Disclaimer: (It's occured to me that I wish I was Stephenie Meyer, but I'm not so I guess all these charactors belong to her)

it's been a while, but i think you guys will like the next two chapters. they're my favorite so far.

CHAPTER SEVEN

The Problem with Milk

"BELLA!" I rolled around in my bed. "BELLA!" Who was yelling at me? It had to have been no more than six in the morning. "BELLA!" Errr…I gave in and opened my eyes.

"WHAT!" I heard footsteps coming up the stairs followed by a knock on my door.

"Bella?" He cracked the door and stuck his head in. Charlie was acting surprisingly shy for someone who was just yelling my name.

"Yeah Dad?" He stepped in, creaking the floorboards as he did.

"We're out of milk…oh you're still sleeping". Clearly.

"Couldn't you have written me a note or something?" He frowned in embarrassment.

"I just figured you'd be up by now. I mean it's already noon". What! Noon. Man did I know how to sleep. I guess MASH took more out of me than I thought.

"…oh. I thought it was earlier. Yeah I can get some milk"

"I'd get it myself but there's just too much work at the station this week. Sorry Bells"

"It's fine Dad. The milk will be in the fridge when you get home". I finished with a smile. He walked back out the door.

"Thanks Bells".

When the door shut I pulled the covers over my head making a tent. I could see hints of the afternoon sun shining through my window, escaping through the worn spots on my blanket. Lately I'd been feeling like my blanket. Worn. Hopefully someday the sun would leak through me and I'd be happier. Why did the weather have to be so contradictive to my emotions? It's been bright and sunny the past four days. Whoever controls the weather up there could at least throw me a rain cloud once in a while. Jeez what more could a girl ask for? Pushing my tent down I freed my face to take in the sun at full exposure. Apparently I had errands to do.

…

Once I got to the store I'd totally forgotten what I was there for. Was it bagels? Maybe bacon? Why was I being sent on such a lame excuse for an errand? I clearly hadn't given Charlie as much credit as he deserved. He knew when I needed to get out of the house and he probably knew that I wouldn't have done it without some motivation. Milk being the motivation. MILK! That was what I was here for. Remembering this I quickly backed up to the dairy isle and took hostage a jug of two percent. That's right milk jug…you're coming home with me. Forced to sit beside last nights failed dinner and the half scorched ham steak Charlie tried to cook when he got home. If I was going to suffer so were my dairy products. Oh no…the hermit life was getting to me. I was loosing my mind. An image of a crazy haggled old woman came into my mind. Fifteen cats purring at her feet. Oddly the image seemed comforting. That was not a good sign. Then I saw him staring at me from the boxed meals section. Holding a gawky grin on his face that emphasized each individual tooth. Mike Newton.

"Hi Bella!" He started for me. I hugged my milk jug against it's will. How the hell was I going to get out of this one?! Clearly he saw me. I mean he waved and was now walking straight towards me, either that or he held a large fondness for milk and hadn't seen it in a while. "Bella! I haven't seen you in ages. You never came to my graduation party". Crap. I apparently was going to have to come up with an excuse for that.

"Well my mother kind of wanted me to visit her before I left to college. So I went up there last week". Good for you Bella. Lie about your own mother. His eyes grew even more delighted.

"Oh that's great. I thought you'd just blown me off for that Edward guy". I was just loving these reminders.

"Nope"

"Well it's really lucky for you that I saw you here. There's a party tonight down at the beach. Bomb fire and everything". Lucky? It hit me then. Charlie must have known Mike would ask me to the party. That was why he'd sent me out for milk.

"That's nice"

"I was thinking I'd invite you". Oh no…this wasn't good. Did Mike Newton really believe he had a chance. This had gone on for years now. How thick could someone be? He apparently noticed the face I was making when he quickly finished his question. "You know…as friends". Lovely. An as friends invite. I knew he was still thinking otherwise. Lucky for me I had a plan.

"That sounds great Mike. But I'd need to bring a friend". His grin dropped.

"Edward or Jacob?"

"Jessica!" With that his grin came back with more brawn then before.

"Oh sure. That would work. So when do you want me to pick you up?"

"I was thinking I'd drive myself. And I'd pick Jessica up on the way. I could give you a ride too if you wanted". He seemed to have liked this plan because he stopped looking at his boss to make sure he hadn't noticed his delay in stacking shelves.

