Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

Spy Games

By BetterInTexas

Chapter 16:

“Okay… those are very valid questions. You defintely deserve answers to them but I’m not sure I can give them to you.”

“Then when we pull up to your drive get out and I will drive my car home.” Angela countered.

Fuck. I really didn’t want her to go home.

Damn it.

“Would you at least come inside and let me try to explain some things and we can talk? Please?”

“Do you promise to talk and not spend every second trying to seduce me?”

Damn it.

“Yes?”

“You don’t sound very sure of yourself.” Angela said quietly.

“I get a little carried away sometimes but I will do my best okay. It’s the best I can give.”

“Fine. I suppose I will take my chances.” she said a bit resigned and disappointed, not exactly the kind of mood I wanted her to be in.

I said nothing else on the short drive home. I was glad to see Charlie didn’t take off early. No reason that he should but he still had a way to complicate things in my life.

I took a deep breath. I didn’t know why I cared so much but I did. I really wanted her to come inside with me. I offered her the keys and she took them.

Stepping out of the car I started to casually walk to the house, not entirely sure if she would follow. I heard nothing so I turned and saw her standing by the car.

“Wow. That’s the first time I have ever seen a vulnerable look on your face. I suppose I will follow you.”

Vulnerable?

I said nothing unlocking the door and continuing inside and up the stairs.

She stopped at the base of the stairs.

“You coming?” I asked.

“Where?”

“To my room?”

“Why can’t we talk here?” she was nervous again, her earlier confidence fading a bit.

“I won’t try anything or do anything you don’t want me too.” I offered.

“That’s the problem.” she told me barely meeting my eyes.

“You wanted answers? I’ll give you what I can but I won’t do it where anyone can walk in on us.”

“Fine.” She followed me up and I let her walk into my abode first, closing the door behind us. She threw her backpack on the floor next to my bed and I sat mine down in the corner gently.

“What do you have in that backpack that you treat with such care, Bella?”

I took a deep breath.

“Have a seat.” I offered.

Instead of sitting on my bed she went to Edward Cullen’s favorite chair. I really needed to burn that chair.

“So ask your questions.” I told her, sitting on my bed with my back to my headboard.

“I think I already asked the first ones.” she leaned forward and met my eyes through those hideous glasses that I would be taking care of first. I reached to my night stand and opened the drawer pulling out a fifth of vodka, seeming to surprise her. Tipping it back I took a rather large swallow and offered her the bottle. She didn’t respond so I shrugged my shoulders and put the bottle back.

“Before I start you need to know something. I brought you here for a reason. I… I like you. I think you like me. But if you insist on knowing everything as much as I hate to see you go, there are things I can’t tell you. If I told you it would not only put me in a bad position of breaking a promise to my uncle and several secrecy agreements that would put me under a prison for life but more importantly would put you in danger. My father doesn’t know these things because it would put him in danger and I won’t do it to you. I understand if you need to walk away.”

“If I ask you a question you can’t answer will you lie to me?”

“There are very few people in this world I won’t lie to and you are one of them.”

“Okay, you didn’t voluntarily move in with your father, right?”

“Wrong. I did voluntarily move in with my father.” Thank God one question I could answer.

“Okay so you volunteered to move here but it wasn’t because you wanted to live with your father. It has something to do with your new best friend, correct?”

“Arial is not just my new best friend. She is my best friend, cousin and sister.”

“So she isn’t… your girlfriend?”

I saw a bit of insecurity and jealousy on Angela’s face.

“If she was, I wouldn’t be alone with you. She doesn’t share. No, she is very straight.”

“She’s dangerous.”

“Yes she is Ang.”

“So are you.”

“Yes I am Ang.”

“Why did you come here? It’s the Cullen’s, right? You were sent to find out why the Cullens are so weird. Why they aren’t related by blood but they all have gold eyes, why they are so strange.”

“I can neither confirm or deny that.”

Can’t get in trouble for that.

“You figured it out and they left because you did.”

“I can neither confirm or deny that.”

“Because if I knew what you knew I would be in danger right?”

“Yes.”

“Arial knows.”

“Yes.” Again I detected jealousy. I had never heard that in someone’s voice before. Most of my flings didn’t give a damn about the time I spent with Arial. Come to think of it not one of them would know when my birthday was.

“You don’t need to be jealous of her.”

Angela took a moment.

“Why would I be jealous? We are just friends. You owe me nothing. So you got me turn… I mean, I have a boyfriend so what would I be jealous of?”

You won’t have a boyfriend for long sweetie.

Instead of saying that I took a deep breath.

