Chapter 3

Edward Culled became friendlier at school as the days went by. He started attending lunch with his sister and Jasper, and sat at our already always crowed table. I became the shiny new toy again as the boys competed for my attention. I guess Edward brought out their competitive sides. Mike started draping his arm around my shoulders even when I deftly shrug them off. I ended up snapping at him yesterday because he was so persistent which was exactly what I told him. He asked if there was something wrong with being persistent when you wanted something.

Edward agreed with him.

In that instance I hurled a million and one curse words at him which I was pretty sure he was aware of. The only problem was that they never did any damage.

Jessica tried being friendly with me too when she noticed Edward's unwanted friendship with me. I nicely told her I wasn't Iago. The witch had the nerve to say I was a complete bitch. Which I probably am, but I would not be duplicitous with her. I dislike her; strongly.

I tried to keep conversations with Edward to a minimum. He seemed hell bent on provoking me.

Alice said I intrigued him. Jasper said he was obsessed.

I think he is the ultimate villain set on making me regret coming to Forks.

On the bright side, I have a trip coming up with my dad this weekend. He is buying me new clothes better suited for this weather, and he is taking me to Seattle for the weekend to shop. I know he must have given up a lot to take the weekend off for me which I really appreciate. I am looking forward to it.

I have also realized I had to food shop more than I usually do in Phoenix. Dad can eat. He doesn't have a problem though. He gladly gave me extra money for food shopping. I guess he is happy he is no longer eating at the diners in town.

I also enjoy cooking for him. He knows how to appreciate.

Since I have been to Forks High I have developed friendships which I never expected. Angela and I became close during the week Edward was absent from school. Alice also likes her which may have influenced me to gravitate to her so much.

Angela is a pretty girl with angular facial features, and light brown shoulder length hair. She is taller than most of us girls, and slim built. But even with her dashing physical features she is very reserved. Somewhat like Jasper but more easy to crack into.

Today we are sitting on a bench on the lawn near the student's parking lot. The sun is out, and it seems everyone is trying to soak up as much as possible.

I kept my head in Wuthering Heights but whenever I thought no one was paying attention I would avert my gaze to the student's parking lot, looking for the shiny silver car I knew he drove. It still wasn't among the vehicles in the now full lot.

Maybe they drove something else. After all they are rich. So I started looking once again for the most expensive and standout vehicle in the lot. It was futile; nothing new and grand to look at.

Maybe they parked somewhere else. I started looking at empty spaces, staff parking, and just about anywhere a car could fit; still nothing.

I checked the time on my phone and noticed I had about 5 minutes before the start of class. Maybe they are running late.

"Waiting for someone Bella?" Angela asked as I checked my phone again.

"Ummm… No. Not really." I whispered.

Angela cracked a smile. "Alice and Edward and Jasper won't be at school today."

I looked at her in surprise as she shoved her jacket in her bag and tucked her phone in her jean pockets.

"Whenever the sun is out they go out as a family. Lately they have been taking drives to visit Emmett in Seattle."

I shook out my jacket as I asked, "He is Alice's other brother right?"

"Yes; her biological brother."

"So whenever the sun is nice they go road tripping?"

"Well I don't really think so. After all we don't exactly know what they do. This is just based on what we hear, ya know. But I do know that since they moved here I have only probably seen them at school probably twice whenever the weather is this good."

This was really surprising. The sun was out and the Cullens ditched school.

"Maybe they have something to do when the sun is out." I half chuckled to myself.

"Maybe," Angela said, "Or maybe they have something to hide. I mean who wouldn't be grateful for the sun in our constant gloom. But, to each their own right?"

"Right," I agreed.

I had the sudden urge to message Alice and hear her reason for ditching, but I quickly stuffed my phone in my pocket as I heard the bell sounding for the start of school. Angela and I ran the journey to our English class together.

All day I wondered what they were doing. The lunch hour went by slowly without Alice's constant chatter, and Edward's provocation. To be honest, I missed him at school today. Biology was even worse. Mr. Varner gave us group work to do and I ended up working at Mike's table with him and Tyler. That was a hell I had to grit my teeth to endure. They both decided that trying to flirt with me was much better than actually doing the practical.

