So, here's chapter four. Thanks so much for your reviews!! And here the ever-loved reviewers get their moment of glory:

Allyg1990, Zuntiz, Kevin the Cornbread Slice, sweet333249, Michelle62092, chrissyhale, Rommy

I really appreciate it!! And to the twelve people who have my story on alert - I love you too!! So here it is... Chapter Four.

I walked into gym with Alice at my side, happy about today's lesson. We were going to be listening to a lecture on the proper manner that all athletes ought to adopt – apparently he'd heard some of the girls in the class (Lauren Mallory at the centre of it) complaining about the lack of skill possessed by some people.

Everyone knew it was me – but no one was nasty enough to say snide comments to my face for fear of a bony little arm reaching up and slapping or scratching them forcefully across the cheek. It was good to have Alice Brandon on my side.

We didn't bother to get changed, as no one else was either, and we simply crossed to the wooden stand on the other side of the gym below the "GO SPARTANS!" poster, which was half-falling off the wall.

Luckily for me, barely anyone was there yet so only Alice and a few others saw me trip and stumble on the steps as we climbed our way up the stand. The onlookers smiled in an amused way, but my uncoordinated nature had been seen too often for them to find it laugh-worthy anymore.

"Have you started your reply yet?" Alice asked from next to me while I dug around in my bag for a water bottle.

I looked up at her while I poked my tongue out the side of my mouth and immersed my arm into my bag up to my elbow. "Nah, not yet. You?"

The truth was that I had started; the seven different letters were now just sitting in crumpled little half-finished heaps at the bottom of the trash can in my room. Nothing I wrote sounded interesting enough, and each time I compulsively re-read Edward's letter it only confirmed my suspicions that he wasn't going to open my reply the moment he saw my intensely messy scribble on the outer of the envelope.

"Yeah, I've finished it." She looked at me with a mildly concerned look on her face. "Do you think six pages long is too long?"

I gaped at her. Alice's writing was tiny – so her six pages would be equal to about eighteen of mine.

I managed to come out with "As long as you talk about interesting things, I guess," after a moment of slack-jawed gawking. "How did you come up with six pages of stuff to talk about?!"

She looked thoughtful before she answered. "If you really wanted to, you could write a thousand pages on what you were wearing, Bella. Just waffle on about nothing, believe me, it's very, very easy."

She turned to the front of the class then, and I followed her gaze, reclaiming my hand from my school bag with a half-empty water bottle in my grasp. Most of the seats had filled in front of us while we had been talking.

Coach Clapp suddenly slammed his hands together, making a few of the girlier girls squeal in alarm. The sudden smash of noise echoing around the gym even made the Coach wiggle a finger in his ear – to get rid of the ringing noise I suspected he now had vibrating around in his head. I knew I had one in my own skull, at least.

I took a swig from my water bottle and looked around at the people in front of me. Lauren, Jessica, Victoria and Tanya were sitting down the front; only just seating themselves as they'd walked in late; Mike, Ben and Tyler were a few rows back from them and off to the left, trying not to crack up laughing at something Ben had in his bag. Everyone else just looked like a sea of shiny-haired heads.

"So, ladies and gentlemen," he began, showing us his best and most persuasive smile – which wasn't all that good anyway. "As you know, today I'll be pointing out the do's and don'ts of sports. My first area to address is one that I believe is more important; talking about other classmates – I mean, er," he chuckled nervously and deliberately didn't look at me or Lauren, "talking about other team members."

I could almost hear Lauren rolling her eyes down at the front of the stand. She whispered something into Jessica's ear, but Jessica just shot her a sharp look and Lauren looked slightly deflated at Jessica's reaction.

"Psst, Bella," Alice hissed from beside me.

I leaned my head towards her, but didn't turn my face away from the front because I knew that that would alert Coach Clapp to our whispering.

"Yeah," I said, trying hard not to move my lips.

Alice bent her head down to hide her face as she whispered quickly to me. "I'm going to drop my letter off at the front office this afternoon. Do you want me to drop one in for you?"

"Alice," I hissed in an almost frantic voice as I realised something. "What day is it?!"

"Thursday," she whispered back.

Oh crap. "Did we have to hand in our letters by today?"

She looked thoughtful for a moment, remembering what had happened on Wednesday. "Yes, I think so."

Crap, crap, crap. "Please be kidding." I closed my eyes and leaned my head down, hitting myself in the forehead with the heel of my hand.

"Write one now," she suggested, guessing my concern. She tipped her head up then, because Coach Clapp had smacked his palms together yet again, not quite as loudly as before, but loudly enough. I was too absorbed in my own stupidity to worry about what the Coach was doing.

