Author's Note: Hi, guys! Um, yeah, so I know I said that I updated a new story, Golden Lifestyle. But the truth is, I hadn't had time to post it up when I posted Chapter 9. So…I will post it up today, right after I update Chapter 10 for you fans out there. I hope you check it out! Thanks!

And thank you those of you who are so enthusiastic about this story! I'm motivated to update more frequently because you know I live for those kinds of responses, right? :) Alright, on with the story! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.

Chapter 10

This was ridiculous. This was driving me crazy. I'd never felt so much eyes on me before. I had never been the center of attention, except when people were bullying me. This had to be the worst day of my entire high school career, including my experiences with Tanya.

I hated the fact that every student who passed me in the hallway whispered behind my back. I hated that they were talking about me dancing. I hated being the topic of the school.

It appeared as though the rumor had reached the faculty as well. If a teacher spotted me, he or she would immediately grin at me, looking relieved that they had found something I was into other than studying.

Still, why couldn't they just leave me alone? This was all because of Edward Cullen. Why did he want to talk to me so badly?

I had no idea how he knew my schedule, but after every period, Edward had been waiting outside for me and trying to talk to me.

Whatever. I wasn't interested in what he had to say, frankly.

Why was today so long? And it was only Monday. I probably had to deal with this the whole week. I just wished that today was over so I didn't have to keep avoiding everyone.

Finally, it was lunch hour. The bell chimed and immediately, the students in front of me turned in their seat to look at me like they've been doing all day. I bit my lip and pulled my hood up.

Quickly rising, I hastily packed my stuff and picked up my textbook. I shouldered my bag and escaped the eyes that were threatening to make me explode.

Once outside, I looked around quickly. Barely anyone was outside yet. Edward Cullen was nowhere to be seen.

Breathing a sigh of relief, I headed towards the library. I had a lot of studying to do for finals. This was the beginning of torture. But it was the last month of the year, and I was determined to do well, starting with finals.

Within seconds, I was at the door of the library. At this point, people were pouring out into the hallways and were staring at me. I tried to ignore them as best as I could, then slipped into the quiet library.

Several students who were nerds, like me, were already there, studying furiously for finals. I barely knew them, yet they were very close to me in a way. They didn't belong here either. Sure, they had a couple friends, unlike me, but they also didn't know how to do anything else except to study.

I passed by the librarian's desk. The librarian was a kind old man, with white hair and glasses. He had always been considerate and understanding from my freshman year.

"Hello, Bella," he greeted me, looking up from his thick book of the autobiography of Steve Jobs. He was starting on a new book today, I noticed. Yesterday, he'd been on the last book of the Harry Potter series, which I had seen him reading a hundred times. Though he just started today, he was a fast reader like I was, and was already in the middle of the book.

"Hello," I said in my usual, quiet tone. I paused instead of heading straightaway to my corner study desk. "Is that book any good?"

He looked surprised. I'd never stopped to talk before. Usually, it was he who asked me the questions, and it was I who answered shortly.

"Why, yes," he said in his husky, frail voice. Then, he grinned. "Wonderful book. Mr. Jobs sure had an interesting life. You should read it, too, Bella. Wonderful advice and experience if you want to go into science and technology."

I gave him a tiny smile. "Maybe I'll give it a try. I've been reading classics for too long."

The elderly man chuckled.

"So," he said, setting the heavy book on his desk. "What's this I hear about you being a great, talented dancer?"

"Great," I muttered under my breath. "Has it already reached the library?"

"Well," he drawled. "It is lunch time. Plenty of time has passed for it to reach me. In fact, it was a teacher who told me. Ms. Gena, your dance instructor. She seemed thrilled, actually. She was babbling on and on about how she'd always known about your talent…" He winked, showing off his crooked, white teeth.

"Really?" I asked. I sighed quietly. Ms. Gena was going to give me a hard time during sixth period.

He smiled sympathetically. "I also heard that Mr. Cullen was following you around. Why?"

"I don't know. I don't want to know, actually."

"Well, you'll never know if you don't let him talk to ya," he said, chuckling.

My face darkened. I left the man to go study. He went back to his book, shaking his head and mumbling something about "teenagers these days."

I took out my Calculus book and quickly became interested in solving a problem. I didn't notice someone coming over and sitting next to me.

I absently ran my fingers through my hair, exasperated with number 27. What did I do wrong?

"You forgot to distribute."

I jumped slightly, startled. There was a girl I recognized that was sitting next to me.

I stared at her, trying to remember her name.

She was smiling at me tentatively. She had shoulder-length brown hair and was wearing glasses. She was in some of my classes, I knew. She was one of the kinder and quiet students at this school who had never laughed at my clumsiness.

It was Angela Weber.

"Hi," Angela said, looking nervous.

I stared at her, not understanding why she would give up her lunch hour to come talk to me.

"I'm not sure if you know me…" Angela said hesitantly. "I'm in some of your classes, but…"

I nodded. "Angela."

She smiled. "Yeah."

I looked back down at my work. She was right. I had forgotten to distribute. I leaned down to correct it.

She was quiet. She hadn't said a word and was just staring at me solve the problem with awe.

She continued to stare at my work after I was done.

I frowned slightly. "Um…"

She started.

