Okay, Okay. First off, let me say I am SO SORRY, for my lack of updates. It was my final year in school and it was a completely hectic year. Complied with various personal reasons, it had to have been the most stressfull year of my life, and to be honest, I lost my writing mojo. *sadface*

BUT, to all of you who have kept checking back (hopefully someone) for my update, they will forgive my lateness and welcome me back with loving, albeit relieved, arms. :)

I did have a few reviews point out to me that this story has similar characters to one of my personal favourite stories 'Intertwined' by angelanharvey3. I should say that while I do admit similarities in the conditions Bella suffers, and her split sharing the same name, Bella's middle name, that is the ONLY similarity. This is not going to be a story of Edward trying to get Bella back to normal in the way he does there, there are no present plans for any more personalities, and my Bella will not be so emotionally unstable. My Bella, MY CHARACTER, is the way she is due to a grisly divorce which will get explained as the story progresses.

So please, scroll down and read. Because to be honest, I have missed you all a fucking ton.

Update should be coming shortly if reviews are plentiful!

G xx

Bella

As we entered the classroom I could feel the curious eyes following me. Following us. I tried not to let myself get giddy over the fact it was actually 'us' and not just a seriously embarrassed me.

I knew what I had to do; I had done it many times before. Or at least Marie had.

Just the usual, Bells?

Please. This can be you making up for that little charade in the hall. I wasn't even planning on telling him at all.

Marie had a way of screwing with whatever plan I had made. I should've known she would get involved in something like this.

You weren't even going to tell him about me?...

Marie's voice trailed off. She was upset and hurt.

Shit.

I was going to eventually, just not yet. I don't know if we can trust him.

I could feel Marie's ripple of protection at the thought of having to defend me if things turned ugly.

Don't worry; I know how to solve him if he does.

Thanks; I smiled mentally at my split. Can you tell the teacher already?

I was tired. I didn't want to have to deal with this anymore. I just wanted to sit down. To blank it all out and then go home to sleep. Heavily.

Yup. I'm on it.

Marie spoke happily and I was glad she was over her mood. Her mood swings were usually small and minor but if she got really riled up she could be a total pain in the ass. She was already in enough trouble from her little stunt she pulled, so she knew she had to behave.

I shuddered and my vision faded as I extended my hand to Mr. Banner.

This was going to be a long class.

Marie

My hand was half extended when Bella blacked out and I was faced with the staring room of fuckwits.

I smiled apologetically and battered my eyelashes for extra effect. Fuckers loved that innocent shit. Plus I was just so good at it.

"Sorry Sir, I got lost and Edward found me and took me to the Office to get a Timetable." I hugged my books to my chest and blushed when I said Edward's name.

Wow, Bells. You're pulling out all the stops today, aren't ya?

Just do your job, Marie.

Yeah, Yeah.

Mr Banner was eating the shit out of my palm when he smiled and nodded at me understandingly. It didn't miss my gaze when he shot a look of pure loathing in Edward's direction.

I wonder what that's all about?

No idea.

Maybe he has his own secrets…

I trailed off, leaving the thought hanging in silence, contemplating.

Maybe…Whispered a tired Bella. I knew my time was almost up.

"That's okay Ms. Swan. I'm just glad you found your way. It was very pleasant of

Mr. Cullen to help you. It is rather unlike him to even bother showing up at all."

Mr Banner spoke at Edward with a bitter tone and a sarcastic smile.

Yeah. Definitely something going on there.

I looked up at Edward and saw the amusement flash in his strange amber eyes.

"I guess some people are just worth the attention and some aren't, isn't that right, Sir?" Edward smirked possibly one of the sexiest fucking smirks ever and my knees almost gave in. I giggled at his cocky response as he put his cool hand on my back and led us down the isle to the tables.

Bella may not have been able to see what was going on, but she could feel it.

My vision started to loose focus around the edges and I sighed mentally. Guess the pumpkin was arriving for Cinderella.

Alright. Let me back in.

