ALICE

The next day went very smoothly. I woke up in Jasper's arms, my favorite place to wake up. Getting ready for school wasn't much of an issue. I had long since moved a bunch of my clothes into his apartment, for days and nights like yesterday.

I was in no mood to get all dressed up so I simply pulled on a pair of blue jeans and a long sleeved but thin shirt. I didn't want anyone to ask questions about the hand shaped bruises on my arms. I knew people would've assumed that Ed did it. I didn't want to get him into any trouble. After all, he was a better father to me than my dead beat sperm donor, as my mom and I tended to call him, and he had only known me for three years. It would be pretty shitty if he ended up in trouble for something Edward did. Besides, it wasn't like it caused any permenant damage or anything. There was no need to draw attention to something that was nothing.

Jasper, of course, being the sensitive and caring guy that he was, had to kiss both marks before I pulled on my shirt. I knew he wanted nothing more than to bash Edward's face in for hurting me like. I also knew that he would refrain from doing that because he knew it would upset. That's what I loved most about him. He always put my feelings before his own, even if his were more justified than mine.

After I was dressed, we decided that I would drive us to school. There was no point in him wasting his gas if my car was already there. I would drop him off at his apartment after school so he could go to work and I could go back to Bella's house with her.

When we picked Bella up that morning, she looked better than she had the night before. She was wearing a pair of black jeans with a pink tank top. Her hair was pulled back into a messy bun and she had a smile on her face.

People who didn't know her very well would've thought that she was perfectly okay with the fact that her boyfriend had just cheated on her with her worst enemy. I, however, knew her better than she knew herself half the time. I could see through her smiling fascade and into the heartbreak that was still hidden deep in her eyes. I'm sure Jasper saw it too.

We drove to school in a comfortable, yet, painful silence. None of us were keen on talking about the events of last night. However, we couldn't think of anything else to talk about so we just settled for the silence.

Emmett and Jasper met us outside the school, where we met every day before school. Usually, Edward would be waiting with them. Today, however, he stood over by his car and just stared at us. He wasn't close enough for me to see his face, but I knew he was probably pissed because we were swarming Bella.

James was standing next to him with his arms around Victoria who was chatting animatedly to Jessica. Jessica was ignoring Edward and refusing to look in our direction. I didn't fidn that odd in the slightest. Maybe, Jessica was pissed off at Edward because he was trying to get Bella back. No, the odd thing that morning was, although, James had his arms around Victoria, he was staring fixedly at Rosalie.

I knew he had a major thing for Rose, but I thought after Victoria came along, he had gotten over. The look in his eyes as he stared at her told a different story. Emmett must've noticed too because he kept growling in James's direction and pulling Rose closer to him. Rose, used to all the attention from the guys, didn't notice a thing.

Most of the day passed by without incident. Edward, continually, tried to get Bella on her own, but thanks to Emmett's, Rose's, Jasper's and my bladders just happening to be alternatively full five minutes before the end of every class, he wasn't able too. I saw him glaring at us several times that day but he kept his distance.

The only thing that really happened was James's continuial stares at Rosalie. Emmett was getting steadily angrier as the day wore on. Rosalie, who had finally noticed, simply brushed it off as nothing. I, however, had a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach. Something was telling me that James's renewed interest in Rose wasn't a good.

It wasn't until after school that my feeling was proved right.

EDWARD

The next day went by rather smoothly. James and I had decided that it was best to wait until after school to put our plan into action. I wanted to try to get to Bella before I had to go as far as getting James into trouble. Besides, James decided it would be more effective if he spent the day pretending that his infatuation for Rosalie had suddenly returned. It would certain piss Emmett off more and make it easier for James to get a rise out of him later.

I tried very hard all day to get Bella on her own. All the while, thinking about what I was going to say to try to get her to forgive me. However, I never got the chance to test any of my ideas on her because, her friends never left her side. Even when she didn't have class with any of them, they seemed to appear out of thin air, outside the door at the end of class.

I suspected Alice had something to do with that. It took everything I had to keep myself from strangling her for that. I knew that if I had any hope of getting Bella back I had to keep myself in line. There would no chance of her forgiving me if I hurt Alice. Hell, it was going to be hard enough to convince her to forgive for what I did to Alice yesterday.

Jessica wasn't helping matters much. She refused to even look at me for the entire day. Which would've been great if it wasn't for the fact that every time I looked at her, I had to fight to keep myself under control. She was like a constant reminder of what I had lost the night before. What made things even worse was the fact that she was laughing and smiling with Victoria while Bella, the woman I loved, was in pain because of what Jessica did. Yes, I knew I was partly to blame but it never would have gotten this far if it hadn't been for her determination to get back at Bella. I felt very justified in my hate and anger towards Jessica at that particuliar time (A/N: Ten points to anyone who can tell me the song title in that sentence and who sang the song).

I spent most of the day reminding myself that once I talked to Bella everything was going to be alright. I was sure that she'd forgive me once I had a chance to explain myself. She loved me way too much to completely walk away from me. She'd probably be mad for a little but she would get over. That's just the way Bella was. Way too forgiving for her own good.

