And here's Ch. 5

I love you so review

I don't own twilight

Chapter 5

The Battle Begins

I woke that morning, after a dreamless sleep, to find myself shaking with excitement. I stretched my arms and sat up in bed. I stayed like that for a moment, just thinking about what was going to happen during the day. I had made up my mind to torture him by giving just enough to make him think I was interested, then deny him when he acted on his suspicions.

Yes, today I was going to begin the battle, the battle that would put Marks in his place. He was going to learn the hard way that I was to be left alone; a silent beauty too far above him to allow him to steal her heart.

I grinned in anticipation. I really am not a mean person, I just have to get my way.

Besides, according to the conversation with my parents last night, I was to be married soon. And it would not be to Lee Marks, it would be to some high and mighty son of some high and mighty rich man.

Not that I was anticipating my impending marriage, it was just inevitable, and it gave me a sense of being more important to society than to myself. A feeling that made me feel…powerful.

I crawled out of bed. However, as soon as I stood up, it seemed as though the world was spinning and that the floor was no longer below me and the ceiling no longer above me. I fell back onto the bed in shock. This had never happened before, I had no idea what it meant. My mother often complained of "headaches" at parties but this couldn't be anything like that.

I decided it was probably nothing and stood up again, this time slowly and cautiously. I definitely didn't want to repeat what had happened a minute before. Definitely not. My caution paid off and I was able to walk around the room without having the previous symptoms.

I strolled to my closet, already putting an outfit together before I had opened the door. I reached in and pulled out my red dress with the white polka-dots. It was rather low-cut and decided to add a white lacy brazier underneath it. I slowly slipped on my nude stockings and red shoes high heels on, still thinking about the day before me.

Before I stood up to leave my room, I realized that I was looking forward to seeing him almost as much as destroying him.

Forget about it, I thought, He isn't worth the space in your thoughts. He couldn't be.

I smiled mischievously and skipped out of my room and down the gala steps. Bea saw me and raised her eyebrows.

"Someone's in a better mood," she noted. "What's put ya in such a fine disposition this morn?"

I smiled sweetly at her and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. She just smiled in return and led me to the dining room.

Set on the table was a warm plate of eggs, sausages, and toast with jam. Lovely.

I sat and voraciously broke my fast. I would have to calm down, I was much too excited for my own good.

Within ten minutes my I was in the car on my way to school with Ty. He noticed my bright eyes as well.

"My, my Miss Rosalie, you're lookin' mighty sunny. Feelin' bettern yesterday?"

I glanced slyly at him.

"Well, I don't know. What could have possibly given you that impression?"

We laughed. I don't know why I was so happy, no, happy wasn't the right word, giddy. Perhaps it was just the energy shooting through my veins as I thought of competition. This must be how a thoroughbred feels before a race.

Before long we pulled into the school.

He stopped the car, hopped out, and crossed around the front end. His abnormally long legs quickly brought him to my door, which he opened slowly, and offered me his hand. I grasped it lightly and allowed myself to be pulled out of the car.

Once again, I must have changed positions too quickly for my head started to throb. Not so badly as it had been when I crawled out of bed, but enough to make me loose my balance and fall into Ty's arms.

"Miss Watson! Are you alright?"

I was stunned for a few moments, unable to respond. Ty leaned closer and peered worriedly at me. My head resettled and I was able to concentrate again.

"Yes Ty, I'm fine. Just stood up too quickly I guess." I smiled, attempting to ease the tension, but the grin felt false on my lips.

"But…"

"Ty!" I interrupted. "I'm fine." For some reason, I didn't want him to think about my momentary lack of…I don't know what.

I smiled again, warning him with my eyes. I pushed away from him and straightened myself out. He still looked worried, but he nodded and handed me by bag. I took it from him, thanking him silently, for both favors, and turned toward the school.

I stood there, thinking about my fumbles this morning. Fumbling is not something I usually do; I am known for my grace, poise, and flowing gait. I do not recall ever having fallen before. Perhaps it was from the excitement.

Excitement.

I had forgotten! I smiled earnestly. At least I had my impeding confrontation with Lee to brighten my day.

The thrill began to creep down through my veins until I was positively shaking. Taking a deep breath, I resettled my bag on my shoulders and headed into the school.

I walked under the brick arches that rose over the main entrance and found everyone in their usual haunt: sitting on the benches in front of the school's library. Our library wasn't much of a library for it was only two years old and only had about one hundred books, but it was still where everyone went to "study" before school.

Viviane saw me coming and reacted accordingly. She bolted up, threw her hand in the air and waved madly at me, as if she though I wouldn't see her. What an idiot.

