Edward's POV

June 24, 1914

As much as I was still in shock about turning thirteen just three days ago I was even more amazed that Hazel was now eight.

Eight years old! My little sister was eight! It was a strange feeling as I watched my older sister growing up. Now that I think about it though Hazel kind of looked like me a little bit…we had similar facial expressions and a similar sense of humor.

I was glad that we didn't have school today not only did I get to spend the whole day with my sister but Hazel wouldn't have to endure the torture of her teacher.

Hazel's kindergarten, first, second, and now third grade teacher was insane. She suggested to my mother that Hazel be put down or sent to a mental facility and she beat her almost every day.

Mama and I tried to convince Hazel to see if she was smart enough to be in Mrs. Newberry's class. Mrs. Newberry was young and sweet and A LOT better than Mrs. Baudelaire but Hazel said she would toughen out.

I walked next door to my sister's room and saw her reading one of the Wizard of Oz books. Hazel had taken to reading lately as part of her new phase. It seemed like she was constantly going in and out of phases.

I walked into her room and sat down on her bed.

"Edward!" she said excitedly.

"Good morning Hazel" I said.

"I'm eight years old today" she said.

"I know. How many fingers is that?" I asked her wondering if she would remember the "game" we used to play for ages when she was around two years old.

She held up eight fingers and laughed "I'm not a dimwit Eddie!"

"I know I was wondering if you remembered what we used to do when you were little." I said.

"No…what?" Hazel asked.

"When I explained to you what a birthday was. You were about two and you used to hold up your fingers and demonstrate how many years it was it was kind of cute." I said and Hazel looked at the floor embarrassed.

I ruffled her hair and she laughed "guess what?"

"What…now instead of two years left of Mrs. Baudelaire you have one?" I asked.

Hazel looked surprised "how did you know?" she asked.

"I'm not a dimwit Hayz" I said doing an imitation of her and she whacked me. "Um…ouch" I said and she laughed.

"Mama said that Marilynn and I could go to town today." Hazel said.

"Really?" I asked.

"Yeah" she said.

"Do you remember what happened when we went to town when I was eight and you were two?" I asked.

"Yeah didn't I almost get hit by the Mandau's carriage and you knocked me out of the way." Hazel said.

"That's right" I told her and she shook her head.

"Thank you" she said.

"What? For doing that I couldn't have lived without you Hayz" I said kissing her hair and she smiled.

"Would you like to eat breakfast?" I asked her and she looked at me.

"Yeah…traditional strawberry and whipped cream"

"Alright let's go" I said picking her up and she squealed with laughed.

"Put me down Edward!"

"Never" I said and mama came into the kitchen after hearing the commotion.

"What is going on Edward, are you bothering your sister again?"

"No" I said looking at Hazel who smirked.

"Just making sure…Happy Birthday Hazel" Mama said turning to her.

"Thank you mama" Hazel said and I smiled at her.

"Where's Papa?" I asked although I knew the answer.

"He's working…at court right now." Mama said and I saw Hazel sigh.

"Why does he never even pay attention to us?" she asked.

"I don't know…I really don't know" Mama said and she sat down before sighing for a second.

"When can I go and play with Marilynn?" Hazel asked trying to change the subject.

"Whenever she's ready" Mama said.

"Can I use the payphone after breakfast?" Hazel asked.

Mama thought for a little while "sure but it's a far walk so I want Edward to go with you."

"OK" Hazel said smiling at me and I looked at her as if we were sharing some sort of secret.

"This time Edward, I want you to stay with your sister at all times" Mama said emphasizing the fact of what happened the last time she let us go into town by ourselves.

"We'll be fine mama right Hayz?" I said and Hazel nodded but Mama just sighed.

After breakfast Hazel got ready and I took her hand before walking into town.

Hazel's POV

Edward took my hand and we walked into town. I could slightly remember the time that he knocked me out of the way of the carriage but it was still distant.

I walked up to the telephone booth and Edward gave me a quarter and I dialed Marilynn's telephone number.

I heard the ringing several times before her mother picked up their house phone.

"Hello Haywire residence Ethel Haywire speaking" Mrs. Haywire said.

"Hello Mrs. Haywire this is Hazel Masen, Marilynn's friend?" I said.

"Oh yes Hello Hazel Marilynn was just about to phone you." She chuckled.

"Is that so?" I asked.

