Home Life

Bella

Thankfully the horrible first day of school is almost over, now all that was left was cheerleading tryouts.

"Oh my God, are you okay?" Rose asks hugging me.

"It wasn't a big deal," I answer, pulling away and getting my uniform out my gym locker.

"What exactly did EJ say to you to piss off Mike?" she asks, pulling on her uniform. "Tanya took a picture but you can't see what's being said."

"You guys better hurry up," Tanya shouts, opening the locker room door. "The new meat are coming."

"I hate the way Tanya kisses Ms. Sambone's butt," Rose whispers to me under her breath.

I close my locker and pull Rose towards the gym, "I think she's just trying to distract herself since Tyler went back to college last week and broke up with her – again."

"Whatever. Even if that's the case, when is that girl not dating someone?"

When we reach the gym, our entire squad is standing next to the door in a circle.

"I still can't believe you got stuck with EJ Masen," Tanya says quietly to me as I find an open spot next to her.

"Wanna switch?"

Tanya sticks her tongue out in complete disgust. "No thanks. Boy is gorgeous but there is no way I'll ever go slumming."

Ms. Sambone finally arrives, she walks towards us with three new girls and tells them to sit back and watch for a little bit before joining. One stood out more than the other two.

Ally – her short raven black hair was piled on top of her head in a little bun with her blood bandanna tied tightly around it. I really didn't notice her appearance before but than again I was a little busy. She looks really tough, with three rings in her eyebrow and a tattoo behind her ear of a very red ruby diamond. She has kind eyes though, and she smiles a lot – which is what she's doing right now. All that softens her appearance.

"You're in big trouble chica," Rose whispers, pushing Tanya out the way when Ms. Sambone tells us to stretch.

"Why?"

Rose has super senses, she knows everything about the school.

"Rumor has it that Roxanne Avila is EJ's current girlfriend or ex, I don't know," she rolls her eyes. "But she's looking for you."

Shit. Okay in all fairness I don't know Roxanne but she's in my 2nd period English class. I'm not trying to freak out but she's a girl not to be messed with, she's tough. From her red painted fingernails to her black stiletto-heeled boots.

Is she jealous that I'm his chem partner? Or does she think I reported him to the principal?

Truth is I didn't report him, I also got called in about it. Apparently someone witnessed the almost fight and the incident on the school steps and reported it. Which in all fairness was stupid because nothing happened.

Mr. Cullen didn't believe me, he thought I was scared so I was covering for Edward.

If I wasn't scared then. I am now.

Roxanne can kick my ass any day of the damn week. She probably uses weapons and the only weapon I know how to use are my pom-poms.

Maybe in a verbal fight I can hold my own but not in a fistfight. Emmett explained that guys fight because of some primal, innate gene that makes them prove themselves physically.

I think Roxy wants to prove something to me, but there is no need. I'm not a threat, I don't want him. But what could I say to her – nothing.

Most people think nothing bothers me. So I'm not going to show them when something actually does. I've worked to long and to hard to keep up this facade and I'm not about to let Roxanne ruin it.

"I'm not worrying about it," I tell Rose.

My best friend looks at me and shakes her head, "You're stressing Izzy. I know you."

Now that worries me. Because I try really hard to keep everyone at a distance, not letting them really know what it's like to be me or what it's like living in my house. But Rosalie knows everything, and I wonder if sometimes that's good or bad.

In reality, I'm paranoid. Rose was there when Aaron got in the accident and when my mom had her nervous breakdown. She let me cry it all out and never pried.

I don't want to be my mom, that's my worst nightmare.

Ms. Sambone gets us into formation and puts the new girls in their spots, then plays our custom music. This is way I love being in the squad. Music is my drug, it's the only thing that makes me numb.

"Isabella teach the basic moves to the new girls and Tanya you lead the rest of the squad and review it." Ms. Sambone orders as she hands me CD player.

Ally is in my group. She kneels down to take a sip from her drink. "Don't worry about Roxy," she says, looking up at me. "Most of the time her bark is worse than her bite."

"Thanks," I mumble, surprised. "You're in my chemistry class, aren't you?"

She nods.

"So you know EJ really well then?"

"He's like my brother," she smiles.

"Is he really that bad?" I ask. "Are the rumors true?"

