You've heard it all before...I don't own crap. Still lusting after Jasper, however!

This chapter seems to take Edward out of his usual role of shy and sweet, but it is necessary for the story to progress and the boys to grow up. Both boys are struggling, but will begin to understand each other much better after the next few chapters.

Chapter 9 – School Reactions

JPOV

We walked to school the next morning as though the past six months never happened. We talked about resuming our running routine every morning. We talked about Eddie being excused from gym and swimming for a week due to his "hospital visit." We talked about Bella and her anticipated reaction when she saw us walking together. In fact, we talked about everything except the elephant, no, the whale, between us.

Just like last night, I was still loath to bring up Eddie's attempted suicide because I knew he probably blamed me. And he never brought it up, maybe because he was ashamed, or maybe because he couldn't quite bring himself to verbally blame me either. Whatever the reason, neither of us mentioned it. I did notice however that he wore one of his oversized hoodies, the arms of which hung half way down his hands so his bandages wouldn't show. I caught him self-consciously and repeatedly tugging on the sleeves, just to be sure they covered the white tape and gauze that would give away his secret. But mention it…nope.

We got to school with barely any time to spare and quickly separated toward our respective classes. Eddie had asked me specifically to "not take it personally" that we needed to keep a bit of distance between us while we were at school or out in public. I understood his reasoning, but it still hurt. Course, he was giving me much more of himself now then he had for the past six months, so I tried not to let him see the pain in my eyes.

He asked that I sit at his table again at lunch, but not right next to him. He didn't want us to touch in any way while we were in the halls or at lunch. He also wanted to keep our lockers well separated during gym classes and swim team training and meets. He said he was protecting me…but I think he was more concerned about protecting himself. I went along with all of his rules without protest though, because I was so happy he was back in my life. I could live with a few restrictions if it meant we were interacting again.

I didn't hear any rumors about Eddie and Bella all morning, which wasn't surprising since I wasn't in any of their classes. However, the proverbial shit hit the fan at lunch. When I walked into the cafeteria I immediately noticed the hushed silence. Eddie was in the lunch line a few people ahead of me and was just raising his head to see what was going on as Bella stalked angrily toward him. Before he could react, she slapped him hard across his face and then burst into gulping sobs, burying her face in her hands. My first inclination was to rush to save him, but I knew better then to be so overt in my actions.

It was when she raised her head and reached toward him that all hell broke loose. In order to keep her from striking him again, Edward grabbed both her wrists and held her about a foot away from his body. That set her off. She began screaming, almost incoherently, that he had ruined her life and she was going to make sure he paid for it. She continued to berate and belittle him, similar to the way she did to me last Friday. Surprisingly, he never showed any emotion on his face and his body remained still all during her tirade. Then she told him he wasn't a real man and called him a fag and a cocksucker, and you could hear a pin drop. Everyone's attention was on the unfolding scene in the lunch line, all other conversations forgotten as students strained forward to hear how Edward would reply.

As she held her breath, knowing suddenly that she had crossed a line, Edward calmly looked down at her with pity and something else I couldn't discern in his eyes. Then, in a clear, loud voice, he answered her accusation.

"Bella, if you weren't so well-used, maybe I could have gotten it up for you; but just the thought of all the others there before me made me sick to my stomach. I decided you weren't worth the diseases I could catch from you. Now leave me alone. Go find someone else to torment."

Just like that the tension broke, and everyone started nervously laughing, some even applauding and jeering. As students finally turned back to their own lunch conversations, Bella collapsed into herself. When Edward felt the strength go out of her arms, he released her wrists and turned back to the lunch counter as if there had been no altercation at all. I was stunned. I was frozen in place and lost all conception of time, until the girl behind me pushed against my back, bringing me out of my stupor and moving me forward. His cruelty was astonishing. I had never seen Edward so cold, so menacing. He must have been practicing those lines in his head for the past few days, to utter them so smoothly and arrogantly. I hated Bella, but even the beast I carried within me could not have destroyed her so completely.

I realized that Edward had changed since I last hung out with him, and I am not sure all the changes were good ones. Reminding myself never to piss him off, I casually sauntered over to his table and took my place as though I had never left it. Edward was standing there, Mike and Tyler slapping him on the back and congratulating him as though he had done something wonderful. I just raised my eyebrow when he turned to look at me, and then concentrated on the food in front of me. I caught his scowl out of the corner of my eye, but continued to ignore the celebration.

Finally everyone calmed down and lunch resumed without any other drama. A few of the kids at the table welcomed me back, but I was basically overlooked. Yep, right back to where I had always been. Being ignored was comfortable for me, so I was not about to complain.

The rest of the school day was uneventful. When I stepped outside after the last bell, I debated whether to wait for Edward or just walk home by myself. I was unsettled about the whole "lunch thing" and hadn't really had the time to process it yet. He came up behind me and punched me in the arm to announce his presence. I turned my head slowly to look at him, again arching my eyebrow, and he had the common sense to look ashamed.

"Too much huh? I guess maybe I got carried away at lunch."

"Ya think?"

He grabbed my arm, turning me completely toward him. "Listen Jasper, I couldn't let her insinuations take hold. I just can't let anyone think that I am gay. It would destroy me and my folks."

