Yes, so this one is back tracking just a bit but I think y'all will like the next chapter...once I figure out what the next chapter isanyway. Hmmm...may be a poll coming up if I get stuck :-D

Bella POV

I couldn't understand why Edward was ignoring me in biology class. The day before, when I'd seen him walking around town, I though we'd had a moment when I fell into his strong, secure arms. Maybe I was the only one who noticed. When he'd caught me, Id felt alive for the first time in a long time. I could still feel the shocking wave of emotion for him while we sat though the boring movie in class. Still, he seemed completely oblivious to me and my futile attempts to start a conversation. I should have let it go and left him alone. But for some reason I couldn't. I was addicted to his eyes, his voice, and I was going through withdraw. I'd never felt like this with anyone before. I'd never felt the need to find out as much as I could about a single person till I met Edward.

"Edward." I whispered for his attention, "Edward!"

His face spun furiously, startling me with his sudden anger. The electrical current flowing between us must have just been my hopeful imagination. There was nothing more between us than just air.

His expression softened, "What is it, Bella?" The need for his attention had vanished and I'd forgotten why I'd wanted it so badly.

"Nothing." I swiftly admitted and turned back to the movie to try not to fall asleep.

I would make no more attempts to talk to him until class was over. Suddenly, I regretted telling Kate, from the bookstore, that I would talk to him. Maybe I needed to apologize for whatever I did to upset him. I tried to recall anything that I'd said or done around him that could be taken the wrong way. A horrible thought crossed my mind. What if he'd heard about what had happened between me and Mike? Edward would probably have thought less of me if he'd found out I'd even dated that son of a bitch. And I didn't need anyone to tell me I was weak for letting Mike show me his true personality. What if Edward was just another Mike? No, I couldn't believe that. I refused to believe that. Edward was completely different than anyone else I'd ever met.

I dreaded the end of class and, as time proves itself to be cruel once again, the bell came too quickly.

"Um...Edward?" I said quietly to Edward's back as we left the classroom.

He stopped to answer me, "Yes?" I tried to keep my focus through the sound of his voice, ignoring all emotion it gave me.

"Um...well...I was just wondering if everything was alright." Okay, so some emotions were very hard to ignore. I experimented with looking at the floor in hopes I would stop tripping over my words. "I just...um...want to make sure I didn't upset you or anything."

I head his chuckle, "Bella, you didn't upset me." That was a huge relief.

"Okay, I wanted to make for sure." I continued to stare at my feet, rocking onto my heels and back to keep my concentration, "I wanted to let you know, too, that the bookstore is having a little party. Kate noticed you looking at the piano books and was wondering if you could play for the party." I held my breath.

"No!" He spat at me. I looked up at his flushed face. Why was he so angry? A simple, cordial 'no' would have been fine for me. He seemed truly offended by even the idea of playing a piano.

"Why--" I was cut off by Edward's exasperated voice.

"Bella," I could see the emotions running through his face. Fury, contempt , anger, frustration, depression were all there. For a moment, I felt close to him. I understood these feelings too. "Fuck off." Nope, closeness gone. I didn't understand him at all. And with that, Edward ran to his next class, leaving me there to fight my own emotions.

Then his words finally hit me. My dulled senses always promised me delayed reactions. Fuck off. That's what he said? My face became very hot and breathing became painful. What just happened? Why did he hate me so much now? And why the hell was I going to cry over this...this...infuriatingly wonderful, fucking beautiful man that I now hated? I sighed and promised myself I would not cry for him...at school anyway.

Gym was hell. Tennis hell this time with demonic rackets and evil looking balls. I swear, if Mike had been at any of the courts near me, I would have made another attempt to injure a very sensitive part of his body again. Maybe without hurting myself this time. Too bad he'd decided to play as far away from me as he possibly could. I'm sure he could taste my murderous intentions.

I darted to my truck after school. The sooner I got home, the sooner I could have my own private crying session with my friends, Ben & Jerry and one of their more chocolaty flavors.

Jessica and Alice took me by surprise. They were both standing by my truck arguing.

