AN: Thank you for reading!

Chapter Two: Lost
Bella's POV

I was absolutely dreading today. It would be the first time I'd go to school since the Cullens came back to Forks.

I knew that seeing him would be unavoidable, but there wasn't much I could do about it. Charlie would shoot me if he found out that I'd skipped school.

I wouldn't blame him for that. After that three–day field trip to an ancient castle with ancient human–slaying, blood–drinking vampires in Italy, I deserved to be shot for putting him through hell. In fact, I was almost wishing for that so that I wouldn't have to face Edward.

I trudged to my truck and got in, hoping for the first time that it would break down along the way so that I'd have an acceptable excuse for Charlie.

I drove as slowly as possible to school and when I did arrive, I blanked out. I could see the shiny, grey Volvo sitting innocently in it's normal parking spot – a car which hadn't stood out in the parking lot for months and now it suddenly was. I led my truck to the opposite end of it and parked it as far as possible. Avoiding eye contact with the precious car of my precious love, I headed straight for the entrance.

I could feel stares boring into my back, front and all sides. I knew that the town was aware that the Cullens were back so along with rumors about them, everyone included me in the conversation as well. I heard the words "ex–girlfriend" more than I liked.

I tried to ignore all the whispers going around me and appear nonchalant. The kinder students gave me sympathetic looks as they tried to convey how sad they felt for me. They figured it would be hard for my ex–boyfriend to be back after breaking up with me. The students with smaller hearts didn't offer any emotion – which was somehow better, in a way.

Mr. Berty gave me a stern look as I arrived late for English class. I knew I wasn't too late – other students were still lingering in the hallways, but Mr. Berty preferred punctuality.

I kept my gaze on the marbled floor as I slid into my seat, perfectly aware of who was sitting next to me. It seemed that Edward had made changes with Mrs. Cope so that his schedule would mirror mine.

He would now be in every one of my classes.

English was extremely slow . . . dragging.

I kept my eyes locked on Mr. Berty or the board or my notes but never to my side. I was painfully aware that my 'ex–boyfriend' was sitting in the chair right next to mine and the electricity buzzing between us was almost stinging. I felt almost compelled to reach out and take his hand.

The urge had lasted throughout the lesson and I had to fist my hands in the pocket of my jackets to stifle it. To help myself, I edged the chair away from him every so often. Every time I did so, my heart screamed out in protest while my mind egged me on. I was so confused.

I sank all my weight onto the chair – until my butt hurt – to keep from jumping into his lap or something.

My hair was a good curtain. I draped all of it over my left shoulder and let it fall forward, creating a barrier between us. I could almost see his intent and longing gaze on me and it never ceased throughout the class.

I tried to pay attention to the lecture but every time I tried to focus, my thoughts would go haywire again before finally landing on the image of the boy who once captured my heart before breaking it.

As soon as the bell rang, I shot straight out of my seat and was out the door before anyone had the chance to blink. I escaped into the hallway and headed directly to my locker without a backwards glance. If English had been slow, then imagine the rest of the day. I was getting exhausted of ignoring Edward when everything in me demanded that I just launch myself at him and kiss him till I fainted.

By the time lunch rolled by, I wasn't sure what I was supposed to do. I was sure that I wasn't welcome at my old friend's table, but I certainly wasn't going to sit with Edward and Alice.

I dragged my food tray along the counter as I debated what to get for lunch. I knew that he was already at his table because I could sense him staring at me from across the lunch hall, but I didn't look up to meet his gaze. I hadn't stared into his dazzling, topaz eyes since the day before, when he'd explained everything to me in my room.

I grabbed a plastic container of salad and a bottle of water to place on my tray. A sudden presence and a "Hi, Bella!" caused me to jump slightly and lose my grip on my plastic spoon. It fell to the floor while I whirled around and came face–to–face with Mike Newton. It was the first time he'd addressed me after a long time.

When I'd been during my lifeless phase, Mike had become less enthusiastic towards my company and hadn't chattered as often. Of course, during that time, I'd probably been beyond noticing. Ever since I'd started hanging out with Jacob, I'd been improving, as Charlie had put it to Alice that morning when they'd sat at the table and I'd been 'sleeping'.

Mike had obviously noticed the life I'd been gaining during that period. I remembered him being surprised when I'd addressed him directly that day at lunch, startling him and the rest of the table.

I wondered how Mike would treat me now, especially since Edward was back. Knowing him and his previous offers to dates, he'd be after me, helping me get over Edward.

I'd never get over Edward.

My face slipped into a frown in response; I really didn't want to deal with Mike right now. "Hi, Mike." I hoped I didn't sound too unenthusiastic or too enthusiastic. Either way would end up badly. He'd either find me completely impolite or too eager.

"So, I heard the news." He whispered, bending down so that could say it in my ear. "The whole school's talking about it."