“Tell me about your life, before you came here.” she ordered.

I suppose I could answer that.

“I had a pretty simple life. My Mom and Dad divorced when I was 4 and Mom and I moved to Phoenix. She is a school teacher, responsible for the education and growth of young minds which I still can’t get over. I had a pretty normal childhood. We lived in a condo, took quite a few trips in the summer, road trips to cheesy tourist destinations and stuff like that. Nothing really exotic but they were fun. My Mom and I always have fun, no matter what we are doing. Mom has a step brother, Jack, Arial’s dad, who lived in Boston that I had never met. He was in the military and overseas all the time. He was in a special forces team of some kind and no I don’t know and even if I did, I doubt I could say. When Arial’s mother and grandparents were murdered when she was 10, Jack got out and began raising her. He married a woman named Sasha and the three of them moved to Arizona because Jack wanted Arial to have more family. Arial and I became best friends like I said. When we were both 14 Uncle Jack began training us.”

“Training you for what?”

“Everything. Survival, defense, offense. We competed in triathlons, we competed against each other in combat shooting competitions. We sparred against Jack and Sasha and each other. We learned every type of martial art that Jack and Sasha knew and Sasha knew a lot. Survival skills, sky diving, scuba, anything he thought we would need to know to survive in any situation.

When I hit puberty, I knew I was gay. I told Arial and she accepted me and never judged me which I think bonded us closer. Renee, my Mom, was elated. She has quite the open mind. Anyway my Mom met a pro baseball player and they moved to Florida. I stayed on another semester in Phoenix living with Arial and moved here. That’s it, typical childhood.”

“Typical? You competed in combat shooting and triathlons and you and your best friend physically fight each other on a regular basis? Something tells me that she isn’t the type to hold back.”

“No, she isn’t.” I chuckled. “She has slapped the hell out of me a few times lately, has a mean right hook and likes to bite.”

I reached into my boot and pulled my knife out because it was starting to irritate me. Before I could place it in the drawer with my vodka Ang asked me yet another question. It was like Edward Cullen all over again only this time with a hot live chick.

“Why do you have that?”

“I always have a weapon on me.”

“The gun in your backpack isn’t enough?” she asked, raising an eyebrow. Damn she would make a good spy if she wasn’t so sweet.

“If I can get an enemy to stop long enough for me to unzip my pack and dig around for it then yeah. If not, I need my knife.”

“Do a lot of people attack you?”

“It happens more than you would think.” That sounded strange even to me. Funny the things you can get used to.

“Your Uncle Jack, he got you into this didn’t he? Military, special forces, knew your Dad lived here, you stayed with him, probably spending time turning from what you are now into what you were until a few days ago.”

“I can’t talk about Uncle Jack. You can’t ask questions about Jack, Sasha, what they did or didn’t do, why I am here, and what if anything it has to do with the Cullens, Angela. I mean it. It is dangerous to know…”

What was I doing?

Damn it.

I knew what I had to do.

“I’m sorry Angela. I shouldn’t be in your life; this is a mistake. Just leave and forget about me, forget about this conversation and forget about anything you think we… I will stop the flirting I promise. No more. Just go back…”

“To my boring life? You really think I can forget this? Do you have a fucking clue what you did to me? What you do to me? Do you have the slightest fucking idea?! You want me to tell you about the damn dreams about you I have every night?!”

“Uh… yes?”

It would be cool.

“You don’t have a damn clue, do you?”

“I don’t know. I really don’t.” I admitted.

“I have always thought boys were cute. Cute Bella. I never was attracted to anyone, male or female. It didn’t matter to me because my Dad never allowed me to date. Then Ben came along and he was… nice. His parents are members of my father’s church and he agreed to allow the two of us to date. So there wasn’t any passion but I felt normal. I had a boyfriend.

Then you show up. I can’t take me eyes off of you. I stay back in Tyler’s van hoping to talk to you about anything. So I complain about my boyfriend. The next thing I know your lips are so close to mine it is driving me crazy and you are whispering in my ear and your breath feels so good and your hand is on my skin and I honestly would have done anything you asked. I wanted you to take me. That scared the hell out of me.

Then I sit back and watch you become Edward’s girlfriend. Every time I turn around there he is, draped over you like you were his property. I wanted him to go away. For the first time in my life I felt jealousy. I also had to deal with the simple fact that my father is a minister and I was attracted to females. Once I stopped denying that part of myself it scared the hell out of me. I looked at other women hoping I could find someone to become interested in just to see what this was all about and instead I compared every girl to you and not one came close.

