A/N: This is the second time I uploaded this chapter.

Let me get y'all in the know:

1) I had/have a virus on my computer

2) It cuts off letters and stops sentences short

3) I think I found a way around it

4) I'm getting severe hater mail because of it.

If you're going to review, please don't be an asshole about it.

Chapter 1: Gossip hates you: Bella's Pov

Charlie is worried sick. He thinks all of this is the C- THEIR fault. I mentally winced when I plastered my fake smile on. Even though they left me, like a worn out chew-toy for a dog, I loved them like a family. It burned and crippled me, the hole they punched. The facade I wore, the plastic mask, was only to fool Charlie and the others. No pain leaked through it. It was happy and cheerful- though a tad bit robotic and zombie-like. If Charlie asked me, "How was school?" I would answer fakelly, "Fine." Nothing at school would ever be fine until they came back... if they come back.

Unfortunatley, I was in said purgatory, sitting next to a prozac-happy Jessica, and a worried Angela. Jess never includes me in a convorsation. I don't mind, though. I like being alone. Better to hurt alone, then to torture others with your pain. I wallow in the sadness, as it is all I'll ever have... unless they come back. Pain, sorrow, and numbness were my new three companions, always there. Always waiting for me to slip up, so they can consume me in their wallowing clutches.

I think this was why I couldn't ignore the hope I felt spring up when I heard "gossip" about new kids. My mind was seperated into two part. Side number one was cheering, thinking blindly,"Of course they came back! They did say they loved me!" Side number two was glaring at side number one, knowing it wasn't them. "It will never be them." It said, "He said he didn't love you. He meant it." Wow, side number two. Thanks for being such an optimist. And, now, because of number two, I was on the brink of tears. I leaned over and tapped on Jessica's shoulder, groping for the past numbness as it dodged me skillfully. "What about the new kids?" I said, trying not to sound desperate... but probably failing. I wanted to believe in the hope one side of me shared, yet I also knew that the other side was probably the correct one.

"Oh, look," Lauren snarled,"It speaks." Mike smacked her on the head.

"Shut the hell up, Lauren! Bella is going through some hard times and it's hard enough without your bitching!" He yelled. I felt my eyebrows shoot up to my hairline. Did Mike really consider my friendship that valuable? That he was risking going to the office and probably getting detention? I looked at his face, expecting the loyal, golden retriever look, but saw a infinite sadness in his eyes, and momentarily I forgot about the hope, them, and my own pain. For a second I was the old Bella, the one that was there before the- C- them came along and messed her up.

"What up, Mike?" I asked, seeing his eyes dart to me.

"Nothing, Bella." He gave me a smile, which I knew was fake, that everyone seemed to believe. All I hoped was that it wasn't too serious. "Jess, weren't you about to answer Bella's question?" I saw Jessica blink a couple of times and then smile brightly at me, though I could tell she was only happy because Mike acknowledged her.

"Oh, yeah. Right!" She shook her head, as if to clear her thoughts. "Well, apparently there are these people coming from Canada." This made me frown. Why would they go to Canada? "There are three of them. Their names are Aiden, Essence, and Sean." Did you hear that noise? That was the sound of my heart breaking. "Essence is a bea-u-tiful blonde. Lauren might have competition. Sean has black and hot tan skin. But I call dibs on Aiden. I heard he's a bronze haired hottie." Did she know how much these words hurt me? Was she taking stabs to my tiny ego, while ripping the whole wide open?

"I gotta...leave." I said, and grabbed my still full lunch tray. Angela put a hand on my shoulder sympathetically. She nodded at me and smiled, letting me know that I could count on her. I left the cafeteria and went to my truck. As I drove to my house I though, "Why bother? Everything there reminds me of them." I ran inside and wrote a note.

Hey, Charlie. You'll have to eat leftovers today. Don't worry I'm at La Push. Tell Harry I said hi.

-Bella