On the Offensive

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners the original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Summary: Bella Swan has one life mission: to reveal and bring down all corrupt institutions through her investigative journalism. And she's starting with U-Dub's crooked sports teams. But when she is reunited with her ultimate crush and star quarterback, Edward Cullen, snarky and conceited Bella is forced to reevaluate everything she thought she knew about life, love and morals.

All human, all original couples.

I have a little warning for those reading, I apologize, first normally, my chapters are up by one on Wednesday mornings but this one came kinda late. That is because one of my eye's has been rather swollen for the past few days and I stare at a computer screen all day at work, so doing it when I'm writing has been almost impossible since I can't look directly at the screen for that long. That is also why I have not proofread this chapter. I promise when I get better I will but I just can't right now and I really didn't want to mess up my chapter schedule so I did my best to post it today. With that, continue on.

BPOV

I was a masochist. There was literally no other explanation for it. Honestly.

Why else would I have had mind-blowing sex not once but TWICE with Edward Cullen. I was a glutton for punishment.

I was so ashamed of myself that I couldn't even stand to hand him his book after we had done in the stacks. God could we have been more of a cliché?

I had left his book on the desk and watched him walk up to the desk, slightly confused. He noticed the book and then looked around for a few seconds before he dejectedly took it and left the library.

Surprisingly enough, I felt horrible about it. I don't think I would've been that upset if it had been anyone else or even Mike but something about Edward Cullen changed me. He completely obscured my vision, eclipsing everything in his wake.

He even made me feel guilty about my articles. The problem was that I couldn't afford to let something like that happen. Edward Cullen was my drug and in the past two days I had found myself relapsing.

A snickering from behind me brought me out of the way I was obsessively thinking about Edward.

I crossed my arms, instantly recognizing the high pitched giggling and who it was coming from. I had listened to it for months on end. Yes I knew exactly who it was.

I spun on my ankle and faced them with the fiercest face I could. "Ladies." I spat staring at the almost identical bimbos. The only distinguishing factor between them was that Jessica was a brunette whereas Lauren was a blond. "Can I help you? Do you maybe need directions back to your car?"

They both symmetrically tilted their heads in unimpressed petulance.

"Clever, Bella." Jessica said tauntingly.

"Well what are you two doing on campus so late on vacation? I figured you'd be in Maui by now." I cheered in mock happiness.

"The cheerleaders stayed behind to decorate the Football player's locker room for the New Year's game. Not that you would care." Lauren smirked. "That's something that only people with friends do, last I checked, you didn't have any. Not here anyway."

"Tell me Lauren." I stamped my foot unimpressed. "Do you have to inject the bitchiness everyday like an insulin shot or do you just sprinkle it over Cheerios in the morning?"

"Oh Bella." Jessica sighed. "Don't be jealous that you never got the chance to be with Edward. He fawned over you like a good little dog for the first few months but once everyone found out what we already knew, he dumped you like yesterday's caviar. You never would've been able to satisfy him sexually or class it up with all his of the people his family entertain."

"You can take the girl out of the trailer park but you can't the trailer park out of the girl." Lauren grinned.

I gritted my teeth and curled my hands into fists. If only they knew the truth. That I had Edward panting after me like that same lost little dog he had been years ago, begging to be inside me. My face flushed with anger but I couldn't let it out. I couldn't betray him like that again.

I couldn't risk the chance of ruining whatever was happening between us again.

I took a deep breath, mentally preparing myself, and looked at their triumphant faces, they may not be able to know the truth but that didn't mean that I was going to let them get the upper hand on me.

"Oh ladies. Ever heard of projection? Do you think I don't know how desperately you two lusted over him and still do? Because even if he was mentally challenged from the multiple brain contusions that he got from getting crushed by three hundred pound men, he still wouldn't touch either of you with a twenty foot pole."

They stared at me for a moment, their smiles faltering.

"I'm sorry. Do you need me to repeat it in smaller words?" I jeered. "Edward Cullen will never be interested in either of you or your overused pussies."

