A/N: Thanks for all the reviews! I'm glad there are some Veronica Mars fans out there too! Here is the next chapter which I quite like!!

Enjoy and don't forget to review after!!!

Bella drove home from the beach in a daze. She didn't know what to think of the fact he had returned. She walked into her apartment and immediately knew he had been there. She could feel his presence.

That damn ability to read minds!

She held tightly on to Backup's leash as she walked through the apartment. He was gone. Bella looked at her desk and saw an envelope with her name scrawled across it, and a lavender rose set on top of it.

Why does just looking at his handwriting have to make my heart race? Especially when I just hate him so much?!

Bella took the note and rose and walked out onto her balcony. She ripped the letter to pieces and threw them into the air. She watched as they fluttered to the ground, some landing in the pool, others on the walkway. She then roughly ripped the petals off the rose and threw them to the ground, finally tossing over the stem.

I know he is hiding outside waiting for me to read the letter. I know he watched me toss it aside carelessly along with the rose. He knows I'm pissed.

Bella changed into a sports bra and running shorts. Running was the only way she could clear her mind after a stressful day. She grabbed her iPod and headed toward her car again. She drove down to the beach again since the sand would be harder to run in and there was a constant breeze.

Bella had run about a mile when she ran into Jake again. She slowed to talk to him and pulled off her head phones.

Jake met her half way. "Sorry about storming off earlier," Jake apologized.

"It's fine. I didn't mean to blow up at you. It's just a touchy subject with me," Bella crossed her arms over her chest and shrugged. "But you were right. He's back."

"What!? Did he see you? Talk to you?" Jake said angrily.

"No…at least I don't think so, but he left me a letter. I didn't read it. I threw it away," Bella said.

Jake relaxed, but was clearly still upset. "Where did he leave it?"

"Inmyroom," Bella said quickly.

"WHAT?"

"Jake I know you want to be all protective of me and stuff, but I can take care of myself," Bella said haughtily.

"I know Bella. Even when I doubt you, you prove me wrong, but this isn't Mike and the 09ers!" Jake argued.

"Yeah, but did you think about the fact that I was the one who drove them to leave? They are scared of me! So believe me, you have nothing to worry about, and I don't need protecting," with that Bella turned and started running back down the beach towards her car.

She didn't bother putting her headphones back in. They probably wouldn't stay in with the steam that was coming out of her ears. She ran hard and fast, anger and hurt taking over her body giving her a rush of adrenalin.

Bella could see her car in the distance. As she got closer she noticed Mike and his friends lying across the hood of her car.

Bella stopped in front of them. "What the hell do you want?" she asked bitterly, still angry from her conversation with Jake.

"See now Bella, I thought you were smart. I thought you would have been expecting a visit from us after you put a bong in my boy Duncan's locker the other day," Mike said getting off the car and walking up to Bella.

Bella couldn't help but smile. The bong had been one of the best pranks she set on the 09ers. "Wow, I'm surprised it took you this long to come after me!" Bella said laughing at the group of guys.

Mike didn't look amused. "Well we had to think up of something good," Mike shrugged.

"And the best you could come up with was standing around my car waiting for me? Wow Mikey I'm touched!" Bella said with sarcastic enthusiasm.

"No, we stood around your car waiting for you so I could do this…" Mike walked over to Duncan and grabbed a crowbar out of his hands, then walked over to Bella's car and swung at the headlights, breaking them. Then he went to her hood and dented it in several spots. He ended by breaking the back window and the passenger side mirror.

Bella looked in disbelief at Mike who just stood there looking cocky and satisfied with his work. "You asshole!" Bella shouted at Mike.

"Bella!" Jake called walking over to the scene along with the other PCHers. "What the hell is going on?" he asked.

"Nothing. Just some unfinished business with an old friend," Mike said keeping his eyes on Bella.

Bella looked away from her car back to Mike. "Wow, you admitted we were once friends," she said indignantly. "You're paying for my car," she said menacingly.

"HA! Right. You can't make me pay for the damages to this piece of crap car. If I did anything, I improved it!" Mike said causing the other 09er guys to laugh.

Jake glared at Mike but let Bella fight her own battle.

Mike shook his head and started to walk away. "I guess I'll just have to call your mom. She always liked me better than you!" Bella shouted after him.

Mike turned around, "Bitch! You wouldn't dare!"

It's true. Mike's mom always liked me better. I could never figure out why…still can't, but it works to my advantage, like now. It doesn't help that Mike has been getting into a lot of trouble lately. Like cough-gettingarrested-cough. No, I don't think his mother would be too happy about this.

Bella laughed again, "Oh, I think I would."

Mike walked back over to Bella. He looked down at what she was wearing and smiled evilly. "Getting an early start on your night job as a working girl?" he asked.

That struck a cord with Bella. She turned like she was going to walk away. Mike laughed thinking he had won. Then Bella turned around and punched Mike square in the nose, breaking it and causing Mike to fall to the ground in pain. There was a round of "Oohs" from the PCHers and Jake, and the 09ers cringed.

"Stay the hell away from me Mike," Bella said standing over Mike who had a bloody hand over his nose. He managed to glare at her through the pain. Duncan and Eric walked over and helped Mike up and walked him to his car, then drove off along with the other 09ers.

Jake walked over to Bella. "I can take care of your car for you," he said.

Bella looked over to him with unshed tears in her eyes. "Thanks. And sorry about earlier, though you have to admit I proved you wrong just now…Even though it is still Mike and the 09ers, you have to admit I put up a good fight," a smile crept across Bella's face.

"That you do," Jake smiled at her. "Go grab your stuff out of your car and give me the keys. I'll give you a ride home then come back and take your car back to my house so I can fix it."

"Thanks Jake." Bella pulled on a sweatshirt. It had cooled quite a bit and it was nearly dark. She grabbed her bag with her stuff in it and got out her car key and handed it to Jake. She followed him to his motorcycle. Jake handed her his helmet which she put on, then got on the bike. The two left the rest of the PCHers at the beach.

"You gonna be ok Bella?" Jake asked once they arrived at Bella's apartment complex.

"Yeah. Will you pick me up in the morning for school?" she asked.

"Yeah. I'll be here at seven," Jake said knowing Bella didn't want to talk about what just happened or the fact the Cullens were back in town. He didn't want to start another fight so he let it go.

"Night Jake," Bella said walking to her apartment.

"Bye Bells," Jake sped off leaving Bella to herself.

Bella walked into the apartment, locking the door behind her. Backup greeted her then went back to his spot on the couch and fell asleep.

Bella walked into her room setting her stuff down and changing into pajamas.

Bella crawled into bed and fell into an uneasy sleep.

The day the Cullens walk back into my life is a hard day….and I haven't even seen them yet.