"Depends," she sighs. "Listen Isabella. You and me, we'll never be friends. I mean if everything was different – we could be, but they're not. But no matter how much of a jerk Edward was to you today, he's not as bad as the rumors say he is. He's not even as bad as he thinks he is."

Before I could say anything else Ally is back in formation. An hour an a half later, when we're all exhausted and crabby, even I have had enough we're finally dismissed from practice. But before we can go, I make it a point to go over to Ally and tell her what a good job she did today.

"Really?" she asks, looking surprised.

"You're a fast learner," I tell her. It's true, for a first timer she's like a pro. "That's why I want to put you on the front line."

Her mouth is still open in shock, I wonder if she believes everything she heard about me. We might never be friends, but we'll never be enemies either, and that's something I can deal with.

After practice I walk to my car with Rose. Waiting in the now empty parking lot are two motorcycles. It's four in the afternoon, school has been out for two hours already. It's Edward and Jazz, probably waiting for Ally. Before they notice us approaching, I see the cool, mean demeanor disappear. They look like two regular 18 year olds just hanging out and having fun. They look normal, kinda how I wish I did.

Ally ran up into Jazz arms and jumped on the back of his bike. Slipping on helmets, they zoomed out the parking lot and into the busy streets of Manhattan.

"What was that?" Rose asks.

"What?" I ask back, then noticing she meant the way I was looking at EJ. "Nothing."

She nods her head not believing me but in a way I know she'll drop it. "Can we go shopping this weekend for your birthday?" she asks and I nod. "Drop me off at Emmett's the guys are over there."

"Is Mike there?" I ask, biting my bottom lip.

"Yup."

Crap! I drop Rosalie over at Emmett's parents condo and begin my drive home. I enjoy the drive alone as I blast my music. But the enjoyment is short lived when my phone starts to vibrate. I hit the sync button on my steering wheel and the car picks up the phone call.

"Iz, where are you?" Its Mike.

"Driving," I answer. "I'm on my way home."

"You just drop off Rose but don't stay," his voice fills my car. "Come over to Emmett's."

"I can't," I plead. "I have to go home."

"Are you still angry I threatened your gangbanger chem partner?"

"I'm not angry," I grit out. "I'm annoyed because you know he was just trying to piss you off and you fell for it. Also for the fact that you ignored me. I didn't ask to be his partner."

"I know babe. I just hate that guy. Please don't be mad."

"I'm not," I sigh. "I just hate seeing you get all bent out of shape for no reason."

"He was whispering in your ear."

I felt a headache coming on, I didn't need Mike making a scene every time a guy spoke to me. "Let's just forget it, please."

"Fine, call me tonight," he says. "But if you can get out early come to Emmett's."

When I get to my building I leave my car running in the front, while Peter came to open my door.

"Good evening Ms. Swan."

"Pete," I sigh. "Call me Izzy, its fine."

I hand him my keys and he drives the car to the underground garage. The elevator ride is long and boring and when I finally make it into my apartment its a mess.

My big brother is in his wheelchair in the living room.

"Where's Aaron?" I asked my mother panicking.

"He's not doing so good," she grimly said, staring at the wall. "What did you think you two were doing?"

"Mom," I cried. "I'm so sorry."

"Rwella," he shouts and smiles wide when he sees me.

"Hey brother bear. You hungry for dinner?" I ask, pushing him into the kitchen.

"You're mother said I can leave when you get home," the home nurse Maria, says looking up from her magazine.

"Whatever." Before I could finish the damn word, the woman is out the door in a hurry.

Our usually clean kitchen is a disaster. Maria hasn't done the dishes or even cleaned up the mess from Aaron's earlier spill.

I start dinner as I clean the mess.

"Cool," Aaron gurgles out. I know in reality he means school.

"Yeah it was my first day back," as I blend his food and set it on his tray. I spoon the blended mix into his mouth while I keep talking, "I got a slack-off as a chem partner. This year is going to be the worst."

My brother looks at me, his eyes tense, showing me his support and understanding. He does that without saying words, because talking has become a struggle. Sometimes I want to talk for him because it becomes my own struggle.

"Did you like Maria?" I ask. To which he shakes his head vigorously. "Be patient."

