Bella

It wasn't like I had forgotten about the whole 'your potential girlfriends might be vampires' thing. In fact, I was very much aware of their seemingly supernatural beauty. But seriously, they didn't seem to be any kind of threat, either to myself or to the rest of the student body. I mean, they went to high school and didn't seem to be losing their shit over being around so many humans. That had to mean something, right?

There was also the fact that I very much wanted those two girls to make me their personal snack, if you know what I mean.

You do know what I mean, right?

So that lead me to the next several days being a sort of standoff of casual flirting and teasing, glancing touches and sultry looks. Rosalie and Alice were practically inseparable, and more often than not they were found at my sides in equal measure. We spent the rest of the week and into the following week playing a subtle game of twenty questions, really trying to get to know each other after that whole debacle in the locker room.

Even though they had continued to tease me, they hadn't poured it on as heavily as they had that day. Still, I was a nervous wreck as I quietly began to plan out my next move. I needed to make my move soon before they lost interest-even though part of me was certain they never would, and that certainty kind of scared me.

On top of everything, my friends had started noticing the attention I was getting from the sisters. Even Jessica had started commenting about it, without the usual jealousy that came with speaking of the Cullens. I think she was just happy that I was only taking the attention of the Cullen women, leaving her with the futile hope of being with the men.

The most annoying part of my friends taking notice was Mike and his less-than-respectable comments. "I'm just saying, it's hot!" More often than not his comments went ignored, but there were a few times where my hand found it's way across the back of his head. Unfortunately that didn't seem to discourage him for long. "I just wanna know which one you're gonna pick. Hey, do you think you could put in a good word for me with the other one?"

It was Jessica who smacked him after that one. "Like you would ever have a chance, you misogynistic pig."

I had never appreciated the girl more in my life. "Exactly! Besides," I smirked across the cafeteria at the girls who were paying far closer attention to my table than should be possible, "Who said I was going to choose one or the other?"

Their answering grins definitely were far too quick for them not to have heard me, but all I did was shoot them a wink. That was the closest I'd come to admitting my desire to be with them both and I was quite happy at their positive reactions. It gave me the courage I needed to go through with my plans, ignoring Mike's grumbled, "That's just selfish! Leave some for the rest of us!"

By Thursday morning of the following week I was freaking out to the highest order. I had planned the whole surprise out to the very last detail, worrying myself sick about all the ways things could go wrong. A text that morning from Alice put me at ease, though it did surprise me that she seemed to know exactly what was going on in my head.

Eris: 'Calm down and be confident. I'm sure you'll find the answer you're looking for in the end.'

I sighed with a befuddled smile as I sent back a reply. 'What are you, a fortune cookie?'

Eris: 'Closer to the truth than you might think! lol'

That was about as confusing as all the rest of the things involving one Alice Cullen, but I had learned to just roll with her idiosyncrasies. 'Fine, Tiny Goddess. Meet me at my truck during lunch today, and bring that gorgeous sister of yours.' There, that was quick and to the point, and I hadn't given anything away.

Eris: 'Will do! I look forward to it!'

I know I was smiling like a doofus, but seriously, what else could I do with these girls? I had long since abandoned myself to the insanity of my life here in Forks, namely the seemingly impossible attention I was getting from the two beautiful sisters of the Cullen family. Gods, I was smitten!

A ping from my phone brought another smile to my lips as I took in Rosalie's text.

Satan: 'I'll see you at lunch, my little darling. I'm sooo looking forward to it.'

Hurgh! Why was I able to hear her purring the words? Gods, I could still feel their seductive voices vibrating through me even a week later. 'Don't be late!' I sent back, tossing my phone to the side as I went through my morning routine, unable to rid myself of the linger smile on my lips. I decided to attempt to tame my hair into a casual bun in the hopes that my ladies might enjoy it.

"You seem chipper this morning," came Charlie's morning greeting. He and I had gotten into a bit of a routine where if he got up before me, he'd attempt to make something for breakfast, while I was left with cooking dinner for us every night. It was comforting in a domestic kind of way and I appreciated the effort he was putting in to being more responsible.

I hummed in response. "As shocking as it may seem, I'm starting to enjoy my mornings."

"This wouldn't have anything to do with those girls you're always texting or calling, would it?" His smirk said more than anything that he knew what was going on to some degree and that I was being given a chance to admit to it. He'd asked a time or two over the last week about who I was texting all the time and I'd kind of piled on the adjectives when referring to my lady goddesses.

