It was a new school year, a new school and to make matters worse she was a senior, not that she left a life of popularity or anything back in Phoenix, but at least she knew how to get from English Lit to Calculus.
The third period was Biology. Bella ran through the door as the last bell rang and grabbed the first available spot. Great, she was going to have to be her own lab partner this year. The seat next to her was empty. Class droned on. The day droned on. This was going to be a long year. She couldn't wait to graduate and move to somewhere sunny and warm.
The next few days passed like the first, but Thursday changed everything. She came into Biology and someone was sitting at her lab table. He smiled when she sat down and introduced himself.
"Hello," he said as he looked down at the lab table, "I'm Edward Cullen".
"Hi, Bella Swan. Nice of you to show up today" she said with more than a hint of sarcasm in her voice.
"Yeah, sorry I left you alone with the onion root cells. My family travels a lot." He said.
"Okay," she said. Shaking her head. She would make due with this new lab partner. He seemed fine, and he was cute.
They work through the assignment together in silence. Passing the microscope back and forth until finally, Edward speaks.
"I see you are a Jane Austen fan." He nods towards her open tote bag on the table.
"Yeah, my mom and I used to read her books together, probably ruined me for life. The perfect Mr. Darcy and all." She said, smiling her head down, her hair falling in a curtain around her face.
He smiled back at her, "What else do you like to read? He asked genuinely curious.
Bella took a deep breath, "Mostly the classics, 'To Kill a Mockingbird' is my favorite though."
Mr. Molina asked for the class's attention to the screen in the front of the room. Bella breathed a sigh of relief. She wasn't used to people asking her questions. She had gone to school with the same people since kindergarten, and so far no one in Forks seemed interested in anything about her other than how she was adjusting to the wet cold weather.
As the video played in the front of the room Bella wondered to herself what was it about this guy? Tall, muscular, the kind of guy Bella and her mom giggled at when they went to the mall or followed around the grocery store hoping to find out if he worked there and what his name was. All fun, nothing ever real. Guys like Edward Cullen didn't date girls like Bella. She was quiet, kept to herself. While he seemed serious and shy, a little too intense maybe, she thought there was a sweet side hidden there. He seemed to be interested in her, but there was something that made Bella pause. It was the way she caught him staring at her. There was always a split second of fear, and then he spoke. His soft voice always put her at ease. She needed to know more about Edward Cullen. She wanted to discover the mystery behind this lab partner of hers.
They continued to make conversation over the next few weeks. He introduced her to some new bands, music she would have never listened to on her own, but was into. He promised to try to start reading Pride and Prejudice over the long weekend away from school.
"There will be a test when we get back on Tuesday," she said flirting when they left Biology for the last time before break.
"I promise I will try to read at least 20 pages if you promise me you will listen to the playlist I sent you" He winked at her and smiled that smile.
When she got back to Biology on Tuesday, he was out. She tried not to be disappointed, but it was hard. He made her stomach flip, he made her look forward to dissecting frogs and all the other gross Biology class things. While she didn't think he would even crack the cover of Pride and Prejudice, she liked the mix he had made and even heard that one of the bands was playing in Seattle in October. Charlie would keel over if she wanted to go to "the big city" with a boy but maybe she could work on him.
Finally Friday, Edward made an appearance.
"Hey," he said as he laid Bella's worn copy of Jane Austen on the lab table.
"Did you read it"? She asked.
"Does the back cover count?" He said, raising his eyebrows. "No, I actually read it."
"Really?" She asked, her eyebrow cocked in disbelief.
"I did, I enjoyed it. I see why it's one of your favorites". He said, smiling warmly at her.
"Did you like the mix I made? He asked, hoping she was into some of it.
"Yeah, I did. She replied. Truthfully she had listened to nothing else since he gave it to her.
Edward sat down next to his lab partner as Mr. Molina started class.
He was glad to hear they had a similar taste in music. Edward wanted to know more about her. There was something that drew her to him. He wanted to ask her a very simple question. All he needed to say was "Bella, would you like to go to the movies with me Saturday." That was it. He thought she would say yes, he hoped she would, but this was new territory for him.
"Bella?" he asked while she was packing up her notebook after class
"Edward," she said smiling
"Do you have any plans this Saturday evening?" he asked, looking down at his hands.
"No, why"? She answered suspiciously.
" I would like to take you out to the movies. The late show if that's okay?"
"The late show, how late?" She said with a nervous laugh in her voice.
"I will pick you up at seven?" he asked her. Enjoying the blush that was across her cheeks
"Sounds like a date" she replied, running her hands through her hair.
"Yes, I will see you then." He grabbed his backpack and left the Biology lab.
Saturday dragged on. Bella had lots of things to do, but she wandered around the house starting projects only to walk away and start something else until finally, it was late enough in the day to start getting ready. At five o'clock she took a shower. Washed and dried her hair and put on a little makeup. Makeup was something her mom was good at, but she tried, washed her face, and tried again. Once she was satisfied it was time to decide on what to wear. It seemed nothing in her closet fit or looked right for this movie date. She was a jeans and t-shirt girl, so she finally settled on her favorite pair of jeans, a cute top she had borrowed from Renee and never returned, and a pair of strappy sandals that she hoped she would not regret later.
