Gahhh writing short chapters is so not my thing. I tried to limit it to six pages but ugh - came to 9 and a half. Oh well - I couldn't help but extend it a little.

YOU HAVE TO pay attention to this chapter. It's pretty detailed and you have to understand why Bella did that or what Jacob, Embry and Quil were doing. It might be a little draggy but hopefully not since I tried to make it as interesting as possible. Hope you guys will STILL like it :(

Disclaimer - Don't own it! Hopefully maybe...I can find some copy right over this story plot though. BUT everything will belong to Stephenie. HECK - I think I'd even dedicate this story to her:)

Playlist - Sympathy by Goo Goo Dolls

YOU MUST LISTEN TO THISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS (takes a calm breath)

Stranger than Your Sympathy

Bella's POV

"Still sleepy?" Jacob asked as we were driving to class the next morning.

I hardly slept a wink last night. The images and the scene back in his car kept replaying over and over in my head again. It drove me nuts but I wasn't complaining.

"Yeah, a little. Guess all the excitement of yesterday was getting to my head."

Jacob laughed, "Excitement? You spent an entire day without me so how can that be any fun at all?"

You don't have the slightest clue – I thought to myself.

"We have Math today! Finally we get to hang out, yesterday was such a mess up. Sorry again about that. You aren't still pissed right?"

"Nope, it's cool."

"So how did you manage to find your way around the campus then? You never really told me anything last night."

True – I was so tired from all the events happening in one day that I was dozing off while sitting on my desk chair. Jacob was getting annoyed since I hardly responded to his questions so he just left. I felt pretty bad since he seemed pretty sincere about his interest on my first day.

"Someone that ran errands for Mrs. Colby showed me around, a little."

Again, that wasn't a lie.

"Well, today you'll have me and the guys showing you around. I think Embry is in your Spanish class. I never really understood why he wanted to take that language anyway – no offence to you of course."

Jacob turned into the campus through the main gate and parked it in the same spot before turning off the engine.

"None taken," I shrugged as I got out of the car.

As we walked towards the school's main building, I couldn't help but to let my eyes flicker over to the reserved spaces once more. When I saw that silver Volvo, my heart fluttered – it was an amazing feeling. I felt my blood rushing through my body quickly and my cheeks would warm up a little.

It was after Math and I was fiddling with my books in my bag as I closed my locker door.

Jacob leaned against the next locker and grinned at me, "So – how did you find Mrs. Cook?"

"Apart from you always trying to get into trouble, I think she's okay."

"Are you ready for lunch?"

"Guess so – but I think I'm going to go find Angela first. Can I meet you downstairs later?" I offered.

"No way, I told you I was going to be with you every second remember?" Jacob shook his head.

I sighed, "Fine."

I scanned through the crowd and finally I saw the brown haired Angela standing by her locker not too faraway from mine. I quickly made my way across to let her know that I wasn't going to sit with them for lunch today.

"Angela?"

She turned around, "Hey! Ready to go?"

"Err – actually I was thinking that I will sit with Jacob today since I didn't get a chance to hang out with him yesterday."

Her face fell, "Oh, okay. No problem."

Slam

That loud bang of a locker closing made me flinch a little and I looked up to see a green-eyed yellow haired girl gazing at me smirking.

"Bella, is it?"

I nodded, "Yup."

Angela shrugged sadly, "Lauren wants us to come over to their table today. I thought you might like that, to meet more new people?"

I felt a pang of guilt, "Oh, well I guess I could come over later just before lunch ends. Sorry, but I already promised Jacob."

Lauren glanced behind me to see Jacob hovering just beside me silently.

"You hang out with that kid? He's such a weirdo with his rebel attitude and all. I heard he once traded one of his kidneys to get some new set of wheels for his car."

Jacob grunted. I was glad he didn't really pay much attention to such unpleasant girls like Lauren. If I was him I think I would have punched her already.

She brushed her bangs out of her face and smiled in a way that I didn't find very sincere, "You hang out with us, you know?"

