Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight, Mrs. Meyer does. Damn.
A/N: Let me just be the first to say, I DO NOT LIKE THIS CHAPTER!! But I just can't seem to get enthusiastic writing this fanfic anymore, cause cause cause *BAWLS* THERE'VE BEEN SO LITTLE REVIEWS!!
Not that I'm ungrateful to the reviews I've gotten, it's just... it would make me a LOT happier if I got more. Yes, I am aware that I am whining, but still...
Anyways. I know it took a couple more days than usual to get this chapter up, but if you want to see the next one sooner, PLEASE REVIEW! I'll put the next chapter up, and I PROMISE it'll be longer and BETTER with some E&B action/drama (FINALLY) if I get 30 reviews! :D
EPOV
Alice bounded out the door the moment I pulled up into the driveway and launched herself at me. "You're back! You're back!" she kept whispering and I smiled. Carlisle placed a hand on my shoulder as Esme ran out to hug me.
"Welcome home, son." He said in his mind. I grinned. I was home.
But that didn't stop the nagging doubt in my mind. What if I hurt Bella Swan? What if I slipped up? Jasper, sensing my discomfort immediately thought, 'you won't slip up.' I smiled at his mental assurance and nodded.
BPOV
I strolled into the cafeteria, mindlessly nodding my head as Jessica continued chattering from my side. I looked to their desk automatically, counted five heads and then continued on to our table, when suddenly, I froze. My head swivelled round on its own accord and involuntarily began counting again. "One, two, three, four… Five." I let out a huge whoosh of my breath as my heart started stuttering in overdrive, there, sitting as though he'd never been gone, looking as perfectly bored as the first time I'd seen him, sat Edward Cullen.
I glanced quickly back onto my table, as Jessica giggled lightly from my side. "Oh my gosh, Edward Cullen is looking at you!" I blanched, blushing heavily, I whispered, "he doesn't look angry, does he?"
Jessica looked at me as though I'd grown an extra head, "no silly, why?" I cringed as I saw a strange gleam in her eyes, almost as though she sensed gossip.
"No reason," I mumbled looking down onto the table, thankfully, at that moment, Tyler chose to grab Mike's chair, and soon enough, our table erupted into cheerful laughter as Mike tumbled, red faced onto the floor.
I wasn't sure, but at that moment, just as I glanced up, I thought I saw Edward Cullen staring at me. But when I turned to look again, he was staring just as resolutely blankly at the blank wall in front of him, with the same bored expression on his face. Then, Angela nudged me and I turned away.
As the bell rang, I sighed internally, I didn't want to go to biology and sit next to someone who didn't want to be around me. Angela asked me if anything was the matter, looking at the concern etched deep into her face, I smiled and shook my head, saying that I just felt a slight head cold coming on, she nodded sympathetically and walked into class. Squaring my shoulders, I walked resolutely forward and paused by the door, as I saw Edward Cullen sitting at my bench, I trembled slightly, but decided to ignore him, then I half stumbled towards our bench, expecting him to ignore me just as he did last week.
To my utmost surprise, after I'd opened my notebook, I heard a melodious voice from my side. "Hello," I turned around slowly, shocked to the core.
This was the first time I'd looked at him properly, and suddenly, I was too aware that we were sitting inches apart from each other, and that his eyes were a golden shade of brown, something within my mind vaguely registered that, but mostly, I went into shock from his incredible beauty. I guess he must've thought I was retarded or something because his next question was accompanied by a wry smile, "You're Bella? I'm sorry I didn't introduce myself last week, I'm Edward Cullen."
I jolted back to reality, not wanting him to think that I was stupid or anything, I blurted out the first thing that came to mind, "how did you know my name?" He stared at me puzzled, I blushed as he replied deliberately, "that is your name isn't it? I mean… the whole town's been talking about your arrival."
"Yea, but I'm pretty sure Charlie, I mean, my dad, introduced me as Isabella. That's what most people here knew me as." For a moment, this odd look passed across his face, but by the time I blinked, it was gone, so I left it up to my imagination. He simply smiled and said, "word gets around." I nodded and left it at that.
Seconds later, he asked, "so how are you enjoying the weather?" I almost snorted. In fact, I did.
"Weather? You're asking me about the weather?" I asked incredulously, he seemed amused by my reaction.
"Yea, I guess I am." He smiled, and the effect it had on me was insane. I felt my legs turn gelloid and my brain turned into mush. He cocked his head to the side as he waited for my reply, a small frown playing around his eyebrows.
"It's alright I guess," I replied shakily. "I don't really like the cold."
"So why did you move to the wettest place in the continental U.S then?"
I looked at him as he looked at me, he had this look of intense concentration on his face. I bit my lip, "My mother remarried."
"Ah." He replied. "You don't like him?"
"No!" I stuttered, surprised. "No! Phil's great. It's just… He plays minor league ball, so he moves around a lot, and my mum stayed with me for a while, but I knew what'd make her happy, so I decided to come here."
That unreadable expression flashed across his face again, but in another blink, it was gone. "But you don't like the cold?"
"No." I sighed, "anything cold and wet…" I shuddered, letting the sentence trail.
"So then why did you move here if it makes you unhappy?" I stared up at Edward Cullen incredulously, wasn't the answer obvious?
"It isn't about what makes me happy." Just then, Mr. Banner walked into class with a trolley full of Petri dishes.
EPOV
I was blown away by Bella Swan's answer. "It isn't about what makes me happy." As Mr. Banner walked into class, I mulled over her words and her incredulous expression at my question. For some inexplicable reason, I felt intrigued by this strange human whose blood sang to me, and whose mind was immune to my gift.
Moments later though, this intrigue was quickly quashed by the monster within fighting to be let out and suck her blood dry. Mr. Banner had told us that we would be separating the different levels of mitosis of the onion root cell, and as she leaned in to the microscope, I had to hold my breath as a waft of her scent came drifting towards me.
It was the longest period of my life, which was ironic. After the lesson ended, Mike Newton bounded over to our bench, cast me a dirty look as he tried to escort Bella to her next class. I stood up hurriedly and walked down the aisle towards the door. As I passed her, she got up, turned to look at me for a fraction of a second, and biting her bottom lip, she started walking indecisively towards the door. As I slipped into the corridor, I heard her whisper "Bye Edward" softly, as she turned towards the gym. Even though she'd said it when she thought I couldn't hear, it still made my heart soar.
