Veronica happily chatted away as we headed to lunch. She yanked down to the lunch line and my eyes wandered around the room, looking for the Cullens. I didn't see them, however, but saw an awkward Bella hunched over her meal looking around the cafeteria suspiciously.

I snorted at her wary personality and shook my head. I felt someone's tray from behind me prod me in the back to urge me to go faster through the line. With a huff I dragged my tray down the counter and let the cafeteria help load up my tray with disgusting school food. And to think this was before "healthy school food" became a thing after Obama took over. Gross.

Veronica grabbed my wrist as she pulled me over to a table, but I gently pulled back and hissed, "I think I need to save my…sister." I gestured my head towards Bella who had her eyes on me, staring at me with intent as her ears were chatted off by Jessica, Mike, Lauren, Tyler and a few others.

Veroncia straightened immediately and I could see the gears going through her head. "Absolutely." She said with force and purpose. "It would be a Greek tragedy to leave her to their tender mercies." Before I could say anything to that, the princess in shining armor strode over with her head high. I followed behind her curiously.

I wondered if Veronica was an actual character in the original twilight universe, because, if so, Bella really missed out. She was highly entertaining.

Veronica paused in front of Bella and Bella slowly looked up from her measly food, a look of a deer in headlights on her face. I opened my mouth to speak, but Veronica shoved her tray into my hands and I quickly adjusted my hold on both of our trays.

She grabbed Bella's hand and brought it up to her lips, bowing her head and body marginally. "My lady," She said in a smooth, low voice. "Would you do the honor of allowing me to rescue you and take you back to my sanctuary where we may live happily ever after?" Bella's face became a bright hue of pink at Veronica's words, seemingly unsure how to respond.

I couldn't take it anymore. The look of anger on the table's faces and the bewildered and overwhelmed one of Bella's face as Veronica did not let her hand go was too much. I broke into uproarious laughter and firmly set the tray on the table we had just barged up to.

I bent over at my middle and clutched my sides as tears streamed down my face. I wished I had some way to remember this picture forever.

"Mia!" Bella squeaked in horror and embarrassment. Her face showed a look of betrayal, and it forced me to turn away from her and cover my mouth as I tried to stifle my laughter. The cafeteria was staring at us now, but I couldn't rein in the laughter.

The sound of booming laughter and light, tinkling laughter caught my ears and I slowly calmed down and looked up at the noise. While I was distracted, the Cullens had sat down at their table and were watching the scene curiously.

Jessica, still furious, looked more excited as Bella looked over at the Cullens, too. "Oh, those are the Cullens. Attractive, obviously. And they're all together – together." Her tone of voice ran a shiver down my spine as I understood her love for drama.

"Whatever," I said over her and turned to Bella. "Join us, twin." Bella seemed to have settled down a little more and looked up at me in surprise at my tone. I picked up Veronica's and I's trays as she yanked Bella out of her seat in impatience. "Your princess charming is here to save you from the big bad gossip and she won't take no for an answer."

Bella followed along warily, but picked up her tray, blushing again from the attention.

"Hi," Veronica said, still with a hand held onto Bella's. "I'm princess charming. Nice to meet you. My specialties include saving damsels, slaying bad attitudes and some…not so legal things. But we can get into that down the line if needed." She smiled brightly at Bella's confused face and when she turned to me, I just shrugged at her.

"I'd just go along with it, Bells." I sent a smile Veronica's way. "I did and I'm having a great day today. She and I slaughtered the class in PE together, we've skipped crappy Shakespeare together and she's saved me as well."

Veronica led us as she jumped with each step, truly bringing meaning to a "pep in the step."

"Ooh, PE was great." She said with an almost moan. "Your sister was awesome. I was offense and she was defense. We took on the whole class, I got to avenge your sister when she was taken down and then I was the last one standing. It was great. Then she let me do her hair and she borrowed my soap." Veronica sat her down at an empty table and got close to Bella's face as she stared intently at her. "Her hair was amazing to do. You should let me play with your hair, too. You won't regret it." She promised with a hand over her heart.

I stifled my laughter. "Okay, Veronica, give her a few moments. She's very overwhelmed right now." Bella sent me a chastising look at my comment, but I could see it all over her face. "She's right though," I said as I put the two trays down and adjusted Veronica's so it was in front of her. I lightly patted the cute buns in my hair. "They're adorable, and you'd look great with some of the crazy ideas she cooks up."

Bella looked at me skeptically before she blurted, "Wait, did you really skip English?"

I sat proudly in my spot smiling at her brightly before taking a bite of my food. I grimaced immediately afterwards, chewed and then said, "Yup."

"But you never skip." She said it in horror.

"Ah," I nodded seriously. "Yes, but desperate times call for desperate measures." I said in a grave voice.

"Shakespeare calls for desperate times and measures?" Bella sounded horrified by my words.

Veronica spoke this time, a frown on her face, eyes swimming with sadness. "Yes, it turns out the real tragedy, isn't the plot of the books…it's Shakespeare himself. Overvalued and outdated." She shook her head sadly at her words. "What a tragedy."

Bella looked beyond betrayed as she turned to me, mouth open in shock. I tilted my head at her. "Now the real good books are…" I paused. "Sorry, they aren't age appropriate, Bella, dad would kill me if he knew what I was reading. Forget I said anything." I shoved more food in my mouth to avoid answering Bella and Veronica's questioning looks.

