A/N: Okay – I'M BACK! Big time.

I had dreamt of Edward. His skin was radiating, glowing and he was partly turned away from me. In my dreams I tried to catch up with him, as he was running, but I never seemed to be able to reach him. In the beginning of every dream he was staring at me, his eyes shining scarlet and a pleasant smile pulling at the corners of his mouth. I had asked him if he was using contacts and then he started to turn. At the end of the last dream I had I had been able to reach out and have my fingertips grace the back of one of his perfect hands. He had looked back, his face pulled into and excruciating grimace of disgust and fear. As his hand had grabbed my wrist, moving too fast for me to register the movement itself and instead reacting to the agonizing pain his hold inflicted in my flesh, I had woken up.

Still breathing heavily I sat up in my bed, running my hand through my hair and feeling my sweaty scalp by the roots of my hair shafts. I got up and out of my bed, legs still shaking, to go take a shower. The sun had yet to sail the sky and so I figured I had enough time to wash myself off.

I let the water run for a few seconds, staring at myself in the mirror as I waited for the water to vapor the room, creating a humid, warm cloud of steam in the bathroom. I looked tired, something that was understandable considering my lack of sleep the last few days – it was seemingly turning into a torturous habit.

I entered the shower, letting the water consume my hair and make its way down my body, not leaving an inch of my skin dry and making sure to soothe my muscles and soul. I thought of the day after the accident, of how Edward had been showing very much hostility toward me, avoiding eye contact and seeming to feel that Mr. Banner had an incredibly interesting view on the study of living organisms.

He had paid me no mind. No mind at all. His family had ignored me as well - not even Rosalie Hale had cared to grant me the satisfaction of a single glance. For some reason my life seemed to be moving in slow-motion, every sound around me turning into a buzzing murmur, like bees under water. Mike, my trusting lifelong pet, was trying desperately to capture my attention, to catch my eye and tear them away from where they always seemed to wander.

I banged my fist into the damp wall I had been resting my forehead to, water still making trails along my back, thighs and stomach. I was frustrated, now for the first time in a long time I felt utterly alienated. I had thought, after our conversation in class the day before the accident that we were, finally, on speaking terms. I had thought that I would be given the chance to solve the mystery that was Edward Cullen and my feelings toward him. But no.

My head fell back, clear fluid traveling across my face and making its way along the rest of my frame, musically landing on the floor to end its journey in pipes. The week after my return Mike seemed to be worrying about me, as had a lot of other students that believed themselves to know me. Tyler still apologized, going on about a way to repay me even though I still, more firmly than ever, denied him to do so.

I stepped out from underneath the shower nozzle still thinking about Edward, about that first day when I tried to talk to him.

"Hello, Edward," I had greeted, expecting an answer. Yet, all he had done was turn his head slightly in my direction and given me a tight nod. That had been the last contact we shared, even though we sat approximately five inches away from one another every day in class. He always sat as far away from me as possible.

I dried my hair with a towel as I walked back into my seemingly cold room, Frey snaking her way around my bare legs. I was still captivated by this man's aura though; it was too magnificent to pass up the chance of observing it up close every day. I knew for a fact that he did not acknowledge my presence, but I did not know if he did not notice it. The ways his spirit was changing could be caused by something other than myself, but still I could not prevent my trail of thought from wandering in dangerous directions; maybe my mere presence has an effect on him.

My father did not seem to notice any change in my behavior pattern, nor did mother through the few emails we had shared. Mike seemed to appreciate the little contact I and Edward shared after that day; he had been relieved to know that I had not found Edwards's heroic courage in saving me to be impressive. It had encouraged him to be slightly more forward in our relationship, staying by my side, making small talk before biology started, all the while paying less and less attention to Edward's existence.

The snow soon melted, taking away all traces of that horrid and dangerous day away with it. As I arrived at school Mike talked of a trip to the beach and invited me to come along, of course, but I declined. Even though Jessica Stanley was not very fond of me I had no reason to feel any kind of antagonism toward her and, therefore, I thought giving her yet another teenage reason to hate me was simply unnecessary.

As Spanish class ended and I started to gather my books I felt a sharp stab being inflicted upon me through spiritual connection. Looking up I noticed Jessica Stanley glaring at me as she passed, her books in her hands and her bag thrown over her shoulder. That was peculiar, having Jessica glare at me – usually she settles for ignoring me.

The answer to my question arrived shortly after lunch the same day, though I had been pretty sure something was wrong already during lunch as Mike had been incredibly quiet and Jessica had seated herself as far away from him as possible. He stayed quiet as he walked me to class, as well as when we entered the classroom. He did not make any kind of verdict what so ever until I was seated in my chair, Edward already in his seat beside me.

"So…" he started, staring at the floor. "Jessica asked me to the spring dance." The spring dance – the posters had been harassing the walls of the school buildings for weeks, making sure nobody missed it. Even my father knew about it. I waited a while longer, for I did not want Mike to be interrupted. Once I understood he was not going to continue and tell me more without a reply I answered.

