntly. Edward on the other hand is bulkier, and much taller.

Obviously with me having another class and Edward otherwise indisposed, I was left wondering what the hell happened for the next hour. The rumours were spreading already, some saying Mike started it, others saying it was Edward.

I found out after class that Edward was right; he wouldn't be able to take me home.

I walked to work and repeatedly tried Edward's phone. And again afterwards. I tried getting hold of him all night, to find out what the hell had happened, but I had to agonisingly wait until the next day. I was hoping my mother had heard some gossip during her now typical stop at Forks' bar after work, but she didn't divulge anything to me.

Edward arrived at my house earlier than the previous two days on Thursday morning, apologising profusely for not answering my calls or texts. His parents had taken his phone from him for the night as punishment. Just for one night?, I remember thinking. He then went on to explain all that had happened. It was after gym class and the boys were changing in the locker room. Almost everyone was dressed when Mike and a few of his pals approached Edward and began prodding him for information. When I'd asked Edward what kind of information, he'd been reluctant to tell me...

Flashback - Thursday 22 June 2017 [yesterday morning]

"Come on, Edward. Just tell me! It was obviously about me, so I have a right to know, don't I?" I leave that with him as I sit in the passenger seat beside him, waiting rather impatiently for him to tell me. My eyes can't seem to shift from the bruise that's on his temple and seeps into his brow slightly. It must have been something bad to result in him and Mike looking the way they did yesterday.

"No, Bella," he says, sighing heavily as he looks at his hands in his lap. He's not looked at me much at all since I told him to stop apologising for not responding to my calls or texts. "I don't want to repeat it."

"Was it really that bad?" I ask curiously.

He looks at me with a tilted head and raised eyebrows, as if to say what-the-hell-do-you-think?. "Bella, it made me tackle Mike to the locker room floor and begin attacking him. Doesn't that speak for itself?"

"So you started it?" I ask, doing nothing to hide my shock. He's always so... so... calm. Unless he's ranting and complaining about his parents or his sister, he's never really angry about anything. Edward nods silently, going back to looking down at his hands. "Well now you have to tell me," I insist. Edward shakes his head, sighs and opens his mouth. I think he's going to tell me, but he seems to think twice about it and snaps his lips shut, his cheeks bursting with colour. "Are you blushing?" I ask incredulously. "My God, Edward, now you absolutely have to tell me!" I shout.

"I really don't want to. The things they said were... disgusting." I feel my brows furrow. What? I do nothing and wait for him to tell me. He sighs once more, his shoulders dropping. "Fine," he grumbles, fidgeting in his seat. "His friends started off the worst, but it was nothing I hadn't heard already earlier in the day. Silly things like, 'I bet her ideal date is the library', and, 'does she sleep with her Converse on?'. Silly, you know." I roll my eyes, not really bothered by any of that. The idiots only seem to attack my clothes and love of books most of the time. "But then, Mike said something..." He grimaces, which only enhances my morbid curiosity.

"Yes?" I prompt him when it seems he isn't going to continue.

"Bella..." he whines desperately.

I huff and throw myself back in my seat. "Fine. I'll just go ask Mike at school then." I won't, but he doesn't know that.

"You will not!" he says harshly.

My head snaps to face him at his demand. "What?"

"Bella, please don't go and talk to him. He... what he said, it's... he's just not a very nice person."

"Well, I don't know that, do I?" I do. I've had a few run-ins with Mike in the past. "Not unless you tell me what was said."

Edward sighs and blushes again. Then it dawns on me. This something 'disgusting' must have been rude. Now I'm not so sure I want to know, but it's too late. Edward has already started to reveal what was said to me before I can decide to tell him that it doesn't matter. "He asked me if..." He sighs again. "He asked me if you are, um, t-tight." The last word is whispered, stuttered and barely audible.

"Oh," is all I say, slowly sitting back in my chair.

"Yeah."

We sit in silence for a few long moments. He really asked that? Creep. I shudder before reluctantly asking, "Was there anything else?"