Fine….

What? You actually want to do this class?

No - I just want to stare. His ass is fucking amazing, Bells.

Bye Marie…

Bye Sex God…. My eyes flicked up to Edward quickly and I blushed when he caught me.

Jeez, Bell's. You've really got it hard this time.

I got no response from Bella except a fucking headache. Suddenly, it was very, very dark and my light was gone.

I was finished.

Bella

I came back into my body just as we were sitting down; Edward's unusually cool hand still on my back and me blushing furiously. I quickly got out my books and started to work on the things set on the blackboard.

It wasn't hard. Most of it I had read over the break so I would be caught up by the time I got here. I guess that's what you get from going to a school in Port Angeles where the best thing to do was hide from Nazi-like teachers and study. It made you boring.

Already were… Smirked Marie.

Shut it, Marie…I don't have time or patience for you today. I felt Marie fade away and I was alone.

As the rest of the class past relatively fast, I spent the time worrying about how on earth I was going to tell Edward what happened back in the hall. What could I say? 'Hi, I'm Bella and I hear voices. It's sooo nice to meet you.'

Yeah. That would go down well.

I was lost in my thoughts, absently doodling on the page when I felt Edward stand up next to me; the electricity buzzing gently. I kept my eyes trained onto the page. Why should I look up? There was no point getting my hopes up that he would ever like someone like me. That he would ever care about someone like me.

I was a damaged good.

I was just another person in this school. Another number; another statistic for the people to count and mould into one stupid giant irrelevancy. Guys that looked like him probably got girls all the time. And I knew for a fact that those girls didn't look like me. I was plain and boring. I liked books and cooking, for peat's sakes. No one, in the history of popular people, has ever been a plain, boring bookworm who cooks and can't walk over a flat surface without landing on their face. None of them possessed the ability to blend in with red coloured objects like I did.

They didn't hear fucking voices in their heads and they didn't know what it felt like to have so little control over their own mind. None at all.

I sighed and continued drawing in my book. I realised that I had been drawing the eyes of the person next to me. I quickly erased the picture and ran my hands through my hair.

I'm so screwed.

You got that right... Marie continued laughing at me and I rolled my eyes.

"Sir, I'm not feeling entirely well. Do you mind if I go to the nurse? I think I'm going to throw up."

Edward spoke gently, his musical voice sounding nauseous and unsure.

He was leaving already?

No! Bella! where's he going?

Obviously he's sick.

My heart dropped and I tried not to make it look like I was paying him any attention. I pouted and mentally smacked myself for being so silly. I don't want him to go, I half-heartedly admitted to my split.

Me either. Wait…what's that?

I looked down and saw Edward slipping a note towards me, a mobile number scrawled across the bottom. I blushed as he smiled at me. Just when he was leaving, he leant down, his mouth tantalisingly close to my ear it sent shivers down my spine, and whispered gently, "Call me when you get home. I'll be waiting."

With a sexy smirk, he was gone. I could still smell him on me. He smelt like no other guy I had been around before. It was clean, and fresh. But sweet and almost smelt like it…. shined. Like the sun. If goodness could smell, it smelt like him.

I tried to look inconspicuous as I hesitantly sniffed my shoulder, and sighed dreamily. I just couldn't stop myself. I must be the world's creepiest stalker.

I ran my fingers over the mobile number, his number, and grabbed out my phone. I quickly entered the number; his name and added a cute little photo.

What? I can be girly…sort of.

I spent the rest of the day in a dreamy daze, the piece of paper burning a hole in my back pocket. I hardly noticed when the bell went at lunch and when my teachers were trying to get me to answer questions. In retrospect, it was probably not the best way to start a new school, but I really didn't care.

There was just something about him that made me curious. That made me want to know him. Usually I avoided people like the plague; it was easer for me to blend in. It meant I didn't have to explain myself in case anything happened, and it meant that no nosy people could ruin my carefully constructed wall of protection and safety. If I kept everyone at a safe distance, then no one could be hurt. I would not get hurt.

