CHAPTER 10

I entertained Alice and Jasper in my home for the rest of the weekend. Alice, true to her word, had an apartment secured and furnishings moved in by Monday. It really was impressive what not having to sleep and an unlimited cash supply was able to help accomplish when one was in a hurry.

Jasper complained about not having a Jacuzzi, but Alice was stubborn. She didn't want to buy a house for so short a stay. I didn't ask how long they would be around. I was willing to bet that Alice, herself, didn't even know yet. I knew they would stay in the area for as long as Alice thought I might need them. And I loved her for it. To show my appreciation, I promised Jasper that he could use any of the conveniences of my home whenever he liked, including the Jacuzzi—with advanced notice, of course.

I tried, unsuccessfully, to keep thoughts of Bella having a boyfriend out of my mind. But often, I found myself wondering what she was doing over the weekend, or who she was spending her time with. Then that surge of jealousy would over-take me again and I would have to combat it by reminding myself that I would see her on Tuesday evening. For those three hours in class, she would be with me. Not him. Concentrating on that made me feel somewhat better.

My internal countdown to the Ancient History course was making me feel pathetic. But I counted the minutes in my head, none the less. So when I finally entered class on Tuesday evening, saying that I was annoyed to find Bella and Katrina's typical seats empty would have been an understatement. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, trying to keep from throwing or hitting something in my sudden burst of irritation. And when that familiar burn pulled its way down the back of my throat, my eyes flew open to glance again.

The two girls were in the room. Instead of sitting in their usual seats, they were sitting a few rows back, closer to where I usually sat. I smiled when I saw the seat that was conspicuously left between them.

"Good evening," I said politely when I stepped up to them. I couldn't keep the pleasure from my voice, and I was rewarded by a smile and slightly dazed look from each of them. "Are you saving that seat for someone?"

"Sit," Katrina ordered. I didn't hesitate. Bella had turned her chin away while I got settled, and she seemed a little distracted. But I was too happy about sitting beside her to dwell on the possible reasons. I sat back in my seat, reveling in the unaccustomed closeness, and took another deliberate breath through my nose. This time I winced. Katrina was wearing a strong perfume. Bella's natural scent, however, tore through me with a burn that I had begun to appreciate. As long as I burned, she was near. It was worth the discomfort.

I also noticed, much to my surprise, that the burn was not accompanied by the typical pin-prick sensation at the back of my mouth that occurred when I produced venom. With my lips pressed closed, I ran my tongue across my teeth and wondered about this new development. Had my effort to desensitize myself really been such a success that my instinctive urges had become repressed? I smiled widely at the possibility. My mind was whirling with the new information, and I only half-registered that Bella's phone was signaling a call from the deep resources of her bag.

"Are you going to answer that?" I lifted an eyebrow in her direction. She looked at me, confused for a moment. I stared at the cute little line that settled between her eyes before she blinked twice and turned her face to look down at her bag. When she lowered her hand and retrieved her phone, I realized my error. It had been programmed to some sort of a silent setting. Its vibrations should have been unknown to me.

"How did you..?" she began as she flipped her phone open. Apparently, it was a text message. She didn't finish her question as she began to read the tiny screen. She scowled and flipped her phone closed with a deep sigh, before dropping it back into her bag. I was, of course, madly curious. But I busied myself with pulling out my notes from the last lecture.

"Wow!" Katrina angled her shoulders towards me and looked over my arm. "You have the nicest writing I have ever seen. For a guy." I shrugged. Bella barely even glanced. She still looked irritated by whatever it was that she read in her text message.

As Katrina predicted, the professor did introduce his project idea to the class. When he passed around a clipboard, I took immense satisfaction in the way that Bella wrote our three names to indicate group status. With a pleasure that nearly matched the first time she spoke my name out loud… I liked the way her pencil pushed the curves across the page when she wrote "Edward Cullen." Such a silly little thing- but seeing our names scribbled across the professor's paper side by side made me feel some tangible connection to her.

I was still dwelling on it while the professor talked about the project and I took notes. Bella's posture had relaxed, and she had taken to doodling in the margins of her paper. I wondered what she was thinking of. And I tried to stay out of Katrina's mind entirely. She still assumed that Alice and I were a couple. And while that helped to cool her interest in me, she conjured up mental images of Alice and I that frankly, grossed me out. Finally, with resignation, she had begun to consider speaking to a dark-haired man in the second row. And the mental images she was providing for that were too graphic for me as well. I didn't really want to imagine how endowed he might be. I wrinkled my nose and forced her thoughts away.

When the professor pointed out that we should have our Document-Search subjects chosen by Thursday evening, I stiffened in my seat. Bella's hand left her paper and had moved over my arm that was resting on my desk. Her forearm casually rested on top of mine as she lifted her pen to write on the margin of my paper.

Don't worry. We've already got this.

Heat sprang up from the slight contact between us, and I smiled at the souvenir she had made of my notes. She and Katrina already knew the subject that they wanted to search. I didn't have a preference one way or the other, as long as I was able to work with Bella. But I knew that I would have to at least feign interest. So I casually leaned towards Bella, to write on her paper.

