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Sitting beside Edward and ignoring him and Mr Banner had become like second nature. So I was surprised when Edward interrupted my day dreaming session and demanded my attention with a microscope.
"We are doing a lab now. We are to separate these cell slices into the phases of mitosis." Edward said and he didn't look too thrilled at having to talk and work with me. I wasn't too happy about the idea either. I still hadn't gotten over the fact he thought I had the moral compass of a sociopath. "You can go first if you like." His courtesy bristled me. I wasn't used to that kind of talk. Plus I thought we had a silent agreement to avoid each other, or more to the point I thought I was supposed to be below his superior self.
"Uh huh, you've seen how much attention I've been paying. Why don't you just do it yourself?"
Edward looked at me sternly for a moment. Better than the staring I guess.
"No, I'm not going to do your work for you," he said brusquely. "Although I understand it may take you a little longer to find the answers."
I glared at him a little, although it was harder than usual given the fact that this was conversation was far from our last one. It was almost normal. Then again who would've known he was such a little bitch underneath all that Victorian propriety.
"Fine, if you want to do it that way." I smirked smugly as I grabbed the microscope and fiddled with the controls with ease, switching between the first three slides almost seamlessly.
"The first is prophase, the second is anaphase, and the third is interphase given the doubling of the DNA matter and the dispersion of the cell nucleic membrane." I reeled off before shoving the microscope on his side of the bench.
Edward quickly cycled through the slides, grumpily checking my answers. I knew they were right. I may not have been paying attention in the class but it wasn't because it was too hard. I knew this cell stuff like the back of my hand. It was strange to think that before Mr R I was dedicated to going into the microbiology field. That plan was way down the crapper now.
Edward completed the final two slides at a speed I was used to by now. In fact after only a week I was pretty sure I knew all there was to know about the little vampy crew in Forks.
Since he was so fast it left us with time to spare as the other people in the class faffed around with trying to guess what was the DNA and what was the centrioles.
"I didn't realise you were so good at biology," Edward said awkwardly.
"Well it's not like you ever really asked did you?"
"I'm asking now."
"Why? Do you feel you have to befriend me or something? Think we have to be best buds so you can make sure I don't go spilling the beans?"
"I'm just curious, Ilsa. For all the things you now know about me, surely you could tell me something about you."
"You think it's time for turnabout. Quo pro quo."
"You were the one to insinuate I misjudged you. Now I'm simply trying to give you the chance to enlighten me to your true nature," he commented haughtily and like a rat being lead by the pied piper I followed his lead, my stubbornness rising to the challenge.
"I was born 11th November 1987. What about you? Must have been early 1900s right? Which must mean you were most likely alive when the first world war was kicking off, maybe even suffered through the Spanish influenza. I bet you went to one of those posh boy's schools, had plenty of money and expectations. We're probably quite similar in that respect. My parents had great expectations. I made them so proud when I got a scholarship the City of London School for Girls. I was in the top 2% of my year, taking advanced biology. So you can say whatever you want about me, but don't ever suggest that I lack intelligence."
"Is everything OK over here, Ilsa?" Mr banner asked.
"Everything's fine. Isn't it, Eddie?" I smiled sweetly as Edward nodded tersely... That wasn't the last conversation we'd had, in fact it was the start of what seemed a stilted truce between us. He remained prim and brooding and I goaded in an attempt to rile him. The snarky banter we'd developed was almost enjoyable... if talking with a dead thing could ever really be anything but a bit creepy. Somehow time had blurred. I liked that. I had a social life of sorts. I had a friendship with Charlie that had blossomed from stilted conversation and a million questions to something I could vaguely remember having with my own father. Once upon a time. That safeness that is subtle instead of stifling.
I smiled to myself as I opened the white door as usual and saw Charlie slouched on the sofa in what I now knew was his favourite spot. Sometimes I wondered if he'd ever sat in any other chair.
"How was school?" he asked as I dumped my bag by the bottom of the stairs and headed to the kitchen.
"Same old, same old. How was work?" I replied while I made a coffee with the good stuff. I'd had to replace Charlie's stash pretty quick. That shit just tasted like hot dirt.
"Got a couple reports of missing people over Hoquiam way. Boys think they took on more than they can handle hunting."
"What a killer deer took them out?" I snorted, but Charlie did laugh.
"There's more than just deer in those forests. Predators that'll kill a man with one blow. Not things to be joking about, Ilsa." I rolled my eyes, picked up my coffee and leant on the doorframe. Charlie looked up from the TV to eye me over.
"You don't go in those woods, not without someone with you, OK? I don't want to… You parents don't want you wandering off and getting yourself killed. You hear?" His eyes watch me in earnest.
I nodded with a small smile on my face. If he hadn't changed his mind I could have sworn he was going to say 'I don't want to lose you.' A girl could get attached to that kind of protection.
"Anyway," Charlie said gruffly, "What's for dinner tonight?"
"An Ilsa surprise. You think you can handle it?" I teased.
"Just as long as it's not anymore of that fajihta stuff. I want to eat my food not watch it fall out my hands." He grumbled playfully.
I laughed as I sauntered back to the kitchen and opened up the fridge.
Life with Charlie was good. I just had to hope it'd stay that way.
Like always as soon as that day had ended it felt like another was chasing on its heels, bringing more of the same with it.
I sighed as I looked around the cafeteria, scanning to see if today would be like all the other days: completely without interest, just a haze. Sure enough everyone around me chattered away while the Cullens just sat staring out the window all aloof and annoying. I wondered if they'd even react if someone threw something at them or if they wouldn't even notice.
"Is anyone up for doing something tonight? Maybe get a few beers, head out into the woods, have a bonfire?" Tyler asked the group.
