A/N Twilight is the property of Stephanie Meyer. Anya Simms is all mine.

Chapter 10: Play Stupid Games, Win Stupid Prizes

APOV

Monday morning found me standing in front of Forks High School, earlier than usual. I was dressed to impress—palazzo pants in sleek black, a blood-red camisole beneath a fitted midnight black silk jacket. Three-inch heels peeked out from under the wide-legged pants, giving me that extra boost of confidence. My hair was swept up in a French twist, and black pearl drop earrings dangled elegantly from my ears. To top it all off, I held a Georgia O'Keeffe pink Dahlia umbrella to shield myself from the light drizzle that seemed to be a permanent fixture in this town.

One week in, and still migraine-free. I was really starting to enjoy this coma-induced Dreamworld. Or maybe it was the drugs keeping my body alive and not the weather in Forks? I shoved that disturbing thought aside.

Still no derelict truck in the student parking lot, but it was early yet. Maybe today's the day Bella finally makes her grand entrance. I mused.

But then, as if on cue, the Volvo and the Jeep pulled up, sliding into their usual spots with the kind of precision that only the Cullens could manage. I couldn't help but snort lightly as I watched them exit their vehicles, each one moving with that unnatural, synchronized grace.

I walked briskly down the steps toward them, my right hand slipping into my suit pocket to retrieve the small green slips I'd prepared moments earlier—detention notices.

"Excuse me—Edwin Cullen and Jase Hale?" I called out, my tone polite but laced with feigned seriousness. "I need a moment of your time. The others, carry on."

The mind reader and empath exchanged quick glances, the slightest hint of surprise flitting across their otherwise perfect faces. The others didn't break stride, continuing on to class, but Edward and Jasper paused, turning to face me with expressions of polite curiosity.

"It has come to my attention," I began, keeping my voice steady, "that detention assignments fall under the purview of the librarian."

As if we don't have enough on our plates, I thought dryly, resisting the urge to roll my eyes.

"And colour me surprised when I saw that not one, but two of the esteemed Dr. Cullen's sons took it upon themselves to skip science on Friday." I looked pointedly at each of them. "Given your father's profession, one would think you'd have more interest in human anatomy and the cellular structure of blood. But, well, you know what they say about assuming—it only makes an ass out of you and me."

Jasper's eyes flickered with amusement, though he kept his expression neutral. Edward, on the other hand, looked less than thrilled, his jaw tightening ever so slightly. Did he ever get lockjaw?

"So," I continued, handing each of them a green slip, "I expect to see both of you in the library at lunch and for one hour after school each day this week to make up for missing that oh-so-important lecture."

Edward opened his mouth to protest, but I held up a hand, cutting him off. "No excuses. While I suppose it's feasible that you both suffer from vasovagal syncope, a simple medical note excusing your absence would have sufficed. Such a condition is nothing to be embarrassed about."

From the corner of my eye I could see that Jasper's lips twitched as if he were suppressing a smile. His brother was considerably less amused, perhaps he was busing counting to a million in his head.

Channeling my inner Miranda Priestly, I dismissed them with a wave of my hand. "That's all."

I turned on my heel, not waiting for a response, and walked back up the steps with the same briskness I'd started with. I could feel two sets of honey-coloured eyes on my back and another three sets on my front, as their "siblings" were just inside the doors. I had to admit, it was satisfying to have gotten the upper hand, even if just for a moment.

Let them wonder, I thought, a small smile playing on my lips. Today was going to be interesting. But I just couldn't resist. When I reached the door, I turned around to see them still standing there, looking as if they hadn't quite processed what had just happened.

With an exasperated look, I called out, "I suggest you get a wiggle on, boys. Don't want to add tardiness to your growing stack of infractions, now, do we?"

They both stared back at me, their expressions a mix of surprise and begrudging respect.

