"LEMME GO, LY! I'M GONNA KILL HER!" was the first thing you heard when the video started.

Lyla was holding me, speaking soothingly, "Nothing'll change if you kill her. There'll still be murmurs."

I spat, struggling in her arms, "That's why! If I beat her up, they'll stop!"

I managed to wrench free and I ran, flanked by Jess, Mary, and the person carrying the camera. I remembered it was Derek. Lyla reluctantly followed. I stopped in front of two girls and said sweetly, "Hi, Pam. Hi, Debbie."

Pam took one look at me and fled. Smart girl. Debbie sneered, "Oh, look. It's the little bitch."

I growled, "Wanna see a bitch? Look in the mirror."

Debbie got in my face and said, "Oh yeah? You're just sore that your mom loves her new husband more than she loves you."

I yelled in her face, "Go ahead! Push me, punch me, slap me! Just fucking do it so I can beat your ass right here, right now!"

Debbie rolled her eyes and lightly pushed me back an inch. "That all you got?" I screeched.

My fist coiled back and struck out, faster than a cobra. It caught her in the jaw, which caused her to turn slightly and tumble onto her butt. With a wordless roar, she grabbed me and we were tumbling on the floor, punching and pulling hair. It took four teachers to pull us apart, and even then they had a hard time holding me. The principal, Mrs. Brennan, came and said, "What is the matter with you two?"

Debbie said innocently, "I was just talking to Pam and she came over and started trash-talking me."

I glared and then said, "I was talking with my friends and I heard someone make a snide remark about Debbie saying my mom doesn't love me. So, I went and started talking, and Debbie made the same remark. She pushed me, and I defended myself."

Lyla piped up, eyes large and innocent, "I heard the comment, and watched the whole thing, Mrs. Brennan."

Jess smiled her prize-winning smile and said, "I agree with Lyla. Bella is innocent. Debbie's the one who started it, as usual."

Mrs. Brennan said, "I have only their word, but I feel it is sound. Ms. Kramer (AN: Debbie, coz her last name is Kramer), you will be suspended for one week, which means you'll be back on Thursday of next week. Ms. Swan, you will have two days of after-school detention starting tomorrow. Ms. Kramer, come with me and we'll call your parents."

With a glare, Debbie flitted after our elderly principal. When they left, all five of us burst into cheers. Derek handed the camera to Lyla and clapped me on the back. He cheered, "Well done, Bells! You've slain the witch!"

I joked, "She'll be back to making snide remarks by Thursday."

Jess said, "But until then, we rejoice! Nicely played! I'm taking everyone for ice cream tonight, my treat."

Everyone cheered again and the camera shut off.

Emmett whooped, "Damn, my little sister's a scrapper!"

I went red. Esme scolded, "Language, Emmett."

"Sorry, mom."

Alice trilled, "She deserved it! Your mother loves you, Bells. How could anyone doubt it?"

I grimaced, "It was during Renee and Phil's—" I cleared my throat uncomfortably. "—'honeymoon phase'. They... uh... were sort of oblivious to the outside world, including me. So... yeah..."

That was the end of that one. Jasper went and picked one, reading the label aloud, "This one's called Bella Has A Nervous Breakdown."

There were snickers.

I paced back and forth across Lyla's bedroom, grumbling incoherent thoughts and twisting my fingers. The camera was set down and Lyla entered the picture. She asked, "Okay, spill. What's up?"

I kept pacing and mumbled, "It's a guy."

Lyla pushed, "What'd he do?"

I faltered for a second and then picked up speed. "Uhhh... It's not just the dude. It's me, as well."

Lyla sat down and sighed, "Spill."

I stopped and said, my sentences blurring together from the speed I was talking at, "Well, I walked into Bio my first day and there was this dude, major hot and really—I don't know—sorta mysterious. So I sat down beside him and introduced myself. You know me, I'm really nice and really positive. He just replied that his name was Edward and it's like he was mad—no, enraged!—at me. It was sorta scary 'cause he kept glaring at me. But underneath all that, what was even weirder, I felt like electricity was running between us. And I got the whirlies in my stomach, like you've said you get around Derek. I can't believe it, Ly! I'm falling for this guy."

Lyla blinked once and said, "Wow, Bells. I think you're going a wee bit loco... I mean, it took me a month or two of knowing Derek to get the whirlies in my stomach. Bells, I've heard of this in only extreme cases. This might be The One."

I sat down on her bed and burried my face in my hands. I moaned into my hands, "But he hates me! Please tell me what to do!"

Lyla blinked, this time in surprise, and demanded, "Why the hell are you asking me? I don't know!"

I lifted my head and said sarcastically, "Thanks, Lyla. Thanks a lot."

Lyla slung her arm around me and said, "Ah, don't worry 'bout it at all, Bells. It'll all work out. Trust me."

I grumbled, "Never trust someone that says 'trust me'."

We laughed and the screen went black.

Emmett laughed loudly and said, "Jeez, Eddie! You cause the girl a nervous breakdown!"

I flushed red and everyone laughed at my expense.

That's that! Hope you enjoyed it!
~TWC~