I am in such a good mood I'm posting this early.

I own nothing but envy for the Twilight universe.

Chapter 11

It took a few days before Edward's simple plan started to take effect. He altered some of Tyler's routines to acclimatize him to change. Tyler was accepting of the new routines and agreed to more changes. They first attempted switching cafeteria seats on Monday which gave Tyler a good view of Bella sitting on her own. He didn't mention it to Edward until the third day. Edward's advice was to ask either Bella or another student why she was by herself all the time. Tyler didn't want to approach Bella but considered asking his friends.

Tyler didn't realize that his friends would lie to him, telling him that Bella was unapproachable, that she was stuck-up, cold and thought herself better than everyone else. He thought long and hard about that during reading time. Bella had always been so nice to him. He didn't think she would act that way. Maybe his friends got it wrong. He decided to find out for himself. Perhaps she was one way with him and different with everyone else.

On that Thursday Tyler did something that surprised everyone. A few minutes into lunchtime he picked up his tray and walked over to Bella's table. When he asked her if he could sit with her, her answering smile was so large and bright the whole room just about glowed for him. Edward sat at the end of the table and pretended to play on his phone, leaving Bella and Tyler to their conversation.

They talked of inconsequential things, just chatting. Neither Tyler nor Edward noticed the harsh looks from Tyler's friends. Bella did but she didn't give a rat's ass what they thought. If they tried something with her, she let them have it with her dad in tow. Bella was well aware that she was all fart and no shit but her new attitude made her feel better. She wasn't confrontational but it felt nice to think about it.

When Tyler went to sit with Bella again on Friday, Mike Newton had had quite enough. He had tried to protect Tyler from Bella, knowing that she would cause him more trouble, but Tyler's brain must have been more affected than Mike initially thought because he was there with her again. Mike stood up, making sure that everyone around him knew where he was going and walked over to Bella's table. He put a hand on Tyler's shoulder to get his attention.

Edward noticed Mike walk across the room and waited. He knew Mike was going to make an ass of himself and do something really stupid. Edward really wanted to see that but was worried that Tyler would lose his temper really badly and he might be difficult to control.

"Tyler, man, you can't sit with her," Mike said like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "I let it go yesterday but no more."

" What are you talking about? I like Bella and I want to talk to her." Tyler shrugged off Mike hand and turned back to Bella. She had a deer in the headlights kind of look on her face.

"Dude, no one likes her and we don't talk to her. Nobody at this school talks to her, that's the rule." Mike rolled his eyes and look at Tyler like he was stupid.

"What are you talking about, Mike, what rule? Who made that up?" Tyler was starting to get angry, but remembered the coping techniques he learned in rehab.

"Shit, look it's her fault, she did this to you. She broke you and turned you into this, this, you know." Edward pushed back his chair but didn't get up. He was waiting to see if Tyler needed his help.

Bella had her head in her hands, elbows on the table, so that no one could see her face.

"Broken? I'm not broken you idiot. There's nothing wrong with me and if there was it would be my fault. The accident was my fault, you asshole. I caused it and I hurt Bella. She stopped me from getting arrested. She's been nothing but nice to me ever since I got back to school. Who the hell are you to blame her? Do you make up that rule? Did you do that to her?" Tyler was losing his cool but still together enough not to need any help. He stood up and looked around the cafeteria at all the other students.

"All of you went along with this? What the hell is wrong with all of you? Are you sheep, just follow blindly with the cool crowd? Jesus, I have a head injury but all of you are the damaged ones. How could you do that to her, to Bella? Damn it, Mike, you are a fucking idiot." Tyler turned back to look at Mike. Mike wasn't even smart enough to look ashamed.

Tyler looked hard at Mike and then came to a realization.

"You never got up the guts to ask her out, did you? It was all you could talk about last year. How much you wanted to go out with Bella, how pretty you thought she was. You're too chicken-shit, aren't you? It's easier to hate her than to ask to date her. I can't believe you used me like that. My injury was just an excuse, wasn't it?"

Mike stared at Tyler, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. He blinked a few times and ran out of the cafeteria.

There was complete silence from the entire student body. A few of the girls had tears in their eyes. A couple of guys started to laugh, watching the double doors of the cafeteria swing.

Tyler whirled around and glared at the laughing guys.

"Shut up! None of you are any better. At least Mike had a dumbassed reason, what do you have? You all just went along with what he said. Can't any of you think for yourselves? Come on, Bella, let's get out of here." Bella looked up at Tyler and nodded. She gathered up her stuff and they left the cafeteria together with Edward trailing behind.

AN: Excrement, I'd like to introduce you to my friend Oscillating Fan.

In what is now becoming a tradition, I woke up to phenomenal news again today. My giddy, cheery, ebullient smile is due to TwiFanfictionRecs. I am floored and honoured. Thank you. My Sally Field month turned into a Marissa Tomei moment and I'm going to hold onto my trophy with both hands. I dare Kanye West to mess with me today.