Author's Note: I'm finding it super amusing that this story's more popular than my first one. Personally, I prefer the other one, because it's more fun to write about… Anyway, here is the next chapter…
Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.
Chapter 21
Though we were fifteen minutes early, Mr. Banner, the Biology teacher, was already back from lunch. He signed my slip, then sent me to sit in the back with Edward.
He took an interest in my mahogany hair two minutes into sitting down, and started playing with it. I let him; strangely, I felt comfortable around him, a first around men.
Soon, the students started coming in one by one. As they did, Mr. Banner left the room to get something he'd left in the office, causing students to talk and gossip about the new girl.
Then, sure enough, Mike Newton approached our table, where Edward was still toying with my hair. Mike looked annoyed as his eyes flickered Edward.
"So, you're Bella, right?" he asked.
I looked up, then nodded once.
"Hi, I'm Mike Newton," he said. "You're in my history class, remember?."
I nodded again, this time raising my eyebrows.
Mike looked embarrassed. "Um, anyway. I was wondering…if you'd like to hang out with us on Saturday. We're going to the beach down in La Push. It'll be fun." He looked hopeful.
Carlisle had already informed me about the Quileute wolves and the treaty. I knew not to accept the invitation, and Edward knew that. But even so, Edward added, It'll be sunny on Saturday. You know what to say.
"Sorry, Mike," I said. "My family and I are going camping."
"Oh, okay…" Mike looked disappointed as he glanced at Edward who was still playing with my hair. "Maybe next time then."
My eyes flashed. "I don't think so, Mike."
And he looked scared for the first time. But then, I smiled seductively to make up for it, and he seemed to forget my unpleasant comment. He blinked, then went back to his seat in a daze. I knew that he wouldn't be bothering me again.
"Good," Edward said quietly, finally letting go of my hair. "You didn't need any help."
I shrugged as Mr. Banner came back in. When the bell rang, he started the lesson. I was barely paying attention when I heard Mr. Banner call on me for an answer.
"Chromosomes," I answered, picking the answer out of his head. He turned back to the board, looking annoyed at the "perfect Cullens."
I know! Alice thought suddenly. Family movie night! I just saw all of us in front of the TV. And I know she's not there, but I'm assuming she is, Edward.
Edward and I rolled our eyes.
"Whatever, Alice," I muttered under my breath. Edward chuckled and handed me the first slide for the mitosis experiment. "Ladies first?"
"Prophase," I said immediately. He gave me a look. Sighing, I pretended to look at it under the microscope, then repeated, "Prophase."
Edward wrote it neatly on the line. Rosalie was right. I did write fancy like he did. I handed him slide two and he looked it under the microscope. But he and I both knew that it was anaphase.
"Anaphase," he murmured. I smirked and wrote it this time. Like Rosalie, he seemed intrigued by my style of writing. He handed me slide three and I placed it under the microscope.
"Interphase," I said, just as Edward whispered the same thing. We laughed quietly, and he wrote it down. We kept at it like that for the next two slides and finished way before anyone else.
I laid my head down on the table, bored, while Edward seemed lost in thought. With nothing to do, I listened to his thoughts. He didn't bother hiding them. Though my expression hardened, I merely listened expressionlessly, curious to see if he could piece everything out.
Men and the engagement ring… Edward mused. Human…coldness…indifference… His eyes narrowed as he glanced at my face. Beauty. Your shields…
I stared back at him, my eyebrow slightly raised. Impressive.
Edward's eyes flashed up to Mr. Banner who just approached us. I quickly raised my head.
"So, don't you think your sister, Isabella, should've had a chance with the microscope, Edward?" Mr. Banner asked.
"Bella," Edward corrected automatically. "Actually, she identified three of the five."
Mr. Banner frowned slightly, but didn't question it. Edward and I fought back a smile as he thought, Perfect Cullens, of course.
"Well," the teacher said after a while. "I guess it's good you two are lab partners then." As he turned away, he muttered, "So that the other kids would have a chance to figure something out for themselves."
I placed my head down back on the table. Edward resumed his thinking.
BELLA! EDWARD!
Edward and I flinched slightly as Alice bellowed at us with her thoughts. Frowning, I wondered if I should exclude her from the shield.
NO! Alice said, as if she knew what I was thinking about. Do NOT exclude me, Bella. I need your opinion. Romance or action movie?
Edward rolled his eyes. "How about none?" he muttered.
Tell me yours and Edward's decision during Gym, Bella!
"Action," I murmured.
He looked surprised. "Action? I would have thought you would like romance."
I shook my head. "Action."
"Hm," Edward murmured, and added that fact to his list of thoughts about my past.
I rolled my eyes. "Do you seriously think you could guess my past?"
"I could try."
"Don't you think I would tell the family if I was ready? If I thought that I could trust you enough? I didn't even tell the Denalis and I've lived with them for a year."
"You'll stay with us more than a year, Bella," Edward said confidently. "Alice saw that earlier."
I sighed as Mr. Banner called for attention again. I raised my head and reached for my necklace again. I toyed with it until the bell rang for sixth period.
AN: So that was Biology. How'd you like it?