A/N: This chapter was hard because when it was written the entire plot of the story hadn't been worked out and I needed to go back to add more to it. Then it threw the entire chapter out, so I had to basically rewrite it. So, if you're not reading this for the first time, there's a few small changes that tie it all in better.

:)

Chapter 11

Condoms and Cucumbers

Edward's POV

"So, what was with all the Australian jokes Emmett was telling last night?" Jazz asked me curiously during second period.

I shrugged. "I don't know—you know Emmett," I answered with feigned ignorance, hoping he'd let it go, but I knew better.

Jazz quirked an unconvinced eyebrow. "Yeah sure. He seems to be giving you a hard time lately. Is it because of Bella?"

I took a measured breath, attempting to keep it from reflecting my impatience. "I don't know what it's about."

"Alice said she walked in on you and Bella yesterday," Jazz said, suddenly smirking broadly.

"I bet she did," I muttered. I didn't know what the fuck he found so amusing about the idea of me and Bella, but it was fast pissing me off.

"So ... you taking her to Rob's party, or what?"

I shrugged. "I guess, but she has a lot going on at the moment."

"Yeah," Jazz agreed, his voice lowering, "Alice told me."

I sighed, annoyed. "I don't think she wants the whole school knowing about it, Jazz."

"I'm not the whole freaking school!" he stated with irritation, attracting the attention of the teacher, who threw us a warning glare.

I jerked my shoulders, dismissing him. "Yeah, yeah. Okay."

"Dude, seriously, I wish you'd learn to relax. Hopefully Bella-down-under chills you," he said in a hushed tone, sounding like he was serious. I turned to face him raising my eyebrows, when he added, his grin fucking smutty, "otherwise I'd seriously consider taking Stanley up on her offer."

I groaned, this time not bothering to conceal it. No chance in hell would I choose slut-bag Stanley over Bella. The idea of it made my fucking skin crawl.

"What are you doing wearing your jacket still anyway? I thought you were never cold these days," the prick inquired, snickering.

I huffed again shortly. "Jesus, what are you, my mother?"

I cringed at the thought of Jazz knowing the reason why I was still wearing it. In fact, I was surprised big mouth Alice hadn't disclosed everything to him. I enjoyed the fucked up aroma of Bella on my jacket; it was almost worth the crap I'd get from him if he knew.

"I'll just ask Alice," Jazz replied smugly.

My heart skipped a beat. I had to get to the little ferret before he did.

...

Unfortunately, I didn't get the opportunity to speak to Alice alone. Bella was constantly with her and Alice seemed to be keeping a close vigil over her; though, Bella seemed fairly oblivious to it. She appeared almost like a different person to the one she'd become over the last week. She didn't look as tortured; though, her eyes still seemed to be doing that endless shit—except when she looked at me. Then they were warm, but freaking skeptical, as if she was just waiting for me to say something lame-assed.

There was just no getting around her.

I was also starting to get seriously pissed at that annoying weasel, Mike Newton, who seemed to be stalking her every move. Bella was treating him politely, though she did look uncomfortable enough that I wanted to drag him away from her by his throat.

I sighed again, attempting to get a hold of myself. I had to admit that surrendering myself to the feelings I had for Bella had not made any of it any easier; I only felt more fucked up and edgy.

"Dude, Alice wants me to sit with her at lunch. That cool?" Jazz asked during English class.

I tried to hide the smirk, by coughing into my hand. "Yeah, that's cool."

I wondered if he knew Alice's motives behind it—not that Jazz would knock back an opportunity to be with his Pixie Pie. I wanted to puke, recalling the name I'd heard him once call her.

"So, you're favorite jacket, huh?"

I groaned inwardly; of course, the jackass would ask Alice, wouldn't he?

I decided the best response would be to continue feigning ignorance. "What the hell are you on about?"

"Alice said that's why you're wearing your jacket indoors, 'cause it's your favorite," he mocked me, snorting.

I let out my breath and had to stop myself from running my hand back through my hair, but at least Alice hadn't completely ratted me out. "Seriously, Jazz, are you bored?" I replied, keeping up with the charade, even though I was itching to punch the asshole in the face.

"Nope, but pay-back's a bitch, dude. Just remember that," he retorted with a wink.