I knew though. I watched you and you may think you were good at hiding it but you weren’t. You kept your face so… blank… but occasionally I could tell you were disgusted by him. You flinched every time he touched you. I was confused and hurt and didn’t know what to do. Then Edward is gone and you arrive after being gone for two days with a beautiful blonde girl, looking like a goddess and I have become obsessed with you all over again. I think this girl is your… more than a friend the way you two act, like you are two sides of the same coin. Then she is gone and you are inviting me over and I think this is it but I have to know. I have to know you aren’t going to go after some other guy, because if you are please stop teasing me. I can’t take it anymore. If there are some things you can’t tell me so be it. I expect you to tell me one day but I won’t push. Instead you tell me half-truths…”

“I haven’t lied to you about one single thing today.” I said quickly, to avoid any misunderstandings.

“Fine but you sure aren’t telling me everything. You hung out with your mom until Arial came along and your uncle turned you into a female version of himself? What happened to you before he came around? Why are you so angry that you feel the need to hide behind aggressive behavior when I know that isn’t you?”

“You know nothing about me.” I told her. There were certain areas of my life I did not talk about.

“And I never will if you push me away. Does anyone besides your ‘sister’ know anything about you?”

“So what? I invite you over so we can have a friendly conversation and you want me to bare my soul? Aren’t you asking a little too much Ang?”

“Not for what you want. Something tells me you don’t like to share any more than Arial. We would be each other’s secret, right? I would break up with my boyfriend who I couldn’t care less about but my parents love, and risk being found out every single time I am with you. That’s what you want right?”

“Why don’t you stop worrying about your parents so much and be yourself?” I admit she was starting to piss me off. Arial was right as usual.

“Because I don’t have a mother who would be elated to find out I’m gay and I have a father who would disown me and I would never see my younger brothers or mother again! We can’t all be you Bella! Some of us give a damn! Besides why haven’t you announced to the world that you are gay if you are so confident?”

“I did in Phoenix!”

“But not here? Didn’t want to embarrass your police chief father?”

“Fuck you Angela! I haven’t announced it because it would cause too many questions about Edward Cullen that I can’t answer!”

“Why not?” she practically screamed.

“Because it would put you in danger and I have done that to enough people!” I practically screamed back. “If you can’t respect that then get the fuck out!”

“Fuck you Bella, I’m not going a damn place!”

I realized I was breathing hard. I was emotional. It had been a while since I felt like this, so torn and… yeah maybe vulnerable.

I walked over and pulled her up from the chair, grabbing the back of her head and kissing her. Her lips felt just like I imagined they would, so soft and warm that I could get lost in them. I felt her tongue and slid mine between her lips, tracing her teeth and tasting her in my mouth. I nibble on her lips. She was the exact opposite of everything I had to put up with over the recent past. She was warmth and comfort and love and not cold and hard and dead.

Her hands touched the skin of my back and I wanted to melt in her.

I wouldn’t let this go. It wasn’t fair of me to bring her into my life but I was a selfish person. I recognized that. I would be putting her at so much risk if she was found out.

I finally pulled back and looked at her, pulling her glasses off softly and tossing them on my bed.

“I don’t want anything in the way of looking into your eyes.”

“I’m willing to give this a shot. I’m willing to try anything to be with you, no matter what, provided you open up to me and stop being so damn guarded. If there are things you can’t tell me because you would go to prison or promised to keep secret, I can deal but I want to know everything else. I want a real relationship, not just some quick… a quick… you know.” Angela said a bit embarrassed.

“A quick fuck?”

“Yeah.”

“Okay. I promise to make it slow when we fuck.” I tried, hoping to lighten the mood.

“That’s not funny.”

So much for lightening the mood.

“Fine. I won’t undertake any more missions involving the seduction of guys but I don’t share. If you are going to be mine you are going to be mine. Break up with your boyfriend.”

“Bella yours is the first tongue I have ever had in my mouth ever. I’ve never had a kiss like the one we just shared. I want more.”

“Yeah?” Figures that pussy Cheney wouldn’t know what he was missing. Not that he would have gotten far.

“I’ll break up with him in the morning. I doubt he will care.”

“Then he is a damn idiot.”

“You still want to help me with those math problems?”

What math problems?

Oh yeah.

“How about I show you to the hot tub?”

“Bella have you had a lot of… lovers?”

Uh oh. Isn’t this sort of a later in the relationship question?

“A few, but I’m not like a slut or anything.”

I might be a bit of a slut.

“How many have you had?”

“Uh, just four or five…” or six or seven. Maybe eight. Spring Break and Diner bathrooms don’t count, right?

“Girlfriends?”

