Hi All, so as some of you might be aware it's been awhile… about 4 years and 9 months or so!

Sheesh – how time flies on by. But I'm back into it – looking to update regularly until this bad boy is finished.

So please enjoy and remember to R&R!

Chapter 33: Doubt 2

You might remember that Edward recently found Bella in a mess in the girl's bathroom and had gone to confront James … About time!

…

Previously EPOV:

"Are you fucking blind or what Cullen," James growled, throwing his hands in the air. "Take a fucking look. Fucking best friend my ass," he muttered, glowering over my shoulder.

Confused and worried for a second that following his gaze would leave me open for attack, I ignored James' comment, balling my fists and clenching my jaw shut.

"Nice try," I spat.

"Fuck, you are pathetic Cullen! Jesus, turn the fuck around, would you!" James said exasperatedly, rolling his eyes at me.

For some reason, I did what he said and the sight that had befallen me, confused me at first not before nearly knocking me to my knees. Had I not been so taken aback at what I had seen, James's hand clasping down on my shoulder would never have gone without reciprocation in a much more unpleasant and violent manner.

"Dude, I'm sorry for whatever she did to make you think that you had some sort of chance. And I'm sorry for being right, for your sake, brother, but that's some fucking obvious shit going over there. You can't even deny me that you still can't see it." Even though James tried to sound sincere in his apologies, I knew it wasn't even close to how he really felt. He loved it, he was making me look like a fool in front of his friends and he was gloating at the fact that he was clearly right.

I could hear James chuckle briefly and mention something about 'lost cause' before he left me standing stock still as I watched Bella and Jacob hug and place kisses on one another. Even though I knew my eyes couldn't betray me, I refused to believe that she had played me, that she didn't at all reciprocate how I felt. It wasn't possible, I knew there was something between us, there had to be.

…

Now EPOV:

They were wrapped up in one another, a tangle of hands and smiles and kisses. It was unnerving to watch her touch him, and it wasn't just because of the jealousy that was burning in the pit of my stomach. Bella didn't seem the type to openly display affection, she always seemed so reserved and conservative, mostly shy. But here she was holding Jacob Black's hand, beaming up at him as he leaned in to plant a kiss on her forehead. Much the same as I had, much the same as I had wanted to do a million times more.

I felt a heat burn my face and my palms itched as I watched Jacob Black wind his arm around her waist as they walked towards a parked vehicle and away from me. He pulled her impossibly closer to his body as they moved and my fingers twitched against my palm.

The whole scene was confusing. Not more than half an hour ago I had her cradled in my arms as she sobbed into my neck. A broken mess. Unable to speak coherently, shaking with fear, on the verge of a massive panic attack. She had begged me hysterically not to leave her, fought against Jasper as I pushed her into his arms… But now…

Now, she seemed so happy, at ease and… well… nothing like she was just moments earlier. I should be happy, extremely happy. I had wanted nothing more than Bella to smile, to laugh. But this didn't make sense. She had begged me hysterically not to go; she had clawed at my tear sodden top as I left her behind on the dirty bathroom floor. The two moments didn't belong in the same day let alone within the same hour.

A sigh from behind me brought my attention to why I was standing in the middle of the student parking lot in the first place. Why my nails dug into the palm of my hand, why moments earlier I had been ready to pummel something other than Jacob Black.

James.

It was then that the heat in my face consumed my body as I realized what the bastard was trying to do. What I had almost allowed him to convince me of. The prick still even had his hand clasped on my shoulder in a show of brotherly comradery.

I should have known that he would have tried to turn this around. Lie and make up stories. I knew better than to listen to him, it was a complete waste of time trying to decipher the dribble he was spouting. James was a rat stuck in a cage, trying to weasel himself out of the mess he had made by distracting me. Even if what he were saying were remotely true, which I couldn't bring myself to believe; it didn't detract from what he had done.

"Allegedly" done.

I balked at my own thoughts and how they betrayed me. I knew that Bella was telling the truth, she had no reason to lie. I wouldn't have wanted her any differently; she wasn't tricking me into caring for her. I basically had to tear the information from her with my bare hands - she didn't give it up willingly. And she had been so ashamed of what she was telling me, frightened of how I would react. She begged me not to tell anyone, not to do anything, to keep it to myself.

Because she was lying?

As soon as the thought entered my head I felt sick, embarrassed and guilty. Embarrassed because I was letting an idiot like James get inside my head, guilty because I was betraying the girl I loved by questioning her and her motives.

