I do not own Twilight.

Chapter Eighteen - Aren't We All Sorry

"Aren't they so cute together?" a loud voice practically shouted, the voice echoing off the tiles in the bathroom.

I was squatting a few inches above the toilet, because I hated when my ass touched the germ-infested seat. I was also listening to the annoying babel spewing from Jessica Stanley's mouth. I couldn't understand her need to speak so loud in a small, enclosed space. She didn't even have anything remotely interesting to say.

There was a snort and then the sound of something falling into the sink. "Shit! That was Smashbox." Lauren took a long pause before speaking in an angry tone. "I don't get what's the big deal about the pixie bitch. No ass or tits. She probably sucks at sucking dick."

Jessica started to laugh uncontrollably to Lauren's crude joke as if it was the funniest thing that's ever reached her tone deaf ears. I rolled my eyes and tried to force myself to pee faster. All that cranberry juice was making me pee gallons.

My thighs were burning from the amount of time I've been squatting over this toilet and my legs were shaking ever so slightly. "C'mon, c'mon," I whispered to myself.

After I finally got rid of everything in my bladder, I reached for the toilet paper, but saw none. I looked all over the stall, hoping against hope that a TP roll would appear in front of my eyes.

"I heard that Bella Swan was dating Jasper for like an hour," Jessica said, smugness palpable in her voice.

My heart sank a little and my throat constricted at the mention of my name. How did they find out? And why wasn't there any freaking toilet paper in here?

One of the girls hummed, but didn't respond. My thighs were seriously burning and I could have sworn sweat was starting to form on my brow. I was about to swallow my pride to ask for some toilet paper when Lauren decided to talk.

"Bella Swan. That cow couldn't get a guy even if she threw herself at his feet. Besides," her tone saccharine sweet, "nobody is good enough for Whitlock."

My legs finally gave out and I landed with a loud thump onto the toilet seat. Both girls gasped and I had to bite my tongue from cursing loudly.

I fully swallowed my pride before asking them for some toilet paper. They both snickered.

Lauren spoke, her tone waspish and mean. "So Swan, did you hear? Jasper's dating that midget pixie. I guess it's a step up from your fat ass."

I grinded my teeth together to stop myself from saying something equally nasty to Lauren and her ditzy cronie. Instead, I asked for toilet paper once again because I had no desire to stay here for one more second.

Both girls giggled louder than necessary, but abruptly tapered off when the toilet in the stall next to mine was flushed. I heard the sound of the toilet paper dispenser clanking in its plastic holder then the heavy thuds of boots making contact with the cheap linoleum floor. A tanned hand, with rolled up paper, invaded my stall from above and I was so shocked that my brain took a minute to react and grab the proffered handful.

"Thanks," I mumbled graciously before returning to my business. The stranger-chick hummed in response before whistling a soft tune beneath her breath. The water faucet was running and was the only sound for a long time, but Jessica quickly broke the silence.

"Who are you?" I wasn't sure how it was possible, but she managed to heap on the rudeness within three small words.

The humming stopped, the faucet squeaked as it was shut off and I flushed the toilet. There was silence before the stranger-chick responded in a slow, almost southern-like accent. "Victoria Biers. New girl that doesn't tolerate bullying bitches like you two."

Both Lauren and Jessica huffed indignantly before slamming the door open and click-clacking out of the bathroom. Although I heard one of them mutter 'bitch'.

I slid back the lock of the bathroom stall and slipped out quietly. The girl I saw standing in front of the sink was somebody I could never imagine in Forks.

She had long, curly flaming-red hair that seemed to bounce with every slight movement she made. Her skin was a golden color that you could only achieve when living in warm weathers and sunny cities. When she turned her head in my direction, and offered me a smile, I caught sight of vivid gray eyes framed by auburn eyelashes. But what made her so different and such a stranger was the clear septum piercing and the band t-shirt that was cut at the collar and midriff. She had dark red combat boots and a heavy worn-in leather jacket.

She was cool.

I walked up to the sink next to her and washed my hands. Just as I finished drying my hands out, she grabbed my hand and shook it with force.

"I'm Victoria Biers."

