Summer's ending...*tear*

I'm starting school again soon, which means that I'm not going to be as free to write as much as I'd like. I've got the next couple of chapters for On the Mend already written, but I can't really guarantee that the chapters after that will come very quickly.

As for this chapter, I had to take a break from the angst. You see, I like to think that I'm a well-rounded writer, but I usually specialize in humor and drama. It's how I got my start in fanfiction. I'm not used to writing all this pain, not by a longshot, but in order to grow as a writer, I need to push my boundaries.

Right now, though, Bella needs a little lightheartedness, and I think that you guys as readers need some too. As for the spring dance, I didn't know that Edward was going to trick Bella into going until Jessica asked him. He thinks that it would be a good idea for Bella to get out of her house. She needs to stop spending her weekends drowning in pain and he also thinks that Bella doesn't spend enough time doing regular teenage, human things.

But what I think is most interesting (and what people should really notice) is that Rosalie isn't so opposed to Bella in this chapter. You guys should probably start thinking about why. It's a pretty important detail and I'm sure you guys will get it easily.

As promised, I have a sneek peak of next chapter. Consider this an apology for such a terrible cliff hanger.

I entered the house and called out loudly, “Charlie! I’m back!”

He stuck his balding head from the entrance to the living room. “Hey, Bella. How was school?”

I shrugged after I closed the door behind me. “It was okay. Are the detectives here?”

The moment I asked that question, Detectives Anderson and Manning walked into the hallway, closely followed by Mrs. Andrews and Dr. Levsky. “Hey, Bella,” greeted Detective Manning with a soft smile.

I tried to smile back. “Hi.”

“We were just going to have Charlie take us on a tour of the town,” Detective Anderson informed me. “He’s also helping us in the investigation of last week’s accident. We’re trying to figure out if it was anyone in town.”

“In fact, we should get going right now,” Charlie said in a not-so-subtle attempt to get out of the house. I had a hunch that being in close proximity of the shrink and the lawyer was not exactly comforting to him.

“Oh.” I nodded.

The detectives and Charlie walked toward me and I moved out of their way to grant them easier access to the front door. “If you need anything, Bella, don’t hesitate to call us.”

“I will.” And with reassuring smiles from all three of them, they walked out the door, leaving me in the lion’s den.

I took a deep breath and tried to comfort myself in the fact that Edward was above me, listening intently and ready if I needed him.

With heavy feet, I made my way into the living room where Mrs. Andrews and Dr. Levsky waited for me. They both grinned at me, gentle and soft expressions. No doubt their expectations were high.

“Bella,” Mrs. Andrews began the moment my rear touched the armchair, “have you given any thought to your testimony at the trial?”

Deep breath. “I have.” I had stayed up multiple nights, thinking about my answer. I had replayed the imagined scenarios over and over in my head.

“What have you decided?”

My fingers were already trembling and I gripped them tightly in my lap. “I’ve decided that I’ll do it.”

If you haven't reviewed the last chapter, please go back and do so! Thanks for reading!

Ciao.