They both gasped in horror at me and I whirled around, continuing on my merry way.

I stomped all the way to The Daily and did my best to focus on the happiness that besting Jessica and Lauren gave me rather than the anticipation of having to face Mike again gave me. Why had I asked him to stay late to get my story the other day? Why didn't I just tell him to go home? Why did I cheat on him? Why did Edward have some goddamn weird ass freaking control over me?

I stood outside the door and straightened my shoulders. I looked down at my appearance making sure that there was nothing haphazard about it—and that all the pieces of my tights had been effectively removed—and unlocked the door.

My heart thumped in my chest and I stalked over to my desk, refusing to look up.

"Hey babe."

Shit. He was here.

I looked up and I felt my blood drain being successfully replaced with guilt. "Hi." I squeaked.

Dammit. Get it together.

He stared at me with a smile on his face, nothing seemed amiss to him. How was that possible? I was sweating in odd places and I could feel the guilt written on my own face. What the hell was wrong with me? I was a regular undercover reporter. Lying was part of the job description.

"Did you hear me?"

Shit. He had been talking the whole time I was rambling in my own freaking head. "No sorry."

"Do you have the story that I had to have before we left on vacation?" He asked, possibly irritated but I was to guilt-ridden to even know for sure.

"Oh." I croaked. I searched through my bag and felt the shredded pieces of fabric in my hand. I closed my eyes and remembered the feeling of Edward filling me up. I suddenly felt like vomiting. How could I be so turned on and so miserable at the same time?

Finally I found the paper that I was looking for and practically threw it at Mike. In my haste, I also threw a piece of my red tights at him.

"What is this?" Mike complained and threw it back at me, unsuspicious and focused on my article.

I quickly stuffed it back in my bag. "Uh broken cloth, rag, I mean uh, I ripped—"

He held a hand up at me, bored. "I meant the article. Not the scrap material."

"Oh." I laughed uneasily.

"Do you feel alright Bella?" He asked me, concern on his face.

"Yeah, I'm just anxious to get back home." I forced a smile on my face but I knew that he wasn't buying it. "The articles about the distribution of money donated to the school, especially focused on how much was being spent on the football team compared to the other teams. They get like 75% of all the money allotted to the sports department."

"Hmm. I'll check it out and get back to you. We already had a tuition article last week, it might be too similar." He muttered turning around and walking back over to his desk.

I caught a glimpse of my desk, the items in disarray. I couldn't take it anymore. "I have to go!" I screeched.

Mike jumped in surprise.

"Bye. See you after break." I said before racing out of there. I needed Alice. I needed her now.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Alice shrieked. She jumped up from the couch in our tiny common living room and stomped her feet into the ground. "You cheated on Mike! With EDWARD CULLEN!"

"Jesus Christ Alice! I don't think they heard you in Timbuktu! Could you please keep it down?" I ran over to the door and looked through the peep hole but didn't see anyone in the hallway.

"Well if you didn't want anyone finding out about it then you shouldn't have done it Bella!" Alice crossed her arms across her chest in a lecturing manner.

"As if I don't feel guilty enough already, Alice. I didn't tell you so that you could read me the riot act. I don't know what to do." I ran my hands through my hair, frustrated for putting myself in this situation.

"Look, I know that I have never approved with your relationship with Mike. I understand that it is…unconventional…" That was an understatement. She knew plan and simple that I was using him as a stepping stone to my career. "But this is just cruel Bella."

I sighed, contemplating the situation. At first it had just been a way to get over the devastation that I felt of what I had done but eventually I had just numbed myself to the pain. Mike had never been anything more to me than just a way to get what I wanted. I had honestly never felt guilty about it. I was pretty sure that Mike didn't have any actual romantic feelings for me besides wanting to get inside my pants. I had problem with that, it wasn't like I was using him and if he had been better at it then I wouldn't have minded at all but now it was tearing me up inside.

