CHAPTER .

Bella's POV

School this week had been trying. All week I still had everyone staring at me. All I wanted to do was hide, a few more teachers made me introduce myself to the class when I had that class for the first time, every time I blushed and was extremely uncomfortable and embarrassed. I did enjoy a few of my subjects. Music was very interesting, it was theory for one lesson and practical for the other. Edward was in that class with me and he managed to be my partner in it. We sat and practiced the piano together, it was one of the instruments I could play, I wasn't very good at it, Edward I must admit was amazing. I could play the guitar better, and I could actually sing better then playing either, but no one knew that. That was one of my little secrets. Edward was also in my biology class and ended up being my partner in that. I was thankful for that though, there was another boy I think his name was Mike that was trying to be my partner, but I noticed him looking at me and it was like he was undressing me with his eyes. Eww, that is so gross. I mean come on, I'm not even that attractive. I guess it is just because I am new meat as they say. Chemistry and psychology were daunting when I first walked in but a girl named Angela came up and sat beside me. She was very quite like me, but she seemed nice enough, after talking to her over the week in these two classes I got to know her and I really did like her. It seemed like we were going to be good friends.

On Friday Angela invited me to have lunch with her and her group of friends. I meet a couple of girls, that I really didn't like they seemed like the type of girls who would no sooner turn around and stab you in the back as smile at you and play nice. Unfortunately Angela was friends with the Mike from my biology class and I noticed one of the girls eyeing him, so I kept trying to get him to turn his attention to her, because I didn't want it and he really did make me uncomfortable. Angela told me she liked a boy named Ben and pointed him out in the group at lunch. He seemed like a good sort of guy for Angela, he seemed quite and reserved, but at the same time he was outgoing and confident. I could see them being able to sit and have quite conversations alone or Ben getting Angela to open up a little bit also. I told her what I thought about him and said he was a good choice for her. Angela asked me about any interests and I told her I didn't have any, because I really didn't I'd had to many problems in my life to deal with anything like that. Angela had said though she notice the way Edward was always staring at me and thought that there was something there. I laughed at her, and said Edward and I are just friends. Angela was also in my biology class but I hadn't noticed her before.

The last classes for my Friday were spent with Jasper. I walked to maths and took my usual seat waiting for him to show up. When he sat down beside me I decided to talk to him, it was usually the only way to get him to talk to me. "Hey Jasper, how has your day been?" I asked him. "Okay, I saw you at lunch with Jessica and Lauren wasn't it?" I thought about that for a moment, then realised they were the names of the two girls that sat with Angela. "Umm, yeah, I think that was them. I was actually there with Angela. She is in my psyc' and chem' classes. She seems like a nice girl. We are friends I think." I replied quietly. Jasper nodded in reply. It always felt weird talking to Jasper, like I had to force the conversation. It never seemed quite comfortable. I sighed internally, which Hailey immediately picked up on. Bella sweetie, what's up? I heard your mental sigh and I can feel the anguish rolling off you. I'm fine. I was just trying to talk to Jasper, it always feels like I have to force the conversation with him, it never feels comfortable. I don't know what it is, but I can feel that he has been though something traumatic and I just feel bad for him. I feel like I should help him in someway, you know me I care about everyone too much. I mentally sighed again. Bells was like that with all of us when he first got here. He still doesn't talk all that much know. He immerses himself in history books most of the time. Don't worry Bells, it will get better. I'm not so sure Hails. It stayed that way for the rest of maths and English which I had after with Jasper as well.

Jasper's POV

At lunch I noticed that Bella wasn't sitting with us at the table. I wanted to ask, but I didn't want anyone suspicious of anything. So I sat quietly looking around the lunch room for her. A few moments later I noticed her at a table on the other side of the cafeteria. She was sitting a table with Jessica and Lauren, I knew of these girls because they had thrown themselves at me once, and when I turned them down they got very nasty afterwards, but I knew I deserved it, so it didn't bother me. She was sitting next to a girl I didn't recognise, and it seemed that she was deep in conversation with her. God how I wished that was me. I wished I could talk to her, god I wished I was good enough for her. I wished a lot of things, most of all I wanted to confess the feelings I had for her and know that she returned them and that I was good enough for her.

