A/N: WOW! Thanks to all who favorited/alerted/commented on my story. I truly and honestly appreciate it. So, I'm going to level with you all. I don't really have a particular story arc set up so I'm just going to go with the flow and try to bring it all together. This might cause a few people to abandon the story but for those who stay, awesome.

Also, this isn't beta'd (that is such a terrible disclaimer don't you think) so grammatical errors are, unfortunately, mine.

Onward to el story.

Face still flushed, I entered my English class a good ten minutes late. Mrs. Thompson clucked her tongue and told me not to let it happen again. It's a good thing I'm on her good side.

Unfortunately, my entrance and pink face didn't go unnoticed by Alice Brandon.

"What the hell Bella?"

I whispered, "Don't ask."

"I'm not letting this go," she warned me softly as she began to take notes again.

Damn. I really didn't want to share my encounter with Edward with her. She didn't exactly approve of her womanizing cousin. She loved him, of course, and would do some serious harm to any one who spoke badly of him but, that didn't mean she was all smiles when made his way through the entire population of Forks High School females.

I tried to pay attention as Mrs. Thompson talked abut our latest novel we would be reading. All I heard was Macbeth and then I completely droned out, trying to figure out my excuse for Alice. Some small part of me prayed that she would forget my late encounter. Maybe she'd be caught up in all the excitement from the fact that we'd be reading Macbeth, one of her favorites.

Haha I doubt it.

As soon a the bell rang, Alice was right beside me, a patient smile on her pretty face. I gathered my things slowly, cursing her for her patience.

As we walked towards our next class, photography, I said, "Okay Al, what do you want?"

"I need you to explain why Ms. Gold Star Behavior was late for class. You're usually there a good five minutes before the first bell rings."

"Can I not be late one time?"

"Not you Bella Swan. Something caused you to be late."

Something did cause me to be late. Something, or someone, tall with an unruly shock of copper hair and killer green eyes.

But, that would only raise more questions.

"Not to mention, your lips looked different, your face was way too flushed and you did that thing with your hair when you've done something you normally would not approve of."

I looked at her in surprise. Was I really that predictable?

We entered the classroom, taking our usual seats near the back. She adjusted her seat to face me and just sat there, watching me.

Damnation.

"You know, when you stare at someone like that, it tends to be labeled as stalkerish," I quipped, referring to her blatant observation earlier.

"Keeping things from your best friend tends to be labeled as bitchy."

Just then Jasper strolled in, giving me a hug before settling himself besides his girlfriend.

Crap. I really didn't want Jasper here if I decided to tell Alice. After kissing Alice he asked, "Who's being bitchy today?"

I rolled my eyes. "You make it sound as if everyday we tend to be bitchy."

He raised an eyebrow at that.

"Bella is being bitchy today. She won't tell me why she was late to English."

"No shit Swan? That's fucking insane."

"I don't know why it's so damn surprising to all of you. Shit, I was late one time."

"Miss Swan language," warned Ms. Patrick as she entered the classroom.

I turned beet red as Jasper and Alice snickered quietly beside me.

"Thanks alot assholes," I muttered.

Ignoring Ms. Patrick, Alice said, "Spill."

I sighed heavily. She wouldn't leave me alone if I didn't say anything.

"Fine. I ran into Edward on my way to class."

I'd leave it at that. Let them draw their own conclusions.

"Ah, so that's why he was late," mused Jasper.

"What did you talk about?" inquired Alice.

"Oh...umm nothing you'd be interested in I'm sure of," I mumbled.

She narrowed her eyes at me but didn't say anything else. I watched in suspicion as she raised her hand.

"Yes, Miss Brandon?"

"Bella and I need to finish our assignment on light. Can we please have two passes?"

She agreed but not before demanding we turn over our phones (or something of equal value) to her. She'd been here long enough to know that students don't usually finish their assignments and liked to skip the class instead.

Borrowing two cameras', we headed out into the hallway.

"Quit shitting around Swan. What happened with you and my cousin."

"I told you. We talked."

"About...?"

"My parent's."

It's not a complete lie.

Her features immediately soften. I've told her on multiple occasion's about my hate for my parents.

"What happened this time?"

"Nothing that hasn't happened before. I'm happy this is my last year of high school."

Out of the corner of my peripheral vision, I spy a familiar mop of tangled, penny colored hair.

I blush profusely as I try to get control of my crazy heart.

I turn my head and grimace slightly as he heads towards me and Alice. I pray that he won't mention our kissing to Alice.

"Edward!" cries Alice, beaming at her favorite cousin.

He scoops up Alice in a tight hug, his green eyes locking with mine over her dark head.

"Are you two skipping class?" he asks in mock disapproval.

Alice scoffs. "Like I could get Bella to skip class. Although, you somehow managed to make her late so there must be hope right?"

Damn Alice. Damn me for telling her. Damn Edward for being Edward.

He raises an eyebrow at me, no doubt wondering what exactly I told Alice.

I shake my head, irritated with this conversation.

Alice watches our litte interaction with a raised brow of her own. Looking at the cousins before me, I can't help but notice the similarities between the two. Both physical and the persuasive way they employ to get someone to do anything they want.

"Are you skipping Edward?" I manage to say this in what I hope to be a normal voice.

"Maybe," he answers, though clearly, that means yes.

"You should join me."

His killer eyes ensnare me; conveying that skipping with him would only end with us doing...interesting things. Not that I'd agree anyways. No matter how much I wanted to.

"And get my ass busted? No thanks."

"You need to take risks Swan. Live a litte."

I scoff. "I am a risk taker."

Rolling his eyes, he starts to leave, muttering something that probably wasn't flattering to me.

Alice looks at me questioningly as we make our way towards the stair case.

