It had been a week since Jacob's big reveal and the honesty party at Emily's but ever since that day Bella had found herself feeling...different. Maybe even happy perhaps. It was a strange thought of feeling happy again after Edward and the Cullens left her, after that day in the forest she honestly thought she would never be happy again. Her heart had been torn out and ripped to shreds by a family of Vampires, of course this was figuratively and not literally otherwise she wouldn't be standing on front of her mirror staring at her reflection right now.

Things had just begun to change and it all seemed to revolve when she had slapped Paul at Jacob's house, of course no one was telling her anything which wasn't new, after being Edward Cullen's girlfriend for a while you got used to being kept in the dark or there being some kind of secret. It just seemed that no one wanted to tell her what was exactly going on, or they would all have this weird smile on their face as they looked between her and Paul. It was actually really starting to freak her out.

But aside from the weirdness, Bella had been enjoying being around Jacob and Billy again, even Charlie seemed to be a lot happier now that she was away from the Cullen's plus he got to go fishing a lot and didn't need to feel guilty for leaving her alone so often.

"Bells?"

Bella's eyes snapped up to Charlie, who had been staring at his daughter for the past 5 minutes just pushing around the same pace of lettuce on her plate.

"Was I doing it again?" Bella blushed

Charlie nodded as he chewed another piece of steak, "What's on your mind kiddo?" He just hoped it wasn't the Cullens, he had never seen her look so...lost and broken before. Edward had more than just his gun to worry about if came back, he had a death wish.

"Just thinking" Bella admitted, placing her fork down on her plate and sighing. "I'm sorry Ch--Dad"

Charlie raised an eyebrow, "What for?"

"For everything, how I acted and behaved really when I was with Edward" Bella paused for a moment, expecting to feel the stabbing pain in her heart when she mentioned his name, but surprisingly she just felt more of a throb this time instead of a stab. "I became obsessed with him, he was all I could think about and I pushed everyone else away in the process. You, Mom, Phil and my friends. I'm sorry"

Charlie was speechless, not only from her honesty but because he had never been quite good at speaking about his feelings with her, with anyone really. It had been the main problem in his marriage with Renee, he never wanted to admit his true feelings and kept pushing her away when they were having problems. But he wouldn't do that with Bella, he wasn't going to lose her

"Listen Bells, you're young. Only 17. Sometimes when you meet someone and it's your first time falling in love, it can be...overwhelming. They do become your whole world and you want to spend all of your time with them, thinking about them and by doing that your responsibilities start falling to the side. You spend less time with people you also care about and you make your partner your main priority" Charlie admitted, watching her reaction and hoping she would understand where he was coming from.

"Edward was your first love, and although I don't like the kid, especially not now, if he comes back he has a death wish you know and..."

"Dad" Bella complained, "I know...Believe me you're not the only person"

Charlie chuckled, "I'm glad about that, we can all start up a witch hunt for him"

Bella laughed, a genuine laugh which warmed Charlie's heart

"What I'm trying to say is that he was your first love, but he won't be your last. You learnt from your relationship with him, you made mistakes sure, but you're young and only human, we all make mistakes. That's how we learn and grow as a person. And I know I don't tell you often but I'm proud of you Bells, I have a feeling you put up with a lot more than what you're telling me but I don't mind, you don't have to share absolutely everything with me but I would like for you to talk to me more, if you want to of course"

Bella smiled, appreciating the unexpected father and daughter moment with Charlie. "I'd love that Dad, I'll definitely try be more honest with you, I promise"

"Thank you kiddo" Charlie smiled and stuffed another piece of steak in his mouth, and for the first time in a long time he understood what it felt like to be at peace.

--

A few days after her and Charlie's heart to heart in the diner, Bella knew there was some other people she owed an apology to and that's how she found herself standing in doorway to the cafeteria, nervously clutching at her schoolbag as she tried to find the courage to move towards the table her friends were sitting at. Or should she say former friends? She still wasn't quite sure on navigating social norms, she hadn't fallen out with any of them per say (minus Jessica, no matter how many times she had said she was fine with Bella dating Edward, she always knew that Jessica was secretly jealous, she didn't make it very subtle), but as Charlie had told her she became consumed with Edward. It was always Edward this, Edward that. She had completely forgotten about her friends.

Before she allowed herself to chicken out, Bella took a deep breath and marched towards the table where they were grouped together as normal, she only managed to trip once or twice which felt like a new record for her and it somehow helped her confidence in what she was about to do.

Remain calm Bella, they're your friends...At least, they should still be

Bella cleared her throat, instantly blushing as all eyes turned towards her, looks of shock, surprise and tentativeness in their eyes. "Uh...Hey guys"

"Bella" Eric greeted, his eyes flashing around the group quickly. "Long time no see. No Edward?"

Bella gritted her teeth and shook her head, "Nope, the Cullens are gone"

Silence. Pure and utter silence, it almost made her want to laugh

"Did you guys not know?" Bella glanced at Jessica, she seemed to be in pure shock at that bit of gossip. And for a small moment, Bella basked in the feeling of having a piece of gossip that Jessica somehow didn't know.

"We didn't actually" Angela shrugged, a smile still on her face as she stared at Bella, glad to have her friend back...fully.

"Oh, um, okay then..." Bella stuttered, not quite sure what to say but knew she had to come up with something. "Carlisle got a job offer in Alaska, better pay and better hours, he can spend more time with Esme. It was an offer he couldn't refuse"

Mike quirked an eyebrow, "And what? Cullen didn't want to bring you along? That's a shock"

Bella narrowed her eyes, "What's that supposed to mean Mike?"

