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"I don't know Dad, I don't think it's a good idea." I shook my head with a nervous smile on my face. During breakfast, Dad approached me with the idea of sending Bella to stay with mom. I knew Bella wouldn't go, she had hope that Edward would return.

"I don't see any other options." His voice was quiet as he whisper and shouted. Bella was still upstairs getting dressed for school and we both kept glancing at the stairs for her to appear. "You got your broken heart too, and you're fine."

"Everyone handles things differently." I shrugged in reply, unsure of how to honestly answer him. "It'll take time, he was her first boyfriend."

"Wait, so the kid you dated wasn't your first boyfriend?" Dad asked in disbelief.

"No Dad, he wasn't." I laughed and shook my head. "I've technically had three boyfriends - though I don't think you can call a small one-month romance in middle school a relationship," I muttered the last bit thoughtfully.

"Who were these other boyfriends?" Dad spoke gruffly.

"Um," I tilted my head as I thought about it. "Some kid on the reservation during middle school was the one-month thing and then a boy in Phoenix - he was a year."

"Just answer me this," He began. "Can you wear white on your wedding day?" His cheeks had a pink tint to them and I suppressed a giggle.

"Yeah," I replied with a shy smile. His smile mirrored mine and he nodded, content with my answer. Though he still blushed. Our conversation dwindled after that as I continued to eat my cereal. We both turned as we heard Bella's shoes tap against the floor as she walked down the stairs.

"Morning." Dad and I both smiled at her. She glanced at us but didn't seem to comprehend that we had said something. I shot Dad a nervous look and he nodded to me. He was going to tell her that he was sending her back.

Bella grabbed a bowl and filled it with cereal and milk before grabbing a spoon and sitting beside me. She began quietly chomping on her cereal and her eyes glazed over. She was tuning everything out. Maybe a change in scenery would be good for her.

"I'm sending you home Bella." Dad's fist thumped against the table and he finally captured her attention.

"I am home." She stated, confused. She glanced at me but I kept my head down and avoided her gaze.

"I'm sending you to your mom, to Jacksonville." He corrected her. I looked at Bella as I finished my cereal and I saw her lip tremble slightly and I knew she was about to protest with everything in her or lie to Dad's face.

"What did I do?"

"You didn't do anything," Dad stressed. "That's just it, you never do anything."

"What do you want me to do?" I felt her looking at me but I simply stood up and deposited my bowl in the sink. I faced away from them as their conversation continued.

"Anything, something. Just not this moping!" Dad's voice was quiet but anyone could hear his frustration.

"I am not moping." Bella crossed her arms and she narrowed her eyes stubbornly.

"You're right because then you'd be doing something." He sighed heavily and began rubbing his head. I walked over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder comfortingly but also reassuringly. He knew - as did Bella - that my small gesture meant I was siding with him. "You're lifeless Bella, you're practically a robot."

"He's right Bells," I spoke quietly and ignored the glare she sent me. "You're not you, you're just an empty shell. We just want you to be -" I trailed off. I was about to say happy but I knew she'd just cry and reply that she was happy with Edward.

"I don't know what you want me to do." She eventually said.

"Bells, you're not the first one to go through this. Your sister had her broken the same day as you, and she's healing. She's handling it, the same as I did when your mother left and took you with her. Bella, you're not handling it." Bella's glare evaporated but her grimace remained. "Far from it. We just want to help you."

"So, what? You want me to see a shrink?" Her tone was sarcastic and I found myself once again wanting to slap her. Dad was trying to help her and she was bitter.

"Maybe it would help."

"You didn't make Clary see a shrink!" She pointed out.

"Clary handled her pain differently. And we're not talking about her, we're talking about you." Dad quickly dismissed her chance to change the subject.

"Look," She uncrossed her arms but her tone was flat. "I'll call Jessica or someone and we'll go out tonight."

"I don't want you to force yourself to do that." Dad seemed more frustrated the longer this conversation went on. "Don't try harder, you're trying hard enough as it is. It's painful watching you try so hard."

"I don't understand what you want me to do then." Her voice had risen and I felt my eyes widen as this is the most emotion she's shown us in months.

"I want you to be less miserable and I think you'll be able to do that if you had a change of scenery." I nodded in agreement but she seemed upset with me.

"I can't leave, school's almost over." She stated.

"You're smart, I'm positive you could figure it out," Dad argued. "And I know what you're trying to do. No more excuses. We know what is holding you here. It's been months and there's been no contact. You can't keep waiting for him."

"Did you say the same thing to Clary?" I shook my head as she brought me into it once again.

"I'm not waiting for him and he knows that," I answered her myself.

"Look, I have to get to school." She stood up grumpily and slung her bag over her shoulder. "I won't be home later, don't wait up." She left the house without another word and she left Dad and me in silence.

"Give it more time, then call mom," I said to him quietly.

"You've been a big help Clary, thank you." He smiled slightly at me. "I know it hasn't been smooth sailing for you either and I'm sorry that Bella wasn't able to help you the way you're helping her."

"It's fine Dad, it's like I said - everyone handles pain differently." He stood up and I stopped him before he could leave. "Do you mind if I go see Emily instead of going to school? I kind of need some girl talk."

"Yeah, come on. I'll drive you over." He nodded. I abandoned my backpack and went straight to his cruiser and waited for him.

The talk with Bella made my heart begin to hurt and I hated how she reminded me of the pain. I desperately needed advice and I knew that Bella wasn't going to be giving it to me seeing as how she's upset with me.

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I quietly walked into Sam's house after knocking. Emily was sitting at the kitchen table alone and I glanced around for any sign of the boys.

"They're not here." She smiled at me. "Shouldn't you be at school?" I nodded and I stood there by the door, biting my lip. "Is something wrong?" She asked. I nodded and that's when the tears fell. She immediately stood and brought her arms around me.

"It still hurts." I sobbed. "I thought it was almost gone but the pain is still there." She pulled away from the hug and quietly sat me down on the couch. Her arms wrapped around me and I buried my face in her shirt as I cried. I felt my skirt riding up but I ignored it and continued to sob.

"You had your heart broken, it's going to take a little more time to heal. These things take time." She soothed me.

"But I want to forget it, I want to forget him!" I cried louder. "I want the pain to end. I'm tired of crying."

"Sweetie, it's okay to cry. You don't have to be strong for anyone but yourself. Don't bottle it all up inside." She held onto me tighter. Over the sound of my sobs, I heard footsteps and I felt Emily turn her head to face whoever it was that entered.

"I loved him Emily, and he hurt me. I don't want to cry over him anymore." I murmured into her shirt.

"I know sweetie." She shushed me. "Broken hearts take time to heal. Eventually, you'll be able to think of him and not want to cry, and that will be the day when your heart is done healing."

"Can that day be today?" I felt her chest move up and down as she chuckled and I stifled a laugh. "All I wanted was for him to keep his promises but broke them. He broke me." She pulled me away from her shoulder and cupped my face in her hands. Her thumbs swiped away my tears and as my vision cleared I noticed Jared standing in the kitchen.

"Clary, that boy did not break you. This pain will only make you stronger. Don't ever think that you're broken because of some boy. That boy lost one of the best girls in the world and someday you'll find someone who will keep their promises and love you wholeheartedly." I nodded and blinked more tears at her encouraging words. "Your heart may still feel pain and that will end someday. You're stronger than you think, don't let the pain win."

"Thank you, Emily." I tackled her into a hug and another tear escaped me. I swiped it away and smiled slightly at Jared who still stood there watching everything happen. Emily was right, everything she said was the truth. My breakup didn't break me, it only made me stronger.