Chapter 11: Ensuring Our Future

I opened my eyes to greet the morning, only to be accosted by the colour purple. Rather than disgust and a frown, I smiled. A purple comforter covering me meant that I was at Bella's house, in Bella's bed. And that meant that I was still Bella Swan. Smiling at the fact that my prayers continued to be answered in my favour, I excitedly got up and started my morning routine.

Getting ready for school was far less of a chore in this house, as there were no annoying little brothers who needed help or got in the way. Then, there was the added bonus that I could have whatever I wanted for breakfast. In fact, Chief Swan had a great collection of cereals, including ones my mother determined to be faux food and thus not worthy of her money, but man did the selection in his cupboard taste good. What did my mother know?

Bella was so lucky, and I doubted she even appreciated it. She seemed more like the type that was so spoiled that she thought that she was entitled to her blessings and whined about what she didn't have. For sure since she arrived to Forks she had been acting like everyone fawning over her was below her and that the likes of Forks students weren't worth the time of day.

Forks was likely a pass over for her, while the likes of Mike and me were in it for the long haul. It was one of the many reasons that made us being together obvious. One day Mike would be given his parents' shop and I'd be there every step of the way supporting him, while the likes of Bella and Mandy would be long gone. How many times had Mandy told me that Forks was too small for her and that she was leaving at the first opportunity? Girls like them would only break Mike's heart. I was saving him all that trouble.

Arriving at school, I found Mike's group hanging by Jessica's car.

Before I could get to Mike, Jessica intercepted me. "What were you saying to Edward in Biology?"

"Ugh," I replied, displaying my frustration. "He has refused to participate and expects me to do all the work. I was trying to convince him to do his part, so that I won't fail the class."

Jessica looked shocked and whispered, "Mr. Banner always said that Edward was the smartest of the class." Her face turned calculating, like she was trying to puzzle it out.

Not wanting her to get a stupid idea in her head, I mocked confided in her, "I think that he has something against me," knowing how quickly she spread information.

"Is that why you asked me the first day he was back after being out sick if he looked angry at you?" she questioned, clearly excited by getting this juicy piece of information.

"He has hated me since I first sat next to him, like he's too good to sit next to the likes of me," I told her. Then, giving in to my desire for pettiness, I added, lowering my voice even more, "I bet he's just upset that the seat is filled with someone who isn't you. He seems like the kind of guy who likes to play hard to get. I mean, you're clearly a good match to him. Maybe we could convince Mr. Banner to switch us?"

Jessica smiled widely and in appreciation, but her eyes were hesitant.

"I dislike him, Jess, for real," I told her emphatically. "He's all yours. I'd be happy for you, truly."

She smiled in a secret cunning way.

Since I had started at Forks High, it had been obvious that Jessica was into Edward, while she repulsed him. So, the likelihood that encouraging Jessica would make Edward's life worse was an added bonus in my book. It was a win-win-win for me! It's what he gets for being such an asshole, anyway.

Inside I was pleased at how my years being Mandy's friend was paying off, even if she had turned her bitchiness towards me. To Jessica I nodded my head and smiled like she would solve all my problems. This was as close as leverage against Edward I had come across. The Protectors might not be around, but he lived in the human world, and thus was subject to human rules. Whether it be enough to get him to leave my body alone and help me in Biology was questionable.

Walking the few more steps to Mike, I kissed his cheek. "Morning Mike."

He blinked like he was in a stupor and then smiled widely.

Wrapping his arms around me, he pulled me in close and kissed my forehead in an easy comfortable way. My smile matched his. I was so happy.

Ben and Eric had stopped and stared at us for a few seconds, and then the moment was gone, and they continued on.

Mike's body language said that he was proud and boastful. As I pressed myself into him, at first I hadn't known what to make of the strange hard element on my hip, but when it twitched, the light had dawned in my head. It was a part of his anatomy that my only knowledge of was due to sex ed class and changing my brothers' diapers. But theirs were tiny and never compared to the pictures in sex ed. I guess learning about these things was something Mike could teach me. What I did know was that boys liked touching it. My brothers touched theirs often enough.