I was stuck in my own internal debate until I was pulled out of it by Edward saying something about Bella. Edward was sitting between me and Emmett, when he whispered to us, "Hey guys, I think I really like Bella. What do you think? Do you think she would say yes if I asked her out?" I sighed internally. I felt like my heart was being ripped out of my chest all over again. All I could think was hell no, she is mine. "Umm, I don't know dude, maybe you should either talk to the girls or just ask and see what she says." Emmett replied. I simply nodded my head in agreement, I had to suppress the urge to say what I really was thinking, but I knew Edward was better for her then I was. I was damaged and not good enough, I didn't deserve anyone, to love anyone. I could hear the words my parents said to me over and over again, about being worthless and unlovable and every other truthful thing they said to me. I remembered it all and knew it was all true. How could it not be, I knew my aunt and uncle loved me, I knew even Rose loved me. I knew I didn't deserve their love and that what love they gave me would be all I would ever ask for or except. For the rest of lunch I sat there quietly, occasionally sneaking glancing over at the table Bella was sitting at. I was lost in my thoughts about her, the feelings I had for her – which I have to admit are weird as I have only known her for less then a week, but I feel this strange pull towards her, it is almost like we are opposite magnets drawing each other to the other – and how I should not be feeling them.

I could hear the conversation the girls were having, going on around me. They were talking about what they were planning for the weekend. They were planning a movie night for tonight at Hailey's and Bella's. I was rejoicing in my head. "Hey Hails should we ask Bells if she wants to invite her new friends?" Ali asked. "Don't know I'll ask her later. I don't really want all those girls there. I can't stand the slut pair. Jessica and Lauren. I know though that she hates that Mike guy, she called him a perv' and said in class she felt like he was eye fucking her." Hailey replied. When I heard that, boy was I pissed. I clenched my fists under the table, I clenched them so tight that my knuckles turned white. Breathe, just breathe, I chanted to myself mentally. "Hey Jasper are you alright?" Hailey asked me. "I'm fine." I replied. I noticed Hails look down at my hands and then back at my face. I unclenched my fists and tried to relax my hands. "Jazz, can we talk?" Hails asked me. I looked up at her with questioning eyes. "Umm, I really need to talk to you, get your help with something please?" she pleaded with me. I nodded. Hailey stood up and waited for me to follow suit. I followed her outside to an empty section if the school where we couldn't be overheard. I sat down next to her and looked at her waiting for to say something.

