A/N: Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed/favorited/followed! You guys are the best! All mistakes are mine. Sorry this update is late. It's a short too, but a lot happens. See you at the bottom!

I don't own anything.

"I can't read your mind like a billboard sign and tell you anything you wanna hear, but I'll be your hero." – Sterling Knight

Chapter 4

EPOV

August 2008

Even though Bella said she wasn't going to come to the game tonight, I still couldn't help but look for her in the stands as we ran out on the field. I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed when I couldn't find her. We had been passing notes nonstop in biology all week. We talk about everything but at the same time, nothing at all. We talk about biology, football, school, everything except personal stuff.

Emmett snapped his fingers to get my attention. "Alright guys. Tonight is the night that we can show everyone what we know how to do. This is the night that we make the town proud of us. This is the night that we have been training for, for the past two months. Tonight is the night we've been waiting for. Tonight is our night."

We all yell in agreement and take our positions on the field.

The game goes by quickly. We are up the entire game. We end up winning 54 to 14. In honor of our win, the whole team goes to the local diner to celebrate. A lot of parents and students go to the diner as well to support the team. Our food had just arrived when Emmett banged on the table to get everyone's attention.

"I want to thank everyone to coming out tonight and showing support for your Spartans. It really means a lot to know that we have the town behind us this season. I also want to thank a couple newbies for their hard work out on the field tonight." Emmett looked over to where Seth, Jacob and I sat. "You three did great out their tonight. We really couldn't have done it without you guys."

"We're going to have a hell of a season boys!" Jacob yelled. This was followed by some cheers from the rest of the guys and a few cat calls from the cheerleaders.

We spent the better part of the night celebrating. It wasn't until my mom called me that I realized how late it was. I headed out the door of the diner to go home when I felt a small hand on my chest. I look up to see Tanya in the skimpiest little cheerleading outfit I've ever seen.

"Where do you think you're going handsome?" She slurred out.

Great. She's drunk off her ass.

"I'm going home, Tanya, which is what you need to do before you do something you're going to regret." I started to walk to my car, but she wouldn't take the hint.

"Why don't you like me Edward? I'm attractive. I'm funny. I'm popular. Everybody likes me! Why can't you?"

I sigh and say, "Look Tanya, I'm sure you're a great girl and all, but – "

"Oh, don't give me that crap. It's because of the Freak isn't it? I knew from the first day at lunch that you had a thing for her. I just hope you know what you're doing. I've heard some shit about her and her foster parents."

I stopped, shocked from what I heard. "What do you mean foster parents? I though her dad was the police chief?"

"Her foster dad is. Her real dad and mom left her for dead when she was little." She grinned wickedly. "I guess even as a kid, her parents knew that she was a freak."

"What the fuck did you just say?"

She smiled and walked away saying, "When you're done with your little charity case, give me a call."

I was fuming all the way home. Was what Tanya said true? Did Bella's parents leave her to die? Was she really a foster kid? Did the whole town know about it?

I didn't even realize that I was parked in my driveway until my mom came out.

"What are you doing out here, sweetie?"

I looked up and just shook my head, not wanting to tell my mom what I had just heard. "Sorry I'm home so late. I lost track of time. I'm really tired, mom, I think I'm just going to go straight to bed. I love you."

"Okay Edward. You played well tonight. I love you too."

**TCWT**

Monday morning came too quickly. I was anxious to see Bella again, but I did not want to go to class, especially biology. We have our first test in here today and I could not be any less prepared.

Mrs. Wilson handed us our test. I looked at the first question and knew I was going to flunk it. I did my best to figure out some of the questions, but I struggled quite a bit. I looked around the room to see if anybody else looked as confused as I was, but I couldn't tell. I did happen to see that Bella was already finished with her test. I looked at her and she just shrugged and smiled.

The bell rang then and I looked at my test. I didn't even have answers down for any questions on the last page. Shit, coach is going to kill me when he hears about this. I, begrudgingly, handed in my test and quickly walked to my next class with Bella. We walked in together and before she went to the back of the classroom to her normal seat, I grabbed her arm.

"I need to talk to you about something at lunch okay?"

She nodded and went to her seat. I am going to ask her if what Tanya said was true.

