This story now has a blog, which was an optional part of the contest. Here's the link if you're interested: www(dot)a-secret-love-story(dot)blogspot(dot)com
Disclaimer: I do NOT own Twilight. Stephenie Meyer owns any and all Twilight characters that may appear in this story. The remainder is my original work. Copyright 2009 by Fates-Love-Queen. No copying or reproduction of this work is permitted without my express written authorization.
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A/N: Ok peoples, we are up to Chapter 3! We have reached 'Drama Central' High School as promised : )
Thanks to everyone who put this story on their alerts. I was literally floored to see some of you actually put this story and myelf on your favourite's list! Thank you!
HUGE thank you and hugs to those of you who took the time out to also review, they really do mean so much, so thankyou : )
A huge shout out and thank you to my super beta kyla713, who makes my words pretty and Americanised. Thanks heaps hun!
If you haven't read her stories, do yourself a favour and read them. I'm seriously considering becoming a 'cyber stalker' so i can find the sexy "Grneyeddoc1981" : P
Also thanks to TotallyObsessed82 who explained the American school system to me when i was freaking out. Schools are so different in The States compared to here!
I hope you all enjoy my 'Nerdyward' in full force! (Important A/N at the bottom) : )
"And baby that's a case of my wishful thinking,
You know nothing...
Cause you an I, why, we go carrying on for hours on end,
We get along much better than you and your boyfriend...
Well all I really wanna do is love you, A kind much closer than friends use,
But I still can't say it after all we've been through…
And all I really want from you is to feel me, As the feeling inside keeps building,
And I will find a way to you if it kills me, If it kills me…"
If It Kills Me (The Casa Nova Sessions) by Jason Mraz.
Edward's POV:
"Mom, I don't want them."
"Edward, you don't have a choice," my mother answered.
"I won't wear them and you can't make me!" I yelled.
My mother stood up and placed her hands on her hips.
"Edward Anthony Cullen, you will not raise your voice at me," she said sternly.
I looked down and my cheeks flushed.
My mom was the most gentle and kind person I knew, but she could also be one intimidating woman when she wanted to be.
"Son, I know you don't want them and I'm sorry, but you need them. The Orthodontist said that you have a severe overbite and if it's not rectified, it will cause jaw problems later in life," my dad tried to reason.
"Well I'll deal with it later! Please, don't make me get them. The kids at school already hate me and I don't need to give them yet another reason to call me a nerd. It's social suicide! Please?" I pleaded.
My mother sighed and came to sit next to me on the couch, placing a hand on my knee.
"Edward, real friends love you for what's on the inside, not out. You have a beautiful heart, and anyone who doesn't see that simply isn't worth it."
"Mom, no one cares about what's on the inside in high school. The kids are mean and rude and tease you about whatever they can. You're just adding fuel to the fire."
"Edward honey, I have to think about your health first and you need these. The appointment is tomorrow morning so you have the weekend to get used to them before school. It's only for two years, it will be fine, I promise."
She gave my leg a squeeze as she headed to the kitchen to make dinner.
"You have no idea," I muttered under my breath as she walked away.
My father offered me a smile as he followed her and left me to my brooding.
My parents had no idea that they were about to subject me to two years of hell…
First day of High School, Freshman Year (9th Grade):
On Monday morning, I woke to a loud knock on my door.
"Edward, time to get up and get ready for school!"
"Go away," I groaned and pulled the covers up over my head.
I heard the door open and felt my bed sink as my Mom sat down next to me.
"Come on, you can't be late for your first day."
"I'm not going," I mumbled.
My covers were abruptly pulled away as my face met my mother's.
"Can I ask why?"
I sighed and closed my eyes tightly.
"Because I have a headache, my jaw is killing me and I'm in no hurry to have my head flushed down a toilet."
I felt her small hand cup my cheek.
"Honey, no one is going to flush your head down a toilet," she said softly.
"That's what they do to nerds in high school isn't it? And by anyone's definition, I am a nerd, even mine," I said, whispering the last part.