"Oh, and feel free to bring your lunch with you," I added, waving the umbrella slightly for emphasis. "Given the state the library's in, a few breadcrumbs won't be an issue."

With that, I turned back around and strode into the building, my heels clicking with each step. I could still feel their gazes on me, and I couldn't help but chuckle to myself. This was going to be an interesting week. Emmett, off to my left, was laughing, while Alice and Rose were madly texting on their phones.

My office phone was ringing before I had even reached the library—Forks General Hospital, the caller display read. I hesitated for a moment, then decided to ignore it, choosing instead to focus my attention on my MP3 player. Whatever it is can wait, I thought as I slipped the earbuds in and scrolled through my playlist.

Guns N' Roses, I decided, letting the familiar riff of Welcome to the Jungle fill my ears. It was the perfect soundtrack to tackle the next task on my list: organizing my actual office. After finally discovering it buried under the toxic waste dump of last week's clean sweep, I was ready to reclaim the space.

I pushed open the door to my smallish office and surveyed the scene. It wasn't as bad as the rest of the library had been, but it still had that neglected, forgotten vibe to it. Stacks of old papers, outdated textbooks, and random supplies cluttered the desk and shelves. But I was ready to take it on, one rock anthem at a time.

Time to make this place my own, I thought, unbuttoning my suit jacket to get more comfortable and diving in, the music driving me forward. The hospital could wait.

The honey-coloured-eyed doctor was nothing if not persistent that morning.

Wrestling a semi-antiquated shredder out from under my desk, the phone kept ringing, its insistent chirp blending into the background noise of Guns N' Roses. I began to worry for the safety of the patients in the Emerge, as I fed yet another stack of old papers into the machine.

It worked for about an hour, the phone calls gradually becoming a distant, ignorable hum. But just as I was getting into the rhythm of clearing out the clutter, the harried figure of Ms. Quincy, the school secretary, appeared at my door.

"You've got an urgent call to take in the office," she said, her voice carrying that edge of insistence that only comes with truly necessary interruptions.

Urgent my ass, I thought, but I could see from her expression that this was not a request I could easily brush off. With a resigned sigh, I paused the music, gave the shredder a final, reluctant glance, and dutifully followed her to the main office.

What could be so pressing that it couldn't wait until lunch? I sarcastically wondered, as we made our way through the halls. The idea of answering a call I had clearly indicated I was not interested in having, annoyed me. But something in Ms. Quincy's expression told me this wasn't going to be a battle I could win.

Alright, Dr. Persistent, I thought, let's see what you've got to say. Or were you planning to dazzle me over the phone?

I couldn't help but snort at the random thought which seemed to confound Ms. Quincy walking at my side. I quickly coughed, "Apologies, the dust in the library is unrelenting." Clearing my throat, I mentally girded myself for this call confident I would not be easily swayed by a smooth voice. After all, I was hired for my exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail. Well at least that's why American Anya was hired for. On the other hand, maybe that's why she accepted the position, as she had been dazzled by the good doctor during her interview. Lucky for her, I refused to be dazzled.

That and I had read the contract, student handbook, not to mention the codes of conduct for staff, students and parents.

Okay, so maybe I didn't clean every single moment I was in the library my first week. Reading and librarian kinda seem to go hand in hand so I didn't feel that bad about slacking. And hell, that's where I had that fleeting thought on Friday about how today was gonna be the shit.

So, as I stepped into the office and reached for the phone, I steeled myself, prepared to handle whatever the good doctor had to say with the same precision and efficiency that had gotten me hired in the first place. Well, American Anya. You know what I mean.

I took a deep breath, lifted the receiver, and pressed it to my ear, "Good morning, Anya Simms speaking, how may I help you?" I said, keeping my tone crisp and professional.

"Ms. Simms, Dr. Carlisle Cullen here," came the smooth, calm voice from the other end. I could practically hear the smile in his tone, but I wasn't about to let that faze me.

