YES I KNOW THE LAST CHAPTER WAS SHORT_IT WAS A FILLER! BUT hopefully this will make up for it :P

Chapter 18

The blue eyes mirrored the shock in mine. "B-Bella…" she choked out, eyes wide.

Luke's happy voice struck in, "Oh! You guys know each other? Wonderful!"

"Yeah…Tanya goes to my school." I replied curtly, I broke the gaze and moved my eyes down to the menu that lay in front of me. A sudden awkward ness spread over the table and I bit my lip as I felt angry tears beginning to surface.

How could she do this? How could she do this to Edward? I thought angry, unaware of hands which had now formed tight fists on the table.

"Um…Bella..." Luke whispered to me, "Everything okay?" concern coloured his voice.

"Yeah…everything's fine." I assured him, giving him a smile—which was very forced, but I didn't think he noticed.

"Hey, are you guy ready to order?" A perky voice called out. I looked up and saw the waitress, she looked at us expectantly, her large doe eyes and short petit stature reminding me of Alice. "Luke?" The waitress said, shock written on her face, and as she gazed at him, a small smile spread across her face.

"Woah, Lucy! Wow, long time no see! I didn't know you were back in town!" Luke replied in recognition, his eyes lighting up. Oh…maybe she was an ex? Lucy's face broke into a radiant smile. "Yeah, I just got back a few weeks ago, how have you been?"

"Great...you?"

"I can't complain." She replied simply, then her eyes darted to me for a second and filled with confusion, but she quickly masked it. She was probalby wondering who I was. "So, you guys ready to order?" We nodded and quickly ordered—I got a hot chocolate and a blueberry muffin.

As Lucy turned to leave I noticed Luke's expression, he was frowning but smiling…that sounds pretty stupid, but his eyebrows were scrunched up together, yet he was smiling…it was weird…but I suddenly recognized that expression. I had seen it many times on the faces of my parents and a few of my friends. Love. Well..maybe not love exactly..more like he really really liked her?

"Oh, Lucy and I were friend's ages ago…but then she left to New York because her dad got a job out there. She e-mailed that she was going to be coming back, but I never thought this soon…" He informed us, "But...there's...uh..." He trailed off, a light pink starting to cover his cheeks. I smiled, not an ounce of jealousy in me, because as I had said many times, Luke was just a friend to me.

"Don't worry! It's fine!" I reassured him quickly, knowing what he was going to say: "There's nothing going on between us!". But I was starting to feel slightly guilty. I wasn't interested in him, and he wasn't exactly interested in me, but he didn't know I wasn't interested in him. Yeah, hopefully that made sense. A quick plan began forming in my mind.

"Uhh...Bella? Can I talk to you for a minute?" A soft vice spoke out, my head shot up my eyes immediately narrowed, I just remembered Tanya was here. And the anger returned like a large tidal wave. I stood up stiffly and didn't bother hiding my fury.

Luke's friend, Nick, shot us an anxious look, "Is everything okay?" he asked us, I just noticed that he had his arm in a plaster and there were a few nasty grazes on his face. I wondered what happened…had Tanya become abusive now? As well as being a cheater? I thought scornfully.

Tanya nodded slowly, "Um...yeah. Everything's fine," begging me with her eyes not to say anything. I ignored it but kept quite. "Well…we will be back in sec." she said, and started making her way to the bathroom. I took a deep breath and followed her, not caring that my eyes practically screamed 'Dead woman'!

"I can explain." Tanya whispered hurriedly as we finally made it to the toilets, she quickly scanned the room, luckily it was completely empty.

"What is there to explain? Apart from the fact that you are cheating on my best friend and you are completely heartless. I knew you were low Tanya, but to cheat? I actually though that was beneath you, I was wrong. Now, if you excuse me I ha—"

"No! I want to explain! I am not heartless; you have to let me explain!" She pleaded. I shook my head, and swiftly turned. No way. I felt a hand grab my arm and spin me around, "Please!" he voice was frantic.

"Why do you want to explain it to me? Why do you care what I think? And let go!" I shot back dangerously, my voice a low growl, i quickly snatched my arm out of her grip.

"Because! Because I feel terrible, I've changed, Bella. I want to be better, I want to be someone better. And I want to prove it to everyone that I can change." She said, a note of urgency in her voice. I just continued to glare.

"I know what everyone whispers behind my back! Even my 'friends'! Who only hang out with me because of my money and the fact that I'm a cheer leader, they don't actually care about me! No one does!" She cried, tears starting to stream down her face causing her mascara to run. I felt pity at the bottom of my stomach, Tanya looked like a complete mess, but I quickly stifled it. She was cheating on Edward.