"Rosalie, oh Rosalie! You will never guess what Lee has been telling us."

I grinned internally. So Lee was here already. Perfect.

"No, Viviane, I couldn't imagine."

"Well, he was telling us about where he lived previously. He says he lived in Annie Apoliss, Maryland!"

"Annapolis," Lee corrected. He was sitting, surrounded by about twenty people who seemed to be hanging on his every word.

"So as I was saying, he says he had sooooooo many friends there that he didn't know what to do with them. And, apparently, Annie Apoliss is a town by the ocean, so he had a boat that he sailed on all the time!"

"Really, if that is so, then why would Lee have to move here?" I asked innocently, knowing full well that I was being standoffish.

"Well," Lee started. "My dad got transferred here because the company is starting a new factory a few miles south of the city." He didn't seem fazed at all by my less then receptive attitude.

"Aw, well isn't that quaint! Does your daddy have to move around often for work?" I was going to put Lee in his place if it was the last thing I did.

"Not really, no. Just every once in a while when the company grows bigger and needs more factories." Again, he didn't seem to notice. Either that, or he just pretended not too. "Haven't you ever moved to a different town?"

Everyone laughed, they knew how absurd his question was.

"No, Lee. My daddy never has to move around, he owns his own company. He has contracted other people do his business for him." I smiled scornfully at him.

"Well my dad…" He was cut off by the bell. I had won this round, but it didn't show on his face. He seemed just slightly disappointed that our conversation had not continued. Odd.

I would have to watch out for him. He was a tricky monster.

Not wanting to look awkward, I bent over, lightly plucked my bag up from the bench and strutted towards my first class of the day, history. I was trying so hard to look completely uninterested in the boy still gathering his belongings behind me, that I managed to trip over my slippered feet.

What is going on with me today? I felt incredibly thrown off by my lack of balance, but I managed to keep going without drawing an immense amount of attention to myself. I had been trained to know what to do if I mess up in public: pretend it didn't happen.

I drew my bag close to me, feeling suddenly vulnerable. Suddenly my entire life seems to be thrown off balance. I hugged my bag, trying to draw some strength from it, just enough to keep me heading towards history class.

I finally reached the door to the classroom and I noticed for the first time the respect I have gathered at school. Some girls who were just ahead of me noticed I was standing behind them and looked at each other. Then the one on the left, a mousy brunette whose name might have been Alexandria, opened the door and held it open for me.

I stopped for a moment and looked at her. Does this happen everyday? The possible Alexandria started shifting her feet, every bit of her body language showing that she was starting to feel awkward.

I drew myself out of my reverie and thanked her.

It was her turn to stare in shock. Apparently I take for granted the reverence of my fellow students. In a full switch of positions, I began to feel awkward. However, instead of showing my feelings, I walked past the brunette and headed toward my seat. Secretly looking back over my shoulder, I saw the girl sitting down, still staring at me. I smiled silently to myself; I had probably just earned her loyalty forever just because I acknowledged her.

I was blown away again at my power.

I began contemplating myself again when Miss Becker walked in the door. I always felt sorry for my female teachers. They would only be able to teach until they got married, then they wouldn't be allowed because once they enter into that sacred bond, the school administrators felt they would get pregnant, therefore asking for a leave with pay. I'm just guessing when I say this, but I think the school board has better things to do then take care of their teachers while on leave.

Miss Becker probably had at the most two years left teaching before some sop snapped her up. If she managed to remain single that long. After spending so much extra time at school to learn to be a teacher, they should be allowed to teach for more then the time they remain single.

As usual when I thought about this injustice, I began to feel an intense feeling of anger build up inside me. After I am married, I will appeal to the state government to try to win more rights for our women teachers.

"Hello class…" Miss Becker started her lecture for the day, no doubt more nonsense about the Italians becoming evil after the fall of Rome. The textbooks still held their vendettas against our enemies from the World War. Really, history books should have more information about the reasons behind the rising tensions between us and Germany.

I understand the need for the current generation to learn about the history of the world, but I think that we should learn the facts instead of the opinions of the government.

From the way Miss Becker gives her lectures, she doesn't believe in the textbook either; but, she needs her job so she has to teach from the school standards. Again, I can't help but pity her.

I continued to think about the injustice that is my teacher's life all throughout first and second class, which is mathematics, something I will never really have to know. Finally the bell signaled the end of second period. I started to stand up when I felt a presence behind me. I closed my eyes, praying for patience, as the voice spoke.

"Rosalie?"