"Ahh, Dr. Cullen," I acknowledged, glancing over at Ms. Quincy, who gave me an encouraging nod before retreating to her desk. "Before I forget, I never did get a chance to thank you and you wife last week for your assistance after my accident. To what do I owe the pleasure of this call?"

"I wanted to discuss the detention notices you issued to my sons this morning," he began, his tone polite but with an underlying current of concern. "I understand they missed their biology class on Friday, but I believe there may have been a misunderstanding."

Here we go. The 'misunderstood' card. "Oh, I don't think there's any misunderstanding, Dr. Cullen. I'm quite certain I assigned detentions to Edwin and Jase after confirming their unexcused absence on Friday. According to the student handbook that warrants detention. And as the librarian, it's my duty to enforce that rule." I twirled the phone cord around my fingers as if I had all the time in the world.

There was a slight pause before Dr. McVampy continued, "I believe you meant Edward and Jasper."

No, I very much meant Edwin and Jase. "Yes, Edward and Jasper. My apologies, Dr. Cullen. I'll happily refer to them by their correct names once your family, adhere to the student and parent codes of conduct respectively. As you may recall, both they and you along with your lovely wife Esme, all signed those documents at the start of the school year. Perhaps I should email a copy to refresh your memory?"

"That won't be necessary." he replied smoothly. "However, I wanted to explain that both boys have a… certain sensitivity when it comes to blood. The science lesson in question involved blood samples, and they felt it was in their best interest, and the interest of their classmates, to excuse themselves."

Ah, sensitivity when it comes to blood, is that the PC way of saying rampant uncontrollable bloodlust?

"Yes, of course," I couldn't help but smirk at his carefully worded explanation. "Well, Dr. Cullen, while I appreciate your concern, the school's policy is quite clear. If they had provided a medical note explaining their condition, this could have been avoided. Unfortunately, that didn't happen."

There was a brief pause on the other end of the line, and I imagined him considering his next move. I took the time to examine my manicure and to ponder if Forks had a good nail salon.

"Ms. Simms," he began again, his voice taking on a slightly more persuasive tone, "I understand you're following protocol, but I'm sure you can appreciate that my sons were trying to avoid an unpleasant situation for everyone involved."

Oh, he's good, I thought, feeling the slightest tug of sympathy. An unpleasant situation is an interesting expression for murderous rampage. "Yes, you are quite right, fainting at the sight of blood can be a traumatic experience for teenage boys. However, that still does not change the fact that the rules were broken. I, too, as staff have my own code of conduct to follow. I cannot be expected to break them as well. Anarchy could follow." I replied, my tone firm but not unkind. "They'll serve their detention, and I'll be sure to keep the tasks appropriate. No blood samples involved; I assure you."

There was another pause, longer this time, and I could tell he was weighing his options. I looked over at Ms. Quincy desk to see if she had a Yellow Pages I could borrow.

"Very well," he said finally, his voice still calm but with a note of resignation. "Thank you for your time, Ms. Simms. I appreciate your understanding."

"Of course, Dr. Cullen," I said, allowing a small smile to touch my lips. "Have a good day."

"You as well," he replied before the line went dead.

I turned, catching Ms. Quincy's curious glance. "All handled," I said with a confident nod, and headed back to my office, ready to continue my day. Though disappointed there was no Yellow Pages on the secretary's neat desk. It's probably buried in the library.

I'll admit I was slightly nervous when lunch time rolled around. I had made a point to slip into the cafeteria early to heat up my lunch so that I would not need to leave while the boys completed their detention duties. If I was stuck in this twisted version of Forks, dealing with vampires masquerading as high school students, I might as well make them earn their keep. Why should I be left to do all the heavy lifting? American Anya's salary was competitive but not that good to justify throwing my back out.