"Yeah that would be great! The party starts at nine, so how about you grab me at eight thirty then we'll get Jessica". Nice try Mike Newton. Squeezing in some alone time before the party.

"Actually Jessica is on the way to your house so I'm gonna pick her up first. I'll see you at quarter to nine though". He gave up and agreed. Then his boss finally noticed his lack in work and sent us a disapproving glare. Mike saw this and started back for his shelf.

"I'll see you later Bella!" I went straight for the check out and hurried to my truck as quick as possible. I wasn't taking any chances of running into anyone else today. When I got home I promptly stuck the milk in the fridge noticing the half full jug of milk already there. Oh Charlie was gonna get payback for this!

…

I called Jessica and she was more then eager to go. She even thanked me for setting up the opportunity for her and Mike. Several times. When I went to pick her up she practically bounced down the walkway and hopped into my truck. How did she get the door open so easily? I couldn't even crack it without effort. It must have been her determination to get to Mike. Frankly I couldn't see what she saw in him. He was…well he was normal. I guess it wasn't fair to compare him since my previous boyfriends had been…well not normal, but I couldn't help myself. Jacob and Edward certainly rose the bar. Jessica was buckled now.

"Hey Bella!" I shifted the truck.

"Hi Jessica"

"If I didn't say it enough then I'm telling you now. You're a god. You heard me talking about Mike and even with your…err situation you still kept me in mind". I really hated it when people were overly grateful. Besides I didn't do it for her. There was no way I would have gone with Mike Newton alone.

"It was nothing. I figured it would be fun". Fun? I snorted at that. Nothing was ever fun anymore.

"Well it was really nice of you". She babbled on like that until we picked up Mike. He seemed dejected when Jessica scooted to the middle seat leaving him by the window. But that didn't stop him from leaning over her to peer at me.

"Bella this is gonna be fun, isn't it. Much better now that you'll be there". I could turn that on him.

"Nah, the real party goer is Jessica. She'll be the one to stand by". He slumped back into his seat.

"Yeah. Hey Jessica did you like your graduation gift?" Her eyes twinkled at this.

"I loved it!" He seemed content with this. "I can't wait to use the stationary at college. It really was a thoughtful gift". Then he realized that he didn't get me anything. His face dropped.

"Bella I'm sorry I didn't get you a gift. I only got invited to your party at last minute. Otherwise-". I cut him off.

"It's okay Mike. I didn't get you anything". He still seemed bummed. "So where is this party anyway?"

"La Push. Down where we went last time". My heart skipped a beat. La Push. I could do this. I could make it through the night. Maybe.

When we got there we all piled out of the truck and gathered our blankets. There was a short path we would have to follow to get to the beach, but it wouldn't be that bad. At least for those gifted with balance. I would probably accumulate a few bumps and bruises. Jessica had Mike a few strides ahead leaving me to the back. I didn't mind this, at least I didn't have to listen to her chatter. With this thought I caught my shoe against my other shoe locking the laces together. Then I fell. It was inevitable, but all the same I came up looking like I'd just rolled in the dirt. I brushed my jeans off and speed up to keep Jessica and Mike within my sight. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a flash of red. It was just quick enough to slip out of my vision, but I'd seen it's trail. Deciding it must have been some kid with a cigarette I kept walking. The opening through the trees showed the bomb fire. It looked pretty. As if the beach had caught fire. I suppose that's a little odd to see that as pretty, but it really was. I laid down my blanket and sat down. Mike had forgotten his but Jessica was more than happy to share hers. Some people walked around in groups while others secluded themselves in twos. Me, I was in a group of one. Not the most conversational group. I'm kind of happy is wasn't, if it had been then there would have been something else to worry about. Like weather I'd prefer white padded walls or purple.

Staring at the fire I realized that this probably wasn't a good idea. To come into Jake's woods and lay on his beach was just another painful reminder of his absence. It really did hurt. I closed my eyes and tried to image nothing. Instead all I could see was the fire filling my eyelids. Blinding my every thought. I was getting sick of the unhealthy reminders of Jacob. If he was going to act like this and leave me alone to question my every move then he could have at least told me why. Then I wouldn't have to blame myself. What a jerk. I turned around and laid on my back facing the stars. I wondered what Edward was doing right then. Was he okay? Did he hurt? Would I ever see him again? I shut my eyes and tried again to remember nothingness.