I drove home just as dreamily, the sun beating down on my truck, totally blissful with the warming rays streaming across my face, matching my mood. I hadn't felt this happy in a long time.

I was going to go home, grab my few spare things, put them in boxes and drive straight to Charlie's. I was never going to look back; if I was lucky.

I pulled into my driveway and I saw that Phil's car was parked beside mine. I opened my door with totally unnecessary force and slammed it into his car door.

It dinted the ugly powder blue Camry and I smiled with satisfaction. Serves him right. I feigned surprise and snickered.

"Oops!"

I wasn't sorry.

At all.

Damn, B. You're a bad, bad girl…

I laughed. Yup – You know me. Badass until the very end.

I imagined myself in suspenders, high pants with a bowler hat. Very 1930's gangster. My hair was blowing dramatically around my face and the dark alley way was illuminated by a single flickering light. Beside me was a pile of bloody people. I looked fierce. And slightly insane.

Yeah, that sounds like you. Can we go pack? I need to see Charlie!

So do I, Mar. So do I.

I smiled all the way inside, dumping my bag next to the door so I wouldn't forget it later. I grabbed my some food, flipped my finger at the snoring mass on the couch that smelt like nachos and grabbed my suitcases from under the stairs.

After lugging the bloody things up the stairs, almost falling on my face twice, I flipped them open on my bed and stuffed everything I could in them. I still had all my books, paintings and CD's left out but they would fit into the boxes Dad would bring.

I opened my giant purse and went to the bathroom, emptying everything I wanted from the shelves and draws, making sure that I grabbed my hairdryer and straightener. I hardly ever used them but they are just one of those things a girl just can't live with out.

I heard police cruiser pull in and my Dad climb out. I stood at my bedroom window, watching as Charlie's keen eyes saw the dint on Phil's car and saw the red paint from my truck scratched into it. A smirk broke out on his face and he patted the truck in amusement. He knew I had done it on purpose and didn't care one bit.

God, I love Charlie sometimes.

Well, I always do, boasted a happy Marie.

I smiled.

"I know you do."

A knock rang out on the door downstairs then the doorbell. The snoring got louder and I heard a bang as Phil fell off the couch.

I ran downstairs and opened the door to a happy Charlie, the sun shining behind him and surrounding him like a halo of light. It fitted so well.

"Hey Dad," I hugged him and stood back letting him in.

"Heya Kiddo,"

He kissed my forehead as he passed and dumped the 3 boxes next to the stairs. He smirked as he saw Phil on the dirty yellow carpet in his crusty white boxers and a few Doritos in his ear.

"I've got a few more boxes in the car so you take these and I'll go meet you upstairs?"

I nodded and grabbed the boxes, humming to myself. I took them upstairs and filled them with books. All three of them. And there was still a good half shelf left. There was no way I was leaving them here where she could sell them for more drugs, or he could sell them to his dodgy mafia connections.

I had some seriously old books in my shelves; some were priceless first editions that I had inherited from my Nana Sophia when she had passed. They were worth quite a bit of moolah and I certainly didn't want either of them getting their dirty paws on them. I stood there in the middle of my room, so absorbed in what I was thinking about that I didn't even hear Charlie come in.

"You gonna stand there all day?" He smiled at me and pushed a box into my hands.

"No – Just long enough to contemplate suicide by packing." I laughed and Charlie chuckled.

Aw Bells. You're such a comedian…

I know! One of my many talents.

"C'mon. The faster we do this, the sooner we can get out of here and get pizza. I don't know about you, but I'm starving." Charlie was grabbing my remaining clothes out of my cupboards and putting them into my bags and things that wouldn't fit, into the boxes.

I didn't really have a lot of material things. When it came down to it, I didn't need a lot. I was happy with what little I had. I guess growing up moving between two homes and primarily living with a parent who really didn't care about you, it was easy not to have a lot. It was just easier to have myself, the clothes on my back and Marie.

