A/N: I have the best readers in the entire world. Your reviews always bring a smile to my face. That said... don't hate me too much. I had a very specific plan for this chapter... and then it didn't happen. Just remember to breathe, and that I adore you.

Thanks to MarchHare5 and twicrack83! They deserve all the credit for anything that is readable. *loves*

Thanks to nowforruin!

Warning: adult content and violence. **Mention of physical and sexual assault. ** There is language in this chapter! Sorry, it couldn't be helped!

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

xoxo

Chapter Twenty-three: Choosing

"Hey."

"Hey back," I sighed. I glanced up through my lashes, feeling the blush spread across my face and down my chest. Trying to hide, I let my hair fall forward into my face. Edward tucked it behind my ear and palmed my face, forcing me to look in his eyes.

The magnetism I felt around him flared. It was like the burning of a fire that was always there, but when you threw on new kindling it brightened, blinding all eyes looking. His gaze blinded me. He gave me tunnel vision; I couldn't focus on anything other than his penetrating emerald eyes.

I'd asked him once if they were fake. He rolled his eyes and told me that yeah, they were glass, and that he actually had superhuman hearing and smell to make up for the lack of sight. That was the end of our conversation. Dingbat.

It seemed so unreal that he could undo me with a single glance. Talk about timing, if only I had met him when I was whole. I could feel deserving of that look he gave me, that told the world I was the only thing existed. I was pretty sure that I looked at him the same way.

He rubbed his thumb against my cheek bone. My eyes moved away from his taking in his entire face. There were crinkles around his eyes, telltale signs of his amusement. I hoped I hadn't been drooling. Edward's lips were curved up into a half smile, his cheek raised sardonically.

He moved his hand back into my hair. "Don't hide from me," he whispered.

I shook my head. "I can't. I've tried, and I can't."

He chuckled. "I don't know what it is about you."

"My sparkling personality." I flirted. "Oh, and my unbeatable charm." I leaned a little closer to him so that our mouths were only inches apart.

He smiled, teeth peeking out from behind his lips. "I thought charm was what drew you to me." His eyes flickered between mine and my lips, which hovered so close I could taste the tic-tac he'd eaten a few minutes ago.

I minutely shook my head, forcing my hair back over my shoulders. "Nah, it was your body." I raised my eyebrows. "Glistening sweat." I moaned lightly, watching him closely through hooded eyes.

Edward's pupils dilated, and he perceptibly licked his lips. Now it was my turn to frantically decide whether to stare at his green glass eyes darkened in desire or his moistened lips.

He didn't make me choose.

Edward wrapped his hands in my hair closing those inches between our mouths. My eyes immediately closed, overwhelmed with the stimuli. His lips were soft yet firm. They moved against mine instinctively, pulling my bottom lip between his and chewing on it gently.

I gasped for breath, only to grip his shirt and pull him in for more. This time I slipped my tongue through to teasingly touch his bottom lip, flicking it once, twice.

Deep within Edward's chest a growl murmured across our locked lips, making them vibrate, and me moan.

I'd never been kissed like this before. I'd never enjoyed kissing like this before. The idea of saliva from his mouth pouring into mine always grossed me out, and made me feel like I was drowning. But not with Edward. He kissed me again, gently seeking entrance, and I eagerly allowed him to explore.

I could have kissed him forever.

"Iz," a voice from my nightmares interrupted what had to be the best moment of my life. I cut our kiss short, but instead of turning around to find the source of the voice I gripped Edward's shirt harder and silently pleaded with him.

Edward's arms did not tighten around me as I expected, but slackened, falling loosely to his sides. His face went blank, eyes dull, flush dissipated from his face.

"Edward?" My voiced raised in pitch. I shook him, trying to wake him up; it was like he wasn't even there. "Edward, please, Edward! I need you. Please." I trailed off, broken.

"Iz, don't worry, I'm here." He tried to sound gentle, but I could hear the steel behind his comforting words.

