A/N: So sad. Second last chapter! I tried to make it as good as possible for you guys. ENJOY!

& Remember me writing the sequel depends on the reaction to these chapters(: Sooo review? Pretty pretty please?

As soon as I walked in the front doors of the school people were whispering. They cleared the way when I walked by, and they would immediately stop talking, which gave me more evidence that they were in fact talking about me and Edward and the Incident.

I didn't look up in my classes. I was too afraid someone would be looking back. I didn't look up when I walked from class to class. I was too afraid I would hear something that would make me break down and cry. I didn't talk until lunch, because the hole inside of me still wasn't healed.

Nobody really said anything at our table when Rosalie sat down beside Edward, cast a sideways glance at me before flicking her hair and beginning to talk. Nobody said anything the block after that when Edward asked to change partners for the science project, either. And nobody said anything when Rosalie 'accidentally' knocked my lunch tray out of my hands and I had to bend over to pick it all up.

"I'll talk to him," Alice said as she helped soak up the chocolate milk I spilt with napkins.

"Don't," I replied. "He'll think I put you up to it."

"Would you rather nothing be done?"

I paused to think about that even though I already knew the answer. "Yes."

***

After school when I opened up my locker, a large fluffy thing fell out of it. I jumped back and screamed until I realized it was just the chicken suit. I wasn't even concerned that someone had to have my combination to get this thing in my locker; I didn't even care that I would have to put it on. Maybe it would get people talking about something else, and for that I could only be grateful.

***

Alice called me that night. Jessica called me that night. I didn't pick up. Taylor Swift was the only voice I heard until nine, when Charlie came in and awkwardly asked me if I was okay. I just nodded, and that was all it took for him to leave. As my door shut behind him, I couldn't help but break down once more, into my pillow, hiccupping and thinking of how good it felt when Edward had danced with me.

***

The next day, at school, I decided I was going to be strong. You have to be strong, I told myself. You have to be strong. That's who you are. You are the backbone.

Alice stayed by my side the entire day, walked me to all my classes, and we barely exchanged any words at all. Just the common How was algebra? And Are you going to eat that apple, or can I?

And when I opened my locker at the end of the day, something else fluttered out. But this thing was a pale pink, and smaller.

Bella,

The chicken suit will be put on next week, on Monday. You'll run around it WITHOUT the head at lunch, after everyone is seated. No debating now. What's done is done.

Rosalie.

Technically, I guess I had won the bet. I went to the MB with Edward Cullen. But it probably didn't count, because he ditched me during it. And besides, I was too bothered to fight back this time. This time, I'd just go with the flow, and just hope for the best. If that was even possible, at this point.

I walked to my truck with the note in my hands. My umbrella was in the backseat, which wasn't very smart of me, because now it was raining and my hair and clothes and the note were all soaked. Oh well. I didn't have anyone to impress anymore.

I threw the note in a puddle as I walked through the rain. I didn't need the evidence. The evidence of the bet, the evidence that would make me break down evidently again if I kept it. I was stronger than this. I didn't need it. I didn't need Edward, either, now that we're on the subject. Really, maybe he was just a piece in my life I needed to realize that—well, to realize something I hadn't entirely realized yet. But it would hit me, probably, eventually, when I least expected it.

As I approached my truck, I could see a person standing by it with a hood concealing their face. Alice and Jessica really needed to let up on this whole thing. I was over it, I think, so them just showing up at my truck in the rain was just going to make everything worse and—

That wasn't Alice's coat. That wasn't Jessica's coat. That was Edward's coat.

I stopped in my tracks, just for a moment, to make sure I was walking towards the right truck. It was the same crappy red truck, yes, the only crappy red truck left in the lot. And even though this truck had Edward Cullen standing beside it, it had to be mine.

The truck, I mean, not the guy. Obviously.

I continued to walk, even though I really didn't want to listen to what he was about to tell me. Alice told something to him, I bet, and now he was here to set me straight, and to tell me that if I wanted to say something to him I should've said it to his face, and not through his sister. How embarrassing.

I got to Edward. His hair was soaking wet underneath the hood of his coat, and his hands in his pockets. He looked unfazed by my arrival, and just kept staring into the foggy parking lot.

Not sure of what to say, I said, "You're standing in front of my door. Could you move, please? I do not currently have my umbrella."

