A/N: Yes, I've updated! I want to thank everyone who has reviewed, I really do appreciate them. And to Casamora, don't worry, I know I'm not a whack job, and I don't think you are either. Anyway, about the previous chapters, only Alice knows about Bella being Yasmin. I mean, she did try to hide the article in her closet, right?

Well, I think I've rambled for a long time now, so I give you...Chapter Nine:

Disclaimer: Do I really need to do this? Me no owny Twilight...nor HM... Oh, and Happy Valentine's Day (soon)!!

Bella Montana - Chapter Nine

The rest of the morning passed wearyingly. Everyone seemed to have heard of the argument between Alice and Cullen. If this was the diversion from the rumors last week, well, it sure worked. But somehow, I knew that this wasn't it. This argument sounded too real to be a ploy. I just worried about Alice and Edward's brother/sister relationship 'coz I wouldn't want to break them apart.

I sat next to Angela and the rest for lunch. She had smiled widely in greeting and it made my mood rise a little bit. The remainder of lunch was a boring affair, seeing as I didn't want to talk much and all the rest wanted to talk about was The Argument, (capital letters and all).

The bell rang to signal the end of lunch and the ten minute break needed to get to class. As slowly as possible, I trudged over to Biology class. I didn't feel like talking to Edward right now, seeing as he just insulted me. But somehow, deep inside of me, I didn't want to be angry with him. I knew that it wasn't really his fault, it's not like he could read my thoughts and figure out that I'm Yasmin Stone and he just insulted me in front of my face.

Sighing, I settled on my seat, not acknowledging Cullen at all. He said 'hi' at me and I didn't respond. I know I'm evil for doing that. I feel guilty and lost. Why? I don't know. It's not like I haven't ignored anyone before. I do that with my dad when I'm angry at him, but we're close, we both know that we can't avoid each other forever. With Edward, well, we're not as close...not as close as I would want.

My heart skipped a beat. Not as close as I would want? Where the heck did that come from? I racked my brain for some kind of explanation but came out blank. Blank, except for one thing. I don't think I like Edward anymore. I think I might be falling for him...as in...falling in love.

"Oh my," I whispered. I saw in my peripheral vision that Edward was looking at me concernedly. I flushed. Did he just hear me?

But of course, my thoughts can't be true. I hate Cullen, he just insulted me. I shook my head in denial and focused back on the class. Mr. Banner started handing out the worksheets and as soon as I had mine, I picked up a pencil and started filling it in. I was having a hard time answering the questions. I really needed to sing it out loud. So, as quietly as possible, I sang, my pencil tapping along with the beat.

"Everybody knows the bones
Just had to find a way
Everybody knows what I'm talking 'bout
That's how I'll get an A"

"My body's many parts
And this is where it starts
Phalanges I have ten

And metatarsals then..."

Yes, I got it. Metatarsals were after the phalanges! I hurriedly circled the right answer and moved on to the next one. But as I was singing the next part of the song, Mr. Banner was by my side. How did he get there? I guess I was concentrating too hard on my song...

"Ah, Ms. Swan. What are you whispering to Cullen? Cheating are you? Oh yes you are cheating. Hmm, I guess this deserves an F for the test," he said. What? How could he? I wasn't even cheating! I spluttered, trying to get some words in but he deemed it fit to ignore me.

I couldn't believe it! I'm getting an F! The London concert!

"Why I ought to -"I muttered, bunching my fists and thinning my eyes. I could just go up to him and strangle him for doing that. It's just so unfair! Oh, if only I could tell some magazine about him and his horrendous ways and get his image screwed. But of course, to do that, I will have to reveal my secret...and Mr. Banner doesn't have an image to speak of. Huh, I'm toast. But still, I wanna kill him.

"Ought to what, Isabella?"

"It's Bella, sir," I stood up, gathered my things and prepared to walk out.

"Isabella Swan, if you walk out of here, you are going to get a failing grade in this class!" he shouted. That stopped me in my tracks. I couldn't afford a failing grade. My dad will be so disappointed in me. I turned around reluctantly and accidentally made eye contact with Cullen. He was staring at me wide eyed. I looked around the classroom and saw that everyone was staring too.

