Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight, however I do own black skinny jeans and Ed Hardy shoes. Beat that, Stephanie!

A/N:You guys are AWESOME! 117 reviews?! Thanks sooo much! Heres the next chapter...Enjoy!

Chapter 6: One Chance

BPOV

Breathe, Bella, breathe, I had to coax myself. I was on the verge of hyperventilation. Edward was on his way to the desk next to mine. Each of his footsteps seemed to linger, allowing the anticipation to sink deeper in the pit of my stomach, where butterflies fluttered relentlessly. Finally he arrived, sat down, and turned to me.

"Hey, Bella." He grinned, flashing a set of perfect white teeth. I stared at him like an idiot, too dazzled to comprehend my brain's orders. When I recovered, I smiled back a little too widely. I noticed his breathing become ragged for some reason. Before the awkward stage occurred, I turned my head and focused - or at least tried to focus - on Ms. Cope's lecture. My mind devoted most of its time trying to convince itself to look straight ahead and to not turn and stare at the Greek G-d sitting sitting ten centimeters away.

Suddenly, something kicked my foot, breaking me away from my internal conversation with myself.

"Bella? Ms. Cope questioned, What is the function of the thoracic duct?"

"Uh..." Shit, I wasn't paying attention...

"It's the largest lymphatic vessel in the human body." Edward whispered the answer to me, his lips barely opening.

Might as well give it a shot..."It's...uh...the largest la-ly-lo- ugh, I don't know!" I said, exasperated. Gosh, does she honestly expect me to know that? I'm smart and all but couldn't she tell I was a little distracted?Ms. Cope shook her head disapprovingly.

"Manors, Ms. Swan." She warned, sternly and moved on to the next victim..

I was daydreaming about Edward when Ms. Cope dropped something on my desk. Nice, last week's bio test. I took a quick glance at the mark and...98%! Sweet!

"Ninety-eight...impressive." Edward nodded, peeking at my test. I blushed a deep crimson in response.

"Thanks," I mumbled unintelligibly. I decided to make small talk. Maybe then he wouldn't think I was a total freak..."So, Edward, how're you liking Forks? You could finally see it, now that you're out of the cell." I joked.

"It's nice, rainy, but fine. I have a feeling I'm gonna like it here..."

"how so?"

"Nevermind, it's irrelevant." He answered quickly. The bell rang. "What's your next class?"

"Trig; you?"

"Phys. Ed. But let me walk you to your next class, Bella...if I could find it." He then restated, "Actually, I'm new here; how 'bout you walk me?"

W-what? I didn't expect that."If you insist..." I tried to accept the invitation calmly, but the shakiness of my voice gave me away.

After a long painful hour of answering questions that ended with 'Show your work' or 'Explain in detail', It was finally lunch. I grabbed two slices of greasy cafeteria pizza and made my way to Alice at 'our' table.

Alice and I munched our food, chatting occasionally, until she shouted, "Holy fuck!"

"What the hell, Al?" I turned and followed the direction of her eyes. The sight said it all. Edward and Jasper sat at 'The Sluts' and 'The Man-Whores' table. They all chatted and laughed happily together. It was disgusting. Mike then turned to wink at me. I flipped him off and turned back around. Not minutes later, Edward and Mike approached our table.

"Hello hotties," Mike greeted Alice and I, flirtatiously.

"Hello asshole." I directed at Mike.

"Don't be like that, gorgeous..." Mike smiled, arrogant. I stayed silent. I don't think anything could tear down Mike's self-confidence.

Edward grimaced but composed his expression quickly and turned to me, leaning him arm on the table, his face inches from mine. "Bella," he breathed, his sweet breath fanned across my face. Abruptly, his tone turned to one of arrogance. "So, I was thinking that maybe later we can go to my place and do some math homework." What the fuck? We didn't have any math homework...He continued, "You know, add the bed, subtract the clothes, divide the legs, and multiply." Mike stifled his laughter.

It took me a couple seconds to comprehend that, in pick-up-line form, he just asked me over to shack up. All that time I had spent swooning over his sorry ass, staying up late thinking about how perfect and different he was compared to everyone else, and it was just a waste of precious time? He was just another 'Mike' all along? My anger built up in that instant and I couldn't tame it. I stood up, raised my hand, and smacked him, hard, across the face.

He recoiled and covered his hand across his cheek. When he removed his hand, there was a pink stain displayed across his skin. "Ow," he whispered.

My anger evaporated and I smiled in vindictive satisfaction. "You're such an ass, Cullen." I murmured as Alice and I walked, quickly, out of the cafeteria.

"Shit, Bells! I didn't know you had it in you! You totally kicked his perverted little ass!" Alice congratulated me.

"Yeah, yeah." I mumbled, pretty damn bummed.

"C'mon, Bells, don't take it too hard. I know you like him but cheer up! He's such a douche. Yeah, he's smoking hot, chiseled, and he probably has an eight-pack hiding under his shirt, but there are better guys out there."

"Man, Al, you really need pep-talk lessons. You suck at them."

"Don't worry about it...just cheer up!"

And the bell rang...

School dragged on relentlessly. Alice wanted to skateboard with me at Forks Park but I wasn't exactly in a skating mood. I couldn't believe I was so stupid as to think there was actually a perfect guy out there. I thought he was different but I should've known that in the end I'd end up with the aching feeling of disappointment. I always do.

"Bella, wait!" I heard a muffled voice cry out. It sound like an angel's song. Of course it had to be Edward. Ugh. I quickened my pace, and sped down the dusty sidewalk. "Bella! Please, let me explain!" Being as slow a runner as I was, he caught up to me within seconds. He grabbed my shoulder to stop me.

"Don't touch me!" I spat, fuming. He let go and I took that advantage to look away from his heartbreakingly beautiful face.

"Please, Bella." He whispered, barely audible. The sound of him saying my name turned my knees weak. Why was I such a pussy? Betraying the noble part of my mind, I turned to face him.

"You have ten seconds to explain, and then I'm leaving."

He started immediately. "I'm so sorry Bella. That was so unlike me. I'm not a selfish, arrogant ass. I was dared to do that! Mike dared me! " He rambled.

"Cut the bullshit, Cullen, you could've said 'no', and you chose not to. You chose to hurt me. I hardly know you and I can already tell you're just. Like. Mike."

"I'm not, Bella, I-I-they...It was stupid. I regret it and I'm sorry."

"You should be."

"Please forgive me; I don't want to start off this way..."

"Why do you care what I think?"

"I don't- I mean, I do-"

"Save it, jackass, I'm leaving."

"C'mon, all I'm asking is for a chance...to be friends..."

I thought about it. All he wanted was a chance... "Fine. One chance."

"So, you wanna go out sometime?" I raised my eyebrows incredulously.

"I mean, just as friends." I noticed his smile faded as he said this. I wasn't surprised my stomach sank at the word 'friends.'

"Okay..."

"Sunday, I'll pick you up at nine-ish? You wanna show me 'round Forks; maybe go for a movie later?"

"Alright."

"See you then."

And I walked away, attempting not to smile like a love-struck teenager...

A/N: I hope you liked it! Am I rushing!? It's not a date, it's 2 friends hanging out...Alright, this time, I want...140 reviews total to get the next chapter, which will be the 'hang out'. REVIEW PLEASE!