My mother's warnings ran in my head about sex being precious between two people who loved each other. Good thing Mike and I were on our way to that point, as Leah had taught me that sex was an important step towards marriage. I was worried about getting pregnant a little. It wasn't like I was going to ask Chief Swan. I told myself not to worry. One thing sex ed had been clear on was how condoms prevented pregnancy, although could fail if not used properly. If it did fail, and I got pregnant, would that really be a bad thing? Mike's parents for sure would insist that he be responsible, marry me, and raise our child. The thought turned me off some, as it was less than romantic. I'd given up my family for us. We were meant to be. We didn't need anything like that. Yet, there was no way that I wasn't going to do everything in my power to make sure we got our happily ever after. So, although getting pregnant on purpose seemed rude, I wasn't willing to rule it out entirely, in the miniscule chance that Mike might need the push to see the truth. Still, I'd have to think it through all the way, as there could be invisible consequences, much like the swap.

I was curious if Leah was accurate that Mike, like all boys, liked it being rubbed, even through clothes. Playing innocent, I moved myself in a way to rub against it, acting like my change of position was because I had been uncomfortable. The movement seemed to get to him, as he pulled me into him tighter. Proving Leah correct had never felt better.

At the warning bell we separated and Mike walked me to my class. He pouted when we had to part ways and let go of each other's hands. It totally made my morning! Just when it seemed like things couldn't get better, they did!

Classes were still going way over my head. It was the one part of my plan that I hadn't solved. I really couldn't afford to fail the 11th grade. Maybe I could get Mike to tutor me. Then again, did I really want Mike to know how much I didn't know?

At lunch, I sat next to Mike on his right, while he talked more game stuff with the guys on his left. Most of the time I kept my hand on his thigh, running my palm up and down with my fingers brushing against his jeans. I noticed that the further up his thigh my hand went, the shallower his breathing became. I assumed that was a good thing, as he looked similar to when I kissed him.

His hand had been lazily resting across the back of my chair, curled around my right shoulder in a greater degree as lunch progressed, as if he were claiming me.

I was pleased as punch.

In Biology I had barely sat down when Edward turned to me. "Truce?"

I was proud of myself for getting under his skin.

However, I was unwilling to give an inch, so retorted under my breath, "Was war declared?"

Once more, he gave nothing away. "You don't want to fail, right?" he checked, in a tone like he was doing me a favour.

"No thanks to you," I bit back, gazing into his ever darkening eyes.

They were sinister and spoke of evil deeds, but I wasn't going to show fear. What struck me as odd was how this body didn't exhibit any fear responses in his presence. Certainly, I could remember before the body swap having at least a little sweat if any of the Cullens looked my way. Maybe there was something wrong with Bella. Like her lack of coordination, she lacked the correct responses for being in the proximity to a killer.

He closed his eyes for a second or two, and it almost seemed like he was holding his breath.

"I'm willing to help," he replied smoothly, as if my previous tone had been politely pleasant.

"Oh, yeah?" I checked my eyebrow rising, absolutely willing to use everything to my advantage.

"You stay my lab partner, and I'll help you pass the labs," he offered.

Eying him carefully, I rebutted, "I'll stay your lab partner, you'll help me pass the labs, and give me your notes, which will include Biology for dummies step by step guides."

His eyes widened a little like he was taken back.

"And," I added under my breath, "You stay away from Jamerica."

His eyes narrowed and his head nodded just the slightest bit, like my words confirmed something for him.

"You don't frighten me mister Cullen," I stated lowly. "Others might find you intimidating, but I know that your father keeps you declawed."

His eyes narrowed and his nostrils' flared, but as predicted he did nothing.

Eventually through gritted teeth he bit back, "And if I decline?"

"I'm sure Jessica would be thrilled," I stated, ensuring my tone suggested how much Jessica would enjoy the proximity to him.

After a few more moments of evaluating me, where I refused to back down and held his gaze, he nodded in acceptance.