My face-are we really surprised anymore?-flushed a deep red as my mind immediately went to a certain locker room. "Y-Yeah, maybe." Why didn't I just admit my undying love for the women while I was at it? Seriously, I was not good at lying.

"'Maybe,' she says," Charlie murmured into his coffee, snorting. "Girl, I might not be the most observant parent, but even I can see something going on in that little head of yours." He sighed, setting his cup down before turning his concerned gaze on me. "Just be careful. I have a tremendous amount of respect for Carlisle Cullen and I would hate to see one of his girls get hurt because you gotta choose between them."

Oh gods, this was awkward. I seriously didn't have time for this conversation! "Don't worry, Charlie, I have no intention of hurting anyone. I'd never in a million years do anything to harm Rosalie or Alice." I patted his shoulder as I lifted my bag off the floor. "Just trust me, if things go well today, you're gonna eat those words."

With that cryptic parting comment, I rushed out of the house and to my truck, practically skipping as I made sure the two sets of flowers were still where I'd left them on my passenger seat. I only hoped they would make the impression I hoped for.

By the time lunch rolled around, I was a mess. My stomach was in knots, which meant me skipping lunch anyway for me to have enough time for my-hopefully-grand gesture. I was sitting on the rear bumper of my truck, the bouquets sitting behind the tailgate just out of sight.

When the two objects of my eternal affections made their way over to me, I was sweating bullets. I kept having to rub my palms on my skirt-yes, I said skirt. I had dug into my closet days ago only to realize I had nothing for this occasion, and so I had dragged a giggling Angela and and a smirking Jessica with me to one of our local clothing stores with express direction of helping me not make an absolute fool out of myself.

And so here I was, a long-sleeve white button-down blouse with a frilly knee-length red skirt that swished every time I turned. To top the whole outfit off and give me some semblance of my own style, I had added a dark-blue bow-tie, because if I was going to embarrass myself today I was going to do so on my terms.

Let's completely ignore that every single one of my blunders thus far had already been on my terms.

"Bonjour, mon cherie," of course Alice would drop some French on my already fragile mindset, but it was Rosalie's purring rumble of a laugh that really had my blood pressure jumping.

"So," Rosalie added after a moment of silence, "Here we are."

Yes, you are. Gods, they were magnificent. Rosalie had worn a pair of skin-tight red leather pants with an equally tight white blouse that, if I looked close enough - and trust me, I couldn't help myself at this point - I could see through to the matching red bra beneath. Her beautiful blonde hair had been pulled up into a casual up-do that I thought looked both simple yet elegant on her.

Alice, for all her normally bubbly attitude, had gone with a maroon dress that draped enticingly off her tiny shoulders, the material appearing to flow around her like water. It cinched around her trim waist and showed off her delicate figure in the most wondrous way. I was so caught up in their beauty that I didn't realize I had been staring until Alice cleared her throat.

"Right!" I yelped, clearing my throat a moment later. "Well-" shit, my voice was cracking, get it together! "Well, I asked you two ladies here today to ask you a very important question. But before I get to that, I wanted to let you both know that in the short amount of time I've known you, I can honestly say my life has never been brighter."

Now that I was on a roll, the words simply flowed from me like a stream. "When I left Arizona, my life was pretty confusing. My mother never took the time to understand me or my feelings, always caught up in her own life, and she sent me away like some broken thing that could be 'fixed'." I swallowed hard around the lump of emotion, pushing ahead despite the sympathetic looks the girls were giving me. "And then you two kind of just exploded into my life, and now I can't imagine a world where I don't wake to the thought of your smiles."

Clearing my throat again, I reached behind me and brought out both bouquets. Judging by the surprised looks on their faces, I had most definitely gotten their attentions. "I wanted to get you each a gift, a symbolic token of my feelings. But," I pulled back the flowers, "I realized that this was about more than either of you individually. This was about my unending and unequivocal love for you both.

"These flowers represent what I think of when I see you both." I held up a sunflower bouquet first. "Sunflowers and lilacs for you, Alice, because your smile brightens my world like the sun, and your positive and open heart soothes me like the placid blues of the sea."

Next, I held up the other bouquet with a gesture towards Rosalie. "For you, ma magnifique fleur, I could go with no other flower than that of the lovely rose; red for the passionate and overwhelming love you inspire in me, and white for the purity of your every action you've shown me thus far.

"And so," I continued, my chest tightening and hands trembling as I brought both bouquets together into one single arrangement, "I offer these to you both, with the promise that, if you give me the chance, I will love and care for you both without end, until the last flower of these offerings dies." Smiling, I lifted a fake rose out of the arrangement and deposited it between the two bouquets, tying them off with a string and presenting them across my open palms.