I shakily let go of Edward's shirt, but not before smoothing out the wrinkles I had created. I brushed away tears I didn't even know had fallen and slowly turned.

I found him standing there. His broad shoulders were hunched over a little bundle he held in his arms. He looked up at me, condescendingly smiling. Every strand of his stupid, perfect hair was in place, and his eyes blazed maniacally blue. The very look of him turned my stomach. He tilted his arms so I could see what he was holding.

Wrapped in a fuzzy pink blanket was a sleeping baby girl. She had dark curls framing her face, hair too long for such a small baby. One fist was scrunched against her face and she gave a delightful sigh.

Confused, I looked back and forth between him and the baby. How was it possible?

I placed my hands on my middle, only to find it flat and smooth, like it had always been. I started to breathe quickly, realizing who he was holding in his arms.

"What's going on?"

He cocked his head. "Don't you know?"

I shook my head, trying to connect the dots. "But you don't even know. How could you? Did Renee tell you? Did your father bribe the doctors?"

"Isabella, I always know." He winked.

I forced back the nausea. "Give her to me. Now!" I reached for my daughter, desperate to hold her myself, to keep her safe in my arms.

He smiled softly, shaking his head. "Silly Isabella, don't you know that you have to choose?"

"What? Choose what? Give me my baby."

"Between her and Edward, of course. You didn't think you could actually have both, right?" He laughed, deep and long. As if anything good in my life was just as ridiculous as my past had been. As if I could make anything last.

Tears coursed down my face. I watched as my baby began to get restless in his arms. He began to bounce, but it only made her cry. Behind me Edward had woken up.

"Bella? Bella? What's going on? What is he doing here?" Edward reached for me.

My baby continued to cry as her captor stopped trying to comfort her, and stood still, maliciously smiling at my predicament.

"You can't have both, Iz." He laughed.

I shot up straight in bed, a scream dying on my lips. I wrapped my arms around my body, happy to find my round belly and a shifting baby inside. I swung my legs over the bed, resting my elbows on my knees as well as I could. A sob shuddered in my chest, and I breathed quickly, trying to keep it away. It didn't help. My body shook with the contained sobs until I couldn't hold them in any longer.

Fortunately, Charlie didn't come running to the rescue; he must have been at work. I wiped my face on the edge of my raggedy sweatshirt and used a tissue from my nightstand to blow my nose. With a pathetic sigh I stood up, wobbling. I hopped on one foot to my crutches resting against my desk.

I hobbled to the kitchen and got a glass of water. I lifted the cool glass against my forehead and considered the dream.

What the hell was that?

It started off like the previous evening. Edward had driven me home from the therapist's office. As he helped me out of the vehicle he said the same things in the dream, same actions too… except the mind blowing kiss.

I had wanted to, but I was too chicken. We needed to talk about… the implications of being with me. I didn't even know what it would mean. So I had no idea what he would think it meant.

But I wanted to. So, badly. And I think he did too. But he was just as chicken shit as me.

Instead he took me up to the door and hugged me goodnight.

The dream was way better… until it wasn't. Why would I need to choose? Edward had told me that he would stick through it all with me. He knew that I wanted to keep the baby. He was supportive. Or maybe that was why he didn't kiss me. I was going to be a mother. I had baggage, literally, that would come with me everywhere I went.

Maybe I did have to choose. If I chose her, I would lose him. If I chose him, I would lose her.

I shook my head, disgusted with myself. I dumped my water into the sink and let the glass clatter sharply. I crossed the kitchen and began to pull ingredients out of the pantry and fridge.

There was no choice. It would always be her. If I had to make a choice, she would be it.

I spent the rest of the wee hours of the morning making muffins. It took my mind away from the nightmare and the other possibilities it had risen. The therapist was right. I had to figure out how to deal with Jimmy. I would see him eventually. And I didn't know how he'd react.