'Argh', I groaned scrubbing my face with my hands. This is exactly what James was trying to do. Making me doubt her, my feelings for her, the things I knew about her, why I cared for her and most of all…what I had seen. I couldn't un-see that, that was real, those bruises - the yellowing blue mess that had been her stomach. That wasn't a play, that wasn't some cruel joke Bella had come up with for whatever reason James was trying to spin.

I tore my eyes from the confusing Bella wrapped in Jake scene and rounded on James. He shook his head, as he tore his eyes from the two apparent 'love birds' behind me.

'Slut,' he growled, letting go of my shoulder. He took an awfully long drag from the cigarette he held between his fingers as his eyes reached mine appraisingly. He smirked cockily at me.

I lunged at him then, provoked because yet again he was calling her names she didn't deserve and because of the stupid shit-eating grin that was plastered on his face. I wanted nothing more than to wipe that smirk from existence, to make him pay for what he had done to her.

He let out a rough grunt as I caught him off guard, knocking the wind from him. The cigarette he had been holding fell from his hand, as I shoved him into the side of his car; we collided with force, rolling into his wing mirror before falling to the ground. As we fell, James angled his body slightly, landing on top of me as my head smacked into the road.

Slightly dazed I was slow to react as James straddled me, grabbing my throat with his left hand pinning me to the ground. I reached out with both arms, trying to break his hold as he pulled back with his right fist, ready to let me have it.

He smirked again and my blood boiled, I began to see red. "Didn't take you to be a pussy whipped little bitch Cullen," he laughed as he landed his first and only hit, catching the side of my jaw with his fist. The sharp metallic taste of blood filled my mouth, as I gritted my teeth against the pain.

I reacted to the punch with force, lifting my hips as I used both my arms to break the one armed grip he had on me, his body pitching forward as I tossed him up and over my head. James somersaulted haphazardly landing with an audible thump on the ground. I was quick to my feet as James stumbled slowly to his. I wiped my chin on the back of my hand, sensing the warm thickness of the blood that had congealed there rather than actually seeing it.

A crowd had begun to form and I noticed a number of students running towards us. James' sidekicks returned, flanking him at both sides. Laurent looked eager for his turn, to jump and back up his worm of a friend, his fists were clenched and he had a half crazed look in his eyes. James put out his arm in a motion to keep Laurent at bay.

It was then that I sensed two of my own at my side. Jasper positioned himself to my left, placing a hand on my shoulder. 'Ed, you are drawing a rather large crowd. Are you sure you want to do this here?" He questioned quietly.

"What the fuck is going on?" Emmett asked out the corner of his mouth. He stood to the right of me, eyeing up James and his lackeys. He threw me a quirked eyebrow, as he placed himself in front of me almost in a protective manner. It annoyed me somewhat, like he thought I couldn't take care of myself. But I quickly realized it was because I was his friend and he cared, and my irritation dissipated immediately.

"Edward?" Jasper pressed again.

"You know why I have to do this," I muttered through my gritted teeth. A circled had formed around us now, people were whispering, watching us eagerly, hoping for something to happen. Teachers would begin to notice the crowd and come to check it out. Jasper was right, this was getting risky. Fighting on school grounds meant suspension – even expulsion in some cases. Not that it mattered; I was thinking of the bigger picture.

Protect Bella.

"Will someone tell me what the fuck is going on?" Emmett groaned. Shifting from foot to foot slowly as he clenched and un-clenched his hands.

I ignored Emmet as Jasper turned to me. "Shit man, I want this just as much as you do Ed, but Mr. Banner is making his way over here. You need to think fast," Jasper whispered, using his hand on my shoulder to turn me in the direction of Mr. Banners approach.

Dammit.

"EDWARD!" I heard Bell call out apprehensively. Instinctively I turned toward her voice, watching her push her way through the crowd with Jacob Black closely at her heel.

Can he just piss-off? I moaned internally.

Immediately I took a step towards her; my thoughts urging me to stop her from getting into harm's way.

This momentarily distraction was all James needed to give him an edge; he reacted faster than I, as he closed the gap between us with two quick steps. What I had failed to notice was the brief exchange between James and Laurent earlier, as I contemplated my next move. In those short moments, Laurent managed to slip something small and metallic into James hand, something that glinted in the sunlight as James took me by surprise.

All in a split second, I reacted to James' advance, but too slowly. Much too slowly. Realization struck me just as James lashed out, I tried to duck unsuccessfully, just as a movement to my right caught me off guard, knocking me flat to the ground. What followed next was the unmistakable sound of flesh striking flesh and the thump of a body hitting the road. This was followed quickly by sharp gasps, cheers from the crown and Bella's screams.

"Well shit." Emmett muttered.

Shit indeed.

…

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