DISCLAIMER: Twilight belongs to Stephenie Meyer
All lyrics (including chapter titles) belong to Breaking Benjamin

CHAPTER 3: MY POLYAMOROUS FRIEND

BPOV

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thank you all for your amazing reviews. I am sorry that I couldn't get this out sooner, so I decided to make it longer than usual to make up for it. Hope you like!

As I drove my truck home from school, I concentrated on taking deep breaths—not hyperventilating, but not forgetting to breathe either. I was going to be in a helluva lot of trouble. I skipped two classes! By sleeping! I couldn't contain my embarrassment and I blushed, thinking back to how Angela had found me slumped over behind a tree. She had been politely silent as we walked back to the parking lot together, only talking about comfortable subjects.

Until we reached my truck.

I had opened my door and haphazardly thrown my backpack over into the passenger seat when Angela asked, "So what's up with Edward Cullen?"

I felt my face immediately beginning to heat up. "What about him?"

"Well, that's what I'm asking you," she said, a smile threatening to turn up the corner's of her lips.

I shrugged. "I don't know. He came to that ridiculous party that Charlie held for me yesterday and sort of walked up to me like he would talk to me. Then he just frowned and decided to be an anti-social prick and walked away."

Angela smiled. "Sounds like the Grecian God has someone in a hot mess."

I blinked.

She chuckled. "Oh, don't worry. It's probably just a one-time thing. He won't bug you or anything. Being the gorgeous morsel of manhood that he is, he doesn't have the want or time for anyone in Forks. The girls here just aren't pretty enough."

"Um… thanks," I said, heat and color flooding my cheeks. I felt like I was ready to crow. Edward Cullen wants me.

However, just as this thought entered my mind, it flew right back out. Of course he doesn't, I thought. How could he? Angela couldn't have been more clear. I'm plain—not pretty by any stretch of the imagination—and I wasn't experienced enough for someone like him. It had been made clear that he had a promiscuous lifestyle, one that I could never fit into. I was still a virgin.

Angela was distracted when she caught sight of Ben, and we quickly said our good-byes. Sticking my key into the ignition, I turned it once, hearing the engine cough and then die. I tried again, ending up with the same result. I cranked it a final time, and finally kicked my engine to a start. I jumped out of my skin when I turned to glance out my window and saw a face staring in at me.

I rolled down my window to the burning green eyes of Edward Cullen.

"Can I help you?"

I didn't mean to sound like a bitch, but the previous conversation I had just had came back to my mind, coming through my brain and out my mouth. I winced at his tone, but instead of scoffing or swearing at me like I thought he would, he smiled. I had never heard his voice before, but I wasn't surprised at the shivers that ran from my scalp to the soles of my feet when his deep, husky voice said:

"You should get that engine checked. One of these days it might go out on you."

I blinked and averted my eyes. I sincerely hoped that he was truthfully just talking to me about the engine. I wouldn't be able to handle it if he was talking to me for anything else. But the tone of his voice made my cheeks heat up and a furious blush covered my face. I glanced around me to see if there was anyone who might divert the situation, but the bell had rang almost thirty minutes ago. The parking lot was clear except for a silver Volvo, a red BMW and a monstrous Jeep.

I glanced back at him to still see his eyes on my face. Suddenly angry that he wouldn't look away, I spat, "Could you back up? I have to leave."

His eyes narrowed. He stood back and made a broad gesture with his arms. With a clang, I reversed the truck, used all my might to move the steering wheel a couple of inches to the right, and coughed out of the parking lot. As I made it to a stop sign, I looked in my rearview mirror. He was in the exact place he had been previously, his arms folded over his chest. As I turned the corner, I could almost swear that I saw him smile.

I could feel his gaze burning into my head all the way back to Charlie's.

The next morning, I stared out my bedroom window, a feeling of uncomfortable, ominous dread seeping into my stomach. The weather outside was no different than yesterday—there was no sunlight, just a gray sky and endless green. Of course, the watercolor image in front of me was smeared with fog and mist, and I could barely see to the end of my street. I sighed, scooped up my jacket and backpack and slid slowly down the stairs.

