Almost

Bella

My chemistry partner hasn't been in school since we received our projects. A week later he finally decides to strut into class.

It pisses me off because no matter how bad my home life is, I come to school.

I slam my books onto to lab table, "Nice of you to show up."

"Nice of you to notice," he says as he pulls off his bandanna.

Mrs. Cullen walks into class. When she sees EJ, I think I see a flash of relief show. But as fast as it comes it disappears. Squaring her shoulders, she says, "I was going to give you a pop quiz today. But instead I'll have you work with your partners in the library. Rough outlines of your projects are due in two weeks people, so I hope you'll get it done."

As the class files out the classroom, Mike and I hold hands as we walk to the library. Ej is somewhere behind us, with Ally and his friends.

Mike squeezes my hand softly. "Wanna get together after practice?"

"I can't. After poms I have to go home."

Maria quit on Saturday and my mom freaked out. Until she hires someone else I have to help out more at home.

He stops and pulls his hand from mine. "Shit Isabella. You gonna make some time for me, or what?"

"You can come over," I offer.

"So I can watch you take care of your brother? No thanks. Not to be a prick but I want some alone time. Just me and you."

Not to be a prick. I wanted to yell and scream at the top of my lungs. He used to idolize my brother.

But instead I stay quiet, "I know."

"What about Friday?"

I should be with Aaron, but my relationship with Mike is on the rocks and if I don't fix it soon, I'll be left sitting in the dust, while he moves on to the next girl.

I can't let him think that I don't want to be with him, "Friday works for me."

Before we seal our plans with a kiss, EJ clears his throat loudly in front of us, "No PDA. School rules. Besides, she's my partner dickhead. Not yours."

"Shut up Masen," Mike mutters, then joins Tanya.

I put my hands on my hips and glare at EJ, "Since when are you concerned with school rules?"

"Since you became my chem partner. Outside chemistry, you're his. In chemistry, you're mine."

"Want to find your club and pull me by my hair into the library," I scoffed.

"I'm not a Neanderthal. Your boyfriend is the ape, not me."

"Then stop acting like one."

All of the work tables in the library were taken, so we're forced to find a corner in the back of the library in the secluded nonfiction section and sit on the carpet. I set my books down and realize that EJ is staring at me, almost as if he looks long enough he might be able to see the real me.

Good Luck. No chance of that ever happening. I hide myself from everyone except Rose.

I stare back, because two can play this game.

On the surface he looks invincible. But the scar above his left eyebrow tells everyone the truth. Edward Masen is in fact human.

His shirt outlines muscles you can only get from manual labor or working out regularly.

When my eyes meet his gaze, time stops. Those green eyes pierce mine, and I can swear that its as if in this moment he senses the real me. The one without the attitude, without the facade.

Just Bella.

"What would it take for you to go out with me?" he asks.

"You're not serious."

"Do I look like I'm joking?"

Mrs. Cullen wanders by us, saving me from answering. "I'm keeping my eyes on you two. EJ, we missed you last week. What happened?"

"I kinda fell onto a knife."

She shakes her head in disbelief, then moves away to harass other partners.

I look at EJ, wide-eyed. "A knife? You're kidding right?"

"Nope. I was cutting a tomato, and wouldn't ya know the thing flung up and sliced my shoulder open. The doctor stapled me back together. Wanna see?" he asks as he starts pulling up his sleeve.

I slap a hand over my eyes. "EJ, please don't gross me out. And I don't believe your story for a second, you were in a knife fight."

"You've never answered my question," he says, not admitting or denying my theory about his wound. "What would it take for you to go out with me?"

"Nothing. I wouldn't go out with you."

"I bet if we make out you'll change your mind," he smirked.

"As if that'll ever happen."

"Your loss." EJ stretches his long legs in front of him, his chem book resting in his lap. He looks at me with his emerald green eyes that are so intense I swear they could hypnotize someone. "You ready?"

For a second, as I'm staring into those green eyes, I wonder what it would be like to kiss EJ.

My gaze drops to his lips. For less than a second, I can almost feel them coming closer.

Would his lips be hard on mine, or soft?

Is he a slow kisser, or hungry and fast like his personality?

"For what?" I whisper, leaning closer.

