Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Twilight series

The next morning, I woke up well rested. Maybe it was from my two-hour nap at school. Or it could have been because I didn't have to sneak into the house last night for fear of my father waking up. Or because my dreams were actually pleasant for once. I couldn't remember my dreams actually, but I knew they were all good ones because Edward's face kept popping up.

That was both wonderful and embarrassing. If I thought nothing good could come with being friends with Edward, I found having an almost obsession that much worse. I flinched at the very word. But what could a girl do? I couldn't shut off my dreams. And, secretly, I knew I didn't want to. Just thinking of Edward brightened my whole day. Pathetic didn't even cover it.

I finished my morning routine in record time. I even had time to fix a plate of scrambled eggs instead of the usual cereal or oatmeal mush. I didn't trip even once or burn myself on the oven today. All my homework was done. Nothing in my life was severally wrong. It was a pleasant change of pace. So I was all smiles and on a natural high as I locked my house door.

My smile was then replaced with a look of shock as I saw who was waiting for me in my driveway. Three guesses who.

He stepped out of the driver's seat grandly. "Bella," he spoke me name with such familiarity, "I was wondering if you would mind riding with me today? I'd rather not take my chances and have you run off before lunchtime." His words were teasing yet he looked 100 percent serious. Like I would actually skip school just to get out of seeing him. I was actually very excited at the prospect of knowing I hadn't just dreamed up his perfection. I had spent the whole morning conjuring up that dazzling smile from my memory banks, but I wouldn't let him know that.

I slowly walked to his Volvo, feeling a bit shy. "Um… sure. Thanks." He had opened my door and walked around to the driver's side with his model-like grace. Edward fiddled with the dials on the car. Warm air came spilling out the vents and light music was playing in the background. I ducked into the car. I couldn't help but to ask, "Did you really think I was just going to run away?"

He pulled out of the driveway without checking his mirrors. "Partly." I pouted at his lack of faith in me. It was a bit insulting. "But I had another reason for picking you up," he added in his defense.

"And that would be?"

Edward spoke to the steering wheel in such a quiet voice then that I almost couldn't hear what he was saying. "I wanted to make sure you were okay after yesterday. I didn't want to have to wait until lunch to find out. I was… uneasy, not knowing. And very nervous." The words left him as if he was confessing a humiliating weakness.

I couldn't find the proper words to respond to that, so I said nothing. I just played with the buttons on my jacket as I turned the words over in my head. Edward was worried about me? I couldn't understand why those words made my heart feel so light. He had no real reason to worry; yet he did. About me! He cared…

Once again, that was a bad road to think down. He shouldn't care. And I shouldn't care if he did. This doesn't change anything, I repeated silently. Nothing can. Did I want to get hurt again? Was I not done torturing myself? Was I ready to open up old wounds that had never fully closed? No, no I wasn't. I had to stop this before it truly started.

But, worse then the fear of hurting myself, there was this new fear of hurting Edward. It was one thing to sent myself back into the darkness, but something else altogether to condemn Edward to it as well. That could not be allowed to happen under any circumstances. So I folded my arms and hid behind my imaginary walls the rest of the ride to school.

"Where are you siblings?" I asked as he helped me out of the car. There were giant puddles all across the parking lot from the recently melted snow. My worst nightmare. It was physically impossible for me to not fall into one of them. "They usually ride with you, don't they?"

Edward grabbed my arm to steer me away from a potentially life threatening puddle I hadn't seen. "Yes, but they road in Rosalie's car today. I got into a bit of an argument with them all last night and they felt it best to give me my space this morning," he explained, answering my unasked 'why?'

"What was the argument about?" The Cullens and Hales seemed like a pretty close knit family usually. They always sat together, only talked to each other, and - as far as I had seen - never got into fights. What could have been so bad that the rest of his family was backing away this morning?

He was slow to answer. "It wasn't that bad. Just something small that Rosalie blew out of proportion. Being the typical selfish person I've come to know her to be. That's all." Edward didn't say anything so I figured the conversation was closed.

Edward walked me to my first period class. And eyes followed us the whole time. Hateful eyes. Jealous eyes. Shocked eyes. I wasn't sure what was more usual to them: Edward talking to someone other then his family or Edward talking to me, of all people. It was a thousand times worst then in Port Angeles. At least then the people had been complete strangers.

