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1. The Fresh Meat Stinks

BELLA P.O.V.

It all started the day Tanya Denali arrived at Forks High School. There had been a buzz of excitement in the past week of a new family who had moved here from Alaska. And for a school as pathetic as ours – three hundred and fifty eight students total – it meant fresh meat. A new, shiny toy. And rumor was that this particular toy was quite the wonder.

And boy was that rumor correct.

Edward slid into a parking spot and turned off the ignition. I was sitting in the passenger seat, chewing my lip out over a Biology test that day. As I reached for the car handle, Edward stopped me. He pulled both my hands together in his large ones and smiled.

"I love you," he murmured with sincerity brimming in his emerald eyes. God, he was so beautiful. His copper hair was in its normal messy disarray. I sighed in contentment as he brushed his finger across my cheek.

"I love you, too." I smiled. He squeezed my hands and gave me a quick peck on the lips. Of course that led to a five minute make-out session. His hand, which was playing on the hem of my t-shirt, was starting to creep up under, when there was a loud thud on the door. Emmett Cullen – Edward's older brother was staring goofily at us making kissy faces through the window.

My face turned bright red as I quickly pulled away from Edward. He groaned and gave Emmett the bird.

"My apologies for my pest of a brother." I laughed and got out of the car after fixing my hair. Edward always had a fetish for my brown locks. (But, I couldn't blame him. I just waited for every chance I could get to run my hands through his wildly soft mane.)

Even though I had been dating Edward for almost two years, I still wasn't comfortable with the whole PDA thing. As a matter of fact – to let you in on a secret – I was still a virgin. Edward was such a sweetheart about it, though. He never pressured me despite our long relationship. Of course, we fooled around a lot and he'd felt me up…and down on numerous occasions, but we'd never gone further than that. I loved Edward so much – I guess I was just waiting for that perfect moment.

We were walking hand in hand together toward the entrance, when I heard a lovely peal of laughter.

Edward turned around abruptly at the noise, his hand still in mine, causing me to stumble. He would usually steady me on my clumsy feet – but he was frozen on his own two feet as my butt hit the asphalt of the parking lot. That was going to bruise.

"Jerk!" I said in mock anger, but he didn't respond. In fact, he didn't register at all. What was his problem? My gaze fell to the object of his attention and my eyes widened.

She was as stunning as everyone had gossiped about. Her frame was tall – unlike my small 5'3". She had corn silk hair that deserved its own shampoo commercial, also unlike my own boring dull brown hair. Everything screamed perfect, from her designer dress to her endless legs to her vivid blue eyes.

Ah, so the new girl was quite the catch, and…and Edward was staring right at her like an idiot. His mouth was parted slightly open in his daze. If it was open any more, he would be drooling. I didn't even think he noticed my little tumble. I angrily pulled myself off the ground and stormed away. How dare he just blatantly ogle a girl right in front of my eyes, with me sprawled on the ground no less?

I tried to keep the tears in check as I headed toward my locker. I didn't even want to check behind to see if he was trying to catch up to me. It would hurt too much to know the answer to that with my very own eyes.

I focused my attention on my notes for my Biology test instead of thinking about what the hell just happened. Then I remembered – Edward was my Biology partner and I would be seeing him in first period. I wonder if he would try to apologize. I shook my head in ridicule. Of course he would. This was Edward we were talking about. I immediately felt better.

After homeroom, I headed toward the Biology wing. Alice, my best friend, and Edward's twin, almost collided into me as she approached. She was a force to reckon with – a tiny thing standing at only five feet. Her hair was cropped short and spiked to perfection.

"Hey, Bella!" she squealed with her normal enthusiasm. It was hard not to love Alice. I remembered the first day I came to Forks, three years ago, when I was in the eighth grade. She hugged me upon entering the building and said we would be the best of friends. She was right.

I didn't even get a chance to reply before she shot off on today's gossip.

"Did you see the new girl? Her name is Tanya Denali! I wonder if she's nice. Anyways, did you see her dress? It's Gucci! I have to ask where she got it from!" I looked at Alice in amazement. She said all of that without a single breath.

"Yeah, Edward seems pretty smitten with her." I grounded my teeth together, my jaws locked.

Alice's face immediately fell. "What?"

"Mhm. He was just gawking at her right in front of me like she was a piece of meat." Stinky meat.

Alice furrowed her eyebrows. I always wondered what could be going on in that mind of hers. Her brain was always on speed and I could only imagine the jumble of thoughts she was sorting through.

"Maybe he was looking at something else? I mean, come on, it's Edward. He's besotted with you!" she reasoned.

"Besotted?" I quirked my eyebrow up at her choice of word.

"Oh, you know what I mean," she rolled her eyes and nudged my arm with her shoulder.

