As you know, I don't own the names, just the mistakes and the story of course.


So far, seventh grade is a lot different than I thought it would be. For starters, both Emmett and Edward are really busy and I don't really see them anymore except during lunch. Emmett has made it his goal to try every sport our school has to offer, or so it seems. He's always got practice after school and camps on the weekends. He's made a lot of new friends and they're all really cool dudes, I just find it hard to talk to them because I don't play sports, or know much about them.

Edward is in the science club now, which is really cool if you're smart. He even goes to club meetings and shit on the weekends now and has new friends who are also really cool. Some of his friends are girls and they're really cute, even if they make me feel stupid when they talk to me with all of their big words and 'theories'.

If it's possible, Bella is talking even less than she did before her parents got divorced. She still sits with us at lunch and I have a class with her but she just seems to think a lot more now. I try to get her to smile but I can tell her dad being gone is really getting to her and I can't blame her. Her dad was an awesome guy.

Alice is loving every minute of sixth grade. I've tried to put the kibosh on all hand holding. I still like her a lot but for one, hand holding at school is illegal and two, she's in sixth grade and it's just weird. Maybe I'm shallow, I don't know. But I don't want her to think we're going to do more than hold hands because while I know Ed couldn't kick my ass, he could concoct a poison. And after a lot of thinking and admittedly talking to my sis about it, I've decided that while it's okay to like Alice, we should just wait until we're both older to do anything. She seems okay with it. I know that she was hurt at first but she didn't stay that way for long and now everything is back to normal.

I'm staring at the clock in English, just watching the seconds tick by until the bell rings so I can go to lunch. Bella is sitting in front of me doodling while we're supposed to be reading because she's already read the story on her own. I try to peek at what she's doodling but she just glares over her shoulder at me and I slowly sink back to my seat with a grin. I think I annoy her more than make her happy lately but she's like that to everyone so I don't take it to heart.

I write a note and slip it over her shoulder so it falls into her lap. She unfolds it, scribbles her reply and tosses it back onto my desk without folding it.

Movie this weekend?

No.

I sigh, so much for getting her out of the house. Actually, I know she gets out of the house but I don't know where she goes, I just know it's not anywhere with me or any of our other friends.

The bell rings and I'm out of my seat like lightning. Bella sluggishly gets up and tugs a beanie over her wavy hair. It's not so short anymore but it's still just as crazy. We walk to lunch in silence, just like any other day, but today I feel the need to say something.

"You're okay right?" I ask without looking at her. I can see her nod from my peripheral vision.

"You sure? I'm always here."

Bella sighs. "It's nothing you want to talk about."

"Sure it is." I tug on her arm and stop in the middle of the emptying hallway. "Why do you do this? Talk to me. C'mon, it's me."

Bella rolls her eyes and looks up and down the hallway. "It's…Jesus, Jay it's nothing."

"It's something. You've been weird for the past two months. I know your dad is gone and I know you're sad and yeah, it sucks, but we—"

"I got my period!" Bella blurts with her eyes squeezed shut.

Oh.

"I…uh…" I rub the back of my neck and swipe my long hair out of my eyes. Definitely didn't see that one coming.

"My mom is never home because she has to work two jobs to keep the house. I live with the grossest boy on the planet and my best friend – love her to death – is built like a boy and probably won't hit puberty til high school. I feel so alone and I need a bra but I don't know what kind or what to do about this bleeding thing." Bella trails off and blushes for probably the first time in her whole life.

But all I can do is smile. "Come over after school. Rose will know what to do."

"Really?"

I nod. "Of course. You'll be fine, trust me. I live with a bunch of women."

And for the first time since summer ended two months ago, Bella smiles.

*

Bella walked home with me from the bus stop and as soon as I told Rose what was going on, she hopped up from where she was doing her AP chemistry homework and whisked Bella off and out of the house.

I'm glad Rose is older and wiser. She's going to graduate at the top of her class and go to a fancy college for free because she's so smart. And it's cool that even though she's so smart and popular and pretty she's there to help me (or Bella, I guess) when I need it.

Mom is putting supper on the table when Rose and Bella are finally back. .

"Girls! Just in time for dinner," mom beams.

Bella sits down next to me and we talk school and hobbies and shovel lasagna in our mouths. After dinner, my dad goes out to the backyard to water the plants in the purple light of the dying day and mom opens the window over the sink while she does dishes so she can 'admire' him. Rose goes back to her cave to study and be smart and Bella challenges me to a rematch in Mortal Kombat.

I don't know how she does it but she wins ten rounds straight. I'm ready to challenge her to one more but she tosses her controller to the floor and wiggles her bare toes on the white fluffy carpet of my living room.

"I need to go home and do some homework," she yawns. "Thanks for dinner. And for…well everything else. As usual."

"Always got your back," I smile. "Even if it does involve weird lady stuff."

Bella laughs and I stand, pulling her up after me. We walk through the kitchen where my mom is wiping down every surface in there with smell good stuff.

"I'm gonna walk Bella home, ma."

"Oh, wait!" Mom hurries to the fridge and pulls out left overs before handing them to Bella. "Take some home. I know you love lasagna." Mom winks and gives Bella a peck on the cheek before hurrying back to her cleaning.

Once we're strolling down the dimming streets, Bella says "I love your house."

I agree with her.

"It's just so homey," she continues. "It's always bright and there's always somebody around and something going on. And it's so clean and smells like food or pinesol. You're so lucky."

"Hey," I nudge her. "You can come over anytime and enjoy my awesome house and beat my ass down in video games."

We walk in silence and I take in a deep breath of the cold winter air. It's nice in Arizona during the winter. It doesn't get too cold and the air smells so fresh. My favorite time of day is right after dinner when the neighborhood quiets down and people leave their windows or doors open and you can just see the families being families. The smell of various dinners still lingers in the air. Some kids are outside playing and people go out to water their plants. Windows glow yellow from the light inside and the sound of crickets and night insects starts to pick up. The street lights are humming and there isn't a car on the road.

"You're my best friend, you know?" Bella says quietly as we come to the end of my street. "I can tell you anything. I even told you about something so embarrassing and you didn't even make me feel bad about it. You always help me and you always care."

"Don't shut me out again," I ask.

Bella shakes her head. "I won't."

"Promise."

"Cross my heart."

We come up to her house, which is completely dark and Bella sighs. I know right now she wants more than anything to be back at my bright house with my family playing video games and watching movies and drinking lemonade. And I want more than anything for her to have that.

"I miss my dad being here at night," she whispers, a single tear rolling down her cheek.

I hang an arm over her shoulder and hug her close. "Come over anytime. Movie this weekend, I won't take a no."

Bella nods before heading up to her dark porch. I wait for her to get inside and don't leave until I see a few lights glowing from the windows.

On my walk back home all I can feel is sadness rolling around with the lasagna. Knowing Bella is alone in that dark house surrounded by shadows and silence makes my heart hurt.


Thanks for reading everyone.