Turning back to the front, I said nothing more, keeping my glee from showing. No one likes a boastful winner, I reminded myself.

True to his word, through the period he participated as a lab partner and wasn't a complete ass to me, although his eyes remained black the entire time, so he probably was mad about it. Served him right, if you asked me.

As the bell rang to end Biology, for the first time, since the switch, I longed for Leah. I wanted to run into her house, pull her into her room, and tell her how I got a Cullen to do my bidding. She would stare at me in awe and think I was badass.

Paying less attention in gym than was probably safe, I tried to figure out how to get into contact with her without Sue or Billy or Jacob figuring out what we had done. She and I were stupid to not set up some way to stay in touch after the swap. There had been so many details we hadn't considered, since we were basically certain it wouldn't work.

After school I had followed Mike to his parents' store and we had chatted between the few customers he had before his mother showed up and kicked me out in a huff. I then drove to Port Angeles and bought a new bra and underwear for our date. Once more the staff were helpful, even suggesting colours that would compliment my skin tone or designs that would give me more cleavage. It was almost like being a princess. It was a night and day difference in comparison to the hostile stares and ugly energy that had been my norm in stores before the swap. For a brief moment my mother's words about what it meant to be seen in society as a Black woman flew through my mind. Refusing to consider that my mother might have been right, I decided that the difference in treatment was because of me having money to spend, which was almost never the case previously.

Driving back to Forks, I basked in how drastically my life had improved in ways more than dating Mike. I had money to spend, time alone, little supervision, a car, and help in stores. Ma's voice lingered in the back of my mind, telling me stories of driving while black, discrimination in job promotions, and other things to expect as a black woman. Maybe she had experienced some of those things, but it was the 21st century. Those problems were in the past. For each time I told myself these two statements, a flash of how differently I had been treated since the swap passed through my mind. I refused to agree with my mom. Those people, like Mrs. Cope, were the exceptions. People weren't treated differently because of the colour of their skin. How many times had Mandy told me that? As soon as my mind began to ponder the possibility of Ma's words, I rejected the thought. No way in hell was there even the tiniest possibility that Mike treated me differently because of my appearance. Soul mates knew each other. It was just about acknowledging what was truth.

Despite my mental certainty, doubt lingered, causing me to be increasingly angry at my mother. It was her fault for placing such doubt of others inside of me. I wasn't going to be like her, no way.

Even though it was after dinnertime when I arrived back at Chief Swan's house, he wasn't there. Rummaging through the kitchen, I found some snacks and took them to my room, starting on my homework. Not only did I want to pass, but also it was a good distraction from my previous inner debate. Spanish was the easiest, so got that out of the way first. Next was English, as it was reading, and a little of writing, which although contained some things I didn't know, wasn't terrible. The same was true of Government. Math and Biology were horrible. If I couldn't figure them out, they were going to give me away.

A little after eight Chief Swan brought home pizza. Thanking him, as I had begun to worry about food for the night, I ate a slice in the kitchen and then using homework as an excuse, asked if I could eat the rest in my room.

He agreed easily and then went and watched some sports.

As he walked away I felt a twinge of sadness, remembering how Friday was story-telling night and the stories my father might be sharing. He was the best storyteller, even better than Elder Black. Wiping a lone tear that had made its way out of my eye, I chastised myself for my sentimentality. There was no story he would tell that I hadn't heard before. As much as I missed him, he too hadn't understood what I had been going through, reminding me of my obligations and heritage, supporting my Mother's ridiculous ideas about being on guard for being treated badly due to my skin tone.

They hadn't got me at all and had acted like Mandy's actions were something I should just get over. Ignoring their advice and doing the swap had been way better. I had found a way to get back at Mandy, get the man of my dreams, and have it all.

With that thought, my mind conjured images of Mike and I in the house while Chief Swan was absent. These swimming pictures became more detailed with greater attention. They delighted me, but I forced myself to focus on the task at hand: trying to not fail my classes.

Nevertheless, tomorrow couldn't come early enough.