Hello! Well I'm glad this chapter didn't take me forever to finish and it came a lot quicker than I thought. Enjoy! :D

*History Class*

Tammy sat in a desk as their teacher talked about a new lecture. They weren't going to work on their projects in class today. Unfortunately, she was sitting right next to Edward. Not exactly something they were both excited about.

Last night was a little rough for her. Not only had she walked in the middle of her Uncle and Aunt arguing but she cried herself to sleep-something she hadn't done since her parents died. She knew she was being overly dramatic but she couldn't help it. She didn't know why but she couldn't help but feeling really sad about how she finally thought she had a friend and it turned out he didn't want to be friends. "He must think I'm a freak like everybody else. I thought Edward was different but I guess not."

For some reason Edward felt a wave of guilt as he read Tammy's thoughts. He didn't see her this morning in the parking lot at school. He figured she was with Derek but after reading Alice's mind, he saw Tammy running late to her first class.

From the corner of his eye, he glanced at her. She wore her hair in a ponytail- not her usual look where she wears her hair loose. She wore a simple dark gray long-sleeved shirt underneath her two layered jacket. She had a plain black jacket-that looked a little faded-underneath a light blue jean jacket. Her blue jeans were still a little wet and instead of boots, she wore converse shoes.

"She must've overslept and had been in too much of a hurry to get to school today." He thought.

He saw her shiver a little. "Hopefully, I'm dry by lunch time."

"Maybe I could…" Then he clenched his fist. "No, it has to be this way!" He thought to himself.

"Alright now who can tell me why Andrew Jonson was impeached?...Miss Solano?"

Tammy's head shot up. Her eyes were widened a little but she quickly recovered and said "Because of he and congress never got along, both ideologically and politically."

"Correct now we're going to learn why and what happened after Lincoln was assassinated." He went to the board and started writing. "Now Andrew Jonson wasn't like Lincoln at all. He…"

Tammy began to tune him out "I really don't want to be here. I just want to go home and sleep….I know my date with Derek is tonight-that's the only thing keeping me going right now."

Even though Tammy had been late to her first class, she had been hearing nothing but more rumors in the halls. Kids pointing at her and whispering around her but if they weren't doing that then they were coming up to her and asking her where Edward was and calling him her boyfriend. Even Jessica had tried to corner her but Tammy had been able to avoid her.

A boy on the other side of Tammy leaned in her direction and whisper "So, enjoying sitting next to Cullen huh?"

Tammy sighed with irritation "Fuck off Ron," she whispered.

"Aww come on don't be like that. So are you and Cullen going to get together? You know, you forget about Derek and Cullen forgets about Bella?" He whispered back. "Maybe I could get her to open up about her plan."

"He's an idiot." Edward thought to himself."Aren't they ever going to leave her alone?"

"Leave me alone Ron." Tammy hissed. "I swear to GOD if he doesn't leave me alone…"

"Is that a yes?" he ignored her.

Before Tammy could really loose her temper and yell at Ron, the teacher asked. "Mr. Walker is there a problem?"

"Uh..no sir everything is fine." Said Ron.

Tammy rolled her eyes "He's such an idiot. No wonder he likes Sally. They're perfect for each other." She glanced at the board. "The joys of the Reconstruction period. Yay. So much fun of learning that. I wish we could skip this and just go to the part where more people are moving west and hurry up and getting to the 20th century. It'll be so much fun once we reach there. OOOO I can't wait till we get to World War Two!-I know it's just US history but hopefully we'll talk about the Holocaust-I know we'll talk about Japan and the Atomic Bombs…I feel so bad for both of them…I wonder if the Japanese forgave us-probably not…"

Edward thought to himself "Wow. She really does enjoy history. If she's that excited to talk about the second world war, she must be really good on that subject. .."

"I'm surprised Edward and Tammy aren't exchanging notes. Gasp! Are they? Maybe they are and I'm not watching carefully."

"She arrived late according to Jessica. Maybe she was talking to Edward all night-gasp! Did Edward give Tammy his cell phone number?"

"Does Derek still plan on going out with her after yesterday? If he does, he's stupid."

"I bet after class, they'll probably talk to each other."

"She's probably thinking of Edward right now."

"Derek shouldn't waste his time with her."

"Edward shouldn't waste his time with her."

"She so ugly and weird. What do both guys see in her?"

"I bet all these people right now are thinking of me and Edward….AGAIN! The things they're thinking of is probably stupid. And they're probably talking shit about me. I wouldn't be surprised. They're all jerks any way-well most of them. I know not everyone is like that…even…sigh.. Edward." Tammy thought.

