Chapter 21 - Out Sight, not Insight

BELLA

Edward was taking this remorse thing a little far. He looked absolutely pained every time he looked at me, and I noticed his focus was always on my bad eye. He took off to his class, and I made my way to mine. I wasn't surprised to find that Tyler, Eric, Ben, and Lauren were all suspended for the rest of the year. Of course, that was only two weeks, but hey, I was not complaining. I got to finish off the school year jerk-free and in peace.

By lunchtime, I was getting tired of him moping. I think Alice was, too, as she sat with him, and they seemed to be in a heated discussion. I had my tray and sat in my quiet corner alone. Of course, that didn't last long. Emmett came striding in looking around for a place to sit. He looked at the bickering siblings and then glanced my way and shot me a wide grin. He strode over toward me, like it was something he did every day. "Hey, Ducky, mind if I join you?"

"As long as you drop the duck references, sure, knock yourself out."

He started snickering. "Right, I heard about that, but sorry, babe, I'm not into hitting girls. The midget seemed to do a good job on covering it up, though."

"Gee thanks," I grumbled.

"Oh, come on, girl, you can't be pissed about it."

"Can we just not talk about it? I'm not mad about it; I'd just rather not be reminded as to why Edward is moping around like someone kicked his puppy."

"Ah, babe, you're his puppy, how sweet."

"Okay, if you don't change the subject, I'll get up and leave you here alone, looking like an idiot who got snubbed by a geek."

He pouted and let out a huff. "So, from what I gather, Tyler is going to be sent to military school. He had some weed on him, and with his 'hallucinations' so bad, his parents were sure he had a drug problem."

"We should probably give Jasper and Demetri the heads up on that."

"Nah, they had no clue Jasper and D were involved. They think it was all Edward and me. They just can't figure out how we could be everywhere, since we both had alibis and all. Those guys are smooth. I was worried we'd get caught, and I'd get hung out to dry, because I wasn't in the love buddy group, but they were really cool and kept me safe."

"Yeah, Edward is all about protection."

Emmett burst out laughing. "What, the boy double up on you or something?"

I rolled my eyes. "NO, you idiot, we're just friends."

"Right, you're his friend, and he's just in a relationship with your boobs."

"Okay, what's with you guys and my boobs?"

"Guys like boobs, and you have a nice pair. Really nice. They were all shiny and everything on display at the dance. You really polished them up for Eddie didn't you?" he said with a wink.

"No, I didn't, Alice went a little crazy with the glitter powder. I had nothing to do with them."

"Right, so who picked your bangin' dress that pushed those babies right into his face?"

"My dad," I said flatly, and Emmett spit his soda and burst out laughing again.

"Way to pimp the daughter, Chief," he said as if toasting his soda can.

I just shook my head at him.

"I swear, Edward, so help me, if you do, I'll come after your stupid ass and drag you home!" Alice shouted from across the cafeteria. I glanced up to see her storm out. I guess their intense discussion had escalated.

"So, you going to go after her?" Emmett asked.

I looked at him confused. "Why?"

He let out a huff. "Dude, you're her friend, and that's what girls do, go after each other when crying. They go to the bathroom together in groups. Paint toenails and compliment shoes and do their hair while complaining about menstrual cycles and boys."

My mouth dropped open.

"What? I have sisters," he said with a shrug. "So, you going after her? Cause if you are, I'm going to go sit with Mr. Moody Pants," he said nodding toward Edward.

"Yeah, sure, um, I guess," I said standing. "Um, Emmett, can you please never say the word menstrual cycle to me again?"

He rolled his eyes this time. "It's just part of life, Bella. I don't see why you're so touchy. It isn't like everyone doesn't have to deal with it," he said with a huff and left the table.

Emmett was definitely an odd character.

EDWARD

I had hit a girl, but not just any girl. I'd hit Bella. I had been doing my best to protector her, and I should have been protecting her from me. I had rung her bell so hard I was sure she had seen stars and birds flying around her head. I could have blamed it on Jasper for provoking me, but the truth was I needed to get a handle on my anger issues. It was easier to just snap and beat the crap out of someone until I felt better, but that wasn't the right way to deal with things. I never really saw it as a bad thing, because most fuckers deserved a good beating, but now, as I looked at Bella's bruised face, I saw the error of my ways. I needed to get control over myself. I needed discipline.

Alice came to my room early on Monday. "We're picking up Bella, so I can do her makeup."

"But she doesn't wear makeup, Alice."

"I'm going to cover up her bruises, dipwad," she said with an eye roll.

Truth was I kind of didn't want to see Bella Swan right now, because the evidence that I had hit her would be blaring on her face.

I stayed in the car, not ready to face the chief again. I also wasn't looking forward to seeing the damage I had caused.

