a/n sorry about the long wait..I was almost done with 2 when I put up ch. 1, and now I've written a lot of ch. 3, but it's not done, and I was planning on waiting until I finished ch 3 to put up ch 2, but you've waited long enough for another ch, in my POV…I'll try to finish ch 3 in less than a week, can't promise it, but I'll try

Death Is Sour

When I got home, Charlie still wasn't there, so I put a pot of water on to boil, getting what I needed for a simple tomato and mushroom sauce, as well as some spaghetti. In the tomato sauce, I added pepper, oregano, a clove of garlic, a bit of finely chopped onion, diced tomato, and mushrooms. As I slowly finished it, I poured enough spaghetti for two into the boiling water in the pot.

As it cooked, I started my math homework. Math was the hardest class for me, but it should only take about an hour, since we only had five problems, because my teacher was giving us a test tomorrow and didn't want to give us more than a small review for homework. I didn't get much work done, because I kept checking the food, though. As it finished, I got out plates, making one for Charlie and one for myself, setting his in front of the chair I wasn't going to sit in. I finished the problem I was on, the third one, and, as I finished it, Charlie opened the door.

"Bells, I'm home!" He passed the living room, coming straight for the food, "Is this homemade sauce? It smells great!"

He was rather happy today, for some reason.

"Yep. Just like always, dad," I laughed, "What are you so happy about?"

"That nothing big happened today, no big crimes at all! Oh, and that I met the new kids you were so worried about. They seem nice, their parents had them bring all of us a snack earlier."

"That's good," I said.

"Yeah," He started, "This is great!"

He had started eating, and he obviously loved it, since he didn't talk again until he finished. I was eating as well, and found that I did cook it well today. Once I finished, I washed my dish, and put it up to dry, and grabbed Charlies dish as he walked to the sink.

"Thanks," he said, and left for the living room.

I heard sports being played on the TV and went upstairs with my backpack. I finished my math homework quickly and started the rest. Thankfully, I had an okay load, and an hour later, it was all done. I tried to start my old computer, I've had it for five years, and it's really slow. As it finished starting up, MSN popped up. Though I only have a few friends on it, I still like to use MSN because I don't have to open up AOL or any other multi-use program. I typed in my email, , and my password, Debussey.

When I logged on, I discovered that Jessica's status message was 'I can't believe you did that, Bella!' I doubt I'll be talking to her a lot for a while. Angela was also on, though she had nothing in her status message. I opened a chat window with her.

---(chat starts here)---

Bella says: Hey, Angela
Angela says: Hey, what's up?
Bella says: Nothin' much. U?
Angela says: Same.
Angela says: I can't believe how immature Jess is being! It's so annoying!
Bella says: I know! I thought she liked Mike!
Angela says: She still does, but she likes Edward too.
Bella says: I doubt Edward likes her…
Angela says: Yeah. She was ticked off because he didn't check her out or whatever.
Bella says: Hah. How'd she act when I went to talk to them?
Angela says: She freaked out!
Bella says: Wow…guess what Mike did during gym?
Angela says: What?
Bella says: He thinks that the Cullens are 'hiding something'!!
Angela says: like what? Lol…
Bella says: where they 'came from,' like they're aliens or something. He doesn't think they lived in Arizona because they aren't tan!
Angela says: stereotyping much?
Bella says: I know!
Angela says: G2G—my bros need help with their hw…
Bella says: K, see ya

---(chat ends here)---

No one else was on, and I really didn't want to talk to anyone else, if they came on, so I signed off soon after Angela did. I opened up an internet explorer window and checked my Comcast email——to find no real emails, just junk mail. After deleting it, I got off my computer, grabbing my book, and read. I ended up reading for a few hours, until about 8PM. I got ready for bed, then, starting with a hot shower that lasted half and hour, to try and clear my mind, me trying to brush and braid my hair, and more. By 9 PM, I was ready.

I got my CD player and put in my Debussey CD, putting the headphones on, and read in bed for another hour, falling asleep soon after putting it down. I slept soundly and dreamlessly, for once.

______________________________________________________________________________

The next few days were eventless. The Cullens and Hales still didn't fit in, but they weren't as big of a deal as they had been the first day. I only talked to them at lunch, where Rosalie constantly talked about the car Jacob was working on, that she helped with, called a 'rabbit'. I also found out that their car is a Volvo, and they have a Jeep, BMW, and more, but most of what Rosalie talked about was just plain confusing.