I had no idea what to do. So I avoided it. You should try it, it works. By the time I needed to get ready for school I had batches of blueberry, cinnamon, cranberry nut, and applesauce muffins. I hoped that the boys were hungry. Who was I kidding? They were always hungry.

OoOoOoOo

Walking down the hallway I jumped at every inconsequential thing. Any time I heard a male voice aimed in my direction I looked frantically for its owner.

I took a deep breath as my head was leaning into my locker. Emmett looked worried, and my jumpiness was making Edward tense. Well, tenser than usual.

Emmett was waiting patiently to escort me to our next class. Government had been more boring than usual; I couldn't find it in me to focus. Normally I was so studious. Maybe it was the baby hormones. I heard it makes women go crazy.

Emmett tapped impatiently against the locker. "Bells, what's going on?"

"What'd ya mean?" I handed him my books, keeping my hands out of touching range.

He raised an eyebrow. "You know what I mean, Baby Bell. I'm worried that Edward's going to go prematurely bald."

I snickered. "I've been worrying about that for a while."

Someone a few lockers down laughed deeply and slammed his locker. I flinched, pulling back so much that I almost tripped over my crutches. Emmett tried to put his hands out to balance me, which just made me pull back further.

Two arms came from behind, setting me back on my feet. I turned, surprised to find Rose smirking. "You're welcome," she said.

"Thanks."

She waved me off. "No problem, B. Plus it's not like Em's much of a help anyway." Rose smiled at Emmett and winked. I giggled as the tips of Emmett's ears went red.

From what I learned from Ali, despite the craziness of last Saturday, Emmett's and Rose's date went off without a hitch, thanks to Alice, of course. He had taken her for dinner, then a walk through the Phoenix Zoo. Supposedly Emmett started doing his best impressions of all the animals. I wasn't surprised.

They walked behind me as I gimped to class. I looked over my shoulder a few times to see them giving googly-eyes at each other. I was glad Rose saved me from falling and from explaining my fidgetiness. Plus it was exceedingly amusing to watch them in their mating dance. It was better than watching Nature on PBS.

Edward picked me up after Spanish, letting Emmett dash off down the hall to carry Rose's books instead of mine. Edward gently put his hand on my back, whispering in my ear, "Hey, beautiful."

I smiled. "Hey, yourself." My eyes dropped to his lips remembering the good part of my dream.

"You ready for lunch?" His eyes twinkled.

"Goodness, yes. I could eat a whole horse."

"Well, we must not keep a ravenous Bella waiting."

"Heck yes." I laughed. A familiar feeling settled in my gut. "But we must make a pit stop first."

Edward's eyes tightened. "Can you wait for Alice?"

I rolled my eyes. His protectiveness, especially during my bathroom breaks was getting a little over the top. "Edward, this bladder waits for no one."

"Fine," he replied as if he was giving me permission to pee on my own.

"Oh thanks," I remarked sarcastically.

I took care of my business quickly, because no matter how much bravado I put on for Edward, getting cornered in the bathroom really did make me nervous. And nervous made me stressed which was not good for the baby. I hadn't been stopped by the skanks since the beginning of last week. It had gotten too quiet, in fact.

As I was washing my hands, a nasally voice squeaked behind me, "Bella, Bella Swan? How is our resident marshmallow?"

Repeat insults? Come on.

"I don't know, how is the resident ho bag?" I looked up in the mirror to find Jessica Stanley with a furious look on her face.

"Look here, you… you…"

"Yes?" I asked.

"Argg!" she whined.

I laughed. "That's right." I took my time drying my hands. It was only fair to give her a little time; she obviously needed it. Thinking was a bit harder for some people, plus she didn't have Lauren here to give her cues.

Finally, Jess raised one bony "Jersey Shore" style manicured nail and threatened, "Just you wait. You think you can come in here and act better than us. Steal Edward? I hope you get knocked up like she did, and then have him force you to take care of it yourself! You think he's all perfect." She cackled.

"Why do you want him then?" I was honestly curious, not taking her bashing of Edward seriously.