"Yes, but that was what made me snap and tackle him to the ground. I'm not going to let people talk about you like that. You don't deserve it."

I look over to him, an appreciative smile pulling at my lips. He looks over to me nervously. "Thank you, Edward," I say quietly, leaning across to press a brief kiss to his cheek. He blushes again and I have to hold in my laugh.

"For what?" I can't help but notice the change in his voice, how it's of a higher pitch now.

"For defending me. You didn't have to get into a fight for me, but I appreciate it."

End of Flashback

The school let Edward off with a warning. I don't know if that's a result of the influence of Edward's parents, or if the principal was just feeling extra generous yesterday afternoon. Rumours are, Mike didn't get off quite so easy. My wondering thoughts of why make me feel uneasy, but I couldn't bring myself to ask Edward whether he told the principal the horrible things Mike asked and said about me. If he did, then I don't want to know. Too embarrassing!

Unfortunately for me, though a part of me is thankful for it, the negative attention shifted from Edward to me today. While Edward had faced the brunt of the immature teenage attention yesterday, I faced it today and he was left alone (that's the part I'm thankful for). I've been called a slut, because I'm sleeping with a guy solely for the reason that his family has money, apparently. I've had condoms shoved in my locker, guys coming up to me and propositioning me, asking for a "quickie" before next class.

It's become pretty clear to both Edward and I that people have let the idea that we're dating go, and have decided that we are just fucking. It's been horrible having to sit with the stares and whispered rumours. Edward has always commended me for being strong and not letting anything any of them do affect me, but today, it was impossible to do just that. I really let it affect me, to the point where I was close to tears in class. I managed to hold them in though. It was all humiliating and upsetting, but I didn't let anyone see how much it was affecting me. Well, no one but Edward.

At lunch in the library, I was telling him all that had happened since we'd parted ways before first period, trying to hold back my tears, when he spotted a 'Sex for Dummies' book just over my shoulder. It had been placed on the romance shelf in the library, where I've sat for the whole of high school on a majority of lunches. It shocked me, because I didn't think anyone really paid attention to where I disappeared to during lunches. It seems someone knows. I'd blushed and picked it up, turned to face Edward, and then we both burst out laughing. I don't really know if it was because we found it funny, or if it was because we'd just had enough and the emotions were running a little haywire.

After lunch wasn't any easier. I almost called Angela to duck out of my hour shift after school, but decided against it last minute and got Edward to drop me off at the Bookstore. Thankfully, Angela's brother who goes to Forks High doesn't appear to have told her anything that's transpired recently. She was none the wiser.

I don't realise until I turn the shower off that the water from the shower head isn't the only droplets pouring down my face. I dry my body and then have to dry my face of the tears. I sigh and look at myself in the mirror. This is ridiculous. Why am I so affected by this? They've bullied me, spread rumours, insulted me, the whole nine yards for years, and I've never ever been so affected by it. So why now? Why this?

Maybe it's because, in the past, the things that have been said about me have held some level of truth. I have been a loner. I do wear dark clothes. I am a moody bitch to people. What I am not, however, is an easy slut who will open her legs to anyone of the opposite gender.

For the rest of the afternoon, I busy myself with my chores, dusting around the house before beginning with dinner. I do some homework at the dining table while I wait for it to cook. My timer goes off and I go to get the dish out of the oven. I plate it all up onto two plates and glance at the clock. Where is Renee? I place hers in the microwave and sit by myself at the kitchen table to eat my dinner.

My phone pings from my pocket during my meal, and I smile when I see it's a text from Edward.

I'm looking forward to this weekend. - E

Huh? This weekend? What's happening this weekend?

I think back over the week, searching for anything we've discussed recently.

Oh. It dawns on me only seconds later. I told Edward after his party on Wednesday that I'd show him my meadow this weekend. I didn't tell him what I was showing him, just that it was a place I'd been visiting for years. Shit. I'd totally forgotten about that amidst all the drama of the last couple of days.

Yeah? - B

I reply simply, not knowing what else to say.