It happened so fast, I barely had time to do much but stand there. Edward moved towards me, in one step, and kissed me. On the lips. In the rain. Like this was a normal thing to do. Not that I minded, because of course it felt good when Edward kissed me. It was even better than our first kiss, because this one was kind of cheesy, like in a movie or book or something, in the rain and all. And it was kind of weird, because after I decided I was over him, I still felt those nice tingles.

When he pulled away, I couldn't help but think of what a jackass he was. Oh yeah, it's fine, embarrass me and ditch me and ignore me and then it's okay for you to show up at my truck and kiss me when I'm almost over you, and only after listening to freaking Taylor Swift. Couldn't you do this earlier?

"Answer me honestly, Bella," he said, and I was still sort of stunned by the kiss to say anything back. "Did you feel something?"

I managed one syllable, "Yes."

"That's what you told me before. Then I realize it's for a bet. The sad thing is, I felt something too."

"Edward... I feel something. The bet, I was just angry at Rosalie, I liked you before. But come on. I was your sister's best friend, Edward. What chance do I have?"

He stared at me, like he knew what I was telling him was true, but he didn't want to believe me. Whatever. He didn't want to believe me, I didn't want to stand here and kiss in the rain like some cheesy romance novel. He either wanted me or he didn't. This wasn't a game I was going to play anymore.

At that point, I was angry and upset and overwhelmed with so many emotions I didn't know what to but laugh. "I don't care. You don't have to decide what you're going to do. I've decided for you. I'm going home."

I didn't break down. I got into the truck, calmly and carefully, not caring about how wet my jeans were, now, and put the key in the ignition and drove away. Edward was left in the rain, alone.

***

We could all live without guys. I mean, how important are they, really? Yeah, they help us reproduce blah blah blah, but they themselves don't. It's their sperm. We don't need guys, specifically.

Actually, I think our world would be so much healthier without them. Especially the jackass ones. Like, the ones that lead you on and then are suddenly like, "Never mind, I changed my mind, I like that slut sitting at the table over there. Bye." Who do they think they are? We don't need you.

I ranted this to Alice that night over the phone. I paced my room, punching my pillows and kicking the random pieces of paper of homework lying on the ground. She didn't say much of anything, which was kind of smart of her, because it was my time of the month and I'm sure that was helping the rant go on a little. That and all the soda I was washing down.

"Don't get me wrong," I went on, taking another swig of Coke. "Some are okay. The nice ones. Like, mainly the ones that aren't straight, you know? We could keep those kind of men. But the other ones will have to go."

"Where will they go?"

"To space, or something. Mars. I don't want to be completely unethical and kill them off. I'm not that mean. I just want them gone. Like, off the planet gone. So I don't have to put up with them. Don't you?"

"Can we keep Jasper?"

"Well, I guess. He's nice, I guess. But we'll keep him, for you." I snapped my fingers. "Wait. We have to send Rosalie with them. I don't think they'll mind, will they?"

"I don't think so."

"Good! Now, we need to start a petition...."

***

I woke up the next morning, barely remembering the conversation with Alice the night before. Something about sperm. Can't be good.

I threw on a baggy sweatshirt and a pair of jeans from the hamper, because I was too lazy to do laundry the past week. I only had time to apply a tiny bit of mascara before leaving for school.

While walking to my truck, I found myself laughing. On Monday I would be running around in a chicken suit, in front of the entire student body. Well, that's high school. The best four years of your life.

Jessica texted me the night before, telling me she was sick and wouldn't make it to school. I hadn't replied because the text had come in the middle of whatever that sperm conversation was, and I was too busy to care about texting. Just another person I didn't have to worry about bothering me at school.

Alice met me at my locker with a slightly worried look on her face. She didn't waste any time. "Bella, what happened last night with Edward?"

"I got over him," I told her, because maybe the more I convinced other people of this, I might start really believing it too. "It was one of those little miracles."

"He came home last night, after we were on the phone. He wouldn't talk to anyone and he slammed the door to his room which he never does, and Bella, I'm worried. I thought you were the one who was depressed about the situation, but now Edward's sulking around everywhere."

I blinked. Edward was sulking around? That didn't make sense. Our confrontation yesterday—I mean—he looked like—like—he was over it all, and just wanted to confirm what he thought. Which was that I was a two-faced bitch that only went out with him to win a bet against Rosalie Hale. If he was sulking around, did that mean I confirmed I was a bitch, driving away like that? Or was it something else?

