A/N: Thanks to all my readers for still following the story for so long! I really appreciate it, and especially those that leave reviews - Love all of ya! ^^

I also want to thank my new amazing beta Bananas in Pyjamas :)

Disclaimer: All Twilight stuff belongs Stephenie Meyer because she's cool like that

"You okay Bella?"

My head snapped up, the sound of Charlie's voice pulling me from my thoughts of golden eyes and obnoxious attitudes.

"I'm sorry dad – what did you say?"

"I asked if you were okay. You seem kind of distracted, kid."

"I'm fine dad, just a little tired," I said smiling. Charlie may make fun of Renee for overreacting when I manage to hurt myself but he worries just as much as she does.

"Well just make sure to go to bed early tonight then – don't want you to wear yourself out."

"Sure thing dad."

˳̊

To wear the sweatshirt or not to wear the sweatshirt.

That is the question.

To show my frickin bump or not to show my frickin bump.

That is the same question – just worded more colorfully.

Why can't turtle necks be "all the rage" again? Who invented v-necks anyway? Probably some old geezer of a man... Bastard.

"Bella you're going to be late!" Charlie yelled.

"Thanks for the warning!" I yelled back. I really did not have time to have a "conversation' with my dad if I wanted to make it to school on time. I don't normally talk to people before 8:30 anyway...well I do but they're not usually nice things. That on top of the fact that I didn't clean my earring so it was getting infected was not helping my attitude. The thing hurt like a bitch mother on crack.

"Screw it," I grumbled to myself as I grabbed my black and blue stripped sweater and threw it on with my stretchy black skinny jeans – the sweater was baggy-ish. After that I just sped through everything else – eyeliner- rough to sloppy, teeth- who was ever really thorough anyway? Hair- messy buns are cute.

By the time I made it to the school there were almost no students milling about the parking lot anymore. The ground was slick from the rain that decided to make an appearance at some ungodly hour this morning but I said screw it to my physical well being and ran to my first hour. I did not want to be known as the person that is always late to everything.

I walked into English just as the bell was ringing. Zombieland rule number 32: appreciate the small things. Thank you Tallahassee.

Dang it, now I could really go for a Twinkie...

"Okay class, butts in your seats not on your desk, thank you. Now let's get started, we have a big lesson planned for today – Tyler spit out your gum," Mr. Thomas paused in his speech of sorts while Tyler got up to spit out his offending candy looking like he was on his way to the guillotine. "Now that that's over, as I was saying you guys have a big lesson in store for today. What you ask? Well all of you have the excitement of starting your short stories. I don't hear any complaints and I expect you guys to take this seriously – after all this will count as a significant portion of your final grade."

I zoned out after that as Mr. Thomas went on and on about the standard he expects, the handouts we'd have to do before we actually got to start writing, what would be do when, etcetera...

When the bell rang I jumped out my seat when I saw that Mike was trying to make his way over to my seat through the horde of students. I hadn't known him long but in my book having Mike walking towards you was just as terrifying as having Freddy Krueger coming at you in all his butter knife-finger glory.

Come on, come on...go in you stupid book! I mentally screamed at myself as I tried to cram all my English books in my bag – Mr. Thomas was lovely enough to assign three, and so far we'd only used two... Giving up, I just held them in a death grip and grabbed some random guy that was standing behind me.

"What the –" he exclaimed.

"Shh, please!" I hissed.

Through a series of tugs and jerks I managed to drag the poor guy out the door, with me crouching behind him the whole time.

"Do I even want to know?," he asked as he turned to glare at me.

"No you really don't. But I appreciate it," I added smiling.

"Whatever," he said chuckling.

Dropping my books off at my locker I dragged my feet to Economics. Whoever decided to give me that class this early in the morning was cruel beyond belief.

Two hours and three Motrin later I was practically skipping towards the cafeteria. Today I was determined. No more pussyfooting around. I was going to sit with Alice Cullen during lunch. Don't ask me how and don't ask me why, because I myself have no idea.

Quickly grabbing some random food from the lunch line I glanced towards the Cullen's table. All of them were just sitting there staring in random directions. Who knew that a group of people could be bored together? You'd figure one of them would have something to say.

Walking half the speed of a normal human it took me awhile to get to the table that the Cullens pretty much shared with me. I don't know why I was freaking out.

"Hey Alice."

"Bella! How was your busy week?"

"Um, it was...well, it was pretty much all I expected it to be," I finished dryly.