Feeling my jaw clench, I only ignored him. I wasn't sure why I was so uncomfortable with people knowing what I felt about Bella. Maybe it was because in my life up until this point she was the one and only girl who I'd actually had an interest in. Actually, it was so incredibly far and beyond just an interest, but I still hadn't worked it out to know what else to call it. Pathetically in love with her didn't seem to cut it.

Jazz kept up his snide comments, but by lunch I had managed to sway him off the subject by talking of our upcoming match against Sequim. It was a good thing, because I didn't know how to ask him not to give me shit in front of Bella without sounding like a total pussy. If I knew Jazz, it would only fuel him more anyway.

By the time I walked into the cafeteria at lunchtime, I almost had fucking heart failure. Everyone was at Alice's regular table, including Emmett, and whatever he was saying to Bella had her in laughter.

"Fuck my life," I muttered to myself, before I made my way over, reminding myself that Emmett was my brother and not even he would stoop to humiliating me—deliberately, that is.

"Well, well, if it isn't The Rescuers Down Under," asshole Emmett smirked once Jazz and I reached the table.

I took a slow, measured breath, internally counting to fucking ten, before I looked over to Bella and caught her gaze. She flashed me a warm kind of smile, and I smiled back awkwardly, feeling my ears catch fucking fire wondering if she was smiling out of pity—from whatever my dickhead brother had just told her.

I sat down beside her and my eyes met Alice's on the other side of her. With a slight shake of her head and a small reassuring smile Alice put my fears to rest. I sighed in relief beneath my breath knowing that if Emmett had said something to humiliate me I'd have to do something about it, and the idea of Bella seeing my brother beating the shit out of me in front of half the school, in the middle of the cafeteria, wasn't very appealing.

"What's wrong, Edward?" Bella asked, inclining her head toward me, sending my body heat suddenly sky rocketing. "You look a little … frazzled."

"Uh—nothing. I'm fine," I replied, flashing her a quick grin to validate it.

Her smile increased, brightening her entire face.

I bowed my head for a moment, needing to get myself under control before I had a fucking boner in the middle of the cafeteria. I had absolutely no control over a thing when I was around her. She just conquered everything in me.

"So, Edna, how's the bludging going?" Emmett asked, grinning at me slyly.

I rolled my eyes, while Bella only looked confused, her eyebrows knotting slightly.

Leaning toward me again, she asked in a soft voice, "Do you guys have a different meaning for it?"

I turned to look at her face; her expression was so full of insecurity that I immediately broke into a smile. I only shook my head, and when realization hit her, her face flooded for a moment, and as she fought with it, her expression hedged with frustration.

I looked down, smothering my laughter through my nose, before I grabbed her hand under the table squeezing it.

When I glanced over at her again, she was looking down at our hands, a small smile on her lips, while her face remained slightly tinged. I found myself gazing at her, smiling to myself and almost unable to pull my eyes from her. That is until asshole, Emmett, went and deliberately cleared his throat before turning his attention to Bella. "So … Bella? How are you liking Forks?"

She immediately looked up, almost startled. "Um, yeah, I like it, but I'm used to small towns, so . . ." she replied with a small shrug.

"Do you know how you know you're from Forks?" Emmett asked her.

Rose groaned openly and rolled her eyes, while Bella only shook her head slowly with a puzzled expression.

"You know you're from Forks, when you've been married three times and still have the same in-laws."

She broke into a grin, scoffing it softly, and my body reacted immediately to it. My freaking palms were going clammy, and so releasing Bella's hand, I folded my arms on top of the table.

"No, no, no..." Jazz said, shaking his head slowly, "you know you're from Forks, because your house still has the 'wide load' sign stuck on the back of it."

Bella laughed softly this time and was then joined by Alice, who piped up, "You're definitely from Forks if your family tree has no forks."

Even Rose was managing a smirk, while Bella grinned broadly, biting intermittently on her lip. It didn't occur to me that I was paying so much attention to her, until her eyes moved to me, and her brow quirked questioningly.

I smiled stiffly, quickly glancing away, feeling as fucking tense as she was the day before when I'd tried to kiss her.

The Forks jokes continued

"You tell people your license plate is personalized because your dad made it in prison," Jazz added.

"Your house doesn't have curtains but your truck does," Emmett added back.

"The Halloween pumpkin on your front porch has more teeth than your wife," was Jasper's response.

Jazz and Emmett continued back and forth until we were all laughing. Bella was laughing so much that she propped her elbow on the table and leaned against me.