"Will you both do me the absolute highest honor and go out with me?"

Alice

I knew I wasn't breathing, but this time it wasn't because I didn't need to. She had literally stolen the air from my lungs. That is, until all the love and devotion I'd been holding back for the last few weeks since meeting the girl began to well up inside my chest. A low keening noise filled the air, spreading and rising in volume to the point where Bella began to flinch, her human ears picking up on the sonic pitch even though she didn't seem to know where it was coming from.

Finally, my sense returned to me and I cut off the sound with a gasp, my voice screeching out before I could I could think to modulate it. "YES! Yes yes yes yes, a thousand, million times yes!" I threw myself at the girl, snatching the flowers out of the way before tossing myself into her waiting arms and showering her face with kisses while babbling unintelligibly. I actually intended to land every single one of those kisses on her beautifully full lips, but they scattered all over her face in my excitement.

Rosalie's rumbling laugh held a watery note to it as she, too, stepped forward to join the embrace. "You heard the pipsqueak. That's a 'hell yes' from us both, little darling." Then I was shifting aside as Rosalie accomplished what I couldn't and landed a warm, fierce kiss directly to Bella's lips, her pale hands cupping the girl's face. Someone groaned, and an answering whimper arose, to whom they belonged to didn't seem to matter.

Their kiss ended, not suddenly, but slow like the flickering of embers clinging to life for but a moment longer. Both girls looked a bit winded by the kiss, but then Bella was turning to look at me, an eager smile gracing her lips as she crooked her finger at me. "Let's try that again, mon trésor." I shuddered at both the sheer want in her voice and the use of French, taking an unnecessary breath before approaching. When her warm, gentle fingers slide across my jaw and into my hair, I nearly growled in a fierce and sudden need.

Instead, a rather desperate whimper escaped my throat as her lips were suddenly upon mine, heat and need and so many things burning a searing path through me. I had a firm grip on the shirt she wore, forcing myself to relax as much as possible before I wound up shredding the material. Her lips moved so thoroughly against mine, the soft feel of those twin ribbons of velvet moving expertly across my own a sweet torture the likes of which I'd never felt before.

When she pulled away, I was panting, leaning forward in an attempt to keep the contact, earning a gentle chuckle from the human girl. Slowly blinking, I opened my eyes, only just realizing I had closed them. "That...you..."

"Alice Cullen, speechless," came Rosalie's warm chuckled response, "I'll have to mark the day."

Shaking my head, I blinked away the last of the cobwebs from my mind. "Gods," I gasped out quietly, still trying to bring my higher brain functions back up to speed. "We should do that again."

Bella's beautiful, charming laughter filled the air, a heavy sigh leaving the girl's lips moments later. "I would love to, but I think we're already gathering quite a bit of unwanted attention." I blinked again before looking around, finally noticing that several students had paused in their movements around the parking area to stare slack-jawed at us. "Not that I care," she continued. "But I'd rather not have the entire student body ogling my girlfriends."

I turned back to the girl with a smile, noticing the broad grin she had on her face and I couldn't help it. I squealed again and drew her in for a quick kiss before laying my head on her shoulder. "I've been hoping for this day for so long! I just didn't think it would happen so soon!"

Bella's laughter shook my head but I just clung to her harder. "Hell, tell me about it! I had no idea you two would even go for the idea of dating me like this. I'd almost given up on the idea of this kind of love before I moved here, to be perfectly honest."

Rosalie moved to take up position on Bella's left, her arm slipping around the girl's trim waist. "To be honest, I didn't know this kind of love existed at all. But seeing your smile, knowing it comes from both of us in such equal measure..." she tapered off with a hum, and I could feel Bella's pronounced shiver. "I'm so happy you moved here. I'm even more delighted to know that you're ours."

Being so close, I could both feel and hear Bella's heart thud loudly at Rosalie's words. "Is this real?" she whispered, a shadow of that horrible doubt I hated to hear or see from her rearing its ugly head. "Am I...am I really...both of yours?"

I pulled back to give her a lazy smile, just as Rosalie moved to stand in front of her close to me. "Yes, Bella, you are ours, just as we are yours. It's only fair, after all, that we should belong to one another."

"And there's no way in hell we're letting you go, now that we have you," Rosalie promised, her voice firm yet playfully intent.

"Oh, whatever shall I do with myself?" came Bella's naturally sarcastic response.

Rosalie and I glanced at one another with equally wicked smiles before turning back to our mate, her voice dripping with seduction. "Oh, we can think of plenty of things to do with you, Isabella."

