Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or its characters; everything goes to their rightful owners.

Chapter 7

I'd always said that once I'd put my career on hold, I'd start sleeping in as much as possible. I must say though, in my entire life I have never met a person that has as much energy as Alice Cullen. I guess you're wondering why I had these thoughts one after the other, how are they linked? Here's your answer…

"BELLA WAKE UP! IT'S STARTING TODAY!" Alice yelled in a voice so loud that I actually put a pillow on my head and tried to go back to sleep. Ah, blissful sleep.

After a few minutes, I heard a door opening and then closing, footsteps approaching and then someone sitting on my bed.

"Bella, are you okay?" Ali whispered in my ear. "Do you feel ill?"

I opened my eyes and look up at a very worried Alice. She was already in her school uniform… Yes, we had school uniforms. It was no fun, according to Alice, since it meant we couldn't dress up, but I was happy with it. The uniform gave me some sense of normality and equality, as if it didn't matter if you were rich or poor because here at school we were all the same. Even superstars. Well, maybe I'm stretching it a bit.

"No, I am not ill. What made you think that?" I asked her, confused.

She looked at me as if I were insane. Then I remembered- the studio, me falling apart in front of the gang… in Edward's arms. I groaned and started blushing. This was so embarrassing! They'd witnessed my breakdown, and probably thought I was insane! No wonder Alice was so worried about me!

"I'm fine, Ali, please don't worry about me!"

"How can I not worry? You looked so heartbroken and sad last night. I felt so helpless, and I didn't ask questions when we got back because you went straight to sleep and after our little concert you look a bit more alive, but when you didn't wake up I…" She began saying rapidly, on the verge of tears.

"I didn't wake up because I'm tired. That's all it is. As for what happened last night… Well it will get better in time, I suppose. I mean, I made the decision to let go, it's for the best."

"I really don't want to push, but is this about a guy? I mean, I'm just assuming cause of the songs that made you so sad, but on the other side I really can't imagine someone being stupid enough to hurt you so badly. You're admired, and wanted all around the world… it's surreal, really!"

"Yes, it's about a guy. The thing is…"

"Wakey, wakey! Girl's torture starts in two minutes!" Rose said cheerfully as she entered with a huge bag in her hands. She was dressed in a simple t-shirt and shorts, but still ended up looking like a model.

"What's with the serious faces?" She asked, looking at me, then Alice, and back to me again.

There was a pause, and Alice discreetly cast me a glance as if asking for permission.

"We were talking about last night." I muttered, staring at a suddenly fascinating pattern in the carpet.

"Bella, are you all right?" Rose asked seriously, shifting from her cheerful mood at the flick of switch.

"Now, you're asking her that?" Alice asked, looking rather oddly at her.

"Well I assumed she didn't really want to talk about last night, so I told the boys to lay off a bit cause they wanted to visit, I didn't mean to make you guys think I don't care, cause I do,"

"But you have other ways of showing it. And by lying off you're showing me that you care but you want to give me my space… I appreciate that Rose. And I understand." I said looking at her with a small smile.

"So, back to our conversation…" Alice said, seeing that Rose's presence didn't bother me. "This was about a guy?"

"Yeah, it was about a guy. He was my best friend and he betrayed my trust in the worse way."

"So, he was just a friend… No romantic history?"

"No, he was my boyfriend, my first boyfriend and we dated a while, until I found out he was lying and cheated on me."

"Ok, are we talking about the dog?" Rose asked in an annoyed tone.

"What dog?" I asked confusedly, while Alice was laughing like madinto my pillow.

"She means Jacob Black, basically the only times Edward and Rose agree on something is when Jacob is the topic of the discussion. Those two hate him with a passion, and apparently it's like some kind of bonding ritual for them." Alice tries to say with straight face.

"Like the orange juice thing?" I asked with a giggle. Alice turned bright red at that, while Rose grinned. Feeling pity for the girls, I turned back to our topic.

"To answer your question, yes, this is about Jacob. Although, I'm not sure how you guessed, and it's kind of freaking me out…"

"You said first boyfriend, and I read that he was your only boyfriend. Although, I didn't tend to believe that. I mean, come on! All those famous, hot superstars, around you and you only have Black as a boyfriend? But I've met you in person now, and you're way too innocent to move on so fast." She explained while texting on her phone.

"I assume that breaking up was not a mutual decision?"

