Disclaimer: Twilight and all of its characters belong to Stephenie Meyer. The plot is mine.

A/N: punkfarie exceeded her already undying awesomeness and created a thread on Twilighted for Sweet Relief. Link is on my profile.

Important information about this story: Although I would love to just let some of you continue guessing, there are a few things that should be made absolutely clear.

In the very first chapter of this story, Bella ventured into the forest to commit suicide. After an incident involving lightning, she woke in an alternate universe. She is not in coma, losing her mind, or dead, she is indeed in an alternate universe. Isabella is not in the Anti Forks when Bella arrives. This means she could be anywhere except for the Anti Forks. Take that to mean what you will, but I am not saying whether or not she's in Bella's world, just that she could be. Her location will be revealed in a future chapter. All of the characters are different in some way because this is an alternate universe. There is a reason the Antiward and the Anti-Alice behave the way they do toward Bella which will be revealed as the story progresses. Chapter 8 was in Edward's point of view. Not the Antiward's.

Important terms I will use throughout this story:

Isabella refers to the Bella of the alternate universe. Antiward refers to the Edward of the alternate universe. Any word with the prefix Anti- refers to something within the alternate universe.

Chapter 10: A-Acid, B-Base, C-Chemical Spill

Song: "Chemicals React" –Aly and AJ

You make me feel out of my element

Like I'm walkin' on broken glass.

***

I awoke fully alert. The room was dark and the sky was covered in a blanket of deep gray clouds. Morning hadn't arrived yet.

Everything was silent—the rain falling noiselessly outside my window. Everything was muted except for a distant creaking. The sound was familiar, although I could not place it.

CREAK.

It was becoming louder. Closer.

CREAK!

The screech filled my ears and a strange fog swam through my head. I knew that sound.

CREAK!

This time I covered my ears and hunched over as a sharp pain shot through my eardrums. It was too loud. Too loud or too close.

The tempo changed and my head snapped up to see a white figure in the corner of my room. He was sitting in the rocking chair, back straight and eyes forward.

"Edward?"

He nodded, but didn't speak. He stood from the chair slowly, taking one purposeful step toward me. In the blink of an eye, he was kneeling on my bed in front of me. My eyes widened in shock because he wouldn't risk exposing his secret unless…

Unless he knew.

His hand rose from his side to cup my neck with one shimmering hand of frost, sending a sharp shiver rippling through my body. As his head tipped, my eyelids wanted to flutter closed, but they couldn't. Not with the way he was staring at me.

Edward's eyes were bright with a red line flying across the deep green meadow in his gaze. His lips were only an inch from mine when he blew out a breath, fanning my face in buckets of honey that I could feel squishing between my toes.

His mouth was on mine and I felt something shoot through me like a lightning rod. Almost as quickly as they had come, his lips were now gone and I had this weird taste in my mouth. The jolt in my body shot up to my face, enflaming my cheeks and I felt and tasted…wrong.

Edward was kneeling before me, expressionless, while my face continuously grew hotter.

"I honestly don't know how you can look at yourself in the mirror and not feel disgusted," he smiled smugly.

"I can't." The words tumbled out of my mouth, an unstoppable reflex.

Flying off my bed, I ran down the hall, cringing as each of the picture frames on the walls cracked and crashed to the floor. Everything was dark again, except for the light glowing through the cracks of the closed bathroom door and the shine of moonlight on glass even though there weren't any windows.

I threw the door open and froze in front of the mirror.

My lips were severely chapped and black and there were tiny black vein looking lines shooting across the planes of my face—crawling their way up from my lips to my cheeks.

They stung like tiny cuts in my skin, sliding deeply and jagged. Screaming and wincing, I tried to splash water on my face—anything to make it stop. The black veins carved up the bags under my eyes, heading straight through my lashes.

And it stopped.

The pain. The screaming. The panic.

It all stopped.

I sat up, shaking with the flow of the curtains along my open window and blinking back tears. That nightmare shook me deep down to my bones, for reasons I couldn't really understand. I brushed my cheeks with my fingers, sighing in shaky relief when there weren't any indentations.

Once I recovered from my nightmare, I pulled myself together as best as I could and got ready for school. Even as I passed the mirror in the bathroom, I didn't dwell on what I saw yesterday. The nightmare was still fresh, the image of my black veined skin burned in my retinas. If I checked, or thought too much about what I saw in the mirror yesterday, chances were it would disappear.

I couldn't bear to see that.

Grabbing my backpack, I moved to sit on the edge of my bed. Edward's book found its way into my hands, my fingers trailing down the shiny cover in reverence. This belonged to Edward. He carried this to school day after day. His long and slender yet powerful hands slid down these pages, flipping and stopping at points of interest. His lungs expelling unnecessary breath and entwining him with the descriptions of basic Chemistry.

