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Jess
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Previously:
He was back already. My eyes snapped open and I sat up. I wonder where he hid.
___________________________________________________________________________
"Where'd you hide?" I eyed, suspiciously.
"Um, in your, uh... closet."
I giggled at the thought of having a vampire hiding in my closet.
"What's so funny?"
"Oh, it's just I'd never thought I would have a vampire hiding in my closet."
His crooked smile reappeared and I couldn't help but smile back.
"By the way, you really don't know how to snore, do you?"
I laughed and shook my head.
This new 'outgoing' Edward seemed so much more fun to be around. Okay, so he wasn't really outgoing, and he was still a bit shy, but it was much better than when he wouldn't talk to me at all.
"Do you really not care who I am? You still aren't afraid of me?" he asked as he went and sat in the rocking chair in the corner if my room.
"No," I replied with a firm voice.
A memory came flowing back into my mind. The hikers. The ones that were attacked. Why had Edward and Alice been so eager for me to leave the last time? Something was definitely going on.
"Wait a minute... I just remembered something," I whispered.
He raised an eyebrow and came to sit at the foot of my bed.
"The hikers. They weren't attacked by animals, were they...?" I gasped.
Edward closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. He slowly shook his head and opened his eyes to watch for my expression.
I took a deep breath in. I started to hyperventilate.
"Bella? Are you okay? Please don't scream or do anything drastic."
I shook my head and tried to calm myself down.
"So... there are other vampires. How many?"
"Here in Forks, we only know of our family. But there are many more around the world."
"Oh. So, who's attacking the hikers?"
"We don't know. I didn't want you to be too close to the forest last time."
"Why?"
"Well, because... um, your blood is quite mouth-watering."
I gasped. I looked at him in horror and then confusion.
"What do you mean? Is my blood appealing to all vampires?"
"Well, technically, no. You know how everybody has their own taste in things? Well, different vampires have different likings for human blood. But my family does consider you a part of the top ten most appealing."
"Wait... you have a list?" I flinched.
"This is why I was acting funny on your first day. I had to avoid you as much as possible. If I had given into temptation, my entire family would be devastated. I had to think of all the people it would affect. Especially, me. I didn't want to become the monster I'd tried so hard not to be."
"I'm so sorry. I should've just given you your space. Sorry for being so nasty."
"No, it's okay. I'm sorry for almost killing you. But it's good because now you know who I am and you know that I wasn't purposely trying to upset you."
"I'm glad I know the reason why you didn't want to talk to me. But, I guess, I'm supposed to stay away from you now."
"Yes. That is the smartest option."
"But, I honestly don't give a damn whether you're a vampire or not. I still want to know who you are. I really don't think I can stay away."
"Bella, please don't say that. You must care that I am a vampire. There will be consequences in knowing my secret."
"I'm willing to take those chances."
"Bella, you're making this so much more difficult for me. But, I honestly don't think I can stay away anymore, either. I've tried so hard but I guess I'm not strong enough to stay away."
I grinned at him and he smiled crookedly back.
Edward said he was going to leave after I had fallen asleep. I guessed that he was hoping for more sleep-talking.
When I woke up, he was gone. I was looking forward to seeing him again.
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I drove to school, fidgeting the whole way. What was wrong with me...? Oh, no. Did have a crush on Edward Cullen? No, no. I couldn't think of that. Only friends, only friends, nothing more.
I arrived and there was an available spot next to a silver Volvo. It was the closest spot to the cafeteria. Might as well take it.
As I climbed out, Edward was leaning against the hood of his car wearing black Ray Bans when it wasn't sunny.
I wasn't sure if he was waiting for me so I decided to just keep walking. Before I was able to turn around to look at him, he was right next to me.
"Um, hi, Edward."
He smiled crookedly and kept his pace.
"So, uh, when did you leave last night?"
"About 4 in the morning."
"What?! That means you only got a few hours sleep. You shouldn't have stayed so late."
"Bella. I don't sleep."
"Uh, what do you mean? Do you have like a disorder?"
"No. We don't sleep at all, Bella. Ever."
I mouthed Oh.
"Bella!" Jessica yelled from behind us. I immediately turned my head.
"Hey, Jess," I smiled.
"Hi..." she paused as she saw who was standing next to me. Edward grinned and nodded towards Jess.
"Uh, I'll see you in Trig..." she stammered as she waved and walked off.
Biology was the first class today, so Edward and I walked together and talked about not being able to sleep.
"I like your Ray Bans," I complimented him. He smiled crookedly and took them off as we reached our Biology lab.
I sat down and he sat down next to me. He took his glasses off and put them in my hand.
"What's this? No, you can't give me these. They're yours."
"Don't worry. I have plenty more where that came from."
"Thanks," I said as I put them in my backpack and then looked up at him to smile. I hadn't noticed before, but his eyes were coal black. And, there were light purple bruise-like circles under his eyes. "Your... eyes. Why do they change colour?"
