Important! While this is based on my life and the events that have taken place involving me, this is a Fanfiction and there will be fiction in the story. Enjoy!

Last time:

It's okay, Isabella." He smiles and pats the space next to him again. I slowly walk over and sit, leaving as much room between us as possible.

"Isabella?" I shiver as my name rolls off of his tongue.

"Yeah?" I look down at my lap, playing with my fingers.

"Can I call you by a nickname?" I laugh quietly at the randomness of his question.

"What?" I choke out, taking in a deep breath.

"You know, a nickname. Jasper gets to call you 'Iz' and I want to call you something." He shrugs, but I can hear something in his voice.

"Sure, as long as it isn't 'fat-ass' or something," I try to joke, but he just glares at the floor.

"How about, Bella?" His eyes meet mine and I think about it.

"No," I huff. He looks confused and hurt by my rejection. "It means beautiful in Italian," I explain, hoping he will catch on.

"Bella it is, then." He smirks and I roll my eyes.

Chapter seventeen.

Now:

"Bella?" I look over at Edward. He's lying back on my bed, flipping through the book that was on my bedside table. He looks back at me and I ask him what he wants. "Are you okay now? You know, with this whole fucked up divorce thing." I shrug.

"I have to be. My mom needs me to be okay." He shakes his head with a small smile on his lips.

"You're one of a fucking kind, Bella. One of a kind." This time I shake my head at him. He looks back to the book, silently mouthing the words he is reading.

"And what is that supposed to mean?" I ask. Even I can hear the hurt in my voice. His eyes flash to mine and I can see he didn't mean for me to take that that the way I did.

"I didn't mean it in a bad way, Bella. I just meant that you are so different from anyone I have met before. You're kind and thoughtful and such a good fucking person." I fight back a small smile at his words. I know what he is saying is completely wrong, but it's still nice to hear something like that.

"Stop fucking thinking it isn't true, right now." I look at him in shock. Is he a mind reader now?

"Sorry, Dad." I smirk slightly and he laughs quietly, shaking his head.

He sets the book down on the bedside table next to him and sits on the edge of the bed, looking right at me. I nervously push a strand of hair behind my ear while biting my lip. What is he looking at? I try to sit up a little straighter to stop my stomach from scrunching up, but it doesn't work very well.

His eyes catch the mirror behind me on the vanity and he runs his fingers through his hair, trying to flatten it, but it just makes it worse. He smirks at his reflection, studying every detail of his face, an almost sad look on his face. I watch him, wondering what he is doing and why he is doing it. He knows he's good looking; he doesn't have to look at himself like that all the time.

"What do you see when you look in the mirror?" he asks, his eyes finally leaving his reflection and looking at me. I swallow hard and shrug, turning around to look at myself in the mirror.

I see a fat girl who wishes she was someone else. I don't say it out loud, but I can't stop myself from thinking it.

"I don't want to talk about it." I shake my head and stand up, moving away from the mirror.

"Do you want to know what I see?" he asks, but doesn't give me time to answer. He is already up and sitting in the chair in front of the vanity. "I see an average looking guy with hair that just doesn't do anything. I see green eyes, that I wish were blue and I see a scruffy face, that definitely needs a shave. I see a body that could use some work, but it's okay I suppose. I think that I am too tall and I think that I need to shave my hair off," he finishes with a laugh and I scowl at him.

"You have beautiful eyes." I slap my hand over my mouth as soon as I say it. He raises an eye brow and I want to hit myself. What did I have to say that for? Why am I so stupid? God, I need to think things through before I speak.

"Why, thank you Bella," he smirks and my face seems to get hotter and hotter.

"Don't you think it is time for you to leave?" I ask, sounding a bit rude, but I don't care right now. It's late and I'm getting tired.

"Oh, okay. I guess I'll see you at school." He shrugs and climbs out of the window after grabbing his bag. I feel awful, but when I get to the window, he is already gone.

I shut the window and fall onto my bed, my mind racing with thoughts of Edward.

Waking up, I groan when I realize I have to go to school again. I don't want to go, but I know that I have to apologize to Edward for being so rude last night. I don't know what got into me, but I was so embarrassed at what I said. Who the hell would say something like that? I am so stupid!