I kept my head down, and I almost missed the chance to grab the door for Alice and Bella when they came out, because I was so busy hiding. I really didn't need to add any more to the "Edward was an asshole" shit pile.

I fudged my way through classes, and Alice was looking like a mad woman, when she came storming in at lunch. "What the hell is with your broodiness? It was an accident, Edward. Bella knows this; you need to get over yourself."

"Accident or not, Alice, I still shouldn't have snapped. If I would've had my damn temper under control, I would've never gone to hit Jasper."

"Jasper was being an ass. He deserved to be hit."

I just shook my head. "I'm out of control, Alice. I think maybe Carlisle was right in sending me away."

"You know that's bullshit. He was way too quick in sending you away for having done so little to deserve it. He was downright smug and giddy about getting to do that to you, but we both know who he was really thumbing his nose at. He and dad never got along, you're dad's spitting image, and you even have his name, Edward. Don't you think he might be taking out his issues with dad on you?"

It was true. Carlisle and my dad had always fought like mad. Carlisle was the rich accomplished brother, but Nana and Gramps would spend every holiday with us, because they wanted to be with the grandkids. They would fawn over us and tell my dad they were so proud of him, even if my family wasn't rich. I guess they never did that for Carlisle. He ended up being pretty bitter about it. I had no idea why the hell my mom and dad had given guardianship of us to my asshole uncle, or that was until I got to know Esme better. It wasn't that she didn't want to have kids, she did, she just couldn't. She seemed so happy that we were coming to stay with them. I remembered her and my mother laughing over cups of tea, as Alice and I did our best to vie for her attention when we were little. She had always been nice to us, even if Uncle Carlisle was a jealous douche.

"Issues or not, Alice, I still need straightening out. I think I'm going to talk to him after school about going back to military school with Jasper."

Alice lost it and started screaming at me before she stormed out. I knew she would be upset, but I knew it was for the best.

I heard the chair across from me getting pulled out. I looked up to see Emmet sitting there with a smile. I looked over at the door that Alice had just run through and saw Bella going out of it as well.

"She's going after her. That's what girls do," he said as if he was all-knowing.

Yeah, whatever.

"So," he said leaning forward, "How are you, Edward?" he asked seriously and crossed his hands like my damn psychologist.

"What do you want, Emmett?"

He smiled widely. "I'm glad you asked. I'd like a scholarship to UW to play football, bodyguards to keep the slim away from my little sisters while I'm gone, a never-ending supply of beef jerky, and a date with Rosalie. What do you want?"

I just looked down at my tray and shook my head.

"Hmm, let me guess. Ms. Isabella Swan."

I looked up at him confused. "Why would you say that? We're just friends. Or we were until I punched her."

"Ah, and you still are, she knows it was an accident. She's cool like that you know, and she has a bangin' body. So, you want her, right?" he asked.

I shook my head no. "We're just friends."

He chuckled. "That's what she said." Then he started laughing harder. "Dude, I used the phrase 'that's what she said' and it wasn't dirty! Who would've thought you could use those words in actual conversation?"

"Emmett, what do you want?"

"I already told you what I want, but if you're asking why I'm here, I'd say to cheer up my friend. Dude's an emo freak," he said and punched my shoulder. "Stop overthinking shit, Edwardo, you'll just bring yourself down. You're a good guy; there's no reason to be upset."

I wished he was right, but I knew he was wrong. I would talk to Esme first this evening, so she could approach Carlisle for me about going back to military school. I didn't know how she would take it, but I hoped she wouldn't freak out like Alice.

Biology was torture. I sat next to Bella, and even though her face was covered in makeup, I could still she the subtle change from where I had hit her. I tried to focus on my paper and was surprised when I was suddenly shoved off my stool. I looked up at her in shock, and she smirked at me. "What's your deal, Cullen; you don't know how to sit?"

"Sit? You…" I pointed, and she smiled widely.

"I don't know what you're talking about," she said innocently. "Hey, while you're down there, do you mind picking up my pencil?"

"You shoved me off my seat, so I'd pick up your pencil?" I asked frowning.

She giggled. "You know, Cullen, you don't hear well, I told you I didn't know why you fell off your seat. Now, are you going to give me the pencil on the floor next to you, or are you going to make me climb under the table as well?"

Was she flirting with me? Did I want her to flirt with me? Why did her crawling under the table with me sound really good right now?

She snapped her fingers, bringing me out of my thoughts. "Pencil?" she said again.

"Yeah, sure." I grabbed it and set it in her hand.

She smiled at me. "Thanks, should I ask Dr. Banner about getting seatbelts for the seats?"

I shook my head at her and couldn't help but smile. Why was her picking on me making me smile? Was I a masochist? I didn't know, but for some reason, the fact that Bella Swan took the time to shove me off my stool made me smile.