BPOV

"No, no, no!" I stated firmly, crossing my arms over my chest, "You are out of your freaking mind."

Alice was once again trying to get me to play dress up with her. Why did I answer the damn door! I swear for her next birthday I was going to buy her a "My size Barbie" that she could play with instead of me.

"Oh come on Bella! It won't be that bad," She whined, "I promise you will thank me for it later when you look hot and have all the guys drooling over you."

I snorted and made my way to the bathroom that I shared with my dad. She should have known better than that. I was not out to impress anyone and Alice knew that. When your dear old dad is a raging alcoholic who hits you to make himself feel more like a man, well wanting to actually impress a boy was the last thing I really wanted to do. Who needed men? They were bigger and stronger and they didn't use it to protect you. No, they used it to hurt you. I was better off left alone.

Alice was the lucky one. Well, lucky now that is, she had her secrets too, but she found her soul mate in Edward and he actually did use his strength to protect her. He would never hurt her or me for that matter. Edward was the only guy that I trusted more than Alice. To put your trust into too many people though was stupid, it only left you open to getting hurt emotionally and physically.

Edward and Alice had what I liked to call a Forbidden Love. They met when she was fifteen, and he was twenty-two. According to Alice it was love at first sight and they haven't been a part since.

I admit I questioned it at first. I mean what would a guy like that want with a fifteen year old, but in the end he saved her. Alice was heading down a destructive path that not even I could help her with no matter how much I tried. For some strange reason she clicked with him and the rest is history. Six months later Edward moved her in with him to get her away from her parents. As much as I tried to help her, Alice was also trying to help me. Now that she was "saved" as she says, she wants to do the same for me. And for some reason she thinks a guy is the way to do that. No thank you.

I finished brushing my teeth and made my way back to my bedroom. May as well get this over with, she was not going to take no for an answer on our first day of school. Especially since it was our senior year.

I opened the door and immediately cursed myself for even bothering to wake up today. Clothes were strewn about everywhere. On the bed, across the floor and my desk. Was that my thong hanging from the ceiling fan?

"Alice, it's not even seven o' clock yet. It's too early for this shit." I complained, throwing myself onto my bed face down, "And get my thong down," I scolded her, "What if my dad comes in and sees that? He's going to think you and I just had a quick romp in the sack." I mumbled.

I heard her laugh and felt the bed dip beside me. "It isn't going to be as bad as you think Bells." She said excitedly, "This is our year, I just know it!"

I sat up and groaned in defeat. "Let's do this." I said trying to sound brave. "Something that covers the shoulders though." I told her.

She gave me a sad, knowing look before nodding her head.

A little over an hour and two scraped knees later we were finally able to come to a compromise and were on our way to Forks High.

"Jeez Bella, I know the blue dress may have been just a tad much but did you really feel the need to tackle me?" She exclaimed examining her elbow that was now sporting a carpet burn.

Serves her right.

"That wasn't just a blue dress Alice," I said with a frown, "That was a freaking evening gown. We're going to school. Not Prom."

I heard her mutter something about fashion and no sense before turning up the radio. I turned away and rested my head against the window. At least I made it out alive. I was stuck in a pair of tight skinny blue jeans that I could barely pull up over my ass and a white halter top with a sparkly silver over shirt on top. Then for the finale...I managed to wear my old worn out Converses. Ha.

The bell was ringing just as we pulled into the student parking lot. I looked around and saw the same old people that we've been going to school with since freshman year.

"Remember Bells, it's our year," said Alice giving my hand a quick squeeze.

