Chapter One

"Bella! Wake up!"

I knew that voice so well. It was my best friend, Rose, and I knew she was yelling so we weren't late for Anthropology class once again.

But my body really didn't feel like leaving my cushy memory foam mattress.

"Bella! Get your ass out of bed or so help me—"

I felt smug with the knowledge that she wouldn't leave without me. She was too nice. If she left now, she knew I would skip the whole day of school, and she didn't want me to receive any more detentions.

Knowing it would be cruel to her to stay where I was, I shoved myself out of bed, rolling onto the floor with a thump!

"Finally!" Rose exclaimed through a sigh of relief, tugging me by the arms off the floor.

I shrugged out of her grip and hopped up. Brushing myself off, I hurried to change into some jeans, a black sweater and some black flats. I scuttled into the bathroom to brush through my hair and smear a little eye makeup on. Rose was tapping her foot when I ran out and grabbed by book bag.

"Alright, let's go," I huffed. Rose just rolled her eyes and marched around me and out our door.

We raced through the main room downstairs and out of our dorm. Shielding my sensitive green eyes from the bright morning, I sprinted with Rose across the grassy grounds of our school and into the school building. Two right turns and we were in our Anthropology classroom just as the bell rang.

Mrs. Peterson glared at us with her beady eyes and jerked her head at our seats, but didn't say anything.

I slid into my seat by Rose and lay my head down on my arms. As she diligently took notes beside me, I remained in my tired position until second period.

Rose left the room to go to Anatomy class, while I skipped off to Calculus. The reason I was always happy about second period was the hot man of a teacher, Mr. Woods. I could really do without Calculus, but Mr. Wo—

"Umph!" I staggered back, bouncing off the chest of the person I had run right into. I looked up, moving aside my dark hair so I could see the person.

It was some guy, looking at me with this curious expression on his face, not looking bothered or off balance at all.

"Sorry," I muttered, my gaze dropping quickly to his shoes. Worn and torn black converse.

"It's alright."

I looked up, startled. His voice was deep, rough, and every syllable in his little "it's alright" sounded so full of meaning. I looked closer at his appearance, intrigued. He had on dark blue jeans and a simple, black v-neck stretching over obvious muscle and broad shoulders and it made me want to drool. Brown hair with a gold tint, and twisted in a messy mop topped his over-6 foot frame. Dark chocolate, round eyes, a straight, perfect nose and brow, and defined, peach-colored lips had me wondering: Why have I never met this stunningly goo-looking boy?

I jerked my hand out like a robot, and said, "Hello. I'm Bella."

He reached out and took my hand, grasping it in a warm, welcoming grip. "Edward. Where're you heading?"

"Uh, Calculus. Just behind you." I nodded by head forward, over his left shoulder.

He seemed to hesitate about saying something. After a moment he decided to walk past me, saying, "See you around, Bella."

I stood there, stuck, until the bell rang, and until Mrs. Peterson, walking past me to the staff building, said, "Go to class, Ms. Swan." I didn't move an inch until, a minute later, my gay friend Eric stuck his head out the Calculus room door, yelled back to the classroom, "I see her, Mr. Woods!" Then he turned back to me. "Come on, Bella, Mr. Woods looks extra fine today." He winked.

I slid my right foot forward, then found strength to move in my left leg. Eric hurried out and held the door open as I walked sluggishly into the room.

Dashing Mr. Woods smiled at me. "Thanks for joining us, Ms. Swan."

I scurried to my seat, just as Eric was sliding in the chair beside me. He giggled under his breath at my still-dazed expression, writing something on his calculus notes and tearing the paper out. He slid it to me.

Did Rose put something in your drink this morning?

I smiled and scribbled a response.

No. Didn't have time for breakfast. If I look spacey, I blame Edward.

I passed the note back under the table. A second later it was back under my nose.

Oh? Edward?! Cute name. Mind explaining??

I bit my lip as I wrote my short explanation of Edward.

I ran into him this morning. Never seen him before. I'm thinking he's the HOTTEST thing I've EVER seen.

Picturing Edward in all his glory, I held the note out in Eric's direction.

He turned to me, and his brown eyes were wide. Our note was still in his hands. He licked his lips suggestively. I nodded, grinning.

Mr. Woods stopped speaking all this confusing polynomial crap and cleared his throat, looking at Eric and me. We smiled innocently at him, and he shook his head, chuckling.

"Pay attention," he ordered in that damn sexy voice of his. His broad shoulders turned back to the white board, and he continued his lecture.

Gosh, Mr. Woods made me want to swoon off my chair, like a British teenager at a party, trying to gain attention. And that's when I realized—I wanted Edward as my boyfriend. I wasn't crazy about high school flings, but I really wanted to get to know Edward and see if it could go anywhere. Love at first sight? Uh, no, I don't believe that exists. Just major attraction, really.

I stared at Mr. Woods with my chin on my fist until the class ended. Gawd, he was so sexy.

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