I lifted my head skywards letting the rain wash over my whole body, my clothes clinging to my body. This is why I love the rain; it makes you feel fresh, washes the pain away, but most of all it hides the tears that fall down my cheeks and muffles the sobs that fall from my lips. I fight myself trying to get Edward out of my head, but inside I'm still hanging on to every word, every touch, his kiss.

My feet splashed on the concrete with every step I took trees lining each side of the road towering high above my head. An engine roared behind me, startling me; I turned around and watched as the car slowed down to stop by the side of me.

"Bella?" A deep husky voice called out to me from the car. "What the hell are you doing? You're soaking wet."

"Jacob? Shouldn't you be in school right now" trying hard to keep the pain from my face and voice, if I'm completely honest I was relieved to see a friendly face.

"I had to go sort out something's so I ditched last period. You never answered my question" never taking his eyes off me as I started to shiver.

"I just had to get away from there, to think." He gave me an incredulous, concerned look.

"So you decide to take a walk in the rain and the cold." He raised a brow, I smiled still shivering realising that this probably wasn't a good idea after all.

"Well, it does sound weird when you put it that way, but in my defence I am walking home so it's not just some spontaneous walk in the rain!" Another big shiver racked my body and Jacob gave me a concerned stare. He got out the car and ran around to the passenger side opening the door.

"C'mon, get in I'll give you a ride" he grinned at me his warm brown eyes sparkling as I walked round to the passenger side and got in he shut the door and ran back round to the driver's seat climbing back in. He turned to me his hair plastered onto his forehead, shirt sticking to his body.

"Thanks, for the ride." The car roared to life and pulled away from the curb towards my house. Clumps of green fly past the windows as we drive.

Jacob turned to me, "so, what happened today?" I looked at him. How could he not know? I'm almost certain that everyone in school knew by now especially after the show Emmet and Jasper gave. However, I could tell by the look on his face he was completely sincere.

"You'll almost certainly know by the end of the day tomorrow." Then I contemplated it for a second thinking of all the rumours that would be weaved from the incident today "Although, if I know the imaginations of half the students at school you will probably have a colourful picture painted that is more interesting than the real thing." I shook my head sometimes I think people have nothing better to do.

Like when I first moved here there were rumours flying around that I was adopted because I don't look a lot alike Rosalie or Jasper. Then my second day I had a migraine so I took some pills for it someone saw and was convinced I was a druggie. It's sometimes hard to believe the active imaginations some of the people at the school. Me? A druggie, hardly. My father is the chief of police I think he would have noticed by now. The way I see it most high school students are vultures latching on to any piece of gossip, contorting it, spreading it around, then tearing people to shreds with it.

"Which way?" he asked looking at me I gave him the directions, as we drove home and gave him the watered down version of what went on today. His hands tightened on the wheel when I told him what Edward did and what Lauren said.

"Lauren is just a bitch who doesn't want anyone else to have attention but herself," he said looking at me "and as for Edward, do that to you for money is just sick." anger seeped into his voice. Then he said something that touched me; "you are worth so much more than any money she could have ever offered him." Not knowing how to respond, but want to show him how much it mean't I took his hand in mine and squeezed it earning a squeeze back.

After that I carried on to explain about the fight and after when I punched him; he burst out laughing at that then like Emmet asked for details. I don't know what it as about Jacob I just felt close to him without even trying he was easy to talk to and in that car I felt the pain in my heart, slowly start to dim. It was only when we pulled up onto my driveway that the emotions started to make themselves once again known.

"Bye Jacob, and thank you." I gave him a small smile.

"Bye Bella, you don't have to thank me for the lift." He shrugged, "I liked talking to you."

I smiled at him and blushed. "That wasn't what I was referring to."

I turned around and walked to the door unlocking it, I stopped just before I crossed the threshold to wave goodbye to Jacob he smiled at me as the car pulled away from the drive and sped down the road. I sighed and looked at the time, I had just over an hour before Rose and Jaz would be home and another hour before Charlie would be home.

I went upstairs to my room to gather my thoughts; the emptiness only seemed to make the emotions push through the fresh wounds, making me feel vulnerable and exposed two of the things I hated most in the world. I hated feeling this way it made me feel like Lauren had won, made me feel weak, useless.

I spent the next hour curled up in a ball on my bed revelling in the warmth and security it gave me, the soft linen sheet pulled right up to my chin. Every now and then a new round of silent tears would fall from my eyes rolling down my cheeks on to the tear sodden pillow. I walked to the mirror and looked at my appearance my hair was a mess and matted, I had tear tracks down my cheeks and my eyes were red and puffy. I sighed, I looked like hell.