Alice did have a point. Maybe I could scrape at least a note to him, telling him I wasn't some little snob who wanted nothing to do with a guy from Port Angeles High School and hadn't written back because my delicate and manicured fingernails couldn't handle the strain of using a pen, and that my blonde hair would start to fade if I put myself under such pressure, though bitching about people behind their backs about their gym skills seemed to expend no effort for me because it was just something I did all the time.

I took a big breath in, and released it quietly.

I had double gym to either listen to Coach Clapp lecture the class on something which wasn't even (directly) aimed at me, or write a letter to an impossibly interesting person about my impossibly boring self.

The first option almost looked more appealing.

I leaned down and shoved my water bottle into my bag, then started blindly digging for a notepad and a pen. Alice poked me in the arm and I blew the hair out of my face to see her holding out a notepad and a pen for me. She even had an envelope included in the little bundle.

"How did you…?" I whispered, taking the stationery from her.

She shrugged and just said, "I thought I might need it before I left home this morning."

I let it pass, knowing that arguing about an envelope was going to cost me valuable writing minutes. I clapped my knees together and pushed my heels against the wood of the stand under me, then put the envelope under the note pad and uncapped the pen. I thought about what to write.

"Start with saying 'hello'," Alice whispered from next to me. She had a small smile on her face when I snuck a glance. I nodded my head once and wrote:

Dear Edward,

...

Nothing came to mind, so I looked at Alice again. She rolled her eyes, so I flashed a cheesy smile at her and whispered, "Pleeeeease?"

"Tell him the three basic elements of your life. Friends, family and fun."

I looked at her like she was a goddess and whispered, "I love you Alice!" before turning back to my paper.

"I know, I know, now get writing."

The instruction to 'get writing' was unnecessary because I'd already started scribbling about the three F's.

Dear Edward,

Hi! It was good to get your letter. I mean, it wasn't good but it was nice to actually get a letter – because it would have been disappointing if no one wrote to me – or if someone boring wrote to me – not that you're boring! You're not boring at all. Your life sounds very interesting.

I knew I sounded insane, but when I thought properly (and not about how soft his hands may or may not be), Edward's letter sounded pretty insane too.

So your friends sound… nice. One of my best friends looks like he should be a teacher here rather than a student – so I know how your friend Sam must look! As for your friend Paul… I hate to admit it, but it does seem like he could use a girlfriend to distract him from doing things like scribbling on your letters! Sam could just go snap a tree in half if he got bored, if he's anything like Emmett (the giant eighteen year old mentioned above).

Speaking of ages and all things associated, I'm seventeen, but I'm a little shorter than your average. I have nothing on my best friend, Alice, though. Emmett's her brother (reason #2 not to pay her out about height) and she's deadly with a pair of high-heeled shoes (reason #1). I may be little too, but I can throw a fair right-hook if someone calls me "Shorty" or anything along those lines – so don't even think about it.

Joking! (But seriously, don't do it.)

Back to the friends' topic, good for your friend Jared! A fair few of the guys here have girlfriends, but none of them would write something so intentionally sappy about her on a letter which will obviously be seen by not only his mates, but by a complete stranger from another school.

Gutsy stuff. And why is it that you don't have a girlfriend, Edward?

I wasn't sure why I'd written that, but it was a little late to try and scribble it out.

Hmm. Living arrangements seems to be a good topic (please don't be a stalker either!) so I'll mention that now.

I live with my Dad, Police Chief Charlie Swan (reason #4 or #5 not to stalk me - Alice and Emmett are my #2's and #3's, my superior right hook is my #1) here in Forks. My mom lives in Florida with her second husband. At first I hated living here, but its bearable now, and I love all my friends too much to leave the constant cover of clouds now!

It's cool that you play the piano! My Mum used to play for me when I was little, but she wasn't show-material so I was one of the only people that ever heard her. I love reading too so don't worry, I wont be bagging you out about that. It's nice to know that guys can actually read. (No offence, but seriously, how often do you see a guy with his head voluntarily buried in a book?!) Other things I like doing with my time is to spend hours chatting with my best friend, Alice, and Angela, my other bestie. Alice is a shopaholic and Angela is so nice that she wouldn't swear if she was kidnapped. I would swear, for sure. And throw a right hook.

Okay, well, I think I've bored you enough with my silly little life, so here comes the end of my letter;

Sincerely telling you that I'm not a stalker, and hoping that the same is true for you,

Bella Swan

Alice Brandon is a legend!

Yes, thank you for that Alice .

PS You'd better reply, because I'm endangering my gym class education to write to you!