Not wanting to get my hopes up, I considered the first one much more likely than the latter.

"I dunno," I replied nonchalantly, opening up my bag and looking for something to eat. I shovelled some almonds in my mouth. "That's not my problem. I'm over your brother, Alice."

She snorted. "Why do I find that so hard to believe?"

I shrugged.

"You don't get over someone within days, Bella. You're not over him."

Slamming my locker shut, I said, "Why does it matter? Can't we just drop the subject? I don't want to talk about this, what's done is done, so I'm off to English class."

I felt bad walking away from Alice like I was, but I had to do it to prove my point. I was over Edward. I was over Edward. I was over Edward. That was that.

As I approached the corner, I could hear Alice saying behind me, "Fine. You're over him. But he's not over you."

I pretended not to hear her and turned the corner, walked into class, and sat down.

Why do I find that so hard to believe?

***

Rosalie called me that night.

I'd never given Rosalie my number. Ever. So I wasn't sure how she managed to get a hold of it. But I mean, then again, she is Rosalie Bitch Hale.

"I am calling to remind you about the bet," she said. And then she hung up.

I knew she was only doing it to get on my nerves. To mock me about the bet. That I had lost it, and Edward, and now I would have to wear that chicken suit around the school. But I didn't really care. Rosalie could call me every five minutes, if she wanted to, because right now prancing around dressed like a duck was the least of my problems.

After the short call with Rosalie Alice called me. I told her about Rosalie calling me. She went on for a bit about Rosalie being a complete bitch, which, of course, was pretty useless since we both already knew she was one. And then Alice said, "Hold on. I think someone wants to talk to you."

Faintly in the background, behind the static and movement now buzzing in my ear I could hear someone say, "Alice, get out of my room. I have nothing to say." Then more static and: "Fine, fine, but get out of my room." I realized what was happening a second too late, because Edward was on the phone the next, getting right to the point. "I don't even know what I did. Shouldn't I be mad at you?"

This was said so suddenly at first I thought he was talking to Alice or something. "I don't want to play around," I told him finally. "Okay? I'm done. Goodbye. Have a nice evening. Try not to kiss me in the rain anymore, please."

He started to protest, but before he could, I hung up.

***

Saturday came around. Alice and I hung out at the coffee shop across the street from our school, and we didn't even bring up the fact I had hung up on Edward. I sipped my hot chocolate and settled into the floral-patterned couch while soft, calming music played overhead.

Alice stood up from her armchair and looked around. "Do you think they do karaoke here?"

"Uh," I said. There was no stage, nor a microphone, so I was going to have to go with, "No. Who cares?"

"Because I feel like singing karaoke."

"Oh." I took another sip. "Well, I don't. Can we go back to my place now? I'm tired."

Alice sighed. "Fine. Be a party pooper. We'll go back and watch Never Been Kissed for the eightieth time, and maybe some other Drew Barrymore movie. Happy?"

"Yes."

***

The rest of the weekend went by very quickly. After Alice left my house Sunday morning I studied a little for a test and watched a season marathon of Friends. Charlie was out at work, so after the season ended I turned music up as loud as the speakers would go and danced around singing into the broom to whatever was on the radio.

I was just jumping off the couch after finishing the song Bad Romance when the song came on. The song Edward and I danced to. The one I stood on his feet to while he held me and we just swayed. I found myself shutting my eyes and remembering the way it felt, one of the best feelings in the world, the way my head was so comfortably resting on his shoulder.

They just had to play this song, didn't they?

I had no more tears to cry. My heart was already broken, and so it was almost impossible for it to be broken again. I just felt it more now, like someone was waving their hand between the two pieces and laughing at me. I turned the radio off with a hard pound of my fist, completely unnecessary, and didn't bother putting the broom back in the closet; just let it drop to the hardwood floor with a thud.

And there I was. Thinking I was over him.

***

Monday morning also went by quickly. Classes that were simply a waste of my time. Did anyone really care what the value of x was? Did anyone really care about the science project? Or about FOIL? Or biodegradable banana peels?

If you didn't get it, the answer to all of the above is no.

