Disclaimer: Twilight and characters belong to Stephenie Meyer.

Edward was expecting the folded note that the teacher presented to him when he walked into his first period class. "The principle wants to see you," Mrs. Molina barked. With the slip of paper, he made his way to the front office. The secretary ushered him into the main office where James was already seated. There was a soft cast strapped to James's right leg. Edward didn't acknowledge his adversary. He just took the seat next to him. The principle went on an hour-long lecture about violence, school policies, and ruining a fellow schoolmate's football chances. As if this small town jock was really good enough for college ball. Parents were called. Suspensions were handed out. Edward left the school grounds to start his week vacation.

Bella had entered the school with her head down. The whispers around her were so thick it was like she was walking through a fog. She could almost taste them. She scurried to her locker only to find Lauren waiting for her. Her sandy blonde hair was pulled back into a very tight ponytail. It stretched her face back, giving her even more of a dominating look. It matched her tight lipped, cat eyed expression.

"What. The. Hell, Bella?" Lauren spat. Bella let out a frustrated sigh and leaned her whole body into the locker lined wall. "You left with him? Oh, and your boyfriend is in a cast, by the way. Like you care!"

"James was cheating on me, Lauren. Edward was sticking up for me," replied Bella.

"What? That's insane. Who told you this?"

"Edward did."

Lauren let out a groan and shook her head. "Of course he did. You ever think maybe he was lying to you?"

"I trust him."

"You don't even know him. James is your boyfriend, your best friend's brother… you are taking this other guy's side. You don't even know him"

The bell interrupted their discussion. Lauren shook her head again, letting the tips of her hair tickle her shoulders. "Later, Bella."

Bella didn't reply. She just switched out her books from her locker and slammed it shut. As she neared her class, she saw Edward enter the front office. She knew what that meant.

Lauren's little speech made Bella squirm. Her friend made a point. What if Edward was lying? How was she to know that? Why did she trust him? When her class let out, she went to search for him. She found him just in time. He was making his way towards his car.

"Edward, wait!" she yelled as she sprinted towards him. Her backpack bounced with each step she took.

Edward heard Bella's voice and turned right around. He couldn't help but notice how cute she looked. He remembered Jasper's comment about flannel clothing. To him, Bella made flannel appealing. She closed the distance in a black shirt, oversized flannel (which must belong to her father, he thought), and ripped up jeans. Her short hair was windblown, and he wanted to smooth it down, but didn't.

"Are you leaving?" she asked.

"Yeah, I'm suspended. Fighting on campus with the school's football star tends to stir up trouble."

"Yeah, I suppose it does… about that…" Bella let out a breath and continued, "Edward, who was the girl?"

"The girl?" Edward wasn't really sure what she meant. Did she hear something about him and a girl?

"The girl. The one that was supposedly with James."

He didn't like that she said supposedly. It sounded like she didn't believe him. "Um, a redhead. Pretty." He thought for a minute while she just stood there. "Victoria!" he exclaimed a little too loud. He was proud that he remembered.

Bella knew exactly who he was talking about. She almost said something when he said redhead and pretty.

"Victoria," Bella repeated out loud.

"What's this about?" he couldn't help but ask. Bella was about to respond when the bell rang.

"I got to get to class," she said instead, "I'll talk to you later though." She took off and Edward drove home.

Edward's parents were less than thrilled with the news. Carlisle left work to have a mandatory meeting with Esme. Edward had never got into fights at his old school. He used to come home surrounded by friends. He seemed happier then. Now he came home moping. Esme was quickly changing her mind on the idea of moving. She just had to suck up her pride and tell Carlisle that she might have made a mistake. When Edward made it home he was sent straight to his room. Esme made it clear that even if he didn't have to attend classes, he was grounded. He was not to leave the house under any circumstances. Of course, Edward argued about how it was not intently his fault, blatantly leaving out the details on why he threw the first punch. He didn't want to involve Bella. His parents refused to reconsider. Then they went out so that they could have their meeting in private.

Bella found Lauren again after class. She wasn't hard to miss. Their classrooms shared the same hall. Bella wasted no time to inform Lauren of the latest update.

"It was Victoria. James was cheating with Victoria," Bella explained.

Lauren looked thrown for a minute. The last thing she wanted was to be wrong about her own flesh and blood. She gathered herself quickly. "Victoria? Get serious, Bella. But if you are so adamant about this, then I'll just ask her myself." Lauren turned on her heel and stormed away.