Emmett said that he joined a gym, Jasper got a job at the civil war store, and Alice had shopped-a lot. I had realized that Edward never said what things he likes, when I first met him. I asked, and he said one word.

"Music."

"There's a huge music store in Port Angeles, it has classical, rock, and everything in between. I prefer the classical section, to be honest," the last part I didn't mean to say, it just blurted out.

I blushed, but Edward smiled. Everyone else looked at me, then at Edward, then back at me. I hate being the center of attention, so I lowered my head, blushing even deeper. I checked the clock, looking for an escape, and saw it was almost time for biology. Shit. I just remembered, Edward's in that class. This'll be more embarrassing than that first day, especially since we're doing a lab today.

The rest of the lunch period was kind of awkward, at least, to me. I sort of stayed out of the conversation. When the period ended, I walked to Biology, Edward walking, awkwardly, next to me. As we sat down, Mike walked in, and glared at Edward. I still talk to Mike, but he hates Edward, so it's always sort of awkward. Angela doesn't car, though Jessica still hates me for it.

Edward started talking, as I dazed off.

"I know you're embarrassed, but you should be. The only reason they all stared was because I love classical music too, and I've only met a handful of students, at this school and back in Phoenix, that could even stand classical."

"Oh," I started, blushing, "Same with me, but my friend, Angela, sort of likes it."

He wrinkled his nose for a second.

"Is she the one that you were talking to before introducing yourself to us the first day?"

I laughed. That must be why he wrinkled his nose! He hated Jessica just that much!

"No, that's Jessica. Angela's the one that stopped Jessica from following me to your table," I informed him.

"Oh," He started, "I like her."

Again, I laughed. Maybe I will get over my embarrassment from the first day, but one day of talking won't do it. I'm still sort of embarrassed about it. After that short talk, the chatting ended, and I pulled out my book to read before the bell. As I had a heavy load of homework, and then a light load, I had managed to read almost all of the book I started the day he came I only had to finish this last chapter, and only a few pages of it, too! I did finish it, reading the last sentence as the bell rang.

Mr. Banner walked in with a cart full of lab material. I already knew this lab because I had to do it myself last year, when I was in honors biology I. Edward sighed sadly, so I had a feeling he either did this before, or really didn't want to do it a first time. I didn't have a chance to ask, because Mr. Banner began to explain the lab.

It would be easy, all we had to do was look in a microscope and organize the stages of mitosis in a cell.

"I've done this before, so if you want-" Edward started.

"I did I, we'll just do it really quickly then, I guess," I interrupted.

"Oh, okay."

He slid slide one in place, and offered me a shot. I put my eye to the microscope and adjusted it so it would be easier to see. The cell had chromosomes flowing around in it, so it was in prophase.

"Prophase," I told him.

"'K," he said, writing it down.

I had never seen his handwriting before, so I leaned over a bit, to see it. I was surprised to find that it reminded me of calligraphy, so neatly done, much better than mine. I stopped staring, so he wouldn't find me creepy, or any more creepy that he probably already does, and switched the slides to slide two, passing it to him. He smiled slightly, and thanked me, setting the microscope the way he wanted, and told me it was anaphase. I decided to trust him, and pulled back the microscope to switch slides again.

The rest of the lab was as easy as the first two slides, and we finished quickly. Edward put our names on it, and turned in the paper, as I took care of the slides. When I got back, the microscope was gone, and Edward was wrapping one up in the back, where we were told to leave them for the next class. Mr. Banner, suspicious of how good we could do in such a short time, was already grading ours, and looked amazed.

"Isabella, Edward, come here please?" Mr. Banner said, as he finished grading it.

We walked up, and I hoped it wasn't that he thought we had cheated or anything along those lines.

"I know you couldn't have cheated, because some slides were put in a different order for each group, and you did it perfectly!" He smiled, "So, you were in honors biology last year, Bella? Why switch to normal?"

"My dad thought I was over-working myself with 3 honors classes, so he asked me to switch one of them to normal," I answered.

"And you were in advanced classes in Phoenix, Edward?" He asked.

"Yes, but I didn't know what the work was like here, and I didn't want to seem like a know-it-all, so I switched some to normal classes."

So he was some kind of genious? I wonder if I'd ever be as good as he is at school work. I doubt it. I think my not being smart, or as smart as him, would ruin my chances of getting to know him better.

