Disclaimer: SM owns Twilight.

Chapter 9: Back to School

The days that followed after Bella's confession were lighter, happier. She felt more at ease in her new home, no longer walking on eggshells and trying to pretend that everything was okay. That evening had been spent on the couch together—like a family—as Bella tried her best to explain to Charlie how her life had led her here. There were instances when she became too emotional and couldn't continue, but Sue was there to fill in what she knew, helping Bella get through the hardest parts.

Charlie was livid, probably even angrier after he got the whole story, but all of his ire was directed at Renee. Bella tried to argue that she'd also made some poor choices, but Charlie wouldn't hear of it. The way he saw things, if Renee hadn't been such an uninvolved and distant mother, Bella would have made much wiser choices and been faced with very different situations. Even though Bella didn't necessarily agree with her father, it was still nice to have his unwavering support.

As angry as Charlie was towards Renee, there was no comparison to the complete and utter rage that he felt towards James and the Harris family. He was shocked by how they had treated Bella, especially given the delicate condition she was in. Charlie continually referred to James as a "punk kid," appalled that he had gotten Bella pregnant and then abandoned her in the moments when she needed him most. He also couldn't believe they had the audacity to offer Bella money; somehow he knew that Renee probably wasn't nearly as offended.

Bella suspected that Charlie somehow felt as if he were at least partially to blame for the circumstances that had befallen her. Numerous times he had shaken his head and muttered about how different things would have been if he had only made more of an effort to see his daughter, taken more of an interest in her life, or even challenged Renee for custody. But Bella couldn't blame him for those things. He had called often, asked her about her life, yet she was the one that lied and pretended things were okay. She was also the one that stopped coming to visit, stopped spending her summers and vacations with her father.

~ O ~

Though there was still much to be resolved, Thanksgiving was a happy day for the newly blended family. Sue's children, Leah and Seth, came to share in the huge meal Sue and Bella had prepared. Leah seemed a bit cold and distant when she first arrived, but eased into the conversation as the meal progressed. She had driven in from Seattle early that morning and Bella assumed she was probably just tired.

Bella wanted to ask her about the University of Washington, where Leah was a student, but stopped herself short when she realized that college was no longer an option for her. She rubbed her still-flat stomach with a sigh as she thought about the baby she would have instead, trying to push past the thoughts of her uncertain future.

Seth was closer to Bella's age and she immediately felt a kinship with him, like the brother she'd never had. He was bright and sunny, teasing and telling jokes through helpings of turkey and pumpkin pie. Seth was attending a technical school in Port Angeles to become a mechanic, doing his apprenticeship at Uley's Auto Body in La Push. He made Bella promise that she'd allow him to take her out to reservation one weekend and introduce her to all of his friends. Though Bella had never before put much effort into pursuing friendships, she was excited by the prospect.

~ O ~

With the Thanksgiving holiday over, it was time for Bella to return to high school. She was nervous about once again trying to find her niche in a new school, but she was also a little excited to see what things were like in such a small town. Renee had always moved them to large cities with equally intimidating schools. Forks High School could probably fit within the gymnasium of any number of those schools. With such a small student population, Bella knew that as a new student, it would be much more difficult to fade into the background.

Any notions about blending in were quickly erased when Bella stepped foot onto the campus of Forks' only high school. At first she shrugged off the whispers and stares, assuming there was so much talk because Charlie had dropped her off in his police cruiser. She was also starting the semester at an odd time, only weeks before Christmas break. Yet as the day wore on, the hushed conversations and too-long glances continued, causing Bella to wonder if the whole town was already privy to her predicament.

Morning classes passed quickly, with several students quick to introduce themselves and offer to help her find her classes. Forks High wasn't large enough to need an escort, but Bella found herself accepting their assistance anyway, not wanting to appear rude or impolite. Having never been good with names, she found it difficult to remember the names of most of the students she came in contact with, but there were a few that stood out.

One boy, Mike Newton, followed her around with unbridled enthusiasm. He offered to carry her books between nearly every class, offered rides both to and from school each day, and even suggested that he could get her a job at his parent's store if she was looking for employment. While Bella was thankful for his help, the attention that came with it was unwelcome. As much as she tried to shake him off and gently distance herself from him, he seemed to increase his efforts ten-fold, like a dog with a bone.

When lunchtime finally came, Bella found an empty table in the corner, hoping to have a moment alone to compose her thoughts. Hoping to deter anyone from sitting with her, she pulled a book from her backpack and pretended to read as she munched on the lunch Sue had packed for her that morning. She felt a little silly with a packed lunch, but Sue had insisted she needed to be sure she was getting the correct nutrients for her and the baby.