What subject?

Bella's breath had hitched slightly at my sudden nearness, so I pulled back. Smart girl. She looked around… and it was my turn to hold my breath when she caught her bottom lip between her teeth. I felt warm again, and forced myself to avert my gaze. She simply reached over to write on my paper once more.

We'll tell you during break.

This time I had to suppress a groan when her arm brushed my chest as she pulled it back. I nodded my head to acknowledge the message, and released the breath I had been holding when she rested her arm on her own desk again.

When the professor dismissed us, I initially stayed seated to tuck my notes into my bag. Bella stood right away- stretched her arms over her head and yawned. This innocent action put the soft curves under her sweater almost directly at my eye-level, and inspired some not-so-innocent thoughts to pass through my head. I admit, I had previously spent quite a bit of time following her back-side with my eyes. But now I was completely distracted by guessing at the softness of her skin beneath that fuzzy blue sweater.

Again- I felt that unaccustomed rush of heat flash over me, and I closed my eyes to ward away the strange sensation. Deep breath. Burn. Deep breath. Burn.

When I opened my eyes again, it was to find Bella standing, frowning down at the screen on her cell phone.

"I'll meet you guys at the Coke machines," she muttered. "I have to return a call…" she was already moving down the aisle towards the door as she spoke.

"Edward? You go ahead," Katrina smiled. "I'll catch up in a minute." She was planning to go talk to the dark-haired guy that she had been watching during class. I nodded. Inwardly- I hoped she was successful in her attempts. It wasn't good for me to keep letting her believe that Alice was my girlfriend. She was too graphic with her mental images.

I walked alone to the student lounge and leaned one shoulder against the wall, waiting for Bella to arrive. When she entered the room, she looked faintly upset.

"Everything alright?" I asked. Of course, I was dying of curiosity. I hated not being able to read the source of her consternation.

"Everything's fine," she bit out. Obviously, she was not going to elaborate. So I just waited patiently, watching her force coins into the vending machine with barely suppressed agitation. Katrina flounced into the lounge area almost right away. Her flirting had been met with success.

"Bells? That cute guy in the second row? The one with the dark hair? His name is Brad! He totally asked me for my number!"

Ah! I had been replaced. The smile that stole across my face was genuine.

"Good luck with that." Bella sounded as glum as she looked. Katrina ignored her sullen mood

"Did you tell Edward about your project idea yet?"

My eyebrows shot up with interest. I could have kissed Katrina for instigating the conversation. Bella faced me again, and I had an excuse to let my eyes drink her in. She shook her head as she glanced around the room. We were nearly alone- the rest of the students had begun to make their way back to class. But in an effort to remain secretive, Bella raised her wrist and crooked her finger in my direction.

It was an invitation to step closer. I didn't have to be told twice. I moved to fill the gap between the two girls. I still couldn't believe my luck- being invited to work this closely with Bella. Right now, we were standing so closely that we were practically shoulder to shoulder. Her shiny hair almost touched my arm as she leaned in. The soft, fuzzy, v-neck sweater she wore drew my attention to where it lightly lied against her collar bones. And her scent… she smelled amazing.

My eyes reluctantly left her collar bones, only to devour the long column of her throat. She swallowed, and I watched that play of muscles under her delicate skin. My eyes travelled up her neck, to her pointy chin, and finally rested on her mouth.

I watched, mesmerized, as Bella parted her lips to speak. Her top teeth pressed lightly against her full bottom lip to form the word she whispered to me…

"Vampires."

And with that single word, someone ruthlessly drug the needle across the album of sweet violin music that had been playing in my mind like some sort of soundtrack to the moment. The silence slammed against me and I blinked rapidly.

Had I heard her correctly?

I searched her eyes, but found no hint of humor there. No hint of mischievousness alerted me that she might be joking. She looked completely serious. She just stood there, waiting for my reaction.

And I was at a loss…

Both girls watched me as I tried to process this new information. Bella wanted to search for documentation about vampires? My first reaction was to dissuade her.

"That idea… is really … stupid!" I blurted out. Her features darkened the instant the insult passed my lips. If anything, she looked even more annoyed than she already had.

"Stupid? So are those Dockers. But I was trying to be polite by not saying anything!" Bella said snidely.

What? Bella didn't like my pants? Katrina was laughing in earnest now. I had thought to look older by wearing casual dress clothes. And Bella thought I looked stupid? I was momentarily side-tracked by this unwelcome information.

Bella rolled her eyes and continued. "Listen- I'm sorry. That was rude. I'm just in a bad mood."

"No. It was my fault," I frowned. "I was rude first."

"If you don't like our search subject… you should have plenty of time between now and Thursday to get into a new group."

I tore my thoughts from my clothing problems and tried to consider my options.

While the idea of working alongside Bella while we dug up documentation about vampires seemed like something out of a bad B-movie—the alternative was to not work with Bella at all. Which meant, there was no alternative for me.

At least if I worked beside her, I might get some insight of what in the world she thought of the stories she would find. Stories of my horrific reality.

"No. Our group is set." I steeled my jaw. This was going to get interesting.