"Because he was ours next! Victoria gave him to us. You have no right to take what's ours!"

I shook my head, trying to follow her logic. "You don't own him."

She huffed and flipped her hair over one shoulder. My comment didn't even seem to register with her.

I tried again. "Jessica, you and Lauren don't own Edward. Another girl can't just pass him to you like a…" I searched for a relatable term, "a designer purse!"

She scoffed, "As if we'd ever take a used purse!"

I rolled my eyes. She was truly an imbecile. How she ever made it to the twelfth grade was a wonder. What, teachers didn't want to have her in their class again so passed her to save themselves? It was a mar on humanity that she would be loose in the world in less than a year.

"You think you're so smart. I bet you don't know what Edward did! He'll drop you eventually. He always does."

She laughed as she left me standing in the bathroom.

I'd been dreaming, fantasizing about this boy. We needed to talk. I couldn't keep getting more hints from skanks like Jessica. She was just trying to ruin what we had.

I exited the bathroom to find a very worried Edward waiting impatiently. His leg was bouncing a mile a minute.

"I saw Jessica leave. I was a second from coming in and checking on you."

I smiled wanly. "I'm fine. She's all bark and no bite."

His eyebrows creased. "What'd she say?" He put his arm around my shoulder and anxiously rubbed circles into my back.

"Just some stuff about you." I shrugged. "And that Lauren has 'plans.'"

"What about me?" He looked more upset than I expected.

"About last year." His eyes darkened. "But let's not talk about this now, 'kay? Too many other ears."

He looked like he was going to argue but finally nodded in agreement. His voice was still hard, but he was trying. "Let's go get you some food."

OoOoOoOo

"Hey," a deep voice croaked next to my ear. I immediately flinched away, bumping my stomach into the edge of the lab table.

I cringed and rubbed the ache away.

"How's it been, Bella?"

I turned to find Mike Newton leering at me. Goosebumps erupted all over my skin; I'd never realized just how much he sounded like Jimmy. It was like all dickheads had the same intonation when they were trying to act seductively.

I took a calming breath and steadied myself with the memory of our last encounter. You'd think he'd be more cautious.

"Really, Mike?" I asked, seemingly nonchalant.

I returned to the experiment Edward and I had started. The only reason Mike had gotten even close to me was because Edward had been called down to the office. He couldn't tell me why before he left… or wouldn't.

"Aw, you know, honey. It never hurts to try."

I snorted. "As I recall it hurt a lot last time."

He winced and lifted his hands in surrender. "I just thought I'd warn you."

I shook my head in confusion. He'd barely talked to me since I wailed on his junk, but now that I was bodyguard-free he was "warning" me? What the heck?

"I know you're new here," he started, leaning his back on the table and turning just his head to look at me, "so you probably don't know what you're getting into."

"Getting into? Just spit it out, Mike," I snapped. Class or no class I was this close to taking him down again with my crutches just to spite him.

"I couldn't help but notice how much attention Cullen gives you."

"Yeah, so what?" I replied.

"He's just not who you think he is," he smirked. "You're too good for him."

"Mike, you don't even know me." I stopped listening to him. He was just a bunch of bull. Baby girl took this opportunity to aim a swift kick at my ribs; I softly let out a breath and then reached back for my chair to sit down.

Mike took this as a chance to get closer to me, grabbing Edward's chair and swiveling it around to sit on it backwards. "Last year there was a lot of stuff going around… about Edward, Victoria, and Diego. There was something kinky going on." He raised his hands. "I'm no hater, but there was something not right. Now Vicki was a great girl." He chuckled to himself. "She had this rack… but it was just weird how Cullen was with her. It was like he owned her or something."

I crossed my arms, unwilling to let the million questions I suddenly had slide out of my mouth. This was the second time today that someone had said something about Edward. I couldn't imagine Edward acting like he owned another person, not like Jimmy had acted like he owned me…

He had been acting extremely protective ever since I told him about the baby. But that was because of the baby and the flashbacks. He would never treat me like that.