"So? You've brought all this upon yourself Tanya, you've have been terrible to everyone!" I retorted.

"I know! That's why I want to change!"

"Whatever…what does this even have to do with Edward? Or that fact that you are cheating." I asked, clenching my fists. Don't hit her, Don't hit her I cautioned myself.

"I will tell you. Just promise you will listen, please?" she murmured, looking frail and tired. I bit my lip, was this 'weak' thing just an act? Could I trust her? After a few moments, I nodded hesitantly. "Fine." I sighed.

"Okay, thank you." She smiled. I just started back. She seemed slightly put off but then she took a deep breath.

"Okay well…you see I met Nick at my cousins party…and well, I didn't really take much notice of him, but then as the night went on I realized that he hadn't taken much notice me either…and it was weird because at least all the guys there had already asked me out…" she let out a shaky laugh. "And well, because I can't drive…my cousin was meant to drop me home…but he was a bit…preoccupied. So he got his friend to drop me home…the friend being Nick.

"I was instantly attracted to him…but the whole time he ignored me, well he didn't ignore me exactly, but he didn't exactly…try anything…and I was shocked…I know that sounds shallow, I know better now, but before, only looks mattered to me. Anyway, I was starting to get really interested in him—one of the main reasons being that he was so obviously not interested in me. But due to my constant pestering towards my cousin, I got to see more and more of Nick. And well, we got to know each other…" I just continued to stare at Tanya as she went on, wondering where on earth this was leading.

"...He was different, because he didn't just care about my looks…he was interested in me, in what I had to say. And he didn't think I was perfect, he didn't worship the ground I walked on, but he cared, he actually cared. He started changing me, he got me interested in things other than being 'perfect'; and physical appearance, he introduced me to painting, music… It was too late to back out then, because I began falling in love with him…"

"Edward doesn't just care about you're physically appearance, he isn't shallow." I said defensively.

Tanya gave me a weak smile, "I know, Edward was the perfect boyfriend. He was too good though, he was too nice—I didn't deserve him… he was too good for me…to good…" she said bowing her head slightly. "I felt terrible, believe me. I just didn't know when to break it off...

"Anyway, even after all of it with Nick, I didn't want to change…well I did, just not in front of everyone else...I was afraid that I would lose my popularity if I started dressing differently, being more interested in things outside cheerleading and make up…But after your lecture. On the phone…it got me thinking…"

"What?" I interrupted, "How long has this been going on?" I asked.

Tanya cringed, "Um…a few months…" Oh my god.

"I know what you're thinking! But let me finish!"

I nodded slightly, I hated to admit it, but I wasn't as angry anymore...I still wanted to choke her and stuff, but not exactly kill.

"Well…I began realizing that I didn't like being the preppy b!t*h anymore…and then Nick asked me to be his girlfriend and I was over the moon! And I was ready to tell Edward, but a few weeks ago, Nick got in a crash…broken arm and leg…" she let out a shaky breath. "I thought he was a goner...but he's a fighter, and he got dismissed a couple of days ago…I was so excited! And then I knew I had to tell Edward, because I realized that I loved Nick. Like actually loved him. So I was going to tell Edward. But the opportunity never came…I wanted to let him down lightly, because I wanted him to know that it wasn't his fault.

"Edward was absolutely amazing, and I wanted him to know that, to know that I didn't deserve his kindness…his affections… I wanted to tell him today but then Nick called me, telling me about the date today. He was really excited, and I couldn't say no. So I told Edward there was a family crises and as soon as the bell rang I left."

I raised my eyebrows…I hadn't noticed that Tanya had disappeared...well I was too busy worrying about my own escape.

Then something assured to me, "If you were in love with Nick, then why were you so jealous of me?" I asked her.

"Well…even though I didn't love Edward, I didn't like the idea of you having something I didn't, which is stupid since I had Nick. But I was just so confused…and I wasn't sure when to let Edward go, and I…I'm sorry...But I will tell him tomorrow. I promise. I feel terrible—you have to know that I feel absolutely horrible for letting the relationship go on for so long. So I want to ask you one thing Bella."

I sat still for a moment, trying to process the onslaught of information. "Um…okay…" It sounded like a question.

"If you found the one that you loved, that you would do anything for, anything at all. Would you do what I did?" she asked quietly, eyes wide.

I realized in shock that I would. I would want to be with that person, though I would have probably told the other person that I was cheating on them sooner.

"Yes, I would," I told her, "But I would have told Edward much sooner…or told Nick to wait for me. If he loved you he would understand. Wait…does even Nick know?"

She shook her head, wiping away a tear, "He doesn't."

"Oh dear…" I breathed., shaking my head.

"I know. But one more thing Bella."

"What?"