The way the girl's face flushed and her legs trembled, I knew she was remembering the events of our little rendezvous in the locker room. The scent of her arousal filled the air and I couldn't help but draw in a deep breath, leaning in until my body was pinning her against the truck, one knee brushing her thighs tantalizingly close to the source of her sudden and obvious need.

The bell ringing brought a snarl to my lips that wasn't even close to human even as I had begun to trace them down Bella's exposed neck. Fuck, school, right. "I suddenly hate that sound with a violent passion," I growled, feeling Bella shuddering beneath me at the sound.

"Wanna skip?" Bella whispered, voice rough with need, and I was sorely tempted to drag her off to the nearest horizontal surface clear of the view of the school.

"No," sighed Rosalie, and I drew my lips away from Bella's deliciously warm skin in order to pout at her. "No, girls, we cannot skip. We don't want Bella getting in trouble with Chief Swan, and we don't want to have to explain to Esme why we didn't show up to the second half of our day."

Bella and I both groaned in unison, but I knew Rosalie was right. The last thing we needed was for Bella to get grounded of all things. I couldn't possibly go any length of time without her company now that we were officially a couple-trouple? Fuck, in a relationship, whatever. "She's right, ma belle," I agreed, turning a grimace to Bella who looked about three seconds away from mounting one of us. "But we'll have plenty of time to get...acquainted once school is out."

Bella's sigh was both adorable and heart-wrenching, so I leaned in and gave her a quick kiss. Her hand on the back of my head was surprising as she pulled me back to her for a longer, deeper taste. When she pulled away, she turned a crooked smile to Rosalie who smirked in return before she leaned in and took Bella's lips with authority, the sound of the brunette's moan sending shivers down my spine and a clenching between my thighs.

"Okay," Bella whispered when Rosalie pulled away, her eyes closed as she seemed to focus on her breathing. "Okay, you two should go ahead, because if I open my eyes and either of you are still standing there, we're never gonna make it to class."

Rosalie and I were both laughing when we pulled away, our touches lingering across her fingers until they slowly parted, remembering to grab the flowers at the last second. I hated to leave her there like that, but damn we needed to get to class.

"See you in Trig," Rosalie called back once we were far enough away to resist temptation.

I was clinging to Rosalie's arm as we left, my body practically vibrating as we walked. "Oh gods, oh gods, oh gods! She's ours, Rosalie, she's ours!" I let loose another happy squeal, uncaring of the weird looks we were garnering. By the time school was out, the entire populace would know that we were in a relationship with Bella, and that made me deliriously happy.

Rosalie's laughter was so happy and free that my own heart felt lighter hearing it. "Ours," she whispered, the sound so full of awe that I couldn't help but hug her close one last time.

"Ours for all time."

Bella

I somehow made it through my next few classes on autopilot, my mind totally gone. All throughout Trig I found myself staring at Rosalie who somehow managed to turn so she could meet my gaze even though she was two seats ahead of me and two rows over. I was thinking seriously about ways I might could bribe my seatmate at my current table to trade seats with Rosalie, but then again, I'd likely never get any work done. So for now I contented myself with staring wistfully at her despite the weird looks I was getting from the students around me.

Biology found me sitting next to a smirking Edward Cullen, and I just know the little weirdo knew of the change in my relationship status. "Look," I murmured with a sigh, "if you've got a problem with me dating your sisters say so now. Either way, it won't matter to me one bit."

He let out a rather high-pitched giggle that I had to admit was kind of adorable. "Not at all, Bella. I happen to think you're the perfect match for my sisters. It's not like they ever shut up about you."

I felt the all-too familiar blush rising to my cheeks. "Part of me wants to call bullshit, but I think I believe you. Besides," here my smile grew into a full grin, "I practically talk my dad's ear off about them, so I guess we're even."

He gave me the most relaxed smile I'd seen thus far, and it made him look far less threatening. "I'll be sure to let them know," he teased, shooting me a conspiratorial wink that made me chuckle. I think I might actually learn to enjoy being around the creepy Cullen if he keeps this up.

The rest of my classes followed in a more boring fashion, until Gym, that is. Somehow in all of my panicked, obsessive planning I had neglected to remember that I would be sharing the class with my new girlfriends. I guess part of me hadn't actually expected them to say 'yes', which was why I was inundated with waves of embarrassment when I reached the door to the locker room.

There they stood, already changed into the sinfully short gym shorts and tantalizingly tight crop tops. A whimper left my throat long before I reached my locker, the girls leaning to either side with knowing grins on their beautiful faces.