Yes. - E

Less than ten seconds later, another text from him comes through.

What is it? - E

That would be telling - B

I bite my lip as I nervously stare at my phone, waiting for his reply. Why did I say I'd do this? At the time, it seemed like a good idea. I trust him and know that the only way I'll ever get my meadow back is if I show him exactly what I was doing the day he and his family arrived. But now I'm not so sure this is a good idea. What if he tells someone else? What if he shows someone else?

Please? - E

No. You'll have to wait and see. - B

How long do I have to wait? - E

I sigh. I'm not getting out of this.

How does tomorrow sound? 1-ish? - B

Ish... - E

I smile at that. He's mocking me, but I don't mind when it's Edward doing the mocking. I know he doesn't mean it in a malicious way, like everyone else.

"Is that your fuck buddy?" My head whips up to the slouched figure stood in the kitchen doorway. I hadn't even heard her come in. The smile on my face instantly disappears and I lock my phone quickly, not replying to Edward.

"Shall I warm up your dinner?" I ask, ignoring her question. She nods and I stand to do just that.

I hear one of the chairs around the table scrape against the floor as she sits herself down. "So... was it?"

"Hmm?" I ask, feigning ignorance.

"On your phone, Isabella," Renee sighs impatiently. "Was it your lover?"

I blush at the brashness of her words. "He's not... we aren't..." I sigh. "We're just friends."

"Sure you are," she deadpans. "And I'm the Queen of England." My hands are shaking slightly as I place her dinner down in front of her. Please don't do this. I don't even ask as I go and get her a glass of wine. It's customary more now than it was a few months ago.

"Really, Mother, there's nothing more than friendship between me and Edward," I assure her as I sit back in my seat opposite her and begin picking at my food. My appetite vanished as soon as my already tipsy mother entered the room.

"Don't lie to me, Isabella. You're fucking the boy, aren't you?" I wince at her vulgar words and close my eyes. No mother should talk to her daughter this way. I feel sick. When I open my eyes I see she is looking at me with an accusatory glare. "You think you're so cute, don't you? How do you think this makes me look? My daughter is sleeping with my boss' son."

"I'm not."

"Do not lie to me!" The shaking in my hands spreads to my entire body as her bellowed demand washes over me. I'm not lying though. I watch as she places another forkful of the chicken pasta bake into her mouth. "I'm not too angry about it yet." I feel my brows raise at her confession. "Time will tell whether this will benefit me or not." Huh? How would this benefit her? As if she can read my thoughts, she continues.

"You, my daughter, may be onto something with this... this whoring yourself out." I gasp at her words, but manage to keep the shock to myself as I force a mouthful of food past my trembling lips. I don't think my stomach can take much more. "Yes, you just may be," she says thoughtfully, more to herself than to me. I keep my anxious gaze on her as she seems to think about something. "One of the leading lawyers in the firm has a son not much older than you. Perhaps?..." My mouth drops open at her words. Oh God, no...

"And doesn't Angela have a brother in Forks High? You could use this new found bargaining chip to your advantage and get yourself a raise." I gasp loudly this time, my cutlery dropping from my shaking hands. I can't believe what she's suggesting... she wants me to... oh my God... I'll never do it! She can punish me for refusing all she wants, but I won't 'whore myself out' for her benefit, or my own.

Her eyes calmly follow the path of my cutlery, before her bored gaze flicks to my face. "Don't be so dramatic, Isabella," she says with a sigh. "I'm only joking." There's a part of me that knows she isn't joking. There was some truth to her words.

I force a small smile onto my face and pick up my cutlery again. I don't do anything with them however, my eyes remaining glued on Renee, which is how I don't miss the narrowing of her eyes before she returns to her meal.

Yeah right. Joking, my ass.

A/N: I know... you all hate Renee. So do I. A lot.

And I know the things said to and about Bella are horrible, but it's all necessary for the development of the story. You'll see.

Thanks for returning. I apologise for the late upload again. I should be back tomorrow! See you then.