"Jazz, I want to talk to you about a couple of things okay, I understand if you don't want to talk to me about anything okay, but just know I am here for you." She looked at me, waiting for some kind of response so I simply nodded to her. "Well, first of all I want to talk to you about Edward and Bella, I know I overheard him telling you and Em that he wants to ask her out, but I know she isn't interested in him in that way. I know she just wants to be friends, best friends like they were before she left." Hailey paused there for a moment, it looked like she was trying to gather up her thoughts. I nodded at her again and waited for her to continue. "Jazz, only Bella knows this so please promise me you won't say anything." "Hailey I swear I won't tell anyone, you can trust me on that." I replied to her, trying to express to her that she could tell me anything in confidence, vent if I didn't share it back with her. "Well… you see the thing is… I like Edward." She whispered the last part so softly that I wasn't quite sure I heard her right. "Hailey are you telling me you have feelings for Edward?" I questioned back. She nodded her head at me, keeping her eyes turned down, looking at the ground. "Hailey, that's great, now you just have to get him to realise that. You two would be great together." I told her. Hails just nodded her head at me again. I sighed, "Hails look at me." I waited until she looked. "He would be lucky to have you. You are an amazing girl." I pulled her in for a small one armed hug. She smiled timidly back at me. This was funny I thought Hailey had never been the shy, timid type of girl, she always spoke her mind, she was like Rose in so many ways, just less bitchy. We sat there in silence for a little while until she spoke up again. "Jazz, I saw you reaction today, about when I mentioned Bella and Mike." I clenched my fists up again at the mention of his name. "See you are doing it again," she commented. I relaxed my fists yet again. "Jazz, I know you like her, you deserve to be happy. I don't know what you have been through and I want you to know that I am here for you if you ever want to talk about it. I also know that you would make her happy. Jazz, I don't know what she has been through before she came home to us, but I do know she has been through something terrible." Hailey paused again, seeming lost in her thoughts yet again. She looked at me, it looked like she was assessing me about whether or not she should tell me whatever she was about to tell me or not. I guess she found what she was looking for because she began again. "What I am about to tell you only two other people beside myself know. They are Ali and Bella, Bella knows because it involves the two of us and Ali knows, basically because she is Ali and she kinda realised. Well I know I can trust you so here I go. Bella and I have a mental link. We can talk telepathically and we can sense each others emotions. It is a twin thing. I also know that she has been able to block me from sensing her emotions for a while now. I can't exactly explain it, I would sense her feelings, but I think she was projecting fake emotions to me. Anyway that is not the point. I know something happened that caused her to move back here. I can tell now when she is asleep, she can't maintain the barrier when she is asleep, and I can feel her emotions and hear her crying while she is dreaming. But I don't think these are the normal kind of dreams, I think they are the kind that are suppressed memories. Memories she doesn't want to think about, it is something she is running from I am afraid and I believe it is not something good. I want her to open up to me, to Ali to anyone." Hailey looked so sad there, I could see the pain in her eyes, the pain that she knew something bad had happened to her sister. I felt bad for her also. I never wanted anything to happen to her, she was an angel. "Jazz, I know she senses your pain from whatever happened to you. I know she wishes she could make it better for you. But that's my sis, always more concerned about everyone else then herself. Jazz, I think she likes you, I think she is afraid of that too. Please trust me when I say this, you are allowed to be happy and to be loved. I know you think you don't deserve it, but you do." I could see the tears she was trying to hold back. How the hell did this girl know so much about me? I was worried that she knew, I could feel myself starting to shake. Hailey noticed and she placed a hand on my shoulder, in a comforting way. "Jazz, I don't know what happened to you, but I can tell that about you Jazz, it's the way you always stay to the back or side of things. Please just trust me Jazz, let Bella in, and give her a chance, give yourself a chance, you both deserve it, deserve to be happy." Hailey hugged me slightly before getting up. "Come on we have to get to class before we are late." I nodded and we headed of to our classes.

I walked into maths and went and sat next to Bella. Everything Hailey had just told me was running around in my head. I heard her ask me about my day, to which I told her that it had been good and asked her about sitting at lunch with the skank pair Lauren and Jessica. She replied like she didn't really know them and told me she was sitting there with Angela, a friend from her chem' and psyc' classes. She told me she thought she was nice and seemed like they were becoming friends. I could only nod in reply. I was still lost in thoughts of what I had talked to Hailey about just moments earlier. Bella stayed quite for the rest of class. We were quite all through English as well. I was too busy going over everything in my mind and what I was going to do about it. I knew I didn't deserve her. I knew everything my parents had told me was true. I knew I wasn't good enough for her. But why then did I feel this weird pull towards her. I felt like I was being drawn to her. I heard the bell ring for the end of school and got up and headed out to the student parking lot. I was waiting for Rose by the car, I drove us here today.