“Uh… they were friends? We just kind of…”

“Bella, have you ever had a girlfriend who you didn’t use just for sex? Anyone you really knew or fell in love with?”

Damn her and her questions!

” I guess not.” I mumbled.

“See here is my problem, I’ve never done anything, like I said. But if we were just starting to go out, would you expect to have sex the first time we were together?”

“Uh… yes?” That’s pretty much been the way it has worked for me. No complaints so far.

She at least laughed.

“Here is the thing Bella. You are too good at seduction. You could talk me into doing anything and you know it. If you really want to take me to that hot tub, I will undress and let you have your way with me.”

Thank you, God! Finally!

“But I wish you wouldn’t. I’m asking you not to. I want you to love me. Not want me, but to really love me before you and I take that step. I want us to have something real Bella. Something you or I have ever had.”

Why are you doing this to me God? Haven’t I suffered enough?!

Damn it!

“So what is it going to be?” she asked.

“I guess we will work on those math problems.” I told her, trying to hide the disappointment in my voice and failing miserably.

“Thank you. After that can we…”

“Make out some more?” I hoped. It had been a really long time since I actually kissed someone and it would be so great to do it again since I wasn’t getting laid. Maybe if I could get her on her back and my leg between hers, we could…

“I was thinking maybe could talk some more. I want to know more about your mother and Arial. I want to know everything about you. The real you. Because I have to say this you is a lot sexier than the one you were pretending to be.”

“Yeah… talk. We can talk.” Or fuck. Just throwing it out there.

“You can kiss me too.” she told me, smiling.

“Yeah, I think I can handle that.”

Four hours later after tutoring Ang in Trig in record time and finally getting her to lay down after I told her the name of my favorite doll in grade school, I was actually more frustrated than I had been in a long time. She started kissing my neck and playing with my tongue ring and I really wanted to shove a… don’t think about it Bella.

She really had beautiful eyes. Her skin was so warm.

“So she made you wait?” Arial asked, after we ate, and she thankfully helped me and Charlie cook something. I had to act like I knew how but she took the lead and even made Charles do most of the work. He seemed to enjoy himself.

“Yeah.”

“That is fucking hilarious.”

“No, it isn’t. She just kept kissing me, on my neck too. You know how sensitive my neck is. Now I’m horny as hell and I don’t even get to pretend Sasha is listening to me in the shower.”

“I can’t believe you waited after she told you that you could do anything. I am so proud of you. You must really like her. Is it weird?”

“Is what weird?”

“Having a girlfriend?”

“I’ve had girlfriends.”

“Your mother had sex with your last girlfriend because you weren’t home. Sounds like Tanya was completely in love with you. Do you even know Tanya’s last name? You have never had a relationship Bella.”

“She wanted to know about the time I spent before you and Jack came into my life.” I told her. She would understand why I didn’t like to talk about it. It reminded me of a time I was weak and I hated being weak.

Before Uncle Jack, I was a gangly, shy kid most of my life. I got picked on constantly, bullied, beaten, humiliated and harassed. I was an easy target. After Jack was finished with me, I wasn’t a target, I was the hunter. Arial was the first friend I ever made, the only real friend I have ever had. The only friend I have now. We always had each other’s backs no matter what.

“These are the kind of things you have to open up about eventually Bella. She admitted a lot of fears to you, things she discovered about herself and how scared she was. She was actually pretty cool with the things you couldn’t talk about, though I see that being a problem eventually. She will want to know one day.”

“She can’t. She can’t and Charlie can’t.”

“You gave her an out and she didn’t take it. Why don’t you try to let your guard down? Just a bit.”

“I let my guard down all the time with you.” I pointed out.

“I’m the only one. You need more. I need more. There isn’t a guy here worth my time but you have fallen into something that could be special. Don’t fuck it up okay? For me at least? I have to wait until college and then find a guy who isn’t intimidated by Hawk and my Dad. I may have to wait a while.”

No shit. She’s lucky to have gotten laid twice.

“Hey, speaking of guys what do you think about that LaHote guy maybe being a werewolf?”

“I think, no I pray, that Dad doesn’t interrogate him.”

“You think there could really be three? What was the other guy’s name? Cameron?”

“What do you say we go to La Push and take a look around?”

“And find the stage five clinger again? I don’t think so.”

“But we can go fuck with the guy in the wheelchair.” I hoped.

“Dad wouldn’t like it.”

“So you’re in?” I asked to make sure.

“Sure, after school tomorrow?”

“Yep.” I knew she was game.

“What about your girlfriend?”

What the fuck?

“What about her?”