"Well, that is splendid news, Mike," I told him, trying my best to sound enthusiastic and happy, although Sir. Edward's magnifying aura hovered over me like a ghost with a grudge. Not necessarily with a hostile purpose. "You will most certainly have a wonderful time together," I smiled, wondering why his aura was shifting uncomfortably, his body following its lead.

"Yeah…" my reaction toward his announcement did not seem to have been the one he was looking for. "I told her I'd think about it." I could feel his guilt before I heard it in his voice. He glanced up at me.

"Why would you do that?" I asked, though I already knew the answer. He blushed fiercely and looked down to the floor again, I felt Edward tense by my side.

"I was wondering if… if, maybe, you had been planning to ask me." I had not been expecting that one, and me hesitating my answer was not helping the situation. I noted Edward turning his head slightly in my direction from the corner of my eye. Hm, what to do…

"No," I told him.

"No, what?" he asked.

"No, I had not been planning on asking you to the spring dance."

"Have you already asked someone?" I wondered briefly if Edward noticed Mike looking his way as he asked me this.

"No," I informed him, not feeling the need to hide anything from the boy, "I was not planning on attend at all, actually."

"Why not?" Mike asked.

Of course he had to ask. I did not feel the need to hurt the poor kid so I tried to let him down easy with making a quick decision and therefore creating an excuse; "I am going to Seattle that Saturday." I had been meaning to go in any case, feeling as though my reading supply was starting to dry out.

"And you can't go another weekend?"

"Of course I can," I told him matter-of-factly. "But I chose to go that weekend. Now, you should go and find Jessica – tell her that you gladly accept her invitation. It is incredibly rude to make a girl wait."

"Yeah, you're right," he mumbled before retreating from my table and walking to his chair.

I sat up straight and closed my eyes, keeping my hands folded on top of my notebook, as usual, and tried desperately to relax and urge away the pressure being inflicted upon my psyche. I glared at Edward who was staring intently at me.

"Stop that," I ordered. "It gives me headaches."

We stared at each other and I could not dismiss the beauty of his liquid honey coloured eyes, long eyelashes and sharp eyebrows framing them. His sharp features were probably strong enough to cut through steel, and I notices how a few stands of his chaotic hair had escaped the rest of the bronze mass to cover parts of his pale forehead.

It was impossible to look away, even if I wanted to. His aura started to stir as his eyes darkened and the madness corrupted his spirit as it seemed to be having a hard time choosing between that and red. My hands started to shake.

"Mr. Cullen?" the teacher said and then waited for an answer to a question I had not heard.

"Krebs cycle," was Edward's brilliant answer and he reluctantly turned his gaze toward Mr. Banner.

As soon as his eyes freed me I shot them back to my book, trying to engross myself within its contents after finding the right paragraph in the text. I was feeling surprisingly modest and… shy, letting my hair work as a veil between myself and my dearest bronze locks as I frowned upon my timidity. I was feeling startled over the feelings that surged over me – simply because he happened to look at me for the first time in a few weeks. I could not let him affect me this strongly, I simply could not. It was pathetic. Unhealthy, even.

I tried hard to ignore the existence of his hovering, dynamic spirit, to ignore him. But it was hard, too hard, and so I settled for simply not showing him how present I was with his movements and changing in spiritual stirs. Soon the bell rung, signaling the end of class, and I made to accumulate my books, still seated facing forward.

"Bella?" Edward's voice whispered. Oh, I should not even have tried to imagine it for it would never have done him justice. It was deeper than any ocean, more musicale than any symphony and more bewilderingly unique than any other sound in the world and yet, its song was so familiar to me. It felt so comfortable and well known. I turned to him slowly, noticing how his eyes were focusing on my left hand. He looked… I did not know. His jaw was clenched, as were his hands, and his aura was corrupted by a murderous blaze. His brilliant eyes flared as well, a fragrance of his spirits grandeur gleaming through its colour. I let my eyes fall to my left hand and noticed four red stripes engraved into my skin, like someone had grabbed it.

"Are you speaking with me again?" I whisper, still gazing at my wrist as I though myself hearing Edward's voice utter the word 'sorry'. I looked up only to have myself believe that my own eyes deceived me for they were met by Edward's sad smile, the humor in it never traveling further than to the corners of his oh so perfectly sculptured lips.

"Not exactly." I closed my eyes to take a deep breath through my nose, attempting to calm myself. He waited, patiently.

"Then," I said, still having my eyes closed. "Is there any particular reason behind you talking to me now, Mr. Cullen?"

"I'm sorry," he sounded sincere and I opened my eyes. "I know that I am behaving very rudely toward you, but it really is for the best." He looked dead serious, I raised an eyebrow.

"What do you mean?"

"It would be for the best if we are not friends," Edward clarified. "Trust me." I frowned at him, surprised that he demanded me to trust him, especially under these circumstances. I rose from my seat to stand behind it, hands resting on the back of my chair.

