A/N: I wanna say thank you so much to SerenityByMoonlight for making the cover for this story!

Chapter Four:

By the time next week came around, I had already started to get into a groove. Bella and I alternated shower times to avoid bathroom haggling in the mornings. I took nights— mostly because I loved hot showers and couldn't be trusted to be out in time for school— and Bella took mornings.

We all walked out the door at exactly eight in the morning. Charlie hugged me and Bella goodbye and then we both parted ways.

School was school. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would though.

French class was easy and I basically spent the whole time joking off with Lauren. Gym and Art were relaxing. Fortunate because while my other classes hadn't exactly gotten harder, the workload had increased. I guess the first couple of days had been a grace period.

I had gotten closer with the gang and felt comfortable calling about half of them "friends", especially after I went to one of the practices.

It was just a small game. No more than ten people. But it had proved to be every bit as intense as Whitney had described.

They moved me around in different positions, seeing which one I seemed to fit better in. I had done more jumping and bending and squatting in that one practice than in my entire life.

It was fun at the time but I felt the consequences for the rest of the week.

And now, I was in my first hECO club meeting with Lauren. The club leader, some teacher whose name I didn't even remember, had given us some materials and did a quick little introduction but then left us to our own devices. She now sat at her desk, typing away at something on her computer.

The current topic was sewing. We were sitting with a medium-sized cloth, needle and thread, and a printout of basic sewing patterns.

So far, my work was going better than Lauren's, who kept sticking her thumb every few seconds. The pattern was simple. My own hands were more clumsy than I liked, unused to the steady and tedious motions, but I went slow and steady.

Lauren's tirade today consisted of her recent breakup with Tyler Crowley.

"And then he just says 'I think we should see other people'. I mean, what kind of piss poor excuse is that? Who else is he going to find better than me in this school? He could've at least given me a valid reason"

I knew exactly who 'better than her' Tyler Crowley was interested in. Bella. She'd told me how they sat at the same table at lunch and he was always flirting with her. Pointless in my opinion. He'd have a better chance of convincing my dad to go on a date with him than Bella.

I didn't tell Lauren this of course. I just hummed in agreement.

I would almost feel bad for Lauren if not for the fact that she obviously didn't love Tyler. The two of them got together after a heavily-intoxicated round of five minutes in heaven not even two months ago.

"You're better off without him" And I did mean it. I had never seen the two ever smile or laugh together. He constantly made advances on other girls and Lauren looked miserable every time she talked to or about him. "It is terrible timing though. The dance being only a couple months away"

"I know!" She exclaimed before letting out a hiss. She'd stabbed her thumb again. Deeper than before. Shit.

I went to the teacher's desk, who luckily had a box of bandaids in her drawers. She pulled one out and handed it to me without so much as looking from her screen.

"Here," I handed it to her.

'Thanks." She put her needle down, done for the day. "Maybe I'll have Randy ask me out."

"Randy?

"Yea, Randy. That football player that does the morning announcements. You know, the one with Red hair? God I love red hair…." She trailed off looking elsewhere.

I shrugged. Now that she mentioned it, I vaguely recalled the tall ginger boy but not enough to give an opinion.

"What about you?"

"What about me?"

"Anyone…" she paused, "special in mind?"

"Not really." I mentally ran through all the guys I had met since my arrival, trying to see if I recalled anyone that stuck out. "There's DJ"

"Garrett? The sophomore?"

"Yea, he's nice." We ran in the same circle and sat together at lunch everyday. At first, he was a little shy and then out of nowhere he seemed to open up. "I'd go with him if he asked. Though, to be honest I'd probably go with anyone who asks"

"Anyone?" Lauren asked.

I simply nodded.

I wasn't particularly picky about that sort of thing. As long as they were either entertaining, sweet, or attractive enough, I was open-minded.

I'd had quite a few boyfriends in my day. And I use the word boyfriend loosely. They were more so friends with a little something extra. I didn't do the whole relationship thing. I didn't like clinginess and after seeing how my parents' relationship turned out, the thought of being responsible for another person's emotional well-being was sickening. We kept it fun and usually stayed on good terms even after the inevitable breakups.

Lauren shot me a look at that, but quickly just picked up her needle again.

Guess she wasn't done after all.

—-

When I came home, I was greeted by the sight of Bella cooking. She had changed out of her school clothes from earlier, now wearing some loose shorts and a long-sleeve shirt with her hair pulled back.

Her face was scrunched up with concentration as she stirred a pot of what smelled like spaghetti.

I'd let out a little chuckle at the sight. She looked like one of those stay-at-home soccer moms.

"How was it?" She greeted once she saw me.

"Good."

I dropped my bag at the door and poured myself a cup of orange juice before jumping up onto the counter.

" There weren't too many people there" I continued "we just sewed some simple patterns. I spent most of the time talking with Lauren."

"Mallory?"

I nodded.

Bella spared me a brief glance before turning back to her pot "...Alright"

"Alright what?"

"Nothing…" she trailed off before shrugging in the way she always did when trying to find out how to word something. (Which happened a lot. Bella wasn't exactly the most socially adept person).

"She just seems kind of shallow," Bella replied, not judgmental but matter-of-factly.

I just shrugged. It's not like it wasn't true.

"Well, depth isn't really one of my top criteria when it comes to picking out friends," I said.

I then began to talk about me and Lauren's conversation: prom and Randy and DJ.

"Any guys caught your attention lately? Not including Yorkie" I teased.

Bella rolls her eyes. " Actually," she bites her lips nervously "there's this guy…"

"Oh?" I cross my legs and lean in further. "Tell me more"

"You know the Cullens right?"

I knew of them. Whitney had pointed them out to me one day when I asked about the two I'd seen in the hall. I felt my throat tighten just a little at the memory of them. I nodded though.

"Well, Edward-"

"The single one?"

"Yes. He's been acting weird lately."

"How so?"

"First off, we have the same biology class. And because he was the only one without a partner we were put together. Well, the whole class period he doesn't say a word to me. In fact, he was glaring at me as if I'd threatened to kill his whole family! And then when I go to the office to turn in my slip I see him there, trying to change out of the classroom."

This is the longest (and most passionate) I've ever heard my sister speak. I take it all in, trying to come up with a response but she continues.

"And he hasn't been back to school since."

'Well… It sounds like he has some emotional issues. Don't worry yourself over it" I try to comfort.

Bella shakes her head at the advice but doesn't seem to take it in.

Just then the phone rings and I answer it.

"Hello. Swan Residence"

"Helena?" comes a voice from the other end, a little bit more throaty than I remembered but still familiar.

"Leah!" I'd meant to call her but kept forgetting. "How the hell have you been?"

She lets out a little laugh, "Could be doing better."

I nodded as if she could see me.

" Yeah, I heard about the breakup. Oh, wait– that was probably insensitive."

"No," she stopped, I could imagine her waving her arms "It's fine. I mean, it's not fine but it's not your fault. I've been dealing with it."

"Well, I've been meaning to call you. I'd love to hangout sometime. You know, catch up."

"I'd love that. When are you free?"

"Umm…" I mentally ran through my schedule "I'm pretty busy the rest of this week but the weekend is good for me"

"Perfect. My dad is coming over to your house Saturday to go fishing with Charlie. I'll just have him drop me off".

We chatted for a little bit more before saying goodbye. When I got off the phone the sun had just gone down.

Bella had finished cooking and already put dad a plate up and cleaned up.

She handed me a plate before disappearing upstairs, something about needing to work on something. And though I probably should've done the same (I had a history project coming up) I ate in front of the tv.

I fell asleep to the theme song of Cop's.