Author's note: I promise, I'm still working on this! It's been ages, I know, and I am so so sorry, you have no idea. Life just gets in the way sometimes, y'know? Anyway, I've got about ten minutes to get dressed and ready and be at work, so I'm keeping this note short and getting this posted. A bit of a filler chapter, but it serves a purpose, I promise. :-D

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Chemistry was a bore, mainly because Bella couldn't keep her mind on the subject at hand. After about the fourth time Edward caught her staing off into space he touched her hand gently before sliding a note to her.

Relax, love. Things will work out.

She just chuckled and shook her head, scrawling out her reply.

That was the most generically conciliatory thing you could have written. :)

She saw him smirk, those wonderful lips quirking upwards in an amused half smile. For a few seconds, a few shining minutes of peacefulness, she could imagine what it would be to be with him in his time, in the time of his youth. The sensation of being ensconsed in a past she never knew was so strong for a moment that she found herself staring at her Uniball gel pen and wondering what on earth it was. The sensation passed quickly, though not before he noticed the look that passed through her eyes. He chose not to mention it, however, instead passing the paper back to her.

Generic, possibly, but true. Things will work out.

How can you be so sure? Everything's so...off...right now. She felt all her uncertainty pouring out onto the paper. I need to talk to Jess. And I'm worried about...everything, I guess.

Well, Caralla will be here next week and hopefully she'll be able to help us work out whether your dreams are anything to be concerned with. Plus, you're going with Alice this weekend, remember? Even if she drags you shopping for two days straight at least you can have something else to focus on.

Bella nearly choked, immensely grateful that he couldn't read her mind. However, there was one who could, and she needed answers quick if this was to work out. She pretended to be deep in contemplative thought while she talked to him. ~Carlisle, where did Alice say we were going? I get the feeling Edward's going to be asking.~

~If I remember, she said she was taking you to a concert in Oregon, but it's supposed to be a surprise so she's told you she's taking you shopping for new school stuff and some things for Jessica.~

~So nice of people to let me know,~ she thought wryly, feeling him chuckle as she turned her attention back to the note she was writing. A part of her regretted the need for subterfuge, but even if she weren't planning to surprise Edward, she couldn't imagine actually telling him exactly what she would be getting up to while he was hunting. Banishing the thoughts as best she could before her telltale blushes gave her away, she scribbled on the paper.

True, and at least it's not only me she's going to be concentrating on. We're getting some things for Jess as well. Not sure what yet, but Alice seems to be planning to take her under her wing as well. She passed the paper back to him and saw him chuckle under his breath before responding.

She's got strong wings. Opinionated and frustrating, but strong nonetheless. We won't let anything else happen to Jessica if we can help it. Somehow, he always managed to make her feel better, and it was with a slightly lighter heart that she gathered her books and papers, including the note, and tucked them into her backpack just as the bell rang. Ever the gentleman, Edward picked up her bag as well and wrapped a comforting arm around her shoulder, walking with her out of the classroom in silence. She didn't think she wanted to speak at the moment - there was too much in her mind. It was without conversation that they met up with Jasper, and as Edward handed her bag back he impulsively drew her close and kissed her gently. She sighed and melted into his arms, letting her mind forget that aything existed beyond his embrace, an embrace that was unfortunately over all too soon.

"I'll see you after PE, Bella love," he whispered. She missed the look that passed between Edward and Jasper, but she couldn't miss the gentle soothing feelings that began to drift through her. Slightly calmer, she smiled up at him.

"I love you, you know," she whispered. His eyes lit up from within and she could have cried at his beauty.

"I love you too, Bella. Now, get to class. I'll be waiting for you after school." She watched him walk off and disappear into the crowds before turning to find Jasper looking at her with barely-concealed worry on his features.

"You okay, darlin'?" he whispered, keeping his voice low enough that no passing people would hear. She was about to nod, then thought better of it, responding quietly.

"I've got...a lot to worry about. And I can't get over the feeling that something worse is coming, and I don't know what to do about it." They had begun to walk to PE, but he paused and looked around quickly. After ascertaining that no one was watching, he took her by the arm and steered her into a quiet, unused classroom, shutting the door behind them.

"Bella, I know you're going through a lot. Believe me, darlin', I can feel it." His voice, though quiet, took on a hint of steel that for some reason instead of intimidating made her feel safe. "But if we're going to be able to help your friend and assist you in discovering what your dreams mean, then you need to be strong. The ball is already rolling, love. We've got to make sure it makes its way through the maze, and it's going to take all of us. And that means you as well." She rolled her eyes before looking down at the top of the desk, idly tracing the scratches in the surface.

"Yeah, I'm sure an ordinary mortal is going to be a lot of help to a whole family of immortal perfection." Before she even fiished her sentence his fingers were under her chin, lifting it to force her to meet his eyes. She was shocked at the depth of strength emanating from them, forgetting for a moment to breathe.

"Isabella Swan, I never want to hear you doubt yourself again. We are all what we make of ourselves from the circumstances we find ourselves in. You have more power than you know, simply because you are mortal. And it is the worst kind of sin for someone like you to belittle who they are."

"Someone like me?" she murmured, taken aback by his intensity.

"Yes. You are unique, Bella. How many others would accept us for what we are? Most would want to exploit us, or destroy us. But you have taken it in stride, and in ways none of us could have ever imagined." She knew he could see the doubt in her eyes when his voice dropped, sounding simultaneously severe and comforting. "Imagine what the people in this town would do to us if they knew what we truly are. Imagine how vicious they could be. Now, if a town this size could turn so quickly, envision what the rest of the world would do." In a movement so quick she couldn't track it, he was perched on the desk beside her, his balance and speed obviously anything but human. She didn't even blink, being used to their theatrics at this point, and he broke into a wide grin. "And you say you're not special."

"You had to have been an amazing leader in the war," Bella mused. His eyes went wide and she paused. "I mean," she said, flustered that once more her mouth ran ahead of her brain, "you're so commanding, yet you're understanding. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say anything." She was blushing by this point, and he threw back his head and laughed. The full-throated sound made her feel warm inside, and she felt the last of the ice on her soul begin to crack a little.

"Bella, Bella...life with you will never be boring, will it?" He hopped down from the desk and held out his hand to her, his manners very obviously from a time long gone, though his wicked grin was all from the here-and-now, and she chuckled along with him as she took his hand.

"I could wish it were a little more boring, honestly," she muttered, and he ruffled her hair.

"Never. You're a precocious danger magnet...and we wouldn't have it any other way. Now let's get to PE before we are any more late than we've already let ourselves become." Pushing the remaining worry and strain into the depths of her mind, she allowed him to open the door for her, walking down the hall beside him to the last class of the day.