"Yes, are you calling from town?" she asked.

"Yes ma'am" I said.

"OK, I will walk Marilynn over right now OK?"

"OK" I said hanging up and looked at Edward "she's coming." I said and he just smiled his crooked smile.

About a half an hour later Marilynn and her mother met us at town and Marilynn's mother gave her five dollars.

Of course Marilynn wanted to look at the doll shop and I reluctantly agreed while Edward just laughed as I pretended to be interested.

Later that night as Marilynn and I were having a sleepover she spoke about how frustrating her three year old brother was and how her sister was a brat because her mother made her share dolls with her.

I told her that she was the oldest so she would have to get used to sharing with her siblings but she just scowled.

"So do you have a thing for anyone in our grade?" Marilynn asked me.

"What do you mean a thing like, like them?" I asked.

"Yes!" Marilynn said and I shook my head.

Although I did kind of have a thing for Chip I didn't want anyone knowing…not yet. I think at this point it was better to just keep my feelings to myself.

"What about you?" I asked Marilynn.

"Well not anyone in our grade…" She said and I got the point.

"You still like him? You've liked him for three years!" I said and she covered my mouth.

"Shush!" she said before we both started laughing.

Right before we fell asleep Edward came into my room to say goodnight and Happy Birthday to me.

Edward's POV

July 28, 1914

After coming back from work, eating supper and playing with Hazel for a little while I sat down to listen to the radio with Papa.

This became a new habit for us since it was the only thing we could ever do together. Occasionally Hazel joined us and she did today.

I pulled my little sister into my lap and held her close since she was small for her age it was easier to hold her. Hazel was busy fidgeting with her lose teeth. She has two of them and if she loses them they will be her ninth and tenth tooth.

"And now we have very interesting developments. After back and forth conflict ever since the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Austria has officially declared war on Serbia…" the newsman said and continued to talk. I could tell mama and papa were worried. I didn't know why though.

Over the next several days things were starting to really settle in.

August 1, 1914

Our family had now become accustomed to the routine of sitting to listen to the nightly news radio reports for the past four days and there's been nothing however today we heard that Germany declared war on Russia.

August 4, 1914

Three days went by with nothing but today we got one of the worst news. Most of our family is still in England and today England declared war on Germany.

Hazel's POV

I didn't understand why my family was so…worried all of the time. Edward kept telling me that I wouldn't understand it because I was only eight but there was something else I felt that someone wasn't telling me.

September 9, 1914

Today was the first day of third grade…and Mrs. Baudelaire. Today she gave us the basic lessons about the war going on in Europe.

"But class, this war was actually started because of the existence of someone in this very room." Mrs. Baudelaire started saying.

"Oh no…oh Gd no" I thought.

"This war was actually started because of your good classmate tree…Tree, why don't you stand up."

I remained seated in my seat…I didn't want to stand up. I didn't start the war…or did I? Maybe it was because I was a horrible human being who didn't deserve the right to exist.

"STAND UP TREE!" Mrs. Baudelaire shouted and ran over to my desk before yanking me up by the hair and dragging me to the front of the room. "GO STAND IN THE CORNER…NOW!" she barked at me and I did.

I heard rustling in the closet and saw her take out her leather belt. I groaned.

"STAY WHERE YOU ARE!" she barked again when she saw me turning around.

She whipped me with the belt about 30 times and I had to grit my teeth and think of something else or I would've blacked out from pain.

Later that day in the cafeteria Marilynn didn't sit with me…she sat with the popular girls who had asked her. I was sad yet mad at the same time and was relieved when I saw the eighth graders coming (Edward was in eighth grade). William and Edward came over to sit with me since I was sitting alone.

"What's wrong Hayz?" Edward asked.

"Am I a horrible, terrible human being?" I asked with my head down.

Edward and William looked at each other "No" they said together.

"Did I cause the war?" I asked and I knew I sounded like a dimwit but I really didn't care.

"No Hazel no" Edward said taking me in his lap "did that…oh my Gd did she say something to you?"

I could only pathetically nod.

"Edward this has gone on too far." William said.

"I agree" Edward said and I groaned.

"It's not that big of a deal." I said but of course that was the minute Edward saw the bruises I had on my arms and legs from her whipping me.

"Did she do this?" he asked and I nodded again with my head down.

"Come on Hazel…we're going to transfer you to fourth grade." Edward said.

