'Are you going to the homecoming dance?' Rosalie asked as we stood outside of Saltzman's class.

'Aww, Rose, are you asking me to be your homecoming date?'

'3 guys from the paper have asked me; I told them I was hanging out with you.'

'No, but I could go-'

'We can have a sleepover at my house; we can watch Mean Girls.'

'My old friends loved Mean Girls,' I said, 'when it came out, we went to a party as the Plastics.'

'No way!' Rosalie grinned. 'Please tell me you got Pics.'

'I'm pretty sure I can ask my friend Angela; she saves everything.'

'Are you guys coming to homecoming?' A voice asked behind us.

I didn't turn, but Rosalie did, and I noticed her eyes roll. 'Gilbert.'

'Are you going homecoming?' He asked again.

'We're going to have a sleepover.' Rosalie flared. 'No boys allowed.'

'Bella, I need to talk to you.'

'Let's talk now.'

After class.'

I walked away from them. 'I'll see you after then.'

'Where are you going?' Jeremy asked.

'Not to class.'

'Why not?' Asked Rosalie.

'Ask Ric.'

I just went to the Stoner's pit; some of the kids and classmates there were also ditching Saltzman's class; they greeted me and offered me a joint and to trade meds; I politely declined.

'Bella.' A soft, high voice called.

I froze when I felt a dainty hand on my shoulder as Victoria stood before me; she towered over me.

'Are you ditching Saltzman's class too?' She ran her fingers through her hair. 'That guy gives off major Ted Bundy vibes.'

'Never pegged you as a stoner.' I gasped.

'No, but stoners don't judge.'

'Yeah.'

'Do you indulge?'

'No, but like you said, stoners don't judge.'

'Are you dating Jeremy Gilbert?'

'Why do you ask?'

'He's cute.'

'You'd have to ask Jeremy if he's got a girlfriend yourself.'

'Hmm.'

'Shouldn't you be in class?'

I groaned internally as Victoria, and I turned to see Damon and Elena approaching.

'I have to go.'

'We need-' Elena began.

'No, we don't.'

Victoria and Daman watched each other with anticipation.

'Bella.'

'Elena wants to talk to you.' Damon said as if his opinion on the matter held any weight.

'And that means...?'

'Talk to Elena.'

'Pass.'

'I think-'

'And I think not.'

I started to leave when Damon grabbed my arm. 'Maybe you didn't-'

'Maybe you should go.' Victoria grabbed him.

'This is a personal matter-'

'Not according to Bella.'

Damon tried to break away from her, but Victoria's grip was stronger.

'Hey, hey, what's going on over there?' Asked a guy. 'Vick, everything ok?'

'Everything is fine, Riley.' Victoria chirped as she turned to them. 'Right?'

'Right.' Elena gasped.

Damon struggled in vain to break free; Victoria seemed stronger than him.

'Let go of me, please.' Damon ordered.

'Let go of Bella, please,' Victoria's high voice got higher, 'we have to get class now.' Victoria turned to me. ' Are you ready to go?'

'Yeah, let's go.'

Victoria and I went to class without inference from Damon or Elena. When class ended, I rushed out before Ric or Jeremy could corner me.

'So, Elena and Stefan's brother tried to corner you at the pit?' Rosalie asked as she looked at Elena.

Elena was sitting with Bonnie and Caroline; they were looking at me.

'What did they want?'

'Don't know, don't really want to.'

'Those Gilberts are mad. Did you hear anything from the ex-husband?'

'I suspect Gran has, but she didn't mention it yet.'

'Do you need backup?'

I looked at her; Rosalie was becoming quite the best friend. 'Maybe.'

'Maybe we should-'

'Isobel, we need to talk!' The saltman said as he walked over to us. 'Now!'

'I don't want to talk to you-'

'You and I need to talk,' he said as he paced around the table, 'we can do it here, or I can do this with your grandmother! Your choice!'

'Wait a second-' Rosalie flared.

