Disclaimer: Twilight and characters belong to Stephenie Meyer.

Edward's piano lessons were another perk that had to be cut. It's not like he needed them, anyway. He didn't like to brag, but Edward was a natural. He still kept up with it on his own without a tutor nagging him. He used it as an outlet.

Edward was banging out notes trying to clear his head. Tired of taking his frustrations out on the ivory keys, he fled to his room and blasted the first CD he found. Without a word, he threw himself on his bed and covered his face with his pillow.

He knew his friends would be over soon to rip him from his sulking. Sure enough, a loud, boisterous voice broke through the blaring music. "Turn that shit down!"

Edward removed the pillow from his face to find Emmett glaring down at him. "That's Bartok's 3rd shit to you!" Edward mocked.

"God, you have become so emo it's pathetic," Emmett replied. "Time to get up. We are going out."

Edward groaned, tossed the pillow at Emmett (who caught it), and made his way to his closet. "Where are we going tonight?" He didn't mean for his words to sound so harsh, but they did. Over the summer, Emmett and Jasper have given Edward hell. They were super pissed that their right-hand man was leaving them to go to some other school, but still, they wanted to send him off with a bang. Parties, beach bonfires, and high jinks had kept Edward occupied throughout their vacation. Of course, Emmett and Jasper ridiculed him and bullied him the whole time.

Telling them had been a pain. He had gotten it over with the day after his parents broke the news, but he regretted it shortly after. He should have waited until at least the end of summer.

"Fucking public school man! What the hell? You are king of the castle here. The bitches love you," Emmett had howled, and then he went into a Borat impersonation, "King of the castle, king of the castle."

"Think about your college transcripts and what this will mean," added Jasper.

"No more short skirts and school girl outfits… School. Girl. Outfits," Emmett continued.

"Yeah, now you will have to wade through frumpy sweaters and jeans. Think of all the flannel shirts." Jasper exaggerated a shudder.

Edward had been leaning on his open locker waiting for them to finish. "Yeah, I'm so sorry that I'm going where there's a larger variety of girls and less uptight snotty bitches." With that, he threw in his history book, slammed his locker, and stalked off down the hall. He thought being dramatic might keep them at bay. No luck. They were soon on his heels feigning hurt feelings and claiming he was abandoning them.

"We're going to Tanya's party. She is kinda throwing you a farewell bash," Emmett muttered out. Edward just groaned and threw on a new shirt. Emmett and Jasper were both fully aware that he didn't want to draw attention to the fact he was going to public school next fall. Now there was a party. "Just wonderful," he thought.

"Alright, whatever. I'm driving myself though."

"Fine, I'll meet you there then. I got to pick up Jasper."

Emmett showed himself out, and Edward took this time to do some last minute prep. Grabbing his keys to his new birthday Volvo, he sprinted out the door, but then stopped. He walked around the side of the house and into his backyard instead. Not knowing why, but not caring, he tore through the property line bushes and descended into Bella's yard. It was very dark, but a single light shone towards him like a beacon. It was coming from her window. His glance moved from the window towards his tree. It gave him an idea.

The sound of two very unhappy cats fighting a few houses down broke him from his stalker-stare-down. He rushed back into his yard and slapped away the leaves and twigs from his hair and clothes.

"Just fucking great. I look like swamp thing," he mumbled.

Tanya's house party was already in full swing when he pulled up. He had been making his way towards the front door when Jasper called out his name. He found him and a couple other friends tucked away in Emmett's car.

"Tanya's parents are here. This totally blows," informed Jasper.

"Ah, I see. So, does Emmett know you are in his car smoking pot?" He didn't wait for a response. He turned to the other two guys and said hello.

Billy handed him a beer. Edward took it graciously.

"Dude, is that a foliage in your hair?" laughed Jasper. Edward ruffled his hair and just shrugged. Billy and Eric just smirked at each other. They assumed he had been making out with some chick in the bushes somewhere. It wasn't for them to question it.

After a few beers were polished off and the joint was burned out, they made their way into the house. It was nothing spectacular. People were just conversing around the living room and kitchen area. Edward seated himself on a barstool and leaned on the kitchen island. He immediately regretted coming inside. His slight buzz was giving him a headache, and Tanya was standing in the corner, staring in his direction, licking her lips. Her strawberry curls were piled high on her head exposing her delicate neck. Of course, he found her super attractive, but it wasn't Bella's creamy neck that was exposed. And he needed to distance himself from Tanya. They had been somewhat of a couple, but now that the summer was coming to an end, he broke it off. He didn't want any tie-ups before game time.

He did his rounds and then snuck out.

Bella finished her summer school college courses a week before the new school year started. She didn't get much of a break. There weren't any crazy parties and summer flings that she could blab about. Just when she was feeling that ache of missed opportunities, her phone rang and just like every girl, she immediately went to that butterfly-in-my-stomach place and assumed it was Edward. Every time the phone rang it was potentially Edward. It never was. The unexpected caller was Lauren's older brother James. He went on some rant explaining that he'd been meaning to call all summer, but with football practice and family stuff he wasn't able to.