Jacob finally lost his patience, "Hey, are you ready or not?"

Lauren ignored this and asked with sparkling eyes, "Is it true that Edward Masen gave you a lift in his car yesterday after school?"

I felt Jacob suddenly becoming motionless.

I gritted my teeth, "Yeah, so?"

Lauren's eyes twinkled even more and said in a taunted, "What did you do to get him to give you a ride home? Faked a sprained ankle?

Jacob suddenly grabbed my hand and began to lead me away.

I called after Angela who was just standing there with her mouth open, "I'll talk to you later!"

He was roughly pulling me along the hallways and down the stairs to the cafeteria. I struggled to get free from Jacob's grip, "Jake, you're hurting me!"

He finally released my hand as we came across and empty table except for two boys. One, whom Jacob introduced as Embry was rather tall and slender like Jacob and almost as tall as him but not quite with black hair that fell around his shoulders. The other, Quil was shorter than Embry with a black short buzzed hair cut with a rather impish looking grin on his face and rather burly framed.

Embry looked from Jacob's fuming face to my bruised arm, "Did we miss anything?"

Quil's mouth was chewing slowly on the food that he had stuffed down and mumbled with his mouth full, "What's going on?"

Jacob threw himself heavily down on the seat and gruffly said, "Nothing, just a bunch of those snobs making jokes again."

Quil began to chew faster again and Embry relaxed, "Oh. So who is this?"

"Bella – the one I told you about yesterday?"

Embry laughed, "Right okay. Hi, nice to meet you! You're in my Spanish class right? I think I saw you sitting a few rows in front of me."

I sat down and accepted his hand and shook it, "Same here."

Quil just smiled through his eyes as his mouth was still stuffed with food. Jacob got up from the seat again and said before walking towards the queue for food, "I'll get something for us okay, Bells?"

When Jacob was out of earshot I grumbled, "Is he always like that?"

Embry took a glance at my slightly bruised arm, "Well, not really. Not to girls especially, I've never seen him this territorial about a girl before. I mean, you should have seen the way he talked about you to us yesterday. And I thought I knew him all my life!"

"Why would he suddenly turn from Henry Jekyll to Edward Hyde?" I groaned, rubbing my arm.

Quil no with his mouth free from food said, "Speaking of Edward, did anything happen to involve that Masen boy? Jacob only gets real worked up when it comes to him."

I shrugged, "It was just a ride home he gave me yesterday…"

Embry looked briefly at Quil before saying, "Ah, okay. That explains it then. You live with Jake don't you? Some old pact that you had to be taken in by them if anything happened to your parents, right?"

I nodded, "Something around those lines."

"Isn't it obvious? He's into you," Quil nodded.

My face began to heat up and I knew I was blushing, "What? No way!"

Embry nodded and shifted his position to a more teasing outlook, "Yes way! I've never seen him been so crabby before and look at the mark he left on you. You can't tell me that isn't jealousy."

"He overreacted."

"Again with the same reasons, okay? You gotta admit, a guy like him wouldn't know how to express his love for someone even if he had a book called How Express Your Love for Dummies stuck somewhere in his shelf."

Quil and Embry slapped high fives laughing.

"You – you can't prove it…" was all I could stammer out.

"Look, we know Jake longer than you. When he gets jealous over a girl we can tell, although he's never been before. And with Edward quite friendly with you, it seems like the game's on isn't it?"

Quil teased, "Where is the popcorn when you need it?"

I sighed and looked away as Embry and Quil began to talk about last nights football game. I let my eyes wander around the cafeteria again and I saw Angela and Ben sitting together with Lauren. I spotted Mike and a few other guys all daring each other to drink some disgusting looking concoction in a bottle.

Then, my heart gave another leap as my eyes came across the table that had the six striking intimidators. There was nothing out of the ordinary they were doing except how their movements were so smooth and subtle I couldn't help but stare. I saw Edward delicately cutting his food up and placing it in his mouth.

