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BPOV

"Bella!" I hear my mom shout from downstairs. "Wake up! You can't be late to school… again" she adds as an incentive to wake me up.

It's only November and I already have 25 tardy slips. That's not even including those that are in school. You see, I have a slight problem with punctuality. To me, time has always been relative. Why rush? Everything that needs to be done will get done. Unfortunately, the administration at Jefferson High School doesn't feel the same way. They say that if I get to 30, they're going to start to suspend me in increments of 10 absences. Since that would mean my "perfect" record would turn to piss, I guess you can say that my parents have been riding my ass.

Yep. That's right. I'm still in high school. You figure that someone as awesome as me would get out for good behavior like any normal penitentiary, but noooo… I'm forced to attend school with the same dicks, pussies and assholes that I've known since daycare. I'm a little bitter for those of you who hadn't noticed.

"Bella!" dad shouts, this time. "Get up. Now!"

I run over to my drawer and find a semi clean shirt. It's black with a turned over bowl of cereal that says "Serial killer" on it. I thought it was funny. I find my favorite pair of black jeans that are ripped within an inch of their life and grab a pair of Converse and race out of my room to the bathroom—but not before I fall down the stairs from my attic bedroom. It hurt. Badly.

"You okay?" my parents ask. "Yeah"

"Okay. Don't wash your hair today. It's cold outside today. I don't want you getting sick."

I drag my borderline limp body to the bathroom and proceed to take the shortest shower of my life.

I run downstairs and grab a granola bar and a cup of juice. I check the time and see that it's 8:45. School starts at 9. I have 15 minutes. I should make it on time.

I scarf down my makeshift breakfast and head towards the door.

"Bella!" mom catches me before I can leave. " Remember to pick your sister up from her cello lesson at her school today at 5…on time. You also have to watch her until your dad and I get back from work."

"Which is?" I ask, hurried. I really need to leave. "8…maybe 9" she shrugs.

"What?" I whisper yell. "You know I have band practice at 6."

I'm in this awesome band called Social Siberia. I'm the lead singer, 2nd guitar and only female of the group. We're pretty cool. At least I like to think so. We've only been together 2 years. But, we've gotten a few gigs. I take it seriously. Mom is threatening to make me quit if I make it to 30 tardies.

"Your dad has to supervise a case and I need to stay late to work on my briefs." There is either the sucky or awesome part about having successful parents. They're hardly ever home. Today, it's sucks.

My father, Charlie is a lead detective in the DEA. He catches all kinds of bad ass drug dealers. Seeing that we live in Washington D.C.- one of the crime and drug capitals of the country- you can guess that he's gone a lot. It wouldn't be odd to see him on the news after catching a well-known drug dealer. He's already gone to work.

Then there is Mom. Renee is a hardcore environmental attorney. It's been said that other attorneys see her and run away in fear. I've yet to see it. She's fought everybody from oil riggers in Texas, to developers in Brazil. She's even been on Good Morning America about one of her past cases. She's been itching to get in on the BP oil spill. Pretty much, if you're fucking up the environment in any shape, form or fashion, she'll find you. Then she'll sue your company until there isn't anything left. Point is, you don't argue with her.

"But-"

"But nothing" she interrupts. " Your father and I have to work and your 9 year old sister can't be home alone while you go off and play rock star. It's about time you earned your birthday present isn't it?" she smirks.

Damn. She pulled out the big guns. For my 17th birthday present, my parents got me a brand new 2015 Ford Escape (to replace the beat up Chevy that died. This car is fully loaded- and perfect. My mom pushed for it because it's a hybrid so it wouldn't be as bad as most cars. When I first received it, I was so happy I could shit. Now, I see it as a curse. As soon as I got it, I became the errand girl of the house. Getting groceries, taking and retrieving Angela from her various practices, it doesn't seem to end. If I'd known I'd be selling myself into slavery, I'd happily be taking the bus. No. I wouldn't. Anyway, my mom calls it responsibility. I call it strings attached. Now, every time I do something a little wrong, they threaten to take my car away. It's torture.

Mom has me by the balls and she knows it. "Fine" I give in. "You win"

"I had every intention" she smirks. "It's 8:50" she informs me as she walks out of the door as I race to my car.

