A/N: I would like to thank the people who reviewed, favourited or placed this story on alert. Your support was greatly appreciated. Please do not give up on this story. The plot picks up during the next few chapters, scouts honor!

"...and then the man on the moon lived happily ever after." I immediately perked up and turned to Angela. I gave her a guilty smile and she laughed. "Don't worry; I live in a house with two tiny twins, I'm used to being ignored to some degree."

"You are aware that makes me feel worse right?" I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and tried ignore the thoughts still swimming in my head.

"Don't worry about it, seriously. Can I be honest for a minute?" She sounded timid, so I returned her sentence with an equally timid nod. "It's so nice for you just to be talking again. There were a few months there when I had lost hope for you being normal again. I think I would rather have you randomly zone out every few sentences than have to deal with you being a hollow shell of what you once were or what you can be. So please, believe me when I say don't worry about it." She smiled at me and wrapped an arm loosely around my shoulder in a very comforting gesture.

"It seems an odd thing to say but...thanks." I leaned into her for a moment before she pulled her arm back to her side. We continued walking down the corridor before we made it to English. I smiled at her, trying to convey thanks with my body language. She smiled back and nodded and I knew understood. We entered the class room before she left to sit with Jessica and Eric while I sat in the back alone.

In English I zoned out, safely this time. In the silence of the room my thoughts were able to ebb and flow without interruption. I thought about what had changed lately.

I still felt the hollow shell that Angela described tauntingly appearing at random times but I was beginning to feel more like my old self; the content Bella. I had managed to regain amazing friends, Angela specifically. Our relationship had come back stronger than before, and I knew I would be eternally thankful for her patience with me.

It was odd, this recent compulsion to re-befriend these people and yet a small part of me, a bitter and self deprecating part, wondered if I was trying to replace my ex-best friends place with Angela.

Who else would fill their roles? Maybe Lauren could fill the high maintenance shoes of the standoffish snow queen? Perhaps I could try harder with Charlie to get the comfortable and easy relationship with what could have been my father-in-law.

Could have, but won't. My thoughts mocked and taunted me with promises that would never come true. My arms wrapped themselves around my chest, as if my limbs could contain the pain. It was times like these, when the stitches began to tear, that I wondered how much longer I could handle this before I finally broke completely.

I was curious if a certain psychic would see my end. Would they even care?

No, I pleaded with myself, don't think like this.

The sudden movement of a piece of paper landing on my desk jolted me back to reality. My arms carefully unfolded themselves as if the lack of their presence would cause my heart to suddenly decide it had tried hard enough, give up and snap. I grasped the small piece of thin lined paper and opened it, gazing at the familiar writing.

Bella,

I noticed the way you wrapped your arms around yourself and it scared me. I just want you to know that while I may not be Angela, I can listen too. Don't let the awesome macho exterior fool you. Just because I am the manliest man since the Terminator doesn't mean I can't handle tears and feelings.

Hope your okay,

If you need me you know where I am, Mike :)

The random thoughtfulness of the note caught me by surprise. The fact that Mike not only knew what to look for when it came to my possible relapse, but still cared after I had practically ignored him for months, brought a smile to my previously frowning face.

I looked up and caught Mike looking at me with a genuinely worried expression on his slightly chubby baby face. He seemed to relax when I looked up. I mimed the words thank you to him before crumpling the note and placing it in my pocket.

I glanced at the clock and a groan immediately escaped my lips. I still had to endure an hour of dance before I could retire for the weekend. I was paired with Mike by everyone's choice. Mike was the only person in the class willing to deal with painful toes each lesson and the teacher refused to deal with anyone whining over the fact that they had to handle dance with me. I personally didn't care who I had, I knew I'd end up feeling guilty.

Mike suddenly spun me around and I looked up to notice the rest of the leading dancers spinning their partners too. I attempted to appear graceful but my two left feet made such an appearance impossible. Mike was trying his hardest to entertain me and keep me smiling and laughing during the torture they called ballroom dancing. I was fairly sure this wasn't just because we both hated it but was also because of what happened in English.

"Is Milady having a splendid time?" Mike's voice reached my ears and before I had the chance to laugh at his fake British accent, my feet reached his toes. He let out a hiss quietly but immediately laughed.

"You're lucky to have me as your partner missy. If it was anyone else I can't imagine how broke you would be. If I wasn't your friend I would have sued you a hundred times by now." He pulled his hand out of the grasp of mine to pull his fingers through his blonde hair and taking some deep breathes. His eyes were now shut and he was hunched over. Before I could apologize the teacher came over to correct our posture.

"Straighten up, Swan," I immediately complied. "Jeez, Newton. It really can't be that bad." He walked away but I could have sworn I heard him mutter 'Grow a pair.'

Eventually the end of the day was soon coming and I found myself relieved. Today had been a bizarre emotional rollercoaster and I found myself figuring out dates in my head. I almost laughed at myself when I realized I was probably PMSing. The normality of this situation made me want to dance with joy, an odd feeling to have I was sure considering I was happy to have a week of pain and bleeding.

Angela caught up with me at the end of gym to ask me if we were still on for tonight. Her relieved expression when I said of course made me smile; finally I was making someone happy instead of worried. We made plans for me to meet at hers at 6.30. It gave me enough time to go home, heat up some leftovers for Charlie, pack a quick overnight bag and be at Angela's house just before her parents leave for their anniversary dinner.

Finally the bell rang and I was free from the horrid punishment that was gym. I said goodbye to Mike, Jessica and the gang for the weekend before retreating to my comforting truck. I was about to start my truck when something odd caught my attention.

In the distance, a wolf was howling.

A/N: I know it must be annoying when authors ask for reviews, but please keep in mind that for me personally – and a few other authors I know – reviews mean the world. I am a very self-depricating person so to know my writing is appreciated or enjoy is really great. I am not going to do the whole 'I wont post until I get 5 reviews' because I can't do that to anyone who DOES review. Just know that every review does make me want to write faster rather than sit here wondering why no one liked this chapter xD haha.

Thanks so much everyone,

JadeJeronimo.