After his dinner is finished, I noticed the time. It's after 7 and my parents aren't home yet. I wheel Aaron into his room and put him into bed, knowing he'll be out in a few minutes. He always goes to sleep early.

I step back into the kitchen and put a piece of ham and cheese in between two slices of bread for my own dinner. As I eat I start on my homework. I hear the front door open as I finish the last of it.

"Isabella, where are you?" my mom shouts.

"Kitchen."

My mom enters the kitchen with and H&M bag on her arm. "This is for you."

Inside the bag is a new royal blue designer top. "Thanks," I mumble, wondering when she had the time to buy it, granted she got home at 8. She couldn't come home early but she had enough time to go to 5th avenue and shop.

"It'll go great with your dark blue jeans," she says as she pulls out steak from the freezer and sticks them in the microwave.

My dad walks in a few minutes later, grumbling about incompetent workers, "What's for dinner?"

"Steak Charlie," she says glancing at the microwave.

My mom and dad have a very typical marriage. You know I bet one day a long time ago, they were in love.

Dinner is uneventful until mom informs dad that Aaron had a new home nurse. He shrugged his shoulders because last time the home nurse quit he insisted Aaron live a facility instead of at home. I don't remember screaming so much in my life. That's why I have to get into NYU, so I can stay at home and watch my brother. I will never let them send my brother away.

At 10, Jessica and Lauren call to complain about Tanya. Saying she has this huge ego because her ex boyfriend is in college. At 10:30, Tanya calls ands says that Jessica and Lauren are jealous because she was dating a college guy. And at 11, Rose calls to tell me she talked to all three and doesn't want to get in the middle. I agree even though I think we already are.

By 11:30, I'm sliding into bed and dialing Mike's number at the same time.

"Hey babe," he says. "What's up?"

"Nothing in bed. Did you have fun at Em's?"

"Not as much as I would have had if you were there."

"What time did you get back?"

"An hour ago. I'm so glad you called."

"Oh really?" I say, fishing for a compliment. "Why?"

He hasn't told me he loves me in a long time. Not that he's the most affectionate person in the world, but than again neither is my dad. But I like hearing it from him, I need to.

"We've haven't had sex," he clears his throat. "I want too."

Not the words I was expecting to hear, "I'm not ready."

I shouldn't have been surprised, he's a teenage boy. What else do they think about. That's why this afternoon I pushed away the feeling in the pit of my stomach when I read what EJ wrote, little does he know that I'm a virgin.

"You sure?" he asks, annoyance lacing each word.

"Yeah, you mad?"

"No," he sighs. "Listen I'm tired, I'm going to bed. Bye babe."

"Bye," before I could answer he already hung up.

The solar system is threatening to fall out of alignment, and I can't let that happen. I'll have to figure out what to do with Mike's sudden obsession with sex and fast. Either that or lose everything I've worked so hard to keep.

Edward

I push the guy against the hood of his shiny black Camaro, the thing probably cost more than what my mom makes in a year. "Here's the deal, Jose," I say. "You either pay up now or I break something of yours. Get it?"

Jose is skinner than a pole and as pale as a ghost, even though his skin is tanned, and is looking at me like I'm the grim reaper. He should have thought about that before he bounced without paying up.

As if Rick would let that happen.

As if I would let that happen.

When Rick sends me to collect, I do it. I may not like it but I do it. You don't fuck with the OG and when he gives you orders, you follow. I won't steal or deal drugs but I collect, mostly debts. Sometimes people, but those get messy, especially when I haul them back to the warehouse to face Hector. Nobody wants to face Hector. It's worse than me so Jose should feel lucky I'm the one assigned to get him.

To say my life ain't clean is a fucking understatement but I try not to dwell on it. It's the price I pay to make sure my family and I are safe, including Jazz and Ally. It's a dirty job but I'm good at it. Scaring people is my job so technically I've never touched drugs, even though my hands touch drug money, but I hand it over to Rick. I don't use it, I just collect it. You can't imagine how many people break down with a threat of bodily harm.

"I don't got it today," he blurts out.

"That answer ain't gonna cut it," Jazz chimes from the sidelines. He likes coming with me, he thinks of it as a good cop/bad cop thing but it's more like bad gang member/worse gang member.

"Which limb first?" I ask with an evil glint in my eye. "I'll be nice and let you choose."

"Just smoke his ass EJ," Jazz says lazily.