I adjusted the blood-red camisole under my midnight black suit jacket, catching a glimpse of myself in the small mirror I'd hung in my office. The colour was deliberate, of course—a little nod to the whole "creature of the night" aesthetic. And why not? If these little shits were going to haunt my every step, I might as well have some fun with it. The irony wasn't lost on me. Blood red. A librarian practically commanding vampires to move boxes. It would be hilarious if it weren't about to be true in a few moments.

The library had been a complete disaster when I first walked in a week ago, and though I'd made some progress, there was still a mountain—or several dozen crates—of work left to do. Enter Edward and Jasper, who were about to learn that a librarian's wrath was a force to be reckoned with.

I heard the door creak open, and I didn't bother to look up from the pile of catalogues from publishers, I need to start thinking of adding new blood to the collection as it were. Heavy footsteps—deliberate, but with that unnatural grace they couldn't quite hide—approached my desk. I let them stew for a moment, counting the seconds in my head. Let them think I'm too busy to care. Let them remember who's in charge here.

The adult.

Though Jasper was twenty when he was turned. God isn't this charade of being a high schooler beneath him?

Finally, I looked up, my gaze cool and measured. Edward and Jasper stood before me, their expressions carefully neutral, though I could see the annoyance simmering in Edward's eyes. Jasper's expression held that twinge of mirth I was beginning to expect from him. If I were the empath, I would almost think he was looking forward to detention as much as I did.

"Welcome to your first day of detention," I said, setting aside the catalogues with a soft thud. I didn't bother to stand; sitting gave me the advantage, forcing them to look down, which was fine by me. "I trust you're both familiar with the reason you're here."

Edward opened his mouth, probably to offer some excuse or challenge, but I raised a hand, silencing him. "No need to explain. You missed a very important science class, one that your father and I discussed at great length earlier this morning. I must say, bothering the busy doctor saving lives to get you out of detention seems a little childish does it not?"

That earned a reaction. Edward's eyes narrowed slightly, but he kept his mouth shut this time. Smart boy.

Jasper was trying his best to contain his laughter. If he didn't stop emoting, I too would have trouble keeping up the charade of stern annoyed librarian.

"Now," I continued, standing up and moving around my desk, if only to provide a little distance from the blond empath, "today's task is simple. We have a number of boxes that need to be moved and catalogued. These aren't just any boxes—they're heavy, dusty, and full of neglected books that deserve to be properly shelved. Or recycled depending on what you discover. You'll be moving them, one by one, from the back storage room to the main floor. Then, you'll catalog each book by title, author, and condition."

I watched their reactions closely. Edward looked like he was restraining himself from rolling his eyes, while Jasper simply nodded, his eyes dancing in contained amusement. Aha! The empath finds broody Eddie boy as annoying as I do!

"Is that clear?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes, Ms. Simms," Jasper replied smoothly, with the hint of a Southern drawl that always seemed to slip through when he was trying to be especially polite. Edward just nodded curtly, clearly not in the mood for conversation.

"Good." I handed them each a clipboard and a pen, pointing toward the back room. "The boxes are in there. Be careful—some of those books are old and fragile. I'd hate to have to add property damage to your list of infractions."

Did I mention that I only provided them with red pens?

When Edward's eyes flicked to the red pen, I couldn't resist the small, satisfied smile that tugged at the corner of my mouth. "Ah, yes," I said almost matter-of-factly, "the only pens that I've been able to uncover in this library. It's a bit like an archeological dig. Perhaps you'll find more in the boxes."

I lied; they were from home, but they didn't need to know that. I had yet to uncover any writing instruments in the library so it was quite feasible they might be in one of the boxes I was expecting them to catalogue.

Edward was unamused though Jasper seemed to take it in stride. Remind me again who the struggling vampire was supposed to be?

"Don't worry," I continued, turning to lead them towards the back of the library where the boxes were stored. "This isn't just about lifting boxes. Consider it a learning experience. You'll be evaluating the state of the books as you go. Think of it as providing feedback on their condition. If anything's beyond saving, note it down."

