I laughed as I stepped out of the limo, leaving Caius to squirm. It was time he got what he deserved, it wasn't just for me, and it was for all the girls that he had ever manipulated. But he had nothing on me anymore. I had stopped just outside James' house. I waved to the limo, as it drove away. Laughing at him. I turned around, pulling my backpack on my shoulder. I gasped.

"Oh, Hey James. How long have you been standing there?" I asked, slightly afraid. He shook his head, disappointed.

"You've been avoiding me Bella." He said, taking my hand. I cringed away slightly, as he led me to the front door.

"I haven't been avoiding you, I just needed time to think," I defended myself; we sat on the porch swing.

"Has Edward been helping you to?" he asked, looking across the street, where Edward was getting out of the car.

"There is nothing going on with Edward and I. You should know that," I patted his hand. He looked at me, stroking my face. He glared in Edward's direction, "Are you jealous?" I laughed.

"What if am? Can you blame me?" he asked.

"Edward and I are just friends, we realised that we were better off as friends. If not an item," I whispered, "There is nothing to be jealous of," I smiled.

"But this is the thing Bella; I am not supposed to be jealous. I have no right to be. I need a decision, Bella. I want to be your boyfriend." He said, looking me in the eyes.

"I don't know yet, Jay. I need some more time," I pleaded, looking out of his eyes.

"Typical Bella," he muttered.

"Excuse me? What's that supposed to mean?" I asked.

"It's like what happened in Ireland. Ireland all over again,"

"I thought we agreed not to speak about what happened in Ireland," I started to raise my voice.

"No, you agreed. When we went for that walk, after what happened, you decided to ignore it." He raised his voice too.

"Keep your voice down," I whispered.

"No Bella, I don't care anymore, and I don't care who knows it," he shouted louder. He walked straight into the middle of the lawn, "People of the world. Bella Cullen and I-" I put his hand over his mouth. He mumbled.

"Don't, please." I whispered.

"Bella and I," he whispered to me, "Made out on her grandparents bed," he whispered so that nobody else could hear. I shut my eyes.

"Shh. nobody can know," I looked around, the street was deserted.

"Are you ashamed of what happened," he held my cheek.

"I just want need some time, to digest." He shook his head, "Is this how it's going to be then. I can either be together with you or nothing at all?" I growled, the tears surfacing.

"I wish it wasn't like this," he said. I pulled myself out of his hand and looked at his towering figure.

"If we're going to be talking about the past then let's go for it," I said. "Remember three years ago. Remember what happened James? Do you remember what you said to me?" he frowned in pain.

"Bella I said I was sorry for that," he said.

"'I have to go Bella. My dad is making me go Bella; there is nothing to keep me here anyway. Not even you,'" I imitated his voice. Sneering at him. I hated bringing this up.

"He got reposted in Washington, what was I supposed to do, stay here?" he shouted, I don't think either of us cared that we were having a slinging match on the lawn, or that some of the neighbours were watching.

"You know that Mum and Dad would have taken you in. They think of you like their son. They didn't understand why I was so pissed with you when you left, and why I just got on with my life. They didn't know how lonely I felt? Why I went to seek comfort in the arms of Mike the year after," I growled.

"Here we go again. Poor little Bella, got kidnapped. Woe is me," he snarled. I slapped him across the face. There were gasps. I didn't care.

"You're supposed to be my best friend." I stammered. Tears rising.

"Bella, I'm sorry," he said. I left him there. And elbowed my way through the crowds. I didn't realise I was knocking on their door, until she answered the door.

"Bella what are you doing here?" she smiled, a bit smugly.

"Tanya? Um, are Rose or Alice home?" I said, wiping my eyes, with my sleeve.

"Um no they're out with your brother's. Is there anything I can do?" she asked, opening the door a little more.

"Uh, no. But when they get back can you tell them to give me a call please?" my voice broke. Suddenly, the tears kept coming.

"Sure. Oh Bella, I couldn't find you at lunch. I have your Spanish book. You left in it home room this morning when I went in there for first lesson. Here," she walked into the house a bit. She returned with the Spanish book. I took it, in my hands.

"Thanks, I have to go now," I turned around and walked back to the street. Clutching the book with my bare hands. I could barely see where I was going all I knew was that it was in the direction of my house. I fumbled with the lock and barely made in the door without tripping over threshold of my door.

"Bella?" I heard a voice coming from the living room, I walked in. "Bella, sweetie. What's the matter?"

"Daddy? Daddy, just don't ask questions," I cried and went straight into his arms.

OOOOOOOOOO

It was the morning after the night before, as it were. I was sitting in homeroom in the morning. James, who usually occupied the seat next to me, wasn't even there. I didn't feel like seeing him anyway. Alice sat next to me. The morning announcements were playing on the TV's in all the classrooms. I wasn't even looking. It was led by Roger Vanders. I sighed.

"Are you okay Bella?" Alice whispered.

"You didn't call me yesterday," I said.

"Was I supposed to?" she said confused.

"Didn't Tanya give you the message?"

"What message?" she sounded genuinely confused.

"Nothing," I smiled. We were interrupted by the volume increase of the TV. Mr Dawson didn't appreciate talking.

'And now a word from the co-captain of the Baseball team, James Fabello,' there was applause from the set. I heard but I didn't look up, I wasn't in any mood to see him.

'Thank you Roger.' James replied.

'So are you feeling confident about tonight's game?' Roger started.

