Leaning against the door jamb with his legs crossed at the ankles, Mike stood. His usually wide grin was somehow absent, I could see his brows furrowed while he stared at some object on the linoleum floor. Standing before him I just watched to see how long it would take for him to notice me. I reached out my hand and tapping him on his shoulder, while simultaneously saying 'hey'.

His body tensed and his head whipping around while he spun towards me. Books that he held in his hand shifted with the movement.

"Oh, hello Bella, are you ready to go to class?"

Mike said without making any eye contact.

"As ready as ever, you look kinda distracted today, is everything okay?"

"Oh yeah everything is fine." Mike shuffled a bit as we stood there

He leaned back away from me placing a distance more than would be acceptable for polite speech. Quickly he glanced my way nodding his head towards the door.

"Come on, let's go to class." Slowly, he started for the door.

"All right class, settle down" Mrs. Johnson exclaimed while standing in the front of the classroom.

"Today, we are going to be doing our assignments out of the classroom. The theme is beauty." Mrs. Johnson looked around the room while speaking. "

Beauty can come in many shapes and forms, Not everything you see is beautiful to someone else."

"Please grab your cameras and make your way outside, The rules are: You are to stay on campus. When you are done taking your photos, Take some more, try different techniques such as lighting shadow, etcetera to differ effects. She looked at her watch," Alright people you have 30 minutes left. Pictures' are due next class period, you are dismissed."

Pulling out my camera took a bit of time, but as soon as it was out I looked up and saw that the classroom was already vacant. I was hoping to work on assignment with Mike but he must have went on ahead.

I walked outside into the overcast afternoon and began searching for the perfect photo. Camera raised to my eyes, I peered through the viewfinder to take in different shots and see how they looked. My camera rested on a patch of wildflowers that are east of the school but still on campus. Multiple butterflies with their colorful wings flitting over some daffodils. Creeping slowly I made my way as close as I dared. This will make as spectacular photo. I zoomed the camera in, there was a I saw a monarch it swooped and dived all around the flower bed until it finally landed on a branch of lilacs, the purple and orange contrasted so perfectly. I eyed it in my camera and snap..

For the next few minutes I snapped of many more shots. Satisfied that I had met the assignment requirement, I lay down in the grass, the sun had just began to peek out from behind the cloud. Instantly I felt the sun, turning my head towards the sun and raising my chin, I felt at calm,

after some time I sat up, knees drawn up to my chest playing with a single blade of grass between my fingers enjoying the sweet honeyed fragrance of the flowers as it floated around me in the slight breeze, warmed up by the sun. I inhaled sharply trying to memorize the scent. It was so overpowering it almost made me dizzy.

out of nowhere was that prickling sensation, by now I have realized that Edward was near. It only ever happens when he is within eye-shot; I look up and out into the courtyard to see if I could find where he was. I didn't see him at all, but the sensation grew stronger. I looked in the direction of some of the aspens in the school yard, and sure enough there he stood, camera in hand his caramel hair endlessly tangled. I eyed him suspiciously. He just lifted the camera to his face and took the shot. Lowered the camera and stared at me for a second, then his eyes narrowed. I blinked to make sure that he was really there but when I opened my eyes he was gone. I didn't even get the chance to think about it because I could see Mike running towards me

"Hey Bella"

"Oh hey Mike"

"Sorry I ran out earlier, I kind of had a problem that I needed to take care of but I got it all sorted out."

"I am glad to hear that, I was wondering what was going on,"

"Oh it is nothing that you need to worry about, so what are you doing this afternoon well I mean after school that is?

"Nothing that I am aware of, why?"

"Oh I was just thinking that we might do something. "

"Sure Mike, just meet me by my locker before last hour by then I should know what homework I have to do."

"Oh okay I will see you then. It is time to head back to class." he stated

"Alright I will talk to you then."

Well that was weird, I couldn't help but be a little giddy of the thought of spending time with Mike outside of school, he is an awesome guy and he is very cute too. That thought carried me until history class. I entered and immediately spotted Kari. Who true to nature looked at me suspiciously because I felt like I was on cloud nine. Kari has this thing I call it boydar. It allows her to tell if anyone has any attraction to a

boy. I guess mine is in full view.