She walked out with Em and Edward heading straight towards us. I saw Mike and his mates walking towards me. "Hey freak, why don't you go back to where you came from. Back to freaksvil." Mike said as he walked past. "Shut the fuck up Mike, before I knock you into next Sunday." Yelled Rose, while making her hands into fists at the same time. "Don't you ever talk to or about my cousin like that again." She continued yelling, coming ever closer to the trio. Em was flanking her as was Edward. I could see the trio were getting intimidated now. I mean Rose wasn't someone you pissed off, but with Em at her side – who was built like the star quarterback and very intimidating to say the least – they were not the kind of people you would want to take on in a fight, not unless you wanted your ass handed to you on a silver platter. "Rose just drop it." I told her. "Jazz, no. I will not let these assholes speak to you like that anymore, or ever again." She turned back to them. "I ever hear you talking shit about Jasper again, and you boys better start looking for a hiding place because you wont have any nuts left by the time I'm through with you." She yelled and growled at them. I knew she was beyond pissed now. I think they realised that also because they scampered away as fast as they could after she had said that. Rose walked over and gave me a hug. "Jazz, you are not a freak, just because something terrible happened to you and you were left with these scars doesn't make you a freak. I love you Jasper." Rose whispered into my ear. I nodded at her, but I didn't really believe her.

Moments later Hailey, Bella and Ali all turned up. "Hey guys what time do you want to meet at mine for the movie night?" Hails asked. "How about at 6?" Edward asked. Hailey nodded, "Sounds great. Will order pizza for tea so just bring yourselves and we'll see you all at 6." "Hey Bells, do you want to invite any of your friends that you sat with at lunch today?" Ali asked. "No not tonight. It's just about us, our gang. Maybe next time I'll invite Angela." Bella replied. Ali nodded. We all jumped into out cars then and took off for our places, with plans to meet at 6.

Alice's POV

Edward tapped me on the shoulder to get my attention. I turned towards my brother with a questioning look on my face. "Can you ride home with me, I want to ask you something." He whispered into my ear. I nodded. "Just let me tell the girls okay?" I replied. Well that's a bit weird I thought. Normally he would just talk to the boys about any problems. Maybe ne needs a girls point of view. I walked over to Hails and Bella who were standing by Bella's baby as she called it. "Come on jump in." Hailey said to me. "Umm… girls I'll catch up with you in a bit. Edward wants me to ride with him. He wants to talk to me about something. I'll be over soon as thought okay?" I said to the both. Bella just nodded, and Hailey said, "Hey no prob's Ali. See you at ours later then. Kisses." as she climbed into the car. I skipped back to Edward's car and climbed in. I noticed Em was missing. "Where's Em?" "He caught a ride with Jazz and Rose." He told me. Okay I thought, this is important then, something he really wants my help with.

We drove for a few moments in silence, it seemed as if Edward was trying to collect his thoughts. "Ali, I want to talk to you about Bella." He said. "Umm… yeah sure what about E?" I asked, this was getting more and more interesting by the second. "Well… umm… I kinda wanted to talk to you about whether or not you know if she likes anyone." He stated, but at the same time it seemed like a question. "What about it?" I asked. "Well… you see… Ikindalikeher." He said the last part so fast I didn't understand it. What else was funny was he kept kinda stuttering, like he was unsure of himself, which was never like my brother. "What was that E? I couldn't understand you." "I like her Ali. I mean I really kinda like her. I was thinking about asking her out. What do you think? I know we were always close when we were kids but I just don't know. Ali please I need your help. I don't want ask her and get turned down, I don't want it to affect our friendship. I want to keep that, and maybe more if it is something she wants." He was rambling. I interrupted him. "E, I don't know what Bella kind of feelings Bella has for you. But if you had been observant you would have noticed that she has been a little distant and different since she has come back. I don't think she is ready for anything like that. Hailey and I have noticed this, I am surprised if you haven't you guys were always really close. I think something happened in Phoenix, something bad. Edward give her sometime, I mean if you want to get to know her again, ask her out as friends and don't try anything. Just be there for her, be her friend like you used to be." I told him. I also had a funny feeling that Hailey had feelings for him, but she had never said anything to me. Edward nodded at me. "Edward you need to listen to me. Please take things slow." I had to tell him again to make sure he understood me.