"Why can't you just leave her alone?" Alice yelled at Jess.

"This is between me and Bella, you bitch, so get out of here!" Jess spat back at her.

"Jess! Alice! What the fuck is going on?!" I wanted to kill someone and both of them saw that. Alice stepped back and leaned on my truck, glaring at Jessica.

"Bella." Jess gritted her teeth, "Why don't you tell this little, annoying brat here to go away so I can talk to you?"

I shook my head defiantly, "Whatever you have to say to me, you can say in front of Alice." I feel Alice's satisfaction.

Jess groaned, "Fine. I wanted to tell you that thanks to you, no one will go out to Tony's with me anymore! They heard about what you did to Mike in gym class the other day and now their afraid that you'll do the same to them just by having a few drinks with me!" She screamed in my face.

Laughter bust out of my lungs, "That's all it took to spread the fear into those sexed-up, alcoholic, druggies? I should have done that to Mike sooner!"

She stared at me wide-eyed, but I just didn't care anymore. In fact, I almost wanted a fight. I wanted to release this built-up anger in physical violence. I wanted Jessica to lunge at me so I would have an excuse to punch her.

But her eyes welled up and her stance became more helpless, "I know...I know I shouldn't even hang out with them. I'm nothing like them."

Although I'd softened in reaction to her new-found self pity, I was still pissed. "You are one of them, Jessica Stanley."

"Why would you say that?" She froze.

"Because it's true, hun." I tried to make her understand that I wasn't trying to hurt her, but she needed to know the truth. If hurting her was the way to do it, then that was fine too.

Jess instantly became enraged, "You don't know anything, you stupid, sadistic, fucking bitch!" Her tears disappeared as if they were never there at all and she stomped past me toward the buses.

I should never have let my guard down with Jessica. It was shocking to hear those words directed at me come out of her mouth. She'd never said anything like that before. I started shaking, not just because of her words, but because of my entire life. Everything seemed to crash down around me. I already knew Mike hated me, and the feeling was mutual. I found earlier that Edward hated me, and the feeling was definitely not mutual. And now Jess.

Alice wrapped her tiny arms in a strong hug around me, keeping me from falling into the pavement face first. I felt the first of the tears steaming down my face and into her short black hair.

"Edward hates me, too, now. And I don't even know why, Ali. He was so cold to me today. More than cold, he was intentionally hurtful and harsh..." I sobbed.

"It's okay, sweetie." She told me as if she knew.

"Why does it seem like all these people hate me, Ali? I don't understand! First Mike, then Jess, and now..."

"Shhh-Shhh...Everything is going to be fine." Alice soothed, "Mike hates everyone and Jess doesn't hate you. She's confused. And Edward...well I don't know just what his problem is, but I'm sure he doesn't hate you either."

I tried to control myself and failed until I heard his voice.

"Bella?" The soft, sexy tone hit me like a truck. This voice was the reason for my pain.

I glared at him, "What do you want, asshole?"

Edward looked at me remorsefully and then the pavement, "I'm sorry." I'd been trying to hate him as much as he hated me, I was surprised at how I loved these words. I wanted to run to him, hold him, tell him it was okay, no harm done. But it would have been a lie. I went to him anyway, placing my hand on his firm arm and immediately felt my grief disappear. I wanted to do more than touch his arm, but I held myself back.

"Edward," I loved to say his name. It sent wonderful chills down my spine. The chills only intensified as he looked in my eyes, ""Don't you ever do that to me again." He nodded, "And you're still an asshole until you prove me wrong, got it?" I tried to smile at him so he knew I wasn't too mad. He grinned back.

"I'll do anything you want." He quietly sung.

I released a tiny laugh, "Anything?"

He nodded, "Anything."

"I'm holding you to that, you know." I squeezed his arm unconsciously. This seemed to please him as his grin grew to a radiant smile.

"Counting on it, Bella." He whispered as our eyes searched for answers to unknown questions. I wanted to tell him to stay with me and never leave. I wanted to tell him to kiss me right there in the high school parking lot with everyone watching. I wanted him to hold me and let me fall asleep in his warm arms every night. But a quick glance to the filling buses told me he had to go. "The buses are going to leave without me."