Jasper couldn't help but chuckle, a soft sound that made Edward glance at him with a mix of confusion and irritation. I could almost hear his thoughts—what could possibly be funny about this? But Jasper just shook his head slightly, his shoulders still shaking with silent laughter as we reached the storage room.

Edward's face was a careful mask of indifference, but I didn't miss the slight tightening of his jaw. He didn't like being out of the loop, and he liked even less that Jasper was in on the joke. Too bad. I wasn't here to make them comfortable. Hmm yes, this man-child most definitely would be on his way to TMJ or bad teeth from all of his jaw tightening. Can a vampire grind their teeth down to a nub?

"Remember," I said, opening the door and stepping aside so they could see the stacks of boxes waiting inside, "I expect thorough notes. I'm sure you'll do just fine. After all, how hard can it be to give a book the Red Pen Treatment?"

I stayed back as they stepped passed me, watching them move with that eerie, fluid grace. Jasper shot me one last look over his shoulder, a silent thank you for the entertainment before he bent to pick up the first box. Edward, however, didn't look back. He just grabbed a box and started moving, determined to get through this as quickly as possible.

I leaned against the stack, arms crossed, allowing myself a small smile. If nothing else, this was going to be an interesting lunch hour.

Time passed with the quiet efficiency I'd come to expect from them. Edward worked with a kind of robotic precision, each movement crisp and controlled as I popped in my earbuds, letting the familiar riff of Pink Floyd's Another Brick in the Wall pulse through my veins. Jasper, on the other hand, was more relaxed, his expression somewhere between amusement and curiosity. I didn't miss the way his foot tapped along to the beat of my music, barely perceptible but there.

Me? I couldn't resist humming softly under my breath as the song hit its chorus, the words slipping out without a second thought. The music was my lifeline in this Dreamworld where teenage boys moved like dancers and sulked like toddlers.

When the bell rang, signaling the end of the lunch hour, Edward was the first to break. He strode to my desk with that deliberate, almost stiff gait of his, slamming his clipboard down with enough force to rattle the loose papers. He didn't say a word, didn't even look at me, just turned on his heel and stalked out of the library, his shoulders tense.

I didn't bother stopping my music or removing my earbuds. "Nice to see teenage angst is still alive and well," I called after him, though he was already gone. No doubt his perfect vampiric hearing picked up every word.

Jasper chuckled softly; the sound almost drowned out by the guitar solo blasting through my earbuds. He handed me his clipboard with a polite nod, his fingers tapping along to the beat of the song. "Sorry about Edward," he said, his voice tinged with the faintest hint of apology. "He can be… a bit intense."

I glanced at the notes he'd made, finding them surprisingly thorough. "Intense, huh? I'd call it sulking," I replied, removing my earbuds, and cradling them in my hand. "But I guess it's hard being told what to do when you're so used to everyone else bending over backwards for you."

Jasper gave a small, wry smile. "You're not wrong," he admitted. "But he'll be fine. Eventually."

"Well," I said, setting the clipboard down and meeting Jasper's gaze, "make sure he knows that I expect both of you back here after school. We're not done, and I'd hate to have to drag him back myself."

Jasper chuckled, the sound low and genuine. "Understood. We'll be here."

"Good," I replied, my tone firm but not unkind. "And Jasper, tell your brother to work on that attitude. I don't have time to babysit sulky teenage boys, no matter how special they think they are. And really, he complained to your father about detention? What age is he? Five?"

Jasper's smile widened slightly. "He does have a flair for the dramatic," he admitted, his tone light but with a trace of brotherly exasperation. "Though I'd say he's a bit more stubborn than a five-year-old."

I raised an eyebrow, crossing my arms as I leaned back against the desk. "Stubborn is one way to put it. But if he thinks he can avoid this by running to Daddy, he's got another thing coming."

