AN: Okay. This is just a quickie to let you know that the next update may take a few days or more to write. Sorry :)

Because we all know what's coming and it's going to take me a while to work out how to write it. You know, the reason for the M rating. Well, maybe just some fluff to start with, because other things are happening too, but we'll get there. Thanks for all the encouragement. You guys are just sweet. And OMG WolfDragonGod, I can't believe you are following this AND giving feedback. Your stuff is awesome.

xxxxxxx

Flu

It had started after the 'incident' with Alice in the cafeteria on Monday.

At first it was the aching pain in Bella's chest. But it was followed that night by a slowly burning fever and a full body ache. Bella didn't say anything to her Mom or Dad because school just seemed too important right now. And it really wasn't that bad. She just felt warm and a little bit achy. Or at least that's how it began. Just how she expected a mild flu would feel if she'd ever had one. The only really frustrating symptom was how tired she felt. On Tuesday morning her parents actually had to wake Bella for the first time in her life. And on Wednesday. And again on Thursday. They passed it off as tiredness from the excitement of her new school routine.

In the early hours of Friday morning Bella woke in real pain, twisted in her damp sheets, her body soaked in sweat. Her back felt like it was on fire and she stumbled into her bathroom, wincing when she turned on the light. She hardly recognized herself in the mirror, her face covered in sweat and deathly pale, dark shadows under her eyes. She twisted to try see her back in the mirror, but there was nothing there. Just clear pale skin. Climbing under the shower seemed to ease the pain, and she sat on the shower floor until she started feeling sleepy again, finally falling back into bed again exhausted. On Friday morning she felt a little better, and was happy to head off to school with her Mom.

She still hadn't had a conversation with Alice, but they'd smiled at each other in class and across the cafeteria on Thursday and Bella felt like they could be friends.

This time when her Mom dropped her off and she crossed the school car park carrying her overnight bag the Cullens were already there leaning against a big black jeep and silver volvo. It wasn't hard to guess that the jeep belonged to Emmett. He came bounding across to Bella, hugging her a little clumsily until she giggled and told him she couldn't breathe.

Alice was watching them with an intense look on her face.

"Hi Bella."

"Hi .. Alice." Alice's heart almost seemed to give a phantom beat when she heard Bella say her name for the first time.

"We're looking forward to tonight. Emm has a heap of games planned. He's so excited about having someone new to play. And we have movies and popcorn. But you don't have to so anything you don't want. We just want you to have fun."

"Ignore her Bella. I am the King of Fun. You're going to love it." Emmett grabbed her bag and threw it in the back, then dragged his two girls off to class. One arm around Rosalie's waist, drawing her close, his free hand clasping Bella's, gently tugging Bella along with them.

Alice skipped along behind them, making the most of her unobstructed view of Bella's cute jean-clad butt.