A/N: SO MANY REVIEWS! I was so happy :D Thanks for reading my story, I appreciate it, especially those who spare time to comment. Much Love!

So I actually finished this Thursday, I was just waiting for my beta's okay, but I didn't want to make you guys wait any longer - so here it is :)

Changes completed - Much thanks to my amazing beta that can somehow turn my rambling into a story Bananas in Pyjamas ^^

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight, Stephenie Meyer does, though I do want to do dirty things to some of the yummy characters ;)

Also want to thank MiCHEllE-SKiES for letting me borrow Fried Chicken!

Too many thoughts, too many emotions, too much crap in one blow...

Releasing a quiet groan I dropped my head to my arms that were folded over each other on top of the desk. I was doing fine thanks to the medication the doctor gave me, despite the slight pain earlier – which was quickly resolved by some Motrin. However, at the moment it wasn't so much that I was in pain as I was...sore. It was as if suddenly I realized that all my energy was gone and I was left with nothing but exhaustion.

I felt drained, completely lethargic.

Why didn't I realize this before?

I was fighting a losing battle with my eyelids, trying to keep them open, when out of the corner of my eye I saw Edward's head turn slightly in my direction. I was beginning to wonder if Edward Cullen really was as unaware of me as he let on. But then he would have to have had a reason to actually give me some of his attention, right? I doubt that he liked me – after all he was...well he was him. On top of that he more often than not acted cold, not friendly. Maybe he was just abnormally curious like I was? Heck, maybe he was just a firm believer of the whole "keep your friends close and your enemies closer" thing.

"Ugh!" I grunted quietly out of frustration.

I do believe that the more important fact is why the hell you keep thinking about him.

Shut. Up. Inner me.

"Miss Swan I would appreciate it if you didn't use my class as a resting period," Mr. Moreno said, slightly irritated.

"I'm sorry Mr. Moreno," I said raising my head off my arms. "Do you think I could go to the office? I'm not feeling very well."

"If you must," he replied with a defeated sigh.

"Thanks."

Gathering my books I threw my bag over my shoulder and walked out the classroom. Pointedly not looking at Edward.

Take that, I thought. If he wants to ignore me then I can do the same. There's no way in hell I'm going to let him know I even think about him at all, let alone how much I actually do.

When I stepped outside the cold didn't waste any time biting at my cheeks. There was a little snow covering the ground but most of it was melted with last night's rain. Keeping a look out for black ice, I quickened my pace so I could get to the heated building sooner. Only when I was safely on linoleum did I tear my eyes away from the ground.

"Mrs. Watters?"

"Oh, hello dear. Do you need something?" she asked looking genuinely concerned.

"I was wondering if I could go home early. I'm not feeling too well."

"Sure you don't want to lie down, see if it'll pass before your next class?"

"No thanks. Besides I have gym next and I have to sit out for that, so all I would be doing is sitting."

"Why do you need to sit out?"

"It's nothing. I already gave Miss Smith a note explaining. Anyway, can I go?"

Mrs. Watters was nice, but I guess like most of Forks woman she was a frickin' red hatter. They need to know everything that isn't theirs.

"Sure dear. You can go."

"Thanks."

It was easy to keep my eyes open while I was up and moving but once I was seated in my truck I was reconsidering the whole driving concept. I haven't killed anyone yet and I didn't really feel like changing that...

"Screw it," I grumbled to myself and revved Lucia to life. It was relatively a short drive. I could do it.

I remember pulling out of the parking lot but I was kind of freaked out when the next thing I realized was that I was already parked outside my house. Shit.

I dragged my feet up the drive way and all the way to my bedroom, and collapsed on my bed when I was close enough.

I hummed my appreciation for all things soft as I buried my head in my pillow. It felt deliciously yummy. I tried toeing off my shoes and peeling my pants off while not moving anything that didn't need to be moved. It was slightly harder and more difficult than it would have been if I'd just gotten up and took them off like a normal person, but that didn't deter me. Once I was finally undressed I was under the covers and out before Stewie from Family Guy could say "Damn You!."

˳̊

"Bella? Bella, wake up."

"Huh?" I murmured smacking at the hands that were shaking my shoulders.

"Sorry Bell, I know you were sleeping but I wanted to know if you're up for going to school today."

"School today? Dad, I already went to school. It's probably out by now," I said cocooning myself in my comforter. It was warm and loved me and that was all that mattered at the moment.