'Yes, we are going to trounce them.' He sighed, 'Hello Liberty high students, I would like to talk to you, but not about baseball.' There were mutters in our classroom. 'You see yesterday, I done something unforgivable, to one of my oldest and dearest friends. Her name is Bella Cullen,' my ears pricked up, but I didn't raise my head. 'See she isn't even responding to me, Roger put the cam on the screen,' There were mutters.

"Bella, look up, you're on the TV." Alice muttered, pointing to the TV set. I looked up, and Alice and I were sitting in a corner on the TV screen. I gasped.

'Thanks Alice, appreciate the help. Now that Bella is looking at me.' He sighed,

'Bella, I am so sorry. For what I did, for what I said. For what I didn't say. I just want to say that I am sorry. Bella, you are one of the most important people in my life, and without you, I may as well be in Washington, because my life is pointless without you in it. And that decision that I asked you to make, take your time, because the very fact, that you are my friend is enough for me,' There were 'Awwwws' coming from my room, and I could hear them down from the hall. I blushed. 'Please just do me one thing," I nodded, knowing that he could see me, 'Where you were having lunch yesterday, meet me there at lunch, so then I can explain,' I sighed, crossing my arms, 'Please Bella?' He smiled, how I could say no to that face. I nodded 'Thank you Bella, I will see you then, over to you Roger,' the camera zoomed over to Roger's face, he looked shocked.

'And uh. Um, ah what the hell, nothing's going to top that. Go get him Bella!' He laughed, the TV turned off. Everybody was staring at me. Even Mr. Dawson, but thankfully the bell went, so I was literally saved by it. I ran out of the classroom, Alice close on my tail. The guys on the Baseball team had been given the day off to practise for the big game. It was odd, everybody looking at me as I went to my classes. I had English first. Mr. Frat gave me a big smile as I walked in. That was awkward. We were reciting the lines from Romeo and Juliet when there was a knock at the door. It was a messenger boy.

"Can I help you young man?" Frat said, he didn't like being interrupted, for any reason.

"I am looking for a Miss Bella Cullen," He looked down to his clipboard.

"Um yeah, that's me?" I said standing up.

"These are for you," He took out a box of Belgian chocolates, wrapped in shiny brown paper and a brown ribbon. He walked over to me at the back of the class.

"Thank you," there was a thick card wrapped in it. I would read that later. He left the room again, Frat told me to sit down, and I did. Alice smiled knowingly. I had a feeling that this wasn't the last I was going to hear from this.

We went to History next, Miss Lovet said nothing, and she was not the sort to. The lesson went without interruption that was until 5 minutes before the end. There was another knock at the door. This time it was someone from the AV club.

"Come," she barked, he walked in timidly. "What do you want Rosewood?"

"Sorry Ma'am, but I have been told to deliver this to Bella Cullen?" she pointed to me. He walked over to Alice and I, She was trying to stifle a laugh. He handed me a box, a blue box with a white ribbon around it. It looked like a photo frame, but I didn't know. I accepted it, after receiving death glares from Miss. Lovet. Break time couldn't come fast enough. Alice insisted on me coming with her to the cafeteria, she dragged me along. We got in there, it felt odd. Emmett, Jasper, Rose and Edward were sitting down at their table, I felt strange, I hadn't sat at that table for a very long time, and Angela was in the Gym with Ben, preparing for tonight. I should be there, but I was going there for the last two lessons of the day to help with the girls. I sat down next to Rose and Alice next to me. I was facing Jasper.

"Well, well, well, somebody has been the talk of the school today haven't they," Emmett Laughed. I threw a grape at him. He caught it and threw it into his mouth.

"You should have seen Caius' face this morning, it was hilarious, he looked painful," Rose laughed. I took out my two gifts.

"You guys want a chocolate?" I asked the table. I took the card aside and let Alice open it. I opened the card, 'Bella, I am so sorry, and I know how much you love Belgian Chocolates, so I bought you some. Please forgive me, James.' I smiled. I showed it to Rose and Alice. They both Aww'd. Emmett was scoffing is way through the chocolates. Jasper looking at Alice, and Edward had Tanya sitting on his knee. I smiled. A senior came up to our table.

"Bella Cullen," he smiled at me. I nodded, he wasn't carrying anything. Then four other boys came and surrounded him, one carrying a beat box. "This is from James Fabello, who is very, very sorry," he signalled, the cafeteria was deadly silent. I looked at Emmett who looked like he was going to choke. The guy on the left turned on the beat box.

'What do I say when it's all over?
Sorry seems to be the hardest word.

It's sad, so sad
it's a sad, sad situation.
And it's getting more and more absurd.
It's sad, so sad
why can't we talk it over?
Oh it seems to me
that sorry seems to be the hardest word.'

"Awww,' Rose and Alice said again.

"Oh, and these," the same senior said handing me a dozen red roses.

"Wow," Tanya said. Looking at them. The senior handed them to me. They were so pretty. I smelt them. The cafeteria filled up with noise once again and the boys who had sung to me had disappeared.

"Why can't you be more like James?" Rose and Alice said to Jasper and Emmett.

"Hey, what did he do Bella? Insult your wardrobe?" Emmett laughed.

"No, he didn't. I don't want to talk about it," I smelt the roses again. "Here, courtesy of James Fabello." I handed two of them to Rose and Alice.

"Give him one thing, he can apologize well." Edward said, taking a chocolate. I smiled. Then my phone buzzed. It was a text from James. 'Sorry Bella, I have to stay through lunch. Will catch up after the game. James x'. I sighed.

"And now he has even more reason to," I showed them all the text, I exhaled. Things were about to get very interesting...