My phone beeping woke me up. I sat up, stretching and grabbed my phone. It was from Alice. I had given her my number when she gave me hers.

'Good morning, babe.'

Nicknames already? I blushed, as I read the message. Two days ago she was saying this wasn't a good idea, and now she's calling me babe? I decided to think of one for her, and came up with one, hoping she wouldn't strangle me when she saw me.

'Morning, pixie.'

I got a reply straight away.

'Pixie? Well, it's better than what my brother calls me. The idiot thinks it's hilarious to call me munchkin. He's 6'6, and loves to make fun of me.'

Now that made me laugh. I could imagine them bickering. I had a funny feeling the height difference didn't stop her.

'Aw, why do I get the feeling the height difference doesn't stop you trying to beat the crap out of him?'

I got up and grabbed something to wear. When I walked back into my room, I grabbed my phone, and headed downstairs.

'Oh, it doesn't. Trust me, he may be 6'6 but that never stopped us. It was never my sister and I fighting, it was us.'

I grabbed something to eat, and sat on the couch.

'How many siblings do you have?'

I sat, waiting for her reply thinking about telling my dad. I hoped he would be OK with it. Angela was, as long as I kept her informed.

'I was adopted. I have 2 brothers and 1 sister. What about you?'

So, she was adopted.

'It's just my dad and I, he's the police chief. My mom lives in Florida with her husband. I moved here when I was 12. I'm actually going to tell my dad today.'

I was really worried about he will react. I knew he would be surprised, but I hoped he didn't kick me out or anything.

'It'll be OK. My parents were fine with it, and you seem pretty close to your dad. He cares about you. How did he react, when you told him you broke up with Mitch?'

I tried not to think about that, because it made me think about Chase. He had seemed relieved, when I told him.

'He never liked Mitch, the possessive twit. Sorry, I'm ranting.'

I sent that, hoping she wouldn't think I was being childish.

'It's fine, baby. Is it OK if I ask why you two broke up?'

Oh great, how the Hell do I explain this? She seemed really focused on him, and I wanted to figure it out.

'He just got possessive and aggressive. I don't like that, so I ended it.'

That seemed to be an accurate description of what happened without going into to much detail. I really didn't want to talk about that and upset her.

'Oh. Well, be careful baby. OK?'

Now, I really wanted to figure this out. But, I didn't want to ask her. Something was telling not to ask her, and that I would find out eventually. The front door opened, and my dad walked in. He was back early.

"I will, pixie. I promise. My dad is back, wish me luck.'

My dad walked into the kitchen, not seeing me in the living room.

"It'll be OK. Let me know what happens, OK babe?'

"I will, pixie.'

I put my phone in my pocket, as my dad turned around and saw me.

"Hey, you not going out today?"

I shook my head, standing up and walking over to him.

"Not today, I have a few things to do."

He walked back into the living room, and sat down in the armchair. I sat on the couch and he looked at me. He was never that talkative, so I figured I'd have to make some small talk.

"How's Billy?

"He's good. What did you do yesterday?"

I had thought about this, and decided to just tell him I went out with a few friends. He never said anything about that.

"I just went out with a few friends."

He nodded, not saying anything. I took a deep breath, as he stared at the tv.

"Dad, I need to talk to you about something."

That made him look at me, and turn down the tv.

"Did Mitch do something?"

I shook my head, it didn't surprise me that he thought about that.

"No, I've been avoiding him........ After what you said."

He nodded, obviously relieved.

"Good, what is it, Bella?"

"Dad, I'm ........... I'm gay."

He seemed shocked, but not angry. I sat up, looking at me.

"Bella, I love you, who you're with doesn't bother me. I just want you to find someone who treats you properly. I don't care if it's a guy or a girl."

I got up and hugged him. He squeezed my shoulders, he leaned back and smiled at me.

"That doesn't mean I'm going to go easy on any of your dates, though."

Why didn't this surprise me? I knew he'd lecture anyone I went on a date with. Another reason, (besides the obvious), to keep him away from Alice.

"Why doesn't that surprise me? Dad, giving my date a heart attack is not a good idea."

"Well"

"That's it, I'm hiding your gun, when I'm going out on a date."

I shook my head, smiling. I was relieved we were able to joke about it. My dad was great at making me feel better when I was stressed.

"Yeah, yeah."

I smiled, and went up to my room. I sat on my bed, and thought about what my dad had said. I wasn't kidding when I said he was hiding his gun. It wouldn't surprise me, if he actually did that. He was fine with it. I took my phone out and texted Alice.

'I told him, he's fine with it. And something about lecturing any dates I have. Another reason to keep you away from him.'

I threw my phone onto my lap, turning it on silent. I felt so relieved, that he was OK with it. I felt my phone vibrate and picked it up.