Oh boy, I just got myself into deeper trouble.

"Isabella, get back to your seat," ordered Mr. Banner. He was using this 'you better listen to me' tone of voice, and frankly, it sucked. I didn't feel like listening to him. I felt like putting him in his place.

"It's Bella," was all I said, my voice so deep and loud. I stayed rooted on my spot, stubbornly glaring at him.

"Well then Bella," he sneered. Something in his tone of voice somehow made Edward growl, and to be honest with myself, I liked it. It's like he was protecting me. 'Whoa there Bella, aren't you supposed to hate the boy?' my brain asked, 'And why growling?' I ignored it this time and cocked an eyebrow at Mr. Banner. "Well what?" I wanted to ask but that might be pushing things too far. "Tell me why you were cheating and I'll forget that this ever happened."

I scoffed, yeah right. Never in a million years will he ever forget this, and neither will everyone else. This will go down in history: Bella Swan putting the mean old science teacher in place. In the corner of my eyes, I saw Edward's eyes change color into a darker shade. How weird. I've never heard of anything that can change one's eye color.

Storing that little tidbit for later, I walked over to Mr. Banner and said ever so quietly, "I wasn't cheating. I've never cheated on anything in my life and I don't plan to start now." I turned around, hoping that my hair will hit him in the face.

"You were cheating Isabella, I saw you whispering something to Cullen. Wasn't she, Edward?" he looked at him and he looked back blankly at him. He feigned a confused look on his face. It was so fake that some students near him began to snigger.

"Excuse me sir? I didn't catch that; I was too busy answering my test."

"Swan was cheating Cullen and you heard her, admit it! You were staring at her, I know you were. We teachers can see everything." I blushed when he said that Edward was staring at me. That was so untrue.

"I'm sorry but I don't perform such types of behavior." See? Even he agrees with me. He was so not staring at me... my heart ached at that thought. "I was raised to be a proper gentleman and I can honestly say that Bella Swan was not cheating." Wait, this was confusing. Was he talking about the staring or the cheating? Nevertheless, I smiled a small smile at him and he smiled back. I guess I'm not angry at him anymore. The rest of the class looked affronted at his announcement. It's not everyday that a Cullen would help someone out.

"If she wasn't cheating, what was she saying then? I saw her lips moving earlier on."

Jessica. I'd recognize that nasally voice anywhere. I twisted my head to scowl at her but her expression stopped me. She was truly curious... I guess I can't find a fault in natural curiosity. Everyone looked expectantly at me, even Edward, but he was smirking. Traitor! I screamed in my head.

"Erm, aren't we supposed to be taking a test?" I tried, losing my intimidating manner and putting on a cheeky one. Some students laughed but they still looked eagerly at me. Oh for the love of all things good! "Fine, I was..." you could practically hear everyone move closer, "...singing." I muttered.

"You were what?" asked Mike. I glared at him, making him look away immediately. That's right, Mike, look away.

"I was singing," I said louder.

"What were you singing?" a random student asked.

"A song," I answered, irritated. I toned my volume down and added, "Duh!"

"Sing it!"

"Huh?"

"Sing, sing, sing!" they all chanted. Heck, even Angela was chanting. She is my friend...no longer. I sighed. Okay, that's a little bit overdramatic. I sighed again and raised my head. I made eyes contact with everyone and noticed the anticipation. Either they wanted me to make a fool of myself or they just wanted an excuse to stop the tests. I dropped my shoulders and nodded my head.

Walking over to the front of the room, I noticed that Mr. Banner had mysteriously disappeared. Hah, probably scared him away, that good for nothing teacher shouldn't be allowed to teach children.

I turned, faced all the eager faces, and started singing.

"Everybody knows the bones
Just had to find a way
Everybody knows what I'm talking 'bout
That's how I'll get an A"

I peeked under my arms, I was dancing too so I did an A shape with my hands. I was met with cheers and claps, a few whistles here and there and lots of big smiles, encouraging me. I nodded gratefully at Angela who was cheering me on, quite loudly in fact.