Her face suddenly turned fierce.
"Now you listen to me, Edward. You are not a nerd. You are a bright, intelligent, kind and handsome boy… I mean, young man. And anyone that tells you differently will answer directly to me. I want names, is that understood?" she said in a stern voice.
As I said my mother is a very passionate person, she would do anything for her family.
I simply nodded to placate her.
There was no way I would tell her about my problems with the kids at school.
Knowing her, she would go to the kid's house and reprimand them and the last thing I needed was to have 'Mommy's Boy' added to the already long list of names I was called.
Her face softened, obviously pleased with my answer.
"Here, take these, they will help with the pain," she said as she handed me two of the pain pills the orthodontist had prescribed.
I picked up my glass of water on my nightstand and swallowed them.
"Now, get up and get dressed. We leave in thirty minutes."
She leaned in to kiss my forehead before leaving and closing my door behind her.
Only two years, only two years, only two years…
I repeated the mantra in my head as I got ready for school, trying to psych myself up.
I reached for the door handle and took a deep breath.
"One day down, around four hundred and fifty to go," I said to myself.
~*~*~*~*~*~
"Have fun you two and be good," my mom said she pulled up at the front of the school.
"I will!" Alice yelled as she jumped out and ran into the school.
Alice had missed her best friend, Rosalie, last year, as she was a year older and went on to high school as we stayed in middle school.
I informed her that she still saw Rose every weekend and she had glared at me saying that it wasn't the same.
I wasn't about to argue with the pixie.
Despite her small frame, she was just as feisty, if not more so, that our mother and could still beat the hell out of me.
I said goodbye to my mother and walked through the parking lot to the front of the school. I saw Bella waving me over to where she was standing with the group.
Alice was already standing next to Rose with linked arms and Bella was talking to Emmett and Jasper.
I made my way over and Bella greeted me with a hug.
As she wrapped her arms around my neck, I felt all of my fears and worries melt away.
I hugged her back, placing my head on her shoulder and could smell her strawberry shampoo. The calming effect she had on me was overwhelming.
"Welcome to big school, kiddies!" Emmett boomed as he slapped us on our backs.
"You're only one year older than we are, you know, Em," Bella said as she released me from her embrace.
I immediately missed the contact.
Emmett scoffed.
"Age wise, yeah, but look at these guns, baby! I'm a machine!" he said as he flexed the muscles in his huge arms.
Bella rolled her eyes.
"A tool is not a machine, Emmett. Now, if your brain caught up with your muscles, it would make us even."
Everyone laughed as Emmett pulled on Bella's ponytail playfully.
"You're just jealous," he said teasing.
Bella shooed him away and turned her gaze to me.
"I missed you yesterday, is everything okay?" she asked smiling.
I nodded in response.
"Are you feeling better?"
I nodded again.
"What was wrong? Were you really sick?"
I shrugged my shoulders, refusing to make eye contact with her.
"Edward, what's the matter? Did I do something wrong?" she asked in a sad voice.
I looked up at met her gaze, she looked upset.
I shook my head.
"Well then, what's wrong? Why won't you talk to me?"
Her brown orbs filled with a mixture of concern and hurt.
I sighed audibly and shook my head.
"Wait, Edward, you didn't tell her?"
I glared at Alice who had decided to intrude on our conversation.
"Tell me what? What's going on?" Bella asked, as she glanced back and forth between Alice and me.
"Why didn't you tell her Edward? It's not that big of a deal…"
"Will someone please tell me what's going on?" Bella pleaded.
I shook my head at Alice, but Alice being, well… Alice ignored me.
"Edward had to get braces on Friday," she said.
Bella's eyes widened and I looked down to my feet.
"Edward? Is that true?" she asked.
I nodded my head in confirmation, still looking at the ground.
"That's it?"
I glanced up at her and nodded again.
She took a step forward and placed her hands on her hips.
