A/N

Stephenie Meyer owns the rights; I own a GQ with Rob on the cover.

Chapter 2 Tempted

BPOV

Art History was tedious at best. The only thing stopping me from falling asleep were the notes Alice passed me with lewd drawings of Mr. Perfect in various states of undress. Damn that girl could draw, too. I wondered if those drawings are anatomically correct. Focus, Swan. I think you just drooled.

The bell rang signaling our next class, and a temporary end to my smutty thoughts. I say temporary, because I know I'm going back to those images real soon.

I walked to AP English alone because Alice's class was in the Math building. I got there early because it was just down the hall. I had time to jot a few thoughts down in my journal before class started. The first day of a new school can be pretty overwhelming; writing always calmed me down. While I was writing, I noticed a few boys in class glancing my way, and it made me feel pretty good. Thank you, Alice, for the makeover assistance.

I smiled shyly to a boy sitting to my right. He had been staring at me since I walked in. He leaned over and said with a grin, "Isabella, right? I'm Tyler."

"It's Bella." We had a polite conversation and he seemed sort of interesting, but cocky.

Then he walked in.

Edward. Hair, face, eyes, body - damn, I missed that earlier -unbelievable. He was six feet of lean muscle straining against his tight t-shirt and jeans. He had a chiseled jaw, face carved out of perfection, and emerald green eyes framed by long lashes. He must have been genetically engineered for maximum hotness. He was inhumanly beautiful.

"What's up, Cullen?" Tyler asked. He nodded at Tyler. He barely glanced at me before taking a seat at the back of the room. My heart beat wildly at the thought of him being in the same room as me.

Class started and it was hard to not glance at him constantly, until he caught me that is, shit! He slightly raised his perfect eyebrow at me. I blushed furiously and turned away. Great. Way to be cool, Swan. I couldn't concentrate for the rest of the class. Lucky for me I had read most of the course work already. This class would be a piece of cake. I hurried out when the bell finally rang so I wouldn't embarrass myself further.

My next classes were pretty uneventful and I met Alice for lunch. She introduced me to Angela and Ben, her usual lunch buddies. They were really nice people that I could see myself hanging around with. Ben didn't involve himself with the girl gossip; he just adored Angela. Lucky girl. I wanted someone to look at me like that.

Alice pointed out the popular people - Lauren, Jessica, Tyler, Eric, Tanya. They had their "special" lunch table; of course that's where Edward sat along with the hot blond guy from earlier. He wasn't really participating in their conversation. He was sitting and reading a book. Damn, he read? Could he get any hotter? Hmm. He didn't seem to be the traditional frat boy–in-training that I would expect from a popular guy like him. I think I drooled again.

"Hello? Earth to Bella. I'm talking here," said Alice, waving her hand in front of my face.

"Sorry," I said sheepishly.

"I can't blame you for having a monster crush, Bell. He is unbelievably gorgeous. I just don't want to see you get your hopes up."

"I know Alice, but I just can't help it."

"Well, let's see if we can't find any unattached eye candy. What about Tyler? He seems to undressing you with his eyes as we speak," she said as she nodded in his direction.

I glanced at Tyler not fully looking up. He winked at me and gave me the look. You know, the 'drop your panties for me baby' look. No one had given it to be before, but I had seen it enough times when I went somewhere with my sister. Yuck. Like I was going to give it up for him. "He talked to me in my English class. Edward's in there, too."

"No shit?" asked Alice. "How did that go?"

"Well I just stared at him the whole time and he caught me looking at him," I said, embarrassed at my behavior.

"You were staring at Tyler for the entire English class? I bet he liked that," Alice teased.

"No, ass, I was staring at Edward!" I exclaimed.

Alice, Angela, and Ben all laughed. Alice continued with her explanation of Forks' social hierarchy.

I learned that the hot blonde guy was named Jasper and he was Edward's best friend. I had a feeling that Alice had a crush on him the way she sighed out his name. Jaaaa-sperrrrr.

"Alice, what's the deal with Jasper? And why am I just finding out about this now?" I inquired. This was something I had to know. Alice was not a person to keep secrets.

Alice sighed, "It's just so embarrassing. I've been in love with him since freshman year, and he doesn't know I exist. Well, kind of, but not really."

"What the hell does that mean?" I demanded.

"Uh, Bella, you aren't the only person to ever have an unfortunate short haircut and no figure. I tried to flirt with him freshman year and he thought I was a boy," she spat out quickly.

"No way!" I snorted.

"Yes, way. Especially since I had no fashion sense and no knowledge of make-up. He told me, 'Dude, I don't swing that way' and that was the last time I talked to him. That's when I swore to myself that I would change my appearance. I studied all of the fashion magazines and learned about clothes and makeup so that would never happen again. And Mother Nature finally granted me some curves that summer," Alice declared.

"I totally remember that day," Angela said. "Alice and I ate a couple of pints of Ben and Jerry's."

