Bella covered her mouth with her hand as a sob threatened to violently escape. What was that back there? Was she having a breakdown? Was she insane?

She had to be. At lunch, she felt absolutely fine. Angry at Melissa, but otherwise peachy. And then she felt like the ultimate barf queen. Ew. Yuck puttooie!

Bella shook her head and straightened her shoulders. She would pretend and fake to the best of her abilities. Then she could get home and hide under her covers and cry her heart out. Even if she had no clue as to why, exactly.

Summer.

Bella blinked and stopped in her tracks at the thought.

Then she smiled and started walking again. It was just a thought. A stupid, narrow minded thought that didn't mean a thing....so why was she obsessing over this so much?!

Bella reached her sixth period Biology class and took a seat next to her bud, Nessie.

Nessie glanced over worriedly at Bella for a second, then faced front before Bella could ask what was wrong.

Was it written so clearly over her face that something was....

Messed up?

Emmett frowned at the clock in the front of the room.

He wanted to smash it.

Why must time go so fast at times and slow at others? And usually it was exactly the opposite of what you wanted to happen.

He wanted time to fly so fast that he would forget everything that happened. He wanted school to be over so he could rush out to his baby and ride. He wanted to get his arms around his girlfriend and hug her so tight that she'd know he'd protect her always.

Emmett gripped his head in frustration.

He wanted to know what he was missing.

There was something...dark....unknown between Bella and him. It was so darn confuzzing that he wasn't sure if it was really there or not. But today's little episode had caught him off guard and got him thinking like a mad scientist.

Emmy no like-y.

"This is stupid." Emmett muttered under his breath.

His desk partner, Harry Potter, nodded back at him, as if agreeing that this class was stupid and a waste of money.

I mean, who needed math class anyway? (lol)

Emmett sighed and closed his eyes, thinking only of Bella...well, Bella and certain parts....oh, you get the idea.

"Hey, Bella are you going to be alright?" Nessie appeared at Bella's elbow with a concerned look on her face.

Bella frowned and tugged on her hair.

"Um yeah. Sure. Why are you asking?" Bella mumbled, kind of confused.

Nessie frowned at Bella. "You look really sick. Sort of pale, actually. Did you eat at all today?"

Before Bella could answer, Nessie was pressing a chocolate granola bar into her hand.

"I'm sure I'll survive History without it." Nessie smiled before Bella could, one again, answer.

Bella smiled back. "Thank you Ness. You're a lifesaver. I'm sure I'll feel better after this."

"You better!" Nessie nodded and headed off the other way.

Bella waited three seconds after Nessie turned the corner before she started walking again. She bit her lip.

Then threw the granola bar into the garbage can with a THWACK!

Emmett smiled as he walked out of his seventh period class. He was so ready to get out of here.

Now all he had to do was locate Bella.

He checked her locker first, then quickly hid. It was surrounded by cheerleaders. If Emmett had learned anything in his three years here, he knew that he'd be in serious pain if he ventured near Bella's locker right now.

Cheerleaders loved to attack football players.

Sometimes, Emmett thought with a flicker of fear, they were worse than the opposing teams he played at football games. They just looked all nice and not evil with their pom poms and crazy grace and glitter. Lots of glitter was perfect for a smoke screen.

Emmett shuddered and leaned against the wall.

Now where would he look next?

Searching for Bella was quickly becoming one of his least favorite pastimes. Especially, if she had been waiting at his Jeep all along.

Bella smiled as Emmett approached the car.

"Hey, you. What took so long? The cheerleaders get you?" Bella laughed.

Emmett frowned and wrapped his arms around her waist.

"No. I was looking for you. Where were you?" Emmett asked.

Bella looked back at him. "Um, I was here waiting for you."

Emmett shook his head and unlocked the car.

"Get in Bell. We have a bit to talk about." Emmett said, climbing in the driver's seat.

Bella groaned and rolled her eyes. Did she really have to go through this? Why couldn't he just leave it alone? She had. She didn't know why she had gotten so weird and sick. She couldn't explain anything to him.

"Emmett. I can't tell you anything. I don't know myself." Bell said as she shut the car door and buckled up.

He glanced at her and then turned the Jeep on.

"Yeah, OK. I just hope you figure it out soon. I have to tell Charlie." Emmett responded softly.

I sighed and looked out the window.

"I understand."

Emmett tugged on her hand.

"Oh, don't be so sad." Emmett pleaded with her. He hated that. He loved her smile too much.

Bella nodded and looked away as I drove towards home.

"I don't understand at all, Bella. I have no clue what's up and it makes me worried. You're not in trouble are you?" Emmett asked, staring out the window.

Bella laughed slightly. "No trouble Em. I'm just a little stressed. School's keeping me pretty busy now."

Emmett nodded, not believing this at all. Bella was always good at taking care of school. It was him who usually stressed about it.

They pulled up to the house and went inside. Charlie wasn't home yet. He wasn't sure if this was good or bad.

Bella sat down and drew her knees to her chest.

"So I guess we wait?"

Emmett nodded and sat down next to her.

It was an awkward silence.

Then the phone rang. Bella popped up to go get it.

"Hello? Oh hey dad. Really? Oh. Uh huh. Yeah, Emmett's here. I'll be fine. OK. Bye." Bella spoke into the phone.

She stood in front of her boyfriend after she hung up.

"Dad's not coming. There's a huge case that he needs to spend extra time on. Some serial killer on the loose that he will have to loose sleep over." Bella explained with her hands on her hips.

"That sucks. Do you want me to stay?"

Bella shook her head. "I'll be fine Emmy. Really. I'll be locking up tonight."

Emmett grinned. Usually when Charlie was home, he snuck over in the middle of the night through her window and they slept together, nothing more. Well, maybe a makeout session or three.

"Well, alright. I'll see you tomorrow morning." Emmett kissed Bella goodbye and left.

Bella watched him go with expressionless eyes.

Then she grabbed the phone and locked herself in her room, shutting the door tight.

"Hello?" She whispered into the phone.

"Yeah?" The person sighed.

"Edward?"