A/N: Sorry for the update fail, life's been hectic! First with the epic writers block, and I've been setting up a new website and then a new job... Enough with the excuses. I'm just really sorry and it won't happen again. Promise :) Cheers for sticking with the story! And all you lurkers out there pop in and say hello, reviews make me happy :). Every single one of your words of kindness spurs me on to write! So yeah REVIEW :) (shouty capitals :D)

I do not own Twilight. I do however own a shiny new A Day Overdue fansite and T-shirt! :)

Happy Reading!

Frenchy_x

Chapter Seven : BPOV

Getting up the next morning was painful. My head was agony, my eyes hurt from too little sleep and all the crying the day before and my throat was raspy as anything.

I lazily glanced over at my clock and saw that it was only 6:45 which meant I would have time for a shower before school this morning.

Renee had already left for work, thank God. When she was sober she was the greatest Mom a girl could ask for, she was always apologetic, loving and caring. Which proves that she does love me. It's just when she drinks that she's violent or whatever. I don't consider overly violent, she's just confused and hurting about my Dad. I mean Charlie was her soul mate, they were clearly meant to be together, if I had a love like that and then had it cruelly taken from me I don't know what I'd do.

So I accepted that the way she acted with me was her way of grieving and she'd get through it and we can go forward together as a family.

I got up and crossed the hall to the small bathroom, turning the water on, I had to give it a couple of minutes to heat up, so I surveyed the damage in the mirror.

I had a nasty gash on my head and I had a purple bruise on my forehead. Simple; I fell down the stairs.

The bathroom was steaming up around me so I stripped out of my pyjamas and stepped under the warm spray. I winced when the water hit the cut on my head but the pain only lasted a little while before it soothed. Washing myself gingerly the shower took longer than usual. Trying to wash all the dried blood out of my hair was hard because I couldn't be rough for fear of re opening the wound.

I noticed however that I had a slight bald patch where she has pulled a little too hard yesterday. Maybe no one would notice...

Yeah right.

That's gonna be a bitch to hide.

Thoroughly cleaned I shut off the shower and wrapped a big white fluffy towel around myself and went to get ready for school.

Half an hour later I was dressed in my uniform black jeans, hoodie and chucks.

Tying my hair back made the bald spot less noticeable but without my fringe hiding my forehead the cut looked ghastly. So what? I fell down the stairs. Everyone has a klutz moment.

Sighing I picked up my backpack and went to school.

Somewhere in my head I was telling myself that I should have eaten breakfast seeing as I didn't eat at all yesterday and had lost quite a bit of blood but I shut the voice up with a promise that I'd eat at lunch.

Pulling into the parking lot I saw a lot of the student body loitering by their cars before school started. I found a space, next to the silver Volvo again, slung my back pack over my shoulder and headed to the main school building toward English.

"Bella?" a voice I didn't recognise called me from behind and I whirled round to see Mike Newton running up toward me.

Mike Newton was the schools star quarterback and all round heart throb. I wasn't even aware he knew my name.

"Yeah?" my voice came out slightly squeaky yet still raspy, it sounded just plain odd.

"Wow, it is you." He said with a look of shock on his face. I frowned in confusion at him. "I mean hell Bella, you look hot today" He looked me up and down appreciatively.

I of course blushed crimson and looked down at my feet.

"I uhm...thanks?" I stammered out like an idiot.

Jesus, Bella just talk to the boy!

"Can I walk you to class?" he ducked his head to catch my eye and smiled at me.

"Erm yeah sure I guess." I nodded my head and smiled back.

"Cool, where you headin'?" He stretched his arms above his head showing me his toned stomach and that perfect "V" pointing down.

"Erm..." Snap out of it Bella. Stop staring! I pulled my eyes from his stomach to his face "English, with Mr Berty."

"No way! I have him first too. I didn't know you were in that class?" He posed it as a question.

Of course he didn't.

But I couldn't get too annoyed because being honest I couldn't name another kid in my class either.

I just nodded at him and started walking toward the building. He followed.

"So Bella, I like your new hair" he tucked a stray strand behind my ear and I almost died on the spot.

Why was Mike Newton being so nice to me? I was a nobody and he was a somebody.

I sighed, then remembered that Mike had spoken.

"Oh erm yeah, thanks" What new hair? But I wasn't going to question it. We reached the classroom door, which he opened for me dramatically and allowed me to step forward. I smiled at him, thanked him for walking me and went to my seat. I was shocked when he slid into the seat next to me.

Looking at him with shock in my eyes he leaned in and whispered "The views much better from over here" I felt his breath tickle my ear and I couldn't help the stupid smile that was painted across my face.

I looked up and saw his old English partner shooting daggers at me. It was Jessica. Shit.

Cowering from her glare I tried to focus on the test that Mr Berty has placed on our desks.