Mike was just being a tool, as per usual.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Edward growled at Mike as he reentered the room. Mike straightened up, glaring at Edward. "Get the hell away from her, Newton." He sounded dangerous.

My eyes widened as I watched Mike straighten up and glare at Edward. Mike replied, "Or what, Cullen?" He crossed his arms in front of his chest like Edward wasn't a threat and there would be no reason to keep his hands free.

Edward took it as a challenge and barged forward, shoving Mike away from our table.

"What the—" Mike cursed. He instantly gripped Edward's shoulders, trying to shove him.

Mr. Molina, our Med Bio teacher, finally noticed what was going on. "Boys! That's enough! Stop this nonsense right now!" He hollered over the commotion that had risen.

Edward pulled Mike into a head lock. "You keep your fucking hands away from her. Do you hear me, you motherfucker?" Edward began to tighten his hold on Mike's head.

"Edward!" I finally found my voice. "Let go of him!"

He didn't hear me, too focused on holding onto Mike.

"Gentlemen, I said that's enough!" the teacher yelled again. "To the principal's office, right now!"

His threats didn't have any effect on Edward who was still holding an ashen Mike down. Edward roughly shook him. "You keep your fucking eyes off her! If I ever hear of you going near her again—"

"Edward!" I yelled over the din of chaos. "Stop it right now!"

He was deaf to my pleas. Mike was beginning to look a little blue. I couldn't think of what to do. So I didn't think. I limped through the crowd of students who had gathered and socked Edward in the jaw as hard as I could.

Edward dropped Mike to the floor, who lay wheezing. "Shit!" He palmed his face rubbing it, and then looked up at me with shocked eyes.

I shook my hand, which had gone numb on impact; I hope that meant I hit him hard. I turned hard eyes to his. "What the hell, Edward!"

"Bella, I'm so sorry." He looked frantically from Mike still lying on the floor to the dozens of students standing around gawking, to the teacher hysterical on the phone. "I didn't know what I was doing."

"Didn't know what you were doing! Didn't know what you were doing?" I screeched. I could see his jaw beginning to swell. Good, serves him right! I hoped the bruise was colorful. "He was just talking to me! He wasn't even coming on to me!"

"I was just trying to protect you." Both hands had gone to his hair, and he was tugging on it harder than normal.

"I don't need you or anyone else to protect me! I'm capable of taking care of myself." I glared.

He snorted. "Yeah, sure. When you flinch at every sound and whimper when a boy comes near."

I pointed my finger at him, jabbing him in the chest. "You have no right. You have no idea what I've been through."

He growled at me and my dismissal of his protection. "You need me. Your baby needs me. How do you expect to protect her? You're beyond screwed up! You're never going to be able to do this!"

I gasped.

There was an echo.

I looked around to find the entire class no longer staring at Edward or Mike, the pansy who was still on the floor. All eyes flickered between my face and my belly. I watched the pity form on some faces and disgust on others. Two wannabe skank brigade girls looked gleeful. They didn't bother to hide their beaming faces.

I turned back to Edward. I could only imagine the look on my face. I felt utterly betrayed—by the one person who I thought always had my back. He looked repentant over his slip. His eyes tried to plead; I could see his remorse. I knew he didn't mean it, but it was too late. I had been warned.

I mustered an ounce of anger. I couldn't walk out of here crushed and defeated. I had to stand on my own.

I slowly annunciated each word, "I. Don't. Need. You."

He reached for me, "But Bella..."

"Don't touch me!" I snapped.

His hand pulled back as if I had burned him. "I'm so sorry, Bella. I didn't mean it…" His voice cracked.

He was sorry. Good.

I looked around at the silent yet judging eyes of my classmates. I stared them down, daring them to say something. Even the skanks knew better than to start something. I reached out, "Crutches, please."