My next few classes went by in a blur and before I knew it, I was sitting next to Bella at lunch. I started to ask her if she was a foster kid when I heard Jacob and Seth approach. If she really was a foster kid, I doubt she would want people knowing about it, if they didn't already. She looked at me with a confused expression on her face. I just shake my head and said never mind.

I hand her the extra sandwich and apple from my lunch. I can't believe that something so tiny could eat that so fast. I really want to ask her about it, but I think better of it.

Over the past few days at lunch, I've noticed something change in Bella. She smiles more often than she did on the first day of school. She doesn't look at the floor when Jacob, Seth and I talk about football; she looks at us, mildly intrigued. She has more color in her face. Her bruise is almost gone too. I really wish she would tell me the story behind it, but she won't budge and I don't want to push her. She seems happy and I don't want that to go away.

The bell rings, signaling the end of lunch and my time with Bella for the day.

**TCWT**

I walk in to biology the next day with my head down. I'm terrified of getting my test back. I know that if I don't at least make a C, then coach will bench me until I can get it up. I go to my seat and smile when I see that Bella is already sitting down. Before class even starts, I get out a piece of paper and write: How do you think you did on the test?

Good. You?

Awful. I know I flunked it. This shit is not what I'm good at.

Oh yeah, I heard you won the big game last Friday.

Yeah, we played well. I wish you could've been there to see me play though. I smile sadly at her.

She looks away. I'm sorry.

You can make it up by coming to my next one please? I smile hopefully.

I can't Edward, I'm really sorry.

And with that, Mrs. Wilson started to hand back our tests to us. I look at mine. 64. Shit, coach is going to freak when he hears about this. I look over at Bella to see how she did, but her test was already shoved away. Sheesh. Maybe she didn't do as well as she thought she did.

Class goes by fast. Bella and I start to pick up our stuff to go to our next class when Mrs. Wilson stops us. "Ms. Swan and Mr. Cullen please wait a moment."

Bella and I both halt in our steps. I look at Bella questioningly only to find her staring at the ground. I look back up to Mrs. Wilson.

"Don't worry Ms. Swan, you've done nothing wrong. It is quite the contrary actually." She looks over to me. "You, on the other hand, Mr. Cullen are failing my class. I do believe that Coach Clapp has no tolerance for failing." I stare at her unbelievingly as she continued. "I will not use any special treatment on you and ignore your past test because you are on the football team. I will, however, arrange for you to have a tutor. This is where you come in Ms. Swan. You've always been a phenomenal student. I hope by having you tutor Mr. Cullen here, you will rub off on him. Mr. Cullen you have one month to get your grade up in my class. I will inform Coach Clapp about your tutor and your effort to bring your grade up to try and soften the blow for you Edward." She says softly. "I don't want you to be sitting on the sidelines during games because of one class. I really do want the best for the football team this year and I know you are a key in doing that. Get your grades up."

Bella looks at her with a look of horror on her face. She grabs a piece of paper to write down what she would say and hands it to Mrs. Wilson.

"Don't worry, Bella. I will send a note home with you tomorrow after class to explain the situation to your parents. I am sure they won't have a problem with it. I'll send one home with you as well Edward." The bell rings then signaling that we are late for our next class. "Oh shoot. Here's a pass to your next class. Go on now."

I took the pass from her and started walking to math.

"Stupid teacher. Thinks she fucking knows everything. Making me get a fucking tutor." I mumbled. I hand the pass to Mr. Molina and walk to my seat, completely forgetting about Bella.

**TCWT**

Bella doesn't look at me when I sit next to her at lunch. She doesn't glance at me when I slide the food over to her. She just stares at the ground. Shit, what's wrong with her? I wait until Jacob and Seth leave when the bell rings to ask her what's wrong. She still doesn't look at me, instead she grabs the trash from the food and stands up. I try to grab her elbow to get her attention, but as soon as I make contact with her, she recoils as if I slapped her. She finally looks up to me with terror written all over her features. Was she scared of me all of a sudden? What did I do? I try to talk to her once more.

"Bella, hey, look at me. What's wrong? Why aren't you acting like you?" She doesn't answer. She just looks at me and shakes her head. "Bella, I can't fix it if you won't tell me what's wrong in the first place. She shakes her head once more and moves to get up to get to class.