"Oh, sorry," Angela apologized. "It's just…I'd never seen it be solved that way before. It was different…and I was trying to understand it…how come you don't solve it the way the teacher told us to? It's much easier."

I smiled slightly, looking down. "Wrong," I said quietly. "My way is easier."

I looked up again, and Angela looked confused.

"I don't get it," she admitted. "Why would you do it backwards? Wouldn't you just go back to the original problem?"

"No."

"Can you teach me?"

I raised my eyebrows. "Really? You want to learn from me?"

"Sure," Angela answered, grinning. "You're the smartest in the whole school."

I pursed my lips. "Math is not my best subject," I said flatly.

"But you're just so good!" Angela said, looking surprised.

"I just work hard. I don't have a math brain."

"Still, can you teach me?"

I looked at her, confused. "Why?"

She looked confused too. "'Cause I wanna know?"

"No, I mean," I said, taking a deep breath. "Why are you talking to me?"

"Oh," Angela said, confusion clearing from her eyes.

"No one talks to me," I said flatly.

"People want to, Bella," Angela said gently. "But they're afraid. Because you're so much smarter and prettier than they are."

I laughed bitterly. "I doubt that. They don't like me 'cause I'm different."

"Different isn't necessarily bad," Angela disagreed. "I think it's nice sometimes. I never knew you came here during lunch. I used to look for you at the cafeteria."

I didn't reply. I wasn't suspicious. Angela wasn't the type of person who used people just because they were getting a lot of attention. I just wasn't used to people talking to me at school.

"So…" Angela said. "About that method… Are you really not going to teach me?"

I smiled slightly. "It's not hard. Figure it out yourself."

"Come on, Bella. I'm not as smart as you."

"It's common sense."

She frowned, but looked back at the problem. After a few seconds, her face smoothed out and she looked like she got it.

"I think I get it," Angela said. "You're right, it is common sense. But does this work for every problem?"

"Yes."

"Wow," she said, looking at me, impressed. "Genius. Thanks, Bella."

I smiled slightly in response. The bell rang suddenly.

"Oh, Biology," Angela groaned. She brightened. "Want to walk to class together, Bella?"

"Sure," I said, shrugging after a moment.

We were walking along the hallway when Angela looked at me warily.

"Is it true, Bella?" she asked tentatively.

"What?" I said, my voice going flat. I knew exactly what.

"About the rumor," Angela clarified. "I mean, I'd heard that you were good at dancing but I didn't know you were that good."

"I'm not."

She didn't believe me.

"I saw Edward Cullen bothering you a lot," Angela went on. "Even though you might find it annoying, try not to be so...annoyed. He spread that rumor for a reason. He's not a bad guy, you know. He's the nicest of all jocks."

I didn't reply.

She sighed as we entered the Biology classroom. After giving me a warm smile, she went to go sit by her boyfriend, Ben Cheney.

I glanced at my table and saw Edward Cullen already sitting next to my seat, staring at me.

My face immediately hardened as I went to go sit by him.

"Bella," Edward began as soon as I had sit down.

I didn't reply as I started taking out my things.

"I'm really sorry," Edward said pleadingly. "I had no choice. Look, I know that you don't like to be the center of attention. But I had to do it 'cause I had to talk to you."

I glared at him, then made my hair a curtain again.

He sighed exasperatedly. "I just wanted to tell you how amazed I was. You were totally a different person. But that's not a bad meaning. I thought it was nice to see you in a different way. You have so much talent, you know, Bella."

I didn't reply.

"I get why you're mad at me," Edward continued smoothly. "I know that you never wanted anyone to see that side of you. And you're angry with me for seeing you. And you're angry because I spread the rumors. I get it. But you should have still listened to me. I wanted to help you.

"You always looked so…scared and unconfident when you danced. If I had known there was another side of you, I would've helped you overcome your fear way before this. I want to help you, Bella. I'm not going to tease you or bully you like those other kids. I'm not them."

I sighed, annoyed. He thought he could help me? He couldn't help me with my unconfident personality.

"Let me help you," Edward said. "I could teach you if you want. How to overcome, like, stage fright, dancing with others, that sort of thing. I mean, I don't mean to offend you, of course. But I do want to help."

I pursed my lips. "No, thank you."

He looked surprised at my voice.

"You're talking to me again?" Edward asked hopefully.

"No," I said curtly. He chuckled.

"Think about it, Bella," he pleaded. "I would really like to get to know you better."

"You shouldn't," I said flatly. "You'll ruin your reputation here."

He rolled his eyes. "Have I ever cared about stuff like that? I'm not Tanya or Mike. I never wanted to be popular."

"Still," I said. "You don't want to get on Tanya's bad side. She'll just take her anger out on me. So if you want to help me, leave me alone." My voice became stiff and flat towards the end."

Edward opened his mouth to retort when Mr. Banners walked into the room.

Some people were still turned around, staring at me. I shifted uncomfortably in my seat.

"Turn around," Edward hissed at them. They turned to face the front immediately.

"Sorry about that," he apologized. And he went back to not talking to me. Which was fine by me. I just hoped that I could stay out of his way during dance.

AN: So, did you like it? Now, go check out my new story, Golden Lifestyle! Thanks!