Hello. Happy New year! Hope all of you had a fantastic Christmas, or or whatever you celebrate. I gotta say, worst holidays of my life. Imagine hanging out with people that are like five years younger than you. And one of them breaking your iPod earphones! Arg!

Okay, back to the story.

I do not own Twilight, or the characters.

Then, black.

* * * *

I opened my eyes to find myself in a very familiar room. It was the nurses room. God only knew how much I have visited this room. By now, I expected the bed I was on to say 'hi, Bella.'

''Are you awake?'' a soft, musical voice asked. So I wasn't alone. God, I probably made a fool of myself, fainting in front of everyone! What was wrong with me?

''Kinda. I don't know, I don't think I know anything anymore,'' a sob escaped my lips.

In that moment I felt arms around me, and I knew they were Edward's. His scent was easy to recognize, but it was just the support he was showing.

''Don't be upset, Bella. Maybe this is a big disappointment for you, but you know many things. Your life won't won't end because of this,'' he comforted me.

But how could I not be upset. How could my parents do this to me!

''You don't understand, Edward! Your parents are with you, all the time. Mine leave me every so often. I felt like them coming is the only thing I knew, like....like I don't know anything anymore,'' I admitted.

This was not easy, admitting everything to him. Sure I felt something for him, but opening myself to anyone is hard.

''Of course you do. You are so smart. I am so sorry about what happened, seriously. But sometimes, there is just nothing you can do. You just have to deal with it,'' he comforted me. Just his voice comforted me, though. If only he knew that.

''I'm sorry, Edward.''

That threw him off. ''About what? What did you do to me?''

''Because of the whole ice cream argument. I just hate it when people argue with me. It makes me mad,'' I explained it to him. And it was true, no matter what.

Once when Emmett and I were five, he kept arguing that chocolate milk didn't come form brown cows. And it made me mad. I remember thinking 'who is he, to tell me that chocolate milk didn't come from brown cows.' I guess I was just stubborn. Still am, though.

''It's okay. It was part my fault, too I guess. I was acting childish,'' he kind of apologized. It wasn't a real apology, but it was just so...Edward. Taking it all on himself. Just like in middle school. Sigh.

''Okay. Let's not think about any of this anymore. Do you know if I could just go, just get out of here. It isn't the loveliest place,'' I scrunched my nose. Edward laughed at my comment, but helped me get off the bed.

He was a real gentleman. He led the way out of the familiar Nurses' office to find our friends outside of the office. Waiting for us, I suppose. When we got out they all smiled, and Emmett screamed, ''Bells! You're alive!"

A comment at which we all rolled our eyes. Though you could see that he was upset. Probably due to the fact we will be spending the holidays alone. With nobody to celebrate such a special time of year.

Sad, I know.

Edward's hand was around mine, so I couldn't give them a hug, or even run to them. He was hard, or strong, I guess.

''Bella! You are okay! I'm so glad,'' somebody yelled from behind me. I didn't need to check to see that it was Tanya.

Tanya wasn't exactly evil, more like..not good, or something. The truth was that she hated me since the moment I met her. Everyone said she was jealous of me, a fact which I didn't understand.

Tanya was your typical strawberry blonde, beautiful. But since I started dating Edward (she still wouldn't understand that we broke up) she hated me. She had always had a crush on Edward. Hell, she even had a picture of him in her locker. And many people said that she had one in her room, too.

''Are you really glad, Tanya? I bet you would have just loved the fact of me being not okay,'' I pointed out the obvious. I took a step towards her, but Edward held me back.

That hurt. Was he really protecting Tanya. Did he love her, like he used to love me? Was that the truth. Was Tanya lucky enough to have Edward's love, all to herself?

I shook my head at the path my thoughts had taken. Of course Edward couldn't love someone so selfish, and self-centered.

Right?

''Of course I am, Bella. You insult me. I would hate it, if you weren't okay,'' she lied. She was such a bad liar. Of course I knew she was faking it. Who was dumb enough to believe her?

''Me, on the other side, would love to see yo-''

''Tanya, Bella doesn't feel okay to be arguing with you. So can you please leave her alone. And aren't you supposed to have a partner?'' Edward interrupted me. Wow, just protect her now, Edward.

Though Edward had a point. Why wasn't she hand cuffed to a another person like the rest of us?

''I'm just smart. My partner and I got rid of the handcuffs. They were nothing a pocket knife couldn't handle, Edward. What do you want to get rid of your partner, too. I would think so, having her as you-'' Tanya was quickly interrupted by my protective brother.

''Tanya, enough. Please do not insult my sister like that. She does have a big brother that stands up for her,'' Emmett warned.

Give or take. Even though Emmett always had bad jokes (well, some of them were good ones), always made fun of me, and made inappropriate jokes. He was always such a good big brother. Always protecting me, and standing up for me, when nobody (*cough* Edward *cough*) did.

I loved him, even though he annoyed the hell out of me at the same time. He was a perfect big brother.

''Fine, Emmett. But all three of you,'' she said pointing at Jasper, Emmett, and Edward. ''If you guys want to get rid of your partner, then just tell me, boys. I know how annoying it could be to have them as your partner,'' she winked.

''Yeah, 'cause you would be so much better,'' I called after her.

I wasn't scared of her. I never had been, or never will be. She was nobody to insult me.

She just shrugged when she heard my comment. Wow. Didn't she have a self-esteem? Why didn't she stand up for herself. Okay, I was looking for a fight, but it was only because I didn't like her, not even one bit...

''Whatever,'' she turned to say. She was close enough for the six of us, to hear the next words. ''You can say whatever you want Isabella. Like I care. I could change, if I wanted to, but you know what will never change? Edward always loving strawberry ice cream, and hating chocolate. See the casualty? You have boring brown eyes, and hair. While I am a strawberry blonde,'' she winked.

Her comment was like a knife, right into the heart. Even though, maybe it didn't make sense. It hurt, because it just was so true.

I was ugly, not even average. Boring. While she was the perfect strawberry, beautiful, interesting blonde.

A girl every single girl would be jealous of (except Rose, and Alice. They didn't have anything to worry about)

But me?

I had.

I don't know why Edward had dated me in the first place, while he had the chance to go after something so much better and worthy of him.