837A/N: Here we go again!
Let's get an early glimpse of Edward and Bella before the ish hits the fan.
Three Years Ago
"Mr. Cullen, you have to give me a break, man."
Edward arched an eyebrow. All things considered, Bella Swan was one of his favorite students. Her participation in class was insightful when she could be bothered to look up from behind the curtain of dark hair in her face. Her work was clean, well thought out, and grammatically correct.
But this wasn't the first assignment she'd failed to turn in on time. It was, by far, the biggest, but not the first, and he had vowed to himself when he started this job, he'd be both tough and fair.
"There are a lot of things I have to do, but accepting late papers isn't one of them, Miss Swan. Seeing as we've had this conversation before, I'm sure you remember my policy on late assignments."
She grimaced as she glanced around the empty classroom. "Yeah, but—"
"What is it?"
"Look, if you'd just—"
"What is it?" he repeated in a patient and calm voice.
She huffed. "Late papers are zeros," she mumbled. "But if you'll just listen, Mr.—"
"Were you in the hospital?"
She scowled. "No."
"Was a close family member in the hospital?"
"No."
"No family emergency that your parents might be able to verify in writing?"
There was something bitter about the twist of her lips, but she only shook her head no.
"Then I'll save you the trouble of your excuse, Miss Swan. The answer is no."
Yet another huff. She clutched her fist around the strap of her backpack and looked down—a poor attempt to hide the fury that twisted her pretty face. She took a deep breath, and something about her stance changed, softened. When she looked back up at him, she did so from underneath long eyelashes. She'd gone doe-eyed, and she worried her lush lower lip between her teeth. She shifted her weight.
"Mr. Cullen, if you'd just—"
"Don't even try it," he said, holding up a hand. "Have a little self-respect."
Instantly, the innocent, pleading expression was gone. Her features twisted in pure fury. "You might try not being such a dick. Jesus Christ."
"You didn't get your way. You had a month to prepare for this project, and you blew it off. There are consequences to that, none of which are my fault. There's no excuse for your rudeness."
"You're like, what…five minutes older than me? For fuck's sake, stop being such an asshole."
"That's twice you've insulted me, Miss Swan. One more time is going to earn you a ticket straight to the principal's office."
She rolled her eyes. "Whatever. You've already fucked up my life for no good reason. You think Mr. Greene is going to scare me? You're a bigger asshole than he is."
Edward stood from his seat. "Have it your way." He beckoned her. "Come on."
He opened the door to the classroom and gestured her through. She sputtered but moved forward, out into the hall. When he was sure she was going to cooperate—at least that she wasn't going to make him drag her—he stepped far enough away to give her a little space as they walked.
"So what is it that makes you get off on power-tripping over teenage girls, huh? You still not over the bitch who humiliated you at your high school prom or what?" She crossed her arms over her chest, her shoulders hunched inward.
"That's an interesting theory." He shook his head. "I've been more than fair to you, Miss Swan. In fact, I've been lenient. If you think I haven't noticed that you've slept through my class several times, you have another thing coming."
She said nothing, and when he chanced a glance out of the corner of his eyes, he could see she was trying to hold back tears. He sighed.
"There's such a thing as admitting your mistakes and accepting consequences with grace, Isabella. This isn't as bad as it seems. We've all made poor choices about projects at some point or another. I know this was a huge part of your grade, but you've done well to this point. You'll still pass the class. It's not the end of the world."
"It is for me," she said in a barely-there whisper.
"It truly isn't. Now, come on. Let's get this over with." He raised his chin in greeting to Mr. Greene's assistant. "Is Mr. Greene in?"
~0~
If anyone thought the gossip that went around a high school lunchroom was bad, they would have been horrified at the teacher's lounge. It was a million times worse.
Isabella Swan's name had come up there more than once. She was smart. Not a genius, just capable. She had the ferocity of spirit that should have made her a perfect candidate for success.
Still thinking about the crushed expression on Isabella's face when they were in the principal's office the previous week, Edward hesitantly put an idea forward. "I'd like to help her. I think she needs help, but I'm not sure what kind or how."
Mr. Berty scoffed. "That girl doesn't need any help. None you can give her anyway."
"She has a boyfriend," said another teacher, shaking her head solemnly. "An older boyfriend. Early twenties."
There were a few sympathetic groans from the teachers who were only listening and didn't know her.
Edward's lips turned down. "That's predatory."
The other teacher shrugged. "Tale as old as time. There's nothing to be done about it. She's beyond the age of consent. I think I overheard her tell one of her girlfriends they're talking about moving in together."
"Derailed before she even starts out," her Biology teacher said. "A girl who starts playing house at what? Seventeen? Maybe eighteen? Only ends up one way, really. She'll be pregnant before the end of the year, if she isn't already." He looked sad. "Such a waste. She has a high aptitude for science."
It seemed unfair to Edward that they wrote her off so easily. She wasn't failing any of her classes yet, and graduation was only a semester away. "She's already halfway through her senior year. She might have already been accepted to college. Even if she does have an older boyfriend, she has just as much of a chance as anyone else."
Coach Clapp patted his shoulder. "You baby teachers are always my favorite," he said.
"Trust me, Edward," Mr. Banner said. "This is your first semester. Give it a few years, and you'll be able to spot the ones in trouble from a mile away." He shrugged. "Some things are just facts."
Edward frowned, but he didn't argue. It'd do no good. He didn't have their respect yet. Fresh out of college, he was twenty-three—not so much older than the kids he was teaching, as Bella had so scathingly pointed out.
Oh, well. He would prove himself.
He hoped on Isabella's behalf they both would.
A/N: I always thought it was so awkward when a brand new teacher was teaching seniors in high school. Heh.
This story has been in the works for so many years. So many people have helped me shape it.
Many thanks to the people who originally gave me feedback on this story - Packy, Betsy, Julie, Denise, Eleanor, Mina, Adelaide.
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And thanks to YOU for joining me on a new journey.
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