I looked to Alice, who was reading over my shoulder. She was still spinning a pen in her hand from the graffiti she'd left on my page, and she had a small smile on her face. She nodded in approval then pretended to listen to the closing sentiments of Coach Clapp's speech as I folded the two letter pages up. I then scribbled Edward Masen on the front of the envelope; slipped the folded pages inside and tucked the flap underneath.

Alice whipped it out of my hand and stood up along with the rest of the students, who were gathering their things as the bell overhead sounded. Coach Clapp was fruitlessly calling out further information about some athletics thing, but then he gave up and rushed to the door to hand out associated fliers.

I zipped my bag closed and handed Alice back the notepad and pen, which disappeared into her own bag a moment later. I stood up beside her and started to weave my way down the stairs with Alice at my side. I concentrated very hard on not doing anything that would cause my face to meet with the floor, and almost succeeded.

Just as I passed Lauren Mallory's little troupe, Victoria stuck her leg out in front of me. Luckily Mike was waiting for Alice and I at the bottom, and he caught me before I'd gone too far down. Victoria made some strange noise, and I honestly thought she was trying to break glass with her pitch before I realised that it was her version of a laugh.

"Whoops," she giggled stupidly, flicking her hair over her shoulder. Her butt stuck out when she scooped her bag up from the floor, wiggling it in a way that I thought was meant to be alluring. As she followed Tanya, Jess and Lauren toward the door, she turned back and winked at Mike over her shoulder with eyelashes that were half-falling off.

Mike had to call Alice to help to restrain me as I fought his grip to smack her across her caked-up face. Once they'd left the building, however, I righted myself by shrugging into my jacket and blowing a loose strand of hair out of my face.

"I could've taken her," I said, turning to them and punching my fist into my palm.

Alice laughed nodded as she said, "We know. We were just worried about you rearranging her face in front of a teacher." She looked over my shoulder to Coach Clapp, who would have had an excellent view of my supposed fight with Victoria across the basketball courts. He was standing by the exit with the fliers still in his hands. Apparently not a lot of people were interested in taking one.

Just as I twisted my head back to Mike and Alice, who were the only other ones still in the gym, Mike muttered "Uh, oh".

"Uh, oh?" I repeated, "what's 'uh oh'?"

I was answered by Coach Clapp's overly enthusiastic voice thundering into my left ear.

"Good to see some students interested in the athletics carnival!" he nearly shouted at us. "So, Miss Brandon," he said, raising a clipboard I hadn't noticed before, "what were you interested in putting your name down for?"

I nearly started laughing when I saw Alice's expression. She covered it quickly, however, and simply said, "I don't do sports, Coach."

Unfortunately for Alice, he didn't just sigh an 'oh well' and move onto Mike, he seemed to enjoy the challenge that Alice presented.

"Don't do sport, eh? I've heard you're quite the runner, actually. Did I hear wrong?"

Alice opened her mouth to counter whatever it was that he'd heard, but I interjected before she could draw enough breath to even start to do so.

"Oh yeah," I agreed, watching Alice's face freeze in shock. "She's brilliant. Almost as fast as the speed of light! I think she could take on some of the state runners, to be honest. In the hundred metre race she's untouchable. Short distance is definitely her strength." I nodded convincingly and had to try very hard to not laugh at Alice's frozen expression.

Mike caught on suddenly, realising what I was doing. "She's always wanted to complete for the school, Coach, but hasn't had the confidence to say so before."

Coach Clapp beamed at Alice. "Well, now, isn't it a good thing that you've got such caring friends!" He raised his clipboard a little higher, and said, "How do you spell your last name?"

Mike stepped forward and started spelling it out for him while I doubled over with laughter behind his back. Alice's face had melted from its shocked form and she was glaring at me with such intensity that I was surprised I wasn't bursting into flame – but it didn't stop me laughing.

I straightened up just as Mike said to me over Coach Clapp's shoulder, "Bella, what do you want to sign up for?"

His voice sounded innocent enough, but the look on his face (that the Coach couldn't see) let me know that his intentions were anything but innocent. In my peripheral I saw Alice smile an evil smile.

"She's brilliant at badminton, sir, an absolute gem," Alice said, stepping forward to look over the sheet on his clipboard.

Mike stepped back and folded his arms, deliberately pulling down the corners of his mouth so he wouldn't start laughing. As I glared, he stuffed a fist between his teeth and turned away, shoulders shaking with silent laughter.

I stepped to the sheet on Coach Clapp's other side and stared at Alice until she looked up at me. I mouthed the words 'You're dead' and drew a finger across my throat. Alice pretended to quiver with fear, then raised an eyebrow at me, daring me to take her on.

"Hmm," the Coach's voice interrupted my visions of myself tearing off the heels of Alice's favourite Jimmy Choo's. "It seems we haven't got any badminton places left, sorry Bella. Maybe next year?"

