Disclaimer: I do not own these characters or the universe S Meyer created. There may (or may not) be strong language or subjects in this chapter...

Unfair Confusion
Chapter 10

Everything was different at school the next day. Girls huddled together in groups whispering and giggling, and guys hurried to and from class with their heads down. The reason for it – magic markered posters advertising the school dance in a few weeks. It was kind of entertaining to watch the normal kids squirm wondering who were they going with and making sure no one was going to wear the same thing. Anticipation for the dance was a lot more fun than the actual dance itself… well I actually wouldn't know since I'd never been to one.

My mood changed quickly from amused to pissed off.

"Hey Bella, you want to go to the dance?" A sophomore guy, whose name I couldn't remember, asked me.

"No," I deadpanned.

"No, I meant do you want to go with me?" he tried again.

"No thanks," I turned away from him scowling.

This was all Mike's fault. If he hadn't gone around telling everyone I was a sex freak, then this wouldn't have been happening. I had guys asking me all morning if I wanted to go to this stupid dance. The gods gave me Mike Newton to punish me.

"What's wrong with you?" Rose asked me as I slumped down into my seat at lunch.

"I don't want to talk about it," I grumbled.

"Hey why is Mike starring at you?" Jasper whispered leaning over. I didn't take the chance of looking down the table at him. I looked at Edward and Emmett in front of me and tried to put a fake smile on my face.

"I don't know. That's weird… hey where's Alice?" I changed the subject.

I wasn't sure why but I thought that it would be better if everyone thought I didn't know what was actually going. Also I was afraid what Jaz would do if he'd found out what the other guys were really thinking about me. Hopefully they wouldn't say anything around him. I think most of them were still nervous of him from that night at the movie theater.

"She's in the art room. She's gotta finish a piece by tomorrow."

I nodded rubbing my forehead. I was definitely signing up for art next year. The art room would be a great safe haven compared to the cafeteria. I saw Eric stand up from the table out of the corner of my eye, a look of determination on his face and a glance at me.

"Um I have to go." I hurried away from the table toward the double doors, trying to escape my new personal hell.

"Bella wait," Ben stopped me as I reached the door. If it was anyone else I would have ignored them and kept going. "I was wondering if you could do me a favor?"

"Yeah," I grimaced.

"I have to work the night of the dance, and I was hoping-"

"I'll cover you." The scowl on my face turned into a smile.

"Really? Thanks Bella, I owe you one," he turned away smiling as I left the room.

Finally something good had happened today. Ben worked in the main diner that his mother owned. He had one of those sad stories too. Ben wasn't sure who his actual father was, and he and his mother barely got by with the diner. In elementary school when the class went on expensive field trips, Ben and I were usually left behind playing checkers in the library all day. When I was ten, I used to spend my weekends there wiping tables and filling ketchup bottles. I also admired the large ovens that Ms. Cheney eventually let me use as long as I baked her something too. Sometimes now and then I worked for tips if the diner needed an extra hand.

I found Alice in a corner of the art room, but she wasn't alone. Maurice Garrett graduated a couple of years ago and was an art major following in his mothers footsteps. Mrs. Garrett, or "Mrs. G" the Forks High's crazy art teacher who always had dobs of paint in her gray hair, sat on the other side of the room staring blankly at her computer screen. For a brief, brief-brief moment, I wished I could hear her too. Her mind was probably fascinating.

"Garrett if you can't be nice, please leave," Alice muttered. "I really have to finish this."

"I'm sorry, but I thought Hale would still be with that Swan chick. They seemed very... fitting."

"Yeah I did too," she laughed humorlessly. "You know that they only dated for like two weeks freshman year. I thought that they were - ugh, all that time wasted…"

"Well Alice, you should have gone for it anyways."

"I'm not that kind of girl Garrett," she snapped at him. "I would never steal someone else's boyfriend."

I stood back relieved and ashamed for eavesdropping on them. I mean I usually can't help it, but this time I chose to do it for which I was ashamed. But I was also relieved because I was seeing the real Alice clearer everyday. She really was a nice person. I cleared my throat and stepped into the room trying to make myself known.

