Fighting Temptation

Chapter Eleven: Truths and Teases

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight. All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of Stephenie Meyer. The original characters and plot are property of me, Dobber17. I am in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

This chapter has been edited by CherryBerry12.

Bella Swan

Everything felt … off. We followed our routine of waking up, changing, and fighting off the chill as we walked down the road, but I couldn't ease the sinking feeling in my stomach.

"What's up? You seem distracted." I jerked as Edward voice pulled me from my thoughts, trying to compose myself as I buried my hands deeper in my coat pockets.

"I don't know," I answered honestly. "I just … I dunno … feel weird I guess."

His eyebrows pinched together as he slid his gaze toward me. "Are you getting sick?"

"No, not like that. I just have this feeling that something bad is going to happen and I don't know when or what."

"And here I was willing to play doctor." Before I could retort, he continued. "But I do promise to not let anything bad happen to you. As long as I can prevent it. You are quite the trouble magnet, Bella."

I snorted. Before I moved to Forks, I was at the clinic on a bi-monthly basis, with the scars and lists of broken bones to prove it. Since meeting Edward, I'd had a hundred close calls, but only a few measly trips to the after-hours clinic; none of which happened in his presence. If we were in the same room, he typically stayed close enough he'd be able to catch me as I tripped, or save me from endangering myself.

For the second day in a row, I was taken from Edward as soon as we entered the gym. Before I had time to even take my coat off, Jaclyn slung her arm around my shoulder and hauled me away with an apologetic wave over her shoulder. "Sorry, Edward. I need to borrow your girlfriend for a minute."

I looked over my shoulder and tried to ignore the tug low in my gut at Edward's crooked smile.

"Girlfriend?" I inquired as soon as we stopped near the bleachers.

She gave an innocent shrug. "Neither of you corrected me. Now laugh and wave to me as you walk away. I won't keep you away for too long."

I paused. "That's it? Really?"

"Call it my own social experiment … or meddling. Whichever you prefer."

"Meddling. Definitely."

"Do you want me to butt out?" she asked with a small grin. I stayed quiet, and her grin grew.

"That's what I thought."

In fact, I did laugh and wave as I walked away. I was slowly learning that people meddling was the push I needed to gain confidence in both myself and the potential of a relationship with Edward. It was the push I needed to realize maybe I wasn't crazy for thinking it would work.

"Everyone, start stretching." Reid's voice was unmistakable. He was on the other side of the gym yet his attention was fixed on me. More specifically, the bag slung across my chest and my coat still securely buttoned up to my neck. I sped up my steps and tossed by bag next to Edward's, tearing off my layers quickly to join everyone already spacing themselves out on the court.

"Everything okay?" Edward asked as I took my place beside him on the outskirts of the group.

I nodded, stretching my arm across my chest, copying Jasper as he led the stretches as usual. To my surprise Emmett and Reid joined in too. After a few minutes of limbering up my confusion grew as all three of them joined us in our drills. Typically they all observed and directed, pushing the pace and challenging us every minute.

It was worse when they joined us. It was hell. Two straight hours of absolute burning and sweaty hell.

Worse than the burning in my lungs and legs was the one-eighty turn Reid's mood seemed to take. He wasn't berating or belittling me, instead he seemed to be, of all things, complimenting me. Ignoring the one instance of being told to pick up my pace, between a few breathless comments of 'nice work,' and 'good job,' my mind was spinning in confusion.

Emmett gave us a water break and I appreciated the time to think and clear my head. I nearly drained my water bottle in one go, fruitlessly trying to quench the fire in my lungs. I opted to refill it sooner rather than later, making my way down the hallway to the nearest water fountain. Soft footsteps echoed in the hall. I didn't think too much about them until they stopped behind me.

"One, two, three. Save some for the fishies."

I jolted, splashing the contents of my half-filled water bottle back into the fountain. Reid moved to lean a shoulder against the wall next to me, a soft smile on his face. "Hey."

Unease prickled the back of my neck. I realized how horribly quiet the hall was when it was empty.

"Hi, Reid. If you'd excuse me." I began to skirt around him, water be damned. I could refill my bottle at the start of our next break.

Reid reached out and grabbed my wrist, not exactly painful, but hard enough to halt my footsteps.

He released my wrist. "Sorry. I just want a moment of your time."

I waited, shifting my weight between my feet as we stood in silence. This was the first time we ever had an actual two-way conversation with each other. The silence grew longer as Reid opened his mouth a few times before shutting it. Finally, he let out a frustrated sigh and ran a hand through his hair, turning to walk away. He only made it three steps before changing his mind. He turned back and strode toward me, leaning his head toward mine. I managed to raise a hand to his sweaty chest before his lips hit mine. His eyes snapped opened, a hint of shock and disbelief and … hurt?

A figure loomed on the outskirts of my vision, causing me to stumble back a step. Jasper stood feet away, his focus solely on Reid.

"What are you doing?" Jasper's voice was unnaturally calm despite his pinched eyebrows and tightly folded arms across his chest.