"Shit!" I yell.

"Language" she tells me as she hops into her Prius and pulls out behind me. "I love you" she yells out of her window.

"Love you too" I tell her as I wave and drive off.

Luckily, Washington D.C. morning traffic wasn't as big of a bitch as I imagined. As I race to school, I'm pretty sure that I almost broke the sound barrier by how fast I was going. I check and notice that it's 8:55 when I finally find a space. I run to my locker to drop off my bag and step into homeroom as soon as the bell sounds. I made it.

"Wow," Ms. Shaw says in fake astonishment causing the room to laugh. "You made it"

I rush my way to my seat and wait for the bell to sound to get this day over with. I

feel a buzz in my pocket. I reach for my cell phone and notice a text from Rosalie.

Rose: Cutting it kinda close. Aren't we?

Bella: I don't know how to do it any other way.

I look over and see my best friend surrounded by the usual flock of popular kids. Most people, okay everybody, wonders how Rosalie Hale and I are best friends. I mean, Rose is blonde, gorgeous, the whole nine. I'm just…me. Brown hair, brown eyes. That's it. Don't you think it sucks that I can't even describe myself? But somehow, we get each other. Me, Rose, and her twin brother Jasper have been best friends since kindergarten. We bonded over our hatred of assholes.

Flashback

Today is my first day of big girl school. I didn't want to go, but mommy and daddy made me. I wanted to stay home. Why do I have to go to school anyway?

I walk into this room. It's filled with bright colors and pictures. Some of the kids are running around. All of the chairs are taken so I have to go to the back of the class. I sit next to these two blonde kids. One is a girl. The other one is a boy. They are talking to each other. I don't want to get in the way so I just look around and be quiet. Then I hear the girl and the boy yelling.

"Dummy!" the girl yells and slaps him over the head. That's not nice. "You forgot the crayons. How are we supposed to color?" she asks him.

"You took them so you could color in your room. You should have packed them" the boys says as he rubs his head. "I'm telling mom you hit me"

"No you aren't!" she tells him.

I don't want them to get in trouble so I grab my crayons out of my book bag. It's the 64 pack… with a sharpener.

I tap the girl on the shoulder. "You guys can share with me. I can't use all of mine anyway."

The girl and the boy look at each other and shrug their shoulders. It's weird.

"Okay" they say. "Thank you." "You're welcome."

We sit in the back of the class coloring until the girl tugs on my shirt. I look up.

"My name is Rosalie. But my parents and Jasper call me Rose. You can too if you want."

"I'm Jasper" the boys says from beside her.

"Hi" I say. "My name is Isabella. But can you call me Bella please? Isabella is an old person's name"

"Okay Bella" they say together.

We spend the rest of coloring time coloring. We didn't say anything.

Then recess came. I couldn't find Rose and Jasper. I went to the sandbox and started to build a sandcastle. I was almost done until this blonde haired boy came by and stepped on my castle.

"Hey!" I shouted. "That wasn't nice!"

"You're ugly" he shouted as he pulled on one of my pigtails. "Ow!" I shouted before I started to cry. "Shut up!"

"No" he shouted. "Bella's ugly! Bella's ugly! Bella's ugly!" he started to chant. "No she's not" Rose shouted coming out of nowhere.

"You can't be mean to her cuz she's our friend." Jasper said. "You're ugly too" he said. Rose got mad.

"Are not!" I yelled at him. "Are too"

"Are not!" "Are too!"

"Shut up, Mike!" Rose says as she throws sand in the boy's eyes.

"Yeah" me and Jasper say as I find my lunchbox and hit him in the stomach. Jasper pushes Mike to the ground.

" Bella! Jasper! Rosalie!" Ms. Brown yells at us. "I can't believe you."

For the rest of the day, the three of us took up three of the four "naughty corners." But, from then on we never looked back. We've been best friends ever since. I couldn't help but laugh.

Rose:What's so funny?

Bella: Do you remember when we jumped Mike Newton in kindergarten?

I hear her snort out in laughter. She must have gotten the message.

Rose: It's one of my fondest memories.

