Sorry for the wait! This is an extra long chapter in Edward's PoV. I hope it was worth it!
"Men are not punished for their sins, but by them." – Elbert Hubbard
The entire cafeteria was silent as Swan and her two idiot friends entered. Every eye was trained to follow her, giving her the incredible burden of humiliation on her shoulders. I leaned against the wall and watched my perfect work of art perform its magic.
"Hey, Swan!" I called out when she was a few feet away from me. "Looks like you've got a lot of options for your next lay."
There was nothing wrong with pushing her anger. I knew she was close to losing her self-control, and that would be more entertaining than her reaction to the text.
She looked at me with such an intense glare that I nearly winced in fear. I wouldn't let her see me get weak under her angry stare. Only my mom could do that to me.
She approached me with slow, deliberate steps, her hands balling into fists. Sure, she had a terrifying glare, but what could this short, weak girl really do to me? She was more of an ugly kitten than a tiger when she got upset.
"Fuck you, Cullen," she whispered menacingly. She sounded insane right now. "You'd better watch your back."
I couldn't help the cocky grin spreading across my face. I would never get tired of teasing this girl.
"Or what?" I asked mockingly. "You'll fuck my brains out?"
"That's it!" she screeched.
She pulled her right arm back before throwing her body forward, her fist connecting with my mouth with a loud smack. I lifted my hand to my throbbing lip slowly, completely surprised by what had just happened.
She wound up again, this time contacting my left eye. I was seeing stars twinkling and there was a mild thumping in my head.
"Fuck!" I roared, putting my hand over my eye. "Get this bitch away from me!"
I leaned against the wall again as McCarty came over and grabbed Swan around the waist, easily picking her up and towing her away from me as she kicked and pulled, trying to get back to me.
The whore had a good arm on her, surprisingly. Maybe her dear old dad had taught her how to throw a proper punch. I wouldn't be surprised. Their family was fucking crazy.
McCarty started whispering to her, probably trying to calm the crazy bitch down.
Banner flew into the cafeteria like a bat from hell. "What is going on in here?"
Everyone started talking while I just sat back and watched the madness unfold. Swan was totally at fault this time and everyone knew it. I didn't do fuck all.
"Mister McCarty!" Mister Banner barked. "Bring Miss Swan to the principal's office now! Mister Cullen, you will follow them. Understand?"
McCarty and I both mumbled, "Yes."
McCarty led the way to the office, still holding Swan in his arms. I tried to scowl, but it hurt my eye too damn much. I hadn't been punched this hard in a while.
McCarty set Swan down and pointed to the chair she was supposed to sit in like she was five-years old. I couldn't help but to smirk at that.
I slammed the door behind me and flopped down on the chair closest the door back out into the hallway, which was a seat away from Swan. She glared at me fiercely, trying to scare me. The girl had a kitten temper. She still didn't threaten me, even though she could throw a mean punch.
McCarty sat down in between us, blocking our glaring contest. Maybe that was a good idea. I didn't want to have to hit a girl. He looked at Swan for a while and she huffed in defeat and looked at the wall, crossing her arms.
"Come in," Mister Allan, the principal, commanded lazily.
I pushed myself up and entered the office, sitting in the more comfortable chair. Swan followed me and sat down in the chair directly in front of Mister Allan.
"You may leave, Mister McCarty," Mister Allan dismissed with a wave of his hand.
"Are you sure?" Bella's still pretty mad...," McCarty trailed apprehensively.
"I'm sure Miss Swan can control herself in my presence," Mister Allan interrupted. I snorted quietly. Bullshit she could.
McCarty shrugged in defeat and left the office, closing the door behind him.
"Now, you two," Mister Allan began. "This punishment has been in the works for three years now." He took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes lazily. "We here at Forks High School are sick of the little feud the two of you have going on. I understand it runs deeper than just you two, but, please, leave your family issues at home.
"We will be contacting your parents and scheduling a conference. We will explain the entire situation then, and decided your punishment. For now, you two are suspended until the conference."
Mister Allan phoned each of our parents and scheduled our conference for tomorrow after school. I wanted to crawl into a hole when I could hear my father's voice screaming at Mister Allan from across the room, demanding answers. I noticed a smug smile on Swan's face and I wanted nothing more than to comment on her little porn scene, but I didn't want Mister Allan to mention that to Dad, too.
"Get out of here now," Mister Allan commanded after he hung up the phone. "First Miss swan then Mister Cullen. If you two fight ever again, the consequences will be much worse. Understand?"
"Yes, sir," we both answered simultaneously.
