Growing More

Chapter 18: Relationship Struggles

(So, this book is almost over, and so is Lunar Black :( but don't worry! I have so many ideas for other books! The support in these books is breathtaking and I can't thank you guys enough. I am running low on ideas for this book, and that's why I'm mostly focusing on Lunar Black, but you guys deserve an update, soooo... Just a warning. Everything that happens in this chapter I thought of on the spot.)

Bella's POV:

"So Bella! You're back for good?" Mike Newton asked me as I stuffed my books in my locker.

"Uh, yeah I guess," I said.

"Well, welcome! Uh, you know, maybe... as a welcome back present, ya know, we could uh... go out to dinner or something?" he asked, leaning up against the locker next to me.

"Uh... like a date...?" I asked awkwardly.

"Uh, yeah."

"The thing is, Mike - "

"Hey, Izzybear, I hope you have a nice outfit for our date tonight," Edward said from next to me. I jumped. Izzybear?

He winked at me, and I realized he was trying to help me get away from Mike while irritating him at the same time. I laughed in my head.

"Yep, Alice got me a new dress, Eddieboo," I played along. Mike looked astounded.

"Sorry Mike, I'm taken." It was a lot easier to say with Edward around. I wasn't nearly as worried about hurting his feelings now.

Mike just continued to gawk at us.

I looked up at Edward, and he was smirking, fighting his full-out smile threatening to explode on his face.

"'Bye, Mike," Edward said, and Mike didn't move. He didn't even blink.

Edward sighed and, with a shrug, wrapped his arm around my waist and leaned down, his lips coming straight at mine. My breath hitched and just before our lips made contact -

"Okay, okay, enough!" Mike said, and stormed off.

I looked at Edward who had stood back up straight, amusement clear in his eyes.

"To class, Eddieboo?" I asked teasingly, and his face turned to a slight grimace. After a second, amusement dominated again.

"To class, Izzybear."

He grabbed my hand and pulled me to history.

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Edward's POV:

"No thank you," I said when the lunch lady asked if I wanted green beans.

I moved on. "Biscuit?" She asked me. I nodded, and she placed it on my tray.

I handed the lady my lunch card and she scanned it before handing it back to me. I stopped at the doorframe and turned to wait for Bella. She was picking up some butter for her biscuit and getting a plastic butter knife before giving the same woman her card.

After getting it back, she met up with me. I took her tray from her before she could protest, and walked over to an empty table in the corner of the lunch room. We sat separate from the rest of my family to be alone. It seemed like every couple in our families did the same.

I placed her tray down for her before placing my tray down next to hers. I had picked a window table because I knew how much Bella liked them.

"Thank you," she said, swinging her leg over the bench and sitting down.

"You're welcome," I smiled. I heard her intake air quickly, but I didn't hear her exhale.

"Bella?" I asked, "Breathe,"