"You're killing me," I murmured, doing my level best to ignore the tempting sight of my girlfriends' glorious bodies. As I took out my clothes, I noticed that neither girl moved to turn away, my breath hitching at the heat I found in their gazes when I searched their grinning faces.

Are they seriously not gonna look away? I had to swallow down my trepidation, as I let my gaze fall to the floor. I hadn't expected to be confronted with my own shortcomings this suddenly and the feelings of inadequacy were nearly overwhelming.

"Are you okay?" Alice asked, her voice both playful yet concerned. I think she had picked up on my sudden bout of self-consciousness, but I didn't want them to think I was scared or uncertain.

"We can step out, if you want." This was Rosalie, a soft, loving, understanding, smile on her lovely lips.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, feeling my eyes beginning to well up with tears, blinking rapidly to try to hide them. Gods I'm pathetic.

"Hey, no," Alice's hands were cupping my cheeks, the cold touch grounding me as much as her words. "I admit that we would love to see your beautiful body again, but we would never want to make you feel uncomfortable like this! I'm so sorry, ma belle!"

I sniffed, a shaky smile curling my lips as I met her concerned frown. "It's not that I don't want you two looking, I just..." my voice trailed off. How do I explain to them that I felt subpar standing next to them, that they were these statuesque goddesses and I was just...plain. I felt pathetic and unworthy.

"Isabella," I couldn't help the pronounced shiver that rolled down my spine, Rosalie's voice practically inside me as she moved up against my side. "You are without a doubt the most sinfully attractive young woman we have ever had the pleasure of meeting." Her cold fingers trailed down my cheek, coming to rest under my chin as she pulled my face up to meet her pitch black gaze.

I felt myself clench at the obvious sign of her arousal, that dark part of these girls that I had seen on a few occasions not scaring me in the slightest. I had this effect on them. I had this effect on them. Whether I believed myself attractive, either in general or in some way that was worthy of them, these two gorgeous women wanted me. They wanted me. Gods, how do I even wrap my head around that?

A soft sound like a mix between a sigh and a whimper from my right made me shudder, my lower muscles clenching again in response. "Trust me, ma belle," came Alice's tinkling, breathy giggle, "Every part of you appeals to us. There's nothing about you that we don't already love."

Rosalie drew in a deep breath before she pulled back slightly. "That being said, we are more than willing to go at your pace, my little darling. We want nothing more than for you to feel safe and comfortable with us."

It was my turn to take a deep breath, the combined scent of honey and lavender pouring off of my two ladies filling me with a comforting warmth. Smiling past my own self-consciousness, I stepped back and away from the girls, my gaze traveling back and forth between the two. "I do...feel safe with you both. I've never felt as cared for and loved as I do when I'm with you two."

Then, without waiting for any more of my horrid self-doubt to sink back in, I ripped my shirt up and over my head. My skirt quickly followed, leaving me standing there with a rising flush burning its way up my neck and into my cheeks. I could tell I had stunned the two beautiful girls, the sight of their jaws dropping and eyes dilating fully to black enough to fill me with both confidence and desire.

"I think you two should probably head to class," I murmured.

"Why?" was Alice's breathy response, her fingers twitching like she was restraining herself from touching.

"Because," I chuckled, feeling warm under their searing gazes. "If you don't, we're never getting out of this locker room." Feeling a bit saucy, I turned my back to them, reaching behind myself to unhook my bra and let it drop to the floor. I was just pulling my sports bra on over my head when the sound of groaning metal reached my ears. I turned around just in time to see Alice practically dragging Rosalie out of the room, a whimper leaving her lips as if it physically hurt her to leave. A look at my locker door found a small indention that looked unmistakably like fingers, and while that probably should have worried me, all I could do was smirk at the evidence of their desire.

Smiling at my little victory, I finished throwing on my newly acquired spandex exercise shorts and tight-fitting tank-top. I had come to realize that sweats weren't the best attire for gym, even if they were warm and comfy for Forks weather. The sound of the coach's whistle forced me to hurry with putting away my clothes as I jogged out of the locker room and over to where Rosalie and Alice were standing. The sight of their wide-eyed gazes reaching me told me that they hadn't yet gotten over my little striptease. I could live with that.

"Okay, everyone, we're running up another game of dodgeball." Predictably there were mixed reactions to the announcement, some groans and plenty of cheers from the jocks. Lauren Mallory, I noticed, was glaring at me with unchecked fury and I knew without a shadow of a doubt that she'd be aiming for me once again.

"Cullens!" the man shouted. I startled, but the girls didn't seem to react at all. "You're team captains! I want you picking your teammates one at a time."