"Yeah, I guess…" I replied doubtfully. Luckily I had reached the classroom before she could say anything more. I really didn't want to talk about it.

"See ya later, Ali." With a quick wave I walked into the room. Edward hadn't reached yet. I took my seat and pulled my binder out trying to cram a few more things in. I was unsuccessful though as my mind wandered over the events this morning.

You're making a big deal out of this Bella. I told myself. I didn't know why I was overreacting. It was probably close to that time of the month. I counted back to when I last had my period, my mind distracted.

I was snapped out of my thoughts as laughter filtered into the room. My eyes shot up and the blood in my veins ran ice cold.

Edward and Tanya had entered the room together. She playfully pushed his shoulder as giggles continued to escape from her pouty lips.

What the hell was going on?

He didn't even notice me sitting on the lab table as he continued to...to flirt with her.

I didn't pay attention to their conversation; my face was flushed as I tried not to break my pencil in half. I stared blankly at my notes as the rest of class filled in. Finally, a couple minutes later, there was a thud next to my stool as Edward dropped his backpack to the floor. I would ignore him, just as he ignored me earlier.

"Hey," he smiled, as if everything was normal. I raised my eyebrow at him.

"It's nice of you to finally grace your presence." Okay, so much for the ignoring him.

His eyes furrowed in confusion, and then he said something that actually did made me break my pencil.

"Where were you this morning? You just left."

Thank the heavens that Mr. Banner cut our discussion and began immediately handing out tests or I probably would have impaled him with my broken pencil.

I flew through the test and as soon as the bell rang I grabbed my backpack and practically threw the test on Mr. Banner's face as I fled the room. Great, he must think I'm a freaking spazz now.

The day went by painfully slow. The chatter was the same in every class – all revolving on our lovely Tanya Denali (who my boyfriend possibly had the hots for).

It was finally lunch time. I didn't know if I should confront Edward or not. In the end I decided to just go with the flow and let it play out. I prayed silently that we wouldn't have a repeat of Biology. Breaking pencils was one thing, but if he said shit like that during lunch, who knows what I would do with a fork or knife in my hands.

But when I entered the lunchroom, I froze. Tanya was sitting next to Edward in MY spot. My heart lurched forward. It hadn't even been 6 hours and now I was being replaced? I didn't know whether to burst into tears or try acting out on that fork/knife scenario. I marched over to our table and blurted out the first thing that popped in my head:

"You're sitting in my spot." I said blankly. Edward got up and I tip-toed to give him a kiss on the lips, (you know, to stake my claim) but he turned his head at the last second so I ended up giving him an awkward kiss on the jaw.

"Sorry Bella, I let Tanya have your spot," he smiled. "Why don't you take my other side." He patted the space on the bench next to him. Whatever, it was just a spot. Not the end of the world. I gave an overly fake smile in Tanya's direction and slammed my tray down a little too loud. Edward winced in response.

"Who is this Edward?" Tanya asked sweetly. She seemed genuinely nice and that made me hate her all the more.

"Oh, this is Bella." Edward said, squeezing my hand. And that was the end of that discussion.

So I was just Bella? He didn't even have the nerve to introduce me as his girlfriend. I don't think so.

"I'm his girlfriend," I oozed, stressing the last word as I leaned against him. Edward chuckled uncomfortably but didn't say anything more. "We've been dating for two years." I continued. A look of disappointment flashed in her eyes but she put on a smile.

"Well it's nice to meet you, Bella. You're boyfriend is such a doll! He's been so sweet to me - showing me around everywhere. You are so lucky." She could have at least looked at me while she was talking to me, but NO, she was staring dreamily at Edward.

I stabbed my broccoli repeatedly as Tanya babbled on and on about her move here. Alice gave me a funny look which in return I gave her a small shrug. She and Jasper, her boyfriend, had just joined us at the table. Boyfriend seemed like the wrong word to describe Jasper though – he was more like a soulmate to Alice. I wondered if that was how Edward and I were to each other. We were certainly in love, and I figured we would always be together. I'd have to ask him later – when he wasn't acting so bizarre.

Suddenly I was interrupted from my thoughts as Tanya burst into her delicate little giggles over something Edward had said. My fork stabbed a piece of broccoli particularly too hard and in an odd angle, sending it flying – right into Tanya's lap. We all froze for a few moments...and then I burst out into laughter. Alice was biting her lip, trying not to laugh and Jasper had cracked a smile. Tanya looked slightly offended.

And Edward?

"Bella? Don't be so immature. You should apologize to her!" Edward sternly chastised, finally turning to me for the first time since I had sat down.

