Sorry this is so late you guys! My computer broke down and I literally had to dig up my moms prehistoric computer to finish writing it!

Enjoy!

Chapter Nine –Superstar

You've been looking for more, I've been over my head

You've been filling up spaces, I'm working too much

(I, I, I)

It's the life we're living now

(I, I, I)

And it's beautiful, somehow

I've been waiting for the sun to rise where you are

So I can tell you you're a superstar

I've been waiting for our words to be in line

So I can let you know that baby, you're the rest of my life

You have loved, you have cared, you've been too good to me

I can't try hard enough just to make you believe

(I, I, I)

We've been holding on to us

(I, I, I)

Cause we need it way too much

I've been waiting for the sun to rise where you are

So I can tell you you're a superstar

I've been waiting for our words to be in line

So I can let you know that baby, you're the rest of my life

- Superstar, Broods

"Who the hell eats a lollipop by the lake?" Victoria curses as she tosses the end of a lollipop into the nearby bin. "Some people are just disgusting."

"Tell me about it," I agree as I shove the end of my sharpened stick into the back of a wrapper.

Jewel Lake Park was a beautiful lake where we used to visit for spring break back in the eighth grade. It was considered 'cool.' However today we've seen a rather 'not very pleasant' side of Jewel Lake Park. For six hours of community service, we were asked to clean the surrounding area of the lake. Victoria and I still had many hours left, so naturally we jumped at the opportunity, missing out on plenty of sleep.

Half of my grade was here, picking up other people's shit. It was backbreaking reaching for things that fell deep into the indentations of the land, especially the ones that were caught onto plants and stuff.

"Right now I could be fucking James in the back of the truck, but instead ... I'm here," she deadpans and I glare at her with the 'too much information' look. I had no interest in Victoria's sex life and I really had no interest when she gave Angela and me the gruesome details every now and then. Unfortunately, with Victoria, you had to settle on the dust with what you've got.

I approach a hill-like area, the grass was a dark greenish color during autumn and apart from being littered with leaves, there were very few bottles. You could tell there was some kind of party here; for there was a red cup hanging on the tip of a branch above me. I stared up at it and gawked. How did it end up there? For a disgraceful minute, I felt ashamed of humanity.

Standing on the tips of my toes, I reached up with the stick and poked the branch. Nothing. As I hit the branch repeatedly, the cup swung around but seemed to be fully attached to it.

I was getting frustrated now, heaving a breath, I got on my tippy toes again.

"Here, I got it," I hear a voice say and suddenly the red cup hits the ground.

I turn around and strangely, there was Mike. Of course, he would offer to help me ... Mike helps everybody – he's just that friendly. "Thanks, Mike."

"No problem," he replies with a shrug. As usual, he wore a casual, graphic printed shirt with a denim jacket and gray pants; he was a pretty average guy with a classic taste in comics.

"Ya know, if you wrap the string around your wrist, it'll give you a better grip," he suggests. I search my metal stick for the strap I didn't seem to notice. Once I find it I squeeze my fist through it.

"Or ..." I swing the stick haphazardly, nearly hitting Mike during the process. But thankfully, he dodges it with a nervous chuckle. I couldn't help but laugh.

"What did I tell you? Bella's a safety hazard," Tyler appears with a grin.

"Shut up!" I whine, pretending to whack him with the stick.

"Tyler – she legit hit me with the ball in gym the other day," Mike exclaims with a loud laugh. Mike and his stupid word, legit.

"Might want to be careful Bella. Otherwise we're gonna think you're hitting on him," Tyler teases.

I roll my eyes at their immaturity.

"But I guess that seems okay once he asks you to Homecoming," he suddenly says and I hear Mike clear his throat.

Did that just happen?

Did I hear right? Mike was going to ask me to the dance this Friday?

I mean with everything going on I forgot there was even a damn dance. I didn't even want to go.

"Uhm ... Tyler, we weren't going to mention that," he croaks. He was so nervous that it was quite amusing.

"Just ask her, Mike!"

He looks really anxious, his palms were sweating and he took a deep breath, his blue eyes asking for my permission. "Bella, I know this is very sudden and out of nowhere, but, do you want to go to the homecoming dance with me?"

Honestly, I was appalled. I never thought that Mike might have an interest in me, maybe I've been distracted and I just haven't read the signs ... maybe?

"Did I just hear a proposal?"

Guess who?

Edward fucking Cullen appears behind a tree, planting the metal stick into the ground and holding his garbage bag tightly. I bite my lip out of anger as he smirks at me.

"I was just asking Bella to homecoming, that's all," Mike quickly says. I could see how intimidated he was of Edward ... and that disgusted me. Edward wasn't some sort of God, even if he looked like one.

I always hated looking at Edward; I tried to keep him out of my wandering mind. And with the events of the past week ... with Riley finally leaving, I felt like I could breathe again.

