Chapter 3:

As a young girl I always fantasized about my dream guy. We would be perfect together, high school sweethearts who eventually got married. We'd have children, maybe 1 or 2. We'd make lots of money, and live in a mansion by the ocean. We would grow old together, watching every sunset on our porch. That was my dream, up until I turned 10 and realized that people's lives couldn't be perfect. I think a part of me never really let go of that dream though. Maybe that's what drove me to date Jeremy Dales in the first place. Perhaps, I subconsciously saw a way to make my childhood dreams come true and I wanted it so badly I would tear down everything I had to get at it. But now I know, perfection has a price and a very expensive one at that.

The moment Jeremy invited me to the party I knew that nothing good could come out of this. First of all, as everyone who knows me is aware of, I can't dance. Last year, at prom, the only reason I had looked like I was able to dance was because of Edward and this time Edward wouldn't be there. Second of all, I am very prone to accidents and a party was all I needed to get myself killed. Third, and finally, I hated parties hosted by jocks. I mean everything they said usually revolved around sports and let's just say I'm not very clued into the world of sports. So I don't know why I accepted his invitation, especially with Edward being mad at me. I just don't think I was thinking straight after Edward and I had our little fight.

"Great! I assure you this party will be awesome! The football team throws some of the greatest parties of the year!" He snaked his arm around my shoulder and directed me to the lunchroom. "Sit with me today?"

I was sort of grateful for Jeremy asking me to sit with him. I had no idea where I would have sat. I wasn't sure if Edward would want me to sit with him, and Jessica and her friends would be all over me in seconds for not sitting with Edward. I guess most of them already knew about me being with Jeremy now anyway, word travels fast in a small school. But I still didn't feel like telling them in detail about why Edward and I broke up. I sat down at a table filled, unfortunately, with jocks and their girlfriends. Jeremy immediately jumped into a conversation that had already started before we sat down. I just looked away, staring off into space, wishing that I had just sat down with Jessica until a perky blonde awoke me from my reverie. She was by far the tannest girl I had ever seen in my life. She was also was wearing the brightest pink dress, purse, and lipstick I had ever seen.

"Hi, my name is Varsity," she chirped.

I gave her a small smile.

"I'm dating Will, he's on the football team."

"Uhhh….good for you."

"I know." She flipped her blonde hair and took out a compact mirror from her purse to readjust her make-up. "So, what's your story?"

"My name's Bella."

"Well, isn't that a great name."

"Thanks…"

She was now putting so much mascara on her eyelashes, I was afraid she wouldn't be able to open her eyes again.

"Who are you dating?"

I sighed, I thought of Edward as I pointed next to me at Jeremy.

"Aww, you two make the cutest couple ever!" She finished up with the mirror and stuck it back in her purse. "Are you going to the party tonight?"

"Yeah, I guess," was my only reply as I took a bite of food from the lunch tray, my thoughts beginning to drift.

"Be careful though, you don't want to end up like his ex-girlfriend."

I tuned back into what the preppy blonde was saying. "I don't understand, what happened to his ex?"

She smiled, about to dish out all her good gossip when a brunette yelled, "Varsity, let's go. There's a cheerleading meeting in Mrs. Waybourne's office ASAP!"

"Well, it was nice meeting you Bella, I'm sure we'll talk later!" and with a flip of her hair she was gone.

When the final bell rang I headed out for my truck. I was so busy avoiding the water-filled pot-holes that would ruin my new sandals, that it wasn't until I got to the far end of the parking lot that I remembered that I had driven into school with Edward. My truck wasn't here. I groaned. I had way too much on my mind right now to drive home with Edward, and yet I waited.

He emerged from the school a few minutes later strolling effortlessly among the puddles of water, "Need a ride?"

I shrugged in acceptance.

We didn't say a word to each other all the way to my house. The eerie silence was extremely weird, usually I was full of questions when he drove me places. Our conversations flowed effortlessly, but not today. Despite his usual speed, it seemed like an eternity until we finally reached my house and I opened the door of his car.