Charlie wasn't up yet—I doubted anyone was awake yet in the entire neighborhood. I quietly eased out of the front door and climbed into my truck, wincing as the door slammed shut behind me. I pumped the gas pedal and cranked the engine to a successful yet loud start. Chugging down the driveway and down the street, I rubbed my eyes, trying to ease away the feeling of nausea in my stomach.

Another nightmare last night. Except that time, it wasn't just the man in my dream. There had been someone with him. All I could see were glowing green eyes, and as the man continued to assault me, I glanced over at the wall, seeing him crouched against it. He just sat there, not moving. Yet somehow, I felt oddly safe. Despite the pain that was being thrust upon my body, I felt comforted by those green depths, glowing at me from the corner of my vision.

I shuddered as I pulled into the parking lot, wondering how I was going to face him. How was I going to be able to look into those glowing eyes the same way? Should I tell him? I chided myself as I pictured the scenario in my head as if I were in Sixteen Candles. Hi Edward. I had a strange dream last night, and you were in it.

I laughed to myself as I parked in my usual parking spot. It was so cliché. Girl falls for boy and boy doesn't know, so girl spends her entire time thinking endlessly about the boy until she finds the courage to go and talk to him. Well, one thing was for certain. I wasn't going to be that girl. Edward Cullen wouldn't know that I dreamed about him, and soon he would forget that I even existed. Just like Angela told me.

The day passed by slowly, each hour blending into the next. I didn't see Edward at all, and didn't have a problem ignoring Mike and Jessica like normal. I refused to think about my dream, because every time those green eyes popped into my mind, a wave of nausea would roll through my stomach. So I shut it out completely, paying attention only in class where I needed the information. Other than that, I decided to remain an impassive social butthead.

It was when I showed up to Biology that everything took a turn.

I walked into Mr. Banner's room, walking up to his desk. "Hi, my name is Isabella Swan," I said. "I like to go by Bella." He looked up at me, nodding vaguely in my direction. "Yes, how are you Miss Swan? Are you feeling better?"

Feeling better? "Yes, Mr. Banner, I'm fine, but—"

"Class is about to start," Mr. Banner reminded me. "There's an extra seat back in the back next to Mr. Cullen. You can sit there."

My stomach dropped as I turned to see the table he was pointing to. Edward was staring at me, slouched over in his seat with his arms crossed. His stare didn't change as I met his eyes, his expression just seemed to harden. He looked mad about something.

"Mr. Banner," I protested, turning back to him. "I don't think—"

"Miss Swan," he said, his voice tired. "Class will begin in promptly thirty seconds. I suggest you take your seat before I am forced to mark you tardy. That wouldn't be good on your first day in my class."

Sighing, I made my way up the aisle. Mike smiled at me from his seat by Jessica, and I smiled slightly back at him. Jessica half-waved and I nodded my head back at her. I made small gestures to the students who acknowledged me until I came to the back. I stared at Edward for a moment until I felt a very usual and uncomfortable blush form in my cheeks. I made a move to walk around his chair, but of course, being the klutz that I am, the toe of my shoe caught on his chair, sending me in a death spiral toward the ground.

Reaching out, cool hands wrapped around my waist as I headed toward the ground. Stumbling, I was pulled upright into a pair of strong arms, holding me until I was steady. I looked down at him, embarrassment flooding through me and pulled away from his arms. I dropped my backpack onto the ground and flopped into my seat, putting my face in my hands.

Could I be anymore of a geek?

Mr. Banner gave an incredibly long, boring presentation about the process of mitosis in comparison to meiosis—a fairly basic principle—and though I had already passed half of this course in Phoenix, I took dutiful notes, trying extremely hard to occupy myself so as not to give Edward any attention.