"Hey Bella," Alice smiled at me, the frown wiping away from her face.

"Hi," I smiled back sheepishly. Garrett nodded at me and slid out of his seat saying something to his mother. "Is it okay if I hide in here with you?"

"Yeah," she laughed picking up another colored pencil. "What are you hiding from?"

"Um well it seems I've become the new-"

"Let it flow dear," Mrs. G stood next to me with paper and a box of crayons. A large dab of yellow paint was in her hair above her right ear. "If you're going to be in here, you must work on something. Just let it flow." Alice giggled as I stared at her retreating form. Like I said - interesting mind.

"You're the new what?" Alice asked as I started pulling out crayons.

"Um, the new play thing of Forks High. I've had like five guys ask me to the dance," I grimaced shaking my head. "They think I'll be easy and desperate because I've never had a real boyfriend," I added reassuring her that Jasper and I were never a real thing.

"I'm sure that's not true. You're really pretty, I bet some of them really like you," she tried.

"Alice I really know what guys think," I told her realizing a nanosecond later that I had told her my secret and I hadn't felt anxious. Maybe Alice would be good practice for telling Edward the truth.

Alice turned in her finished piece and I gave Mrs. G my doodled paper for proof of work, and we slowly walked down the hall waiting for the bell to ring.

"Are you excited about the dance?"

"Not really," Alice shrugged. "I'll have to see if Jaz wants to go. I'd rather do something with just the two of us or maybe a group thing with you guys."

"Oh well I'm working that night so I wouldn't be able to do anything," I told her as the bell rang.

I found Edward alone thumbing through his text book in Banner's classroom. His eyes were knitted and he looked… not happy.

"Hey," I greeted him as he briefly glanced at me before looking back down.

"Hey," he mumbled. Hello Moody Edward… I busied myself with imaginary tasks until more kids entered the room because I just didn't know what to do with myself.

"Hey Edward," Jessica appeared at our table as I flinched. I hadn't seen her coming. She looked at me glaring slightly and I looked back down.

"Hi," he gave her a fake smile.

"So I was wondering if you had a date for the dance yet?" she smiled at him, her eyes hopeful.

"No," he looked down disappointed as Jessica's face faltered.

"Well I was hoping you'd want to go with me?" she asked with a hopeful smile.

"Oh…" he actually sounded surprised. How could he have missed all of Jessica's subtle hints? "Kay," he nodded.

"Great!" Jessica turned, oblivious of his hesitation. I watched as she skipped back to her seat and Edward stayed quiet.

"I think you'll have a lot of fun with Jessica," I told him trying to fill the awkward silence. He nodded his head silently and continued flipping through his book.

"Will you save me a dance?" he asked pressing out the page corner.

"Oh I'm not going," I snorted. No way in hell was I going to a school dance.

"I thought you were going with Ben," he whipped his head at me.

"No, I don't understand why people keep thinking that I would be a good date," I shook my head at him confused. "But I'm pretty sure Ben's going out with Angela."

"You know," he hesitated. "You're wrong."

"Wrong about what?" Angela was going with Ben. Anyone could tell by the way they were looking at each other with googly eyes.

"I think you would be a great date."

"Why?"

"Well I really like you," he said plainly. He wasn't joking or snickering…

"I won't have sex with you," I told him as his eyes widened and he slipped off his stool.

"Wu – Ba - I," he sputtered sitting back down.

"I'm sorry, but I don't date," I stuttered feeling my cheeks turning red.

"It's okay I still want to be your friend," he stared back at me with wide eyes.

"Okay," I stammered turning away from him. My face felt like it was on fire. I wanted to die. I had no filter. I think the confusion of my new sex appeal had finally caught up to me and clouded my brain, and I just assumed that Edward wanted me in that way. He'd only said that he liked me. I mean I liked a lot of people – Emmett, Alice, Rose. Plus he was going to the dance with Jessica whom he'll probably have lots of sex with… if he wasn't already.

