Growing More

Chapter 9: Honesty

(Paralyzed; Big Time Rush)

**6 Months Later - It was September 1st on their first day of school, + 2 days, so now it's March 3rd**

Bella's POV:

I set my backpack down in my usual spot between Edward and I's desk. Edward was running late at home because my alarm didn't wake him up, and it took me a solid 8 minutes of shaking before I gave up and just shoved him off the bed.

He had landed with a thud, and, glaring at me, had finally gotten up.

It's been like that a lot lately. I feel like our relationship is slipping.

Mrs. Belfry just finished homeroom announcements and asked us all to pull out our math books when Edward stumbled through the door.

"Nice of you to join us, Mr. Cullen," Mrs. Belfry commented, walking over to her desk to change his name from 'absent' to 'tardy'.

"I'm sorry, miss, Bella's alarm didn't wake me up," he said, staring at me. My mouth fell open and I threw my hands up in the air, my eyebrows stitching together.

"It's not my job to wake you up in the morning! If my alarm sucks so much, set your own!" I screeched.

"Children, settle down," Mrs. Belfry snapped as Edward glared at me and threw his bag on the ground next to him.

He sat down noisily and refused to face me. As soon as Mrs. Belfry turned to her whiteboard I turned to face him.

"What is your problem!?" I asked him in a whisper.

"Oh, like you don't know," he sneered, still facing forward.

"Actually, I don't know. Why don't you enlighten me?" I growled.

"Okay, how about you going over to Mike Newton's house every afternoon this week?" he muttered, finally turning to look at me.

I stared at him in disbelief. "He has a C in history! I'm helping him!" my voice was slowly rising higher than the safe limit.

"You might be helping him, but I doubt he's paying attention," he snapped back. I was getting ticked off, so I raised my hand until Mrs. Belfry turned and called on me.

"May I use the restroom?" I asked as politely as I could manage.

"Yes, does anyone else need to go?" she asked as I stood quickly, the chair nearly tipping. To my dismay, Edward raised his hand, and he followed me out into the hallway.

I was angry, so I decided to walk it off, ignoring my single permission to go to the bathroom. I walked down the 7th grade hall, not really sure where I was going. I ended up at the end of the 7th grade wing, staring out the window next to the exit door to the playground.

I glared out the window unseeingly, vaguely aware that my hands were quivering with rage.

A hand reached out and grabbed my shoulder.

"Bella," Edward said, and I slowly turned to face him.

"What?" I grumbled.

"We need to talk."

"No dip, Sherlock. Why else would you follow me?" I asked. I saw how the words stung him, but I was too angry to care.

He grabbed my hand and pulled me to the gym. The coach was absent on Mondays, so no one was here to see us.

He reached the double doors to exit the building, and stopped. He turned to look at me.

"Bella, I think-"

"I think we should just be friends, Edward," I said, before he could finish.

"Really?" he said, stunned.

"Yeah," I said with a sigh.

"Well, that made this easy." he mused, smirking.

"Yeah, it wasn't hard to tell where you were going with this," I laughed.

He chuckled too, and then asked, "Are you okay?"

"Edward, we have been doing this for three months. I was about to say it myself."

"You just did," he pointed out.

"Shut up," I laughed, punching him playfully.

"Lets just go back to how it was before. It was so much easier." he said, staring at me intently.

"Agreed," I said with a smile.

He gave me my favorite crooked smile before giving me a hug. He grabbed my hand, and pulled me back to the classroom.

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**The following is copied from House of Anubis, an episode in Season 2 when Fabian and Nina break up - just with the characters from Twilight instead.**

"Okay, so, we're all having a triple date Saturday night!" Alice announced happily when we were at the dinner table. Esme and Carlisle were out tonight, so we all pitched in to make our own dinner.

Edward and I looked at each other awkwardly, before I spoke up.

"Um... Alice," I began, stabbing lamely at my macaroni. "The thing is..."

"Bella and I don't really do the... dating thing, anymore, Alice." Edward finished for me.

"What?" Alice gasped, "no way!"

Emmett burst into laughter. "They've split up!?"

Alice looked like she'd been shot.

"No! This is unacceptable!" she cried.

"Has Eddie finally found someone to hurt other than my sister?" Emmett chuckled, but there was a darkness in his eyes.

"No." Edward glared, standing up and storming out the room.

Alice stared at Jasper, who last week tried to dare Edward to kiss a random girl in the hallway.

"This is all your fault, Jasper!" Alice squealed, then stormed out of the room following Edward. Jasper looked confused and irritated.

"So tell me," Emmett laughed, scooting his chair closer to me, "who broke up with who?"

I glared at him. "It was mutual, Emmett," I growled, standing up and throwing back my chair, storming out of the room.

Rosalie's POV:

Bella stormed out of the kitchen.

"So, Jasper, when is your breakup going public?" Emmett asked Jasper. Jasper looked confused.

"What are you talking about?" Jasper asked.

"Haven't you got anything to tell me, Jasper?" Alice asked, peeking into the kitchen.

"Of course not, babe!" Jasper said, looking hurt and confused still.

Alice looked hopeless, and with a whine turned and left again.

"Thanks, Emmett," Jasper grumbled, and stormed out of the kitchen, too.

Emmett turned to look at me, as so was the last one in the room.

"You're a jerk, Emmett," I growled, as I left, too.

Emmett's POV:

One by one, everyone left. Man, I knew how to clear a room!

I laughed, disbelief clear on my features. I grabbed a biscuit, and left, shaking my head and snickering under my breath.