But it was extremely hard. His smallest movements caught my attention, from pinching the bridge of his nose to running his hands through his hair to drumming his fingers on the table to tapping his pencil to fidgeting in his chair. He had a unique smell about him too… minty and tangy and sweet. I wanted to breathe him all in.

Ashamed and flustered at my thoughts, I let my hair fall down over my shoulder, separating him from my view.

The bell rang, and I launched myself from my seat, knocking my books to the floor. Sighing and staring at them, I debated leaving them there. I closed my eyes and counted to three, and then bent over to pick them up. I was about to wrap my hands around them when a pair of pale hands stretched out, snatching them from the floor. "Here," he said, his voice deep.

"Thanks," I muttered. I didn't meet his eyes, for I was afraid that if I did, I would dissolve in a puddle.

"You're welcome," he replied.

I stood there for a moment, and when I finally looked up, I realized with a shot of despair that he wasn't there. Awkwardly, I hauled my backpack into the hallway and shoved past the crowds of kids, moving desperately to get out of the hallway. Why I was hurrying to get to Gym, I had no idea. All I knew was that I wanted to avoid conversations and confrontations with anyone.

That wasn't going to happen.

I was so distracted by my thoughts that I ran headfirst into a brick wall—sort of. I backed up and looked into the gorgeous face of a brown haired boy. More like a bear than anything else. With thick steel bands of muscles wrapping around his body, he towered over me, and when I met his blue eyes, he smiled. "Hello."

"Erm, hi," I murmured, wiping my hands under my eyes to make sure that there was no wetness there.

"Hi," he said enthusiastically. A smile spread along his face. "I'm Emmett."

I found myself smiling back as I introduced myself. His icy blue eyes lit up, and he pulled me into the tightest hug I had ever experienced in my life. I was literally breathless as he squeezed my shoulders. I was also beginning to wonder whether affection was common among the citizens of Forks or whether I was just getting lucky. Either way, it both set me on edge and made me feel welcome.

Such conflicting feelings made it hard for me to carry on a normal conversation, especially with this huge boy. He was loud, brash and impossible not to like, and as he made a joke about my clumsiness, I found myself laughing. But I didn't know what to say to him, how to respond to such open friendliness, and it made me uncomfortable. "I have to go," I said quietly after a few minutes of joking.

"Okay," he said. "But I'll see you around, right Bella?"

A shot of black hair diverted my attention. "Of course you will," a pixie-like, soprano voice said.

I must have looked confused, because the short girl laughed, her laughter rolling like tinkering bells. She was very pretty as well, her skin extremely pale but lovely against her inky hair. She looked Elvin, dainty and compact and exquisitely beautiful.

Emmett glanced at me and I shrugged. He seemed too surprised to say anything. "Well," he finally said. "I'm glad." He glanced over my head and his eyes brightened. "There's Rosalie. I'll talk to you guys later." He pecked Alice on top of the head and with an "It's nice to meet you, Bella," hurried off in the direction of a beautiful blonde who was reading from a rather thick manual. I could barely see the front, but it looked like a car engine.

I barely had time to recover when the pixie attacked me.

"I'm Alice," she chirped. "You must be Bella."

"How could you tell?" I asked, trying not to hint at my sarcasm.

She just laughed. "Oh, everyone around here knows about you."

"Yeah," I said, sighing. "The evidence was there when I stepped out of the car. I guess there is no hiding, is there?"

Before she could say anything else, no one other than Edward stepped up behind her. I felt myself gasp, and she looked at me strangely. Edward made a face as well, but I was having trouble coming up with what it meant. I just looked at the ground, concentrating on a smudge on my shoe.

"I take it you know each other?" Alice asked.

"I should ask you the same question," Edward said, his voice still sending goosebumps down my spine.

"We just met," she said. Shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up…

I swore softly under my breath, something I rarely did. I heard Edward chuckle, and I turned to him to shoot him a death glare. He seemed taken aback, and stared at me until I looked away, brushing my hair over my shoulder to form a curtain between us. I wanted to ask why he was standing there, talking to me, but I refrained. I glanced up again to see him looking at me.