"You may go now, Miss Swan," Mister Allan dismissed. "Go straight home, do you hear me? I will be phoning your house at one o'clock sharp, and you'd better be there to answer it."
"Yes, Mister Allan," Swan mumbled, leaving the office.
I grinned at the demanding tone Mister Allan used with Swan. He sounded more like a strict parent than a principal that time.
"I have to talk to you about something else, Mister Cullen," Mister Allan announced when Swan had left the office completely. "I understand there is a rather...exposing picture of Miss Swan circulating the school right now. All my sources have come to the same conclusion that you are the culprit behind this."
My heart literally stopped beating. As fucking if they pinned me down already.
"This is illegal, Edward," Mister Allan told me in a serious, yet gentle tone. "When we decide what your punishment is, you will accept gratefully and be a perfect gentleman while doing so, or I will report this. I'm giving you one last shot, Edward. Don't screw it up."
I nodded stupidly as my mouth became dry.
"You may leave now, Mister Cullen," Mister Allan dismissed tiredly.
I got up and walked numbly towards my car. I had forgotten about the law becoming involved with this. Fuck, how could I have been so stupid? And the chief of police was my worst enemy, too. Swan could mention this situation to the chief and I'd be done for. He would certainly not take it easy on me for something like this.
I only had one choice. I had to be decent as I could around Swan now. Well, as soon as our punishment was decided. Maybe I could start out with calling her Bella instead of Swan...
I opened my car door and got in, still thinking about all the shit I could be in right now. I know that I should tell Mom and Dad about this, but sending that picture was pretty low, even for me.
And Swan – Bella – would probably be absolutely fucking miserable about it, too. There's no way in hell she isn't going to make my life hell while we're doing our punishment.
There was a scowl prominent on my face and I slid out of the parking space, my tires screeching on the wet pavement.
It started raining soon after I put my car in drive. Swan's – Bella's – truck was still parked there, but she wasn't in it. Maybe the dinosaur had finally broken down.
I started driving the familiar path towards home. Mom would not be impressed to find me home early. She'd probably put me to work by taking care of Desirae, the little foster girl we were taking care of right now. At least I'd have fun while I was doing that.
I turned a corner and saw Swan – Bella – walking on the side of the road, her hood up and her hands shoved in her pockets. This was too easy. She was right beside the puddles.
I sped up and pulled over that my driver's side tires were hitting the water. I finally splashed Swan – Bella – while she was near the biggest puddle. I chuckled as I looked in my rear view mirror as she stood there, soaking wet and shocked. That would probably be the last horrible thing I would pull on her until summertime, so I was fully enjoying it.
I pulled into my place in the garage and got out of my car, pulling my book bag out with me. I sighed as I pushed the button to close the garage door.
I got into the house and took off my wet sweater and shoes, half-expecting Des to tackle me before I got off the carpet. But she never came.
I scowled. "Des?" I called. "Desirae Lyla Richardson, where are you?"
Still no answer.
I walked into the kitchen and looked at the whiteboard where Mom had our days plotted out. I grabbed a cookie and took a bite before looking under Des's name. Ah, she was at playschool this afternoon. That would explain the complete silence that was never present in our house anymore.
I ran up the stairs and into my room, leaving the door open so I could hear when Mom and Des got home.
I had just settled into playing my grand piano when a door slammed. No one ever slammed our door's unless they were mad.
"Edward Anthony Cullen!" my mom yelled.
Uh oh.
I scrambled down the stairs, hoping for the best and expecting the worst.
I was definitely getting the worst.
"Uh, hey, Mom," I replied when I got onto the last step.
She was giving me one of those looks. She was the only woman in the world that could make me want to bury myself alive with a single glare.
Her hands were on her hips and she was looking at me like I was a three-year old boy that had "accidentally" pushed his friend too hard, making him fall off the trampoline and break his arm. I did that to Jasper once a long time ago.
I sighed. "Look, Mom, I know it was really low and scum-like of me to send that picture of Sw–Bella Swan around–"
"You did what?!" Mom exploded, her cheeks a dangerous colour of red.
I was fazed by her surprise. Why else would she be mad at me.
"What did you think I was going to say?" I asked with a scowl.
"I was referring to you getting Bella Swan sopping wet today while you were driving home, but please, do explain," Mom replied curtly, pursing her lips angrily.
