Disclaimer - I do not own the Twilight Series or any or its characters. No copyright infringement is intended.

Thanks to vjgm for being my beta

This one shot is when Jessica is having second thoughts about Bella in New Moon after Edward is gone. Now that Edward is back in Eclipse, Jessica wonders why Bella went running back to him after he deliberately left her. So she starts snooping around, trying to find answers. Once a gossip, always a gossip.

New Girl

By: HeyThereTwyla

"That's the new girl." Lauren leaned into my ear, pointing the direction with her chin. "Looks like Mike's found himself a new Bella."

I scowled. "Shut up Lauren. You're just jealous because actually went out with my crush," I waved the back of my hand at Tyler, "And you haven't. It's a shame. All of these years." I tried to fake seriousness, but it didn't turn out that way because everything was true. Lauren would have had Tyler under her grasp until Bella came into the picture. It was always Bella, Bella, Bella.

Lauren rolled her eyes. "Oh please, at least I don't chase after him every minute of the day." Both of her hands moved to her chest where her heart was supposed to be. "Oh Mike, you'll be mine someday, I just know it. I'll wait for you!"

"I never said that." I grumbled, picking at my lunch with my fork.

"You were thinking it." Her hissy laugh rang through my ears, making my nose scrunch up in an ugly way. Or at least it felt ugly.

I ignored her and watched Mike walk the new girl to the lunch line. This was unbelievable. Either he wanted me or he didn't, which was most likely to be the latter, but I didn't care. And then again, I did.

"Hey Lauren, I can be a Bella can't I?" I swept my curls off my shoulders behind my back. The truth always slipped out of my mouth, whether anyone could understand it or not.

She sighed. Ever since she knew Tyler wanted to take that what's-her-name-Bella to the prom, she hated her. Until that time, I never knew someone could hate something so much. Or someone. But should Bella be called a "someone" other than self-centered? She claims she didn't think she was pretty, but I think she knew. What other reason would she get Mike's approval to be his girlfriend, or any other guy for that matter, and then blow him off?

...Because she knew she could do just that and get away with it.

How cruel could a person get? Then she run's away to Cullen, leaving us heartbroken for getting our boys to fall for her. Everything was all wrong here.

"You want to steal my boyfriend too?" she asked, looking at me from under her thick lashes with a not-so-nice glare. I started to protest but she quickly cut me off. "Sure, if you have a weird shaped head and ugly pale skin…" she answered, "Can't forget her hair. Brown, ugly, flat... it has no volume what-so-ever." she pinched away the crush from the outside of her sandwich, almost angrily. "She doesn't have volume." I heard her mumble after a while.

I had to keep from laughing. "Yeah? Well all the boys seem to like it. Have you seen the way they drool over her? That used to be me." I wanted to be Bella's friend. But she was clearly a liar and a cheat… and maybe even pathetic.

After Cullen left her, I tried to make her feel better. I felt sympathy for her because I knew she deserved better than that. In fact, everyone tried to help, but she just wanted to sulk over her 'supposed to be boyfriend'. I couldn't understand after a while. If Mike ever left I'd gladly move to someone else. I guess you can't always forget your first love.

But maybe I should've talked to her again, try to set her up. They didn't deserve each other. Edward needed someone more like Rosalie, and Bella... let her stay alone. I never showed any emotion about this before, but I was glad she ended up in such a bad situation. I didn't like her for stealing Mike away from me, and now I had to start from the beginning to get him back. She seriously sucked.

I tried not to like her, and it wasn't like I didn't tried hard enough, but I couldn't not like her. I'd feel bad for not being her friend when she needed one most. I'd feel guilty if she helped me, even if I was getting on her nerves like she was, if I were in the same situation. And it's not like she meant to make Mike like her...

But she shouldn't have went back to him. Not after that, no. He left her in the woods to die! That's what I heard. She even ditched that Jacob Black kid and that truly would have been the perfect couple. But she blew him off just like every other boy that liked her, taking Cullen's side again. Edward had that perfect diamond printed collar around her neck and she didn't even know it.

So maybe it wasn't her fault after all... but she certainly looked way smarter than that. Much offense.

Then again, who could resist the face of a Cullen? Absolutely mesmerizing to the fullest. I could hardly keep a straight face when I looked at one. Sure, they're beautiful, yeah, and they never flaunted. Is that what made them so special to me?

She doesn't even look that pretty, I lied to myself as I studied her face.

"Whatever Jess." Lauren huffed, stuffing half of her sandwich into her mouth.

"You're disgusting. Can you, like, not eat that around me?"

"Shut up, new girl's coming." Her eyes widened as she nodded slightly to the left. All my thoughts about Bella vanished momentarily. Mike was coming and nothing else mattered. I could try again... if only the girl was gone...

"What does he see in her anyways? Besides her being absolutely perfect I mean." she grumbled dully.

Lauren was right, she was perfect. Her eyes were the perfect color of violet, the ones I've always wanted but instead inherited light brown. The way her nose curved up at the end made her look like she constantly walked with her head up. Her lips were full and light pink, a color which always seemed to stain them. Her hair was picture-perfect, the way it was sleek and shiny and full, and the way it curled up at the tips, showing her face to the world. It didn't even look like she had on any make-up. She was just a perfect girl, the kind of girl I've always wanted to be. The ones I've always envied.

