Chapter 11

BPOV

Edward was leaning against his car when I got out of the cruiser; he smiled when he noticed my hair was down. I smiled back but quickly pulled my hoodie on and diverted my eyes so passerbyers wouldn't take notice. I didn't feel strange with my hair down, but of course people noticed the change, especially Angela, Eric and Mike.

"Wow, I haven't seen you with your hair down in ages," Eric commented in English. "What's the occasion?"

"I couldn't find a hair tie this morning so I had to wear it down," I lied. I was getting good at this lying thing, not that it was something to be proud of.

"It looks nice Bella," he commended.

"Thanks," I replied shyly.

Finally the bell rang for study time and I was out of my seat and through the door before anyone. Edward was walking by the door when I walked out and he grabbed my hand for a quick second, squeezing it adoringly then releasing it leaving my hand numb and tingling for more.

"Hello my Bella," he leaned close to my ear so he could say it quietly.

"Hi," was my response to his closeness. My thoughts all seemed to jumble when I could smell his alluring fragrance or see into his mystifying emerald green eyes.

"You are so beautiful; did you wear your hair down just to taunt me?"

"Of course," I giggled.

"Well… are you going to hide it from me or show me what you're working with?" he glared at my hood and I could tell he didn't like me hiding myself behind it. I reached up and pulled my hood down, my soft brown ringlets rolling out of it and flowing down to the center of my back. Loose tendrils fell over my shoulders and hung freely as they bounced lightly when I walked.

Edward was gaping at me, "What? Does it look terrible?" I reached back for my hood to hide the mess I thought he would like.

"No, no Bella, leave it," his hands were on mine and pulling them away from the hood. "You just caught me by surprise is all, I didn't expect you to do it," he smiled widely at me for a moment looking into my eyes. "I am so glad you did."

Our footsteps never faltered and we were entering the library. Angela wasn't there yet but Tyler was.

"Hey Cullen," he called and they did their knuckle bump thing. The strap to Edward's backpack slid down his arm and he caught it so fluently like it was something they had rehearsed. How he can move so smoothly is beyond me.

"What's up Crowley?" Tyler sent me a look because I was just standing there implying I was invited to their conversation.

"Oh, I'm sorry," I ducked my head and walked toward the furthest table available.

"No Bella, you're--" Edward started after me, but I continued to walk and felt his eyes watching my retreat. I hoped he wouldn't follow me because that would look suspicious. I suddenly really wished I had my hoodie up.

I sat and started pulling out my things. I tried to listen to their conversation but I couldn't make anything out. It's a library and for once, they were treating it as such. When all of my things were out and in order Edward came to join me.

"I am really sorry about that Bella, I would have come with you but I figured you wouldn't want me to do that," he was speaking fast and under his breath.

"Its fine Edward, you handled it just as I hoped you would. Now, what are we working on for today?" We studied the whole session away. He tried to speak to me a few times and I pushed it aside. My encounter with Tyler reminded me why I didn't want anyone to know and why this wouldn't work. Social classes don't mix, only on rare occasion and those relationships were on thin ice just for that reason. Either I had to let it out, or I had to call it off. This idea of mine has been doomed from the start and now I would have to decide if it was worth the whispers and stares.

Lunch was torture, to say the least. I had asked Edward to leave before me; I needed to think about things and him being around made that very difficult. Deep down I didn't want him to be more than a few inches away from me, but I had to do it. Watching him leave was like watching my last breath, my chest felt like it was caving in on itself and I know it was because of the decision I already had made. There was never any other way; it was never up for discussion.

On my way through the lunch room double doors I slammed my head into the center beam. I was too busy trying to watch where I was stepping and thinking about how tomorrow was going to be after I told Edward what my decision was that I wasn't paying attention to where I was heading. It made a loud noise and everyone looked up at me rubbing my head from the impact.

After that I made sure to watch where I was going and managed to make it to my table unscathed minus the bump on my head. I noticed in my periphery that Edward was surrounded by Jessica, Lauren and a girl I didn't recognize. I felt a twinge of jealousy but I let it go, he wasn't really mine to get jealous over; at least the specifics haven't been worked out yet.