"I'm so sorry, Alice. But your knowledge has saved me from being a social outcast. And no one would mistake you for a boy, now. Is that incident why you don't sit with the popular table?" I was really curious about that because Alice was way hotter than all of the so-called 'popular' girls.

"Partly. But mostly because those girls are heinous bitches," giggled Alice. Angela snorted her soda through her nose. "You'll see. Especially Tanya. She's going to hate you."

"Why the hell would that glamazon give a shit about me?" I wondered, as I glanced at the blonde beauty with the pinched face.

"Because she can't stand competition from other beautiful girls. And you, Bella, are competition. Just look around. Notice anything?" smirked Alice.

I glanced around the cafeteria. There actually were several boys looking at me with a strange look that I didn't recognize. Was it. . . lust? Then I saw her staring at me. Tanya. She was shooting daggers out of her eyes.

"Now do you believe me? Oh, and Bella, she's Edward's girlfriend."

Fuckity fuck fuck.

EPOV

I'm glad I had music first period. Playing piano always calms me down. And trust me, I was excited after seeing her. Isabella. Shit. Just thinking about her makes me feel high. Not that I get high or anything. I mean I drink a little at parties, but I don't get carried away. My dad's a doctor for fuck's sake. Anyway, back to Isabella. She was fucking up my day and it had just started.

I couldn't get her out of my mind. Hair, face, eyes, body - I sure as hell noticed that - she was perfect. I know I caught her staring at me before school. Does she think I'm hot? Damn it, I really need to play the piano.

I played some of my favorite pieces and I felt much better. Until second period.

I walked into AP English like I owned the place, which I did because I kick ass in English, and there she was. She was getting chatted up by that asshat Tyler. Why the hell was she talking to that loser? I mean he actually called his piece of shit van "the pussy wagon." Although the stories I heard could actually justify the nickname.

I nodded at him when he greeted me, but I couldn't bring myself to look at her. I didn't want her to know I was interested in her. Wait. I can't be interested in her. I have a girlfriend. So I sat there and eavesdropped. He called her Bella. Hmm. I guess that's what she liked to be called. She didn't seem very interested in Tyler. Yes! She must be intelligent, too. Most of the stupid girls fell for Tyler's bullshit lines about being captain of the football team.

I tried to concentrate on the teacher, but come on, I already read all of these books. And she kept staring at me. I played it cool like I didn't notice, but I wanted her to look at me. I mean girls look at me all of the time, so what? No, I'm not conceited, just truthful. But usually they make me feel kind of slutty when they ogle me. And I'm not a man-whore. Quite the opposite. But Isabella, I mean Bella, just stared sweetly. It was intoxicating. And I'm feeling high again!

I tested my power on Bella by catching one of her stares with a cocked eyebrow. She blushed the most beautiful shade of red. Wow. I didn't think she could be more perfect. Tanya never blushed. She was shameless.

She stumbled out of class quickly when the bell rang. I got a nice rear shot of her walking out. Sweet. I trudged through the next few classes until lunch. Same people, different year. No one caught my eye like Bella. She was. . .different. Something about her made her special. Ok, now that was ridiculous because I haven't even officially met her. What is this, a cheesy romance novel? Did I get shot with heart-tipped arrow?

Once I got to the cafeteria, I took my required spot at "the" table, like always. I listened to my so-called friends' (except for Jasper-he was legit) inane conversations, and the girls talking shit about every girl in the room. Honestly, I wish I could just read my book. So I did, until I heard them bring her up. Bella.

"Honestly, Tyler, what could you possibly see in that mousy brunette? What's her name, Isabella? And look who she's hanging out with." The trio of girls cackled as Tanya made a face like she was sucking on a lemon.

My head snapped up at the mention of her name just as Tyler leered at Bella and then winked. I watched her reaction. She looked up through her ridiculously long lashes and blushed. But not like when she looked at me. She seemed grossed out by Tyler's attention. Yes! Score one for Cullen!

"Her name is Bella, and she's smoking hot. What, are you bitches blind or something?" said Tyler.

"No, just jealous as fuck that someone has joined forces with Alice and Angela against you skanks. Any attention they get makes you have to hike up your skirts even more. And if that happens, they're going to be headbands," Jasper spat out with more venom and emotion than I have ever heard. Fuck, I think he really does have a thing for Alice. And bravo, Jasper.

"Edward, are you going to let fucking Shaggy talk to me that way?" Tanya screeched. The other girls looked like they had been slapped. Except for Jessica. I don't think she understood what was going on. Maybe someone would explain it to her.

I laughed. "Did he hit a nerve?"

"Fuck you, Edward. You'll be sorry for this shit."

" What are you going to do? Break up with me? By the way, charming language. Make sure you write that into your Homecoming speech." Hell, I wish. I watched her give dirty looks to Bella the rest of lunch period. Tanya. Sigh. My "girlfriend." I was so screwed. Fuck. It was very clear to me that I was making a huge mistake with Tanya. I wanted Bella Swan. It's time to put an end to this charade, and Jasper was going to help me. It just might make both our dreams come true in the process.

A/N

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