"Um, well Bells, I think that was yesterday. I came home and you were up here sleeping, so I just let you be. Right now it's seven in the morning."

"Huh? Aw crap," I said as I looked at my clock, which only proved that my dad wasn't going senile.

"You can stay in bed for the day, Bella. If I'm being honest I would actually prefer that to you going to school. You know, take a break."

"Sure about that dad?"

"Of course. I'll call the school and tell them you aren't coming in today. Now go back to sleep."

˳̊

"Lizzy. Lizzy. LIZZY!"

"Aahh!" I screamed as I bolted up.

"Oops...Um, hi," Leo mumbled rubbing the back of his neck.

"Mother frickin A. What the heck Leonard?"

"Hey, don't be hatin your psychic brother."

"What are you blabbering about now?" I asked getting out of bed to look for some bottoms to wear.

"What did I just say about hate? Do you ever listen when people talk?"

"You really want a punch in the gut don't you?" I threatened slipping on black boxers.

"Hey those are mine! I wondered where those went...they were my favorite too..."

"Stop sulking, hunny bun. So tell me, why are you psychic?"

Grabbing his hand I dragged him down the stairs and into the living room.

"Because despite your recent meanness, I brought you Chinese knowing you would more than likely be skipping your scholastic adventure today."

"I know. Sorry about that, I just don't know what's wrong with me lately... And these aren't your favorite. Your slutty hoe ex girlfriend stole those before you two broke up. Don't ask me how I know," I added hastily. That was not a memory I liked to bring up.

"Mental note made, and she wasn't a slutty hoe. Now pop a squat while I pick a movie."

"Didn't you catch her and your old roommate doing the deed? Mmm, almond chicken how I love you so."

"You, my darling, have an obsession and need help," Leo accused. "And just because she's a slutty hoe doesn't mean it's nice to call her that. I'm over it."

I watched his back as he laughed at me and thought of Alice's comment from the day before. I guess if I was being honest Leonard was pretty good looking. Other girls seemed to flock towards him, but I just thought he was easy to be around. He was kind of pervy with the jokes – though seriously, what guy isn't? – but the great thing about him was that Leo knew when it was and wasn't appropriate to act like a goof ball. Unlike most guys my age.

"Why are you staring at me?" Leo asked skeptically as he took a seat next to me.

"Just wondering what girls see in you," I answered honestly.

"I know you, so I know that wasn't meant to be an insult, though if I may warn you, try picking your words better next time."

"Mental note made," I teased.

"Ahh, the woman learns fast."

"Hush up dork," I replied laughing. "So what movie is it today?"

"Something scary. Something grotesque. Something that everyone said sucked so I waited till it came out on DVD to see... Daybreakers. Dun dun duh," Leo chanted.

"Daybreakers? ...Oh! That vampire movie. I remember that. I wanted to see it but, well, everyone said it sucked," I finished lamely.

"I know. I'm hoping they're wrong..."

An hour later and I was in Leo's lap with my nails permanently dug into his arm. The movie was just getting to the main part, that one monumental part in a movie that will make or break it...when the doorbell rang.

When did we get a doorbell?

I was debating just ignoring it when Leonard sighed and paused the movie.

"Okay, do you want to settle this with rock, paper, scissors, or 'you owe me' match?"

"Rock, paper, scissors is faster," I whispered.

"True."

We just leveled our fists when the doorbell rang again.

"Screw this," I muttered. "Who is it?" I yelled in the general direction of the door.

"How is that smart?" Leo asked.

"It's Alice! Now open up!" A muffled wind chime yelled.

"It's open, hunny bun!"

"Alice?"

"The faery you met yesterday." I stated.

"Oh, right. Knew the name sounded familiar."

"Bella!" Alice slightly yelled as she strangled my neck.

"As much as I'm sure you love Lizzy, please don't kill her," Leo said trying to hold in his laughter. It may not have been audible but I could still feel him shaking beneath me.

"Oops, sorry."

"It's fine," I rasped. "So what ya need?"

"Nothing. I saw you weren't in school today so I took the liberty to collect your assignments for you," Alice chirped handing me a stack of papers.

"Oh, thanks. You didn't have to do that, though I really appreciate it," I said smiling. She really didn't have too. Alice barely knew me yet she was being so nice.

"What, no 'hi' Belly Button?"

Looking over Alice's shoulder, I finally realized that she wasn't the only one who came in. Along with her were Edward and Emmett. One looked dead and the other was sporting a pout.