A girl whose name I didn't know scurried over to my lab table and returned with my crutches. I could only see sympathy in her eyes. Her gaze dropped to the floor when she reached me. I took my crutches, and she stepped back unwilling to be associated with the crazy pregnant girl.

Suddenly everyone's eyes were looking everywhere but at me. I groaned internally. They weren't a very liberated bunch. Didn't anyone see Juno?

I began to hobble through the crowd, ignoring the emerging throb in my hand. Edward called to me. "Bella, please, I'm so sorry."

I didn't look back. "Fuck you, Edward."

OoOoOoOo

I was petulant for the rest of the day. I refused to meet the questioning stares that had already started. A good rumor is like wildfire. It spreads far and wide in the blink of an eye.

Jasper was good company. He didn't ask about the less than subtle whispers and stares. He grunted his normal hello, passed me an extra contraband juice box and continued with his latest historical journal.

I sat and stewed. How could Edward act so rashly? What didn't I know about him? What did I know about him? He told me that he had a girlfriend last year who used him and continued to date her old boyfriend behind her family's and his back. She also used him to cheat. There was so much I didn't know. And I'd placed so much trust in him—all because of some stupid "soul mate" connection. What a laugh! I was a fool.

I placed my right hand on the table stretching and fisting it repeatedly. I hoped I hadn't broken something. My pointer and middle fingers were swollen twice their size and a dark bruise had already emerged on my top knuckles. I had to give my dad credit; I knew how to throw a punch… when I was sober at least.

I didn't even notice when Jasper left and returned with a bag of crushed ice from the athletic office. They were the only ones who could make such perfect crushed ice. I murmured my thanks.

Unfortunately I didn't have to stay long in study hall before I was summoned to the office. Jasper carried my books and ice as I careened even worse than usual down the hallway. My hand felt like it was split open and hot lava was being poured on it. I'm pregnant. I have the right to be dramatic. And now that everyone knew, I didn't have to hide it.

I found Mike and Edward sitting in the uncomfortable chairs in the office. I chose the vacant one furthest from both of them. Jasper was an angel from heaven and insisted on staying. There wasn't actually a conversation, but he gave me one look and I knew not to argue.

Edward looked broken. His head was in his hands. He kept trying to sneak peeks at me, but I refused to look at him.

Mr. Banner exited his office wearing an expression that was probably supposed to put the fear of God in naughty students. I had to hold in a snicker. For some reason it seemed to work on Mike because he shrank down in his chair, trying to look invisible. I did actually snicker when I saw that.

At my laugh Edward caught my eyes, hopeful. I looked away, unable to bear the guilt I saw staring back at me. He could look guilty all he wanted. He was the idiot who started a fight because Mike was talking to me. He was the traitor who betrayed me.

"Isabella." Mr. Banner turned his naughty child look on me. "Could I please speak with you first?"

"Fine." I gritted my teeth. The sooner this was over the sooner I could escape Edward and his sorry eyes.

Mr. Banner ushered me into his office. I sat in the chair closest to the door. I didn't want to be closer to the perv anymore than I needed to, but then again it wasn't like I could remove myself at a reliable speed. I laughed internally. I could just yell and Edward would probably beat up the vice principal too.

I watched as Mr. Banner carefully arranged himself, folding his hands neatly on the desk and staring down his nose at me, like it was intimidating. I bet he practiced in the mirror.

"Isabella, we've called your father. I'll be speaking with him when he picks you up."

I opened my mouth, "What?"

"We don't appreciate fighting at Sierra Valley."

I shook my head incredulously. "I wasn't fighting! It was those two rejects!" I thumbed the door behind me.

"I have several eyewitnesses that you are the reason for the bruise on Mr. Cullen's jaw."

"But—" I interjected.

"We have a no tolerance policy. There will be serious consequences."

I threw up my hands in frustration. "Great. Just what I need."

"I don't need any attitude from you, young lady." He narrowed his eyes at me.

