Wow you guys rock! Thanks again for the support, I hope you all are enjoying the story so far Remember, in 2 weeks on a Monday, I will update again, so come back soon!

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pumpkinmykitty, EmoE, Chocolate Lover 82, 7HockeyStarVampireObsessed7, pixie freak, Divepup, s1lowe, teamwriting, GreenEyes555, Beth Ann Cullen, Switzygirl, KimberlyAnnT, vampyregirl86, vampyregurl09, MissKarenSantiago, cb, Bellaangel383, Heatherp, Sweetie7smiled, RitaCullen96, DreamyDane, Niamh Cullen, ThatKindOfGirl, wefw, nicki johnson, ECISLove2010, 223, goldeyedsoul, FelicityT, klcivinski, animal8, finessan, Samantha Rulz, Jits, Dani-1811

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SM owns all!

The days droned on, an endless supply of homework and clothes filling my time. Alice and I had quickly become friends, which meant that I had become a permanent fixture at her family's table instead of Jessica Stanley's. I wasn't as warmly received by her siblings, Rosalie's automatic dislike and Jasper's cool indifference, while her brother Emmett seemed to enjoy my clumsiness. It had begun to feel comfortable sitting with them, something that I had never felt in Arizona.

It was Monday again as I made my way to my now usual lunch table. I carefully balanced my pizza and lemonade on my tray, praying for grace, as I weaved in and out of the maze of chairs and tables. I looked up; to make sure I was heading in the right direction when my eyes landed on a mess of bronze hair. Edward Cullen was back. My heart began beating faster, and I couldn't tell if it was from fear or excitement. I kept walking to the table where he was seated as Alice waved to me, and I couldn't help but notice how his back went rigid at the mention of my name.

My palms began to sweat, becoming clammy at the mere thought of sitting with him at lunch. I finally reached the table, setting my tray in between Alice and Emmett. I smiled and greeted everyone at the table, avoiding Edward's gaze, as I rubbed my hands on my jeans to dry them. I sat there at the table, quiet as I realized I had lost my appetite, and could only pick apart my pizza as Alice and Rosalie discussed a recent shopping trip that I had avoided.

I could feel his gaze on me, the power of his stare melting me. I didn't want to look up, remembering what happened the last time I looked him in the eye, and the beauty of his face that I surely would not be able to hide my blush from. What had happened last week when I looked into his eyes, what had I seen? I could remember hurt, pain, and death, but I couldn't think as to why or how I could feel it. I was curious to know that if I looked into his eyes once more, if I would feel that again, or just the swirl of butterflies that a pretty face can create.

Slowly, I looked up, barely meeting his golden gaze before I dropped my eyes again. He looked… confused, maybe even a little intrigued. He definitely didn't look angry like the last time, or scary. And I didn't feel that rush of feelings again, but I still felt scared for some reason. It was like I subconsciously knew that I was in danger, but I wasn't. I did notice however, how my stomach began swirling with what I can only assume to be the figurative butterflies, and my heart beat faster as I thought about the way his eyes seemed to look into my soul. I looked back up, entranced in his shouldering golden gaze again. Strange…

"Earth to Bella…?" Alice sang, clearly trying to get my attention.

"Oh… um… yes?" I asked, realizing I had missed the entire conversation.

"Well, Rose and I we're just saying that we wanted to drive up to Seattle this weekend for a shopping trip, and I asked if you wanted to go. But if you would rather stare at Edward, that's fine by me." She smiled devilishly, raising an eyebrow. I blushed furiously, embarrassed that I had been caught red handed.

"I'm busy that weekend, thanks anyway." I muttered, hoping the floor could swallow me up. With my cheeks still an embarrassing shade of red, I stole a quick glance to Edward, and was surprised to see that same look of disgust on his face again, before he quickly rose from his seat and took off towards the doors.

"Someone's still moody." Rosalie commented.

"I can't believe you said that Alice." Burying my face in my hands, a death from embarrassment a possibility at this moment.

"What? It's not like every other girl in this school hasn't been caught ogling my brother too." She laughed.

"But I'm not like other girls, I don't ogle, I blush then fall flat on my butt." I muttered.

"And here I thought you just fainted at the sight of my brother." She said.

"Even worse…" I mumbled. "There's the bell, I should get going."

"Okay Bella, see you later!" Alice sang as I gathered my things and walked to Biology.

I half expected Edward to be missing again, just as he was absent the previous week, but to my surprise he sat in his original seat again. I walked over, trying to pretend my heart wasn't beating faster than a hummingbirds', and just act normal. His body went rigid as I sat, but out of the corner of my eye, I saw him slowly relax. He seemed as if he were relaxed but ready to spring.

I opened my books, pretending to look over the homework that was due today, anything to avoid an awkward moment, as if that were possible.

"Hello Bella, I'm Edward… Alice's brother, but I'm sure she told you that." He said, smiling timidly as me. I couldn't believe he was talking to me, when moments before in the cafeteria he looked at me like I was the foulest creature on earth. I was at a loss for words at his sudden mood change. "My sister never mentioned you were mute." He smirked, an edginess dancing behind his eyes.