I immediately got a fucking erection, and Emmett zeroed in on me, his expression devious, before he again turned to Bella. "Bella, you're from a small town, you must know a few good ones."

Her face immediately flushed and she replied, almost awkwardly, "Umm ... no, not really."

I had the impression she wouldn't admit to it even if she knew hundreds.

"Bella knows Kiwi jokes," Alice piped up, making a frown momentarily darken Bella's face.

"Cool, tell us a couple of your Kiwi jokes, Bella," Emmett said with an encouraging grin.

Taking a short breath, she seemed resigned. "Okay ... you know you're from New Zealand ... when you go to Kens and you forget to peck your pissed aside."

I almost laughed; I almost reached over and put my arms around her shoulders. It couldn't be possible that she was this fucking adorable, but everyone else at the table sat in awkward, bewildered silence.

"Huh?" Emmett said, before a jolt hit the table, from either Alice or Rose, which threatened to knock over his can of coke.

"It-it's about their ... accent," Bella mumbled self-consciously, gazing down at her clasped hands, before one came up to tug on her lower lip.

It was so fucked up what she did to me, and despite the fact that my palms were still clammy, I donged her knee playfully under the table.

"I got it, Bella," I teased her softly.

"You did not," she replied smiling at me gently, with some of her cynicism behind it, "but thanks."

I squeezed her knee this time, leaving it resting there for a moment. The fact that my hands were beginning to shake was the only reason why I withdrew it—only I didn't get a chance to, because Bella's hand caught mine, entwining our fingers together.

"Oh, Jazzy, I have to go to the library before fifth period—come with?" Alice suddenly exclaimed, completely freaking unconvincing.

"What for?" Jazz asked.

Alice rolled her eyes. "For fifth period," she repeated, getting up out of her chair and pulling Jazz up as she went.

"Yeah ..." Emmett suddenly drawled, "I've got to go to the library too."

Because the asshole really just couldn't help himself.

I dropped my forehead to my hand, rubbing at my brow and wanting to groan out loud.

Rose openly snorted. "Oh give me a break—you've never stepped a foot inside a library in your life," she stated dryly before getting out of her chair and pulling him roughly to his feet.

The look of impressed surprise on Emmett's face was almost freaking comical. "Whoa, baby, you are so turning me on right now."

Bella watched them leave, a small dubious smile on her face before turning to me. "Wow—that was only really obvious." She laughed again, lightly, releasing our hands.

She was so light hearted about it—about me, and I wondered how she could be that way when I was on the verge of being a sack of horny fucking drool.

I tried to put a casual smile on my face, despite the fact that it was bothering the fuck out of me that I couldn't work her out, when a loudspeaker announcement interrupted my reply.

"Isabella Swan, please report to the office."

She immediately froze, her face going ten shades paler. Her eyes met mine; they were drowning in fear, and seemed to be silently pleading with me.

"Do you want me to come with you?" I asked her gently.

She only nodded quickly, but didn't move.

I took her hand again, squeezing it with encouragement; she took several deep breaths, before getting to her feet.

We were immediately confronted by Jacob and his girlfriend, but Jacob didn't appear to see me, his focus was on Bella and his expression was flooded with concern; it became suddenly real to me how much he loved her.

"Bells, we'll come with you," he insisted, as his girlfriend wrapped her arm around Bella's waist, pulling her closer to her, and breaking Bella's hand from mine.

Bella nodded, sucking in her breath one more time as if psyching herself up. "Okay…"

Jacob wrapped his arm around her shoulders and they walked her towards the exit of the cafeteria, when she suddenly turned back to me, motioning with me to follow, her eyes almost desperate.

I trailed behind them, and waited outside while they entered the office with Bella. I told myself that it was better she had her family with her—even if her family was that great ape, Jacob Swan. It pissed me off, and as I waited, clenching my hands into fists, I wasn't really sure why, and not being able to comprehend any of it only made me feel more fucking edgy.

They were only gone a couple of minutes when they re-emerged. Jake still had his arm draped around Bella, but it was more casual, and Bella was completely relaxed—and smiling.

I blew out my breath in relief, when her eyes met mine. Her smile broadened and she nodded slightly, silently telling me it was okay. I broke into an immediate grin, feeling my shoulders relax.