"You refused to see me all weekend and wouldn't speak to me this morning just because you got braces?" she said, her voice getting higher at the end.
I looked back to the ground and nodded.
Bella took another step forward so she was directly in front of me.
"I thought you were sick, Edward! I was worried the whole weekend! And then when you showed up this morning refusing to talk to me, I thought I had done something wrong! Why would you do that to me, Edward? You – better – answer – me –verbally!" she yelled, poking me in the chest with each word to emphasize her point.
I suddenly became fascinated with a rock on the sidewalk.
"I thought you'd be ashamed of me. I mean, I'm the complete nerd package now, Bella, look at me…" I said quietly.
Bella's whole face flushed red; she was angry.
"What part of 'best friends' do you not understand, Edward? It wouldn't matter to me if you grew a third head or chicken's feet! Would you stop being my best friend if I got braces?"
"No!" I yelled.
"Then how could you think I'd do it to you? Give me some credit! Now, smile," she demanded.
I glanced around nervously and saw five faces looking at me expectantly.
"Edward, we're all your friends here. There's no reason to be ashamed or embarrassed with any of us," Jasper said.
I cleared my throat and looked at Bella.
"So help me, Edward, if you don't open your mouth and show me right now, I'll do it for you!" she growled.
I took in a deep breath, closed my eyes and hesitantly smiled.
I was met with silence.
"Ed man, they're not that noticeable… I mean if you'd have got another color, they would be, but the white hardly shows. The silver isn't that bad, honestly," Emmett said.
I opened my eyes and was met with smiles as the bell rang.
"Alright guys, we'll see you at lunch," Bella said as she grabbed my hand and dragged me up the stairs
Once we were inside she stopped, let go of my hand and hit me on the chest.
"Ow!"
"I meant what I said in that oath, Edward. I will always be your best friend, no matter what. Don't you ever doubt me again, do you hear me? You have no idea how much that hurt," she said.
"I'm sorry, Bella. I let my insecurities get the better of me. It won't happen again. And thank you for still accepting me just as I am," I said as I reclaimed her hand in mine.
"You're welcome. But you're still an ass," she said smiling.
I smiled back at her as we headed to class.
All of my fears had disappeared; Bella still wanted me as her friend.
I knew that whatever happened, I would be okay as long as I was with Bella.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Bella and I had the majority of our classes together, apart from two.
As I left for Physics, I told her I would meet her in the cafeteria for lunch, as she had Spanish with Alice.
After class, I made a stop to the bathroom near the cafeteria.
I was washing my hands when I heard the door behind me open and close.
"What's the matter, Edward? Have to leave your bodyguard outside while you piss?"
I turned around to see James Creedie and his 'gang' of Mike and Tyler standing in the doorway.
I groaned internally.
These guys got a kick out of making my life miserable.
"She's such a tomboy, I'm surprised she doesn't have a dick," he sneered.
His goons snickered as he walked towards me.
"If you'll excuse me, I need to get to the cafeteria," I said as I tried to pass him.
"Not so fast, I just want to talk, Edward," he said as he grabbed my shoulder and held me against the wall.
"I don't want any trouble, I just want to leave," I said.
James stared at me for a moment.
"Well, well, well, lookie here boys, our nerd boy just got nerdier! I didn't even think that was possible! Come check out his new braces," he said smiling as the other two came toward me.
"You should have got pink Edward, that's more your color," Tyler said as Mike high-fived him.
"The glasses, the braces, being a loner… You're the whole nerd package now, Edward. I think we need to give you the nerd's initiation to high school. What do you think guys?"
Mike and Tyler bock laughed and nodded in unison.
I shook my head back and forth vehemently as James lead me to the stalls.
There was no way I could get out of this, they were all bigger than I was and there were three of them…
James started to pick me up from the ground.
"Please, don't. I won't tell anyone, just let me go, please," I pleaded.
James smiled a cruel smile.
"Sorry, Edward, the initiation is tradition."
