A/N: Thanks to all of you who have subscribed to Untouchable. Please leave a review! I would love to thank you personally for taking the time to read my story. Thank you to my faithful reviewers (the few of you)-I really appreciate you.

Thanks to MsWDarcy for editing the heck out of this chapter. And thank you for tenderly caring for it, and me as I second guess myself.

Thanks to Zors for being an awesome pre-reader!

Thanks to nowforruin, my twilighted validation beta. Yes, I am now on Twilighted(dot)net yay! A link will go in my profile soon, for those of you who rather read there, though I have to warn you that I'm not as far into the story as I am here. But hopefully soon we'll be directly aligned.

I have also created a blog to go along with my writing. More thoughts on this chapter are there. Explanations, comments, etc. Plus who really want to read uber long author's notes? The link is in my profile.

Warning: adult content and violence. You have been warned.

Disclaimer: all recognizable characters and Twilight belong to Stephenie Meyer, the rest is copyrighted 2010 ElspethGordie.

Chapter 9: Clashing

The fake blonde snorted. "Yea, she's either bulimic or preggers."

They doubled over laughing; Jessica's boobs basically falling out of her top.

"Nah, definitely bulimic. Who'd touch that? I bet she's a prude."

Bitch. I saw red.

I stood up, hands clenched at my side. I brought out the Bell-Swan-Death-Stare, and released it on these skanks full force.

They dared to presume they know me! Prude? Jimmy thought I was a prude, and look where it got me. I gave him everything but sex, and look at me now. Knocked-up and exiled.

I'd let people walk all over me before. But I was not that girl anymore. I wasn't going to just lie down and take their crap. I wasn't going to ignore them and hope they went away.

I cared.

I wasn't that Bella anymore, and I was not going to let whores treat me like that.

"Who do you think you are? You don't know me!" I took one step towards them menacingly.

The fake blond had a snotty expression on her face—probably permanent—but Jessica looked slightly uncomfortable.

The blond crossed her arms under her chest, and raised one eyebrow. "I'm Lauren Mallory. Who the hell are you?" Then she muttered blimp under her breath.

"Ohhhhhh… you're Lauren Mallory? I've heard the locker room rumors." I smirked.

Her face began to go slightly purple. "You don't know who you are messing with chunky! I can make your life a living hell."

Join the club. I laughed bitterly at her. "Oh, so that's how it is. The bitter harpy needs to put others down in order to make her fake tan and botched boob job self feel better. Poor baby."

Part of me understood her. She was the type I'd been friends with for years. She was the type that hung around Jimmy, and who Bree emulated whole heartedly. She used manipulation and insults to raise her standing. I had tolerated it once. I would never do that again.

They had made me the target of their insults the moment I broke up with Jimmy. And they made damn sure that nobody believed me.

Lauren's face changed as if she had a revelation; she giggled, and it sounded like nails on a chalk board. "I've heard about your pathetic attempts to catch Edward Cullen's attention. Don't even try. You are way out of his league." Jessica laughed at that, like it was an inside joke.

I clenched my hands at my side, desperately trying to think calming thoughts. Pummeling her looked way too good right now. I pointed at her face. "Aw honey, is that a cold sore? Because you know what they say about cold sores, it's from sucking an infected dick."

Her face froze and she dropped the smile, the sneer returning.

"I've seen you in the bathroom every day. Puking. You are disgusting." She wrinkled her nose at me. "It doesn't seem to be helping you lose weight."

They messed with me; they messed with my friend. They messed with my fat, and therefore my baby. This chick was going down.

Nobody messes with my baby.

"Bitch."

I reached into my pocket and pulled out some loose change. With my most insincere smile I said, "There you go, my contribution; I'm sure this little chat has cut into your nightly earnings. You know what they say about prostitutes."

Lauren took a step towards me, looking enraged—it did nothing for her.

"You sure look like one. Sorry if I was mistaken." I smiled tightly.

Lauren screeched and stomped her foot. I don't know whether she was trying to be intimidating, or it was an unconscious reaction. Still, it was pretty funny.

Trying not to laugh, I narrowed my eyes in assessment. "Please, I would love to give you another bump in your nose."