We eventually finished my entire room; it took us about an hour all up. We hauled the boxes downstairs and I set some money on the counter for Mum with a note reminding her that today was my birthday. Perhaps she would buy me a present, or a card.

I doubt it.

We're fuckin' free!

I laughed at Marie's childlike happiness. I could feel it. Warmth spreading throughout my fingers and toes and all through my body.

I hummed happily as we loaded my boxes and bags into the back of the truck. While the sun had gone down hours ago, it felt like it still shining, happily sending it's warming rays down on me. Just as I was about to climb into the truck and follow behind Charlie's cruiser, I heard a snap of wood emanate out of the forest behind me. It sounded like someone stepped on something.

I flew around and pressed myself, wide eyed, against the truck. "W-w-w-who's there?"

My eyes scanned the edge of the forest but I couldn't see anyone, it was too dark. It felt like someone was watching me, I felt uneasy.

It's probably just a rabbit or something. C'mon lets go!

Yeah...probably.

It irked me that Marie was so laid back about the entire situation. She usually was the one ready to fight the second I felt any sliver of fear. I could feel my heart racing and my blood was ringing in my ears.

Before tossing a quick cursory glance around the forest and seeing nothing out of the ordinary, I threw open my door and leapt in, starting my engine and flinging it in reverse quicker then the speed of light. I was out the driveway and halfway to Charlie's before it really clicked what I had just done.

I had just moved out.

I just made a massive life decision with such little planning. It was so unlike me.

The last of the sun set just as I was about to pull into Charlie's, I mean, my, house. It looked exactly the same. Same faded white front with green steps and a pot of pretty purple flowers no one seemed to know the name of. Charlie was already inside with my heavier bags and boxes so I hoisted out the last few boxes out of the back and awkwardly carried them inside, dumping them unceremoniously at the foot of the stairs.

I smiled tiredly and looked around the entry hallway, it's faded white paint looking more cream then I remembered and the once shiny floorboards looking worn and familiar. Charlie appeared at the top of the stairs, rubbing his hands together, a nervous smile on his face. This was entirely new territory for us.

"Well, you coming upstairs? Or you just gonna set up camp in the hallway?" He chuckled at his own joke, disappearing in my room.

I suppressed a roll of my eyes and grabbed a few things, and started making my way slowly up to my new room.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that Charlie had renovated the room for me. Instead of the once dirty yellow, it was a cool white. The worn floorboards were partially covered by a bright orange shag-pile carpet and my old single bed was gone. It was now replaced by a double bed, in a cream and orange striped duvet. I was also now the proud owner of a glass-topped desk, on top of which, sat a new printer with a bow on top. My chest of drawers sat snugly in the corner, looking very special in its new white paint.

I looked at Charlie, mouth agape.

Since when does Charlie decorate? Hell! Renovate!

I have no idea. It is very nice though. I'm impressed.

Me too, that bed looks so yummy…

Amen, to that!

Charlies face started to fade to a sickly white and his shoulders slumped.

"You don't like it? I was kind of expecting some kind of good response…"

I realised I had been standing there, saying nothing, leaving Charlie to think the worst.

"Oh! No, no, no! I love it, Dad. Really. It's amazing. I had no idea you were such a decorator." I smiled at him and wrapped an arm around his waist. "Thank you. Really, thanks a lot. You really didn't have to do this."

Charlie blushed a light crimson. If he were a cartoon, he would have said 'aw, shucks'.

"It's was nothing really, Bells. Just a new coat of paint and some new bits and pieces. I had some help from Sue Clearwater, from down at La Push? She does that kind of stuff now, decorating and all that. The second you said you were coming I got straight onto the phone with her and planned it all. She only finished about an hour ago." He looked around the room wistfully.

"So you really like it?" He kissed the top of my head.

"I do, Dad. It's just what I needed. Not a sign of pink anywhere." I chuckled and put my bags down on the bed. "Let's get unpacking!"