He lifted me up higher and was about to turn me upside down when I heard the door open.
"What the fuck is going on here?"
I thanked God for that familiar voice.
"Oh, we were just re-acquainting ourselves with Edward here. Haven't seen him in ages," James said.
Emmett looked at me and then back to James.
"Put him down, now," he growled.
"Sure thing. It was good to see you again, Edward. We'll have to catch up again soon," James said as he released me, and I didn't miss the underlying threat he voiced.
"Edward," Emmett called and I made my way over to him.
He looked down at me.
His eyes went from angry, to soft and then to furious.
He looked back at James and slowly started walking towards him, cracking his knuckles as he went.
"You see boys, that kid over there is like a little brother to me, and no one fucks with my family."
The three of them backed up against the wall, looking like frightened mice being hunted by a cat for dinner. And I didn't blame them; Emmett was huge.
"Stay away from him. You ever so much as speak to Edward again and they will be the last words you ever speak. You get me?" Emmett said menacingly as he placed his hands either side of James' head.
"N…No problem," James stuttered.
Emmett smiled.
"Good. I'm glad we got that sorted out."
Emmett pulled his arm back and punched James full force in the stomach.
James let out a whoosh of air as he fell to the floor in a heap.
"That's just a taste of what I'll do. That goes for all three of you, stay the fuck away," Emmett spat as he walked to me and led me outside to the corridor.
"Ed, man, are you alright? Did they touch you? 'Cause I swear I'll fuck 'em up if they did."
"No, you walked in just in time. I'm curious, how did you know where I was?" I asked.
"Alice said she had a feeling you were in trouble and told me to check the bathroom just in case. Lucky I did. Must be some 'twin thing' I guess," he said.
"Thank you for helping me Emmett, I owe you one."
"Don't worry about it. As I said, no one fucks with my family and gets away with it. You just let me know if those dicks come near you again, ok?"
I don't think he realized just how much that statement meant to me.
"I will, thank you. Oh, Emmett? Can we please not tell Bella about this? I just don't want to upset her, that's all."
"Sure thing, Ed, just our little secret. Now come on, let's get some grub, I'm starving!" he said as he slapped me on the back.
As we walked to the cafeteria, I couldn't help but smile.
I had the best friends a guy could ever ask for.
First Week of Sophomore Year (10th Grade):
Everything in my life was perfect.
For the first time in a long time, I was actually content to be me.
I had the best bunch of friends in the world, and a best friend with whom I did everything.
Some weekends, Bella and I would go out with the others as a group to the movies of the diner, and other weekends we would just do our own thing.
We had just finished our first week of sophomore year and thankfully, James hadn't attempted his 'initiation' this year.
In fact, following Emmett's warning, none of them had breathed a single word to me.
Sure, I received glares from all of them but nothing further.
I had never been more thankful for Emmett being so intimidating.
I was currently lying on my bed reading when I heard the back door slam suddenly.
"Esme? Esme!"
I dropped my book and ran down to see a panicked Bella standing in the living room.
"Bella? What's wrong?" I asked.
She refused to make eye contact with me as she tightened the thick, long sweater around her waist.
For the life of me, I couldn't figure out why she had it tied around her waist…
It was the first week of September and it was still warm, too warm for such a thick sweater.
"Is your Mom here, Edward? Please?"
She looked up and I noticed that she had tears running down her cheeks.
Alice and my mother came down the stairs at that moment and Bella ran to her.
"Oh, Esme," she sobbed.
"Ssh, it's alright. What's wrong, honey?" Mom asked as she comforted her.
Bella looked up and glanced at me briefly, nervously biting her lip and shook her head slightly.
My Mom followed her gaze and her eyes also landed on me.
Had I done something wrong?
For a moment, my Mom looked confused, but I watched her face change from confusion to realization.
"Bella come on, how about you and Alice go up to my room and we can talk privately. I'll be up in a minute, okay?"
Bella nodded as she turned and followed Alice upstairs and I heard the soft click as they closed the door behind them.