This phone call was as big of shock to her as if Edward had called. Well, maybe not Edward but something equally impressive. James was now a senior and school royalty. The guy could do no wrong.

And he was calling Bella.

James had stolen her number from his sister. He always thought Bella was pretty cute, but was too distracted by his flock of cheerleader groupies to really notice her. It wasn't until he spotted her leaving with his sister the weekend before that he noticed the beauty she had become. The summer had been kind to her. He thought she looked so innocent and sweet. He stole the number the next day and waited until the weekend to call.

"I wanted to see if you wanted to see a movie or something?" James asked.

For some reason, Bella glanced in the direction of Edward's house. Almost as if it were a reflex. "Sure," she answered with a blush.

On the first day back to school there was a mixture of dread and excitement on the faces of the students. Everything smelled new. New school books, new vinyl backpacks, new clothes.

And a new face. Edward was the talk of the school already. Girls were swooning.

He had already been recruited into the jock clique. Joining the baseball team made him more than welcomed. Even the Grinch would have been envious of the grin his stats had given the coach. So, his first day wasn't so awkward. He already met a few of the guys and was able to make small talk before the first bell rang. His eyes kept a look out for Bella, hoping to catch sight of her.

He didn't see her until lunch. Bella walked into the cafeteria with a small group. She was bright red, and he didn't know why until he noticed what was in her hand. Or what her hand was holding. It was another hand. She was holding hands with a guy. He was furious.

Luckily for Edward, he was already seated. When his hands closed into fists, no one noticed because they were under the table.

She made her way towards him and the group sat at his table. She didn't notice him at first because her eyes were focused down. She looked flushed and embarrassed. She was.

Bella wasn't used to so much attention, and she sure was getting a lot of it once she was seen with James. He insisted on being her boyfriend only after two short dates. This was very sudden for her, but he had been so adorable when he asked if it was alright to call her his girlfriend. He said he wanted to start the year off right. She was unable to say no. Plus, he was James! No one said no to him.

This boyfriend/girlfriend thing was hard enough because she never had one before, but now her relationship was under a microscope. She had been pushed forward into the spotlight. It took her twice as long to get ready that morning than it ever did before.

She placed her backpack on the table and took a look around. This wasn't her usual crowd, but again he insisted she eat lunch with him. She felt so out of place.

When her eyes met two green orbs, she froze. She didn't mean to freak out, but before she could stop herself she blurted, "Edward?"

His trademark smirk greeted her back.

James was undoubtedly confused. "Bella, you know him?"

She whipped her head back in his direction and fumbled her words. "Um yeah…we…well we are neighbors." Edward noticed she didn't say friends.

"Huh, small world," James stated and then turned in Edward's direction. "So, I heard you play baseball. I'm James. Running back. Football." He tried to sound composed, but everyone could tell he was sizing Edward up.

Edward didn't take the bait. He just smiled and said, "Nice to meet you."

Bella and Edward didn't get a chance to speak again. James hogged all of Bella's attention the remainder of the lunch break, and everyone else was trying to get to know Edward more by asking him mundane questions.

By chance, Edward found himself in Bella's biology class after lunch. He couldn't contain his smile when he saw the seat was open next to her at the lab table. He snagged it.

He was never one to get to class early, so as soon as he was seated the bell rang indicating that class had began. He really wanted to talk to her, so he ripped a piece of paper from his notebook, wrote a short note, and slid it in front of her.

Bella had to peek her head up to read it. She had been concentrating on her chipped nail polish very intently. All it said was, "hi". She quickly scribbled a reply and pushed it back.

What are you doing here?

He smiled and pushed it back with his response.

What? You aren't happy to see me?

She looked up at him. He smirked and then whispered close to her ear, "It's nice to see you Bella."

Edward took the note back, wrote some more, and pushed towards her.

So, who was that you were sitting next to at lunch? Jimmy…Jack…

James. He's my boyfriend.

Looks more like a girlfriend to me.

He gave her a cocky grin when she looked up after reading his obvious jab.

And what is THAT supposed to mean?

I like his long blonde Barbie hair.

His teasing was boiling her blood. She didn't respond to the note. Instead she hissed near his ear, "You listen to me, Edward Cullen. I don't have to explain anything to you."

The teacher cleared his throat loudly, giving them a look. Edward and Bella eased back in their chairs and immediately went to copying down what was on the board. They didn't interact the rest of the period. When class ended, Bella was afraid Edward would try to tease her again, but instead, he was up out of his seat and out the door before she even had time to blink. It hurt more than the teasing.

I know everyone and their mother has already recommended Expectations and Other Moving Pieces by chrometurtle, but I must. It hurts so good.

And thank you again Jessica0306. I would be missing 90% of my commas without you. I am lazy.