I crossed my arms and clenched my jaw. Fan-fricking-tastic. I waited silently for whatever else he wanted to say. I knew he wanted to say more; he liked the sound of his own voice and he probably wanted some quality time to leer.

He looked down at a piece of paper on his desk like he was reading from a script. "You'll be serving detention for the next month every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday with Mr. Molina. From what he tells me this entire debacle is due to you. We don't appreciate encouraging fights, let alone any fighting over another student." He checked off a few items on his paper, then looked up, giving me a creepy smile. Major creeper.

"Fine. Am I free to go?" I replied evenly, betraying no emotions.

"Please wait in the office until your father arrives. I would like to speak with him before you leave."

I returned to the holding area, the disgust evident in my expression. Edward looked at me expectantly. I refused to meet his gaze. It was all his fucking fault. All I was trying to do was keep him from killing Mike. Mike was a tool, but he didn't deserve that.

"Bella, please—" Edward begged.

"Shut up, Edward."

Mr. Banner cut in before Edward could say anything more. "Mr. Cullen, Mr. Newton, my office now, please."

Edward got up, his shoulders hunched and followed Mike into the den of ill repute—not really, Banner just really pissed me off.

The final bell of the day rang as Jasper and I sat in the office. We watched as the entire student body walked by like we… no, I was a fish in a tank. A few of them even tapped on the glass hoping to make me move. Remember the scene from Finding Nemo where the demon child with the braces tapped on the glass of the dentist's fish tank and all the fish ran for cover? That's what I wanted to do. Instead I sat like nothing was happening, like no one was staring or making obnoxious pregnant belly motions.

I was a beast.

Alice came crashing into the office. "Oh, Bella! I heard all about it! I'm so sorry!" She wrapped me into a hug. She almost made me break down.

She pulled back. "That asshat! How could he! I thought he was getting better." Her face hardened. "I could just pulverize him!"

"Thanks, Ali. What do you mean by 'getting better'?"

She looked stunned for a second and faltered over her words, "Well, things got really bad last year and he didn't deal with it so well."

I cocked my head. "Like beating people up 'bad'?"

She bit her lip and looked around, finally nodding.

I accepted her answer with a corresponding nod. She didn't feel comfortable telling her brother's secrets. I could respect her, even if I didn't respect him much right now. I looked out at the hallway again. "How's it out there?"

Alice's nose wrinkled. "Not good."

"I thought so."

"Can you leave?" she asked.

I shook my head. "I have to wait for my dad." I rolled my eyes. "I got detention for the next month for 'fighting.'"

"That bastard," Alice whispered, so as to not be overheard by Ms. Cope.

"Tell me about it," I whispered back.

We sat in silence, Alice on one side and Jasper on the other, waiting for my father. I was surprised that Emmett and Rose hadn't shown up to flank us yet.

At that moment, Mike and Edward exited Banner's office with him still lecturing them about appropriate behavior. "Fighting is not tolerated, no matter the reason." His speech didn't seem to be much different from the one he gave me. I wondered if it was the only one he knew. "I expect to see you in detention Mike." He paused for a moment to pat Mike on the back. "You're free to go, son."

Edward stood sullenly to the side. "As for you, I don't want to see you move from that chair until your parents arrive."

The moment Banner returned to his office, Alice descended on her brother. "What the hell, Edward? What'd you get now?"

He glared at her, but answered, "Week's suspension."

"Oh, Dad's going to flip."

He grunted in response. "At least I wasn't expelled."

"Expelled?" I repeated.

Edward looked up, a flicker of hope still lingering behind his desperation. I glared at him. He was an idiot. My eyebrows raised in a silent question. He nodded in response.

"Great, Edward. Just great." I crossed my arms, huffing back into my seat. I winced as my arm closed over my hand. "Shoot, shoot, shoot."

"Here." Jasper offered the mostly melted ice. I let him settle it over my hand. Edward looked guilty over my pain. I hoped that the list of things he should feel guilty for weighed on him. Jackass.

