Disclaimer: I do not own these characters and no copyright infringement is intended.

The rest of the day passed quickly, people were looking at me in the corridor only this time they were not looking at me with pity. I got several pats on the back from people who before would use that same hand to push me to the ground. It seemed that my impromptu announcement at lunchtime was the talk of the school. I didn't see Bella for the rest of the afternoon, but I did look for her. Once the final bell sounded I bolted outside to wait for Jake in the parking lot. I leaned against the drivers door of my car, watching as the populous of Forks High School spilled out of the building and into the crisp afternoon air.

Lauren and Jessica walked out arm in arm, giggling and chatting to each other. They stopped in their tracks when they saw me. A smile lit up Jessica's face as she left Lauren to walk over to me.

"Hey Edward, really liked your speech at lunch." She trilled.

I just nodded.

"So did Greene bawl you out? Is it true that your dad came in to see him earlier?"

I had no idea how she got her information, but she was quite right. "Yeah, he called my dad in. No biggie though." I decided to play in cool.

Jessica cocked her head to one side and began to twirl her hair around her finger. "So, a group of up are going to meet at the diner later, you want to join us?"

I have no idea how I kept the look of shock off my face. "What? You're inviting me to join you?"

She giggled in response. "Of course, you are news Edward, hot property. I can bring you into the light, away from the shadows that you've hidden in for far too long."

"I wasn't hiding Jessica." I teased.

A wide smile broke on her face. "8 O'clock, see you there."

I nodded in response before I decided to tease her. "It's a date."

She winked at me. "If you say so. See you later."

With that, she turned on her heel and walked back to Lauren before they stood laughing and giggling together next to her car.

Jake appeared next to me. "What the fuck did she want?" He asked nodding to where Jessica was standing, now surrounded by her trusted inner circle.

"Well, she asked me to join them tonight down at the diner." I shrugged as if it was nothing, although we both knew different. Climbing behind the wheel of the car, the key slid into the ignition and the engine roared into life, drowning out whatever Jake had to say. He climbed inside, slamming the door behind him. We set off out of the parking lot and I slowed down as I passed Jessica, who smiled at me while she blew me a kiss. I simply smiled at her as I pulled away while Jake made retching noises at the side of me.

I turned the music up, hoping that Jake would take the hint and keep his opinions to himself. We made it all the way to his house, only when I pulled up outside did he turn off the cd player.

We sat in silence for a couple of minutes before he turned to me. "What are you playing at Edward?"

I simply shrugged my shoulders. "Nothing, why?"

"I know you better than anyone else, and I know that you're lying to me." He pushed. "So what's the real reason behind meeting up with Jessica and her bunch of bitches later on?"

"Fuck you Jake, is it so hard to believe that maybe I actually want to go there and just hang out? You know, like normal teenagers do? Let's face it, I have hardly been Mr Popular at school, so them reaching out to me now, why shouldn't I grab the chance of a normal life at high school with both hands?"

Jake shook his head."You are gonna become just like them and that is a shame. You were different, and now, well it's like I hardly know you anymore. You have been through hell, and I get it, but something just doesn't sit right with me about all this. If you expect me to believe that the Edward Cullen I knew has suddenly decided now he had some success with the girls in town, and let's face it, they were two hotties, that he wants to be part of that crowd. I just don't buy it. You hated them with a passion. Don't forget they made your life hell, cause I certainly won't forget the number of times that you were upset over their teasing and bullying of you."

He paused, staring out of the window. I knew that most of what he said was true, but right now I couldn't admit that to him, it was hard enough acknowledging that myself.

"Jake, I get what you are saying, but you haven't been what I have been through. You don't and can't understand how it feels to be me."

You're right, I don't and I can't begin to know what you have been through, but I have been there for you, right by your side every goddamn step of the way. What I don't want is to lose that person from my life. The Edward Cullen I have been friends with for as long as I can remember, the geeky, brainy kid who aced every test he took, who never had to study but still never me feel dumb when he helped me out."

He turned back to me, I could see that he was trying to keep his emotions in check, and I thought about saying to him that he had nothing to worry about, I knew what I was doing, but the words wouldn't come out. If I told him what I was really thinking and feeling, he would think I was crazy. Staying silent right now was the best thing that I could do.

Jake spoke once again, filling the awkward silence. "All I am saying is, don't fall in with the popular kids just because you think it's what you have to do to be accepted around here." With those words he climbed out of the car, pausing before he closed the he leaned back inside.

"Just don't lose sight of the person you were before all this Edward. Like I said, he was a nice guy, the best. Jessica will chew you up, spit you out before she moves onto the next thing to catch her eye before you can even register what has happened to you."

The door slammed, his words ringing In my ears. I sped away from him. I wouldn't allow that to happen, I had a plan. Plus, I had been through so much already in the last few months. Now my popularity was on the rise, confirmed when this afternoon, I was invited to join the Forks High popular crowd and I had every intention of having fun without second guessing their intentions.

There was only a matter of months before the end of school and graduation, why shouldn't I enjoy my time in sunshine after being hidden in the shadows for so long?

Authors Note:

Thanks for reading and sticking with me on this one, I really do appreciate all your thanks go out to the very wonderful ETPhonehome (Elaine) who has been pre-reading and hand holding when I need it. I wanted to post this sooner, but I have set myself a bit of a rule, I won't put until the next chapter is done and complete, that way I have a a bit of breathing space. So, yes, the next chapter is done!