Chapter 3:

I went to the bathroom and washed my tear stained face. I decided to get a drink of water and head back to English like nothing was wrong. Rose noticed of course.

"Are you okay?" she mouthed to me. I nodded and put on a fake smile. She nodded unsure. Maybe I will tell them at lunch.

I couldn't eat today. Tanya, Edward's ex but now current girlfriend was with him. I just laid my head down and and closed my eyes. I told Alice and Rose that I didn't feel good. It wasn't a total lie.

On my way to my car I felt him behind me. I turned around and he smiled. I just grimanced and walked towards my car. He was following me so I turned around after putting my stuff into the car.

"Can I help you?" I asked a bit annoyed. He couldn't tell though. He coughed.

"Umm..yeah. I just wanted to apologize for what happened," he said.

"Why? What you do is none of my business," I said and it stung.

"I know," he said.

"Then why are you over here?" I asked and he shrugged his shoulders and walked away. I just sighed and got into my car and pulled out my cellphone to call Jake. I really needed him right now.

"Hello?" he answered.

"Hey Jake, it's me," I said and he was silent. "Do you mind if I come over for a bit?"

"I actually have a lot of homework to do," he said and I knew he was lying. I sighed.

"Okay," I told him and he hung up. I broke down and rested my head against the steering wheel. I heard a knock and unlocked the doors and motioned them to come in. I thought it was going to be Alice or Rose. To my suprize it was Edward. I wiped my eyes and sniffed and then smiled a little bit. His eyes were filled with concern. I laughed while wiping another tear away that fell.

"Sorry, I'm a mess today," I said.

"We all have our bad days," he said and I nodded.

"I am just filled with guilt right now," I said and he looked confused.

"How?" he asked and I knew I could trust him for some reason.

"My best friend, who is a guy, has told me that he is in love with me and I had to tell him that I didn't return the favor. That was my first time in like 5 days talking to him and he told me he is busy so he can't see me. I am pretty much crying because I know he lied. He just doesn't want to see me."

"Who is this again?" he asked.

"Jacob Black," I said and his eyes went cold like they did the other time, but he masked it.

"Oh," was all he said.

"What is it with you and Jake about each other?" I asked.

"We just don't like one another. Basically he betrayed me," Edward said. I wanted to defend Jake, but I knew Edward was telling the truth so why bother? I just nodded and then started my car. He didn't get out though.

"Need a ride?" I asked.

"That depends...are you offering?" he asked and I rolled my eyes and nodded. "Alright, I'm in."

"Get your seatbelt on," I said and he rolled his eyes but obeyed. I smiled. "Oh and we are getting ice cream first."

"Fine by me," he said and I just put the car in drive and headed off.

After eating our ice cream he got up to throw it all away. He is such a gentleman. He even paid! He came back with 2 clean spoons and handed one to me. I gave him a confused look. He told me we are going to see who can keep it on their nose the longest. It was actually really fun and we got a good laugh out of it. He really knew how to take my mind off of things. But just as I thought that, Jake walked in and I caught his eye right away. He looked from me and then over to Edward as I took my spoon off of my nose and Edward was still going. He started walking over.

"Bella, what did I tell you?" he asked and Edward's face turned into shock as he talked to me like that.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"You know exactly what I mean! I told you to stay away from him. Of course you wouldn't listen. That is just so typical Bella," he said and it made me angry.

"Are you kidding me right now? Jake, you can't control me. I can do what I want to," I said and he scuffed and rolled his eyes.

"You have probably been lying this whole time to me."

"What are you talking about?"

"Nevermind," he said and it made me feel awful.

"Jake...I know you are doing this because you are angry with me. But you have no idea how much it kills me to hurt you. Jake, I love you. I told you that. But I just don't want you to take those words the wrong way. Your my best friend," I said and he nodded and got kind of an angry expression on his face. He left and I stood there trying to figure out what just happened. I shook my head and then turned towards Edward again. I would think about this later.

"That guy told you that he loves you?" Edward asked and I laughed a little bit at his expression. I nodded. "Do you not know how poorly he treats you?" Edward asked.

"Well...he does treat me like a child even though I am older, but he is usually really sweet. He just doesn't like the fact that you are here."

"That's a lame excuse," Edward scuffed and I nodded.

"So..anyways, what happened between you guys? Like the full on story," I asked him. He grimanced and I could tell that he didn't want to tell me, but would do it anyway.

"We used to be pretty good friends in middle school. I always liked going down to La Push and I met him one day so we became friends. Anyway, one day I went down there and met some of his friends. They didn't see why Jake liked me, so they made him choose. To get him to go over to them they made up stuff about me and I guess he just believes it."

"That doesn't really sound like Jake," I said but I guess you never know. I really didn't get to see him a whole lot then. "But I believe you," I told him. In a way, I could see Jake doing that.

There was a comfortable silence for a while and eventually I broke it. "What kind of stuff did they say about you?" I asked.

"Just that I am a druggie and like to party. They also said that I take advanage of girls, and that I am a predator."

"And you just let them say stuff like that?"

"What else was I supposed to do? Deny it? I couldn't because even if I don't do drugs or have never once taken advantage of a girl, I do just try and look for a good time," he said and I contemplated this for a while and bit my lip. He was just looking at me, trying to read what I was thinking.

"So you don't do drugs?"

"Nope. Although I have done all of it before, I never liked it," he said and I felt a relief somewhere in me. We were both on the same page. Kind of.

"And you don't sleep around?" I asked a little bit too bluntly, but I wanted to know. I would feel too pressured if I was with him seeing as I am still a virgin. It looked like he was trying to hold back laughter.