Cold fingers stopped me. "I didn't want this to happen between us Bella. I just want to keep you safe and give you the life you deserve."

I turned to look at him, the man I knew, in my heart, I still loved. "I know Edward, but just promise me that you won't follow me around anymore."

He stiffened, "I don't know if I can do that Bella."

"Then I don't know if we can be friends, I need to have some privacy, especially if I'm going to date Jeremy."

He looked pained but appeared to consider my plea, "Alright Bella… but please don't get yourself killed!"

It was overcast and chilly when Jeremy picked me up at 8:00 for the party. I had had to spend over an hour convincing Charlie, the police chief, to let me go out with Jeremy, and then I had to listen to another half an hour of lectures on teen safety before he finally let me get ready to go.

Jeremy looked great in a brown polo shirt and worn jeans. A little preppy for me, but I guess it was normal. He opened the passenger side door of his red jeep for me and I clambered in. He strolled around the front, hopped into the driver's seat and turned the ignition. Quickly he turned down the stereo slightly and pulled out slowly because, of course, Charlie was watching. I waved and continued to look out the window as he pulled out our lane.

"You look fantastic, Bella!"

I smiled. We engaged in some small talk, but all the while I was biting my lip, trying to get the courage to ask him the question I had been wanting to ask him since talking to Varsity.

"I've been thinking about something I heard today." I tasted the faint flavor of blood in my mouth coming from my abused lip.

He raised his eyebrows.

"Uh, … well, I wanted to know about your ex-girlfriend."

Immediately anger contorted his features, "Who told you about Katie?"

"I can't remember, I…I shouldn't have asked," I stuttered lamely.

His expression softened slightly, "Sorry, it's just I'd really rather not talk about her."

"Oh…well that's okay I guess."

"Great!" He kept one hand on the steering wheel and laid the other one on my hand. He smiled at me as if the topic had never even come up.

And yet a part of me still yearned to know, what happened to Jeremy Dale's previous girlfriend?

The party was almost exactly as I feared it would be. As we walked into the house, it was so crowded I suddenly felt claustrophobic. I couldn't get anywhere without rubbing up against someone else. We were immediately offered beer in plastic cups as we moved into the living room. We both refused. The lights were dim and loud music blared, ringing in my ears.

"Jeremy, come check this out, you gotta see this!" yelled a blonde guy, as we turned into another room.

"I'm going to go see what this is about," shouted Jeremy over the music. He leaned over and gave me a quick kiss before walking off toward the voice.

Great, this was just what I needed. Here I was, alone, at a party filled with drunk guys and cheerleaders. I stood in a corner, near a couple making out. But this spot did have its perks, I had a wonderful view of what seemed to be the only clock in the house. This was going to be a very long night!

Varsity hadn't shown up, or at least with everyone else there, I hadn't seen her. So my questions were left unanswered.

And I already had far too many conversations with people who though sports was the only topic worth discussing or girls who thought gossip was a sport.

At 12:00 the party was still going strong. Jeremy had wandered off again but I finally found him outside, next to a guy I recognized from the lunch table, throwing up in the bushes.

"Are you ready to go?" he asked when he saw me walking towards him.

"Yes," I replied. I hope I didn't sound too excited. "Remember, Charlie wanted me to be home by 12:30."

"Alright," he said. "Let me just say goodbye, I'll be right back."

Fifteen minutes later we made our way to the car and I got in the passenger's seat once again.

As we stopped at the first traffic light, he leaned over and kissed me. I was probably just imagining it but I though his breath smelled of alcohol but, then again he promised he wouldn't have anything to drink since he was driving me home. And the terrible thing was, I trusted him.

People often wonder what you think about in the moments before you think your going to die. Let me tell you something, when I was about to die… in those moments when Jeremy swerved the car because he was drunk and the jeep went rolling, I didn't have time to think of my whole life, the only thing that came into my mind at that moment was Edward; his voice,his lips, his touch,and then everything went black.

Authors Note: I'd like to thank all the people who have read my story. And I'd like to give a special thanks to the people who have reviewed it. My next chapter will be up soon!