Can I lie and say I own this, even though I don't?

The roads were slick with rain. The truck's engine was load enough to drown out my thoughts. At least, until I got into the parking lot. The silence was deafening. He really wasn't there. No. not today. I was going to do this whether he was here or not.

As I got out of my car, I noticed Mike running towards me. "Hey, Bella! You didn't call and-" I kept walking, leaving him behind, not listening to a word he said.

My classes flew by in a haze. They were no different than usual. Nothing was different, because Edward didn't have those classes with me anyway. I was glad for at least something to be normal. Then I walked into third period biology, where an empty seat greeted me. It was all I could do to keep from crying. I sat down at my lab table, wishing I could just melt away into the floor.

"Ah, Miss Swan. It appears that your lab partner has left the school. I can assign you to be in a three person group," Mr. Banner said

"Um, no that's okay. I'll just do it by myself if you don't mind."

"Very well, Miss Swan, but just remember that I can promise you no extra time for you to do your project. It must be handed in by the due date, and no later."

"Yeah, sure, whatever," I stammered. For the rest of the class we watched a movie, not that it mattered.

The next class was uneventful. Literature. All they talked about was stuff that didn't even matter. Nothing mattered anymore. The bell rang, signaling the beginning of fifth period lunch. I walked through the busy hallways, shoved my books in my locker, and grabbed the bag of corn chips I had grabbed for lunch. As I walked towards the doors of the cafeteria, I saw Mike waiting there like a golden retriever.

"Hey, Bella, maybe you wanna eat lunch at our table today?" he said as I walked through the doors. I didn't acknowledge him, or make any move to signify that I had even heard what he just said.

"So, like I had mentioned on the phone, uh, maybe you would like to go to-"

"Listen, Mike, and hear me good," my words were hard like steel "I do not want to go ANYWHERE with you. I do NOT want to date you. You can just leave me alone, because I am not interested. Do you understand that?" As soon as I was done, I noticed the whole cafeteria was silent. Great. I walked out of the cafeteria and ate my lunch in one of the girls' bathroom stalls.

I don't remember the last three periods at all. I didn't even notice school was over until I was standing at my truck with my keys in my hand. Well, that was just as awkward as I thought it would be.

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After I got home, I found that Charlie had already gone over to Billy's to watch the game. I thought about doing my homework, or eating something, but I decided against it. Instead, I went upstairs, and flopped on my bed. I just laid there, not doing anything. I laid there for a few hours before I decided to check my emails, because I haven't done that in a couple of weeks. I logged on, and there was over twenty messages. I checked, and they were all from kids from school, I didn't even know that many people knew my email address. That's odd. I opened the first message. It was from Jessica, who was my friend until she found out that I was the only girl who Edward even talked to, then she was my friend just to get closer to him, in hopes that he would realize he liked her better than me.

Bella! How could you turn Mike down like that in front of all those people?!? That was soo mean! I can't believe you would even do that!

Delete.

Hey Bella. It's Angela (duh). I just wanted to let you know that even though most of the school I mad at you, you can still sit at our lunch table.

Delete.

Bella, it's Lauren. How could you be so harsh? I didn't know you had it in you. I guess you're just gonna fall apart without your little Edward, aren't you?

I decided to delete them all. Who needed them, anyway? Why did they care? Why should I care?

I didn't even try to put on a happy face for Charlie when he came home, but he didn't say anything. That's one of the things I like about him. He won't ask without you telling him to. I don't remember cooking dinner, or what we ate. I don't remember doing my homework or going to bed. I just remember lying there, waiting. I'd wait every night if I had to. I'd wait until the end of time if I needed to. And then I woke up.

I took a cold shower that morning. It made me feel more alive, but it didn't have the same effect as before. I got in my car and drove to school. After the same boring first two periods, I headed to biology. Today, we were going to get our assignments for the first major project or the semester. I went in and sat down, ignoring the icy stares I kept getting from the kids around me. As soon as Mr. Banner started talking someone burst through the door.

"Sorry I'm late Mr. Banner. I just came from the office." Oh no, oh no, oh no.

"Very well Mister Newton, but please don't let it happen again. You can have a seat near Bella, over there."