"If you need a ride home, I can give you a lift." I nearly pleaded.

Edward warmed me with his amazing smile again, "Next time, okay?"

"Kay." I sighed as I pried my fingers from his arm, "See ya."

"See ya." He called while he ran towards the honking horns.

Alice let me vent about my entire day to her and she had some venting to do herself over Hershey bars and a tub of Ben & Jerry ice cream. Thankfully, neither one of my parents were home and Rose was at class, so we had the entire house to ourselves. I reluctantly let Alice do my nails and she let me talk her out of another shopping trip.

"You're still thinking about him, aren't you?" Alice accused me as she finished the last coat of red polish on my pinky.

"No." I lied.

"Yes, you are! I can tell! Besides, you're a horrible liar."

I shrugged, "Is it such a bad thing if I am?"

She giggled, "No, I think it's cute." Her tone became more serious, "But I'm still not sure about him. I think that there's more to him than you think."

"Ooooooh," I laughed, "Sounds so mysterious!"

"Hey, a little mystery is good in a relationship!" My nails were finally done. "So..." Alice put on her puppy-dog eyes, "Do you think Edward would be the kind of person you would take to a party?"

"Of course not! And whatever you're thinking, I'm not going either!"

She pouted at me, "Fine. Be boring and stay home."

I rolled my eyes and refused to say anything for a long moment. "What kind of party?"

The chair squeaked while she jumped up and down on it, "Valentines Party!"

"What? That's like a month away!"

"Yeah I know, I have to get started early ya know. A month's not that long."

I changed the subject. Besides, even after Edward apologized to me, I wasn't sure of anything with him anymore. I knew for a fact how I felt about him and I also knew that no matter how hard I tried, my feelings would never change. He was just so hard to figure out. One day, he makes me believe the sparks between us were real. Then the next he pushes me away with such force I felt like I fell off of a building.

The rest of the week went by much easier, without too much drama. Jessica and I ignored each other as we passed each other in the halls. Mike stayed as far away from me and my tennis racket as he could without running away. My parents hadn't been at home at the same time in two days. And Edward was really nice. I would say he was more than nice, but I'm sure that that would have just been my hormones talking. I have to say, for a virgin, I wanted Edward in so many ways, I blushed at my own daydreams.

Edward and I talked through biology just as we had at lunch the period before. He told me he loved mushroom and black olive pizza, Oreos, and those chocolate pudding snack packs. Tyler wasn't even close to his favorite person in the school and he'd always wanted a big dog, because little dogs are annoying. I told him that I hated my nails being done, I loved my piece of crap truck, and couldn't stand any other kind of skittles other than the purple ones. I loved grape flavored things, even though I wasn't crazy about grapes. We went on and on until it seemed we'd run out of thing to talk about. But I knew I was holding back on some things and I could feel like he was too. It didn't matter anymore, I didn't mind if it meant being closer to him.

"Favorite band." Edward shot at me.

"I have two: Ingrid Michelson and Muse. You?"

"Easy, AC/DC and Guns and Roses."

"Good bands." I complimented.

"Do you want to go out?" Edward said so fast I barely understood him.

"What?"

"Do you want to hang out?" Was that what he'd said before? I wasn't sure, so I didn't say anything about it.

"Sure!" I tried to control my quickening breaths, "When?"

"Well," He thought for a moment as a cute grin appeared on his face, "It's not a school night. How about tonight if you're not busy?"

Adrenaline pumped through my veins. "Yes! I mean, no, I'm not busy. Where do you want to meet?"

Edward smiled, dazzling me for a moment, I almost forgotten what we were talking about. When I came to my senses again, more important questions popped into my mind. Was this a date? Would he flip out on me again like he had only a few days ago? How would I keep from embarrassing myself? What does this mean?

Hehe...you know you hate me ;-) don't worry, I'll get the next one up soon. Promise. Any reviews? Love it? Hate it? Tell me so I don't think the worst!