"I–uh," I stammered, trying to think of the best way to explain this to my mom. "You see, I... Well, Bella and I, we sort of prank each other all the time, see? Usually it's pretty harmless, like water balloons in lockers or stupid rumours, but I kind of crossed the line this time." I shook my head. Even I didn't know I slip this low. "I talked to Bella's ex-boyfriend, who is a real cun–" Mom gave me a deathly glare "–uh, jerk, about any pictures he might have of her so that I could really embarrass her." Now how could I tell my mother that she was naked in them? "And..." I took a deep breath. "ShewasstarknakedinitandIfeelreallybad." I sucked another breath in.
All the colour left my mom's face. She looked like she was going to be sick, and that made me feel even more horrible.
"Mom?" I murmured, stepping closer to her. "Do you want to sit down or something?"
She shook her head and cringed away from me. "Edward, I think you'd better go to your room. I have to speak to your father about this."
I hung my head in guilt and shame, and trudged back up the stairs and into my room. As much as I liked the reaction I'd gotten from Bella, it wasn't worth my mom's disappointment, the possible record, or the horrible feeling I had in my gut about all of this.
That's the guilt, you twit, my mind told me. Just think about this: How would you have liked it if someone sent a naked picture of Des around when she was seventeen?
I shuddered. I couldn't imagine something like that happening to an angel like Des. Bella, well, she wasn't exactly an angel, but that was from my perspective. Her grandma must think somewhat highly of her. Bella was someone's angel and I took that trait from her.
I shook my head as I leaned against the wall near my window, looking out at the rainy forest. I was supposed to hate Swan's, and yet, I was feeling genuinely sorry for what I did to Bella Swan, the worst enemy. Mom was really rubbing off on me. She hated this "fight" between our families.
Dad wouldn't be home until five, so I thought I might as well do something productive while I waited for my verbal beating.
I laid on my black comforter, curling into a ball of self-pity and guilt, and slept my worries away.
I was awoken by a pair of tiny hands and a twinkling giggle.
I groaned playfully and rolled away. Des climbed onto my bed and started jumping up and down.
"Ed-ward, Ed-ward," she sang as she jumped. "Wake up, Sweepy Head! I gotta tewl ya about my day at pway schoo!"
I grinned. She couldn't say "play", or anything really, properly. I kept my eyes shut and waited for her to get closer to me.
Des climbed over my body so that she could see my face. She poked my cheek and squeezed my nose before I whipped my eyes open and attacked her with tickles.
Her giggles echoed through my room and before I knew it, I had to stop tickling her because I was laughing so hard. Only Des could make me laugh this hard.
Des didn't look anything like my family, so it was very obvious that she was our foster child. She had olive-coloured skin, big, beautiful brown eyes, raven hair, and an infectious smile.
Des came to live with us a year and a half ago when she was only two. Her father had sexually abused her and her mother was a drug addict. They sent her straight to us. She was so quiet and sullen for the first six months. She barely spoke to any of us. Finally she started smiling a little bit and talking to Mom, because she was still scared of men. Now, she calls my parents Mom and Dad and I'm her brother. She hardly remembers her old life.
Mom had recently thought about adopting Des, but she wasn't completely sure yet. She still wanted to be a foster parent to other children. I really wanted Des to stay with us.
"Desirae Lyla Richardson!" Mom barked. "I told you to stay out of Edward's room. Now get down here this instant."
Des sighed, blowing her hair out of her eyes.
She clambered off my bed and trotted out of my room, closing the door behind her.
I chuckled. What a kid.
I looked at my clock. Wow, it was already five-thirty. Dad would be home now.
Sure enough, there was a knock at my door.
"Come in," I mumbled, laying back down on my ed.
Mom and Dad came into my room and stood at the foot of my bed. Dad handed me two ice packs, one for my eye and one for my lip. I gratefully accepted them and set them on my face, the throbbing hit disappearing quickly.
Mom still looked as furious as she did before, but Dad just looked disappointed. Damn, I really did mess up if my dad, the full-blown-Swan-hating Cullen, was disappointed.
"Edward, you should be ashamed of yourself," my mom began. "Haven't we taught you better? Haven't you been shown to be a gentleman? I don't think I've ever been so disappointed in anyone in entire life, son. I really hate that you had to take that title."
I closed my eyes glumly, waiting for my punishment.
"Son, I know I've always told you that the Swan's were our enemy and I've always humiliated Chief Swan in your presence, so this partly my fault," my dad apologized quietly. "But, you behaved horribly by sending that picture, Edward. As a Cullen, you are still expected to respect Miss Swan enough to not ruin her innocence and reputation like that. Your pranks before this have been harmless. This seriously crossed the line, Edward."