I offered a tiny smile and responded, gripping her hand just a little bit tighter. "Bella Swan."

We dropped each others hands and I fixed the strap of my messenger bag. We both walked out together and I looked over at her again. She was taller than me, maybe two inches, and curvier, almost putting Rose too shame. Almost.

"So where are you from?" I asked her politely because there was no way that she was a local.

She smirked and pulled up her shirt further up her torso. The words "Bred in Alabama" were tattooed onto her ribcage. I stared, amazed at the black ink that adorned her skin. This girl had attitude.

Just then, there was a loud whistle behind me and a warm hand slapped my ass. I jumped away from the wandering hand and turned to face my attacker, ready to Jean Claude Van Damme this guy.

When I turned around however, it was like I was looking at a model fresh off of a GQ cover shoot. He was gorgeous and I forgot all about his wandering hands.

"Seriously, Riley, you can't wait a week before you start hitting on everything that breaths?" Victoria was smirking when she had said this, but started to frown when she saw the dazed look in my eyes.

The boy, practically man, in front of me had eyes almost identical to Victoria's, but there were bright blue flecks in his gunmetal irises. Dirty blonde hair that was cut short and a tall, wiry 6"3 frame. He had an equally dazed look in his eyes, but shook his head as if to get rid of the fogginess clouding his mind.

He flashed me a bright smile before grabbing me into a tight hug, as if we were long lost friends reuniting. It felt...nice, and he smelled great.

"Riley Biers at your service ma'am," he drawled and winked when he released me from his arms.

I repeated my name without blushing for once and I was pleased with myself. I just couldn't understand how so much hotness could be packed into one body. It just wasn't fair. First Jasper, and now this Riley guy. Totally unfair.

And that was the end of my smile. I had to swallow away the bitter taste of remembering whatshisname and I mentally kicked myself for dwelling on that whole thing again. No more.

Shifting a little on my feet, I glanced between the two, noting the similar facial features and uncanny resemblance. It took me a while, but after a few awkward moments of my blatant staring, a puzzle seemed to click within my mind.

I motioned between the two of them with a finger, my mouth slightly turned up in a smile. "Are you guys like twins or something? Cause y'know you look like carbon copies of each other."

They started to laugh, and Riley wrapped an arm around my shoulder. "Oh Vicky, I like her. Maybe mom will let me keep her," he said, adding a wink.

Victoria rolled her eyes and ran a hand through her curls. She checked her watch, and looked back at me expectantly. I jolted into action and asked them where their next class was. Turns out both were in my US History class.

I spun around and began to walk backwards, which was a feat for my clumsy-self, and led them to class. "Hello, my name is Bella and I'll be your tour guide today." When Riley chuckled and Victoria smirked, I pointed to the lockers on either side of the hall. "These are the faulty pieces of metal that were made to store your books, but instead they're such a pain in the ass that the school is more likely to cover your future back problems than give you a new locker."

My smile was effortless and my words came to me easily enough. I was just glad that I had two new people to be myself around. They thought I was funny and I seriously dreaded the moment that I'd become a nuisance to them, because that's all I ever was in this town. They may be smiling and laughing right now but I had little next to no hope that they would resist the brainwashing that spilled in this school.

As I was walking them through the science building, the last one before we reached the history building, I was jostled by a rather hard body, and my legs sort of gave out. I landed on my butt roughly and was about to badmouth whoever bumped into me, but my eyes landed on golden curls and oceanic eyes.

He was staring at me, well, more like staring down at me since he stood perfectly fine on his own two feet. His mouth was open, and his lips moving, as if he was trying to force himself to say something.

Suddenly, there was a white, hot rage that seemed to bubble over within me. I wanted to hit him so badly, just to cause him some semblance of pain that he caused me. I wanted him to hurt.

I curled my legs underneath me and sat up straight. I pointed a finger at him and looked at Victoria and Riley.

"And look who has decided to grant us with the wonderful gift of their presence. Come on down, Jasper Cheating Whitlock!" He looked like he wanted to bolt at that moment, but I was feeling too much. So many emotions were breaking through my walls that I couldn't even think straight.