The way his head bent over and his lips brushing over each other as he chewed gave me goose bumps. It was like time was playing in slow motion as his movements were slowing down the longer I just stared.

Jacob finally came back with a tray of food. His mood seemed to have lightened up a bit as he began to act like Jacob once more.

"Hey, you guys are coming over today right?"

Embry and Quil both grunted, "Yup."

Jacob grinned at me, "It's a routine that sometimes Embry and Quil hang at the house and we'll do like really awesome stuff. Like real crazy, whacked stuff."

"Something humane I hope?" I munched on my sandwich.

Jacob pretended to look insulted, "Of course. We play truth or dare on Tuesdays. Wanna join? It's going to be real fun because I've just figured out the most awesome things to ask or the most amazing things to dare you guys to do."

Embry snorted, "Nothing can beat my candle dare!"

Quil explained as he saw my confused face, "The movie Signs with Mel Gibson in it. Watched that?"

"Yeah, it was running in the boarding school theatre once."

"Well, Embry dared Jake to light at least thirty candles in Mr. Jones front lawn in the evening and be arranged in the order of the pattern that the crop field was done in. Mr. Jones lives about three houses down your road and boy, was he freaked out. But he was admitted to hospital about two hours later as he has sudden spastic attacks at his chest."

My mouth was opened in horror at Jacob who laughed, "He's alive, don't worry."

I shook my head when I regained myself, "I think I'll pass."

Suddenly, I remembered something. Yesterday I had dropped my USB flash drive in Edward's car – it was hooked onto my purse that I put in my pocket but it must have come off since I couldn't find it anywhere yesterday. It had some important files that I needed and it was also my only flash drive I had. It was pretty special since Renee had given it to me as a present just before I went away for boarding school.

"Jacob, I'm walking home today. I'll meet you at home, I need to go and pick up something."

Jacob nodded, "Sure."

I made up my mind to find Edward later after school in the parking lot.

Straight after English Literature, I rushed out to go to my locker and arrange my stuff once more. I quickly looked over the crowd for Angela and I found her walking out of the main doors with Ben and I sped across the hallway to catch up.

"Hey! Really sorry about before. I don't know what –"

Angela grinned, "Hey no problem. Whatever is going on between you and Jacob is none of my business, Bella."

I stopped in shock, "What's that suppose to mean?"

Angela shrugged as usual, "It's pretty obvious he likes you."

I slapped my forehead in disbelief, "I don't believe this. Why won't anyone allow me to object to this statement? He does not like me! We're just friends! I live in his house!"

Angela laughed, "Alright, I believe you. But you can't fight nature right?"

I shook my head, "Trust me, there is no way this is going to be real."

Ben called, "Angela, ready to go?"

Angela gave me a pat, "Call me or something alright? I'll see you tomorrow?"

I nodded, "I won't abandon you tomorrow alright?"

Angela winked, "No worries. If it makes you happy to sit with him then I'm fine with it."

"Angela!"

"Bye Bella!" she grinned and went off to catch up with Ben in the parking lot.

I stood there shaking my head in annoyance at Angela. I was getting tired of this comment about Jacob's so-call infatuation with me. I looked around the car park to find Edward and I finally saw him standing near his car talking to Emmett and Jasper.

I took a deep breath and made my way over. Just before I reached, Emmett caught a sight of me and quickly nodded over to Edward to gesture my arrival. Edward turned around with a puzzled face and suddenly his green eyes widened when he saw me. He quickly stepped in front of me from going any further and I was shocked by his sudden movement.

"Hi, Bella. What are you doing here?" he asked.

There was a tone in his voice that I didn't really like but I tried to ignore it and I replied, "Err Edward I think I dropped something in the car while you were sending me home yesterday and I was wondering -"

From the corner of my eye I could see Jasper and Emmett exchanging excited glances.

"- if I could take a look to see if its still there? I really need it."

Edward rubbed his neck with one of his hands and shook his head, "Right now?"