Edward's eyes widened in surprised. "She thinks I'm good? What's wrong with this girl?" He kind of thought it was flattering but he frowned and knew that he was a monster.

After what seemed like endless, the teacher said "Alright, since it's Friday I'm going to let you talk among yourselves for the last ten minutes of class. I suggest you should use this time wisely for your projects."

Tammy and Edward looked at each other while everyone else got up and moved their desk nest to each other. Edward sighed "Maybe it wouldn't hurt. It's only a project." He thought to himself. As Edward got up and moved his desk next to Tammy.

Tammy's eyes widened "What is he doing?…Oh snaps."

"There goes Edward, AGAIN!"

"Awww Edward got up this time and moved over to her. How cute I guess…"

"Maybe Edward is bored with Bella."

"If Tammy wants to have her cake and eat it too, she's not doing a good job at it. Sigh. Amateur."

"Awww isn't that sweet? Two freaks in love?"

"He can do a lot better."

"She hit the jackpot! Edward Cullen. She'll be rich if they get married!"

"Tammy is A LOT prettier than Bella."

"And Derek STILL plans to go out with her?"

"Nothing is ever good for Edward Cullen."

"Tammy Solano home wrecker of Forks"

"Edward Cullen can have any girl and he chooses her?"

"Derek Kings…is stupid!"

Edward tried to put on a good calm face and tried to pretend that none of those thoughts were bothering him. In a way, he was starting to regret moving his desk next to her. "Hello," He said in a calm voice.

"Hi, Edward." Tammy tried to keep her voice calm as well. "Be strong."

He lowered his voice to only where she could hear him "How did you sleep last night?" He didn't know why he asked that but he felt like he had to know. Maybe it was to make himself feel better from all the guilt or maybe he was really concern about her. He didn't know and didn't want to know.

"Why is he asking me that?" Tammy was surprised by his question. "I slept fine." She replied.

Edward knew she was lying but nodded his head. "That's good to know." He couldn't help but ask "You didn't have any trouble with your Aunt or Uncle, right? They didn't…" Tammy waited patiently for Edward to find the right words "They didn't hurt you did they?"

"He's worried about me? That's…kind of different. Other than Sam, Derek is the only person in town that is worried about me-well Officer Swan is too I guess- but now Edward is concern too? But I thought Edward didn't want anything to do with me." Tammy realized that Edward was waiting for an answer "No," she shook her head and whispered the last part "It's never been that bad."

"There's an old saying you know. Never say Never." Said Edward.

"Well knock on wood it stays like that." She lightly knocked on her desk and head.

Edward chuckled and Tammy laughed a little.

After a moment of silence, Tammy asked "So.. when should we meet again? I need to color that wagon and start on automobile." "I'm only trying to be professional about this. I hope he doesn't take it the wrong way."

"Sometime next week?" suggested Edward.

Tammy nodded her head and thought to herself "Maybe…no it's impossible…"

"They're meeting again? Where at his house?"

"How about we meet in the library again?" asked Edward.

"Alright, that's cool." Replied Tammy. "I hope Bella comes again. I don't know it's kind of getting too awkward talking to Edward…who knows maybe it'll get a little easier after today. I think it's just the way things ended last night that's why Edward and I are just referring to the project."

"Where did you learn how to sketch?" asked Edward. He was surprised that came out of his mouth.

"Huh?" Tammy shook her head "I never learned-it just happened. I was bored one day in class.." she thought for a moment "This was back in elementary school and I drew the horrible substitute teacher we had. Oh was she terrible! All day she criticized us for little mistakes- we were in first grade! She made fun of the way we read some words, she yelled at us for getting some math problems wrong, our spelling, our penmanship, refused to let us play some board games, she would roll her eyes if we needed to go to the bathroom, she was a bitch." She kinda laughed at remember how her and Iggy used to make fun of her.

Edward eyes widened a little "Wow, she is horrible. Was she only for a day or…"

"Thank God yes only for a day! During lunch, our whole class was pretty bummed out. She sent the few kids who did cry to the office for disturbing the class." Tammy laughed at the first sentence.

Edward smiled "Did you cry?"

Tammy smiled "Oh boy did I want to; I was going to be one of the first actually. But my friend Iggy tried to cheer me up and made me laugh. We both got sent to the corner. Laughing wasn't as annoying as crying was to her. Why they put her with kids was beyond me. They should've put her with the fifth graders or sent her to middle school!"

"Did you ever tell your teacher?" asked Edward.

Tammy nodded "Hell yeah! We weren't going to let that slip by us. Our teacher didn't believe the lies the substitute wrote about us."