"No," was Rosalie's firm reply. Coach Clapp stumbled, his brow furrowing as he prepared what I was sure to be a scathing reproach only to have Rosalie talk over him. "I'm not going to be on a team against my sister, so pick someone else."

The man seemed to think it over for a moment, his gaze glancing at me for a moment before Alice stepped in front of me in a not-so-subtle act of defiance. "Mallory!" he eventually shouted, jerking the girl out of her glaring, a plastic smile lighting her lips as she met the coach's gaze. "You're team captain. Alice, you start."

"Bella!" she announced enthusiastically, her arm already curling around mine and dragging me over to the opposite side of the gym.

Lauren's malicious smile was just this side of sadistic as her gaze moved from me to Rosalie. "Don't even think about it," the blonde practically snarled, sneering at the bitchy girl. Sensing the danger of the situation, Lauren at least had some sort of self-preservation since she chose one of the jocks to join her team instead.

"Rosalie," Alice sang the name, her chiming laughter following as the blonde gave her an eye roll, her arms crossed over her chest as she joined us on our side of the room. And so it went, each girl choosing players until everyone was divided evenly.

Once we were lined up on either side of the gym, the coach's whistle announced the start of the game. Almost as soon as it sounded, a ball came flying towards my face. All I could do was raise my arms defensively and await the hit. Only it never came, the sound of rubber slapping flesh from in front of me.

I looked up in time to see that Rosalie had caught the ball long before it had had a chance to hit me. She glanced at me with a loving smile before turning a sneer towards Mallory who gave a frustrated groan. With more force than I thought necessary - or possible, for that matter - Rosalie launched the ball across the space almost too fast to see, Lauren's facing snapping back as she fell backwards onto her ass.

"Mallory, you're out!" the coach called, Alice and I sharing a giggle at the girl's red face as she bitched and moaned her way over to the bleachers. The game continued in this fashion, several students on the opposing team attempting to take me out of the game early since I was usually the weak link, while my lovely ladies came to my rescue every time. It was hella flattering and I couldn't keep the perpetual flush from my face the moment I realized what was happening.

The game went on for the entirety of the period until finally the Coach called a halt with his whistle. Unlucky for Lauren, Alice had just shot off another speedy throw that caught her in her gut, sending the girl doubling over on to the floor to the laughter of several students. "That's it, game's over. Gather up the equipment then hit the showers. Good game, everyone!"

With a smirk, I helped gather whatever balls were around us and returned them to the shelves. By the time we were finished, we were some of the last girls to make our way into the locker room. I wasn't nearly as sweaty as I have been during Gym this year, thanks in large part to my solid protectors. I hadn't even needed to move much during the game, either Rosalie or Alice was always there to keep me from being pelted. And, knowing them, I could already tell they hadn't even worked up a sweat either.

"I bet you're just so smug, huh, dyke?" I had to close my eyes and count slowly to ten before I turned from my locker, glaring at Lauren while wearing nothing but my shorts and sports bra. I could feel Alice and Rosalie's hackles rising but I simple raised a hand to let them know I had this. I was grateful that we seemed to be the last ones left, otherwise this would have gotten far more attention that I was comfortable with.

"Come on," I gestured with my hand, "Get it out of your system, you half-wit cunt. Lesbian, dyke, slut, whore, bitch-whatever you've got, I've heard it all. So let's hear it." I folded my arms, waiting, smiling at the reddening of her face as I ran through her list of available insults. Oh she was mad, but with my ladies at my side I felt nothing but confident.

Until she did the one thing you just...don't...do. "Watch yourself. Your little bitches won't always be around, Swan."

I was across the locker room before I even realized I was moving, my hand grasping the girl's shirt and slamming her back hard against her locker. My fury was so complete, so powerful that I didn't even feel the strain as I braced my arm across her throat, lifting her an inch off the ground. "You insult me all you want," I growled, my voice deeper and more harsh than I'd ever heard it, "But if you ever disrespect my girlfriends again, I will end you. Am I understood?!" I pressed harder against her throat for emphasis, the girl's wide-eyed gaze fearful as she struggling to nod as she gagged.

A soft, cold hand on my shoulder drew me up short, causing me to drop the girl with a gasp. I stepped away, suddenly terrified by what I'd done, my gaze turning to meet the black dilated eyes of Alice as she stared at me, her lips curled into a frown that just looked wrong on her face.

Lauren's coughing brought my attention back to the girl, my heart lurching as I realized what I'd just done. "I-I'm so sorry," whispered frantically, kneeling down next to the girl. "I don't know what came over me."

