Bella was just about to head out the door the next morning when the phone in her bedroom rang.

"Hello?" she said brightly, hoping it was Edward.

"Did you have fun last night?"

Bella flopped down onto her bed sadly. It wasn't Edward. "Yes, Angela. I had a lot of fun. Thank you for asking. Now if you don't mind I..."

"Didn't think of inviting me, did you?" Angela said coldly. "So I guess its just back to the way it used to be before he left is it?"

Bella picked up her hairbrush and ran it through her hair for about the 73rd time that morning. "I'm hoping so."

"That's nice. That's really nice. So you're just going to forget about the rest of us. Even me, the one person who got you through the last year?"

"I didn't mean it like th..."

"You know," Angela continued. "I thought you were different. I thought you were one of those people who actually had a bit of pride. But you're just going to run back to your old friends. And Edward. They don't give a damn about you."

"Yes they do!" Bella insisted. "Edward still loves me. I can see it in his eyes when he looks at me."

"Tanya was probably standing right behind you." And the line went dead.

Bella slowly moved the phone away from her ear and stared at it.

Was that really Angela who had said that? Angela was the nicest person you could find! Now she was just acting like a..a...

A Bella?

….A bitch!

But she didn't have to much time to dwell on it, because as soon as she put the phone down, a familiar horn tooted. Bella didn't even need to look out the window to know that the car waiting outside would be a Volvo.

She ran the brush once more through her mahogany hair, applied a fresh coat of lip-gloss, grabbed her bag and skipped down the stairs, ignoring Sue's urges to eat breakfast.

She threw open the door to see a... red M3 parked in the driveway.

She stormed up to the car and yanked the door open.

"Hey, Bella!" sang Rose.

"Rosalie! Where's Edward?"

Rose's face became puzzled. "Was I meant to pick him up too?"

"No!" Bella cried. "He was supposed to pick me up! He always picks me up!"

"Edward has a girlfriend now, Bella. He probably picked her up." Rose said quietly. "No matter how much we hate her, Tanya is still his girlfriend."

"Not for long! He's going to break up with her!"

"Did he tell you that?"

"He didn't have to." Bella strapped on her seat belt. "You'll see."

Rosalie smirked. "I guess you're right. I'm pretty sure the Rob Pattinson tattoo will be quite a turn off."

Bella cracked a smile. "And the pink hair."

"Lets get to school quickly. I can't wait to see what she looks like."

Bella unzipped her bag. "I bought my camera."

"We can make a collage of ugly Tanya pictures!"

"And post them on the internet!"

The girls giggled and Rose pulled into school.

*

"Did you see Tanya?"

"I heard Bella strapped her onto an operating table and did it to her."

"I heard Edward helped. He's like, obsessed with Twilight and Robert Pattinson. Plus, he thought she'd look prettier with pink hair."

"No! He did it so she'd be so embarrassed she'd leave town! Then he could go out with his sister, who he's in love with."

"Dude," Emmett muttered to Edward as they entered the cafeteria. "Have you heard some of the rumours going around?"

"No." replied Edward. "And I don't want to. I forgot what gossips people in this town are."

Nice to know we're appreciated...

"Do you know where Tanya's gone? No-one's seen her since this morning."

"Don't know don't care." Edward muttered under his breath, but to Emmett he said... "I dunno, man. I'm breaking up with her tonight though."

"Then the bet can start." Emmett rubbed his hands together. "I hope you've got enough in your piggy bank."

Edward didn't answer. He certainly didn't! Carlisle had told him that he wasn't touching another penny of his until the day he died. And there was no way Edward Cullen was getting a job.... So Edward was not losing this bet.

"Eddie?"

Edward blinked. "Yeah?"

"Do you just want to stand there, or are we going to sit with the girls?" Emmett pointed towards where the girls were sitting, Bella was waving at him, a huge grin plastered on her face.

He wiggled his fingers back at her and strode through the crowds.

"Ladies." The boys greeted them in unison as they sat down.

Bella gave a high pitched giggle and Rosalie rolled her eyes.

"So... What did everyone think of Tanya's new look?" Emmett snickered. "Pink is the new blonde!"

Rosalie cleared her throat.

"I mean...I um..." he stuttered. "Did you like the flowers?" he tried pathetically.

Bella turned to Edward. "I love flowers." she hinted.

Edward nodded and stabbed a chip on his fork.

"Did you get the English homework, Bella?" Rosalie asked.

Bella ignored her completely and Rose's face fell.

Awww, its ok Rose. Just dye your hair a bronze colour. Then she'll pay attention to you.

"Hey, everyone!" a voice like wind chimes interrupted the awkward silence. Alice Cullen and Jasper Hale pulled 2 chairs up to the table and sat down. "Whats going on?"

"Nothing." muttered Edward.

"Nothing." said Bella dreamily, still staring at Edward.

"Nothing." mumbled Rosalie.

"Eating." replied Emmett.

Alice nodded. She racked her brains for something to say. Anything! "I have a question, Rosalie?"

Rose's head popped up. "Yes?"

"How does High School Musical end?"

*

"Edward, can you drop me at the mall?" Alice asked sweetly, hopping into his Volvo.

"Why me? Aren't you going with Jasper?"

Alice shook her head. "He says he's got some 'business to take care of'. And I would drive myself, but my Porsche is at Black's Garage."

"Yeah, ok. 'Business' right. So you're just going to the mall all by yourself?" Loner...

"No! Bella and Rosalie are coming."
"Bella hates shopping." he argued.

Alice shrugged. "She said she needs some new clothes."

Edward shook his head. "That is so not like Bella."

His sister glared at him. "Don't pretend like you know Bella anymore! She's changed. You don't know half the shit that went down while you were gone. With her. With everyone."

Yeah! When was the last time he asked how Gossip Girl was doing?

Edward stared at her. "Pretty sure I do actually. Emmett filled me in."

"What about me?" Alice said, her eyes filling with tears.

Edward bit his lip. He didn't like this. Sibling bonding wasn't really his thing...

"Whatever." she muttered. "It doesn't even matter. All I'm saying, is that you can't just come back here and be the same self centered, know all, you were before you left. Because you aren't as well informed as you think you are." she hopped out of the car. "Just keep that in mind."

Edward groaned as he watched his sister run away. God, he hated it when Alice was all cryptic. He also hated secrets and there were obviously a lot of those he didn't know.

He let himself into the house. Carlisle was always at the hospital, Esme was probably at one of her friend's house. It didn't matter that he was alone. He would take a shower and maybe call Emmett or Jasper.

He tore off his shirt, threw it in the washing basket and went to get a drink from the kitchen.

Three things happened at once.

A thump came from upstairs.

Edward noticed that there were only three knives on Esme's four knife display. One was missing.

He also noticed that a photo album was lying open and face down on the top of the stairs. Photos were strewn on every step.

Edward froze, closed the fridge and tip-toed cautiously towards where the photos lay. He picked up the first one he saw.

It was ripped in two. It was of Bella Swan.

Another thump came from upstairs, followed by a high pitched, hysterical cackle.

He made his way up the stairs, careful not to make a sound.

More thumping. Coming from his bedroom.

He reached for his door handle, gripping it tightly.

"Ha!" came a female voice from inside the room, then it started whispering. It sounded like 'Does it hurt?'.

He turned the door handle and burst into the room.