Her hand flew up to her nose, and she pat it a few times, before her eyes widened and she caught herself dropping her arm. Cha-ching, I hit a sore spot.

Maybe I looked really intimidating—which I hope was the case—or at least my verbal flaying had worked, but they backed down. Jessica grabbed Lauren's arm and pulled her back to the party.

Lauren turned and pointed at me with her free hand. "Don't think this is over. You have no idea what you've messed with." Yea, yea, living hell. Been there, done that. Whatever.

No, she had no idea what she messed with. No more nice Bella. Part of me wished Jessica hadn't pulled her away. She definitely could benefit from a good pop in the nose. Charlie had taught that to me when I was little, before he left—and I had a good arm.

I wanted a good fight. One I could win.

I stood there fuming, clenching and unclenching my hands at my side. I glared out at the sea of people.

Who am I kidding? Me? Fit in here? It's completely laughable.

I barely fit in now, and it was only because I cowered in the corner. Just wait a few months, when I can't hide behind babydoll tops and the excuse of an increased appetite.

Firetruck.

Yea, just take away the "iretr."

To say I was hopping mad would be an understatement. Those insatiable whores had finally riled up the ire within me over… everything. I could just spit.

My vision had gone blurry in the heated glance I gave the nameless crowd. I didn't notice him until he was almost upon me.

"Bella?" I looked up at Edward.

He raised his hands defensively, still holding the cups, one of which I presume was for me.

"Whoa, what's going on?"

"What do you care?"

He frowned at me. "Isabella. What happened?"

"Don't call me that!" My voice raised.

Isabella… Izz… Izzy… Isabella

I glared at him with more force. Stupid name. I hate my name. Who names their child after a Spanish monarch who financed the expedition to America? How can a kid live up to that?

"Alright, alright. Bella." He ran his hands through his hair, frustrated. "What happened while I was gone."

I was suddenly tired—exhausted. I had gotten angrier in those five minutes than I had for a long time. It felt good. But boy, was I tired.

Damn pregnancy hormones.

I slumped into my chair, and stared lazily over the crowd. Nothing had changed. Everyone was still having fun, talking, laughing, joking. And I was on the outside.

Edward waited. He hadn't moved except to put our drinks down. He looked hesitantly at me… like I was a crazy person.

Yea, I deserved that.

"It's nothing."

Edward shook his head. "It's obviously not nothing."

I sighed. "Mean girls doing mean things—the usual." His face darkened, and he immediately looked over to Jessica and Lauren. They were crowded together with several other girls giggling hysterically, occasionally looking over at me.

He muttered something under his breath. It was too quiet to hear, but by the inflection, I'm sure it wasn't very nice.

That made me smile. He was calling them dirty names for me. Or at least he was just calling them dirty names, even if it wasn't for me. They deserved it.

He had continued to stare at them with such malevolence that it made me giggle a little. Before I knew it I was bent over in my seat belly laughing. I was gaining a little attention, not much, but I did receive an impudent glare from Lauren. It only made me laugh harder.

That bitch thought she could ruin my life with a few nasty words? She was the minor leagues compared to what I was used to. I could wipe the floor with her if I really wanted.

Wow, part of me was rearing up for next time… golly, I hope she follows through on her promise. I felt giddy.

I realized Edward was staring at me. That was embarrassing. My mom always said my face was an open book… if so the reading had just been irrationally erratic.

Damn pregnancy hormones.

"I so do not want to mess with you, do I?"

I grinned. "You have no idea."

We leaned back, sitting in silence. I could almost hear the questions bursting from his head. But I didn't want to get him involved, I could handle myself. Even if a half hour ago I was wallowing in low self-esteem, I was confident now.

"So why were you basically ignoring me all week?"

He looked slightly awkward. "I wasn't ignoring you."

"Yea sure, so refusing to speak with someone unless you are forced to by a teacher isn't ignoring someone. I'll have to write that down."

He released a sigh. "I wasn't ignoring you. I was protecting you."

"Oh, I see." He was really convincing. I'm glad that my ego had taken it's quota of hits for the night.