But it wasn't her perfection that kept my eyes glued to her face. It was the way she looked. So recognizable, so familiar. Like I'd known her before, but in some other form.

"Hey guys," Mike waved to us, already at the table. I breathed in deeply and my eyes flickered to his face.

I twisted a curl between my fingers, going full-on flirt mode. "Hey Mike." He didn't seem to notice though. Instead he turned to smile at… her. It reminded me of the time when I asked Bella about her 'date' with Edward in Port Angeles. She said the waitress was a flirt... but he didn't notice the girl. What did I say about that?

That it was a clear sign that he was interested.

The same situation occurred to me and I tried not to let it bug my mind.

"You guys met Alexis yet?" Mike asked.

I had to take a deep breath again so my voice wouldn't crack and I could answer normally, but Tyler beat me to it.

"H-hey Alexis. You're new here? That's great." His mouth hung open. The girl smiled and nodded at him. If his jaw could go any further it would touch the floor. Filthy boy droolers. If they weren't drooling over me or Lauren at least.

"Hey, don't get any ideas." Mike laughed, trying to lighten the mood, but Tyler's gulp could be heard visibly over the loudness of the cafeteria.

Lauren was beyond annoyed and she turned to glare at Alexis. "Let me tell you a little story called, No More Bella." Her eyes were in slits now. "Once upon a time, a new girl came to this school. Her name was Isabella. She used to hang out with us, but then we learned she was a stinky boyfriend stealer." I raised an eyebrow, looking at her with concern. The preppy voice she had taken on caught me off guard.

"So, finally, she turned on us. And do you know who she turned on us to?"

Alexis seemed confused and her voice came out in such a melodic tone that it made my ears hurt. "I'm sorry?"

Lauren rolled her eyes, ignoring her confusion and shot a finger at the Cullen table. They were all laughing, Bella along with them. "She turned on us to those freaks. The Cullen's."

Their table went silent for a moment, and then erupted with laughter again.

"Oh. I don't understand… what do you mean? They seemed pretty nice to me..."

So she talked to the Cullen's already. Huh. I guess they only talked to perfect people. But Bella was definitely not perfect. I wonder if Edward would have taken her back if he saw her the way she was after he left.

"Nice?" Lauren's hysterical laughter rang through the cafeteria and everyone went silent. Lauren turned her gaze toward me, then Mike, letting it end on Alexis again, "What I mean is, that if you're anything like Bella, then maybe you shouldn't sit here. And maybe no one wants to talk to you." She gave her the hand, turning back to Tyler, winning his attention again.

I frowned at Alexis's torn expression, but smiled secretly inside. Lauren could be the devil sometimes, but in situations like these, I was glad she was. I watched as they turned to leave.

"Mike," I quickly grabbed his arm, "Aren't you sitting with us?"

He snorted and yanked out of my grip, "Whatever Jessica." My eyes fell as I watched the two of them walk away, but I didn't dare try to stop them again. He called me by my full name, a clear sign that he was upset with me. What had I done wrong? Was it wrong not to let someone sit with you because you didn't like them?

"Thanks a lot Lauren." I hissed at her when they were out of earshot – my voice was soft, but stern. I wanted the girl to leave, not Mike. And I almost felt sorry for myself that I just learned her name, and already, I wanted to forget it.

She beamed at me, "No problem."

"Don't be happy about that! I meant that in two ways, not just one." I didn't have to whisper anymore now that everyone went back to mind their own business. But I kind of missed the attention now.

"I did this for you, didn't I?"

"Well duh –,"

"So stop buggin' out. Jeez."

I decided she could be much worse than she already was and let that subject drop.

"What do you think is up with Mike in liking brunettes anyways?" I played with her hair as I spoke. It had grown a lot since she last cut it.

She sighed, dropping her sandwich and let her chin fall in the palm of her right hand, "Don't know."

"Do you think he would like me if I were a brunette?"

"Don't care."

"Do you think you could help me dye it or something?"

"I. Don't. Care."

"Yeah, I know but, don't you think you could help me dye –"

"Do you ever. Shut. Up."

I frowned.

"Great. You just ruined my appetite. Thank you genius."

The five-minute bell rung, and I tried to avoid meeting her gaze as she looked at me. Her eyes held so much intensity that you could see it clear in front of your face even if she glared at you from behind.

I succeeded in avoiding her devilish looks as her last words coursed through my ears."... I'm going to class."

She had a temperament issue, that's how I knew she wasn't turning on me like so many other random people have. People who were supposed to be my friends... like Bella.

But I wasn't exactly sure about Bella anymore. She never seemed to like me anymore than I do now. And she didn't turn on me on her own... it was Cullen. His devastatingly good looks were just too much to bear; for her at least. I could handle him if he got too close, not that he ever wanted to.

But Lauren's been in an even worse mood now that her mom passed away. She could barely talk to me anymore, and she tried but I never forced her. Maybe I over-did it with the whole questioning thing. That was always my fault in any case anyways.

I frowned, suddenly aware that I was alone. The cafeteria had emptied, leaving me to my thoughts. Lauren was long gone.

I looked around the empty room before dumping my food in the trash and calling apparently to no one, "Hey Lauren, wait up!"

So, what do you think? There is another chapter I have to post, but that's it. If you would like me to continue though, don't hesitate to tell me! ;)