2 hours & two pizzas later, we finally had unpacked everything. I put up some photo's I had taken over the years, and put all my books in the four shelves that were built in on top of the desk. It finally felt like mine.

Charlie had left me to finish up, so I collapsed onto my bed, sighing at the feeling. I glanced at the clock. It was 8:30. Still reasonably early, but much too late to do anything productive on a school night. I heard the phone ring downstairs, and it suddenly reminded me.

Edwards number!

I flipped over on the bed, grabbing my phone off my bedside table and yanking the piece of paper out of my back pocket. I knew I had already saved the number in my phone, but I read the number and dialled it myself anyway.

The phone rang, two, three times before the tone stopped and it clicked.

"Hello?"

I could feel my heart fluttering in my chest in response to his smooth voice.

"Hi, it's Bella."

"Oh, Hello. I was wondering when you were going to call."

I could almost hear his smirk through the receiver. I willed myself not to blush at an imagined smirk. That would be crazy.

"I'm sorry about that. I just moved out of my Mum's house and into my Fathers. Charlie and I were just unpacking."

He hesitated, "No need to apologise. Though, it is nice to know that you live closer to me now. Will make hanging out that much easier."

I smiled. "I think I'd like that."

He chuckled. "Good. I would too."

Then it occurred to me. "Wait. How do you know where Charlie lives?"

I could was positive I could hear him rolling his eyes. "It's a small town, Bella. Every one knows where everyone lives."

I blushed. Damn. Didn't think that one through.

Just tell him you love him already.

Oh har har. I don't love him.

Wanna bet on that?

Noo….

I changed the subject, willing him to forget my stupidity. "So, how are you feeling? You sounded pretty terrible when you left."

There was a long pause, and then a sigh. "Yes, I am sorry about that. But I feel like something bad would have happened if I stayed."

There was a subtle tone of warning in his voice. Like when you warn a child not to touch something because it will be too hot, and you know the consequences if they do.

"Like what? You would have started vomiting blood or something?" I laughed. It was a highly unlikely situation; He was probably just getting the flu.

"Something like that," He murmured.

I sighed. I was too tired for his mind games. But if he wanted to keep me guessing, he was certainly succeeding.

A quick glance at the clock told me it was far too close to the morning then I had been planning on. I yawned out of sheer thought of the outrageous time. I was going to be like the walking dead tomorrow.

Silly, Bella.

Yes, very silly Bella. Bad Bella.

Marie giggled and I rolled my eyes. I could only imagine the vulgar things that would be coming out of my mouth if she was around and not I. He would probably come to the conclusion that I was some form of nymphomaniac and eschew me with a firm hand for all eternity, well, my short-lived eternity at least.

"Well," He cleared his throat, "I guess I should let you get some sleep. You must be tired from such a eventful day."

I smiled.

"I'm sorry for keeping you for so long. Y'know, being sick and all." I tried to mumble my excuse when deep down I knew I was hardly sorry at all.

"Oh, don't worry about me. I'll be right as rain in no time."

"Good. I would hate to have to do that chem work myself." I sighed dramatically for emphasis.

He laughed, "No, we wouldn't want that, would we?"

"No we most certainly would not."

"Well, I must bid you adieu, Ms. Swan." He crooned.

I blushed; certainly glad he couldn't see my face.

"Good night, Edward. Feel better." I smiled.

"Good night, Bella." The way he said my name sent shivers of delight up my spine, flowing out my extremities with a vicious fire.

The phone clicked dead, and I collapsed backwards onto my bed. It really was way past my bedtime.

I shuffled out of my ugg boots and under the covers of my warm bed. The temperature outside was well below freezing and at times I was convinced my room could double at a freezer. There was no insulation in this house. It was insane.

As I drifted off to sleep staring at the full, round moon out my window, I was sure I heard a wolf cry out in pain.

Update should be coming within the next week! :) If not, review me to remind me! I seriously have a memory like a goldfish. It's worrying. :S

xx