Eventually, homeroom gets out and I start my gruesome day. Nothing of note

really happens. Teachers talk. Students text while pretending to pay attention or take notes. It's all monotonous.

As soon as I sit down for lunch, I'm ambushed by Rose and Jasper.

"I heard that you almost got number 26 today" Jasper laughs. "Jeez, Bella. You only live like 5 minutes away."

"Seriously, Bella" Rose starts. "You gotta start waking up on time. How are we supposed to go to Georgetown together if you have 10 suspensions for tardiness?"

That's our dream. Ever since we knew what college was, the three of us always said that we'd go to Georgetown together. Rose for Engineering, Jasper for History and me for Music.

Music if my life. I wouldn't want to live in a world without it. It's the soundtrack to the universe. In a perfect world, I'd be a songwriter. I love being able to put my feelings on paper and share it with people. I feel otherworldly.

"I wasn't late" I deadpan.

"How are you always late?" Jasper asks.

"I like sleep. Sue me" I laugh. "Jasper, I won't be able to make practice."

"What?" Jasper asks, horrified. " We have that gig in like a week. We need you.

Why?" Jasper plays lead guitar in Social Siberia. We actually started the band together.

"Mom and Dad are working late. I gotta watch Angela." "That sucks."

"I know"

"I'll be able to come on Friday though" I tell him. "You better" he laughs.

Our conversation is abruptly ended by my chair being jerked to the side away from

the table. What an asshole.

"Why hello James." I say to him. "It's always a pleasure being harassed by you."
"Hi, Loser" he laughs.

Me and James hate each other. I hate him because he's an asshole. He hates me because I don't kiss his ass. I only have to tolerate him because somehow Rose finds him appealing and has chosen to date him for the past 6 months. I don't know why.

"Hey baby" he says me before pulling up a chair next to Rose AC Slater style and kissing her. I start to listen to my iPod to try and block out James' presence.

What does she see in this asshole?
"I missed you." Rose says.

"I know." He tells her, smugly. Like I said… asshole. "I figured I'd be seen with your emo friends and say hi to you." He adds. Really? "Why don't you sit with me, Victoria, Mike and the crew?"

I admit. Me and Jasper aren't really the social elite of Jefferson High, hence the band name, Social Siberia. The kicker is… we don't give a shit. Rose doesn't either.

Jasper could be popular if he wanted. I mean, he's Rose's brother and he's attractive. But, he doesn't want to be. I gotta admit. The kid is a little emo. He and Rose were both born with the same golden locks. He died his hair black in the 9th grade because he was I quote "didn't want to look like and Abercrombie and Bitch reject."

"Asshole" I grumble.

"Did you say something?" he asks me, thinking I'll back down.

"Yeah." I affirm. "I called you an asshole. Now we can add 'deaf' to your list of faults."

"Bitch"

"Fabio impersonator" I laugh as I flick his 90s style grunge ponytail.

"Rose" he asks. "Doesn't it bother you to hang out with these losers? I mean I get that Jasper is your brother but…"

"Rose" I interrupt. "Does it bother you that your boyfriend's ponytail is longer than yours?" I ask, casually. Jasper spits out his Coke from laughing so hard.

"Guys" Rose states calmly. I can tell she's trying not to laugh. "Be mature. James, I'm sitting with my friends. Why don't you sit with us?"

"Because they're weird and shit" he whined, sounding like a 3 year old. "I don't want to be seen with goth boy and the future cat lady over here." He points to me and Jasper. Jasper rolls his eyes and continues to eat his sandwich.

"Well, at least I won't be selling I Can't Believe It's Not Butter" I snap at him just

as the bell rings. I win!

I go on through my day and before I know it I'm sitting in my last class for the day-History. I personally don't see the point in taking a history class…because it's history. It happened already. Why bother?

I sit in my seat and listen to my iPod, where I am approached by Mike Newton… again. He's one of those All American type of boys. You know… blonde hair, blue eyes, basketball player, tool. He's very straight laced. I bet he listens to Justin Timberlake. I like my guys with a little edge. Most parents would love for their daughters to bring home a Mike Newton. But he just doesn't do it for me.