Mike sat down next to me, and greeted me with a smile. "Hey Bella," he said. "isn't it so cool how I got the lady in the registration office to get me into this class with you?"

I returned his smile with a glare, but he didn't appear to notice that I wasn't happy at all. Didn't I tell him yesterday to back off? Did he not get it? I wasn't interested in him!

"Mister Newton, since you are new and Bella doesn't have a partner, why don't you and her pair up?" said Mr. Banner.

"Yeah, sure Mister B! That sounds great!" Uh, no. Not great, Mike.

"Um, what happened to me working alone, Mr. Banner?" I asked.

"Well, I thought it would be just fine if you and Mike paired up for this," he explained.

"But, I liked it better when I was working alone," I mumbled. Mr. Banner was already walking away. Great, just great.

"So, Bella…" I turned my head to look at Mike, with an icy glare plastered on my face. "I was thinking maybe you could come over my house tonight, for, you know, a 'study' date while my parents are gone. I could order a pizza or something." Oh no. How could I back out of this now? Suddenly, I remembered Jacob's phone call.

"Actually, Mike. I'm going to the movies tonight with this guy Jacob," I said. I could just call and ask Jake later.

"Oh, that guy from LaPush? Yeah I remember him. Hey, I'll come too." No, no, no! That isn't what I had planned.

"Uh, well, Mike," I stammered

"Don't worry, I'll pay for my own ticket. I'll pick you up at seven. See you later, Bella!" he called over his shoulder as he was walking out the door.

"But Mike-" I started to say, but he was already gone.

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"Hey. Jacob?" I said into the phone.

"Oh, hey Bella! What's up?"

"Um, I was wondering if you wanted to come see a movie tonight? With me and this guy Mike?"

"Yeah, cool. What time?" he asked

"Uh, well, he's gonna pick us up at seven."

"Well, how 'bout I meet you guys there?"

"Yeah, sure. Wait, you can drive?"

"Well, on the reserve, we don't really need licenses. All that much"

"Oh, okay. Well, bye."

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Mike came at exactly seven o'clock. I opened the door, and he was standing on the porch. "Hey, Bella," he said

"Yeah, hi," I replied.

"So you ready to go?" he asked.

"Yeah, I guess."

"Cool," he said. He was still standing there, mist from his breath floating into the cold night sky.

"So, should we get in your car…?"

"Oh, yeah."

As we walked to the car, he tried to hold my hand. I crossed my arms to keep that from happening, but I guess my body didn't agree with that idea, because I slipped on the grass and fell forward onto my face.

"Bella, are you okay?" asked Mike.

"Yeah, lets just go."

He opened the car door for me. And waited for me to Buckle my seat belt. Then he closed the door, and walked around to the driver's side of the car.

He took the back roads to get to the movie theater. Suddenly he pulled over. I looked around.

"Uh Mike?" I said, confused.

"Shhhh… Bella…" he whispered. He reached over grabbed my arm, and pulled me closer.

"Mike…"

Now he was leaning in. Oh no! He moved his other arm onto my back and pushed me closer. Oh my gosh! Oh no. I had to stop this.

"Mike, no." I said. He just looked up. "Mike, I've told you before, and I'll tell you again: I DO NOT like you. If you try to do that again, I will get out, and walk there myself."

He looked offended, but he turned back to the road and started driving again. Good. Maybe he finally gets it.

When we got to the movie theater, Jacob was waiting for us by the doors. "Hey Bella!" he said, as he wrapped me in a giant bear hug. I saw Mike give him a jealous glare. "Let's go watch the movie!"

After we got into the theater and the movie started, Mike reached over to grab my hand. I crossed my arms like I did when we left my house. But he left his hand facing upwards on my armrest, and when I looked over Jacob was too. Ugh. Boys.

After the movie was over, and we were going to leave I told mike that I would ride wish Jacob instead.

"Mike, I've hardly seen Jacob at all, I'd like to talk to him," I said.

"Fine. I'll see you later, Bella," Mike said, obviously hurt that I wouldn't ride home with him.

When Jacob's car pulled into my drive way, Jacob turned to face me. "Bella," he said. "I need to tell you something."