"Esme, is everything alright? I thought I heard a yell," my father said as he came in to the living room.
"Everything's fine, love. Can I talk to you in private for a minute?"
My father nodded as they started to walk away.
"Can someone please tell me what the hell is going on? Why is Bella so upset? Why wouldn't she speak to or even look at me?" I yelled in frustration.
"Edward, please calm down. Bella will be fine, I promise. Let me just talk to your father for a moment and then I will be back, okay?"
Her eyes were pleading with me to be patient.
I sighed and nodded as I threw myself in to the couch.
~*~*~*~*~*~
About five minutes later my father emerged with his car keys in hand.
"Edward, how about we go for a drive? I'll explain everything to you."
"Where's Mom?"
"Upstairs with Bella and Alice. Come on, we need to make a stop."
I stood up from the couch and followed him to the car.
We had been driving in silence for about ten minutes when he pulled in to a parking space in Main Street.
He turned off the ignition and got out of the car.
I followed him as he walked down the sidewalk looking in the shop windows until he stopped and reached for one of the doors.
"Are you being serious Dad?"
He shook his head and laughed.
"Son, you have a lot to learn about women," he said as we stepped in to the Baskin-Robbins store.
After we had bought the largest take-home tub of 'World-Class Chocolate' I had ever seen; we got back in to the car.
"Edward, I know you're concerned about Bella, but you don't need to be."
I looked at him incredulously.
"How can you say that Dad? She was clearly upset and wouldn't even look at me! I'm her best friend and instead of talking to me, she went to Mom?"
"Edward, there are times in life where a woman just needs to talk to another woman. More importantly, when a woman needs to talk to her mother. Do you see what I'm getting at?"
I furrowed my brows in confusion.
He let out a sigh.
"Think Edward. Can you think of a time in every teenage girl's life that she really just needs to talk to her Mom? Not her father, her mother, about 'girl problems'?'
He lifted his hands to form air quotation marks to emphasize.
Why would she need ice cream?
What would she need to talk to Esme about rather than Charlie?
Girl problems?
Oh…
"Oh, okay."
"It would have been an awkward conversation for you to have with Bella," he said laughing.
Then his face turned serious.
"Son, Bella is a woman now. Put yourself in her position. I doubt Charlie would have been comfortable having that conversation or taking her to the shops to get what was needed… Can you see why Bella is so upset? She really needed to talk to her mom tonight. Things like this really tend to hit home when she realized that the one person she needed wasn't here. Imagine how upsetting that would be and how alone she must have felt. Your mother already thinks Bella as a daughter and you'll never know how happy she was that Bella came to her when she needed a mother figure."
He reached over and put his hand on my shoulder.
"She's turning into a beautiful young woman, isn't she?"
I looked at him warily.
"What do you mean…"
My Dad looked at me with a knowing look and smiled.
"Edward, your mother and I have seen the way you look at her. The way you have looked at her since the first day you met her."
I felt my mouth fall open but I couldn't stop it.
He knew?
They both knew I was in love with Bella?
How? I had been so careful to hide it…
I closed my mouth and looked away as quickly as I could.
"I don't know what you're talking about," I mumbled.
He laughed and held his hands up in a mock surrender.
"Alright, I'll butt out. Your secret is safe with me. Just remember to be there for her, okay? Come on, let's get this ice-cream home before it melts. There's nothing deadlier than a woman with a craving."
I laughed at his joke as he started the car.
"That wasn't a joke, son. Take it from me, when you have a hormonal woman to take care of, get her whatever she needs without question. That piece of advice has spared my manhood from threats many times over."
I looked over at him as we drove home and he nodded.
He was right; I did have a lot to learn about women…
~*~*~*~*~*~
Things between Bella and I changed that night.
Over the next few weeks, I noticed little things but the changes were so gradual that I didn't even realize what was happening…
Alice and Bella had bonded over their 'girl moment' and had become infinitely closer.
