Chapter 6 : Clumsiness? What clumsiness?

The next day I woke up earlier than usual and decided to make me a bowl of cereal and sit by the living room window with it and a nice steaming cup of coffee. I saw Mike jogging and waved at him. Just then Charlie came downstairs and we continued our breakfast together. I went upstairs to get ready for school. Following yesterday's example and judging by how warm I felt I went along with a light long sleeved red blouse and my old smaller sized jeans. Well a few months of depression can do wonders for a girls weight, I thought ironically. I added a tiny amount of makeup to cover the almost gone dark circles under my eyes and a dab of a lip-gloss I used to wear under Alice's torture. My new school bag and cowboy boots and I was ready.

Angela, Mike and Ben waited for me and I smiled before joining them. Angela smiled at my outfit and Mike took easily back his old 'golden retriever' role from last year. I kept up my new habit of occupying the empty seat next to me with my bag. Between classes I would be with one of my friends who did their best to include me in their activities and while I couldn't help but glance at the empty lunch table the Cullens occupied I didn't have another breakdown.

After school Mike and I headed to his parents store where business would keep us all occupied until the closing time. After that I headed home, joined dad for dinner and then mailed Renee, did my homework, wrote to my new diary and slept soundly.

The next few days went in a similar fashion. Day by day I realized I needed less sleep and would wake up a little after dawn. I would sit by my window just thinking and then go on with my day as usual. It was a Thursday when that changed.

I knew Mike would pass my house soon on his usual jog and decided to join him, after I had excess energy I had to burn. So I put on a pair of dark grey athletic pants, a bright orange tank top and my faithful sneakers I had abandoned these days in favour of the heeled boots. How on earth I haven't fallen straight on my face yet is beyond me. I drank a few gulps of juice and got on the front yard to wait on Mike.

He slowed down when he saw me.

"Hey Mike, mind if I join you?"

He looked a bit apprehensive so I added

"I haven't fallen over my feet in a few days. You're safe"

He laughed and we were on.

Running, even in a pretty slow pace since mike liked to keep his strength for distance, was cathartic. It reminded on Edward running with me on his back serving as a backpack, but it was soon chased away by my aching leg muscles at my burning lungs. All in all I kept breathing and running until we reached an old playground about 10 blocks from my house and sat at a bench to catch our breaths for a few minutes. I had a lot of memories of falling down on this same playground. Speaking of which...

"Wow, you really didn't fall"

I stuck my tongue at him

"Where did you learn this oh so mature response? Debate class?"

"If I could breath properly to respond I would. For now that's the only response I have" I responded while pulling my hair up in a tight ponytail

"Seriously though, wow. What did you do to fix your balance? Now that I think about it I haven't shielded you in gym in some time"

"Frankly, nothing. It just stopped. My clumsy moments are gone" I smiled at him

He smiled right back and we got up to jog back. Mike left me at my door to take a much needed shower and meet up at school.

Charlie was up and looked shocked to see me panting and dropping ungraceful to a kitchen chair.

"Hi...dad...water..."

He rushed to give me a glass of water and after a second glance the whole bottle.

"What happened to you?"

"I... went for... a jog with... Mike. And guess what I'm still standing" I said while drinking my water.

"I'm actually feeling fresh"

"wow, great. I'm off to work, take a shower before you go out", he joked.

I gave him the same mature response I gave Mike, aka sticking my tongue out and he laughed in response. He left for work and I went upstairs to take that much needed shower I mentioned and get ready for school. I put on a sleeveless white top with an off the shoulder blouse and jeans. Boots, bags, a bowl of cereal and I'm out the door.

My truck was making whining sounds as I started it and I made a mental note to tell dad about it. I didn't like the idea of it dying on me, I had come to love the Red Beast as I decided to name it.

As always Angela and Ben were waiting for me and Mike was just pulling in.

"Hey guys"

"Hey Bella, you're glowing. What did you do?" Angela asked with a sly smile

"I went jogging with this one." I pointed my head at Mike

"oh oh, how many bruises?"

"None" I said indignantly

"Just kidding Bells" she smiled and we all shared a good laugh.

We went on with our day. It was obvious that it was February. There were a lot of hearts and fliers around about a Valentine's Day dance & party. Suddenly I was glad I moved here on march! With the swarm of dance invitation on girl's choice and Edward going ballistic I'm at all sure I want to know what would happen if I were here on Valentine's Day.

Around lunch Angela asked me if I wanted a repeat of our last Friday night. Eagerly I said yes since we had so much fun. As the day ended and I got in my truck to go to work, it made the same whiny sound. After another busy shift the Red Beast and I whined our way home. During dinner I told dad and he promised to take it to Jake since he had fixed it for me last year and truth is he needed an excuse to fully make up with Billy, after the whole bonfires-on-the-night-the-Cullens left incident.