'Fine.' I stood.

Alaric led her into his class; Bella stood closer to the door. She wore black today, and with her hair pulled back in a ponytail, she looked like her mother when Alaric finally saw her after years of searching.

Same height.

Same stature.

Same wall to keep people from getting close to her.

'Sit down.'

'I'm fine standing.'

'Isobel-'

'Bella.'

Alaric felt himself getting angry. 'I know your name.'

'Do you?'

'Why-'

'I told Caroline, she told Elena, and she chose to keep you in the dark.'

'You could have told an adult-'

'Like my grandmother?'

'Someone who knows what's going on-'

'Technically, Gran does what's going on.'

'Bella, you're one of Isobel's children-'

'Just because Isobel was your wife doesn't make you my father.'

'How long have you been waiting to throw that in my face?!'

'How long have you been waiting to get me alone?!'

'Get you alone for what?!'

'I don't know! You're the obsessed one!'

He wanted to punch something or someone, but he couldn't lose control again.

'Like it or not, Isabella, we're connected-'

'You're not my father-'

'And thank God for that!'

'Then leave me the heck alone!'

'Excuse me for being a good person!'

'Good people don't harass little girls til they trigger a panic attack!'

He noticed her rapid breathing and how sweaty she'd gotten; he turned away, irritated that he couldn't give in to his rage.

'You have answers that Elena-'

'Never wanted.'

'You're behaving like a-'

'Child?! I'm 16! I am a child!'

'Isobel's child.'

'And how long have you been waiting to throw that in my face?!'

'Elena's your sister-'

'Everyone loves bringing that up when it's convenient for Elena.'

He whirled around to face her, her face flushed red with emotion.

'You're being ridiculous.'

'Tell I'm wrong. If Elena hadn't heard me talking about Margaret with Caroline, you would've never found out.'

'Elena should be allowed to-'

'And she should have taken advantage when she had the chance!'

'She's a child! Give her a break.'

'You constantly reprimand me for being a literal child, so no!'

Talking to Bella was like talking to a brick wall; she refused to be reasoned.

'You're walking about, acting like you're better than her-'

'I'm not acting.'

'This proves it!'

'Yeah, it does. Did you and Damon bother to ask Elena why she didn't tell you about it?'

The question hit like a splash of cold water to the face.

'Or did you just readily assume I was the villain in this scenario?'

'You've got an answer for everything, don't you?!'

'I get that you planned to spend your life with her, and I'm sorry you never got your closure-'

'Are you kidding me?!' He laughed.

'But you need to this through your head, Mr. Saltzman, I am not Isobel Flemming.'

'You're the spitting image.'

'If I were, I'd left you too.'

Before Alaric knew what was happening, he was kicking over a desk and flipping over another.

Bella watched in horror until she stumbled out into the hall. The red-headed vampire, Victoria, caught her with one hand and held the doorknob with the other; that doctor was behind her.

'I heard shouting.' Victoria chirped as Bella edged behind the doctor.

'What happened here?' The doctor asked.

'Nothing, just a bit of clumsiness,' Alaric looked at Bella, 'right, Bella?'

Bella scoffed and stumbled away.

I hate him!

I hate him!

He makes me sick!

I can't stand him!

He thinks he can bully me into getting what he wants!

Well, he's got another thing coming!

'Bella!' Caroline called.

'Bella, what happened?' Rosalie demanded.

'I need to get away from here!' I cried in a mixture of frustration and fear.

'Did Mr. Saltzman do something to you?!'

'What?!' Caroline hissed as she turned to Rosalie.

'I drove myself to school,' Rosalie said gently, 'I can drive you home. Or, if you want-'

'Let's go!'

'Wait, a minute!' Caroline boomed. 'Bella, Elena wants about the dance-'

'We're not going.'

AN: This is all I got for this chapter; lemme me know what you think. Also, if you read Pokè Bella, lemme if you think I should continue or not.