Part 9: that went well: Bella

Once we left Leah's stuff in the truck we headed for the cinema. Jessica and Angela were waiting outside for us; both were visibly annoyed at our lateness.

To dispel the situation I ran forwards and engulfed them in a hug, "Hey guys! Thanks for waiting!"

"Oh god. You didn't say Jessica was going to be here." I turned to see Leah roll her eyes.

Jess pulled from my grip and confronted her. "What is that supposed to mean? I thought we got along in English. We talk a lot, about anything and everything. But I guess you are just the kind of girl that is friends with people when it is convenient for you. You know what? You're just a bitch." I gasped and stepped forwards to say something but Leah looked at me and shook her head slightly. "Yes I know your type; you suck everyone dry like a parasite, feeding on those around you. You take but never give in return. So what you just going to sit there and take it huh? Come on say something you whore!"

Leah's fist struck jess' face hard and sent her to the floor. Leah crouched down and looked at her, fury in her eyes. "Don't ever call me that again or you will get more than a black eye! You say you know my type but you don't. However I know you better than you know yourself, you talk long past everyone is bored of the subject because you are insecure and need to be in control of the conversation. You have to be in charge so anyone who threatens that you try to destroy. You are the parasite feeding on others popularity in order to find a seat of power."

With that she ran and was soon lost to the crowd. I moved to follow but found a hand on my arm. Angela spoke for the first time since I got here, "Let her go, she needs her space." She turned to Jessica and spoke with venom that rarely entered her voice, "As for you, you can go now. I never liked you but now you really did it." She turned and pulled me away from her.

Later we were stood by my truck; Angela had got her car and parked it next to mine. She had the idea that Leah knew where I was parked and would probably show up there.

"So how are you doing?" We hadn't said anything since we got here and the sudden question made me jump.

"What do you mean? I'm doing great, you know I always am." This had Angela's patented let's talk about your problems and get them dealt with all over it. Of course realising that made me think about my problems. Made me think of Wesley, I still refused to use everyone's name for him, and what he had done. What I had done really. This time in all the dark thoughts there was a tiny bright spot, a single grain of hope but no matter how much I tried to identify it I couldn't.

"No Bella. I know you; we have been friends for a long time and this isn't you." She was right I had changed, changed on purpose and for the better, I think.

I backed up until I was flat against the truck but she got closer, making sure she had my full attention. "A-Angela."

"Bella I gave you time, a whole year, to get over it but you need to talk about Wesley. If you can't talk to me talk to someone, anyone." She was aggressive when she had the idea to help someone. Like a dog with a bone, only a lot worse.

I quailed under her wrath. All that had happened today and the subject matter of the conversation was sending me into a relapse. "Please Angela, not now."

"If not now when?" She was right of course; Angela was always right about this sort of thing. Why did I not want to talk about it? Angela had always been an ear when I needed to vent, a shoulder when I needed to cry and above all a friend.

Maybe that was it; maybe it was the company still wasn't close enough. What about Jake? He was like a brother to me but no. He still wasn't the one I needed to talk to.

"Friends aren't enough. It's going to take more to get me past this." Maybe if I could find the source of that grain of hope it would lead me in the right direction.

"Then talk to Seth."

My head whipped round to face her. "W-what?" Seth? I thought about it, my feelings for him were still a whirlwind of confusion.

"I can see it in you Bella. You love him. Why won't you let him love you back?"

"It isn't that easy. I can't let me love him." What I had done to Wesley was because he had seen the real me. Loving Seth made it too easy to show him. "but it gets harder every day. Each time I see the compassion in his eyes I lose a little more resolve."

The anger returned to her eyes. "What that Jerkass did was not your fault Bella." No matter how many times they said it I still refused to believe it.

"Sorry Angela but I just can't talk to you about this. Maybe I could talk to Seth, I'll try I promise." I would have the chance tomorrow.

We turned at the sound of footprints on the gravel of the car park. Leah was stood there looking very upset still. "Hey guys. Sorry I went crazy like that but she..."

Angela stepped forwards and held her arm to steady her. "She provoked you; I'm only upset that I didn't get to hit her myself."

She needed rest. "Come on Leah, let's head home." She looked ready to collapse at any moment. I might even have to carry her to her bed when we returned to her house.

"Yeah thanks. Thank you both." She mumbled as we got her into the passenger seat and she began to snore gently. She was mentally exhausted.

"Anytime." I whispered.

Angela got into her car and before leaving call across to me. "Yeah well see you two around. Bella don't forget now."

"I won't."

only one chapter this week. I don't really have an excuse but I was retooling my plans so didn't get round to another chapter.

Nothing to say about the chapter really except that Angela was never meant to appear as much as she is going to. I just found myself liking her and she is going to be a recurring character from now on.