AN: I fixed the first part of the chapter so that the POV doesn't switch. I meant to change this and forgot until I read the reviews section. :)
My heart literally stopped. Seriously, full out, stopped beating for a split second. I was, of course, used to it by now, but that didn't matter, it happened every time. The butterflies would start to flutter in my stomach, my cheeks would get red , I'd feel hot and uncomfortable, and my heart would stop.
"Alice?"…. "Alice?"….. "ALICE!!"
"Wh…What?" I answered as I looked up at my best friend Bella.
"I've only been standing here saying your name for the past five minutes!" she said exasperated.
"You're exaggerating," I said, not quite sure that she was, "I would've heard you."
"Well you didn't," she said. She was almost laughing now, the exasperation from earlier had almost completely vanished, "Were you staring at him again?"
"No," I said, knowing full well that Bella knew I was lying.
"Yeah right! You were staring at him like you were the fat kid and he was the cake!"
"Was not!" I fought back, less than convincingly.
"Okay, but in all seriousness why don't you just go talk to him?" asked Bella.
"Because, he's Edward-frickin'-Cullen!"
"So…." she said like she didn't get it. The sad thing was, was that she probably didn't.
Bella had just moved here, or rather had just moved back. We'd grown up across the street from each other and until Bella was six, we'd been inseparable. When her parents got divorced, however, Bella moved to Phoenix with her mother. But now she was back and it was like nothing had changed. Except that we both now had boobs and we definitely didn't think boys had cooties anymore. However, Bella was still new to Forks High School, and she definitely didn't know anything about the guys here.
Edward Cullen was the hottest, most popular boy in the entire school. His father, or at least his adoptive father, was the town doctor. He was best friends with my brother Emmett, but somehow he didn't know I existed! But I knew he existed. He was the hottest, most intelligent, most….everything boy I'd ever met. I was in love with him! After all he made my heart stop. I glanced over at him again. He was standing next to his other best friend Jasper Whitlock and Lauren Mallory. Ugh! I couldn't stand that girl, and it wasn't just because Edward knew she existed, she was just a horrible person. I looked away as she laid her hand on Edward's shoulder. I may be hopelessly in love with a boy I'll never have, but I wasn't that much of a masochist.
"No," I said snapping out of my reverie, "I can't talk to him. He'd laugh in my face, and I don't think I could handle that."
"Alice Brandon! You are beautiful, intelligent, and talented. Any guy would be stupid not to fall for you!"
"Yeah right, and now who's the one fooling themselves?" I asked as I closed my locker and headed for my first class. A class I had with Edward.
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I sat down in my assigned seat toward the back of the classroom. It was random seating, which sucked considering that if it was alphabetical I'd be seated right next to Edward. Instead I sat by best friend Jasper.
Jasper was a good guy. He was friendly and charming and good looking. He had golden hair and muscular frame. More muscular than Edward but not nearly as bulky as Emmett. Unlike Edward, Jasper knew I existed. We had about three classes together and he would always say hi. This class was US History, and since I wasn't the best history student, he helped me out quite a bit. Jasper really seemed to like history, especially the Civil War, which was the unit we were in now.
Just as my thoughts turned toward Edward again, he appeared at the classroom door. He was with Jasper and they were laughing. Edward started to head toward his seat at the front of the class and Jasper walked straight for me. My heart sank. Sometimes Edward would walk over with Jasper and talk for awhile. He'd never look at me or say anything to me, but just being that close to him made me happy.
"Hey Bella," said Jasper as he sat down, "Ready for Gettysburg?"
"Hey," I responded, "And, no, definitely not."
"Aww, Bella, Gettysburg is excited. Bloodiest battle of the war. How could you not be excited?"
"Because, I already know that the Union won. The ending is ruined, why even go over it?" I responded.
Jasper chuckled as he looked at me, "Well if you need help on anything we learn just ask. I'd love to explain it to you. Maybe if you hear it from me it'll be more exciting than hearing old Mr. Bryan drone on about it."
I looked up at Jasper and smiled, "Well I doubt I'll find it interesting either way, but I just might take you up on that offer."
As I said this Mr. Bryan called the class to order. I smiled at Jasper and he smiled back, but his smile was different….almost hopeful. I wondered why he'd look hopeful, but only for a split second. Mr. Bryan's monotone voice cut into my thoughts. A few minutes later I'd zoned out, daydreaming about Edward and I together.