"What, no 'hi' Emmikins?"

"Emmikins?" he asked, his voice flat.

"Belly Button?" I asked in return.

"Touché." he responded, his expression deadly serious. "So, decided to play hookie huh?"

"No, I wasn't feeling all too well so I decided to stay home."

"Obviously you were okay enough to eat Chinese." muttered an annoyed voice.

"My eating choices are my own, Cullen," I shot back, my tone cold.

"Wow. Tension," Leo drawled after a few minutes of silence. "So...anyone want to hear an embarrassing Lizzy story?"

"No!" I tried to say but it was drowned out by Emmett's loud "Hell yes!"

"Hmm, which one, which one..."

"NONE!"

"I know! Frie." Leonard's expression turned evil.

"Aw man, Leo come on," I whined. There was no way in heck that I want the Cullens to hear this story. Actually there was no way in heck I wanted the Cullens to hear any story from my childhood. I swear Leo was more like an embarrassing dad sometimes than an obsessively protective brother - it's like when he wasn't one he was the other. If I didn't love the guy so much he would have definitely had his ass kicked more times than he can count by now.

"Why Lizzy. It's funny," he laughed.

"Ya, Lizzy, it's funny," mocked Emmett. He had this look in his eyes that reminded me of a kid in a candy store, but there was evil in it as well… I shrunk into Leo's chest, frightened for my sanity.

"You don't even know what it is Emmett," I cried.

"No, not yet. However my dear Belly Button I would if you would be quiet and let the man tell the story."

"Okay, first you should know that growing up Lizzy had a very active imagination. Like you don't even know. Anyway, us and Charlie had to go to the grocery store to get food because there was absolutely nothing to eat in the house, when out of nowhere this chick," Leo said shaking his arms that were wrapped around me "starts crying like she just heard she was going to die. It put banshees to shame. So, there we were in the store trying to figure out what the hell was making her cry. You should have seen Charlie man, he was going frantic - it was hilarious. I was about to walk back and ask her what was wrong when she suddenly runs up to me and grabs onto my leg, with a strength that no ten year should possess, and starts rambling about how someone ran away. I finally got her to calm down after about five minutes, and I can't even begin to tell you how many people stopped to stare during that time, and so I ask her 'who ran away?'"

At this point I finally got over the mortification - this was not one of my better moments as a kid - to look up. Edward looked dead, Emmett looked like he was desperately trying no to laugh, and Alice looked like she was being told a bed time story. One good thought during all of this: at least I would only have to hear about it from one of them. Alice would probably rather talk about fashion, Edward didn't talk besides insults, but Emmett was another story.

"So she finally stopped crying long enough to scream 'Fried Chicken ran away!' It was hilarious. Everyone was looking at her like she'd gone nuts, Charlie's mouth was hanging open from shock, meanwhile I was trying to not fall on my butt from laughing so hard. It was amazing."

I could feel Leonard shaking with laughter beneath me at the same time I heard Emmett's booming laughter fill the house.

"Who-who-who the heck is fried chicken?" Emmet managed to choke out between laughs. He was practically crying with laughter.

"Fried Chicken was Bella's imaginary friend."

"No it wasn't," I growled. "I was traumatized then and I'm humiliated now."

"Wait, wait, wait! You had a fried chicken for an imaginary friend?" Emmett asked excited. The jerk.

"No, his name was Fried Chicken - sometimes Frie - but he was a duck." I knew I wasn't helping my case but I couldn't help but still feel defensive over my old friend. Frie was amazingly awesome then and now, and I wasn't just going to sit here and let someone I don't know make fun of him. Even if it meant I was blushing so badly I was probably giving Alice sunburn.

Emmett was still laughing at the whole thing, more so now that it was explained to him, but Leo was looking at me with affection shining through his green eyes. No one except Leo could look at me like that and not make it creepy - and I loved him for it.

"You had - an imaginary friend - named Fried Chicken," Emmet forced out while fighting for air. "That's amazing! Don't tell me he looked like a chicken duck cross breed?"

"Oh crap, let's see…That's right! He - mmph" I clapped my hands over Leo's mouth - stopping him mid-sentence.

"He didn't look like anything. He was just a duck. That's it," I said hurriedly.

"I don't believe that for a second," Emmett said still laughing.

Seriously? This isn't even that funny! All kids have imaginary friends.

"What does it matter what he looked like? Frie was my best friend and I'm not ashamed of that!"