I nodded. Fuck, was I ever a cocky mother fucker for thinking that I could get away with shit like this.
"We decided to take away your computer, your cell phone, and your TV for the rest of the school year," my dad explained. Harsh, but fair. "You'll keep your car so you can take care of Des and drive to school. Also, you won't be leaving the house on the weekends. You'll be with Des or helping your mother out. That will last until Thanksgiving."
"The only time people will be allowed over will be to do homework," Mom continued. "But that will only last for a month. Don't be ungrateful because of this, Edward. We thought of much harder and humiliating punishments for you."
My dad cleared his throat uncomfortably. "Your mother decided–" Mom elbowed him and gave him a meaningful glare. "–we decided that you're going to apologize to Miss Swan tomorrow at our meeting with the principal."
I nodded again, I deserved it.
Mom sat down on my bed. "Edward, we know you're starting to feel guilty about all of this, and I really hope you learn a lesson from all of this."
"I did," I answered quietly.
She smiled at me gently and ruffled my hair. "Supper will be ready soon."
She got up to leave, looking at Dad. He shook his head. He wanted to talk to me alone. Mom left the room, closing the door behind her.
"I'm sorry, Dad," I mumbled.
"Edward, I know you are," my dad answered sympathetically. "I need you to understand a few things. I don't like the fact that you sent a picture like that around Forks, even if it was of a Swan. It was very disrespectful and ignorant. But, just because we're punishing you doesn't mean I expect you and Bella to become best friends. The Swan's are still our enemy, but you took it too far. Apologize and everything will be back to normal."
I nodded, not looking at him. As if things would be back to normal. I wouldn't be able to pull another prank without feeling guilty.
Dad sighed. "Okay, well, I'll, uh, call you when supper's ready."
I nodded again, still not looking at him. I heard my door close and my dad descend our staircase. I sighed and set the ice packs on my bed. I stood up and looked around my room, realizing my laptop was already gone. Mom must have taken it right away. My cell phone was still in my pocket and my TV was still on my dresser. They would both be gone by tonight for sure.
I should have kept Jessica around. I had no way of getting any sexual relief now, and that's the sort of thing that would get me to stop thinking about Bella. I definitely needed to grab some porn magazines sometime tomorrow so I could pull my goalie to something other than my own sexy reflection.
The door creaked open, bringing me out of my arousing day dream. Des looked at me shyly from behind my door.
I smiled and her and gestured for her to come over to me. She skipped over to me and held up her arms. I picked her up and threw her over my head, getting her to laugh loudly.
I set her back down and she hugged me around the knees. I ruffled her long black hair playfully.
"Why is your face puwple?" Des asked, looking at me curiously.
"Someone hit me today at school," I answered bluntly.
"Is that why Mama and Dad were gettin' mad at you, Edward?" she whispered.
I sighed. "Yeah, I did something really mean to a girl in my class, Des, and she hit me because of it."
"What?" she pushed, looking at me while still hugging my knees.
I pulled her up into my arms and sat back down on my bed, perching her on my lap.
"Well, I called her names and made her look very...bad in front of everyone at school," I explained slowly, not quite sure how to tell this to a four-year old. "You know on Cinderella how she gets all pretty and her step sisters wreck her dress?" Des nodded, understanding completely. "Well, pretend someone went and told everyone at the ball that Cinderella's dress got all ripped up." Completely ripped off, to be exact. "How do you think Cinderella would feel?"
"Rweawy sad," Des murmured, her big brown eyes wide with brimming tears. "She'd wanna cwy."
I nodded. "That's how I made the girl feel."
Des scowled at me. "Did you apwogize yet?"
I was gaping at her. Now everyone was mad at me, including Des.
"N-no," I spluttered. "I am tomorrow."
"You betta, Edward Cuwwen," she commanded, pointing a finger at me. "What's the giwl's name?"
"Bella Swan," I replied quietly.
"Oh, I know her," Des answered with a big smile and twinkling eyes. "She's so pwetty and nice, Edward. Just like Belle from Beauty and the Beast. And she's nice to evwyone when she helps at pway schoo." Des scowled at me again. "Why don't you wike her, Edward?"
I couldn't just say "Because she's a Swan." Dad didn't wanted Des to know about that feud, oddly enough.
"I don't know, Des," I mumbled, looking at the floor. Shit, Des though more highly of Bella Swan than me right now.
Des put her chubby little arms around my neck, hugging me tightly. "It's okay, Edward. Just as wong as you say sowwy to her."
I grinned and hugged her back. She always could cheer me up.
"Supper's ready!" Dad called from the bottom of the stairs.