"The project," he says. "Hand warmers. Cullen's class. Chemistry."

Shit! I shake my head, clearing all ridiculous thoughts from my overactive teenage mind.

Sleep deprived, that's it. I'm sleep deprived.

"Bella?"

"What?" I say, staring blindly at the words on the page. I can't remember the last time someone called me Bella. "What did you call me?"

"Bella," he shrugged. "Isabella is too long, I like Bella better."

"My brother used to call me that," I smiled softly.

"You look like you wanted to kiss me."

I forced a laugh. I'm an idiot. "Yeah, right."

"Nobody's watching if you want to, you know, try it. Not to brag but I'm sort of an expert."

He gave me a lazy smile, the kind that was probably used to melt girls hearts all over the world.

"EJ, you're not my type."

I need to tell him something to stop him from looking at me like he's planning to do things to me I've only heard about.

"You only like rich guys?"

"Stop. That." I say through gritted teeth.

"What?" He's getting serious all of a sudden, "It's the truth, ain't it?"

Mrs. Cullen pops out in front of us again, "How's the outline coming?"

I put on a fake smile, "Peachy."

I pull out the research I had done in the week he was gone and got down to business while Mrs. Cullen watches. "I did some research on the hand warmers. We need to dissolve sixty grams of sodium acetate and one hundred millimeters of water at seventy degrees."

"Wrong."

I look up and realize Mrs. Cullen is gone, "Um excuse me?"

EJ folds his arms across his chest. "You're wrong."

"No. I'm not."

"You think you've never been wrong before?"

He says it as if I'm some ditzy rich bimbo, which sets my blood boiling. "Sure I have," I make my voice sound like one of those Southern débutantes, "Why, just last week I bought Victoria's Secret Beauty Rush Pink lip gloss when the Cherry Red would have looked better with my complexion. Needless to say the purchase was a total disaster." I wonder if he believes it, or from my tone realizes I'm being sarcastic. "Haven't you ever been wrong before?"

"Absolutely," he smirks. "Last week, when I robbed the bank over by the Walgreens, I told the teller to hand over all the fifties he had in the till. What I really should have asked for was the twenties, cause there are always way more twenties than fifties."

Okay, so he did get that I was putting on an act. And he gave it right back to me with his own ridiculous scenario. I put my hand on my chest and gasped, "What a tragedy."

"So I guess we could both be wrong."

I was stubborn, something I got from my father, Charlie. "Not about chemistry. I'm right about this."

"Wanna bet?" he smiled. "If I'm right, you kiss me."

"And if I'm right?"

"Name it," He stated simply, leaning back against the book shelf.

Mr. Macho's ego is about to be taken down a notch, and I'm all too happy to be the one to do it. "If I win you take me and the class project seriously. No teasing, no making ridiculous comments."

"Deal. I'd feel terrible if I didn't tell you I have photographic memory."

It was my turn to smirk, "I'd feel terrible if I didn't tell you I copied this information straight from the textbook."

"It needs to be cooled at twenty degrees. And it needs to be dissolved at one hundred degrees not seventy," he said confidently.

I scan the page of my textbook and then my notes, "Oh, yeah. One hundred degrees." I look up at him in complete shock, "You're right."

"You gonna kiss me now or later?"

"Right now," I smile. I can tell this shocks him from the way his hands go still. At home, my life is dictated by my mom and dad. At school it's different. I need to keep it that way, because if I have no control in every aspect of my life I might as well be a mannequin.

"Really?" he whispers quietly.

"Yeah." I take one of his hands in mine. His breathing slowed as I sat up on my knees and leaned into him. I'm ignoring the fire that's shooting up my arm at this moment. I'm nervous, but I'm the one in control.

I can feel him restraining himself. He's letting me make the first move, which is a good thing. I'm afraid of what this boy would do if he let loose.

I place his hand against my cheek so it cupped my face and I hear him groan. I want to smile because his reaction proves I have the power.

He's unmoving as our eyes meet. Again time stops.

I turn my head into his hand and kiss the inside of his palm.

"There, I kissed you." I smiled and turned back towards my textbook, efficiently ending this game.

Mr. Big Bad Gang Member with the ego got bested by the ditzy, rich bimbo.

Edward

"You call that a kiss?"

"Yep."