Veronica put a gentle hand on mine. "There's no shame in that. You should share, actually, I need more things to read."

I hummed as I chewed, then swallowed. "How do you feel about fanfiction?"

"Ooh," She sang happily. "Yes. What are you thinking?"

I waved my fork at her and asked idly, "You good with comics, or manga, maybe anime?"

"Oh, absolutely." Her eyes glittered. "Don't forget Star Trek, or – or – Galaxy Quest?"

I gasped dramatically. "Spirk!" I held my chocolate milk in the air as a toast. She joined me immediately and announced, "Spones!"

I shook my head at her. "No, no, no, if you're going to bring Bones into this, it has to be all three of them!" She nodded emphatically at me.

"I agree."

Looking at Bella, I could see despair and embarrassment creeping up her face.

"What?" I asked her.

"I…I think I should go sit with Jessica again…"

"Fine." I said dismissively. "I'll come save you again later."

"I don't need to be saved!" She hissed back angrily. I sent her a look that told her I didn't believe her.

"Sure. Just make sure when you need help, yell 'Avengers Assemble' or 'For Narnia' or something like that."

Veronica's eyes were shining like she was about to shed tears. "I've never heard something so beautiful before." She said softly. She held her hand to her chest, closed her eyes briefly and then turned to Bella with purpose. "Whenever you may need help, please shout our rallying cry and we will be there in post haste!" She raised her fork above her head as if it was a weapon – perhaps a trident – a look of pure brilliance on her face.

Bella stood up immediately and said with meaning, "Please don't talk to me again today."

She headed back towards the table of Jessica and the rest of the gossips. I turned to Veronica and shrugged. "Sometimes you can't save people, they have to want to be saved."

She nodded back, unoffended. "She'll come back eventually. They all do." The last words were said darkly and I tilted my head at her tone.

"…and where are the others?" I asked lightly.

When she turned to look at me her face was of faux innocence. "They came back, just…disappeared one day. Not sure where they went."

"Uh huh." I replied suspiciously as I took another bite and grimace at the food.

The warning bell went off then and she and I loaded our mostly uneaten food on our trays again and headed over to throw them away.

"What's your schedule like now?" Veronica asked over the loud talking in the hallways.

I told her the rest of my schedule and she shook her head. "Good luck. I'm not in any of them."

I sighed sadly, but headed where I was supposed to go on the map.

I made it to my class just in time – trigonometry. I groaned as I walked in and sat. The class was boring and while I got more experience as I listened, I couldn't help but feel my time was being wasted.

I moved to my next class, Spanish, but before I got there, I passed by a flushed and trembling Bella. Oh fuck, Edward.

I grabbed her tightly and asked, "What's wrong, Bella,"

She shook her head. "Nothing, really, I just…"

I frowned at her and gave her a little shake. "Did someone treat you badly?" She hesitated to respond and I narrowed my eyes then. "Spill. Now."

She stammered over her words, but I gathered Edward's name. Ah. I guess we'll find out if my gamer powers give me any kind of super healing.

I shoved her towards gym and told her I'd see her after class and not to worry too much.

I wasn't able to focus on Spanish and missed out of rewards, but focused instead on getting revenge on Edward. When class was dismissed, I nearly ran towards the gym and caught Bella on her way out. I curled my arm around hers, linking our elbows together.

"Come with me, girly," I said, and she sighed in my hold.

We made our way to the office and I could hear Edward arguing. I let go of Bella as she froze in place and stared at Edward with shock, confusion and rejection on her face. He turned around as he realized we were there. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Jasper hurrying our way. As Edward headed towards us to get to the doors, I fearlessly cleared my throat at him and as he paused on his way out, I took a gamble and "accidentally" dropped my backpack on his foot. He jerked back in surprise, staring at me as I gave him an unconvincing look of apology.

"I'm sorry," I said loud enough for others to hear and tacked on, "bastard." Under my breath. Maybe I was going too far. The guy was kind enough not to kill Bella. But call it proactive for him sneaking into the house in the future and watching her sleep, gaslighting her, stalking her and being a jerk.

Yeah, maybe I was a little out of line and taking it out on him for things he hadn't done yet.

Edward turned swiftly and headed out the door without another word. Bella and I headed up to the receptionist and I laid it on thick. "I'm so sorry about that." I said laying the words thick. "I'm not used to having such a heavy backpack. You guys really take your education seriously here in Forks, don't you?"

The receptionist turned from concerned to happy as she started to chat happily about how the school was such a fine institution. I nodded along while Bella kept quiet next to me. Finally, we made our way back to the truck, passing the concerned Cullens and a pained looking Jasper. As we passed him, I felt his eyes staring at me his hands almost twitching at his sides.

I sent him a smile before climbing into the truck with Bella.

"You shouldn't have done that, Mia!" Bella rounded on me as she started the truck.

"Eh, what kind of princess charming would I be if I didn't have your back?" I asked.

"I don't need your help." She insisted.

I sighed and crossed my arms. "Fine. Don't expect help, then, Bella."

The ride home was silent as we both found ourselves lost in our thoughts.