"So, that was a pretty intense conversation you had with Edward huh?"

"Shut it Ali."

"Well, he had an eyebrow thing going and you did this wierd thing with your head..."

"For God's sake, Alice!," I said irritated now. "That wierd thing is called a head shake. Perfectly normal."

We managed to reach the front doors of the school. Pushing them open, we stood in the bright light of sun. We worked in silence as we messed around with the aperture settings. I hoped she had managed to drop the conversation.

"Bella, as long as I don't have to do some bodily harm to my cousin, I'll leave it alone. You promise he hasn't said or done anything to hurt you?"

Well, he didn't hurt me in the way that she meant, I thought, remembering the sheets I'd had to frantically throw in the wash this morning.

I grabbed her tiny hands and said, "I promise Ali. He hasn't done anything except being his usual self."

I could still see the raging curiousity in her dark eyes but, thankfully, she kept her promise. She changed the subject and we continued to talk about safer topics.

Biology was next. Fuck. This was the one class I had been dreading throughout the entire day. Edward was in it and, to make matters worse, he was my fucking lab partner.

I kept my eyes forward as I made my way to the middle of the room. I knew he was already there. This stupid tingling sensation developed along my arms when he was present. Keeping my eyes straight ahead, I sat down and opened my notebook, casually flipping my hair over the shoulder as to prevent him from looking at me.

Of course that didn't stop him from leaning to whisper into my hair.

"Ignoring me again, are we Bella?"

That voice raised goosebumps on my arms and increased the pounding of my heart. Why did he affect me so?

I continud to stare at the blank page of my notebook.

"I still don't regret it," he murmurred, hot breath swirling my hair.

I faced him and said,"Well of course you don't regret it. I'm just another notch in your bedpost."

His eyes flashed as he said, "Do you remember what I told you last night? The very last thing?"

My mind replayed the events of last night. He kept saying I was his. Over and over.

"I remember," I said quietly.

"Good," he said curtly, turning forward as Mr. Banner began teaching.

Well, that was an odd way to end the conversation, I thought peevishly.

He didn't talk to me until the end of the period. I quickly gathered my things and headed out the door. I was suddenly being pulled towards my locker.

"What the hell Edward?"

He gently pushed me up against my locker. He closed the distance between us until his chest was only a few inches away from mine.

"E-edward?"

Bella, you need to understand something."

"I understand that you're crazy."

"Besides that," he said with a slight smirk, "I don't want you to be another notch in my bedpost."

My eyes widened and my lips parted as I took that in. He lowered his head and brushed his lips lightly against my cheek.

"See you at lunch," he said as he left me.

That boy really knew how to leave me speechless.

I walked to the cafeteria in a daze, barely registering the fact that I wasn't alone.

"Earth to Bella," said Emmett.

I blinked and looked up into the dark blue eyes of Emmett McCarty. If I hadn't grown up with the boy, I'd have melted into a puddle of goo at the fact that this handsome boy was talking to me.

"Sorry Em, I've got this essay in English that's like half of my grade."

He rolled his eyes and draped an arm around my shoulders. "Hell Bella, you know you'll ace it. You have like a five hundred percent in there."

"Thanks for the encouragement Em."

"Although, if you keep being late, that five hundred might go down a bit."

I gritted my teeth in frustration.

"Seriously, Emmett? Does everyone in this fucking school know I was late?"

He merely chuckled.

"Well, when you're seen with Cullen, you're bound to have someone notice."

I groaned. Not only was I being noticed for being late but add to the fact that Edward was with me...damn it.

We made our way to our usual table and noticed that we were the last to arrive. As I sat down, Rose smirked and said, "So, I hear Bella was-"

"Not another word Rose," I growled.

Her eyes widened.

"Yes, I was late. For one fucking time. Yes, it was with Edward. And, all we talked about was my goddamn parents. Now that we've covered that conversation, let's move on."

Everyone stared at me, including Edward. I shrugged and opened my paper bag.

I pulled out my phone and, using the table as a cover, quickly messaged Edward.

So, that was a rather abrupt way to end the conversation...

I watched as he furrowed his eyebrows before typing back.

How is 'See you at lunch' abrupt?

I glanced at my screen in amazement. I had pegged Edward to be a pretty sharp boy. With a sigh, I hastily replied.

No, not that part dumbass. The notch in your bedpost part.

He glared at me and I glared back. He started typing then paused, glanced up at me, then started to type again.

I'm just letting you know that I'm not messing around. I meant every word last night. Every. Goddamn. Word.

His continual insistency was starting to wear away at my resistance. One would think that, after gorwing up with this boy, you'd completely trust him. Problem is, I've seen the relationships he's been in and, well I don't you could call them relationships. They're more of a 'I'll fuck you once or twice then refuse to acknowledge you' ships. I don't think he's ever been in a serious relationship since 9th grade. The girl happened to be Angela Weber and I guess he decided she was too tame for him. Really, I'm not entirely sure.

Gah, that makes him sound like a total dick but, he's not. Not entirely anyways. He's got quite a few redeeming qualities about him.

I need time to think.

He glanced up to give me a tiny nod. In that second our eyes met, I swear I saw hope flash in those evergreen eyes.

AN: See, I told you guys this wasn't abandoned. :) My creative juices just need to get flowing...*smirk*. A huge thank you to those who continue to have hope that this story will be updated. I can't guarantee when the next update is but, when this is posted, I'll start writing.

Oh, today is my birthday XD Happy birthday to me. Nothing special this year so I'm giving you this update.

I'm going to rec an incredible story. Fade Into You by RCD-Alice. I adore Letterward and Emoella is so sad :( Seriously, check this out.

In the next chapter, we'll get to meet the "fantastic"parent's of Miss Swan. Sounds exciting, no? ;)