Lucky for me, I completed the task within 10 minutes and tuned them out until the end of the practical. When Mr. Varner checked each group, it was very obvious I worked by myself since my answers varied from theirs. He didn't comment.

After school I hurriedly went to the arts room. I had become friends with the art director at our school Mr. Kurt Jameson. He permits me to stay behind after school whenever I wanted for an hour working on my painting, which he said could use a lot of improvement.

Dad suggested I joined the art club, but it turned out to be a waste for someone with my skills. So I agreed with Mr. Jameson to help out with his projects however I could, and in return, I got to use the school's supplies, and a nice quiet place to work, along with a few tips from him to improve my painting techniques.

After setting my bag on the worktop, I checked the folder on the table in the corner to see my day's tasks. Apparently, I had some drawing to do, copying from an old photo to my sketchpad.

I can become really engrossed in my art.

It is a place for me to escape my boring town life, my troubled past, my social troubles and put all my energy into something I really enjoy.

I was pulled away from my drawing by the vibration of my cell phone in my pocket.

Dad was calling, and to my surprise it was almost 5:30. I never spend more than hour in the art room each day.

"Hey dad! Sorry I am late. I stopped in the art room doing something for Mr. Jameson and I just now realized how late it was."

"That's fine Bella. I just got home myself. Don't worry about coming in to cook, I will order something. The reason I called is because a friend of yours was here. A kid named Edwin or something."

My heart stuttered, and then restarted at a faster pace.

"Edward dad; and what was he doing there?" I asked as I started stuffing the sketchpad I used into the cupboard and putting away the pencils and charcoal scattered on the worktop.

"Not sure; said he had something to give you. I invited him to stay but he said he was in a bit of a rush. He just left."

"Okay. I am on my way home now; just about to leave school. See you in a bit. And order a large pizza for me with spicy wings."

"Okay. No problem Bella."

Edward was at my house.

With my mind in a daze I did not notice that I was no longer by myself in the little art room. I had just finished putting away all my tools, and clean the worktop when I turned to leave, only to walk straight into a solid chest. I almost fell backwards into the stools when a hand caught me and help me upright.

"Oh!" I gasped in surprise.

"Sorry I frightened you Isabella", Mr. Jameson said as he moved his hands to my shoulders to steady me.

"That is fine. I should have been paying more attention to where I was going. I'm sorry sir." I said as I took a step back out of his hands reach.

"I told you to call me Kurt Isabella." He said as he moved to close the window on my right that was still open.

I didn't really feel like responding to his suggestion so I quickly replied "I'm running late to get home. My dad just called so I am in a bit of a hurry."

"Can't you spare five minutes to tell me about the assignment I left for you? Did you get a chance to start it?" he queried as he walked towards the table in the corner.

"Um… Yeah, I did." A quick explanation wouldn't hurt. I adjusted my leather knapsack on my back properly pushing my arms into both straps while pushing my cell in my pocket. I retrieved the sketchpad I was using earlier from the cupboard and opened it to the near finished drawing.

"Wow. That is something spectacular Bella." He whispered in awe as he moved in to get a closer look. I spun the pad around so it's facing him in the correct direction as I quickly pointed out what I did and why I did it.

He seemed honestly impressed. And while I would usually bask in any praise I got for my work I felt uneasy as if something was not right. As an excuse I once again pulled my phone from my pocket to check the time.

"Shit." I muttered, as I saw it was closer to six.

"Sir I really have to go. I am running really late, and I don't exactly want to piss my dad off." Totally excuses but I just felt the need to lie.

"Okay. I see I am holding up your time. We can discuss this another time. Let me walk you out to your car."

"That is not necessary sir." I mumbled.

"I insist. This half of campus is actually empty and the guys who stayed back for practice are probably all gone by now. Besides, I wanted to talk to you about something."

This revelation had me moving towards the door, not really caring if he followed or not. But he was faster than he looked because in no time he was walking beside me as I quickly made my way towards the parking lot.