"No," Lauren whispered to the floor, her voice scratchy. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said those things. You were just defending your partners."

I blinked at the lack of venom in her voice, settling back onto my heels as I felt all of the fight leave my system. I felt tired, weary, confused. "Why?" I asked, my voice choked with emotion. "Why do you hate me so much?"

"Because," she snarled, her voice rising again through the pain of her throat. "You come here and suddenly you have the attention of the whole fucking school on you. You get to be the center of attention, you get to have everyone want you. And now you're dating not one, but two girls and everyone is just fucking fine with it! You don't even seem to care about the snide comments being whispered behind your back!"

She was breathing heavy, her hatred almost palpable, but I didn't let it wash over me like in the past. I felt it, I saw it...and I recognized it. "Lauren," I called her name, my voice gentle as her head jerked up to meet my gaze. "Why are you so afraid to come out?"

Her jaw clenched, and I could feel her instinctual denial rise up between us, only for it to fizzle away as her bitchy façade cracked. Streaks of tears began to pour down her cheeks as she wrapped her arms around her middle, and without thinking I reached forward to pull her bodily to me. She wailed, her voice breaking as she cried out her pain against my shoulder, my hands sliding up and down her back in a soothing gesture.

The presence of my girlfriends crouching down on either side of me brought a smile to my face as I turned in time to meet their watery smiles. They looked so precious, so loving and so proud that I couldn't help my own eyes welling up. Still, I focused my attention on Lauren and gently pulled away, the girl's hands clutching at my shoulders before she seemed to remember herself and jerked them away.

"Lauren," I murmured softly, tilting my head down to catch her puffy-eyed downcast gaze. "Is that what this has all been about?"

She sniffled, her hands once again curling around her abdomen. "I've heard the whispers and mean comments for years. The laughter that follows anything even hinting at gay. I couldn't let that be me, I wouldn't let that be me! I couldn't take it..." her voice tapered off on a cringe, her voice cracking.

Nodding, I sat back and sighed. "Yeah, I get that. When I came out back in Phoenix, I got called every name in the book. It's why I never took anything you said seriously. Not until I saw the look in your eyes that day in History when I implied you'd asked me out." The anger that flashed in Lauren's eyes burned bright for a moment before she flinched, her gaze falling to her lap. "I never meant to out you like that, I just wanted to get back at you for the way you were treating me," I whispered. "I'm sorry."

She shook her head, sniffling one last time before she roughly wiped at her eyes. "I was being a bitch. I deserved worse. Besides," her signature bitchy smirk was back, but I could see through it now as she hid her pain behind it, "You'd be lucky to have someone like me ask you out."

I laughed, even as I heard Rosalie and Alice's growls from my sides. "Um, hate to burst that bubble but-" I threw my arms around both girls' waists and smirked as Lauren's face fell into a vicious pout. "I'm literally dating the two hottest girls at school-nay, the world." My toothy grin was just this side of cocky, though it soon smoothed out into a loving grin as I heard Alice's tinkling laughter and Rosalie's rumbling chuckle. "Seriously, though," I added, my smile dimming a bit, "I highly doubt you're the only gay person at this school. Hell, Edward is so far in the closet he's basically in Narnia."

Lauren looked shocked at the news and Alice almost instantly fell backwards she was cackling so hard while Rosalie's face couldn't seem to decide between shock or horror. I couldn't help but join Alice in her laughter, Lauren's face turning so red I feared she might burst before she too began to devolving into laughter. I hadn't planned to throw Edward under the bus like that but it had brought an honest smile to Lauren's face so he was just going to have to get over it.

"Oh god!" the formerly-bitchy girl cried out, one hand braced on her chest as she struggled to catch her breath. "That makes so much more sense now!" She continued to chuckle, but before she could add anything else, the door to the locker room opened.

"What are you all still doing here, school let out ten minutes ago!" Coach Clapp turned away once he noticed our presence. Ever the attentive teacher, apparently he hadn't realized that some of his students had been left behind until now.

"Sorry, Coach," I called out, all of us struggling to our feet. "We got to catching up and lost track of time. We'll be out in a minute."

Sighing, the man left us alone, muttering under his breath something about 'girls'. "Ugh, let's get changed and get out of here." I walked over to my locker and pulled my tight sports bra over my head without thought, sighing at finally being free of the constricting material. I really hated wearing it, but I refused to sweat up my only good bra even if it was the end of the day.

A choked sound from several feet behind me drew my gaze around to find that Lauren hadn't turned back to her locker and so had not only gotten an eye full of my half-naked body, but also that of my girlfriends as they, too, had moved to their lockers to change. Growling, I grabbed my bar of soap from my locker and threw it at the girl. "Eyes forward, Mallory!"

