A/N: I think I need to change the A/N for the last chapter. That was a prelude, and this is the continuation.
In canse no one noticed, FF's been down for some time and this didn't show up in people's inboxes. Deep, relaxing breaths.
No one's mentioned it, but some people can't believe the BS that Bella's going through. I'll be God honest, the scene in the diner, the scene in the library, and the scene in this chapter all happened. The town I'm from is small, everyone knows everything about everyone. When someone gets a ticket for speeding or a DUI they're awesome one day, and the next they're called wreckless endangerment or alcoholic. Teenagers are mean, mean people.
I was actually, honest to God, grounded.
I hadn't been grounded since… since I was eight when I put a frog in Lauren Mallory's lunch box. She didn't know it was me, but apparently Charlie did.
As soon as we got home, Charlie pointed me to my room and said I was grounded until further notice. I almost walked right back out. I had come home for this?
I argued, futilely, with Charlie for a half hour, telling him that Tyler egged me on. But since I was the first to throw a punch, and then actually jump on top of him in my enraged blind fury, I was getting grounded. At least I wasn't suspended, but I ended up missing my classes for the day anyway.
Two hours later I had showered off the sweat, tears and blood and was lying across my bed with one of Edward's shirts and my hair pulled up with an elastic band, trying to relax my tense muscles.
It hadn't even been twenty four hours since I moved back in and I was already in trouble. Still, I rehashed the incident with Tyler over and over again until I was ready to vomit.
I hadn't even thought about doing it, I just reacted, reacted like a wild, savage beast. I groaned out loud and let my head fall to my arms. It wasn't bad enough that I had a group of tormentors, but tormenting one of them back meant that the ties would be released and it was a no-holds-bar match now.
Three months of pure hell now. Only three months, and then it would be reciprocated with three months of pure bliss. I had to smile thinking about my summer fantasy again. Edward on a beach, in the sun, in the sand, in the water.
A car started outside my window, I curiously got up to look. I noticed Billy Black in his wheel chair, laughing with Charlie. They spoke for a while, Charlie looking apprehensive and glancing back at the house.
Yes! Go fishing, come on, take the bate…
Charlie turned to the house and ran up the stairs. I plopped back down on my bed, looking like I'd been reading the entire time. Charlie knocked at my door lightly.
"Come in," I answered.
"Bells?" Charlie popped his head in. "The gang's meeting down in La Push to do some fishing…" he scratched the back of his head. Duty or pleasure? "I was going to head down there with everyone, do you maybe, I don't know, wanna come?"
"No, I kind of want to stay at home and finish this book." I held up my tattered book and Charlie nodded.
"Here's the thing, you're grounded, no questions asked." His hard face was back, the cop face. "You're to stay in this house, got it?" I nodded. "I'll be back around five."
He shut the door behind him and I listened closely for the sounds of him changing in his room. The fishing rod hit the doorway on his way out and once I heard the front door slam shut I grinned like a fool. I watched Charlie and Billy load up in the cruiser, and then, when they were out of sight, I grabbed a pair of pants, some shoes and I was running out of the house at full speed.
I still didn't have my truck, but the diner was only fifteen minutes away by foot. And it would be more than worth it to see Edward.
I could barely contain my enthusiasm as I jogged towards the main road. Ten minutes into my run the bright blue neon sign was illuminating the groggy trees and leading me on my path.
One look through the window told me that Edward was behind the counter. His tall, muscular form was leaning across the wooden island to wipe up some spilled ketchup and he looked tired.
When I came in the bell rang and he looked up. His confusion turned to shock, and then they blended together.
"What are you doing here? I would have thought Charlie had you holed up in your room."
I sat on a stool at the counter and smiled up at him. "He went fishing."
"A good warden I see."
"I'm not complaining." I shrugged.
"So, what's the verdict?" He threw the rag in the sink and leaned his forearms on the counter.
"I'm grounded—indefinitely. I hit him first."
"That's bullshit," Edward sighed. "They've been on your ass for months now, and when you finally decide to do something about it, you're the one to get penalized. Albeit you did hit him, when he could have knocked you out by bashing your skull into the ground."
"He's not that much bigger than me!" I fumed. "Whatever, I know I didn't do much, but maybe that'll make them stay away from me. If they think I'm a loose cannon then they won't want to mess with me."
"Or they could mess with you even more to get you expelled." Edward reasoned. "You need to look at this from both ends of the spectrum."