Instead of Bella and I being in our own little world, I suddenly found myself competing with Alice and Rose for her attention, even at school.
Whether it was at Alice's persistence or the fact that Bella had 'become a woman', little things about her changed.
Instead of wearing shorts and t-shirts to cover up her body, she started dressing differently.
She now wore skirts, which accentuated her long legs, her womanly hips and creamy white skin.
And tank tops that clung to each curve of her body and her now full chest.
Instead of pulling her hair back in a ponytail, it was now left long, curly and flowing over her shoulders.
And much to my disdain, guys were taking notice…
Almost overnight, Bella had gone from being the 'wallflower tomboy' to one of the queen bees at the school.
Not that she didn't look good. She did.
Alice knew what she was doing.
She used the perfect color and just the right amount of eye make up to make Bella's deep, soulful eyes even more hypnotic and the perfect shade of lip gloss to make her lips even more kissable.
God, those lips…
I had spent almost every night since our first kiss dreaming of them.
The way her bottom lip was a little fuller than the top, made me want to draw it in to my mouth and suck on it…
Anyway, Bella didn't need all of that; she had always been beautiful…
The new clothes and make up were just wrapping and ribbons on the gift that was Bella.
But now, all of the superficial guys, who hadn't given her a second glance in the past, were panting after her.
Like a pack of dogs chasing after the lone female who was on heat…
It was infuriating.
I knew I was being jealous and possessive, but I didn't care.
She was my best friend, and I didn't want to have to share her.
It was different for Rose and Alice.
Although the two of them had starred in numerous sexual fantasies of the male population (it's amazing and highly disturbing the things you hear about your sister in the guy's locker room…), they were unobtainable.
Rose and Emmett had been together since the ninth grade and no one would dare try to go against Emmett.
Alice was single, but she was high maintenance. The guys liked to look, but didn't want the baggage.
Therefore, they all focused their attention on my Bella, seeing her as 'Cinderella'.
The girl who was once a nobody and overnight, became a somebody.
Bella spent most of her free time playing the 'Bella Barbie' for Alice that she had once upon a time hated.
She never wanted to just hang out as we used to. She was always doing her hair, or her nails, or a facial, or shopping…
Now that she had girlfriends, it felt like I wasn't needed anymore.
In my mind, I had effectively gone from the 'best friend' to the 'designer-braces-ridden-four-eyed-allergy-ridden-nerd-handbag'.
I was trying to do what my Dad had said and just be there for her.
Maybe the bonding time with my Mom and Alice had shown her all of the girlie stuff she had missed out on, and she was just making up for lost time…
I hoped it was just a phase and it would die down soon.
Bella had told me never to doubt her or our friendship again, and I was honestly trying.
I just wanted my Bella back…
A/N: I'd LOVE to know what you thought! Loving Bella? Hating Bella?
Poor Nerdyward, jut can't seem to catch a break... I'm so glad Em was there for him! I just want to wrap him in cotton wool and keep him in basement to protect him ; P
Reviews are much appreciated, I read and reply to each and every one, they really do make my day.
'World Class Chocolate' is the best freaking ice cream ever made! It has a mixture of white and dark chocolate and i swear it's like an orgasm in a tub, try it : )
As per the contest, the next chapter will be up by next Friday : )
IMPORTANT NOTE: I've put myself up for sale (not as bad as it sounds, lol) for "The Fandom Gives Back" Author Auction. Being a kid's Nurse, this cause is especially close to my heart as unfortunately, i work with kids with Cancer on a regular basis.
Starting on Nov 15th-20th you will have the opportunity to buy an author and have your ideas written, with all of the money raised going to 'Alex's Lemonade Stand'.
I'm offering x2 one-shots and one multi-chapter story on whatever the buyer wants.
There are heaps of fantastic authors to either bid on or buy, so please go and show your support. The links are on my profile page.
Thanks for reading xox
P.S - Reviewers get their own Nerdyward pre-wrapped in bubble wrap... ; P