"Okay," she said to herself in the mirror. She turned around to take a look at the clock. How was it only six seventeen? she groaned. She headed down the stairs to sit with Charlie and worry about how this night was going to go.
Edward was not in much better shape. He had paced around the house so much that Emmett told him to settle down or get out and run off the nervous energy. He was driving everyone crazy. Edward left knowing he needed to hunt before he spent the evening with Bella. He left the house and headed for the woods. While he ran, he played all the worst-case scenarios in his mind over and over. What if he lost control? What if she expects me to hold her hand or kiss her goodnight? What if she thinks I'm a boring jerk and wants to be taken home before the movie even starts? His thoughts swirled. "I'm going to call and cancel," he said out loud to no one deep in the forest. Even a trip to the place he loved the most, the meadow did nothing to calm his ragged nerves. Finally, after he had hunted he thought to himself this is it, now or never, he headed back to the house, he had an hour before he needed to pick up the Chief's daughter.
He was at Bella's front door promptly at seven. Charlie answered the door.
"Good evening Edward," he said with no smile in his voice.
"Good evening Chief Swan," Edward answered back awkwardly.
"Is she ready?" Edward asked as she came around the corner. Relief washed over him. He was not great in social situations as it was. Add some nerves and the fact that Charlie was chief of police, This could go very wrong and very fast.
"Hey," Bella said while grabbing her jacket.
"Back by eleven Bella", Charlie called out as they walked down the front steps. He opened the door of the Volvo for her.
"You look beautiful Bella," Edward said as Bella blushed. He walked around the front of the car and got in next to her. He smiled a nervous smile, before turning on the music. He put on one of her favorite tracks from the mix he had made, and backed out of the driveway.
"I'm glad Forks finally got a movie theater," She commented.
"Right," Edward said. "What's next? Can we hope for a Starbucks?"
Bella laughed nervously from the front seat. She was grateful the movie theater was a short drive. Once they got to the theater, Edward got their tickets and offered Bella popcorn or a soda. Truthfully, she was hungry but also accident-prone. Spilling popcorn or a drink on herself or Edward could all be avoided.
"No thanks, I'm good but if you want something go right ahead."
"No I'm fine as well, let's go find our seats. Ten minutes until movie time and I like the trivia."
Bella rolled her eyes, "I need to make a quick stop at the little girls' room, I'll meet you in the theater."
Bella took off towards the bathroom. Why was she so nervous? They had been lab partners for weeks. They always had things to talk about at school, but if there was a lull in the conversation they always had their assignment to fall back on, well, she thought, at least they wouldn't have to talk for the next two hours.
After the movie, Edward asked Bella if she would like to stop at the ice cream shop down the street from the movie theater.
"Sure".
They walked into the brightly lit ice cream shop. He motioned for her to go to the counter first.
"Anything you want," he said
"I'll have a scoop of Rocky Road on a sugar cone please," she told the girl behind the counter.
"For you," the girl behind the counter directed her question at Edward.
"Oh, nothing for me thanks"
Bella turned around."Really, they have 31 flavors, you can't find something you want?'
"Lactose intolerant," he said with a smirk.
"Oh good Lord". Bella eyed him suspiciously as she took her ice cream from the girl. "Let's walk," she said as she motioned at the door.
Edward opened the door for her and they stepped out into the warm fall night. The conversation was easy. They talked about the movie, and the plans they had for the rest of the weekend. Bella's sandal caught the uneven bricks on the sidewalk. She started to trip and then caught her left foot on the back of her right leg. Her arms started flailing, while she stumbled towards the street.
"Bella," he shouted as he reached out to grab her by the arm. He was careful not to hold on too tight. He pulled her back to the sidewalk and made sure she was steady on her feet before letting go.
"Hey, at least I saved my ice cream!" She said snickering, embarrassed.
"Let's get you home,'' Edward said with a laugh in his tone. "If I bring you back bruised Charlie will never let me take you anywhere again." He smiled down at her. She was adorable and so very human. What was he even doing? He hoped this outing might prove they didn't have any chemistry, that all these feelings he had were manufactured. She wasn't interested, but as the night went on, he knew he was wrong. This clumsy precious girl has stolen his heart.
"Yes, we need to get home," Bella said. This night was not at all what she had expected either. She left the house hoping they would have enough to talk about on the ride to the movie, now all she wanted was to be with him every minute.
Once they reached Bella's house all the windows were dark but one small light in the kitchen.
"I had a lot of fun tonight Edward," Bella said softly as she unlocked the front door.
"I did too! I would love to take you out again"
"Yes, absolutely."
Bella stood there awkwardly not sure what to do next. Should she make the move? Would he? Did he want to? She noticed out of the corner of her eye the living room curtain shifted just the tiniest bit.
"I better go in," she said.
"See you Monday in Biology," Edward said in a low voice.
"Yes, see you Monday" she replied ducking her head as she went inside.
Bella went upstairs to change into her pajamas and wash her face. It was a very good evening. Monday could not come soon enough.
As Edward drove home he thought about the night's events. He needed to talk to Carlisle. He needed some advice on what to do next. He couldn't keep seeing her if her life was at risk. It had been a long time since Edward had given in to the temptations of human blood, but Bella was pushing him to his limits. He had to figure out a way to be with her because now that she was in his life, he could not be without her.