I just sighed, grabbed my bag from the back seat of her Pathfinder, which was Edward's gift to Alice on her seventeenth birthday, and walked into the school next to Alice. It most definitely didn't feel like it was going to be "our" year.

~~~~~…..~~~~~

"Okay Seniors, I know you're all anxious to get to your next class so line up where you see the first letter of your last name so that we can distribute the schedules quickly and effectively. Once you have received your schedule please go to your first period class. Thank you," Boomed our loud ass principal over the microphone.

The Seniors, all eighty of us, were gathered in the auditorium waiting to get our schedules for the year. The way they had this set up was ridiculous.

We were almost eighteen being talked to like we were in first grade. Super.

"Bella, you have to come over after school and we can choose our outfits for tomorrow," Alice said, from beside me.

We were hanging back and waiting for some of the lines to go down before we wrestled the crowd for our own schedule.

"I always do." I replied easily, "But I refuse to spend hours up in your room trying on clothes. I just want to relax." I said giving her a glare.

"We can talk about it at lunch," She countered, giving me a firm glance before taking her place in line behind all the other B's.

I walked over to the other S's and waited for my turn to get my schedule. The first day of school was always a joke.

No one did anything, I thought with a huff.

Almost an hour later Alice and I met up to compare schedules. We stood side by side in the hallway while others pushed past us to get to their second period class.

"Well this sucks big balls," said Alice, tactful as ever.

I rolled my eyes but silently agreed.

"We only have four classes and lunch together!"

"Better than nothing though." I replied, putting my schedule in my bag. "I'll see you in history." I told her walking off towards Trig.

By the time lunch came around I was wondering why we were even here. We could be staying home and getting our G.E.D. instead. Who needs this shit? I really shouldn't complain though, it got me away from the house and effectively away from my dad. I guess that's all I could really ask for.

"So Edward is going up to his club this weekend and you know I have to go when he does. Want to go with me?" Alice asked as we stood in the lunch line.

Edward owned a strip club in Seattle and every other weekend went up there to check on things. Usually when he did Alice and I either went with him or we stayed at his house together while he was gone. If we went with him though we usually stayed in a hotel in Seattle Friday and Saturday then came back Sunday morning.

"Yea sounds great." I told her.

As much as Edward had saved Alice, in a way he also sort of saved me. He always looked out for me and made sure that I was with Alice every weekend so I didn't have to go home. He's asked me to move in with him as well but my dad would have noticed and probably would try to send Edward to jail or something. Being eighteen now the offer was really tempting but I didn't want to cause them any trouble.

"Perfect," Said Alice picking up a salad and coke and setting them on her plate, "Just ride home with me after school on Friday."

I chuckled and picked up a lemonade. I wasn't very hungry today.

"I always do." I told her giving her a smile.

Pushing my way through the crowded hallway I finally spotted Alice. I walked up to her and grabbed her hand.

"Hey sexy," She said giving me a big smile.

I couldn't help but laugh at her antics, "Hey yourself," I replied tugging on her hand, "Let's go, last class of the day." I said excitedly.

It was probably stupid, but I looked forward to English; I loved reading and writing.

We walked into AP English and took two seats at the back of the class away from everyone else. It wasn't that we were anti-social or anything, but after our sophomore year people starting spreading rumors, and in a town this small the rumors don't ever seem to fade. So now everyone assumed that Alice and I were in lesbian love and addicted to drugs and things of that nature.

They couldn't have been more wrong but with people thinking that we were gay, they never suspected Edward, and that was the main goal; to keep the spotlight away from him and Alice. And that's just what the rumors did. We didn't encourage them, but we never denied them either.

"So I heard that Ms. Lopez quit, any idea on who our new teacher is going to be for this class?" Alice whispered in my ear.

"I didn't know she left." I replied.

Whoever we had though had to be better than Ms. Lopez, the woman didn't know jack about the Classics. The room was slowly filling up with students but Alice and I were playing a new game she downloaded on her Blackberry. Another gift from Edward.

I suddenly got the goose bumps on my skin and felt a tingling sensation on my insides. Looking up I saw that a man, presumably our new teacher, had entered the room. He was tall and drop dead gorgeous. His hair was blonde and slightly curly and hanging in his face. But what struck me the most was his piercing blue eyes. His eyes met mine and I felt like we were the only two people in the room. All I could see was him. There was something about him that drew me to him. Like a moth to the flame.

A hard nudge in my side made me break eye contact with the blue eyed God. I felt a surge of annoyance for my best friend who was gaping at me like a fish out of water. ]

"What was that about?" She muttered lowly.

I just shook my head and looked back up to see that he had his back to me now. "I have no idea." I said.

Whatever that was I wondered if he felt it too.

"Good afternoon class and welcome to AP English," said Mr. sex on legs, "My name is Mr. Whitlock. I'll pass out the syllabus and reading list in a few minutes. You have one week to purchase Wuthering Heights. We'll read it and have class discussions as well as do a couple of Essay's. I don't tolerate disrespect or interruptions. Understand?" He looked around the room after his mini speech.

I guess he won't put up with bull shit. Good.

I heard Alice groan and slouch down in her seat. She liked school and being challenged when it comes to school work but we've never had a teacher come off as such a hard ass before. It was intimidating, which of course is probably what Mr. Whitlock was going for.

I couldn't stray my eyes away from him though. He turned and looked at me suddenly, once again making eye contact. My plain brown eyes looking into his deep blue eyes. I could feel the blood rushing to my cheeks and looked away embarrassed, but not before I saw him me give a small smile, like he knew what he was doing to me.