As it turned out, her book wasn't much of a deterrent. Two pages into her novel, she heard the chairs around her table scraping across the worn tile floor. Resisting the urge to look up, she continued to read and ignore her unwelcome visitors. When she heard Mike Newton clear his throat loudly, she closed her book with a resigned sigh.

The students sitting at her table all quickly introduced themselves, but Bella paid little attention to what they were saying. She had wanted to put forth more of an effort this time, but she quickly realized her life was now so far removed from the usual high school drama. She didn't care about the basketball game on Friday night, what couple had recently broken-up, or what odd pair was caught making out behind the cafeteria. Her thoughts revolved around pregnancy hormones, baby names, and upcoming obstetrician appointments.

The girls sitting around the table with Bella—she thought their names were Lauren, Jessica, and Kate—would never be her friends. As they giggled and talked about prom dresses, tanning appointments, and nail salons, Bella realized that no matter the school, the students were all the same. She'd never fit in before, with her love of books and British comedies; she certainly wouldn't now, with no hope of college and a child arriving in the months to come.

Though she'd promised herself she'd try, Bella could no longer be bothered with the effort. For the remainder of the week, she sat quietly in class, speaking only when required and concentrating on her studies. Lunch was spent in the library, hidden away between the dusty stacks of reference books that no one ever used. It was the perfect place to sit and enjoy her lunch, reading pregnancy books and trying to figure out a name for her baby.

~ O ~

The following week, Sue accompanied Bella to her first visit with the town's only obstetrician. Sitting nervously in the reception area, Bella tried to avoid the gazes of the other patients. The secret of her pregnancy was still held within her tiny family and she wanted to keep it that way for as long as possible. She could feel the prying eyes of those around her and for some reason she felt like they knew her secret with only a look.

Bella picked up a months-old parenting magazine from the table beside her, quickly flipping through the well-worn pages. She hadn't even realized her leg was twitching in anxiousness until she felt Sue's hand rest upon her knee. Looking up at Sue with a grateful grin, she was granted with an equally warm smile in return.

Forks Community Wellness Center was the only place to go in the small town to receive medical care. The nearest hospital was in Port Angeles, thirty minutes away. Dr. Carlisle Cullen had started the clinic ten years prior, hoping to provide affordable and convenient health care to the town's residents. The clinic was home to two general practitioners—one of them being Dr. Cullen himself—an OB/GYN, and a pediatrician. Counseling and psychiatric services were also offered in an adjacent building.

With a mid-afternoon appointment, the clinic was bustling with activity. There were two other expectant mothers seated in the waiting room, although both were much older than Bella and obviously further along in their pregnancies. Several small children played in the corner, stacking blocks and pushing plastic cars across the carpet. An elderly man sat in the corner, staring blankly into space.

The interior of the clinic was warm and inviting, a very different atmosphere than most doctors' offices Bella had visited, especially one that offered free and reduced cost medical care. Bella had visited a few of those places in her life and they were generally very sparse and not well-kept. This place was entirely different, allowing Bella to feel a bit more relaxed. Before she could get too lost in her thoughts, however, a nurse stepped out to call her name.

The nurse ushered Bella into a small exam room, going through the usual steps that occurred at the beginning of such a visit—weight, temperature, blood pressure. She was also given a repeat pregnancy test, just to confirm what she was already sure of. When the nurse began to question her on medical history, Bella was embarrassed that she didn't know the answer to a lot of the questions. As far as her family was concerned, she only had Charlie and she didn't know if there was a history of any diseases or disorders in James' family.

Bella breathed a sigh of relief when the nurse finally exited the room, though she was not thrilled to strip down and put on the flimsy gown they'd given her. Once she'd changed, she sat stoically on the exam table, watching the seconds tick by on the clock. She was momentarily startled when the door slowly opened and in walked a pretty, brown-haired woman.

"Hello, Isabella. I'm Dr. Weber," she said before reaching out her hand to shake Bella's.

"Bella. Just Bella."

"Well, Bella, it appears that your home test was correct. Based upon the information you gave the nurse, I've estimated your due date for June 28, but that could be adjusted later on."

After explaining to Bella what tests she would need to run and what the visit would entail, Dr. Weber proceeded with her examination. A nurse came in later to draw blood, to do a routine check and to test for STDs. That information made Bella nervous, knowing that James had been with other girls before her. She also worried that he was seeing different girls when they were together, given the way their relationship had ended. She shuddered as she remembered the trashy blonde girl that had been sitting on his lap, giggling flirtatiously and whispering in his ear.