“Don’t you need to spend time with her?”

Oh. I guess that is how this works.

“I’ll text her. I was going to do it tonight anyway.”

“She is breaking up with her boyfriend for you.”

“She is so gay; it would have happened eventually.”

“In college. At least see her a bit after school, maybe go over and introduce yourself to her family, as a friend. The more comfortable they are around you the more they will let her be with you. Just remember to act straight.”

“Look at me, Arial. Do I look like someone a minister would want his daughter hanging out with?”

“Wear a longer shirt to cover your belly button and lower back and use the pink tongue ring, look down when you smile and you will be fine.”

“Ugh. I was going to wear my black suede miniskirt tomorrow.”

“So come home and change first or put on those hideous gym sweat pants after practice. Spend a couple hours after practice with Angela and then we head to La Push and visit little Jakey, fuck around with Wheels a bit.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

Before I went to sleep Angela texted me.

It was just a smiley face but still made me smile.

I would definitely be thinking of someone besides Kate Upton or Sasha tonight.

Unfortunately mine and Arial’s plans for the day were disrupted first thing in the morning by an unfortunate occurrence.

It really wasn’t our fault.

Okay it was. But they deserved it.

As Arial and I simply tried to walk into school minding our own business I let my guard down. I saw Angela talking to Ben in the parking lot and when I caught her eye, I winked at her. She had my attention, diverting me away from possible trouble.

Two dumb ass offensive linemen.

“Hey ladies. How is the little mermaid doing today?” one of the big dumbasses asked.

Oh fuck.

Arial hates being called the little mermaid.

She planted her left foot and performed a perfect spin kick to the guys jaw, knocking him to the ground and apparently knocking him unconscious.

At least I hoped he was unconscious and not dead.

The parking lot went silent.

Once his friend regained his speech, he did the wrong thing. He called my girl a bitch and reached for her.

He was big, only 6′ but easily three hundred pounds. I did the first thing that came to mind.

I grabbed his throat by the fucking Adam’s apple and squeezed.

He realized he couldn’t breathe and tried to pry my wrist off his neck but I used my other hand to unwrap his fingers, bend them back to a control position and guide him to the ground. Once I had him on his knees, I used my knee to crush his nose.

He hit the ground next to his friend.

Oops.

I may have gotten a bit too much in the moment. That was a lot of blood.

“That’s not good.” Arial whispered, looking at the two prone figures on the ground.

“No probably not.” I admitted. “Nice kick though. Solid follow through.”

“Thanks. Good control grip on your part. You think he is still breathing or you crushed his trachea?”

“I have diplomatic immunity.” I hoped.

Thirty minutes later we were inside the principal’s office along with the principal, Mrs. Green, Uncle Jack, Charlie, Sasha and Hawk.

“In less than two days Mr. Webb your daughter has already sent another student to the hospital. He may have a broken jaw!”

“Oh, it’s broken alright.” Arial said softly.

“And Chief Swan, I am not sure what has gotten into your daughter since her boyfriend left but she was a party to this as well! She broke Stephen’s nose!”

“He called Arial a bitch and attempted to grab her, after his friend got taken down for calling her a name. I was defending my friend against a bully!”

“What has gotten into you Miss Swan! You pierced your tongue? What did you do to your lovely hair? I also understand you have a tattoo. Chief Swan have you considered getting Isabella counseling since she is apparently in some sort of altered mental state after Edward Cullen left her and left town with his lovely family.”

“Number 1, she likes to be called Bella, number 2, I would be very careful about whatever you have to say about my daughter’s mental state since you aren’t a licensed psychologist and number 3 after I saw Bella the other night with her… changes, I checked the student handbook to make sure she wouldn’t get into trouble. There is nothing prohibiting body piercings or tattoos and I know for certain that there is nothing in there that gives you, Mrs. Green, an opinion on my daughter’s hair, which looks great. I think it’s time we talked about the bullying problem you have in your school.”

Oh God, I loved my Dad.

“There is nothing in the handbook because the Fork’s school board never imagined this would be a problem here.”

“Sounds like your problem. Maybe it is something you can look into next year. For this year my daughter will abide by the handbook as it is written. What punishments are you planning to hand out to these boys to make sure that my daughter is not forced to defend herself and her cousin from bullies again?”

“The only bullies in this school are you and Mr. Webb’s daughters! He only called her little mermaid!”

“He won’t again.” Sasha told her, not grinning. She was serious Sasha today and oh how hot it was.

“Then his friend tried to grab my daughter and called her a bitch!’ Jack added. “Thankfully Bella was there and not me or Mr. Hawk or the young man in question would be in much worse condition.”

