"So, Bella, what do you think?"

I snapped out of my funk and blinked at Angela and Jessica.

"Sorry, what?"

"Our group is having a sort of...memorial for Mike, just us, and we wanted to know if you would like to come," Angela repeated patiently.

She had been such a good friend these past three months, comforting Jessica and the boys every time they got sad or Jessica burst into tears, and whenever I started thinking about the strange hatred between the Cullens and the Quileutes, Angela noticed my withdrawal from the conversation and drew me out quietly.

"Yeah, yeah, sure. I'd love to come."

Jessica smiled slightly. She had been more reserved since Mike's death, almost two months ago. "Thanks, Bella. Um..."

She hesitated in her next sentence, and I frowned, curious.

"What is it, Jess?"

"Well, I was just wondering if you'd like to stay at my house the night before, with Angela. Because we're all meeting there in the morning and leaving together, because my mother says it's dangerous to be going alone..."

I nodded in understanding. 11 more people – at least, that I knew about – had died since then, and Charlie was still no closer to figuring out the mystery than he was then, despite the frequent bear sightings around the dead victims.

"Right, no I understand. When is it?"

"Not for awhile. We think it's better to leave some time before having a memorial. Bella...some of the people from La Push will be there, you know, Mike's friends. So I understand if you don't want to come."

My stomach had plunged uncomfortably at the mention of the Quileutes, but I pasted a tolerant smile on my face. "No, that's fine. I'm totally okay."

Angela smiled hesitantly back.

Most of the student population knew about Jacob and my ever growing friendship with the Cullens, and all of them were aware of the feud going on between the Quileutes and Alice.

As it turned out, Leah from La Push was a violent gossip who made sure everyone knew that she had spit in Alice Cullen's face. Luckily, I hadn't been approached by Jacob or any of his friends since then, so I could finally relax.

"Okay. So it's all right that they'll be there, for sure?"

Everyone was walking on egg shells around me and I hated it. I wasn't some delicate porcelain doll that could be damaged at the slightest touch. That role seemed – at least, it did to me – to be reserved for Alice, who was infinitely more dainty and smaller than I was.

"Yes, that's fine."

I smiled at Angela and Jessica and they grinned back. I finally felt like maybe things were returning to normal, instead of an upheaved state.

Lunchtime had been more enjoyable as of late, because Jake had dropped out of school – the school administration had decided to not accept him here, luckily – and I didn't have to constantly face him pressuring me to talk to him. The other reason I had found myself enjoying school was the fact that Edward and I had become very close over the past couple of months.

We found it easy to ignore the undercurrent of electricity that passed between us, mainly due to Alice's presence, which defused any tension. Edward often stared at me blatantly, but I also found that easy to brush aside. I no longer felt guilty when I looked at Edward, because I knew I hadn't done anything to deserve that guilt.

"Hey, Bella," Alice greeted breezily, laying down her tray and joining me at the table.

"Hi, Alice."

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine today." I rolled my eyes. Alice had asked me the same question every day ever since that time outside the grocery store. While it was slightly annoying, the fact that she actually cared about my feelings endeared her to me and made us fast friends.

"Okay." Alice chuckled.

"Where's Edward?" I hadn't seen him in the cafeteria, and he hadn't been at the table when I sat down.

"Oh, I think he's gone to the bathroom. He'll be here in a minute," Alice stated, drinking from her heavy silver flask, which was always by her side. Edward had a similar model. I had asked them about it once, and they said that they were worried about getting poisoned. I hadn't been able to tell if they were joking or not.

"Oh, right. How come you both go to the bathroom so often? Have you got a genetic bladder problem you need to tell me about?" I joked.

Alice's eyes hardened slightly. "Hardly. No, it's just a coincidence, I guess. I'm always in there applying makeup, but god knows what Edward's doing in there."

I laughed; the image of what Edward could be up to was hilarious. Alice joined in, and the sound was all silver, a wind chime.

"Right...hey, what are you doing this weekend?" I asked.

"Camping, probably."

"Wow, your family really gets into the outdoorsy stuff, huh?" It seemed like the Cullens were always hiking or camping.

"You have no idea," Alice laughed. "Why?"

"Well, my friends are having a memorial for my other friend, Mike, and I wanted to know if you would go. Some of the Quileutes are going to be there, though." I wanted to give her fair warning.