"Did you ever see that sub again?"

"Nah, we heard that some middle schoolers made her cry a few years later. Ha! So she quit being a substitute teacher and does something else now." Smirked Tammy.

"Glad to hear that." Smiled Edward.

"Now, tell me about your worst substitute teacher" smiled Tammy.

Edward asked "What?"

Tammy rolled her eyes "Come on Edward, I just told you about my worst substitute. And to finish answering your question, after I drew that woman, I've been drawing people since. It was a little hard at first but it got better over the years. Scenery and objects and those were easier to draw than people. Now tell me the worst sub you ever had-or teacher."

Edward thought for a moment. Nobody had ever asked him this before. Not even Bella yet. She asked him basic questions but they hadn't been about his education yet. He tried to remember maybe some from his human experiences with teachers. His vampire experiences were pretty much the same. They left him alone. Then he remembered one…well vaguely at least. "Well when I was a young boy, there was this teacher we had that wanted nothing but perfection out of us. I went to a very wealthy school for all boys, think of it like a boarding school."

Tammy nodded "Ok," "His real mom and dad must've been rich to send Edward to a private boarding school."

"Well we were expected to behave and be taught etiquette manners-which I wasn't quiet used to. You see my parents sent me there because they knew it was also time for me to stop being a child and act a little more grown up. My teacher wanted perfection. If our work was even the slightest sloppy, it was tossed in the trash or ripped in our faces and then we were told to do our work over again. If we were late to class, we'd be sent to the corner and we continued to be late, we had to stay after school and write lines. A lot of times we had to memorize essays, poetry and sonnets and recite them to the class. Fighting was never an option. If caught fighting we'd expect a spanking. The same goes for arguing back with him. I had gone through a few by him."

"Wow…" Tammy blinked. "Memorizing essays must've been really hard."

Edward nodded "Yes, very hard and the sonnets were just as bad. He'd sometimes give us a page and expect it memorized within a day or two and finish our homework."

"Was he really allowed to…" she then whispered "Hit you?"

"Yes…it was allowed. An old tradition you can say. It got easier as I got older." Explained Edward. Edward didn't know why he was talking about his past to her.

It took a moment for Tammy to reply "Well, you know my talent, so what's yours?"

Edward looked at her and smiled a little. "I like to play the piano. At home, Esme likes to listen to me and sometimes she'll watch me practice. "

Tammy asked "What kind of songs do you play?"

"Classical is my favorite, Beethoven, Mozart and many others. Instead of watching tv, I'll be playing on the piano for hours and hours." Smiled Edward. "When I'm not with Bella of course,"

"Of course," Tammy smiled. "Have you ever played for her?"

Edward nodded "Yes, I played for her when I introduced her to my parents."

"Awww, that's so cute." Tammy thought to herself.

*Bell Rings*

Everyone slowly got up. Edward and Tammy just looked at each other. It took them a moment to realize that they were still sitting down and they both go up slowly.

"Sigh. Too bad things can't change." Tammy thought.

"I wish it were that easy, but it can't be anything more." Edward thought to himself.

"Well I hope you enjoy your date and have a pleasant weekend." Edward said.

"Thank you¸ Edward. I hope you have a good weekend too. I guess I'll see you later?"

Edward gave one nod. They both headed to the door and were about to go their separate ways to class when Edward said "Tammy," Tammy turned around a little surprised and Edward continued "Don't pay attention to what anyone tells you. You're stronger than you think."

Tammy stood there shocked but then smiled "Thanks Edward. The same goes for you too."

Now it was Edward's turn to be shocked. As he watched Tammy turn and walked away, he couldn't help but grin at her.

*Lunch*

"Awww come on Derek seriously?" asked Derek's friend Leo.

Derek frowned "What's the problem?"

"Don't give me that crap! You know exactly the problem!" shouted Leo. Derek, Leo and their other friend Peter were in the lunch line waiting their turn to grab food. Derek had just told both his friends that Tammy was joining them for lunch.

"What do you guys have against her?" asked Derek.

"Here we go again," Peter sighed "Look, dude, it's not that we hate her or even dislike her…"

"We don't trust her. That's the thing." Interrupted Leo. "I also don't like her."

"I talked to her and she said nothing is going on between them." Said Derek.

"And you believe that crap? Derek she could be lying to you. A lot of people said that they've been flirting with each other. Especially in the only class they have together." Said Leo.

"I've heard that too. My girlfriend told me that Cullen was really mad at Lauren and came to Tammy's rescue quickly after she tripped her."

"Did Tammy tell you that?" asked Leo. "She probably hid that from him too no doubt."

