I had a total writer's block, I'm sorry guys. I had a really hard time writing this chapter. I feel like I have to apologize every single time I'm updating. I think I'll stop with that... right now. No more apologies!
It's here now, though. I hope it didn't turn out too bad after all. I may edit it some time later since I'm not quite pleased.

Chapter 9

Previously:

I prepared myself to get to class as late as possible. Entering with the bell seemed like a good option, since they wouldn't be able to ask any questions straight out.

I was such a wuss.

I slid into my seat next to Jasper without acknowledging his presence.

"Bella, we thought you weren't in school. Where've you been during lunch?" I kept my eyes straight ahead as I automatically tensed. Here we go.

"Bella?" He tried again.

Silence spread between the two of us as I refused to give in. After a long moment I felt a nudge on my arm and, upon looking down, discovered a piece of paper next to my elbow. I clenched my hands together in order to restrain myself but when I felt another nudge I knew I had to take and read it. I wasn't tough enough to ignore him forever. Writing would be the easiest way of lying anyway.

What's going on? Did I do anything? –I'm sorry, whatever it is I did. –J

I sighed internally and hid the paper underneath my hand when I looked back to the front. I had to come up with something quickly. After taking a long while just staring at the teacher I felt another nudge. I sent a glare his way before turning back around and, after another minute or so, began to write.

It's not really you. I finally scribbled. I just can't talk to you inside of school anymore, please understand that. –B

I pushed it towards him and started nervously doodling in my folder, waiting for his reply.

But I don't understand, Bella. Tell me why. Everything seemed to be just fine a few days ago. What happened? –J

I'm having trouble with some guys, I just don't want it to get worse. And you're about to leave town anyway, I shouldn't get too attached. –B

"Gosh, Bella." I heard Jasper mumble into my direction as he leaned towards me. "Don't do this now. We're still here for almost a month and you will be able to visit whenever you want to. –Edward told me about Saturday, is it because of him? Did he do anything wrong?" I shook my head quickly and looked him square in the eye so he knew that I was serious about this. This had nothing to do with Edward and I didn't want him to get the wrong idea. I snatched the paper from his fingers and quickly wrote my reply down.

It has nothing to do with Edward. I told you, it's about these guys. –B

"Then who are they? I'm sure we can help you. Emmett'll do something about it." I shook my head yet again.

Please, I don't want you to get involved. Just… leave me alone in school. I'll still see you on Saturday. We need to finish the project anyway. –B

I did a great job keeping away from them, didn't I?

"Look, you should talk to Edward about this. He thinks he did something that made you angry because you left early on Saturday."
Saturday, right. Now I was actually glad I did leave early, otherwise Charlie would have known that I'd been wandering off. I admit, it must seem like me trying to get away from him and he must have been blaming himself. I chanced a quick glance toward him and realized he'd been staring in our direction. When he noticed my eyes were on him his gaze turned questioningly and I quickly turned back to Jasper.

'Alright. But then you'll leave me alone, right?'
He grumbled something I couldn't quite make out as he pinched the bridge of his nose before nodding.

"Fine but you –" He was interrupted by Mr. Banner, who told us to be quiet, and he didn't pick the conversation back up so I figured whatever he wanted to say didn't seem right anymore.

My talk with Edward was the opposite of smooth to be honest.

After I told him my lie he went all Sherlock on me, trying to figure out who these guys (which were supposedly making my life complicated) were. When he realized I wouldn't tell him he suddenly turned angry and started getting loud, at which I took a step away from him. He told me he only wanted to help but he didn't understand that, no matter what the real reason was, him sniffing around in my life wouldn't do me or him any good. After a wild gesture I told him to stay out of my life and finally fled from the scene, excusing myself from PE at the nurse's office. I had no intention of dealing with quick-tempered Alice as well, who would, in addition, only make my now existing headache worse. She would hear the news when she got home anyway.

Once I got home all the energy seemed to have drained from my body. I made myself clean the living room as quickly as possible and went to sit on the old kitchen chair, close to the window.

I never thought that excluding myself from the Cullens could be this nerve wrecking and oppressive.

We hadn't spent more than twelve days together outside of school but that was more than I'd had with anyone for years. To rip them away from me now seemed cruel and just like the kind of thing that would happen to me, because me befriending them seemed wrong and too good to be true anyway.

So maybe Charlie did me a favor with this. After all, the words I said in class were true and they were leaving in less than a month anyway. Esme was already packing up smaller, unimportant belongings and I realized they all had a lot of experience when it came to packing and moving. I think it made Alice go crazy though and that was the reason for her and Jaspers increased dating, which served them both as a distraction.

I sighed and decided to prepare a fancy dinner for tonight in order to take my mind off things.

Leave a review if you have any thoughts or advice you'd like to share.
Thanks for hanging on. I know you're dreading the day she leaves Charlie -know this. There will be some kind of action soon!