Disclaimer: Twilight and its characters are the sole property of Stephanie Meyers.

A/N: Nothing too major in this chapter, but it shows some more interaction between the gang. Lemme know what ya think =) Enjoy!

Chapter 13

EPOV

I thought about Bella's words over the next few days. When I was in Massachusetts, I had discovered a natural talent for soccer. The guys were really fun to play with, and it was so relaxing. Plus, now that I was back home, I wasn't getting nearly as much exercise as I had been. Maybe joining the team would be a good thing.

Bella's schedule was filling back up now that school had started, so I had plenty of free time in the afternoons. I took this time as an opportunity to get a little practice in with a soccer ball, trying to get myself up to a decent level for tryouts. The sport seemed almost second nature to me, but I didn't want to look like a mess in front of all those guys.

When the weekend came around, Bella spent all of Saturday at the library on an extra shift, and Sunday with Alice, practicing their routines. I invited Emmett and Jasper over to kick the ball around with me. Jasper had been on the varsity soccer team at his school back in Texas, and Emmett was great at every sport. I thought my chances of making the team were pretty good if I had them training me.

By the time Monday rolled around, I was terrified. My nerves had amplified tenfold, and I was so scared I thought I was going to puke. Bella promised to be at the field right after school, as moral support for my tryouts. The thought of having her there watching me only made me more nauseous, and I spent the rest of the day trying to convince myself not to chicken out.

Emmett and Jasper were waiting in front of the locker room when I got out of my last class, both of them already dressed out. I changed into some basketball shorts, tennis-shoes, and a t-shirt, then went out to meet them. My hands were dripping with sweet, and it was all I could do to keep from passing out on the way to the field. There were about thirty guys standing around out there talking, waiting for the coach to start tryouts.

My eyes scanned the field frantically until they rested on Bella, sitting up in the bleachers with Alice and Rose. She smiled brightly while Alice jumped up and down, waiving excitedly, and Rose let out an ear-shattering whistle. The three of us chuckled, mine a nervous, choked sound, and went to stand with the rest of the guys.

The coach arrived after a few minutes, and started us on some drills, having us run through all the basics, just so he could see what we could do. We paired off and did some more maneuvers, then finally played out a scrimmage. I had gone onto autopilot as soon as he stepped onto the field, so I really had no idea how well I was doing. My only thoughts were 'breathe' and 'don't puke'. I'm proud to say I accomplished both.

By the end of the tryouts, I was completely exhausted, and my body was drenched in sweat. Emmett and Jasper looked about the same as I felt, and the girls quickly ran over to us and handed us each a bottle of Gatorade. Ten minutes later, the couch called us all over with the assistant coach by his side, and started reading names off his list.

Emmett was one of the first ones called, and Jasper was shortly after him. Name after name was being called, and my anxiety level increased exponentially every time it wasn't mine. I had just about given up hope and let my disappointment consume me, when the coach said those magic words. Inside, I felt like doing a victory dance and screaming at the top of my lungs. Outside, I passed him a tight-lipped smile and a small nod.

As soon as the last name was called and the coach left the field, Bella launched herself into my arms. I yelped in surprise then started laughing, as she screamed 'you did it' at the top of her lungs.

"I'm so proud of you!" she said for the millionth time, when I finally set her back down. "I knew you could do it!" she grinned widely, and I couldn't help but join her.

"Hey, how'd you girls manage to miss an entire dance practice this afternooon?" I asked, realizing how late it had gotten. Bella and Alice shrugged, smiling over at Rosalie, who was openly drooling over Emmett's shirtless chest.

"We're getting Rosalie 'caught up' on our routines," Bella grinned, holding her fingers up to make air quotes. I tilted my head to the side in confusion.

"Rose joined the team!" Alice squealed. She looped one arm through Rose's, while Bella claimed the other, all three of them smiling brightly.

"How'd you manage to get on the team without an audition?" I asked, still confused. Rosalie rolled her eyes as if it was no big deal.

"I've had six years of cheerleading and nine years of ballet. Besides Bella and Alice, I'm the most qualified girl on the team," she grinned.

"So, if you're a cheerleader, why'd you join the dance team?" Emmett asked, just as confused as I was. Rosalie threw her head back in laughter, her arms still linked with Bella's and Alice's.

