Here We Go Again, Not!

High School Drama

Another quiet night in with Charlie and as he watches the sports channel I sit at the kitchen table going over my Trig notes for the test tomorrow. This was beginning to be my most favourite time of the day, just the two of us. No supernatural interference at all. I am just clearing my stuff away and had put the kettle on for the last cup of coffee when the phone rang. It is Billy, Jake's dad, and the chief's best friend.

"Hi Billy, do you want dad, no! Okay! What can I do for you?" I ask quietly,

"Why are you being so cruel to Jake, you know he loves you. Don't you think you owe him? He demands.

"Why would I owe him anything Billy, do friends only help you out if they are getting something in return? Not returning your son's puppy love is not being cruel, more like being responsible. Did he imprint on me while I was away?" there was silence on the other end.

"No didn't think so, why would I get involved with someone who's just going to walk away when he imprints. Did none of you learn anything from the Leah-Sam-Emily triangle?" I counter.

"Eh well ... he's upset Bella" he mumbles.

"For god sake, Billy, stop treating him like a child and maybe he'll stop acting like one. What do you want from me, are you expecting me to have sex with him so that he'll stop throwing his toys out of the pram? Are you his pimp now instead of his father? What is wrong with you people?" I shout slamming down the phone.

"Bells?" Charlie queries.

"Sorry dad, Billy just pissed me off, thinks I owe Jacob something in return for being my friend!!!" I offer in explanation for my outburst.

He huffs and looks as if he was getting mad, so I say to forget it and I'm off to bed, big test tomorrow and all that. He nods and kisses me goodnight before returning to the television. As I shut my bedroom curtains, I catch a movement high up in the tree outside my window.

"Go home Edward, this is not helping your case, if anything it's proving your inability to keep your word. I said I wanted space, I meant more than ten feet. Stop being a creepy stalker and leave me in peace or do I have to call Carlisle?" I whisper. I hear a rustle of leaves then silence, thank goodness.

The school was a buzz when I arrive in the morning,

"Did you know the Cullens were back?" from Mike,

"Are Edward and you back together?" from Tyler,

"Do you think you stand a chance of getting him back?" from Lauren, god so pathetic and childish.

"How are you coping Bella?" asks Angela, she really is a good friend.

So with a few details left out for obvious reasons, I tell her about my weekend and how many people I had told off including my Dad. She is laughing heartily and shaking her head at me as the Volvo pulls up,

"Wow Bella you sure have matured and grown up suddenly, I nearly blinked and missed it" she jokes. She is right, though; I do feel more mature, more self-assured and confident. That must be what growing up does for you.

"Hey Darlin'" Jasper calls as he exits the car, Edward growls, how predictable.

"Hi, Jasper didn't expect to see you this morning. After that swift departure yesterday" I say as I fall into step beside him.

"I wouldn't miss this for the world, Suga'," he tells me smiling brightly and looking the happiest I'd ever seen him.

"Hey, jeans and cowboy boots cool" I note.

"Very nice," says Angela quietly as the three of us walk through the main door.

The morning passes quickly and I just either field or ignore the comments and occasional barbs. The most noticeable difference is Jasper being here at all. He tells me in the break that he is supposed to be just picking up on some AP classes, that he couldn't fit in last year to add to his online work so far this year.