"Gossip needn't be false to be evil- there's a lot of truth that shouldn't be passed around."

FRANK A. CLARK

Cupid's Chokehold; Chapter Six. Bella.

The dance wasn't that bad. I did enjoy seeing Jessica's jaw shudder at the sight of me there, I think that she enjoyed seeing me miserable at school everyday. Some sort of revenge, since I was the one to become Edward's plaything. Honestly, she should be thankful towards me, I had saved her the heartbreak I was now suffering. But would she have fallen as madly in love with him as I had, was Jessica Stanley capable of those high level feelings?

Jacob dragged me towards the warm firelight where the couples were dancing wildly. Jake was right, the dancing wasn't like prom. Any self-respecting school wouldn't allow what these people called dancing on their gym floors.

It seemed that Edward's old-fashioned ways had rubbed off on me more than I had realized.

I tried to hide my discomfort after seeing the delight on Jake's face and I couldn't deny that I was happy that he was happy. I just didn't like being this close to him when all the other people dancing were coupled up. Ben and Angela danced close and lightheartedly near the flames. I felt as if we were sending out a message I wasn't ready to send—a message I didn't plan on sending.

Perhaps a nunnery was the way to go, it would certainly be cheaper than college. Renee would be ecstatic, I wasn't sure how Charlie would respond. Isn't it every dad's dream to have their daughter remain sweet and innocent through out their life? Maybe that was why Charlie detested Edward so much and even more so after leaving, while I knew Edward hadn't taken away the innocence every parent seems to worry about Edward had taken away the innocence I had cherished.

Growing up with Renee may have made me grow up faster, but I was still innocent in the harsh ways of the world. Renee brought up the divorce a fair amount, but I didn't remember it. Relationships were like the ones in fairytales, chic lit and Disney movies. Always perfect, always a happy ending… and only meant for the young and beautiful, no either-or option.

Jake's arm stayed around my waist the entire night and while it was awkward and sticky while dancing next to the fire I was thankful for the warmth once we left the vicinity of the dancing flames.

We spent three hours walking around, dipping our feet in the cold waves and chatting with people I hadn't talked to in what felt like years, some names I couldn't even recall. Emily handed me a bundle of index cards all with hearty meals doubled or quadrupled written down, I thanked her before she ran off with Sam to dance in front of the flames.

I sat down at one point and watched the two. While most people's eyes darted around, taking in the chaos around them Sam's eyes never left Emily's face. The harsh firelight highlighted the scratches on her face, his expression was weird. Love and adoration were evident in his eyes, but so was pain. I wondered how the scars on her face came to be.

I looked back up to Jake, it was even harder when were dancing this close, "How did Emily get those scars?"

"It's not a story for me to tell."

Oh, that was comforting, "Does it have to do with," I looked around and lowered my voice, "the whole wolf thing?"

"Yes and the imprinting. Sam was the first of us to change, he didn't know what was going on and he didn't know how to control himself. He had no one to teach him like the rest of us do."

"Sam did that to her," I said slowly, realizing what that meant exactly.

"Yes, he didn't mean to though and he feels guilty about it every day, every moment of every day. If he had the choice to go back and fix it, he would, no matter what the cost," Jake's eyes were dark now and feared there was something else he wasn't telling me.

I didn't want to ruin the night though, despite the awkwardness of dancing with Jake—when it meant so much to him and so little to me—I did have fun, so I dropped the topic.

Jacob walked me to my car, I wasn't sure what to do though once I got there. I knew that people who were just friends didn't walk each other to their cars and that's what we were—just friends.

"Jake," I leaned against the door, "I'm really glad that you convinced me to come, it was nice to get out. That hasn't been happening a lot."

"Of course, Bells," he seemed surprised at what I had said, "I'm glad you came with me, the party would have been pretty dull without you," I smiled and waited for him to back up so I could open my door. I felt as though I needed to draw up the requirements of the boundaries, perhaps with measurements included. He took a step closer and grasped me in a hug, "I love you, Bella," he said before kissing the top of my head.