I wasn't looking forward to giving this back.

When Edward left me, he took everything. Every trinket and prized possession that reminded me of him, and he took it. The only thing I had left were memories which would undeniably fade as the years go on, no matter how hard I try to retain them.

I didn't want to give the book back.

It was irrational to want to keep school property, especially when the item didn't even belong to the Edward I was desperate to remember. But even though he wasn't the same person my heart pined for, I wanted it. I wanted something to remember Edward by, even if it wasn't the same Edward.

It was all terribly confusing—my feelings for Edward.

Were these feelings directed at the Edward from my world, or this one? I knew who the heartbreak, the pain, and the lost love were all directed at. But what about these other feelings?

Gold or green?

The Sun or the Earth?

The earth needs the sun to survive, but what is a world without the luscious and vibrant green?

Dull and dead—a pointless brown.

…

"What the hell is the matter with you?"

I looked up from my notes, taking in the sight of Eric's greasy hair and leather jacket. His choice of clothing reminded me of Grease and he was fuming in a way that created the image of him doing a big musical number to release his frustration.

"What?" I sighed, wishing for the curtain of my hair more than ever. Heeding Mr. Banner's warning I had worn the appropriate attire. The requirements didn't faze me except for having to tie my hair back and I even kept an extra hair tie on my wrist just in case. Depending on my shield had become a daily habit and now I was left to fend for myself.

Eric hadn't attempted to talk to me since that first day. Now that I knew he wasn't the same, his outfit seemed a little less ridiculous. Well, not really, but at least now I understood it. He pulled a chair out, mimicking the same position he took the last time.

"I heard about what happened to Tyler," he gritted his teeth.

I decided to play dumb. There wasn't any reason to reveal any information without knowing what he knew first. I really didn't want the attention.

"What happened?" I asked, widening my eyes for dramatic effect. Admittedly, it might have been a tad much, especially with my less than mediocre acting skills.

"Lauren saw you two. She saw you and Tyler together and then Cullen shoving him in a locker. Mind explaining that?" he raised an eyebrow.

"Edward was just helping me out," I defended.

He glared at me huffing in annoyance and fueling my own temper.

"What was he supposed to do? Let Tyler continue to sexually assault me?" That was melodramatic, but Eric was really getting on my nerves. Besides with the way Tyler was acting, it seemed like things were going to progress that way…

Eric's fist came slamming against the desk, causing me to jump. "He was supposed to mind his own damn business while you and Tyler were in the middle of your exchange!"

I let out a hollow chuckle. "Exchange? And what pray tell might we be exchanging?"

He shifted his eyes around the classroom, as if he was about to share a secret and didn't want anyone overhearing. The rest of the class was talking about a party on Saturday and didn't seem to be paying attention to us. Finally satisfied with what he saw, he leaned forward to speak quietly.

"You know damn well what you were supposed to exchange. Damnit Isabella! He was our only contact. Now what the hell will we do?" He rubbed his chin, glaring at his watch. It seemed out of place with the rest of his attire and when he noticed my gaze, he stuffed his hand in his jacket pocket, hiding his wrist and the peculiar watch.

---

"Oh my goodness! Bella, are you okay?"

I was bombarded with questions and a hug as Rosalie fussed over what happened yesterday with Tyler. Apparently word had gotten around school when a freshman girl opened her locker and Tyler fell on top of her. She was a little traumatized by the incident, Tyler's unconscious body having fallen on her petite form. Her equally small friends were too weak to lift the large football player off of her.

"I'm fine," I reassured her, recounting how Edward showed up in the nick of time and pried him off of me. I didn't tell her about the argument I got into earlier with Eric. It wasn't that I didn't trust her, I just had a feeling it was something I should keep to myself until I know all of the details.

"I can't believe that slime ball had his grubby paws all over you. And that stupid girl just stood there gawking like an idiot!" This looked more like the Rosalie I knew. She was angry and powerful; glaring at anyone that glanced at me, like each one of them had convinced Tyler to come after me. I almost felt bad for them, until she spoke.

"Quite the attention whore," Angela sang.

Rosalie's glare shifted toward her, her lips pursed and I imagined her snapping Angela's neck like a toothpick. Angela wasn't oblivious to her irritation.

"What are you looking at Blondie? This is an A and B conversation. Why don't you C your way out of it?" she sneered, smirking at what she probably thought was a very original and clever joke.

Angela would definitely regret that comment.