I was in trouble. How was I supposed to concentrate in here with my own personal God as my teacher? I sighed and mimicked Alice by slouching down in my seat. This was going to be a long year. The first guy that actually catches my attention in almost four years just happened to be my teacher. I quickly shook my head of those thoughts; teacher or not I refused to let myself get involved with anyone. I put up my walls four years ago and they were not coming down now.

Mr. Whitlock let us talk to amongst ourselves as he passed out the course syllabus and was asking for every body's names. When he got near mine and Alice's table the tingling sensation came back tenfold.

"And what are your names?" He asked in his cool, smooth, sexy voice.

I don't think it was possible for me to get any redder.

"Alice," she replied with a big grin.

What a suck up.

"B-Bella." I said softly, finally looking up at him.

"Nice to meet you two." He said with a smile of his own before heading back to the front of the room.

I let out a deep breath that I didn't even know I was holding and felt my body tremble. He was the first male that came near me, besides Edward, that didn't make me flinch away from him. I usually got nervous around men in general, but I didn't feel threatened when he was around. Why was that, I mused to myself.

I could feel Alice's eyes boring into the side of my face, "Oh we are so going to discuss this on the way home, Bella," she teased.

Great. I had this weird, crazy crush my teacher. Can it get any worse?

"You know you're lucky that I came over early and helped you dress yourself. At least you looked hot for Mr. Whitlock," Alice said as she sped down the highway towards Edward's house.

I rolled my eyes but didn't say anything. I couldn't get his blue eyes out of my head. And the way he said my name as we were leaving. I have never felt this way about anyone before, why did he have such an effect on me?

Edward was the only man to show me that not everyone was like my father. But I never felt like I would find a guy like Edward for myself. Alice was one of the lucky ones to get such a great guy.

"You're right Alice, I'm sure that my ass looked good enough to get Mr. Whitlock to risk his career for me. His student." I said, emphasizing the word 'student'.

Alice just snorted and continued driving.

"I know these things Bella," She sang, "You'll see."

I sighed and decided to change the topic. "What are we making for dinner tonight?" I asked her.

We usually cooked dinner together for Edward on Monday's. On top of owning the strip club in Seattle, he also owned a local bar here in Forks and was a History Professor at the local college. He taught a few classes during the day then checked in on his clubs on the weekends about twice a month.

Needless to say he was kept pretty busy, and then once he and Alice became serious he became even busier attending to us on shopping trips. He loved to spoil her.

"I was thinking we could keep it pretty simple tonight with Chicken Alfredo pasta?" She asked.

Usually I was the one cooking while Alice sat on the counter top and talked with me. It was one of our things. I cooked, she talked.

"Sounds perfect," I grinned.

"You going to call Charlie and see if he'll let you spend the night tonight?" She asked pulling into her driveway.

I always tried to spend as much time here as I could. I even had my own room full of my things here.

"Yea, I could try. He let me last week so I doubt he'll let me this week though." I said.

Monday nights were Charlie's late nights so I wasn't expected to cook dinner for him, so he never knew that I came over here after school. Charlie is the Chief of Police here in our small town called Forks in Washington. Ironic how he's supposed to protect people yet doesn't think twice about raising his hand to me whenever he wanted.

Alice shut the garage door as we walked into the kitchen. I trailed after her and we put our bags down in our rooms before heading back to the living room. I went to the DVD shelf where they had hundreds of movies stacked up nicely, and chose "Chuck and Larry". I smirked and put it in the DVD player while Alice turned on the T.V. with the remote from the couch.

I walked over to the couch and laid my head in Alice's lap then hissed when my shoulder hit her hip bone. I sat up and rubbed my shoulder where it hit.

"Jesus Bella," said Alice sitting up looking worried, "I thought you said it wasn't that bad when you texted last night."

"It's not." I said trying to lay back down, "It's just sore."

"Let me see. Please."

I took off the sparkly top and let her see the hand shape bruises that covered my left shoulder.

"God dammit," She whispered, "You've had worse, I'll give you that, but still it looks painful. Let me get you some Advil."

Before I could protest she was up and in the kitchen. That's what made Alice such a great friend. She never asked questions and she never judged me.

Once she was back and I took the offered medicine, we curled back on the couch and started our movie. A few minutes later we heard the garage door opening alerting us that Edward was home.

Neither one of us moved as we heard him come into the kitchen. I heard him chuckling before I saw him.

"Really, Chuck and Larry again?" He asked, leaning over and giving Alice a kiss on the lips.

"Hey, it's a great movie." I defended.

I leaned up as he came down to my level and gave him a quick kiss on his cheek. "I'm not knockin' it hun," He replied before heading up the stairs.

He always hated wearing suits to work.

"Let's go start dinner Bells." Alice said, pausing the movie.

I sat up and stretched before following her to the kitchen. I picked up their house phone on the way and dialed the police station first.

"Chief Cortez here," said a male voice on the line.

"Hi Cortez, it's Bella." I said, trying to sound upbeat.

No one knew what went on at home and even if they did, they wouldn't believe it.

"Hey Bella," he said, "One sec, your dad's in his office, I'll send you through."

"Thanks." I muttered.

A second later Charlie was on the line.

"Swan."

"Hi dad," I said softly.

"What do you want?" He asked sharply.

"Can I stay the night with Alice tonight?" I asked. "I'll be home tomorrow afternoon before you get off work."

With Charlie this could only go one of two ways. Either he really wouldn't care since he wouldn't be home until midnight anyways, or he would be in a bad mood already and demand that I go home only to take it out on me when he got home.

"Sure do what you want," He said indifferently, "But I expect dinner on my table when I get home from work tomorrow." He said before hanging up.

I hung up the phone and made my way to Alice with a small smile. I had a feeling it was not going to be a pleasant night tomorrow night with Charlie.