"Do you want to stay in this class or switch?" Mr. Banner asked.

My heart started beating double time. I wanted to get to know Edward better, and having this class together would help, a lot. If he switches, he may have to switch lunch too! Then I'd never get to know him! To my relief, he shook his head.

"I'm already situated here, I'd rather stay in this class," was his official answer.

"If you're sure," Mr. Banner said, glancing at me.

Did he think Edward and I were a 'thing'? I don't think teachers are supposed to show that they think about that kind of stuff, or maybe he just thought his glance wasn't obvious? Oh well, it was still embarrassing. I kept my eyes down for a bit, blushing, until it faced as much as it could.

"Well, if you're sure," Mr. Benner repeated, "Good job, today!"

He sat down, and we went to our seats. Now, I had no book to read, so I got out my homework. Since this lab was more like a partner test, we had no homework in this class, and I didn't have much in any other classes. I only worked on it for about 5 minutes before a sheet of paper was slid underneath my book. To hid the fact that it was a note, I made it look like I had the sheet already and needed information from it, or needed to write something down.

Lifting the side of my book, I grabbed the paper, oved the book again and put in on one side, the handwriting, obviously, was Edwards.

(a/n italics is Edward's writing, Bold is Bella's, normal is her thoughts)

I think Mr. Banner would be ok if we wrote notes, since we finished our lab. The note read. I added to it, on the next line.

Ok…but do you want to talk about?

I set down the piece of paper, and moved over my book, constantly looking at the sheet like I need to use it.

I feel bad that we haven't gotten to know each other very well. Oh, and you can stop acting like you are doing any homework, no one else has finished so they aren't paying attention, Nor would they care.

Fine, and what is there to know? I wrote back before putting away my books, though I kept my pencil out. We continued to pass notes.

A lot of stuff.

Like?

How about you tell me about your life?

Later, when we can actually talk. It's a long story, sorta.

Ok. What about your favorite color?

It chances constantly.

What is it right now?

I started to blush, because of what my favorite was, or rather, why it was that.

Green.

Why?

I'd rather not tell you, not now, at least.

Oh, ok, will you tell me later?

Probably not later today, but in a year or so, if we get closer, maybe.

What's your favorite food?

Probably mushroom ravioli, but in general, anything that Mediterranean.

Greek?

Yeah, I love Greek food!

Ok. Now what's your favorite type of book to read?

Classics, as in, really old classics, or books about girl heros.

Ah, ok.

What about you?

For what?

Life story, maybe?

My birth parents died with I was 7, I was in foster care until I was 10, when Carlisle and Esme, my adoptive parents, adopted me, along with my sister and brother, Alice and Emmett. Two years ago, Jasper and Rosalie lost their parents, Carlisle's brother and sister-in-law. They came to Carlisle, where Rosalie and Emmett fell in love and Alice and Jasper fell in love.

Wow, I'm sorry about your parents.

I hope I hadn't asked anything too personal.

It's o.k. :) I can't remember them as well as Emmett, or even Alice.

Are you and Alice twins?

They're in the same grade, so I had to ask. He chuckled a little.

We're Irish Twins.

? You don't look like it.

Not from Ireland. Irish Twins aren't really twins, they're just born less than a year apart. Alice and I are barely Irish Twins.

Really?

Yeah, 11 months, to the dot. My birthday is in June, hers is in July of the year before. Our mother, Elizabeth, loved kids.

Wow.

Do you have any siblings?

No.

Oh, Ok.

As I read that, the bell rang. He grabbed the notes sheet and asked me what I had next. As I got my bag, I told him.

"Will you tell me more about you if I walk with you?" He asked.

Laughing, I answered, "sure."

He asked me about big events in my life first.

"You're birthday?"

"September 13th."

"What was the best part of your childhood? Or the best parts."

"Seeing my parents happy," I sighed.

"What's wrong?" Edward asked.

There was true concern in his eyes, for some reason.

"Nothing."

"Something is wrong. Is it the thing you didn't want to tell me?" He asked.

I shook my head. It's not that I didn't want to tell him about my mom leaving, it's just that I don't know if he'll think something bad about my family, since his is so solid and happy. Well, I guess that means I don't want to tell him, then.

"Ok, um…tell me later?" He asked as we got to the door to the girls locker room.

"Um…maybe," I answered tentively.