To my surprise, Rosalie didn't explode with rage like I thought she would. Her acid tongue did not make an appearance, but hid in her closed mouth instead. She didn't snap her neck or throw any objects at her head.

She just sat there, diverting her eyes to her hands with a sad frown. In that moment, I felt a sort of kinship with her. This Rosalie wasn't like the other. She wasn't tenacious or outspoken and looked like she didn't enjoy confrontation.

Angela continued with a smug grin, "I can understand Tyler's problem… He has always been a low achiever and an admirer of all things trash, what about you Miss Ugly Duckling? I don't think I have ever heard of you saying no."

I rolled my eyes before glancing worriedly at Rosalie. She was so quiet and defeated…I wanted to repay some of her kindness. Angela giggled at something, but I didn't bother figuring out what because class had started. I was happy to have Rosalie sitting next to me today and wondered how she had managed the switch when there was most likely a seating chart.

Opening my notebook to a blank page, I scribbled a quick note. I looked at Rosalie a little uncertainly, before ripping it out, folding it, and sliding it in front of her. Sending me a small smile upon reading it, she tossed me her response.

I'm fine.

It was a lie, of that much I was certain, but I didn't want to pry. After everything she had done for me, I knew I owed her the same courtesy. Hopefully she would feel comfortable enough to talk to me later about whatever it is that is making her so sad. I had a feeling that whatever was bothering Rosalie didn't really have anything to do with Angela's words.

---

The morning passed without incidence. I was left alone after Calculus, apart from Jessica questioning my wellbeing once she overheard the gossip about Tyler and me. Jessica's curiosity didn't seem to derive from a thirst for gossip, but actual concern.

Maybe one day I would get used to all of the behavioral changes.

The walls of the Chemistry room were covered in emergency procedure signs. My personal favorite was "Don't drink the chemicals". Anyone stupid enough to drink a corrosive acid deserved whatever harmful effects it would cause. Each lab table had two long tubes hooked up to a stand, one volumetric flask, two aprons, two pairs of goggles, and two pairs of gloves.

While I may not be in any danger of consuming the chemicals, there was no doubt in my mind that all of the safety precautions would be rendered useless when it came to my clumsiness and bad luck.

Mr. Banner went over the procedure, taking extra care to explain the emergency procedures in the off chance that an accident did occur. He assured us that he hadn't had any accidents during this lab since he started teaching here. A flawless record and if nature had its way, I would most likely be the one to break it.

Pulling the apron over my head, I turned and tugged, trying but not quite reaching the strings enough to tie the back. I froze when a pair of cool hands encircled my wrists and moved my hands to dangle stiffly at my sides. The black material hugged my body tighter and I jumped when I felt a tiny bit of cool pressure against my lower back.

The pressure disappeared and the black material hung around my body once more when I turned around. Edward was standing behind me, his apron already on and his goggles pushed up to rest on top of his head, squishing some of his hair down while the rest poked out at different angles. Although I was certain I looked ridiculous, Edward made the ensemble appear worthy of a four page magazine spread.

His eyes were the color of a cherry stem with a faint hint of the fruit itself lingering around his pupils. He handed me a pair of gloves which I accepted wordlessly, following suit as he slid his own over his hands.

"Remember to be careful when you use the stopcock," I rolled my eyes at the laughs and giggles brought on by Mr. Banner's use of that word, "because it doesn't take much to elicit a reaction."

Strapping on the goggles proved to be less eventful then putting on the apron, but now that I was entirely ready, the nerves began to sink in.

Would I be the cause of Mr. Banner's first chemical spill?

If I did, would acid be corrosive to Edward's skin?

Yes, vampires are indestructible apart from being ripped to shreds by another vampire or being set on fire, but no one had ever mentioned acid. Besides, in an alternate universe…who really knows? Maybe the vampires in this world were vulnerable to acid, disease, or any number of ailments. Maybe they were powerless against garlic or crosses, and could be killed with a wooden stake to the heart!

"Do you understand what to do?"

I was still blatantly staring at him as I thought about all of the terrible accidents I could cause when he spoke, resulting in a deep blush and my eyes darting to the floor. Words evaded me as I tried to think of a response.

How about yes? No? Maybe so?

Even with all of the obvious answers tickling the tip of my tongue, I couldn't make them leave my slightly agape mouth.

The side of Edward's mouth turned up into a smirk, "In lamens terms, we need to create the color change Mr. Banner demonstrated by adding just the right amount of acid to base and vice versa."

He still thinks I'm an idiot, I realized dejectedly.