Okay, so I'm in shock the girl put my hand on her creamy cheek. Damn, you'd think I was on drugs by the way my body reacted.

She had me totally under her spell a minute ago. Then the pretty witch turned my game around so she was the one with the upper hand.

She surprised me, I give her that. I laugh, deliberately calling attention to us because I know it's exactly what she doesn't want.

"Shh," Bella whispers, hitting my shoulder to shut me up.

When I laugh louder, she whacks my arm with the heavy chem book.

My bad arm. Damn it!

I wince, "Ow!"

The cut on my bicep feels like a million little bees are stinging it. Motherfucking piece of shit! Son of a bitch! That shit hurt like a motherfucker!

She bites her Victoria's Secret Pink frosted bottom lip, which in my opinion looks fine on her.

Though I wouldn't mind seeing her in Cherry Red color, too.

"Did I hurt you?" she asked.

"Yes," I say through gritted teeth as I concentrate on her lip gloss instead of the pain.

"Good."

I lifted my sleeve and examine my wound, which now, thanks to Bella, has blood trickling from one of the staples the doctor at the free clinic put in it after the fight at the park with the King. Bella's got a pretty good whack for someone who probably weighs a buck ten soaking wet.

She sucked in her breath and scooted away, "Oh my God! I really didn't mean to hurt you, EJ. Really, I didn't. When you threatened to show your scar, you lifted your left sleeve."

"I wasn't really going to show you," I admit. "I was fucking with you. It's okay."

Geez, you'd think the girl never saw red blood before. Then again, her blood probably runs blue, so this might be a surprise.

"No, it's not okay," she insisted while shaking her head. "Your stitches are bleeding."

"They're staples," I try to correct her and lighten the mood in the process. The girl is even paler than usual. And she's breathing heavy, almost as if she's panting. If she passes out, I swear I'm losing the bet with my boys. If she can't handle a little streak of blood, how's she going to handle having sex with me?

Unless we're not naked, so she doesn't have to see my scars. Or if it's dark, then she can pretend I'm someone white bred and rich.

Wait, Fuck that! I want the lights on.

I want to feel all of her against me and want her to know it's me she's with not some ignorant jock head.

"EJ, are you okay?" Bella asked, waving a hand in front of my face.

Should I tell her I was spacing out while thinking about us having sex? Nah.

Mrs. C passes by and notices the small line of blood snaking its way down my forearm and staining the sleeve of my white shirt, "Isabella, help him to the nurse. EJ, next time come to school with that thing bandaged."

"Don't I get sympathy," I whine. "I'm bleeding to death here."

Bella lifts my books off my lap. "Come'on," she whispers in a shaky voice.

"I can hold my books," I try and explain, but she cuts me off and she pulls me by the stomach of my shirt out the library.

She's still walking ahead and pulling me along. Do you think if I tell her I need help walking because I feel faint, she'll help? Maybe I should stumble, but knowing her she probably won't care.

Right before we reach the nurse's office, she turns around and her hands are shaking. "I'm so sorry, EJ. I d-didn't m-mean ..."

Okay, so she's freaking out. If she cries, I won't know what to do. I'm not used to crying chicks. I don't think Roxy cried once during our relationship. In fact, I doubt she even has tear ducts.

"Um... you okay?" I ask slowly.

"If this gets around, I'm never going to live it down. Oh God if Mrs. Cullen calls my parents I'm dead. Or at least I'll wish I was dead." She continues rambling and shaking, as if she's a car with bad shocks and no brakes. "... and my mom will blame it on me. It's my fault, I know. But she'll freak out on me and then I'll have to explain and hope she – "

Before she can get another word out I yell, "Bella!" The girl looks up at me with an expression so confused, I don't know whether to feel sorry for her or stunned she's rambling and can't seem to stop. "You're the one freaking out."

Her eyes, usually a clear and bright chocolate brown, are now dull and blank as if she's not really here. She looks down and around and everywhere except directly at me, "No, I'm not. I'm fine."

"The hell you are. Look at me."

She hesitates, "I'm fine. Just forget everything I just said."

"If you don't look at me, I'm going to bleed all over the floor and need a fucking transfusion. Look at me, damn it!" I pull her chin up to face me and that damn spark shoots up my arm again.

