?????? ?????? ? ???? ??????

After the dress shopping, the girls went to the restaurant and waited a while for Bella. When she didn't arrive, they began to worry. They had each called her multiple times, but no answer. They eventually decided to eat and stay a while to wait. After another hour, they decided to go out and look for her. However, those plans were foiled when she appeared on the doorstep of the diner, Edward Cullen on her arm.

"What the hell, Bella! We were worried!" Lizzie cried, running over to her friend.

"We waited, but like, we were starving, so..." Jessica said, trailing off.

"Um, I'm sorry I kept Bella from dinner." Edward said guiltily. "We sort of ran into each other and got talking."

"No, we totally understand. I mean, that happens, right?" Jessica said, immediately smiling. Angela just nodded along, smiling with equal fervour. Lizzie, on the other hand, was not convinced. She looked between Bella and Edward for a moment before grabbing Bella's sleeve gently.

"Can I talk to you for a minute?" She asked, trying to pull her away from Edward.

"Actually, I think I should make sure Bella gets something to eat." Edward stated with a tight-lipped smile. He pulled Bella into the small restaurant and left the three girls standing on the sidewalk.

☾

Jacob scoffed on the other end of the phone as Lizzie lay down on her bed.

"So they just left you there?" He asked, laughing.

"Yeah, I guess. I don't know why she's so obsessed with Edward all of a sudden. He wouldn't even talk to her before, and now..." Lizzie trailed off, huffing.

"Don't let it take up so much of your brainpower. I'm sure she just has a crush on him like every other girl in that school." Jacob assured. 

"Yeah, whatever." She scowled in response. "Hey, I got my dress today." She stated, changing the subject."

"Did you? Is it gonna match my pink tie?" Jacob asked, grinning.

"Like you own a pink tie." Lizzie scoffed.

"I might go out and buy one, now." He stated. Lizzie rolled her eyes.

"You do that." She said, shaking her head.

"Do I get to see it?" He asked.

"Not before prom!" Lizzie scolded.

"Come on! I need to know if we coordinate." Jacob pressed.

"You own one tie! And one shirt! And one pair of dress pants!" She remarked loudly. He laughed on the other end and she shook her head smiling.

"Well, I'll definitely look better than Cullen." He remarked. Lizzie frowned at the mention of Edward again. There was just something not right about him, and she didn't know how to express that to Bella. Elizabeth didn't want her taken away again. She sighed, turning on her side and listening to Jake's breathing through the phone as the stars shone through the window.

"I miss you." Lizzie mumbled quietly.

"What do you mean? We saw each other a few days ago." Jacob frowned. Lizzie shook her head, even though she new Jacob couldn't see her. She didn't miss him like that, it was more like she missed the times where it was just the two of them against the only problems ten-year-old kids really had. None.

"I know. I guess I'm just tired." Lizzie said, shrugging away her thought. 

Despite everything, she felt completely, inexplicably lonely. Despite being surrounded by her friends, Bella, Jacob. Despite having her mom sleeping a few doors down the hallway. Despite spending every day in a crowded high school surrounded by other students just like her. She was alone. It felt like she was missing something. A piece of herself. Something that made her happy.