Disclaimer: Stephenie Myer and associates own all Twilight characters/etc. I just want to play with them for a while and give them something new to do.

Chapter 8

(BPOV)

I pulled in to the parking lot and was once again met with stares from the entire student body. I felt confident once again as I strutted through the crowd, the same added swing to my hips as I felt his eyes on me again. Pulling my phone outta my pocket I texted Alice good morning. We'd agreed yesterday to keep our friendship under wraps until I revealed my identity.

A: Work it girl! Boys are droolin and Miss Bitch is fuming!

B: Just wait till she finds out who I really am! She's gonna explode!

A: How much longer you gonna wait?

B: You'll see….

A: Just make it soon okay?

B: That hard for you to keep a secret Ali?

A: Its not me that I'm worried about.

B: YOU TOLD SOMEONE?

A: No. But HE'S not as dense as we thought apparently.

B: That bad?

A: Just don't make him drink himself into another coma, k?

B: Swear. See you at lunch!

Alice truly has me worried about Edward. If it weren't for needing to make sure Lauren learned her place, I'd march over to him right now and tell him.

I twisted my ring around and around on my finger as my nerves continued to build. I was worried that Lauren had learned not to mess with me a little too soon and thus I would be unable to shut her down again. Oh well, I knew something would come up.

***(EPOV)

I watched her every movement as she sashayed through the parking lot. I wanted nothing more than to feel her soft flesh in my hands as I pounded into her, rutting away the bittersweet memories of my Marie. Her perfectly curved ass seemed to taunt me as her hips swayed from side to side. The long dark locks that hung down her back begged to be wrapped between my fingers and pulled tight. How I longed to be between her perfect milky thighs, buried deep inside her.

I shook my head to clear the images of her writhing and moaning beneath me. I couldn't skip Biology again and I dreaded having to be that close to her without being able to touch her. It wouldn't help if I kept fantasizing about her. It didn't escape my notice that Bella and Alice were completely ignoring each other like yesterday afternoon didn't exist. Something was up.

Classes went by torturously slow. I desperately hoped for time to speed up so lunch would start. I wanted to see her again, even if it was from across a crowded room. I was particularly intrigued to see if she would pull off any more stunts. As the bell finally rang to signal the end of fifth period I raced to the cafeteria. In my haste I barely registered the odd glances I received from the entirety of the student body. I hardly noticed the whispers flowing around me like a light breeze.

As I practically skidded into the cafeteria I struggled to regain my composure as I took a seat at my usual table where Emmett was already sitting with Rosalie in his lap. I looked around for my goddess with no luck. Where could she be? It took all of my energy not to constantly stare at the door.

Only five minutes left for lunch and she still hadn't shown. I looked over to ready to ask Alice if she knew what was up, but I was met the solemn face of Jasper peering sadly at me. I gave him a questioning look but all he did was shrug. Giving up on waiting I stormed out of the cafeteria without a glance back as my chair hit the floor.

Tearing through the empty halls I slammed my bag into the lockers on my way to the wall behind the school. I desperately needed a cigarette to calm my nerves before biology started. I slammed the door open and the cool air immediately began to clam my nerves. I pulled out a cig and began searching for my lighter when I soft whimpering sounds reached my ears. Quietly I made my way towards the sound.

Turning the corner the sight that met my unsuspecting eyes made me drop everything.

"Bella?"

My goddess, in all her beauty, was sitting on the ground against the wall with her knees to her chest and her face buried crying softly. What could've happened to break this strong, fierce woman? I silently vowed to murder anyone and everyone that had hurt her. It didn't even occur to me that my vows and promises, though secret, showed a level of compassion that I never thought I'd be capable of again.

Her breath hitched at my question and she lifted her head. Red rimmed chocolate eyes met startled green ones and before I knew what was happening she was up and in my arms, her sobs even louder and more violent than before. We sank to the ground as the bell rang for sixth period to start, neither of us caring enough to go to class.

After a few minutes her tears slowed and her breathing became almost a normal rhythm. I thought she had fallen asleep, and I was more than willing to sit her and let her rest, until she lifted her head. "How are you not furious with me?" I was shocked by her question. In what realm of possibility would I have any reason to be upset with her? "Should I be furious at you? Right now I'm just worried about you. What happened?"

"You really don't know?" I looked at her, my confusion growing ten-fold. "The only thing I know is that the one of the seemingly strongest people I've ever met has been hiding back here for God knows how long crying her eyes out and I don't know why." I watched as she blinked back tears, swallowed and took a deep breath. Apparently whatever she was about to say was going to be difficult.

"I'm back here because of Lauren Mallory and her band of puppets. They verbally attacked me with my biggest weakness, my parents, as their weapon. I would explain to you how deeply my family has scarred me, but you know almost as well as I do." She took another breath, as if waiting for me to say something. I, unfortunately, was only becoming more and more confused. How would I know anything about her family? How could she expect me to? Her head dropped as tears began falling from her eyes. When she looked back up the contrast of the tears against her cheeks and the fiery anger in her eyes was dually the most erotic and the scariest thing I've ever seen. She ripped herself out of my arms and stood up so fast I fell backwards to the ground.

"Edward Anthony Cullen!" How did she know my middle name? "How dare you! How dare you act like this! I'm so ashamed of you! How could you put Carlisle and Esme and Alice through that? If I had known what was going on back here…" She trailed off as she caught the fury in my eyes. Who the fuck was this girl and why the hell did she think she could talk to me like this? I'd deal with Alice later for telling a perfect stranger things that were none of either of their business, but this girl needed to be dealt with now. My fists clenched tight, I opened my mouth…

"My name is Isabella Marie Swan."

…and it snapped shut with an audible click. She'd said the words so fast I must have misunderstood her. "Could you say that again, please?" She glanced at her feet for a moment before looking at me again. This time, with her shoulders squared and her head high, she repeated slowly and strongly, "My name is Isabella Marie Swan." I sank to my knees. Surely this was a cruel joke. Something my sister cooked up to mess with me. But Alice read my journal. She had to know that a joke this cruel would tear me apart. A dream then? That's it. I'm dreaming. I'm going to wake up in a minute, on my couch, with the worst hang over ever.

"You're not dreaming, Edward."

"That's what all dream people say."