"What?" she shouts. "If you want to tell me that my life is out of control, I am already aware of that."

I couldn't help myself, but I didn't want to let go of her face. I ran my fingers down the length of her jaw, "I know you didn't mean to hurt me. It's fine, I'm alive."

"Don't try to make me feel better," she says, as she pulls her face away from me. "I hate you, you know."

Ah, a beautiful moment ruined.

"I hate you too. Now please move so the janitor doesn't have to mop up all my blood."

Instead of moving out the way, my very beautiful, very bitchy chem partner opens the door to the office for me. Gasp!

"He's bleeding," she yells out towards Ms. Petrie, the school nurse.

Ms. Petrie has me sit down on the examine table, "What happened here?"

I look over at Bella, she has a worried look on her face, as if she's concerned I might die right then and there.

I hope to God that's what the Angel of Death looks like before I kick the bucket. I'd be more than happy go to hell if a face like Bella's was greeting me.

"My staples opened up," I tell the nurse. "No big deal."

"And how did that happen?" The nurse asks as she dabs something on my arm. I hold my breath as I wait for the stinging to recede. I'm also not about to narc on my partner when I'm trying to seduce her.

"I hit him," Bella squeaks.

Ms. Petrie turns around stunned, "You hit him?"

"By accident," I chime in, not having a clue why I suddenly wanted to protect this girl who hates me and would rather flunk a chem class than have to be partnered with me.

My plans with Bella are not working. The only feeling she has admitted to having towards me in hatred. But the thought of Chris on my bike was more painful than this antiseptic crap that's being rubbed onto my arm.

I've got to get Bella alone, if I ever have a chance of this bet working in my favor. Does her freak-out really mean that she doesn't hate me?

I've never seen the girl do anything not scripted or 100 percent intentional. She's a robot or so I thought.

She's always looked and acted like a princess on camera every time I've seen her. Who knew my bloody arm would break her.

I look over at Bella. She more focused on my arm, I wish we were back at the library. I swear back there she was thinking about getting it on with me.

I'm sporting a hard on right now because of it.

And right in front out the school nurse. Thank God Ms. Petrie finished and is walking away from me.

Where's a large chem book when you need one?

"Let's hang Thursday after school. You know, to work on the outline," I tell her for two reasons.

One, I need to stop thinking about getting naked with her in front of the nurse.

Two, I want Bella to myself.

"I'm busy Thursday."

Probably with the dickhead. Obviously she rather be with that idiot than me.

"Friday then," I offer.

I'm testing her, I probably shouldn't. Testing a girl like Bella Swan can seriously put a damper on my ego.

Although I caught her at a time when she's vulnerable and still shaking from seeing my blood.

I admit I'm a manipulative asshole.

She bites her bottom lip that she thinks is glossed with the wrong color, "I can't Friday either."

My hard on is officially deflated.

"What about Saturday morning?" she offers. "We can meet at the public library on third ave."

"You sure you can pencil me into your busy schedule?"

"Shut up. I'll meet you there at ten."

"It's a date," I laugh.

Ms. Petrie is obviously eavesdropping while she finishes wrapping my arm with the dorky gauze.

Bella gathers her books and throws me an evil little smirk, "It's not a date."

My hard on is back.

I grab my books and hurry into the hallway after her. She's walking alone. The loudspeaker hasn't had the bell sound yet, leaving the hallway completely empty.

"It might not be a date but you owe me a kiss. I always collect my debts."

My chemistry partner's eyes go from dull to shining mad and full of fire.

Mmm, dangerous.

I wink at her, "And don't sweat about what lip gloss to wear on Saturday. You'll just have to reapply it after we make out."

Bella's body tensed and she turned sharply.

"Keep dreaming Masen," she shouted, as her hips rocked back and forth down the hallway.

Oh, hell yeah I'll keep dreaming. Sooner or later she'll come around and when she does, I'll have my bike and a new car.

Not only that but bragging rights that I tapped the star basketball's player, leading cheerleader.

Turning and going to my next class I felt a tiny twinge of guilt over what was going to happen by Thanksgiving.

Sorry Sorry Sorry!
I don't expect forgiveness
School and Work have been HELL!

Sorry Sorry Sorry
Review please :(