"Ah," he said. Slowly, softly. I felt my toes curl.

I looked away, glancing at a clock hanging from the ceiling. I was going to be late.

"I have to go," I said quietly. It was going to be the second day of gym I had missed since I had been here. Coach Clapp wasn't going to be happy.

"Bella, wait," Alice called, but I had already tuned around and was quickly heading in the opposite direction. My backpack slapped against my back, throwing me forward and making my footing even more uncoordinated then usual, but I pushed forward, desperately trying to get to class on time.

I was stepping inside the gymnasium as the bell rang, and felt my cheeks heat as I glanced around to see everyone in a gym uniform. As if on cue, they all turned to look at me. I exhaled, realizing that I had been holding my breath. I hurried to the locker room, ignoring the glances of Mike Newton and hurried through the door, throwing my backpack on a bench and grabbing a spare set of clothing. I paid no attention to the fact that these may not have been washed and hurried back into the gymnasium.

EPOV – several weeks later

I was like a damn whipped puppy. Ever since Mr. Banner's little comment on my hormones, they had been raging at full force. I had never beat off in my life the number of times I did in that one month. She was all I could think about. It drove me absolutely fucking insane.

I had been trying to pay her no attention for weeks. Every time I passed her in the hallway, I made it a priority not to look at her—if not to look like an ass, then at least to protect my mental sanity.

But that didn't stop me from thinking about her. It seemed that every time I tried to divert my attention from her, I was thinking about her twice as much. From her physical appearance—her mahogany hair, dark brown eyes, pale skin and pink cheeks—to her figure and finally, to her soft, breathy voice.

I had heard it for the first time when trying to help her with her car. At first, it had merely been a thing of courtesy, trying to get her engine fixed so she could get home—I had been concocting the plan since Biology. But as soon as I had seen her petite curvy figure, it had become something else entirely. Visions of extreme, steamy sex filled my mind as I walked closer to her, visions of every position possible in the front seat of a truck.

It had become my obsession, her voice. I could imagine soft moans coming through her full lips, or her cute little mouth rounding around my name as she screamed. I had imagined her saying many things with that voice, from "Edward, touch me," to "That pasta looks really good." Please, the monster inside of me would ask. Please, I'll do anything. Anything for you to notice me.

But she wasn't interested in me—something I wasn't used to.

Due to my family's status and physical appearance, we were well known through the town of Forks. When people went to the hospital, it was my father they wanted to have operate on them. When they wanted their houses redone, it was my mother they talked to. When the town attended the high school football games, they all looked at Emmett. Alice was always asked for advice for prom dresses.

I was the fuck buddy.

I didn't shag many girls. Most of the time, I was just eye candy, something girls liked to look at and fantasize about—the proof was on the walls of the stalls in the bathroom. So it was a big surprise when Bella acted as if she wanted nothing to do with me. I had developed a sort of ego almost, a bad boy cocky attitude through the years, and Bella's standoffish persona threw me off so badly that it was like the world tilted off it's axis.

She didn't want me.

It was a strange cross to bare. Because, with every passing day, I found myself wanting her more and more. It had taken me full force, from the moment I saw her. I wanted to feel her skin against mine, her softness curved to fill every hard place of my body. I wanted to show her the magic of being loved and feel her clamp against me.

It was a purely physical want, but a want nonetheless.

And I was never one to leave my wants unsatisfied.

I had had a small chance to talk to her when my sister cornered her, but she had taken off faster than Emmett to the store for a new Playboy. It had left me a little disappointed, and Alice, being the person she was, picked up on it right away. And she was enthusiastic as ever.

It was a little hard for me to wrap my head around, being that she didn't even know Bella that well. How in the hell was she going to think that I would have a shot? But as time progressed, and I burned up the cigarettes, Bella seemed to cling to Alice like Spandex on a fat guy. Every time I turned around, Alice was dragging Bella through the hallways, pulling her to her next class or to the lunchroom. They were together all the time.