He ran his fingers through his hair—yet again. It made me wonder if he was giving himself premature hair loss. "I'm not a good friend, Bella."

I raised my eyes to his and waited for him to continue. "I have a lot of issues and you'd be better off without me as a friend."

Arg. My emotions lit up again. The nerve to think he knows what's good for me. "You think you have issues? I'm sure your life looks like a piece of cake compared to mine! How dare you decide what's best for me? You don't even know me! And if you thought that, then what have you been doing over here talking to me all night?"

"Darn hormones." Making me ramble.

He looked shocked.

I blushed. "Sorry. The filter isn't working well tonight." I looked out at the crowd again, ignoring him, hoping that he'd walk away. That's what he wanted anyway. If he wanted to go, I'd let him.

A few people were swimming but most of the teens were dancing or milling around talking. It was probably one of the tamest parties I'd ever been to.

Suddenly two hands gently cupped my face, and drew my attention back to those emerald eyes. I soaked in every curve and line in his face, subconsciously memorizing it. Edward was knelt down in front of me, directly on eye level. His face only inches from mine.

"Bella." His eyes searched mine; I didn't know what they found. "I'm sorry. You're right. I don't know you. I have no idea what your life has been like. I had no right to presume anything, make any decisions for you. I'm sorry."

His thumbs gently caressed my cheek bones, and pulled away tucking my hair behind my ears. I almost whimpered at the loss of their touch—I never felt so safe as I did with him, touching me.

Then I realized that he had touched me yet again, and I had been fine. I was speechless.

He went back to his seat. I withdrew a breath, and ran my fingers shakily through my hair. "So where does that put us?"

He smiled, his crooked smile. "Friends?"

I might regret it later. Boys were dangerous. And I had learned the ultimate lesson. But for some unknowable reason I trusted him.

I smiled back. "Friends."

The hallway was hazy, I couldn't tell whether it was smoke or something else. It was playing tricks on me, I could hardly see my little girl in front of me. She ran ahead, her dark curly hair bouncing behind her.

She giggled, and occasionally turned to wait for me. I could never keep up with her. I frantically called out to her to slow down, or wait for me.

She rounded a corner, and then peeked out to wave me on. I slipped into a jog, nervous that I'd never catch up.

We rounded a corner, and were suddenly out of the hallway and under the oak tree. My little girl was nowhere in sight.

I yelled to her—terrified. "Baby! Baby, where are you?" I whipped my head from side to side, searching the yard for her, but nothing was in focus except for my tree. It was like I had prescription lenses, but they only worked in the small circle around the tree, everything else was a fog.

In the distance I heard her giggle again, like we were playing hide and seek.

"Baby, don't hide. Mama's scared. Please come out."

She giggled again and this time it was closer, but I couldn't pinpoint the direction.

I stopped suddenly in my tracks, because I could feel him. He was here. Terror began to flood my body, so much that I thought I was going to drown in it.

I needed to find her, and I needed to find her now.

"Baby! Come here! Baby!"

I spun around searching the fog, ready to run to her the moment I heard another sound. To my right I hear a screech, then a whimper that could only be my little girl.

What was happening? Where was she? Why was he here?

A dark figure began to walk out of the forest, toward me and my tree. In the figment's arms was my joyful little girl.

I couldn't hear her laughter anymore.

My breathing increased and I began to hyperventilate. He had found me. He had found her.

"Don't hurt her, please. Take me, take me instead, and leave her alone! Please!" I begged. I couldn't help it, I would always beg for her.

He had promised that he would come for me.

I shot straight up in my bed, soaked with sweat and breathing heavily. The room was dark, but something was out of place. This wasn't my room. This wasn't my bed.

I wasn't at home.

I looked frantically around the room, and found his eyes watching me wide and confused from a chair nearby. Edward was sitting in a small chair at the opposite end of the room; it looked like he had been reading, but the book had been abandoned long ago. His hair was in a higher than normal state of disarray. But his eyes told all.

He looked at me in concern, not pity, and confusion. Then I remembered my evening. I lay back against the pillows in a sigh of defeat. It had been a blast, to say the least.

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