Jake and his girl hugged her simultaneously before releasing her and heading—back to the cafeteria, I gathered, but I couldn't really focus on them because in the next instant Bella threw herself into my arms.

She was trembling, and her breathing was erratic, and for a moment I second guessed what was happening. But then she spoke, barely a whisper and engulfed in emotion, "Oh my God, Edward…"

Her breath gushed from her, washing over me, before she tightened her arms around me, and I swear to fucking god she pressed her lips to the side of my neck.

Of course this only made me more fucking horny, and then she released herself from my arms, exposing my semi-erection.

But Bella was too inundated to notice. With tears in her eyes, and her hands shaking violently, she explained to me what had happened—all in rush, "They-she has brain activity, and they took her off life support and she's breathing on her own. She's still in a coma, but. . ." she stopped, looking for one moment like she might completely succumb to the tears.

My smile widened. "That's fantastic, Bella."

She released her breath in one long gush again, bringing her hand up to grasp at her heart. "I am so relieved—oh my God!"

I could only continue to smile at her. This was a new person I was seeing. She was lit up from the inside out, her eyes had come alive, and she was smiling so brightly she was almost unrecognizable.

"Bloody hell. I need to sit down—feel my heart." She grabbed my hand and pressed it over the left side of her chest—against her breast—closing her hand over mine. Her heart was hammering away inside of her, but it only gave me more of a hard-on with the knowledge that I was feeling it through her tits.

I cleared my throat, pulling myself back from the brink, before, removing my hand, I folded her against me—using her as a shield from my fucking boner. "Come on. We'll sit down for a minute."

I was leading her outside when the bell for fifth period signaled.

She stopped, and looked up at me. Her eyes were bright; in fact, they looked a little manic. "I'm okay. Let's go to class."

"Sure?" I asked, my eyebrows raising.

"Positive," she replied, her smile turning warm. She grabbed my hand, and pulled me down the hall toward Biology, not noticing how stiffly I was walking.

"Hey..." I coaxed her to slow down, pulling on her arm, for her to face me.

She looked back over to me. "Yeah?"

"D-did you want to go to Port Angeles tomorrow—to get your phone?" I asked her, stuttering and wishing I could beat my head against the wall for continuing to sound like a complete pussy.

"Sure," she replied.

"About ... nine in the morning?" I added, still sounding so pathetically unsure of myself.

"Yeah, that's fine. D-do you know where I live?" she asked, and this time it was her that looked uncertain.

"Um … yeah, I know where you live," I answered her, breaking into a small smile.

She flashed me that cynical grin again, before it warmed, and she turned back away from me, dragging my pansy ass the rest of the way to Bio.

...

When Bella and I entered the classroom there were cucumbers on every table, while Mr. Banner was going down the aisles putting piles of condoms on the outer desks.

She quirked me a puzzled look before we headed to our table

"Edward and Bella, since you're the only two of the opposite sex that sit together, you're fine," Mr. Banner said as he placed several condoms in front of Bella's side of the table before continuing on.

Bella leaned toward me. "What did he just say?" she asked me in a hushed voice that was full of bewilderment.

I wanted to laugh. "I think everyone has to be in boy-girl pairs."

She nodded with realization shining in her eyes. "Oh, I see, since we're doing the reproductive system this is some kind of sex-ed thing," she replied more or less to herself. She was continuing to smile to herself and I had no way of knowing whether any part of it was directed at me.

"I think so," I said, stealing a glance at her, and tugging on the collar of my shirt. I was starting to get seriously overheated.

"We did this on bananas back home, only I kept perforating mine," she admitted rolling her eyes to herself.

I laughed. "Serious?"

She nodded, breaking into soft chuckling.

I was about to reply when Mr. Banner suddenly called the class to order. He began reading out names of each boy and girl that would be doing the experiment together.

"Edward and Isabella..." he read aloud with a quick glance in our direction.

Okay, one thing I was starting to learn about Bella was that when she was happy, she was a lot more hands on, because as soon as the teacher read out our names, she leaned into me, nudging me, fucking playfully.

If I made it through the lesson it'd be a freaking miracle.

"...and Mike and Jason. Sorry, boys, but you're the only two left. I'll leave it up to you two to decide which one of you is the girl," Mr. Banner said with an amused grin.

I snorted, and Bella turned to face me, flashing me a mockingly reproachful look, before she gently nudged me again.