"I don't think it was your folks that were on your mind a few hours ago."

"Jasper, please…"

"Edward, I thought I knew you, but you obviously aren't the man I thought you were. Don't get me wrong…I hate her for what she did to me, to us. But Edward…"

"Listen Jay…I'm sorry I said all that I did, but it was her or me…and I couldn't let it be me. Besides, she had it coming."

"Edward…listen to yourself…are you really trying to justify your actions? Puttin' her down or gettin' yourself out of a bad situation is one thing. But you completely annihilated her in front of the whole school. Couldn't you have taken her outside or somethin' when she first slapped you? Or maybe taken the time to talk to her before school? Why are you really so afraid of being who you say you are? You came out to me. Why not to everyone? Don't use your folks as an excuse. And don't try to tell me you had to be that brutal to her. Just don't. You asked me yesterday how I felt about you being gay. Maybe what you should have asked is how I feel about you being a bastard."

I turned away from him, wrenching my arm out of his grasp, and started walking quickly toward home. I don't know why I was sticking up for her or why I was so mad at him right now. I think they would both have been better off if he had just slapped her back. Unlike Father, I have never condoned hitting a woman, but what he did just felt wrong. I sensed him as he walked up next to me, but I didn't look over or acknowledge him. Finally he sighed and grabbed my arm, more gently this time, and turned me toward him.

"Jasper…I'm sorry."

"Maybe you should tell that to Bella."

He paused for a moment, and then quietly acquiesced, "I'll call her when I get home."

We walked in silence, lost in our own thoughts, the rest of the way to his house. I saw my mom sitting on the porch swing with Mrs. Masen, so I followed Edward up the path to his door. We both sat on the steps and turned to see what they were talking about.

"Hey kids…how was school?" mom asked. We just nodded that it was okay, and she turned her head toward Mrs. Masen as she continued. "We have been talking, and we have both decided that it is necessary for each of you to have someone to talk to about your problems, someone unbiased and not emotionally attached."

Mrs. Masen then jumped into the conversation. "Edward, you seemed to get along well with the doctor you saw at the hospital, so I called him today. We have decided that you will each be visiting with Dr. Cullen over the next few weeks so you have someplace to vent and discuss your feelings and concerns. Edward, what you did to yourself last weekend was horrible and totally wrong. Trying to kill yourself is NEVER the answer to any problem. And Jasper…you ran off, scaring your mom half to death. I know that I was partly to blame for that. Believe me when I say I am so sorry that I jumped to conclusions like I did. I had no business ever raising a hand to you, and your mom and I have discussed that in some depth."

She looked down for a moment, clearly ashamed and contrite. "You need to both understand that responding to problems the way you did is unacceptable and we just can't let those kinds of things happen again. It would destroy both of us if anything happened to either of you."

My mom and Mrs. Masen shared a look and then my mom picked up the conversation.

"Jasper, I know your Father was cruel to you and me, and I thought you had worked past most of it. But you have been resorting to violence again to settle your disputes, so I see now I was wrong and should have gotten you professional help much sooner. For my lack of attention to your problems, I am truly sorry."

Mrs. Masen added, "I know you probably feel like we have ganged up on you both, but we felt you each needed to know that your best friend was in the same boat as you. Dr Cullen also suggested that, as best friends, perhaps you would like a session that would included both of you together. We will leave that up to you to discuss with each other, but we know you have been having problems with your friendship for quite some time now. It warms my heart to see you becoming friends again, but if you have issues you may want to address, Dr Cullen is very willing to help. We also realize that both of you have been keeping secrets from us. Normally we would just think that was part of growing up, but both of you have obviously had some things happen that threw you over the edge, so to speak. Perhaps talking with Dr. Cullen will help you to learn how to handle things better."

Edward and I looked at each other when our moms finally stopped talking. I think my expression probably matched Eddie's "deer in the headlights" look. I was embarrassed to be caught out like that, but they made some good points. I guess this is all part of growing up. After all the shit that has been happening recently, capped by the argument Eddie and I had on the way home, perhaps there might be something to this "talking" that they suggested. Damn, I just knew that if I couldn't talk to mom, and maybe not even to Eddie, then I guess I did need someone to listen to me once in a while. Eddie was nodding his head yes, and I turned back to look at mom.

"Mom, I…I don't really want to do this, b…but maybe I ju…just need to…to suck it up and s…see this doctor. I'm a guy, ya know." I paused. "Sometime a man to talk with would be okay. Wh…when am I supposed to go?" I realized I was blushing, and had stuttered my way through most of that, but something in me knew I had to do this.

Mom answered quietly, "Jasper, you have an appointment for Thursday after school, and Edward, your appointment is on Wednesday."

Mrs. Masen concluded, "Thanks boys. Thanks for being willing to help your mom and me out here. Now who wants dinner?"

A/N I usually don't leave end notes, but I wanted to let you know that the next 4 chapters are already written and will, most probably, all be posted this weekend. Next chapter is Edward's therapy appointment, and the following chapter is Jasper's. Hopefully, they will both give you more insight into our boys and the root problems they both need to deal with. After that, we will be moving along much quicker in the timeline. Thanks for reading and reviewing!