Jasper chuckled again, shaking his head slightly. "Trust me, I'll make sure he understands that. He's not exactly used to being called out like this."

"Well, it's about time someone did," I replied, my tone firm. "He's not going to get special treatment just because he's... 'intense.'"

I let the word hang in the air for a moment before sliding my eyes to the clock behind Jasper's head, noting the time. My tone softened slightly as I added, "Jasper, I suggest you get a wiggle on it. Wouldn't want you to be late for your next class."

Jasper's smile returned, a little wider this time, clearly appreciating the shift in tone. "Wouldn't want that," he agreed, his voice carrying that subtle, ever-present hint of amusement. He gave a nod of acknowledgment before turning to leave. When he reached the door, he glanced back over his shoulder, a spark of something almost like mischief in his eyes. "We'll see you after school, Ms. Simms. I'll make sure Edward gets the memo."

I offered a small nod, watching as he exited the library with that easy, fluid grace. Satisfied, I allowed myself a brief smile before turning back to my desk. There was still work to do, and I had a feeling the rest of the day would be just as interesting as the lunch hour had been.

I'm not ashamed to admit that I might have ogled him as he left the library. What? He is an adult. I think.

Three thirty arrived sooner than I expected. The library had been blissfully quiet since lunch, but the lull was about to end. In the intervening hours, I'd managed to dig out a small sound system from one of the storage closets, along with some cables that miraculously still worked. I hooked up my MP3 player, craving a richer sound than my earbuds could provide. While rock music was my usual go-to, there were times when I needed a full-body experience—something that made the floor hum and the air buzz. Plus, it was nice to give my ears a break.

True to his word, Jasper ensured his brother was in tow. They arrived with that same eerie grace, moving in sync like they'd done this a thousand times before. I didn't bother with a formal greeting—just pointed to the clipboards and notes I'd left on the desk and gave a quick nod toward the back. More boxes, more books.

Edward, ever the brooder, had apparently decided the red Bic pen wasn't good enough for his delicate sensibilities. He pulled out his own fountain pen, a sleek, pretentious thing that looked like it belonged in a 19th-century writer's study. Jasper, catching my eye, subtly rolled his eyes and mouthed, "intense," before taking up the red Bic with no complaints.

I had to stifle a laugh as I turned back to the sound system, cuing up one of my playlists. The first few notes of a classic rock anthem filled the air, and I couldn't help but sing along as I returned to my desk, tapping my fingers in time with the beat. Edward, predictably, ignored the music, his focus entirely on the task at hand, while Jasper seemed to settle into the rhythm of the work, his foot tapping along just like earlier.

After a few tracks, Kate Bush's Wuthering Heights began to play, the ethereal intro washing over the room. I couldn't resist—the song was a guilty pleasure, and before I knew it, I was softly singing along to the haunting melody.

Out on the wiley, windy moors, we'd roll and fall in green...

When the chorus hit, I sang out a little louder, letting the emotion of the song carry me. "Heathcliff, it's me, I'm Cathy, I've come home, I'm so cold, let me in-a-your window…"

Singing those words, a sudden burst of laughter escaped me. The absurdity of it all struck like a bolt—Edward Cullen, the real-life Heathcliff, lurking outside Bella's window, brooding and intense. I couldn't help but picture him standing there, all dark and mysterious, obliviously to the ever-present drizzle of the Pacific Northwest, waiting for her to invite him in like some kind of tortured spirit. The comparison was too perfect.

Edward's head snapped up, his expression immediately darkening. His lips pressed into a thin line, annoyance radiating off him in waves. Clearly, he wasn't in the mood to be the butt of my private joke.

But what caught me off guard was Jasper. Instead of just ignoring my little outburst, he was singing along too, his voice low but perfectly in tune. He even added a touch of drama to his voice, leaning into the chorus with a knowing smirk that was clearly directed at his brother.