"Interesting, since she never actually attended any other homecoming dance there was ...," Edward says matter-of-factly, he folds his arms across his chest and leans against the old oak tree.

"That doesn't mean a thing Cullen," I snap.

How does he know I've never attended? I never thought he paid attention.

"Not to mention she declined every single guy that even tried to approach her," he continues.

Again ... is he keeping score?

"Well, I like Mike. So yes ... I will go with you to the dance!" I nearly shout before stomping off in anger. I didn't bother to look back, but as I stomped off looking for Victoria, I realized what I had just done.

"You look like you found Mrs. Bennett's sex tape," Victoria says with a snort. "What just happened?"

I gawked at her and smacked my forehead. "I think I just agreed to go to homecoming with Mike."

She burst into a fit of laughter, but I failed to see the humor in this.

"Seriously Vic, he'll be heartbroken," I say, hoping she'll stop laughing.

And she did.

"How did you even agree to it?" she questions with a look of genuine curiosity.

I let out a short breath. "I dunno ... I was a bit distracted and I was pissed off at Edward –."

"I knew it!" she suddenly yells, pointing at me.

"What?"

"I knew it, you can't resist him – just admit it! You can't resist his looks or panty-dropping smirk!"

"Oh my God! No! He's a prick, there's no way in hell I would even lay eyes on him for any length of time," then I thought of the kiss ... the epitome of all my nightmares. I let him get to me, but it was only for a few seconds. I should've told Victoria or Angela or both, it felt odd keeping this from them, but then again ... I kept what Riley did from them, too.

"Mhmmm ... sure," she says sarcastically while nodding her head.

Then I realized it was best telling her, but now? Yes.

"Victoria, I need to tell you something really important," I start, inhaling a nervous heave of air.

"What?"

"Well, after I left The Lot last week, my car broke down and I called you, but you didn't answer. I called Jessica, and she sent Edward over to pick me up ... When he did," I spoke as if my parents caught me in a lie and I was going to get locked in the basement or something. But that wasn't going to happen, she was going to mock me ... yell 'I told you so' at my face. "HekissedmeandIkissedhimback."

"What? Just spit it out!"

"He kissed me ... and I sort of kissed him back."

Her eyes grew to the size of golf balls and I knew she was about to make a dramatic scene.

She started squealing internally and I saw no logic in it at all.

So I quickly say. "But it lasted for like two seconds."

This was a lie – cough – lips – cough – tongue.

"Sure it did! I bet you liked it!" she argues with a satisfied look on her face.

"No – I didn't, hence why I pulled away," I retort with a roll of my eyes.

"I can't wait to rub it all in your face when he's around!" she exclaims with a Cheshire cat smile. That was the problem with Victoria; she had a very big mouth.

"No, you won't unless you want me to remind everyone of what happened to you last homecoming?" I threaten with a devious little grin and she gasps.

"Don't you dare!"

Last homecoming, some kid wanted to get high. So without the knowledge of what laxatives actually were, he figured he could pop like ten laxatives and get high. so he spiked one of his drinks with two pills and accidently left it on the counter. Victoria just so happened to stumble across the counter, spots the glass and drinks the whole damn cup. Well, you can guess what happened next.

"Yeah, because I'm not that cruel."

"Hey you two!" Mr. Ledford calls, our heads whip towards him in his classic suit. "Get working! Bella come and clean the bathrooms!"

The bathrooms? Ew. Nasty.

Knowing that there was no way I could argue with Mr. Ledford, I hesitantly walked towards the bathroom. The weight of the heavy, black garbage bag slowing me down. The restroom was a small brick building with high glass windows and smelled of sanitized toilet water. It wasn't a bad smell, but it reminded me of the middle school pool. Dropping my garbage bag by the entrance, I cut around the corner towards some bushes when I heard what I hoped wasn't a moan.

Were my ears deceiving me?

Another moan was elicited and a grunt followed. No, not here.

Assuming I just imagined what Ithought I heard, I continued with my service, picking up loose tissues andplastic cups. When I was done with the sides, I made my way to theback of the restrooms and I couldn't believe what I saw.

Actually, I can believe what I saw because itwas right in front of me ... Tanya and a hunky blond I've never seen strong arms were wrapped around her naked waist and his pants were pooled aroundhis ankles. She wore nothing but a hot pink bra and the word vomit struck meseveral times.

Suddenly Tanya's eyes flew open in horror andthe mystery blond whipped his head towards me. Oh, God my eyes desperatelyneeded to be flushed, or removed. For the sake of my sanity, I need to beblinded.

"What the fuck! Get out!" she bellows,pushing the much older man away and quickly fighting to get her pants. SuddenlyI felt lightheaded, the bile climbing the walls of my throat ... don't do it,Bella.

Blergh!

I hope you liked it! Leave me some love! :)

- Scarlett xx