"No," he pleads. "Tomorrow. I promise."

I push him harder into his car, "I need collateral." But he doesn't answer so I eye his car.

"No EJ, not the car."

I take my gun out. I'm not gonna shoot him. Fuck, no matter what I am or who I become, I'll never kill anyone. But Jose doesn't know this. One look at my glock and he holds out his keys, "Tomorrow, behind the old factory on Cooper at 9. Now get out of here."

Speedy Gonzalez takes off with the speed of light.

"I've always wanted a Camaro," Jazz grins, snatching the car keys.

"Its yours – until tomorrow."

Back at the warehouse, I give Rick the update. He's not happy we haven't collected, but he knows it'll happen. I always come through.

At night, I'm in my room unable to sleep. As much as I don't mind threatening loser drug dealers like Jose, I wish to hell I was fighting for things worth fighting for.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A week later I'm in the courtyard behind the school, eating lunch under a tree. It's still warm enough to soak up some sun and fresh air.

My friend Chris, with his lunch parks his butt right beside me. "You geared for next period EJ? I swear Isabella Swan hates you man. Its fucking fun to watch."

"Chris," I say calmly. "She might be a fly ass shorty but she ain't got shit on me."

"Tell Mike Newton that," he laughs.

I lean back against the tree and cross my arms. "I got gym with him and believe me he ain't got shit to brag about."

"You still pissed he banged your face into a locker?"

Hell yeah I'm still pissed, asshole wanna do it when my back is turned. I'm gonna get him back for that shit. "Yesterday's news," I tell him keeps the cool facade I always do.

"Well Yesterday's news and his hot girlfriend are sitting over there."

One look at Little Miss Perfect and my defensives go up. She thinks the worst of me. Everyday I've dreaded having to deal with her, "Bitches head is filled with hot air."

"I heard she dissed you to her friends," Richie and a few more people from my set come up.

I shake my head, wondering how much of that is true, "Maybe she wants to get my attention and can't think of another way how."

Chris laughs up a storm, "There's no way she'll get within two feet of you on her own free will, let alone date you. She's so rich that blue top she got on probably cost more than your house."

Damn that blue top, but now it has become my most favorite thing on her.

"Hell, I bet you my RX-7 you can't get into her pants before Thanksgiving break," Chris challenges me.

"Who's want into her pants?" I ask lazily.

"Every single dude in this school."

Leave it up to me to state the obvious, "She's a rich girl." I'm not into spoiled bitches, who's idea of hard labor is trying to figure out what clothes to wear.

"Don't be an idiot EJ, look at her."

I glance up and she her laughing. I already told you she's gorgeous, but she has a smile that'll make you think world peace was possible if everyone had her smile.

I shove those thought from my mind as quick as they came, "Too skinny."

"You want her," Chris laughs leaning down on the ground. "You just know you can't have her."

Okay tell me I can't have something and something inside me clicks. Call it a defensive mechanism or call it cockiness. But whatever it is, it accepts the challenge, "In two months I could get a piece of that ass. If you really wanna bet you're RX-7, I'm in."

"Don't do it," And I notice that Luis, Jazz, and Ally showed up. "It's not right," Luis mumbles, as Jazz and Ally nod their head in agreement.

"I mean I'm all for teaching rich bitch a lesson," Jazz smirks. "But don't fuck with her feelings, now that's cold."

Chris smirks like he knows he won, "You're tripping man." But when I don't answer he frowns, "You serious EJ?"

This guy will back down he loves his car more than his moms, "Sure."

"If you lose I get the Honda," Chris says. His frown turning into a shit-eating grin.

Shit, Chris ain't backing down so now I have to decided if I will. Problem is I never back down.

The most popular girl in school would sure as hell learn a lot hanging with me. Little Miss Perfect said she'd never date a gang member, but I bet no blood ever tried to get into her pants.

I bet all it'll take for Bella to come around is a little bit of flirting. You know that give and take wordplay that heightens your awareness of the opposite sex. I can kill to fucking birds with one stone. Get back at the asshole by taking his girl and get back at Bella for getting me called in by the principal and dissing me in front of her friends.

