A/N: Sorry I haven't updated in awhile. I had a chorus concert on Wednesday so I've been at rehearsals every night. I did get to write a little during class but not much. Anyway I'll shut up so the story can continue!

(PS. We did Sweeny Todd!)

Chapter 13

"Get moving! No man is left behind! Do you hear me? No man!" Sergeant Walker was crouched beside me beating the spongy earth with the palm of his hand. Jake had obviously gained weight since we last played chicken because he was folded up onto my back as I did the death crawl toward the end of our drill field.

"I am moving!" I screamed back at him. My sweat mixed with the rain that was now beating down on us in buckets.

"Not fast enough!" he came back. "I never took you for a quitter Masen! Are you willing to let your best friend die because you're a quitter?"

"No!" I shouted back mustering all the strength I had left. My legs were numb with pain yet they still were somehow supporting my weight.

"That's what I thought!" He screamed in my face. Of course I had to be the stupid idiot who volunteered to go first.

"I don't think I can take much more." I whispered under my breath.

"You have to try man." Jake whispered only to me as he clung onto my back like a monkey. "Just try. You can do it."

I closed my eyes and urged my legs and arms to move. I thought of one thing that I knew would help me persevere. I thought of Bella standing at the finish line. I thought of her welcoming me with open arms. I would run up to her and pick her up spinning her around and holding her close to my chest never to let go of her again.

The next thing I knew I heard a thunderous clap all around me. I opened my eyes to see that I had made it fifty feet past the finish line and everyone was clapping for me. I had beaten the record of the camp. I stood up and was greeted by Headmaster Grey.

He grasped my hand firmly. "Job well done Masen. I believe you deserve a reward for you accomplishment."

"What did you have in mind sir?" I asked him.

Headmaster Grey placed a finger on his chin. "Winner's choice?"

BPOV (The day of the dance.)

"Angela! Jessica, you're coming over today before the dance to get ready right?" I picked up my pace to catch up with them.

They whirled around. "Yep." They said in union.

I grinned. "Great! So I'll see you at 7:30? The dance starts at 9 and ends at 1. That should give us enough time right?"

They nodded. "Plenty." Jessica replied enthusiastically.

"Well I guess I'll see you then." I headed to my locker to place the books that I didn't need in it. We had this all planned out. Emily, and Sue were coming over to help the three of us get ready since Leah didn't want to go. She had been a little out of it since Jake left. I wasn't sure if anything romantic was going on between them so as far as I knew they were best friends.

Emily was supposed to be amazing with make up. I headed toward my English class and sat down waiting for our instructions. I found myself doodling on my paper of various things dance related. I was still really excited about this dance for some reason. I had a feeling it would be better than just a regular homecoming. All I needed was an omen.

I headed to calculus and sunk into the cold seat. I walked over to the teacher's desk and grabbed a tissue to blow my nose while everyone was talking. I was really self-conscious about things like that. When I headed back to my desk Lauren Mallory (AKA girl who hated me because I was Edward's fiancé.) placed her foot in the isle causing me to trip on it. I headed for the ground and this time I didn't have Edward's strong arms to catch me.

I collided as Lauren snickered. "Golly Bella, you should really watch where you're going."

I pulled myself up and turned to glare at her. "I don't know who you think you are, but just to let you know… no one ever says golly." I waited. "You see, people like you have really pea-brained way of getting to people. I on the other hand plot my revenge silently."

Lauren's expression turned from amused to nervous. "Um, yeah… well, you're so annoying. I don't know why Edward Masen would want someone like you. You're not even really pretty."

I was about to pounce on her when the teacher walked through the door. "Put away your claws girls, class is about to start."

I sent my glares at my paper and couldn't help but understand the truth ringing in her words. I never could fathom why Edward would choose me I just accepted it. I felt the tears prick as I thought of Edward. I missed him like summer missed spring, and winter missed fall. Just the thought of the next seven weeks was unbearable. What I wouldn't give to have his arms wrapped around me at night. The nightmares had subsided slightly to just a rude awakening at night.

"Miss Swan?" Mr. White directed his question at me.

"Um, sorry can you repeat the question?" I tried to push the plaintive thoughts out of my head.

"I asked if you were going to grace us with your presence at the dance tonight." Annoyance flooded his tanned face.

"Oh, sorry. Yes sir." I replied trying not to tick him off too much.