"I'm surprised she's not here yet. Cullen is here." Said Peter. All three of them glanced at Edward sitting with Bella at her table of friends. Edward pretended to look busy, nodding along to what Mike was saying at the table. He had his arm rapped around Bella while she ate.

The boys turned back to the line, grabbed a tray and started picking food up for their lunch. "She is probably running late from getting out of her class. But she is eating with us."

Peter shrugged his shoulders but Leo wouldn't let it go. "I'm telling you, there is something going on between them. Quit making up excuses for her and realize…"

Derek was getting sick and tired of his friends talking shit about Tammy. "Look, when are you two going to stop listening to those stupid rumors? I know she isn't into Edward at all. When we are near Edward, she ignores him and pays attention to me. Every time any Cullen walks by, everyone stops and stares, she doesn't. She is different from all the rest."

"That's because she's a freak." Muttered Leo. When he turned to pay for his lunch, he saw Tammy standing right there by the cashier lunch lady. Derek glared at him and Leo quickly said "I didn't mean anything by it…"

"It's alright, I know what you mean." Replied Tammy. "I know EXACTLY what you mean asshole."

Leo paid for his lunch. "So…I hear you're joining us for lunch." "Guess I'll have to try and be nice again."

Tammy tried to be nice "Yes, I am if that's ok with you." "Like I need his permission anyway, but they are Derek's friends so I have to be nice."

"It's cool with me." Shrugged Leo. "Not my idea anyway. If it were, she'd be sitting alone at her own table- or at the Cullen table."

Derek smiled when he saw her "Hello,"

Tammy shyly smiled back "Hello,"

Peter smiled and moved his chin up "Hey Tammy,"

"Hi, Peter," Tammy waved.

Tammy got along a lot better with Peter than with Leo. Peter was a little more accepting with Derek liking her, was more pleasant around her and made her feel part of the group. Leo was a little bit more hostile and would sometimes put her down but she was always able to take it. Tammy wondered if maybe the reason she and Leo didn't get along most of the time was because Leo was an athlete, had an ego and was airheaded.

"We can wait for you to get your lunch," Peter offered.

Leo glared "Great Peter, just great. The last thing I want to do is stand here and let my food go cold."

"Oh, crap I was in such a hurry this morning, I forgot to make my lunch. Shit." Tammy shook her head "Ah, no that's ok. I'm not that hungry anyways." Then Tammy's stomach growled loudly for all three boys to hear. "Just great."

Peter paid for his lunch "Your stomach says otherwise."

Tammy cleared her throat "Yeah….I didn't have time to make myself lunch…."

"Why don't you buy your food here?" asked Derek.

"I would but…"

"She doesn't have money guys. Now can we sit and eat before lunch is over. I'm sure my lunch is cold by now." Replied Leo walking away from them and siting down.

"Jerk."

"What is his problem? I'm going to have to talk to him later." Derek turned to Peter "I'm going to pay for Tam's lunch. You can join Leo if you want. We'll be at the table in a sec."

Peter nodded "Alright." He whispered "I'll talk to him."

Derek nodded and waited for Tammy to get her food so he could pay for her. Derek Kings was rich-not as rich as the Cullens but his family came pretty close. His family owned an Italian restaurant and their pizza is what makes them famous in the small town of Forks. His family has been running that restaurant for generations and they hope to continue that. Derek doesn't have any interest in running the restaurant. He wants to be a doctor so he's hoping his older brother would run the place. For now, he works part time at the hospital and once in a while, he'll help his parents out at the restaurant. Usually, he works weekends but was glad Dr. Cullen gave him Friday night off so he could go out with Tammy.

Peter walked over to where Leo was sitting. "Alright dude what's your problem?"

Leo bit into his sandwich "You know exactly what my problem is!" "It's that freak!"

Peter rolled his eyes "She's really not that bad Leo."

"Peter come on you can't be serious."

Peter bit into the fried fish and nodded "Derek likes her so suck it up and be nice. You know he's already pissed off at you."

"Whatever," Leo muttered. "Derek is an idiot. Tammy and Edward are really made for each other. Both of them are freaks. Freaks should just stick together. I don't know what Bella see's in him anyway."

Edward heard the whole thing. He had one hand griping on Bella's chair really hard and the other was on his leg. He tried to hold his anger down from reading Leo's thoughts. If you looked at Edward's face, he seemed normal, but beneath his appearance, he was fuming with anger.

I hoped you enjoyed this chapter and I'll be starting the next chapter tomorrow. Please Review and let me know what you think!

Trust me, there'll be more to come! ;D