"Edward, I am not to trust you if you are not to trust me. I hope you can understand at least that." He stared at me, I stared back. I could feel how his aura fought with his reason. "You could not have prevented any of it from happening, you know," I informed him quietly and he snapped his gaze to mine.

"What?" I shifted my weight; arms crossed as I glanced around the room uncomfortably and then looked back to Edward. I did not like feeling uncomfortable, it did not feel right.

"You do not have the power to see things; it would have been impossible for you to have prevented what happened." It was something any and everyone would know, but still I felt the need to tell him. That was probably my first stupid move when it came to this man.

"You have no," he started, teeth clenched as he rose, towering over me. "idea what you are speaking of." He was standing inches away from me, I could feel his breath in my face as his menacing eyes glared down at me and for the first time in a long time, I felt how small I really was. I grabbed my books as soon as I was able to move again and waltzed out of the room.

Gym was passable. Basketball was on the schedule and Mike was in the way just as much as he usually is, grabbing any ball flying my way. This time I felt grateful toward him as my mind was incredibly occupied with thinking of dear Edward Cullen. It was a relief when class ended.

Quickly I scattered to the locker room and changed to hurriedly run to my car before anybody else was even out of their gym clothes. I did not know why but I knew that something was going to happen on this land and I was not going to like it. I did not stop once I rounded the corner and spotted a dark silhouette leaning against my white, newly upgraded car. I had had to replace the rear lights of it, as well as improve the paint.

My heart had been beating a little faster and I almost did not notice my feet quickening their pace even more. That stopped abruptly though as I saw it was only Eric, the boy who had been applauding me my first day at Forks High along with Mike.

"Hello, Eric," I greeted him, the feeling of wanting to get off the land increasing by the second.

"Hi, Bella," Isabella, I corrected inside my head.

"Can I help you with anything?" I asked him as I opened the door on the driver's side. His nervousness had completely devoured him and it made me uneasy.

"I… uh…" he stammered, tripping upon his own words. "I was just wondering…" I looked at him expectantly, my mind screaming at me to get out of there as soon as possible. "Do you want to go to the spring dance with me?" He shut his eyes hard, like a little boy asking the girl he had a crush on if she wanted to… Oh, dear Lady, help me.

"Oh," I blinked, turning so that he would understand that he had my full attention. "I am sorry; I was under the impression that it was the ladies choice." I stared at him as he squirmed, as if though he was feeling uncomfortable in his own skin.

"No, I- It is…" he admitted. I tilted my head to the side. Goddess why do I allure shy boys?

"Thank you for the offer, Eric," I smiled at him. "But I am traveling to Seattle that Saturday."

"Oh," he said. "Okay. Next time them," he beamed and started to walk toward school. I stood still for a few moments, staring at his back and then I shook my head, trying to clear it. Edward passed my car then, looking straight ahead, his lips in a straight line and his aura glowing pink. I threw open my door and settled in the driver's seat, slamming the door behind me harder then necessary. I rested my forehead to the steering wheel, my hands squeezing it on either side of my head, leather creaking beneath my fingers. I do not feel like this. I never have before – frustrated and not knowing what to expect. I felt something warm tickling me cheek as it made a trail along it, dripping to create a moist circle on my dark jeans.

I dried my tear away and looked in the rearview mirror, but not really seeing what was reflected in it. Without giving it a thought at all I stomped on the gas pedal after having started my car and pulled out of my parking space only to hit the brakes just as quickly. The silver Volvo which was Edward's glided swiftly out of its own parking space, only to stop and stand in my way. He was waiting for his siblings. Sure, they were walking our way, but they had not gotten further than to the cafeteria.

I waited. Jumping, as I had been startled by the sound of somebody tapping the window on the passenger side of my car. I rolled it down.

"I am sorry Tyler," I gestured toward the Volvo in front of me, an apologetic smile on my face. "I cannot seem to be getting anywhere."

"Oh, I know…" He said, his focus completely on me as he smiled and leaned slightly into my car through the window. "I just thought I'd ask you something while we're stuck here."

For the love Goddess, please let it be no more than a bad dream…

"Do you want to ask me to the spring dance?" he continued.

"I beg your pardon?" I was baffled – how? He seemed to be slightly shocked at my reaction. My voice had been a little harsher than what I had intended, so I cannot blame him for it. I sighed and then started again. "I will not be here for the event, unfortunately." I had to remind myself that it is not Tyler's fault he does not know of my patience already having reached its limit because of certain events.

"Yes, Mike told me about that," he oh so lamely admitted.

"Then why did you ask?" I could feel myself grow irritated.

He shrugged before answering. "I was hoping you just wanted to let him down easy." It seemed I had been wrong – it was his fault.

"You may leave now, Tyler," I turned forward and started to roll the passenger window back up, not caring if Tyler happened to get stuck in it. Alice, Rosalie, Emmett and Jasper were on their way into the car and before they sped away I could see Edward shaking, as if though he was laughing.

A/N: MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I really believe that this is the best chapter so far, no?