"I don't know." The words we so soft I didn't know if I heard him correctly. With a clenched jaw Reid walked away, sparing me a quick glance over his shoulder. He seemed to catch himself, roughly shaking his head before quickening his steps.

"I just … what is happening?" I spoke more to myself, but Jasper still answered.

"Pure idiocy." He watched Reid disappear around the corner before his shoulders relaxed. He tilted his head as his eyes did a quick scan of my body. "You okay?"

"Yeah. I just need a minute."

"I'll give you five. I'll pop back out to check on you if you aren't back by then."

I managed a weak smile. The rolling in my stomach came back full force. As soon as Jasper disappeared I made my way to the bathroom, trying to ignore the feeling of full blown nausea.

A few minutes. That's all I needed. Just a few minutes and cool water on my face.

Except the water didn't help. Jaclyn found me sitting on the cool bathroom tiles with my head pressed to my knees.

"You doing okay over there?"

"I feel awful," I groaned.

"I can tell." Her smile was gentle as she eased herself beside me. "Want to talk about what happened?"

"Did Jasper tell you?"

"Not really. He said some colourful words about Reid before asking me to check the bathroom for you. He went out to check on you and couldn't find you in the hall. I was sent as reinforcement. I won't lie, I'm nosey. Want to talk about what my jack-ass of a step-brother did?"

I figured she must have known him after yelling at him in a gym full of people, but I never expected he was her step-brother. After a moment to process that knowledge, I explained everything. The switch from callous comments to compliments this morning, and everything that happened at the water fountain.

She let out a deep sigh. "He's always been an idiot."

"Step-brother, eh?"

"My dad left when I was twelve and my mom remarried when I was fourteen. I barely even knew she was seeing anyone. They kept it hidden. He didn't really come around the house and they never seemed like anything when he was there. Next thing I know they're engaged. Two months later I was uprooted from my childhood home and moved into a new house with two new siblings who felt nothing but hatred toward me. Apparently, my mom was the other woman their father was smitten with. She collapsed their family in a matter of months, with all the children being collateral damage … though I never doubted his kids were awful long before we came along."

"Lori and Reid?" I asked.

She nodded. "Lori was, by far, much worse. A diva through and through with sharp claws and a black heart. Reid would laugh at jabs thrown my way, but it was always Lori starting any drama. Reid was broody and typically ignored me. He's always been … intense, to say the least. Whether in school, sports, or life he was always focused on being the best and getting his way."

"You don't say," I muttered into my knees.

She heard me, letting out a soft snort before continuing. "Fast forward through years of teasing, hatred and my mom turning a blind eye to it all, I finally had enough. This summer, a few weeks before school started, I tried running away."

"Tried?"

"I was the third person in line at the train station, ready to buy a ticket to anywhere I could afford when my best friend found me. He begged me not to go."

"How'd he find you?"

"Surprisingly, thanks to Reid. He walked by my room and noticed the bare dresser and all the empty drawers still pulled out. He told my mom, who finally acted like a mom for the first time in years. She called my friend, Jared, hoping I was just over at his house." She released a deep breath. "So, Jared came to find me. And I finally admitted everything I had gone through at home and shoved under the surface for years."

"He sounds like a great guy," I commented.

"He really is. He's actually here at the basketball clinic. I'll introduce you another day when you're feeling better. You guys can bond over the wrath of Reid."

My mind flashed to the cute brown-haired boy I saw her walking with the day before. "They don't get along?"

She shook her head. "Reid might not be my biggest fan, but he didn't want to see me homeless. He's still a shit brother, but he let a kernel of kindness show that day. Definitely not enough to warrant him any special fanfare. Jared and him always butted heads, but after that day, the spite between them became palpable. I never knew if Reid expected more thanks and grovelling from him, or what … but after I shared my years of cooped up emotions, Jared swore he would never show a shred of respect to him or Lori."

She shifted, her knee protesting loudly as she stood. "Are you feeling any better?"

"I think so." And I was telling the truth … until I stood and my stomach lurched dangerously high in my throat. "Actually, no, not really."

Jaclyn grabbed my shoulder and helped ease me back to the floor. "Wait here for a minute. Let me just tell Jasper you're going back to the hotel. I'll grab Edward to walk you back."

"No," It came out louder than I intended, the word echoing off the bathroom walls. "He'll just worry."

"You know he'll find out anyway. You can't stop the inevitable."

"You can delay it."

She pinched her lips. "I'll walk you back. But if anything happens I'm throwing you under the bus for this."

I knew she was joking, but I didn't even have the energy to laugh. I buried my face between my knees as I watched her disappear out the door.

She was back quickly, my bag securely slung over her shoulder. I managed to get my coat and track pants on, and Jaclyn looped her arm through mine, making me wonder how bad I really looked. The walk back was quiet, most of my energy spent on putting one foot in front of the other. Jaclyn waited until I successfully slid my room key in the door before heading back. As soon as the door clicked shut between us, I collapsed to the floor.

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