“Or me.” Sasha added on. So, so hot.

“I still cannot let such brutal assaults go unpunished. Your girls are looking at suspension at least…”

“Fuck this. Jack explain to her the size of the law suit we are about to bring against this school.” Sasha told him and walked outside.

Jack smiled at Mrs. Green.

“I can assure you that there will be no suspensions of my daughter or niece. If you attempt such a thing, I will press charges against those boys for assault and harassment, sue this school and you can go on television and explain to channel 10 news why you suspended two girls who weigh 120 tops for beating the snot out of two three hundred pound offensive linemen. But I can assure you this will not happen again.”

“I would hope not!”

“Because my friend Dan Hawk who is Arial and Bella’s bodyguard will be with them in school every second of the day. I understand they have the same classes so it shouldn’t be a problem.”

Arial and I both stood up and protested. That was not happening. Bullshit.

“He’s Bella’s bodyguard?” Dad asked.

Yes! Dad knew Hawk wasn’t my bodyguard.

“He protected her in Phoenix as well, or someone else was always watching over her if Arial and she weren’t together.”

Someone was?

“Any reason why?” Dad asked.

“Yes, there is. When I was in the military, I undertook missions of a classified nature that could have potentially made me quite a few enemies. Dan served with me and when we discharged Dan became Arial’s bodyguard and we moved to Phoenix so I could watch Bella and Renee and make sure no dangers from my past tried to use them against me.”

“Oh.” was Charlie’s brilliant response. I just wondered how much of what Uncle Jack just said was true in regard to me anyway. Is that how he knew about the stolen police motorcycle? He had me watched?

“I am afraid a bodyguard will not be allowed on school property.” Green said, not knowing who the fuck she was dealing with.

“Yes he will.” Sasha said walking in. “You will be receiving a call from the State board of education in less than a minute. I’ve spoken to the chairman and told him I doubted we would have to bring a law suit against Fork’s high due to the administration’s protection of school bullies who pick on little girls half their size if Mr. Hawk was allowed to stay and he is perfectly fine with Mr. Hawk being on school grounds with both of them.”

Sasha was not looking as hot right now.

“I am afraid I don’t care what the State…”

The phone rang. Sasha hit the speakerphone button before Green could pick up the phone.

“Hello?”

“Is this Eleanor Green?”

“It is.”

“This is Eugene Frankowski, chairman of the State board of education. I understand from Mrs. Webb that we have a bullying problem at your school and a law suit is about to be brought forward that will place Fork’s high school in an unfavorable light.”

Shit, that was Ty’s voice.

“You are Mr. Eugene Frankowski?” Green asked. I didn’t blame her for the doubt in her voice.

“That’s what I said, ain’t it? Now is this going to be a problem that you can handle or do I need to talk to your superintendent bout getting a new school boss who can take care of business and prevent these girls from having to defend themselves at a place they should consider safe and secure from harassment.”

“I can handle this I assure you.” Mr.’s Green really was looking a bit green right now.

“Now I understand there is an issue about allowing Mr., Hawk to stay during school hours with the girls?”

“We do not allow bodyguards, especially armed bodyguards as he most likely is right now, into our school.”

“Mr. Webb is a damn American hero. He has served his country with valor and honor and a whole bunch of other shit… stuff. If he says his daughter and niece need protection that is what we will give them Mrs. Green. Are you a communist?”

“What… excuse me?”

“Communist? Fascist? ISIS supporter? Terrorist? Because I’m not getting a patriotic feel from you right now.”

“I am most certainly a patriot!”

“Then I guess we won’t have a damn problem, then will we? If those big bitches that got their asses served for bullying the wrong girls, try to sue, I would suggest you remind their parents that they are lucky not to be expelled for bullying. We got each other Mrs. Green?”

“Yes… yes we understand each other.”

“I don’t want to have this conversation again. Frankowski out.”

We were left in silence, Sasha, Jack and Charlie glaring at the principal. Arial and I were torn between joy at getting away with aggravated assault and despair at Hawk being with us every moment of the day during school. He would insist on driving us meaning we couldn’t even ditch unless we walked.

Mrs. Green looked sick and then hopeful.

“There is no way that was a Eugene Frankowski. He sounded like a black man and I have seen Mr. Eugene Frankowski and…”

“So you are a racist too?” Dad asked. God, I loved my father.

“Call the number back. I’m sure you have it somewhere.” Sasha suggested.

Mrs. Green dialed a number she found on her computer. Sasha reached over and hit speakerphone once again.

“State Board of Education, this is Vivian, how may I direct your call?”