In gym we had to listen to Coach Clapp recite the rules and regulations for badminton and put us into the same pairs we had been in yesterday… Mike was the Cheshire Cat as he walked up to me chatting about how much fun we were going to have. By the third game I realized the gods weren't torturing me… They were rewarding me! I'd lost count of how many times I smacked him with a racket. At first, it was on accident. I'd tried to hit the bird thing when it came my way. Once the racket just flew out of my hand. But then… I just started swinging whenever Mike came into arm's reach, and no one was the wiser. He deserved it anyway for starting all of that nonsense of me being a sex freak. Hopefully I knocked all of those thoughts out of him.

I couldn't wipe the goofy smile off my face when I entered the locker room. Nothing could - not even the toxic perfumes.

"At least you're going with him."

"Yeah, but he's still hung up over some girl," Jessica whined. "Probably some bimbo back in Chicago."

"Well you'll just have to show Edward what he's got right in front of him," Lauren consoled her.

My smile was gone. I was even more embarrassed for my crass self in Bio. As I changed, I thought of impossible ways to erase Edward's memory. Give him amnesia by pushing him in front of Tyler's van. Time travel to warn myself to keep my mouth shut. But something would probably go wrong causing some sort of alternate reality where there was no Edward. Or I could just go to the alternate reality where I could actually hear Edward and switch places with my alter ego. No that wouldn't work. I couldn't convince myself to live in a world where she couldn't read Edward's mind. Unless she didn't want to hear him anymore. Maybe Edward was-

"Hey!" A velvet voice startled me as I dropped my books in the hallway. Edward was next to me picking up my books. "Sorry didn't mean to scare you…"

"No it's okay. I just have a lot on my mind." I had way too much going on…

"Bella!" Eric appeared next to Edward out of no where with a grin on his face. "Hey I was-"

"I'm sorry but I'm not going to the dance Eric. I have to work that night," I cut him off not wanting to prolong this shit anymore than it had to be.

"Oh alright…" His face fell and I watched him walk away before Edward cleared his throat next to me.

"Well, I uh just wanted to give you a high five," he smiled holding up his hand. "For beating the shit out of Mike."

"Oh that was an accident…" I lied.

"No the first four times were an accident. The ninety-six other times were not," he laughed still holding his hand up.

"Okay," I smiled slapping his hand. "But he deserved it."

"Oh I know and I'm kind of jealous…"

"Oh, did you want me to smack you around too?" I joked, picking up the pace as we got outside.

"Only if I did something to deserve it," he smirked before hurrying off to his car.

Alice was waiting by my truck smiling brightly at me under her umbrella as she jabbered on about Jasper. Something about their plans about the dance being unsure but they were still dressing up… I didn't know. Alice talked way too fast, and my head was still hazy from all the over thinking I had been doing.

"So I was thinking that you, me, and Rosalie could browse around Port Angeles? I know you're not going to the dance, but I think it'll be fun to hang out."

"Sure Alice sounds great."

"Great I'll get Rosalie." Wait we were going today? Right now?!

I tried my best to keep my grumbling to a minimum as I dropped off my truck leaving a note for Dad and as we drove to the mall in Port Angeles in Alice's little beetle. I didn't hate shopping. I just didn't like browsing around for hours, trying on everything in three different sizes, and then coming home empty handed… I hated shopping.

"I love the purple one," Alice commented Rose as she turned in the mirror. It had been the third hour and the second store of Alice and Rose looking at dresses. I didn't even understand why Rose was doing this… she wasn't even going to the dance. It must have been a girl thing that I hadn't been programmed for or something.

"Yeah, but I think this would look better on Bella though," Rose's reflection smirked at me as I grimaced. I'd semi-enjoyed watching them squeal and twirl around, but me trying on dresses...

"Yeah, try on this one too. I think this would be amazing on you," Alice handed me a black dress. She was wearing a short, emerald green dress and when she danced around, she reminded me of a fairy. I stood there holding the dress by the hanger looking at it like it was fungus until purple fabric landed over my shoulder.

"It's just a dress Bells. It's not gonna bite you," Rose muttered in my ear pushing me into a dressing room. After a few minutes of struggling, I found out that the purple dress didn't fit.

"I'm not coming out."

"You have to show us," Alice said pulling the curtain of my dressing room open.

"Alice," I growled crossing my arms.