I put my head in my hands. "I'm tired. I can't give up, but I'm just too tired."
"It's not getting easier," Edward whispered.
"Just when things start to get better with us, and I think that this is some sort of fairytale, everything just goes up in flames."
"This doesn't affect us. I love you, you love me, we're in love, I'm working less hours, I start working at the hospital next week, and school's almost over. We need to look at the good things, not the bad."
"The bad are overruling!" I nearly shouted. "Three more months of horror, which I'm sure I can't contain myself that long. It's been a year since we started dating and it's my fault for pushing everyone away, but since I moved in, it's like a freaking possession happened and they all went crazy!"
"Those are all temporary." Edward's eyes got softer.
"You forgot the biggest one." I blew out noisily. "My father loathes you."
He shrugged. "That doesn't really bother me. Yeah, it would be nice to get his acceptance, but right now he has every right to hate me. I mean, he's just protecting you, and I'm trying to intrude on his obligation as a parent, shelter, sense of security, all of that."
I groaned. "I guess it doesn't matter, but I've already turned my back on him once, how can I do it again?"
"If you feel like it's necessary, and only if you're sure. There's no need this time though." He tapped a finger under my chin and he looked into my eyes. "He won't make you leave; he loves you too much to have it happen again."
I nodded solemnly. "Hey, is Sam here?"
"No, you don't have to worry about getting caught. He headed out right after I got here."
"Could you get off now?" I asked. He cocked his head to the side in confusion. "My truck's still in the apartment lot."
I didn't think Edward could move faster than he did when he got someone to cover for him, checked out the register, and grabbed his stuff.
"What time do you have to be back home?" he asked when we were in the car and racing off towards home—I mean his apartment.
"Five, but you don't have to go thirty over the speed limit." The car slowed five miles and his hand gripped mine on my lap.
Oh, wait. Oh!
A stupid grin overcame my face quickly.
--
Two and a half hours later after my sexual appetite was sated, Edward and I stumbled out of the apartment like love-ridden drunks. His hand was tucked in my jeans pocket on my ass and while nearly tripping down the stairs, his mouth refused to leave my skin.
For those two and a half hours we clung onto each other and swore like sailors, fucked like sailors, and when we felt just as dirty, we took a calming bath.
So, as I sat in my truck outside of Forks High School, the prominent below average schooling system with its less than average students and teachers combo, I tried to focus on Edward's face scrunching up and his mouth gaping wide. So far it was working well enough.
I breathed in deeply once more. Just… get through today. Once today is over, well, it won't get better, but it'll get less…
"Aw fuck it."
I clambered out of my car and into the cold rainy lot, striding toward the front doors of building three and keeping my mind focused on its location.
Keep moving, God, keep going, just a little farther. Over the curb, only the sidewalk left—what the hell are Lauren Mallory and Jessica Stanley doing there. No, no, no, don't look at me.
"Bella." Jessica smiled.
"Why don't you come with us?" Lauren asked sweetly.
F-u-c-k no. "I have to get to class."
I launched my feet forward, moving, moving, moving, never stopping and staring directly at my Spanish room's plate with the number 5-35 engraved by the wall. I heard foot steps behind me, purposely loud to go over the all the shuffling feet.
Right when I was there, right when my foot was mid-way through the threshold of the brown and blue tiled floor, right then and there, my hair was being yanked back and I was in the middle of the hall.
Some people shoved me aside, some stopped, but Lauren advanced on me with Jessica in toe, smiling and rolling her eyes when I'd look her way, not really one to offend people.
"Since you've resorted to violence and all," Lauren Drawled. "Why don't we see how worked up you can get before you get expelled."
"No," I whispered. No, no, no, do not hit this bitch.
Perfect opportunity! Are you crazy? She's asking for it, oh God, look at those pearly whites, I bet one good smash to her lip would make them red as an apple—
No! I can't risk it. I was in a fight yesterday, one more and they won't even think about it, I'll be gone.
Lauren pulled out her earrings dramatically.
If you pull hard enough I bet that hole will stretch.
Stop! I can't hit her!
She stepped forward and grinned, a large crowd forming around us.
If she hits you first… there's no holding back.
If she hits me first… then yes.
"Do you get upset when people mention your boyfriend?" She asked like I was a child. "Well, he may be a hot guy, but I'm sure he's with you for sex. You'd give it up to anyone."
"Really Lauren, you shouldn't be talking about that. Remember that phone video at the beginning of the—"
"Shut the fuck up, that was different." She snapped.