"No. Where are you hearing all of these things?"

"Around," I answered simply. Even though he doesn't sleep around, that answer still didn't take off the pressure. I will ask him that later if we are still talking.

"Wow, I thought you would be the one who sees it differently."

"I have for sure, but when you are friends with Rose, Alice and Jake, you hear things," I said and he nodded while I stood up.

"Ready?" I asked and he nodded again while we started walking out and to my car. With all of the things I heard about Edward and Jake, I would really like to know if all of this was true. I knew it was, but it wouldn't be fair if I didn't let Jake explain himself.

I drove Edward to his huge house and then I started towards Jake's house. I noticed him walking on the side of the road. I pulled over next to him and rolled down my window.

"Jake? What are you doing?" I asked and he looked at me briefly and started walking again. "Come on, Jake. Get in, I will drive you," right after I said that it started to rain a little bit. I smiled at the weather as he rolled his eyes and got in.

"Why would you do that?" He asked after a couple minutes of silence. I sighed.

"It wasn't like anything planned, Jake. I swear, it just happened. It isn't like we are now best friends or something."

"I am sure you will be one day and forget about me," Jake said and I let out a frustratred sigh.

"Jake, it was ice cream! Get over yourself!"

"I told you he was a bad kid Bells," he said.

"You don't even know him," I whispered.

"To hell I don't! I used to be friends with him!"

"I know you did. He told me everything. I can't believe that you would just betray him because of what stupid kids told you!"

"Nobody told me anything. I knew."

"And how is that again? Sure, maybe he likes looking for a good time and said he tried stuff before..but he also said he never did it again. If that is a deal breaker for you then why am I sitting in this car right now?" I asked him and he got silent.

"Bella, he makes bad choices. I didn't want you to become a part of it," he said.

"Made," I clarified. "And who said I would do stuff like that anyways? Do you really not trust my judgement? Can you really not trust me? You know I am mature, but you insist on treating me like a child!" I said to him. He was really pissing me off.

"Bella this has nothing to do with you-" he started but I cut him off.

"This has everything to do with me! You make me look like the worst person in the world just for having ice cream with a friend. Yes, I said it. He is my friend. If you have a problem with that then keep your mouth shut. Because even if I don't know what I am getting into, I know how to take care of myself and control my actions," I said as we pulled up to his house.

"Whatever Bella," he said and then got out. I was fumming with anger. I headed straight over to Rose's where I knew Alice would be too.

Jared answered the door with Edward? What was he doing here? I knitted my eyebrows together while hugging Jared.

"Bella!" he said and I pulled myself out of it.

"Hey Jared," I said and pulled away and went to give Edward a hug...mmm.

"Edward..," I mumbled into his embrace. "What are you doing here?" I asked.

"Aren't I allowed to have other friends?" Edward asked and I rolled my eyes and then saw Alice and Rose. I smiled.

"Uh-Oh," Rose said.

"What happened this time?" Alice asked and I looked at them with the 'not now' look and then looked into Edward's concerned eyes.

"Nothing...I just came to hang out," I lied smoothly. Of course Rose would be the one to ruin it.

"You would have told us. And plus..you didn't look too happy when getting out of your car," Rose said and then Alice nudged her with her elbow. I smiled.

"Just suprizing you," I told them while walking away from Edward and following Alice and Rose upstairs.

"Thanks Rose," I said sarcastically.

"Sorry," she muttered and then we sat on her bed. They looked at me to go on. I told them everything.

"So what are you going to do?" Alice asked.

"Is that even a question? I mean obviously Jake is just jealous, but he will get over it. And he will be better in the long run. I mean he wouldn't pull any crap on you and you know that because you have known each other your whole lives," Rose said. Of course she picked Jake's side.

"Okay, wow Rose. You need to back it up sister. Bella just said that Edward doesn't do any of the things he is accused of. And you know Bella has tried all of them as well so they are on even playing fields. And plus, don't you think that Jake is treating Bella poorly? I know we don't know Edward all that well...but why not give him a chance?" Alice said and I again sent her a quiet thank you. It is funny how they discuss my life and figure it out for me while I sit back and watch them bicker.

They went at it for a long time and after a while I gave up and headed down stairs to get something to drink. I could figure this out on my own...right? After I thought that I ran right into Edward.

"Oh, I'm sorry," I said and he smiled and shook his head, waving it off.

"What happened?" he asked. I sighed and shook my head.

"Nothing. Just stuff I have to figure out. I talked to Jake...well more like fought with him," I said.

"Is there anything I can do?" he asked.

"Um..not ask me to choose?" I said getting choked up a bit.

"I wouldn't do that," he said and I nodded and walked away. He went back to chatting with Jared.

When I got back to Alice and Rose's room they gave me apologetic smiles. I just shrugged and grabbed my keys and wallet.

"Uh..I will see you guys later," I said and they both gave me hugs.

While driving home I thought a lot about how things suddenly changed. Jake has always been an amazing friend and been there with me through everything. He makes me smile without saying anything and makes me feel complete and happy. I love Jake more than anything, but it wasn't enough for him anymore. I wish that he never confessed his love for me in that way. I wish that things could be easy like they used to be. Like breathing. He was my sunlight everyday, but now he has turned into someone I don't know. Someone who is jealous and angry because I don't love him the right way. Someone who is willing to hurt me because of how badly I am hurting him. Someone who runs away and makes me crazy wondering if they are okay. Someone who loves me, but I could never love him back in the same way.