"I am sorry…for the way I treated you…I was a complete b!t*h and I am so so so sorry! And well…hopefully you can forgive me…or maybe, not hate me…because I am better now. And…well…I would like to be—one day—maybe your…friend…I can't blame you for hating me now though…since I was well…you know…and Edward is your best friend…but that's why.

"You care so much about him, all of you do. Emmet, Jasper, Rosalie, Alice, Edward and you. You guys care so much about each other…and I wish I had that. I do though, now, with Nick. And…yeah…I am so sorry about all the horrible things I did and said."

I bit the inside of my mouth, before carefully choosing my words… "I don't forgive you…not for the cheating or what you did to me…but I don't completley hate you, Tanya." I had heard her side...and it touched me...but there was no way was going to befriend her. But If Edward forgave her-if he could, then i would as well. Because this was bound to hurt him much more than me.

A smile spread across Tanya's face as if I just told her Prada was having a sale. "Thank you."

"But Tanya, you have to tell Edward. Tonight not tomorrow; the sooner he knows the better. And by tomorrow if you haven't told him, I will." I warned her.

"Okay. I understand," She said, "Well…for Nick and Luke's sake…could we be civil to each other? Just put this aside while we are here?" she asked, extending her hand.

I nodded curtly, but ignored the hand, I didn't want to ruin the day for Luke and Nick. We left the bathrooms and I a felt a little weight of anxiety lifted off my shoulders. Had I let her down too easily? I wasn't sure…but I was going to leave to her to fix it. And then when she had, hopefully things would take a turn for the better.

We did manage, being civil to each other, I mean. And really, for once it wasn't Tanya who had to try, it was me. And yeah, I managed. And then I remembered my plan. Plan Luck-and-Lucy. I wasn't into Luke, and it obvious that Luke and Lucy were meant to be together, so I was going to play cupid. Yeah! Okay, part 1 in progress.

As Lucy came to pick up our plates and mugs, I quickly asked her what time she was getting off. "Oh, I'm actually leaving after this. Why?" She asked. Awesome. "Oh, no reason…I was just wondering how long the shifts were here…I'm planning on getting a job…" I made up, trying to sound as convincing as I could.

"Oh, cool! If you like I could talk to my boss." She offered.

"Oh don't worry! I haven't made my mind up yet." I said kindly. She nodded and then left us.

"So…are we ready to go?" Nick asked, starting to get up.

"Yeah, sure." Luke said.

"Well, it was nice meeting you, Bella." Nick said smiling.

"Yeah, same. Hopefully we can do this again." I offered, just to be polite.

"That would be great." Tanya chimed in grinning.

She thinks I'm getting over it, doesn't she. Well, it's going to take me much more than that.

As we got out of our booth I softly grabbed onto the back on Luke's jacket, to stop him, "Hold on a second. Can I talk to you?" I asked him. He gave me a confused look, but agreed, "Uh..sure." he said, and then turned to Nick and Tanya, "I'll see you guys later!" he called.

"Is something wrong?" He asked, turning back to me.

"Um, no…nothing's wrong." I said, leading him to one of the counters.

"But…listen Luke, you are a really nice guy, seriously. And I really like you. But I know you don't think of me in a romantic way…" I said, slightly inclining my head towards Lucy, who was cleaning one of the benches not far from where we were standing.

Luke blushed, "Bella—"

"No, it's fine. Because I would rather we are friends, as well, I like you Luke, but not in that way."

He looked stunned for a few seconds, then he exhaled, "Bella...are you sure…I mean I don't…" he trailed off, slightly flustered.

"It's fine," I repeated, "And I can see that Lucy feels the same way you do. So tell her. But…I would really like it if we could be friends."

"Of course. This means a lot to me…uh…thanks." He said, still looking a bit confused.

"No problem." I giggled, "Now go take her out—a coffee perhaps? and tell her." I said, handing him some money. "Good luck." I smiled, quickly giving him a hug.

"Thanks, um, I'll call you…to let you know how it goes." He said, it sounded like a question.

"Sure! Now hurry up—she's leaving!" I shooed him, motioning towards the door, where Lucy was heading towards. He nodded swiftly, shooting a thankful smile my way and then chased Lucy down.

I smiled to myself, and mentally patted myself on the back. Go Bella!

As I drove home that day it occurred to me that I had managed to help everyone else in the name of love today. Yet, my own love life lay in tattered ruins around me.

Thanks to the following for reviewing: vampiregurl, , , jwtwifan, Kammi93, ElizabellaLove, emochick920, LilMizzVenom and J MACPHAIL

Book: Angus Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging (and the rest of the series) , by Louise Rennison. Absolutely HILARIOUS! Those who like having a laugh, READ IT!

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