Jesus…

The room went a bit chaotic for a few minutes as the class begrudgingly went to sit with their new partners. Bella and I, not to mention the girl-girl group of Mike and Jason, the only ones not to have to move.

"Okay, now everyone get to it," Mr. Banner called out.

Bella, sighing in a carefree way, picked up a condom between her thumb and forefinger with a quirked eyebrow before turning to me.

"So, how are we doing this?" she asked, and immediately her face flushed.

I chuckled lightly. "I'll be the cucumber holder," I replied, picking it up and holding it vertical.

"I think it's meant to be in this direction," she said in a murmur as she reached over, put her hand over mine, and moved the cucumber horizontally.

Oh, Jesus...

Who the fuck was this girl? One moment she was awkward, and freezing up around me, and the next she was completely fucking flirting with me. The worst part was I had no idea if she was genuinely coming around to me, or if she was fucking with me.

She glanced at me and did that smirk again. "Ready?"

"Ready," I repeated in a semi-stiff voice.

"Okay, but a word of warning, I really suck at this."

I grinned. "I'm sure you'll do all right."

Flashing me one last shrewd smile, where I had no fucking way of knowing whether she was flirting with me or not, she took a deep breath, awkwardly tore open the condom and prized it out of its wrapping. She then attempted to slide it over the cucumber, but had no luck. After three failed attempts—where the condom kept flying back off—she huffed in obvious frustration. "There's no hope for me," she mumbled, shrugging her shoulders and laughing softly to herself.

"Erm ... Bella, I think you have it inside out," I said gently, muffling my laughter through my nose.

"How can you tell?" she asked, puzzled.

"I think it's the reason why you can't roll it down."

Her face knotted dubiously. "Okay, I think this one's dead." She picked up a new condom and tore it open.

I became completely distracted by the total look of concentration on her face. She could not manage to get the condom over the cucumber no matter how much she tried, and the look of disappointment she had was so comical, it was all I could do not to openly laugh.

"Why can I not do this?" she exclaimed, before she glanced up at me and narrowed her eyebrows. "Stop looking at me like that, Edward."

Jesus she couldn't stop smiling, and now I suspected the little vixen was flirting with me.

So fuck it, if we were back to that... "Looking at you like what, Bella?"

"Okay, let's swap," she said tossing the second opened condom aside and taking the cucumber from me.

"Okay," I agreed. I picked up a condom, ripped it open and carefully slid it over and down the cucumber.

Bella looked at me almost affronted. "How...?" she asked letting her voice trail off, before scoffing and breaking into a begrudging grin.

I chuckled softly. "You give it another go."

She eyed me skeptically for a moment, before sighing. "All right, but I think it's pointless." She handed the cucumber back to me, her fingers brushing lightly against mine as she did so.

I was sure she did it deliberately.

Tucking her wavy locks behind her ears, she picked up another condom and tore it open. This time, after great perseverance, she managed to get the condom over the cucumber, only to have it split up the side. She sighed again in obvious defeat, and I all but burst into laughter.

"What am I doing wrong?" she exclaimed, looking genuinely disappointed, before half muttering beneath her breath, "I'm going to be a danger to the male population."

"I think you're putting it on too tight, Bella," I replied, focusing on how funny she was and not what she'd just implied.

"Have you done this type of thing before, Edward?" she asked me innocently, preoccupied, only to pause and bite on her lip, looking insecure.

"Well … I did date a banana once, but it didn't work out well," I answered, in a pitiful attempt at being charming.

Jesus, I was such a dickhead!

She looked over at me and her eyebrows bunched before her lips began to twitch in amusement. "Really...?"

I opened my mouth to reply when I suddenly realized the error in what I'd just said.

"And … how does that work? A guy and a … banana?" Bella asked her smile turning wide and toothy.

"Uh..." I stammered, as a flood of heat rushed up my neck.

She started laughing, only half trying to smother it with her hand. "How can you tell if a banana is a girl, Edward?"

Completely owning my ass—again. All I could do was grin to myself like the idiot I was.

"How did it end? Did she split?" She was laughing openly at me now.

"Okay, okay," I replied wryly, rubbing the back of my neck, feeling like a complete idiot.

"Did you ever trip on her skin?" she looked up at me then, her smile turning full teasing.

I returned her smile, wryly. "I guess I left myself open to that."

"You kinda did," she agreed, her tone turning soft before she nudged me again, playfully.