"It's me, I'm Cathy, I've come home…" Jasper's voice blended with mine, and I couldn't help but grin.Damn, even their singing was perfection!

God even their voices are heavenly. I shook that thought aside as I watched the two brothers battled it out silently. Did Jasper think to Edward and Edward emoted back? Hunh. It would probably be rude of me to ask so instead I kept singing as I watched Edward emote hmmm annoyance. No! Petulance! Jasper just shrugged, utterly unbothered. He even winked at me as the song wound down, as if to say, What can you do?

I bit my lip to keep from laughing again and turned the volume down slightly, just enough to let the song fade into the background. Edward's fountain pen scratched angrily against the paper, his mood darkening the entire room, but I couldn't bring myself to care. I was in the Dreamworld and I was leaning into this as hard as I could. Damn I wish I had popcorn for the entertainment.

Finally, Edward couldn't hold back. He looked up from his notes, his eyes narrowing in that intense way of his. "What exactly do you find so amusing?" he asked, his voice cold but edged with genuine curiosity.

I paused, meeting his gaze with a calm smile. He was trying so hard to maintain his stoic, mysterious façade, but his frustration was seeping through the cracks. And without his usual mind-reading advantage which I was confident was driving his behaviour, I could see how much my own behaviour was throwing him off.

I reveled in it.

"Oh, nothing you'd understand," I said, waving a hand dismissively before letting my eyes drift back to the pile of books on my desk. Then, unable to resist, I added with a playful grin, "But seriously, Edward, you're too young to be all broody and intense. You keep frowning like that, and you'll end up with wrinkles."

Jasper snorted quietly from the other side of the room.

Edward stiffened, clearly not amused by the jab. "I'm not—" he began, but I cut him off, leaning forward slightly, my smile widening.

"Lighten up a bit," I suggested, my tone gentler now. "You're still in high school, you know. You've got your whole life ahead of you—might as well enjoy it while you can. There's more to life than being so serious all the time."

Edward stared at me, his expression unreadable for a moment, as if he was trying to figure out if I was genuinely offering advice or just mocking him. Finally, he looked away, the frown still tugging at his lips, but his grip on the pen loosened just a fraction.

"I don't think you understand," he muttered, almost to himself, before refocusing on his work.

Oh, she absolutely understands. I had to bite back an eye roll, thinking of all the times Meyer waxed poetic about how broody and intense this young vampire was. The endless descriptions of his tortured soul, his deep, pensive gaze. If I had a dollar for every time those came up in book club, I'd have been able to afford a much better sound system. Except that was back in Montreal, but you get what I mean.

But instead of letting the sarcasm slip out, I took a breath and opted for a different approach. "Maybe not," I said, my tone measured as I conceded the point. "I'm not a teenage boy, that's true. But I do have a little life experience, and I can tell you that whatever this is you're going through… in the grand scheme of things, it's not worth all this—" I gestured vaguely at him— "intensity."

Edward looked up again, his eyes narrowing slightly as if weighing whether or not to take my words seriously. Was he emoting defensiveness or surprise? It was a bit hard to tell the difference with him.

"I don't expect you to understand," he repeated after a moment, his tone still guarded but less cold than before.

I felt a smile tugging at the corners of my mouth, the perfect retort forming almost instantly. Oh, Edward, I thought, you've just handed me this on a silver platter.

"Maybe not," I began, my voice tinged with playful sarcasm. "But you know, you remind me an awful lot of Heathcliff."

Edward's eyes snapped up to meet mine, a flicker of confusion mixed with annoyance crossing his features. Clearly, he hadn't expected that. God if he were human all that head snapping would result in a visit to the chiropractor.

I leaned back in my chair, crossing my arms as I continued. "You know, from Wuthering Heights? The brooding, the intensity, the lurking outside windows... It's quite the resemblance."

From the corner of my eye, I saw Jasper's shoulders start to shake, his efforts to suppress laughter becoming increasingly futile. His eyes were bright and dare I say alive? Whatever it was it was very evident he was thoroughly enjoying having his brother's ass handed to him like this.