'I'm seeing the chiefs daughter, isn't that reason enough? And what other dates, would these be?'

She had to picked that out of the whole thing, didn't she?

'There won't be any, I couldn't exactly tell him I'm dating my beautiful chemistry teacher, could I?'

I decided to tell Angela, the next day. She'd call me, and that meant I couldn't talk to Alice.

'Good, and trust me I'm far from beautiful.'

I shook my head, as I read that. I was being honest. I don't know how I'm going to focus in class now.

'Now you're just being silly.'

I thought about all the times I'd caught her staring. Her beautiful blue eyes. She really was beautiful. What I couldn't understand is why she likes me.

"So, I told my dad yesterday. He's fine with it, I just have to hide his gun when I go out on dates."

I met Angela outside the school, and told her. She was a bit annoyed that I hadn't texted her and told her how it went, but she seemed to understand. We walked into English and sat down, someone said we had a free class and that Ms. Brandon would be supervising. They were right. She walked in, and told us to get out some work. She looked at me, before looking down at the tests she had to grade.

"Close your mouth before you start drooling."

I looked Angela, who was smirking at me. She raised her eyebrow, waiting for an explanation. We were sitting at the back and people were talking, so no one would hear anything we said.

"Care to explain?"

I put my head on the desk, trying to think of a way to answer her.

"She's pretty."

Angela nudged my shoulder, and I raised my head to look at her.

"Come on, I can see that. You were practically drooling Bella."

I couldn't think of a way out of this, other than telling her.

"Hey, you wanna come over after school?"

She seemed surprised, but agreed. I looked at Alice, who smiled at me before finishing her work.

"Now, what is so important that you made me wait until after school?"

Angela was sitting on my bed and I was sitting at my desk. I couldn't think of another way out of this.

"Remember when you asked me who my girlfriend was and I said I'd just kissed a girl?"

She nodded, and I could see something was making sense. Angela can be quite observant.

"Bella, are you saying something happened with Ms. Brandon?"

I had a feeling she'd figure it out. When I didn't answer her, she laughed.

"Bella! She's a teacher, you two could get into so much trouble!"

And she starts freaking out.

"It happened the day I had to stay back for some help. She was explaining something, and well....... She avoided me for a few days but, on Friday I got her to talk to me. We talked about it, and met on Saturday. We really like each other."

Angela, still in a state of shock, nodded.

"I knew there was more to the way you were looking at her."

Wait, what? I was expecting her to start lecturing me on how wrong it was. But, I was glad she accepted it. I blushed, and she laughed.

"You two will need to be really careful about this. I'll cover for you, if you are spending time with her, if you want."

Now, that really surprised me. I got up, and went over to the bed, sitting next to her.

"You would do that?"

She nodded, looking at me.

"You're going to need someone to cover for you. And people know I'm your best friend, so they'll believe me."

She had a point. I gave her a hug, and she demanded details.

"So, come on. Spill."

Typical Angela.

"Like I said, it was day I stayed back. She explaining something to me. I looked at her, and I noticed she had been watching me. I kissed her, and she got flustered"

"Why do I get the feeling you thought that was cute?"

I hit her shoulder, and she laughed.

"Anyway, I left. She avoided me, until I went up to her after class on Friday. Everyone was gone, and she tried to tell me that she was busy. I wouldn't listen, and got her to admit how she felt. We agreed to meet the next day, and I left. When we met the next day, we talked and agreed to keep it quiet."

She nodded, not saying anything.

"Thanks for this Angela."

She shook her head, pushing her glasses up.

"You're my best friend. And this needs to be kept quiet, if this got out......... You'd be in major trouble, and she'd never work again."

She had a point, but I didn't care about me. Alice really loved teaching and I didn't want her to lose that over me.

"I don't care about myself. Alice loves teaching, and I don't want her to lose that."

"Alice?"

Angela just looked at me. Well, what did she expect?

"Yes, Alice. She may be Ms. Brandon in school, but"

"OK, OK. I get it."

Angela shook her head, smiling.

"So, are you going to Kevin's Hallowe'en party?"

I looked at Angela, I had completely forgotten about that.

"I completely forgot. Maybe it's not a good idea, with what happened last time."

Angela seemed to understand.

"Yeah. But, Eric and I will stay with you. You won't be alone. Plus you can show Alice your costume."

Oh, now she was just trying to bait me. She had a point though, but I had a feeling that she would want to pick it out.

"Fine, but I'm picking my own costume. I have a feeling you'd pick a school girl."

Angela sighed, shaking her head.

"I get to come with you when you get it though."

That I knew I wouldn't be able get out of.

"Fine, but no school girl outfits."

Angela made a big deal out of that, but once I threatened to not to go she shut up.

"OK, We'll go on Saturday."