Antagonize her!
No way!
Do it! If she hits you first she'll be the one in trouble and you can kick her ass.
"Yeah, you're right, it was different. I guess there's a standard for being a whore."
I didn't think you had it in you.
I don't… God I don't, my hands are shaking so badly.
Her face got red and she took a step forward, seething. Public humiliation was Lauren's one weak spot. She drew the crowd, and she wanted to control it, but if anyone made a fool out of her… well, they might end up like Mike Newton and have to go to physical therapy for pelvic damage.
She stepped right up to me, her chest pressing against mine, her nose a hair's breath away and her blue eyes searing right into mine.
It would have been worth it for her dainty hand to come up and slap me just so I could shove my shaking fist into her cheek.
Ladies and Gentlemen, high school drama at it's finest.
Her hand came up and pushed my shoulder. One, twice, three times. It was nothing; I knew if I waited for a little longer my lack of response would get to her.
I couldn't give over to the side of me that wanted to jump her; I couldn't disappoint Edward or Charlie or risk getting expelled. I couldn't walk away, either. I needed it to stop, needed it to end. And if Lauren stopped, so would her cronies.
It would all end right now. I had suffered through the bad for a year, and now it was time that the good came. I could suffer through the bad right now, for the rest of the week the bad would be here, but afterwards… Edward and I could finally be happy.
"Hit me," I rasped. "Hit me and make it good."
"Oh, I'll make it good." Her nose crinkled, her shoulder flexed in slow motion to me. Her elbow was halfway up…
I saw her hand; fingers tucked and curled together swishing through the air. I watched it for a moment, noting the flat gold ring that would probably hurt like hell, but when I got my hands around her throat I would forget all about that.
My eyes closed, ready for impact, and when it came I didn't expect the force of it. Her hand hit me hard, almost knocking me off my feet and onto my ass. I managed to catch onto a wall of lockers and saw her advancing on me, I also saw a teacher dialing security.
Hello reliable source.
I let it go, smashed my fist into her cheek, watched the way her mouth sneered and scrunched up in pain and it was all history from their.
She fell onto the floor and I tried to restrain my shaking hands from pulling her back up and just, just, just… letting go of all this pent up anger.
Lauren stood up, her hand sampling her skin and found that she wasn't bleeding—yet.
She launched herself at me with a savage scream I didn't think her capable of. I fell to the ground, my head slamming into the tile and I felt her nails bite into my neck.
"I'll fucking kill you!" she screamed.
She's really gonna kill me!
Christ, kick her leg!
I kicked at her calf and she fell back howling in pain. How could I forget she had a broken leg at the beginning of the year? She guilt tripped me into getting everything she needed in art for three weeks.
I had to grit my teeth when I snapped my body upright and fought against the dizzy nausea waves. I sincerely hoped I wouldn't have a concussion. Lauren held her leg and screamed the word "bitch!" over and over again until I tuned it out to the rest of the white noise around me.
I lunged, plain and simple, grabbed her hair, pulled a good portion size out, punched her nose and watched it bleed. It was broken, I could tell that much. I hoped the salt from my tears burned her cuts like lemons. I hoped she could taste my misery and desperation.
I pulled myself off of her, falling onto my ass against the lockers and sobbing loudly. Lauren was screaming, thrashing around on the ground like a fish. There was blood clotting in her hair making disgusting wet globs of…
Oh God…
My stomach wretched and I threw up all over the stained floor. Oh fuck, oh Christ. Could embarrassment and pride get more mixed up than at this moment?
The nurses and security came then, screaming and shouting for everyone to go back to class and stay there for a while. Barely half the crowd left the horror scene in front of them.
The world around me spun and shook horribly. I began to sweat ice cold bullets and I moved away from my pile of throw up incase I accidentally passed out in it.
The nurse wandered over to me, someone was calling my name through my tunnel vision and deaf ears, but all I could focus on was the incredibly bright light being shown into my eyes.
"Stay awake, you need to stay awake," The voice called.
I think I groaned something along the lines of 'I can't' or 'I don't want to' but the world was just this huge blur around me. Shock and anxiety mixed with bad feelings did me in as I surrendered to the block of pleasant blurriness that overcame me.
A/N: Passing out in school isn't fun. FYI.
Age of Edward Contest results will be up soon. Click over to my profile for the link and if you haven't read the top ten entries go and do it. They're all so good and it was a tough decision.
I'm curious, how many of you have witnessed a fight?
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