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Bella had to admit that hearing Jessica crying in the back of the room amused her. She would never understand how the idiot could be so upset that she and Edward were 'engaged'. It's not like he'd led her on, made her think he would ever want anything to do with her. Even before they created their fake relationship, Edward had rejected her advances time and time and time again. The girl just couldn't take a hint.

As soon as they were done with film, Mike and Jessica bolted with most of the others following quickly. Jasper, Alice, Emmett, Rosalie, Ben, and Angela, however, did not. Edward and Bella shared a look before they clasped their hands together and walked out of the locker room. They, of course, followed, and before they could make it to the parking lot, Jasper, Emmett, and Ben were standing in front of them while Alice, Rosalie, and Angela were behind.

"What the hell is going on?" Alice demanded. "You're not really getting married, are you? You were just saying that to get a rise out of Mike and Jessica, weren't you?"

"No," they said together.

"We're getting married," Bella added. "I can't live without him."

"She's my entire world," Edward said, sliding his hand from hers and wrapping his arm around her.

"Look, guys, we know you care about each other. I mean, we think you're perfect for one another, but . . ." Rosalie paused. "Don't you think you're moving kind of . . . I don't know . . . fast?"

"No," they once again said together.

"You just made your relationship public like three weeks ago!" Emmett bellowed, causing the handful of members of the football team still lingering in the parking lot to turn toward them.

Freshman who still had to wait for their parents to pick them up. Parents who probably didn't hate them for not being the kids they wanted them to be.

"Why do you even care, Emmett?" Bella asked, causing them to look at her. "Until Edward and I started dating, you barely said two words to me. I was just mousy little Bella Swan. Good enough for you to copy my homework, but not enough to talk to in public."

"That's not true."

"Isn't it?" she asked, tilting her head to the side before looking at each and every one of them. "Don't stand here and pretend any of you have ever given two shits about me, about who I am. Edward is the only person who has ever cared how I feel. He loves me for who I am, and I love him. You don't have to like that he's with me. Honestly, I don't give a fuck if you do or not. I have the person I love, I don't need anyone else."

Giving Edward a look, she pushed her way through them and out to her truck. Leaning against the side, she dug her phone out of her pocket, and found Esme's under her texts.

In case you weren't sure, I love you.

Little bubbles formed for a moment before she replied, I love you, too, sweetheart. Are you okay?

As long as I have you, I'll always be okay.

"Bella!"

She barely had time to look up when she felt a fist hit the side of her face, sending her phone flying out of her hand and hitting the ground followed immediately by her. She turned and found Jessica Stanley leaping on top of her.

"I won't let you take him from me!" Jessica screamed, trying to hit her again, but Bella managed to catch her fist before she could strike, and she kicked her off, scrambling to her feet.

"What the fuck is your problem, Stanley?" Bella yelled. "Are you fucking stupid?"

"He's mine! He's fucking mine!" Jessica screamed again, once more coming at her. But Bella moved, and the girl hit the side of her truck with force before falling to the ground.

"God, you really are stupid, aren't you?" Bella scoffed just moments before Edward, Emmett, Jasper, Ben, Rosalie, Alice, Angela, and Carlisle came rushing to her side. "He doesn't want you, Jessica. He has never wanted you! Get a Goddamn clue!"

"You stole him from me," she wailed, turning onto her butt.

"No, she didn't," Edward said, reaching for her. She allowed him to pull her to her feet, but let go of her hand immediately. "I've told you no so many times. I'm sorry if I didn't make it clear, but I don't have any type of feelings for you. Not romantically, and honestly, not even friendship."

"Why not? What does she have that I don't?"

"Self-esteem?" Bella offered, bringing her hand to her jaw. "Why are you so desperate, Jess? You deserve better than to chase someone who doesn't want you, or to let someone use you."

"What would you know?" Jessica grumbled.

"I know that I would never let a boy treat me like I was only good for one thing," she quipped, looking at Edward before she snatched her phone off the ground. "Let's get out of here. We have a wedding to plan."

