It's Monday... I sigh at the thought.

Back to school, not only that, but now Bella is officially in classes...meaning I have to show her around, otherwise she'll tell Dad and I don't want to deal with that. We drive separately, thankfully, seeing as she got a truck from the Black's as a "welcome home" gift. I'm sad I missed them yesterday. Maybe after work I'll stop and say hi.

She pulls in next to me as I shut my door, throwing my backpack around my shoulder and grabbing the cup of coffee I made before I left with me. She looks around and notices everyone looking at her, before dropping her eyes to the pavement, and I wave to a couple friends I have classes with.

"You ready?" I raise a brow as she just nods and follows me to the main building.

"We'll stop at the office to get your schedule, and see where your classes will be." We walk through the crowded hallways, making our way into the central spot of the school where the offices are held and I smile at the lady behind the desk as I open the door.

"Hi Mrs. Jones, this is my sister, Isabella Swan. Is her schedule ready to pick up?" I wait as the secretary looks through her files and finds the one we're looking for.

"Here you go dear. Have fun!" She says with a cheery smile, and I quickly match up to see we only have two classes together. English Literature and French. She didn't strike me as a foreign language kinda person..

"I'll at least show you to Bio, that's your first class. We got here late so I don't know if I can show you everything."

We walk down the hall, me telling her little tidbits about the school as we pass things, and she doesn't ask any questions and part of me wonders how she will make any friends with having the personality of a wet napkin...Sorry, but it's true.. It seems the universe hates me today, as we suddenly run into Erik, one of the most obnoxious people from the school newspaper..He's probably found out Bella is new and will want to talk with her. Good luck..

"Hey Izzy, I forgot I have to go check in with my photography teacher, I'll catch ya later."

I'm able to leave,speed walking away from my sister, right as he starts talking with her and I sigh in relief. I can't stand half of my senior class let alone the juniors in Bella's.. It makes me glad I'm not here very often. I make my way slowly to my first class, upper level Bio, which isn't photography, but my sister doesn't need to know that. Do I feel bad for leaving her to suffer Erik's annoying bombardment of questions? Not really. I sit in my chair painfully waiting for class to start, when suddenly my phone buzzes and I pull it from my bag to see a text from Jared.

From: Jared (Your BestestFriend!)
Hey, have you heard from Paul lately?

Why would he be asking me? Jared and Paul are attached at the hip. If he hasn't heard from him, something must be going on, and come to think of it, I haven't seen him since I took the picture on the beach..

From: Ara (Your Favorite Outsider)
No, actually. I haven't. Everything okay?

From: Jared (Your BestestFriend!)
I don't know. He isn't answering my calls and hasn't let me in his house.. I didn't piss him off right?

Paul is actively ignoring Jared? Like I know he can be obnoxious sometimes, but that's just Jared. Paul should be used to that by now.. It's kinda out of character for him to just go radio silent.

From: Ara (Your Favorite Outsider)
I don't think so.. Maybe I can talk to him after work today?

From: Jared (Your BestestFriend!)
I dunno Ara. Maybe we should let him cool off? We all know how he can get.

From: Ara (Your Favorite Outsider)
You're right. I'll talk to you when I'm done with work later alright?

Jared agrees to meet after work at his place, and school is a blur. I have just two months left and the senioritis is a real struggle, especially when I've already got a job lined up and am just finishing for the sake of getting a piece of paper. I spend the rest of the day wondering what's going on with my friend and his best friend...

After school I head down to La Push, planning to meet Sue at the Redfeather's house. Tony Redfeather has intolerable chronic arthritis, and over the last couple of years working alongside Sue, we've been able to ease his pain with traditional ways of healing, a more homeopathic route, that he's comfortable with. Instead of medications and other remedies from the "pale faces" as he likes to say. We spend time with him every other day or when he has bad flare ups, and it seems that helps too because his family no longer lives on the rez. It gives him someone to talk to, and I enjoy being in La Push and spending my time with the older generation, learning what I can from their knowledge and experiences.

"Hello Tony." I say cheerfully as he opens the heavy wooden door and lets me into the dim eclectic house.

"Hello Arabelle dear. How are you doing?" He asks with a smile as I follow him back into the living room, taking in the scent of lavender and thieves, both herbs which help heal the body and mind.

"Oh I'm alright. My sister is here to stay, so things have been tense at home. How are you feeling today Tony?"

"Oh I'm fine. Really Arabelle, you spend too much time with an old man. Why don't you spend more time with those boys that run around here?"

I chuckle at this, because for the longest time Tony has been convinced I'm going to end up with one of the boys from the reservation. Due to the fact that I'm just "too pretty to pass up", and I'm a welcome breath of fresh air apparently. We have this conversation at least once a week when I'm here, and he's convinced he'll be the matchmaker I need.

"Believe me Tony, I spend enough time with those boys. If I spent anymore time I might lose my mind." He chuckles deeply, an unidentifiable glint in his chocolate colored eyes.

"You never know dear. Things can always surprise you."

He says no more on the topic as Sue shows up and we see if there's anything we can do to help Tony feel better, but he insists he's fine. We make a pot of camomile tea to help his body relax in the chilly weather, and just help him clean up some things around the house. After he insists we've done too much, I promise to be back in a couple days and I head to Jared's house hoping to find him there and figure out what is going on.

I knock on his door only for it to open shortly after the second knock, and I'm suddenly more worried for my friend. Not only does he seem upset his friend isn't talking to him, but he looks sick. Like he hasn't slept in days, hasn't eaten for even longer kinda sick...

"You alright Jare?" He shuts the door behind me, and tiredly collapses into his favorite worn down chair within his tiny living room.

"Yeah...I dunno Ara. I feel like shit. First Paul is ignoring me, now I feel like I'm getting the flu." He runs a tired hand over his face and I am suddenly curious about what could be going on, but it could be as simple as Paul being sick too and not having the energy to talk with anyone.

"How can I help Jare? Like I said, I can still go talk to him. I just came from Mr. Redfeather's place, I could probably make you some tea?" I get up and begin to riffle through his cabinets looking for his kettle and put a pot of water on the stove, grabbing the dried herbs from my bag.

"I don't get it!" He suddenly exclaims making me jump. "He was fine yesterday! All we did was just talk about y...stuff! And now he isn't even talking to me! Or even you!"

My eyes widen at his sudden outburst, and I don't think I've ever seen him this angry. Jared is very mild tempered...he doesn't let things get to him very easily..? I set the cup of tea down in front of him and watch as he clenches and unclenches his fists.

"Jare?"

I say softly watching as his eyes flash to mine, and he suddenly takes a calming sigh and I see the tension leave his shoulders, and he smiles sadly at me.

"I'm sorry Ara. I don't know why this is all making me so angry. Thank you for the tea, but I think I should get some sleep." He sighs and all the anger has melted into exhaustion and I agree with him.

"Don't worry Jare. I'll call you tomorrow, okay?"

He nods, giving me a hug goodbye and I decide to just head home for the night, not looking forward to school in the morning...