Chapter 2: Starting over

Bella POV

My night was awful, I kept tossing and turning and crying, missing the cold arms what held me for so many months and to top it all I felt as if someone was watching me, in the bad way though.

I wanted to bury myself deep in my bed and hide but I knew I couldn't. I had to go to school, answer to everyone that'd ask me about the Cullens, to not break down and then come back home. No work today, thank god. There is a limit to how much I can take in one day. I made my way to the bathroom to see my eyes splotchy and red in a background of blackness. Great, I look like a crying panda!

I took a long warm shower; blow dried and straightened my hair. In the bathroom cupboards I had a small makeup kit that Alice insisted I buy. I did my best to wear some makeup; mainly to cover the blackness and feeling brave when I did hesitantly added some eye shadow and mascara cool the soft purplish tone made me look more awake than I felt! I brushed my teeth and used my faithful lip balm and added a dash of a pink-purplish lip gloss. I laughed at the small cards I found in the kit with directions on how to use each item. I shed a few tears when I remembered Alice was gone and wasn't coming back. I composed myself and took a couple of Advils to help my eyes and throat and keep the headache I knew I was going to have today at bay. I got dressed in jeans and a simple shirt. I looked like me. It looked wrong. I went back to my closet, I needed to look different. Not what was expected? In the end I decided on jeans and a t-shirt. The weather was good, well, Forks good actually. I was torn between a pink t-shirt with butterflies, a light blue with a rose on, a blue with Nemo on, a white one with a few flowers on or a simple white one with a black ribbon at the waist. In the end I threw them all back in the closet and opened the box with my phoenix clothes and got a sleeveless white top with a flower design on the belly, I put it over a simple black t-shirt. I am a girl after all. I was about to put on my sneakers on when I thought about a pair of cowboy boots Renee had sent me in summer. If I break a leg at least I'll a reason to leave school ... I smiled and snickered at the same time. The pink leather jacket Alice disapproved of, a pair of rose stud earrings (dad's present last year) and a flower pendant I had gotten last year as birthday present from mom and I was ready.

I went downstairs to find dad drinking his coffee with the morning paper and I made myself a bowl of cereal. I wasn't hungry but I knew I had to eat. I exchanged my usual juice for a cup of coffee, and I was ready. I couldn't leave though because Damon's car was behind mine. I huffed and went upstairs to knock on his door to wake him up to take his car. He answered on the 3rd set of knocking.

"What?"

He mumbled opening the door dressed in only the bottom of his pjs. Nice abs I thought and then shook my head.

"Your car is behind mine and I need to go to school, can you move it?

"I'm sleeping. Here, take the keys and move it. Scratch it and I'll kill you"

He mumbled sleepily. I smiled

"Go back to bed; I'll leave the keys on the bowl next to the door. Sorry for waking you up"

"Whatever"

he closed the door and I went back downstairs. Said goodbye to dad who seemed worried that I was alone with Damon for a while and got out to move Damon's car. I returned the keys to the bowl as promised and left for school. I drove slowly preparing myself for the long day ahead. I was angry momentarily when I saw that Edward forgot to take his the radio from the truck. 'After all wasn't it a present?' I thought sardonically and holding onto that anger I pulled to the parking lot at school.

Walking through the parking lot I heard footsteps behind me and a tap on my right shoulder, remembering the silly antics on turned my head over my left shoulders to see Mike.

"Hey, Bella" He said smiling.

"Hey Mike, what's up?"

"I heard something, is it true that you and Cullen called it quits?"

"Yes, his family moved away and long distance wouldn't be so great"

"Heck no. Long distance never works, besides you're far too good for him"

I smiled softly, oh mike...

"Don't worry, you'll forget him soon, you have us. By the way what are you doing tomorrow?"

I chuckled

"Mike! I just broke up give me sometime to grieve!" he chuckled as well

"Just kidding"

Just then Ben's car pulled in and Angela hopped out and came to us. She looked pointly at Mike who got the message and waved goodbye. She turned to me

"How are you holding up?"

"I'm fine"

I answered automatically; Angela looked at me and as if she didn't believe me.

"You know maybe long distance relationship isn't such a bad idea. It's only one year"

"Angela,"

I took a deep breath and following my instinct to trust her I said

"Edward wasn't interested in a long distance relationship. It's better this way."

"Oh"

I saw in her eyes she understood me. Suddenly she moved and gave me a hug and leaned in to whisper

"If you need a shoulder I'm only one phone call away"

"Thank you Angela, can we keep this between us? The rumors will be much worse if ..."

"Definitely"

We smiled at each other and moved to first class. The day passed quickly. By the lunch I had repeated the story so many times I had starting to believe it myself. Edward's dad got a big offer and accepted it. We didn't want a long distance relationship so we decided to break up. Simple, cut and dry, without room for talkback. During lunch I loved persuading Lauren and Jessica that not only I'm not broken up by it but that the saying 'when you fall of the horse you need to climb back up' is true. I smiled at their freaked expressions.

When the day ended I was in a rush to go home before I crumble. I was almost outside with Angela and Mike when I heard Lauren exclaim

"Who's the hunk?"

Angela and I exchanged a glance and headed out. I saw Damon leaning casually on his car. I felt my jaw drop and my eyes widened.

"Hello gorgeous"

"Hi," I gave a polite smile around and rushed to him and whispered "what are you doing here?"

"We're going shopping did you forget?"

"Shopping?"

"Yes, for my room. Now come on, get in. We have a lot of people watching anyway"

"What about my car?"

"We'll get it tomorrow, now get in"

He opened the passenger's door for me and I numbly nodded and got in his car.

Damon POV

I woke up by an insisting knock on my door, I opened to see Bella who wanted me to move my car and let her go. I was too sleepy to get in the car and drive so I gave her my keys and went back to bed. A couple hours later I showered, got dressed and was ready to go for breakfast. The past year showed me I didn't have to be so cruel and cold and could open up. With that in mind I decided to go to town and update this attic. I would stop by a blood bank and get some breakfast first. I did promise Charlie I wouldn't kill after all.

I found my keys in the bowl Bella mentioned and was out the door. After that I flew around and found the school. Two girls were outside, a blond one and a brunette one. They were talking about Bella and how well she was after that Edward fella left her and what they could do to prove than that wasn't the case. It seemed that the blond one was the queen bee until Bella showed up and got the guys attention. I felt rage build up inside me. I smiled and decided to change the plan a little. I changed back, put my shades on and leaned in a manly position against my car. I would make an entrance and get Bella away from them and their vile plans.

A few moments later the two girls were on their way out. From the guys' in school expressions I could tell my car stood out.

"Who's the hunk?"

The blond one exclaimed while both she and the brunette one were smiling at me in poses they seemed to think were sexy. Bella was a few steps behind them with a brunette girl in glasses and a blond guy. I saw her jaw drop and eyes widening when she saw me. 'Wow she looks good. A woman in leather is always hot, even if it's pink' I thought

I sent her a killer smile and a wink

"Hello gorgeous"

"Hi,"

She gave a polite smile around and rushed to me and whispered

"what are you doing here?"

"We're going shopping did you forget?"

"Shopping?"

"Yes, for my room. Now come on, get in. We have a lot of people watching anyway"

"What about my car?"

"We'll get it tomorrow, now get in"

I opened the passenger's door for her and she got in. Through he tinted glass I saw everyone staring and pulled out.