Outside my classroom, Jessica was waiting. From the way her eyes lit up when Edward and I came into view, I knew exactly whom for.

A smiled fitted across her face. "Good morning, Edward. How are you?" Jessica looked at me briefly, but then focused all of her attention on the Adonis before her.

He seemed annoyed, to say the least. "I'm doing well, Jessica. I was just walking Bella to class." A cool hand rested around my shoulders. "Take care, Bella. And I will see meet you before lunch."

I nearly fainted - and I'm such Jessica faired no better - when Edward leaned down to kiss my forehead. It was a simple gesture. Completely innocent and not necessarily romantic to an onlooker. But it was enough for me. Such a thing was unusual for me, but not terribly so - the opposite of terrible even, I would say. Despite myself, I beamed up at him and waved lithely as he walked away. Jessica was a statue as I passed her as I walked into the classroom. I wanted to cheer.

As I took my seat, I couldn't help but to wonder if I was truly fighting fate be trying to stay negative about my feelings for Edward. No matter how many times I told myself to back away and save the both of us the heartbreak, I found myself being pulled deeper into this.

I didn't want to fight anymore. I didn't want to be logical. I didn't want to… not care about Edward.

But I was just so damn scared…

I had Jessica in my Spanish and Geometry classes back to back right before lunch. She took this time to glare at me hatefully when she thought I wasn't looking, and then switching into the 'I'm-your-best-friend' mode during breaks in class time. She wanted to know everything: why Edward was walking me to class, if he was interested in me, how I knew him, when we started talking, and much more. She was unforgiving with her questions. But I mostly dove around the bigger ones, offering vague answers.

"So Bella," she turned in her seat when the teacher had set us with busywork, "cut the bull. Tell me honestly. Do you like Edward?"

Too shocked by her straightforwardness, I just blushed and nodded.

"So that's a yes. Well duh, every girl would sell her soul for five minutes of Edward's time. He is gorgeous," Jessica said that as if the trade off was worth much more then a single soul.

I sighed. "Yes, he is. But there is so much more to it then that." My blush darkened as Jessica pressed me to explain. I wish I had left it at that. "There… is just something generally kind about Edward. He's a wonderful guy. He isn't the type of guy who just nods his head to whatever you say. Edward listens and speaks his mind. He expresses what he really thinks and doesn't sugar coat things." I decided to shut my mouth then before I spilled even more to this gossiping girl. No doubt the whole school would hear of this conversation by the end of the day.

"I guess that makes sense." Jessica shrugged. "But you have to admit that it was his good looks that drew you in. It's happened to the best of us."

I shook my head. "Yes and no. I noticed him because he is so handsome, but that's not the only reason he drew me in. There is so much beneath the surface, Jessica. I can't explain it right."

"Sounds like someone is head over heels." Her words were joking, but I could hear the envy right below the undertone. "But don't get your hopes up. Edward does not date. None of the girls here are good enough for him, apparently."

I though it was something like that. There was no other logical explanation as to why Edward was still single unless he just wasn't interested in dating. I had no right to let that demoralize me, but it did. Besides, beauty like Edward's belonged with a girl who could measure up to him. Not some plain girl with issues. Could this be a sign that I was meant to not be with him?

Jessica sighed. "Such a waste… " Then she turned away from me, clearly satisfied with the ample amount of gossip she got from me.

Class passed by slowly after that. I was distracted during notes, not even caring about school work. All I could think about was Edward and how conflicted I was.

I wanted to be near him...

And avoid him.

I felt safe with him...

And yet so afraid.

I was running right into his arms...

And at the same time running away.

Jessica raised an eyebrow at me as I jumped out of my seat at the lunch bell, eager for my lunch date with Edward. "Don't forget what I told you, Bella. I'd hate to see you get shot down like so many before you. I'm only warning you as a friend before you too go up in flames."

A friend, my ass. It didn't take a genius to figure out that she was bitter. Why shouldn't she be? The man of her dreams turns her down and starts to hang out with the new girl. That would be more then enough to turn a girl green with jealousy. I actually felt bad for her as I walked out the room.