Alice gave me an apologetic smile. I knew what was coming even before she said it.

"Sorry, Bella. I don't think I'd be able to come if people from La Push are there. We really don't get along. I'm sorry; I really would like to be there. I'd love to remember Mike."

I nodded. "I understand."

I wouldn't like to attend a memorial service with the people I hated most, either. It would make for a pretty horrible memory.

"Yeah. Where is it, anyway?"

"Um, I don't know. Angela never mentioned it."

Alice seemed to contemplate something. "Well, tell me the details later, and I'll see if I can make it. I probably won't be able to come, though. Sorry."

"Why are you sorry?"

I looked up at Edward, who was sliding neatly into his chair across from me. He smiled at me when he saw me watching him.

"Oh, Alice was just telling me that she couldn't come to Mike's memorial," I explained.

"Didn't he already have a funeral three months ago?" Edward asked.

"Yes, but my friend Angela just wanted to say a few words, I think, just his closest friends, and...some other kids."

"Some other kids?" Edward queried, obviously picking up on the nervous note in my voice, and, naturally, the one I least wanted to talk about.

"Ummm..." I hesitated. "Yeah. Some of the teenagers from the reservation."

"Oh." Edward nodded in lightning fast understanding. He looked at Alice.

"Is that why you're not going?"

"Yeah," she said, taking a sip of her flask. "I don't want a fight."

Edward grimaced. "Half of those kids are massive monsters, Alice. You're right to not want a fight."

Alice crossed her arms over her chest, angry and indignant. She was so tiny, though, so the effect wasn't menacing at all, just very funny.

"I could take any one of them."

Edward inclined his head. "True."

I looked at him incredulously. Was he joking? Alice was absolutely tiny.

But before I could voice my opinion, Edward said, quite seriously, "Do you want me to come along, Bella?"

Alice raised her eyebrows with interest, obviously knowing exactly what he meant. I, however, was mystified.

"Come along where?"

"To your friend's wake."

What? "Why?"

"To make sure you're safe," Edward explained.

I was bewildered and touched. Did Edward really care so much about me as to offer to go along to a place where people he hated and who hated him would be?

"Right. Well, I think I'll be fine. Jake won't come near me, at least, I hope he won't. My friends will be there," I offered.

Edward's eyebrows knitted together. "Okay...if you're sure. But tell me if you change your mind."

"Sure."

The rest of lunch passed with easy chatter from both Edward and Alice, and I enjoyed the relative comfort and happiness I felt in their presence.

Why was that, I wondered, when at my old table, I had only felt tension and annoyance? I glanced over at the remaining occupants of my old table, and they were all huddled together, seeking comfort from closeness.

I felt a surprising emptiness fill me as I watched them. They no longer made any noise about me sitting here; they seemed to understand that Edward and Alice were my form of recovery.

"Bella," Edward said, "The bell's rung. We better get to Biology."

I made a face. Banner had only been giving us repetitive stuff; Biology had not turned into the environment I had wished it to be.

"Ugh, fine. See you later Alice." I waved at her and she returned it enthusiastically, grinning wildly.

The walk was predictable; the only surprise I got was when we reached the door of the Biology classroom and Edward suddenly turned to me with a savage expression on his face, his jaw locked tight and mouth shut firmly. His eyes blazed like purple fire.

"What?" I demanded, curious and a little scared.

"Bella, how do you feel about blood?"

I grew instantly queasy. "Not too good. Why?" That was an understatement.

Edward motioned into class with a disgusted expression on his beautiful face. I tried to peek to see what garnered this reaction from him, but two boys were blocking my way.

"Mr Banner has decided to perform blood typing today."

Oh god. I felt the moisture break out across my forehead. "You're kidding," I managed to squeak out. My hands were already a clammy mess.

Edward shook his head grimly. "Sorry."

"Oh my god, I totally forgot. We do that every year," I gasped. "I can't go in there."

Edward made a sound of agreement. "What if...do you mind skipping with me?" His voice was almost...nervous? The thought made me giddy. Edward Cullen was nervous about asking me to skip school with him.

But was he really worried I would say no? I would go anywhere with him, just to see what interested him and where he went when we weren't at school. Plus, the temptation of missing sticking my needle with a finger was just too much to resist.

I grinned with the exhilaration that came with doing something that you knew was wrong but didn't care either way.

"Where do you have in mind?"