"Yeah, okay," he mumbled, glancing at Carlisle before opening the door to her truck.

Bella slid in, scooting to the passenger seat before he followed. She handed him the keys and as he started her truck and pulled out of the parking lot, they watched as Carlisle lectured Jessica Stanley and the others just watched. Bella almost felt sorry for her. Would have if she hadn't punched her?

"Maybe it would be better if we all just left town?"

Bella looked at Edward. "Like all four of us?"

He nodded.

"Do you think they would?"

"Carlisle suggested it this morning."

"Oh."

"What about Esme?"

"Probably," Bella admitted. "But is running away really going to solve our problem?"

"No, but will marriage?"

"No," she agreed. "I don't know what to do, Edward. I just . . . I just want to be with her."

"I know how you feel."

"What'd they say when I walked away?"

Edward rolled his eyes. "They insisted that nothing you said was true, that they've always considered you to be a friend."

Bella scoffed.

"I told them they were full of shit," he added, glancing at her. "If they knew the truth about us, they wouldn't be trying to stand up for us."

"No, they wouldn't." Bella looked out the window. "We deserve better than that, too."

"Yes, we do."

—S&S—

Esme was seated at the dining table when they walked in. She started to smile, but frowned when she stood. "Who hit you?"

"Oh," Bella grumbled, bringing her hand to her face. "Jessica Stanley."

"Why?" she gasped, hurrying over.

"We might have told everyone that we're getting married."

Her eyes widened. "You did?"

"Mostly just to make her cry, which was worth it. But the girl . . . She's batshit crazy."

"No kidding," Edward scoffed, flopping onto the sofa. "How many times do I tell her no before she gets the hint?"

"A million apparently."

Esme shook her head. "You need to ice it."

"No, you need to kiss it," Bella cooed, slipping her arms around her lover's waist. "It's the only thing that will help."

"Is that right?" Esme laughed.

"Yep," Bella smirked, but then moaned when Esme leaned in and kissed her jaw, licking the skin until she was at her ear. "Goddamn it, lover, that feels better already."

"Yeah?"

Bella nodded. "Feel free to continue."

"Eww," Edward grumbled, causing them to snicker.

"Sorry, forgot you were here," Bella quipped, sitting opposite of him.

"Whatever," he mumbled, picking at a string on his shirt. "Is Peter here yet?"

"No, but he and Garrett should be soon." Esme sat next to Bella, sliding his arm around her. "You really shouldn't be jealous of him, Edward. Carlisle . . . Well, he never looked at Peter like he looks at you."

"No, I know. But he has a world of experience, and I . . . I don't. He's my first everything. What if he decides I'm not enough for him?"

"He won't," Esme said, shaking her head.

Carlisle hurried in at that moment, sighing as he flopped down onto the couch, next to Edward and leaning backward. "That little bitch is fucking insane!"

Edward, Bella, and Esme laughed.

"Is she going to get in trouble?" Bella asked.

"I don't know. I called Mr. Greene before I left, told him what she did. He said he would look at the footage and deal with it on Monday, but . . . I don't know, Bella. I don't think he's likely to go against her father. He sits on the school board."

Bella sighed. "Of course he does."

"Well, you did tell everyone that you're getting married," Carlisle quipped.

She raised an eyebrow. "Are you saying this is my fault?"

"No, but what did you think was going to happen? We hadn't decided on anything, but you took it out of our hands!"

"Wow, okay." Bella stood. "Fuck you, coach. I'm just trying to get through the next few months."

"Everyone, calm down!" Esme said, grabbing Bella's hand and pulling her back onto the couch. "Nobody is to blame for what has happened over the last few weeks. Well, except for your fathers, and apparently Jessica Stanley."

"I'm sorry," Carlisle muttered. "I . . . I just . . . I don't know. Life shouldn't be this hard."