"I don't know what to do Alice. I just feel…I don't know. I feel weird." I clutched my stomach. "I feel like I'm going to vomit when I see him. I can barely look at him."

"Break up with him if you're not in this Bella." Alice pressed.

"I just need some time to think." I cried exasperated. "I just need to think."

"Well then do it," Alice said but I could tell that she was rather disappointed. "But don't take forever to decide what it is that you really want. It's wrong of you to do this."

I sighed. "I know."

She drops back down onto the couch and crosses her legs, getting comfortable. She smirked. "Now how was he?"

I felt my face heat up and a furious blush. "I—"

"Did he make you come?" She giggled and brought herself closer to me.

"Alice." I groaned. "Come on. Can we not have this conversation?"

"Of course we're having this conversation." She snapped. "Now tell me or I'm going to get out the cosmos and we're going to have ourselves a regular Sex and the City dish fit. I know how you love those."

"Well, you know I would love that." I said sarcastically. "But I have to drive home now and you know that I don't drink and drive, especially at twenty-three."

Alice clapped her hand excitedly. "Tell Papa Swan I miss him." She winked seductively.

"Don't be weird." I insisted and quickly ran to my room, threw on a new pair of leggings before taking my packed duffle bag in my grasp.

I take one last look at Alice, whose grinning like the Cheshire Cat. She may be slightly disappointed in me but it's nice to know that no matter what she always had my back. I don't have too many friends like that anymore. Well none except for her really.

If I had learned anything in the past few years, it was the value of a true friend. I would never regret meeting Alice.

When I left Forks, I was excited to leave for the real world and get my life started. Lately, however now all I could think of was going back home.

I missed my father more than I could've ever believed despite only being about a four hour drive. Money had been tight for a while back at home, luckily school was paid for completely, including my dorm but I had to pay for my mown money by using my payment from The Daily.

I was lucky enough to get by but I didn't have enough money for frequent road trips back home. So when I finally pulled my car into the driveway I had been excited and anxious to see my father. That was until I saw the police cruiser sitting idly next to my father's car.

My lips pursed and I got out of the car, taking my purse and slammed the door angrily. I swear, he always knew exactly when I was coming home, that or he asked my father what day he was and made up some lame excuse to spend the whole day there.

I took a deep breath as I searched through my purse, looking for the keys to the house, praying that I hadn't accidently left them in the dorm. Finally, luck was on my side and I slid the key in quietly, hoping that they weren't sitting watching TV but even from outside I could hear the remnants of Sport's Center through the door.

"Bella!" They both screamed.

I stifled a frown. They were already drunk.

"Jake, shouldn't a Deputy of the county know better than to be drinking when he's on call." I sneered, stomping past them, throwing my purse on the counter.

"Aw, Bells. Don't be jealous, Charlie here isn't going to go reporting me to anyone. I'll sleep on the couch tonight to make sure that no one even sees." He leered. I could practically see him sneaking into my bedroom trying to get me to sleep with him. Sadly it wouldn't be the first time he tried that. "And I'm not going to be Deputy for long. I'm running for Chief. The election's going to be next month."

I saw a scowl cross over my father's face for a moment but he quickly turned back to the TV. "Look Bella, your school's on Sport's Center." He pointed at the screen.

I strolled over, casually avoiding Jake's outstretched hands as he was apparently expecting a hug, I stood behind my father and wrapped my arms around his neck looking at the screen.

There was a clip of someone running the ball down the field, and I didn't need to see his name to know who it was. The tightening in my lower stomach, alerted me to that. My body recognized him even when I didn't.

The playback fell back to the background of the anchor's desk.

I turned away, placing a quick kiss on my father's head and made my way back to the door, intending to get my car.

"If Edward Cullen keeps playing this way, it won't be long until he's the number one pick of the Draft." One of the reporters chuckled over the screen.

"Didn't you used to know an Edward?" My father asked expectantly.

My hand froze on the door handle and I turned, shocked that he would remember Edward's name. He looked at me calmly and Jake turned his head to the side looking at me questionably.