Mike rolled his eyes, "Don't get defensive Bella, I just mean that you and Cullen were barely away from each other for all of two seconds, I don't know how he's going to cope in Alaska without you. He's probably on his way back as we speak"

Bella sighed, she could still hear the resentment and jealously in Mike's voice. "Well, I'm sure this'll make you happy then Mike, the reason I didn't go with them is because we broke up"

Another shocked silence ensued, this time it was almost like the whole cafeteria heard what Bella just said, the room was so eerily quiet you could hear a pin drop.

"Say what now?" Jessica leaned forward, eager for the gossip on how the school's sweethearts broke up, she couldn't wait to brag about it on her social media. "And jeez guys, make some room for the girl" She shooed two of the younger members of the group to the side and almost yanked Bella's arm out of her socket by dragging her down to sit beside her. "How did it happen?"

Bella shrugged, she got a momentary flashback of her standing alone in the woods, she could still feel Edward's lips on her forehead as he gave her one longing kiss goodbye before disappearing. She still felt a small pang of sadness and pain, but it was dulling little by little every day which she was grateful for. And she also knew that a group of wolves had something to do with that, more in particular a certain wolf was to thank.

"Honestly Jess, there was no drama" Bella shrugged again, ignoring the look of disappointment in her eyes. "I just heard the news from Alice, then Edward and I had a conversation about it. He thought it would be best if I didn't go...In fact, he actually said he didn't want me to go"

There was a few gasps and murmurs in the group, Bella almost snorted at the theatrics of it all. "Enough about that though, I was just coming over because I wanted to make amends"

"What for?" Angela questioned

"For being a lousy friend" Bella admitted, "I know since Edward and I got together, I neglected you all. I didn't mean to, I promise. He just had a certain...charm about him, and the longer I spent with him the more I just wanted to be around him. Which I realise isn't healthy, so I'm really sorry, I am"

Angela smiled, stood up and went round to Bella's side to give her a hug, "Welcome back Bella"

"Thanks Angela"

"I understand that it might take some time to make it up to you all, but I really have missed you guys and I'll do whatever I can to make it up to you"

Eric wrapped an arm around Angela and smiled, "We forgive you Bella. It's easy to get swept up in the romance of your first relationship, and you don't realise what you've done or how you've acted until it just hits you one day, we understand. And we've missed you too"

Bella smiled, a feeling of relief spreading through her, she glanced at Mike and Jessica who both seemed to be still on the fence

"So what, are we your second option now that Edward's up and left you?" Jessica sneered

"No, that's not it at all Jess! I know I've been a bad friend, and I should have done this a while ago but you know how socially awkward I am, I hate confrontation..."

"Bull"

"Jess..." Angela sighed

Jessica stood up from the table, glaring at her friends around her. "No! Just because you've all forgiven her doesn't mean I should, or that I have to. Yes, Bella, you have been a bad friend. A real shitty one if you ask me. While you were off gallivanting with Edward and the Cullens you've been missing out on what's been going on with us, some of us have been going through a really rough patch and you weren't there, all because you were too wrapped up with your beloved Edward"

"Jessica, I..."

"Cut the crap Bella, I see through you. You just want to waltz your way back into our lives, just to fill that void that Edward left but we all know that the second he comes back you're going to be running straight into his arms like his little lap dog" Jessica grabbed her bag and books from the table.

"Whoa hold on Jessica, you're being a bit of line here" Eric frowned

Jessica laughed, "I'm out of line? I'm the one out of line?! I don't think so Eric, the one being out of line here is Bella, I can't believe you've all forgive her just like that"

"She's our friend Jess" Angela reasoned, "We all make mistakes. We're teenagers, that's what we do. And especially when we get into our first relationship, we get swept up in it all because we don't know how to navigate our feelings"

Jessica rolled her eyes, "Spare me the counselling session Angela, I'm not a kid"

"Really?"

To Bella's surprise Angela rose from the table and leaned forward ever so slightly, for the first time since she knew Angela, she was actually standing up to Jessica. It was pretty awesome...and slightly terrifying, the look that Angela had in her eyes made Bella take mental note to never piss her off.

"Yes really" Jessica snapped

Angela laughed, "Okay then, because I can recall when we were back in 8th grade that you got into this silly little relationship with Jackson, and for a few months you were prancing around the schoolyard singing about how much you love him and how you two were going to be together for the rest of your lives"

Jessica rolled her eyes, "And your point?"

"My point..." Angela stated as matter of fact, "Is that during that time when you were with Jackson, you didn't speak to me...Not once, you even missed my birthday"

Jessica opened her mouth, then closed it again, Angela really did have her there.

"So you ranting to Bella and giving off to her about this, is kind of like the pot calling the kettle black"

"What? That makes no sense"

Angela shook her head, "Yes it does Jess, you're openly criticising Bella for a fault in which you also have"

"I don't have any faults!" Jessica argued, her cheeks flaming pink with annoyance

"Sorry Jessica, but yes you do" Angela admitted, "I've been so afraid for all of these years to even say anything to you but I've had enough. I can't sit here and let you chew Bella out for something that you've done before, you need to be held accountable as well, even if it was in 8th grade. Trying to shame us for forgiving Bella, when we forgave you for the same thing, that's really selfish Jess"

"I..um...You...Ugh!" Jessica yelled and stormed away from the table

The group and Bella stared at Angela in disbelief, not quite sure what they had just witnessed but knew that it was a marvellous moment they would all cherish.

"Wow Angela, thank you...That was amazing" Bella smiled

Angela lowered herself back down to the seat and into Eric's embrace, "Did I just do that? Did that really just happen?"

Bella laughed, grabbing a piece of her celery from her plate and taking a small bite of it, in that moment as she laughed and recalled what had happened with her friends, she knew she was going to be alright. That they were going to be alright. Thank god for making amends.