Update time, baby!

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"Jake, I can't do this." I frowned after two hours of trying to phase. "And I'm really hungry!"

"I don't understand." He folded his arms, creasing his eyebrows. "You've been angry and sad and happy, but nothing is working!"

"Maybe I'm only part-wolf." I shrugged. "And you said I had good control, so what if I can't phase until I'm ready? Like I'm about to fight or something?"

"I don't know, but you're not going anywhere near a fight until you've phased."

"But I'm still super-fast!"

"Look Rose, I've lost Bella already. I don't want to lose you either." His eyes softened and he looked away. "You'd better head home. Charlie will be back soon."

I sighed and made my way home.

I perched myself on my bed and grabbed my guitar.

"And I dont know how much I can keep
Letting you unravel me
Cause the more you learn the more we share
We were worlds apart and you see
It was so much easier to be
Cause now I know what we cant have and its so unfair."

I looked up to see Charlie in the doorway. I put down my guitar. "Oh, uh, hi Charlie."

He half-smiled. "Have a good day, Rose?"

I shrugged. "Was okay."

"Good." He paused. "Is Bella home, yet?"

I shook my head. "No, Charlie, sorry. I'm sure she'll be back soon." I wasn't sure. I was pretty sure she wouldn't come back and I'd be picking up the pieces, but who knew what would happen- apart from 'Alice' of course.

"Okay. You goin' to school tomorrow?"

I nodded. "Yeah, I'm feeling myself again."

"Okay, well don't be late and be careful." I listened as he walked down the hallway to his bedroom and closed the door.

I sighed and looked in the mirror, remembering I still had a bandaid on my forehead.

I carefully took it off, but there was nothing.

Wasn't there meant to be a cut and some stitches? And a pretty big one at that....

I ran my hand over it. Nothing. I frowned and covered the spot with my hair, so that Charlie wasn't suspicious.

Then I curled up in bed for an early night's sleep, ignoring the events that had occured that day.

I woke up the next morning feeling like hell. I didn't feel hot anymore. In fact, I was walking around my bedroom in shorts and a t-shirt when I realised it was still spring and normal people in Forks did not dress like this at this time of year.

I put on my jeans, teal-coloured cami and a black cardigan, grabbed my bag and headed out of the front door.

As Bella was missing for the second day running, it looked like I was driving the truck to school this Monday morning.

Maria was waiting for me in the parking lot, looking concerned, with Jenny and Chad at her side.

I parked the truck near to them and jumped out, locking it as they walked over to me.

Maria pulled me into a hug. "Thank god you're okay!"

"Huh?" I replied, confused as she pulled away.

"Your fall. The whole town was talking about it!" Jenny explained, seeming excited about the gossip.

"Oh.. right." I laughed softly. "How embarassing."

"Well it's good you're okay." Maria smiled. "Charlie told my mom that Jacob had to give you some of his blood."

I shuddered. "Yeah..."

"Are you dating yet?" Jenny grinned.

I frowned. "No."

"But he likes you!" Maria threw her hands in the air, nearly hitting Chad.

"I'm gonna leave you girls..." He muttered, walking off to join his male friends.

"He doesn't." I replied as we walked towards the school, ignoring the people looking at me. "He likes someone else."

"No way!" They chorused.

"Yeah way." I mumbled.

A blonde boy ran straight into me. "Oh, er, sorry... wait, you're Bella's cousin right?"

I nodded. "Yeah..."

"I'm Mike Newton, Bella's friend. Any idea where she is?"

"She's away.. with Edward."

His face fell. "Oh.. er.. okay."

"She'll be back soon." I told myself, more than him.

He nodded and walked off.

"Wow, your cousin is loved by everyone!" Jenny said as we walked to Maths.

"Tell me about it."

"When did you get a tattoo?!" Maria gasped as we changed for gym.

I cursed in my head, remembering the mark on my back, which was currently on show to the entire locker room as I changed for Dance.

"Oh, the other day.." I replied, trying to think of a good excuse, but failing.

"Is that even legal?" Jenny asked, walking over to join us.

"Wow, it's so cool!" Maria chimed, admiring it.

I blushed as my class all admired the tattoo on my back.

"Where did you get it done?" A girl asked.

"Er.. Port Angeles." I lied.

"Awesome! My sister got hers done there." Another said with a smile.

"Is it a wolf?" Someone else said.

I nodded. "It's a Quileute symbol for protection."

"Wow." Several girls said in awe.

"What's going on here?!" Lena, the 'Queen Bee' of our cheer said, breaking through the crowd.

I quickly threw on my baby blue gym shirt.

"Nothing." Maria said with a smile.

"Right..." She glared at us. "Ms Cambridge said to hurry your asses up!"

I pulled my auburn hair into a loose ponytail and hurried out of the gym with Maria and Jenny.

"She thinks she's so cool 'cause she's a cheerleader." Maria hissed as Lena performed her solo routine.

"Well she's more popular than us..." Jenny sighed.

"I don't want to be popular! I want a school where no one fights to be 'it,' whatever that is."

She finished with a bang and her clones applauding, making the rest of our class join in.

"Fantastic!" Ms Cambridge praised, clapping her hands together. "Rose Swan, you're up next."

Oh joy, just what I want.