"No, I broke up with him…"

"Good for you, girl! After your reaction I thought that he… well you know…"

"But, why did you break up with him if you're still so attached to him?" Alice asked looking rather put out.

"He did something that shattered our friendship, above all. Our romance always was second place for us."

"Wow… That sure as hell is something; I mean I don't think I could do that. Love someone and dump him, even if he did do me wrong." Alice said looking thoughtful.

"You mean you wouldn't confront Jasper if he would have cheated and lied to you?" I asked now a bit annoyed.

"Jasper has nothing to do with this…" She disagreed, but quickly backpedalled when she saw the look on my face.

"Jasper has everything to do with this, but enough with the chit chat. Let's not go there. Time to get dressed, Bella, where's your uniform?" Rose asked, getting up from my bed.

Alice looked like she was ready to protest but then decided against it, and pointed to my closet.

Rose made her way there and brought me my school uniform. Even if it was just our uniform, like all the things around here, it was flawless. It was made out of some sort of soft cotton that felt almost like silk, black and red being the colors that they chose to combine. The skirt was all black, and reached mid-thigh.

The shirt was a white button up, with a red tie and a little red vest with black pockets and buttons. The shoes were black. The boy's uniform was the same, only they wore black jeans instead of a skirt, and for them the vest was optional.

After our beauty session was over, and I found out that Ali could torture me worse than my stylist that used to prepare me for my concerts or any public appearances, and that is saying something! We decided to go and eat breakfast.

As we entered the cafeteria, I remembered Rose's words about warning the boys to stay out of our way and wondered if I would still see Edward… I mean the boys, at breakfast. After we sat down, I decided to be brave and ask Rose about them, but just as I was about to open my mouth someone decided to give me a huge hug and lift me off my chair.

I shrieked so loudly, I sounded like a girl in a horror movie. I heard the girls laughing, and a booming laugh joining them.

"What's wrong, Bella, why are you screaming?" Emmet asked as he rocked me in his arms like a baby.

"Emmet! Put me down, people are staring at us!"

"I don't care, you're my little sister and when I see you cry I will rock you like a baby until you stop crying!" He announced as if it was the most normal thing to do. The thing is, in his world, it probably was.

"EMMET PUT HER DOWN!" Rose yelled at him, while more and more people started to stare at us.

"But, Rosie! I need to comfort her. She looked so sad, and Eddy took my spot last night! I'm the one that comforts people, not him!" Emmet pouted.

"What did I tell you about being discreet," …at that Alice snorted… "About last night?!" Rose questioned him furiously. It was as if they forgot that we were even there.

Yes, I remember. But you did not define what discreet meant in your books." He said with a smirk. He then turned quiet and said unconvincingly, "I wasn't talking about last night anyway." Huge mistake.

"EMMET CULLEN, DO NOT LIE TO ME! You know that you were talking about last night, and you also know what discreet means in my books! In your case, it means you need to shut your trap when it comes to these type of things!" Rose started screaming.

"Jesus, Rosalie, tune it down people are staring," Jasper said, taking a seat next to Alice.

"Don't you have any other business than to stare at people?!" She yelled at the viewers with a glare. Everyone turned around fearing for his or her safety. Rose was not someone to mess with.

"Stop yelling, Rose, it's too early!" A velvet voice said from a distance. I turned around, and saw Edward talking to a boy with blond hair. When I saw him, I turned bright red. He looked absolutely breathtaking in his school uniform, with those dark jeans hanging low on his hips, his white button down shirt and his red tie loose around his neck.

I just couldn't stop staring at him, I knew I had to, but I just couldn't. After he finished his conversation with the blond boy, he started approaching our table, and I suddenly noticed huge bags under his eyes and as he sat down next to me.

He started yawning and stretching, followed closely by Jasper who I noticed was in the same state as he.

"What happened to the two of you?" I asked concerned, and felt the need to rub my hands down on Edward's back in order to relax him even if he needed to wake up. Thankfully the rational side of me won over and I didn't. Edward gave me my favorite crooked smile and said a silent "Nothing."

Emmet stared laughing, but soon stopped as he saw the icy look he got from his girlfriend.

Jasper started mumbling something, but it was too low too hear so I couldn't understand. I turned curiously to Edward.

"Really, Jasper, what happened?" Alice asked concerned, while looking at him as though checking for damage. I could already see her working up a panic attack.