All of the pregnancy information Bella was given was slightly overwhelming. She was thankful that she was given pamphlets to take home as well. It would be much easier to read and absorb the information at her own pace. She was confused about what she could and couldn't eat, what symptoms were normal and what she should be concerned about, and what over-the-counter medications she could take.

Bella was happy to learn that her morning sickness would most likely go away at the end of her first trimester. She almost wanted to circle that day on the calendar and initiate a countdown to when she could start eating more normally again. She really hoped she wasn't one of those women that were sick throughout the entire pregnancy.

When the appointment was finally over, she exited with a ton of information, pre-natal vitamins, and an appointment for her next visit.

~ O ~

As Bella fell into a routine at school, the days seemed to pass more quickly. Before she realized, it was well into the month of December, nearly time for Christmas. Trudging to the mailbox on a chilly Saturday morning, Bella was shocked to find a large envelope with her name on it. More than the size or the weight, it was the name on the return address that gave her pause: Dartmouth College.

Bella carried the envelope into the kitchen and placed it gingerly on the table. She thought that if she started long enough, it might burst into flames. She was curious about its contents, yet too scared to actually open it. When Charlie wandered into the kitchen, she passed the task onto him. As she saw the warring emotions on his face as he read the enclosed letter, she knew. Charlie placed the letter on the table, gave her a gentle pat on the back, then left her alone with her thoughts. That was one of her favorite things about her father—he didn't hover.

Curiosity eventually got the best of her and she pulled the letter across the table, closer to where she sat. She refused to pick it up, not wanting to stain the glossy sheen of the paper or mar the ink with her tears. Her first instincts had been to burn or destroy it, but she felt oddly calm as she decided she would keep it. Even if there was no chance of her attendance, she was still proud of her early admission acceptance to the only college she'd ever wanted to attend.

~ O ~

On Christmas morning, Charlie roused Bella from the bed bright and early with a huge grin on his face. Sue met them at the bottom of the stairs, appearing nearly as anxious. Bella was confused by their enthusiasm. She had asked them to forego the usual Christmas gifts, knowing that there was so much that needed to be purchased for her baby. She still had much of the money she'd been able to save while working that summer, but even that wouldn't be nearly enough.

Charlie led her out the front door and into the driveway, positively beaming. There in the driveway, with a giant red bow affixed to the hood, sat a slightly-used silver Volvo. Bella walked around the vehicle twice, sure that her eyes must be deceiving her.

"Dad, I told you no presents. You shouldn't have done this."

"It's not new or anything," Charlie said as he rubbed the back of his neck uncomfortably. "I got it at that used car place in Port Angeles. I took it over to Uley's and had them do some work on it. Seth brought it by last night. He said the engine looks good. They put new tires on and gave it a fresh coat of paint. I thought you'd need something with the baby coming and Volvos are supposed to be real safe."

"It's perfect," Bella whispered as she threw her arms around Charlie's neck. "I love it, Dad."

~ O ~

When classes resumed for the spring semester, Bella began to make preparations to finish high school and for the birth of her child. She'd spoken to the guidance counselor on the first day back, informing her of the pregnancy and gathering information about how she could continue her classes and graduate on time. With the baby due only weeks after graduation, Bella knew she would not be able to finish out the semester.

The counselor was kind and considerate, helping Bella to map out a plan for the remaining months. Charlie and Sue came in at a later date to speak with the school administration. The goal was for Bella to remain in classes until spring break, but if she felt uncomfortable at any time prior to that date, she had the option of switching to a home-based program.

With the home-based program, a specially assigned teacher would visit Bella's house once per week, spending a few hours to go over assignments and administer tests. The teacher would drop off new assignments and collect those that were due. Concessions would be made for labs or group projects that could not be completed in the traditional fashion.

~ O ~

Knowing that she had only a few more months of high school left, Bella continued to isolate herself from her classmates. Even with her distance, Mike Newton continued to follow her around. He became much more courageous in his advances, even asking Bella to the prom. She thanked him for the offer, but turned him down as gently as she could. As annoying as he could be, he was still a nice guy and Bella couldn't bring herself to be unkind to him.

Though Bella had absolutely no interest in Mike, there was another student that didn't see the situation in the same light.

~ O ~

A/N: Obviously, we're having a baby soon. Any guesses about whether it's a boy or a girl? Names? And I wonder which student is annoyed by Mike's obsession with Bella…

Reviewers get a tease, as always. Thanks to my beta, lislar, for constantly being supportive and totally awesome. Catch me on twitter—ms_ambrosia10 or over on the forums at twificpics(dot)com.