"Relax Bella, it's just the wrong size," Rose tugged at my arms. The front was too loose, and the fabric pooled at my feel.

"Oh my gosh, you're tiny!" Alice squealed causing my hands to hide my fruits. "Here this should be your size!" A dark blue dress was flung at me, and I wasn't afraid to keep the groaning to myself as I shrugged it on. The dress was tight and wrapped around me in a way that reminded me of a fancy mummy. It also made my fruits look like melons, and the straps were awkward by not staying up right.

"You ready Bells?" Rose sounded behind me.

"No," I snorted as she pulled the curtain.

"Oh my-"

"Damn!" Alice gaped at me.

"I know these straps are really strange," I fiddled with the dark fabric.

"They're supposed to be like that," Alice smiled at me, pulling the straps down passed my shoulders.

"Oh…"

"Bella you have to buy this dress," Rose nodded at me.

"What do I need a dress for?" I rolled my eyes at her. I had to do a double take. Rose was wearing a scarlet red gown that really accentuated her curves.

"Trust me I'll make sure there's a reason for it. This dress was made for you. I didn't know you had a body under all those layers," Alice complimented me, making me blush.

"I'm not buying it," I shook my head determined.

"Yes you are."

"No I'm not!"

"Yes, you are." Their voices echoed.

After a lengthy debate… Rosalie bought me the dress and Alice decided to buy a new jacket for me that was "cute and stylish". I was almost in tears by the time we were done. I hated that they were spending money on me, and they had paid so much. At least Alice was a smart shopper and had magical ways. She'd found a hooded jacket with an inside pocket! that she deemed "hella sexy". And I had to admit that I really did like it; the color was such a dark purple that it looked black, and it was comfortable to wear.

They refused my money when we got to my house. I mean I would have paid for the dress and the jacket if I had brought money, but I hadn't planned on buying anything. Dad even tried to persuade them, and Rose argued it was for my birthday. Then Alice was insulted that I didn't tell her it that it had been my birthday... We were at an impasse.

"Okay I've got to work late tonight," Dad said pulling on his belt. "Rose, you staying over?"

"Yeah, I'll tell my mom and dad," she nodded fumbling through our cabinets.

"It was nice to meet you Alice. Love you Bells," he nodded heading for the door.

"Love you. Be safe!" I smirked at my innuendo. Usually when Dad worked late, he made a stop sometime over at Sue's place. I wasn't sure how I felt about little Swans running around the house.

Two weeks flew by fast, and Alice and I had gotten a lot closer. She'd invited me back to the art room for lunch almost everyday and we'd just draw and talk. I felt bad for abandoning Rose, but she said she liked eating in the cafeteria. She didn't get a chance to really talk to Jasper that much anymore and liked having quality time with him. But I wondered if she also enjoyed the quality time with a certain curly-haired someone too. I tried picking through Emmett's head, but his mind was all over the place focusing on schoolwork to ramblings of Spanish and Vietnamese. Like he was hiding something. Which then made me feel extremely guilty because he thought I was spying on him… and I had.

Edward had stopped guessing. The last guess was when he thought I was psychic… I wish I was psychic. That would be way cooler and more useful than hearing what boys think. But also Edward had been really nice and not moody… at least not during the times I saw him. Beside biology and the hallways, I rarely ever talked to him. Gym had become really boring. Even hitting Mike with a racket was less entertaining, and Edward was partnered with Jessica who was stuck to him like glue.

Fortunately my shift at the diner went by quickly and smoothly. I felt bad for leaving Rosalie by herself again, but she shrugged it off. She said she was still doing our traditional movie night and joked that she was still going to make three bowls of popcorn.

Jasper and Alice stopped by all dressed up. Alice wore the green strappy dress that she'd bought on our trip in Port Angeles and Jasper looked strange yet nice in a white dress shirt and a black vest. It was just unusual to see him in something else besides jeans and a t-shirt - or his pajamas. They were going to the dance for a little bit and then do something fun afterward… whatever that was.

Emmett dropped by during rush hour while he was running errands with Esme. Part of me was super happy that he wasn't going to the dance, but the other was mad at him for not asking Rose. She'd probably say no like she did to everyone else, but at least he would have been trying. When did I become such a matchmaker?