Panic set in right before lunch. Bella wasn't sure what she was supposed to do. She couldn't go and eat lunch with James like nothing happened, but her close friends sat at that table now. She was pretty certain that Lauren wasn't going to sacrifice her spot at the 'cool' table for her. Especially with the attitude she's been getting.

All her fears vanished for a moment when she spotted Lauren waiting at her locker. However, Lauren's face quickly smashed those hopes.

"I talked to Victoria. She is denying everything," Lauren said with a sneer. Bella was taken aback for a moment, but something inside egged her on.

"Of course she would. She doesn't want to look like a slut in front of the whole school. She's class president and on the cheerleading squad… of course she wouldn't admit to being the 'other woman'," Bella explained. She made air quotes when she said other woman.

"Bella, listen to what you're saying. You are picking a stranger over your best friend." Lauren's features relaxed, and Bella felt a knot form in her stomach.

"It doesn't have to be like this. Why can't you trust me?" Bella asked.

"If you are asking me to pick you over my family, then I choose James. He wouldn't lie to me." Lauren lowered her head to stare at the ground. "See you around, Bella. I hope he is worth it." Lauren left Bella standing there alone. Looking around, Bella realized right then exactly what she had done. She had ostracized herself over a boy she barely knew. She hid in the bathroom during her lunch break.

After school, Bella made her way over to Edward's. It only took her an hour and a half to cross the property line. Edward answered the door in a t-shirt and boxers. He was holding a peanut butter sandwich in his mouth.

"Bew wa?" Edward mumbled into the bread. His eyes told her he was surprised to see her.

She gave him a shy wave. "I told you I'd talk to you later."

He moved to the side and gestured for her to enter the house. After he closed the door, he maneuvered around her and headed up the stairs. Bella followed without being told.

She hadn't been in his home for years, but everything seemed the same. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach when she entered his room. She smiled when she noticed the subtle changes. Especially the larger bed. It also turned her cheeks pink. She hesitated for a moment, but sat on it anyway.

"Well, the whole school hates me. Apparently, I'm siding with the enemy or something crazy like that." Bella finally spoke, "So, are you mad… about the suspension?"

Edward had taken a seat at his computer desk. The sandwich lay half eaten on a pile of disks. He couldn't help but be confused. "Bella, I don't regret my actions. I mean, I get a whole week off from school."

She grinned to match his pirate smile. He continued, "What do you mean everyone hates you? Why would they hate you?"

"James is denying everything and apparently so is Victoria. They are calling me a liar. They are claiming it was me who was cheating… with you… and that is why you beat him up." She could barely look up after that explanation. It was too embarrassing.

"I'm sorry, Edward," she added after a moment of silence.

"Why are you sorry?"

"For everything really. If it wasn't for my drama you wouldn't be in this mess…"

"Bella, don't be ridiculous. Let's just drop it for now, ok? Let's talk about something else."

Bella looked around his room. Her eyes landed on Edwards's lack of pants, and she turned her head quickly. Edward coughed and she met his eyes. He raised his eyebrows and smirked.

Bella hurried to a new topic, "So, why did you switch schools? Don't you miss your friends?"

"It was out of my hands. Money's tight I guess. I do miss my friends… a lot."

Bella nodded, but then frowned. "But they bought you a car. That doesn't make sense."

Edward laughed. "Well, technically it was my mom's. Carlisle is car pooling more, so my mom is using the SUV. She picks him up and drops him off when he needs her. I think they just wanted to do something nice for me for my birthday. You know, with everything going on."

Bella just nodded her head again.

Edward went to stand. His plan was to sit closer to Bella, but his movement made Bella stand as well. She took his sudden movement as a sign to leave. She felt like she had over stayed her welcome.

"Well, I guess I should go. I have homework and stuff." Bella made her excuses.

Edward walked her to the back door. It was a trip down memory lane, and the nostalgiawas overwhelming. She waved right before she passed through the bushes.

Later that evening, after Edward's parents returned, he made his way into the backyard. He made the excuse that he needed some fresh air. They made sure to stress the fact that he was not to leave the yard. He climbed up his trusty tree to his favorite limb and just like he noticed the other day, the spot allowed perfect Bella-window-watching. He knew he was talking his stalkerness to a whole new level. He just didn't care.

Her bedroom light was his beacon. He couldn't really make out anything, but he could see her shadow as it passed by the window when she walked. He could see when she made herself comfortable on her bed. He could see that she was hunched over studying her school work. He was just happy he could see her.

One of my favorite FF = Bella Swan: Zombie Killer by Kristen Nicole. I do love me some zombies as much as nerdy Edwards.

Jess is the comma queen.