A/N: Thanks as always for reviewing! I appreciate it.

Disclaimer: I own nothing

This is not life, Will, it is a stolen season. – Viola DeLesseps, Shakespeare in Love

Bella sat in her car for a minute outside of the Conways, realizing she was being slightly creepy, but not caring much. She sighed softly. She wanted her Daddy to hug her and tell her she was his beautiful princess and that everything was going to be OK. But it had been two days and Rick still barely acknowledged when she walked in a room. The girls on the cheerleading squad hadn't been better, they coolly followed orders, but put no pep or enthusiasm into anything, and seeing Eddie had sent her into quite the tailspin. She'd kept her melancholy from Gordon because he'd been so the opposite. He was absolutely elated to have Kevin around again, and apparently due to a few key freshmen additions the football team was looking beyond decent into actually good territory. Which for Gordon meant the possibility of scholarships and a much bigger and brighter future than he'd ever counted on. Bella was happy for him, thrilled actually but she couldn't burst his bubble. So Eva and Dean had born the brunt of her feelings over the past few days. She finally walked up to the door and rang the doorbell.

"Bella," Connie Moreau said opening it. Bella smiled. Connie was always pleasant and polite, but she sensed a detachment. "Hi, I'm glad you made it."

"Thanks for inviting me Ms. Moreau," she said. She admired that Connie had never changed her name, although Gordon had informed her that it was less out of feminist leanings and more out of not wanting her name to be Connie Conway.

"Gordie and Kevin are out back, arguing over how long to marinate the steaks." Connie said. "I think you might be the deciding vote, you better get back there." She smiled and nodded walking back onto the deck.

"Bella's here!" Gordon said exuberantly and walked over and kissed her. Kevin looked away and she noticed that. She pulled back awkwardly. Both boys noticed. "What's wrong?" She plastered a smile on her face.

"Nothing, silly," she said and giggled fakely. He saw through it, she knew he did. "I'm just so thirsty."

"I'll get you a drink," Gordon said. "Duh, that was rude of me." She nodded and he kissed her softly. "Be right back." He looked at Kevin. "Play nice!" He pointed and walked into the house. She sighed.

"You're breaking up with him aren't you?" Kevin said. She looked at him. "I knew it. You can't resist me. I'm taken Bella, and don't you think you've done enough relationship sabotage when it comes to your cousins?"

"OK," Bella said. "First of all, Elisa stole my boyfriend, not the other way around. Second, ew, I have no interest in you, and third, I am not breaking up with Gordon. I just feel weird kissing him with you here." Kevin looked at her. "Oh shut up Reed."

"I didn't say anything," he said.

"You were thinking very loudly," she grumbled and crossed her arms.

"I'll try to keep it down from now on," he nodded. "Anne sends her best by the way." Bella smiled. "Look at you, all happy for us. Didn't realize that Gordon was an exorcist."

"What?" She said.

"Oh you know," he shrugged. "Demon Bella is gone." Her eyes narrowed at him. "Oh, nope, there she is."

"I hate my family so goddamn much sometimes!" She said, cursing Anne's chatty nature.

"So, what's eating you then?" He said. "If it's not your unbridled passion for me that is."

"One diet Pepsi," Gordon said, handing Bella the silver can. She smiled and kissed him for real this time, pulling away and giving Kevin a triumphant look. "Did I miss something?"

"Just my cue to leave," Kevin said. "Over marinate the steaks, I don't even care anymore." He stood up and left. Gordon looked at his girlfriend.

"What's going on?" He said. "Are we OK?"

"Oh Gordon, I don't know!" She sighed, finally letting it out. "I like you so much, you know? But it's like no one wants me to!" He looked at her. "And now Eddie's home and he just showed up at my house, and I just don't know," he kissed her.

"Bella, would you mind telling me what the hell you're talking about?" He said.

"I got into this big fight with my father," she said, "and then Erica and the other girls said that you weren't 'socially acceptable' whatever the hell that means."

"And Eddie's back?" He whispered. She nodded. "And you've seen him?" She nodded again. "Whoa," he said. She nodded and hugged him, burying her face in his chest. He sighed and kissed her hair softly. "It was a good summer though." She looked up at him and nodded.

"What if that's all it was?" She whispered. "What if we had this great summer, and now we can't make it?" He lifted her face and kissed her.

"I don't believe that," he said. She looked at him. "The way I feel about you isn't summer fling feelings." She smiled softly. "There's something else though," he said. "Something you're not telling me." She looked into his eyes, clear and blue and perfect. "Eddie," he mumbled, inwardly cursing Eddie Cole within an inch of his sanity.

"Oh no," she said, "I mean, yes, but not like that Gordon! I just miss him, that's all. But I always do." He blinked at her. "That came out wrong. I miss having Eddie in my life, having someone who knows me better than anyone else in the world. I don't miss him as my boyfriend."

"Oh," he said calmly leaning back. He was used to that kind of relationship, after all his mother had it with Guy Germaine, his godfather. "Then you should make things right with him. You know, as friends."

"You'd be OK with that?" She said, surprised. Granted, Gordon was different than Eddie in every possible way, but she thought of how Eddie would become insanely jealous if she even talked to other boys, let alone if she was really friends with one. Even her relationship with Dean really bugged him.

"Yeah," Gordon nodded, although his insides were shouting No, no, no! Keep her away from that guy! He'd rather lose whatever piece of Bella she would give to Eddie Cole than lose all of her to the fear of them not being able to fit their relationship in with their lives at school. "Of course."

Eddie sat quietly in his room laughing lightly over the letter that Elisa had sent him. Every word, even her handwriting reminded him of all the reasons he'd loved her. Her sweetness and her innocence, the earnestness that made him want her. But her letter was clear, and he was glad. She didn't want him anymore. It would be easier to focus on what he really wanted, what he saw more clearly than ever, he wanted Bella, he wanted the life that they'd silently promised each other for years. She'd ignored him all summer but that didn't mean it would continue when school started.

"You packed?" Cal asked walking into Anne's room. She nodded and sat down. "What's wrong?"

"I'm really excited," she sighed.

"Yeah, you look it," he teased. She rolled her eyes. "Wait? You're excited about going back to school? Or just about seeing Kevin again?"

"Well, I am excited about seeing Kevin," she said. "But I'm excited to get back there." Cal laughed. "It's not funny! What the hell is going on with me?"

"It's called a personality Anne," Cal said. "I think you're finally growing one." She shoved him. "Might you even join a club or activity of some kind?"

"Don't get carried away," she pointed at him. "Hey, have you told Mom that Dad and Aunt Kelly are putting you in the teen photos for the boutiques?"

"I have not," Cal said. "Why did Trina have to take those pictures last year? Aunt Kelly would not be talked down from this whole young men's campaign surrounding me."

"Maybe you'll get all famous and they'll give you your own show on The CW," Anne giggled. He rolled his eyes. "I mean, Emma started repping RDC, and she just won an Oscar."

"Emma started being in Tell Me About The Girl," he said. "She got famous repping RDC. I'm not an actor, I'm barely a model."

"I didn't suggest you be an actor," Anne laughed. "I said you should be on TV. Do you get the difference?" Cal rolled his eyes at her.

"Ready to go?" Julie asked, walking into Elisa's room. The girl nodded and hugged her mother tightly. "Oh, I'm going to miss you so much," Julie whispered.

"I'll miss you too," Elisa said softly.

"Try to stay on your cousins' good sides this year, hm?" Julie said. Elisa laughed. "I can't take another Christmas like last years."

"I will," she said.

"Alright," Julie sighed, "get in the car." Elisa nodded and grabbed her suitcase and walked downstairs.

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