I sighed with relief, until Alice piped up again.

"How about volley ball?"

He drew his finger down the sheet. "We've got a full team for them too."

Mike was still laughing behind me so I aimed a successful kick in his direction. I felt my heel connect with the back on his knee and turned in time to see him crumple onto the floor as his knee gave way. I laughed but turned it into a cough as he pulled himself up.

"Alright there Newton?" Coach Clapp said as he twisted to look over his shoulder. The clipboard was momentarily in my perfect line of vision, and my eyes jumped to the only thing I was willing to do for the athletics carnival.

"I think I'll be able to help out on the athletics day, Coach," I said as he turned back to me, a knowing smile lighting his features.

"So what were you interested in, Swan? Running, Shot-put, Cross-Country, Long-Jump, Javelin?"

Internally shuddering at the injuries I could inflict with a long pointed stick in my hand, I shook my head. "None of those. I was thinking of doing something a little more low-profile, but still important. There's a space there for the runner team's manager. How about that?"

"Excellent idea, Swan, it's good to see you having some Spartan Spirit!" he pumped his fist into the air on the last two words, keeping it there and nodding at us all in turn.

I was embarrassed for him.

Alice jumped in, sensing an easy get-away for herself.

"Are there any other team manager positions available?" She leaned up on her tippy-toes to see the sheet in his hands.

"Sorry, Miss Brandon, but Bella took the last empty place. You'll do brilliantly as a runner anyway! I've seen you whisking around the mall in those high-heeled shoes of yours," he said. It became a little creepy when he winked at her. "Well, I've got places to be. Thanks for your effort, kids, and I'll see you next Monday!"

He turned to leave when Mike suddenly said, "Wait! I'd like to sign up for a few things, if I can sir." He took a step in the Coach's direction and was greeted with an enthusiastic smile, but not as enthusiastic as when he was looking at Alice. I started shaking with silent laughter as the perverted thought crossed my mind.

Coach Clapp was a nice, married man, and there was no way he'd ever try anything with Alice – it was probably just her habit of wearing lethal-looking heels and her natural charms that had caught her a place on the school's athletic team. Compared to me, however, Alice was way down in the deep end.

Alice took a step towards me with a murderous expression in her eyes. "Isabella Swan, I am going to kill you!" she hissed under her breath.

I just laughed and whispered back, "Relax Alice, you're a really good runner. I wouldn't have been so cruel if you really couldn't play sports. You'll be fine."

"That's not the issue here!"

"Then what is?" I asked, confused by her minor outburst.

"I have to wear Spartan-themed gym clothes!"

I was still doubled over with painfully silent laughter when Mike re-emerged from his ten minute chat with Coach Clapp.

I pulled myself together and wiped a tear from my eye as I straightened up and look at Mike's cute face. "What'd you sign up for?"

"Pretty much everything," he said, putting an arm around my waist and starting to walk to the doors with Alice muttering curses behind us. "Long and short-distance running, long-jump, discus, shot-put, triple-jump, I think that's it." He smiled down at me and kissed my forehead.

"Wow," I said, looking up at him in awe. "Is that all?" I asked sarcastically.

He laughed as he let go of my waist and pulled me into a quick hug. "I'll see you tomorrow, I've got work in ten." He pulled back and quickly kissed me on the lips before turning and heading for his car.

Alice appeared behind me then, and I knew she wasn't angry anymore before I'd even turned around. It she had been still fuming at me, I'd have one of her heels poking out of my butt by now.

She jingled her keys as she headed for the door of her extravagant yellow Porsche – a reward for her straight-A report card last semester – and gave me a look which meant she was going to give me a ride home instead of leaving me in the parking lot.

I gratefully climbed into the cabin, heaters already blasting. Behind us, Mike's car beeped as it swept past the back of ours, heading for the exit and avoiding the late-leavers from the school grounds. I raised a hand out of my still-open door as a goodbye, then quickly pulled it closed as I was reminded how cold it was out.

Alice snapped her belt on beside me, then swore quietly, and undid her belt again.

"What are you doing?" I asked as she opened her door and climbed out.

"The letters," she said, leaning back in and kneeling on her driver's seat to dig around in her bag for them. "I'll be quick," she promised, closing the door behind her and running up towards the offices. I twisted around in my chair to watch her sprint – she really was very fast – to the office building. I turned back and started examining my fingernails when a tap on the glass beside my head got my attention.

Oooooh cliffy!! Lol. You know you love me. Does everyone still hate Mike? I thought it'd be an interesting idea to put him and Bella together... but hey. Whatever goes, goes! Question to my reviewers: Why do you hate Mike Newton? (Not restricted to my story. It can be for any reason. Any.)

Love you all!!

-Shaps

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