"Nothing! Don't worry about us, really!" Jasper exclaimed, avoiding her gaze but accidentally finding mine. He looked slightly panicked, and ashamed of himself.

When I looked back at Edward, he, by mistake, caught my gaze and began pleading with his eyes to just drop it. It was disturbingly familiar to Jasper's own expression just a moment ago.

"Ok, cut the crap. What's going on with you two?" Rose asked, losing her patience. When she saw that the boys had turned mute, she turned to Emmet.

"Talk!"

Poor Emmet look ready to bolt in any moment and he shook his head in desperation.

At his panicked expression, I stared to chuckle, unable to help myself. He looked like a dear caught in the headlights.

"Talk, or no sex for you for a month." Rose stated calmly.

Edward and Jasper's eyes widened comically. They knew they lost him.

Emmet turned to them and mouthed "I'm sorry" before blurting out-

"Eddy and Jazzy got drunk and had sex!"

A heavy silence followed. I looked at the two of them waiting to hear them deny that statement, yet nothing happened. Their guilty expression confirmed everything.

I got an uneasy feeling in my stomach and nausea followed shortly. My heart was aching as if a bee was stinging it repeatedly. I needed to get out of there. I took a deep breath, and got up from the table.

"We should get to class, it's late…" I said keeping my tears at bay. "You coming Alice?" Alice's class was on another floor, but I could see she was close to breaking down, so I could not leave her here. Ali nodded her head once, took her bag and started walking to the door quickly as if someone was chasing her.

I began to follow when someone caught my hand. From that electrifying feeling, I knew it was Edward. I turned to face him feeling brave but he didn't even look at me. All I heard was a quiet "I'm sorry, love."

Normally I would have let it slide, not knowing if the statement was for my ears only or if he even meant for me to hear that. But after yesterday, and today's morning, I felt brave again and my dad's advice was ringing in my ears, "Don't run from your problems!" However, mostly I was just angry.

He did not have the right to call me "Love" or to make me feel the need to comfort him!

"You don't have to apologize to me, it's not like you cheated on me, Edward."

"In order to cheat, you have to be with a person first. We are not dating, so I would also ask you not to call me "Love."

He looked up at me, and nodded once solemnly. I didn't dare look in his eyes, because I knew I would be lost if I did, and would probably forgive murder. Not that I had anything to forgive in the first place, he was a free man, and he could sleep with whomever he wished!

"Jazzy!" Someone screamed, and a blur of gold and pink landed in Jasper's lap. Once the gold and pink stopped moving I identified it as a blond girl, who was dressed in a short, hot pink dress. So much for school uniform.

She attached her lips to his mouth and started eating him. Poor Jazz was struggling for air but Blondie started grinding on his lap.

At that point, we were almost the only ones left in the cafeteria, I intended to follow the other's example –which was getting the hell out- but apparently, Rose disagreed with me. She had a few things to say.

"Get off my brother or I will remove you... By your hair!"

After she heard her voice the girl turned and smirked at Rose, "Jazzy and I have something special; after all, he was with me last night not with you, Alice."

At that, Jaspers neck turned so fast that I thought he would break it.

This bimbo thought that Rose was Alice… Is she for real? Rose even called Jasper her brother!

"He's my boyfriend, and I have the right to kiss him." And with that said, she attached her lips back to his before any of us could even react.

I turned around to leave and saw Alice in the door with tears steaming down her face. I made the mistake of whispering her name, and caused her brothers and Rose to turn -Jasper was still trying to get the bimbo off- but she had already turned and started running.

The gang wanted to go after her, but I told them I would handle it. I was already late to class but I couldn't leave Alice like that.

I found her on a bench outside with her head between her hands. When I got closer, she lifted her head slightly, and tried to hide her tears. I sat down and gave her a hug. In my embrace, Alice Cullen fell apart.

After half an hour, her sobs quieted. She didn't speak, so I held my silence as well. I just held her. What was the point of asking? I already knew why she was crying.

"Come, Alice, let's get you cleaned up." I said gently. Wken she nodded, I put my arm around her waist to help her stand, since I saw she was swaying on her feet. Out of nowhere, Rose appeared next to us. She looked at me and mouthed "thank you." I just nodded; she had no reason to thank me. Ali was my friend too.

While we were heading back to our dorm, we heard a teacher call out to us, great, just our luck!