"Yes, right now. I want to bring it home and do some work with my files inside."

"Can't you wait till tomorrow?"

I was beginning to get a little agitated, "No it can't. I just told you why, Edward."

Edward shifted his feet uncomfortably, "Can't I give it to you tomorrow, please? Or maybe later tonight?"

"Your car is just here, why not make it easier if I just -"

Edward's green eyes suddenly turned hard and cold, "I said no, Bella. I'll pass it to you later tonight, okay?"

I closed my eyes. Was he suddenly embarrassed to be seen with me? What was all that talk about to me yesterday then? Was it all just lies to win me over with an insincere apology?

And I fell for it.

I finally opened my eyes and I gazed back, "You know what? Give it to me tomorrow. Don't bother coming over tonight if it would kill you that much."

With that, I just walked away and I didn't look back. I don't think I even heard him call out my name and I felt myself fighting back tears all the way home.

I opened the door with my keys and closed it back leaning against it. I wiped a few little tiny tear drops that had managed to escape from my eyes and I walked through the living room to see all three of them already there.

"Bells, hey! Come over here! We're just about to begin!" Jacob beamed.

Although I tried my best to control my voice, it still sounded like it was cracking, "I think I'll just go upstairs. You guys enjoy yourselves…"

Embry was quick to ask, "Hey, are you alright?"

Even Quil looked worried and Jacob was on his feet before I could reply and he walked over to me with a reassuring look.

"Hey, come here you. What happened?" his strong arms curled around me and he bought me over to sit down on the couches with them.

I sniffed, "I just wanted to get my flash drive back from Edward's car. I think I dropped it back in his car but he wouldn't let me get it…"

I felt Jacob's arms tightening.

Quil wondered, "Why didn't he? Did you dirty his car before you left or something? I mean, it is your stuff, why is he so touchy over it?"

"I don't know, he offered to give it back tonight…"

"I don't get why he won't just let you take it from the car. It was there nearby wasn't it?" Embry frowned.

I was beginning to feel uncomfortable with Jacob's arms around me. I wasn't used to it and I felt this funny feeling inside me and it definitely wasn't those feelings you get when you are feeling all warm and fuzzy because you had someone cuddling you.

Jacob suddenly said, "I got the perfect thing to cheer you up. Pick truth or dare, Bella."

I glared up at Jacob, "You can't be serious."

"Truth or dare?"

"Aw, come on mate. She's not in the mood right now, don't think she'd want to -" Embry began.

"Truth or dare, Bella. Hurry up, please," Jacob repeated and he released his lock on me and allowed me to look at him properly.

His face was unfathomable once more but his eyes were showing a different emotion. It was scary but I still wasn't sure where this was leading to.

I shrugged, "Dare – I have nothing to tell you guys that is interesting anyway."

Quil and Embry exchange glances and I couldn't help noticing they were worried facial expressions plastered on their faces. I stayed still for awhile as Jacob didn't reply my decision yet and I could tell he was thinking very carefully.

"I dare you to…" Jacob began and I saw Embry bit his lip as Quil's began to stretch his knuckles together nervously.

"Get Masen's car keys tomorrow and tell him that you will lock the car for him but of course, you won't."

I blinked, "The hell I want to do that for?"

"You picked dare."

"How the heck am I going to that anyway? I just told you how he treated me!" I exclaimed.

Jacob shrugged, "Your pick so you have to figure out some way."

Then, his mischievous eyes twinkled, "And Masen will have a little payback for treating you that way. Since he thinks you're not good enough to step into his car again, time to do a little adjusting and reinventing to his car."

Embry grinned, "I like the sound of that."

Quil nodded, "Embry loves doing this kind of stuff with vehicles, but his specialty is dirt bikes though."

"I don't mind this too," Embry's grin was getting wider.

"No – I refuse to be part of this feud that you have between each other. I'm not going to be involved alright? I don't like his ethics but that doesn't mean I'm going to destroy his -"

"Hey, hey! Slow down! Whoever said anything about destroying? He won't even notice the difference to his car, Bells. We're not even going to touch anywhere of the inside or outside. We're just going to make sure he knows not to mess with you like that again," Jacob assured.

