I don't own Twilight!

Making It Through

Edward and I stopped at the front entrance to the school. Edward's parents, Alice, and my dad were standing behind us, but we needed a minute to breathe before facing our day. I nodded when I felt as ready as I would be, and my dad walked up and pushed the door open for us. Edward rolled through and I followed close behind.

I glanced around. It was the same building, the one I had been coming to everyday for the past two and a half years. But everything was so different. I felt like it was my first time setting foot inside. The heavy sadness in the air was permeable, and it weighed me down. I breathed again and took Edward's hand, and thankfully a small fraction of the weight lifted. We started moving again, and it didn't take long for people to start staring. I hated the attention, but I knew it was inevitable.

"Edward," I leaned to whisper in his ear, "Everyone is staring."

"Not that guy," Edward said, and gestured to a guy with his back to us. Unfortunately he chose that moment to turn around. "Oh…nope, he just looked."

We kept walking until we made it to Edward's first class, and when we stopped at the door Edward grabbed my hand and pulled me down to his level. When we were face to face, he leaned forward and pressed his lips gently to mine.

"Good luck," he whispered when we pulled apart.

"Good luck," I whispered back before his family wheeled him into the classroom.

"You ready, Bells?" my dad asked from behind me.

"Yeah," I replied as we continued walking. It didn't take us long to get to my homeroom, and once we did my dad walked me to my desk.

"Alright," he said, "So far, so good. Remember, I am just a phone call away if you need anything."

"Okay," I replied, "Thank you, Dad."

"I love you, Bells," he said.

"Love you too," I replied, and he gave my good shoulder a squeeze before leaving the room. I watched him walk out before turning my attention to the rest of the room. The teacher wasn't there yet. The few students that were already there were trying, but failing, not to stare at me. I tried to ignore it and focus my attention somewhere else. Unfortunately, the somewhere was the empty desk next to mine, the one that had been Angela's.

It seemed like years, instead of weeks, had passed since we had sat here together and talked about trivial things like her date with Ben and my crush on Edward. I fought back tears when I realized we would never again sit here and have our morning chats.

Thankfully, the teacher walked in and my thoughts were redirected. We listened to the announcements, they welcomed us back, talked about new polices that were now in place, and we had a moment of silence for the ones we lost. Five minutes before the bell rang, the teacher came up to my desk. She told me she was happy I was okay, and that I could leave for my next class.

When our parents called the school to inform them that Edward and I would be coming back, they talked to the principal, and he said that due to our injuries Edward and I would be allowed to leave our classes five minutes early. This would allow us to get to class safely, without getting stuck in a mob of students. I was relieved because it meant I would be in my classroom before the other students came out and stated yelling and slamming lockers. I was on emotional overload as it was, and I didn't need to add a PTSD breakdown from locker slamming to that. I hurried to my locker and grabbed my English book, then because my book was in my good hand I closed my locker gently with my shoulder.

I walked to my English room just as the bell rang. Thankfully the sound of the loud bell didn't affect me at all. Once all the kids were out of the room, I went in and sat down.

"It's good to see you Miss. Swan," Mr. Mason, my English teacher, said.

"Thank you," I replied.

"How are you doing?" he asked.

"I'm okay," I replied honestly. Other kids from class started to trickle in, and it was the same as homeroom. They tried and failed to not stare. Another wave of relief came over me when class started and their attention turned to the teacher. Mr. Mason welcomed us back and then we took notes on a book we were studying. My injured arm was not the one I write with, so I was able to take notes.

Just like homeroom, Mr. Mason dismissed me early and I made my way to my next class. The rest of the morning went by in a similar pattern. I would go to class, listen to welcome back speeches, avoids stares, do my work, and leave early. When I finally left Spanish to go to lunch I was more than ready for a break. I put my Spanish book in my locker and headed to the cafeteria. Edward made it to the cafeteria at the same moment I did.

"Hi," he said, looking relieved to see me as we went into the cafeteria.

"Hey," I replied.

"How is your day going?" he asked as he took my hand.

"Alright," I replied, "I am tired of the starting, though."

"Me too," Edward said.

Since we were still alone it the cafeteria, I stopped Edward's wheelchair and leaned down to brush my lips against his.

"What was that for?" Edward asked with smile.

"I missed you," I said with a slight blush.

"I missed you too," Edward said as he tucked a lose strand of hair behind my ear. We joined hands and moved to go get our food. I quickly realized I wouldn't be able to carry a tray one handed so Edward and I put our food onto one tray and set it in his lap.