"Hey, Bella" he saunters over to me.

"No" I say. He asks me out every other day. The answer never changes.
"You don't even know what I was going to ask."

Yeah I do.

"Okay"

"Do you want to go to the movies on Friday?" he asks. "Sorry" I say. "I have to go… do something else."

"Come on!" he whisper shouts. "I've been asking you out since the 8th grade! I'm hot. You're hot… in an Amy Lee kind of way. One date!"

You think me beating him up in kindergarten would be enough of a message to back the Hell off. Apparently, it isn't.

"Attention class!" Ms. Patterson calls the class to order, saving me from having to turn him down again. I received a text from Jasper.

Jazz:Newton asked you out…again?

Bella: Yeah.

Jazz:Are you ever going to give him a chance?

Bella: Please. If I wanted a tool, I'd go to Home Depot and buy one.

Jazz: LOL!

I space out for the entire class. I guess I did a good job of pretending that I'm listening.

"Ms. Swan?" Ms. Patterson calls. "What is the extra credit assignment for tonight?" she asks, knowing that I don't know the answer.

I guess I wasn't doing a good job of not paying attention. "Ummm…. I don't know." I give up.

"Well, if you were listening, you'd know what you'd get 20 extra credit points to

distribute how you see fit if you write a 2 page summary of President Cullen's State of the Union. Vice President Denali might speak also. But since you weren't paying attention, yours has to be 5. And it's mandatory." She says, causing the entire class to join me in a gasp of shock. Damn.

"I could write a 10 page paper on how hot his sons are" Victoria belts out. Cue massive girl swoon.

"Screw that" Newton yells. " The first lady is HOTT!" "Don't forget the small one. She's smokin'"

The entire country has an obsession with the First Family. Scratch that. The entire

world has an obsession with President Cullen and his family. I must admit, for an older guy he's hot. But, for girls my age, it's all about Emmett, Edward, and Alice Cullen. It's seems that the world stops whenever one of them is mentioned. You

can't go an entire day without hearing or reading something about them. They're the new Kennedys. I'll admit the boys are hot. But like I said before, I like my guys with

a little edge and the suits that I always see the two wear don't seem too hardcore.

"Calm down" the teacher orders. "Remember to get your permission slips signed for the museum trip in two weeks."

Various class members spend the last 5 minutes discussing which Cullen brother they'd rather do until the bell rings. I race to get my things together so I can pick up Angela.

"Bell" I hear Rose shout as she runs down the hallway.

"Yep" I say, popping the 'p'

"Can Jasper and I come over your house today? We can do that extra credit assignment. Besides, my mom has her book club tonight. There's no way I'm getting stuck there again." She says with a serious face.

"Sure. My parents aren't gonna be home until 9 so it'll just be me and Angela. I

know she'll be pleased"

Angela loves to hang out with Rose. She calls Rose her "sister from another mister." Also, she's been in love with Jasper since she was 3. It's cute.

"Cool. I miss that tiny terror." She laughs.

"See you then" I say and give her a goodbye hug. I hop in the car and speed over to my sister's school. I'm surprised to find that I actually arrive on time.

My little sister goes to Lincoln Prepatory Academy. It's a private middle school. Did I mention that she's only 9 years old? That's right. I have a 9 year old sister in the 8th grade. She's sort of a child prodigy. Math, English, Language, Science… it doesn't matter. She just gets it- especially language. She's fluent in 5 of them. She taught herself. She was even mentioned in The New York Times last year. She has Ivy League college scouting her already.

I wait for her beside the car and eventually see her running toward the car.

My sister Angela is the cutest kid ever. She had shoulder length dirty blonde hair like my mom and brown eyes like me and my dad. She's also pretty cool as far as little sisters go.

"What's up, pint?" I ask her. That's my nickname for her.

"Nothing." She says before quickly entering the car and slamming the door behind her.

"Is everything okay?" I ask her when I get back in the car.

"I don't want to talk about it." She says quietly. "Can we just go home?"

"Okay" I say as I put the key in the ignition and start to drive. "When you wanna talk-"

"I know" she stops me.