"Nope." I responded, hoping that my voice wasn't croaking like I thought it was. "Never met one in my life."

Luckily Jake didn't stay home that night, after a call from the station. It seemed to be busy enough to keep him away from the house for a few days, until New Year's Eve when my father told me that he would be joining us for the ball drop.

I tried to hold inside the irritability that Jake brought out in me. I didn't want my father to know because he thought that we got along amicably after the break-up but there was too much hostility in me to bear and grin it when he made untoward advances at me every time that I was home.

I had broken up with him a few weeks before I left for college when he had proposed marriage. It was as if he didn't even know me at all! Like I would want to get married in live here for the rest of my life teaching third graders how to write in cursive! Well suffice to say he had not taken it well and was still trying his hardest to convince me that I had made a mistake. So far the only mistake that I had realized was getting together with him in the first place.

That was what caused me to spend New Year's Eve alone in my room with a locked door, while Jake was downstairs with my father who tried to convince him that I was simply being unsociable this evening. I didn't see the point in lying.

I sighed, thinking about whether or not I should bother calling Alice and wishing her an early Happy New Year's before calling it a night. I slid my fingers over the screen of my iPhone, accidently hitting one of the letters on the side.

As soon as I hit, I knew exactly what was coming because I only had one name under the letter E.

Edward.

I shouldn't have even kept the stupid number but I couldn't help myself that long fateful day, three years ago when I had cleared out all the phone numbers that I no longer needed. His was the only one I kept.

I looked at the clock. It was only eleven. He'd probably be out at some bar with beautiful, model-like girls hanging all over him. My blood boiled at the image brewing in my mind, his lips kissing the faceless girls the same way that he had kissed me, not even my mouth but tasting as much of my skin as he could.

I growled and unaware of what I was doing, I hit his phone number.

"Fuck!" I cursed but threw the phone to my ear, wondering if he'd answer. Wondering if he still had my number. If he left it to voicemail, I'd just hang up and he would never know the difference.

Brrring. Brrrring Brrrring.

You've reached Edward—"

There that was end of it. I swore and tossed my phone on the bed, problem solved, question answered. He didn't have my number anymore. I wasn't surprised. I would've deleted it too.

Suddenly, the bed began to shake.

"Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit." I muttered, putting my head in my hands. He was calling me back. If I didn't answer he would hear my answering machine and know that it was me. I was such a fucking idiot.

"Shit." It was going to stop ringing soon. I had to decide.

I jumped across the bed and fell on my stomach. "Hello?" I whispered, my eyes closing tightly.

There was a loud thumping noise. He was at a party or a club. He was somewhere with girls.

"Hello?" I repeated. He still hadn't answered.

"Bella?" I heard him scream. There was a slamming and the background became silent, the thumping fading into the background.

"Hi." I mumbled pathetically.

"…Is everything okay?" He asked hesitantly.

"Where are you?" I slapped my hand to my face, trying to cover my idiot, self-controlled mouth. What the hell was I thinking?

"I'm at a bar with friends." He said quietly. "Why are you calling? Are you drunk?"

I sighed. "No, I wish I was."

"You shouldn't be calling me." He snarled. "This is wrong and you know it."

"I do."

"Then why do you do it?"

"I can't help myself." I said honestly, the distance and the anonymity of being over the phone, breaking down my walls. It was easy to talk to him now. "Why aren't you hanging up?"

"Fuck." He hissed. "I have no idea."

There's a minute of complete silence, I count the ticking seconds and listen to the beating of the music intertwining with the huffs of his breath. I can practically hear him clenching the tip of his nose in between the tip of his thumb and forefinger. How is it possible to know him this well?

Finally, he lets out a deep breath, breaking the pattern of constant silence. "What are you wearing, Bella?"

My body temperature rises at deep grunt of his voice.

"Are you…are you wearing boy shorts?"

I can't help the panted giggle that escapes my throat. "Do you like those?"

"I fucking love them." He groaned. "Are you alone?"