It was those thoughts that kept my anger in check until James was ready to follow through with the plan.

BELLA

They next day went by pretty smoothly. My friends made absolutely sure that Edward couldn't get anywhere near me. I felt a pang in my heart, though, every time I caught a glimpse of him. I just couldn't be sure if it was one of pain or fear. However, I knew with my friends around that I had nothing to be afraid. They wouldn't let Edward hurt me. I just wished I would've taken into account the possibility of them being distracted. However, it didn't occur to me until after James approached Rosalie at her locker after school that day.

Rose and I had eighth hour together so we would go to my locker so I could get my stuff, then we'd wait for the others by hers. Their eighth hours were on the other side of the school, so it took them an extra few minutes to get to us.

If I had been paying more attention, I would've noticed that James waited to approach Rosalie until Emmett and the others were in view. However, I was too lost in my own worries to realize what was going on.

Rosalie was bent over in her locker when he came over and pinched her arse. She immediately stood and turned to slap him but he was to quick for her. He grabbed her by the wrists and pinned them to the locker on eitherside of her head. He then pressed his body against hers so she was pinned between him and the locker. She let out an audible gasp. I was too shocked by his actions to do anything to stop him.

"Oh come on." he whispered close to her ear. "Don't be like that. I was just trying to have a little fun. I really didn't mean any harm."

Rosalie struggled against him but he was too strong for her. She stared at him and I could see that she was afraid. James had wanted to get in her pants for years and he, like Edward, always pushed to get what he wanted. I hoped he wasn't planning on doing anything right now. I didn't think that he'd hurt her in a crowded hallway, but then again, anything was possible.

The next few moments happened pretty quickly, it was almost a blur. Emmett, Jasper, and Alice finally came into full view of the seen as James continued to taunt a struggling Rosalie. The minute Emmett saw him, there was a low growl and he came chargiung toward James.

Emmett grabbed James from behind and dragged him off of her before slamming him into the lockers next to Rosalie. Rosalie took a shaky step in my direction and I pulled her towards Alice and Jasper and out of the way. James was looking at Emmett with an expression of mock innocence.

"Come on, man." He said. "I was just having a little fun. That's all. I wasn't trying to hurt anyone. I just figured since she's the biggest slut in school that I could..."

He didn't get a chance to finish what he was saying. The minute the word "slut" came out of his mouth. Emmett pulled his fist back and punched James square in the jaw.

Everyone knew that Rosalie was not a virgin anymore. However, only her closest friends knew that she had only slept with to guys other than Emmett. Most people started rumors about her sleeping with anything that moved either beacause they were jealous or wanted to boost their egos. The topic was always sensitive for Rosalie who regretted what she had done with the two guys before Emmett. Both broke up with her once they got what they wanted.

Emmett did everything that he could to clear up those rumors and got pissed when anyone used words like "slut", "whore", or "hoe" to describe her. He especially hated when guys like James did it just to upset her. Sadly, it wasn't the only reason why James had done it today. I just wished I had been paying more attention that day.

Once Emmett punched James, James retaliated. He punched Emmett back and knocked him to the floor. Emmett got back up immediately and slammed James back into the locker. James managed to get another hit in and I lost track after that.

Other students began crowding us as the fight intensified. Jasper, Emmett, and Alice tried to get into the middle of it and pull them apart. Rosalie was in tears in the corner where the others had pushed her. I stared at the scene in front of me, unsure of what to do.

I wanted to help the others but there were already too many hands in the fight. I didn't want to get in the way or get anyone hurt, so I stayed where I was. Which was a mistake on my part.

A few seconds after the punching reached full blown flight, I felt someone grab my wrist tightly and start pulling me away from the action. I looked up to see Edward. I gulped and tried to pull against me.

"Edward, you're hurting me!" I exclaimed as he continued to pull me from the crowd. "Let me go!" I continued to pull against him but he just held on tighter.

"I can't do that Bella." he replied as he pulled me through the door of the now deserted boys locker room. "Not until you've heard what I had to say."

"So talk." I stated as he we stopped in front of the back row of lockers in the room. I was well aware if the fact that he was standing directly in front of me, blocking my only exit. "I'm actually curious to know what you could possibly say that would make sleeping with Jessica okay. Or better yet, what words could possibly make what you did to Alice okay. But I'd choose your next words very carefully because I'm sorry isn't going to cut it."

"What I did with Jessica was a huge mistake. One that I regret and will spend the rest of my life regretting it." he stated.

"Gee, I wonder why." I replied sarcastically as I tried to push past him. He pushed me back towards the locker.

"I regret it," he growled out. "Because what I did hurt you and that's the last thing I wanted to do. I love you and don't wanna lose you. I'll do or say anything you want me to, if you'll just come back to me."

I couldn't believe he actually thought this sentimental bullshit was actually going to work on me. I had seen his true colors and there was no way in hell that I was going to fall for his shit again. I knew know that he wasn't my prince on a whit horse and I wasn't going to let him make me think that again.

