A/N: Okay, go ahead and kill me. I have no excuse except that I didn't feel like writing. Just reading, lots of books and fanfics.
I'm going to split the biology scene into 2 chapters because it's sooo looong! I'm seriously only halfway through it.

A/N II: Also please, pretty, pretty please, do my poll. I can't do anything till more people enter their opinion.
I have had 2 people and one goes for suspense while the other goes one-shots. Help! Please!

Chapter 5 – Locked and bound book

None of us were late. Edward got to class just before me. Alice got to Trigonometry just after I got to Government and the other's got to their senior classes just after Alice. I sat back and for the second 5th period in a row watch my brother as his biology class unfolded. Just to see what happened and to give him advice. Also to know what to mention and what not to about Bella.

I pulled back my chair, letting it scrape across the floor. Humans always felt more comfortable when noise announced someone's approach. She heard the noise. Her doodle had missed a loop in it's pattern making it unbalanced. But why didn't she look up at me? She had obviously heard me, yet her stare was rooted to the bench as I sat down. She was probably frightened. I must leave her with a better impression this time ... Make her think she'd been imagining things before. - Her? Scared? Of him? Get real. Okay well maybe she was, just a tad because she didn't know why. And sure he was going to leave with a better impression for us.

She looked up then, her wide brown eyes startled and full of silent questions. It was the same expression that had been obstructing my brothers veiw the entire time we were in Denali.

It was strange to think that only a few weeks ago I'd hated her for just the very fact of her existence. No-one this vulnerable could deserve such hate. The hate that had been in me for her - that I'd thought she'd deserved - had just disappeared. - Through his mind I saw Bella's cheeks begin to flush and she said nothing.

"My name is Edward Cullen"

Well duh.

Shut up Jane. It's polite to introduce yourself. I know she knows who I am.

Well duh.

Can you get a new tagline?

No, I like this one. Duh.

"I didn't have a chance to introduce myself last week. You must be Bella Swan."

No. Don't call her Bella yet. Idiot. She's smart.

What? Why can't I call her Bella. That's what she likes to be called.

Never mind. You'll see.

And I was right. Bella now looked quite perplexed. A small pucker between her eyebrows.

"How do you know my name?" She demanded. Her voice shaking ever so slightly making Edward feel guilty for scaring her the last lesson. He laughed lightly,

"Oh, I think everybody knows your name. The whole town's been waiting for you to arrive." Bella grimaced at that last statement.

"No" She said determinedly, "I meant why did you call me Bella?"

"Do you prefer Isabella?" My idiot of a brother asked. God he was stupid when he couldn't read minds. Maybe that's why he got it, to help him understand human nature. Obviously hasn't worked.

Thanks.

You're overly welcome.

"No, I like Bella." She answered, leaning her head to the side, her expression was torn between embarrassment and confusion. "But I think Charlie - I mean my dad – must call me Isabella behind my back. That's what everyone else here seems to know me as." Her skin darkened a shade.

"Oh" was all my brother could say.

So that's what you meant.

Yes. That's why I told you not to call her Bella yet. You had to wait for her to correct you. You're the only person that called her Bella that she hadn't corrected yet. She's smart. By the way, your last comment. 'Oh'? Lame.

Yeah, I know. I couldn't think of anything else to say. I mean what do you say to that? I can read minds?

You could. Or you could have said that you've heard other kids talking about her as Bella.

Oh. Right ... Crap. I'm out of air. What do I do?

You tell me. I've never met my singer. I say, if you want to know more. Breathe.

Huh, singer? Oh well. Wait! I can't breathe! What if I can't take it?

You can and you'll find out what I mean later. - He hesitated for a second before taking a breath through his mouth. Not good.

Not through your – before I could finish, it was too late.

Ahhhh! This is painful. Should have checked that with you first. And definitely have taken a smaller breath.

Heck yeah.

New tagline? Yes! – I frowned. He could be so obnoxious.

Well thank you Jane. Now if you don't mind …

I do.

Mr. Banner told the class to start the lab. Edward hesitated before turning to Bella and asking,

"Ladies first, partner?" Bella turned to him, turning white and simply staring at him.

"Or I could start if you want?" He asked wondering if something was off in his expression. Bella's face turned red as she realized she was gawking.

"Oh, no. I'll go first." She replied hastily looking into the microscope for second,

"Prophase" She stated, before starting to take the slide out. Edward reached out to stop her. I didn't stop him even though he'd probably scold me for it. But, who cares if he touches her? Oh yeah, him.

"Do you mind if I look?" His hand hit hers and heat shot up his arm before Bella yanked her hand out from underneath his.

"I'm sorry" He muttered through his teeth, pulling the microscope towards him and glancing briefly into the lens before agreeing with her. And indeed it was prophase.

Thanks so much Jane. And don't tell me you didn't see it coming because…

No shit, Sherlock. You didn't listen to my last warning, I won't give you any others.

Jane, come on. I need your help.