He didn't reply to my answer he just released us signaling that the bell was about to ring. I was happy to leave when it did. We were starting a project in English. It was a diary project and we were supposed to record our deepest thoughts in it. It would be graded for completeness yet it wouldn't be read. We could choose to have a private journal or an online journal kind of like a blog. Since my computer was a little slow I decided to do the private journal. I had always wanted a diary/journal but had always been too lazy to start one. Now was my opportunity. We would be writing in the journals for the rest of the semester.

I walked into class and Mrs. Arden smiled at me. She really wasn't as bad as she seemed. A lot of people despised her. I didn't have a problem with her… she just tended to like busywork which no one was particularly fond of.

"Alright class, I assume you all have your three ring spiral journals or USB ports?" She glanced around the room as some people pulled out journals while others pulled out tiny sticks. "Very nice!" She spent the rest of the class going over the project and answering any questions that we had.

The lunch bell rang so I headed to lunch going through the regular routine of waiting in the lunch line. I decided that I wanted to eat in the hallway today. It was one of the random spurts of independence I had. Of course I can never go too far without Mike asking me where I'm going.

"Where are you headed Bella?" Mike grabbed onto my shoulder.

"In the hall." I answered him like it was the most obvious thing.

"Oh, okay?" He shrugged and turned around heading back into the lunchroom.

I sunk down against the wall and placed my food in my lap taking a bite of my pizza. I took a gulp of water and examined the scenes in front of me. The hallway today was make out central. No one really did anything about the serious face sucking and no one would ever do anything. If you didn't like it you didn't look, as simple as that. I took another bite of pizza and pulled out my journal.

Dear Journal,

So, I sit here at lunch eating my pizza and watching as the couples suck face. Part of me is grossed out and just wishes they would get a room, yet part of me is jealous. I yearn to be one of them. If only to be in Edward's arms. If only he would accompany me to the dance, if only for a night. To be in his arms would be heaven on Earth. He is the most precious jewel I have ever received. He is like a fallen star, something so beautiful and breath taking it's hard to believe it's real. Well the lunch bell is ringing so I need to go.

Dismayed

I took one last bite of my pizza and threw the tray in the nearest trashcan picking up my bag and heading to chemistry. Needless to say Chemistry passed by in a breeze. Mr. Banner was giving us the day off from homework for the dance. It didn't really matter though; I would have finished it before we left class anyway. Just as quickly as class started it ended. It didn't take long to reach Edward's huge truck as I hauled myself up into the springy seat.

When I reached my house I proceeded to get dinner ready for Charlie and started a load of laundry so I wouldn't have to do so much this weekend. I gave up on my calculus homework and wrote random answers in the blanks shoving it aside for the weekend. I heard the timer go off for Charlie's dinner so I ran downstairs to pull the ribs out of the oven. He knew how to work the grill so all he had to do was place them on the grill.

I mashed up some potatoes and added milk making mashed potatoes and then some gravy. Figuring that would be enough I placed the ribs back in the oven to stay warm and placed the potatoes in the microwave to keep warm. Before I knew it Charlie walked into the room and got the ribs going while I took a shower.

Dinner was eaten in silence, which seemed to fit the atmosphere. I was still kind of bothered by Lauren's comment although I knew I shouldn't be. Lauren was the closest thing to trash that I had ever come in contact with. She was the kind of person who had an attitude from Hades. Charlie didn't acknowledge my silence, which I was thankful for.

The doorbell rang as I was cleaning up and I ran to get it inviting Sue and Leah in. I gestured them to the living room to chat with Charlie while I finished cleaning up. After the last dish was washed the doorbell rang again and I ran to find Angela and Jessica with their garment bags in hand and bright smiles on their faces.

Jessica squealed and Angela just stepped back covering her ears. "Calm down Jess!" Angela giggled.

I pulled them inside and Charlie said he was going to Billy's to be manly and watch the football game.

"Bye Dad." I kissed his cheek and gestured the four ladies up the stairs as Sue chuckled under her breath.

"Goodbye Charlie. Have fun at Billy's." She smiled politely.

I couldn't help but smile as I saw Charlie blush a scarlet red.

A/N: I am so so so so sorry for not updating until now. Like I said I had a chorus concert and I've had practices and stuff. We did really well and for my first chorus concert… I didn't trip on stage! We have to wear these floor length black skirts and I thought for sure I would trip. I almost did but thankfully I didn't!

Please review! I asked nicely!

Kayla