Angela and I are similar in this way. When we don't want to talk, there is no use in trying to pry it out of us. I decided to just let it go.

We get home and Ange heads straight to her room and shuts the door. "Can I come in?" I ask , after I bang on her door.

"Okay"

I walk in slowly and sit next to her.

"I know you don't want to talk. I just want you to know that I'm here when you do. I won't tell mom or dad or anything."

"Okay"

"Cheer up" I say. "I'm ordering pizza. Supreme. Also, Rose and Jasper are coming over. That should brighten your day a little" I nudge her shoulder. I see her blush, no doubt thinking about Jasper.

"It makes it a little better" she smiles.

"Well, I'm gonna get out of your hair." I say as I leave her room and order the pizza.

I go to my room and pick up my guitar and just start stringing words together in hopes of forming a song. I let my fingers ghost against the strings of my guitar and feel a calming sensation followed by the inner peace that comes with being in my own world.

Before I know it, the pizza arrives along with Rose and Jasper. The four of us head to my room.

"How was practice?" I ask Jasper.

"Well, Jake and Paul were pissed. They got over it" he laughed.

"I'm sorry you had to miss practice to watch me" Angela looks down at her plate.

"No worries" I tell her. "It was my pleasure."

"Yeah" Jasper says as he ruffles her hair, making her blush. "It's cool."

"If mom and dad say it's okay, would you wanna come to the next practice?" I ask

Angela.

"Really?" she asks in return as her face lights up. "I can come?" "Only if the 'rents approve though. You know how mom is." "Sure" she smiles. "I hope she says yes"

"Oh God, Bella" Rose deadpans as she walks out of my closet. "Just when I think your wardrobe can't get any worse…" she leads off before flashing a black shirt with a paint splatter design. It says, "I just killed a clown" on it. "You buy something like this and surprise me." She shakes her head in disgust.

"What?" I ask. "I don't think the shirt is that bad."

"If you were thinking, you wouldn't have thought that." "Whatever. That shirt is hilarious."

"No it isn't" she argues. "It's morbid. When are you going to let me take you

shopping again?"

Rose has been trying to get me to go shopping with her for ages. We haven't been together since the 7th grade. It didn't end too well. She tried to literally force me into a dress. We decided that for the sake of our friendship, we'd stop all joint shopping trips. Sometimes, she forgets how serious things got that day.

"Never. Do you remember what happened last time?"

"Shut up. That was ages ago. I promise not to force you anymore. We need to get you some clothes that are more feminine. I'll even go into Hot Topic with you" Now she's begging.

"I'll consider it."

"Fine" she huffs and rolls her eyes. "Can I at least give you a couple pairs of shoes? We wear the same size anyway."

"Okay. You win the shoe battle." I tell her. I probably won't wear them, but it will

make her feel better.

"Good" she says as she finishes off the last breadstick. "Look, it's time for the address." She says as she turns the volume up and grabs a pen and paper.

"President Cullen is so hot" Angela says, causing me and Rose to look at her. "What? He is!" she crosses her arms and blushes.

"For an old guy, he's hot. I like the big one… Emmett" she says with a far off look. "I love a little muscle on a man."

"Then why are you with James?" Jasper asks as he jots down notes while laughing.

"Shut up" she goes on. "Emmett Cullen is the unattainable."

"Unattainable?" I ask.

"A person who you feel if you ever met you'd click. But they're just… unattainable" she shrugs. "Edward is hot too."

"Yeah" Angela gushes. "Isn't he Bella?"

When you look at pictures, you can't help but appreciate the sight that is Edward Cullen. His angular features, crooked smile and weird colored sex hair all serve to make him possibly the sexiest man to ever exist. He seems very polished. But, like I've said frequently, I like edgy guys.

"He's cute" I admit. "Okay he's hot. But, he seems a little too pretty for my taste." I

add..

"Suit yourself" Rose adds as she continues her notes.

"I gotta start hanging out with more guys. I'm gonna start my period if I keep hanging around you three" Jasper laughs.

Eventually, we take all the notes we need and it's 10 o'clock. Rose and Jasper leave to go back home. My parents aren't home yet. They must have gone out after they got off of work. After Angela goes to bed, I walk back up to my attic and get back to my guitar.