I raised an eyebrow and smiled awkwardly. The whole school was talking about it? So Mike knew that the Cullens were back because of the school 'talking' about it? What a silly thing to say – there was living proof that the Cullens were here less than thirty feet away.

"Uh, yeah." I smiled weakly.

It was silent for a moment before he smiled reassuringly at me. "Don't worry, Bella. It'll all get better. I'm here for you."

My eyes widened as I let out an awkward laugh. I just wished he would stop; I didn't want anyone's sympathy.

Apparently, Mike wasn't finished.

"Cullen was a jerk to let you go."

I crossed my arms over my chest and stared at him as he ranted on. Of course he didn't know that Edward could hear every single thing he said with perfect clarity.

"I wouldn't have dumped you like that . . . or at all. I mean, you're special and Cullen is just so stupid to not see that."

I pressed my lips to keep from shouting at him.

"I guess he's just –"

"Mike." I interrupted before he could go in too deep. "I'd rather not talk about him, right now."

"Of course. I'm sorry, Bella." He smiled apologetically at me, but I flinched at his expression.

I was aware that some people in the cafeteria were watching us and trying to hear what we were saying. I wondered what rumors they were coming up with now – probably assuming that I was seeking comfort in Mike Newton because I was feeling like the pathetic ex–girlfriend.

Ugh. I wished people would mind their own business for once – starting with Mike.

I just wanted to be by myself, but I couldn't do that now that Mike had spotted me. I should have just skipped lunch and gone to the library.

Mike invited me to the his table and I accepted reluctantly. I knew that everybody there – apart from Angela and Ben – weren't on the best of the terms with me. I sighed, knowing that the lunch period would be extremely awkward with my ex–friends.

As expected, Angela and Ben smiled at me in welcome with a trace of pity in their eyes. They didn't say anything, however, much to my relief. The others, on the other hand, looked at me in surprise. Immediately, they began talking with supposed–to–be–comforting words, but I just nodded vaguely until Angela shushed them.

I knew that none of them were really intending to console me. They were mainly hoping for fresh gossip. They wanted to know where I stood with Edward Cullen right now.

Before I could start eating, I lifted the spoon off the tray and headed over to the water fountain in the cafeteria to wash it off since it had been on the floor for the duration of my conversation with Mike. I rinsed it quickly and wiped it with a paper towel before heading back towards the table. My steps faltered when I noticed Lauren approaching me with a couple of her sidekicks, all of them glaring at me. I knew that she'd chosen this moment when I was alone to confront me.

I let out a breath and waited for her to speak with emotionless eyes. She hated me and for some reason, I knew that this talk wouldn't be a pleasant one, but I really didn't care about what she had to say. She was the last person on the list of people I cared about.

In fact, she wasn't even on the list.

"Listen, Bella." Lauren snarled. "I understand that when you were new to this school, Edward Cullen had some sort of obsession with you for God knows what reason. I couldn't believe it when he actually started dating you. I mean, he's so perfect and you're so . . ." She struggled for the right word as she eyed me up and down with hateful eyes. ". . . plain." She sneered.

I bobbed my head up and down. She was right. I was plain. There wasn't any denying that. For some reason, my heart didn't break with her words. I had a heart in there, but it was already crushed into dust, there wasn't a piece left to break.

"Then he left because of you without even giving me a chance with him. I don't know what you did to him, but I'm telling you – stay away. Now that he's back, don't think you have the right to take him back. He might have been yours once but now, back off. I'm positive that you want him back; I'm not letting you claim him now. He's interested in dating now but . . . Back. Off. He will be mine and I'll see to it that you'll never getting him back if it's the last thing I do."

I was nodding throughout her entire speech with empty eyes. She was right. He wasn't mine anymore. He could be anyone else's.

I remembered that during my first few weeks of school, Lauren had been crushing on Tyler Crowley. Apparently, she'd been furious that Tyler had taken it upon himself to take me to prom as an apology for almost killing me with his van. I knew she'd liked him at that time, but it seemed that, unlike me, her heart didn't remain true to one person only.

I turned my gaze from her to the side and stared at Edward – for the first time – who was glaring at Lauren, looking absolutely livid. He seemed like he wanted jump him from his chair, but Alice was restraining him with her small hand as she pushed him back down on his seat. Both of their lunch trays were sitting untouched and obviously, uneaten on their table.

Edward seemed to sense my gaze on him for his golden eyes darted to me once and stared there. He entire face and body softened as he gazed at me with such longing, sadness, pleading and a hint of joy. His eyes – even from a distance – peered into my soul and I could almost cry at the emotion – at the love his gaze was radiating. We stared at each other across the cafeteria and I'd almost forgotten that Lauren was still in my face.

I began twisting the spoon between my fingers as I bit my lip. I broke the magical connection we seemed to have between us when I glanced back at Lauren with a sad smile.

"He's all yours." I said quietly to her before stepping around her and making my way out of the lunch hall.

Edward and my food tray sat at their tables, lost.