I thought about it for a minute. I was a little hurt by Edward and if they weren't going to do anything that would damage his car…

"Are you sure about this?"

"Yes."

"What makes you think he would let me have his car keys anyway?"

"Look, he won't even know you were involved. We will take full responsibility for everything!" Jacob was beginning to get impatient again.

I looked down at my feet before looking back up again. I silently hoped my Mum would forgive me for this sin I was about to commit – but sometimes you had to take matters into your own hands. And if there was one thing that I hated more than anything else in the world about guys was something that Edward just did to me.

Double standards.

"So? What's it going to be?" Jacob's voice echoed in my head…

Edward's POV

As I saw Bella walked away, I felt this strange feeling of pain building up in me. I had no choice, this was the only way. She was so very near to the edge to spoil everything that I had planned so carefully today.

I turned back to Emmett and Jasper.

"Man, you sure were one big jerk just now. Are you sure she's worth it?" Emmett asked.

I nodded, "I really want to do this for her," and I unlocked my car and opened the door. I began to search for the flash drive she was mentioning about.

Jasper scratched his head, "Are you sure you don't have a thing for her?"

"No! I mean, I don't know…maybe…"

Jasper reached into the car and brought out a box and balanced it in his hand, "If a guy buys a girl this kind of gift, I'm pretty sure it's quite clear."

"I still don't think that was necessary though. She seemed really hurt," I sighed.

Emmett shrugged, "You had to. If she saw that it would ruin everything don't you think?"

I glared, "Damn straight. This wouldn't have to happen if you guys didn't waste so much time at the arcade yesterday. I could have already wrapped it up nicely and put it away instead of having to pick it up on the way to school this morning!"

"Sorry bro. Emmett kept asking for another round!" Jasper quickly said.

"Well, she definitely didn't want me to come over tonight to give her flash drive to her," I twirled the tiny little device in my hand.

"Tomorrow then. It will be all better tomorrow," Jasper assured.

Emmett gave me a slap on the back, "But you better not get your hopes up. Don't forget you're already someone's fiancé."

"Ugh, don't say that out aloud please…" I shook my head.

"I thought you didn't mind getting married," Jasper grinned.

"I don't. I just don't see why I should get married to someone I have never met, never knew and with no one telling me anything, I don't see why I should follow the rules either."

"You aren't going to lead Bella on are you? You know even if you guys end up together you will have to leave her someday when the day comes for you to seal the deal with that unknown chick," Jasper suddenly looked a little skeptic.

"This is just a small thing alright? She doesn't even like me. It's no big deal. You guys are just making it one," I pointed out.

"Really? Then why don't you give Tanya anything?" Emmett smirked.

Smack

"Ouch!" Emmett yelped and clutched his head.

"See, this is why I told you we should have joined Edward when he took all this martial arts stuff. He could beat us up to bits if you pushed him too far," Jasper shook his head.

Before I could answer, Alice drove by in her yellow Porsche and honked, "Jazz, let's go!"

Jasper saluted at me, "Gotta go! We'll see about tomorrow."

Emmett nodded at me too before bounding off to his red Jeep Wrangler that had Rosalie waiting in it, "Good luck. You might need it."

Okay honestly, it wasn't that long until I decided to add Edward's POV in the end. I couldn't leave it hanging! I wanted you guys to know why Edward behaved that way. So you know that he's not a complete creep after all.

He bought Bella something! Awwww :) Now I wonder what that could be...hmm...

And oh dear, Bella is going to do something she's going to regret don't you think? But you can't blame her for thinking he was a total jerk for being double standards. But it's not all that bad:D I'm not that horrid!

Did you guys like the chapter? READ and REVIEW because next chapter is the SUPER SUPER SUPER important one. WHY? Next chapter I shall tell you :) Hahahaha.