What the hell just happened there?

The rest of school passes by in a blur. I go through the motions of class and practice because all I can think about is Bella. Why was she upset? Why did she look so scared of me? What did I do? How can I fix it? It is not until I get home that I realize the time. I find myself parked at my house just staring into the woods. I walk inside and find my mom searching for something in the kitchen. I walk to her and she finally notices me.

"Edward! I am so happy your home! Will you do me an enormous favor?" I nod my head, finally shaken out of my thoughts. "Great! Will you run to the store and pick me up some cinnamon for the pie I'm making for dessert tonight? Thank you so much, sweetie!"

I head to my car, once more, and head to the store. On my way there, it starts to pour down rain. I pull in and park in the first spot I see available and run inside to try to get a little less wet. I start to hunt for the cinnamon when I round the corner and see the one person that has occupied my thoughts since lunch.

"Bella!"

She turns towards me, a small smile on her face. She gives me a small wave and turns back to what she was doing. I walk over towards her.

"Bella, wait up. I want to talk to you." She doesn't look at me. "Hey, what happened today at lunch?" Still, not even a glance in my direction. "Bella, please, tell me what I did or what to do." She still doesn't look at me. "Bella, please look at me."

She finally looks up to me and shakes her head. She walks away from me. As she goes, I take in what she is wearing. She has on some very well – worn pair of jeans that look a couple sizes too big for her. She has on a t – shirt that says "I love rock – 'n – roll" on it and a thin looking jacket that is not suitable for the weather outside. I see her walk to the cash register, pay for her food, and then walk out the door.

I finally snap out of it and go back to finding the cinnamon. It takes me about five minutes to locate it, pay for it, and then head back out to the pouring rain to my car. I turn it on and get on the road to head home. Not a mile down the road, I see someone walking down the side of the road in the pouring rain with their hands full of groceries. I slow down as to not hit the person when I notice that it is Bella.

What the fuck? Why is she walking? Where the hell does she think she's going with those groceries in the fucking rain?

I slow down even further, so that we are going the same place. I roll my window down. She turns towards the car and gasps when she notices that it is me.

"Bella, get in the car." She shakes her head. "Bella don't be fucking stupid. Get in the damn car!" She drops her head down and starts to walk again.

I can't fucking believe it. She won't let me give her a ride. I move the car up a little bit past where she is and pull off the side of the road. I put the car in park and get out of the car. I walk over to her – getting fucking drenched as I do so – and look at her, our bodies only inches apart.

"Bella get in the car. Let me take you wherever you are going please. You're going to get a fucking cold if you walk!" She looks up at me and nods her head in defeat. "Thank you. Now come on. You're soaking wet."

I take the groceries from her and go put them in the backseat of my Volvo. She follows me to my car. I open the passenger side door and usher her inside. I hurry over to the driver side and get back on the road.

I ask her where she needs to go and she looks over to me and mouths home. Because I didn't know where that was, I looked to her and said, "How do I get there?" She then proceeded to make signals when turns were required. When she pointed to the small white house on the corner of the street, I pulled in right beside the police cruiser that was in the driveway.

I looked over to her. She was nervously glancing at all windows of the house like she was trying to make sure we were not being seen. She unbuckled her seatbelt and got out of the car. I started to make my way out to help her with the groceries when she put a hand up.

"What? I can't help you put all these groceries inside?" She shakes her head. I don't try to conceal my disappointment.

"Can I do anything to help you?"

She shakes her head no. She mouths thank you and puts a sad smile on her face. I watch her as she goes inside without so much as a glance back in my direction.

**TCWT**

She doesn't write me back the next day in biology. She doesn't walk beside me on our way to math. She doesn't look at me at lunch. She barely eats the food I slide over to her. She completely ignores me and any efforts I make to talk to her. I don't try to touch her again, in fear of what might happen.

It is not until the end of practice that I decide I need to figure out what is happening with her. The only thing I can think of to do is to go to her house and talk to her. So, I change out of my football gear and head over to Bella's house, not knowing what I would or wouldn't find there.

A/N: Thoughts? Any guesses to why Bella is upset? Review and tell me what you think!