"Yeah, well, if life suddenly started being easy, I doubt it would start in high school." Bella leaned her head on Esme's shoulder. "So, what do we do now?"

"I think we have to get married," Edward said, causing them to look at him. He shrugged. "Not sure what choice we have now. My dad kind of threw it out there that I'm gay, your father knows that you're a lesbian. If we get married, nobody is going to believe them if they out us even more, right?"

"I guess not, but just for the record, you aren't putting your penis in me, Edward. Even I have limits."

He gagged, while Esme and Carlisle laughed.

"You're gross, Swan."

"Why? Because I don't want to be penetrated by your penis? I've seen where you put that thing," she snickered.

Their attention was pulled to the door when someone knocked. Sharing a look with everyone, Carlisle stood and walked over, pulling it open. He glanced at Edward before stepping backward and waving Peter and Garrett inside. Like the first time they walked into the house, Garrett was wearing a pair of faded blue jeans with holes in the knees and black T-shirt with a flaming guitar across the chest. Peter was wearing a pair of jeans, too. His didn't have holes and he was wearing a blue button up that had been left untucked.

"Well," he said, clasping his hands in front of him. "The shit has hit the fan, hasn't it?"

"Thanks for stating the obvious," Edward quipped.

"They've issued an all-points bulletin for your father, Edward. Heard there have been sightings of him in Port Angeles, Seattle, and Portland. I've taken the liberty of requesting an order of protection. You're welcome, by the way."

"I didn't thank you, did I?"

Carlisle rolled his eyes.

"I'm trying to help," Peter grumbled.

"I didn't ask for it!"

"Well, too damn bad. If you weren't important to Carlisle, I wouldn't give a damn, but you are. He and I may have a past, but he's my friend — only my friend," he added, glancing at Garrett, who pressed his lips together, "And if he asks for me to help those he loves, then I am going to do it."

"Why?" Bella asked, raising an eyebrow. "He's your ex, isn't he? Why do you care?"

Peter smiled. "Because when Carlisle couldn't give me what I wanted, he led me to the man I was destined to be with." He reached for Garrett, who blushed and took his hand. "Carlisle and I were never going to work, and it was hard for me to accept, but he introduced me to Garrett and I finally know what it's like to be loved. Truly loved."

"You introduced them?" Edward asked, and when Carlisle nodded, he narrowed his eyes and asked, "How'd you know him?"

"Not the way you're thinking," Carlisle said, sitting next to him. "Garrett and I used to teach together in Seattle, while I was in graduate school."

"You're a teacher?" Edward asked.

"Not anymore. Decided I hated working with snot-nosed teenagers who use the word fag like it's the best insult know to man," Garrett said, shrugging his shoulders. "I only got my degree to get my dad off my back."

"Does he know you're gay?" Bella questioned.

"Yeah," Garrett snorted. "He doesn't give a shit that I'm gay. He just wanted me to have a solid career choice. I ain't a teacher, but he's my dad. If he can stand up to the guys at the shop and tell them to fuck off because his kid would rather suck a dick than eat pussy, I could get a degree."

"So, why'd you quit teaching?"

Garrett smiled. "Because when I told him that it made me unhappy, he said I needed to do what would make me happy. So, I bounced from job to job until I met this asshole," he said, tilting his head toward Peter. "Turns out he's the love of my life, so I work for him as a special investigator."

"And it doesn't bother you that he's helping his ex-boyfriend?" Edward asked.

"No. I know that Peter loves me, and only me, Edward."

He nodded, sliding his hand into Carlisle's. "So how are you going to help stop my dad? Because he's . . . he's dangerous."

"Like I said, I have requested an order of protection against him, for you, your mother, and Bella." Peter and Garrett sat next to Bella, who scooted closer to Esme. "I've spoken to Sam and Jared, who have been searching for him. Hopefully they find him sooner rather than later."

"Even if they do, what's going to happen to him?"

"He could get a few years, which is not enough in my opinion. It would help if your mother would press charges."