Alice took Edward's distraction and neatly flicked him directly on the spot I'd hit him earlier. Edward swore and covered up the surfacing bruise with his hand. "Not cool, Alice."

"You deserve worse," she snipped and skipped back to her seat and took my hand in hers. I squeezed it in thanks.

We waited until Charlie arrived in a whirlwind a half hour after school ended. Emmett checked on us before going home. It was obvious that all of us didn't need to wait.

"Bella? Are you okay?" Charlie looked me over frantically.

"I'm fine, Dad." He pointed to the ice on my hand. "Oh, that. Collateral damage. It was the only way I could figure out to keep Edward from killing Mike Newton."

He glanced over at Edward, giving him a combination of the cop and the dad look. Edward had the decency to look ashamed. "Did you throw your weight into it?" Dad asked.

"Of course. I used everything you taught me."

He nodded. "That's my girl."

I snorted. "Tell that to Banner. He gave me a month's worth of detentions for stopping a fight."

Charlie smiled tightly. "I'll have a little talk with him." He walked right up to Banner's door and entered without knocking. He winked at me before he shut the door behind him.

A rumbling started to grow behind the door. I couldn't pick out distinct words, but Charlie was clearly not happy. We all sat stone still, hoping to pick out a word or two. Five minutes later Charlie stormed out of the office, glaring murderously at Edward.

He gestured roughly for me to get up and pointed at Edward. "You stay the hell away from my daughter."

"Charlie—" Edward protested, but stopped abruptly on seeing Charlie's face. "Detective Swan, I was just trying to protect her. He was going to touch her."

Charlie looked at me for confirmation. I shrugged, because despite it all I didn't want to be forbidden from seeing him.

"This isn't over," he said to Edward then turned to me. "I need to head back to work. Can Alice take you home?"

Alice nodded.

We turned to go. "Bella, please. Can we just talk?" Edward implored.

I shook my head. "Not now, Edward."

He stood, walking up to me, only inches away. I could feel the magnetism rolling off him. "Please." He lifted his hand, touching my face gently. My eyes closed of their own volition and I sighed.

I slowly pulled away. "Not now," I whispered. "I'm sorry, Edward."

I moved out of his reach and left the office. I looked back for a fraction of a second to find him standing desolate in the center of the office, entirely alone. A hand went to his face covering his eyes.

He was right… I had to choose.

Now would be the time to breathe. You know how to share your delight/anger/frustration/anguish... ;)

Recs

Girl with a Red Umbrella by juskaskalice and spanglemaker9 - Completed, and soo good. I read this while it was still in progress, and it was one of the fics I always dropped everything for.
Summary: Paris, 1950. Rosalie Hale went to Paris to study, then vanished without a trace. Her friend Bella has come to find her. Following a trail of clues left behind by Rose's letters, Bella searches for Rose and might find herself.

High Anxiety by EdwardsBloodType - Another fan favorite. It's not done yet, but it's pretty long and completely worth reading. The number of times my jaw dropped at plot twists... plus it's unbelievably sexy
Summary: Cute, trendy Bella returns home to escape the heartache of her past. She immediately befriends neighbors Jasper and Edward, bonding with them in the treehouse out back. Bella and Edward discover they have more in common than they ever dreamed of. AH A/U

Elemental by TallulahBelle - Another one I drop everything for... literally. One of my top favs
Summary:AU/AH: When the Swans return to their birthplace, Bella learns she is no ordinary teenager, and Forks is no ordinary town. Can she fulfill her destiny with the powerful Edward Cullen, or will the dark forces that threaten their families destroy them all?

Bella Swan: Zombie Killer by Kristen Nicole - Flippin' Hi-lar-i-ous. No really. I swear the next shovel I buy, I'm naming Rosalie.
Summary: Zombies have taken over the continental United States. Thus sets the backdrop for an epic love story involving a boy, a girl, and her trusty shovel. AU.