It was pretty simple, Romeo and Juliet and I sailed through it. I only noticed after the hour that Mike had written down basically everything I had.

Word for word.

We handed our tests in and he leaned in and whispered loudly in my ear

"Cheers for that, nerd. I was gonna get kicked of the football team if Berty failed me again." I took a breath. "Don't even think of saying anything, right?" he leaned back to look at me, so I nodded trying to blink the tears prickling in my eyes away.

Mike stood, "By the way, I really do like the hair" He waltzed over to Jessica threw an arm over her shoulder and kissed her temple. She looked over at me, giggled and walked out the room with Mike.

Gathering up my books quickly I ran out of the classroom.

Of course Mike wasn't interested in you.

You're ridiculous for even thinking it Swan. The tears I had been fighting in English rolled my cheeks and I stormed down the hall eyes on the ground.

Why would Mike be interested in you?

He's gorgeous, popular, funny.

You're just ugly, geeky and worthless.

The tears escalated and I reached my locker and I fumbled with the lock to get it open. It was complying though, and the more frustrated I grew the more I cried, I eventually realised that the hall was empty and everyone was already in class.

Well fuck.

I tried one more time and dropped my books and folders in the process, leaning my back against the locker I slid down it until I sat on the floor.

Crying wasn't helping the pain in my head go away. I leaned forward cradling my head in my hands and tried to even out my breathing.

"Bella?" a voice like wind chimes interrupted my inner self loathing I look up and saw the girl from lunch yesterday, what's her name...

"Alice?" I mumbled out between sobs

"Yeah, honey, come on" She crouched next to me picked up my books and led me to the girls bathroom.

I sniffed loudly "You're gonna be late..." sobbing I looked up at her.

She smiled gently and shook her head "I have a free period, so I'm all yours" She had me sit on the floor by the sinks while she got a shed load of toilet paper and started to clean up my face.

I took the paper of her wiping at my eyes furiously.

"Sorry about this" my sobs were slowly transforming into hiccups.

"It's no trouble Bella, I think we're going to be great friends and I don't like seeing my friends upset" she smiled sweetly at me and I realised in that moment that she was breathtakingly beautiful.

Well of course she is.

I stood up and walked over to the bathroom mirror to assess the damage.

I looked like shit.

My face was pale, but also red and blotchy from all my crying. My cut looked livid and my eyes were puffy and red.

Sighing loudly I considered just going home, but I don't think it would be worth the wrath of Renee. . .

"Come here, I'll fix you up" Alice gestured for me to sit on the sink counter which I did and she reached into her purse for a make-up bag. "So, what happened to your head? That looks awfully sore"

I winced as she probed it gently with her fingers, "Erm yeah, I'm a total klutz and decked it on the stairs last night" I laughed nervously.

She didn't look convinced but she didn't push me. She slowly started work on my face and hair, trying to make me presentable to the public.

I concentrated on getting my breathing back to normal as to not burst into tears again. The minutes passed and the silence was becoming uncomfortable.

"So, um, Alice?" I almost felt bad breaking the silence because she seemed to be concentrating so hard.

"Hm" was all I got in response, her hand never stopped brushing through my hair.

"Th-Thank you." I whispered "For doing all this I mean, it really was lovely of you" even if I don't deserve it . . .

"It's truly not a bother Bella, you're far too beautiful to be crying and looking like a mess. Her smile almost blinded me,

"Well I . . . I wouldn't say that. . ." I look at the ground nervously.

"Well I would, and as you'll come to learn, I always win arguments. And there. You're good to go" She nodded her head and stepped back from me. I hopped off the counter and turned to look at myself in the mirror.

You couldn't even tell I'd been crying, my eyes were fresh and lovely. Whatever Alice had in that back of tricks of hers I wanted a shed load! And my hair . . . She'd taken it out of the obligatory ponytail but it covered not only the bald patch but also the cut on my forehead. As long as I kept my head down no one would even know I was hurt.

Thank goodness!

"Thank you, so much Alice" I beamed at her, and reached down to grab my back pack and we walked out of the girls bathroom together just as the bell went signalling the end of second period.

I turned to say goodbye to Alice but she was already talking to someone else.

Edward.

My heart did this strange flip thing as he looked up from Alice to me. There was no anger in his eyes this time, just gentle concern. He continued to look at me, or smolder might be a more appropriate word. I then realised I had yet to apologise to him for whatever I did to upset him yesterday. Was it really only yesterday?

"Edward I. . ." I started

"Alice, I gotta go, meet by the car at three." And he turned and walked away without even acknowledging my presence. Alice turned to no doubt explain her brother but I didn't want to hear it. I turned and stormed off in the opposite direction.

If there was one thing I couldn't be dealing with it was stupid boys with emotional issues.

Edward Cullen could fuck himself

Or me . . .

What? No! I shouted back at myself. Then stormed into trig forgetting what lay for there.

Jessica.

Well fuck.