"I... um... It's nothing." He closed his eyes and turned his head to look out the window.
Mr. Crenzer hadn't arrived yet.
"Bella!" Mike yelled. I flinched.
"Oh, um, hey, Mike."
"So, are you sure you don't want to go to the dance with me?"
"Sorry, I'm not going to the dance, remember? And, I can't really dance."
"So, you're not going because you can't dance?"
I swore, in the corner of my eye, I could see a smile spread across Edward's face.
"Um, I'm also going to... uh, Port Angeles. Yeah, sorry."
Mike nodded and went back to his desk.
I could hear Edward trying to muffle his laughter. I looked at him and raised my eyebrow.
Someone tapped my shoulder. I turned my head and Tyler was standing there, smiling like an idiot.
"Er, hi, Tyler..."
"Hey, Bella."
"Why are you whispering?"
"Oh, um, I don't want Mike to hear. I was just wondering... Um, did you want to go to the dance with me?"
"Oh, um, I'm not going to the dance."
"Oh, really? Oh."
"Yeah, I already told Mike."
"Yeah, he said so. I thought you were just being nice."
"Sorry."
Tyler smiled sheepishly and then turned around to walk back to his table.
Edward continued with his muffled laughter until he randomly let out a guffaw.
"That wasn't funny," I scolded. I said the words one by one to put more effect into it.
He stopped laughing but had a big grin on his face. I raised my eyebrow and pursed my lips until his smile faded.
An unfamiliar looking woman walked into the classroom. She was in her late 20s or early 30s. Her blonde hair was wavy and it flowed down to her waist. Her blue eyes stood out against her black shirt. She was tall and slender. Her face was pretty and smooth.
"Good morning, students. My name is Miss Salson. Mr Crenzer is sick today, so I'm going to be filling in for him," she introduced as she put her books and bag on the front desk. "I don't teach Biology, though. I'm a History teacher."
Miss Salson let us talk for the whole lesson because Mr Crenzer hadn't had time to make up a lesson plan.
I tied my hair up into a messy ponytail when I saw Edward grip onto the table so hard, his knuckles went white.
"Are you okay?" I asked as I slowly put my hand into my lap. He nodded, a vein in his forehead sticking out. He didn't look like he was breathing.
A few seconds later, his jaw unclenched and his breathing became even. He didn't loosen his grip on the table though.
Miss Salson was walking around the classroom talking to some of the students.
Mike looked like he was trying desperately to flirt with her. Poor Jessica.
I felt bored so I took the Ray Bans out of my bag and poked Edward's shoulder. He looked up at me, puzzled. I put the glasses on and stuck my tongue out to the side. He chuckled. I smiled in return.
I saw his hand reach out to take the glasses off my face. He put them down on the table and stared into my eyes. I lost my train of thought and stopped breathing. My heart jumped frantically.
Before I could collapse, Miss Salson came to our table. My eyes darted straight to her. I smiled politely. I didn't think Edward looked away from my face because his head didn't move the slightest bit.
"Hello. What are your names?" she asked.
"Edward Cullen," he said as he reached his hand out to shake hers, still not looking away from me. She shook his with a confused expression on her face. She looked over to me, then to him, and then back to me. Then, she searched my face to see what he was staring at. I was beginning to feel self-conscious.
"Um, I'm Bella Swan," I smiled sheepishly.
"Nice to meet you two. So, what do you guys like about Biology?" she asked, trying to make small talk.
"Uh, I guess studying living things. You know, finding out how they function," I explained. She nodded and turned to Edward. I turned to look at him too. I just saw him snap out of his reverie and straighten up.
He turned to look at Miss Salson and said, "Yes, I'd have to agree with Bella."
Miss Salson nodded and a large smile spread across her face. "Oh, are you Edward Cullen, as in Dr Carlisle Cullen's son?"
Edward nodded and then turned back to me. His expression was blank as I raised my eyebrows and had the 'what are you doing?' expression written all over my face.
"You don't look like him," she added. Edward shrugged but kept his eyes on me. I had a feeling that Miss Salson was now trying to flirt with him. "So, do you want to be a doctor too?"
Edward stopped looking at me for a moment and turned back to her. "Not really. I have my own interests."
"Oh, so what are you planning to be?"
"I'm not one hundred percent sure yet."
He turned back to me and Miss Salson glanced at me once more and gave up on flirting. She nodded and walked to the table behind us.
"What was that?" I asked.
"Hmm?" he mumbled as though I'd pulled him out of his train of thought.
"Never mind," I muttered as I shook my head.
A crooked smile suddenly spread across Edward's face. He was staring ahead though.
"What?" I eyed suspiciously.
"Jessica is going to ambush you with questions in Trigonometry."
"Why?"
"She's suspicious."
"Of what?"
"Us."
"Oh."
After Biology, I had Trig with Jess. I wasn't looking forward to the questions but I couldn't avoid her forever.
I walked in to see her bopping up and down in her seat. "Bella!" she squealed as soon as she saw me.
