It wouldn’t budge. He had just been embarrassed in front of the girl of his dreams and now the goddamn door was locked. Great. Just great. What a perfect way to spend my Christmas break, he thought miserably.

He thought about breaking the window and jumping out, but Banner’s room was on the second floor. He slammed his fist on the nearest desk and pulled his hair in anger.

It was going to be one long holiday…

***

Bella had never laughed so much in her life. Never.

She held her locker door for support while five vampires looked at her strangely.

“Now, that wasn’t so hard, was it Bella?” Emmett said, grinning like an idiot.

“It was hard for us,” Alice, Jasper and Edward declared at the same time, glaring and narrowing their eyes at him.

“Well, it’s not my fault that I wasn’t given any talents when I was created,” Emmett shot back, his grin growing wider.

“Just give us a warning next time, will ya?” The pixie said, rolling her eyes.

“Wow, Alice. I didn’t know I was allowed to do more pranks!” Emmett squealed like a girl, clapping his hands.

Everyone muttered something under breaths while Bella looked curiously at the vampires surrounding her. They all began to leave and she tagged along with them, sneaking a look at Emmett.

“I love you too!” He shouted, opening his arms wide enough for a group hug.

Bella silently laughed and shook her head. This was going to be something she would never forget.

— After Winter/Christmas Break —

“Hey Bells, is this what I think it is?” Charlie asked from the dining table with the morning newspaper in his hand.

Bella grabbed her cereal bowl from the counter and went to him, reading the front page headline over his shoulder.

HALF-NAKED TEEN FOUND TRAPPED IN BIOLOGY ROOM

Oh, my God.

“Mike?” She whispered, trying very hard not to laugh.

“Yeah, it says they found the guy in the classroom the day before school started,” he stated, pointing to a picture beneath the article. It was none other than Mr. Banner, shielding his eyes with one hand, while pointing one accusing finger at Mike.

Now Bella couldn’t control herself anymore and erupted into a fit of laughter. The look on Mike’s face was priceless! She thought. Tears were streaming down her face while Charlie looked at her with an amused look.

“Bells?” He asked cautiously, placing the newspaper on the table.

Then a large, burly figure popped out of the kitchen door and looked at the father, with a hint of cheekiness.

“Did someone say balls?”

Huh? How the hell did Emmett get here? Bella thought, as she wiped the tears from her eyes. He waited expectantly for an answer, eyebrows raised.

She groaned.

“EMMETT!”