We made it home by then. I jumped out of the car, "Edward I'm going to Bella's and Hailey's now. I'll catch you later." I skipped off to their place which was not that far away. On my way there I couldn't help but think over all that Edward had told me. I really need to talk to the girls about this I thought. I wasn't sure if Bella would talk to me, but I didn't know if I would get the answers I wanted from Hailey either. I had seen the way Hailey had looked at Edward for sometime now. Maybe I should talk to both of them separately though. See what Hailey thinks about Edward liking Bella, or whether she likes someone else in return. I think I would talk to Bella about Hailey, I m almost certain she has feeling for him, I need to confirm this suspicion then get Edward to realise this. Well this is going to be interesting and I am sure going to take sometime.

I got to Bella's and Hailey's and knocked on the door waiting for someone to answer. I was surprised when it was actually Bella that answered, I smiled at her, and she smiled to me in return. "Hey Bells where is Hailey at?" "She is getting ready for tonight. She always takes forever to get ready for anything. She is so much of a girly girl I swear." Bella stated, chuckling slightly at her remark. I rolled my eyes at her remark, I knew what Hails was like I must admit I was just the same. "Hey Bells, can I talk to you for a minute out here before we go in?" She looked at me in alarm for a moment. "Bells it is nothing to worry about, I promise I just want to ask you something." I said to her quickly. Bella nodded at me, still looking at me with a wary gaze. But she stepped out the front door and went and sat on their porch swing waiting for me to join her. I watched her as she twisted her hands together, wringing her fingers over and over again. "Bella," I started, feeling nerves coming off her in waves. "Bella, I wanted to ask you about Edward, about Edward and Hailey also." Bella looked over at me and I could see her visibly relax. "Bella do you have any feelings for Edward, and do you know what Hailey's are?" I questioned her as I sat next to her on the porch swing. "I don't like Edward, I don't even know him well enough anymore to say we are friends like we used to be. Ali, you know he used to be my best friend besides you. He and I were always close. Now we are just two different people getting to know each other again." Bella paused there for a moment, trying to decide whether or not she should tell me about Hailey. "Ali, if I tell you this you can not tell anyone, promise me, not a soul." She pleaded with me. I nodded to her in response. "Ali, Hailey likes Edward, and I mean really likes Edward. I think she maybe well on her way to loving him. I can sense her feelings for him whenever he is around. They are a jumble let me tell you that. There is friendship, lust, liking which may actually be the beginnings of love, admiration, desire, passion and so many others I don't know how to explain." Bella said in whispered tones. Just as well as I was sitting next to her otherwise I was sure I would never have heard it. I squealed in delight. "Bella, I have thought for a while now that Hails liked Edward. I just was waiting for her to confide in me." I told her. Bella nodded. "I only know because she said something to me when she noticed E checking me out. She thought I liked him, ha that's a laugh." We both were chuckling at the end of that. We heard movement in the house and we jumped up and went back inside.

Hailey came down the stairs just as we made it back in through the door. I skipped over to Hailey, and was jumping up and down in front of her gushing over her outfit for tonight. I swear that girl had learnt so much from me and she looked so hot. I leaned into her and whispered, "We need to talk and get Bella into something better then that." I finished turning my head and nodding in Bella's direction. There was no way she was going to stay dressed in sweats and a baggy t-shirt. Hails giggled at me. "Bella the bathroom is all free now, go take a shower and Ali and I will finish setting up." Bella rolled her eyes at Hailey. "You just want to find me something else to wear don't you girls." She said accusingly. She was right though. Hailey nodded and said, "Yep, now scoot. We are going to have your clothes all laid out ready for you." Bella groaned. "Please Hails, nothing over the top, I want to be comfortable tonight not feel like a Barbie. Okay?" Hailey chuckled at her sister, and nodded in reply. With that Bella disappeared out of the room and upstairs into the bathroom. Hailey dragged me upstairs to Bella's bedroom so we could go through her wardrobe. We searched through the wardrobe until we came across a cute pair of leggings and a cute knee length pleated skirt. I pulled them out and showed Hailey. "Ohh, they are too cute, Ali. Lay them out and we'll get that new top we brought her the other day. That white one, it would go perfectly." Hailey gushed at me. I chuckled and then went back to searching the wardrobe for the aforementioned shirt. Once I found it I passed it to Hailey and she placed it on the bed also. Hailey had found a cute pair of ballet flats and a cute jacket incase Bella got cold as well. Once we found it all we went back downstairs, I needed to talk to Hailey now. I mean I really needed to talk to her after all I had found out from Bella.