"My body's many parts
And this is where it starts
Phalanges I have ten
And metatarsals then
I got some tarsals too
I'll put them in my shoe"

I pointed at various parts of my body as I passed them in my song. Unknowingly, my voice started changing back to its normal tone and I was singing like Yasmin again. I was too wrapped up in the song that I didn't notice a flash of puzzlement on two faces among the rest. Edward and Angela were looking confused.

"The fibula is next
According to my text
Then comes the tibia
That ain't no fibia

"And now I'm up to my knee
Yeah, yeah, yeah
That's the patellae to me

"I'm doing the bone dance
I study the answers
Again and again to get it right
I'm doing the bone dance
I dance and I learn it
And I won't me-ess up this test
I'll get it perfect!"

Yes, I'm done. My breath was heavy and the slight adrenaline rush did not help in calming my heart down. "Thanks everyone," I said in my deep voice, earning me two bewildered glances from Angela and Edward again. Me, being too excited, just ignored it and kept on repeating my thanks. The bell rang, signaling for the next period and I hurried to grab my bag and rushed out with everyone else, feeling like I'm on cloud nine.

By the end of the day, word has gotten round that I can sing. Oh boy, this will surely reach Charlie's ears and...and - oh man, I'm dead meat. I impatiently kicked my bike, hoping that it will unlock by itself. Wait a minute, my bike? How did it get here? I didn't remember bringing it with us on Alice's Porsche. I glanced at the direction of the Cullens; they were all talking amongst themselves. Hmm, I must've forgotten.

I resumed my internal complaints. It's not like they've never heard of someone singing before. I'm sure lots of people can sing around here, as sure as my name is Bella. I pedaled across the parking lot, not noticing the van coming from my left since I was looking down. I did not hear the shouts of my name either seeing as I was too deep into my thoughts.

It all happened so fast. I know, it's a cliché thing to say, but it's true. The first thing I noticed was the van inches from my face. I closed my eyes preparing for the impact but something hard and cold smacked me from a totally different direction. It twisted in the air so that when we landed, I was on top of it. My eyes were still closed so I did not know who my savior was. All I can hear right now was his heavenly voice above the distant cries of my name.

Hmm, I'd recognize that voice anywhere.

"Edward?" I asked from on top of him. My mind went blank before launching into rapid words, like a cannon firing. 'Oh my gosh, I'm on top of Edward Cullen! How did I get here? The van -' I looked at the van and saw that one of its wheels were on my bike. My precious bike. I liked that bike.

"Bella, are you alright?" he asked and I focused back on him. How did he get here so fast? He was over there by Alice and Jasper and Emmet and Rosalie. Was he some kind of Flash superhero? I looked at him quizzically, wanting him to answer my questions but they were all going too fast to voice. So I just settled with something that sounded normal. I was just about to be squished by a van after all.

"I'm fine," I said. Really, I was. I'd take on being squished by a vehicle anytime so that I could feel him under me, his tense muscles and his...extremely cold arms? Okay, that's another odd thing about him. And Alice too, from this morning...

I focused back on Edward. He must've taken my confused expression as some sign of concussion. Really, I'm fine.

"Are you sure?" He started getting up so I got off of him quickly. That was a bad idea. My head swam with dizziness.

"Oh, I think I've got a headache," I said, leaning on him for support.

"Then you're not fine, Bella. Alice just called the police." Alice? How did he know that? She's like meters away from us! And I don't want the police - I just want some hot cocoa and a short lie down. Eesh, he's taking this way out of proportion.

"Why did you call the police for? My dad," I spluttered.

"They're needed. Someone just attempted to murder you Bella. Mr. Banner was driving that van."

I stiffened. Did I just hear anger in his voice...?

...Nah, I was just imagining it.

"Well...that's something to think about," I said slowly. I smiled, "Mr. Banner drives a van?" that sounded ridiculous. By the way he was acting earlier on, it sounded like he owned something more, not just a van. I sniggered.

"Bella, this is no laughing matter!" Oops, he's clearly angry now.

"I'm sorry," I looked down, flushing slightly. "It's just that -"I didn't get to finish my sentence as a police cruiser entered the parking lot. Uh-oh, my dad's here. He stepped out of the driver's seat, his gun out and a serious look on his face. I ran over to him and forced him to lower the gun, students were ducking. "Dad, put the gun down."

