A/N: Okay, here it is. It's not the greatest, most exciting chapter, but it does the job. I needed to fill in the gaps between the last chapter and the next one. The next chapter will be the climax (sorta) and will be much more suspenful and action-packed. Also, I checked my stats and realized that 445 people have viewed this story and only 12 have reviewed. YOU NEED TO REVIEW! I promise, the more reviews I get, the faster I will write. Please, please,please, oh please. Please review. Please?
I hope this story is not too blah for you guys. If you really hate it, let me know. By reviewing.
And without further adew:
We walked together, as usual. It was the last day of the first week of school, and on Fridays, according to my schedule, I had English first period. I unwillingly said goodbye to Edward– it was one of the few classes we didn't share this year– and I headed off to Building 2. On the way, Jessica caught up with me, and chatted animatedly while we entered the classroom. We sat down and waited for Mrs. Colborn to begin class.
I enjoyed literature for the most part, but after we began discussing parallelism techniques, my thoughts drifted unsurprisingly to Edward. It was heard coming back to school, where I could no longer spend as much time with him as I would have liked. Most of our time together in the summer had been unlimited, though there were more random sunny days than usual. That didn't keep us apart, though. We spent those days in Edward's favorite meadow, talking for hours on end. I also spent a lot of time with Alice and Jasper, and I did see Emmett and Rosalie, however, they had "gotten married" again, and they were planning to move out of their family's house.
Mrs. Colborn called my name and I froze. I hadn't heard the question. Shoot, I was caught daydreaming. Jessica nudged me and whispered the answer. I owed her one.
After English, Jess waved to me as I headed right, to Building 6, while she headed left. I was anxious. I had science with Edward again this year (although this time it was chemistry), and also with Angela and Eric. I rushed anxiously to class, even though I was perfectly on time.
I turned into the classroom to find Edward already sitting at our lab table, waiting for me. He had both hands out in front of him resting on the countertop, looking utterly relaxed. He flashed a smile at me when I entered, and I blushed, grinning back. His beauty was striking, and I couldn't help but stare in amazement as his topaz eyes locked on mine. After all the time I'd spent with him, I thought the effect of his overpowering dazzle-ment might have worn off by now, but he never disappointed me.
"I've been waiting for you," he said in an irresistibly pleasant voice, as I walked over to him.
"Have you?" It was all I could answer. My voice sounded breathless from my running, and I tried hard to slow my accelerated heart. This proved impossible though, because Edward had just moved his stool so close to mine that our elbows were touching.
"How was English?" he asked me.
"I'm not sure," I answered, still distracted by his touch. "I just couldn't seem to focus."
He laughed his quiet, musical laugh and pulled a strand of hair out of my face and tucked it behind my ear. I hated not being able to hold him now, being at the beginning of class. The material itself was more challenging for me than I was used to, and having Edward so close only made it harder to concentrate. I managed somehow, by keeping my eyes fixedly on the chalkboard, copying the notes. I knew that if I glanced even once at him, I wouldn't be able to take my eyes off of him.
He kept his hand on mine for the entire hour, and he didn't release it until the bell rang, signaling the end of class.
He walked with me to Spanish, and after that, we finally had lunch.
I was relieved to walk down the hall to a period where we were free to talk openly. Upon entering the cafeteria, I spotted Alice and Jasper. Alice waved at me, and motioned for us to go and sit with them. I looked at Edward, looked suddenly annoyed, and slightly crestfallen.
"What is it?" I asked concerned.
He sighed. "Alice sees a little bit of sun peeping out after lunch."
I felt my face fall a little, and then tried to cover my disappointment. "Oh," I said. "Will you have to leave?"
He grimaced as we made our way to the lunch line. "I don't know any other options," he muttered.
He grabbed a tray and eyed the food selection. "What do you want?"
"I don't care," I answered abstractedly. As if I could think about food while I was watching him.
He piled a decent amount of food onto the tray, paid for it quickly, and headed with me towards Alice and Jasper.
Alice smiled at me. "Happy birthday, Bella," she said warmly. She slid her chair over to make room for me.
I blushed as I said, "Thanks," and I sat down next to her.
Jasper eyed me. "You're turning eighteen, aren't you Bella?"
"Yes," I nodded.
Edward suddenly turned and raised his eyebrows at him.
"What, Jasper?" Alice poked at him, giggling.
Edward rolled his eyes. "Jasper finds it funny that you are now physically older than me."
I contemplated that for a moment. "Wow," I said. "I don't feel older than you."
Edward rolled his eyes again. "That's because you're not."
I sighed. "Maybe not, but still…" My voice trailed off hopefully. "Technically, I am physically older. You're still seventeen." I grinned, knowing that this would annoy him.
Edward stared at me, looking both amused and irked. "That may be so, but I am still physically superior."
It was true. He was stronger, taller, and heavier. And he was really older.
Alice looked thoughtfully at me. "You're not really physically older, you're just humanly older."
"Thank you, Alice," Edward said curtly. The rest of us laughed at his irritated expression.
"We have to get going," Alice announced abruptly.
Edward tightened his jaw and moved instinctively towards me in his seat.
"Edward, we have a less then five minutes," Alice reminded him. "We'll meet you at home."
We watched them both disappear, and then Edward grabbed my hand gently. "You'll be alright?" he asked.
"Of course, I'll be fine," I said, though I wouldn't really be. "It's just a couple more hours."
Edward's marble brow furrowed and he looked as though he were deciding something. "I'll wait for you in my car," he said finally.
I smiled at the model of perfection standing before me, now holding me in a halfway embrace. "Okay," I said.
"And be careful," he whispered to me. He leaned in towards me and grazed my jaw, and then my collarbone, breathing deeply all the while. I inhaled in his wonderfully familiar scent.
He brushed my cheek with the back of his hand wordlessly. Then he was gone.
I sighed sadly. I could still feel the cold touch on my face.
"Bella!" I heard my name and spun around. Jessica was running towards me, waving a sheet of paper in her hand.
"Hey, Jess. What–?" She squealed shrilly, cutting me off.
"Bella! You'll never guess! The best thing's happened!"
"Umm, you've won the lottery?" I conjured.
She shook her head. "I got the part!" she exclaimed, jumping up and down excitedly.
Jessica had decided to try out for the school's fall musical. This year, Forks High School was planning to put on The Sound of Music. Jessica has told me she would be trying out for Rolfe's girlfriend, whatever her name was. I hadn't been paying much attention when she told me over the phone. Edward's fault again.
"That's really great Jessica," I said enthusiastically. "You'll do so well. I can't wait to see you perform."
Jessica walked with me on the way to class, and babbled on about Jim Hawthorne, who had been given the position of Rolfe, and what she had heard about the director, so on and so on.
The rest of my day seemed to pass as slowly as syrup dripping from the very bottom of the bottle. I sat anxiously through Trig and then a very dull lecture on the rules of tennis in Gym.
Finally, I hastened to change my clothes and collect my things. I was clumsy and hasty about it, and stumbled over my feet a few times before I made it to the door. I rushed outside into brilliant sunshine poking through holes in the clouds. Alice had been right, of course.
I found the silver Volvo waiting at the curb and I unhesitatingly opened the door and plopped in.
Edward's angelic face was turned towards me, pale as ever, protected by the roof of the car. "Ready?" he asked, giving me that wicked and breathtaking half smile. My heart fluttered.
"Bring it on," I said faintly, sidetracked by his dazzling smile.
He laughed and we drove swiftly out of the school parking lot and onto the road.
A/N: Hey, you, reading this! Yeah, you! See that button down there on the left? Press it and type up your REVIEW. Here, I'll point it out for you.
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