"Uhhhmm…Sorry… Yeah, hi, I'm Bella. No, I'm not mute; you just, uh, caught me off guard." I stammered, blushing at what an idiot I must have sounded like. Ohh, that smirk

"It's perfectly fine, my actions must not have sent the most welcoming of feelings, and for that I must apologize." He said, and I was struck speechless again at how mature he spoke. It was like talking to a gentleman, something very rare in current society. He reminded me of a character from one of my books. "I suffer with very bad headaches, and sometimes due to that condition, I can be quite the moody bastard my sister Rosalie so lovingly puts it." He smirked again. Swoon…

"Really, it's fine. I get it if I smell; most people are turned off by that too." I said seriously, smiling when I saw the confusion written all over his face. "Kidding." I smiled back, lightening the situation.

"Oh..." He said, slowly smiling at my ridiculous attempt to be funny. "Trust me Bella Swan, you most certainly do not smell, well… not bad atheist." He said, smirking again. That smirk was easily becoming my favorite thing in the world.

"Thanks, I think." We turned our attention to the board as Mr. Banner explained the day's lesson. Occasionally, I would see Edward stiffen beside me, and slowly calm down. His headaches must be pretty severe, poor guy. Once, I thought I saw Alice walking by the classroom, but as I looked again, she was gone. That's odd… The minute the bell rang, he was up and out of his seat and out the door before anyone had a chance to get out of their own seats. Maybe I really did smell…

By the end of gym, I was ready to go home. I limped towards my truck, my ankle being my latest injury from Volleyball. How I managed to fall over tennis balls even amazed my teacher, we didn't even have tennis courts! I didn't even know we had Tennis balls, but just my luck, my foot decided to step back onto one, and I went falling towards the floor, my ankle twisting in the process. They had tried to convince me to see the nurse, even go to the hospital, but I assured them all that I've had much worse. If I could just make it to my truck, I could drive home and put some ice on it.

I limped and hopped my way over to my truck, exhaling when I finally reached the gigantic thing. I fumbled with the keys in my backpack, trying to find them amidst the mess, finally pulling them out of my bag. Just as I was about to unlock my door, my keys slipped from my grasp right into a puddle. Oh great! I bent down to get them just as a flash of white reached down to get them first. I looked up to see Edward Cullen holding my keys, shocked at his close proximity and losing my balance at the same time. I lost my footing and began to fall straight back, his hand reaching out and catching me before I hit the floor. He pulled me in close, my body flush against his. We stood there, both shocked at the sudden closeness, and he quickly stepped away, keeping one had outstretched to steady me.

"What…" I began to ask.

"You dropped your keys; I just thought I'd help you." He quickly answered.

"Thanks." I said awkwardly.

"Why are you limping?" He asked, trying to get rid of the awkwardness.

"Volleyball. I tripped over some tennis balls." I reluctantly said.

"We don't even have tennis courts?" He said.

"Don't rub it in." I pouted, still embarrassed.

"Wait a minute… you managed to trip on something that we don't even offer here? Alice wasn't lying when she said you were a magnet for disaster." He laughed.

"I'm glad I can be so entertaining." I mumbled. "Was there a reason you came over?" I asked, irritated that he had the nerve to tease me. His smile faltered, an emptiness filling his eyes again.

"I'm sorry, that was rude. True, but yet still rude. Alice wanted me to give you this." He said, handing me a small box.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Probably another closet, knowing Alice."

"It's a little small to be a closet." I smiled.

"Alice is also a little small to have that much energy." He said right back.

"Touché." I said, opening the small box. Inside of it was what seemed like a folded up piece of paper, and I looked at it confused."What is it?" I asked, lifting it out of the box. It was fatter than I thought.

"It's a paper fold out theatre." He said, folding it out and popping it into place. Sure enough, it was a mini theatre, reenacting the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet. "You see, you look into it from the front, and it looks like a vintage theatre, each row adding more depth to the scene." Edward explained.

"It's… amazing. Where is she, I want to thank her." I said, looking around.

"Alice had to go home early; she gets the same headaches I suffer from. I'll let her know you like it." He said, moving away from me. "You really like it?" He asked curiously.

"Yes, it's my favorite scene in the play, I love it. It's definitely something different." I smiled, holding the paper theatre delicately. Edward smiled, something else hidden there beneath the surface.

"I'm glad you like it. See you tomorrow Bella." Edward said, walking towards his Volvo.

"Bye." I said, climbing into my truck. I looked at my gift again, smiling at the thoughtfulness of the gift. I looked it over, admiring all the little details. In the far left bottom corner, I could make out the artists initials… EC… Edward Cullen… My jaw dropped and my breath stuck in my throat as I realized this wasn't a present from Alice, it was a present from her brother. I looked up, feeling eyes upon me. From across the parking lot, Edward Cullen was looking intently at me as he leaned against his Volvo, waiting for his siblings. I blinked, wondering why he would give me a gift. As if the heavens had answered me, I felt something fall on my lap. I looked down to see a small slip of paper that had fallen from a fold of the theatre and picked it up, it read:

I'm Sorry.

-E. Cullen

He was sorry for the way he acted, and I smiled knowing he didn't hate me. I looked back up to smile at him, but he was already gone, his Volvo exiting the parking lot.

So Edward Cullen did have a heart…

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