MIKE NEWTON, THE KING OF EMBARRASSMENT

Copyrights go to Stephenie Meyer ©

Name: Phone Calls

Summary: Mike attempts to contact Bella, a week after Edward left her.

Status: Edited

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Depression is not sobbing and crying and giving vent, it is plain and simple reduction of feeling...People who keep stiff upper lips find that it's damn hard to smile."

-Judith Guest.

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Character Point of View: Mike Newton

Beep-beep. Beep-beep.

No reply.

I sighed, and dialled the number again.

Beep-beep. Beep-beep.

Nah –still nuthin'.

I sighed in frustration, and slammed the receiver down. Why wouldn't she pick the fucking phone? I was trying to be her goddamn friend.

I'd been calling Bella countless times this week. Most of the time, Charlie had picked the phone, and told me to quit calling them. Once he'd taken pity on me, and told me in a kindly tone how Bella was doing.

Listen here, boy –I'm sick of you and your blasted phone calls, so this will be the last time I will ever speak to you this month. Got it, boy? And, no, Bella isn't recovering yet, kid! There, goodbye.

Or maybe not such a kindly tone after all.

"How is she?"

I whirled around to find Mom standing in the doorway, with her arms crossed across her chest.

"No one answered the phone." I told her.

"Oh, honey," Mom exhaled as she moved towards me and gave me a tight hug. "Maybe you should leave the poor dear alone, Mike. She won't be able to get better if you keep haranguing her all the time."

"Oh" was all I said.

"Meanwhile," continued Mom. "I hear that Jenna's coming over this week, with her daughter, Jessica. I think it will do you some good to quit ...worrying over Bella, and get to know Jessica better."

I think she meant: "Mike, just forget Bella, and go out with Jessica! She likes you, and maybe you do!"

"What?" I exclaimed. "Jessica's a blabbermouth!"

"Blabbermouth?"

"Yeah, blabbermouth," I said, waving my hands about. "If I say, "Hey, Jess –I'm going over to the Swans' house", she'll somehow twist it into a ridiculous concoction, and spread a rumour around school that I apparently went over to Bella's house, and made out with her behind Cullen's back!"

Mom laughed. "Oh, Mike –don't be so one-sided and prejudiced. Just spend the day with Jess, okay? Maybe you'll find she's not so bad after all. It's not like I'm asking you to kiss her, honey."

"Yech," I said, flatly. "I'd rather sleep in a bed overfilling with cockroaches than spend the day with Jessica whatever-her-middle-name-is Stanley."

"Jessica's middle name is Scarlett," said Mom cheerfully. "By the way, get that bed of cockroaches ready, won't you?"

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