Could even be fun. I turn and look at Ally's face, she's silently pleading with me not to do this while Jazz and Luis talk about how bad this shit can go. I can imagine the pristine rich bitch drooling over the dude she vowed to hate. I wonder how hard she'll fall on that tight ass when I'm done with her.

I hold out my hand, "Deal."

"You gotta show proof," Chris says, shaking my hand. "Take a picture."

After agreeing, Jazz and Luis sat next to me with Ally on Jazz's lap.

"This is a bad idea," Luis mumbled. "You're going to regret it. Isabella Swan is out of your league, you might be a pretty boy and shit but you're 100 percent street and the closest she'll come to the street is with Bert and Ernie."

I scoffed, amazed by my friends. My eye is on the prize now, game on. It's time to start flirting, but none of those bullshit come-on lines. Somehow I think she's used to those already. I think a new tactic is in order, I'm going to keep riffling her feathers until I'm the only thing she can think about. And I'll start next period, when she's forced to sit next to me.

But just as I'm thinking of my master plan, I feel something drop on my pants. In one fluid motion Ally stood up and dumped the remainder of her soda bottle on the crotch of my faded jeans. She was so graceful, I didn't even know what happened until it was over, and all that was left was a huge wet stain.

"What the fuck Alice?!" I growl.

"You know Edward," Ally began, tossing the empty bottle aside. "You don't always have to be a fucking jerk. What you're about to do to her is sick and cruel. And watch in the end you won't just end up hurting her, you're hurt yourself too."

She walked away stomping her feet with Jasper just two minutes behind her. After Luis flashes me an apologetic smile, he disappears too.

A wet crotch is not the way to show Bella I'm a stud. I wait a while by the trees while the other students throw away their lunch and before I know it the bell rings. Gritting my teeth, I walk to chemistry with my books strategically placed in front of my crotch. I slide into the stool and push it as close to the lab table as possible, hiding the stupid wet stain.

Bella walks into the room, her mahogany hair falling down in front of her chest, ending in perfect curls that bounce as she walks. I wink at her when she glances at me, which in turn makes her huff and pull her stool as far away from me as possible.

Remembering Mrs. Cullen's zero-tolerance rule, I pull my bandanna off and place it on my lap directly over the stain. Then I turn to the cheerleading chick next to me, "You're gonna have to talk to me at some point."

"So your girlfriend can have a reason to beat me up? No thanks, EJ. I rather like my face the way it is."

Fuck Roxy, what did you do? "I don't have a girlfriend. You want to interview for the job?" I scan her top to bottom, focusing on her.

She curls her pink frosted lips at me and sneers, "Not on your life."

"Shorty, you wouldn't know what to do with all this testosterone if you hand it in your hands."

That's it EJ. Tease her into wanting you.

She turns away from me, to hide the little blush on her cheeks, "You're disgusting."

"What if I say we'd make a cute couple?"

"I'd say you were an idiot."

Right after she called me an idiot, Mrs. Cullen called the class to order. "You and your partner will pick a project from this hat," she announces. "They are all equally challenging and will require meeting with your partner outside class."

"What about basketball?" Ass-face interjects. "No way I'm missing practice."

"Or cheerleading," Ms. I-try-to-hard next to him chimes.

"Schoolwork comes first," Mrs. C says she stands in front of our table and holds out the hat towards Bella.

Bella reaches into the hat and pulls out a little white slip of paper, opening it slowing she bites her lower lip.

Damn does she know what that does to guys?

"Hand warmers?" she mumbles quietly.

I lean over and read the paper with a confused look on my face, "What the fuck are hand warmers?"

Mrs. C shoots me a warning glare, "If you'd like to stay after school, I have a detention slip on my desk with your name already on it. Now, either ask the question again without using foul language or join me after school."

"That'll be cool, to hang with you Mrs. C, but I'd rather spend the time studying with my partner," I smirk, then wink at Mike. "So, I'll rephrase the question. What exactly are hand warmers?"

"Thermal chemistry, Mr. Masen. We use them to warm our hands."

I flash a big cocky grin as I turn to Bella, "I'm sure we can find other things to warm."

"I hate you," she says loud enough for me and the rest of the class to hear.

"There's a thin line between love and hate," I whisper. "Maybe you're confusing your emotions."

She scoots away from me, "I wouldn't bet on it."

"I would," I laugh as I grab my books and stand.

"EJ sit down," Mrs. C says.

