Here's your early Christmas present! And for all you non-Christmas-people, here's just a new chapter! Don't expect a chapter until the 27th or later. I don't think I'll have time to update…

The song was by Matchbox 20, Unwell. This chapter is dedicated to shellabella, mikenewtonisabadass, darklove4ever, twilightfan1, luvvampluvdog, i love zuko, asante sana squash banana, padfootrules3, and maximumtrouble10. If I spelled your name wrong sorry.

Chapter Fourteen: New Guys

Bella's POV

I had to go to school the next day. Since I checked out fine, Charlie made me go. I didn't bother resisting, though. I kinda wanted to know what was going on and hear the gossip about me. What I didn't want to do was see Edward or Megan.

Unfortunately, that was unavoidable.

The first half of the day was pretty easy. I heard the whispers and knew what people were thinking, but it didn't bother me. Most of them agreed that Edward was a jackass and I was just a pour little victim. They all pitied me. I'd rather be pitied than hated like Edward.

Sadly, I had to go to lunch. And even sadder than that, Megan made a point to come over and rub it in my face that she had Edward wrapped around her finger now. I made a point to throw my soda in her face. It felt good, and the principal even agreed with me! Like I said, pity is much better than hate.

I got off with a lunch detention, while Megan had detention for the next week, after school. It made no sense, punishment wise, but I don't give a crap!

She may have Edward now, but I don't want him. So I still don't give a crap about him!

I've been getting very good at lying to myself lately.

Edward's POV

I'd heard through the grapevine that Bella was in school today. I'd also heard that everyone hates me. Which sucks a lot. I'd just been making friends too! Damn my good looks! Kidding…

But still, I hate having people whisper about me. It's even worse when they're all talking about how horrible I was! Having people whisper about the "new kid" is one thing, having them whisper about drama and cheating was another.

I should have never gotten mixed up with Bella.

Bella. Even her name meant beautiful! I was never going to forgive myself if I lost her. And it looked like I was going in that direction at this point.

I hate Megan and her strawberry lip gloss.

Bella's POV

The day just got worse. After lunch, I had English (easy) and then came bio. I could barely make my feet move to my seat. The dread and fear in my stomach was making me feel like I was going to throw up. I almost asked for a pass for the nurse, but then he walked in.

He looked like a Greek god and I almost jumped up and threw myself into his arms, begging for him to dump Megan and take me.

Almost. I managed to stay in my seat, but it took a great deal of self-control. And when he sat down next to me I almost grabbed his shirt and kissed him hard. But, again, I didn't.

The entire class period was a test of my self-control to not touch Edward or look at him. I could kid myself I wanted, but I still loved him. All relationships have problems, right?

After school, at Starbucks…

A couple of friends and I went down to the new Starbucks on Main Street after school. Jess needed to go "guy-shopping" and I needed to escape from my nightmare. We ordered drinks and sat by the windows. I pointed out a few cute guys to Jess, and she would rate them. 8… 5…9…

I soon got tired of it and let my mind wander. I was doing just that when I noticed him. "Hey, Jess. What do you rate him?" I pointed to the guy. He was tall, muscular, dark-skinned with long black hair. I guessed that he was from the reservation a few miles away from here. I needed a good distraction, and he seemed like an okay one.

She thought for a moment. "I'm say a 7. He's not really my type. Why?"

"Cuz he's mine." I got up and walked over to him. He was ordering a drink so it was easy to fake that I was doing that too.

"Hey, I'm Bella. Are you from the rez? You look familiar."

He turned around. "Yeah, I'm Jacob Black. You're dad is friends with my dad."

So that's why he looked so familiar! "Oh yeah, now I remember! How's your dad doing?"

"He's ok. How's yours?"

We made small talk for a few minutes, and then he asked for my number. I gave it to him, out of curiosity. I wasn't sure if he'd call, but the anticipation should be a good escape for a little while. God! I felt like I was a druggie and guys were my drug of choice! First Edward, then an escape from Edward! I swear, something was wrong with me.

What it was, I wasn't so sure of.

Edward's POV

I felt like I was going crazy! Sitting next to Bella was like my own personal hell! I was sure I was going to keel over and die just from the amount of energy it took to not reach out and hold her. I wanted to so bad, but I was pretty sure she didn't want me to. So I resisted and dug my hands into the table.

I must have made permanent indents in there; I was grabbing it so hard!

These next few days were going to be hard to get through. Maybe I should skip school tomorrow, or at least skip biology. It was healthy to ditch every once in awhile, right?

And there is Bella's new guy! I needed to add Jacob in there. I mean, how is it a Twilight story without a little Jake? And Meredith, I also put him in there for you. I know. I'm the best!

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