She yelped, her face the color of a ripe tomato as she quickly twirled around to face her locker. Still, she didn't immediately move to change and I eventually had to laugh at her state. I can't say I blamed her-my girlfriends were gorgeous.

We finished changing without further incident, the skirt I had put back on feeling foreign and just weird, but one look at my lady loves' faces and I knew I had made the right choice. They apparently really liked seeing me in more traditionally feminine clothing, or maybe it was the way it clung to my ass because I swear I could feel their gazes as we left the locker room.

"Lauren," I called out once we'd made it outside. She stopped by my side, a curious look on her face. "You're not alone. Don't ever let anyone try to treat you differently because of who you're attracted to." I pulled out a piece of paper and quickly wrote my number on it. "Here, if you need someone to talk to, shoot me a text. You don't have to come out if you're not ready to, but if and when you do decide, I'll back you up."

Before the girl could take it, Alice had plucked the paper out of my hand. I thought for a moment she might have taken it out of jealousy, but then immediately dismissed the idea because I trusted my ladies and I knew they trusted me. I was justified moments later when Alice offered the paper to the girl once again, Alice's number written on it too.

"We're with you too," she said gently, a happy smile on her pixie features. "As someone who recently came to terms with her sexuality, I can easily commiserate. And even if you don't want it, too bad because we're going to be friends whether you like it or not!" Her giggle was playful and quite possibly the most adorable thing I've ever heard.

"Might as well accept that offer," I murmured, smirking at Alice, "I don't think anyone could in good conscience say 'no' to this girl."

Lauren hesitantly reached for the paper only for it to be snatched out of Alice's hand, a heavy sigh coming from Rosalie who hadn't quite finished rolling her eyes as she added her number to the paper. "If anyone gives you any trouble, let me know. You might be known as the school bitch, but I am the standard by which you are judged, little girl." With that, the paper was once again offered, this time finally reaching Lauren's hands as she stared down at the numbers scrawled there.

I could see her eyes water slightly as her hands began to shake, and before I could so much as blink the girl had thrown her arms around my shoulders with a choked sound. Sighing, I rolled my eyes playfully as I patted her back soothingly, Alice joining the hug moments later, Rosalie only going so far as to pat the girl on the shoulder awkwardly. I swear, the blonde was the most loving woman I've ever met, but she had no concept of social cues or how to comfort someone who wasn't me.

We eventually calmed her down, and with a few murmured promises to text us all, she left with a solemn set to her shoulders. It might take her a while to feel comfortable enough to even consider coming out, but I felt better knowing we had given her at least some kind of support. With a little work, the girl might actually get that stick out of her ass and stop being such a sexually frustrated twatwaffle.

"I'm officially changing your name in my phone contacts to Sappho," Alice eventually commented, her voice teasing in a way that let me know she wasn't teasing at all. "You are the official school Queer Whisperer."

I choked on a laugh, my shoulders shaking as I tried to cover my surprise. "Oh come on, just because I'm the resident Queer person for everyone to fixate on doesn't mean I have some mystical power. That being said," I smirked as I turned to face both girls, "your brother is hella gay, did you know that?"

Alice's face lit up, her chiming laughter filling the air. "Oh my gods, I didn't think anyone would pick up on that!"

Rosalie's face looked like she had swallowed something sour. "No wonder he's so frustrated. They could write a new movie based on his life, 'The Hundred Year Old Virgin'."

Okay, I think my side was about to split open, I was laughing so hard. I mean, I'd had the thought a time or two over the last few weeks of interacting that he might actually be gay, but having it confirmed was kind of hilarious yet adorable. "I shouldn't be laughing, I know, but it's just so painfully obvious to anyone with eyes." It took a while before I was able to contain myself enough to continue our goodbyes.

"So," I announced without preamble once my laughter had died down, turning to my girlfriends. "I would like to ask you two lovely ladies if you'd like to hang out tomorrow after school. Before you answer, just remember that you get to have, at no expense to yourselves, a bumbling mess of a girlfriend who can expertly trip over flat surfaces and makes about every conversation as awkward as possible!" I sounded like a gameshow host, but the fact that Alice's tinkling laughter was filling the air again had me smiling sheepishly.

"Hmm," Rosalie hummed thoughtfully, a finger tapping her chin. "Throw in unlimited cuddles and on-demand make-out sessions and you have a deal."

My grin was splitting my face as Alice practically bounced on her feet at my side. "Deal."