A lot of the other customers at the diner were happy to see me and were very generous with their tips. They were also curious to why Ben wasn't working and Mrs. Cheney had no problem telling everyone that he was at the school dance with Angela Webber. It was kind of cute how she gushed over them.

"Shoot a monkey. Shoot a monkey. Shoot a monkey. Shoot a monkey," Mrs. Cheney came rushing out of the kitchen with a red washcloth in her hand. "Bella I just sliced my hand open. I think I might need stitches."

"Are you okay? Do you need me to drive you?" I gaped at her as she rushed around behind the counter.

"No no, I can drive. Could you just close up for me and make sure everything's turned off? You know what to do."

"Alright," I nodded realizing that the red washcloth used to be white…

It was 9:30 and the diner was empty. It was usually busy on Friday nights, but because of the dance we'd been slow. And Mrs. Cheney closed the diner at ten so I only had thirty minutes until I had to lock the door. I finished wiping down tables and chairs and went to the back to see if Mrs. Cheney had made a mess. It looked like she'd cut her hand in the sink washing dishes, and the water was rusty brown. Cringing, I carefully sunk my hand in and pulled the plug draining the sink.

The bell of the door opening startled me and I hurried back to the front.

"Hey how are you…" My words died off when I saw Edward standing in the doorway. "Hi…"

"Hey," he smiled sitting on a stool at the counter. "You seem really busy. Do you want me to come back when it slows down?"

"Would you?" I smiled playing along. "I'm here all by myself and I'm swamped with orders."

"Wait, you're here by yourself?" he gasped.

"Yes…"

"You can't be left alone! It's late on a Friday night. What if someone came in here and robbed you or worse?!" he looked at me angry.

"Look I can handle myself and plus this is Forks. Nothing that exciting ever happens here," I told him, feeling a little insulted. "And the only reason I'm here by myself is because Mrs. Cheney had to go to the emergency room. It's not like she did it on purpose."

"I'm sorry," he slumped down onto the counter. "Is she okay?"

"I think so, but she'll probably need stitches. She was bleeding a lot…"

"Do you need any help closing?" he asked pulling off his coat and started rolling up his sleeves. The dark green dress shirt looked really nice on him, and it made his eyes stand out even more.

"No I'm almost done… how was the dance? Where's Jessica?"

"She went to some party. I didn't feel like going," he ran a hand through his hair. "And uh honestly, the dance was kind of boring. They played Lady Gaga way too much…"

"What's Lady Gaga?" I knitted my eyes at him.

"You don't know who Lady Gaga is?" he asked surprised as I shook my head. "It's better if you don't know," he smiled.

"So were the dances in Chicago better?"

"I wouldn't know. I never went to one."

"Oh… I'd thought someone like you-"

"Someone like me?" he raised an eyebrow at me.

"Someone perfect and popular," I admitted.

"I don't know if I should be feeling insulted or flattered?" he tilted his head to the side.

"Flattered because we're friends," I nodded.

"You know, in Chicago I was an entirely different person. I went to a private school that was K-12 so I grew up with the same kids, and they used to call me Eddie Cullen the geek– the loser – the freak. I was really sick as a kid and practically all the time. That's when the bullying started. The worst was when I was thirteen and I got braces and for a few months I had to wear that awful headgear all the time. In high school Emmett and I started working out because I was so scrawny. I couldn't take it anymore…

"And then we moved here. It's strange not being the nerd and it's even stranger being called popular and perfect."

"Wow… I didn't know." I had no idea. Did they not have eyes? It seemed impossible that someone so awesome and beautiful as Edward had been bullied.

"It's not something I'm going around telling everybody."

"Thank you… for telling me. I – I want to tell you my secret, but I just… I'm not ready yet. I've been using Alice as practice though," I joked.

"Alice knows too?! Am I the only one who doesn't know about it?!"

"No. No she doesn't understand what I'm saying half the time." I told him nervously. "Only a handful of people have ever known about it. And I have a hard time telling you because... you're kind of an exception."