"Why aren't you in class?!"

"Sorry, professor, but my roommate isn't feeling well, and I thought I should take her to our dorms to get some sleep."

The professor cast Alice a look.

"All right, Miss Swan, but only you and Miss Cullen. Miss Hale, you go to class!" He said in a strict voice.

Rose look ready to argue, but I shook my head showing her my phone, silently telling her I would call her.

"Miss Swan, you and Miss Cullen are allowed to stay at the dorms. I will talk to your teachers and if Miss Cullen does not recover please take her to the infirmary, and let me know."

"I will, professor, and thank you," I said, no need to mention that no doctor could fix a broken heart.

After Ali showered, we decided to take a nap. However, sleep seemed to be evading me. When I heard sniffling, I knew she was not yet sleeping either.

"You know, Alice, at some point you will have to decide just how far you are willing to go when it comes to Jasper." I said, staring at the ceiling.

Alice turned around to look at me.

"You're beautiful, and have so much to give. But right now he is not worthy of you. He knew it would hurt you, but that still didn't stop him."

"I don't blame them for getting drunk, but I do blame them for hurting us…" I stopped for a moment as the reminder caused the ache in my chest to grow. I was hurt too… For Alice. Not because of Edward, I had no reason to be. Right?

As if reading my mind, Alice said "I'm so sorry, Bella, you're hurting too! And I didn't take that in consideration, I'm such a bad friend." She cried, starting to sniffle again.

"I'm fine, Alice, Jacob is in the past, and it will get better."

"I was talking about Edward. Please don't pretend as though you don't care, because it's not true. Even if he at least, hadn't eaten a blond for breakfast, you were still hurt by his actions. All of us could see that, including Edward."

"I am not allowed to feel hurt, Alice. Because that would mean I'm starting to care for him more than I should, in a romantic way. I'm not allowed to fall for someone like him, my heart wouldn't be able to take another blow!"

"Oh and Jasper wasn't eating the blond, it was the other way around. She attacked him…Quite disgusting if you ask me. He was merely trying to get her off."

Alice looked up at me with a little hope in her eyes, but that too vanished quickly.

"He slept with her last night."

It was all she said, and there was nothing I could say to her to make it better. Because it was true, they both had.

"You're right about one thing, its time that I meet other people, start dating. I'm not stupid, I know I won't be able to forget him so fast, but who knows? Maybe with the right guy, I could actually be happy."

I felt a bit sad hearing that, but I knew she was right. If Jasper wouldn't change, she had to move on. It was for the best.

"Can you go to class in the afternoon?" I asked, looking at the clock.

"Yeah, I should be ok. I need a distraction anyway, and what's better than fashion?"

I shot her a small smile, glad to be off the heavy topic. "Ok, let's go!"

In the afternoon, I had two classes. Contemporary literature, and biology with the med students. Apparently, even if you were not studying medicine or math you still had a class that was not in your domain of expertise once a week.

Contemporary literature was not my favorite class, I was more into classical literature, but the class involved reading many books so I was fine.

In my break between classes, I called Rose and told her that Alice was doing better, and was now in class. She thanked me and asked me if I was all right. After fifteen minutes of trying to convince her that I was fine she said-

"Bella, you know you can talk to me about anything anytime, right? Just say the word and I'll be there."

I was touched, but I just didn't feel ready to open up again. It was beginning to be too much.

"Thank you, Rose, I will when I'm ready."

Biology was uneventful until I saw the sheet with the assigned seats for the rest of the year. Apparently, we had biology with second years, and Edward Cullen was my partner, and teacher.

This was, according to Mr. Banner, because teaching first years was part of the new school project assigned to the med students… Just great.

"Miss Swan, Mr. Cullen was called into the principal office that's why he's not here, but starting next week you two will work together."

After a few minutes of telling the class what he expected from us this year, Mr. Banner dismissed us.

When I got back to my dorm, I noticed a basket of flowers in front of my door. In the basket, was a little white envelope, with my name on it. Once inside, I opened the note. It had only two words.

.

.

.

I'm sorry.

... Edward Cullen, what are you doing to me?

A\N- And, here is chapter 7. Good, bad? You say and I will listen. Currently I am reading Dine and Dash by Kitty Tylz its amazing cannot stop reading. Thank you to my beta GALGALATZ like always helping me out with all my mistakes. See you next time, bye