"Do you really think that your angelic face and perfect words are going to get you out of this one?" i questioned. "You slept with Jessica and more than once, I'm guessing." He looked guiltily at the floor and I knew that I was right. "Then you hurt Alice the way you did. And you expect me to just tell you that it's alright and take you back so we can live happily ever after. Are you really that dumb?!"

I knew I had gone too far the minute the last question came out of my mouth. I saw a flash of anger in his eyes then he grabbed me tightly by the shoulders and slammed me into the row of lockers behind me. I let out a moan of pain and fear as my head connected with them.

"I'm not dumb, Bella." he growled. "I'm in love with you."

"Yeah, you're really in love with me, Edward." I stated. "When you're in love with someone, you don't sleep with their worst enemy and you don't throw them against lockers. When love with someone, you respect their decision to do or not do something. And you do your best to understand where there coming from. You put their needs before your own."

"I could say the same thing to you." he growled back.

"Well, I'm not the one still claiming to be in love with you when I'm obviously not." I replied.

What happened next happened fast. One second, I felt his left hand release my shoulder, the next, I felt the back of the same hand sting across my cheek. The force knocked my head back into the lockers, again. Pain shot through my head and cheek and tears pricked at my eyes. I refused to let them fall, though, as I turned back to look at him. I wasn't going to let him see how bad he hurt me.

"Would you stop questioning how I feel about you!" he yelled. "I made a mistake, okay! That doesn't mean I don't still love you because I do. And I know you still love me too. If you would just take the time to forgive me and look ionside your heart, you'll see it too. You and I were meant to be togehter, Bella, I know we are. You have to know that too. Please, try to look into your heart and see that."

Wow, this was the biggest load of shit that I had ever heard. There was no way he could possibly think that I still loved him. I did, of course, but it was going to take a lot longer than one night to get over him. However, I knew that I would never forgive him,. Not after what he did with Jessica. Not after what he did to Alice or even what he's doing to me now.

What was more? He was standing telling me that he loved me, while he had me pinned to a locker and had just backhanded me. He couldn't possibly love me not after all of this. I knew it and I knew that I could never forgive him. No matter how much, I may want too.

"No, Edward, I can't and I won't." I stated. "Yes, I still love you but I refuse to take the time to even think about forgiving you and giving you another chance. You've hurt me and you've hurt Alice. And I have a funny feeling that you told James to hurt Rose so Emmett would go at him and everyone would get distracted. Am I right?" I paused and his silence answered my questioned. I shook my head. "You've hurt too many of the people I care about for me to even begin to think about forgiving you. So the answer is no, I will not look into my heart and see that I love you because, I don't want to."

He gripped my shoulders and slammed my into the locker again. I let out another squeak of fear as my head collided with the locker again. I prayed the fight had been broken up and my friends were trying to find me. I hoped they did before things got too out of hand.

"No!' He yelled. "I'm not letting you get away with that answer! You and I belong together. I know it and I know you know it. And you are not leaving this room until you tell me that you forgive me."

I was afraid of the tone of his voice. At the same time though, I wasn't going to let him see the fear. I wasn't going let him win this. I refused to let him control my life.

"No, Edward." I stated. "I'm not going to tell you that I forgive you and I'm not going to take you back, because I don't want to. It's over between the two of us and I want nothing more to do with you. Do you got that?"

He chuckled once then smiled an evil sadistic smile at me.

"Oh, Bella, my lovely sweet Bella." he said as he ran his hand down the bruise forming on my cheek. "It isn't over until I say it's over. And I'm not ready for it to be over, yet."

He stepped closer to me and lean down to me ear. I had one moment of indecision as I wondered what he was going to do. Then I lifted my knee, which was in the perfected position, until it connected with his groin. He released my wrists and doubled over grabbing himself. I took the opportunity to step over him and ran from the locker room. I didn't even stop to see if he had gotten up.

I ran down the hall in the direction of Rose's locker but soon realized that the fight had broken up. My friends were no way in sight. I knew Emmett and James had probably been taken to the office for punishment but where were Alice, Jasper, and Rose?

I figured they were looking for me but where would they go. I knew Edward wouldn't be down to long so I had to get to one of them before he caught up with me. I knew he wasn't going to be too happy about what I had just done.

I turned out of the down the hallway and raced to the first place I could think of; the parking lot. There were only three cars left by now. Alice's porsche. Rose's convertible and Edward's volvo. At first, I didn't see anyone at first and my heart plumetted into my stomach then I heard someone yell my name from behind me.

"Bella, there you are!" the male voice yelled.

I had a moment of panic before I whipped around to find it was Jasper who yelled at me. Jasper, Rosalie and Alice were walking toward me, looks of relief on all of their faces.

Relief washed through me as I launched myself at them. The tears that I had fought so hard to hold in started pouring down myself. By the time I got to Alice, I was full on sobbing. She wrapped her arms around me and made shushing noises as she stroked my hair. I could feel the concerned eyes of the others on me as I cried into Alice's chest.

"Bella, what happened?" Alice asked after a long moment.

"Edward." I managed to sob out.

A/N: What do you think of this one? I'm sorry for Alice long and pointless thoughts at the beginning. The muses told me to. I don't know why but they did. Blame them. Anyway, I hope you guys liked. Please, review.