Edward, have some damn faith in yourself! If I wasn't here, you'd get through it just fine. In fact, I'm just complicating things.

"Anaphase" he muttered and wrote it down. And … cue Bella, now.

"May I?" yep, I'm good. Bella had her hand outstretched in Edward's direction, waiting expectantly. My brother's shock was so hilarious had to stop myself from cracking up in the middle of my class.

He slid the microscope across to her, and she took a brief peek and looked disappointed, he was right. That time I did laugh but vampire-quiet and stopped almost immediately. The corners of Bella's mouth had turned down and she was quietly asking for the third slide. He dropped the slide into her hand being careful not to touch her hand this time. He warming ever so slowly and he knew it.

"Interphase" she announced after a short analysis of the slide. She pushed the microscope towards my brother but she didn't touch her paper. As my brother checked I knew she was right.

They continued that way until they were finished, speaking one word at a time and never meeting the others eyes. Edward didn't say a word to me even though he felt my presence. He was totally focused on Bella. I grinned to myself.

"Is there something you'd like to share with us Miss Cullen?" Jefferson asked. I grinned a little wider,

"Yes actually. Check your notes on President Clinton. I'm pretty sure that's not how he ran his campaign." I watched as he glared at me and looked over his notes, his face quickly becoming a very dark shade of crimson.

"Ah, yes. Of coarse…" I faded him out and kept listening to Bella and my brother. I was surprised to hear that Edward was thinking about the many things Bella was doing to his life. Well, not that much. But I was surprised to hear that thought of it, and I quote, "I was bemused by the wide range of havoc and upheaval that, despite her ordinary, unthreatening appearance, she was wreaking on my life."

As I listened to the continued flow of his thoughts a smug smile found a way onto my face. He was seeing the beauty in Bella's face; of course he wasn't in love with her yet though. And then there were her eyes, the eyes that had haunted my brother's mind since her first saw her, eyes that were full of untold secrets. Eyes that were suddenly locked onto my brother's.

Shit.

What were her secrets? Why couldn't I read her mind?

"Did you get contacts?" Bella asked abruptly.

Say yes! Say yes, you –

"No" Edward said, trying to hide his laughter at the thought that our eyesight could be improved.

Too late, idiot. - That got his attention. He immediately stopped his silent laughter.

What?

"Oh," Bella mumbled, "I thought there was something different about your eyes." Edward froze. Then shrugged stiffly, looking away from her.

Sorry, should have asked.

Yes, idiot. If you really want my help, actually listen to what I have to say.

Of course there's something different about my eyes. I hunted all weekend, glutting myself on animal blood. Doesn't really do anything to prevent it when the girl and her scent is right next to me. Last week my eyes were black with thirst, now my eyes were a light amber from all the blood swimming through my system. Another slip.

Which you could have avoided if you'd listened to me. And, by the way, you think too much.

I'm a vampire, I'm allowed to.

Whatever.

We've sat next to the humans of Forks for 2 years and none have noticed our eyes. They looked away from our eyes the instant we look at them. Ignorance is bliss to the human mind. Why does she have to be the one that sees too much?

Do I sense a hint of pain and regret in your words Edward Cullen? - I decided to mock him.

Shut up.

Edward redirected his thoughts to Mr. Banner who was approaching their table. He glanced at their work and raised an eyebrow.

"So Edward, didn't you think that Isabella should get a chance with the microscope?"

"Bella," Edward corrected instantly, "Actually, she identified three out of five" Mr. Banner's expression turned skeptical as he turned to Bella.

"Have you done this lab before?" She smiled, slightly embarrassed.

"Not with onion root." She replied.

"Whitefish blastula?" He probed.

"Yeah" Bella answered, blushing a slight pink. This did not go unnoticed by my brother. According to Mr. Banner's thoughts, this was something he'd pulled from an advanced course. He was surprised she'd already done it.

"Were in an advanced placement program in Phoenix?"

"Yes" It didn't surprise my brother in the slightest that she was intelligent for a human. Mr. Banner, thoughtful and said before walking away,

"Well, I guess it's good you two are lab partners" Then muttered too low for Bella to hear as he walked away,

"So the other kids can learn something for themselves" Bella began doodling loops in her notebook again. There was barely any conversation between me and Edward.

After a while Edward decided it was time to talk again and leave her with a better impression.

"It's too bad about the snow, isn't it?" I almost groaned. He was doing small talk with her? Come on?

"Not really" she stated, surprising Edward again.

"You don't like the cold." He guessed.

"Or the wet." Bella clarified, agreeing with him. A faint smile graced her lips and it warmed my brother's silent heart.

"Forks must be a difficult place for you to live."

"You have no idea" She said in a low voice, glaring at nothing for a bit before returning to her doodling.

"Why did you come here then?" My brother asked. Every syllable dripping with accusation and he seemed to realize it.

"It's … complicated" Bella answered but didn't elaborate. My brother was practically burning with curiosity, the burn in his throat now forgotten.

"I think I can keep up" He insisted quickly.