Every muscle in my body went limp, I didn't know how to respond, I didn't know if I wanted to respond. I knew Jake felt that for me, but I just couldn't handle hearing it. Was it so impossible for him to keep it bottled up inside him? I sighed, ignoring how wonderful he smelled, I shouldn't be harsh on him, if he and Sam were both being completely truthful Jake couldn't help they way he felt and I shouldn't be so unsympathetic about something that was so instinctual for him.

"Love you too, Jake."

&

I walked into my empty first period classroom and looked at the whiteboard; All seniors are to meet in gym for the announcement of the Senior Project.

I dredged over to the gym and scanned the seats for anyone I knew that I could sit by, of course the seat next to Mike was the only one empty. What wrathful God had I angered now?

"Hey Mike," I said out of politeness as I slid my backpack under the metal folding chair, I hoped that the announcement would be short since these chair were far from comfortable.

I had silently been dreading the infamous Senior Project. It was a new topic every year, so there was no way to prepare ahead and apparently your entire high school life depended on this. If you didn't complete the project you didn't graduate, which seems a little silly. Could a school really base the printing of your diploma on one little project?

"Hey Bella, great party last night, huh."

I smiled, "Yeah."

"Too bad I didn't get to dance with you, I was kind of busy."

"Yeah," or completely terrified of Jake.

"So, who were you dancing with last night?" Mike asked uneasily.

Jessica's face popped up between the two seats, "He was pretty cute. Nice snag and so quick too. I don't blame you though, I'm sure it's nice to have someone there to take your mind off that nastiness that was formerly known as the autumn and winter months," I grimaced, Jessica always had such wonderful ways of summing up my pitiful existence.

"Jacob and I aren't dating, we're just friends."

"I don't know, you two were dancing pretty close last night. I didn't know you had it in you," I glared at her and she frowned, "Well, can I have his number then?"

At that moment the principal came up to the microphone, the expectant screech came and we all groaned as the bald man adjusted the volume, "Welcome class of 2006. In a few short months you will all be off into the real world, doing whatever you want, having control over your own decisions, making your own money, managing your own lives," the class slouched and gazed off in the distance, day dreaming of that day. I remained focused; I had no idea what I would be doing the day after graduation, let alone the months following the event, "Until then," he yelled into the microphone, "you still belong to me and you still have to do as I say. As you all know Forks High has a mandatory senior project…"

He continued to explain what the point of the project was, "…instill community value…leadership …pertinacity …camaraderie…bellicose…" I frowned, did he even know what these words meant?

"This year's project is going to be a job discovery essay and internship. You can decide where you want to work and who you want to work under, it doesn't even have to be at a real store or business as long as you have some finished product at the end. Whether it be new business skills or something you learned how to make.

"Because jobs are limited here you won't be forced to chose an individual job, I know some of you work in the same stores here. If you would like to partner up, feel free to. Just remember, that whoever you are partnering up with is the one determining whether or not you graduate."

The noise level in the room multiplied, Mike turned towards me, "You wanna partner up for this? It'd be totally easy—"

"Actually, I was going to do something else. I mean, it wouldn't be too much of a stretch if I did the report on working at the shop, would it? I already know those skills. I figure I'd stretch my boundaries a little," especially considering I would be bound for a full time job next year.

"Oh, of course," Mike said, I felt like I had run over his puppy, "That's totally smart, I mean you could shadow your father, which would make an awesome report. Of course," he sat back in his chair and folded his hands in his lap, completely bummed that I had denied him. I hadn't even considered shadowing Charlie as part of the assignment, to me being a chief wasn't a job to Charlie, it was who he was. But if I wasn't going to work at the Newton's or with Charlie for this project I needed to come up with another option and fast, I didn't want to have to tell Mike I would do the project with him.

"May I please have your attention, I have one more announcement. Since Mrs. Dessen is on maternity leave—again—I'd like to introduce to you the new school counselor. She'll be subbing for the rest of the year, please give her a warm welcome."

A young woman I hadn't noticed stood up from the first row, her red hair was flaming down her back. She walked over to the small platform, "Good morning everyone," her voice purred into the microphone.

AN: to the single person who reviewed for chapter 5, I'm sorry I didn't respond! I'd love some more reviews, people! Good bad, whatever. I do respond to reviews, life permitting.