Okay it's August 23rd 2009. My internet is down so Carlisle knows when I'll get this up but I want to type it anyway. Damn you internet damn you to hell.

I had the whole weekend before I had to face Edward and his family so I decided to do the unthinkable and run to Phoenix. I figured I should take a chance because there was nothing to lose so I found my parents house. They were home when I got there and I was shocked to see how old they had grown in the eight years I had been gone. Renee had more wrinkles than I could remember ever seeing her with and Charlie's hair was greying. Had that much time passed? Or had I just forgotten what they looked like? I watched as they ate dinner on their porch laughing about stories that Charlie brought home from work. I was shaking as I saw the way they acted as if I had never existed as if they didn't think about me. Isabella Marie Swan!!!! I internally yelled. I was being selfish and stupid. I wanted their lives to continue normally I couldn't expect them to continue to grieve for me eight years later. They must have thought about me every day because they loved me and thats what mattered.

They left for a walk when they were done eating so I went through their home. Things were much like I remembered them. I went into my parents' bedroom and found pictures of me everywhere. I smiled when I saw a picture with me, Charlie and Renee in Florida from when I was twelve. As sad as I was I just couldn't stop smiling at my beaming parents. We had had fun which meant my time with them hadn't been wasted. I looked through some drawers and found papers with my information on them. Most likely the fliers that had been posted by Charlie when I had disappeared. If they kept these they must have still hoped I was alive. I found a paper and pen and wrote:

Mother, Father:

I miss you more than I can express but I want you to know I'm alive and well. I will never see you again but I will always remember everything you did for me. Do not grieve for me because I was not harmed.

With love,

Bella

With the short letter I left necklace that had been given to by Charlie for my sixteenth birthday. I quickly ran out the window when I heard them approaching and watched as Renee found the letter. When she saw the locket she cried and called Charlie who read the letter and held Renee as they cried quietly.

"She's alive." Renee whispered.

"I always knew she was." Charlie kissed her head and led her away to where I could no longer see them. I ran back to Forks certain I had done the right thing.

***

Monday morning I went to school with no clue about what to do with Edward.

"Hey Bella, where'd you run off to on Friday?" Mike Newton came up to me and tried to kiss me but I quickly turned my head so got my cheek instead. Since when was he allowed to kiss me?

"Uh I had to go somewhere." I lamely shrugged.

"You missed a great time." Mike took my hand. Maybe it was physical contact day with Bella for Mike. I casually slipped out of his grip as we walked to class. That didn't discourage him because he put his arm around me. I rolled my eyes and allowed him to keep his arm there just this once. He smiled at this and walked me to class. As people saw us they whispered: Are they going out? They make such a cute couple.

"Mike people are whispering." I said through my teeth.

"Who cares?"

"I do." I insisted.

"Just go with it Bella." Mike smiled. I tugged Mike into an empty classroom and shut the door. People gasped as they saw this. That was gross. I could hear Mike Newton's heart race and noticed other things happen. I got close to him so I was in his face his hot breath was blowing against my face rapidly as he hyperventilated. I had to struggle to not shudder in disgust. He probably thought I was going to kiss him. GROSS!!!! Might as well have some fun. Originally I had just come in here so as to not create a scene but why not enjoy this.

"Mike." I whispered seductively.

"Bella." Mike moaned and grabbed my waist to pull me closer. I allowed this and rested my cheek against his and whispered in his ear.

"Yes Mike?"

"I really like you." He panted.

"I like you too." I lied, "and I want make..." I made my face look embarrassed as if I meant what he was thinking.

"Of course Bella."

"things right between us." I finished. Mike looked slightly confused.

"I'm sorry but I don't like you in that way. Hope we can still be friends." I kissed him on the cheek nicely and left him dumbfounded sitting on a desk with an unpleasant bulge in is pants. People were staring at the door probably hoping we would exit the room with dishevelled hair.

I walked the rest of the way to my class silently chuckling. That was a good start to my day and I hoped it would continue. While the teachers drowned on about stuff I remembered form eight years ago I decided I would talk to Edward at lunch. Lunch approached too quickly and I found myself walking towards the Cullen table. They all looked up at me suspiciously when I arrived.

"Uh, hi. May I sit here?" I asked shyly.

"Whatever." Shrugged the blond who was sitting next to the mountain boy. He nodded as did the blond boy and the other girl.

"Glad you thought about what I said." Edward said and patted the seat next to him.

"Bella this is Emmett." Edward pointed to the mountain guy who waived. "Sitting next to him is Rosalie. That's Alice and Jasper." No one really regarded me they just mumbled hi and continued what they were doing. I noticed Rosalie and Emmett were acting very intimate as were Alice and Jasper.

"So..." I said trying to engage in conversation. Just then someone tapped me on the shoulder. It smelled of Newton.

"Yes Mike." I turned around to him.

"Bella you can still sit with us. I didn't want to rush you and I just mistook your actions. Maybe you'll change your mind." He said a tad embarrassed.

"Thanks Mike if I do change my mind I'll let you know but I'm going to sit here today." I smiled at him and he zoned out for a moment.

"Uh uh okay." He shook himself and went back to sit with Jessica.

"What was that about?" Edward asked probably trying to break the awkward silence.

"Mike was being all touchy feely so I played with him a little." I said sheepishly.

"Playing with Newton is one of our favourite pass times." Emmett exclaimed. "Tell me all about it!"

"I pulled him into that empty room and pretended that I wanted to get laid and instead I pretty much rejected him." I laughed.

"The pig!!!" Alice exclaimed.

"Bella you rock!" Emmett yelled and high fived me.

"The thing is I had to touch him." I shuddered.

"Eww." Rosalie gasped.

"Yeah and I saw some things I really wish I hadn't."

"Too much info." Edward interjected.

"Sorry." I giggled. Edward smiled and I finally noticed how beautiful he really was. His smile was slightly crooked and had sincerity about it.

"Better get to class." I said looking down at my watch.

"I would skip if I were you." Edward said.

"Why?" I asked.

"Blood typing."

"Oh, well we still have to finish the biology project and it's not really working doing it separately." I hinted.

"Yeah you're right do you want to come over and work on it." Edward suggested.

"Sure."

"Great come on." I followed Edward and went into a very hectic afternoon.

Okay so I think I can actually get this posted today using my jump drive. YAY!!!!! This was longer than usual and I hope you liked it.