Sensing my reluctance or possibly deciding I was too stupid to do it on my own, Edward quickly completed the first couple of steps, writing down the measurements in his elegant script. In no time at all, he had some of each chemical in his flask swirling around and colliding together to create the exact shade of pink Mr. Banner demonstrated.

Mr. Banner must have been watching our table because he immediately addressed him the moment he finished. "Alright Mr. Cullen, now you need to bring me your volumetric flask to trade for a new one for Miss Swan."

Edward's triumphant smile disappeared at the mention of my name, shifting to a grimace and then a carefully placed straight line. He walked passed me, averting his eyes to his flask like the chemicals were likely to shoot from the glass any second. His demeanor had changed so abruptly. You would think I would be used to Edward's mood changes by now, but they still threw me for a loop.

He returned with the clean flask, making sure I had a good grip before letting it go and stepping back. He didn't make any comments or jokes, unlike when he was completing the assignment. Something was clearly bothering him and I could only hope it wasn't because of me. Although, I was fairly certain it was.

I was holding the flask with two hands, desperately trying to remember what Edward had done. I knew the directions, but I couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to go terribly wrong. Edward was tapping his foot, impatient for me to start. Mr. Banner had made it perfectly clear that we would only be permitted to leave once each partner was done with the experiment. Glancing at the worksheet, I noted in surprise that once of the answers was already filled in.

"That was the original measurement," Edward explained.

Nodding, I finally released the flask from my death grip and began taking my own measurements for the next question. Once the first few steps were done, it was time to utilize the acid and base. Taking a deep breath, I picked up the flask and placed it underneath one of the burets.

I moved back and forth between chemicals, adding a little of each one before stirring the contents with the jerk of my wrist. The experiment was a lot less dangerous than I thought it would be, but also far less easy. Each time the contents of the flask would start turning the right shade of pink, it would disappear immediately after stirring.

The mixture was clear again after another failed attempt and I couldn't stop the release of a groan. At this rate, I would be here all day.

"Common sense dictates that if it did not work the first time, maybe you should try something different."

While frustratingly attempting to create the correct color, I had almost entirely forgotten Edward's presence.

"I have tried different amounts. It just isn't working."

"Clearly," he replied dryly.

"Some of us aren't perfect," I mumbled as I stirred my latest failed attempt.

Edward chuckled loudly, causing me to jump in surprise. I seemed to be jumping a lot lately.

"I am far from perfect."

Withholding a snort, I placed the flask on the lab table and turned toward Edward. Whatever I had meant to say was out the window when I looked down at my wrist after feeling a slight burning sensation. Following my gaze, Edward gasped when he noticed the liquid underneath my glove.

Ripping off the glove unthinkingly, I stared at my wrist in bewilderment, trying to find where the injury was, but all I could see was my brown hair tie.

"Some of the chemicals are probably trapped between your hair tie and your skin." Edward grabbed my hand urgently, leading me to the back of the classroom. Everyone else was still too preoccupied to notice us and I should have alerted the teacher, but I couldn't think with Edward's hand on my contaminated wrist, soothing the burn with his cool skin. Edward quickly filled a tub with cold water and added baking soda before submerging my wrist.

"Keep the infected area in there while I go notify Mr. Banner," Edward instructed, waiting for my nod before walking to the front of the classroom.

Ever since we were assigned this lab I knew something bad would happen, but despite my knowledge, I couldn't shake the feeling of being a complete failure. No wonder Edward thought so poorly of me, when I was unable to do even the simplest of tasks.

"That's enough for today everyone. Please clean up and go to your next class. Miss Swan seems to have had an accident and I must go speak with the principal," Mr. Banner announced. The rest of the class looked back at me before cleaning up and leaving the classroom. Mr. Banner must have left with the students because when I looked back, there was only Edward.

Blushing furiously at my inability to complete a Chemistry assignment without having an accident, I looked up at Edward who was now leaning against the counter.

"You should be more careful."

"Sorry," I murmured, bowing my head. How could I ever compete with someone so perfect?

"What's that?"

In order to follow Mr. Banner's instructions, I had worn a shirt today that didn't cover my arms. Unfortunately, I had forgotten about my scars.

I pointed at the scar from my last birthday. "This? I accidentally cut it with some glass."

"No. This one," Edward touched the crescent moon shape with his index finger, glancing at me in a mixture of suspicion and curiosity. "What happened?"

A/N: For those of you who didn't know: a stopcock is a valve that regulates the flow of fluid through a pipe and a buret (also spelled "burette") is a uniform-bore glass tube with fine gradations and a stopcock at the bottom, used especially in laboratory procedures for accurate fluid dispensing and measurement. I chose Chemicals React as the song for this chapter because they were handling chemicals and it just seemed so perfect.

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