The chicken suit was stuffed in a bag on the top shelf of my locker. A few of the yellow feathers fluttered out as I opened the door and took it down, careful not to reveal the contents to whoever happened to be walking by. I shut my locker and just as I was doing so, I felt a tap on my shoulder.

"Today's the day, huh?"

I didn't bother turning. He wasn't worth the time. "For?"

"Embarrassment."

Locking my locker, I ignored him. Insulting me was not going to help anything. I began to walk away.

"Sorry. I probably shouldn't have said that. It's probably bad enough already."

I nodded. "Yes. Sort of."

"It's happening now?"

I nodded again.

"Now now?"

Another nod.

"Oh."

Now he was walking beside me, down the hallway and towards the girls' locker room, where I would then change and run around and make an ass out of myself. Why was he still following me? Didn't he get the message? I didn't want to speak to him. It was over.

"Should I feel bad? This is my fault, a little."

"No," I said. No, you shouldn't feel bad for causing me to run around a chicken suit, but you should feel bad for playing with my feelings like that. God. Jackass.

He didn't say anything until we approached the locker room, where he blocked the door before I could go inside. "Look, Bella, I'm sorry. Not for this but for everything else. I should've listened to what you said that night at the dance before rushing out like that and making everything a bigger mess. It might be awkward now, but do you forgive me?"

I wanted to. But if I did, what would happen then? It was too scary for me to think about, and so I did the only thing I could by shaking my head. "I'm sorry. I can't."

"Fine." Edward started to turn away, but didn't move. Not sure of what to do, I stood there outside of the ugly green-coloured locker room door waiting for some other reaction.

I got the reaction a few seconds later when he grabbed the chicken suit from my hands, dropped it on the ground, and took out the feather-covered yellow pants. He tugged them on over his designer jeans.

"What are you doing?" I asked. Whatever he was doing didn't look good.

"I'm making up for everything."

Grabbing the bag away from him before he could do anything else, I said, "This is stupid. Give me the pants back."

"No." Edward tugged the suspenders over his shoulders, and a couple freshman passed by, giving him weird looks. "Give me the top." He tugged it from my hands and I lunged for it, but he had already put it over his head. The sleeves fell down past his hands.

"Edward— " I started.

"Where were you supposed to wear this, again?" he cut me off, brushing some feathers away from his mouth.

"I dunno, the cafeteria, but that doesn't matter because you're going to give me back that costume right now and—"

Edward was already walking towards the cafeteria.

***

I tried to keep up with him, but it was really no use. His legs were much longer than mine and so he was able to stay a good few feet ahead of me. As I followed him, telling him to stop and take the chicken costume off, we gathered a lot of stares. A few feathers even flew in one kid's face, but neither of us apologized.

"Edward," I said. "Please. You don't have to do this."

"I think I do."

And then he threw open the doors of the cafeteria.

***

I really wish I had words to describe how I felt when the cafeteria doors opened and Edward went in, feathers and all, and casually began walking around between the tables, while Rosalie looked on at him in astonishment. I wish I could describe how good I felt when she stood up, her chair squealing against the tiles, and stomped off out of the cafeteria.

But there really are no words to describe how good that felt.

Because, standing there, in the entrance to the cafeteria, I could see Edward was really, really sorry, and that all was forgiven. Why would he be in that costume if something was still wrong? If he was truly still angry at what happened, it'd all be over and done with, and that kiss wouldn't have happened, and this wouldn't have happened, and right now I'd be blushing red with embarrassment as Rosalie laughed on with her friends that had thrown my bag into the trash can.

Actually, I guess I found it kind of sweet, what Edward was doing. I mean, yeah, he played with my feelings. He was doing that right now. But did I have the strength to let him go since he ripped that feathery thing out of my hands? Did I have the strength to move on when I remembered how good it felt when he had held me, and we had swayed in tune to the music?

I didn't think I did.

Maybe one day I would. Maybe one day I'd look past the good things and see the bad, the way our relationship after the dance was one emotional rollercoaster. The way I was distant for days, and he was the one who made me that way.

But right then, all I could see was me wiggling my toes in amusement while standing on Edward's shoes. All I could see was him kissing me in the rain, as cliché as that was; how he called me a hoot; how he was running around, making a fool of himself right now, for me. No, not for Rosalie. For me.

And for now, now, in this moment now, that was all I needed.