She freaking was flirting with me.

This time, without a second thought, I slung my arm over her shoulders, pulled her toward me and kissed the side of her head lightly. She tensed slightly in my arms, and I immediately let her go. When I turned to her, she was already staring at me. Her expression was almost surprised, while her cheeks were starting to burn. I was on the verge of blurting out a hurried apology when her entire face warmed into a smile, without any of that cynicism of hers accompanying it.

I cleared my throat self-consciously. "Okay, Bella I said something stupid, give a guy a break already," I said attempting to push this awkward crap away.

At that moment Mr. Banner called the class to attention.

I shoved my hands into my Jean pockets, and stole a glance in Bella's direction. She was staring ahead of her, doing that lip tugging thing, still smiling to herself. Was it about me, or Kel? I couldn't read her.

Mike was given the duty of carrying the bin up the aisle so everyone could dispose of the cucumbers and opened condoms. He glared at me as he held out the bin. I threw him a smug grin before he moved to the next table, scowling to himself.

"Edward," Bella scolded me teasingly. Her tone low so weasel Newton couldn't hear.

I only chuckled.

I ignored Mr. Banner's monotonous sounding voice as he discussed the importance of safe sex and watched Bella out of my peripheral vision.

Had I over stepped again? She was so damn manic over the news she'd gotten that I didn't know what the boundaries were. She seemed to like kissing my neck, but when I kissed her she always tensed. Never before had I ever felt so uncertain of myself, like I did with Bella. She was the only girl in this school who ever looked at me without batting her eyelashes—in fact, more times than not she looked at me like I was some kind of sleaze. I had absolutely no idea how to fully engage her.

She tucked her hair behind her ear and I caught sight of the small smile that was edging on her lips.

I sighed deeply under my breath, knowing I was flying completely blind.

Fuck it, I had already acted like a pansy ass more times than I could count today, so pulling over my notepad, I wrote on it:

You're adorable, before slipping it quickly in front of her.

Her eyes glanced at it before her smile discreetly widened. She wrote something in return, before passing it back to me.

You're such a sap, Edward. OTT for bio though.

It took me a moment to decipher her meaning before I almost chuckled. I would have loved to have proven how over the top I was capable of at that moment, but the bell for final period rang.

She released her breath lightly, grabbed her bag and slung it over her shoulder. I did the same and walked with her out of the classroom.

She stopped once we were out of the building and turned to me. "So, when's you're next game, Edward?" She was shrinking into her jacket to escape the rain; I stood beside her still only wearing my t-shirt.

"Next Friday," I answered.

She nodded, looking up to meet my gaze; she was still grinning impulsively to herself. "Well, righto. While, crocodile."

Even in the state of freaking bliss she was in, she still managed to own me.

I dropped my head a moment, exhaling the complete bewilderment I was feeling, before meeting her eyes and flashing her a conceding grin. "Sure."

She nudged me again, laughing softly to herself, her eyes glistening as she gazed at me. "Sorry, Edward, I'm kinda hyper. I'm just so relieved."

I nodded. "I know you are. I'm happy for you, Bella."

As her eyes held onto mine, her expression softened, before she turned and walked through the doors of the gym.

As I walked to Spanish my mind was so completely monopolized by thoughts of her that at first it didn't register with me when I heard her name being spoken by someone else. It took me a moment to fully realize what was happening, and my anger had already boiled to the surface before I was able to fully comprehend exactly what was being said.

Mike-the-weasel-Newton was walking about six feet ahead of me talking about Bella and him in the same context as though he had the right to. And if that wasn't enough to piss me off, he began taking it a step further.

"You're taking Bella Swan to Rob's party?" Jason Michaels asked him skeptically.

I felt my limbs stiffen involuntarily, my hands clenching into fists. I hurried my step to walk closer to them so I'd be in striking range to slam Newton's head into the brick wall of the Gym, where the prick was heading.

"Yeah, I told you, we went out last night. I took her to see that vampire chick movie," Weasel Newton said altogether too fucking smugly.

"You took Bella out last night?" Jason asked continuing to sound unconvinced.

Of course he was unconvinced; it was total bullshit that Bella would go out with that pissant. The weasel had exactly ten seconds to stop what he was saying before I made him stop.

I was on the verge of doing something to permanently maim the prick, when the next thing out of his mouth completely jarred me.