"She won't," Edward said. "She just got the courage to ask the man for a divorce. There's no way she's going to be brave enough to press charges against him, too."

"Not much we can do then." Peter lobbed his head in Bella's direction. "I should have the results to your father's test Monday morning."

"And you don't have any idea what they'll be?"

"No, I'm sorry. They're keeping it close to the chest. I do know that he was . . . aggressive during the testing, which isn't going to help him any."

Bella nodded, exhaling a deep breath. "So, what do we do now? Just wait?"

"Not much else we can do, I'm afraid. The courts move slow."

"And we're left to pick up the pieces," she quipped, biting the inside of her lip. "Guess we really do have to get married, Masen."

"What?" Peter asked, raising an eyebrow.

"We're getting married," she repeated, gesturing toward Edward.

"Why?" he grimaced.

"His dad all but threw him out of the closet. If we get married, nobody will think twice about him being gay."

"Maybe, but . . ." He shuddered. "It's a bit extreme, don't you think?"

"Yeah." Bella stood and grabbed Esme's hand. "But maybe it's time we went a little extreme for a change." She looked at Esme. "Let's go, love."

Esme nodded, wrapping her hand around the top of Bella's arm before they walked upstairs, leaving the men to sort the details.

—S&S—

The moment their bedroom door closed, Bella spun Esme and pressed her against it. Her mouth claimed her lovers, and she slipped her hands under Esme's shirt, pulling it up.

"Oh, God, Bella," Esme groaned allowing her to remove her top followed immediately by her bra.

Bella wrapped her lips around her nipple. "I need you, love. I need you right now."

"You have me. You'll always have me," Esme promised.

She grinned and stepped backward, pushing her toward the bed. Esme fell backward with a laugh, watching as Bella grabbed the front of her leggings and pulled.

"Lift."

She did as she was told, allowing Bella to remove her leggings and panties, tossing them onto the floor. She placed her hands on Esme's knees, pushing her legs apart. Esme inhaled a sharp breath as she watched Bella lean in and place a kiss on her inner thigh.

"Oh, my God," Esme whimpered.

"Does that feel good, love?"

She nodded.

"I wish I could marry you," Bella whispered as she kissed her way up the woman's thighs. "Make you mine in every way possible."

"I am yours in every way that matters," Esme groaned.

"Not legally. You're wearing his ring, you're his wife, Esme."

She all but tore the gold ring off her left hand and dropped it on the bed. "Yours. Just yours."

Bella smiled before she turned her attention to the crevasse between Esme's thighs. "Is your pussy mine?"

"Yes."

"Just mine?"

"Just yours," Esme breathed heavily. "Every inch of me belongs just to you, sweetheart."

"You bet your sweet ass it does." She leaned down and gave her a slow, torturous lick. "Mmm, so good."

"Please, sweetheart."

"Are you begging for more?"

"Yes!" she whined, wiggling under her.

Bella laughed. "As much as I love when you beg . . ."

She kept her eyes locked on Esme's as she licked her again.

And again.

And again.

Esme was withering beneath her, her chest heaving, Bella's name tumbling from her lips with more and please and sweetheart following. Bella loved the way she responded to her. She didn't need to use toys and gadgets to get Esme to come for her. All she needed was her tongue, her fingers and she had the woman pleading to let her orgasm.

"Oh, my God," Esme cried out, slamming her hand against the mattress. "Baby, I'm close. I'm so fucking close."

"Let go, love. Come for me."

Esme's entire torso arched off the bed, her scream echoing throughout their bedroom. Bella lapped up as much as she could before she leaned forward and kissed her, knowing she could taste herself on her tongue.

"I love you."

"I love you, too. If you don't want to marry Edward, don't. We'll figure something else out. I just don't want to lose you."

"You're not going to lose me, love. Just remember that no matter what happens, if I marry him, don't marry him, you belong to me. And I belong to you."

"Forever?"

"Forever, love."

Thank you for all the AMAZING reviews! See you next Wednesday!