Ever the punctual one, Edward was waiting for me outside the room. My heart skipped a beat just at the sight of him, my confusion about him melting away. Despite what Jessica had just told me, I couldn't help but to like Edward. He wasn't the type of guy you could just forget about. I learned that the hard way. And he wasn't the type of guy you could just stop liking. What was not to like?

"Hello, Bella." He took my book bag from my shoulder, sliding it over his own. "How has class been so far?"

Jessica made a 'tut' noise as she walked past us, her heels clicking loudly on the tile below. I waved my hand toward her. "Two full class periods dealing with her questioning. How do you think that faired?"

The cafeteria was almost completely full when we entered. I kept my eyes downwards to avoid the looks we caught. Edward and I grabbed our lunches, not a lot of food for either of us, and he led me to a table in the back of the room. Still, eyes found their way to us.

I lifted a shiny red apple from my tray and took a bite, scanning the cafeteria for Angela and Mike. I found them and offered Ang an apologetic smile for not sitting with her. She smiled and shook her head, conveying her understanding.

Mike was another story, however. His food untouched, his fists visibly clenched on the table, and his whole body turned to face us. He was shooting daggers at Edward, who was completely oblivious to this. He was clearly not happy about the seating arrangements.

Edward propped his head on his hand, a playful expression on his face. "Is Newton still giving me death glares?"

Oh, so he had noticed. "Yeah, sorry about that."

"Not at all. I think it's very entertaining." I rolled my eyes. "So exactly did the Jessica Inquisition entail?"

Oh crap. "Nothing much. She just asked why you walked me to class."

Edward's brow creased. "That doesn't sound like Jessica, to ask just one question. Come now Bella. I already told you. You are a very obvious liar." I flushed. "Now, truthfully this time. What did you two talk about?"

I played with my time, looking for a way out of this. "Why do I have to tell you? Maybe it was a private conversation."

He smirked at that. "Private? You must be joking. I could simply ask Jessica. You know very well she would tell me. She is, no doubt, filling in her cronies with all the details. And I'll find out through someone at some point in time."

Yes, I did know that. And I would much rather he heard it from me then her, or anyone else. "Okay, I concede defeat, Edward. You've trapped me. She… um… she wanted to know about our… 'relationship', if you will."

"Go on. What did you tell her?"

"That we really met for the first time in the Nurse's office. And that we went to Port Angeles together last week. I skipped on the details. And I didn't tell her about going to the hospital either." I took a swing of my orange juice.

He still wanted to know more. "Was that all?"

"No," I admitted. "She wanted to know if I thought you had feelings for me and… if I had feelings for you."

"And?" I think he was trying to embarrass me on purpose at this point. But he did seem genuinely curious about my answer. I tried not to process that.

I whispered my reply. "I told her I didn't know how you felt about me, but that I did like you. Happy now?"

He paused. "Actually, I am."

"Well…" I took a deep breath, gathering my nerves, "I think I deserve to know your answer. What would you have told Jessica if she asked about your feelings for me?"

"I don't think you'll like my answer."

"Oh." I stared down to my lunch, no longer hungry.

"Wait, Bella," Edward took my hands into his. "Don't misunderstand. That is not to say that I don't like you. But what I mean is my answer would have been yes, but also that I couldn't date you. I do like you, don't think anything otherwise."

I was human enough to ask. "Why?"

"I wish I could tell you, Bella. I really do."

A flash of anger. "That's hardly fair, Edward. I've been completely honest with you. You've wormed most, if not all, of my secrets out of me. It would only be polite to trust me with a secret of your own." I pushed my chair out and stood.

Edward was standing the next minute as well. "Bella, please-"

"Edward!"

It wasn't me who had said his name. We both looked towards the source of the voice. It was Edward's sister, Alice. Her face was even paler the usual under her dark hair. Her slight body, eerily graceful, was running over to where we stood. She stopped right in front of us. Her eyes wide. Scared.

"Edward! We need to get Bella to the hospital. Now!"

Edward seemed shocked. "What do you mean?" He asked in a rush.

But I never got to find out her answer. At that second, Mrs. Cope came into the cafeteria. Her face was red and blotchy as she stumbled to a stop next to me. "Isabella. I need you to come to the hospital with me right away. T-there's been an accident!"

My whole world froze. "An accident? What-"

Tears were streaming down her face as she uttered the one word that would change my life.

"Charlie."


A/n: Review! O