"So, Bella you look like you're on top of the world, something you want to tell me about?

"Oh not much really I think that Mike is going to ask me out?"

Really" she squealed oooooohhhh that is so wonderful… Bellas got a boyfriend he he … "

"No Kari it is not like that, it is just the two of us hanging out and doing something. he said that he would meet me at my locker after class

"I will let you know what happens k?" I said to Kari.

"I want details, don't forget that. "She demanded.

I just smiled at her; she is my best girlfriend here in Manitou. And now nothing could bring me down from my good mood. The professor started class, we are learning about the civil war he wants us to partner up and pick a particular battle and research it. Not that difficult I knew who I was going to pick, Kari of course.

"The assignment is due at the end of class in two days; I want you to each hand in your own notes and research along with a combined complete research paper… Now I have your partner assignments…. With those six words my heart dropped into my stomach, I knew that there was no way that I would get partnered with Kari. The teacher on more than one occasion has reprimanded us for talking in class

Well there goes the thought that nothing would ruin my day. I started hyperventilating the words reverberating in my head; Edward Masen and Bella Swan You have that battle of Peachtree Creek."

There it was, my death warrant signed sealed and delivered; my head on a silver platter and various other clichés that I could think of. I put my forehead in my hand and just groaned. The pain, the agony of it all today is not a good day.

"No fair Bella," Kari whined as she pushed over my arm that my forehead was leaning on so hard that it knocked my arm away and my heavy head hit the desk with a resonating thump.

"Ow Kari, what did you do that for, if I could I would trade with you, believe me I would in a heart beat." I rubbed my forehead yeah that is going to leave a mark. Mike is going to ask me out and I am going to have the most unattractive purple bump on my forehead. The teacher spent the next twenty minutes going over the requirements of our essay and then told us to break into our partners to discuss a time to study.

I looked up and found that Edward was looking out the window. UGH. Well for sure he is not going to come to me, I Guess that I will have to go over there. I hastily picked up my spiral notebook and pen and huffed over to where Edward was sitting, His hands clenched on the desk his pale complexion highlighted by the overcast light that filtered through the window. Then he turned, His green eyes settled on mine, I felt the prickles again. this time they were more of a caress than anything. No, I thought determinedly I have Mike with his beautiful green/brown eyes and his impish smile. I turned from Edward and found a chair, moving it as far away from him as considered polite.

I plopped down and said to him. "Look you don't want to be my partner and I don't want to be yours so let's just get this done and over with so we can go back to our own happy merry lives." Whew I said that fast but I made the mistake of looking at him, several emotions flickered in his eyes, Bewilderment, anger, sadness, and lastly apologetic. Then he turned to look out the window again … Okay this is a little ridiculous, he s not even talking to me… Maybe I can go talk to the teacher and see if he will switch me with someone. Hmmm.. I have to think of a good reason.

"Okay" that is when I heard it , the most beautiful sound that ever graced my ears, it was the like the soft coo of a dove. So low that I almost thought I was imagining it. I looked at him and he nodded his head. I had never heard him talk before, his voice is almost hypnotic, like I said almost, I quickly snapped myself out of that frame of mind and asked.

"So since we want to get this done let's meet at the library after school. That way we can do both look up research and make copies, and then once the research is comple we will figure out how to write the paper later. "

He brought his eyes back to mine; I noticed the paleness of his skin and the faint purplish shadows under his eyes and wondered if he was sick. It didn't look like he was sleeping well. I needed to get away from him, It was like he was trying to put some spell over me but just not power enough to do it. I pushed my chair back and said to him, See ya after school. I went back to my seat and waited for the bell to ring so I could go see Mike, which was my happy thought through most of my conversation, if you could call it that, with Edward.

I waited by my locker waiting for Mike and he never showed. To say I was disappointed would be an understatement, I was actually crushed, Did I read him wrong? Did I make this into more that I should have? I really don't know. Completely dejected I asked my study hall teacher if I could go to the library and start on my report, he readily agreed and gave me a library pass.

I entered the library and instantly felt at ease. the smell of musty pages and ink filled my nose it was like being transported to a happy time in my former life, the one place I could escape, I remember many days just sitting in the library reading book on different subject or even fiction novels. It was my way to escape the shelter home. They always let us go to the library. As it was only a block from our house.