"I have no idea what that even means," he shook his head confused.

"Everything will make sense one day," I hoped. I looked back at him and met his gaze as he nodded. His eyes drifted to something behind me and he smiled that mesmerizing smile.

"Does this still work?" he whipped around on the stool and hurried to the old jukebox in the corner.

"Yes…" I answered slowly. Had he never seen one before? I walked over next to him as he bent down browsing the basic collection of one hit wonders and old favorites. It wasn't long before he dug his hand into his pocket and pulled out a quarter.

"What song are you going to play?" I asked him as the coin fell into the slot.

"Guess," he said resting his arms on top of the machine. His head was turned in my direction and for a brief moment I couldn't think. It was as if my brain short circuited or something.

"Um I don't know," I fumbled my words. Seeing the opportunity and feeling a bit daring, I said it. Out loud. "I can't read your mind…"

He looked back down and pressed a few buttons and I sighed in relief. The building was still standing and I was still breathing. Nothing happened.

"Uh…" he breathed standing up straight and turning to me. I felt very small looking up at him. Familiar opening notes started playing from the speakers.

"Clair de Lune?" I asked surprised. I remembered it was one of the two classical songs on the jukebox. Mrs. Cheney used to play them when she opened the diner in the mornings.

"You know Debussy?" his eyes widened in surprise.

"I know every song on the jukebox… plus my dad fell for the classical-music-makes-your-baby-smarter bit. I have it on a CD at home," I mumbled as he took a step closer to me. He gently grabbed my hand and waist and pulled me closer to him. I felt my body being pushed backward and I took a step back as he stepped with me. We moved in a circular pattern before he stopped.

"What?" he knitted his eyes at me.

"What?" I looked up at him confused.

"You have this look of terror on your face."

"It's probably because I can't dance…" I muttered trying to erase any emotion from my face.

"You were doing good just now, but you know, I've heard it's all in the leading," he smirked at me.

"What makes you-"

The bell on the diner door rung loudly and I jumped, distancing myself away from Edward. Ben and Angela walked in giggling and holding hands.

"Bella? You're still here? Mom hasn't let you go yet? Mom!" Ben called out. "Mom?!"

"Ben... She's okay, but she had to go to the hospital. She cut her hand," I tried to slow my words as they rushed out. Angela stopped giggling and Ben's face blanched.

"What?! Is she okay?! Why didn't she call me?!"

"She might need stitches, but she's okay. She even drove herself there," I tried again.

After calming Ben down, Angela got him into her car to go find Mrs. Cheney in the ER. I finished the closing checklist quickly making sure everything was turned off and locked, and Edward waited patiently for me outside.

"So I'll see you Monday," he called across the parking lot from his car. Even at night it was shiny, practically glowing in the dark.

"Yeah and Edward… thanks," I yelled back as he nodded and I continued climbing into my truck.

The house was dark when I got home, and I was so exhausted I didn't bother turning any lights on. I was only able to shed a few layers of clothing before I fell into bed… next to someone. Rose was curled up on my bed with her head underneath my pillow. I nudged her softly, and she mumbled something, her voice groggy and thick. Clear signs that she'd been crying.

"Rose?" I rubbed her shoulder.

"It's not fair," she cried.

"What's not fair?"

"He has nightmares too…"

"Who does?" I whispered as she tried falling back into deep sleep.

"Emmett."

AN: Yep. Edward is just a puny human. Sorry. A lot of you had some crazy cool ideas but this is the story I'm writing.

Sorry this chapter is soooo late. BUT I've been doing really well in my A&P class just so you know. Three A's on my last three quizzes. I'm ecstatic.

Fact: When I'm in a G-rated zone, I make up random curses. Like "shoot a monkey"… My other ones make less sense… Also in 8th grade, this girl in my class had to wear the full headgear. She has the most amazing smile now though…

I have a surprise coming up soon and that should make it up for this mess. You can probably guess what it is… I don't know. But actually I might have to post it after the next chapter… I'm not sure… grrr

Question: Do you guys think I should twitter? – as an author I mean. Would you be interested in sneak peeks or my random thoughts? Just wondering….

THANKS FOR READING!!