I clear my mind and stare out of my window into the night sky and strum my guitar, turning notes into chords and just enjoying the sounds that resonate

throughout my room. I hear a knock on my door. I turn around to see my parents coming into my room.

"Hey" I say as I walk to meet them halfway and hug them. "How was work? Catch any bad guys? Sue any eco-terrorists into the poorhouse?" I ask playfully.

"All in a day's work" dad laughs as he ruffles my hair. "Thanks for watching your sister. It meant a lot." Mom says.

"You're welcome. It wasn't that bad."

"We know that you had to miss your little practice and we're sorry." She adds.

The comment about my "little practice" doesn't escape me. My parents and I can't seem to see eye to eye on my musical aspirations. Mom wants me to have "a real major" in college. They just don't get how much I crave it. They want me to major in Literature. I don't see that happening.

"Well, there is always Friday's practice. Plus, we have that gig next Friday so we really need the practice."

"Okay" dad says.

"Actually, that's what we came up here to talk to you about." Mom starts. "About what?"

"Your band"

"What about it?"

"We think that you can channel your… aspirations in a different way." "How?" I hope she's doesn't want me to quit.

"You're a junior" I nod my head. "You're going to be applying to colleges before you know it."

"I get good grades" I have a 3.8 GPA. I could have a 4.0, I just hate History so I

always get Bs.

"We know, honey" dad includes. "But you have no extracurricular activities. The colleges you're looking at- Georgetown- will need a lot more than a stellar GPA to catch their eye.

"I have the band"

"No activities that colleges will recognize" mom adds.

"What are you trying to say? Do you want me to quit Social Siberia? Because I

won't do it. I started that band." I tell them defensively.

"We're not saying quit" dad tells, me calmly as he touches my hand to try to sooth me. "We just want you to channel your passion in another way"

"How?"

"We signed you up for this Musical History & Fusion class." My mom gushes. "It's taught by this British woman… Ms. Parker. She's worked with several famous bands and other artists over the years. It's about the history of music and how every genre is connected. It's a very prestigious program. Only 50 spots were available. I've been talking to her about you for the past couple of weeks. She's willing to add a spot for you as number 51.

This actually seems okay. I don't understand why they're approaching me like I'm a time bomb.

"It sounds cool" I say. I see their faces light up. "When is the class?" I see their faces fall.

"Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays… from 5 to 7" "What?" I yell. " I have band practice those days!"

"You're gonna wake your sister" my mom warns. "What's so bad about it?"

"Your practically asking me to quit the band that I helped start. That's what's wrong"

"We feel that it's best" "How?"

"Let me see" mom starts. "You're out until at least 11 on those days practicing. Hell, even on other days. That's what making you late to school on the time because you keep oversleeping. Honey, you have to start thinking long term. I understand that you love your music. But, I can't… I won't let you mortgage your future on a band that probably won't be together in the next 2 years."

"How can you say that?" I ask. " I go to school. I get good grades. I run your errands. I've never been in any serious trouble. I've never given you a reason to worry. What more do you want?"

"Are you serious? You think we don't know the character of those bars and clubs you guys play at. Those are not safe places, Bella. We worry sick every time you play anywhere. You can still be involved with music-"

"But I want my music mom. Christ, this is so fucking unfair!" I say. "Watch your mouth!" dad says to me.

I can't believe that this is happening. I'm so mad I can't see straight.

"You're going." "But mom-"

"You. Are. Going." She enunciates.

"Look." Dad interrupts. "If you can get your band to move practice times, fine. Have at it. But… you are going to those classes. Your mother pulled all sorts of strings to get you into that class. Not to mention the $15,000 price tag. I understand that this may come as a shock, but we're doing this for your own good."

"Sure. Whatever" I say, as I put my guitar down and get under the covers of my bed. My parents talk some more, but I tune them out. I'm too tired. I find myself angry at the tears of anger that are spilling out of my eyes.

This sucks

Author's Note:

I know that there wasn't any Edward in this chapter. However, you will get him soon. I got this idea from the plot line of Meg Cabot's book, All American Girl. I've changed a lot of stuff though.