“I would like to speak to Mr. Eugene Frankowski.”

“He just left to play golf. Is this Mrs. Green from Forks? Because Mr. Frankowski said if you called back and bothered him, I should let him know immediately so he could start finding your replacement.”

“No! I am certainly not Mrs. Green.”

Mrs. Green hung up the phone and looked like she wanted to puke. You shouldn’t fuck with the government Mrs. Green.

“Anything else or can Bella and Jack’s daughters get to class?” Dad asked.

“Of course. I suppose Mr. Hawk will be staying with them?”

“Yep, starting now.” Sasha told us, giving us a look that didn’t express amusement. I suppose she was a bit annoyed. “I would like to have a talk with my daughter and niece first if that is okay?”

“Of course.”

“A private talk. I know you won’t mind if I borrow your office?”

“Of course not Mrs. Webb.”

Green damn near fell over herself getting out of the room.

“Charlie, Jack, could I have a moment? I hope you don’t mind Charlie; I just want to ask Bella a few questions that I’m sure Renee will have that I’m sure you wouldn’t want to be in here for.”

“Got it.” Charlie was gone quickly followed by Jack and Hawk.

“Sasha, what is this crap about Hawk? You know we don’t need protection.” I tried.

“He is here to protect the other students! What the fuck girls!?”

“We were bullied.” Arial argued.

“Bullshit. He called you a fairy tale character. Get over it. You could have just embarrassed him. He threw a rock at you and you fired a tank shell in retaliation. And Bella? When I taught you that move it was to be in close quarters combat to crush an enemy’s throat. It was not meant as a choke hold. His trachea could have been crushed! You could have placed him in an arm bar, gone for the knee, instead you go for the throat then smash his nose? What the fuck is wrong with you?”

“I wasn’t hugged enough as a child?” I tried.

Sasha sighed.

“Your father wants to speak to you Bella. I hope your bullshit is up to par today. Everyone else’s has had to be thanks to you two. This is just like when you two started school in Phoenix together. I can’t believe I am going to have to go through this shit again.”

Sasha grabbed Arial and pulled her to her feet leading her out. Charlie walked in.

“Doing all right kid?”

“Yeah Dad.”

“I think maybe you owe me a few explanations, Bella.”

“Uh, I thought we were covered that I was protecting my friend from being bullied?”

“Yeah what you haven’t covered is how you were able to do that? Because I didn’t think you could walk on air without falling, much less be able to take a man three times your size down in a fairly easy manner, from what I found out from witnesses in the parking lot I spoke to before walking in here. You didn’t only defend her you seriously injured that boy. You could have killed him if you wanted, couldn’t you?”

“Maybe…”

“I also understand you are now on the volleyball team?”

“How did you find out about that?”

“Apparently Mrs. Stanley felt the need to tell me yesterday how excited Jessica was about the two new team members who beat the volleyball team by themselves. Arial and you. Arial, I don’t know. Maybe she is some sort of Kung Fu, volleyball star. You, however? Yeah we are going to have a talk tonight kid.”

Dad stood and started to walk away. I grabbed his hand.

“Thanks, you know, for standing up for me today.”

He kissed my cheek.

“I always will baby girl. See you after volleyball practice apparently. Maybe I will grill some of those seasoned chicken strips and make us a grilled chicken salad for dinner. Then you can tell me about your new athletic and self-defense skills you seem to have developed overnight. That sound okay?”

“Sounds great Dad.” Yeah, my bullshit skills better be up to par.

The rest of the morning was uneventful. Jessica informed me and everyone else who would listen that Angela broke up with Ben. She also wanted to talk about what happened in the parking lot which I cut off quickly. No one was quite sure how Arial and I did it but the consensus of the student body was generally not to fuck with us.

Of course this was backed up by the walking human growth hormone who stood in the back of every class.

He even sat at our table during lunch, scaring the hell out of every guy at the table by his presence. Of course Newton didn’t try to ask either of us out and the guys barely met our eyes so maybe there was an advantage to having him here.

I tried to rub Angela’s leg under the table but she jerked her leg away and wouldn’t look at me. I know we said we would keep this quiet but she didn’t have to be so cold. Maybe I did something wrong. I would ask Arial later.

I didn’t have to wait to find out. During trig Angela was apparently ready to talk.

“Mr. Summers, I have something in my eye. May I go to the bathroom?”

“Of course Angela.”

“May Bella come with me to help if I need it?”

“I… I guess.”

“Arial will be going also.” Hawk informed the teacher.