I was a little mystified, not to mention a tad annoyed—how Alice could get so close to the one girl I wanted more than anything? But Alice would be Alice, and I couldn't complain. She was getting along much farther than I was.

Bella and I still didn't communicate.

It was frustrating the hell out of me, not to mention my penis. I'd whacked off so many times to the image of her face every night that I was growing tired of just imagining her. I wanted the real thing, and I wanted it now. So badly that it was becoming physically painful.

What I didn't know was that my shot was right around the corner.

I wasn't hungry. I had merely gone into the lunchroom to find Emmett when I spotted Alice and Bella sitting at a table near the vending machines. I was about to go on my normal Ignore Bella mode when Alice looked up at me and cocked an eyebrow. With a slight flick of her head, she motioned me over to the table.

At that moment, Tanya, one of my ex-girlfriends called out to me. "Edward!" She waved, but my eyes were already looking at the table, which contained the girl of my fantasies. Her eyes were cast down, and from what I could see, she looked upset.

I would be lying to say that I was torn between which two groups I would rather be sitting with, so, ignoring Tanya completely, I walked over to where Alice was sitting. Alice made a gesture behind her back and then turned, laughing. Bella looked up, and I was shocked to see the expression on her face, leaning toward anger and a bit of repulsiveness. To avoid her gaze, pretended to pick a string from my shirt.

My hands began to sweat. My forehead grew light, and my hands fumbled in my pockets—I had an instant craving for a cigarette—before I realized that my pockets were empty. Most of the time, I didn't need one, but now, in the stress of the moment, it was the only thing I wanted, besides Bella's pussy. Which, ironically, I couldn't have, just like my cigarette. Damn it.

A low, deep voice vibrated through my body. Sack up, dick face and talk to her. Christ, grow some balls.

I sat my backpack on the floor and noticed Bella was still staring at me. I smiled inwardly, but didn't make a remark on it as she turned away, a delicious red color painting her cheeks. While she was looking I had a moment to look over her face. A straight nose, pale-ish skin, full lips, long, graceful neck, brown eyes that were so deep I could sink into her and never find my way out.

I could feel her eyes on me again, and resisted with everything I had not to look at her. I kept my eyes trained on Alice as she continued her one-way conversation with Bella.

"I know," Bella's soft voice replied. I felt my cock twitch. Christ.

Alice raised a dainty, perfectly waxed eyebrow speculatively for a moment, and then replaced it with a blinding smile. "Like I said, we were at your house that day. Did you have fun?"

She shrugged. "Not really."

Alice's tiny shoulders slumped.

"I've never been one for a party." I coughed at this, and she turned to glare at me. I was ready to glare back, but my attitude melted into something I barely recognized as I gazed back at her, watching his brown eyes swirling with anger and something else that I couldn't quite put my finger on. As we stared at each other, Alice laughed. "I noticed that. It looked a tad uncomfortable."

"You could say that," Bella said.

My willpower was fading. I wanted to talk to her, to say something, just once. But I was not, under any circumstances, going to behave like a fool and get caught staring at a girl who, until a moment ago, hadn't looked at me for more than a few seconds in passing.

Alice began to prattle on about the party and asked why Bella didn't like it, and my eyes drifted to Tanya. It wasn't a kinky thing, but she was looking at me warily, watching as I talked to the new girl and not her. I didn't even feel a pang of guilt as I looked away, back at Bella. I chuckled at something she said, trying hard to act like I was paying attention-luckily, Alice was laughing too.

Alice commented on Bella's shirt, which caused my attention to waver. It was a tight fitting thing, and I mentally swore. It fit her snugly, as if it were a second skin, and the red and white stripes only accentuated her pale skin and pink blush. It clung to her waist and breasts in such a sinful way that I couldn't help but continue to stare, watching as her cheeks turned red. I leaned over toward Alice and said, "Not helping."

Suddenly, Alice spoke. "You should come over to my house tonight."

Fuck.

The monster inside of me roared.