AN: Omg, you guys are the best. I can't believe I got such a good review turn out. Thank you to YouHaveGOT2BeKiddingMe, KellyTS, LoveYaForeva16, WritingIsMyPassion15, StridingFreedom, gabby, teamjake216, Guest, ashley92001, and Ravenspetater1032 who reviewed twice. You all make me want to immerse myself into the story and never come out.

A special second thank you to teamjake216 for reviewing both updated chapters and initiating me to write this sequel, to Guest for inspiring me to write the outtake that got a great response, and to LoveYaForeva16 who wanted a spoiler—I hope this chapter gives you the clue you needed.

Don't own Twilight. Don't own Bad Reputation.

Chapter 10 — A Little Too Familiar

I used the first part of the weekend to finish up my essay. It was nice to just hang out with the girls later. It had been so long since I had the opportunity. We ended up at the mall shopping like we used to. I pulled some skinny jeans off the shelf and held it to my waist.

"What do you guys think?"

Angela gave a thoughtful glance, while Asia just looked up for a second from what she was holding. "No, you should try a skirt that will get the guys drooling over you again," she remarked.

"She just got back on the market. Give her some time to recover," Rose stated as she headed back from the dressing room. "I was waiting five minutes for you guys. What is taking you all so long to pick something?"

"We are trying to choose something to add to Bella's new look," Angela explained.

"I don't know you guys. I think these jeans work for me." I held them to my waist again and looked up. I caught some leather jacket and blue denim clad teens walking by the store window in my periphery. I turned without realizing and the one with the Fohawk stopped. Jacob smiled and gave me a thumbs-up. I felt the heat rise to my face and I turned. "No, you're right. I need something else." I just placed the jeans in a crumpled pile on the shelf.

"Hey was that the Three Stooges and Volcano?" Rosalie asked. She ran over to the store entrance. "Who are those girls they are meeting with?"

I just shrugged. "Volcano is playing the field. I guess he is taking the others for the ride."

"Well I'm going over to torment Muscles, want to help?"

"No, but have fun," I said with false enthusiasm. She walked out.

"Rosalie can be a little insensitive," Angela murmured.

"No it isn't her fault. I could go over there with her. Technically Volcano and I are friends and usually things are pretty mellow. It's just Friday . . ."

"What?" the two uttered.

"Nothing." My tone noted I wanted this topic dropped.

My phone buzzed. I cringed thinking Volcano was texting why I hadn't walked over, but it was not for naught. It was my mother.

Come home now

Bring PB & J

& guacamole. We R all out.

"My mom wants me home. She has this weird fascination with avocados." I showed them the text.

*0*

Sunday was even worse. She sequestered me to track down my father. I had to call several offices at his company to get the number for him in London, only to discover a dead-end and had to start over. With each minute she whined more about the pains she was in because of the baby's positioning. She indicated this pregnancy felt worse than when she was having me. It occurred to me my father wasn't missing—he was probably hiding!

*0*

I walked into school Monday morning ragged and at my wits end. I had put my mediocre length hair into a low pony and went with blush and pink lipstick. I wore a simple dress not having the energy to mix and match. Jacob was talking to Kim in front of my locker.

"Ah-ahem," I coughed. "Excuse me."

He patted her wrist. "I'll talk to you later." He turned to me and frowned. "Are you okay?" he questioned. "You don't seem right. I mean you look good, just not your best."

"Thanks," I said with a phony smile. "I spent the whole day at my mother's beck and call. On top of that I can't find my father. All the numbers I tried were useless." I leaned back onto my locker looking straight into nothingness.

"Oh, I thought you went to Marcus's party yesterday. I heard Demetri was the life of it."

I turned to him. "No, um. He and I broke up."

"Really? That's . . . so sad." I saw the corners of his mouth lift minutely.

"Yeah I can see you're really torn up about it." I felt my sarcasm deaden my face. I wanted to express no emotion and not give him false hope. "It was for the best. My grades suffered with him. When I cut him loose, things got better."

The starting bell rang and I left Jacob standing there.

*0*

The rest of the day I had trouble paying attention. My mom kept texting me every few minutes. Jacob whispered I should just turn off my phone, but I was worried I might miss a phone call from my dad. She was really getting on my nerves; after all she was a parent. Did she forget I need to concentrate for school?

After school I was about to leave to my car, when Jacob pulled me to an empty classroom. The whole day left me so frazzled; I didn't even notice he was holding my hand until he let it go.

He directed me to sit on a desk. "I googled 'relaxing facial massages' in the school library at lunch. All this unease and stress is going to seriously give you worry lines."

I quietly snorted. It was the first time I smiled that day.

"I figured you could use them whenever your mom irritated you," he suggested. "Now first you close your eyes and put your index and middle fingers to your temple." I followed along.

"Okay what do I do next?"

"You rub them counterclockwise with your right hand and clockwise with your left." I started the motion. I felt his fingers on mine and I startled back opening my eyes. I wasn't expecting him to be that close.

"You need to press firmly," he said in a low tone.

"Right." I crossed my arms over my chest. "What else you got?"

"Rub your forehead by your hairline like this." He pressed his spread fingers onto my scalp and rubbed my hairline with his thumbs. In circular motions, he started by the center and worked downward to my temples. I watched his deep brown eyes as he focused on what he was doing.

He paused there and his gaze drifted to my eyes. "You're still really beautiful." My stomach knotted and my breath stopped.

His focus moved again and he wet his lips. I knew what was coming next.

As he leaned in, I drove my palms up to his chest. "Jake. Just friends, remember?" I had to stop him, because I felt my will beginning to crumble. Being this close made it so difficult to resist.

"Yeah." He stepped back, keeping his eyes down. He took a deep breath. "Try those techniques again when you get home."

I nodded and I walked out.

AN: Wow! Things got a little heated there. Tell me what you think? To let me know click below.

~g2r~