"I told you I did, didn't I? Why would I lie? She was late too; she was at Cullen's house gossiping so we had to catch a later session."

I stopped walking mid stride, my anger suddenly giving way to something that was totally foreign to me; something that almost fucking crippled me.

"Yeah well, speaking of Cullen, I thought she was with Edward," was Jason's reply.

Newton shrugged, he turned his head to face him and I caught a glimpse of the cocky smile that was plastered all over his face. My anger surged; it was all I could do not to rip it off.

"Don't think so. I think she's just being friendly to him 'cause he's Alice's brother. Well, that's what she said, anyway."

I was jarred again, this time to the point of almost buckling over as though the jackass had punched me in the stomach. I stopped to gain control of myself; I could feel myself coming apart by the sheer velocity of my anger. I didn't believe a word of it, and when I got to the bottom of it I would find Newton and fucking settle it.

It took almost all my self-control to not break Newton's neck, turn away and walk in the opposite direction, but as I took a step away from him, he added something else.

"Yeah, we ran into Angela and Ben; didn't know they were hooked up..."

I continued to Spanish clinging desperately to my anger, taking slow deliberate steps trying to calm the furious thud of my heart. I was beginning to feel completely fucking vulnerable, and it pissed me off.

I knew Ben well enough that if he had seen Bella out with weasel Newton, he'd tell me if I asked.

And ask I would. God help Newton if he was bullshitting, because at this point, he was making Jacob Swan look like my best fucking buddy!

Ben was in my Spanish class, he was a quiet reserved type of person, who'd played on the baseball team until he dislocated his shoulder the year before. As for him and Angela it was practically written across his forehead, and as far as everyone knew he'd been into her since middle school.

I caught up with him just outside of Spanish.

"Hey, Ben," I greeted him, trying to push all the shit behind me and stay casual.

"Hey, Edward, how's it going?" he replied with a friendly grin.

"Not bad," I shrugged and paused before adding. "I heard you've seen that new movie—what's the name of it?"

He named the movie as a question, his brow furrowing slightly.

I nodded. "That's it. I was thinking of seeing it. Will it make me puke?"

He smirked. "Probably, but the girls seem to like it. Who you taking?"

Immediately I felt like I was wronging Bella somehow. I should have been asking her about it, but how could I do that without sounding like an infantile, jealous prick?

"I kind of owe Alice and Bella a favor and promised I'd take them—don't ask," I replied making a show of rolling my eyes.

Recognition shone immediately in his eyes. "I think Bella's seen it all ready, she was at the movies last night with Newton. I'm pretty sure they were seeing it."

I felt like I'd been gutted, the blood draining slowly from my face, only to flash immediately back with anger. Ben looked taken aback, but I was past acting rational now.

"Thanks," I muttered walking past him and into the classroom, resisting the urge to punch a hole in the door.

I slammed myself down in my seat so violently that I felt the chair buckle for a moment under me.

"Dude, you all right?" Jazz asked, looking at me like I'd finally lost the plot.

I had.

I turned to him with a glare. "I'm fine!" I said lowly, the anger in my voice making it waver.

Newton wasn't bullshitting, but it didn't stop me from wanting to beat the shit out of him, and wipe that smug grin from his face for good. I only took a breath, exhaling it sharply; the idea of that pissant telling everyone I beat his ass because I was jealous over him and Bella made me cringe. I wouldn't boost the asshole's ego for him, but I would make him pay for it, I silently vowed, fucking seething with anger.

I took another pissed off breath and dragged both my hands through my hair. The words he'd spoken continued to echo in my mind, while my hands balled tightly into fists on top of the desk.

Bella was only friends with me. She was only friends with me because I was Alice's brother? If it was true, I shouldn't have been surprised by it, but then, I couldn't blame weasel Newton. I'd screwed it up, and I only had myself to blame. Bella owed me nothing.

But it made sense; every time I'd attempted something more with her the day before she'd clamped up. She'd been friendly with me—it was all me who was too fucking stupid to read her signals.

I rubbed my forehead in angry frustration. Still, if she only felt friendship for me, then why hadn't she told me so? Surely, she knew how I felt. Was she simply hell bent on paying me back over the whole thing with Jacob? Was she deliberately torturing me? I didn't want to believe it, but what the hell was I supposed to believe? Why else would she go out on a date with that pissant fucking Newton?