"You know, if your head still hurts..." Lena mocked.

I rolled my eyes. "I'm fine, trust me."

I sighed, standing in front of my fellow students. Sure I felt fine, but if I passed out... well Charlie was going to kill me and Jacob would probably freak out.

The music started and I danced around the space. Maria smiled, encouragingly, but I frowned realising everyone else looked a little bored.

So I flipped. Literally. I flipped backwards three times, using my hands for a millisecond to keep me going.

Everyone gasped, clearly impressed.

I returned to my routine, throwing my hands in the air as I did a high-kick.

Then I did a split-jump before making my way into my ending position.

Lena's mouth dropped. That ought to teach her.

"In gym today, you were amazing!" Jenny gushed as we walked to the parking lot at the end of the day.

I smiled. "Thanks, you guys were great too."

"I can't believe you just improvised." Maria smiled. "Way to show Lena who's boss!"

"I really don't want to be boss.. I just wanted to show her there are people just as good as she is."

"Well she looks pretty pissed."

I looked up and realised Lena was walking towards me, her blonde groupies, Brooke and Amy, close behind her.

"Fan-bloody-tastic." I muttered under my breath.

"You were great in gym today, Rosie!" Brooke squealed.

"Quiet, Brookie." Amy whispered.

Brookie? What are they? Like five or something?

"Yeah, well played Swan." Lena half-smiled. Swan? Were we suddenly on surname basis? That sucked as I really didn't know hers...

"Er... thanks, I think." I replied.

She thrusted a large see-through clothing my hand.

"What's this?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Are you blind or something?" Lena rolled her eyes. "It's a cheerleading uniform. You made the squad."

"I didn't audition." I tried to give it back to her but she backed away.

"Well Ms Cambridge put you on the squad, not me." She shrugged. "But slip up even just a little, and you're out.. come on girls."

She stalked off towards her pink Beatle.

"Rehearsals are Tuesdays, last period." 'Brookie' whispered at me before hurrying after her 'boss.'

"Wow, you're a cheerleader!" Maria cracked up.

I held back the uniform and looked at the navy dress, outlined with yellow, with "Forks Spartans" across it.

"You're so lucky! I wish I could make the squad." Jenny sighed.

Maria and I both turned to her. "Really?!"

"Yeah, then the football team would know me.. and well, everyone."

"Ah, I knew the guys had something to do with it." Maria giggled.

"Maybe I should ditch practice." I sighed.

"No!" Jenny and Maria chorused.

"Er, why?"

"You could take down Lena!" Maria told me.

"And," Jenny added, "You could be the best damn thing that the school has ever seen!"

"Apart from the Cullens." Maria reminded her.

I sighed. "Yes, well let's not talk about them. I'm not sure about this."

"Then let him convince you."

I looked in the direction Maria was nodding and spotted Jacob leant against the truck, his arms folded.

"Oh boy.." I sighed.

"You're blushing!" Jenny giggled. "But he is so hot!"

I let out a growl and Maria laughed. "Oh, honey, go get him!"

They waved at me as I hurried towards the truck.

"Hey." Jacob half-smiled, moving away from the truck as I reached him.

"Is Bella-"

"No." He frowned. "Nothing yet."

"Oh." I shifted, uncomfortably. "Er.. you coming back to mine?"

He nodded. "Yeah, 'kay." He snatched my keys at lightning speed. "But I'm driving."

Maria winked at me as I climbed into the passenger seat, throwing my cheerleading costume and rucksack in the back.

"So..."

"Sam wanted me to check up on you." He explained. "We're both worried as to why you haven't phased."

"I dunno." I shrugged. "But I've had more than enough attention today."

"Yeah.." His eyes looked up to the mirror, at my cheerleading costume. "You're a cheerleader?"

"As of today, apparently." I mumbled as we pulled onto the road. "I got a little carried away in my dance lesson."

He laughed. "Really? Did you throw pom-poms at someone?"

I punched him in the arm and he laughed again. "No.. I did some backflips... I've never done them before, it's creepy."

"Yeah, that's a wolf thing. Agility, power, strength."

"And no fear apparently."

He smiled. "I dunno, there's still teenage things to worry about."

"That are worse than being a wolf?"

"Maybe." He shrugged. "So, when's the game?"

"Huh?"

"Well you have to cheer at a game..."

"Oh right.. well I dunno. I don't even know if I want to be a cheerleader."

"What about the male attention?"

"Boys from Forks high? Ew." I stuck out my tongue and he laughed.

"Well cheerleading can't be all that bad.. didn't you used to dance when you were a kid?"

"I guess.. I always wanted to be a cheerleader back then."

"So try it out? I'm sure you'll be captain in no time."

"Thanks Jake."

"No problem." He smiled. "But I'm gonna have to drag Embry along to the game.. wait till he hears you're a cheerleader."

"Jake you really don't have to come." I frowned. I'd rather spend less time with him if he was gonna accidentally play with my heart like this. It felt like I was about to have a heart attack or something.

"It'll be fun.. especially when Embry hits on your cheerleading friends!"

"And what about you?" I asked as we pulled into the driveway.

"Nah, blondes aren't my type."

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Lyrics: Unfair- Kate Voegele (the one and only!)