I never realized before how nice his smile was. It was crooked, showing a dimple on one side, and flashed perfect teeth. The two front teeth were a bit bigger than the rest, but not too much so, and the canine teeth were a bit pointy. The smile was a true one, and reached his eyes, making them sparkle a bit more than usual. It put me in a daze, but I made myself come out of it quickly. The smile was contagious, as well, I had to smile too. I laughed a bit, and nodded.

"Ok, then, see you tomorrow?" I asked.

He laughed, truly laughed, and his head tilted back a bit.

"It's Friday, remember?"

"Oh…um…" I blushed, "Then I'll see you Monday."

He laughed more, and nodded, waving goodbye. I waved back, and as he walked away, I walked into the locker room. I dressed slowly, still in a small gaze from his smile, and thinking of him. I only fell a few times, too! The rest of PE was awkward and silent between Mike and I, but near the end, as I was walking to the locker rooms, he stopped me by grabbing my shoulder.

"Be safe with Edward. I think he wants you for somethi-" I cut him off.

"Edward will not do that to me," I almost growled.

Mike backed off, but as I changed back into my clothes, and got my gym clothes to wash, I thought, yet again, about Edward. Why did I stand up for him? He's a good person, but I don't usually get so…protective, or emotional, about people talking badly about someone else. I couldn't get him out of my head as I walked out the locker room doors. As I did, I got tapped on the shoulder. I jumped a bit, because I hadn't realized someone was there. I turned, expecting Mike, ready to insist Edward was evil, in one form or another.

"What, Mike? Ready to insist Edward is a murderer? Or perhaps he worships Hitler?" I said, halfway turned.

Edward looked at me with an odd look that said all over it, 'is she crazy?'. Shit. Now I'm even more embarrassed!

"Um, oops?" I said, blushing, "Sorry, I wasn't expecting you. Mike's in this period, so I thought it was him."

"And he accuses me of being Nazi, and a murderer?" he said, laughing.

I blushed.

"No, not yet, anyway. He's accused you of wanting to seduce me, though!" I blurted out.

He looked angry for a second, then started laughing.

"As long as you don't believe him…" He questioned.

"No, I don't. Mike is really just jealous of you, that's the only reason he's saying that stuff," I informed Edward.

"Oh," he laughed, "But…why's he jealous?"

"Because I talk to you. Soon, Eric Yorkie and Tyler Crowley'll probably start making up stories about you killing 100 people in Mexico or something like that," I told him.

He laughed. I couldn't get over how musical it sounded, and knowing that he liked classical music, his laugh, somehow, reminded me of it. I could almost make out the harmony of Claire de Lune, mixed with new melodies, almost. It made me smile. His musical laughter turned into a cough, just one, and he stopped laughing.

"Let's get moving, then. Before Mike Newton comes out," He said, starting us on a walk to my truck.

"Good idea."

The idea came a little too late though, because, as we walked out, Mike came out of the locker room.

He silently went on the other side of Edward, but at a distance, and in my range of sight. He followed us, making notions to say things like that I shouldn't talk to Edward. Some of these were a finger across the neck, a big X made from his arms, then him pointing towards Edward, and him pointing toward Edward then making little devil horns with his fingers. I ignored them all as best as I could.

"What kind of classical music do you like?" He asked.

"I absolutely love Claire de Lune, but other than that being my favorite, I have no other preferences, I like a lot of kinds," I answered.

"I see…" He said, very thoughtfully.

"Hm?" I wondered what he was thinking of.

"Nothing, I was just thinking," and he still was thinking.

We had reached my truck, He stpped in, as I was, to open my door for me. I let him do so, saying thanks. As I got in, he waited, and when I was buckled up, and ready to go, he was still holding the door open. I smiled, waiting for him to realize it.

"Oh, um…" He said, as he came out of his thoughts and realized it.

He blushed, but I just laughed a bit, and his lovely, crooked, dazzling, smile showed on his face. It was still just as contagious as before, causing me to smile too.

"I'd better let you get home," He said, letting go of the door.

"Yeah," I said.

There was some silence, and we didn't move much.

"See you Monday, then?" He asked.

"Yeah, see ya," I smiled.

He nodded then backed away from my truck, after shutting the door for me. I got out of the parking lot, struggling not to look back at Edward Cullen.

a/n this chapter may seem longer, but it actually has around 700 or 800 less words than the first. Dang…oh well! I think it was still pretty good! Review, please!!