I turned and saw my usual "after second class stalker", Maxwell Callas. He had a truly unfortunate case of acne and wore huge spectacles that seemed to make his eyes become magnified behind them to thrice their size. I truly don't understand his pathetic fascination with following me, but I try to put up with him, after all, his father owns an enormous shipping company. Who knows, this pathetic excuse for a human could end up being my father's idea of a perfect husband. Hang me.

Once he saw my attention had been grasped by his squeaky peal of my name, he started to get excited. Not a pretty picture. He started perspiring all over and got red splotches on his face and neck.

I tried to hide my disgusted reaction, needless to say, not completely succeeding.

I picked up my bag and started off towards Choir that every student had third period with Maxwell scampering along behind.

"Yes, what is it Maxwell?" Manners were such a trial sometimes.

"Well, that bag looks a little heavy for you and I was just wondering if you might like me to carry it for you?" he sputtered out. By this time we had reached the main wing that connected almost every building.

I drew a deep breath and prepared to turn him down but stopped when I heard a voice other than my own answer his question.

"No, that's alright Max, I've got it from here."

I stiffened as I felt a pair of hand lightly but forcefully remove my bag from my right shoulder. I started to feel an overwhelming rush of gratitude towards my savior until I realized whose voice had spoken.

I whirled around and found myself staring into a very large, and, though I hate to admit it, very appealing chest. I lifted my head up and found myself looking into the beautiful green eyes that had so distracted me during English the previous day.

"Well, alright I guess," I distantly heard Max whine as his hopes were destroyed for the day.

As soon as I was sure Maxwell had left the immediate vicinity, I narrowed my eyes and pursed my lips.

"Who do you think you are? What makes you think you can just march up and take my bag without asking?" I vented, without even thinking to at least keep up the pretenses of being civil.

"Well, I thought the appropriate reaction would have been a 'Thank you' at least," Lee stated with a small smile playing along the edge of his mouth.

He turned and started towards the stage used during choir class as it was the only room large enough to hold the entire school. I stood there for a second shaking my head at him with furious eyes, when I realized he was still carrying my bag.

I hurried after him, my shoes making a slight "click clack" on the cement outside the theatre. I managed to catch up to him fairly quickly. The fact that Lee had made me run to keep up with him infuriated me. I felt like some stupid dog running after its owner.

He saw me walking slowly next to him and turned his head toward me, laughing when he saw my animated expression. However, he was smart enough not to say anything until he left my bag in the pile by the door. He saw I was going to continue to the risers without him so he crossed in front of my path and stopped there, barring my way.

"Again, I believe the proper response would be 'Thank you' but by the look of your flushed complexion, it wont be forthcoming," he stated, smirking the entire time.

I opened my mouth, closed it, then spoke quietly, but with enough force in it to quell even my father, "Stop. You know what you just did was completely degrading to me. However, I would be willing to forgive you with an apology," I finished staring him down. However, the reaction I had hoped for did not appear.

Instead, he burst out laughing. After about a full minute of what looked like side splitting glee, he managed to draw a breath and respond.

"I was not aware that my actions were degrading. In point of fact, I believed I was saving you from an unpleasant experience." At this time he stopped to wipe the tears from his eyes. "I apologize for offering the great Rosalie help, but I must say in my defense, that it was the first time my offer has not been warmly accepted." He was choking on his laughter again.

I am sure I looked like a demon on fire, so great was my wrath. I completely broke down and did something I had long ago promised never to do: I slapped him. Forcefully. Right across the cheek.

There was a hushed intake of breath from everyone present in the room, which, needless to say, was nearly the entire school. They were in shock, I didn't need to look at their faces to know it. This was not usual Rosalie Hale behavior.

I felt my eyes widen in amazement at my physical outburst as I raised my hand to my eyes so I could see if the limp object that still felt tingly was really attached to my arm. In disbelief, I once again lowered my hand and looked back up at Lee. To my astonishment, he was still smiling, though now it looked more like a smirk than amusement.

I was so confused by his reaction, that I walked away and headed towards the risers without apologizing. I realized this after several steps and I turned around to…but he was gone: only the door slowly closing in his wake.

I rushed out of the theatre and after him in the hall. Again, it hit me subconsciously that my shoes were making a excess of noise again. I caught up to him and tapped him on the shoulder.

He stopped and slowly turned towards me, still smiling that all-knowing smile.

"Yes?"

"Lee, I am so incredibly…"

"No you aren't," he interrupted. "But it's alright, you can apologize profusely to me later."

After finishing this statement, he turned back in the direction he had been traveling previously and left me standing alone, perplexed as to his strange being.