I do not own Twilight.

Bella

"You need to speak to Liz." Diana wouldn't let this go! "She isn't being fair, and you deserve better. Stop putting yourself down."

"It really doesn't matter. Just drop it already." I stuffed the sandwich in my mouth hoping it will get me out of continuing the conversation.

It had been a horrible morning. First, I was late getting up. I must have been utterly exhausted to sleep through my alarm for an hour. A whole hour! Not only that, but because of how long it takes me to get anything done, my morning routine is already as short as it can be. The only way to make up time had been to skip pretty much everything. It was a decision I regretted fairly early, but I had been desperate.

Then, holding onto the front door handle, I had an absence. Not just one either by the seems of it. They lasted just long enough for me to miss the main bus to the campus. Stupid! Why does life have to be so damn difficult?! Managed to get the next bus, but it didn't stop in the same place. It circled the building leaving a big walk.

I'd managed to make it to that lesson, but the teacher – who I refer to as the Wicked Witch of the West – was not happy. She's an ancient woman who stands and talks at us. She teaches the driest subject too, intro to technical writing.

It could be interesting if we studied semi decent texts or wrote to interesting briefs. Better still, she could teach in a way that I am able to access.

I'd missed all of the introduction and spent the remaining 2 hours desperately trying to catch up.

"It does matter. If a teacher were treating me like that, would you be letting me ignore it." I made to answer automatically with a no, but from Diana's raised eyebrow I thought about it.

"I guess not," I mumbled, "But it really is only one teacher. The rest are great."

"So… Liz?" She sees my reluctance. "What is it that's causing the issue?"

Do I tell her the real answer? The answer that I'm scared of everyone finding out how little I'm coping? That I don't want anyone to remind me this had been a big mistake?

"I dunno, just drop it."

"Fine, I'll drop it if you promise to at least consider speaking to Liz. She's on your side."

Thankfully, she doesn't mention it again.

"How's everything else going? You've barely been around the last few days."

"Not bad. Some of my old friends are here. Had no idea that they'd be here, not sure how I feel about them being around."

That grabs her attention. Diana may be shy, but she loves gossip. She is one of those people who is never seen to socialise but always knows everything about everyone. It's scary sometimes.

"Any interesting juice there?" She's resting her elbows on the table, her hands supporting her head, staring me right in the eye.

"Nothing much." Why did I even bring this up? I really wasn't in the mood to talk about them. "I dated their younger brother for a few years. He isn't here though."

"Oh come on, you've got to give me more than that!"

"There isn't much more to say." Because really, what was there I could actually say? I am a terrible liar.

I'd had the same problem when talking about Jacob and the pack. There had been many slips ups where I'd used nonnormal wording and had to try and talk my way out of it. She was incredibly perceptive.

I took another bite of my sandwich. Then another. She got the idea that I wasn't going to be giving her anymore details.

"You know," she said, "there's a party tonight. Most of the art lot are going. We haven't been to one yet. Do you think we should try them?"

I stared at her in utter disbelief. Diana, the shy with new people, preferring to be alone with a sketch pad, was asking if I wanted to go to a party?!

"Umm, not sure." I'm getting nervous. I have been trying really hard to build up more of a relationship with her, but this is just too much out of my comfort zone. I'm not convinced it would even be safe. "I don't think it's my sort of scene."

"Oh," darn, I've disappointed her, "I guess I can find someone from my course. Just would have been nice for the two of us to, ya know."

Now what? Erugh, this was just another thing to add to my list of "stresses of the day". "I'll think about it, but no promises," I say sternly.

"This is going to be so great! I know you've only got one more class today, and everything I have after that is ditchable. So why don't we meet here to go shopping?" So much for not getting her hopes up. Shopping was something I doubted I would ever learn to love.

"I don't think I'd make it through a party if I've been shopping before-hand. Maybe you should think about going without me. Really, I won't be much fun."

"Nope, I'll pick something up for you if you need it?" I shook my head, there must be something party worthy in my closet. "Great, you go home and rest. Then we'll be all set for tonight."

"I said I'd think about going, Diana, that wasn't a yes."

"Where are we going?" Emmett plonked himself down onto another chair at the table.

I give him a dumbfounded stare. What on earth is he doing here?

I must have been gawking because he waves his hand in front of my face. "Earth calling Bella. Bella come in?"

"Ye, I'm fine. You can stop waving now." I brush his hand away. "She is trying to talk me into some party tonight."

Diana has gone suddenly very quiet.

"Ooo, I love a good party!" He shouts. "I was just waiting for Rosie to finish and saw you guys hanging."

Was he being serious? Well I suppose after the weekend, he might think we are back to how we used to be. You know, that whole thing with his "mother" disappearing for the whole night. I don't even know what she told them. Erugh, how embarrassing! I hope she didn't tell them details of what happened.

I'd been mortified when I woke up in Esme's arms. She was softly humming to me in a way I had wished Renee would have done as a child. Actually, I wished that Renee has acted more like Esme in general. She actually supported me, rather than dragging me around joining in with crazy activities. Thankfully, she had left without a comment on my scorching blush or the previous night's events. She'd just hugged me and said to call if I ever needed anything.

Emmett however did comment. "Don't worry about it Bells, she didn't tell us anything. Didn't even tell Carlisle in the house, if she told him at all."

Did he ever act like a normal human? How had he not exposed the entire family.

He paused for a moment, looking at me expectantly. "Soooo…." He drawled, "gonna introduce me?"

I shook myself, trying to make my brain work.

"Ye, this is Diana. She's my house mate. Diana, this is Emmett, one of those old friends I didn't want to talk about earlier."