We paid for our food, and as we moved towards the table I froze. I stared at the table I used to share with Angela and realized I would never see her there waiting for me again. I tried to get my feet to move in the direction of the table, but I couldn't. I felt Edward's soft, warm, hand slip into mine and turned to look at him. Edward was staring in the same direction I was, so I knew that he understood what I was thinking about.

"I'm sorry Bella," he said.

"I know. It's just hard to realize I won't sit at that table with her ever again," I said.

"We can sit there if you want," he offered.

"No, that is okay," I replied.

"Are you sure?" he asked.

"Yes," I replied.

"Okay," he said, "Then let's go to my table."

I nodded and we made our way over to the bale where Edward usually sat. The other students entered the cafeteria as we situated ourselves at the table. It wasn't long before Alice was bouncing over to us, with Jasper right behind her.

"Hey guys," she said.

"Hi Alice," Edward said, "Jasper."

"Hey Ed, it's good to see you," Jasper said, "You too Bella, I am glad you are both okay."

"Thanks," I replied quietly

"Hey guys," Emmett said as he and Rosalie joined us.

"How is your day going?" Alice asked looking at me and Edward.

"Alright," Edward replied.

"Yeah, it has been okay," I agreed, "I have had some moments though."

"Are you okay?" Alice asked.

"Yes, I just came to some hard realizations," I said, and Edward took my hand under the table and gave it a squeeze. "Also, I am really tired of everyone staring at me."

"Oh Bella, I'm sorry," Alice said gently.

"It's alright," I said with a shrug.

"Well, I am here if you need anything," Alice said.

"We all are," Jasper said and Emmett and Rosalie nodded.

"But, you guys don't even really know me," I said.

"That needs to change," Emmett said with a warm smile. We spent the rest of the lunch hour getting to know each other, and it was really nice to talk about something other than what had happened here weeks ago.

"Bella, we should head to Biology," Edward said as a while later. I looked up at the clock on the wall and realized he was right. The bell was going to ring soon, so we said goodbye and went to dump our tray. After a stop at my locker we made our way to Biology. We were almost there when Edward suddenly stopped. I looked at him and noticed he was staring at a door. I felt horror race through me when I saw that it was the door to the room we had been in with Mike.

Neither of us said anything. We just stood there transfixed by the room that so drastically changed our lives. I hesitantly reached out to grab the door handle.

"Bella, what are you doing?" Edward asked as he came out of his trance.

"I just…I…I…I don't know," I admitted as I dropped my hand.

"Do you want to see it?" he asked.

"No. Maybe? I don't know," I replied. Edward reached out and tried the door, but it was locked.

"That is probably for the best," I admitted as relief coursed through me.

"Yeah," Edward said, "Let's go." I nodded and we continued moving. We made it to Biology and went to our lab table. The stool that usually sat at Edward's spot had been moved so he had room for his wheel chair.

"I wonder who our teacher is going to be," he mused.

"Oh God, that is right," I said, "I forgot about Mr. Banner." Just then a man walked into the room and sat down at what used to be Mr. Banner's desk. Edward and I watched him as the other student started entering the room.

I was distracted when Tyler and Eric entered the room. I felt like I should hate them for the part they played in what happened, but I felt just as much to blame, so I couldn't. They refused to make eye contact with me, and Edward and I decided that that was probably for the best also.

I took my eyes off of them when Ben entered the room. Ben didn't have trouble making eye contact with me, and when he did I saw the same sadness and loss in his eyes that was probably in mine.

"Hey Bella," he said as he stopped at our table.

"Hi," I replied as I stood up and gave him a quick hug.

"How are you?" he asked.

"I'm alright," I replied with a shrug, "How about you?"

"I'm okay," he said, "I miss her."

"Me too," I replied.

"It will get better, right?" he asked.

"I hope so," I said as the bell rang. Ben nodded before making his way to his seat. The man at Mr. Banner's desk stood up and introduced himself as Mr. Molina. He said that he was going to be our new teacher, and that he was sorry for our loss. I glanced around while was talking and noticed the two glaringly open spots at the tables. One was Angela's and one was Mike's.

I decided I didn't want to dwell on that, so I tuned back into what the new teacher was saying. Thankfully he was talking about science.

The rest of the day went quickly. Edward and I left biology early and I headed to gym. I obviously couldn't participate in gym, so I spent class on the bleachers, reading. Once class was over I met Edward in the hallway and headed out to the parking lot where our parents were waiting. I was relieved that the day was finally over and I had made it through without breaking down. It was a major step forward on the road to my recovery.

Thanks to my beta Jenn! Thanks also to alisapay1, Iluvecookies, jansails, sujari6, boo1414, .best, ellaryne, debslmac, pumpkinmykitty, jmeec316, LiLi82 for taking the time to leave a review, it means a lot.