"Then why won't you tell me what he looked like?" Emmett asked deviously.

I'll hand it to the bastard - he was good.

Fine then if you really want to know, no he wasn't some weird chicken duck cross breed – that's gross. He looked like a normal duck, except he had cheetah print fur, sharp teeth, and wings - but he couldn't fly. Happy?"

"Why, I'm very happy my Belly-Button," Emmett replied with a big smile on his face. Well it's better than the vicarious laughter, I thought. "So if he has wings why can't he fly?"

"Why are so interested in my imaginary friends," I asked laughing.

"Why not? I only know Frie so far but he's pretty fun. Got any others?"

"No, just Frie. And Emmett...you kinda look like a lech with that smile."

Emmett opened his mouth to retort when suddenly the shit was scared out of my by the sound of my front door being busted open.

Leonard's hold on me tightened protectively around me while I froze out of instinct.

"What the hell is taking you idiots so long!" someone screeched from the hallway.

"We're coming Rosie," Emmett replied.

My muscles unlocked as I realized that it was just a pissed off Rosalie. Feeling this Leo looked at me and I just nodded my head, telling him it was okay.

"When exactly, Emmett? Me and Jasper have been waiting in that damn car for almost ten minutes now," Rosalie demanded as she walked into the living room.

"We should get going," Edward said coldly, speaking for only the second time since they arrived.

"Okay," Alice said reluctantly. "See you in school tomorrow?"

"Sure thing, Alice."

"See ya Belly-Button."

"Bye Emmikins!"

"Bye Frie," he replied, grinning like an idiot.

"Interesting friends you have there, Lizzy," Leonard finally said once the front door closed with a thud.

"Hmm," I hummed in response.

"So how about we see if Edward becomes a vampire again?"

"Sounds like a plan." Snuggling into Leo I let my mind wander as we watched the last part of the movie.

˳̊

"Bella?"

"Living room dad," I yelled.

"So Bella, I didn't think you'd want to – Oh, hey Leo. Somehow I knew you'd be here..."

"Hey Charlie."

"So what did you think I wouldn't want to do, dad?" I asked trying to break the slightly awkward tension. Lately, for some unknown reason, Charlie hasn't been Leonard's biggest fan. I tried asking him about it but he just mumbled something and walked away.

"Oh, right. I didn't think you'd want to cook tonight so I got a pizza. Extra pepperoni," Charlie stated looking proud.

"Thanks dad, this is great."

I got up to get us some plates and soda as well as an ice pack for Leo's arm – I think I permanently bruised it – and was surprised to come back and find Charlie and Leonard in a little huddle kind of thing. There was whispering. I didn't like it.

"What's going on?"

At the sound of my voice both of them jumped apart like they'd been tasered.

"Nothing," my dad grunted.

"Charlie, don't even try lying to me. I know you too well. Now spill it," I demanded.

Instead of answering me, my dad turned towards Leo, his eyes pleading for him to do something.

"There's nothing really going on, it's more like something that we want you to consider..." Leo paused but continued when he realized he wasn't going to get any type of response from me. "So, your dad went down to La Push the other day, you know when you were at my house, and he ran into Billy's son, Jacob. Turns out the guy likes you but he's been too afraid to talk to you since I'm around you pretty much constantly."

"Wait. He actually told you that he likes me?" I turned towards my dad in disbelief.

"Well no, he didn't say it, but he wouldn't shut up about you, no offense kid, and he wasn't really trying to hide it. Anyone could have figured it out."

"Okay, now that I know he isn't a total retard, er, why are you telling me this?"

"Umm, right. Well, we were wondering how opposed you would be towards going out with the boy. Just once, you know, to see if you like him..."

"Are you seriously trying to play match maker?"

"Just trying to help you out Bells. You're eighteen – you need to start experiencing some of the things that life offers," he stated firmly.

Cue guilt trip, now.

"Fine," I mumbled in defeat.

"You'll do it?"

"Yes. But only if he mans up and asks me himself. I don't feel like dating a boy."

"That's my girl," Charlie said smiling again.

"Whatever. Here are your damn plates, you crazies," I said not able to contain my own smile.

"Language."

"Sorry dad."

A/N: Think possibly I could get twenty comments this time? I know you guys can do it ^^ Just follow the wavy arrow. Oh, and don't forget to follow me on my new blog - it has everything you need: http:/maryxweather(dot)blogspot(dot)com

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