I had hoped it would reanimate her. She was a great friend, but it was difficult to know what to do when she shut down around unknown people. Especially when it was already awkward.

"Hi." Emmett offered her hand.

There was something funny about the way she looked at his hand, then his face, then back at her lunch with her body turned away from him. Surely, she didn't know what he was.

"No worries, don't know where it's been anyway." Great save Emmett! "Are you going to go to this party?"

"I said I'd think about it. Are you going?" That could make the decision easy for me. I did not want to be at a party, I especially didn't want to be at any party with Cullen's attending.

"Awe, it's sweet of you to ask, but if I go with anyone it'll be Rose." He's laughing at his own joke, so I smack him on the shoulder. Big mistake. I'd forgotten how much of a cultural shift being around vampires required.

"No, answer the actual question."

"Fine, I wasn't planning to, but I'm happy to give you both a ride if you want to. Just let me know later, you've got my number."

He hesitates for a few moments; I can see from his face he wants to ask something else. "Just spit it out Emmett." I really didn't have the patience for him today.

"Well, I was wondering if you'd umm, you know, like to meet up or something." He's rubbing the back of his neck now. "It can be just us, or we can invite the others, or you can come too if you want Diana, it's just been so long. I've missed you."

He's missed me? After all this time. Now was not the time for such thoughts, I didn't need to battle with strong emotions.

"I think I'd like that." What?! Did I really just say that? My mouth really needs to communicate with my brain, not just the heart, before it speaks.

Could I admit, even to myself, that I was desperate for them back in my life? Could I stand that rejection again?

"Woo!" He exclaims a little too loudly causing the people nearby to look over at us. "I saw that it's coming to the end of the paddle boat season on the lake. Thought it could be fun. What do you think?"

He had really thought this through.

"Sounds good. I'll need a ride though."

"No problems at all, as you know, we have a wide selection of suitable vehicles. You sort the who, and I'll do everything else." He lifts his arms as though he was about to hug me. At my backwards flinch, he dropped them again, his face glum. "Well, I had better go. See you around. Nice to meet you Diana."

Wow, Diana. I had completely forgotten she was sitting with us. How rude of me!

"Sorry about that," I mutter, "It's been a while."

She doesn't reply to me. I've messed up big time. I really hope is isn't mad at me.

I try to engage her back in conversation a few times before I give up and return to my lunch.

I eat slowly, picking at each mouthful. I don't understand what I've done to earn this coldness. Is it because I ignored her? Does she not like Emmett? Does she want an answer to the party? I'm thinking way too much into this. Hopefully she would tell me when she is ready.

Her alarm goes off. It was a trick I had been taught on my first day. Set an alarm for when you needed to leave for lessons. It's definitely saved me a few times.

"I'll see you later." I say to her as she starts to walk away.

There is no response.

My final class for the day dragged slightly. It was usually one of my favourite subjects, but I couldn't focus on it today. I was resigning myself to the fact that I would have to go to the stupid party just to make up with her.

Unfortunately, when I got home, despite what I'd told her, I did not have anything suitable for a party. I'd have to settle for jeans and a smart top. Not idea, but I could make it work somehow. Really it didn't matter how you dressed, everyone saw the cane and then looked the other way. It wasn't like I was trying to pick up a lad, but it would be nice to get noticed once in a while. Like I used to before the accident. It was something that at the time I'd despised. As they say, you don't miss it till it's gone.

I added a thick belt, some random jewellery I'd been given for birthdays and even coloured my eyes a little. I had no idea if it was done correctly, I owned 1 mascara, 1 eyeliner, 1 blush and 1 lip gloss. That was the extend of my collection and even that was only because of Sue's insistence that I make an effort for graduation.

Turning away from the mirror with a sigh, I went to wait on the sofa. I'd heard Diana arrive home not long after I'd woken up but hadn't seen her. I really hoped she was out of her mood for tonight. Going somewhere I didn't want to go with a grumpy friend who is also ignoring me was not my idea of fun.

I didn't have to wait long for her, she came out looking fabulous in a small shiny dress and heels I knew I'd never be able to walk in.

"You look amazing," I say. "Are you ready to go?"

She just looks at me blankly.

"Is everything alright?" I ask her, worried that something might be wrong. My outfit wasn't that bad was it? It's nothing compared to hers, but I thought it would do.

"Umm," she is looking everywhere except me, "week you see, I didn't think you'd come. So I, umm, arranged to go with some other friends."

Oh, I didn't know how I felt about that. Relieved I didn't need to go? Pleased she was talking to me again? Disappointed she hadn't asked me first?

"Alright, don't worry about it." I know my attempt at cool aloofness was a fail, but at least I tried. "I've got some work to catch up on anyway. An early night would be good too."

Nothing I say seems to ease the stress form her face. If she didn't want to go that badly, why was she even going?

"Umm, I wanted to talk to you about your friend."

That wasn't what I had expected. "Sure, what's the problem."

"Well, I was wondering if you didn't mind if I kept my distance. He makes me very uncomfortable and it would be easier if, you know, he didn't come here."

"Alright," I say reluctantly, "he really is just a big softie though. I know he's massive, but he wouldn't hurt a fly." It is true. He may kill giant animals, but I've never heard of him hurting a fly.

"It's not that its just… Well it doesn't really matter. Just, ye…" She trails off. Maybe my suspicions from earlier were right. Maybe she does know they're vampires. She couldn't know what they were. Couldn't she? "I'm gonna go. Catch you later. Don't wait up."

And she's gone, leaving behind a heap of unanswered questions. To make it worse, I couldn't ask them to see if she had an answer.

Thank you for reading, please review. Interest has gone down in the last few chapters, so I'd love to hear your thoughts. I promise the action starts to build really soon.