Chapter 2

"Come on, Bella," Emmett whined. "Tell me." "If you do I'll tell you who I picked to be my baby mama," he tempted.

"I already know that," she said as she poured milk over her cereal. It was Wednesday, and Emmett had been bugging her for days, demanding that she tell him who her "baby daddy" was. "You've been in love with Rosalie Hale since the 8th grade."

He folded his arms across his massive chest and pouted. "Well, if you didn't I would have told you, since that's the kind of cousin I am."

"Emmett," she sighed. "I didn't, and don't, have anybody particular in mind when I chose the baby's ethnicity. So just drop it, okay."

"Is he still trying to get you to spill, Bells?" Bella's dad, Charlie, asked as he filled his coffee cup.

"Yes. He's gone through all our classmates and half of La Push. I haven't even started on that part of the journal yet." She rinsed her empty bowl and put it in the sink.

"Hmm. Well, it would be disturbing if it was Quil, and Sam is dating Leah…" he mumbled, thinking aloud.

"Not you, too. Ugh!" Bella stomped her foot in frustration. "I've had it. I'm going to wait in the Jeep."

**TPP**

"Hey, Bella. Wait up," Mike called out and did a weird half jog, half jump down the corridor as he hurried to catch up with her.

Jane gave her a knowing look before leaving to get to their next class. Bella squeezed her eyes shut, mentally preparing herself for what she knew was coming, sighed, then turned to face Mike.

"Hey," he said when he reached her. "So, I know this is short notice and all, but um, will you go to prom with me?"

She blinked. Although she had her suspicions that he was going to ask her, hearing it still came as a surprise. "Wow, Mike. Um, thanks for asking, but I-I already have a date."

"Oh. Well, um, okay." He turned and left without another word.

"How painful was it?" Jane asked when Bella slid into her desk in History class.

"Very. He asked me to prom, just as I thought he would. I told him I already have a date."

"But you don't," Angela whispered from behind her.

"Right."

"Who are you going to ask?" Jane asked curiously. "Most guys in the graduating class are already taken."

"And whoever you ask will wonder if he's your 'baby daddy'," Angela added.

Bella groaned. "Shit, you're right." She pressed her fingers against her forehead. "You know, maybe I'll just go with Emmett and Peter Whitlock, say Pete's my date, or that my date got sick at the last minute."

**TPP**

"You could do that," Emmett said as they got out of the Jeep outside of their house. Bella had told him about her conversation with her friends during History class. "But it's only a matter of time before Mike finds out that you lied, Bells. Things like this will only come back to bite you in the ass."

Nervously, she chewed on her lip. That was the last thing she wanted. "You really think so?"

"It's a small town, no secrets remain secret for long. Hey, Gram, Aunt Molly." Emmett kissed each lady on the cheek before disappearing into the kitchen.

"Aunt Maggie, Aunt Molly." Bella gave them a hug.

"Shh." Maggie hushed them, her eyes glued to the flatscreen TV. "My stories are on."

Bella sat down next to Molly. "Is this the Soap Network?" she queried softly.

"Yes. She doesn't remember that she's seen this before." Molly patted Bella's leg. "How was school?"

"Mike Newton asked me to prom."

"He did?" Aunt Molly clasped her hands in delight. "How wonderful."

Bella shook her head. "I told him I already have a date."

"Really?" Molly frowned. "Who?"

"That's just it. I don't. But I didn't want to go with Mike and have Jessica shoot daggers at me all night."

"Bella Marie. That wasn't nice." Molly scolded her.

"I know." She fell back against the cushions, her front teeth digging into her bottom lip. "Now I have to find someone to go with."

"Come on," Molly pulled gently on her arm. "Why don't we brainstorm" she suggested warmly and led Bella into the kitchen. There, they found Emmett eating half of the cake Bella had made the day before. Molly grabbed what was rest of it and cut two slices for her and Bella. After slowly savoring her first bite, she got down to business. "Let's start with the boys at school. What about Tyler Crowley?"

"Going with Lauren Mallory," Emmett answered.

"Edward Cullen? Ben Cheney? Or Felix Hussley…?"

"No, no and no."

What nobody knew was that Bella actually did have a date, she just wasn't sure how she would tell everyone about him.