"But Bells, a guy was just about to kill you!" Worry was etched on his face.

"I'm alive aren't I?" I retorted.

"Isabella Marie Swan, you were inches away from death... I can't lose you. Not after your mother..." a lone tear slipped from the corner of his eyes. I lowered my head, why did I have to say what I said? 'Stupid, stupid, stupid...' Tears pooled in my eyes as I thought of my mother. I miss her so much...

"I'm sorry, Dad." I felt a strong hand on my shoulder. I knew it was Edward without looking up. I embraced him without thought. I wanted a shoulder to cry on and he was the closest thing. In the background, I hear Dad arresting Mr. Banner. What did I do to him? I just talked back at him; I think that just deserves detention...right?

"Sshh, it's alright. You're alive and that's all that matters," Edward whispered, his sweet breath making my legs go weak. I took a couple of minutes before looking up, the parking lot's empty except for us. How long have I been crying?

"Edward," I called for him. I needed this sorted out, "how did you get to me so fast? I swear you were meters away with your family."

"Bella," he said, "I was standing right next to you. I even helped you unlock your bike."

Huh, that's not true. I unlocked my bike myself, I remember it clearly. I was angry at myself for somehow slipping my disguise and so I kicked my bike, and then unlocked it. I then pedaled across the parking lot and then, whoosh! I was on the ground.

"No," I said, power in my deep fake voice, "you were over there," I pointed where Alice's Porsche used to be, "and I was over there," I moved my hand to point at the bike racks, "so unless you are like Flash's long lost brother or something..." I looked away from where I was pointing and let my hand drop. I titled my head to see his face. He was worried and frustrated. Was I frustrating him? What is he worried about?

"Bella er," he stepped away from me, letting the warm air surround the space between us. I suddenly craved for his cold touch and I shivered at the longing, "you hit your head and just had a crying breakdown, you're clearly confused.

How could he say that? I did not hit my head, his body took the entire hit; he should be the delusional one, not me. And I did not have a crying breakdown. I just missed my mom...

"I know what I saw," I pressed. I sent all my feelings to be expressed on my eyes, all the confusion and the hurt. He's lying to me, I know he is.

"And what exactly was that?" he asked me, a masked demeanor taking over the Edward I knew.

"I dunno...I was too wrapped up in my own thoughts. But I do know this: you somehow ran over to me and pushed me out of the way," my arms were flailing around trying to convey what I'm saying. I guess it never got to him because his eyes changed into a darker hue, and this isn't the first time.

"Well, no one's gonna believe you..." he shook his head for effect. There's this trapped look on his face, the kind that you see on bear in a bear catch. My hands dropped to my sides again. I wasn't that kind of person, spreading rumors and such. I was on the receiving end of one and I know he was too so I doubt that he wanted to be again.

"I wasn't going to tell anyone," I whispered, "I just want to know the truth. You are hiding something, Edward."

"Why don't you just thank me and get over it?"

I didn't bother to say anything back. I know it was rude of me to do so, but this was just too overwhelming. I grabbed the remains of my bike and began hauling it out of the parking lot. For a crushed bike, it sure was heavy.

"You're not going to let this go, aren't you," he asked, but I knew he wasn't asking me. It was statement of sorts. I wanted to shout, 'Yeah, I sure am not backing down!' but I didn't want to waste my energy. As I passed him, he said, "Well, I hope you enjoy disappointment." I just kept on walking my head held high in defiance, the dizziness long gone, replaced by the enigma that is Edward.

When I reached the curb, I paused. I wanted to look back at him, to see his face once more, but I know I shouldn't. I can't. "Thank you for saving me, Edward..." I whispered. I know he wouldn't hear me so I just continued my way home. It was only a few yards away after all.

A/N: I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, I know I did. Just to clear some things up, Bella doesn't get whisked off to the hospital since Edward took most of the fall, Alice already owns the yellow Porsche because I just wanted her to have it. I also know that some of the information in the song 'Bone Dance' is wrong. But hey, I did not write it. Anyway, I'm working on the next chapter right now so there won't be a long wait. Please review!

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