I stared at him appalled. He had never acted like this with me. I mean it was just a dry piece of broccoli…no harm right? Apparently not, though, by the look Edward and Tanya were giving me.

I turned to look at Alice, to figure out if this was really happening. She looked just as surprised…and then something clicked inside her mind, and I saw it in her eyes: Pity.

It was just a flash, but I caught it and in that moment everything came crashing down.

And that was the beginning of Bella and Edward's downfall.

Two and a half months had passed. It was all like a horrible nightmare...that's what I at least told myself. God. I wanted to drown out all the memories and just bury my head in a pillow and scream. And that's exactly what I did, right before going to Edward's house. My eyes were bloodshot from crying, my hair was all tangled (probably looking something like a rat's nest), and now my voice sounded like a chain smoker. But that didn't stop me from tripping out of my truck and pounding on the door of his house.

Please don't let Esme open the door. Please don't let Esme open the door…I chanted to myself.

I loved Esme like a mom, and often times she was like my mother. With Renee living on the other side of the country, Esme stepped in and took her role, knowing that I need a maternal figure in my life. I didn't know what would happen now that me and Edward were having a…a fall out. But I knew it was hurting her to see us falling apart.

And just my luck – the door swung open and revealed a lovely lady in her late-thirties with wavy caramel hair and green eyes that were too familiar and painful to look at.

"Bella!" She gave me a hug, but then she pulled back suddenly, taking in my appearance.

She didn't need to ask any questions as she looked into my lifeless eyes.

"Oh, sweetie," she breathed, and she pulled me into another gentle hug, stroking my hair. She held me in her arms for what seemed like hours. It felt so good to just melt into her. During these two and a half months, I had been so alone. Usually when I had a problem, I would tell Edward – but since he was the problem this time... Then there was Alice, but I couldn't put her in that awkward position where she had to side with either her best friend or her twin. I wasn't that cruel. Charlie was definitely out of the question and Renee was too far away. Therefore, I had built a strong fort around myself and dug a hole to hind all my emotions away. I had to protect myself.

"No matter what happens, you are still a daughter to me," she whispered, kissing my head, as I finally pulled away. Even the ever so positive Esme Cullen knew that it wasn't going to work out between Edward and I.

I would not cry in front of her.

But I couldn't help the traitorous lone tear that had slipped out in the corner of my eye. I quickly brushed it away with the sleeve of my hoodie.

"Is Edward here?" I croaked out. I didn't look into her eyes – no doubt she would have that same look that everyone had been giving me recently.

Esme brushed a strand of hair that fell across my eye and nodded.

"Go on up, he's in his room." I nodded and brushed past her walked slowly up the stairs. My heart was pounding in my chest with each step I took. I felt empty, like all the energy had been zapped out of me. I hadn't been sleeping much nor had I been eating. My skin was looking unhealthy and pale – almost translucent. I had reached the door to Edward's room. I didn't know whether to knock or to just let myself in. Everything was different now. I didn't know what we were anymore. Deciding on the latter, I reached for the brass door knob but stopped when I heard his voice. He was talking on the phone.

"I – Tanya, I really don't know!" He sounded so broken and conflicted. I felt a pang in my chest. He was talking to her. I could imagine him now, circulating around his room with his fingers pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration.

"No – I love her, Tanya!"

Suddenly my comatose state was filled with hope. He was still in love with me! Maybe it didn't have to end like this. We could work it out. That was what being in love was all about – working through all the problems just to be with one another! I was willing to –

"But, I really like you too, T. I've never really felt this way – the way I feel about you."

And just like that, my heart was broken. A clean break. I never understood heartbreak before. Of course, I had always read about it – and sympathized with the characters. Heck, I'd even cry. But it was then, that my breathing stopped. The world stopped. I just – stopped.

I turned the knob and entered the room.

"Bella." Edward didn't sound surprised. He looked just as hellish as I did. Dark circles fashioned his eyes. Wrinkled clothing, Swallow skin, and of course – his hair was sticking up in every direction. And yet, he still look as heart-breakingly beautiful as ever.

"I'll call you later," He choked. Tossing his phone on his bed, he took two steps toward me. I held out my hand to stop him. I could barely handle his presence...if he came any closer...

"You love her." I stated simply. My words were monotonous, like a machine. His troubled eyes fluttered shut.

"I love you more."

"I know."

He opened his eyes and I could see a small spark of vitality that had been missing for the past few weeks at my words. But it only lasted a second before I jumped off the ship.

"But it isn't enough."

A/N: I hate bad grammar...so if you see any please drop me a comment or PM me. It happens...everyone's human...or maybe not...;)

AND BELLA WILL NOT PREGNANT IN THIS STORY...GET YO' MIND OUTTA THE GUTTER...FOR NOW ;)