"I'm in my bed." I said, wrestling my shorts off of my legs. "Where are you?" I questioned abruptly. Hadn't he said that he was in a bar?

"I'm in the bathroom. Don't worry, I'm alone and I locked the door." He explained and inexplicably that calms my heart rate. He wasn't going to get caught. "Take off your clothes."

I moan in response and pull my top off.

"I can't believe I've never even seen you're breasts." His voice is strained, almost in pain. "Touch them, describe them to me."

My whole body is throbbing in anticipation already. I run my fingers up my body and palm my breasts softly, imagining his rough hands touching me. "They're soft, warm and…heavy." I croak.

"I bet they overflow your hands but I know they'd be the perfect size for mine. I wish I could touch you. I wish I could taste you."

My breathing intensifies and I find myself squirming, pressing my legs together.

"I wish I could just bury myself between your legs, licking and fucking you with my tongue all day but still have you wrapped around my cock at the same time."

I jumped as I heard a reverbing pounding from Edward's side of the line.

"What are you doing in there?" I recognized the voice, it was Emmett. He was shouting, and the sound of his fist hammering the door echoing in the room. "Is someone pounding you for Christ's Sake?"

"I wish you were pounding me right now." I breathed.

"Fuck off Emmett. I'll be there in a second!" He barked through his panting breathes.

"I hope it's longer than a second." I licked my lips and reached my fingers down, teasing the wet skin of my core. "I'm so wet, Edward. Are you hard? Do you wish that I had my lips wrapped around you?"

"Fuck. More than anything."

"Mhmm. God," I murmur as I pumped two of my fingers, curling them inside of me. "I've never felt so full then with you inside of me." I instantly curse myself. Why the fuck did I say that? That should've stayed inside of my head.

I hear him slam his palm against the door and I can just imagine him gripping it tightly a he rubs himself violently.

I remember the way it felt as he thrusted into just a few days ago, his hips flush against mine, our foreheads sweating against each other and breathe so hard that we were just panting each other's air back into the other's mouth.

There was no more talking anymore just the sound of our panting over the phone as the memories overcame us. It had only been twice but just thinking about him inside me had me clenching around my fingers. He turned me on so completely that I was about to come already.

"Are you close?" He grunted into the phone.

I moaned in response. I couldn't handle the memories anymore, they were threatening to consume me, just as he did.

I arched into my palm, the combination of his panting breathes, my fingers, memories and his words swirling in my head forcing the violent and pleasurable orgasm to run through my body.

His rough and low scream ripped through the phone and I knew that he had come as well when his breathes began to even out.

I laid down on my bed, the only thing I could hear was the threading of my heart in my ears. Then there was a pounding on the door but it was from my side.

"Bella." I heard Jake sing slightly. He was already drunk. "It's almost midnight."

"Go away!" I shouted, not wanting Jake to ruin my post-orgasm glow.

"It's fine. I need to go anyway..." Edward mumbled on the phone. "…Bye Bella."

"Bye." I whispered, a pain rising in my chest.

Jake begins to knock again and I throw my pillow at the door. I couldn't go outside just yet.

At that moment, I was unsure about many, many things but the one thing that I did know was that I was most certainly fucked.

Again, I completely apologize for any mistakes, and I promise I will go through them and fix them but I just cannot tonight. Since I just finished this chapter I do not have a teaser of next week's chapter but I can tell you that next week, we're back with Edward on his Christmas vacation! It'll be the last vacation chapter.

And if you guys are interested. I've started a new story called Worth the Wait. Basically Edward and Bella have been in love since they were kids but Bella's now engaged to Jake after a series of misfires in their relationship. Edward moves back to town and Bella is forced to all the feelings she's been hiding about Edward since he moved away. Of course it's rated M and it's smutty.

Also I'm curious to know what you guys think about the multiple little mysteries going on. What do you guys think happened between Edward and Bella? There are a few more but I don't want to alert them to you if you haven't figured them out yet. So let me know! As always, every review will get a preview of the next chapter!