I made myself look presentable as to not worry anyone, as Rose and Jaz should be home soon and would no doubt bringing Emmet and Alice along with them I didn't want them to worry especially when there was nothing they could do to help. I pulled my hair my hair up on my head in a haphazard manner and washed my face, wrapping a dressing gown over my t shirt and the pyjama shorts I had stuck on before getting into bed.

My head was pounding with a huge headache from crying, I needed something cold. I padded down stairs to the freezer and opened the door and grabbed the tub of Ben and jerry's phish food ice cream. Nothing like chocolate ice cream to help make you feel better, like I always say the chocolate may not always heal your heart but it can soften the blow. I grabbed a big spoon, settled on the couch and flicked on the TV.

I was watching Friends stuffing my face with Ben and jerry's when Jasper, Alice, Rosalie and Emmet all walked in laughing. When they saw me the group fell silent;

"How you feeling bells?" Rose murmured, sitting next to me on the couch Alice followed close behind a solemn look on her face.

"Better, now that I'm home with the boys" I smiled, winking at their confused faces, I let out a half hearted laugh and shook the ice cream tub in their faces. "Ben and jerry the only two men I'm going to be seeing for a while!" they laughed with me and grabbed for the ice cream tub I lifted out of their reach just in time.

"Hey! C'mon bells I want some!" Rose whined, I stuck my tongue out at her and waved the ice cream around above my head. Then I felt the ice cream being swiped out of my hand and looked behind me to see Emmet with his mouth full of ice cream hiding the tub behind his back.

"Emmet!"

"What!" He spluttered ice cream dribbling down his chin, wiping away the ice cream his eyes flicked to the TV "Ooh Friends." He jumped on to the couch next to mine roses and Alice's and stared at the screen, god I swear that boy has the attention span of a goldfish. I grabbed the ice cream back and took another spoonful. I groaned and fell back into the couch;

"Hmmm nothing is better than chocolate" Emmett perked up at this comment and just felt the need to add something in.

"Well, I personally wouldn't say anything," he said winking at Rose who just laughed and moved over to his couch and sat beside him. Jasper, who had been fairly quiet this whole time, spoke up.

"Are you sure you're okay?" a look of pure concern on his face.

"If I'm honest, Jasper" I looked at him, I wasn't about to lie if I denied my feelings it would just make me feel worse in the long run. "No, but I'll be okay" I assured him. He smiled down at me, and then came to sit on the couch beside me and Alice.

"Gimme' some of that," Alice chirped, reaching for the ice cream tub that was still clasped in my hands, I passed her the tub and spoon she took a big scoop and handed it back to me. I went into the kitchen and grabbed another spoon, I plonked back on the couch and dug in the tub with Alice and the conversation picked up from there.

The four of us spent the next hour or so laughing and joking around, as if nothing had happened today, like normal. I was grateful they weren't fawning over me, I didn't need it, I just needed them to be here for me, I didn't need pity from anyone ,especially them. After about an hour and a half Charlie arrived home and greeted us all, he didn't even bat an eyelid at the fact Alice and Emmett were here, they had practically taken up a permanent residence in this house.

It was around midnight when we all went to bed, none of us could keep our eyes open and Charlie said it was okay for Emmett and Alice to stay the night if it was okay with there own parents. Whilst they sorted themselves out I made my way up to my own room after telling them good night.

As soon as I reached my room I felt a sense of loneliness and emptiness wash over me now that I was alone with nothing to distract me. That pain in my heart started to hurt again; I let my hair out of its bun letting it fall down my back and shrugged my dressing down off leaving it in a heap on the floor. Thinking back the day I realise the hardest part would have to be knowing when I ran away from Edward, he wouldn't run after me. I collapsed under the bed sheets feeling tears form in my eyes, I closed them tight letting sleep take me away from the pain.

When I awoke that morning, getting out of my bed I was suddenly hit with a cold gust of wind coming from the open window, I walked over and pushed it shut looking outside at the sun rising. The deep midnight blue sky brightened into orangey gold, the moon falling from the sky as the sun rose to take its place, high up in the endless sky.

I knew today was going to be difficult that I would have to face him, I would have to face the both of them, I would have to face the whispers and rumours, but I can do it. I know I can, well at least I think I can.

Either way I would have to.