Once we were back downstairs in the living room I started in on Hailey. "Hailey I really need to talk to you okay? And I need you to listen to me before you say anything. Okay?" I questioned her. I needed to get a few things out before she said anything, plus there were some things she needed to understand before she interrupted me. "Okay." She responded. "Hailey, the reason E had me ride home with him is because he is interested in Bella, he wanted to ask what I thought and what he should do about it. I know from Bella she isn't interested in him though. I already talked to her, plus I know how you feel about my brother. Hails I have seen the way you look at him. I know he is too blind to see it, but I know that you would be good for him." I paused there for a moment. "Hailey be patient and with my help we will get him to see you the way he thinks he see Bella." I finished there. Hailey was just standing there staring at me. I waited for her to say something. "Ali… I don't know… I don't think… think he will ever…" there she broke down, silently sobbing into my shoulder. "Hailey, I know my brother, trust me, please he doesn't know what he wants, he wants Bella right now because she is back and he still thinks they are the same as they were before they left, but you and I know better. I also know she will never see him like that." Hailey sighed, and I continued to rub her back trying to calm her down. "Hailey you deserve to be happy. I know you would make him happy as well, you have so much in common, he is just not seeing that. Please give it time, give me time, I will help you be happy. I love you so much, you are my sister in all ways that matter." Hailey nodded into my shoulder. I felt her smile and she lifted he head from my shoulder then. She smiled a small smile at me. "Okay." Was all she could manage to get out. "Quick go clean yourself up, before the boys and Rose get here." Hailey nodded at me and raced off to her bedroom. I finished shifting the last if the furniture around, now everything was set up.

Bella entered the living room looked over to me and smiled. I smiled back at her. "I see we are all set up." I nodded back to her. "Yep, we are already." "Well almost, I am going to make some of my famous homemade dip and some nachos then we will be already." "You better make extra's you know how the boys like to eat. Bella nodded to me then scampered off to the kitchen. She really did look cute in the outfit we had picked out for her. I skipped of to Hailey's room to check on her. "Hey Hails." I said as I leaned against her door frame. She pulled me inside and quickly shut her door. "Ali, I got to tell you something, it's secret so you can't say a thing." I nodded at her. I was bouncing on the spot, oh my god I so wanted to hear this piece of info'. "Ali, I think Bella likes Jasper. I mean I can't tell you for certain, because I she is able to block me somehow. But she seemed upset that he was ignoring her today. But it was after I talked to him at lunch, so I think he was reeling from all the information I told him." I was shocked, I knew she had gone out at lunch to talk to him but I wasn't sure what it was about. "What did you talk to him about Hails?" I asked. "I told him about our twin connection, I told him about our suspicions with Bella and coming home and I talked to him about him liking Bella. I noticed how he was reacting at lunch when we brought up Mike and Bella's dislike of him and why. I also told him he deserved to be happy and loved. I also told him he could come and talk to me about anything. Basically I told him to give himself a chance with her. But Ali I don't think this is going to be one relationship we can help out on. They have both been through so much. I mean we don't know the story behind either of them, but I know Bella and I can tell she has been through something that has really affected her. I also know from Bella that she can sense Jasper's pain. I think Bella's twin connection is that strong she can sense other emotions as well. Well at least the emotions of people she feels a connection with. I can't explain it, but I can sense it from her. It is amazing Ali, I think it has something to do with whatever she has been doing to put a wall up between us and sending me fake emotions. I think she has increased her ability because of this." Hails explained to me, going over and over a few things. She seemed a little stunned at this. I was stunned also, I didn't know Bella was capable of that. "Um… wow." Was all I could come up with in reply.

Just then the door bell rang and it was time to start our movie night.