Edward's jaw tightened, a mix of irritation and something else—embarrassment, perhaps? —playing across his face. "I don't lurk outside windows," he retorted, his voice strained.

I couldn't help but laugh, the sound filling the room. "Sure you don't," I replied, my tone dripping with mock innocence. "But if you ever decide to, just remember to sing 'I'm so cold, let me in-a-your window...' It's only fitting."

At that, Jasper couldn't hold back any longer. A snort escaped him, followed by a cascade of laughter that he tried—and failed—to muffle with his hand. Edward shot him a withering glare, but Jasper merely shrugged, tears of mirth glistening in his eyes. God that laugh, truly is like tinkling bells. He should do that more often.

"Sorry, Edward," Jasper managed between chuckles, "but she's got a point."

Edward huffed; his frustration palpable. "I fail to see the humour," he muttered, pointedly returning his attention to the clipboard in his hand.

I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the desk as I looked at him. "Lighten up, Heathcliff," I teased, "Life's too short to be this serious all the time. Or in your case, perhaps it's too long?"

Jasper burst into another fit of laughter, nearly doubling over. Even I had to admit that last jab was a bit on the nose, but the opportunity was too good to pass up. What were they going to do? Drain me dry in the library?

Edward closed his eyes for a moment, taking what seemed to be an unnecessary breath—a human habit he probably didn't need but still adhered to. When he opened them again, the annoyance had dimmed slightly, replaced by a resigned acceptance.

I know, high school is hell. And your family seems intent to repeat it ad nauseum. This is my second go around and I'm ready to stab my eye out after only a week.

"Fine," he said quietly, the word barely audible over Jasper's lingering chuckles. "Perhaps I have been... intense."

I raised an eyebrow, surprised by the concession. "Was that an admission?" I asked, feigning shock.

He glanced at me, a hint of a smile—however small—tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Don't push your luck," he warned, but the edge in his voice had softened.

I chuckled, leaning back once more. "Fair enough."

As the haunting strains of Wuthering Heights began to fade, the unmistakable opening chords of Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit blasted through the speakers. The abrupt shift in energy was electric, and I couldn't help but grin as the iconic riff filled the room. It was as if the universe had just handed me the perfect soundtrack to underscore Edward's reluctant acknowledgment.

Jasper immediately picked up on the shift, his grin widening as he tapped his pen to the beat, clearly enjoying the irony. Meanwhile, Edward's expression tightened just a bit, but this time, it seemed more out of exasperation than actual annoyance.

"Now this," I said, turning the volume up a notch, "is what you should be channeling, Edward. A little rebellion, a little 'I'm-so-over-it' attitude. Much better for your health than all that brooding."

Jasper outright laughed; the sound infectious as he bobbed his head to the music. "She's got you there, Edward," he teased, his eyes gleaming with mirth. Yeah, music to my ears that laughter.

Edward sighed, the faintest hint of a smirk playing on his lips as he shook his head. "I suppose next you'll be telling me to get a flannel shirt and start a grunge band?"

I grinned, holding his gaze. "Only if you're serious about lightening up. Besides, you've already got the angst down."

The sarcasm hung in the air for a moment before Jasper burst into laughter once more, the infectious energy of the song making it impossible for him to keep a straight face. Do vampires get belly aches from laughing?

Even Edward, despite his best efforts, couldn't completely hide the amusement that flickered in his eyes. He shook his head again, this time with something close to resignation. "You're relentless."

"And you're starting to see the light," I shot back, winking at Jasper, who gave me a mock salute in return.

Damn that's right, he's a confederate officer! I wonder what he looked like in uniform?

As Smells Like Teen Spirit powered on, filling the library with its raw, rebellious energy, I felt a strange sense of satisfaction.

Detention had never felt so... liberating.