“I don’t think three will be necessary Mr.…”

“I go where they go. I can’t watch Bella if Arial isn’t with her and vice versa. We will be back shortly. You don’t have a problem with this.”

“Of course I don’t…”

“I wasn’t asking. Move Swan.”

Fuck.

We reached the bathroom and Arial and I prepared to follow Angela in. Angela placed her hand on Arial’s shoulder.

“Not you GI Barbie. I need to have a private conversation with Bella.”

“What the fuck did you call me?”

“Arial don’t, I’ll handle it.”

I walked inside and closed the door behind us, wondering what I could use to keep the door from opening and realizing Hawk would prevent anyone from coming inside anyway.

I turned to look at my girlfriend. Still kind of weird to say that and actually mean it.

“Hey baby…”

Fuck! She pushed me back into a wall.

“What the hell is wrong with you?!”

“What the hell is wrong with you?” I countered, really having nothing else to come back with.

“Your bestie gets called a cartoon character’s name and she breaks his jaw and when his friend, my cousin by the way, tries to get her off of him you nearly kill him?! What the fuck is wrong with you?”

“He started it.”

“No, she did when she kicked him in his jaw.”

“Your cousin called her a bitch!”

“She was acting like one!”

The door opened and Arial stepped inside only to have Hawk’s big paw grab her shoulder and drag her back outside.

“She doesn’t like being called names and I don’t like it either.” I told Angela.

“For someone who has a lot of secrets you don’t seem concerned about keeping them a secret. You don’t want questions and you and your “sister” beat up half the high school. How am I supposed to tell my dad you are my new best friend who I spend a lot of time with when he finds out you are the one who smashed his nephew’s nose?”

“Your Dad can go to hell! Maybe I should take him out. Would that make life easier for you?”

“Did you just threaten to assassinate my father? Because with anyone else I would have laughed it off but with you I’m concerned.”

“It was a joke!”

“Stop crushing faces and throats and I may laugh. If you want this to work you are going to have to… stop beating people up! And tell your friend to do the same! Is that big lug going to be with us all the time now? When are we going to be alone?”

“He is only here during school hours. The rest of the time he is with Arial. He is really only her bodyguard.”

“He probably protects other people from her. I broke up with a boy today for you. Now you are going to do something for me. Stop being a bitch all the time to other people and stop hurting people!”

Fucking relationships.

“If you have a problem with me bitch…” Arial’s voice said from outside the door before it was muffled, I suppose by Hawk’s giant hand.

“Is she going to be a problem?” Angela asked.

“No! Just don’t piss her off. Please.” I begged.

“Of course not. Wouldn’t want your best friend to hurt me.”

“She wouldn’t.”

“If you say so. Bella please, I’m not asking you to change who you are but can’t you tone down the aggressive behavior a bit? For me?”

She just took off her glasses.

Her hands were on my hips. She lifted my shirt and traced my rib cage. Oh my God that felt good.

“Yes.”

“Yes?”

She was tracing little circles on the small of my back. Oh damn she just kissed me so gently.

“Yes. I promise.”

Oh shit she had a hand on my ass. Don’t squeeze.

She squeezed.

“Thank you, Bella.” she whispered and kissed me on my throat. “Text me after practice and I will come over. We can do homework. I would invite you over but we should probably let things cool off before you meet my parents.”

“Uh huh.” I agreed; eyes closed. I would have agreed to anything right now.

She kissed me again, using the tip of her tongue to open my mouth and I let her.

“See you after school.”

Then her body was gone. Her warmth, her perfume, her taste.

I opened my eyes and saw Arial standing in front of me.

“Congratulations, you just got played. You taught her well Bella. Can we get back to class or are you having eye problems now?”

“Class. Class would be good.”

“So after practice La Push, right?”

“Neither of you are going to La Push.” Hawk said as if his opinion mattered.

“Yeah… uh wait. Angela wants to do homework.”

“Fine, we will both help her with homework. La Push tomorrow.”

“Oh… okay.”

“You can’t go to La Push.”

“We will go wherever the hell we want, Dan. Do I really have to sneak away or are you going to come with me and keep it quiet? Not like it’s the first time we have done something that Dad didn’t need to know about, right Dan?”

Dan sighed.

“Sasha always finds out.”

“She won’t talk. Please Dan? It will be fun. Maybe some fresh air and Bella can get her balls back.

“Guess I am coming with you.”

“Angela might need help with her homework tomorrow.” I tried, fucking with Wheels no longer appealing.

“Oh, I would say judging by what she just did to you, she has been learning everything you have to teach her very well. Too well.”

Arial wasn’t happy.

This relationship stuff was hard.