"You know Bella", I hate that he calls me Bella. The dude is probably 36 years old which means him calling me Bella is totally weird. "You have a real special talent you know. Your painting could use some improvement but I would bet a million bucks that if you applied for a top art academy, you would be successful."

"Thanks sir." I said for him to hear. I wasn't really in the mood to discuss college and furthering my education.

We were standing under the eaves of building eight, the closet building to the student's parking lot where my red truck sat in wait for me. I pulled my jacket from my knapsack and begun to put it on when Mr. Jameson decided to help me into it.

It would have been just a gentlemanly thing done, if his touch hadn't lingered too long on my arm, or if his hand didn't brush my hair out of the way thus rubbing against my neck. It felt sexual. I quickly stepped away from him, and then hurriedly pulled the hood of my jacket over my hair, simultaneously stepping into the rain.

Maybe it was just my imagination, I wanted to think.

But Mr. Kurt Jameson wanted to make his intentions clear. He grabbed on to my elbow as I muttered a thank you and goodbye, preventing me from walking off. Then he proceeded to pull me back under the eave as if I wasn't just fleeing from an uncomfortable encounter.

"No need to rush away Bella." He whispered as he tried to pull me closer to him.

I held my ground as I ground out in forced polite tones that I was really late in getting home.

I checked the parking lot noticing that there were only three vehicles there. My truck, a black corolla which was Mr. Jameson's, and further down, a big grey wrangler which I had never seen before. The staff parking was on the other side closer to the main building.

If I were to shout for help no one would hear me. I felt incredulous that the one teacher at the school I thought was cool was now making a move on me. I felt disgusted.

"Let go of my arm sir." I forced through my teeth.

"Come now Bella. I know you like me. No need to deny it. I just wanted to tell you I felt the same way."

I wanted to throw up. The panic was settling in and I knew little self-defense in case he tried something else.

I jerked my hand as hard as I could from his grip.

"I don't know what you think you know sir, but I think you are mistaken. You must have me confused with someone else. I do not like you in anyway whatsoever," I was trying really hard to control my rising anger. "If I gave you the wrong impression at some point since I have met you, I apologize. It was not intentional. I hope this clears things up." I stepped back once more, testing my escape. He moved in closer to me.

"I don't think so Bella. You are so sneaky with your feelings but I know. I can tell right off the bat when a woman is into me, and you Bella dearest are into me."

I felt bile rise in my throat. This man was crazy. That's all I could think. My anger increased. I didn't want to misbehave like usual. I promised Charlie I would be a good girl.

I turned and ran towards my truck. I had to get away from him.

I heard him reach my truck as I fumbled with my keys from my jeans pocket. They fell in a puddle by my feet, and Kurt Jameson grabbed them up holding my keys hostage.

"You can't deny this Bella." He said forcefully, in my face as he jabbed his finger between our bodies.

"Fuck the hell off asswipe!" I roared, "I never once let on that I liked you in anyway. You fucking pervert, coming on to your student on campus while I am trying to avoid any awkwardness. You fucking pervert!" I was yelling.

I didn't even pay attention to his face, now contorted in anger as I yelled on in my full blown rage.

"You have no fucking decency. What kind of teacher makes a move on his student! I am going to report you to the principal and to my father you jerkwad!"

My face twisted to the side, the curses cut short by the blow to my face. The fucker slapped me.

As I focused my gaze to his face, I realized I had really pissed him off. I wanted to step back, or scream, or run, but I was rooted in place. Shock had all my senses flying through the window.

It was all in slow motion. I watched his lips move knowing he was saying something nasty, but the words just didn't register; I felt one hand grip my elbow so tight it felt ready to break under the pressure; and I watched his palm move toward my face once more, the force evident.

But it didn't reach my already sensitive skin. Mr. Jameson was pushed away from me with such force my body jerked as his grip on me broke. He was sent flying across the parking lot, and before he could collide with anything, Edward Cullen had him by the throat dangling in the air, as if he weighed nothing more than a pound.

In a split second I lost all focus and everything went black.