"I think that being in this class is making me stronger though…it's like testing." I said.

"HAZEL! THIS SHOULDN'T BE A WAY FOR YOU TO SUFFER AND TRY AND MAKE IT EASIER FOR EVERYONE ELSE BY STAYING…THINK ABOUT YOURSELF FOR ONCE!" Edward shouted he had gotten angry.

"I'm sorry" I said quietly.

"No it's not your fault I'm sorry I yelled at you." Edward said and we all stared at the floor.

"Teachers should not be allowed to treat students this way." William said.

"I'll say" Edward said and I smiled at the floor. "Oh Hazel, it's going to be OK if I have to I'll stay in the classroom with you."

"Stop worrying about me…I'm…" but Edward cut me off.

"Don't say you're fine because you're not. I see it when you come home from school every single day. I see it when you come to school I see it when it's Monday morning. Three years this has gone on and you know what I say…it's enough it really is."

"Eddie" I said.

"Hayz" Edward said and that was when the lunch bell rang.

Edward's POV

It was now starting to go over the top…what right did Mrs. Baudelaire have to whip my little sister, blame her for the war in Europe, and now her best friend wouldn't even talk to her.

I was going to have a little talk with Mrs. Baudelaire and she was in for a nasty surprise.

3:25pm

The bell rang and I felt the adrenaline pumping through my veins there was nothing that could stop me now…I was in attack mode. I saw the classroom that Hazel was in and waited for everyone to leave. When my sister came out I still waited.

"Come on Edward we have to get home." She said tugging on my sleeve.

"One minute" I said and had my eyes focused on my kill. When I was sure all of the students were out of the room I walked in casually and looked back at Hazel who looked scared.

"It's OK" I mouthed and she relaxed a little but still looked scared.

"Mrs. Baudelaire?" I asked politely.

"Hello…you were my student a few years back weren't you?" Mrs. Baudelaire replied.

"Yes my name is Edward Masen" I said and her smile faded.

"You're tree's brother!" she shrieked.

"Her name is Hazel H-A-Z-E-L not tree" I said through gritted teeth and still tried to sound polite.

"Get out of my presence" she said waving her hand dismissively.

"Don't talk to me that way." I said stepping forward.

"Excuse me?" she asked.

"You heard me" I said knowing I was being disrespectful.

"You little…bastard" she said.

"Listen! I don't know who you think you are and why you've taken a dislike to my sister but STOP! She's an innocent eight year old girl whom you've been bullying since the first day of kindergarten! Enough is enough and now you've crossed the line" I said and Mrs. Baudelaire laughed.

"You think you're so tough don't you well guess what…I can do whatever I want I'm an adult…you're a helpless, pathetic child who takes care of nothing is responsible for no one. So I advise you to stop trying to be a hero and let me run my class!" she snapped at me and I was horrified.

"You will leave my sister alone whether you like it or not!" I shouted at her.

"WHO SAYS…MAKE ME!" Mrs. Baudelaire shouted.

I needed a way to overpower her…threaten her I suddenly realized something I could've done a long time ago.

"My father is Edward Anthony Masen…the lawyer. The one who got that teacher sent away for extensive physical punishment. It would be a shame if I had to file a suit against you and have my father be my lawyer wouldn't it?" I asked I knew it sounded mean but she needed to be stopped.

Mrs. Baudelaire's face went cold "No…you…you wouldn't do that would you?" she asked.

"If you promise to stop bullying my sister then I won't do it." I said simply.

"Done…I can't afford to lose this job or else I'll have to move somewhere else and that may mean closer to my husband." Mrs. Baudelaire said.

"What?" I said.

"I was plotting to kill my husband a few years ago and I fled the city after he filed a restraining order against me." Mrs. Baudelaire said.

"And you're allowed to be a teacher?" I asked.

"NO QUESTIONS!" she barked. "I said I would leave your precious sister alone" she said smugly.

"Alright…fine" I said and walked out of the classroom and taking Hazel's hand.

"What was that all about?" she asked.

"Mrs. Baudelaire is never going to hurt you again" I said.

"Really?" Hazel asked.

"Really" I said and I picked her up and held her close. This was what I was talking about by the promise I made her just eight short years ago.

PLEASE REVIEW! ALSO BE SURE TO CHECK OUT MY OTHER STORY DUSK (Twilight from Hazel's POV)!