"That doesn't sound fun," Alice said now frowning. "Want to talk about it?"

"Actually I was wondering if you wanted to start planning that shopping trip we were talking about last week."

"Of course," she exclaimed clapping. "See Emmett, this is the proper response to shopping!"

"You have no idea what you just got yourself into," Emmett told me, completely ignoring his sister.

"Don't listen to him, he's a boy. Come on! We have so much to talk about!"

I didn't want to impose of the rest of them, since I only knew Alice so far, so we sat down at my end of the table.

Hanging out with Alice was tiring to say the least. She was amazingly hyper, and happy, and all but radiated energy. It was impossible not to love her, but after talking with her for twenty minutes I felt like I needed a nap.

"Hello," Alice chirped while looking over my shoulder. I twisted a little to see who was behind me only to be stopped by arms wrapping themselves around my neck.

"Hey Lizzy," Leo said placing a chaste kiss on my cheek.

"Hey Leo. Oh, Leo this is Alice, Alice this is Leo." I gestured to each as I introduced them.

"Oh, so you're Leo! Bella told me how you like to go shopping together, and let me say that I very much approve of most of the things she wears but I think you need to be taught the ways of dresses."

"I'm so confused... Yes, I do take her shopping, but I don't remember every buying a dress," Leo looked completely lost but you could tell he was desperately trying to keep up with Alice's speed of thinking.

"That's my point!"

"Alice!" I exclaimed laughing. "If you wanted me to get a dress or two all you had to do was tell me. No need to drag Leonard into this."

"Well I can see you made some friends. That's one gold star. Anyway I put your stuff in Lucia for you – just check that cubby on the dash."

"What are you talking about? I thought I remembered to grab all my clothes..."

My sentence died off as I processed the significant look that Leo was shooting me.

"Oh! Okay, I remember now. Thanks hunny bun," I replied kissing his check.

"Are my keys in the monster?" My mouth was full of the bite of food I just took, so I simply nodded in answer. "Thanks. I'll see you later Lizzy. It was nice to meet you Alice," he said nodding once.

"You too Leo! Wow he's really cute," Alice said conspiratorially once he was out of the cafeteria.

"Ew, Alice that's just gross," I said laughing. "Besides what would poor Jasper think!"

"Poor Jasper knows that I love him," she replied, laughing with me.

I just shook my head at her. I don't think I will ever understand Alice.

˳̊

"Okay, so this Saturday."

"Next Saturday."

"This Saturday. You need new clothes now."

"Next Saturday. I have a closet full of clothes."

"Bella," Alice said her voice firm.

"Alice."

"Come on now ladies enough with the dagger stare downs and more with the walking to class," said Emmett as he wrapped his arms around mine and Alice's shoulder.

"Wow. Emmett Cullen punctual – who would have known," I said sarcastically.

"I'm nothing if not a man of many sides, my dear Belly Button."

"Belly Button?" I asked in disbelief.

"What? I like it! Anyway, have fun." Emmett released me from his cage of an arm and pushed me through the door to my Chemistry class.

"Hey Edward," I greeted as I took my seat next to him. "Or not," I said after I realized that I wasn't going to be getting a response during this life time.

Mr. Moreno was in the middle of his pH balance speech when Edward finally spoke.

"Who was that?"

I turned to my right, towards Edward, so fast I had to grab the desk to keep from falling off my stool. I really have to stop spinning so fast, I thought to myself. Once I regained my balance all I could do was stare at him. I didn't exactly know which emotion I was feeling right now, there was so damn many racing through my system, but I was pretty sure the ones that were strongest weren't on the yang side of the circle.

I was broken out of my stupor when Edward raised his eyebrow in a 'are you seriously mental, bitch?' sort of gesture. Then again I may have been letting my resentment help me interpret his body language... Who really knows?

"Who was who?"

"That guy earlier. The one who sat with you at lunch."

"Leonard? Why do you want to know?" I was suspicious now. Edward Piss Me Off Cullen could snark at me all he wanted but if he even tried to bad mouth my brother this bitch was getting pimp slapped.

"Leonard. Huh. Just wondering who he was, that's all." His voice was emotionless but I swear he looked irritated.

"Whatever," I replied turning back towards the front of the class. I really didn't want to break my hand punching his insanely thick skull but I would try if it came to that.

A/N: Think we can get ten more comments? What if I told you I already had the next chapter started? ;) Just in case you forgot how just follow my favorite little arrow!

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