His hands started to shake and if I knew him well enough I'd say that he was about to cry or run. His eyes traveled over my new friends before turning and trying to walk away. Quick as lightning, I reached out and grabbed his ankle without thinking. My grip was surprisingly strong so when I tugged on his ankle his body lurched to a stop.

Those frosty eyes shot daggers at me as he tried to jerk away. "Let go."

My smile was forced, but my heart was exploding in my chest. Why was I willingly touching him? He didn't want me.

Smiling even brighter, I glanced back at Victoria and Riley, the latter of which was looking extremely uncomfortable. "Meet Jasper Cheating Whitlock, star quarterback, and forward for the soccer team. Oh don't be fooled, though. He may look like the sweet, All-American, momma's boy that wouldn't dare deflower the girl next door before marriage, but I swear to you horns are holding up his halo." At this point he was trying with all of his might to get away from me, but my grip stayed firm.

"You know," a sarcastic laugh bursted through my lips, "I thought he was the guy of my dreams, my fucking personal Clark Kent waiting to woo me and take me to Krypton and back. Didn't quite factor in the fact that he doesn't think with the right head. Or that he has no regard for the helpess, naive girl that gave up her V-card at some stupid camp to some stupid asshole that only wanted to stupidly fuck around."

I withdrew my hand and wiped it on my jeans, wanting to get rid of the scum tainting my hand. I didn't yell, but by the end of my tirade I was taking in ragged breaths. I felt a prickling in my eyes, but I refused to cry. That crybaby Bella grew up.

I glanced at Jasper, and really looked at him and was shocked to see the amount of hurt showing so plainly on his face. I didn't notice it before, but he had dark circles under his eyes and what looked like a week's worth of unshaved scruff. That golden hair of his hung limply around his gaunt face. I didn't think it was physically possible, but it looked like he shrunk in height and lost a lot of weight, so much so that he looked unrecognizable. His eyes though were what bothered me. The normally bright blue-green color of his irises was dull and lifeless. Jasper looked haunted and I could almost feel the pain and regret rolling off of him in waves. I felt the apology coming up my throat like vomit, but I had to ignore it.

He doesn't want you. Don't touch him.

Jasper looked at me and mouthed two words. "I'm sorry."

I was sorry too. So fucking sorry that I let him come anywhere near me.

Bringing myself to my feet, I watched Jasper as he brought a fist to his mouth and turned his back to me. Running my hand through my hair, I cursed loudly and slammed my fist into the locker. I instantly cried out and a warm arm wrapped around my torso. I thrashed and screamed, but another arm wrapped around my shoulder and a hand grabbed my head and I was breathing against a neck and a familiar scent wrapped around me.

My eyes were blurry with my tears and I began to cry against the smooth skin. The person holding me was telling me to relax and be quiet, but I couldn't stop sobbing.

I pulled away and screamed, "I fucking hate you, Jasper! I hate you so fucking much!"

I didn't realize that the person who was holding me was Jasper himself and that he was sharing a pained look with Victoria and Riley.

Weren't we all fucking sorry, though?

So I'm back, finally. Shit happened but life is a bitch and keeps going. I'm not too happy with this chapter, mainly cause I didn't plan Jasper's appearance like this, but oh well. Just a heads up to all of my readers, this story is going through some revisions that I decided to make after I read over the previous chapters because my gosh, the horror! I'm done with four chapters, so thirteen more to go. There's no need to go back and read it all over again, but if you want, go for it!

I want to thank all the people that read, review, favorite/alert this story who continue to be so patient with me. I know I must drive you guys crazy with the lack of updates. Hopefully I made up for it with this update. What did you think of Bella in this chapter? Do you guys still hate Jasper? And what do you want to happen with Riley? I love hearing what you guys think, so review.

And this is off-topic, but who else is excited for the World Cup? I'm curious to know whether there's some diehard futbol fans out there in the fanfic community. Believe it or not, the World Cup greatly inspired me to write. I love it when the world catches that futbol fever and I'd love to hear which teams ya'll are supporting ;). Go Argentina! Even though most of my friends and family are rooting for Spain, Mexico and Brazil.

~geek