"I got to piss."

The teacher's eyebrow furrows and her hands go to her hips, "Watch your language. Last time I checked, you don't need your books in order to go to the restroom. Put them down."

I tighten my lips as I slide them back on the table.

"I told you no gang-related items," Mrs. Cullen points to the bandanna I'm holding in front of me. "Hand it over."

The door ain't to far off for me to run, "What if I refuse?"

"EJ don't test me. Zero tolerance or I have you suspended."

Flashbacks of lighting the lockers on fire flash through my mind, damn it. I cringe as I place the bandana in her waiting hand.

"OhMyGod!" Bella screeched, at the sight of the big wet stain on my pants. One by one the students began to laugh.

Mike being the loudest, "Don't sweat it EJ. My grandma got the same problem, nothing a diaper won't fix."

Bella threw him an icy glare at his comment.

"Your girlfriend couldn't keep her hands out of my pants," I flashed a huge cocky crooked grin. "She was showing me a whole new definition of hand warmers."

"You wish," she growled, jumping out of her seat.

"EJ, Isabella, and Michael. After class – Principals office," Mrs. Cullen yells.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Oh, this is rich. Mr. & Mrs. Cullen on one side of Cullen's office, Bella and her dickhead boyfriend on the other side, and me standing by myself.

Mr. Cullen clears his throat, "EJ, this is the second time in two weeks you're in my office."

Yep, that sums it up. This guy is an absolute genius.

"I've had it up to here with you antics," Mrs. Cullen says waving her hand above her head. She glares at Bella and Mike. I think she's going to let them bitch at me until I hear her say, "And don't think you two are any better."

Bella seems stunned at the scolding, "I don't want to be partners with him."

"Esme, I'll take it from here," Cullen says. "Diversity breeds knowledge is our new school motto. Let me assure you that as your principal it is my goal to bridge any gap that negates that motto."

Okay so diversity breeds knowledge. But I've also seen it breed hatred and ignorance. But I'm going to stay quiet because I'm starting to believe our principal actually believes the crap he's spouting.

"Mr. Cullen and I are on the same page," Mrs. C says giving me a fierce look. "EJ stop goading Isabella," and then fires the same look at the other two, "Isabella stop acting like a diva, and Michael... I don't even know what you guys have to do with this."

"I'm her boyfriend."

"Well, keep you're relationship out of my classroom."

"But -," he starts.

Mrs. C cuts him off with a wave of her hand, "Enough we are done here, go to class."

Mike grabs Bella's hand as they both file out the room. After I walk out, Mrs. C. puts a hand on my shoulder, "EJ?"

I stop and turn to look at her. Her eyes have sympathy written all over them. It doesn't sit well in my gut, "Yeah?"

"I see right through you, you know."

I need to wipe that sympathy off her face. "It's the second week of school, Esme. You might wanna wait a month or two before you make a statement like that."

She chuckles, "I haven't been teaching that long but I've seen more EJ Masen in my classes to last a lifetime."

"And here I thought I was unique." I put a hand over my heart. "You wound me, Esme."

"You want to make yourself unique, finish high school without dropping out."

"That's the plan," I tell her, although I never admitted it to anyone before.

"I'm told they all say that at first." She opens her purse and hands me my bandanna. "Don't let it dictate your future."

I shove it into my back pocket. "I know what you're going to say next... if you ever need a friend, I'm here."

"Wrong. I'm not your friend. If I were, you wouldn't be in a gang. But I've seen your test scores. You're a smart kid who can succeed if you take school seriously."

Succeed. Success. It's all relative, isn't it?

"Can I go to class now?" I ask, because I have no comeback for that. I'm ready to accept that my chem teacher and new principal might not be on my side... but I'm not sure they're on the other side either. Kinda blows my theories out of the water.

"Yeah, go to class EJ."

I'm still thinking about what Mrs. Cullen said when I hear her call after me, "And if you ever call me Esme again, you'll have the pleasure of getting detention and writing a essay on respect. Remember, I'm not your friend."

As I walk into the hallway, I smiled to myself. That woman sure does wield those shits like weapons. Mr. C. must have a good time with her in bed.

Sorry it took forever for me to update my birthday just past and i went away.
But here you are, guys I love the reviews.

Tell me what you think...