"Oooo yeah, that'll be fun. Don't you think, Ilsa?" Jess asked, ever the lap dog. If she was any further up my arse these days I'd be choking on her.
"Yeah, whatever. Just text me if you sort something." I tried to sound enthusiastic but I just couldn't find it in me. AS good as life was at the moment I couldn't help but feel bored. I had no reason to try for anything. I had friends that followed me everywhere so no need to try to make any. I had good grades despite the fact I didn't try half as hard as the others. Sometimes I wondered if the teachers only marked me highly because they didn't want to get on my bad side or set me off.
I zoned back in on Jess's rabbiting. She'd obviously taken on the role of inviter, despite the fct it was Tyler's idea.
"Come on, Angela, it'll be so much fun." Jess pleaded. I watched as Angela shifted uncomfortably.
"I can't, Jess, I've got loads of work to do and if I don't do it tonight I'm not going to get it done on time."
"That's such a load of rubbish. You're way ahead on biology, and I know that English assignment isn't in until Wednesday. You have the whole weekend to do it. You have to come out. It's Friday."
"I promise I'll come out next time. I just can't tonight."
"Is this because of that party at Connor's? Because I swear that was an accident, I didn't realise it was your cup. Plus you don't have to get wasted tonight, it's just a couple beers."
"I just don't feel like it." I heard Angela's voice go tight and watched as her shoulders hunched as if she was trying to curl in on herself.
"God you can be so boring something, Angie." Jess huffed, paused to refuel on a disgruntled gasp of air.
I felt my temper flare as I flit my eyes between the bold, abrasive blonde and the shirinking violet who seemed so much smaller all of a sudden.
"Jess, quit it."
Jess's shocked face flashed in my direction but I met her with a fixed stare.
"Oh come on, Ilsa, she never comes out." She emplored, like a toddler blaming another for never letting them play.
"Yeah and? She said she didn't want to go, so drop it." The cool tone in my voice must have worked because Jess backed down and sat with a sullen look on her face.
"Don't look now, but Edward Cullen is totally staring at you right now." Lauren murmured in my ear.
I smirked and spun to stare at him, raising an eyebrow at his behaviour. I thought we were past this by now.
"Mr Fuckward Cullen, the star of social retardation," I drawled as I turned lazily back toards the group. Their laughter erupted, even Jess joined in with her fake cackle. She'd do anything to be in my good books.
I checked behind me, catching the Cullen's laughing and Edward stalking out the room.
Of course, vamp hearing. Super sensitive.
I caught the pixie's eye before I turned round. By the look on her face she wasn't happy with me. Why I didn't know and to be honest I couldn't be arsed to find out. Anyone who looked like they were dancing while they walked clearly had a screw loose. The fact that someone was also a vampire was one hell of reason not to want to get too close.
Soon enough the bell rang and I slung my bag across my shoulder, allowing the crowd to leave around me.
"Hey,Ilsa." I looked beside me as Angela straightened her notes and neatly put them back in her bag.
"I just wanted to say thank you for what you did with Jess." She admitted shyly, pushing her glasses up her nose as she talked.
I shrugged off her thanks. It was unneeded. "No problem. Girls like her, sometimes you've just got to say no is no."
"I know. I just don't have very much history with doing well at that." She smiled a small smile that brought a real one to my face. Of all the people in this place I didn't think that Angela would be the one that I could connect with most. But it seemed I had found another girl who found sayingno just as hard as I had those couple years ago.
"You'll learn, eventually."
She ducked her head and before I knew it she was off weaving through the crowd towards her next class, leaving me to battle with my locker as people passed by.
"Very insightful, all that 'you just have to say no' stuff." A voice boomed beside me. I didn't jump.I refused to. Instead I turned slowly and looked over the locker door.
"What have I done to deserve a visit from the tall, dark, and dead?" I said as I eyed up the beefcake standing beside me.
The boulder raised his eyebrow, a mild look of surprise and appreciation on his stone cut face.
"I wanted to congratulate you. I thought it was only me who could irritate old Eddie but it seems I have competition."
I looked at him suspiciously, as I slowly closed the locker door. "That's it?"
"Yup"
"Well thank you for acknowledging my 'mad skills' my life is now complete." I didn't bother trying to hide the sarcasm.
I started to walk but the Hulk kept up by my side.
"That signalled the end of the conversation by the way." I said with a side glance.
"Technically the conversation isn't over until both participants have either departed or finished speaking." He grinned, a full on blinding grin that could rival even the Cheshire cat's grin.
He's insane. Actually insane.
"Are you a little slow?" I asked. After all maybe the whole drying to become a vampire thing left him with 1 egg short of a dozen. Could you get brain damaged vamps?
A raucous laugh filled the corridor, no other students left to muffle the sound. "You're the one who didn't know the definition of a conversation."
I crossed my arms as I examined the apparently 'normal' vampire standing opposite me. "So what, you want to be friends or something weird like that? Is that what this little fandango is all about?"
"Maybe. If I said yes would you go along with it?"
"On one condition." Now it was my turn to grin.
"Name it, Casablanca." I rolled my eyes at his movie reference to my name. I'd heard it my whole life.
"You have to let me feel up your jeep every now and then. Mike's suburban just doesn't cut the mustard," I said with a sly grin. To be fair the vampire had me fooled. I just couldn't resist the cheeky dimples. Damn the dimples. If he ends up sucking me dry my grave stone may as well read: death by dimples.
"An autophile, my kinda girl." Another face cracking smile lit up his face. Dimples on full show.
"You're like a mutant child, you know that, right? A really big mutant child."
That just triggered more laughing. If I kept this up I was soon going to be deaf.