Des hopped on my back and I gave her a piggyback ride down the stairs.
--
"Welcome back, Mister Cullen," Mister Allan greeted as I entered the office. The Swan's were already there, Bella sitting down with her mom and Chief Swan standing behind her. My parents and I took a similar position.
"Well, it's no secret that your families dislike each other, but we won't tolerate this kind of behaviour at Forks High School," Mister Allan began. "Your children need to learn to respect everyone at this school, including each other.
"A few of the pranks pulled have included stealing each other's clothes, multiple humiliating rumours, different ways of dumping food and-or drink on each other, and many others. Then, of course, the incident yesterday increased the severity of their punishment. If Edward and Bella ever fight physically here again, we will not hesitate to expel them, regardless of who started the fight.
"We decided on two punishments for Bella and Edward to do together so they might learn to be civil towards each other."
"That's outrageous!" Chief Swan exclaimed. "I won't have my Bella working with him." He said my name like I was the vilest being on Earth.
"Don't assume things, Swan," my dad growled.
"The hell I won't!" Chief Swan answered loudly. "I know what your son's like, Cullen. I've had the pleasure of dealing with him before.
Dad grumbled under his breath, having nothing on Bella besides the multiple times she's been to the hospital because of how klutzy she is.
"Well, if you two are done, I'd like to explain their punishments now," Mister Allan continued in an annoyed tone. "First of all, you two will be tutoring each other every school day. If you do this at school, you will get a teacher to sign your hour's sheet, and if you are at each other's homes, you will get a parent to do so. Bella, you will be helping Edward with English and Edward, you will be helping Bella with Biology."
I glanced at Bella. She didn't look mad anymore, just embarrassed and disappointed in herself. Would have never assumed that she'd ever calm down after yesterday.
"Secondly, you will both participate in the fall play." My jaw hit the floor at that. The fucking fall play? This was a bullshit punishment if I've ever gotten one. "Don't even try to debate with me, Edward," Mister Allan warned, seeing the defiant look on my face. "You're already assigned roles and you will be in the final show, or I'll expel you."
"That's reasonable," my mom answered for me. She gave me the look. "You'll be in the play, won't you, Edward?"
I nodded, scowling.
Mister Allan grinned. "If you two accept these punishments, then we're set! Ms Wallace will be talking to you tomorrow about the play. I believe that the performance is in November."
"Oh, how wonderful!" Missus Swan exclaimed, clapping her hands in delight. She smiled at Bella. "You'll be perfect, hun."
Bella smiled weakly at her.
"You're all free to go," Mister Allan dismissed. We all stood up. "Tutoring starts tomorrow, so maybe you should pick somewhere to meet."
"Library?" Bella asked, not looking at me.
"Sure," I mumbled.
Our parents filed out before us and quickly left, not wanting to linger. I grabbed Bella's wrist before she started walking too.
She whipped around, scowling confusedly at me. "Let go," she mumbled, too confused to get mad.
"Just listen," I pleaded. She stopped moving so I let go. "I-I wanted to...apologize."
Bella snorted, crossing her arms. "Funny joke, ha ha."
"Seriously, Bella." Her eyes widened at her real name. "I feel like shit for doing that to you. That was really low, even for me, and I'm sorry."
There was an awkward silence between us.
"Okay," she murmured before swiftly leaving me behind in the hallway.
That was progress, right?
Edward seemed kind of bipolar, eh? Well, I don't know about you guys, but my mind definitely comes out of the gutter when I'm at home with my family or around small children. Edward does the same. Sure, he slips up sometimes, but he really doesn't like swearing in front of Carlisle, Esme, or Des.
Speaking of Des, do ya like that addition to the story? I couldn't resist having Edward interacting with a child, and that just made sense. And, P.S., I love the name Des. I think it's so damn cute.
Hehe, the term "pull my goalie" is from a Canadian show called Trailer Park Boys. Probably the funniest show I've ever watched. Also one of the most inappropriate shows I've ever watched, but hey, if my grandpa can handle it, I'm sure all of you can.
That's right! Tutoring won in the polls! By a long shot, actually. I like the idea of tutoring. It can be ridiculously sexy, if you want it to be... *wink wink nudge nudge*
Uh, I think that's it? I'm very, very sorry for the wait, but I had a shit load of Creative Writing homework, and I just got a poetry account on dA, so I had to get that up and running and I had a play that I was in last week. All in all, I've been having a very hectic life lately. And it definitely doesn't help that it's still freakin' winter.
Don't forget to review!