I went to the computer and searched for the battle of peach tree and wrote down some names and where they were located, I searched the shelves and finally brought back 6 or 8 books back to the long laminated wood table. I grabbed a book and thumbed through it and started reading and taking notes.

Battle of Peachtree Creek July 20 1864

Unfortunately that is all the research that I have done this past hour. I know that I should really be doing something but my mind keeps wondering why Mike didn't show up. I know it sounds pathetic, but I see all of these girls, they have boyfriends. I want one too now that I have gotten used to the thought, and Mike seems like he will make a great boyfriend, His perfect straight nose, high cheekbones, he is everything that a girl could want.

Then without warning I feel that tingle that lets me know Edward is nearby, and for some reason it unnerves and excites me all at once. I look up from the hearts that I am drawing on my notebook sheet and am surprised to see Edward already sitting down at the other side of the table. Book in hand it looks like he is already researching.

That is too weird, I didn't even hear him sit down or grab the book for that matter. Closing my book I look at him, I mean really look at him; this is actually the closest I have been to him for any length of time. He is hunched over obviously absorbed in the book he is looking at, His reddish brown hair falling in front of his face, His pale beautiful face.

Hold on here, now is the time for me to step back… I do not need to be thinking that of Edward. Ok, whew got that under control. Apparently my movement caused him to look up, and there not more than five feet away he was looking at me. I blinked, not sure if I was seeing right because he was actually smiling, well it was more of a lazy half smile, but still it was the most I have actually had directed at me. I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks and defiantly my heart started to speed up, I quickly looked away. I didn't know what to do. I was just about lost; his mysterious smoldering blue eyes drew me in. And for a moment I was powerless. I need to get my mind off of Edward, Mike is the one I want, he is stable and he is above all nice to me. Then is if I had been saved, someone came up behind me and placed their warm hands over my eyes and whispered in my ear,

"Guess who"

I immediately knew it was Mike, He removed his hands and came and sat in the empty hard plastic chair beside me.

"Hey Mike,, how ya doing, I waited for you beside my locker, but I had to get to class."

"Yeah sorry about that I was held up by my teacher." His head hung down in an apology.

"That's okay I am just now working on my history assignment. The battle of Peachtree creek… oh so much fun." Sarcasm dripping from my words

There was a lull in the conversation, I looked over at Mike he seemed deep in thought, so I looked back to my book and started writing more notes, I noticed that my writing was getting sloppy, the table was shaking slightly. I looked up at Edward, His eyes once again dark black but this time they were not trained on me. They were on Mike, and then I noticed that he was tapping his foot, arms crossed over his chest. I tried to think of something to calm Edward down so I figured that I would include him in the conversation.

"Yeah the teacher assigned us partners, mine is Edward. The shaking stopped, Mike looked up at Edward, and strangled out a "Hey man."

Mike then got this look of confidence in his eyes and looked at me

"Anyway, so I was wondering since it looks like you're making good time on your research if after your done…

His speech was interrupted by a loud tapping, I again looked at Edward, he had a sneer on his face while he looked at Mike, his tapping getting louder and faster it was his pencil on the desk that was making the noise that interrupted Mike.

I just ignored Edward and focused back on Mike,

"Continue"

"Um, did you want to go do something today after your done here?

Just then there was a snap, Edward growled. It all happened fast. He slammed his book shut and quickly shot Mike a scowl and stormed off.

if I thought Edward was weird and freaky before, I know now that he is a total loon. I looked up at his empty seat the book was closed but what really piqued my curiosity was that there on the table was his pencil smashed into about 5 pieces and smaller bits of wood lying beside the book.

"Well someone's pissy" Mike sing songed

I just looked at him. my partner is gone so I am left to do the research and write the paper.

I heaved a sigh, "Sorry Mike no can do, as you can see my partner left so I have to finish it."

Mike looked at me and smiled, "Yea sorry about that. I will help you if you want."

"Yeah thanks that would be great."

We worked on research for the next hour. Then when I was satisfied that I had all that I needed to write the paper, we walked out of the school together. Occasionally while walking, his hand would brush mine. I couldn't help but smile inwardly.