"I couldn't leave my girls to deal with Lauren all on their own. They needed some muscle to back them up," she grinned. The girls all laughed together, and Rose shot me a quick wink.

"Well, since we're all here, you guys wanna go to the diner and grab some grub?" Emmett asked, smacking his hands together and licking his licks comically.

"Sorry, can't," Bella said sadly. "I have an extra credit assignment to do for my British Lit. class. It's due at the end of the week, so I need to get started." Everyone except me and Alice looked at her like she was crazy.

"Extra credit? It's only the second week of school!" Emmett exclaimed, Jasper nodding emphatically by his side with a look of horror on his face.

"You already get straight A's, why do you need the extra points anyway?" Rosalie asked. Bella's eyes dropped to her shoes and she shrugged her little shoulders.

"It never hurts to do extra credit," she insisted. "What if I get sick or something, and have to miss an assignment later? This way, I don't have to worry about it." Rosalie shook her head sadly, patting Bella's shoulder sympathetically.

"You need help, sweetie. That's just not normal." She gave her a quick hug and hopped over to Emmett, looping her arm through his and offering to give him a ride to the diner. His grin nearly split his face open, and he nodded quickly, dragging her toward the parking lot. Alice smiled at Jasper, who returned her grin wholeheartedly, and the two of them linked arms and followed the other two. I stepped over to Bella, lifting her chin up with my index finger.

"Are you sure you don't want to go?" I asked, searching her eyes. Alice and I knew better; she wasn't doing this extra credit for her grade, she was doing it to stay busy. Bella had always been like this. When something was bothering her, she would bury herself in work to avoid it, trying to keep her mind busy. With her mom gone, she had started picking up any extra work or shifts at the library she could, avoiding free time at all costs. She was working herself to death.

"Yeah, I'm sure," she nodded. I watched her for a few more seconds before sighing heavily, pressing my lips to her forehead.

"I'll bring you something when I come home," I offered. "Let me know if you need any help." She smiled up at me and grabbed my arm, walking with me to the parking lot. I dropped her off at her house, then headed into town, trying to come up with some way to help her. Maybe the gang would be able to come up with something.

"Hey, Edward!" they all chorused when I walked in. I slid into the booth they were at, stealing one of Alice's fries. She was perched on Jasper's lap, and I looked at them curiously.

"What can I say, I move fast," she shrugged, both of them grinning widely. I shook my head at her, sitting up straight and making my expression serious.

"We need to do something about Bella," I stated firmly.

"Yeah, what's up with that whole 'extra credit' thing?" Rosalie asked, eating a tatertot off Emmett's plate. I took a second to marvel at the fact that he didn't try to bite her like he does when I take his food, while Alice explained the situation.

"Bella doesn't handle stress very well," she started. "When there's something bothering her, she buries herself in work so she doesn't have to think about it. Her parents just split up over the summer, and ever since she's been working her little tail off," she frowned.

"Oh, bummer. I remember when my parents split up. I was little, but it was still rough," Rose sympathized. Alice shifted uncomfortably on Jasper's lap.

"Yeah, well, the thing is...it wasn't exactly a 'mutual' decision, if you know what I mean," she explained. "Charlie took her out to Seattle for a night out, to watch a minor league game and have a nice dinner. While they were there, they got one of the player's autographs, and Renee got his phone number as well." She gave Rose a pointed look, and she quickly caught on.

"Oh, shit! So, you mean she had an affair with some ball player?" Rose asked. Alice nodded solemnly, and Rose sank back into the seat. "Whoa."

"Tell me about it," Alice sighed. "So anyway, she filed for a divorce with Charlie, and then she sat Bella down to tell her. Only, she didn't just come clean about the affair and divorce. She basically told Bella that she had never wanted her, and that she had been miserable ever since she was born, hating being 'tied down' by a family. A few weeks later, Phil came to the house with a U-Haul and loaded up Renee's stuff, and the two of them sped out of town."

Rose and Jasper listened wide-eyed, while Emmett and I sat quietly with somber expressions. Suddenly Rose slapped her hand down on the table, a determined look on her face.

"That's it!" she exclaimed. "We'll kidnap her!"

A/N: How am I doing so far? You guys like it? I'll give you the kidnapping next, so keep reading and reviewing!