Out of the corner of my eye I could see Jazz watching me, a bewildered expression on his face. I ignored him; I was past giving a shit.

"Did something happen with Jake?" he asked me quietly.

"Jazz, would you just shut the fuck up!" I snapped back in reply.

"Fine! Have it your way, douche-bag," he muttered, turning back to the teacher.

My thoughts went back to the previous night with Bella. I went over every little detail trying to see where I'd got it all wrong, but it was obvious now. She had never given me any intention she wanted anything more with me than friendship. Every time I complimented her she called me sappy, she rolled her eyes at me; scoffed; and fucking turned to ice when I kissed her. She had come to my house a complete mess, she needed a friend and Alice wasn't home. I'd tried to kiss her, not the other way around; it was completely my fault.

Still, it didn't seem fucking right that she went from a complete mess to casually going to the movies with that asshole—and who the fuck kisses their friends on the neck?

Like the complete dickhead I was, I'd offered to take her to Port Angeles so she could buy a cell phone, when all along she'd rather go with Newton! If it was all just a part of our friendship then she could go with him. I didn't want any part of it—of her!

I was a fucking dumb ass. Worse than that, I was a fool who had just had my heart shattered.

I was so seriously fucking pissed off, but that crippling emotion I was fighting to keep at a distance was suddenly beginning to choke me.

I held on fast to my anger.

I was the first one out the door at the end of the class. I wanted to get out of the school without running into Bella again, but of course, it was never going to be that easy.

As I was passing the gym she came out with weasel in tow. My anger turned blinding, my hands rigid fists at my sides. It took all of my self-control and more, not to walk up to Newton and break his fucking neck.

As I contemplated this, my eyes drifted inadvertently over to Bella and our eyes met before I could look away; my heart thudded. Immediately her face lit up into a broad smile before it fell just as quickly, her forehead creasing with concern. I turned away sharply and hurried my step to the parking lot.

"Edward!" I heard her call after me, her tone sounding hurt and bewildered, but I kept walking without a pause.

By the time I got to the parking lot, Bella had caught up to me, grabbing my arm to force me to stop walking as she paused to catch her breath. As soon as her hand touched my skin my temperature spiked and my anger surged even higher.

"What do you want, Bella?" I demanded in a cold voice.

She opened her mouth to reply but faltered, her expression going blank in confusion.

I felt an immediate twinge of regret, but pushed it away with a jerk of my shoulder.

"A-are you okay, Edward?" she asked me softly, her large brown eyes searching my face intently as her brow knotted further.

"I'm fine, Bella, but I have to get home," I replied without emotion.

"Edward ... what's wrong?" she asked, her tone suddenly laced with uncertainty.

I huffed out the air in my lungs and ran my hand through my hair in frustration. "Nothing!" I snapped.

She flinched, surprised, her eyes widening, before they began to darken with anger.

I was past caring.

I turned my gaze from her and unlocked my car. My hands were shaking; it frustrated the fuck out of me. She wanted to be buddies and my hands were fucking shaking in her presence!

"Well … I'll see you tomorrow then?" she asked quietly, her tone now thick with insecurity.

What the hell was her game?

I whipped my head back to her. "I'll tell you what, Bella, since you're so cozy with Newton, how about you get him to take you to Port Angeles!?"

She stared back at me with an injured look on her face, before her eyes immediately narrowed. "What the hell is the matter with you!?" she demanded, angry—self fucking righteous, before, with a pissed off sounding huff, she turned and walked away.

She didn't deny it.

That emotion I'd successfully managed to hold back by the barest minimum suddenly broke free with such a force that I felt like I'd been smashed in the chest. I opened the door to my Volvo and got in, slamming the door shut behind me.

Before I allowed it to overwhelm me, my anger returned. I preferred it; at that point I was welcoming it. I started the engine and pulled out of the school, my tires screeching as I went.

I glanced in the rear view mirror; Bella was beside her car her shoulders drawn and dejected as Jacob stood beside her, his arm wrapped protectively around her. His eyes followed my car, narrow and dark. I glared back, locking my eyes with his in defiance, before I drove out of view.

The image of Bella's injured expression flashed in my mind, but I shoved it back, allowing it to be consumed by my anger.

I pulled my cell phone from my bag with my free arm, clicked through my contacts, found Jessica Stanley, and hit 'call'.

*HEAD DESK*

Edward is ... Edward.

Thanks for reading.