I shower and dress quickly before going into the kitchen and grabbing something for lunch. I decide on fruit and water again, and throw them into my bag. I put my cell phone in the front pocket and grab a banana to eat on the way. Going into the hall, I pull on my raincoat and my shoes before opening the door.

I freeze when I turn around from closing the door. Alice is standing by a silver Volvo, a big grin on her face.

"Isabella, come on. Get in." She smiles and gets back into the car, waving me over through her open window. I slowly walk over and open the back door. Jasper is sitting on the other side, a big smile on his face.

"Mornin' Iz." He smirks as I sit down and put on the seatbelt.

"Hey Jasper, Alice, and Edward." I blush when I see Edward looking back at me through the rear-view mirror.

"Bella." He smiles and nods his head in greeting.

"Bella? Oh great, he has a nickname for you, too,." Alice huffs and sticks out her bottom lip, making all of us laugh. Alice joins in the laughter as Edward pulls back onto the road and starts the drive to school. The ride is full of Alice singing along to the radio and me looking out the window.

After pulling into a parking spot at the school, Edward turns off the car and Alice all but falls out of the car. I shake my head at her and grab my bag. As I go to open the door, Edward is already there, waiting with a wide smile on his face. I blush and climb out, thanking him in the process.

We stand around the car, waiting for the bell to ring. My face hasn't returned to its normal colour since I got out of the car because I can feel everyone's eyes on me. I can hear their whispers as they walk past us.

'Why is she standing with the Cullens?'

'Is she Alice's charity case now or something? There is no other reason for her to be friends with Swan.'

'Maybe she's gotten so fat she can't even walk to school now.'

I know that Edward can hear them, as well, by the looks he gives to everyone that walks past, but it doesn't stop their stares. I'm not surprised they are shocked I am with them, and they gave me a ride to school. I'm pretty surprised myself.

"I'm sorry I kicked you out last night, Edward," I whisper so that no-one hears. He shrugs and looks down at the floor, his fingers running through his hair. I can tell that I have upset him and my heart clenches painfully. "I never meant to upset you; I was just so embarrassed that I said that. I'll understand if you don't want to be my friend anymore." He looks up at me and he shakes his head.

"Of course I want to be your friend, Bella," he sighs, his voice sounding tired.

"Why are you so stressed then?" I press, wanting to know why he seems so…sad.

"I'm fed up with what these people are saying. They don't even know you." He gestures to the people walking past us and I nod understandingly.

"If you want to be my friend, you better get used to it." I try to joke, but he doesn't seem to find it funny.

"Isabella, are you free this Saturday?" Alice chimes in, skipping over to me from her place next to Jasper. Edward walks away over to a nearby forest and Jasper goes with him. My eyes stay on Edward's back, wondering where he's going.

"Um, I don't know, Alice. Where are they going?" I ask, my voice on edge. Alice follows the direction I'm looking and shrugs.

"That's where Edward goes to smoke. Maybe they are doing that. Anyway, I was thinking about doing the movie night again." She bounces right back to what she wants to do, Edward and Jasper forgotten.

"I'll ask Renee." I shrug, finally looking at Alice. When I do, I see her sad face when I say Renee's name.

"I can't believe they are getting a divorce." She groans, her voice sad.

"I know, neither can I." I admit.

"How are you feeling about it?" she asks in a small voice. I tell her that I honestly don't know. "Mom said that Renee has been calling her and asking for advice. Mom - who we both know knows everything - doesn't even know what to say to her. Do you think Renee will be okay?" Alice asks and I shrug just as the bell rings. We both say goodbye to each other and head off in opposite directions towards the school.

Hey everyone. I am so sorry about the long wait, this chapter just didn't want to be written for some reason. That is also the reason why this chapter is so short and so bad. I am sorry.

I can't believe the amount of reviews I got for the last chapter. It was more than double my record. Thank you all so much! You guys rock (:

Anyway, I want to thank my BETA, Ruth Perk. Awesome woman. Thank you so much!

Please leave me a review, even if it is just to tell me how bad this is. I like constructive criticism.

I have Twitter! So maybe follow me? The link is on my profile.

Thanks for reading.

Twi-girl09

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