I was the first to arrive in Biology and I got out all the material to start the lab for the day. I had everything out by the time people started to arrive. I couldn't wait to spend the next half hour talking to Edward. I wouldn't even have to hide it because we were partners now and it's expected of us to talk.

When he came in he looked nervous or worried, either way it made me feel uncomfortable. I didn't meet his eyes before he sat down next to me and I continued to look down at my note book.

"Tanya is back in town," he said in a solemn voice and my eyes finally met his.

"What does that mean?"

"It means that she was here at lunch and she wants to meet me after school so she can ride with me to my house to meet up with her parents. I think they are going to try and get me to move to LA through my parents. There is a really good school there and they have been trying to talk me into going there." He was looking down into his hands as he spoke, not meeting my gaze probably because he was afraid of what he would see plastered all over my face.

"And why haven't you gone?" I had to practically pull it out of him, he was procrastinating.

"My excuse has always been that I didn't want to be there alone and now…that excuse won't work anymore." I couldn't believe what I was hearing; Edward was quite possibly moving 1000 miles away from Forks. The sudden impact on his words took my breath away and I gasped for air despite my efforts to keep my emotions under control.

"Don't freak out, I will figure this out okay," he put his hand on my arm and rubbed it lightly for a second, right as Jessica walked into the room. Her eyes seemed to notice it right away and her eyes widened as she realized what she was witnessing. I jerked my arm away for two reasons; one, because I didn't want anyone to know and two because I really didn't want anyone to know if he was moving away.

The rumors and crap I would have to go through would have to endure would be torture on me.

I heard it from Mike first; right when I entered the gym he started in on me. "Are you and Cullen dating?" He looked so hurt having to ask that question and instead of turning red from embarrassment I turned red from anger.

"What is it about me that makes you try time and time again? Obviously I do not see you the same way as you see me. Why keep trying and keep getting shot down?" I had gotten over the fact that everyone was going to know, that wasn't why I was lashing out at Mike. I was lashing out at Mike because Edward was leaving and I was going to go back to the way my life used to be. All school and no play, soon it wouldn't be true.

The rumors wouldn't last long, I could get through it.

"Because I like you Bella and I think we could have something special." He looked saddened and surprised by my outburst, but I had to set him straight once and for all.

"I do not like you in that way Mike, you are an awesome friend and I hope we can continue to be friends. If you are looking for a relationship more than that, look no further than Jessica Stanley, she is head over heels for you. I do not know how you don't see it. "

I hurt him, I could tell, but I also saw something spark inside him as he realized I was right about Jessica. It was like every little gesture she made all came crashing down on his awareness all at once.

Maybe there was hope there after all.

"Jessica Stanley; really," he was musing over that as I took my leave and made my way to the girls locker room. I made it through the door before I stopped; Jessica was telling someone about what she saw between Edward and me. I pushed my back up against the wall and listened to what she had to say.

"So are they like, together?" I girl asked, it sounded like it was Lauren.

"I don't know, he just had his hand resting on her arm and when she saw me she jerked it away." I was surprised she was actually telling the truth about what happened and not blowing it out of proportion.

"Wow, now that is something I have to see to believe," another girl I couldn't recognize said.

"Why would Edward be interested in her?" That was Lauren.

"Well, she isn't terrible looking, I can see why." I was stunned when I heard those words come from Jessica's mouth. I hadn't heard her say anything nice in my direction in years.

"Oh god, don't start that again." Lauren said in a mocking tone, "I don't know why you always insist on us being nice to her. She is such a loser Jessica."

I had heard enough and wanted it all to stop. I pushed myself away from the wall and continued into the locker room. The other girl was Alice, I knew she was pretending for me and I felt bad about it. I didn't say anything to them or look in their direction when I passed to get to my locker. They watched me as I walked by and as I walked around the corner; I was relieved that they were the only three occupying the room at the moment. They were the few I would have to avoid for today.


So this one was a little short I know but next chapter (M&Mward's POV) will be a nice long one.

Thank you to those of you that leave your thoughts, and thank you to those of you that read BMNM and don't have the time to leave your thoughts....but again...

PLEASE LEAVE ME YOUR THOUGHTS

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